Governor Parson signs it into law
| HB 85 |
Establishes the “Second Amendment Preservation Act,” which creates additional protections to the right to bear arms.
— Signed by Governor |
Category: Government
SECOND AMENDMENT PRESERVATION ACT TO BECOME LAW SATURDAY, WITH MISSOURI GOVERNOR’S SIGNATURE
Legislation establishing a Second Amendment Preservation Act (SAPA) will be signed into law Saturday afternoon by Missouri’s governor, in the Kansas City suburb of Lee’s Summit. Governor Mike Parson (R) will sign SAPA Saturday at 2 at Frontier Justice.
House Bill 85 is sponsored by State Rep. Jered Taylor (R-Nixa) and State Sen. Eric Burlison (R-Battlefield). They say it’s about protecting Missourians and gun rights. Critics like former State Rep. Chris Kelly (D-Columbia) say the bill is unconstitutional.
HB 85 declares that it’s the duty of the courts and law enforcement agencies to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms. It also declares as invalid all federal laws that infringe on the right to bear arms under the Second Amendment.
The Expansion of Constitutional Carry
Bureaucrats Bureaucraps were never supposed to be in a position to make us ask—even to beg—for our constitutionally protected rights, as they can in jurisdictions with “may-issue” carry permit laws.
Thanks in no small part to lobbying from the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, and to the many NRA members who stand behind the NRA by contacting their representatives, 20 states have now gotten bureaucrats out of the way by passing some type of “constitutional carry” (or “permitless carry”) legislation; in fact, four of these 20 states were added this year—Iowa, Montana, Tennessee and Utah.
‘Finished As A City’: Atlanta At Risk Of Losing One Of Its Wealthiest Neighborhoods Over Crime Wave
Residents of Atlanta’s Buckhead district are looking at options for breaking away from Georgia’s capital and forming its own city.
A group of residents have gathered to form the Buckhead Exploratory Committee to petition Georgia to allow residents to vote on whether the district will stay a part of Atlanta or split off into its own municipality. The effort has raised over $600,000 so far, according to The Washington Post.
“The mayor and the city council have been making bad decisions, so at what point does anyone with a brain say, ‘Enough?’ ” Buckhead Exploratory Committee chairman Bill White said. “If crime is out of control and you are doing nothing about it, you are finished as a city.”
Buckhead’s angst with Atlanta’s leadership has been building as the city has been rocked by crime following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the mass riots spurred on by George Floyd’s death last May. Police morale plummeted last year after an officer was charged in the death of Rayshard Brooks, a black man who resisted arrest and attempted to tase an officer.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms acknowledged that the city was experiencing an unusual dearth of police on the streets in June of last year. Bottoms said that police morale is “down ten-fold.” As The Daily Wire reported:
“I think ours is down ten-fold,” Bottoms told CNN anchor Chris Cuomo in regard to Atlanta PD’s department morale. “This has been a very tough few weeks in Atlanta and with the tragedy of Mr. Brooks, and then on top of that the excessive force charges that were brought against the officers involved with the college students, there’s a lot happening in our city, and the police officers are receiving the brunt of it quite frankly.”
She went on to claim that the Atlanta city government has “a great working relationship with police” and that the issues with morale were temporary.
“In fact, our officers were given a historic pay raise by our administration, and it was so our officers wouldn’t have to work three jobs and be fatigued so that they could afford to live in the city of Atlanta, so they wouldn’t be resentful about policing our streets so that we could have the best to choose from on our force,” Bottoms told Cuomo. “We expect that our officers will keep their commitment to our communities.”
Some in Atlanta are resisting the Buckhead push to separate from the city, saying that other parts of the city are dealing with the same crime problems as Buckhead.
“It makes me angry because the crime they are seeing in Buckhead is the same crime we on the Southside have been dealing with for years,” said Stephanie Flowers, chair of Atlanta Neighborhood Planning Unit V, according to the Post. “We on the Southside, because of our demographics. We can’t pay our way out … This is just a way to separate the haves from the have-nots.”
BLUF:
It’s unlikely those on the losing side of the January 6th commission vote will handle their defeat gracefully given recent hyperbole surrounding January 6th as the Left fights to change the narrative. In case you missed it, January 6th was apparently as bad or worse than 9/11 and posed a greater threat to our Republic than the Axis powers in World War II.
Republicans Block January 6th Commission in First Filibuster Victory of Biden Presidency
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), who said she supported the idea of a commission but requested changes to balance staff hiring power and move up the deadline for the commission’s findings, was among the Republicans who voted with Democrats. Lisa Murkowski (AK), Mitt Romney (UT), Bill Cassidy (LA), Ben Sasse (NE), and Rob Portman (OH) also voted to end the filibuster and move ahead with the commission.
Lee’s signature makes Tennessee a Second Amendment sanctuary
(The Center Square) – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill Wednesday that makes the state a Second Amendment sanctuary.
Senate Bill 1335 prevents any “law, treaty, executive order, rule, or regulation of the United States government” that violates the Tennessee Constitution or the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution from being enforced in the state.
That violation would have to be determined by either the Tennessee or U.S. Supreme Court. The stipulation was added during debate of the bill in the Tennessee House, and the Senate concurred.
The Texas Senate voted 25-5 to pass a bill that would raise criminal penalties and require jail time for people who knowingly obstruct emergency vehicles from passing through a roadway or who block a hospital entrance. It now heads to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.
The bill is in response to last year’s nationwide protests against police brutality, which were sparked by the murder of George Floyd at the hands of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Massive protests erupted in major cities across the country, including in Texas, where demonstrators were arrested for allegedly damaging property or blocking roadways.
House Bill 9, which now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott, would make it a state jail felony for people who knowingly obstruct an emergency vehicle that has its lights flashing and sirens turned on. People could also face felony charges for obstructing the entrance of a licensed hospital. The Texas House passed the bill, 90-55, a few weeks ago.
Governor’s OK means South Carolina now allows open carry of guns
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Gov. Henry McMaster said Monday he signed into law a bill allowing people with concealed weapons permits from the state to carry their guns in the open.
McMaster posted on Twitter that he was keeping his promise to sign any bill that protects or expands gun rights.
The proposal allows so-called open carry of guns for people who undergo training and background checks so they can keep guns hidden under a jacket or other clothing or in their vehicle anywhere there isn’t a sign prohibiting it.
The law takes effect in 90 days. Thus, in mid-August, South Carolina will no longer be with California, Florida, Illinois and New York to prohibit any type of open carry.
The law eliminates a $50 permit fee to get a concealed weapons permit and lowers the number of bullets that someone must fire at a target in an accuracy test to get a permit from 50 to 25 shots. Requirements remain that a permit holder be 21 or over, take eight hours of training and pass a background check that includes fingerprinting.
The Neanderthals were right. That’s the story this morning after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott shared the news that Texas reported zero deaths from COVID for the first time since they began collecting data. This comes after Joe Biden called Texas, Mississippi, and other red states “Neanderthals” for daring to lift clearly ineffective business restrictions and mask mandates.
Today Texas reported:
* 0 Covid related deaths–the only time that's happened since data was tracked in March, 2020.
* the fewest Covid cases in over 13 months
* the lowest 7-day Covid positivity rate ever
* the lowest Covid hospitalizations in 11 months.
Thanks, Texans!
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 17, 2021
Now, to be clear, this doesn’t mean there won’t be more COVID deaths in Texas. Of course, there will be, as the virus is going to be with us for a very long time, if not forever in some capacity. But what this shows is that the things the “experts” have so harped on were never the silver bullet in fighting the coronavirus. Arbitrary lockdowns and nonsensical indoor and outdoor mask mandates were pervasive in many states that did far worse than places like Florida, which had little to no restrictions throughout the pandemic.
This should have been common sense for figures like Dr. Anthony Fauci, who to this day is still insisting children, yes children, need to wear masks into the fall next year. But they were never truly following the science. Rather, they were following politics, and politics demanded that federal authorities, from the president to bureaucrats, had a scapegoat for their failures. Continue reading “”
Oklahoma: Multiple Pro-Gun Bills Signed or a Step Away from Signature
U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)- Numerous pro-gun measures have advanced through the Oklahoma Legislature and been signed into law. Two others are also pending procedural votes before being sent to the desk of Governor Kevin Stitt, and your Senate needs to hear from you. Those bills are all outlined below:
Pro-gun bills pending either concurrence or conference committee vote:
- Senate Bill 644, sponsored by Sen. Paxton, authorizes municipal employees to carry a firearm at work.
- Senate Bill 925, sponsored by Sen. Michael Bergstrom, cleans up current law to allow for the defensive display of a firearm against a potential threat.
Pro-gun bills that have been signed into law:
- House Bill 1630 /Senate Bill 106, sponsored by Sen. Mark Allen, and Rep. David Hardin, allows for the use of an SDA license in place of a background check when purchasing a firearm.
- Senate Bill 646, sponsored by Sen. Michael Bergstrom, will allow for an individual to carry a firearm in the designated bar area of a restaurant as long as that person is not consuming alcohol.
- Senate Bill 672, sponsored by Sen. Casey Murdock, cleans upstate law to allow for the transportation of a long gun in a motor vehicle.
- House Bill 2645, sponsored by Rep. Jon Echols, prevents cities from prohibiting carry in outdoor venues without providing a certain amount of security.
Thank you to those legislators who supported these pro-gun measures, and to Governor Stitt for signing them into law.
Sen. Eric Burlison’s Second Amendment Preservation Act Passes Legislature
JEFFERSON CITY — State Sen. Eric Burlison, R-Battlefield, is proud to announce that House Bills 85 and 310, the Second Amendment Preservation Act (SAPA), has passed both chambers of the Missouri legislature.
The Second Amendment Preservation Act declares all federal laws, rules, orders or other actions which restrict or prohibit the manufacture, ownership and use of firearms, firearm accessories or ammunition exclusively in Missouri will not be enforced by state law enforcement, state municipal officials and other state officials.
“This is an issue that could not wait any longer. I am increasingly concerned about the president and his administration attempting to restrict our right to keep and bear arms,” Sen. Burlison said. “Ultimately, I believe the purpose of the Second Amendment is to provide the citizens of our country with the ability to defend ourselves, and, if it comes to it, to push back against a tyrannical government. I am thrilled so many of my colleagues stood with me and worked to protect the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Missourians.”
Senator Burlison filed the Senate version in the Missouri Senate this year and led the debate on SAPA in the Senate on Thursday, May 13.
“I have been advocating for SAPA for years now,” Sen. Burlison said. “Finally getting this crucial legislation across the finish line and sent to the governor’s desk is an incredible feeling, and I am thankful for my colleagues and their hard work to protect Missourians from overreaching federal gun laws. I am optimistic that the governor will sign this legislation into law.”
On Monday, May 17th, Senator Burlison, along with other lawmakers who championed SAPA, will hold a press conference at The Sounds of Freedom USA in Ozark, MO at 12:00 p.m. The public is invited.
Some state lawmakers want a say in U.S. Constitution
The ‘convention of states’ bill backed by the GOP aims to give states the power to propose constitutional amendments.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — At the State House, Republican lawmakers are hoping South Carolina will join the list of states signing up to be part of the convention of states.
The U.S. Constitution allows constitutional amendments to be proposed by Congress, which is what typically happens, or by a convention of states. For the convention of states to propose changes to the Constitution, 34 states must pass a law saying they will be part of the group.
A bill to join the convention has just passed in the South Carolina House.
Idaho Gov. Signs Bill Barring Enforcement of Biden’s Executive Gun Control
Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) signed legislation Monday to prohibit enforcement of the executive actions for gun control put forth by President Joe Biden.
One outworking of those executive actions has been the Department of Justice’s attempt to reclassify certain gun parts kits as “firearms.”
The executive actions are also expected to lead to DOJ action against AR-pistols with stabilizer braces.
But KTVB reports that the bill signed by Gov. Little “[prohibits] Idaho government entities from upholding Biden’s March executive actions.”
The Associated Press notes the bill passed the House and Senate with veto-proof majorities and “carried an emergency notice, meaning it went into effect with Little’s signature.”
The new law is retroactive to January 20, 2021. It is designed to prevent “Idaho government entities from enforcing executive orders, federal laws, treaties, agency orders and rules of the U.S. government involving firearms, firearm components, firearm accessories or ammunition that conflict with the Idaho Constitution.”
Arizona Governor Signs Law Designating Gun Stores As Essential Firms
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) has signed into law legislation that designates gun stores as essential businesses allowed to remain open during an emergency—a move that will further protect gun stores, manufacturers, and trade associations from lawsuits.
The new law, Senate Bill 1382, introduced by Republican Sen. Wendy Rogers, applies to any store selling guns or ammunition, or their components, and mirrors federal law that was passed on a bipartisan basis.
Ducey’s office said in a release that the measure will protect the Second Amendment rights of Arizonans by “safeguarding against frivolous lawsuits that have no connection to unlawful use of firearms.”
Local [Texas] law enforcement preparing for impact of permitless carry
Hunt County’s law enforcement officials say they are ready to deal with the ramifications of the constitutional carry bill, which was nearing final approval in the Texas Legislature Friday morning.
But proponents of the measure say it still needs to cross the final hurdles.
“I applaud the Senate for finally passing the House’s Constitutional Carry bill yesterday, a bill that will further secure our second amendment rights,” said State Representative for District 2 Bryan Slaton. “But there is still plenty of work to be done to make sure this bill becomes law.”
Under current state law, Texans must generally be licensed to carry handguns openly or concealed. Applicants must submit fingerprints, complete four to six hours of training and pass a written exam and a shooting proficiency test. Texas does not require a license to openly carry a rifle in public.
“HB 1927 allows law-abiding citizens aged 21 who can legally own a firearm to carry it in a holster in public places without a state-issued license,” said State Senator Bob Hall, after the House bill passed the Senate Wednesday.
The bill was still being worked on in a committee Friday morning to hammer out the differences remaining in the House and Senate versions, before it is sent to Governor Greg Abbott, who has said he intends to sign the measure into law when it reaches his desk.
Greenville Police Chief Scott Smith and Hunt County Sheriff Terry Jones said they were prepared for the eventuality of the law being implemented.
“I am a firm supporter of the 2nd Amendment,” Jones said. “We will take the actions required by law and implement our policies accordingly.”
Smith was wanting to see a final version of the law, but knew it was on its way regardless.
“It will present some challenges that perhaps we haven’t had in the past,” Smith said, as he realizes the law may increase the appeal to the public of buying and wearing a handgun. But he also knows there are responsibilities involved in owning and maintaining any weapon which may eventually temper some of the enthusiasm.
“I think at some point it will settle down into a new reality for all of us,” Smith said.
Gov. Doug Burgum on April 26, signed a proclamation designating North Dakota as a “Second Amendment Sanctuary State,” reinforcing the state’s support for the constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
Burgum signed the proclamation during a ceremonial signing with legislators for several bills approved this session to protect the rights of North Dakotans to possess and carry firearms.
“Both the U.S. Constitution and North Dakota Constitution recognize our citizens’ inalienable right to keep and bear arms, and designating North Dakota as a Second Amendment Sanctuary State sends a strong message to Congress and the White House that we will firmly resist any attempts to infringe on those rights,” Burgum said. “We are deeply grateful to all of the legislators who sponsored and supported these bills and worked to strengthen North Dakota’s commitment to the Second Amendment.”
Unwritten firearm policies under the gun as Gov. DeSantis signs preemption bill
Republicans hope local governments think twice about abridging gun rights.
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed a measure to crack down on local governments creating gun control measures.
Lawmakers last week passed a bill (SB 1884) clarifying that existing preemptions on local firearm and ammunition laws also apply to unwritten rules and policies. The proposal, which the Legislature formally sent to the Governor earlier in the day, will also make clear local governments can’t bypass court cases simply by scrapping gun laws.
State law expressly prohibits a local government from creating an “ordinance, regulation, measure, directive, rule, enactment, order or policy” relating to guns that is more restrictive than state law. The broad list was intended to show it includes unwritten policies, but some courts have sided with cities and counties on unwritten rules.
Rep. Cord Byrd, a Neptune Beach Republican who has carried the issue in the House, said the Legislature needs to shore up the law because of defiant local officials. He cited multiple examples just this year of local governments passing ordinances despite preemption laws in place since 1987. It’s the same reason in 2011 that the Legislature put in penalties for local officials who vote for local ordinances regardless of state law.
Nearly Half of All U.S. Counties Are Now Second Amendment Sanctuaries
Kansas lowers concealed gun carry age to 18 as Legislature overrides Gov. Laura Kelly veto
The Kansas Legislature on Monday overturned Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of a bill lowering the minimum age to carry a concealed weapon in the state from 21 to 18.
After less than five minutes of debate, House Republicans pieced together the 84 votes needed to override Kelly’s veto of House Bill 2058, which allows persons 18, 19 and 20 to get a concealed carry permit.
The bill also makes it easier in some cases for felons convicted of violent crimes to reacquire their rights to possess and carry firearms.
The override later passed 31-8 in the Senate, where the outcome was never in doubt.
Although she proclaims herself a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, Kelly cited on-campus carry at state colleges and universities as her primary reason for rejecting HB2058.
“We can respect and defend the rights of Kansas gun owners while also taking effective steps to keep our children and families safe,” she said in her veto message “Legislation that allows more guns on campus is neither safe nor effective, and it will drive prospective students away from our schools.”
Rep. John Barker, R-Abiline, carried the veto measure on the House floor and questioned Kelly’s commitment to gun rights.
“The governor in her message indicated that she has always supported the Second Amendment. Well, I find that hard to believe sometimes, because we already have 18-year-olds that can carry a gun (openly) in the state of Kansas,” Barker said. “This requires them, if they’re going to carry a concealed weapon, to get training and to get a permit and to have a background investigation.
“I think that’s a positive move. Any time people can get training, that’s a good thing.”
He said the law started out as a way for Kansas to honor out-of-state concealed-carry permits, including those from states that already allow 18-20 year olds to carry. “So they would be able to carry in the state, yet a Kansas resident would not be able to carry at that age,” he said…….