Category: Politics

Arizona: House Passes School Pick-Up Drop-Off Bill

A number of pro-gun bills have continued to advance in Arizona.

On Thursday, the House passed House Bill 2414 by a vote of 31-27. It allows law-abiding citizens to store their loaded firearms in their locked personal vehicles while parked on school grounds. This ensures that parents are able to pick-up and drop-off students without first having to stop and unload their firearms before driving onto school grounds, or deviating from their route to park off-campus. So-called “gun-free zones” are arbitrary boundaries that only disarm law-abiding citizens and leave them defenseless while doing nothing to deter criminals. HB 2414 has been transmitted to the Senate for further consideration.

The House Ways and Means Committee passed House Bill 2166. It exempts firearms and firearm safety equipment, such as gun safes and gun locks, from state transaction privilege and use taxes. This recognizes that the government should not be placing additional cost barriers on citizens who wish to exercise their Second Amendment rights, and who wish to safely store their firearms. HB 2166 will next be considered in the House Rules Committee.

The House Judiciary Committee passed House Bill 2473. It prohibits public entities from entering into contracts worth $100,000 or greater with businesses, unless they certify that they do not discriminate against firearm businesses. Anti-gun banks and their executives have expressed interest in denying services to the firearm industry as a way to further their political agenda and impose gun control by making such business impossible when legislatures won’t bend to their will. Banks should evaluate firearm businesses like any other business and consider financial risk, rather than ideology, in their decisions on providing services. This ensures that Arizona taxpayer money does not go to such businesses. HB 2473 will next be considered in the House Rules Committee.

The House Military Affairs & Public Safety Committee passed House Bill 2448. It requires school districts to offer age-appropriate firearm safety instruction to students in grades six through twelve. This legislation will help empower youths with this basic knowledge of respecting firearms “from a qualified individual with a focus on safety rather than from popular culture and various forms of media.” HB 2448 will next be considered in the House Rules Committee.​

Reading through the Heller SCOTUS decision, these mandatory ‘safe storage’ bills like this one are all unconstitutional.

Storage bill a litigation and laundering scheme in disguise

So-called “safe storage” of firearms is a serious matter, however it’s been greatly politicized. The term “safe storage” needs to be replaced by the more applicable term “responsible storage”. Trying to cram the individual storage needs of every American into a statutory definition is impossible. What gun owners know and somehow escapes the anti-freedom caucus, the storing of a firearm might be “safe” in one home or location, but not necessarily “safe” in another. Just like the ignorant and obtuse opinions of our congresscritters who trend left of center are varied, so are the needs of gun owners. There’s no one size fits all solution to the storage debate.

On February 8, 2022 Congressman Andy Levin from Michigan introduced a new so-called “safe storage” bill, but in reality it seems to be a cloaked effort to open the doors for litigation against gun owners, and create a grant program to siphon funds into schools that subscribe to the pinko “shall always be locked up” mentality. On H.R.6639 – Protect Children Through Safe Gun Ownership Act:

Congressman Andy Levin (MI-09), member of the House Education and Labor Committee and the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, today unveiled his Protect Children Through Safe Gun Ownership Act. As many as 4.6 million children live in homes with at least one loaded and unsecured firearm. Children finding easy access to firearms contribute to preventable tragedies, such as school shootings, youth suicides and unintentional shooting deaths among children. Firearms are the leading cause of death among children and teens according to Everytown for Gun Safety.

The bill includes three main provisions to protect children from unsecured firearms: limitation on the transfer and use of handgun by minors, a new gun storage requirement and robust funding for the Department of Education to create a grant program centered around gun safety and safe storage education for parents and children.

The claim that “Firearms are the leading cause of death among children and teens” is a so-called statistic that needs to be buried and put to rest. Even on Everytown’s page noting this misleading “statistic” they say this includes “children” up to the age of 19. Without going too far into to weeds, it’s difficult not to when we’re being fed so many lies all the time, let’s look at another statistic.

Continue reading “”

West Virginia: Senate Passes Keep, Bear, and Drive with Arms Act

Yesterday, the Senate voted 33-1 to pass House Bill 4048, the WV Keep, Bear and Drive with Arms Act. It will now go back to the House for concurrence. Please ask your delegate to CONCUR with the Senate on HB 4048 WITHOUT further amendments.

House Bill 4048 affirms that it is lawful to possess loaded and/or uncased long guns in vehicles. This ensures that law-abiding citizens may carry the firearms of their choice, in the manner of their choosing, with them in vehicles. Given that West Virginia already has constitutional carry, law-abiding gun owners should be able to exercise their Second Amendment rights with long guns while traveling throughout the state.

Alabama: Constitutional Carry Advancing to Floor

Yesterday, the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee voted 8-5 to pass House Bill 272, the constitutional carry bill. It will now advance to the House floor, where it will be considered tomorrow morning. The House still needs to first approve a budget isolation resolution (BIR) for it. Please contact your state representative and ask them to SUPPORT a BIR for HB 272, decline any amendments, and also SUPPORT it on the floor.

Constitutional carry strengthens Alabamians’ right to self-defense by allowing any law-abiding adult who is at least 21-years-old and legally eligible to obtain a carry permit, to carry a handgun without first having to obtain government permission. This ensures that citizens have their right to self-defense without red tape, delays, or fees. It does not change who is eligible to obtain a carry permit. It also does not affect previously issued permits, and allows citizens who still wish to obtain a permit in order to carry in other states recognizing Alabama’s permits, to do so.

Again, please contact your state representative immediately. Ask them to SUPPORT a BIR for HB 272, decline any amendments, and also SUPPORT it on the floor.

Wisconsin: Senate Passes Two Self-Defense Bills

Tuesday the Senate passed two bills to improve self-defense in Wisconsin. They now go to Governor Tony Evers for his consideration. NRA thanks the sponsors and all the lawmakers who voted in favor of these bills. Please contact Gov. Evers and ask him to sign Assembly Bills 518 and 495 into law.

Assembly Bill 518, sponsored by Representative Rick Gundrum (R-58), passed on a voice vote. It grants universal recognition to concealed carry permits held by non-Wisconsin residents, issued by any other state. It repeals the requirement that such recognition be only for permits from states on an arbitrary list maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. This reform recognizes that visitors traveling to Wisconsin should not be left defenseless simply by crossing a state line.

Assembly Bill 495, sponsored by Representative Robert Brooks (R-60), passed the Senate by a vote of 20-17. It allows adults who are licensed to carry firearms, to drive onto school grounds to pick-up or drop-off their students without first having to unload and store away their firearms in their vehicles. So-called “gun-free zones” simply disarm law-abiding citizens and leave them defenseless against the criminals who ignore such arbitrary boundaries.

Arizona bill to remove tax on gun sales advances

PHOENIX — Arizona lawmakers are moving to help make the purchase of guns just a bit more affordable.

By a 6-4 margin, the House Ways and Means Committee voted Wednesday to exempt the sale of firearms from the state’s 5.6% sales tax. HB 2166 also would impose the same preclusion on cities.

“It’s my view that firearms should not be out of reach of anyone based on income,” Rep. Steve Kaiser, R-Phoenix, told colleagues. “It should be as affordable as possible.”

The bill now requires a vote of the full House.

Also exempt from taxes would be the sale of safety accessories, ranging from gun safes or cases to certain interlocks to prevent a weapon from being fired unless first deactivated by someone who is supposed to have access.

Individual affordability aside, Kaiser said what his bill also would do is end the financial disadvantage of firearms dealers.

Continue reading “”

Spokane County Sheriff: Magazine bans do nothing to stop violence

(The Center Square) – Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich told legislators Wednesday that there was no evidence that banning the sale of high-capacity firearm magazines deterred violence and that the ban was likely to be found unconstitutional.

“There is no evidence that this type of ban is going to decrease violence in Washington, none whatsoever,” said Knezovich.

He was addressing the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee that is reviewing Senate Bill 5078, which passed in that chamber by a 28-20 vote last week…………….

Overwhelming Opposition to WA Magazine Ban Bill…

Legislation that would ban so-called “high capacity magazines” in Washington State—scheduled for a public hearing Wednesday morning before the state House Civil Rights & Judiciary committee—had garnered almost 15,000 “con” notifications prior to the hearing, while less than 1,000 “pro” notifications had been logged.

Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5078 would prohibit ammunition magazines for rifles or pistols exceeding 10 rounds. Larger capacity magazines already in possession would be still allowed.

But Evergreen State gun owners are unified in their opposition to the measure, which was requested by anti-gun Democrat Attorney General Bob Ferguson and sponsored by Bellevue Democrat state Sen. Patty Kuderer, with a handful of co-sponsors, all Democrats.

The hearing was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The bill has already passed the Democrat-controlled Senate on a party-line vote 28-20. It is scheduled for a committee vote on Friday.

Continue reading “”

“….getting rid of the permits would amount to “defunding the police” and endanger law enforcement officers.”
That’s a new take on the old “The sky is falling, the sky is falling, there will be blood running in the streets!™”
It was said about permitless carry by the anti-civil rights Nervous Nellies in every state before it was passed…..And-It-Never-Happens.

Alabama House committee approves permitless pistol carry bill.

An Alabama House committee Wednesday approved a bill that would allow the permitless carry of pistols in the state, sending an Alabama House GOP priority bill to that chamber.

The 8 to 5 vote on the bill from Rep. Shane Stringer, R-Citronelle, took place after an hour of contentious debate that crossed party lines.

Stringer argued that the legislation would allow law-abiding citizens to carry weapons without fear of legal retribution, and said permit laws did not deter crime.

“The fact of the matter is criminals don’t adhere to laws,” Stringer said. “They don’t obey the laws we have now. We cannot legislate an evil heart from Montgomery.”

The bill passed with an amendment that would require gun owners to declare that they were carrying firearms when asked by a police officer. But there was confusion about a second amendment proposed by Rep. Proncey Robertson, R-Mount Hope, that appeared to create separate penalties for bringing firearms in areas where they are currently restricted and led Stringer to call Rep. Mike Jones, R-Andalusia, not a member of the committee, to explain it.

Rep. Allen Farley, R-McCalla, a retired assistant sheriff for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, said getting rid of the permits would amount to “defunding the police” and endanger law enforcement officers.

Kansas Republicans introduce anti-gun owner discrimination law

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Kansas Republicans have introduced an anti-discrimination bill in the Senate, which would prevent discrimination against those involved in the legal trade of guns or ammunition.

On Tuesday, Feb. 15, Republican Senator Kellie Warren (R-11) says she sponsored the Firearms Industry Nondiscrimination Act. She said the legislation is imperative to protect the Second Amendment rights of Kansans.

Senate Bill 482 would block attempts to discriminate against those involved in the legal trade of firearms or ammunition.

“The leftist mob has a radical agenda designed to circumvent our constitutional rights in order to re-engineer society by attacking the gun trade,” said Warren. “Knowing their policies are deeply unpopular in Kansas, they seek to enforce their agenda through woke corporations seeking to cancel our right to bear arms and bully those involved in the commerce of firearms and ammunition. That’s why I’m proud to join with the Republican leadership in the Senate to sponsor the FIND Act.”

Warren said similar bills have been signed into law in states like Texas as conservative leaders look to block “Corporate Gun Control” attempts.

“The FIND Act is incredibly important legislation that needs to be passed in order to protect our 2nd Amendment Rights,” Warren noted. “The gun trade in Kansas should be protected, not punished, and I stand with them in defending their rights and protecting them and their employees.”

Warren, who currently chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, has also thrown her hat into the Attorney’s General race.

Senators Larry Alley (R-32), Renee Erickson (R-30), Ty Masterson (R-16) and Rick Wilborn (R-35) also sponsored the bill.

Furious WA Voters Tell Sen. Kuderer Guns Definitely ‘A Woman’s Issue’

Washington State Second Amendment activists are on the warpath against anti-gun State Sen. Patty Kuderer (D-Bellevue), sponsor of a bill to ban so-called “high capacity magazines” now moving in the Legislature, because during testimony supporting her measure, she declared “Guns are not a woman’s issue.”

Women gun owners are chiming in on the Washington 2022 Legislative Action Group’s Facebook page, telling the 48^th District senator in no uncertain terms that guns are definitely a “woman’s issue.”

The magazine ban legislation was introduced at the request of anti-gun Democrat Attorney General Bob Ferguson. Kuderer was joined by several other Democrats to introduce the bill.

Now, the Washington Civil Rights Association has put together a scathing video featuring a video clip of Kuderer making the statement on TVW, the legislature’s pubic television service, accompanied by clips of several women involved in acts of armed self-defense. There is circus-type music in the background, and the overall effect is to portray Kuderer as out-of-touch with reality. While there might be a disclaimer if this video were to appear during a television news broadcast, the images don’t seem to bother any of the grassroots activists who have been viewing it.

Continue reading “”

Permit-less gun bill moves through General Assembly
‘Constitutional carry’ bill makes last stop before floor debate.

ATLANTA – After years of unsuccessful efforts, gun rights advocates have never been closer to convincing the General Assembly to pass legislation letting Georgians carry concealed firearms without a permit.

“To build a safer, stronger Georgia, we must ensure every Georgian feels safe and secure in their communities,” Gov. Brian Kemp said during his State of the State address last month.

“I believe that starts with fully recognizing the constitutional rights granted to law-abiding Georgians in our founding documents, and I look forward to supporting constitutional carry legislation this session.”

The constitutional carry bill, sponsored by Sen. Jason Anavitarte, cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee Feb. 2 along party lines, with six Republican senators supporting it and three Democrats opposed. Its next stop will be the Senate Rules Committee, which is expected to send it to the floor of the chamber for a vote of the full Senate.

“Our organization is grateful for Senator Anavitarte and his unapologetic support of the Second Amendment,” Jerry Henry, executive director of the Georgia gun rights group GA2A, said in a statement issued after the committee vote. “We are one step closer to restoring the constitutional rights afforded to every law-abiding citizen in Georgia.”

Continue reading “”

This would have been an addition, a further restriction on RKBA by adding ‘dating partners’ to the original list of relationships that the ‘Lautenberg amendment’ added to the list of people who be permanently prohibited from lawfully possessing a gun. In other words, more gun control.

Lawmakers rolling out Violence Against Women Act without ‘controversial’ provision

A bipartisan group of lawmakers announced on Wednesday that it had reached an agreement on legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that forgoes a key provision that drew opposition from gun rights advocates.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Ala.) was joined by co-authors Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) in announcing the legislation at a press conference on Wednesday.

Actress Angelina Jolie, who has been working with lawmakers to promote the legislative effort, was also in attendance with other advocates, along with Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), who have also been involved in the push.

If passed, it would mark the first time in nearly a decade that the bill has been reauthorized — a move advocates have said is necessary to update the legislation to adequately meet the needs of those it is designed to protect.

“Together, we drafted a bill that preserves the good work of the last reauthorization bill in 2013,” Feinstein said, adding the bill will strengthen “existing programs to support survivors and to prevent and to respond to domestic violence, and that’s dating violence and sexual assault and stalking.”

Feinstein said the legislation will seek to enhance and expand services “for survivors of domestic violence, including survivors in rural communities, LGBT survivors,” as well as survivors with disabilities, and strengthen the criminal justice response to domestic violence.

However, Feinstein added that the bill “is not perfect” and will not address the so-called boyfriend loophole, despite recent efforts by the lawmakers to have it included in the legislation.

In late December, lawmakers unveiled a framework for their reauthorization proposal that outlined a provision advocates said would partially close the loophole by prohibiting individuals convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against a dating partner from possessing or purchasing firearms or ammunition. Similar restrictions apply to spouses or formerly married partners under current law.

The move marked the latest attempt by lawmakers to go after the loophole in recent years, after previous efforts were attacked by gun rights groups and Republicans as unnecessary “gun control,” though proponents have said it would save lives.

“The boyfriend loophole is a play straight from the Biden gun control agenda. It’s just gun control,” Aidan Johnson, director of federal affairs at Gun Owners of America, said in an interview last month opposing the provision.

Continue reading “”