As Congress fails to make progress on reforming the nation’s gun laws, state legislatures have filled the void. A number of states around the country, and not just deep-blue ones, have taken steps to crack down on gun violence. Even some very conservative states have defeated National Rifle Association (NRA) supported bills that would have significantly weakened state gun laws.
Here’s a run-down of ten instances of state progress that were in some cases mere proposals as recently as this January:
1. Colorado. A purple state with a strong gun culture, Colorado nevertheless enacted universal background checks and a ban on high-capacity magazines.
2. California. Governor Jerry Brown (D) signed legislation at the beginning of May that would provide $24 million for confiscating illegally owned weapons that the police have identified, but hasn’t had the resources to seize. California is also considering thirty-odd measures strengthening the state’s gun violence prevention measures.
3. Georgia. The Georgia legislature killed a bill at the end of the last legislative session that would have allowed concealed carry in churches, courthouse, and college campuses.
4. Maryland. Maryland enacted one of the most sweeping new gun laws in the country, including an assault weapons ban, restrictions on magazine size, and a requirement that all gun purchasers get a license and submit a fingerprint sample.
5. Rhode Island. The Ocean State’s legislature is considering an omnibus gun bill, supported by its governor, Lincoln Chafee (I), that would set up a police registry of guns to better track crime guns as well as make it harder to get a concealed carry permit.
6. Delaware. In early May, Governor Jack Markell (D) signed a universal background check bill into law.
7. Wyoming. The Wyoming legislature, which can be quite hostile to gun regulation, voted down a bill authorizing teachers to carry guns.
8. New York. New York strengthened its already strong gun laws, including stricter assault weapon and high capacity magazine bans.
9. Connecticut. Connecticut also passed a comprehensive package that included universal background checks for bullets as well as guns, as well as an assault weapons ban and magazine restrictions.
10. Nevada. Just this Wednesday, the Nevada Senate passed a universal background checks bill that would require a check on all private sales.
Although disappointing, Georgia isn't surprising. Atlanta, which is notoriously liberal and corrupt, is a big influencer in state politics due to its size. Add in a group of people who don't understand why anyone would need a gun in church, even though they might normally support Second Amendment issues, and it might be a tough one to get through.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say that they advanced gun control. They merely didn't change what is already on the books.
Most of those are tyrant states only making things worse. A few good states are just not making things better. Colorado is the only major change, and the politicians of that state are finding out that they screwed up.
ReplyDeleteAnd then of course, there are states viewed as deep blue states that voted against passing gun laws that really wouldnt work. No one really knows if background checks for private sales actually works because a gun that is sold between two consenting persons doesnt come up on any statistic. Sort of like the weed that Bill Maher buys.
ReplyDeleteMy home state of Minnesota is quite liberal, with democratic majorities in both the House and the Senate, and also has a democratic Governor, yet wasnt even able to get universal background checks or an assault weapon ban out of commitee. And this is after the pro gun control faction trotted the kids in to make a statement. There was also quite a response from gun owners who also made statements. This again belies the 90% figure of the population wanting to pass stricter gun laws.
3,7- how is not passing a pro-gun bill considered "advancing gun control"? Along those lines, they should also count up the states that did pass pro-gun bills this year.
ReplyDelete5. Rhode Island. The Ocean State’s legislature is considering an omnibus gun bill, supported by its governor, Lincoln Chafee (I), that would set up a police registry of guns to better track crime guns as well as make it harder to get a concealed carry permit.
ReplyDeleteOr not. Apparently, there's a good chance that morality and decency will prevail (mostly) in Rhode Island.
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