Free Republic

The Gongwer News Service is reporting on the second hearing on HB495 (Reciprocity & Concealed Carry Modernization), which was held yesterday before the House Committee on State Government and Elections. According to the article, gun rights advocates urged members of the committee to ease restrictions on concealed carry licensees, while opponents warned the bill would bring Ohio's firearm regulations into line with the "lowest common denominator" among states. National Rifle Association member Omar Ganoom said the legislation (HB 495) would eliminate an onerous and unfair requirement for licensees to undergo competency training for renewing their licenses, he said, noting that...

The Maryland General Assembly could consider legislation that would soften the impact of an April court ruling classifying pit bulls as “inherently dangerous” in the latest of several recent cases that have highlighted the checks and balances between the state’s legislative and judicial branches. A panel of Maryland lawmakers will meet later this month to study the possible effects of a state Court of Appeals decision that makes owners of pit bulls or pit-bull mixes liable if their dog attacks another person, even if the dog had no prior history of dangerous behavior. The assembly is expected to hold a...

CHESTERTOWN The Maryland Transportation Authority, which controls tolls on highways and bridges in the state, will have to listen harder to the public next time it decides to raise prices. Legislation sponsored by Sen. E.J. Pipkin, R-36-Upper Shore, in the 2012 regular session, established a "protocol by which the Maryland Transportation Authority raises tolls ... and requires public comment throughout the process," according to a Pipkin press release. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and the House. It was signed into law two weeks ago. At the MDTA board's September meeting, where they took a unanimous vote for an...

Veteran gun rights activist Joe Waldron, former executive director of the Bellevue-based Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and now its legislative director, has unveiled what he calls a “progressive pro-gun road map” for the Evergreen State. He shared the draft document exclusively with the Gun Rights Examiner, stressing that this is not designed as a carved-in-stone agenda, but more in the nature of "food for thought" for gun owner consideration over the next couple of years. With certain modifications, this could apply to other states. Waldron, now headquartered in Florida with national responsibilities – while...

Remember the good old days when we generally knew which politicians were bad on gun rights? Bill Clinton had foolishly convinced his colleagues that you could vote for a gun ban and remain in office or even win political favor. How wrong they turned out to be. In the wake of the Clinton “assault weapons” ban, a pro-gun revolution swept both houses of Congress. Even Clinton acknowledged the role of the NRA and gun owners in turning the tide, and he’d later credit them with Al Gore’s defeat. The anti-gunners had learned their lesson. Now they quite literally camouflage their...

Premier Obama has signed yet another executive order, this one is Identifying and Reducing Regulatory Burdens, that when coupled with his Executive Order Promoting International Regulatory Cooperation and Executive Order Establishing a White House Council on Strong Cities, Strong Communities, opens a direct path to bring United Nations regulations to the grass roots of our body politic. This latest executive order will allow the soviet socialists in our local communities through their committees to adopt and enact United Nations regulations designed to establish absolute United Nations’ control over our every resource. The laws of the United States, individual states, counties,...

The 2012 legislative session officially ended on May 3, 2012. The Senate adjourned at 8:22 PM. The House adjourned at 8:25 PM. To view a summary of legislation that AzCDL monitored this session, along with each bill’s current status, visit our Bill Tracking page. The following are firearms related bills that were signed by the Governor this session. The effective date on these legislative changes is August 2nd, 90 days after Sine Die. HB 2457, which allows the possession of an otherwise “prohibited” weapon (i.e., for self-defense) while hunting, was signed by the Governor on April 10th. HB 2639, the...

Mandatory "Event Data Recorders" will even know you're speeding in reverse. After a certain point, it's not paranoia. The latest brick in the wall is the predictably named "Moving Ahead For Progress in the 21st Century Act," also known as Senate Bill 1813. (See here for the full text of the bill itself; the relevant section is 31406.) This legislation -- already passed by the Senate and likely to be passed by the House -- will impose a legal requirement that all new cars made beginning with the 2015 models be fitted with so-called Event Data Recorders (EDRs). These are...

Color of Change, a 501(c)(4) non-profit corporation that engages in lobbying and public advocacy, is organizing a campaign against the “stand your ground” self-defense laws in a variety of states, particularly in Florida as a result of the Trayvon Martin incident that took place in Florida. Color of Change was founded in 2005 by James Rucker and Van Jones. Rucker previously directed Grassroots Mobilization for MoveOn.org — one of multiple groups funded by George Soros. Jones served as Special Advisor for Green Jobs in the Obama administration, a position from which he resigned after it was exposed that he belonged...

All new legislation offered by members of the House of Representatives since January 3, 2011 is required to include, under House Rule XII, a reference to the constitutional authority under which the bill is presented. Most of the bills offered since then show either the members’ lack of understanding of, or blatant disregard for, the purpose of Rule XII: to tie the proposed legislation to the enumerated powers under the Constitution. The rule states:A bill or joint resolution may not be introduced unless the sponsor submitted … a statement citing as specifically as possible the power or powers granted to...

Charlotte, NC --(Ammoland.com)- Yesterday, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear signed three NRA-backed bills into law: House Bill 484, concealed carry exemption; House Bill 500, strengthening current firearms preemption law; and House Bill 563, fraudulent firearms prevention. These laws will go into effect on July 11, 2012. HB 484, sponsored by state Representative Will Coursey (D-6), expands the current concealed carry exemptions by allowing landowners and businessmen with a sole proprietorship to carry a handgun concealed without the necessity of a concealed carry permit. HB 500, sponsored by state Representative Bob Damron (D-39), will strengthen the current firearms preemption statute by expanding...

TOPEKA -- Gun owners who have a Kansas concealed-carry permit would be allowed to bring their weapons into more public buildings under a bill approved Monday by the state House. The House's 74-50 vote sends the measure to the Senate, where it's likely to get a cool reception. House members rewrote the bill so that it's not as strong as its supporters initially wanted, but it still faces opposition from many local governments and higher education officials.

This past Saturday saw the adjournment of the 2012 legislative session and with it came good news for NRA members across the Mountaineer State, as three NRA-backed bills are now headed to the Governor for his approval. Senate Bill 149, introduced by state Senate Majority Leader John Unger (D-16), would mandate police authorities return all seized firearms, not currently being held as evidence in a criminal investigation, to the lawful owner if able. If the lawful owner is not found or unable to take possession of the firearm, SB 149 would require these agencies to sell these firearms at a...

Wednesday, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) reported impending action on S. 1249, the "Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act." S. 1249 and its House counterpart, H.R. 3065, would permit a portion of the revenue raised through a long-established federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition to be used for the construction, operation, and maintenance of public shooting ranges. This tax--11% on long guns and ammunition, and 10% on handguns--amounts to a considerable sum of money, especially in light of the sustained boom in firearm sales. That money has, since the signing of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act in...

Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO) and Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) have unveiled legislation in the Senate and House which would ensure that any individual detained on U.S. soil under the Authorization of Military Force (AUMF) has access to due process and the federal court system. The bill would repeal the provision in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 that requires the military to detain on U.S. soil any individuals suspected of terrorism. Senator Mark Udall and Rep. Adam Smith launch an effort to protect U.S. citizens from indefinite detention and preserve civil liberties.Senator Mark Udall and Rep. Adam Smith launch...

The Georgia Senate has approved two pro-gun bills, one that would require authorities to return stolen guns to their lawful owners and one that would lower the concealed carry license age requirement from 21 to 18. Senate Bill 350 would require law enforcement agencies throughout the state to return all seized firearms, not being held as evidence, to their lawful owners no later than 30 days after the court renders its final judgment. Now, if the firearms cannot be traced back to the original owners, S.B. 350 would require that authorities sell those firearms at a public auction. Current Georgia...

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahomans who obtain a concealed carry permit would be allowed to carry their firearms openly under a bill that has passed the Oklahoma House.

The Utah House is working on a change to the disorderly conduct statute to specifically state that open carry, absent "additional threatening behavior", does not constitute disorderly conduct. Naturally, the shrill shrieking hysteria has only just begun, but some of it has a disturbingly Geheime Staatspolizei tone. Witness one Peg McEntee who starts off her editorial (headlined Revised open-carry law obstructs law enforcement) by saying that she "honors" the Second Amendment. She is, however, a what David Codrea calls a Big "But" Second Amendment supporter: "Right from the start, let me say that I honor the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment...

IOWA – -(Ammoland.com)- First off, I want to thank every one of you that has taken the time to utilize our Action Center (also on Facebook) to correspond with Representatives on our bills. Your hard work and willingness to be involved has helped Iowa Firearms Coalition, and the NRA, to move every one of our top priority bills through committee! At the start of the legislative session IFC announced our four top priorities: * Iowa Constitutional Amendment for a Right to Keep and Bear Arms – HJR2009 * Iowa Family Defense Act, Stand Your Ground – HF2215 * Iowa Firearm...

In addition to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s handgun licensing and ammunition tax schemes mentioned here, several other anti-gun bills are expected to see action this week in Springfield: House Bill 4149 and House Bill 4456, both introduced by state Representative Kelly Cassidy (D-14), would require private transfers of handguns to go through a Federal Firearms License (FFL) holder, and allow for fees (gun taxes) for such transfers. House Bill 3809, also introduced by Representative Cassidy, would create a new felony offense for anyone who transfers a firearm to someone the transferor "knows is a street gang member." While this may...