Free Republic

We’ve reported that Nevada’s Question 1, a ballot initiative aimed at expanding background checks, would only affect legal gun owners, while doing nothing to reduce violent crime. As it turns out, this isn’t just an opinion held by the measure’s detractors. During a news conference on Tuesday, one of the main proponents of Question 1 admitted—while discussing his support of the measure, no less—that it had no chance of eliminating illegal gun purchases: “I can go out on the street today and buy all sorts of things on the black market. … I’m not suggesting this market will go away...

It’s just what you would expect from a newspaper whose editorial board just can’t help taking the wrong side on the issue of gun control. Despite widespread opposition by law enforcement and top state officials, USA Today last week chose to urge the newspaper’s handful of readers in Nevada and Maine to vote “yes” on anti-gun background check initiatives that would only affect the law-abiding, leaving armed criminals to commit whatever violent crimes they choose. The editorial was titled, “Vote 'yes' on gun safety measures: Our view,” with a subhead stating, “Do what weak-kneed members of Congress have refused to...

The leader of a statewide law enforcement union said Sunday Nevada’s expanded background check ballot question isn’t about protecting the Second Amendment — it’s about promoting public safety. Jim Dunlap, president of the Nevada Association of Public Safety Officers, told the Las Vegas Sun he disagrees with most of the state’s sheriffs when it comes to Question 1. “As top law enforcement officials, they have an obligation to their employees and to the people who elect them,” he said. “They say their opposition is about the Second Amendment, but our stand is on public safety. This measure will make it...

Bloomberg-backed piece falsely claims Question 1 will stop “convicted felons from buying a gun.” In a recent mail piece, Nevadans for Background Checks continues to peddle false claims in an attempt to pass a law that would criminalize virtually all private firearms transfers. The mail piece claims that Question 1, the Bloomberg gun control initiative, would stop “convicted felons from buying a gun without a background check.” Criminals, by definition, don’t follow the law. In this case, they will ignore the law and continue their criminal activities unaffected.

We are excited to announce the Grand Opening of Reno's NRA Campaign Office! With less than 100 days until election day, the office will serve as our Northern Nevada campaign headquarters where volunteers can make phone calls and campaign material will be dispersed. The NRA is committed to defeating Question 1, and we need all Second Amendment Activist to get involved and "stand up and fight" to defeat Question 1. Please join us on this important day of Monday, August 8th from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm for our Office Grand Opening. Our office is located on 3502 S Virginia...

Sheriffs in most Nevada counties have come out against a background check initiative that gun control advocates are supporting on the ballot this November, but the top cop in the largest police agency in the state says he'll sit this one out.

The National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action is launching an informational website to stop the Californication of Nevadans’ gun rights. The VoteNoQuestion1 website exposes the truth about how a universal background check would criminalize the commonplace activities of many Nevada gun owners. “The law-abiding gun owners of Nevada need to know that Question 1 would cost them their money and their freedom. It could even criminalize many of their commonplace activities,” said Catherine Mortensen, NRA Spokesperson. “This ballot initiative was bought and paid for by outside gun control groups bent on the Californication of Nevada. Armed with the facts,...

Gay marriage advocates cheered victories in voter initiatives in Maryland and Maine on Tuesday night and seemed poised to win in two other states. The votes were first setbacks at the ballot box for opponents of same-sex marriage after more than 30 victories. With 93 percent of the vote counted in Maryland, Ballot Question 6, which legalizes gay marriage in the state, was leading by 52 percent to 48 percent, and supporters were already claiming victory in the heated and expensive battle. “Today the marriage equality map expands to Maryland, giving thousands more loving couples the opportunity to make lifelong...

If you’re having trouble figuring out what Gov. Deval Patrick’s really trying to do with the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, just keep in mind the ABC’s of Beacon Hill budgeting: Anything But Cuts. While your wages have likely remained flat the past five years, state government spending has gone up 8 percent each year. During the past year, while the private sector was losing 1.4 million jobs, USA Today reports that state and local governments added 160,000 - the second-fastest growing sector of the economy. So when you hear that Patrick is “getting rid of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority,” you should...

BOSTON (AP) ― Massachusetts voters have rejected a call to eliminate the state's income tax. The measure would have cut the 5.3 percent tax rate in half in January, and then killed it completely in January 2010. Supporters argued the best way to cut government waste and overspending was to cut tax revenues by 40 percent or about $12.5 billion. They said it would have saved the average taxpayer about $3,700. But critics, including virtually every elected officials in the state, said the cuts would cripple state services, drive up property taxes, harm the state's credit rating and scare away...