Wants new laws to restrict sales and stiffen penalties for criminals who use guns

Chicago Mayor Daley, undaunted by the anticipated Supreme Court decision striking down Chicago failed handgun ban law, is calling for more laws to restrict the lawful commerce in firearms, such as banning modern sporting rifles, requiring federally licensed firearms dealers be also be licensed by the state and to limit the number of handgun a law abiding customer can purchase in a given month. Fortunately, these rehashed proposal have failed in previous legislative sessions and remain hopeful they will again.

A newly created subcommittee in the Virginia State Senate killed legislation to repeal one-gun-a-month. The subcommittee was created by the Chairman of the Senate Courts of Justice Committee Henry L. Marsh III (D) specifically for the purpose of terminating the proposed legislation.

NSSF is engaging members in the Virginia Senate on the actions of the subcommittee as it is a violation of senate rules for a subcommittee to kill a bill.

NSSF supports the repeal of one-gun-a-month and remains actively engaged in passing this legislation. In a blog entry after the House of Delegates' committee vote, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane discussed the issue of One-Gun-A-Month.

A laundry list of anti-gun bills have been introduced in the New York Assembly. The bills include:

• Firearms Microstamping: Assembly Bill 6468 and Senate Bill S 6005
• FFL liability for criminal misuse of firearms: Assembly Bill 1093 Senate Bill S 1715
• "Child proofing" devices for handguns: Assembly Bill 1326 and its Senate Bill S 5228
• Bullet Serialization: Assembly Bill 3200 Senate Bill S 2953
• Ballistic Imaging: Assembly Bill 3477 and Senate Bill S 1188
• "Smart Gun" mandate: Assembly Bill 4441 and Senate Bill S 4338
• Expansion of so-called "assault weapon" ban: Assembly Bill 6157 / 6294 and Senate Bill S 4084

Letters of opposition are being drafted for NSSF and the New York Association of Firearms Retailers for all of the above bills. NSSF will also be issuing a legislative alert urging all sportsmen and gun owners to voice their opposition to these anti-gun / anti-business measures.

To learn more about each of these issues, please visit the NSSF Fact Sheets and Backgrounders Page

Maryland State Senator Mike Lenett (D) withdrew his proposal to ban so-called "assault weapons" in the Old Line State. In pulling the bill, Sen. Lenett noted that the legislation lacked the support to move out of committee. NSSF would like to thank all those who voiced their opposition to this bill.

A bill introduced in Washington State to ban so-called "assault weapons" (Senate Bill 6396.) has failed, never making it out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. NSSF was active in opposing this bill, sending out a legislative alert and submitting testimony to the committee. NSSF would like to thank all the sportsmen and gun owners who voiced their opposition to this bill.

The Atlanta City Council voted without opposition Monday, Feb. 15, 2010 for legislation requesting state lawmakers to allow cities to restrict "Keane Insights" blog post: Like Father, Like Son.

A bill creating a two-day sales tax holiday for guns and ammunition in honor of Second Amendment Weekend has died amid lawmakers' concerns over the state budget. Rep. Warner McBride, D-Courtland, authored House Bill 1207, which had 39 cosponsors, including several from South Mississippi. But the House Ways and Means Committee didn't take up the bill. Read more.

Legislation is pending in four states (Colorado, Indiana, Tennessee and Georgia) to repeal provisions in state law allowing the government to limit the lawful sale, transport or possession of firearms during a declared state of emergency. NSSF supports these bills. Firearms retailers must be able to sell firearms to law-abiding citizens in times of an emergency.

• Colorado SB 51 eliminates the authority of the governor to suspend or limit the sale, dispensing, or transportation of firearms during a state of emergency.
• Indiana HOB 1070 repeals provisions that allow certain political subdivisions to adopt emergency ordinances to regulate firearms if a local disaster has been declared.
• Tennessee SB 2391 (HB 3240) removes the authority of the governor to commandeer or limit the sale or transportation of firearms, ammunition, or firearm or ammunition components during a state of emergency, major disaster, or natural disaster.
• Georgia HB 872 repeals the power of the Governor to suspend or limit the sale or transportation of firearms during times of emergency.