Top of PageGun Policy News
Firearm owners and previous criminal, mental history
Gun Dealers Bypass US Feds, Sell Guns to Foreign Buyers at Airport
8 May 2012
Gun Reports (USA)
According to a recent open letter from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to Federal firearms licensees (FFLs), "It has recently come to the attention of [the agency] that some Federal firearms licensees (FFL) are arranging for the exportation of firearms and ammunition through an in-person disposition to foreign purchasers at the airline ticket counter of local international airports. Industry members are advised that this manner of disposing... (GunPolicy.org)
NRA Gunfest Focuses US Fight Over 'Shoot First' Hidden Handgun Laws
14 April 2012
CBS News (USA)
ST. LOUIS - Avid hunter Rob West drove from Chillicothe, Ohio, to St. Louis this week to join some 70,000 fellow National Rifle Association members at the organization's annual convention, where seven acres of guns and gear were on display and where politics was never far from anyone's mind.
For the NRA, which opposes any restrictions on gun ownership and President Barack Obama's re-election, the Second Amendment right to bear arms is sacrosanct.
"We don't want... (GunPolicy.org)
Hidden Handgun Permit Holders Killed 391 US Civilians, Police in 5 Years
28 March 2012
New York Times, Column
The debate over the shooting death of Trayvon Martin seems to be devolving into an argument about the right to wear hoodies, but it really does not appear to be a promising development.
Congress, which never draws any serious conclusions from terrible tragedies involving gunplay, did have time on Wednesday to fight about whether Representative Bobby Rush of Chicago violated the House dress code when he took off his suit jacket, revealing a gray sweater he was wearing... (GunPolicy.org)
Mass Shooting Survivor Slams 'Outrageous' Lack of US Gun Sale Checks
15 March 2012
CNN
A man who survived the April 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech says not enough is being done to keep guns out of the hands of people like the shooter even as a jury found the university failed to warn students earlier that a gunman was on campus.
"As someone who lost a teacher and many friends as a result of the Virginia Tech massacre, I am gratified by the verdict," said Colin Goddard, who was shot four times during the rampage by Seung-Hui Cho.
A jury Wednesday awarded... (GunPolicy.org)
Twelve American States On Path to Hidden Handguns with No Permits
7 March 2012
USA Today
Legislatures in a dozen states are considering laws that would eliminate requirements that residents obtain permits to carry concealed weapons.
Gun-control advocates view the efforts as part of a long-range strategy to eventually weaken gun laws across the country. But supporters say armed, law-abiding citizens prevent crime.
Andrew Arulanandam, policy director for the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action, which supports these legislative... (GunPolicy.org)
Buy a Gun Online in the US, No Questions Asked - Investigation
9 February 2012
NBC News (USA), Report
Today marks the debut of Rossen Reports, a new unit led by national investigative correspondent Jeff Rossen. First out of the gate: A hidden camera investigation exposing how easy it is for anyone – even criminals – to buy dangerous weapons.
Some say it's a major loophole in the law. At gun stores, you have to get a background check before you can buy a weapon. But online in most states, anyone from law-abiding citizens to dangerous criminals – even terrorists... (GunPolicy.org)
How America's Lax Gun Laws Enable Drug Cartel Killings in Mexico
5 February 2012
Washington Post, Editorial
Do America's failed gun policies contribute to the terrible violence in Mexico? Alejandro A. Poire Romero makes a compelling case that the answer is yes.
Law enforcement officials in both countries acknowledge that 70 to 80 percent of the traceable guns seized in Mexico can be tracked to the United States. Mr. Poire Romero, a top Mexican national security and criminal justice official, offers additional evidence that the United States has been an enabler of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Super Bowl TV Ad Makes New York Mayor Bloomberg US Gun Control King
4 February 2012
Christian Science Monitor
The gun control movement has faltered in recent years. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has vowed to spend his own fortune to buck that trend, most notably with a Super Bowl ad.
ATLANTA - With little political capital to lose and millions of his own cash to spend, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is determined to check the role of guns in American society.
A 30-second Super Bowl ad featuring Mr. Bloomberg on a couch with Boston Mayor Thomas Menino will go a long way... (GunPolicy.org)
Talk of US Gun Buying Spree Based on Inaccurate, Biased Estimates
4 February 2012
Reuters
The conventional wisdom is that gun sales have increased dramatically since the election of Barack Obama because people fear gun rights will be curtailed. But as it turns out, there are no completely accurate measures of either gun purchases or gun ownership.
The gun industry's trade group, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), tracks gun sales by looking at the number of new requests to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). A... (GunPolicy.org)
New York, Boston Mayors Lead Influential American Gun Control Group
4 February 2012
Reuters
NEW YORK - Among the slick, million-dollar ads for the likes of Pepsi and Honda during the Super Bowl this Sunday, viewers in Washington will see a far more modest spot. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino will be sitting on a couch touting an issue most politicians avoid like the plague: gun control.
The two mayors, whose local teams face off in the big game, are making the pitch for Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG), the organization they... (GunPolicy.org)
Obama, US Congress Share 'Abject Failure' to Repair Gun Control Laws
26 January 2012
New York Times, Editorial
House members were moved to tears on Wednesday when Representative Gabrielle Giffords handed in her resignation because, she said, she needed more time to heal from the grievous gunshot wound she suffered last year at the hands of a would-be assassin. The rarest of Congressional events — a display of genuinely bipartisan tributes — was the parting gift from her colleagues along with unanimous approval of Ms. Giffords's bill to fight drug trafficking along the... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Sales Up? It's a Beat-up Story: Real US Industry Figures Suppressed
9 January 2012
Huffington Post (USA)
The media has been awash this holiday season with stories about a "dramatic increase" in gun sales in the United States. CNN, for example, declared, "December holiday shoppers were not just interested in buying the hottest electronics and toys--they also were purchasing record numbers of guns." USA Today claimed, "Along with millions of Kindles, Angry Birds and gift cards, Santa left a record number of guns under Americans' Christmas trees." Reuters gushed about "16.5... (GunPolicy.org)
Record Numbers of US Gun Checks, Sales for Christmas
1 January 2012
Telegraph (UK)
According to the FBI, over 1.5 million background checks on customers were requested by gun dealers to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System in December. Nearly 500,000 of those were in the six days before Christmas.
It was the highest number ever in a single month, surpassing the previous record set in November.
On Dec 23 alone there were 102,222 background checks, making it the second busiest single day for buying guns in history.
The actual number... (GunPolicy.org)
In North Carolina, 2,400 Hidden Handgun Permit Holders Had Convictions
26 December 2011
New York Times
Alan Simons was enjoying a Sunday morning bicycle ride with his family in Asheville, N.C., two years ago when a man in a sport utility vehicle suddenly pulled alongside him and started berating him for riding on the highway.
Mr. Simons, his 4-year-old son strapped in behind him, slowed to a halt. The driver, Charles Diez, an Asheville firefighter, stopped as well. When Mr. Simons walked over, he found himself staring down the barrel of a gun.
"Go ahead, I'll shoot... (GunPolicy.org)
Investigation: US Illegal Gun Buyers Have an Easy Time Online - Time
16 December 2011
Time (USA)
Easy firearm sales over the Internet, through classified sites like Craigslist, may be to blame for a significant amount of the nation's gun crime, thanks to a loophole in federal firearm regulations that some private arms sellers are taking advantage of, according to a new investigation released Wednesday.
In a probe of illegal online firearm sales conducted by the City of New York, undercover investigators found that 62% of private gun sellers they interacted with... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal Gun Sales Run Rampant on US Internet, Arm 'Craigslist Killers'
14 December 2011
Huffington Post (USA)
A New York City undercover investigation heralded as the first of its kind has found a "vast and largely unregulated market for illegal guns" on the Internet, and the worst offender is a website that has gotten mixed up with the law before: Craigslist.
In the report released Wednesday, entitled, "Point, Click, Fire: An Investigation of Illegal Online Gun Sales," investigators found that sellers on Craigslist agreed 82 percent of the time to sell guns to a purchaser who... (GunPolicy.org)
NYC Mayor Cites 'Rampant' Illegal Internet Gun Sales, Targets CraigsList
14 December 2011
Reuters
NEW YORK - Almost two thirds of a sample of private online gun sellers in the United States were willing to sell a firearm to someone who could not pass a background check, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Wednesday.
Bloomberg, who is leading a national campaign against illegal guns, said a national investigation into online gun sales by private investigators hired by New York City uncovered a "vast and largely unregulated market for illegal guns."
The... (GunPolicy.org)
Guatemala,Mexico,United States
Texas Gun Shop Sold 'Infantry Squad' Weapons to Mexican Cartel Smugglers
8 December 2011
Guardian (UK)
It was nothing more than a routine inspection for federal agents. But as they browsed the records of Carter's Country gun shop in Houston, investigators picked up on a series of big sales. For cash.
Federal agents were alerted not only by the number of guns involved – sometimes a dozen at a time – but the type. Time and again buyers walked out of Carter's Country clutching assault rifles, semi-automatic pistols with armour-piercing bullets and powerful sniper... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Control Off the Table as US Congress Feels Heat from Influential NRA
8 December 2011
Guardian (UK)
Mexico's drug cartels have for years armed themselves courtesy of America's love for guns.
Many Americans, wedded to their right to own guns under the second amendment of the US constitution, are viscerally opposed to stronger laws to curb weapons trafficking, out of fear that it may prove to be the thin end of a wedge that they say will result in the government confiscating all firearms.
Some are wedded to their guns out of fear of crime. Others see them as a... (GunPolicy.org)
Industry Group Says US Gun Sale Checks Hit All-time High Last Weekend
3 December 2011
AFP
WASHINGTON — US firearms sales reached a record 129,166 during last week's Black Friday that kicked off the holiday shopping season, a 32 percent increase from the previous all-time high, officials said.
The FBI confirmed the jump from the last peak of 97,848 weapons sold during Black Friday of 2008, telling AFP that "we do not have an explanation for the increase."
The figures, first reported by USA Today, are based on the number of background check requests for... (GunPolicy.org)
Texas Border Town a Hotspot for US-Mexico Ammunition Smugglers
22 November 2011
KVUE.com (Texas)
EAGLE PASS, Texas – The small border town Eagle Pass has become a big corridor for ammunition smugglers who supply violent drug cartels.
In November, there was a large spike in smuggling activity.
"Just this month alone there have been three separate seizures totaling 700 magazines for AK-47 rifles," said Randy Clark, Patrol Agent in Charge for the U.S. Border Patrol station in Eagle Pass.
On Nov. 3, Border Patrol agents seized three black duffle bags near the Rio... (GunPolicy.org)
Millions of Drug Abusers, Mentally Ill Avoid US Gun Check System - Report
14 November 2011
Huffington Post (USA), Blog
WASHINGTON -- Millions of reports on people barred by federal law from purchasing guns because of serious mental illness and drug abuse are never added to the federal background check system, according to a study set to be released Tuesday.
The report, by Mayors Against Illegal Guns and entitled "Fatal Gaps: How Missing Records In The Federal Background Check System Put Guns In The Hands Of Killers," was sparked by last January's assassination attempt on Rep. Gabby... (GunPolicy.org)
Military Suicides: Gun Lobby Feeds on Fear, Relies on Dividing Americans
8 November 2011
New York Times / Opinion Blog, Opinion
Of all of the lobbying organizations that feed off fear, and rely for their funding and power on dividing Americans, one of the worst is the National Rifle Association.
The NRA never misses a chance to misrepresent the positions of people who advocate reasonable gun control, to make Americans afraid that the government wants to take away their right to defend their homes and their loved ones, and to turn any attempt to have a sensible conversation about guns into an... (GunPolicy.org)
Rifles, Shotguns Set to Become Invisible if Canada Scraps Gun Registry
8 November 2011
McGill Tribune (Montreal)
On Oct. 25 Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative government introduced Bill C-19 to the House of Commons. This bill, known as the Ending the Long-gun Registry Act, seeks to abolish the current long-gun registry. If passed, gun owners will no longer be required by law to register rifles and shotguns. Furthermore, Bill C-19 would ensure the destruction of all existing records of these weapons in the Canadian Firearms Registry.
The Conservative government's... (GunPolicy.org)
Four California Police Agencies Linked to Probe of Illegal Gun Sales
5 November 2011
Sacramento Bee (California)
The federal probe into suspected illegal gun sales by local law enforcement officers involves at least four major police agencies in the Sacramento region, officials confirmed Friday.
Two deputies from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, one Sacramento police officer and one Roseville police officer are the focus of the probe that spilled into the open Thursday, the Bee has learned.
In addition, a Sacramento firearms dealer allegedly involved with some of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Canada's Conservative Government to Ease Gun Laws
25 October 2011
Associated Press
TORONTO — Canada's Conservative government introduced legislation Tuesday to scrap a controversial law that requires the registration of rifles and shotguns.
Canada has long required registration of hand guns, but the long-run registry law passed in 1995 faced bitter opposition from rural Canada, the Conservative party's base, which considered it an overreaction to the problem of urban crime.
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said they don't want laws targeting... (GunPolicy.org)
Walmart Tightens Controls Over Gun Sales Despite Less Stringent US Law
14 October 2011
Webster-Kirkwood Times (Missouri)
A decision by retail giant Wal-Mart in July to strengthen its oversight of gun purchases has drawn criticism from the National Rifle Association (NRA) and plaudits from groups such as the Million Mom March against handgun violence.
Wal-Mart has ordered its stores to wait until a Brady Law criminal background check on a purchaser is complete before selling guns to that purchaser, no matter how long the check takes. Currently, under federal law, gun sales can take place... (GunPolicy.org)
America's Founding Fathers, Towns Once Imposed Strict Gun Control
9 October 2011
New York Times, Book review
In "Gunfight," his provocative, highly uneven new book about the fight over gun control, the constitutional law professor Adam Winkler writes that "gun rights and gun control are not only compatible; they have lived together since the birth of America." He argues that "despite the controversy over the meaning of the Second Amendment, Americans have always had the right to keep and bear arms as a matter of state constitutional law. Today, nearly every state has such a... (GunPolicy.org)
Why the US Firearm Industry Secretly Loves Obama: More Gun Sales
5 September 2011
Bloomberg (USA)
Rick Perry's emergence as the front runner for the Republican Presidential nomination would seem like a coup for the gun industry. The Texas governor's enthusiasm for firearms rivals Yosemite Sam's. He has an A+ rating from the Texas State Rifle Association and packs a laser-sighted Ruger pistol when he jogs. Last year, he famously shot a coyote that threatened his dog during a run. To commemorate his act of valor, the manufacturer, Sturm, Ruger & Co., produced a... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Show Loophole in Federal Laws, Hot Debate Continues in US
8 August 2011
Dayton Daily News (Ohio)
DAYTON — Two years after a local gun show was a target of a New York City investigation highlighting a loophole in federal firearms laws, local authorities arrested four men Saturday on a variety of weapons violations.
The operation targeted "private" or "occasional" sellers and buyers at Bill Goodman's Gun & Knife Show at the Hara Arena on Saturday. Under federal laws, licensed firearms dealers must conduct background checks on those purchasing weapons. Private... (GunPolicy.org)
Dangerous Omissions, US Controversy over Mental Background Checks
10 July 2011
New York Times, Editorial
The gunman in the Virginia Tech massacre, Seung-Hui Cho, should never have been allowed to buy the weapons he used in the 2007 rampage. He had been found mentally ill and ordered into treatment by a court, yet that record never made it into the database of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System used for screening prospective gun purchasers.
Prompted by that tragedy, Congress approved a law, signed by President Bush in 2008, authorizing new grant money... (GunPolicy.org)
Obama White House Gingerly Plots 'Common Sense' Gun Safety Measures
8 July 2011
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Six months after Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot, the White House is preparing to propose some new steps on gun safety, though they're likely to fall short of the bold measures activists would like to see.
Spokesman Jay Carney said that the new steps would be made public "in the near future." He didn't offer details, but people involved in talks at the Justice Department to craft the new measures said they expected to see something in the next several... (GunPolicy.org)
Judges Giving Gun Rights Back to Americans with History of Mental Illness
2 July 2011
New York Times
PULASKI, Virginia — In May 2009, Sam French hit bottom, once again. A relative found him face down in his carport "talking gibberish," according to court records. He later told medical personnel that he had been conversing with a bear in his backyard and hearing voices. His family figured he had gone off his medication for bipolar disorder, and a judge ordered him involuntarily committed — the fourth time in five years he had been hospitalized by court order.
When... (GunPolicy.org)
600 US Mayors Invoke Terrorism as an Argument for Stricter Gun Control
29 June 2011
Winnipeg Free Press (Manitoba)
WASHINGTON -- America's love affair with guns is a passionate and enduring one, the bonds strengthening even further in recent years thanks to the country's powerful pro-gun lobby.
But could the prospect of al-Qaida terrorists exploiting U.S. gun loopholes to purchase weapons for sinister purposes change historic attitudes about the right to bear arms in America?
A group of more than 600 urban mayors is clearly hoping recent remarks by Adam Gadahn, an American-born... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Lobby Cripples US Agency in Charge of Tracking Down Illegal Guns
27 June 2011
Washington Post, Editorial
The gun rights lobby has spent considerable time and energy in pursuit of one goal: crippling the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It has largely succeeded — and with dire consequences.
Concerned to the point of paranoia about the erosion of the constitutional right to keep and bear arms, the National Rifle Association and far too many lawmakers have fought against virtually every proposal to empower the bureau to better track and crack down... (GunPolicy.org)
With Gun-running Scandal, Now's the Time to Target US Gun Control
24 June 2011
Guardian (UK)
When Republican chairman of the House oversight and government reform committee, Representative Darrel Issa, called for the resignation of ATF acting director Kenneth Melson, few in American political circles found it controversial. Melson, after all, was responsible for overseeing the ATF's botched gun-tracking operations that led to the trafficking of thousands of weapons into Mexico and countless consequent deaths – including that of US customs agent Brian... (GunPolicy.org)
Badly Flawed US Background Check System Fails to Contain Gun Sales
23 June 2011
Center for Public Integrity / iWatch News (USA)
Like many states, Maine depends on the FBI to conduct background checks of people who want to acquire firearms from the state's federally licensed gun dealers.
And like many states, Maine is a slacker in supplying the records that the FBI depends on to run those checks.
That's how Raymond Geisel got his guns, including a Glock Model 17 pistol and a semi-automatic version of the AK-47 assault rifle. Geisel had previously been committed to a psychiatric hospital in... (GunPolicy.org)
Obama Offers No Change, 'No Leadership to Combat Gun Violence' in US
20 June 2011
Associated Press
More than five months after Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head, the White House has yet to take any new steps on gun violence, even though that's what President Barack Obama called for in the wake of the shooting.
The silence from the administration is drawing criticism from gun control activists and even some of Obama's Democratic allies. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., told the president in a letter last week that the administration "has not shown the... (GunPolicy.org)
US Al Qaeda New Message Revives the Debate over Gun Control Laws
8 June 2011
Al Arabiya News (UAE)
File it under "Fact is Stranger than Fiction." An American citizen working for Al Qaeda calls on Americans in the US to take advantage of their country's lax gun laws to better kill fellow Americans.
"What are you waiting for?" he asks in a video thought to have been produced somewhere in Pakistan.
The question came from Adam Yahiyeh Gadahn, who was born in Oregon, grew up in California, converted to Islam and became a spokesman for al Qaeda.
His message has the... (GunPolicy.org)
Illinois: Law Requiring Background Checks for Resold Guns Repealed
8 June 2011
Chicago Sun-Times
WAUKEGAN — Past efforts to draft an ordinance requiring background checks for resold firearms came to an end Monday with the City Council instead voting 6-3 to repeal all municipal ordinances regulating firearms.
"Why does Waukegan need (firearm ordinances)? Let's quit paying the lawyers all this money. Just follow the state laws," said 6th Ward Ald. Larry TenPas, supporting 2nd Ward Ald. Thomas Koncan Jr.'s motion to eliminate local measures.
"This is crazy,"... (GunPolicy.org)
US Govt. Urged to Move on Legislation to Close the Gun Show Loophole
7 June 2011
Washington Post, Editorial
THERE MAY NEVER be a better spokesman for closing the gun show loophole than Adam Yahiye Gadahn.
A 32-year-old American and convert to Islam, Mr. Gadahn referred to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, as "blessed raids" and called for additional "jihad against America." He has been on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list and faces criminal charges for treason and for providing material support to al-Qaeda. Mr. Gadahn is believed to have left his native Orange... (GunPolicy.org)
Al Qaeda Urges US Muslims to Take Advantage of the Easy Access to Firearms
4 June 2011
Fox News (USA)
Al Qaeda has released a video urging Muslims who live in the U.S. to take advantage of the easy access to firearms and buy guns to kill Americans.
In the two-hour video released Friday, Adam Gadahn, an American-born spokesman for the terror network, cited America as an example where Muslims in the West have tools at their disposal for a holy war against "the enemies of Islam."
"America is absolutely awash with easily obtainable firearms," said Gadahn, who is known as... (GunPolicy.org)
New Al Qaeda Video Calls on US Muslims to Carry Out Terrorist Acts Using Guns
3 June 2011
ABC News (USA)
In a new video message released on the internet Friday, American-born al Qaeda spokesman Adam Gadahn calls on Muslims living in America to carry out deadly one-man terrorist acts using fully automatic weapons purchased at gun shows, and to target major institutions and public figures.
"What are you waiting for?" asks Gadahn in English, and then adds that jihadis shouldn't worry about getting caught, since so many have been released. "Over these past few years, I've... (GunPolicy.org)
Doctors Sue Florida Governor Over Public Health and Guns Gagging Law
2 June 2011
Miami Herald / AP
TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Physician and gun control groups say they will sue to block a new Florida law signed Thursday by Gov. Rick Scott that prevents doctors from asking patients about gun ownership.
It was one of 48 bills Scott signed into law, including two historic Medicaid measures. Subject to federal waivers, they will put the health care of nearly 3 million low-income and disabled Floridian into the hands of for-profit companies and hospital networks.
Other... (GunPolicy.org)
Obama Adm. Exploring Tighter Gun Control that Can Be Secured by Decree
29 May 2011
Daily Mail (UK)
The Obama administration is exploring tighter regulation on gun policy that can be secured through an executive order, bypassing congressional approval, officials have confirmed.
The potential crackdown has prompted concern among gun rights groups in the ongoing debate surrounding gun control and Second Amendment rights.
Administration officials said talk of executive orders or agency action are being considered, amidst its crossfire over regulations with a... (GunPolicy.org)
Concerns Arise about Booming Online Gun Markets in Utah
26 May 2011
Salt Lake Tribune (Utah)
In a state with some of the least-restrictive gun laws in the nation, running a wide-open arms market appears to be a booming business niche for KSL.
KSL.com's free classified advertising site, now also the classified ads site for the Deseret News, has been wildly successful in general, even outdoing Craigslist.com, something no other local online classifieds site can boast about.
But it's in firearms sales that KSL.com really shines, with about 1,000 rifles, 1,000... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Owners Set Up Trusts to Avoid US Machine Gun Background Checks
25 May 2011
CNN
PRESTONBURG, Kentucky -- For Benjamin Ferguson, the Dewey Lake Fish and Gun Club brings back memories. As a child, Ferguson came to the modest gun range in rural Floyd County, Kentucky, to learn gun safety so he could go deer hunting with his family.
Now, the Army veteran and drug counselor has children of his own, six in total. He passes along knowledge about gun operation and safety and encourages his children to explore the guns -- safely, of course.
"It's... (GunPolicy.org)
In Favor of a Responsible Concealed-Carry Law for Wisconsin
24 May 2011
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wisconsin), Editorial
We favor a responsible concealed-carry law for Wisconsin - one that requires a permit, a realistic amount of training, a background check and access for law enforcement to a database of permit holders, records that should be subject to the state Open Records Law.
Unfortunately, the state Senate is slouching toward irresponsibility.
The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on a retooled bill Wednesday that would allow people to carry guns without registering them with... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Buyback Initiative in Alabama, But More Gun Control Measures Are Needed
15 May 2011
Montgomery Advertiser (Alabama), Column
There are too many guns floating around here these days.
In fact, there are so many that the city of Montgomery announced Thursday that it would pay to get them off the streets: $50 per gun, no questions asked. They'll take whatever you've got -- handguns, shotguns, rifles. Just take your guns to any fire station during a certain time period next Friday and you'll get the cash and have a shot to win a prize.
City officials are expecting such a turnout that... (GunPolicy.org)
Minnesota New Gun Bill: A 'License to Kill' Only Gun Lobby Could Love
10 May 2011
Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St Paul), Opinion
Minnesota lawmakers will soon have an opportunity to signal whether they support the public's interests or a narrow special interest. We should watch closely as they cast their votes on HF1467, a bill only the gun lobby could love.
While proponents portray the bill's primary provision as an expansion of the right to self-defense, law enforcement overwhelmingly opposes it as a threat to officer and public safety. In too many instances, it is a license to... (GunPolicy.org)
Illinois Looks Set to Allow Residents to Carry Hidden Handguns: Say No
4 May 2011
Chicago Tribune, Editorial
The Illinois House may vote Thursday on legislation that would allow residents of the state to carry a concealed weapon in public. The bill passed out of committee Wednesday. If it passes the House and Senate, it faces a promised veto by Gov. Pat Quinn.
Illinois is, admittedly, an outlier in the issue of concealed carry of firearms. Illinois and Wisconsin are the only states that completely prohibit it. Wisconsin, though, permits the open carry of firearms in some... (GunPolicy.org)
Boston Mayor Lobbies Senators to Support Gun Show Background Checks
4 May 2011
Boston Globe
Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino today called on US Senator Scott Brown to support a bill in Congress that would require background checks for sales at gun shows, in an attempt to slow the flow of illegal firearms into Massachusetts.
At a press conference flanked by people who lost family members to gun violence, Menino took direct aim at Brown, a Republican who maintains a surprisingly close relationship with the Democratic mayor.
"We haven't heard from Senator Brown,"... (GunPolicy.org)
Florida Muzzles Doctors on Gun Safety, Bans Local Gun Control Laws
28 April 2011
Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Senate on Thursday, by a succession of mostly party-line votes, approved a trio of bills that supporters say will ensure citizens' constitutionally-protected gun rights.
One measure restricts doctors from asking patients about gun ownership, and another prohibits local governments from passing stricter gun laws than the state. Those two already have been approved by the House and await Republican Gov. Rick Scott's signature.
The third, which... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Lobby Blames Florida Pediatrician for Sparking Doctor Censorship Bill
26 April 2011
Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE, Florida - A bill sparked by a pediatrician who told a mother to find another doctor when she refused to answer questions about guns in her home has passed the Florida House on Tuesday.
The bill (HB 155) that would restrict what kind of conversations doctors can have with patients about firearms passed on a party-line vote of 88-30. It now goes to the Senate, where it has a companion measure (SB 432).
The latest version was seen as a compromise between the... (GunPolicy.org)
Record Gun Checks Show High Demand for Guns, Economic Doubts in US
25 April 2011
Bloomberg (USA)
Americans are telling a "less upbeat story" about the economy's prospects as they attempt to buy guns in record numbers, according to Nicholas Colas, chief market strategist at BNY ConvergEx Group LLC.
The CHART OF THE DAY shows the average monthly number of background-check applications increased to 1.25 million in the 12-month period that ended in March, according to data compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The figure has been setting records since... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Have 4 Months to Consider Gun Licence Application in South Africa
19 April 2011
Pretoria News (South Africa)
In a victory for potential firearm owners, police will have four months to respond to applications for competency certificates.
According to a Pretoria High Court ruling, the police have agreed that these applications be considered within four months of their lodging.
The agreement follows an application brought by the South African Intruder Detection Association, several security companies and about 4 500 individual security officers.
Part of the agreement reached... (GunPolicy.org)
Shooting Tragedies Have Little Sway in Changing America's Gun Laws
11 April 2011
Houston Chronicle (Texas)
Emblazoned on the red billboard truck that motored through downtown Houston last week was this number: 2,995 — a tally of the people believed slain with guns since the Tucson, Ariz., shooting that killed six people and wounded 13, including Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
The truck started off in New York's Times Square and will traverse the U.S., keeping a running tab on gun deaths as part of an effort by 550 Mayors Against Illegal Guns to galvanize... (GunPolicy.org)
Illinois Moves to Allow Hidden Handguns, Hide Identity of Gun Owners
10 April 2011
Christian Science Monitor
CHICAGO - It's highly likely that the identity of Illinois gun owners will continue to be protected from public disclosure.
Legislation passed in the state House of Representatives Friday circumvents the efforts of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who is fighting to make the names and expiration dates of all state-issued firearm owner identification cards available through the state's Freedom of Information Act.
Attorney General Madigan contends that citizens... (GunPolicy.org)
Mass Shooting by Gun Club Member Sparks Scrutiny of Dutch Gun Laws
9 April 2011
Radio Netherlands
Following a shooting spree on Saturday by a lone gunman which has so far cost the lives of nine people, questions are bound to be asked about how the killer, who reportedly used a fully automatic weapon, got his gun and ammo. Outside the military, nobody in the Netherlands is allowed to own or shoot an automatic weapon.
So what are the rules governing gun ownership in the Netherlands? Dutch gun laws are actually quite strict. Gun ownership is seen not as a right, but... (GunPolicy.org)
Common-sense Steps Needed to Reduce Gun Violence in Indiana
2 April 2011
Indianapolis Star (Indiana), Opinion
Fellow Hoosiers sometimes ask me why a three-term Republican mayor from Fort Wayne would want to run the national Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
The answer is simple: I learned as mayor that we make it way too easy for dangerous and irresponsible people to get guns. When violent crimes were on the rise in my city, I increased the number of police significantly, worked with neighborhood and faith-based groups, and implemented collaborative programs to help... (GunPolicy.org)
30 Years After Reagan Shooting, Jim, Sarah Brady Still Push Gun Control
1 April 2011
Christian Science Monitor, Opinion
Remember the Bradys? Not the bunch, but the dedicated couple that has pushed gun control for decades.
Thirty years ago, Jim Brady was shot in the head as part of the assassination attempt on President Reagan by John Hinckley. At the time, Mr. Brady was the president's press secretary. This week, Brady – in a wheelchair – and his wife, Sarah, visited the Capitol and White House to again advocate for restrictions on guns.
One marvels that they have not yet given up.... (GunPolicy.org)
Surge of Firearm Violence Puts Oregon City, State Gun Laws in Crosshairs
31 March 2011
Portland Tribune (Oregon)
The day after four people were wounded in a suspected Northeast Portland gang-related shooting, gun-control advocates rallied at City Hall.
Speakers at the March 21 event included Mayor Sam Adams, religious leaders and relatives of people killed by guns. They spoke passionately about the emotional and societal toll of shootings, including suicides.
"It is too easy for people to get guns. We're not safe as citizens," said Teressa Railford, whose nephew, Andre Payton,... (GunPolicy.org)
After 30 Years, Jim Brady Continues to Push for Gun Control in America
30 March 2011
Reuters
WASHINGTON - Jim Brady, Ronald Reagan's former press secretary, on Wednesday marked the 30th anniversary of the presidential assassination attempt that left him in a wheelchair by urging congressmen to toughen gun control.
Thirteen years after the shooting, Brady's and his wife Sarah's advocacy of tightened gun controls resulted in the Brady bill, a law requiring an immediate background check for handgun purchases.
The Bradys say gun control has become more lax in... (GunPolicy.org)
Arizona Should Enact Effective System of Gun-buyer Background Checks
29 March 2011
Daily Star (Arizona), Opinion
The tragic shooting in Tucson on Jan. 8 - like thousands of others every year here in Arizona and across the country - did not have to happen. I believe we owe it to the victims of Tucson not to wait any longer to act.
Like all Americans, I honor the Constitution, including the Second Amendment. As Pima County attorney and U.S. senator, I swore an oath to uphold it.
I also believe it's possible to honor gun rights while keeping guns away from criminals. This is... (GunPolicy.org)
Buy One, Get Gun Free: Montana Radio Shack Offers Free Gun to Buyers
29 March 2011
Daily Mail (UK)
A Radio Shack in Montana is offering would-be satellite television customers a bit more bang for their buck.
Customers who sign up for some Dish Network packages at the store in Hamilton will be rewarded with a voucher for a pistol or shotgun.
Store owner Steve Strand admits it took some haggling to get Dish Network to go along with the promotion but says it has tripled his business since the promotion started last October.
Perhaps its the sign outside the store... (GunPolicy.org)
Kansasa Legislature Approves Gun Silencers for Shooting Prairie Dogs
28 March 2011
Kansas Public Radio
The Kansas Legislature has approved a bill that would allow the use of silencers for hunting, fishing and fur harvesting. The bill, supported by the National Rifle Association, is awaiting Governor Sam Brownback's signature.
The Hays Daily News reports that the bill received only one no vote in the Senate and was unanimously approved by the House last week.
Chris Tymeson, chief counsel for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, says he doesn't know how if many... (GunPolicy.org)
30 Years After Reagan Shot, Outlook Looks Dim for American Gun Control
28 March 2011
Miami Herald
WASHINGTON - Wednesday is the 30th anniversary of the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan. Gun-control advocates, including Reagan's wounded press secretary, Jim Brady, will use the day to launch a renewed push for curbs on guns.
Once again, chances are they won't get very far.
The public remains sharply divided, largely along geographic lines, over gun rights vs. gun control. Gun-rights groups, led by the National Rifle Association, dramatically outspend... (GunPolicy.org)
Hidden Agenda Behind Obama's New Push for Gun Control - John Lott
24 March 2011
Fox News (USA), Opinion
Despite the Libyan crisis and ongoing problems with America's massive deficit, last week President Obama decided it was time to focus on gun control. He wrote an op-ed, challenged the NRA to negotiate new gun control regulations, and met with gun control groups.
Of course, Obama's op-ed says he supports gun rights. Yet, he also emphasizes that he doesn't want people to "shout at one another" and supports "reasonable laws." Alas, this is simply positioning for the 2012... (GunPolicy.org)
Legal Gun Owners, Dealers, Gun Shows Fuel Minneapolis Gun Violence
22 March 2011
Minnesota Public Radio, Transcript
MINNEAPOLIS — In January 2010, three men were gunned down during an apparent robbery attempt at the Seward Market in south Minneapolis. One of the victims worked at the store. The second victim was the clerk's cousin who stopped by to chat. The third was a man who just happened to walk in at the wrong time.
The report from the police homicide investigation shows that five shell casings found at the crime scene likely match a test casing provided by the maker of a... (GunPolicy.org)
In Op-Ed to Our Paper, Obama's Political Self Interest Trumps Public Safety
20 March 2011
Daily Star (Arizona), Editorial
Political self-interest must never trump public safety - and yet President Obama is dancing delicately around the fringes of life-and-death gun-control issues rather than facing them down. This is not leadership.
Obama's call in the Arizona Daily Star last week for better firearms enforcement fell far short of the kind of common-sense, middle-of-the-road reforms that are needed in this country - and that also, ironically, generally prevail in public opinion polls.
The... (GunPolicy.org)
In US Gun Control, 'NRA Has Shown, Once Again, That It Is the Problem'
17 March 2011
Huffington Post (USA)
President Obama has broken his silence on the gun issue. His opinion piece in Sunday's Arizona Daily Star is a meticulously worded effort to define a middle ground on the issue on the president's terms, and then to invite those serious about finding solutions to join him in that middle, where ultimate agreement is possible. Although one gets the distinct impression that the president would prefer not to receive a positive reaction from gun control advocates like myself,... (GunPolicy.org)
To 'Lingering Shame' of Gun Lobby, Obama, American Public Face Disdain
17 March 2011
New York Times, Editorial
More than two months after the killings in Tucson, Ariz., and some 2,400 American gun deaths later, President Obama has finally broken his silence on gun violence.
In an op-ed article on Sunday in The Arizona Daily Star, Mr. Obama called on gun control and gun rights advocates to set aside their broader differences for now and support a worthwhile goal: fixing gaps in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System so that it would be harder for dangerous people... (GunPolicy.org)
Why the US Gun Lobby Leader Won't Talk Gun Control With Obama
16 March 2011
CNN
WASHINGTON - The chief spokesman for the National Rifle Association is expected to get an invitation any day now to sit down at the Justice Department for talks aimed at reaching a consensus on new gun control legislation.
But don't put down NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre as a "yes."
In an interview with CNN, LaPierre accused the White House of trying to pull off a "political maneuver" aimed at weakening the Constitution's Second Amendment right to "keep... (GunPolicy.org)
New York Mayor Scolds Nation for Not Standing Up to US Gun Lobby
16 March 2011
New York Daily News
Mayor Bloomberg scolded the nation Tuesday for failing to take on the gun lobby to restrict weapons sales.
"This is just no courage on the part of Americans to stand up and say 'Enough,'" Bloomberg said while joining members of Congress who support closing loopholes that allow criminals, drug abusers and the mentally ill to buy guns.
Legislation they proposed would strengthen reporting requirements on the National Instant Criminal Background Check system and impose... (GunPolicy.org)
Obama Extends Tentative Gun Control Olive Branch, NRA Shoots it Down
15 March 2011
Washington Post
Two months after the shooting rampage in Tucson renewed a debate over gun violence, President Obama is still searching for a way to take on the issue without touching off a battle with the powerful gun-rights lobby.
Gun control advocates and some congressional Democrats are pushing for legislation that would require gun sellers, even those at gun shows, to conduct background checks and would toughen data-reporting requirements.
But administration officials have... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Control 'No Longer a Dormant Issue' Following Obama's Editorial
14 March 2011
The Hill (Washington DC)
President Obama's new call for tougher gun rules following the shooting of an Arizona congresswoman has energized gun-control advocates, but one leading Democrat isn't holding his breath for reform.
Rep. John Conyers Jr. (Mich.), the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee and a long-time proponent of stronger gun laws, said it's unlikely any Second Amendment reforms will move through Congress while Republicans control the lower chamber. Obama's push for... (GunPolicy.org)
Obama Staff Meet Firearm Safety Advocates, Aim to Tighten Gun Control
14 March 2011
Huffington Post (USA)
WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration has conducted informal discussions with groups from both ends of the gun-policy spectrum, including law enforcement and gun-rights organizations, and is set to hold formal meetings as early as this week in an effort to chart out a set of new firearms policies, administration officials say.
Spearheaded by the Department of Justice, the talks were described by one individual involved in the discussions as a "feeling-out process."... (GunPolicy.org)
California Lawmakers Want Special Exemption to Carry Hidden Handguns
14 March 2011
Los Angeles Times
SACRAMENTO - The right to carry a concealed weapon in California is mostly reserved for those at risk of violence — jewelers, bail bondsmen and criminal prosecutors among them.
But some legislators say their job has become dangerous too. Despite objections from some law enforcement officials and even gun rights advocates, they want a law that would make it easier for them to tote firearms for protection.
The lawmakers cite the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords... (GunPolicy.org)
Obama Urges Improved Gun Sale Background Checks After US Slayings
14 March 2011
Bloomberg (USA)
President Barack Obama called for more effective background checks for gun sales after the January shooting rampage in Arizona that killed six people and wounded 13 others, including U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords.
The shootings in Tucson, and "perhaps another 2,000" gun-related deaths in the U.S. since then, show a need for consensus on how to prevent more gun violence, Obama said in an op-ed column published in today's "Arizona Daily Star." The U.S. needs "an... (GunPolicy.org)
2,405 More Americans Have Been Shot Dead Since Tucson Mass Shooting
13 March 2011
Newsweek (USA)
On a snowy Wednesday evening in February, the main attraction on the marquee at the Lyric Theatre in Blacksburg, Va., was True Grit, the Coen Brothers' bloody homage to the shoot-'em-up Westerns of Hollywood's Golden Age. But the movie playing inside had a very different message to send.
Four years ago, on April 16, 2007, Colin Goddard was one of 49 people shot by Seung-Hui Cho in Virginia Tech's Norris Hall, a mere 1,000 yards from the Lyric Theatre — and one of... (GunPolicy.org)
Obama Calls for Tighter, Uniform Background Checks on US Gun Sales
13 March 2011
Arizona Daily Star
It's been more than two months since the tragedy in Tucson stunned the nation. It was a moment when we came together as one people to mourn and to pray for those we lost. And in the attack's turbulent wake, Americans by and large rightly refrained from finger-pointing, assigning blame or playing politics with other people's pain.
But one clear and terrible fact remains. A man our Army rejected as unfit for service; a man one of our colleges deemed too unstable for... (GunPolicy.org)
Texas Professors Scared of Armed Students, Scared of Arming Students
6 March 2011
Los Angeles Times
AUSTIN, Texas - Konrad Sliwowski stood in the shadow of the University of Texas clock tower surrounded by the lunchtime clamor: the student election volunteers in handmade "Vote Big John" T-shirts, the Lego Club, and activists against human trafficking stationed near fliers advertising a screening of "Airplane!"
"I don't like guns in any kind of situation," the 22-year-old senior said recently while passing out fliers for a lecture on Rwanda. "School is already an... (GunPolicy.org)
Poll Commissioned by US Mayors Reports Arizona Voters OK Gun Control
3 March 2011
Arizona Republic, Poll
A poll commissioned by the group Mayors Against Illegal Guns says that sizable majorities of Arizona voters support several specific gun-control measures, similar to findings in four other states that also were surveyed.
Among the findings, 83 percent of the 600 registered voters polled in Arizona favor a law requiring all gun buyers to pass a background check.
Among gun-owners, the number was 75 percent in Arizona, the group reported.
The poll had a 4 percent margin... (GunPolicy.org)
In Poll Sponsored by 550 US Mayors, Virginians Favor Tighter Gun Control
3 March 2011
Richmond Times-Dispatch (Virginia)
A coalition of U.S. mayors Wednesday released a survey that claims broad support in Virginia for tighter background checks on the purchase and sale of firearms in the commonwealth.
According to the survey, conducted by the Democratic polling firm Hart Research for the group Mayors Against Illegal Guns:
- 84 percent of Virginians support requiring gun dealers to notify police when someone fails a background check.
- 88 percent of Virginians support a law to require... (GunPolicy.org)
Wyoming Becomes 4th US State to Abandon Permits for Hidden Handguns
3 March 2011
Reuters
Gun-control advocates on Thursday called a new Wyoming law that allows residents to carry concealed weapons without a permit a "troublesome trend" in Western states.
Wyoming's Republican Governor Matt Mead on Wednesday signed the permit-free gun bill into law. Beginning July 1, residents who want to pack handguns will no longer have to undergo a criminal background check or show proficiency with a firearm.
"We feel it's a very troublesome trend," said Brian Malte,... (GunPolicy.org)
Majority of Arizonans Support Fixing Gun Background Check Program
2 March 2011
Tucson Citizen (Arizona), Blog
One gets the impression listening to some folks in the state legislature that Arizona wants every baby born in the state (legally) to own an automatic weapon….no regulations whatsoever on gun ownership.
But maybe the impression Arizonans aren't willing to accept reasonable regulation of guns is not true.
Arizonans may in fact be more moderate than the news accounts of state legislative efforts to allow guns on college campuses….
A new poll by the bipartisan... (GunPolicy.org)
Texas Moves Closer to Allowing Hidden Handguns on College Campuses
28 February 2011
New American (USA)
In one of the most controversial, but many say common-sense, moves related to campus violence and Second Amendment rights, the state of Texas is considering legislation that would allow students, professors, teachers, and other personnel to carry firearms on the campuses of elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as those of colleges and universities — without any violations or punishments.
HB 1167, introduced in the Texas House of Representatives on February... (GunPolicy.org)
Utah Draws Thousands for No-shooting-required Hidden Handgun Permit
26 February 2011
Reuters
Texans seeking concealed handgun licenses are increasingly turning to Utah, a state that does not require actually shooting a gun to get a permit.
"Once the word got out, everybody was doing it," said Texas state Rep. Lon Burnam.
From 2009 to 2010 the number of Utah permits issued to Texans more than doubled to 5,678 from 2,173, according to Utah's Bureau of Criminal Identification. Of the 66,371 permits Utah issued last year, more than 70 percent went to... (GunPolicy.org)
Arizona's Obsession With Loosening Gun Laws Doesn't Make Sense
24 February 2011
Daily Star (Arizona), Opinion
Quality jobs. Good schools. Preserving the natural environment. By any measure, these issues rank as top priorities to Arizonans.
Nowhere on the list are lax gun laws - but in the last two years, legislators passed laws to allow loaded and concealed weapons in bars and restaurants, firearms to be stored in vehicles parked in private parking lots (circumventing employer policies banning guns in the workplace), and individuals to carry concealed weapons without a permit,... (GunPolicy.org)
Hidden Handgun Backers Claim 'Armed Society is a Safe Society' in Maine
23 February 2011
Times Record (Maine)
LISBON — Proposals by Republican state legislators to relax Maine's gun control laws set the stage for a new political standoff at the State House.
Among the handful of bills expected to set off the biggest firestorm is legislation sponsored by Rep. Dale Crafts, R-Lisbon, that would — among other changes — repeal the requirement for a permit to carry a concealed weapon in Maine.
LD 658, "An Act To Modify the Requirement of a Permit To Carry a Concealed Weapon,"... (GunPolicy.org)
Senator Wants to Mandate Background Checks for All US Gun Sales
23 February 2011
The Hill (Washington DC)
All gun sales – even private transactions – would require a background check under legislation unveiled Wednesday by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.).
Current law requires that only licensed firearms dealers perform background checks, but Schumer says those rules don't go far enough to keep guns from the hands of violent criminals, the mentally ill, drug abusers and other prohibited buyers.
"Lax reporting by states and federal agencies has allowed guns to get into... (GunPolicy.org)
No US Gun Control Law Has Passed Since Obama: New Bill Said Doomed
23 February 2011
Reuters
U.S. states should turn over more records to a national list of people barred from buying guns or face rising penalties, Sen. Charles Schumer said in introducing new legislation to Congress on Wednesday.
The proposal is part of efforts to keep those who could not pass background checks from buying guns, spurred by the January 8 shootings in Tucson, Arizona which left six people dead and wounded U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 12 others.
The U.S. maintains a database... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns-on-Campus Campaigners Ignore Downside: Youth + Firearms = Risk
22 February 2011
Los Angeles Times, Editorial
When a 19-year-old sophomore named Colton Tooley opened fire with an assault rifle last fall near the UT Tower at the University of Texas, it seemed to some like a horrible rerun: In 1966, the tower was the site of what was then the worst campus shooting in U.S. history, when a sniper firing from the top of the structure killed 14 people. In some states, this kind of history might lead to government action to protect students from gun violence. But not in... (GunPolicy.org)
500 US Mayors Deny 'Anti-gun' Label, Say they're Just 'Anti Illegal Guns'
21 February 2011
Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh)
Both sides in the gun control debate say the best way to curtail gun violence is simply "to enforce the laws on the books."
But it is in their interpretations of that goal where the pro-gun and anti-gun camps differ greatly.
Hoping to position itself as the voice of reason in the middle is a nationwide coalition of more than 550 mayors, including Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and 184 others in Pennsylvania. Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a group founded in 2006 by... (GunPolicy.org)
US Should Follow Canadian Example of Tougher Gun Registration
21 February 2011
News-Press (Florida), Opinion
Taking on the gun lobby is an exercise in futility. No politician - Democrat or Republican - will risk having the powerful National Rifle Association (NRA) campaign against them at election time. It would have been a losing battle especially in the face of the 2008 Supreme Court 5-4 majority opinion in District of Columbia v. Heller which held that the second amendment was not limited to a "well regulated Militia" but secures an individual's right to own firearms.
In... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Rights vs. Gun Control: Arizona Legislators Push to Weaken Gun Law
20 February 2011
Daily Star (Arizona)
It didn't take much effort for the accused gunman in Tucson's Jan. 8 mass shooting to buy a semiautomatic handgun and ammunition - quick trips to the Sportsman's Warehouse and Walmart near his home.
It didn't take long - 15 seconds - for him to shoot 19 people, killing six, when he fired 31 rounds using a high-capacity magazine. That's roughly double the standard number for the Glock pistol he used.
And even if police could go back in time, they wouldn't have been... (GunPolicy.org)
The Rich, the Famous, the Armed - Famous New York Gun Owners Named
20 February 2011
New York Times
Men and women. Democrats and Republicans. Doctors, lawyers, merchants and moguls. A remarkable, if relatively small, cross-section of New Yorkers legally own handguns, according to public records obtained by The New York Times.
Among the more than 37,000 people licensed to have a handgun in the city are dozens of boldface names and public figures: prominent business leaders, elected officials, celebrities, journalists, judges and lawyers.
Some expressed pride in... (GunPolicy.org)
Assault Rifles Fly off Shelves as Arizona Gun Dealers Arm Mexican Gangs
20 February 2011
Tucson Citizen (Arizona)
A man approaches the counter at a Glendale gun store and asks for five AK-47 rifles.
Three days later, he returns and buys seven pistols. Two weeks later, he buys 20 more AK-47s.
Over the next several months, federal agents say, the same man, Uriel Patino of Phoenix, will return to Lone Wolf Trading Co. 18 times, buying a total of 42 handguns and 190 semiautomatic rifles.
Patino tells store clerks that all 232 guns are for his personal use.
But federal authorities... (GunPolicy.org)
Few US States Follow Law to Prevent Mentally Ill People Buying Guns
17 February 2011
Associated Press
More than half the states are not complying with a post-Virginia Tech law that requires them to share the names of mentally ill people with the national background-check system to prevent them from buying guns, an Associated Press review has found.
The deadline for complying with the three-year-old law was last month. But nine states haven't supplied any names to the database. Seventeen others have sent in fewer than 25, meaning gun dealers around the U.S. could be... (GunPolicy.org)
Virginia Tech Shooting Victims Oppose 'Hidden Handguns on Campus' Bill
17 February 2011
Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas — Colin Goddard, who was shot four times during the Virginia Tech rampage and survived by playing dead, urged Texas lawmakers on Thursday not to allow concealed handguns in college classrooms.
He and John Woods, another former Virginia Tech student whose girlfriend was among the more than 30 people killed in the April 2007 carnage, were at the Capitol to fight against guns on campus bills pending in the House and Senate. Texas campuses are currently... (GunPolicy.org)
