Liberty and Justice for All Times » firearms

450 Mayors Petition Obama To Adopt Broad Gun Reform – Washington Post

admin — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 07:51:50 +0000

A new report from a national coalition of mayors urges President Obama to adopt dozens of reforms to help curb gun violence, including steps to crack down on problems at gun shows and the creation of a federal interstate firearms trafficking unit.

The “Blueprint for Federal Action on Illegal Guns,” a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post, presents 40 recommendations that “would dramatically improve law enforcement’s ability to keep guns out of the hands of criminals — and, in doing so, save innocent lives.”

The strategies outlined by the Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a bipartisan group of about 450 mayors nationwide, focus on the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The agency, which has been sent a copy of the report, declined to comment.

Article Photo – flickr (scottpargettphotography)

Supreme Court Takes Case on Reach of Gun Rights – NY Times

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:05:02 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Supreme Court will decide whether the constitutional right of individuals to own firearms trumps state and local laws, reviving the legal battle over gun rights in America.

The high court said Wednesday it agreed to decide the reach of its landmark ruling last year that the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guaranteed an individual right to own guns and use them for lawful purposes like self-defense in the home.

Gun rights cases have been among the country’s most divisive social, political and legal issues. The Supreme Court split, in a 5-4 vote, between the conservative and liberal factions, in the 2008 ruling.

Article Photo – flickr (fotomele)

Current Firearms Legislation – 09/21/2009

admin — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:57:55 +0000

There is currently 79 bills pending in Congress related to firearms and there will likely be more soon. GovTrack.us maintains the full text and summary text of most bills. GovTrack is an amazing resource that allows you to set up alerts for legislation by bill or by topic . GovTrack also allows you to track individual politicians and research their voting records and other statistics.

Current Significant Legislation

H.R. 45 – “Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009.” This is probably the most prominent and well known anti gun rights bills in process currently. There have been numerous panic inducing e-mails circulating about the bill. The simple fact of the matter about this bill is that it would adopt a restricted weapons registration program much like Canada’s, where every gun owner would have to register and obtain a license before they would be allowed to purchase a handgun or semi-automatic rifle.

Full text – http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-45

S.B. 669 – “Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act” This bill would prevent post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans from becoming a means of disqualifying them from gun ownership, without judicial oversight. “In any case arising out of the administration by the Secretary (of Veteran’s Affairs) of laws and benefits under this title, a person who is mentally incapacitated, deemed mentally incompetent, or experiencing an extended loss of consciousness shall not be considered adjudicated as a mental defective under subsection (d)(4) or (g)(4) of section 922 of title 18 without the order or finding of a judge, magistrate, or other judicial authority of competent jurisdiction that such person is a danger to himself or herself or others.”

Full text – http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s111-669