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Tag: Gun Control
Gun Transfers
In the wake of the shooting of two Virginia television journalists, Senator Tim Kaine (VA-D) introduced S. 2016, the Responsible Transfer of Firearms Act. The legislation is designed to hold people responsible if they sell or transfer a firearm to someone who is barred by Federal law from firearms possession. In essence, the proposal would raise the bar for commercial and private dealers who are now protected from criminal prosecution. Under Kaine’s bill, gun sellers would be criminally liable for a bad sale if they did not take reasonable, affirmative steps to determine that the customer met Federal criteria. The…
Concealed Guns
Legislation recently introduced in both houses of Congress would allow gun owners to carry concealed weapons across State lines. The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act has been introduced by Senator John Cornyn (TX-R) as S. 498 and by Representative Richard Nugent (FL-R) as H.R. 402. Under the bill, gun owners with concealed carry permits from their State would be able to bring their firearms to any other State with concealed carry laws. All 50 States and the District of Columbia have some form of “concealed carry” — which generally refers to the practice of carrying a concealed firearm on one’s…
Senate Moves Ahead on Gun Measures
The Senate Judiciary Committee has reported to the full Senate four bills intended to reduce gun violence: S. 54, the Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2013, introduced by Senator Charles Schumer (NY-D), to make it a Federal crime to serve as a “straw purchaser,” or someone who buys a firearm with the intent of selling it to an individual who cannot pass a background check. S. 146, the School Safety Enhancements Act, introduced by Senator Barbara Boxer (CA-D), to provide communities and schools with resources to install classroom locks, lighting, fencing, reinforced doors, and other deterrent measures. The…
Obama Delivers Fourth State of Union Address to Congress
Last night, the president stood before a joint session of Congress and delivered the first State of the Union address of his second term. The speech came just three weeks and a day after Obama took the oath of office and gave his inaugural address, and many commentators and officials in the administration predicted the speech would serve as a more detailed counterpart to the earlier speech. Obama delivered as expected, giving an hour-long speech that outlined a wide range of goals and proposals for his second-term. He ended with an emotional appeal for Congress to bring his gun-control proposals…
President’s Gun Proposals To Face Mixed Response on Capitol Hill
At a White House announcement on January 16, President Obama unveiled the Administration’s proposals to curb gun violence in America: 23 Executive actions that the President signed off on immediately, and a number of measures that he will send to Congress next week. The proposals are based on the recommendations of Vice President Joe Biden’s task force on gun safety, formed after the December school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. Major components of the President’s package include: A ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. Congressional action is required to change the law, and Senator Dianne Feinstein (CA-D) is introducing…