California
As we
reported in the last issue of Big Show Journal, the California Legislature
passed two anti-gun, anti-freedom bills and sent them to Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger (R) for signature. Fortunately
for law-abiding gun owners, Governor Schwarzenegger chose not to sign
those bills. On September 29, Governor Schwarzenegger
protected the Second Amendment by returning SB59 to the State Senate and
AB2714 to the State Assembly without his signature.
Santa Clara, CA
Gun owners
across California, made aware of impending legislative action, sent
e-mails to Santa Clara City Council members urging them not to enact a
proposed ban on gun shows held on city property.
On October 10, the city withdrew its proposed ban.
Indiana
On September 22,
Governor Mitch Daniels announced that by Executive Order he is restoring
gun rights in state parks and public lands.
Michigan
In September, the
Michigan House Government Operations Committee unanimously (7-0) approved legislation that prevents government seizure of lawfully possessed
firearms and ammunition in a declared state of emergency.
The bill now proceeds to the Michigan House of
Representatives for approval.
New Hampshire
According to the NRA-ILA, New York
City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino are personally
contacting every mayor in New Hampshire asking them to sign onto
Mayor Bloomberg’s New York-style gun control agenda.
New Jersey
On October 11, by a vote of 6 to 2, the Jersey City Council passed
Ordinance #06-116. This was Jersey City's latest attempt to rewrite its
illegal "One-Gun-a-Month" law, which passed in June and is
currently the subject of a pre-emption lawsuit initiated by the
Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs.
New York
New
York Governor George Pataki signed a bill increasing the minimum sentence
for possessing illegal firearms. New
York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg also attended the signing.
The new law raises the minimum mandatory sentence to 3
1/2 years. The previous minimum was one year, though 40 percent of
first-time felons convicted last year did not receive that minimum because
of a loophole in the law, according to the Department of Criminal Justice.
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania
House of Representative met in October to consider Governor Rendell’s
gun control proposals. The
House utilized a legislative procedure known as the Committee of the
Whole, which gives each lawmaker an opportunity to offer crime-fighting
measures in the Committee. Over
the course of three days, the House debated over 100 proposals.
Although many gun control proposals were introduced, ranging from
mandating child safety locks on firearms to allowing the City of
Philadelphia to regulate gun sales, all were defeated.
Also among the proposals were a statewide ban on “assault
weapons” that failed by a vote of 63-124 and a ban on “assault
weapons” in the City of Philadelphia that was rejected by a 57-128
margin.
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