TANYA METAKSA
By Tanya Metaksa |Contributing Editor
NOTICE: The National Rifle Association has cancelled its 2020 Annual Meetings due to coronavirus pandemic.
What’s New—State Legislation: Alabama—HB39, a lifetime Right-to-Carry Permit bill is being supported by the Speaker; Hawaii—The Senate Committee on Public Safety passed HB1902 and HB2744, and deferred HB2736; Idaho: Gov. Brad Little signed HB396, shooting range protection, into law; Iowa—HF2502 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee; Mississippi—The House passed HB1215, improving the state firearms preemption law; New Hampshire—House passed 4 anti-gun bills, rejected 2; Rhode Island— House Judiciary Committee hearing on gun bills postponed; 2020 Elections—Biden and Sanders debate with no audience; Judicial—Ross v. Melekas;
2020 Elections
And then there were two and 1/2: Prior to Super Tuesday the remaining Democrat candidates were Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Tulsi Gabbard and Mike Bloomberg. After Super Tuesday voting both Mike Bloomberg and Elizabeth Warren have decided to cease their campaigns. Bloomberg announced he would support Joe Biden. In Texas Joe Biden said to Beto O’Rourke, “you’re going to take care of the gun problem for me. You’re gonna be the one who leads this effort.” When he was still a candidate for President Beto announced that as President he would confiscate AR-15 firearms.
Everytown for Gun Safety, Mike Bloomberg’s group, announced that it would spend $60,000,000 in advertising in the 2020 elections nationwide, of which $250,000 worth are digital ads aimed at putting the Republican controlled Minnesota Senate “on notice.”
Ballot initiatives-2020
Oregon: The National Rifle Association (NRA) challenged Initiative Petition 40, requiring all firearms to be locked with a trigger locking device when not carried, and the Oregon Supreme Court agreed. This proposal now goes to the Attorney General for modifications.
Initiative Petition 18 (IP18) has been filed. Petitioners gathered the necessary signatures to start the process for gathering signatures to put this measure on the 2020 ballot. IP18 is a proposal that would require all firearms to be locked unless being carried and stolen or lost firearms must be reported within 24 hours. The NRA has now filed a legal challenge to the ballot measures sponsored by an interfaith lobby group, Lift Every Voice Oregon.They have proposed three initiative petitions for the upcoming legislative session: IP60: limit the sale of semiautomatic “assault-style” weapons, add 5-day waiting period, raise minimum age to purchase and ban magazines holding more than 10 rounds. The other two proposals are just parts of IP60.
Federal
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive (BATF): BATF is proposing a change to Form 4473 to include a box for “non-binary persons” to check, and a question for persons in the military.
New firearms export regulations: On January 23 a new rule was formally printed in the Federal Register and will be implemented 45 days after the formal publication. The new ruling transfers the export licensing of sporting and commercial, not military, to the Department of Commerce from the Department of State. This new rule will have no effect upon the sale of military weaponry. For the complete story.
2019 Gun Control bills in the U.S. Congress
Awaiting action in the U.S. Senate: The U.S. Senate has yet to consider two extreme gun control measures—H.R. 8, a universal background check bill, and H.R. 1112, a bill to extend the time from 3 days to 10 days if a prospective buyer is not cleared in a NICs check—that were passed last year by the Democrat-controlled House.
The House Judiciary Committee passed the following bills last September by straight party-line votes—Democrats voting aye and Republicans voting nay. The “Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2019,” H.R. 1236, a bill that would establish federal grants to state, local and tribal governments for the purpose of establishing a program designated to allow such governmental entities to remove a person’s Second Amendment rights, passed by a vote of 22-16.
H.R. 1186, the “Keep Americans Safe Act,” a bill to ban the sale, transfer and possession of magazines with more than 10 rounds, passed by a vote of 23-16. This bill as it is currently written would allow current owners to keep already owed magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds;
H.R. 2708, the “Disarm Hate Act,” this bill’s purpose is “to prevent a person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime, or received an enhanced sentence for a misdemeanor because of hate or bias in the commission, from obtaining a firearm.”
State Legislation
All state legislatures with the exception of Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas will be in session in 2020
All the remaining legislatures were/are in session with the exception of Arkansas that begins in April. New Mexico, Oregon and Virginia have adjourned.
Alabama:
House Speaker Mac McCutcheon wrote to the Alabama Sheriffs Association (ASA) that he was in support of HB39, a lifetime Right-to-Carry Permit bill. The ASA has been actively lobbying against this bill. The Senate Committee for the Judiciary passed SB47 6-3, creating a statewide uniform system of lifetime Right-to-Carry Permits at a cost of $200. If an applicant is over 65, the fee is $150.
Alaska:
The House Judiciary Committee will be holding a hearing on HB62, “red flag” firearm seizure legislation.
Arizona:
Four anti-gun bills have been introduced in the Senate: SB1624, making all private firearms transfers without a background check illegal; SB1625, banning the sale, possession and transfer of commonly owned semi-automatic rifles; SB1626, allowing family or law enforcement to petition a court to seize a person’s gun without due process; and SB1627, safe storage legislation mandating gun locks or firearms inoperability.
California:
The Senate passed SB21, a hold-over bill banning gun shows in the Cow Palace in San Francisco, on a 27-11 vote. AB18, a $25 excise tax on the purchase of a new firearms, plus a tax on ammunition dealers, has been referred back to the Appropriations Committee from the suspense file. AB503, allowing citizens with a Right-to-Carry Permit to carry to, from and in a place of worship failed on a strict party line vote. Dems voted NO and Republicans voted AYE.
Colorado:
House Judiciary Committee considered HB1271, repealing “red flag” legislation, and then postponed it indefinitely, thus killing it.
Connecticut:
HB5040, adding an additional 35% tax on the sale of ammunition, had a hearing, but no action has been taken.
Florida:
Although the Florida Senate Infrastructure and Security Committee passed SB7028, a bill to “close the gun-show ‘loophole,’ create a record-keeping system for private gun sales and set aside $5 million to establish a ‘statewide strategy for violence prevention’,” which was promoted by Senate President Bill Galvano (R), he announced that the Senate would NOT be taking up the measure before adjournment on March 13.
Georgia:
HB787, a Right-to-Carry Permit reciprocity bill, passed House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee and is awaiting floor action.
Hawaii:
This state has already more gun control laws on the books, but even more are being proposed: Hawaii currently requires a purchase permit for every handgun. After the House had passed HB1902, limiting magazine capacity to 10 rounds; HB2736, restricting ammunition sales and licensing ammunition sellers; and HB2744, creating a commission to research gun violence, the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs passed HB1902 and HB2744, but deferred HB2736. The Senate passed SB2519 SD1, a greater than 10-round magazine ban, and SB2635, restricting ammunition purchases.
Idaho:
Gov. Brad Little signed HB396, shooting range protection, into law.
Illinois:
The following bills are still viable in 2020: SB1966, adding many more restrictive provisions to the FOID cards and giving bureaucracy almost unlimited powers, passed the House 62-52 but with amendments. It will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee to review the House passed amendments. Other bills under consideration: SB337 will create an electronic firearms transfer form that will lead to an electronic firearms registry. HB1467, to require the registration of all ammunition sales; SB107, a comprehensive ban on firearms and accessories; HB174, set requirement for reporting of firearms loss or theft; HB888, require FOID applicants to list social media accounts; revoke FOID cards if guns are reported lost in 3 incidents in 2 years; and HB892, ban firearms that include modern materials. SB44, a bill with just a title, by Sen. Michael Hastings, has just had an amendment (Senate Amendment 1 to SB44) added to have State Police designate “gun liaison officers” that would have the authority to seize Firearm Owner Identification Cards (FOID) and then seize all ammunition and firearms.
Indiana:
Normally a Second Amendment friendly legislature but SB16, which would prohibit juveniles who used a gun in a crime and were punished to be denied their Second Amendment rights until they reached the age of 26 or 28, has been introduced..
Iowa:
House Study Bill (HSB)615, protecting shooting ranges from onerous zoning restrictions and expanding Iowa’s preemption law to firearms parts and other weapons, is now HF2502, and was passed by the House on Feb. 27. It has also passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 9. The Senate Judiciary Committee passed SF116, allowing Right-to-Carry Permittees to keep a handgun in their car while picking up and dropping off students at a school. “Red flag” firearm seizure legislation, HF2367, has been introduced. The Des Moines Register ran an editorial against the bill on Feb. 14.
Kentucky:
SB8, a bill that required Kentucky schools to have at least one armed police officer, passed both Houses of the legislature by large majorities and was immediately signed by Gov. Andy Beshear. The law becomes effective immediately.
Maryland:
The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing one Feb 26 for HB910, prohibiting 3d printed firearms, and HB1257, requiring electronic records for firearms sale. The House Judiciary Committee voted to withdraw from consideration HB 1261, expanding the number of firearms that are designated “assault” weapons and thus subject to confiscation, has been introduced. This bill would also add a registration requirement to those so-called “assault” weapons. SB422, a bill requiring a yearly course for persons who have a permit to carry a handgun, was before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Feb. 13. The General Assembly overrode Gov. Larry Hogan’s veto of HB1343/SB1000, a bill that removed the citizen committee to hear appeals from denial of Right-to-Carry Permits. Hearing dates for gun bills have already been scheduled in the legislature. Several committees met Jan.15 to consider bills: The House Judiciary Committee considered HB4, would ban any private transfers of long guns as well as the loan of any such firearm and would impose draconian penalties. The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee considered SB39 that would add Anderson Manufacturing .223 Caliber and .300 Caliber long guns to the current list of banned “assault weapons.” The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee considered SB55, creating a “buy-back fund” to purchase so-called “assault weapons.”
Massachusetts:
The Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security’s action deadline of Feb.5 to act on any of the bills on its agenda has been rescheduled to May 5, 2020.
Michigan:
Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who gave the Democrat response to President Trump’s State of the Union address, has appointed an anti-gun former Mayor, George Heartwell, to chair the Natural Resources Commission. Heartwell was a member of Michael Bloomberg’s anti-gun groups. HB4434, reducing the penalty for those that forgot to renew their Right-to-Carry Permits to a civil fine rather than a felony, passed the House 90-19 and can be considered in 2020.
Minnesota:
Two carry-over bills HF8, banning sales between individuals, and HF9, “red flag” firearm seizure legislation, have passed the House and and are assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The following bills are still before the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee: SF434, prohibiting private transfers of firearms, SF436, “red flag” legislation; SF72, self-defense legislation, and SF748, constitutional carry.
Mississippi:
The House passed HB1215, improving the state firearms preemption law.
Missouri:
On Feb 24 the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources held a hearing on Senate Joint Resolution 62, a constitutional amendment to affirm the public’s right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife. The Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee has two firearms bills awaiting hearings: SB543, “red flag” firearm seizure legislation, and SB700, repeals “gun free zones” on public transportation.
Nebraska:
LB58, a “red flag” firearm seizure legislation, and LB816, a waiting period bill, have not been passed by the Judiciary Committee before the deadline for passage.
New Hampshire:
During the week of March 9 the House passed the following anti-gun bills: HB1143, repealing firearms manufacturing limited liability is in the House Judiciary Committee; HB1285, a restrictive firearms prohibition for guns on school grounds; HB1374, repealing a law that prohibited destroying voluntarily surrendered firearms; and HB1349, establishing a state mandated committee to study children and firearms accidents. The House also rejected HB1350, any firearm transfer has to include a gun safety device (such as a gun lock or safe), and HB1115, prohibiting the discharge of a firearm within 900 feet of a nonresidential building. The Senate defeated 24-0, SB469, repealing New Hampshire’s current shooting range protection law. On Feb 20 the House voted to pass HB1379-FN, banning private sale of firearms, and HB1101-FN, adding a 3-day waiting period to purchase of firearms. A carry-over bill, HB687, allowing firearms seizure without due process was approved in the House 201-176 with 20 Democrats voting NO. It now goes to the Senate.
New Jersey:
When the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee held a hearing Feb. 24 on S120, increasing the penalty for negligent gun storage, and S746, denying persons who have been convicted of “animal cruelty” from possessing a firearm, there was not a quorum and those bills were not enacted. However, they are still viable.
New Mexico:
The New Mexico legislature has adjourned. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed SB5, “red flag” firearm seizure legislation,” on Feb 25.
New York:
A.703, banning hunting with lead ammunition on public lands, passed the Assembly Codes Committee.
Ohio:
Ohio Attorney General David Yost has stated that he is developing a database for the listing of stolen guns. Two bills, SB223, banning bump stocks and high capacity magazines, and SB203, regulating firearms transfer at gun shows, were brought up before the Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee but no votes were taken. HB178, a constitutional carry bill, was approved in the House Federalism Committee on June 26. It has been re-referred to the Criminal Justice and Rules and Reference Committees on June 28 and June 30. In the past year 69,375 new carry licenses and almost 100,000 renewals were issued.
Oklahoma:
SB959, a bill that allows anyone authorized to use medical marijuana to have a Right-to-Carry Permit, passed the Senate on Feb. 25. A bill to rescind constitutional carry that was passed overwhelmingly in 2019, HB3357, was defeated 12-1 in the House Judiciary Committee.
Oregon:
On March 5 the legislature adjourned. As a result of a group of pro-Second Amendment representatives that refused to attend floor session thus preventing the legislature from reaching a quorum none of the pending gun bills were voted upon.
Pennsylvania:
On Nov. 20 three new anti-gun bills were introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee: HB2076, a person’s driver’s license may be revoked if that person’s license to carry a firearm expires or is revoked; HB2077, a mandatory safe storage of firearms bill with penalties; and HB2078, waiting period prior to possession of a “semi-automatic assault rifle.” A bill to ban the sale of toy guns that are not vibrant colors, HB2216, has been sent to the House Judiciary Committee.
Rhode Island:
The March 11, 2020 the House Judiciary Committee hearing on over a dozen gun bills, was postponed due to the coronavirus. There are still gun bills waiting from the January hearings in the following committees: Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on S.2004A, banning 3D printed guns. The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on three bills: H7101, dealing with personal information being stored by the government; H7102A, a companion to S.2004A, and H7103, requiring firearms sellers to notify police concerning any firearms sale.
South Dakota:
The Senate Judiciary Committee deferred SB82, “red flag” firearm seizure legislation, to the 41st legislative day thereby killing it for this year.
Tennessee:
Constitutional carry legislation, SB2671 and HB2817, have hearings scheduled. HB2817, will be before the House Constitutional Protections and Sentencing Subcommittee on March 10, while SB2671, is scheduled for March 17 before the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee.
Texas:
Although the Texas legislature is not in session in 2020, on March 10 and 11 two legislative committees are holding hearings on gun control. In Austin the Senate Select Committee on Mass Violence Prevention & Community Safety are holding a hearing at the State Capitol at 9 am. They will be discussing how to “Examine ways to keep firearms out of the hands of individuals who would not pass a federal background check, while protecting the Second Amendment and Texans’ right to bear arms. Examine whether stranger-to-stranger gun sales in Texas should be subject to background checks.” In Houston the House select Committee on. Mass Violence Prevention & Community Safety will be at the University of Houston, Student Center South, Room 210, and will be taking testimony on three issues:
- Examine options for strengthening enforcement measures for current laws that prevent the transfer of firearms to felons and other persons prohibited by current law from possessing firearms;
- Examine impediments and challenges to the timely reporting of relevant criminal history information and other threat indicators to state and federal databases;
- Evaluate current protocols and extreme risk indicators used to identify potential threats and consider options for improving the dissemination of information between federal, state, and local entities and timely and appropriate intervention of mental health professionals.
Utah:
House Judiciary Committee fails to recommend three anti-gun bills: HB115, a gun safety proposal, HB136, a mandatory gun locking proposal, and HB109, a private firearms transfer prohibition.
Vermont:
The House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a hearing for Feb. 19 on H610, “red flag” firearm seizure legislation, that also includes a block on proceeding with the “default proceed” for NICS checks. Additionally, at least a half-dozen more anti-gun bills have been introduced.
Virginia:
The Virginia legislature has adjourned a day late. Although there was great jubilation when the so-called “assault weapons” ban failed in committee, the following restrictive, anti-gun bills were passed this session and are awaiting Gov. Ralph Northam’s signature: SB 14, banning possession of bump stocks, although binary triggers, trigger cranks, etc. are not affected; SB 64, turning a misdemeanor into a felony when a group of two or more individuals brandishes with the intent and purpose of intimidating others; SB 71, mandating daycare/preschool become gun-free zones, for daycare centers in religious or private preschools, the gun ban only applies during hours of operation; SB 173, allows CHP holders to have a stun-weapon in their vehicle while on K-12 school grounds; HB 264, eliminates online training but does not affect training from NRA instructors to get a CHP; HB 600, Licensed home day facilities require firearms to be stored unloaded and locked up during hours of operation and allows localities to make their requirements more strict; HB 888, eliminating sales tax for purchases of a gun safe under $1,500; HB 1004 – protective orders take away gun rights while in effect; HB2, criminalizing private transfers and adds fees; HB9, all firearms loss or theft to be reported within 24 hours; HB421, repeals preemption; HB674, allow seizure of firearms without hearing; HB812, a one-gun-a-month purchasing restriction; HB1080, restricting school boards from changing gun restrictions; and HB1083, restricting parental decision making regarding children and firearms.
Washington:
To circumvent the crossover deadline of Feb. 19 a new bill banning “high capacity” magazines, HB2947, has been introduced that is not subject to the crossover deadline and a hearing was held on Feb. 25 before the Finance Committee. House bills passed by the Senate Committee on Law & Justice: HB1010, stopping the Washington State Patrol from selling confiscated firearms, HB2305, adds a new Vulnerable Adult Protective Order that includes a ban on the possession of firearms for a person named in such an order, HB2622, modifying the current firearm surrender provisions thus increasing the burden on the gun owner; HB2623, prohibiting any citizen that has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of unlawful aiming or discharging a firearm from possessing any firearm, and HB2467, creating a centralized system for firearms transfer to be managed by the Washington State Patrol that will allow firearms transfers through FFL dealers instantaneously. Senate bills passed by the House Committee on Civil Rights and Judiciary: SB5434, expanding “gun free zones” to include child care centers, where even Right-to-Carry Permittees cannot carry a gun, and SB6288, creating an Office of Firearm Violence Prevention. All other bills are
West Virginia:
The West Virginia legislature has adjourned. HB4955, a Right-to-Carry Permit fee reduction bill has been passed unanimously by the House—the current $75 fee has been reduced to $25 and the fee for honorably discharged military veterans has been eliminated, passed the Senate unanimously. SB96, expanding the preemption law in West Virginia, passed the Senate and the House. Both bills now go to Gov. Jim Justice.
Wisconsin:
SB822, allowing persons with Right-to-Carry Permits to carry in churches, was before the Senate Committee on Insurance, Financial Service, Government Oversight and Courts on Feb. 20.
Judicial
Ross v. Melekas:
The Second Amendment Foundation, the Connecticut Citizens Defense League and two individual plaintiffs are suing the Connecticut enforcers of the magazine limitation on the basis of the Second and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
City of Philadelphia v. Rashad T. Armstrong:
In 2018 Larry Krasner, the newly elected Philadelphia District Attorney, decided to enforce a 2008 Philadelphia ordinance requiring 24-hour notice when a firearm was found to be missing. The first person to be charged with failure to report a lost or stolen firearm is Rashad Armstrong whose handgun was found in a traffic stop in 2018. On March 6, 2020 Armstrong’s attorney, Joshua Prince, argued that the Pennsylvania preemption statute prevents Philadelphia from enacting their own firearms ordinances.
Duncan v. Becerra:
Oral arguments are scheduled for April 2, 2020. Challenges Section 32310, which states that persons not only cannot use magazines holding 10 or more rounds, but cannot “keep property they lawfully acquired.” On Mar. 29, 2019 Judge Benitz invalidated the 10-round limitation on magazine capacity, by ruling “California Penal Code section 32310 is hereby declared to be unconstitutional in its entirety and shall be enjoined.” But on April 5, 2019 the restrictions against magazines that hold 10 or more rounds were back in place, and “For those persons who have manufactured, imported, sold or bought” such magazines between March 29, 2019 and 5:00 pm April 5, 2019 they may possess them.
Landmark Firearms LLC, et al v. Colonel Robert Evanchick:
See the background information under Pennsylvania legislation. On Dec. 20, 2019 Landmarks Firearms, US Rifle petitioned to stop the Commissioner f Pennsylvania State Police (Robert Evanchick) enjoined from implementing the new PA policy that states an unfinished receiver meets the definition of “firearm.” After a January 21, 2020 hearing on the application Commonwealth Court Judge Kevin Brobson found that the PA State police had violated the due process rights of Pennsylvania residents and businesses and issued an injunction is until the final disposition of the Petition for Review, including appeals has been reached.
Thomas, et.al. v. Illinois State Police:
The Second Amendment Foundation and Illinois State Rifle Association have sued the Illinois State Police in federal court over the agency’s sluggish handling of Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) card applications and renewals. For the story.
Jones, et al v. Becerra:
This lawsuit is challenging the “California Age-Based Gun Ban” that prohibited adults between the ages of 18 and 20 from acquiring any firearm. United States District Judge denied the applications from three anti-gun groups Everytown, Giffords Law Center and Brady from filing amicus briefs as their “partisanship is apparent.”
City of Kansas City, MO v. Jimenez Arms, Inc., et al:
Kansas City, MO is suing a number of firearms companies for supplying firearms to James Samuels, a former Kansas City Fire Department Captain who was charged and is being prosecuted for federal gun crimes. This suit is being supported by Everytown Law, part of Michael Bloomberg’s Everytown for Gun Safety.
Miscellaneous
American Bar Association (ABA): During its midwinter meeting the American Bar Association (ABA) passed an anti-gun resolution that states:
Urges federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal governments to enact statues, rules and regulations that would define the requirements of safe storage of a firearm, require firearm owners to meet those requirements, promote safe storage education for firearm owners and urges the federal government to incentivize safe storage programs within the states.
