By Tanya Metaksa
What’s New—Massachusetts: The legislature has changed the number of the anti-Second Amendment bill, it is now HB4135, not HB4607, nor HB4420. Although the state’s police chiefs association (Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association) has unanimously voted to NOT support HB4607, it passed the House on Wednesday;Michigan: The House Criminal Justice Committee has advance two more bills, HB471, and HB472, defining while being vague what constitutes an offense that causes a person to lose their Second Amendment rights; these bills will now go to the full House; Politics: November election endorsements.
U.S. Congress
The vote on Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act, H.R.5110, was 421-1 in the House and passed in the Senate by unanimous consent. President Biden signed it on Oct. 6. This bill was necessary to reverse the Biden administration’s illegal policy made possible by the so-called “Bipartisan Safer Communities Act” that passed in June 2022.
Politics
Louisiana statewide races: Governor & Lt. Gov.
Attorney General Jeff Landry, who was endorsed by the NRA-PVF, won the election for Governor by getting 51.6% of the vote. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser won reelection as well. Other statewide races that will be decided in a November runoff election are attorney general, that pits Republican Liz Baker Murrill, who works at the Attorney General’s Office and Lindsey Cheek, a Democrat trial attorney.
Kentucky & Mississippi Races for Governor
There are two more gubernatorial races that will be decided on Nov. 7—Mississippi and Kentucky. In Mississippi, current Governor Tate Reeves is running for reelection and has been endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund again. In Kentucky the incumbent Democrat Governor Andy Beshear is still leading in the polls with less than a month before Election Day. The NRA-PVF has endorsed his Republican challenger Daniel Cameron, citing his record of support for NYSRPA v. Bruen and his opposition to the tracking of firearm and ammunition purchases by credit card companies.In the race for Attorney General Republican Russell Coleman has also been endorsed.
Legislation and local communities
The following states are currently in session: California, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts and Wisconsin. The states that are still in session but in recess are: Alaska, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Vermont . All the rest have adjourned for 2023.
Illinois: According to an X (formerly known as Twitter) poster the IL State Police modified their ammo background check system to where sellers in the state need to put in the caliber being sold. This is to track people and target them for buying calibers like 5.57/7.62×39 who didn’t register their “assault rifles”…they’re going for it.
Massachusetts: The legislature has changed the number of the anti-Second Amendment bill, it is now HB4135, not HB4607, nor HB4420. Although the state’s police chiefs association (Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association) has unanimously voted to NOT support HB4607, it passed the House on Wednesday. Cam Edwards in Bearing Arms has a complete analysis of this bill.
Michigan: A state that only a little while ago was not considered a hot bed of gun control activism has completely flipped. The House Criminal Justice Committee has advanced two more bills, HB471 and HB472, dealing with crimes that will cause gun owners to lose their Second Amendment rights. Additionally SB528, which has passed the Senate, makes additional domestic violence offenses that lead to loss of Second Amendment rights.
New Mexico: On Sept. 13 the first of several lawsuits against Gov Michelle Lujan Grisham’s unconstitutional edict against the carrying of firearms in several counties in New Mexico was filed. Donk v. Grisham was considered by Judge David H. Urias who granted the plaintiffs’ motion for a Temporary Restraining Order. The TRO is in effect “until such time as the Court has ruled on the Plaintiffs motions for a preliminary injunction.” Additionally at the hearing on October 3, Judge Urias extended his Temporary Restraining Order for another week. However, Governor Grisham’s modified executive order is in effect until November 3, 2023.
New York: New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov from Brooklyn, proudly posted an Instagram picture of herself with her new NY firearms carry license on Sept. 5. As a result of the Hamas invasion of Israel, the Palestinian supporters from City College held a rally on Thursday. Councilwoman Vernikov decided to be part of the counterdemonstration supporting Israel. As she argued with the Palestinian supporters the butt of her handgun became visible with several pictures taken of it posted on social media. On Friday, she turned herself in to the NYC police and relinquished not only her handgun but also her carry permit.
