By Tanya K Metaksa
Have a lovely Thanksgiving
U.S. Congress
Democrats held a hearing on bump stocks while they were still in the majority in the U.S. Senate.
A hearing was held on Nov. 13 in the U.S. Senate on firearms laws that focused on bump stocks. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a perennial supporter of banning guns, was adamant that something should be done to keep semi-automatic firearms from being converted into “illegal machine guns.”
During the hearing, Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), who has been touted as one of the least intelligent members, managed to remark, “The Supreme Court in …Heller was pretty much an astounding decision to me.” Since no legislation was being proposed, this was just an opportunity for anti-Second Amendment Democrats to sound off.
Concealed Carry Reciprocity
During the first Trump administration, the House of Representatives voted to approve the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017. The antigun groups were united in calling it a threat to public safety and state gun laws. At that time, they all issued strong statements after the vote. Giffords published:
“Congress has failed the American people. After two of our nation’s worst mass shootings, Congress took direct instruction from the gun lobby and passed a bill that will override existing state laws and allow dangerous, untrained people to carry guns in every state and every city. Let’s be clear: These politicians are trading our safety for political contributions from the gun lobby.”
Everytown’s press release’s headline read Threatens Public Safety, and Puts Police Officers at Risk” and went on to allege:
“Concealed carry reciprocity” wouldn’t create a national standard for who can carry a concealed handgun in public. Instead, it would force each state to accept the concealed carry standards of every other state, even states that have weaker standards, or worse, no standards at all. H.R. 38 would make it difficult or impossible for law enforcement to verify whether a person from another state is legally carrying a concealed gun in public. It would even allow individual law enforcement officers to be sued for attempting to verify that a person is carrying legally.”
Brady United’s co-president Kris Brown stated: “This bill flouts state law and allows anyone to carry a gun at any time anywhere, regardless of existing state laws that establish procedures for how and when a concealed weapon can be obtained and carried.”
It is now eight years later, and National Concealed Carry Reciprocity is still a dream for most gun owners. Yet, we have made strides. Now, 29 states have laws that allow constitutional carry for law-abiding gun owners. Donald Trump becoming the 47th President means that the President would sign such a bill. But make no mistake, getting it through the U. S. Congress will be challenging. There may be a slim Republican majority, but it may not be a Second Amendment majority. This will take everyone contacting their Representatives and their Senators not once but many times over the next two years. Our best time to ensure we can pass this is in the next two years. Remember, November 2026 is an election year for every Representative and one-third of the Senate.
State Legislation and local communities
It is November, and very few legislatures are still in session.
States that are still in session: California (recess), Illinois (recess), Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire (recess), New Jersey, Ohio (recess), New York (recess), Oklahoma (recess), North Carolina (recess), Oklahoma (recess), Pennsylvania, South Carolina (recess), Virginia (recess), Wisconsin (recess)
New Jersey: On Nov. 19, the New Jersey Firearms Owners Syndicate announced a new initiative:
“New Jersey Firearm Owners Syndicate is pleased to announce that it has partnered with the American Suppressor Association Foundation (“ASA Foundation”) and Silencer Shop to challenge New Jersey’s unconstitutional state laws and regulations prohibiting New Jersey residents from acquiring suppressors.”
Virginia: Newport News: According to a Virginia Citizens Defense League email:
“This Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 7 pm, the Newport News City Council is planning to vote on stripping away the right of CHP holders to carry in City owned government buildings! CHP holders are currently exempted from the carry ban in government buildings, community and recreation centers, parks, and permitted events. This email address reaches all City Council members at once: council@nnva.gov”
Thought for the day
U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) comments on Nancy Pelosi: “I think it’s really ironic that you have a woman at age 84, and she is still hanging on. Why not give a younger generation an opportunity to occupy that seat? She embraced this: She’s the godmother; she’s the enforcer. And now she’s blaming Biden. Well, you can’t have it both ways. You got what you wanted, and now you’re still blaming Biden.”
