By Tanya Metaksa
Constitutional Carry in 2024
Within a span of two days, gun owners went from 27 states with constitutional carry laws to 29 states. As promised Governor Jeff Landry signed SB1 on March 4, with an enactment date of July 4, and a day later the South Carolina General Assembly passed HB3594, the South Carolina constitutional carry bill, Governor Henry McMaster wasted no time in signing the bill into law. 58% of the states within the United States now live under constitutional carry.
What’s New—California: SB1160, sponsored by Anthony Portantino (SD-25), will tax every gun owned and every gun owner; Colorado: Hearing for HB24-1292, the new assault weapons ban is scheduled for March 29. Sign up here; HB 24-1174, increasing training requirement for concealed carry permits, passed second reading in the House with amendments; Delaware: The Senate Substitute 1 for SB 2 which requires a “handgun qualified purchaser permit” to be able to purchase or receive a handgun, was passed by the Senate; Louisiana: Governor Jeff Landry signed SB1 into law and it becomes effective on July 4, 2024; Hawaii: The Senate has passed SB3196 and SB2845; Iowa: HF2586, a bill allowing armed teachers and other school personnel was approved in the House and has also passed a subcommittee of the Senate Education Committee; Kentucky: On March 6, the Senate Veteran, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee passed HB357, prohibiting the use of firearm specific-merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition, and components; Iowa: HF2464, prohibiting the use of firearm-specific-merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition, and components and is a successor to HSB671, passed the Senate Commerce Committee this week. HF488, a “ghost gun” bill, was held by the Subcommittee on Public Safety thereby killing the bill in this session: Kentucky: House Bill 357, passed the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee; New Mexico: Governor Lujan Grisham signed both HB129, a seven-day waiting period bill, and SB5, creating 100ft “gun-free” zones around balloting areas; Rhode Island: A gun bill hearing is scheduled on March 13 before the House Judiciary Committee in the State House Lounge at 3 pm; Tennessee: Gun bills that were scheduled for last week will be considered this coming week. SB2223, prohibiting the use of firearm-specific-merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition, and components, will be before the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee; Utah: The Utah legislature has adjourned. The legislature passed HB406 and it now heads to Governor Cox; Wyoming: The Senate passed HB125. It now goes to Governor Gordon. Awaiting votes in the House are two pro-Second Amendment bills; Election 2024 news has been added.
State Legislation and local communities
States that do NOT hold legislative sessions in 2024: Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas,
States that are in session: Arizona, Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
California: SB1160, sponsored by Anthony Portantino (SD-25), will tax every gun owned and every gun owner. California Rifle & Pistol Association President Chuck Michel summarized it on X (formerly known as Twitter) : “EVERY. SINGLE. GUN. Registered and taxed repeatedly. EVERY. SINGLE. GUN OWNER. Taxed annually for each and every gun.
“Those of you who thought gun control didn’t matter because they weren’t going after you or your gun, we told you this was always part of their plan. They want to know about every single gun in the state and every single gun owner. And they are going to charge you a fee on each and every gun you have, every single year.
“Your plinker? Registered and taxed annually. Your hunting shotgun? Registered and taxed annually.
We warned you. Now here it is in black and white: the California legislature is moving to pass Senate Bill 1160.
“No one is safe from this. Every gun owner in California will be effected and will have to pay the state for the “privilege” of owning a gun for sport or to defend your family. Those on the sidelines: are you awake now? GET IN THE GAME. Join and support http://CRPA.org as we fight to stop it, and sue to kill it if it passes.”
Colorado: On March 19, the House Judiciary Committee will consider HB24-1292, an assault weapons that include even pistols and shotguns. Penalties include a first-time penalty of $250,000. To sign up to testify click this link. HB 24-1174, increasing training requirement for concealed carry permits, passed second reading in the House with amendments;. SB24-131, expanding areas that are off-limits to law-abiding gun owners, will be before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 13 at 1:30 pm in the Old Supreme Court Chambers. HB24-1349, adding an 11% excise tax on firearms, accessories, and ammunition will be heard by the House Finance Committee on March 25, 2024.
Delaware: The Senate passed the Senate Substitute 1 for SB 2, which requires a “handgun qualified purchaser permit” to purchase or receive a handgun. The bill also creates a state registry of all handgun transfers.
Hawaii: On March 6,the Senate passed SB2845, a prohibition on young adults under the age of 21 from purchasing or possessing ammunition,SB3196, banning ALL semi-automatic rifles with a detachable magazine and if the owner has any spare parts to repair them. It would ban ALL AR and AK pattern rifles as well as many others by name, regardless of features.
Iowa: HF2464, prohibiting the use of firearm specific-merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition, and components and is a successor to HSB671, passed the Senate Commerce Committee and is awaiting votes on the Senate floor. HF488, a “ghost gun” bill, was held by the Subcommittee on Public Safety thereby killing the bill in this session. As a response to a school shooting at Perry High School HF2586 has passed the House on a 61-34 vote and has also passed a subcommittee of the Senate Education Committee. This bill will allow teachers and school staff to obtain a professional permit to carry guns on school grounds and it earmarks $3 million. According to the Des Moines Register: “The legislation builds on a previously passed law that let school employees carry firearms but did not require districts’ insurers to cover them.”
Kentucky: On March 6, the Senate the Senate Veteran, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee passed HB357, prohibiting using firearm-specific-merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition, and components.
Louisiana: As promised Governor Jeff Landry signed SB1 on March 4, with an enactment date of July 4.
New Mexico: Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed HB129, a seven-day waiting period bill, and SB5, creating 100ft “gun-free” zones around balloting areas.
Oklahoma: HJR1034, a proposed amendment to the State of Oklahoma constitution that prohibits registration or taxation of firearms
Rhode Island: A hearing is scheduled for March 13 before the House Judiciary Committee in the State House Lounge at 3 pm. The following bills will be considered: H7217, a ban on commonly owned semi-automatic rifles; H7268, a bill to require testing before purchase of a firearm; H7269, a one-gun-per-month purchase limit; and H7273, a mandatory storage bill.
South Carolina: Governor Henry McMaster signed HB3594, the constitutional carry bill, one day after it passed the General Assembly.
Tennessee: Gun bills that were scheduled for last week will be considered this coming week. Additionally SB2223, prohibiting the use of firearm-specific-merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition, and components, will be before the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee on March 12.
Utah: The Utah legislature has adjourned. The legislature passed HB406 and it now heads to Governor Spencer Cox.
Virginia: The Democrat-controlled General Assembly has sent 6 anti-Second Amendment bills to Governor Glenn Youngkin.
Vermont: On February 27 the Senate put SB209, requiring serialization of firearms parts and other ghost gun bans, on its Action Calendar to allow votes by the Senate.
Washington: On Feb. 27, HB2118, putting costly requirements on FFLs, has passed the Senate, while SB5444 expanding “sensitive places,” another euphemism for “gun-free zones,” has passed in the House.
Wyoming: The Senate passed HB125, a bill to repeal gun-free zones. It now goes to Governor Mark Gordon. In the House two bills are awaiting votes: SF105, to prevent governments and corporations from collecting financial information from gun owners, and SF73, which allows those who have had their firearms rights restored to be able to apply for a concealed carry permit.
2024 Election News
The 2024 election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 5. It is a Presidential election year, and we now know that President Joe Biden will be running against former President Donald J. Trump. All members of the House of Representatives will be elected. In the U.S. Senate thirty-three Senators, 14 Democrats, 1 independent and 6 Republicans are seeking re-election. Two Republican Senators, Mike Braun (IN) and Mitt Romney (UT), while five Democrat Senators, Ben Cardin (MD), Tom Carper (DE), Debbie Stabenow (MI), Joe Manchin (WV), and Bob Menendez (NJ) are not seeking re-election. Independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema (AZ) is retiring. Additionally, following the death of Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and the resignation of Ben Sasse (R-NE), there will be two additional special elections.
In 44 of the 50 states elections for state legislature are also scheduled. The following states will not be holding any state legislative elections this year: Alabama, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia. Voters in Michigan will only be voting for members of the lower house.
The following endorsements from Giffords.org:
California: Mike Levin (CA-49)
Colorado: Yadira Caraveo (CO-08)
Connecticut: Jahana Hayes (CT-05)
Florida: Debbie Mucarsel Powell for U.S. Senate challenging Senator Rick Scott.
Illinois: Nikki Budzinkski (IL-13) and Eric Sorenson (IL-17)
Kansas: Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03)
Michigan: Hillary Scholten (MI-03)
Minnesota: Angie Craig (MN-03)
Nevada: Susie Lee (NV-03)
New Hampshire: Chris Pappas (NH-02)
New Mexico: Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-2)
New York: Pat Ryan (NY-10), State Senator Zellnor Myrie (NY SD-20)
Ohio: Greg Landsman (OH-01), Emilia Sykes (OH-13)
Oregon: Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Pennsylvania: Candidate Susan Wild (PA-07), Chris DeLuzio (PA-17)
Rhode Island: US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
Texas: On March 7, 2024, after the Texas primary elections Giffords.org tweeted, “We are proud to endorse Congressman @ColinAllredTX for US Senate today.” Allred is the Democrat candidate against US Senator Ted Cruz.
Washington: Rep. Kim Schrier (WA-08).
