By Tanya Metaksa
What’s New— Federal proposals: H.R. 615 and Department of Commerce proposed rule; Alabama: On April 30, the House passed HB389/SB281, prohibiting payment processors from using firearm-specific merchant category codes for firearms, ammunition, and components, on an 85-5 vote. It now goes to Governor Kay Ivey for an expected signature. Colorado: Since adjournment is scheduled for May 8, a last-minute push to pass gun legislation was working over the weekend of May 3-4: HB24-1349 and HB24-1353; Georgia: Attorney General Chris Carr sent a letter to the City of Savannah concerning their gun storage ordinance, Hawaii: Two days before the scheduled adjournment, both Houses passed SB2845, banning anyone less than 21 years of age from purchasing or possessing ammunition. The Hawaii legislature has adjourned; Kansas: The Kansas legislature has adjourned; Louisiana: Two pro-gun bills and one anti-gun bill are expected to be voted upon on May 6; Minnesota: On April 30, the House passed 68-63 HF601, mandatory lost and stolen reporting, HF2609 and HF4300 were also passed; New Hampshire: On May 2, HB1186 passed the Senate; Wyoming: The Wyoming Judiciary Committee has announced their interim work session on June 17 and 18.
Federal Legislation
H.R. 615, Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act, introduced by Representative Rob Whitman (R-VA), passed the House of Representatives by a slim margin of 209-205 on April 30, 2024. Rep. Whitman’s press release stated: “As a lifelong hunter and recreational fisherman, I was appalled by the Biden administration’s effort to restrict access for our nation’s sportsmen and women who use traditional lead fishing tackle and ammunition on federal lands and waters. Effective environmental stewardship and wildlife conservation rely on the valuable contributions of our hunters and anglers, and affordable lead ammunition and tackle are crucial to reducing financial barriers that limit accessibility for sportsmen and women. I’m pleased to see this critical piece of legislation pass the House, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take up this bill and send it to the president’s desk.”
Department of Commerce Proposed Rule: On April 30, Representative Bill Hagerty (R-TN) announced that he would be introducing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) Resolution of Disapproval to block the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) interim final rule that prohibits Americans from exercising their Second Amendment Rights. Co-sponsors include Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), Deb Fisher (R-NE), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and Jim Risch (R-ID). This resolution would stop the implementation of a Biden Administration rule that restricts American arms and ammunition manufacturers from exporting their products for sale. The new interim rule will become effective on July 1, 2024. In addition to export restrictions, the Commerce Department will change the application forms and reduce the general license validity from four years to 1 year.
According to Larry Keane, NSSF Senior Vice-President and General Counsel, “The Biden administration has shown their cards, and there is not a sleight-of-hand they won’t play to advance their antigun agenda. President Joe Biden’s hostility against Second Amendment rights and our industry clearly shows no bounds and he’s used every governmental lever to crank up punishing restrictions that will have no bearing on improving national security or crime reduction. This administration is interested in one thing only – decimating the industry that provides the means for law-abiding citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights. NSSF commends Senator Bill Hagerty for leading the opposition to block this heavy-handed and naked political abuse of executive authority.”
Members of the public can comment on the new rule, BIS-2024-0003, at this government website.
State Legislation and local communities
States that do NOT hold legislative sessions in 2024: Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas,
States that are still in session: Arizona, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont
Alabama: On April 30, the House passed HB389/SB281, prohibiting payment processors from using firearm-specific merchant category codes for firearms, ammunition, and components, on an 85-5 vote. It now goes to Governor Kay Ivey for an expected signature.
Colorado: Since adjournment is scheduled for May 8, a last-minute push to pass gun legislation is working over the weekend. On May 4, HB24-1349, a ballot item for the 2024 statewide election that would institute a new state excise tax on firearms and ammunition to be collected by federally regulated firearms dealers, passed the Senate Committee on Appropriations, which then referred the bill to the Committee on Appropriations. HB24-1353, new state requirements for firearms dealers in addition to the ATF federal regulations, has been transmitted to the Senate.
Georgia: Attorney General Chris Carr sent a letter to the City of Savannah concerning their gun storage ordinance, which we covered in a previous grassroots update. The letter declares the illegal ordinance null and void.
Hawaii: Two days before the scheduled adjournment, both Houses passed SB2845, banning anyone less than 21 years of age from purchasing or possessing ammunition. The Hawaii legislature has adjourned.
Kansas: The Kansas legislature has adjourned.
Louisiana: Two pro-gun bills, SB 152 and SB 214, clarifying language regarding law-abiding citizens’ rights to carry firearms, and SB 194, expanding state preemption and requiring political subdivisions to repeal offending ordinances, are scheduled for floor debate on May 6, 2024. Additionally, HB627, amended to establish firearms restrictions along parade and demonstration routes, could also be voted on in the House.
Minnesota: On April 30,the House passed 68-63 HF601, mandatory lost and stolen reporting. The House passed the following two bills, HF2609, a bill to ban specific firearm triggers and increase penalties on straw purchases, and HF4300, safe, compulsory firearms storage, on May 2.
New Hampshire: On May 2, HB1186 passed the Senate, prohibiting payment processors from using firearm-specific merchant category codes for firearms, ammunition, and components. It must now go back to the House for concurrence.
Wyoming: The Wyoming Judiciary Committee has announced their interim work session on June 17 and 18 in the Thyra Thomson State Office Building, Round House Conference Room, 3rd Floor, Room 3024, 444 W Collins Drive, Casper, Wyoming. On both days, the session will begin at 8:30 am.
