Weekly Spotlight 11/21/24 – 11/27/24
Anti-Gun Governors Drawing Hard Line Against Safeguarding 2A Rights
The 2024 election made it clear that Americans desired change—specifically, their readiness for action to protect their Second Amendment rights. However, many anti-gun legislators are already ignoring this political mandate and are instead opting to take action to curtail your right to protect. This opposition to protecting gun rights is a direct contradiction to the will of millions of Americans who believe in the fundamental right to bear arms.
For instance, California Governor Gavin Newsom, one of the leaders driving the anti-gun agenda, has declared that he is “ready to fight” President-elect Donald Trump and his administration’s effort to safeguard the fundamental right to self-defense, going so far as to call a special session to “to safeguard the state’s progressive policies.” Governor Newsom even went as far as to allude to some form of action, saying, “The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack — and we won’t sit idle.”
Not surprisingly, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who has ignored the growing support for pro-gun policies in the Empire State, is also actively seeking to restrict gun rights. Following the election, which saw a larger-than-anticipated increase in support for the Second Amendment in New York, Governor Hochul “convened a team of experts to develop strategies for protecting her state from policy threats they think could emerge under Trump,” according to The Hill. Chief among these was “gun rights.”
In Illinois, Governor J.B. Pritzker is expected to take a similar position. In recent years, Pritzker has signed HB 5471, the “Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA),” which pro-2A organizations immediately challenged as unconstitutional.
While the new Trump administration seems to be poised to make Second Amendment protections a hallmark of its domestic agenda, the latest comments from blue state governors serve as a reminder that the anti-gun agenda continues to push forward at the state level. Despite federal support for strengthening self-defense rights, many Democratic-led states are moving ahead with stricter gun control measures, such as expanded red flag laws, assault weapon bans, and mandatory buybacks.
As the federal government focuses on expanding rights and protections for gun owners, the ongoing debate at the state level remains a critical battleground for the future of gun rights in America.This underscores the importance of law-abiding citizens and gun owners to continue making their voices heard and letting lawmakers know how important the Second Amendment is to them.
Stay Informed on the legislative fights surrounding 2A policies in your state!
OTHER NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
The Tennessean (Tennessee): Gun Control Measures And Candidates Won In Tennessee. Build On That Momentum. | Opinion
One thing is clear coming out of Tennessee’s recent election cycle: where gun control was on the ballot, gun control won. Instances in which Tennesseans were asked to cast their votes in favor of gun reform laws and candidates were few, but significant – and supported by voters across the political spectrum. Furthermore, a recent survey conducted just prior to the election shows significant support among all Tennesseans for stricter gun legislation.
The Truth About Guns (Michigan): Michigan Using Gun-Free Zones To Subvert The Right To Carry
On November 14th, the Michigan Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety passed SB 857 and SB 858 making the bills eligible for votes on the Senate floor. The pair of measures would expand “gun-free zones” in Michigan, prohibiting gun owners from carrying firearms in the State Capitol Building, the Binsfeld Senate Office Building and the Anderson House Office Building, with an exception, of course, for legislators, because “rules for thee, not for me,” and all that second-class citizen stuff.
Ohio Capital Journal (Ohio): Ohio House Democrats Propose 10-Day Waiting Period For Gun Sales
Two Ohio Democrats want to impose a 10-day waiting period before for gun purchases. The provision would only apply to licensed dealers, but the bill’s sponsors argue that cooling off period will save lives. Despite strong majority support for restrictions like background checks or a ban on high-capacity magazines, limits on gun ownership remain polarizing. With Republicans holding firm control of the Ohio Statehouse, the waiting period measure, like nearly any gun control proposal, is a long shot.
Des Moines Register (Iowa): Iowa Supreme Court Upholds Gun Rights Limits For Past Mental Health Patients
Iowa’s law limiting the gun rights of people who have been involuntarily committed for mental health concerns is constitutional, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled Friday. It’s the first major gun rights case to come before the court since 2022, when Iowa adopted a constitutional amendment specifically protecting the right to bear arms and requiring courts to hold laws limiting that right to the highest legal standard. Known as strict scrutiny, the standard holds that any law infringing on a “fundamental right” must be narrowly tailored to meet a “compelling” government interest.
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