Yesterday, the state House Natural Resources Committee passed House Joint Resolution 2001 by a 17 to 4 vote.  HJR 2001, which is the House companion of Senate Joint Resolution 2001, is now headed to the House floor for consideration.  SJR 2001 and HJR 2001 would rescind the Iowa Natural Resources Commission’s unjustified and dangerous regulation banning the use of traditional ammunition for dove hunting. 

Today, the Virginia Senate passed Senate Bill 245 by a decisive 34 to 5 vote.  Sponsored by state Senator Mark Obenshain (R-26), SB 245 would update Virginia’s Emergency Powers statute by adding lawful carrying and transportation of firearms to the list of actions that cannot be prohibited during a declaration of emergency.  This legislation will now be sent to the House of Delegates for consideration.

The 2012 Hawaii legislative season began on January 18, and with the January 25 bill introduction deadline having passed, the following gun-related measures are what remain from 2011 and what have been introduced for this year.  Of the measures listed below, the most onerous are House Bill 441, House Bill 834, House Bill 2028 and Senate Bill 2975.  We will keep you abreast of any and all developments on these bills as the session progresses. 

Yesterday, the state House Natural Resources Committee passed House Joint Resolution 2001 by a 17 to 4 vote.  HJR 2001, which is the House companion of Senate Joint Resolution 2001, is now headed to the House floor for consideration.  SJR 2001 and HJR 2001 would rescind the Iowa Natural Resources Commission’s unjustified and dangerous regulation banning the use of traditional ammunition for dove hunting. 

During an Oct. 31 press conference following the attempted rape of a woman walking her dog by a convicted felon, Spartanburg County, S.C., Sheriff Chuck Wright didn’t mince words. “It’s too bad someone with a concealed weapons permit didn’t walk by. That would fix it,” Wright said. Wright then repeatedly told his constituents “I want you to get a concealed weapons permit.”  To hammer the point home he held up a fanny pack, saying, “They make this right here where you can conceal a small pistol in them.”

Recently, a federal district court in Washington, D.C. issued a ruling upholding an Obama administration policy that requires federally licensed firearms retailers in states bordering Mexico to report multiple sales of semi-automatic rifles.  The case was brought by two NRA-backed firearm retailers and by the National Shooting Sports Foundation acting on behalf of its affected members.  Plaintiffs have already filed an appeal—but while we await the outcome, your help is urgently needed in seeking congressional action to end this illegal policy.

On Wednesday, the Senate Public Policy Committee passed Senate Bill 315, authored by state Senator Randy Head (R-18), by a 9 to 1 vote.  This bill will come up for a vote in the Senate as early as Monday.  SB 315 will streamline the licensing and reporting process for charity gaming events, such as Friends of NRA banquets, by…

In a move that stunned members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, the chief of the criminal division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona has cited his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination and refused to testify.