Yesterday, Senate Bill 2975 was heard in the state Senate Public Safety, Government Operations and Military Affairs Committee (PGM). Introduced by state Senator Shan Tsutsui (D-4), this anti-gun legislation would mandate that all Hawaii gun owners report the theft of a stolen firearm within 72 hours of discovering that theft.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) is trying to advance the anti-gun legacy of the man he replaced, former Mayor Richard Daley (D), by proposing a statewide handgun registry.  Daley was well-known as an anti-gun zealot who promoted draconian gun control policies on a regular basis for two decades as Chicago’s Mayor.  Emanuel is no stranger to anti-gun policies, of course.  He served in the anti-gun administration of President Bill Clinton (D), followed by several years in Congress where he consistently earned an F-rating from the NRA-PVF.  Before being elected Mayor of Chicago, he was Chief of Staff to anti-gun President Barrack Obama (D).

Senate Bill 26, the NRA- and NMSSA-backed legislation sponsored by state Senator Bill Payne (R-ABQ), would repeal Section 30-7-9 of the New Mexico Criminal Code, was referred to both the state House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee and the state House Judiciary Committee this week.  Also this week, the state House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee gave a unanimous “do pass” recommendation to House Bill 67.  This bill would codify what the New Mexico Department of Public Safety(NM DPS) is already doing administratively – conducting the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) background checks on all applicants for original and renewal concealed handgun licenses.  Finally, the state House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee also gave a “do pass” recommendation to House Bill 206.  This bill would override an administrative rule which bans the carrying of loaded handguns by license holders in state parks. 

Last week, the Indiana Senate voted unanimously to pass Senate Bill 315, authored by state Senator Randy Head (R-18).  SB 315 has now been assigned to the state House Public Policy Committee and could be heard as early as Tuesday, February 14.  SB 315 would streamline the licensing and reporting process for charity gaming events, such as the Friends of NRA banquets.

Yesterday, the Virginia House of Delegates voted on two important self-defense measures what would affect law-abiding citizens in the Commonwealth.  House Bill 14 passed the state House by a 75 to 22 vote and House Bill 48 passed by a 70 to 28 vote.  Both bills will go to the state Senate for its consideration.  The House Militia, Police and Public Safety Subcommittee #1 held a hearing yesterday when multiple gun-related bills were on its agenda.  They decided that House Bill 859 and House Bill 1135 would be carried over to next year’s legislative session.  House Bill 1197, House Bill 1223, and House Bill 1257 were laid on the table for the year.  Lastly, anti-gun House Bill 1226 was struck from the docket by a voice vote.

The Joint Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee work session on February 6 was postponed and a new date has not been set.  Legislative Document 1623 and 1728 were scheduled to be discussed in this work session.   The NRA will keep you updated on when the Joint Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee will reschedule this work session and status of these bills as they move through the legislature.

The Joint Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee work session on February 6 was postponed and a new date has not been set.  Legislative Document 1603 and 1728 were scheduled to be discussed in this work session.   The NRA will keep you updated on when the Joint Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee will reschedule this work session and status of these bills as they move through the legislature.

Last night, after extensive testimony in support of NRA-drafted bills, House Bill 1048 and House Bill 1064 passed in the state House Judiciary Committee by a 6 to 4 vote.  With an understanding that the Second Amendment rights of Colorado’s citizens necessitate continued protection and increased safeguards, we applaud committee members who voted “Yes” yesterday.

NRA-drafted Senate Bill 3002 and Senate Bill 2992 have been place on the agenda in their respective Senate Committees. 

Despite Mayor Bloomberg’s publicity stunt last week in the form of a Super Bowl gun control ad with his gun-grabbing cohort, Boston Mayor Tom Menino, Bloomberg’s time in reducing gun crime could better be spent policing his own…police.
In a follow up to a story we reported on last October, on Monday, one of Bloomberg’s police officers pleaded guilty to charges that he led a group that took cash to illegally transport firearms into New York. The officer could face up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for June.