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.

On Monday, January 30, the New Jersey Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee is scheduled to consider Assembly Bill 588 and Assembly Bill 1013.  The hearing will be held at 2:00 p.m. in Committee Room 16, 4th Floor, State House Annex in Trenton.

Yesterday, state Senator Don Balfour (R-9) introduced NRA-backed legislation, Senate Bill 350.  SB 350 would require local and state police authorities to return seized firearms, not currently being held as evidence in a criminal investigation, to the lawful owner if able.

Yesterday, the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Subcommittee #1 worked through a slate of gun-related legislation and unanimously passed five pro-gun bills:  House Bill 20, House Bill 22, House Bill 26, House Bill 375 and House Bill 940. This subcommittee also failed to report the two anti-gun bills: House Bill 364 and House Bill 458.

On Monday, January 30, the District of Columbia City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on Bill 19-614, the Firearms Amendment Act of 2011.  This hearing will be held at 11:00 a.m. in the Council Chamber of the John A. Wilson Building.

On Monday, January 30, NRA-backed legislation that would prohibit employers from preventing employees from lawfully storing firearms in their locked personal vehicles will be heard in the state House Judiciary Committee.  Introduced by House Speaker Val Rausch (R-4) and sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Russell Olson (R-8), House Bill 1132 is one of the NRA’s top priorities in this legislative session.