By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
A writer at Michigan News Source is reporting how anti-gun Democrat lawmakers are “nowhere near finished” pushing restrictive gun control in the Great Lake State, even after passing gun laws steadily over the past few years.
Among those measures, according to writer J.P. Isbell, are mandatory safe storage requirements in homes with minors, universal background checks, Red-flag orders, expanded firearm bans relating to domestic violence convictions and mandatory destruction of guns collected at “buybacks.”
On the horizon, according to Isbell, are “banning assault weapons, increasing the minimum age to buy guns to 21, civil liability for the gun industry, mandatory waiting periods for all firearm purchases, and more.”
Translation: If it’s a gun control scheme, Democrats are all for it. Michigan just happens to be an example of national trends in states controlled by Democrats.
Isbell’s article was about a scheduled “gun violence prevention forum” scheduled in May. There’s a small problem with this forum, however, which Isbell was quick to point out.
“Despite the ‘candidate forum’ label,” she wrote, “this isn’t exactly a neutral town hall with diverse viewpoints. Hosting a debate on gun policy alongside advocacy groups already committed to tighter restrictions is less about discussion and more about virtue signaling. Add to that the fact that no Republicans are appearing at the debate and you have a one-sided forum. The underlying message is clear: if Democrats win the governor’s mansion – and control the Legislature – more gun regulations are coming. The forum simply gives candidates a chance to audition for who can push the hardest on the issue.”
Last fall, in Florida, the website FloridaPolitics.com reported that Democrats in the state Legislature had filed “more than a dozen gun control bills” despite the fact that with the Sunshine State controlled by Republicans, none of those bills is likely to move. The report noted, “None of the Democratic-sponsored bills to restrict gun rights introduced in recent weeks has been scheduled for a Committee hearing by the GOP leadership, while a Republican-backed measure that would broaden gun rights is already on the agenda for next week.”
At the far corner of the country—Washington State—there are still several restrictive gun control bills which are likely to get attention when the Democrat-controlled Legislature returns next week. Jane Milhans, an Evergreen State activist and firearms instructor, listed eight bills still waiting for action.
HB 1132 Limit purchase of firearms and ammo within a 30 day period.*
HB 1152 Storage Requirements of firearms in vehicles and other locations.
HB 1163 Restrictions to the purchase, transfer, & possession of firearms.
HB 1386 11% tax increase on the purchase guns, parts and ammunition.
HB 1504 Enhancing public safety by requiring financial responsibility to purchase or possess a firearm or operate a firearm range. Insurance per gun.
For information about the individual House bills: https://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/
*The future of House Bill 1132 may be bleak now that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled last year that a similar law in California is unconstitutional. Washington is part of the Ninth Circuit, so the ruling applies. The case is known as Nguyen v. Bonta.
SB 5098 Restricting lawful carry of firearms, creating more NO GUN ZONES.
SB 5099 Restrictions to business operations of licensed firearms dealers.
SB 5140 Restrictions to the purchase, transfer, & possession of firearms.
For information about the individual Senate bills: https://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/
In Red states controlled by Republican lawmakers, Second Amendment rights are not under blatant attack.
