Reality check:
A nationwide review by The Associated Press found that over the last two years, 24 states, mostly in the South and West, have passed 47 new laws loosening gun restrictions.
Among other things, legislatures have allowed firearms to be carried in cars, made it illegal to ask job candidates whether they own a gun, and expanded agreements that make permits to carry handguns in one state valid in another [Erik Schelzig, "Gun Laws Are Getting Looser Across Much of U.S.," AP via Yahoo News, 2009.12.11].
Among the new laws: Arizona will let you bring your gun into a bar. Great.
Update 2009.12.13 14:55 CST: Similar thoughts from responsible gun owner Kevin Woster at Mount Blogmore.
Cory,
ReplyDeleteThese are "states" that are loosenly gun laws, not Obama. And I don't think south and west includes Illinois.
Sounds like a great thing to me!!
ReplyDeleteBut dont give any credit on this to Obama as your title implies. It is clearly the states that are giving their fellow citizens what they have asked for - more freedom to do as they wish. The Obama admin. has clearly had nothing to do with it.
If you think more gun laws/controls should be in place accross the U.S., then maybe we should write a new article titled: "Yet another thing the Obama Administration hasn't finished yet..."
Possible addition to the SNL skit?? :)
I for one enjoy very much the ability to throw some guns into my truck, drive across town to the gun range, and put holes in paper targets. Anything that would limit my ability to do so will not sit well with me.
Switch guns with cars for a sec. If we suddenly started severely limiting what places you can drive one to, or started banning which cars you can even own, people would go nuts on that too right?
Of course, no matter what laws are in place, criminals will still get their guns to do wrong - just like drunks without licenses will still get in cars and kill people.
With stricter laws, the only real people affected will be those of us who love to shoot legally for fun, sport, competition, or hunting.
I for one enjoy very much the ability to throw some guns into my truck, drive across town to the gun range, and put holes in paper targets. Anything that would limit my ability to do so will not sit well with me.
ReplyDeleteTell me when, where has ANY politico Republican or Democrat, threatened to stop such law-abiding activity (except for convicted felons, which most conservatives seem to think shouldn't be allowed to even vote, at least in states that are "in play").
And you wonder why some people brand 2nd amendment activists as "kooks."
Well said cp. It seems every few years a paranoia surfaces and kooks come out of the woodwork.
ReplyDeleteI for one am a supporter of the 2nd ammendment. However, some of my fellow pro-gunners have this never ending beleif that one day, "the man" is going to barge into his house and take his guns. Where does this come from?
With today's climate of all these nutcases running around spreading misinformation, mostly to uneducated morons who beleive anything, breeds stupid behavior.
To cite an example, I had a conversation with a gentleman the other day who told me that on next years tax returns all gun owners have to itemize all their firearms. I thought it was a joke at first, but searching him further, he truly believed this. When I asked where he heard this, he told me the lady at the bank. I walked away from the conversation with a headache.
So speaking from a pro-gun point of view to my fellow gun toters, take a chill pill, relax and stop burying your guns in the backyard.
cp & Mark,
ReplyDeleteWasn't there a Sioux Falls high school student kicked out of school for a year for having an unlodaded shotgun in his trunk?
If you want real parania, look at global warming.
Isn't there a law firearms can't be near a school?
ReplyDeleteHaven't we suffered too many school shootings already?
Steve, although any distortion of facts is disturbing, doesn't the scientific community as a whole believe in accelerated climate change?
And Steve, wasn't there a SF high school student that went to prom with a same sex high school student, somewhere around 1978? Things change! Put your book in perspective and tell me you support marriage for every United States citizen. People can have their stinkin' guns if that's important, but we want equal rights.
Steve, Michael, I wasn't saying Obama is loosening gun laws. I was challenging the the argument that the guns-everywhere advocates advanced, that under Obama, we would see our guns taken away. We're under Obama. Gun laws are getting looser. Another bit of fear-mongering shown to be false.
ReplyDeleteMark, I heard an Aberdeen guy on NPR mention float that same meme, saying he'd been asked by a previous Census taker how many guns he had. I checked the 1990, 2000, and 2010 Census forms. No such question. Not that facts will stop the rumor-mongers.
John is right: the federal law the SF school district policy follows might be the Crime Control Act that created "drug-free school zones." That law passed in 1990, signed by President George H. W. Bush.
Steve,
ReplyDeleteThe kid broke the law, period. It's no secret that bringing a gun to school, wheather or not in a vehicle or in your locker is illegal.
I'm sure the kid was planning on going hunting after class, but we cannot make exception in these cases. What if the kid were a gang member with a criminal record? Does that make things different. No. The law must be applied equally and fairly to all of us, even if we may not agree with that certain law.
And one other thing Steve, what the hell does global warming have do with gun laws? I don't know who you are and what you beleive, but if want to get the attention of people while making an argument, keep it on the topic at hand. You'll loose people's attention real fast by injecting content not related to the discussed topic.
"I for one enjoy very much the ability to throw some guns into my truck, drive across town to the gun range, and put holes in paper targets. Anything that would limit my ability to do so will not sit well with me."
ReplyDeleteCP - Consider my case - I am a collector of millitary guns. From 1994 to 2004, I was not able purchase many of the guns I wanted to collect and shoot. I am very glad that ban is now gone and I am able to complete my collection of guns that are just a "blast" to shoot! :)
So, don't be to fast to say bans haven't, can't, or won't happen... It certainly has happened already, and its always possible that it could again one day. - I'm far from being considered a paranoid or a kook, just realistic - especially considering there is at least one ban bill submitted each year in D.C.
It’s troubling people get so upset about an already established right. Obama favors it and he couldn't take it away anyway. It's almost a non issue.
ReplyDeleteHow truly necessary is gun ownership really? Do you fend off intruders and feed your family?
It's mostly a hobby. Some guys actually salivate over their guns. Their focus looks like an irrational fixation to non-collectors.
If those people who see themselves as Gun Advocates were well informed and spoke up for other important rights in this country, they would be more respected. Rights are rights.
The over-inflated concern for gun ownership seems trivial if you lack civil rights.
Your headline says exactly, "Gun Laws Getting Looser Under Obama" so how can you say that isn't what you meant?
ReplyDeletePersonally, I haven't seen anything get looser under Obama. Have you tried to borrow money lately? Home, Business and Credit Card loans are much, much tighter. Healthcare is becoming more complicated and the list goes on.
There is a distinct difference between having control of the people (current leader) and allowing the people to control their own future. Necessity is the mother of invention, but if control gets too tight, innovation goes away.
Gun ownership, family protection and property rights are not issues people take lightly. While we are one country, we are all fiercely independent, and those rights, including the right to bear arms, are protected by our Constitution.
Rod, I meant exactly what I said. We are under Obama. Contrary to the fear-mongering and lies of the NRA, gun laws are loosening in many places. See my above explanation of the logical point I'm making. And see John's excellent reminder about Obama's defense of the 2nd Amendment and our need to focus on more important issues.
ReplyDeleteIt never ceases to amaze me how paranoid some people are when it comes to protecting their right to own murder sticks but when it comes to real threats to our Constitutional rights like the Patriot Act and the recent FISA changes, people don't even bat an eye...
ReplyDeleteIf Obama wants to be pro-gun rights, then he needs to remove the federal law regarding government schools being gun-free zones.
ReplyDeleteGuns and dope dealers are two things I don't want in or close to public schools. Other parents with kids in school don't want them in or close to public schools. This is about public safety and removing proven threats. Why is this so hard to understand?
ReplyDeleteRick,
ReplyDeleteWe have tried your gun-free zones and they have not worked. Time to give teachers their Second Amendment rights, along with janitors.
So much for Obama and gun rights:
ReplyDeletePresident Obama, Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (an awesome threesome) are pushing CIFTA, a treaty which would take away American gun rights without having to wait for Congress to pass any gun control laws.
CIFTA will require the United States to adopt "strict licensing requirements" to prevent "illicit manufacturing and trafficking of guns."
Reading the CIFTA fine print, we find the term "illicit" manufacturing of a firearm (or) ammunition without a license. That means simply reloading or putting together a lawful firearm from a kit is already "illicit" manufacturing of guns as well as altering an existing gun such as installing a scope onto it.
CIFTA will require our government adapt "necessary legislative or other measures" to criminalize the above-described "illicit" gun use.
CIFTA will build the size of government, giving it the power to control and take guns as it desires — hang the Second Amendment.
CIFTA is the United Nations' scheme to disarm the entire Western Hemisphere, especially the United States. Could it be clearer what CIFTA will do to American gun rights?