Gun control

June 13, 2008 -- Attempts by West Virginia to enter into a concealed handgun reciprocity agreement with South Carolina have been unsuccessful. Inconsistencies between the two states’ laws precluded and agreement. As a consequence, West Virginia concealed handgun licenses are not honored in South Carolina. This would appear to have changed with the passage by the South Carolina General Assembly of H.B. 3212.    » read more »

Change follows Virginia Tech tragedy, campus safety review

June 9, 2008 -- Raleigh -- Patients deemed mentally ill by the courts have no business carrying guns in North Carolina, North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper said Monday in advance of a legislative hearing.

A bill that would keep guns out of the hands of those who have been involuntarily committed is scheduled to be heard Thursday, June 12, before the Senate Judiciary I committee.

Senate Bill 2081, sponsored by Sen. Tony Rand, D-Cumberland, would require court clerks to enter mental health commitments into a national database, which would provide the information for gun permit background checks.    » read more »

Five Men Indicted on Gun Charges as a Result of New Jersey’s Historic Partnership With ATF to Trace Illegal Firearms

May 29, 2008 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced that five men were charged today in separate indictments with illegally selling guns in Trenton.

Handheld weapons: Photo by Brian Bennett (CC)

The charges stem from the state’s historic partnership with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to trace guns seized in criminal investigations.    » read more »

May 22, 2008 -- In a speech to the Economic Club of Detroit in May 1999, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., committed to speak often on the issue of gun crimes. To date, he has made 274 Senate speeches on gun crimes since 1999; his remarks follow:

Children with gun: Photo by j.r.trauben (CC)    » read more »

16 May 2008 -- Since the beginning of 2008, the nation's capital has seen a sharp rise in gun violence.

Republican Party Presidential candidate John McCain is set to speak to members of The National Rifle Association on Friday, May 16. The powerful pro-gun lobbying group is holding its annual convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

Its members are watching to see whether the United States Supreme Court will overturn a 32-year-old handgun ban in Washington, D.C. next month.

The high court's review of the case comes as gun violence is on the rise in Washington. Police and community groups are desperately looking for ways to curb the crime wave.    » read more »

April 20, 2008 -- The following is the text of Mayor Bloomberg's weekly radio address as prepared for delivery on 1010 WINS News Radio for Sunday, April 20, 2008

"Good Morning. This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

"Last Wednesday marked the one-year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings, the terrible day when one student killed 32 people and then himself. The pain and shock of that tragedy echoed throughout our entire nation.

Desert Eagle .44: Photo by Keary O. (CC)    » read more »

April 19, 2008 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter issued the following statement today commemorating the ninth anniversary of the tragedy that occurred at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999:

"It is with great sorrow and a heavy heart that we pause this weekend to remember what happened at Columbine High School nine years ago. My thoughts, sympathies and prayers will forever be with the families, victims, students, teachers and others who lost so much that terrible day.

Columbine Memorial, Littleton, Colorado: Photo by David Keyzer (CC)    » read more »

One Year Anniversary Of Virginia Tech Shootings

April 16, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) was joined by Virginia Tech shooting victims and their families and gun safety advocates in front of the Supreme Court in calling on Congress to take up and pass his bill to close the gun show loophole.

Gun show, Houston: Photo by mx5tx (CC)

Similar events to the one at the Supreme Court were held across the country today to mark the one year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings, protest easy access to guns and call on Congress to pass Sen. Lautenberg’s legislation.    » read more »

April 16, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Today Senator Obama issued the following statement on the anniversary of the tragedy at Virginia Tech.

"One year after the tragedy at Virginia Tech, families are still mourning, and our nation is still healing. As Americans gather today in vigils and 'lie-ins' - or pray silently alone - our thoughts are with those whose lives were forever changed by the shootings.

Barack Obama: Photo by Barack Obama campaign (CC)    » read more »

Legislation Based on Recommendations of Virginia Tech Review Panel

April 15, 2008 -- Washington, DC - Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) today introduced legislation that would clarify how and when educational institutions can share students’ treatment records when a student poses a threat to himself or others.

The legislation comes on the heels of two reports, commissioned in the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy, by Virginia Governor Tim Kaine and President Bush. The reports found that confusion among school officials, administrators and institutions in interpreting federal education privacy law is often a barrier to taking proactive campus safety measures.    » read more »

April 15, 2008 -- Tomorrow, April 16, 2008, marks the first anniversary of the horrific incident at Virginia Tech that resulted in the tragic deaths of 32 students and faculty members, and serious injuries to many other innocent victims. Our hearts go out to the victims’ families as they mourn their loved ones who tragically lost their lives before their time.

Virginia Tech candlelight vigil, April 17, 2007: Photo by Ashley Dinges (CC)    » read more »

April 15, 2008 -- April 16, 2007, brought the deadliest day of violence on a college campus in our Nation's history. The horrific crimes committed at Virginia Tech filled our souls with sadness. One year later, we remember the victims murdered and wounded that day.

We join our fellow Americans in praying for the families and friends whose hearts ache for their lost loved ones. We continue to be amazed by the extraordinary Hokie spirit and inspired by the survivors of this tragedy. Students, teachers, and alumni have overcome evil with good by supporting each other with love and compassion. We are humbled by their resilience and confident in the University's bright future.

We pray that God will continue to comfort and heal the people of the Virginia Tech community.    » read more »

April 15, 2008 -- Lesson learned from Virginia Tech shooting one year ago must be put into practice in NC Raleigh: On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history, North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper today called on lawmakers to prohibit people who have been involuntarily committed from purchasing guns.

Spent 9mm shells, North Carolina: Photo by Carl M. (CC)    » read more »

Judge Has Set May 27 and September 2 Trial Dates for Remaining Dealers in First and Second Lawsuits, Respectively

April 11, 2008 -- New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced that five additional gun dealers named in the New York City lawsuits over illegal gun sales have agreed to settlements with the City, bringing the total number of settlements to twenty.

A gun store: Photo by Keary O. (CC)    » read more »

Washington, D.C. -- April 1, 2021 -- Marking what may be the final passage in a series of groundbreaking weapons bills, Congress yesterday signed into law the Homeowners Fission Liberty Bill (H.R. 9985: To totally actualize the second amendment rights of all Americans), permitting the legal possession and use of tactical nuclear weapons for hunting and personal protection.

The Homeowners Fission Liberty Bill for the first time allows private citizens to safely, securely vaporize intruders, squirrels or fish

While tactical nukes have been previously permitted under certain special conditions, the Homeowners Fission Liberty Bill for the first time extends that right to all American citizens.    » read more »