Gun control

Governor Urges Congress To Reinstate Assault Weapon Ban; Asks Legislature To Pass Sensible Measures To Limit Illegal Handguns

April 15, 2009 -- HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell, along with Pittsburgh Police Chief Nate Harper and other chief law enforcement officers from across Pennsylvania, today called on Congress and the General Assembly to stand with them and put an end to senseless murders stemming from the use of deadly assault weapons and illegal handguns.

The Governor wrote to Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation and the leadership of the state legislature today asking them to support common sense measures that have been proven to protect law enforcement officers and keep communities safe.    » read more »

Funds Will Assist Prevention, Intervention and Enforcement Efforts

03/26/2009 -- As part of his continued commitment to combating gang violence, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the awarding of more than $9.2 million in competitive grants to provide local assistance funding to 17 cities and 13 community-based organizations in areas with heavy concentrations of gangs. The Governor made the announcement at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Gifts for Guns event where he promoted that program for providing citizens with an incentive to surrender firearms that could potentially be stolen and used in a crime or to injure someone.    » read more »

February 18, 2009, Juneau, Alaska - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today encouraged U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to support recently adopted regulations allowing concealed weapons in national parks and wildlife refuges. Secretary Salazar has directed a review of the regulations that were approved by the Bush administration.

In a letter to the Interior secretary, Governor Palin outlined the importance of the possession and use of firearms as a matter of safety.    » read more »

February 5 2009 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today signed legislation increasing penalties for individuals illegally possessing machine guns or assault weapons in New Jersey, part of his anti-crime initiative launched in 2007.

"Machine guns have been virtually outlawed nationally for civilian possession since the 1930's and assault guns have been outlawed in our state for almost 20 years," said Governor Corzine. "There is no excuse for anyone possessing either of these weapons."    » read more »

August 21, 2008 -- ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced the National Steering Committee of the Sportsmen for McCain coalition. These leaders in the angling, hunting and shooting communities are working across the country to emphasize John McCain's dedication to protecting American's right to gun ownership and his commitment to preserving and promoting our hunting, angling and shooting traditions.

Playing with guns: Photo by Terence T.S. Tam (CC)    » read more »

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 »