Gun control

CHICAGO (November 27, 2007) -- Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, is extending his condolences to the family of Sean Taylor, the Washington Redskins football family and the National Football League.

“The loss of life from a senseless act of gun violence is a tragedy,” says Rev. Jackson. “Sean Taylor was a father, brother, teammate, friend to many and a loving son. He will be greatly missed.”

Mr. Taylor died early this morning at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami after being shot on Monday during an apparent home invasion.    » read more »

November 26, 2007 -- Little Rock, AR – Former Arkansas Governor and Republican Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee received the endorsement of the Republican Sportshooters Association at a sportsmen’s “meet and greet and skeet shoot” just outside Spartanburg, South Carolina yesterday.

“The Second Amendment is not about loving guns, it is about ensuring freedom,” said Huckabee.    » read more »

McDaniel to Support Gun Ownership Rights for Citizens at High Court

Nov 27, 2007 -- LITTLE ROCK— Today, Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel announced his intent to support the Second Amendment as a “right to bear arms” for individuals, not just militia members, by joining a brief to be filed with the U.S. Supreme Court. Last week, the high court agreed to hear District of Columbia v. Heller, a lawsuit challenging gun laws enacted by the District of Colombia. The case is expected to be heard next spring.    » read more »

November 20, 2007 -- “This will be the most important gun decision since the Miller case in 1939. (U.S. v. Miller)

In Miller, the Supreme Court spoke loud and clear, and held unanimously that prosecuting someone for transporting a sawed-off shotgun did not violate the Second Amendment. For more than 60 years, the Miller case has been settled law, and it has meant that states could enact reasonable restrictions on firearms.    » read more »

Nov. 8, 2007 -- PHILADELPHIA – Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today joined Pennsylvania House Speaker Dennis O’Brien in announcing their joint support for legislation that would create a 20-year mandatory minimum sentence for anyone who discharges a firearm with the intent to injure, maim or kill a law enforcement officer.

The legislation expands upon House Bill 2467, which passed the House in 2006 establishing a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence for injury to a police officer.    » read more »

The New Program Will Use Civil Enforcement To Take Legal Action Against Landlords of Crime-Plagued Properties in Communities Across the State

ALBANY, N.Y. (November 8, 2007) – New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo today unveiled “Nowhere to Hide” – a new program under his statewide Guns, Gangs and Drugs Initiative designed to take legal actions against landlords who permit the properties to be persistently used for criminal activities.    » read more »

10.10.07 - Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today released the following statement:

“I am deeply saddened and troubled by the tragic shooting at SuccessTech Academy in Cleveland today. Frances and I grieve for the families, students, teachers and administrators affected by this horrible incident. Our prayers and thoughts go out to them and to the great City of Cleveland during this difficult time. The State of Ohio stands ready to assist in any way possible in the coming days and weeks.”

Source: Ohio Governor

Countries take steps to eliminate dangerous surplus, obsolete weapons

01 October 2007 -- Washington -- Left unattended, even small stockpiles of surplus and obsolete AK-47 assault rifles, grenade launchers and shoulder-fired missiles could be stolen and used to fuel regional conflicts.

In Afghanistan, the Taliban have been launching shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles against Western aircraft.    » read more »

September 21, 2007 -- In a speech to the Economic Club of Detroit in May 1999, Senator Carl Levin, D-Mich., committed to speak often on the issue of gun crimes. To date, he has made 266 Senate speeches on gun crimes since 1999; his remarks follow:

Mr. President, in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech massacre, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine commissioned a panel of experts to conduct an independent review of the tragedy and make recommendations regarding improvements to Virginia’s laws, policies and procedures. Late last month, the Virginia Tech Review Panel released its report.    » read more »

Bill Gives Justice Department Power To Deny Guns To Terrorists; Mayors Against Illegal Guns Join Effort To Block Gun Sales To Terrorists

September 17, 2007 -- (NEW YORK CITY) -- Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg (I-NY) today announced the support of members of the bi-partisan coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns for legislation that will keep guns out of the hands of terrorists.    » read more »

Tuesday, September 11, 2007, Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today urged California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign into law a bill that would require “microstamping” technology in newly-designed semiautomatic handguns sold in California after January 1, 2010.

The California Legislature yesterday gave its final passage to the legislation, which would require new designs of semiautomatic handguns sold in California after January 1, 2010, to have microstamping technology.    » read more »

September 06, 2007 -- IPC Inspire's weekly country sports title Shooting Times is celebrating 125 years with a very special anniversary issue, on sale today.

Shooting Times was first published on September 9, 1882 and is the UK's longest-standing weekly shooting publication. Offering an authoritative voice on all important issues relating to the game shooting and field sports community, the magazine has a fiercely loyal readership and is committed to delivering the latest news keeping enthusiasts up to date with events in the field sports world.    » read more »

SB 940 ensures mental health history is added to background checks, purchase information is shared with federal authorities

August 31, 2007 -- SPRINGFIELD– In response to recent nationwide efforts to toughen gun laws following the Virginia Tech tragedy last April, Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today signed legislation designed to prevent the sale of guns to individuals who pose a serious threat to public safety. Senate Bill 940, sponsored by State Senator Dan Kotowski (D-Mt.    » read more »

Duration Of Shutdown Cut To 2 Full Working Days

Aug. 28, 2007 -- HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today said that after carefully considering all of the factors and weighing input from interested groups, the state police’s decades-old computerized background check system that is used by several state and federal agencies will be temporarily offline for upgrades starting Sunday evening.

The duration of the shutdown has been cut to two full working days and is to be completed by 6 p.m. Wednesday rather than by noon on Thursday, as had been announced.    » read more »

Over 6,000 firearm safety kits to be distributed statewide

August 29, 2007 -- Kansas Lt. Governor Mark Parkinson and representatives from state and local law enforcement were in Topeka today to promote Project ChildSafe, a nationwide firearms safety education program.

“Gun locks are a simple way to prevent gun accidents from occurring, especially accidents involving children. It’s quick, easy way to reduce the risk of an accident and I encourage all Kansans to take advantage of these free safety kits,” said Parkinson.    » read more »