American people biggest winners in gun-grabbing defeat

Posted by Steve Adcock

In the aftermath of the Senate’s rejection of the gun bill this week that would have expanded background checks (and other civilian disarmament initiatives attached as amendments) and once the smoke finally clears, the biggest winner of all will turn out to be the American people.

No law-abiding American person wants guns in the hands of criminals. But even proponents of the bill admit that expanded background checks would not have prevented the Sandy Hook tragedies, nor the Columbine massacre, or the Virginia Tech shooting, or the Aurora, CO theater incident. In essence, even the bill’s own support structure knows as well as anyone that the proposed bill stood as nothing more than hollow, feel-good measures meant to make the parents of Sandy Hook – who allowed themselves to be shamelessly propped up like pawns in President Obama’s gun-grabbing cries – think that something actually got done. What a slap in the face.

The American people achieved victory this week. Background checks or no background checks, gun crimes will not stop. Self defense is crucial to stemming the effect that gun violence has over our society. Every day that a law-abiding citizen walks around the streets unarmed is a day that their level of personal protection is weakened.

To celebrate, take your favorite gun out to the range and start shooting. Enjoy your freedom to keep and bear arms…while you still have it.

NY gun registrations, magazine limits begin today

Posted by Steve Adcock

In another ominous sign of what “tax day” in America really means, the state of New York’s new gun registration requirement and limits on magazines goes into effect today, leaving law-abiding New Yorkers less safe and less prepared to defend themselves and their families against violent attacks from the United States’ criminal element.

After a well-publicized incident of New York wrongly confiscating a state resident’s firearms enabled by just this kind of registration, only time will tell how many New Yorkers will willingly give up their constitutional rights by registering their firearms with the state. This case clearly indicates the state’s desire to heavily regulate who it deems worthy of gun ownership and personal protection. Moreover, the state evidently feels little obligation to doing even the slightest modicum of due diligence before removing a law-abiding citizen’s ability to protect him or herself with a firearm.

Magazine limits also go into effect today, making it that much easier for home invaders – especially those who choose to break into homes in groups – to successfully rob state residents of their possessions and, in some cases, their lives. Law-abiding state residents are now required to take care of the situation using no more than 7 shots. Criminals’ magazine capacities, of course, are not required to abide by the law.

Today, New Yorkers are less safe than yesterday. The state legislature systematically removed law-abiding people’s ability to protect themselves and positioned the state to be the supreme ruler of firearms in the state, which is home to one of the bloodiest cities in the union – New York City.

To say the state of New York did its citizens a disservice is an understatement. This is flat out criminal.

Gun rights groups raising money to fight CT gun law

Posted by Steve Adcock

In encouraging news, several local guns rights groups are raising funds to fight back against the state of Connecticut’s recent passage of gun laws that strip law-abiding citizens of their right to own certain firearms and instantly turns regular citizens into criminals (New York, anyone?). The National Rifle Association has joined forces with these groups to add some fire power to the cause of second amendment freedom and liberty.

The groups include the Connecticut Citizens Defense League, the Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen and Disabled Americans for Firearms Rights. Gun shops and other firearms clubs from the state are helping to raise money by donating to a legal defense fund to help the group wage legal challenges against the new gun-grabbing laws. The first lawsuit was filed this week by the group.

The new Connecticut gun laws include a ban on so-called “assault weapons” and prohibits the use of high capacity magazines, two provisions that have demonstrably little effect on preventing gun crimes.

Police survey: Gun controls do little to increase safety

Posted by Steve Adcock

According to a survey from PoliceOne.com, more than 15,000 police officers resoundingly believe that the gun controls being discussed in Congress and passed in several states are meaningless to public safety and will not reduce violent crime.

Asked what effect the White House’s position on gun controls would have in improving police officer safety, more than 60% said “none”. Asked if the assault weapons ban would reduce violent crime, more than 70% said “none”. 95% of officers surveyed said that magazine limits will not reduce violent crime.

Once again, those most intimately involved in stopping violent crime and experienced in the lawful use of firearms resoundingly believe most of the proposed gun controls to be ineffectual on their face. The majority of officers believe that stiff penalties for those who commit a crime with a gun would do more to curb violent crime than trying to remove guns from the hands of law-abiding citizens, something I wrote about recently.

More states ease controls on guns than strengthen them

Posted by Steve Adcock

Although you probably would not have known it by watching your local news or reading blogs on the Internet (including this one), more states have eased their restrictions on guns and gun ownership than strengthened them since the Newtown, CT shooting December 14th of 2012.

For example, Arkansas now allows carrying guns in places of worship. South Dakota has extended its concealed carry license expiration from 4 years to 5 years – and residents can now carry a firearm (with a permit) while riding a snowmobile. Several states, like Mississippi and Virginia, have officially made their concealed carry registration list confidential, preventing prying eyes from locating and marking residents who carry a concealed weapons permit (hello, New York?).

Other states have sent several easements on gun regulations to their respective state governors for signature, like the ability to carry weapons without a permit (Utah and Montana). Bills in the states of Oklahoma and Kansas would create an automatic concealed weapons permit reciprocity with other states’ licenses.