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2011
March 14, 2011 - LCAV Applauds President Obama's Long-Overdue Statement on Need for Improved Gun Laws
March 7, 2011 - Alarming Trends in State Legislation
February 2, 2011 - Tucson Shooting Prompts Federal Legislation/Mayors' Initiatives
January 20, 2011 - Urge Congress to Ban Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines
January 10, 2011 - LCAV Statement on Tragic Arizona Shooting

March 14, 2011

LCAV Applauds President Obama's Long-Overdue Statement on Need for Improved Gun Laws

On Sunday, March 13, two months after the Tucson massacre, President Obama announced a proposal to improve the federal background check system in an Arizona Daily Star op-ed. "[O]ur focus right now should be on sound and effective steps that will actually keep those irresponsible, law-breaking few from getting their hands on a gun in the first place," the president wrote. "Porous background checks are bad for police officers, for law-abiding citizens and for [firearms] sellers themselves."

LCAV commends the president for this first step to address America's gun violence epidemic. President Obama proposed improving background check recordkeeping, but unfortunately federal law does not even require every gun purchaser to pass a background check. As the president noted in his op-ed, "If we're serious about keeping guns away from someone who's made up his mind to kill, then we can't allow a situation where a responsible seller denies him a weapon at one store, but he effortlessly buys the same gun someplace else." LCAV urges the president to support S. 436, Senator Schumer's bill to require universal background checks.

President Obama called on Americans to begin "a new discussion on how we can keep America safe for all our people." The American public, however, has already voiced broad support for requiring a background check before every firearm sale. A recent bipartisan poll showed that 86% of Americans and 81% of gun owners nationwide support universal background checks. Additional polls in Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Ohio and Virginia indicate that at least 83% of respondents -- and over 75% of gun owners -- in each of those states support this policy.

LCAV has long advocated for universal background checks and for the improvement of background check recordkeeping. Despite Congress' unwillingness to confront gun violence in recent years, and its consistent capitulation to the gun lobby, we are encouraged by the prospect that the president's recent statement will mark a new beginning in federal firearms legislation.

March 7, 2011

Gun Lobby Intensifies Efforts to Weaken State Gun Legislation

LCAV's tracking of firearm-related legislation in all 50 states has revealed a dangerous trend: a significant number of new bills to expand the ability of people to carry loaded firearms in public places.  A Wyoming bill, for example, that would allow individuals to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, is already awaiting the Governor's signature.  Bills allowing concealed carry without a permit have been introduced in 13 other states this year. Several bills weakening the regulation of guns in public were enacted last year.

Other dangerous bills that appear to be gaining momentum in 2011 include those to:

• Allow guns in government buildings, houses of worship, and even in some areas of elementary and secondary schools;
• Require university and college administrators to allow guns on campus;
• Allow guns in bars and restaurants where alcohol is served;
• Require businesses and employers to allow guns in vehicles in designated parking areas.

LCAV Responds With New Model Law

In response to this alarming trend, and in an effort to support activists and legislators nationwide, LCAV has drafted a model law and report entitled "Regulating the Carrying and Possession of Firearms in Public Places."  The model, which is based on existing state laws, provides two alternative approaches. The first prohibits the open carrying of firearms and only allows concealed carry in public in accordance with a permit issued after an individual has shown good cause, passed a background check and received extensive training.  The model does not allow carrying in government buildings, schools, establishments that sell alcohol or other sensitive places. The second approach prohibits the carrying of firearms in public, hidden or exposed, with exceptions for law enforcement officers, members of the military and other appropriate individuals.

Polling reveals that Americans feel less safe when people carry hidden guns in public, and overwhelmingly oppose laws that ease concealed permit requirements and allow firearms in places like college campuses, government buildings, restaurants and bars. The public should be aware that state legislators are bowing to gun lobby demands for more guns in public places and should hold irresponsible legislators accountable.  LCAV will continue to monitor and shed light on this dangerous trend and to do whatever we can to counteract it.

February 2, 2011

Federal Legislation in the Wake of Tucson

Following the tragic shootings of Representative Gabrielle Giffords and 18 others in Tucson, Arizona, on January 8, 2011, federal legislators have introduced several bills to reduce gun violence. Representative Carolyn McCarthy has authored legislation to prohibit the transfer or possession of large capacity ammunition magazines, like those used by the Tucson shooter. We encourage you to sign our petition urging Congress to pass H.R. 308 the bill to ban large capacity ammunition magazines, and contact your congressperson to voice your support for this common sense legislation.

Other significant federal legislation introduced after the Tucson shooting includes a bill by Senator Barbara Boxer to establish minimum standards for states that allow the carrying of concealed firearms, and a bill introduced by Representative Peter King to prohibit the carrying of a firearm near a senior federal official holding a public event, carrying out official duties, or campaigning for federal elective office.

Mayors Against Illegal Guns Champions Reform of Federal Gun Laws

Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG), a diverse national coalition of more than 500 mayors led by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, promotes federal legislation to reduce illegal firearms trafficking and repair gaping loopholes in our nation's background check system. MAIG's latest campaign, Fix Gun Checks, encourages Congress to adopt federal laws to ensure mental health and drug abuse information is entered into the databases used to check a prospective firearm transferee's background, and to close the private sale loophole by requiring a background check prior to every gun transfer. Mayor Bloomberg led a recent undercover investigation of the Crossroads of the West Gun Show in Phoenix, Arizona, which showed unlicensed sellers willingly selling guns to people who say they probably "couldn't pass" a background check. LCAV is pleased to support MAIG's efforts for critical gun violence prevention legislation nationwide.

January 20, 2011

Your Help is Needed on Federal Legislation to Ban Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines: Sign Our Petition and Call Washington Today!

In response to the devastating mass shooting in Tuscon earlier this month, which left six dead and thirteen wounded, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy has introduced H.R. 308, which would ban large capacity ammunition magazines.  Large capacity ammunition magazines are frequently used in mass shootings, including the tragedy in Tuscon and those at Columbine High School, Virginia Tech, Fort Hood, and 101 California Street in San Francisco, because they enable a shooter to kill large numbers of people in a matter of seconds.

LCAV needs your help to tell Washington how vital this legislation is to the prevention of future mass shootings.  Here's what you can do:

1. Sign our petition urging Congress to pass H.R. 308, Congresswoman McCarthy's bill to ban large capacity ammunition magazines. Forward this e-mail to your friends and urge them to sign the petition as well!

2. Contact your U.S. Representative at (202) 224-3121 and encourage him or her to cosponsor H.R. 308.  If you're not sure who your Representative is, you can find that information at Govtrack.us.

3. Call President Obama at (202) 456-1111 and urge him to announce his support for H.R. 308.

Large capacity ammunition magazines have no place in civilian hands.  As discussed in our updated policy summary, large capacity magazines were banned under a now-expired federal law, and are now only prohibited in California and five other states.  Act now to stop the sale of these magazines and help prevent future tragedies!

January 10, 2011

Legal Community Against Violence Grieves with America Over the Arizona Shooting and Demands That Our Government Take Steps to Prevent This Type of Tragedy in the Future

(San Francisco, CA) Following Saturday's mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona, Legal Community Against Violence (LCAV) issued the following statement:
 
"LCAV is deeply saddened by the horrific shooting in Arizona.  Our sympathies go out to the family and friends of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and to all of the individuals touched by this tragedy.  The Arizona massacre is just one more terrible example of the impact of gun violence in America and the urgent need to act with courage and commitment to achieve sensible gun policies nationwide.
The Arizona shooter used a Glock 19 handgun equipped with a large capacity ammunition magazine.  That magazine, capable of holding 33 bullets, enabled the shooter to kill 6 people and injure 14 others in a matter of moments.  Large capacity ammunition magazines - those capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition - were banned as part of the 1994 federal assault weapons ban, but were legalized when Congress allowed the law to expire in 2004.  Large capacity magazines are now only banned in California and a handful of other states, not including Arizona. 

Unfortunately, large capacity ammunition magazines are frequently used in mass shootings, including those which occurred at 101 California St. (the San Francisco assault weapon massacre that led to the formation of LCAV), Columbine High School, Virginia Tech, and Fort Hood.
LCAV is very pleased that Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy has announced her intent to introduce a new federal large capacity ammunition ban in the wake of this tragedy.  We look forward to supporting her efforts and hope that our federal legislators will show their commitment to preventing future tragedies by doing the same.  The gaps in federal law regulating guns are a travesty in this country, and one that we demand our government immediately address.

LCAV's recent publication, Gun Laws Matter, ranked Arizona's gun laws as the worst in the country.  Among other things, Arizona law requires no permit to carry loaded weapons in public, requires no background check for private gun sales, and allows guns in bars. In addition, Arizona enacted the so-called "Firearms Freedom Act" - declaring federal gun laws inapplicable to guns manufactured, purchased and possessed in the state. 

LCAV will continue to work to educate the public and to support the gun violence prevention laws that can prevent this type of tragedy in the future.  We are reminded of the importance of this work, and thank our members and supporters."

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