04.09.13
Tomorrow, as you know, the Senate Judiciary Committee will be voting on 4 anti-gun bills.
These are Senate Bills 347, 699, 700 and 796. All of these bills do nothing more than attack law-abiding gun owners. None serve a single positive purpose. For an analysis of these dreadful bills, please use this link. To make your feelings known (one last time) to the committee members, use this link.
Added to tomorrow’s schedule is SB 281. This bill allows persons with post traumatic stress to use medical marijuana. We told you about our concerns with this bill here.
And now some additional bills have been added for hearings.
On April 16, the House Judiciary Committee will be hearing HB 3261.
This bill allows a tax credit for the purchase of an “approved” gun safe. This bill has, as its cosponsors, some committed friends of gun owners, it also has some of our avowed enemies.
We have heard concerns from numerous supporters that this could be a potential tool to identify gun owners. In fact, it’s not at all clear with whom this information will be shared. We think that’s a valid concern. Of course, as the bill is written, you would not be required to take the tax credit. However, a more pressing concern is what this bill might become in the future, maybe the near future.
For years, anti-gun legislators have been trying to require that you keep your firearms locked up and unavailable. It’s not hard to imagine that this bill could be a stepping stone to that kind of policy. And of course, if this bill clears the House, it would most likely be sent to Senate Judiciary where anti-gun Chair Floyd Prozanski can turn it into virtually anything. Whatever your feelings on this bill, please let the House Judiciary Committee know them. Their contact info can be found here.
On April 17, the Senate Judiciary Committee takes up two more gun related bills.
696 increases the value of firearms that a person may keep in the event of bankruptcy or liens against their property. Simple enough, but the relating clause is “Relating to Firearms.” This bill can be amended into almost anything. It will need to be watched.
The second bill, SB 713, expands the number of places where “Firearms Training Facilities” can be located.
Neither of these bills seem like a good fit for the Judiciary Committee. There are other committees that typically deal with land use and revenue. Both of these bill are good in their current form but bear watching carefully.
As always you can communicate with the Senate Judiciary Committee using this link.
Remember, these schedules can change at any time. Check this link for last minute changes.
You can watch hearings live on line using this link. Tomorrow’s gun bill hearings will be at 8:30 in room 343.
Thanks for your continued activism.