The people prevailed: The Ohio Senate voted to override Gov. Taft’s veto
full story: http://tinyurl.com/yfwmnr
Michigan Protects Gun Owner’s Rights: Michigan’s State Legislature has passed a two-bill, NRA-backed package, to create the state’s “Emergency Powers Protection Act” [HB6363 and HB6364]. The new laws prevent local governments from confiscating lawfully-owned firearms during a declared state of emergency, as witnessed in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. “Law-abiding Michiganders have own a significant victory in the State Legislature,” said NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox. “The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina confirmed a fear long-held by American gun owners: the day government bureaucrats declare our Second Amendment null and void, leaving law-abiding citizens defenseless in the midst of chaos and lawlessness. We promised then to take measures to ensure that the Second Amendment is not another casualty during a declared emergency, and we are proud to have delivered on that promise.” The bill passed overwhelmingly in the State Senate, 37-1, and unanimously in the State House, 105-0. “No matter what the circumstances, lawful gun owners have the right to possess their firearms in their homes,” Cox said. And if forced to evacuate, they have the right to transport their firearms to a safe place. Nobody has the right to disarm them. On behalf of our many NRA members in Michigan, I want to thank Representative Scott Hummel for his leadership and his dedication to seeing the ‘Emergency Powers Protection Act’ become law. I also want to thank the representatives and senators who recognized the will of the people and voted overwhelmingly to pass this sound legislation.”
Court Nixes Jersey City’s Gun Rationing Scheme: In a persuasively reasoned decision he read from the bench, New Jeresey Superior Court Judge Maurice Gallipoli declared Jersey City’s one-gun-a-month handgun rationing law null and void, holding that it violates state preemption, equal protection, and was “arbitrary and capricious.” The ordinand [06-116], limited handgun purchases persons pre-certified by the State as non-criminals after undergoing extensive background checks. The ordinance criminalized Jersey City dealer sales of more than one handgun per month, deviating from New Jersey’s already strict gun control laws, the require separate government-issued permits for each handgun. Permits are only issued after an extensive, costly, and lengthy background investigation of the purchaser. The mayor instroduced the invalidated law earlier this year, in a rush to appear to be combating Jersey City’s mounting crime problems. The City Council passed the law by a vote of 6-2, despite a mountain of evidence that the law would not reduce crime because it targeted only law-abiding purchasers. The President of the City Council even called the measure “feel good” legislation that would probably not reduce crime-before voting in favor of the law. The Association of New Jersey Rigle & Pistol Clubs [ANJRPC] was the lead plaintiff in the suit, with the support of NRA-ILA, the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund, and the New Jersey Association of Firearms Dealers [an affiliate of the National Shooting Sports Foundation].
