Tag: HR8

Gun Safety Legislation, Military, National Security, Politics, Public Safety September 18, 2019January 7, 2020

Are Gun Deaths Higher in States Without Common Sense Gun Laws? Yes, Indeed!

Washington (GGM) Analysis | September 18, 2019
by Noreen Wise

There are many states who began passing common sense gun legislation to curb gun violence and are now experiencing the benefits. Lives have been saved. Communities are safer. Thus, it’s very clear why more than 90% of Americans are demanding that local, state and federal legislators do something.

Diving deeper to assess which states have passed which bills, it soon becomes crystal clear that the permissive gun states that have allowed gun ownership to go unchecked, are the states with the highest gun violence deaths. This makes sense, which again is why more than 90% of Americans, many millions of whom are gun owners, are demanding action.

How can Mitch McConnell hold a blind eye to this reality? Why is Mitch McConnell suddenly saying that he can’t allow any bill that Trump won’t sign to be brought to the floor for a vote? This is illogical and unconstitutional. The Legislative Branch is separate from the Executive and McConnell is at the helm of the Senate in the Legislative Branch. Going rogue and eliminating a vital check & balance, especially when it comes to the safety and protection of the American people, should be grounds for having him removed as Senate Majority Leader.

Connecticut is an excellent example of passing common sense gun laws that have served residents well and saved thousands of lives.

The Sandy Hook massacre of 20 innocent first graders and 6 adults occurred on December 14, 2012
In idyllic Newtown, Connecticut
On April 3, 2014…. less than 4 months after the traumatizing horror, the bipartisan state legislature passed sweeping gun reform
State Permit is required to purchase both long guns and hand guns
Registration is required through Department of Emergency and Public Protection for log guns & handguns, gun tracked by authorization number and DPS-3-C form
Partial ban on assault rifles: no new sales/purchases of assault rifles; banned ARs already owned, must be registered, if owner wants to sell AR, can only sell to licensed gun dealer

Magazine Capacity Restriction: any magazine that holds greater than 10 rounds is considered an LCM (Large Capacity Magazine); all LCMs were banned when new law went into effect, cannot be sold or transferred; existing owners had to register LMs by
Permit Required for Concealed Carry: owner must meet requirements, and abide by two-step process, first, 60-day temporary permit issued by local authorities, Second, 5 year permit issued by DESPP
Permit Required for Open Carry: MUST have a license to open carry
Vehicle Carry: Must have valid pistol permit to carry loaded gun in car, otherwise must be unloaded and firearm and ammunition stored in separate locked containers; if car left unattended, firearm must be locked in trunk or glove box
Castle Doctrine: not the exact same as “stand your ground,” but if intruder enters home or yard and owner has permit and “reasonable force,” courts provide civil immunity
Background Checks: required for private party transfer and must be performed by federally licensed dealer
Red Flag Law: allows police to obtain a court warrant and seize guns from anyone posing a risk to others or themselves once they investigate and determine probable cause

Connecticut’s sweeping common sense gun laws are some of the most reasonable and effective in the country and serve as a very sensible model to follow. In 2019, Connecticut ranks in the top 5 states with the lowest number of gun deaths per capita.

Hawaii
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
New York
Connecticut

The top 5 states with the highest number of per capita gun deaths are five red states with permissive gun laws:

Alaska – most permissive gun ownership in country, must be 21, complete handgun competency course, no permit required to carry, Castle Doctrine, that’s it
Montana – must be 18, open & concealed carry legal without permit, Castle Doctrine, done
Alabama – must be 18, no permit or background check or registration required for private sales, open carry legal without permit, concealed carry needs pistol permit, Castle Doctrine, done
Louisiana – must be 17, no permit or background check or registration required for private sales, concealed carry is legal with a permit, open carry requires no permit, Castle Doctrine, that’s it
Missouri – must be 19, no permit or background check or registration required for private sales, open carry and concealed carry both legal without permit, but gun owners can obtain a concealed carry permit (CCP) if they’d like one, local authorities are able to restrict in certain locations, Castle Doctrine, done

The Connecticut common sense gun laws respect the 2nd Amendment, while simultaneously protecting the American public’s expectation to live in a safe community. Colt is headquartered in Connecticut, and yet these bipartisan common sense gun laws passed in record time following the Sandy Hook massacre.

If more than 90% of the American public are demanding common sense gun laws, and the data proves the effectiveness, it doesn’t make sense to sit on the sidelines and hold a blind eye to such convincing proof that common sense gun laws save lives, maybe your own.

Guns, History, National Security, Politics September 4, 2019January 7, 2020

Assault Rifle Ban | NRA’s Illogical 2nd Amendment Argument

Washington (GGM) Analysis | December 20, 2019
by Noreen Wise

The red flags and warning signs are everywhere. The time has come to act definitively on common sense gun legislation
and stop punting this vital life-saving, society-saving, democracy-saving, America-saving legislation down the road. #EnoughIsEnough.

Here are the facts:

2nd Amendment: “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”
The 2nd Amendment was written using critical commas that have further exasperated clarification of the Amendment’s exact meaning.
However, if we dig deeper, we can clearly see that our founders were very aware
of human evil and it’s potential harm to democracy and thus created numerous checks & balances, most notably our three branches of government.
Further, throughout the 185 Federalist Papers, written for the purpose of justifying the need for a federal government as well as a Constitution, every single one of the letters highlights the importance of checking evil
The concept of “checks & balances” is ingrained in our rule of law, our institutions, and throughout American society and shouldn’t be foreign to any American
Checks & balances apply to gun ownership as well, and supports the concept of common sense gun legislation
Assault rifles and high capacity magazines are weapons of war and are NOT meant for civilians or self-defense

We had an effective Assault Weapons Ban from 1994 – 2004 that President Bush foolishly did NOT renew (Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, passed by a narrow margin of 4 votes, signed by President Clinton.)
The fact that assault rifle owners are threatening violence if their weapons of war are banned, is the very reason they need to be banned. For an American to believe that the way to resolve differences in a democracy is to slaughter those who don’t agree with them is a huge wake up call to all political leaders for the urgent need to #DoSomething.
In 2008, the Supreme Court ruled on District of Columbia v. Heller, whereby Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia ruled that even though the 2nd Amendment states “well regulated militia” it applies to personal protection as well, putting an end to the debate about whether or not the 2nd Amendment applies to the general public. However, Scalia did clarify that the public’s gun ownership can be regulated.

“…not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose.” ~Antonin Scalia, Supreme Court Associate Justice, 2008 ruling, District of Columbia v. Heller

On January 9, 2019, Senior Senator Dianne Feinstein of California again Sponsored and Introduced S. 66: Assault Weapons Ban of 2019. This is a bill “to regulate assault weapons, to ensure that the right to keep and bear arms is not unlimited, and for other purposes.”
Earlier versions of Assault Weapons Ban were introduced on November 8, 2017, following theOctober 2, 2017 Las Vegas slaughter of 58 using an assault rifle, and on March 14, 2013, three months after the world-altering Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre of 28 elementary school students and several teachers. If these shockingly vicious annihilations didn’t wake-up our representatives, we can’t give up… we simply must try harder. Case in point, the shutdown outrage became so forceful, that it even brought Mitch McConnell back to life.
The next step for the Assault Weapons Ban of 2019 is to be considered by the judiciary committee. Unbelievably, the bill only has a 4% chance of being enacted.

There are 28 Democrat co-sponsors of the ban, all 28 joined the day it was introduced. There are no GOP sponsors.

S. 66: Assault Weapons Ban of 2019 co-sponsors:

Blumenthal, Richard (D-CT)
Booker, Cory (D-NJ)
Cardin, Ben (D-MD)
Carper, Tom (D-DE)
Casey, Bob (D-PA)
Duckworth, Tammy (D-IL)
Durbin, Richard (D-IL)
Gillibrand, Kirsten (D-NY)
Harris, Kamala (D-CA)
Hassan, Maggie (D-NH)
Hirono, Mazie (D-HI)
Klobuchar, Amy (D-MN)
Markey, ED (D-MA)
Menendez, Bob (D-NJ)
Merkley, Jeff (D-OR)
Murphy, Chris (D-CT)
Murray, Patty (D-WA)
Reed, Jack (D-RI)
Sanders, Bernie (D-VT)
Schatz, Brian (D-HI)
Schumer, Chuck (D-NY)
Shaheen, Jeanne (D-NY)
Smith, Tina (D-MN)
Van Hollen, Chris (D-MD)
Warner, Mark (D-VA)
Warren, Elizabeth (D-MA)
Whitehouse, Sheldon (D-RI)
Wyden, Ron (D-OR)

It’s time to act one and for all to get S66 passed. Our lives and our democracy are at stake.

National Security, Public Safety April 23, 2019September 3, 2019

What’s the Progress on S66 Assault Weapons Ban?

Washington (Gallant Gold Media Hill Report | Perspective | April 23, 2019) – With the horror of 320 lives lost on Easter day, in coordinated attacks by ISIS across Sri Lanka in Christian churches and high end hotels, we have just learned that the slaughter was in retaliation of the New Zealand Mosque massacre by a white supremacist on March 15, 2019. Will this now morph into an epic see-saw battle that rages on for years? A never ending pendulum of attacks against soft targets all over the globe? What positive outcome has an eye-for-an-eye ever netted?

In light of this possibility actually occurring, it’s time for the American public to refocus our commitment on Common Sense gun laws.

January 9, 2019 Senator Diane Feinstein introduced S66, the Assault Weapons Ban 2019. It was quickly referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), where it has since languished for three and a half months, untouched.

This is a call to action to move forward with the Assault Weapons Ban. It’s imperative that the senate take American safety seriously. The Department of Homeland Security is in disarray following the resignation of DHS Secretary Kristjen Nielsen, and is now without an official secretary. Further, the agency has apparently narrowed, and redefined, it’s main purpose, now focusing its attention primarily on Southern Border security, leaving the impression that there are significant swaths of our national security that aren’t being properly monitored, specifically domestic terrorism and the white supremacist threat. These bad actors are seemingly the ones most inclined to rely on assault weapons as their preferred weapon of choice.

The best way to neutralize the white nationalist/white supremacist threat is to pass Common Sense gun legislation. Both the Background Check Bill HR8 and the Assault Weapons Ban 2019 S66 are stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

It only takes 60 seconds for each of us to call our two Senators and demand that S66 and HR8 be scheduled for debate in May.

Guns, Legislative Branch, National Security, Public Safety February 25, 2019April 24, 2019

HR8 |Background Check House Vote Feb 27, 2019

Washington (Gallant Gold Media Hill Report | Perspective | February 25, 2019) – Following HR8’s approval by the Judiciary Committee on February 13, 2019, the Committee has moved one step further in bringing HR8 to the House floor for a full vote this week, barring any unforeseen political conflicts. However, Capitol Hill promises to be a turbulent landscape in the upcoming days, with Representatives being pulled in many important directions. Thus, timing the HR8 vote is critical. We need all the sponsors and supporters to be present for the vote, which will hopefully take place on Thursday, February 28, 2019, the 25 year anniversary of The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (the original background check bill) which went into effect on February 28, 1994. Interestingly, the initial background check legislation was first introduced in Congress by NY Representative Chuck Schumer in 1991.

The next few days on the Hill appear extremely busy:

TUESDAY Feb 26 – House vote to nullify Trump’s national emergency
- House Rules Committee Hearing on Migrant Family Separation Policy
- House Financial Services Committee Hearing with Credit Bureau CEO’s testifying
WEDNESDAY Feb 27 – Oversight Committee public hearing with Michael Cohen on Wednesday February 27, which may be the most significant event of the year if the Mueller report isn’t shared with the public
- Full House Vote on HR8 Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019

HR8 now has 232 bipartisan co-sponsors. The significant bipartisan support for the bill stems from 97% of the American public believing strongly that background checks should be required for every single gun sale. Background checks protect the public from those who seek gun ownership with ill intent. HR8 advocates simultaneously believe in the Second Amendment, and do support the right to bear arms, yet understand that common sense gun legislation makes sense. The success of our democracy stems from the fact that it’s stabilized by the rule of law. Borders and boundaries are essential. Evil exists in the world. The first three words of the Second Amendment clearly state: “A well regulated…”

HR8 | Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 Explained: On January 8, 2019 Representative Mike Thompson of California’s 5th District introduced HR8. This simple, common sense gun bill is very basic : To require a background check for every firearm sale. The current background check bill has several significant loopholes that have proven deadly. Guns sold at gun shows, and guns sold among family and friends, currently do not require background checks.

The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act requires that before a firearm is purchased through a federally licensed dealer, manufacturer or importer, a background check must be performed. There are a list of nine prohibitions that would prevent approval. The operative words in the Brady Bill are “federally licensed.” Since the majority of sellers at gun shows, and on the streets, as well as family and friends, aren’t federally licensed, a loophole was soon exploited by those falling under the following nine prohibitions:

fugitive from justice
convicted in any court for a crime punishable by more than one year in prison
dishonorably discharged from military
illegal alien
user or addicted to a controlled substance
renounced citizenship
has a restraining order against them
domestic violence, convicted in any court of misdemeanor crime
in a mental institution or adjudicated as mentally defective

HR8 eliminates these existing loopholes, making it far more difficult for those who plot to harm the American public to succeed. The Second Amendment was intended for self-protection, not public annihilation.

CALL to ACTION: Contact your Congressional Representative TODAY to let them know: Yes to HR8.

https://www.house.gov/representatives | Search by name or state, must click the correct box. If not sure of Representative’s name, use the search box on top right of page
Text CHECKS to 644-33

Guns, Legislative Branch, National Security, Public Safety February 13, 2019September 3, 2019

HR8 Passes Judiciary Committee | 1st Time Gun Legislation Passes in Two Decades

Washington (Gallant Gold Media Hill Report) – It took all day, and well into the evening, but patience did not disappoint. HR8 was approved by the House Judiciary Committee and will now move forward to the House floor for a full vote. This typically takes place within 100 days of being approved by the Committee. We should know the outcome by early May. From there it proceeds to the Senate floor for another full vote. The Senate will be a much tougher battle of course, however, HR8 has 231 bipartisan cosponsors so there is much hope it will pass the Senate as well.

HR8 Explained: On January 8, 2019 Representative Mike Thompson of California’s 5th District introduced HR8: Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019. This simple, common sense gun bill is very basic : To require a background check for every firearm sale.

Many more calls to Congress are necessary these next 100 days. Let’s mark our calendars now. One call per week for next 14 weeks.

CALL to ACTION: Contact your Congressional Representative TODAY to let them know: Yes to HR8.

https://www.house.gov/representatives | Search by name or state, must click the correct box. If not sure of Representative’s name, use the search box on top right of page
Text CHECKS to 644-33

Guns, Legislative Branch, National Security, Politics February 7, 2019September 22, 2019

HR8 | Bittersweet Gift Planned for February 13, 2019

Washington (Gallant Gold Media Hill Report) – Today House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler announced that the Judiciary Committee will markup HR8 next Wednesday February 13, 2019. This means the divisive committee will decide whether to amend, accept or reject HR8. With a Democratic majority, along with bipartisan support for HR8, it’s expected that the bill will be accepted and move to the House floor for a full vote by the end of May.

The markup for HR8 will be taking place the day before the tragic one year anniversary of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Wednesday February 14, 2018, when seventeen innocent MSJ students were slaughtered at school. Hundreds of survivors became a powerful force, uniting millions of students around the country to let their legislators know that enough is enough. No more thoughts and prayers, they would only accept action, kicking off the forceful March For Our Lives movement that helped fuel the blue wave on November 6, 2018.

HR8 Explained: On January 8, 2019 Representative Mike Thompson of California’s 5th District introduced H.R. 8: Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019. This simple, common sense gun bill is very basic : To require a background check for every firearm sale.

CALL to ACTION: Contact your Congressional Representative TODAY to let them know: Yes to HR8.

https://www.house.gov/representatives | Search by name or state, must click the correct box. If not sure of Representative’s name, use the search box on top right of page
Text CHECKS to 644-33

Guns, Legislative Branch February 7, 2019September 3, 2019

HR8 | Gaetz Promotes Border Wall at Background Check Hearing, Alarming Indifference to Parkland Parent

Washington (Gallant Gold Media Hill Report) – For the first time in eight years, the Judiciary Committee held a hearing today, Wednesday February 6, 2019, to discuss HR8: Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019. The bill was introduced by Representative Mike Thompson from California’s 5th District and has nine bipartisan co-sponsors. The essence of this common sense gun solution is basic and universal, a background check for every firearm sale, making it difficult to imagine anyone having a contrasting position. But as the morning progressed, there was soon heated debate, shining light on the sharp division this emotional issue triggers.

Survivors of gun violence, family members of those killed by gun violence, gun control advocates, NRA supporters, and gun rights promoters gathered together with Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Ranking Member Doug Collins (R-GA) and the Judiciary Committee to hear witness testimony discussing whether background checks were a common sense solution in keeping Americans safe, particularly school children. Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School massacre survivor Aalayah Eastmon, spoke of her personal trauma over classmate Nicholas Dworet dying while saving her life:

“After our presentations we began to hear loud pops,” Eastmond said. “When the gunman shot into our classroom, Nicholas Dworet was in front of me.

“The gunman’s bullets killed him and Helena Ramsay. As Nicholas fell, I matched his every movement and hid underneath his lifeless body as bullets riddled my classmates.

“I thought I was going to die,” Eastmond said.

Ranking Member Collins summed up the GOP-NRA argument in opposition to HR8 in his opening statement: “[The] greatest cruelty in the world is to tell people you will help them in their situation through legislation that will do nothing to fix the problems that you claim to fix. In legal terms, that’s called fraud.” Collins didn’t provide any data to support his claim that HR8 background checks “will do nothing,” “nothing” being a hyperbolic word choice, when clearly background checks will curb gun violence. Curbing is not curing, though. No one is claiming background checks to be the cure. Regardless, Collins’ misleading assertion to insist fraud, appears to be his pro-NRA strategy to weaken bipartisan support for the bill, indicating how concerned NRA supporters are that the bill may be approved in the Judiciary Committee and sent to the floor of the House for a vote.

The show-stopper was Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) who tried to use his five minutes to twist the validity of the arguments in support of background checks, asking how background checks would stop violent crimes by illegal aliens. Gaetz claimed that the only real solution for any violent crime anywhere in America was a border wall. The father of Joaquin Oliver, killed in the February 14, 2018 slaughter in Parkland, reacted to this absurdity by jumping up and protesting. Mr. Oliver was reminded that he was a guest of the Committee, and guests were not allowed to speak, and certainly not protest. Representative Jeffries tried to alleviate the tension by asking whether a Committee member was allowed to provide false information during the hearing. Everything snowballed after that with Gaetz threatening to throw Mr. Oliver out of the hearing. Interestingly, in 2008, Gaetz was arrested for DUI, so appears to have a scar in his background that may prevent him from owning a gun.

Millions of Americans across the country were grateful for the hard work and perseverance Representative Thompson exerted in his effort to make this hearing possible, emphasizing the merit of… never, ever give up.