This is TTAG’s weekly roundup of legal and legislative news affecting guns, the gun business and gun owners’ rights.
The NRA and the President Both Have Phones, Apparently
Last week saw a host of reporting on the NRA’s chief executive having chats with one of the few people in the world embroiled in more controversy than himself–the President of the United States.
The NRA reported that Trump assured LaPierre that a universal background check bill was “off the table,” after which the President chirped back “nuh-uh!” (but really yeah he did.)
At the end of the day, it’s all just political posturing. From where I’m sitting, it looks like the NRA was seizing easy capital by saying, “Look what we did!” after what was really an informal conversation.
This capital is valuable to the organization, the value of their advocacy being the subject of ongoing public scrutiny. As for the President, we have enough data points to know his position on gun control depends entirely on who the last person he spoke to was.
At the end of the day, this highlights the problem with trying to concentrate something as broad and important as the right to keep and bear arms in individual personalities. We can’t waste time honing in on what the last thing said in a particular phone call was. What matters is what we, the people want and need. That should be the start and end of the discussion.
New York’s Red Flag Law Takes Effect
On Saturday, New York State boldly and uniquely became the umpteenth state to put a red flag law on the books. New York’s law gives the ability for law enforcement officers, school officials, and family members to initiate confiscation proceedings against a gun owner.
“This is a big step forward for common sense gun safety,” said New York Governor Cuomo of the law which has proven to do exactly nothing positive, despite decimating due process protections.
Noticing the microphone had not been taken away from him yet, and unable to help himself, Cuomo continued. “My message to President Trump and Senate Republicans is simple: Stop kowtowing to the NRA. Enact a national red flag law now. Lives depend on it,” frothed the governor, exhibiting wholesale contempt for federalism, separation of powers, and anything that isn’t a SWAT team enforcing his view of the world.
Texas’ Abbott Hosts One-Sided Gun Reform Meeting
In an effort to “do something” following the El Paso shooting, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has begun holding meetings on what to do about guns in his state. He claimed he would be inviting representatives from “both sides” of the gun debate, but pro-gun voices were (initially) distinctly absent. Worry not, though, because the Governor invited representatives from social media companies, which is not at all horrifying!
This, naturally, pissed Texans off pretty badly.
After the meeting, Abbott recommended that Texans snitch on each other more, and made clear that he distrusted private firearm transfers. This was the first in a series of meetings, so keep your eyes on this.
The Governor’s worrying over private firearm transfers is most concerning, as individuals have traded firearms for generations without significant issue. Oh, that and his apparent desire to monitor and e-snitch on everyone for everything. That’s kinda concerning, too.
Today the California Legislature’s Gun Violence Prevention Working Group sent a letter inviting our colleagues in Nevada to join us—in the spirit of cooperation—for a summit to work together to ensure residents of both our states are protected by common sense gun safety measures. pic.twitter.com/DdXG6bP5ic
— Buffy Wicks (@BuffyWicks) August 21, 2019
California Blames Nevada for Gilroy Shooting
California state lawmakers this week called upon Nevada to help close non-existant “loopholes” after the Gilroy shooter purchased his rifle in the Silver State. The only way this could have any “teeth” would be to basically force Nevada to enforce California laws, something Nevada already does to a great extent.
It’s an open secret that Nevada allows neighboring California jurisdictions to prowl Nevada gun show parking lots seeking out-of-state plates to “check in on” them once they’re back over the border. Even so, the blame for the shooting has to fall somewhere, and when it’s California casting the blame, you can be sure the finger is going to fall on the fact that they haven’t managed to make literally everything illegal there. Yet.