Another week, another series of thunderous applause for civil rights restrictions.
New Zealand Still Has a Parliamentary System
As New Zealand sprints toward imposing the deluge of restrictions we’ve mentioned in the preceding weeks, American media outlets are still obsessed with the fact that other systems of government are able to act on divisive issues faster than America’s. On Wednesday, the NZ parliament voted 119 to 1 in favor of the ban on “military style semi automatics.” Once the bill heads to the country’s governor-general for “royal assent,” it could come into force as soon as today (Friday).
Parliament observed demonstrations from police, obsessing over such modern marvels as taping together magazines. As the country works out exactly how it expects to collect the host of now-prohibited firearms, it is telling owners to “resist the urge” to shoot them before saying goodbye, as virtually all of the arms remain in private hands (and likely will continue to do so long into the future). The law includes a provision for “bona fide collectors” to apply for an endorsement to keep a prohibited firearm if it is an “heirloom or memento,” (a function part of the firearm has to be kept at another address) but makes no provisions for sport shooters.
Delaware Dems Seek Assault Weapon Ban
Delaware democrats have filed three bills, mostly different flavors of the typical copy-paste of the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban. On Wednesday, an event celebrating the introduction of the bills hosted by Moms Demand Action was swarmed by hundreds of gun rights activists. Last year a 17-round magazine ban was tried, and failed. A new bill sponsored by House Majority Whip John Mitchell tries that again, but this time at 15. Because whatever. Another law would require gun buyers to get a “purchaser card” and take a training course before buying a firearm. This comes weeks after a “safe storage” bill narrowly passed the Delaware house.
Pittsburgh Breaks the Rules
Last week we discussed Pittsburgh’s new gun bans. It didn’t take long for the laws to be challenged. Gun rights groups sued Tuesday to enjoin Pittsburgh from enforcing its illegal firearms laws. The suit is backed by the NRA, and should be a pretty easy victory. Then again, conventions on the rule of law tend to be suspended whenever guns are on the table, so we’ll see.
Pennsylvania’s Red Flag Law Takes Effect
PA’s red flag law, the first gun law passed in the woodsy state in 14 years, took effect on Wednesday as PA lawmakers continue to debate the finer points of the bill.