THREE NEW GUN CONTROL LAWS GO INTO EFFECT
IN PITTSBURGH
BY JOHN CRUMP
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational and research purposes:
Red Flag Laws – Should Constitutional Rights be so easily infringed?
Pittsburgh, Penn. –-(Ammoland.com)- Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto signed three new bills that restrict the use of some semi-automatic such as the AR15 within the city limits, limit magazine size, and enacts a “Red Flag Law” this past Tuesday.
The city deems these laws necessary after the Tree of Life Shooting. In that shooting, a Nazi walked into a synagogue and killed eleven unarmed people. Investigators determined that the killer’s motive was Antisemitism.
The city admitted that they could not outright ban the popular rifle, but the attorneys for Pittsburgh believe that they can legally bar the use of the gun. This ban would also affect gun owners using their rifles at shooting ranges.
After signing the bill Mayor, Bill Peduto said, “If we didn't challenge laws, women wouldn't be able to vote.”
The Democrat didn't elaborate on how banning the use of semi-automatic rifles is related to women's suffrage. The media present did not challenge the Mayor on this point. AmmoLand reached out to Peduto's office in a request for clarity on the comment, but the office did not respond to our request.
“Change doesn’t happen on its own, change only happens when you challenge the status quo,” Mayor Peduto said before signing the bills. “We have tried to get that change through Harrisburg, we have tried to get that change through Washington, and we have taken steps backward, not forward. So what we’re saying is in communities across this state … in cities around this country, we will take action.”
The bill would also prevent a gun owner from having their rifle loaded. The city strategy is to try to make owning a semi-automatic rifle useless since if the owner shoots and even chambers a round they would be in violation of the law and face a heavy legal penalty of up to a $1000 fine.
Twenty years ago, the city of Pittsburgh tried to ban semi-automatic rifles, but the courts ruled that only the state had the power to ban a certain type of gun. The city sees this bill as a workaround to that ruling
A second bill would also make it illegal for Pittsburgh residents to have a loaded magazine if that magazine is capable of holding more than ten rounds. The City incorrectly labels these as “large capacity” magazines. This ban means residents can still own the magazines but can't load them thus making them useless. This bill seems like another workaround to the current law.
Stock Pile Ammunition Gun Magazines High Capacity Standard
The NRA and four residences have already filed a civil suit titled “Anderson v. City of Pittsburgh.” The lawsuit claims that “by banning the public possession and transportation of loaded standard-capacity firearm magazines that can carry more than ten rounds of ammunition, Pittsburgh has violated the rights of its citizens and exceeded its authority under Pennsylvania law.”
“Pittsburgh residents have a right to carry the self-defense tool that best suits their needs, and the NRA is proud to support this challenge to the city’s magazine ban,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director, National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action. “Restricting law-abiding citizens from exercising their constitutional rights will do nothing to stop violent criminals.”
The third bill is a Red Flag law. These Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) allows police to confiscate a person's guns without due process. If a family member, friend, or roommate report to the police that you are a risk to yourself or others they can go to a secret court to get an ERPO to take all your firearms.
Gun rights and civil liberties advocates point out that the burden of proof to get an ERPO issued is very low. The target of the order is also not present to defend themselves in front of the judge. It could take months and thousands of dollars for the gun owners to get their firearms back after being a victim of an ERPO.
One person died in Maryland when police tried to serve an ERPO to take his firearms. In that case, the victim's niece said her uncle was not a danger to anyone. She said her aunt took out the order because it was “just a family thing.”
In January, hundreds of protesters with the same firearms the city was looking to ban protested outside the city council meeting. Many were chanting “we will not comply. It is clear that there is widespread opposition to the bills, but the pressure was put on the city by groups such as Moms Demand Action to enact the legislation. In the end, the council gave into their Democratic base.
It is unclear how the city plans to enforce the laws because enforcement will be dangerous for gun owners and law enforcement alike.
About John Crump
John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. He is the former CEO of Veritas Firearms, LLC and is the co-host of The Patriot News Podcast which can be found at www.blogtalkradio.com/patriotnews. John has written extensively on the patriot movement including 3%'ers, Oath Keepers, and Militias. In addition to the Patriot movement, John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and is currently working on a book on leftist deplatforming methods and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, on Facebook at realjohncrump, or at www.crumpy.com.
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Oregon: Committee Passes Insane 45-Page Gun Control Package
BY NRA-ILA
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational and research purposes:
Opinion
Update: Oregon Firearms Federation Calls for OR Republicans to WALK OUT Over SB 978, read more.
Take Action Oregon
Fairfax, VA – -(Ammoland.com)- On April 9th 2019, the Oregon state Senate Judiciary Committee voted to approve Senate Bill 978 with the -5 Amendment. This legislation is an omnibus gun control package that, among other things, would require firearms be kept unavailable for self-defense and would also expand gun free zones where law-abiding individuals would be left defenseless. It will now go to the Senate floor for further consideration. Please contact your state Senator and urge them to OPPOSE SB 978. Click the “Take Action” button below to contact your state Senator.
- Legalize age discrimination for firearm dealers to allow them to refuse service to young adults for no reason other than being under the age of 21.
- Impose a one-size-fits-all government solution for firearm storage and require them to be made unavailable for self-defense.
- Further victimize gun owners who have suffered a loss or theft of their property with criminal penalties if they fail to follow certain requirements when reporting them, including holding the gun owner strictly liable for the future illegal acts committed by criminals using the stolen firearm.
- End the centuries old practice of home manufacturing firearms for lawful, personal use.
- Allow local governments to create “gun-free zones” in public buildings, colleges, and airports where law-abiding citizens are disarmed and left defenseless against criminals who ignore such arbitrary boundaries
- Increase the fee to apply for a Concealed Handgun License.
Again, please click the “Take Action” button above to contact your state Senator and urge them to OPPOSE SB 978.
About:
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org
