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Pewstates

New State Gun Laws Show Power of One-Party Control

By Maggie Clark

 

Gun rights activist Siri Davidson carries her AR-15 as she walks toward the Utah State Capitol at a gun rights rally on March 2. So far this year, 15 states have adopted laws to loosen gun restrictions and four states have passed laws to tighten gun regulations. (AP)

 

New this year: South Dakotans can now carry concealed pistols while riding their snowmobiles. And Arkansas and North Dakota residents are now free to bring their guns to church, as long as their pastors say it’s alright.

 

A dozen other states also have eliminated some gun restrictions this year. Four states have gone in the opposite direction, tightening their gun laws in the wake of the mass shooting last December in Newtown, Conn. (see chart)

 

The speedy passage of gun laws in the states reflects the fact that in many of them, one party dominates the political landscape. Following the 2012 elections, a single party now controls both the governor’s mansion and the legislature in a whopping 37 states—sometimes with a nearly unbeatable “supermajority.” The result has been a torrent of new laws related not only to guns but other issues ranging from abortion to taxes.

 

The action in the states stands in stark contrast to the situation in Washington, where split party control has slowed gun-related legislation—and all other legislation—to a crawl. The U.S. Senate, led by Democrats, began debate Thursday on a bill expanding background checks, making gun trafficking a federal crime and boosting federal funding of school security programs. But it is unclear whether that measure—or any other gun-related proposal—will clear the House, where Republicans hold the majority.

 

“At the same time Washington, D.C. is getting more gridlocked, we’re seeing this historic moment of supermajorities in the states and legislation is speeding through the statehouses,” said Thad Kousser, professor of political science at the University of California at San Diego. “Government wouldn’t be working well if, in states where they wanted more or less gun regulation, that wasn’t reflected in the laws being passed.”

 

State Democrats follow Obama

 

President Barack Obama called for immediate federal action to curb guns after the Newtown shootings, but Congress is only now taking its first votes on the issue. Meanwhile, four states dominated by Democrats—Connecticut, New York, Colorado and Maryland—have already tightened gun regulations this year.

 

“Nothing focuses your attention like 20 babies being killed,” said Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, speaking about his change in legislative priorities following the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, in an interview withStateline.  Last week, Malloy signed a measure that expands Connecticut’s assault weapons ban and requires anyone who already owns gun with a high-capacity magazine to register with the state. It also allocates $15 million for school safety and mental health programs.

 

Despite the fact that Democrats have a solid majority in Connecticut and did not need Republican support, the bill passed with bipartisan backing.

 

Read the rest of the article and see a chart of states with tight-to-loose gun control laws at Pewstates


 
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