For the first time in recent memory, there are no statewide initiatives anywhere in the country seeking to expand gun rights on any state ballots for the November 8th election.
Instead, four states have ballot issues that seek to further restrict guns sales and transfers. Voters in Maine, California, Washington and Nevada will decide whether to enact tougher firearms laws.
In Maine and Nevada, Everytown for Gun Safety, a group founded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, has spent millions advocating for background checks on nearly all gun sales and transfers. Supporters want to close so-called gaps in the federal system that allow ineligible felons, domestic abusers and the mentally ill to buy firearms from private sellers at gun shows and online without a background check. The anti-gunners successfully got their initiatives on the ballot after the Republican governors in those two states vetoed background check bills passed by their states’ legislators.
In Maine, the proposed law would require background checks for private sales—sales between parties who are not licensed dealers, whereas in Nevada, all gun purchases would have to go through a background check from a licensed dealer.
If passed in Maine and Nevada, half of Americans would live in the 20 states that require universal background check laws on gun sales, Everytown President John Feinblatt said.
In Washington state, gun-control advocates are seeking passage of a measure that would allow judges to issue orders temporarily seizing guns from people who are deemed a threat to themselves or others. For instance, concerned families could seek the removal of guns from relatives threatening to harm themselves or others. Essentially, an individual’s gun rights can be taken away based on the say-so of someone else.
And in California, there is a proposed law that would ban large-capacity ammunition magazines (magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds) AND would require anyone buying ammunition or magazines to pass a background check and obtain a state permit – simply to buy ammo!
Gun-control advocates are pointing to the lack of initiatives to expand gun rights as an indicator that the tide of public opinion is turning in favor of stricter gun laws.
Or is this simply the result of the millions of dollars being spent by Everytown and other groups to force their agenda on the law-abiding citizens of this country?
What do you think?
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