2013 State Scorecard: Why Gun Laws Matter

[billh58]

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http://smartgunlaws.org/2013-state-scorecard-why-gun-laws-matter/

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Gun laws really do matter. State gun laws fill enormous gaps that exist in our nation’s federal laws, and help to reduce gun violence and keep citizens safe. In part because these laws help to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people and aid law enforcement in solving gun crimes, many of the states with the strongest gun laws also have the lowest gun death rates.

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Gun laws can make a real difference to public safety. Seven states with the highest grades also have the lowest gun death rates nationwide. Conversely, many states with the weakest gun laws have the highest gun death rates. While more research is needed to determine the precise relationship, it is clear that the data supports the conclusion that state gun laws and the rate of gun deaths are closely tied.

State laws fill some of the most critical gaps in federal law. One of the most dangerous gaps exists because the federal Brady Law only requires background checks for sales by a licensed gun dealer. Because of this, roughly 40% of all gun purchases do not require background checks, allowing dangerous people to skirt the law.

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When Congress failed to finish the job and expand background checks to cover these other gun sales in April of 2013, many states passed life-saving legislation to protect their communities from gun violence.

•Five states strengthened regulation of unlicensed firearms sales by requiring background checks on all gun sales or improved the purchase permit process;

•Four states added a requirement that owners report lost or stolen firearms to police;

•Three states enacted laws to strengthen record-keeping and/or background check requirements for ammunition sales;

•Four states strengthened existing restrictions on military-style assault weapons; and

•Five states added or strengthened existing restrictions on large capacity ammunition magazines.

The article goes on to emphasize the importance of sensible gun control measures to neighboring states by stating: "The strength or weakness of a state’s gun laws correlates to the number of crime guns trafficked across state lines. This means, for example, that guns purchased in a state with weak laws are often trafficked into states with stronger laws where they are found at crime scenes."

Contrary to the right-wing gun lobby's claims, the Second Amendment is not absolute, and needs to be regulated for the public good just like all other enumerated civil rights. Support a gun control organization today and help remove the preventable health hazard of gun violence on our streets.

[CTyankee]

1. Thank you for this. I have always been amazed the way pro-gun DUers pretend to support

"some" gun safety legislation. But when you talk specifically about a bill they ALWAYS have a problem with it, thereby preventing them to support it. This happens again and again with state legislatures both good and bad. I have had numerous exchanges with the gun folks and when push comes to shove, they say "if only x was changed, I could support it." But that never happens.

It's ridiculous. Not EVERY legislature in EVERY state can get it wrong (whatever "it" is) all the time! Yet this is the case. I would challenge any gun rights supporter here to name ONE gun safety law they HAVE supported...there is always a catch...somewhere...

[billh58]

2. You have essentially nailed the anti-gun control

stance from the NRA and its apologists: "I support gun control measures which do not infringe on my 'right' to own as many guns as I want, carry them anywhere that I want, and use them for any purpose that I want."

This right-wing Libertarian attitude about absolute rights is pervasive in areas of our country where gun violence is highest, and gun laws are the most ineffective.

[CTyankee]

3. But their "framing" is one of "concern" and "reasonable-ness" unlike the NRA...yeah...

every gd one of them seems to parrot the same old stuff! It's always "something" that is wrong with every single gun safety law on the books anywhere, anyplace in the U.S.A.

I'm afraid my conversations here on DU with these people just end up with them walking away with NO support of ANY gun safety regulations WHATSOEVER. Nuthin'.

I finally gave up. This is what my parents used to call "everyone is out of step but Johnny" after some famous cartoon. It just cannot be that every state legislature is the same and every one of them incompetent and wrong. No, it is the gun lovers and their irrational defense of their positions that is irrational, incompetent and wrong.

Now I just give my loud support to my governor, Dan Malloy, for whom I will work this election year and support his gun safety regulations here in CT. God knows we, of all states, know about this issue...I have never been so ashamed of my state as I was after Sandy Hook...THANK GOD for Dan Malloy...

[billh58]

4. Thanks for the work you

do to further the cause of Liberal Democrats. I support both MAIG and Americans for Responsible Solutions (Gabby Giffords) both monetarily, and by signing their petitions. I also write letters to the Editor of local publications in Hawaii in support of sensible gun control measures.

Contrary to what the Second Amendment absolutists believe, the American public is becoming more aware of the growing gun violence problem in this country, and are becoming more involved in addressing the problem.