Update from the front lines

Update from the front lines While the prospects for Federal gun control continue to grow by the day, state groups across the country are making strides to protect and advance our right to keep and bear arms. Wyoming Wyoming Gun Owners (www.WyomingGunOwners.org) made a real splash during Wyoming’s short legislative session.  WyGO pushed for two marquee pieces of legislation: a Vermont concealed carry bill (which WyGO dubbed “Constitutional Carry”) and their own version of the Firearms Freedom Act. While the Vermont Carry bill (i.e. no permit needed) passed the House but not the Senate, the Wyoming Firearms Freedom Act was passed by both chambers and signed into law by the governor. NAGR Operations Director Luke O’Dell testified on behalf of both of WyGO's bills at the state capital in Cheyenne. Wyoming’s Firearms Freedom Act was slightly different from the legislation passed in Montana.  Wyoming’s bill included criminal penalties and fines for federal agents who try to enforce federal regulations that contradict this new Wyoming law.  This legislation has real teeth, and has already created quite a stir in Wyoming as well as Washington. Bravo, Wyoming Gun Owners. South Dakota South Dakota Gun Owners (www.SDGO.org) continues to dominate their legislature with a pro-freedom agenda, passing a South Dakota Firearms Freedom Act through both chambers of the legislature, and signed into law by Governor Mike Rounds. Iowa Still less than a year old, Iowa Gun Owners (www.IowaGunOwners.org) has been making waves across Iowa. Though their Vermont Carry bill died, the compromise bill pushed by the institutional gun lobby (which took several steps backward for state law) also failed.  Unfortunately, compromise forces just resurrected this backward legislation earlier this week (in a cynical attempt to kill any future attempts at Vermont Carry). This is frustrating because Iowa is one of the few rural states in America with a “May Issue” concealed carry law. Look for Iowa Gun Owners to change that in 2011. Virginia The Virginia General Assembly has seen a slew of pro-gun legislation this sessions. Most notably, Virginia's 15-year-old ban on concealed carry in restaurants and bars is on the verge of being overturned through the hard work of two groups, Virginia Gun Owners Coalition (www.VGCO.org) and Virginia Citizen's Defense League (www.vcdl.org).   Under the current "criminal safe zone" law, concealed weapon permit holders are forced to disarm themselves before entering a restaurant or bar. Legislation repealing the ban passed both chambers of the Virginia State legislature and is awaiting the signature of Governor "Gun Ban Bob" McDonnell. To help the National Association for Gun Rights grow, please forward this to a friend. To view this email as a web page, please click this link: view online. Help fight gun control. Donate to the National Association for Gun Rights!