Last month, the Indiana General Assembly adjourned after passing two bills of importance to gun owners and sportsmen.  The following bills were recently signed into law by Governor Mike Pence (R):

Yesterday, the House Judiciary Subcommittee B reported an amended version of House Bill 714.  This NRA-supported legislation, sponsored by state Representative Jacqueline Schaffer (R-105), seeks to eliminate the option of destroying lawful firearms that are in safe working condition that have been seized or otherwise recovered by law enforcement.

A trio of home invaders entered a house in Houston, Texas, forced the homeowner’s son into a closet and ransacked the house. While the criminals were searching for valuables, the son left the closet, retrieved a gun and fired on the intruders, striking one in the leg and neck and causing all to flee. The wounded criminal only made it to a nearby home before collapsing, at which point neighbor Craig Gaddis discovered him and called the police. Following the incident, Gaddis showed support for the young man who was forced to defend himself, telling local media “The owner, thank God for rights, he shot one of ‘em.” Gaddis also addressed the criminal adding, “He got what he deserved… You want to come over here and rob houses? Those of us who carry guns in our houses, they are there for one reason – to keep you people out.” 

A gun-control bill calling for background checks at gun shows has been temporarily set aside.The bill scheduled for debate Tuesday was tabled and could be taken up again as soon as Wednesday. It would require that a national instant criminal background check be performed prior to the sale or transfer of a firearm at a gun show. The bill would require gun show operators to post signs at gun shows to notify exhibitors of the background check requirement. Failure to perform a background check could result in a $2,500 fine, not $10,000 as initially proposed.

The House passed House Bill 972 from Allen Fletcher, R-Tomball, which would allow concealed carry unless the university opts out every year after talking with students, faculty and staff. The bill then went to the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, where it passed 4-2.

Today, an amended version of House Bill 533 passed in the Missouri Senate by a 26-7 vote. Sponsored by state Representative Jeanie Riddle (R-49) and state Senator Brian Munzlinger (R-18), HB 533 would protect the right of a state employee to store a firearm in his or her private vehicle on state property as long as the vehicle is locked and the firearm is not visible.  HB 533 will now return to the state House for a concurrence vote.  Please contact your state Representative TODAY and urge him or her to vote to concur with the Senate amendments to this critical pro-gun reform.

State police have charged a 31-year-old Dutchess County driver with a misdemeanor after he was pulled over and found with two more bullets in his handgun magazine than allowed under New York's new gun control law. Gregory Dean Jr. of Hopewell Junction was stopped for an inadequate light on his license plate about 9:45 p.m. Sunday in New Lebanon, troopers said. Police said their investigation showed the semi-automatic on the passenger seat was a legally possessed, but its magazine contained nine rounds, not seven as required since April 15.

New York's pistol permit holders are facing a Wednesday deadline to submit opt-out forms that would keep their records confidential. Some county clerks said they would not have all of the forms processed by the deadline.

The Texas Senate is to hear legislation that would allow concealed handgun license holders to carry their weapons into college classrooms.The bill has failed in previous sessions but has gained new momentum since receiving state House passage two weeks ago. The Senate Criminal Justice Committee has scheduled a hearing for Tuesday afternoon that is likely to draw dozens of witnesses to testify.

Police departments and other law enforcement agencies would not be able to destroy confiscated guns that are still in good working order under a bill passed by the House Judiciary Subcommittee B. The measure, House Bill 714, says departments may sell or auction weapons, use them for training or otherwise re-purpose them, but may not destroy a gun if it is legal to own and in good working order.

Tomorrow, May 14 at 9:00 am, the Honolulu City Council Committee on Public Safety and Economic Development will be hearing Resolution 13-74 requesting the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) to open the Kapolei and Kaneohe Police Stations to firearm permitting and registration in an effort to make the process less time-consuming and more convenient.  

The Delaware House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on House Bill 88 tomorrow, and erroneous statements and reports in the media have led to the impression that the NRA has offered unqualified support for this bill. The NRA has sent a letter (which can be read here) to all Delaware legislators explaining the flaws in HB 88.  Call your state Representative and ask him or her to oppose HB 88 until all of the current issues with the proposed legislation have been corrected. 

Colorado’s 69th General Assembly adjourned last Wednesday after a historic legislative session.  Unfortunately, the historic actions by majorities in both legislative chambers and Governor John Hickenlooper (D) will severely punish responsible gun owners and sportsmen in the Centennial State.  

The assault on our Second Amendment rights continues with anti-gun bills moving through the California Legislature.  Unfortunately, there are several anti-gun bills that have been scheduled to be considered on the state Senate and Assembly floor with more anti-guns bills scheduled to be heard in their respective state Senate and Assembly committee.  Please call and e-mail your state Senator and Assemblyman, along with members of the respective state Senate and Assembly committee urging them to OPPOSE the anti-gun measures below.

Most Americans recognize that there are more gun owners in the United States today than there were 20 years ago but don’t know that gun crime in the country has gone down in that same period of time.

Vice President Biden, in a new interview with Rolling Stone magazine, says the White House is jumping "right back" into the debate over guns, despite the recent failure to pass background check legislation.

As a committee hearing on new gun-control legislation began winding down Thursday, three state senators started chatting amongst themselves.What they didn't realize was the microphone was still on.A recording of the exchange — which appears to be between Democrats Loretta Weinberg, Sandra Cunningham and Linda Greenstein — ended up on YouTube, and gun supporters said today they were upset by the remarks.The recording opens with what sounds like a senator or staff member saying, "We needed a bill that was going to confiscate, confiscate, confiscate" — although it is not clear who is speaking or if this is what she is saying.

The CDC reports that for 2010 (the latest year available), one single six-year old died from a gunshot. For all children younger than 10, there were 36 accidental gun deaths, and that is out of 41 million children. Perhaps most important, about two-thirds of these accidental gun deaths involving young children are not shots fired by other little kids but rather by adult males with criminal backgrounds. In other words, unless you send your child to play at a criminal’s home, she is exceedingly unlikely to get shot.Indeed, if you are going to worry about your child’s safety you should check into other, perhaps less obvious dangers lurking in the playmate’s house: swimming pools, bathtubs, water buckets, bicycles, and chemicals and medications that can cause fatal poisoning. Drownings alone claimed 609 deaths; fires, 262 lives; poisonings, 54 lives. And don’t forget to ask about the playmate’s parents’ car and their driving records if your child will ride with them: After all, motor-vehicle accidents killed 923 children younger than 10.

At least five Pennsylvania state-owned universities are now allowing guns on campus after the state's lawyers concluded that an outright ban on weapons was likely unconstitutional.

A state senator is concerned about the possibility of someone creating a gun from a 3-D printer. Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) wants regulations that would possibly track the printers and who has access to them, though he’s not sure how he wants the legislation to work.