A measure spelling out who can carry concealed handguns and where they can carry them emerged Thursday after months of contentious negotiations, a system with one set of rules for violence plagued Chicago and another for the rest of Illinois.Though the attempt at a compromise cleared its first hurdle in the Senate, it faces considerable opposition from gun rights advocates who derided it as an effort to greatly restrict where guns could be carried for self defense and argued that it gave too much leeway to law enforcement in denying permits."You put lipstick on a pig, and it's still a pig. That's what this is," said Todd Vandermyde, the National Rifle Association's Illinois lobbyist.

Gov. Martin O'Malley signed a gun control measure on Thursday to give Maryland some of the nation's tightest gun laws and the National Rifle Association plans to challenge it in court.

Legislation that would make California the first state to ban the use of lead ammunition in hunting has cleared the state Assembly.The bill from Democratic Assemblyman Anthony Rendon of Lakewood would require hunters to use non lead ammunition.

Today, the Missouri Senate concurred on Senate Bill 75 by a 24-5 vote.  This critical right-to-carry reform now heads to Governor Jay Nixon (D) for his consideration.

Today, Senate Bill 76, introduced by state Senator James Settelmeyer (R-17), passed unanimously in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.  SB 76 will improve the concealed carry weapon (CCW) firearms application process by requiring qualification with a revolver or semi-automatic pistol if a CCW holder wishes to carry either. 

After the Alabama Senate and House of Representatives approved competing versions of Senate Bill 286, this critical pro-gun reform was sent to a conference committee to finalize its language.  Last week, the state Senate approved the conference committee report for SB 286 by a 25-5 vote.  This Monday, May 20, the state House will consider this conference committee report.  

Today, the Delaware House of Representatives could vote on House Bill 67, which seeks to create a "gun-free zone" around ALL school property – including vehicles and property owned, used, or rented by any public or private school.  This legislation will put firearm owners and concealed carry permittees at risk of arrest and felony prosecution by creating an un-navigable maze of legal technicalities and “gotcha” laws. 

NRA-ILA previously reported our opposition to House Bill 88.  Negotiations resulted in our concerns being addressed in the state House and at this point the NRA has withdrawn our opposition.

Late last night, the Missouri House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 75 by a 123 to 29 vote.  SB 75 seeks to reform Missouri’s existing concealed carry permit process.  Currently, the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) is responsible for issuing concealed carry endorsements, but after recently betraying the trust of the people of Missouri, legislators have demanded the permitting process be transferred to county sheriffs.  

The NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) congratulates City Councilman Jean Stothert for winning the highly contested Omaha mayoral race on Tuesday.

The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) honored California attorney C.D. "Chuck" Michel with the 2013 NRA Defender of Justice Award.  This award recognizes outstanding efforts by attorneys who defend the right to keep and bear arms, and particularly recognizes attorneys who make a significant contribution to those efforts pro bono.  Chuck received the prestigious award at the NRA's 2013 annual meetings in Houston, Texas.  It recognizes him for his extensive work, and particularly pro bono work, defending the right to keep and bear arms.

The bill, the Personalized Handgun Safety Act of 2013, mandates within two years that newly manufactured handguns be equipped with the technology that allows the guns to only work in the hands of their owners or other authorized users. Manufacturers that do not meet the standards could be held liable. And individuals or businesses selling older handguns must have them retrofitted with personalization technology within three years after the bill is enacted, at the expense of the federal government.

The D.C. Council is considering requiring people to purchase liability insurance before they can get a license to own a gun.The bill would mandate that prospective gun owners maintain at least a $250,000 policy. The policy would cover damages from negligent acts or intentional acts that aren’t undertaken in self-defense.

State House lawmakers voted Wednesday to forbid law enforcement officers from destroying fully-operating firearms, even if they were used in a crime.House Bill 714, "Disposal of Abandoned Firearms," says that, if a firearm is fully functioning and still has a legible identification number, sheriffs and other law enforcement officers cannot destroy it, regardless of its background.

Republican lawmakers began pushing for the measure after learning about the new license procedures early in the legislative session. The push accelerated in March after a Stoddard County man filed a lawsuit challenging the procedures. It said that scanning documents, such as birth certificates and concealed weapons permits, were an invasion of privacy.

The Atlanta City Council is considering a proposal that would make it more difficult to open indoor shooting ranges.

The family of a second-grader suspended from his school in Anne Arundel County for chewing his Pop-Tart-like pastry into the shape of a gun has lost a bid to have the episode expunged from the child’s record, according to the family’s attorney.

As the state legislature’s veto session nears its conclusion, one of the few pro-gun measures still awaiting final approval will be eligible for final action as early as tomorrow.  In a procedural technicality, the language in the NRA-supported Senate Bill 45 has been added to House Bill 2162 by the Judiciary Conference Committee.  This conference committee report will be eligible for approval by the state House and Senate as early as tomorrow.

Today, NRA-supported House Bill 714 passed the North Carolina House of Representatives by an overwhelming 91-22 vote.  

This week in Springfield, anti-gun state Senators will attempt to derail Right to Carry by forcing votes on severely flawed Right to Carry legislation and a bill to ban magazines commonly used in carry firearms.  This faulty concealed carry legislation attempts to exempt Chicago and Cook County from any “shall-issue” mandate and allow individual towns to expand the list of places statewide that are off-limits to anyone concealed carrying.  If such exemptions are adopted, 40% of Illinois’ population could be denied the ability to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense based on their residency and the confusing patchwork of laws will put ALL gun owners statewide at risk of felony prosecution.  Call your state Senator TODAY:  Tell him or her that any compromise and vote in favor of this type of legislation to abandon 40% of the Illinois population is a vote against Right to Carry.