Gun Laws Loosen in States, Even as Gun Policy Changes Little Under Obama

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Social Issues

(CBS)

Gun rights advocates are pushing for a slew of new laws in numerous states to loosen gun control, the New York Times reports, in anticipation of stricter gun control laws from the Obama administration. Those policies, however, have yet to materialize.

Because he campaigned on promises to make the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent, to close the loophole that allows unlicensed dealers to sell firearms at gun shows without background checks and promote other so-called "commonsense measures," gun rights advocates have been wary of President Obama.

The few gun-related measures to come out of Washington in the past year, however, have been mostly in favor of bolder gun rights, such as the law that just went into effect that allows loaded guns in national parks.

That hasn't comforted gun rights groups.

"We have had some successes, but we know that the first chance Obama gets, he will pounce on us," Wayne LaPierre, chief executive of the National Rifle Association, told the Times.

The Times points to the numerous states, including Indiana, Arizona, Wyoming, Montana, Tennessee and Virginia, that have either passed or are pursuing looser restrictions on guns. For instance, in Virginia, the general assembly last week approved a bill to allow people to carry concealed weapons in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. Some states want firearms and ammunition made, sold and used within state boundaries to be exempt from federal laws.

After taking office, Mr. Obama continued in some instances to advocate for tougher gun laws. He acknowledged on a trip to Mexico early on in his presidency that weapons from the United States contribute to the drug-related violence plaguing Mexico and spilling over U.S. borders.

"This war is being waged with guns purchased not here, but in the United States," Mr. Obama said in Mexico City in April, 2009. "More than 90 percent of the guns recovered in Mexico come from the United States, many from gun shops that line our shared border."

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence said the administration's plans to help Mexico fight drug cartels would be inadequate without new gun restrictions, but the administration's call to reinstitute the Assault Weapons Ban went nowhere. The administration has also failed to close the gun show loophole.

The Brady Campaign last month issued the Obama administration a failing report card on gun control. And even the NRA's current advocacy work reveals the administration's lack of action on gun control: At last weekend's Conservative Political Action Conference, the gun rights group focused more on their fights with the Clinton administration than with President Obama.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by maestro4660 February 24, 2010 8:15 PM EST: How can this network shamelessly repeat that 90% figure without qualifying the undisputed fact that it has been thoroughly disproved? Those military, full auto weapons that cartels favor are nowhere to be found in US gun stores. Those weapons have been highly regulated since 1968. The corrupt military institutions in MEXICO and SOUTH AMERICA ARE THE ONLY POSSIBLE SOURCE for this contraband.

Lastly, with the wholesale flow of drugs and illegal immigrant INTO the country, how exactly do we have the luxury to concern ourselves first with any flow of contraband OUT of the country?; Reply to this comment


by RatPackSixGun February 24, 2010 1:39 PM EST: Sick of Liberal fascism? Weary of republican elitism?

http://www.lp.org/; Reply to this comment

by jimbom121 February 24, 2010 12:57 PM EST

Some of the rules these states are allowing are just bizarre. Allowing guns in a bar? Yeah that makes sense, because we all know how well guns and alcohol mix.

Reply to this comment


by Mortar_29 February 24, 2010 1:02 PM EST: Last I checked the Constitution said the right to bear arms shall not be infringed. Which pretty much means the government cant do anything...ANYTHING...that keeps a law abiding citizen from bearing arms.

Notice, it didnt limit the citizen to bearing arms in his home.


by jimbom121 February 24, 2010 4:25 PM EST: Common sense says you should not mix guns with Alocohol. The constitution doesn't state that someone who has a criminal or mental history should not carry a gun...should they now?

People, lets use some common sense.

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by afmcalax February 24, 2010 11:32 AM EST

This was a well orchestrated campaign by the NRA to increase the profits of their true patrons, the gun manufacturers of the world. With the majority of civilized societies doing away with gun ownership it is left to America to rake in those profits. Fear and lies drive the most uneducated of Americans to buy guns for their supposed protection even at the expense of food and shelter. They have a siege mentality where none is needed; but a ready weapon when they finally snap. Most American police never fire their weapons during their entire careers in self-defense and they are constantly in danger; why the typical American thinks the danger to themselves is higher is ludicrous. Having to have an arsenal is even stupider. When the NRA finally succeeds in causing multiple shoot-outs in bars, schools, and on the streets where only innocents are killed and maimed will America wake up to the damage that the NRA does every day to our society. I am not anti-gun; but I am anti-gun nut and the wackos have taken over.

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by Mortar_29 February 24, 2010 11:41 AM EST: This diatribe by you was wacko. Shheesh!


by Mortar_29 February 24, 2010 11:42 AM EST: Please remember that the MAIN reason we have a Second Amendment is for the citizens to have the ability to defend the Constitution. Not to defend themselves against criminals or to go hunting. It is there, and the "arsenal" is there...in the case our government oversteps its bounds and we all have to slap it back down where it belongs.

The Founders were VERY clear on that!

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by pws54 February 24, 2010 11:06 AM EST

If I were a Fox News viewer/republican/"conservative" with at least half a brain, this kind of chatter would be an eye-opener. Regardless of which political party you are affiliated with, it's not difficult to see the "fear mongers" are constantly at it.

The same approach was used when Clinton was elected with the same results. Most of this has to be promoted by gun dealers and manufacturers.

People need to stop falling for scare tactics used only to steal your vote. If it's the truth so be it. I have yet to see anything these fear mongers spew come to life.

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by Mortar_29 February 24, 2010 11:11 AM EST: Silly.

by starving1968-3 February 24, 2010 10:45 AM EST

Poor, poor conservatives.....

Once again they were spoon fed lies by Fox "the GOP Propaganda Arm" News, and were led to believe that there was going to be a "war against gun owners".

And ONCE AGAIN, Fox News has been proven to be 100% INCORRECT on their broadcasting. I guess "lies" and "making stuff up" aren't fact checked by their conservative viewers, especially with 20/20 hindsight.

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by IndepTex20 February 24, 2010 11:59 AM EST: Starving you ignorantslut! Save your compassion, we conservatives don't need it. We do quite fine without the wringing hands and gnashing teeth of liberals like you. However, as Mortar so aptly put it, we are well aware of why the 2nd amendment was written by the framers of the constitution and we are quite comfortable as tax paying, lawabiding citizens here in the great USA!