2011: A Good Year For Gun Owners

Sangamon County Rifle Association
Right Reason on Second Amendment Rights
Springfield, Illinois

By Jim Butler, President, SCRA
December 2011 GunNews

Generally the 2011 year has been a good one for gun owners. Thirty-one states have passed one or more pro-gun bills. And, while we have real challenges remaining in a number of states, so far, only Delaware has passed anti-gun legislation.

Illinois, which again failed to pass a Right-to-Carry law, did pass a law prohibiting the release of names and personal information from Fire Owner's Identification Card lists.

On July 8, 2011, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) signed the Personal Protection Act into law. That new law provides our neighbors to the north with one of the nation's strongest shall-issue Right-to-Carry permit systems.

And in doing so they did it right. The new law includes protection for the privacy of permit holders, allowing only law enforcement officials to gain access to the list of permit holders for appropriate reasons. It also provides for recognition of permits issued by a majority of other states. Wisconsin now has one of the best Right-to-Carry laws in the country and Illinois, the last hold out to concealed carry would do well to emulate them.

2011 has seen one of the most anti-gun politicians in Illinois resign from office. Under his stewardship, Mayor Daley has left Chicago in terrible shape. It may take a decade or more to straighten it out, at the expense of long-suffering taxpayers I might add.

Virginia passed a law that prevents local governments from regulating the discharge of air guns on private property, so long as shooters take reasonable precautions to make sure projectile do not cross property lines.

This will allow responsible adults to set up safe air gun ranges in their basements or back yards to teach safe gun handling, target skills and basic firearms knowledge. This is a huge, positive step to the next generation in Virginia. There's no telling how many future Virginia gun owners will benefit from this new law.

Indiana, Maine, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas passed laws to protect the rights of employees to store lawfully owned firearms in their vehicles while parked on employee-owned property.

Fifteen states passed reforms of their carry laws, making changes that include eliminating restrictions on where law-abiding people can legally carry, streamlining the application process, lowering costs and, in one case, lowering the age requirement to get a permit and eliminating bans on carry in state parks.

Our sister state, Indiana, and Florida have passed firearms preemption law reforms to stop local governments from passing restrictive firearm ordinances. This is something that Illinois needs to do also.

Louisiana, Montana, Washington, and Kansas made changes to their laws to allow greater use of suppressors, including some for use in hunting.

Delaware has repealed its state instant-check, now relying on the federal system to screen purchasers.

There are just a few of the pro-gun achievements this year, but there will be a number of significant challenges in the last of this year as there are still seven state legislatures in session and many of these are not as friendly to gun rights.

The good news is that the American people are moving away from failed gun control schemes that have only made things worse for the honest citizen.

We have the momentum going for our Second Amendment Rights and the freedoms it guarantees. Remember those who support it when you vote on November 2012.

We wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us from the Sangamon County Rifle Association.

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