Gun News

Rep. Johnson (R-Ill.): Effort to eliminate gun ban doesn't violate states' rights

U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson said Monday that Illinoisans have a constitutional right to carry concealed weapons, and his ongoing efforts to use federal law to overcome a state ban do not violate states' rights. "I'm in favor of doing what's necessary under that legislation or otherwise to assure Illinois has the same rights and privileges that citizens of 49 other states have. That is the right to carry," the Urbana Republican said.

Read About It: The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Ill.)

Postal gun ban should be tossed

When the Supreme Court in 2008 ruled that the Constitution protected an individual right to bear arms, it allowed reasonable restrictions such as "long standing prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons or the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings." Does the court's definition cover post offices? And even if the answer is yes, does it also cover postal parking lots? We don't think that a post office -- let alone an adjoining parking lot -- qualifies under the court's standard as a "sensitive place" where guns may be comprehensively banned. So we're glad a federal judge in Denver has allowed a lawsuit to go forward challenging the U.S. Postal Service's ban on guns.

Read About It: The Denver Post

9th Circuit agrees to rehear long running Alameda County gun rights case

A federal appeals court on Monday once again decided to weigh in on an epic 12 year old gun rights showdown over an Alameda County ordinance banning guns and ammunition on public property. In a brief order, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to rehear a legal challenge to the 1999 law, which restricts gun shows on county property, including Alameda County's fairgrounds. The order, which calls for an 11 judge 9th Circuit panel to hear the case, wipes out a ruling from May by three 9th Circuit judges who unanimously agreed to uphold the legality of the ordinance.

Read About It: The Oakland Tribune (Calif.)

Pennsylvania: Sunday hunting should be permitted by law

As tradition demanded, Monday was an unofficial holiday for Pennsylvania hunters, who by the hundreds of thousands took to the woods clad in fluorescent orange for the first day of deer season. This year's hunt took place as the Legislature was poised to challenge another tradition less loved: No Sunday hunting.

Read About It: The Pittsburgh Post Gazette