Gun Control Legislation in 2018 By Lisa McKinney
Every state has introduced gun control legislation in some form in 2018. Here’s a sampling of gun control legislation passed since Jan. 1, 2018.
Key terms defined Red Flag Laws
These laws—also known as extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs) or gun violence restraining orders—allow a judge to issue an order that enables law enforcement to confiscate guns from individuals deemed a risk to themselves or others.
Bump Stocks
A bump stock is piece of plastic or metal molded to a semi- automatic weapon so it fires like an automatic weapon, allowing a shooter to fire dozens of rounds in seconds by harnessing the gun’s natural recoil.
Assault-Style Weapons
What constitutes an assault weapon is a point of contention and often varies on the jurisdiction. When the when the now-expired Federal Assault Weapons Ban passed in 1994, the U.S. Department of Justice said, “In general, assault weapons are semiautomatic firearms with a large magazine of ammunition that were designed a nd configured for rapid fire and combat use.”
Florida
Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill in March that raises the minimum age to purchase a firearm to 21 from 18, requires a three-day waiting period for firearm purchases, bans the sale or possession of bump fire stocks, and allows some teachers to be armed.
Washington
Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill in March making it a crime to manufacture or sell the bump stocks starting in July 2018. Starting in July 2019, it will be illegal to buy, own, furnish, assemble, repair, loan, transport or possess bump stocks in the state. The Washington State Patrol is creating a bump stock buyback program for $150 per device.
Rhode Island
New Jersey
Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order on April 6 requiring some information related to gun offenses be made available to the public, including quarterly reports on what states guns used in crimes had come from. More than 80 percent of the guns used in crimes committed in New Jersey come from outside the state, according to the New Jersey’s Office of the Attorney General.
Gov. Gina Raimondo signed an executive order establishing a “red flag” policy to prevent people from having guns if they are deemed a danger to themselves or others.
Sources: http://amgoa.org/Proposed-State-Gun-Legislation https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/07/us/gun-extreme-risk-protection-orders/index.html https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/21/definition-of-whats-an-assault-weapon-is-a-very-contentious-issue.html
New York
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced in March the passage of legislation to remove guns from domestic abusers. The legislation closes a loophole in state law in order to ensure domestic abusers are required to surrender all firearms, not just handguns. This legislation also ensures individuals wanted for a felony or other serious offense are not able to obtain or renew a firearm license.
Oregon
Gov. Kate Brown signed a measure that bans people convicted of stalking and domestic violence or under restraining orders from buying or owning firearms and ammunition.
South Dakota
Gov. Dennis Daugaard in March signed an act to require a National Instant Criminal Background Check for certain concealed carry permits.
http://amgoa.org/Proposed-State-Gun-Legislation https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-passage-legislation-remove-guns-domestic-abusers LexisNexis®State Net.