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Lawmakers have yet to pass the red flag bill, a measure that would allow police, relatives and mental health professionals to petition judges for extreme risk protection orders to remove guns from those who are deemed a danger to themselves or others.

The red flag law, which was backed by former President Donald Trump in 2019, is often controversial. Opponents, mostly Republicans, argue the law violates due process, since guns can be taken away from people identified as a danger as their case is being heard in court. Supporters, often Democrats, say it allows law enforcement to act upon warning signs and prevent tragedies ranging from suicides to mass shootings.

The state Legislature is in recess until Apr. 11 and will likely adopt the measure and send it to Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for signature.

Preliminary research indicates red flag laws can reduce gun-related injuries or deaths, but enforcement is uneven in the 19 states that have adopted them. The laws are enforced even less frequently in counties with Second Amendment sanctuary resolutions, according to research and news reports. In Colorado, 48 percent of non-Second Amendment sanctuary counties had at least one extreme risk protection order petition filed in 2020, research shows. But only 24 percent of all 37 sanctuary counties had at least one petition filed during the same period.

Some Democratic lawmakers acknowledge the effectiveness of the law hinges on how often it is enforced.

We have been saying these laws will only be as effective as they are known about, as they are exercised and as they are enforced, Sen. Mallory McMorrow, a Royal Oak Democrat and primary sponsor of one of the Michigan red flag bills, told Bridge.

Sen. Rosemary Bayer, D-Keego Harbor, told Bridge she hopes local officials realize the effectiveness of laws. She said if local law enforcement refuses to petition for extreme risk protection orders, Michigan State Police can do so instead.

They will eventually see how these things actually work, Bayer said of local authorities skeptical of the law. I dont know what they are so afraid of. This is not an offense on anybodys rights in any way. You are basically saving peoples lives by doing this.

Of the 53 counties with Second Amendment resolutions, 31 are Second Amendment sanctuaries and the other 22 declared support for Second Amendment rights. Language in 26 of those counties allows local sheriffs or prosecutors to refuse enforcement of laws they believe violate the Constitution.

In eight counties, the resolutions specifically oppose the Democratic gun bills or would restrict government funds or resources used to enforce such laws. They are Alcona, Grand Traverse, Hillsdale, Iron, Macomb, Monroe, Osceola and Tuscola counties.

The 53 counties have a combined population of 3.5 million people, about 30 percent of Michigans residents, according to a Bridge analysis of U.S. Census data.

The resolutions are not pronouncements that carry any legal weight, said Sam Levy, regional legal director for the national anti-gun violence group Everytown Research and Policy.

If theres a question about the constitutionality or enforceability of a law, those matters get resolved in courts, Levy said.

In Lake County, commissioners say lawmakers and policymakers should focus on enforcing current laws on the books, Lodholtz said.

They can pass all the laws but if they dont enforce them, what good are they? he said.

Lodholtz said he supports the concept of universal background checks, which expand background check requirements for pistols in Michigan to all firearms, including long guns.

But Lodholtz called the proposed red flag law a non-starter that shouldnt be enforced. The Michigan bill would allow a judge to issue a temporary order first to confiscate someones gun and grant a full hearing within 14 days, which Lodholtz deems unconstitutional.

Additionally, Lodholtz said he fears the law could be used for retaliation by someone making false accusations, even though people who knowingly make false accusations are subject to up to five years in jail and/or a fine up to $20,000 under the proposed bill.

Lake County Sheriff Rich Martin told Bridge he supports the universal background check law and safe storage requirements. He said he is not opposed to the concept of red flag laws, but shared concerns about the 14-day period and the potential of fabricated accusations.

Martin said he does not want to determine what laws are constitutional or not, noting he will assess future enforcement on a case-by-case basis. But he added he would resist enforcing the red flag law if that meant putting his officers in jeopardy.

The whole point of red flag laws is (to) prevent injuries to individuals, right? How does it prevent injuries to individuals if Im putting my officers in an unnecessary environment (where) we know there are firearms (and) the potential for them to get injured? he said.

More:
Michigan is passing gun safety laws. Most counties may not enforce them - Bridge Michigan

Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene questioned ATF agents carrying out an inspection of a gun store in Smyrna, Georgia, on Monday. She cited the fact she serves on the House Oversight Committee.

Greene shared footage showing her and other Republican members of Congress speaking to an ATF public information officer at the scene of the inspection at Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna. The ATF is the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The interaction came on the same day as a shooting at a school left three children and three adults dead after a 28-year-old shooter opened fire at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee.

"Members of our Georgia delegation were present for an unprecedented ATF inspection at longtime and well respected Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna, Ga," Greene tweeted on Monday.

Adventure Outdoors describes itself as "Georgia's largest outdoors sporting goods store" and "The Actual Largest Gun Store in the World."

"After we questioned their motives and informed them of Oversight and Republican controlled Appropriations, they all left," Greene added. "Protect the Second Amendment and the law abiding businesses."

Greene also tagged Georgia Republican Representatives Barry Loudermilk, Mike Collins and Rich McCormick.

In another tweet, Greene shared a video that showed her with Republican colleagues as she spoke to an ATF public information officer who said it was a routine inspection.

However, Greene tweeted that the number of agents and the fact many of them were not from Georgia was "unprecedented." She criticized the Biden administration, adding that the administration is "against the Second Amendment."

Greene went on to tell the ATF officer that she serves on the Oversight Committee, while her colleagues also serve on congressional committees. She said, "We're here for the people, also to basically hold the government accountable," adding that the government had been "weaponized."

In her tweet, Greene wrote that "the ATF showed up with 16 agents, most from out-of-state from cities like LA and San Francisco, to 'inspect' Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna, GA."

"This visit was unprecedented. The sheer amount of agents from the bluest parts of the country is unusual and unnecessary to conduct a routine audit," she added.

"This is a prime example of Joe Biden and the Democrats weaponizing federal agencies to silence and intimidate their political opponents. I fear this is just the beginning and they are directly targeting our Second Amendment and our right to protect and defend our families," Greene went on.

"I'm proud to have joined my colleagues to do our job and conduct Congressional Oversight on this highly suspect 'inspection,'" she said.

Greene also tweeted about the shooting in Nashville on Monday. She posted that her "prayers are with the victims and families at the Covenant School in Nashville. Another absolutely horrific needless tragedy."

"Children and school staff should always be protected the same way politicians, money, precious stones, and gold are protected, but even more so, by good guys with guns," the Republican wrote.

Greene also criticized President Joe Biden, calling him a "fool" and a "failure."

"Gun grabbers like Joe Biden and Democrats should give up their Secret Service protection and put themselves on the same level as our unprotected innocent precious children at school," she tweeted.

"School shootings should NEVER happen and will end immediately when our nations children are defended the same way Joe Biden is by good guys with guns!!! End this now," Greene added.

Newsweek has emailed the ATF for comment.

Continue reading here:
Marjorie Taylor Greene Interrupts ATF Inspection of Georgia Gun Shop - Newsweek

The following article wasoriginally published on News5Cleveland.com and is published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content-sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication by other news outlets as it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland.

The resolution to make it harder to amend the Ohio Constitution has been revived, just in time for voters to very likely choose if abortion should be legal in the state.

Last week, Ohio Republican lawmakers and Ohio Right to Life met with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and Ohio Business Roundtable about the proposal to raise constitutional amendment passage to 60%, but both business groups say they havent taken a position.

House Joint Resolution 1 is the revived resolution to make it harder to amend the Ohio constitution. Previously called H.J.R. 6 in previous General Assembly (the 134th, for those keeping count), it would require those petitions to receive a 60% supermajority vote to pass, instead of the simple 50% +1. This means that about 40% of the state would get to choose the law.

H.J.R. 1 is unnecessary, its undemocratic, its also unpopular, said Jen Miller with the League of Women Voters of Ohio on Monday.

More than 170 bipartisan groups joined together to fight it back in December.It failed swiftly, much to the dismay of state Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville). At that time, he vowed it would come back in the 135th G.A. Now, the resolution thatunited both sides of the aisle against it is back.

Even more individuals and groups are against the resolution this time around.

We have about 200 allies from all over Ohio, from unions to faith groups, good government organizations and others who oppose this attack on our right to amend the Constitution when lawmakers dont address our needs, Miller said.

A few groups are publicly supporting the resolution. One of them is Ohio Right to Life, an organization dedicated to ending abortion.

We need to prevent out-of-state interest groups, whether they be liberal interest groups or conservative interest groups, from coming into Ohio, said Mike Gonidakis, president of the group.

But some opponents of the resolution say its about one thing abortion.

Ohioans will likely vote on whether abortion should be legal this November.Activists are now gathering signaturesto get the measure on the ballot.

Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom and Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights quickly passed major hurdles of getting the language of their citizen-led constitutional amendment approved and getting it certified by the states ballot board.

Advocates must collect signatures from 44 out of 88 counties equal to at least 5% of the total vote cast for the office of governor in that county at the last gubernatorial election. Overall, the petition must gather at least 10% of the total vote cast statewide for the office of governor at the last gubernatorial election.

Experts closely watching the legislature say lawmakers that support H.J.R. 1 are trying to streamline their resolution to get out ahead of that November vote. But Gonidakis, who has been working closely with the Republicans trying to push it through, denied there is anything suspicious about the timing.

Theres never a convenient time and theres never an inconvenient time to have a vote of the people of the state of Ohio, he said.

But in December, a leaked email obtained by WEWS/OCJ showed that Stewart put the bill forward to specifically address abortion being put on the ballot.

After decades of Republicans work to make Ohio a pro-life state, the Left intends to write abortion on demand into Ohios Constitution, the lawmaker wrote. If they succeed, all the work we accomplished by multiple Republican majorities will be undone.

The 60% is important, abortion rights activists said ina previous interview with News 5. Here are the percentages that abortion was protected in other states:

People may be skeptical of the timeline, Gonidakis said, but he has been advocating for changing the Constitution since gambling and casinos were put on the ballot, he said.

I understand because we are the tip of the spear right now in Ohio Right to Life, he added. But make no mistake, after us, its going to be somebody else I cant stress enough that protecting our Constitution applies to large businesses, small businesses in Ohio, farmers, pro-lifers, anyone.

This was one of the reasons why Gonidakis met with some business leaders about the resolution.

A group of lawmakers met with business leaders and other special interest groups on Thursday.

In attendance were state Reps. Stewart and Scott Wiggam (R-Wayne County), plus three members of House leadership, according to individuals who were in the meeting and Statehouse lobbyists in the building. It is worth noting that Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) was not in attendance.

Joined by Gonidakis and another lobbyist, that squad met with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the Ohio Business Roundtable and the Ohio chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).

The meeting went well, Gonidakis said.

I think there was a collective agreement with the business community, our friends in the Second Amendment, the Right to Life groups and other associations that said, yes, we need to look at how we currently allow out-of-state groups to come into Ohio,' he said. So there was unanimity in the room.

The Ohio Business Roundtable denied this, as they did back in December when the team was forced to clarify they did not support H.J.R. 6 after Stewart wrote that the resolution is supported by Ohio Right to Life, the Center for Christian Virtue (CCV), the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Business Roundtable.

While the Ohio business community has previously pursued language that would establish guardrails to protect Ohios Constitution from out-of-state interests, the Ohio Business Roundtable did not provide any input for the language contained in the ballot reform initiatives pursued in the final months of 2022, nor the current proposals, Alexandra Denney, VP of Communications and Government Relations, told OCJ/WEWS. The Ohio Business Roundtable has not taken a position on HJR1 or any other ballot initiative proposals that have been introduced.

The Chamber also denied choosing sides.

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce hasnt taken a position on either of the pending ballot reform initiatives, at this time, said Senior VP of Government Affairs for the Chamber and former state lawmaker Rick Carfagna. We have had conversations with Rep. Stewart and House leadership on ballot access guardrails we feel would be helpful. We are continuing to canvas our membership on whether we should get engaged and the best path forward on reforms.

Democrats argue that holding a special election in August further shows that this is about abortion.

We just voted to not have those anymore, just a few months ago, Speaker Stephens told reporters.

Stephens explained lawmakers chose toeliminate special elections in Augustbecause they cost about $20 million plus they have low turnout. Now, anew GOP billhas been introduced that would allow these elections under certain circumstances, one that this resolution would fall under.

The county election officials Ive talked to are not interested in having it, the speaker added. Im frankly not interested in having an election in August its the cost of the taxpayers.

Stephens is now having to defend himself against allegations of being pro-abortion,a tweet from Fridayseems to suggest.

Let me be abundantly clear. I am and have always been 100% Pro-Life. I will stand for life at every turn; however, I am not for changing the rules willy nilly at a whim when it comes to changing our constitution, he tweeted.

This also comes as other GOP lawmakers accuse him of siding with Democrats. In anexclusive TV interview with Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington), she explained that the Democrats chose Stephens to be speaker due to agreements, compromises and known Democratic wants. H.J.R. 6 was one of the bills the pair seemed to have an understanding on, she said.

No matter the GOP shenanigans going on behind the scenes, Miller is fed up.

Were having a shocking about-face where just in December, a law passed that would limit our August special elections and now theyre talking about doing one, she said. And really, the only reason to do an August special election is because they cant get lawmakers together to pass this highly unpopular, undemocratic and unfair piece of legislation.

The resolution will continue to have hearings this week.

FollowWEWSstatehouse reporter Morgan Trau onTwitterandFacebook.

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GOP lawmakers, Right to Life meet with Ohio Chamber, Business ... - Ohio Capital Journal

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A series examining the AR-15, a weapon with a singular hold on a divided nation

Colt acquired the AR-15 patent and trademark from Armalite in 1959. The patent expired, leaving many companies to produce their own weapons, commonly called AR-style rifles. While Colt still holds the trademark, AR-15 has become a ubiquitous term for a popular style of gas-operated, magazine-fed semiautomatic rifles. For this reason, we refer to the rifle broadly as the AR-15 in this series.

The AR-15 is the best-selling rifle in the United States, industry figures indicate. Almost every major gunmaker now produces its own version of the weapon, which dominates gun dealers walls and websites.

Critics claim that the military-style gun has no legitimate civilian use yet about 1 in 20 Americans own one. So who chooses to buy an AR-15, and why?

The Washington Post and Ipsos asked nearly 400 AR-15 owners to explain their reasons for having the weapon, what they use it for and how often they fire it.

The survey found that AR-15 owners come from red, blue and purple states. Compared with Americans as a whole, AR-15 owners are significantly more likely to be White, male and between the ages 40 and 65. Theyre also more likely to have higher incomes, to have served in the military and to be Republican. And AR-15 owners are more likely to live in states former president Donald Trump won in 2020 than adults overall.

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Self-defense was the most popular reason for owning an AR-15. Other popular answers included recreation, target shooting and hunting, while some pointed to owning an AR-15 as their Second Amendment right.

Why people own

AR-15-style rifles

Q: In a few words, what are the main reasons you own an AR-15-style rifle? (Open-ended responses coded into categories.)

Self-defense/

Protect home/self/family

33%

Target shooting/

Take to range/

Competition

15%

Fun/

Recreation/

Sport

15%

Second Amendment/

It's my right/

Because I can

12%

Used in military/

Use as police

officer/

For work

4%

Like the way it looks/

Like it/

Because I want to

9%

Easy to use/Simple/

Accurate

6%

Customizable

platform/

Versatile

4%

In case of chaos/

Government tyranny

3%

Was a gift/

Inherited it

2%

Total does not equal 100 because up to two answers were accepted.

Angers liberals/

People want to ban them/

They make other people afraid

Source: Sept. 30-Oct. 11, 2022, Washington Post-Ipsos poll of 399 AR-15-style rifle owners with an error margin of +/- 5.5 percentage points.

Why people own AR-15-style rifles

Q: In a few words, what are the main reasons you own an AR-15-style rifle?

(Open-ended responses coded into categories.)

Self-defense/ Protect home/ self/family

33%

Target shooting/

Take to range/

Competition

15%

Second Amendment/

It's my right/

Because I can

12%

Like the way it looks/

Like it/

Because I want to

9%

Easy to use/

Simple/

Accurate

6%

Total does not equal 100 because up

to two answers were accepted.

Customizable platform/

Versatile

4%

Used in military

Use as police officer/

For work

4%

Source: Sept. 30-Oct. 11, 2022, Washington

Post-Ipsos poll of 399 AR-15-style rifle owners

with an error margin of +/- 5.5 percentage points.

In case of chaos/

Government tyranny

3%

Angers liberals/

People want to ban them/

They make other people afraid

2%

Was a gift/

Inherited it

2%

Why people own AR-15-style rifles

Q: In a few words, what are the main reasons you own an AR-15-style rifle? (Open-ended responses coded into categories.)

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Why do people own AR-15s? 33% of owners cited self-defense, poll ... - The Washington Post

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) Just a day after another six people were killed in a school shooting, including three children, supporters of loosening gun laws will gather in Lincoln.

The Nebraska Firearms Owners Association is promoting a rally at the Nebraska Republican Party headquarters.

Its asking everyone in support of the permitless concealed carry bill to attend.

Tuesdays event begins at 11:30 a.m. Supporters are then encouraged to head to the Nebraska State Capitol this afternoon.

Senator Tom Brewers proposal is on Tuesdays legislative agenda after advancing to the second round.

The association wants to fill both balconies as well as the rotunda with supporters, including NRA members and second amendment defenders.

Brewers bill would allow you to carry guns hidden under clothing or inside vehicles, without having to pay for a government permit or even take a gun safety course.

His proposal also overrides stricter gun laws that some cities have in place, like Lincoln.

Right now 25 other states have whats often referred to as constitutional carry laws, which allow you to carry concealed guns without a permit.

Lincolns police chief has said Brewers measure will make our city less safe.

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Gun group gathers in Lincoln just a day after another school ... - KLKN