What is the outlook for either pro or anti gun laws in 2011?

vito · January 1, 2011, 09:21 AM

With Republicans controlling the House of Representatives I don't think any major Federal anti-gun laws will see the light of day, but with a Democrat controlled White House there is little chance for major pro gun laws as well. At the State level it looks good for WI to pass concealed carry legislation which would leave only IL (aren't I lucky to live here!) without any form of legal concealed carry. Several states such as NY seem on the verge of increasing gun control laws, but many more states now have a Republican (likely pro gun) legislatures. It looks like a generally positive climate for pro gun, pro 2A folks like us, but you never know. My biggest concern is with the Supreme Court and the two newest members who are both clearly anti 2nd Amendment.What think the rest of you?

**Bud Helms** · January 1, 2011, 09:30 AM

I think you are in the wrong forum.

This belongs in Law & Civil Rights.

Moving.

Brian Pfleuger · January 1, 2011, 09:37 AM

I see zero happening in Congress for gun laws. There's simple no interest, on their part.

It will all happen in the courts, overturning rotten laws, many of which were (and are) supported by republicans.

In the courts, 2011 should be a very good year for us.

Bartholomew Roberts · January 1, 2011, 10:20 AM

On the legislative front, nothing will happen. We've got an NRA A-rated majority in the House. In the Senate, our advantage isn't quite as large but it is sufficient to block anti-gun legislation or treaties.

I think our major issues will be administrative - for example, the ATF trying to implement multiple sales of long guns as a rule change rather than going through Congress, or having Andrew Travers appointed as a recess appointment.

And of course, the other major area is judicial. There are a ton of battles happening here and unfortunately our varsity team can only be in so many places at once. We've already had some good, promising cases shot down by bad legal work. However, I think the good news will still outnumber the bad on this front.

All in all, I expect 2011 to continue the steady trend of pro-RKBA victories. As someone who first joined the NRA during the Brady law debate, it is encouraging to see how much progress has been made.

**Tom Servo** · January 1, 2011, 10:23 AM

Quote:

with a Democrat controlled White House there is little chance for major pro gun laws as well.

Actually, we got carry in national parks. However, Peet is correct, the next couple of years will likely see the battle fought (and won, to some extent) in the courts.

Rifleman1776 · January 1, 2011, 10:30 AM

At the Federal level, I agree with others. We won't see much, if any changes.
State and local can be anything, especially in California and Massachusetts.

Standing Wolf · January 1, 2011, 10:34 AM

Concealed carry in Wisconsin? I'll believe it when I see it, but I'll keep hoping.

Glenn E. Meyer · January 1, 2011, 01:22 PM

Nothing federal.

What's interesting to me is the stuation in TX. I just got my TSRA magazine and their legislative update is fascinating.

Two major issues in the state are the parking lot law which would forbid employers from taking action against you if you have a gun in the car and campus carry.

There has been strong legislative support but the bills never made it to a vote due to legislative trickery. But what was the cause (Note, I'm not advocating a political position)?

It seems that business and industrial interests quashed the bills last time. Alice Tripp points out that now there is a strong GOP and seemingly conservative legislature. So if these bills don't make it, there will be no excuses about evil liberals!

It will be that venial economic corruption will cause supposedly progun legislators to block the laws again. It points out that money talks over ideology. So power structures talk the talk of ideology but are shams. They go for the money and hoodwink the masses to think they care.

We will see!

mes227 · January 1, 2011, 08:42 PM

Getting carry in National Parks was a pretty big win especially with both houses controlled by Democrats, so perhaps we should cut the demos a little slack. Well, not the ones in California, of course! Even their Republican governor signed the pointless new ammo sales law!

**Tom Servo** · January 1, 2011, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Getting carry in National Parks was a pretty big win especially with both houses controlled by Democrats, so perhaps we should cut the demos a little slack.

We can (and have) lead ourselves down the wrong path if we align our cause with one party at the exclusion of the other. There are some very pro-gun Democrats, and some very anti-gun Republicans.

Quote:

Concealed carry in Wisconsin? I'll believe it when I see it, but I'll keep hoping.

The Schultz case set up some interesting caselaw on the subject in October, and it looks like the new governor will sign a bill when it crosses his desk.

January 1, 2011, 09:21 AM	#1
vito Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2004 Location: IL Posts: 853	What is the outlook for either pro or anti gun laws in 2011? With Republicans controlling the House of Representatives I don't think any major Federal anti-gun laws will see the light of day, but with a Democrat controlled White House there is little chance for major pro gun laws as well. At the State level it looks good for WI to pass concealed carry legislation which would leave only IL (aren't I lucky to live here!) without any form of legal concealed carry. Several states such as NY seem on the verge of increasing gun control laws, but many more states now have a Republican (likely pro gun) legislatures. It looks like a generally positive climate for pro gun, pro 2A folks like us, but you never know. My biggest concern is with the Supreme Court and the two newest members who are both clearly anti 2nd Amendment.What think the rest of you?

January 1, 2011, 09:37 AM	#3
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	I see zero happening in Congress for gun laws. There's simple no interest, on their part. It will all happen in the courts, overturning rotten laws, many of which were (and are) supported by republicans. In the courts, 2011 should be a very good year for us. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

January 1, 2011, 10:34 AM	#7
Standing Wolf Member in memoriam Join Date: April 26, 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,649	Concealed carry in Wisconsin? I'll believe it when I see it, but I'll keep hoping. __________________ No tyrant should ever be allowed to die of natural causes.

January 1, 2011, 01:22 PM	#8
Glenn E. Meyer Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2000 Posts: 20,064	Nothing federal. What's interesting to me is the stuation in TX. I just got my TSRA magazine and their legislative update is fascinating. Two major issues in the state are the parking lot law which would forbid employers from taking action against you if you have a gun in the car and campus carry. There has been strong legislative support but the bills never made it to a vote due to legislative trickery. But what was the cause (Note, I'm not advocating a political position)? It seems that business and industrial interests quashed the bills last time. Alice Tripp points out that now there is a strong GOP and seemingly conservative legislature. So if these bills don't make it, there will be no excuses about evil liberals! It will be that venial economic corruption will cause supposedly progun legislators to block the laws again. It points out that money talks over ideology. So power structures talk the talk of ideology but are shams. They go for the money and hoodwink the masses to think they care. We will see! __________________ NRA, TSRA, IDPA, NTI, Polite Soc. - Aux Armes, Citoyens

January 1, 2011, 09:30 AM	#2
Bud Helms Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 1999 Location: Middle Georgia, USA Posts: 13,198	I think you are in the wrong forum. This belongs in Law & Civil Rights. Moving.

January 1, 2011, 10:20 AM	#4
Bartholomew Roberts member Join Date: June 12, 2000 Location: Texas and Oklahoma area Posts: 8,462	On the legislative front, nothing will happen. We've got an NRA A-rated majority in the House. In the Senate, our advantage isn't quite as large but it is sufficient to block anti-gun legislation or treaties. I think our major issues will be administrative - for example, the ATF trying to implement multiple sales of long guns as a rule change rather than going through Congress, or having Andrew Travers appointed as a recess appointment. And of course, the other major area is judicial. There are a ton of battles happening here and unfortunately our varsity team can only be in so many places at once. We've already had some good, promising cases shot down by bad legal work. However, I think the good news will still outnumber the bad on this front. All in all, I expect 2011 to continue the steady trend of pro-RKBA victories. As someone who first joined the NRA during the Brady law debate, it is encouraging to see how much progress has been made.

January 1, 2011, 10:30 AM	#6
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	At the Federal level, I agree with others. We won't see much, if any changes. State and local can be anything, especially in California and Massachusetts.

January 1, 2011, 08:42 PM	#9
mes227 Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2010 Location: Incline Village, NV Posts: 535	Getting carry in National Parks was a pretty big win especially with both houses controlled by Democrats, so perhaps we should cut the demos a little slack. Well, not the ones in California, of course! Even their Republican governor signed the pointless new ammo sales law!