Gun Control Debate 2013: 5 Updates Including Free Guns, New Fines And More

By Charlie Creitz, Apr 02, 2013 01:53 PM EDT




Advertisements indirectly funded by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, I-New York City, are reportedly not being received well in the swing states his gun control PAC is targeting.

The gun control debate continues in earnest following a number of major events including the aftermath of the shooting at a school in Newtown, Conn., and the pretrial activities for accused Colorado theater shooter James Holmes. Astronaut Mark Kelly, husband of gun violence victim Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., appeared on "Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace" on Easter to share his much-publicized opinions on the issue.

As the Latin Times previously reported, Kelly has come under fire for allegedly purchasing a semiautomatic rifle from a Tucson, Ariz. gun store for the intended purpose to turn it over to police. Kelly reportedly said it showed how easy it is for anyone to obtain a weapon in the United States.

"20 first graders ... were murdered in their classrooms," Kelly told Chris Wallace. " ... and it is important to take action."

Wallace then noted that despite the high demand supposed by Kelly for increased regulations on guns, that some high profile Republicans in Congress including Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida said that they would filibuster any attempt to impose further restrictions. Paul is no stranger to the process, as he recently held up confirmation of newly-minted CIA Director John Brennan.

Mark Kelly then told Wallace that residents in Paul's and Rubio's home states would likely support further background checks at the least, something that would allegedly fall under threat of a filibuster.

Recently, moderate Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said that he would againoppose filibusters by members of his party on gun control legislation. He and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., criticized bipartisan filibuster of Brennan's nomination, choosing instead to dine with President Barack Obama. Graham said he wants an "open process" approach to gun control reform, saying that he would join his more conservative colleagues in voting against background checks and other stricter gun control policy.

In Texas, Sen. Ted Cruz, a freshman Republican, has echoed conservative sentiments toward infringing upon the Second Amendment rights of Americans. Now, a Houston-based charitable organization is offering free guns to citizens in high crime areas like some parts of the Gulf Coast city as well as in Dallas. The Armed Citizen Project is aiming to protect those in violent areas from gun violence, echoing the sentiment that guns don't kill people, people kill people. Participants would have to complete a "safety training course" to be eligible for donated protection.

Reports have also surfaced that pro-gun control advertisements funded indirectly by anti-soda Mayor Michael Bloomberg, I-New York City, are not resonating with those in target areas where the ads are playing. In fact, Bloomberg's televised gun control pleas seem to have backfired. The gun control ads were allegedly meant to warn swing state lawmakers up for election next term that despite the interests of the NRA, it is important that gun control measures go through for the safety of their constituents. Many of the senators' states that are targeted are home to a large population of hunters who oppose gun control measures. Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, Kay Hagan, D-N.C., and Mark Warner, D-Va., represent states where owning rifles and the like is the way of life for many who shoot for sport. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., recently called out Bloomberg's attempt to sway his vote saying "I don't take gun advice from the mayor of New York City, I listen to Arkansans."

In line with Bloomberg's pleas for stricter gun control laws, the United Nations passed the Arms Trade Treaty, or ATT. It establishes international requirements for member nations to regulate the export of tanks and military-type aircraft, as well as requires the government to determine whether weapons would be used in acts of crime or terrorism. Despite attempts in Congress led by Oklahoma Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe to appeal to the Obama administration to oppose the measure if it came to a vote, the United States delegation voted with 153 other nations to pass the ATT. Three countries voted against it and 23 abstained. Iran, North Korea and Syria reportedly voted against the gun control measures.

Most recently, the Daily Caller reported Tuesday morning that liberal Democrats lead by New York City Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney introduced legislation to treat gun ownership like vehicle ownership: require gun owners to purchase liability insurance in order to purchase weapons. Seen by many as another roadblock to exercising Second Amendment rights, the NRA's Chris Cox called the proposed gun control bill "ridiculous on its face," no doubt after reading the clause imposing a $10,000 fine on insurance evaders.


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