Senate Bill 16, sponsored by state Senator Margaret Rose Henry (D-2), passed in the state Senate by a 11 to 10 vote yesterday. This bill would require a gun owner to notify law enforcement if a firearm was lost or stolen, and carries severe penalties and fines for violations. This bill will be sent to the House for its consideration, so contact your state Representative NOW and urge him or her to oppose Senate Bill 16.
Originally, SB 16 required the gun owner to report a lost or stolen firearm within 48 hours, but a floor amendment offered and accepted yesterday expands that time limit to seven days. SB 16 does nothing to solve an existing crime problem but is an ideological attack on gun ownership. It imposes policies to criminalize victims of crime and subjects anyone who does not follow these arbitrary laws to heavy fines or felony charges that would take away their right to possess a firearm legally. Legislation that targets innocent citizens - who are in fact victims of crimes themselves – is irresponsible. Lawmakers and law enforcement should be spending their time and resources on solutions that would help catch and prosecute criminals, not creating new ways to criminalize the victim.
Call your state Representative NOW and urge him or her to OPPOSE SB 16. Remember to thank the ten state Senators who stood up for your rights and voted against SB 16 (you can find the vote here) yesterday. Contact information for your state Representative can be found here.
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