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EU Council Adopts Gun Control Measures Passed by Parliament

Friday, April 28, 2017

EU Council Adopts Gun Control Measures Passed by Parliament

On Tuesday, the European Council met in Luxembourg and adopted wide-ranging restrictive revisions to the EU Firearms Directive. The move comes after negotiations between the European Parliament and Council led to a heavily-revised version of the European Commission’s initial gun control proposal, which was announced in December and passed by the European Parliament in March.

NRA detailed the new gun control measures contained in within the latest revision to the EU Firearms Directive when the European Parliament passed the legislation last month. Among the most onerous provisions of the legislation are new restrictions on the availability of certain configurations of semi-automatic firearms and their magazines, and a significant expansion of firearms registration and licensing requirements.

In a press release announcing that the European Council had adopted the revisions, the bureaucrats in Brussels stuck to their misguided contention that further burdening the law-abiding would help to thwart violent criminals and terrorists. Maltese Minister for Home Affairs and National Security Carmelo Abela was quoted as saying, “The new Firearms Directive provides for more rigorous controls on the acquisition and possession of firearms, in particular so that legitimate channels and regulatory set-ups for the acquisition and possession of firearms are not abused by criminal groups or terrorists.”

A pre-existing effort to alter the EU Firearms Directive was expedited by the European Commission following the terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13, 2015. At the time, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker cited the attack, and the broader threat of terrorism, as a justification for the new gun controls. However, the most recent high-profile attack in France suggests that further gun control will do little to stop criminals from acquiring firearms to carry out the type of violence the EU hopes to prevent.

On April 20, 39-year-old Karim Cheurfi used a rifle to shoot and kill a French police officer on Paris’s famed Champs Elysées. In addition to the rifle used in the attack, a pump-action shotgun was found in a search of Cheurfi’s vehicle. Cheurfi had a lengthy criminal history, and according to France 24, “spent 14 years in prison on three counts of attempted murder, including of police officers.”

Existing EU law makes clear that Member States are not to permit the acquisition and possession of firearms by those “convicted of a violent intentional crime.” Despite this, Cheurfi was still able to access the firearms used in the attack.

Under the European Union’s convoluted legislative procedure, following this action by the European Council, the European Parliament and Council must formally sign the changes to the EU Firearms Directive. Member States will then have 15 months to update their national laws to conform to these changes and 30 months to implement the legislation’s registration database requirements.

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Florida: House Passes Constitutional Carry

Friday, March 24, 2023

Florida: House Passes Constitutional Carry

Today, the House voted 76-32 to pass House Bill 543, the constitutional carry bill.

Updates to ATF Final Rule on Stabilizing Braces

News  

Monday, January 30, 2023

Updates to ATF Final Rule on Stabilizing Braces

On Monday, January 30, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) published the final Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached “Stabilizing Braces” rule for public inspection in the federal register.

Biden’s Executive Order Targeting Gun Ownership

News  

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Biden’s Executive Order Targeting Gun Ownership

On Tuesday, Joe Biden issued an executive order on gun control that could accurately be described as a mile wide and an inch deep.

Florida: Senate’s Constitutional Carry Passes Committee

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Florida: Senate’s Constitutional Carry Passes Committee

Today, the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee voted 11-6 to approve Senate Bill 150, constitutional carry, with an amendment aligning the language with the House’s version. It will now go to the full Senate for further consideration.

Florida: 2023 Session Convened, Senate Committee Hearing Constitutional Carry

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Florida: 2023 Session Convened, Senate Committee Hearing Constitutional Carry

Yesterday, March 7th, the Florida Legislature began the 2023 legislative session. Tomorrow, at 9:00AM, the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee will hear Senate Bill 150, the Senate’s constitutional carry bill.

Washington: Senate Committee Hearing California-Style Gun Ban & Waiting Period Bills

Friday, March 17, 2023

Washington: Senate Committee Hearing California-Style Gun Ban & Waiting Period Bills

On March 23rd, at 8:00AM, the Senate Committee on Law & Justice will hear House Bill 1240, a comprehensive gun ban bill, and House Bill 1143, to impose a waiting period and training mandate for acquiring ...

Michigan: Senate Sends Anti-Gun Bills to Governor

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Michigan: Senate Sends Anti-Gun Bills to Governor

Today, the Senate voted to concur with the House on Senate Bills 79, 80, 81, and 82, which the House passed last night, to impose a one-size-fits-all firearm storage requirement to make them unavailable for self-defense. 

Michigan: House to Consider Requiring Firearms Be Made Unavailable for Self-Defense

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Michigan: House to Consider Requiring Firearms Be Made Unavailable for Self-Defense

As early as tonight, the House may bring to the floor a bill package to impose a one-size-fits-all firearm storage requirement to make them unavailable for self-defense.

Columnist thinks gun owners can be shamed out of their rights

News  

Monday, March 20, 2023

Columnist thinks gun owners can be shamed out of their rights

At least one of the joyless scolds that predominate in gun control circles thinks they’ve stumbled onto a novel anti-gun tactic. According to Colorado Newsline Editor Quentin Young, gun control supporters should try to shame gun ...

Florida: House Judiciary Passes Constitutional Carry

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Florida: House Judiciary Passes Constitutional Carry

Today, the House Judiciary Committee voted 17-6 to advance House Bill 543, the constitutional carry bill. It will now go to the House floor for debate.

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NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.