Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

Lori Lightfoot Either Doesn’t Understand Federal Law, or Hopes Nobody Else Does

Monday, July 13, 2020

Lori Lightfoot Either Doesn’t Understand Federal Law, or Hopes Nobody Else Does

It has become commonly accepted among anti-gun extremists to ignore the mountains of evidence that exposes the abject failure of gun control to prevent violent criminals from acting like violent criminals.  They reject the fact that criminals already violate myriad laws at the local, state, and federal level in furtherance of their illicit activities, and insist that the only way to prevent criminals from committing crimes with firearms is to add more laws.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has learned that lesson well.

As the Windy City experiences dramatic increases in violent crimes involving firearms, the Washington Examiner reports that Lightfoot was “told that the police union blames her for a lack of moral (sic) among the citys law enforcement officials.”  In an attempt to deflect criticism of her administration, the mayor decided to blame, you guessed it, gun laws.

Rather than look at what she and her city could do better, in an interview on MSNBCs Live With Stephanie Ruhle, Lightfoot claimed, “We have to have a federal policy on background checks and making sure people are not able to go across the border to states like Indiana and get military-grade weapons in quantities and then bring them back to the streets and shoot people up.  Thats whats happening.

The only problem with her response is…well…everything.

First, we have a federal policy; several, in fact.  The “N” in NICS stands for “National,” as in, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.  It is the law of the land, and requires all sales at gun dealers, no matter what state they take place in, be subject to a NICS check to ensure the purchaser is not prohibited from making such a purchase.

Second, federal law generally prohibits private citizens—who are not licensed gun dealers—from lawfully transferring a firearm to anyone who is not a resident of the state in which they reside.

Third, if her reference to “military-grade weapons” is her way of referring to semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15, such firearms represent a small fraction of the guns used in firearm-related crimes nationally.  It is unlikely that Chicago is any different than the rest of the country in this regard.

And finally, while Lightfoot appears to be looking at adding new restrictions to the current lawful transfer of firearms, she ignores the fact that violent criminals primarily acquire firearms through already illegal channels.

Thats not even taking into account the gun laws in Chicago and Illinois, which are, arguably, some of the most restrictive in the country.

So, rather than looking at what she can do better to stem the rising tide of violence in her city, Mayor Lightfoot has decided to misrepresent federal law, malign her neighboring states, and suggest we need more laws that will further infringe on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens; more laws that violent criminals will regard with as much disdain as the current mountain of laws they violate. 

President Trump has even offered federal assistance to help improve police efforts.  It seems Lightfoot, however, is more interested in scoring political points by promoting anti-gun policies embraced by the far left, rather than considering strategies that will actually help the citizens of her city.

TRENDING NOW
Trump Administration Revives Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Provision

News  

Friday, March 21, 2025

Trump Administration Revives Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Provision

On March 20, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) published an interim final rule entitled, Withdrawing the Attorney General’s Delegation of Authority. That bland title belies the historic nature of the measure, which is aimed at reviving ...

Washington: Permit to Purchase Bill Passes Senate

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Washington: Permit to Purchase Bill Passes Senate

On Monday, April 14th, the Senate passed House Bill 1163, the permit-to-purchase scheme, along party lines. It will now return to the House for concurrence with amendments made in the Senate.

Germany Strips “Extremist” AfD Members, Supporters of Gun Licenses, Guns

News  

Monday, April 14, 2025

Germany Strips “Extremist” AfD Members, Supporters of Gun Licenses, Guns

It’s been only a few years since the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a resolution calling the NRA a “domestic terrorist organization.” 

Colorado: "Polis Permission Slip" Signed Into Law in a Secret Ceremony

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Colorado: "Polis Permission Slip" Signed Into Law in a Secret Ceremony

Ignoring months of advocacy and correspondence from tens of thousands of Coloradans, Governor Jared Polis has signed Senate Bill 25-003 into law.

House Judiciary Committee Votes to Advance Concealed Carry Reciprocity Legislation

News  

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

House Judiciary Committee Votes to Advance Concealed Carry Reciprocity Legislation

On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, the House Judiciary Committee held a markup for several bills, including two NRA-backed bills. With this crucial step in the legislative process now complete, these pieces of legislation can now ...

The Unkindest Cut: British Crackdown on “Ninja Swords” Suggests Bias, Futility

News  

Monday, April 14, 2025

The Unkindest Cut: British Crackdown on “Ninja Swords” Suggests Bias, Futility

The United Kingdom (UK) has a long history of exerting control over its subjects, especially when it comes to depriving them of arms.  It also has a weird history, albeit a shorter one, of an apparent ...

North Carolina: Second Amendment Financial Privacy Bill Advances to House Floor

Thursday, April 17, 2025

North Carolina: Second Amendment Financial Privacy Bill Advances to House Floor

This week, the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, House Bill 38 (H38), passed favorably out of both the House Judiciary 1 Committee and the House Rules Committee, and is now scheduled for consideration on the House floor ...

North Dakota: Firearm Carry Enhancement Bill Heads to Governor's Desk

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

North Dakota: Firearm Carry Enhancement Bill Heads to Governor's Desk

On Tuesday, April 15th, the House concurred with Senate amendments on House Bill 1588 with a vote of 87-4. 

Michigan: Red Flag Expansion Passes Senate

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Michigan: Red Flag Expansion Passes Senate

Yesterday, the Michigan Senate passed SB 111, a red flag expansion, along party lines. The bill will now be transmitted to the House, for further consideration. Use the Take Action link below to contact your ...

Trump DOJ Creates Second Amendment Task Force to Undo Damage of Biden Era

News  

Monday, April 14, 2025

Trump DOJ Creates Second Amendment Task Force to Undo Damage of Biden Era

Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) formally announced the creation of a Second Amendment Task Force with Attorney General Pam Bondi declaring, “It is the policy of the Department of Justice to use its full ...

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

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.