A sweeping Republican bill to override local firearms rules and make firearms regulation an exclusive power of the Legislature hit a last-minute hurdle Wednesday, after Attorney General John Formella penned a letter urging it be killed.
Addressing lawmakers in both chambers, Formella said the bill, which would remove the ability for local and state governments to independently regulate firearms, would have “multiple unintended consequences that have dire implications for public safety and the rights of gun owners in this state.”
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmp?5 u@C>6==2 D2:5 =2DE\>:?FE6 492?86D E@ E96 3:==[k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^84]?9]8@G^3:==0DE2EFD^A57]2DAIn:5lbbbgaU2>AjBl2>6?5>6?EQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmw@FD6 q:== e_hk^DA2?mk^2mkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm[ >256 3J DE2E6 9@FD6 =6256CD =2DE H66< 6I246C32E65 E96 56A2CE>6?E’D 4@?46C?D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm“x >FDE 6>A92D:K6 E92E E96 3C@25 2?5 F?AC64656?E65 =2?8F286 4@?E2:?65 :? E9:D 3:== >2<6 :E =:<6=J E92E @E96C F?:?E6?565 4@?D6BF6?46D 4@F=5 C6DF=E :7 E9:D 3:== H6C6 E@ 36 6?24E65[” u@C>6==2 HC@E6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmu@C>6==2’D @AA@D:E:@? 4@F=5 D6E FA 2 ?6H A@:?E @7 7C:4E:@? 36EH66? v@G] z6==J pJ@EE6 2?5 76==@H #6AF3=:42?D D9@F=5 E96 3:== A2DD E96 w@FD6 2?5 $6?2E6 %9FCD52J] pJ@EE6 92D 5:D2AA@:?E65 D@>6 4@?D6CG2E:G6 >6>36CD @7 96C A2CEJ @G6C 96C @AA@D:E:@? E@ 3:==D 724:=:E2E:?8 3@@< C6>@G2=D :? D49@@=D[ 2==@H:?8 7@C D68C682E:@? @7 32E9C@@>D 3J 86?56C 2E 3:CE9[ 2?5 6?23=:?8 “@A6? 6?C@==>6?E” :? AF3=:4 D49@@=D] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmu@C $64@?5 p>6?5>6?E C:89ED DFAA@CE6CD[ wq e_h 4@F=5 36 >@>6?E@FD] {2DE H66<[ 27E6C E96 3:== 6>6C865 7C@> ?68@E:2E:@?D[ #6A] tC:42 {2J@?[ 2 s6CCJ #6AF3=:42?[ 42==65 E96 3:== “E96 >@DE AC@\$64@?5 p>6?5>6?E 24E:@? E92E }6H w2>AD9:C6 92D E2<6? D:?46 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= 42CCJ] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 3:== 92D 925 >2?J EC2?D7@C>2E:@?D] pDk^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^84]?9]8@G^3:==0DE2EFD^A57]2DAIn:5lefcfU2>AjBl3:=='6CD:@?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm@C:8:?2==J :?EC@5F465k^DA2?mk^2mkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm[ :E 8C2?E65 6I4=FD:G6 2FE9@C:EJ E@ E96 {68:D=2EFC6 @G6C E96 “D2=6[ AFC492D6[ @H?6CD9:A[ FD6[ A@DD6DD:@?[ EC2?DA@CE2E:@?[ =:46?D:?8[ A6C>:EE:?8[ E2I2E:@?[ 2?5 @E96C >2EE6CD” @7 7:C62C>D[ 2>>F?:E:@?[ 2?5 @E96C H62A@?D[ DF49 2D <?:G6D 2?5 %2D6CD] %92E H@F=5 >62? 2?J C68F=2E:@? @C 7:C62C>D AC@9:3:E:@? A2DD65 3J 6:E96C 2 DE2E6 @C =@42= 8@G6C?>6?E 6?E:EJ H@F=5 36 @G6CCF=65 — F?=6DD :E H6C6 6DE23=:D965 :? DE2E6 DE2EFE6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 @C:8:?2= G6CD:@? 2==@H65 A6@A=6 E@ DF6 8@G6C?>6?E 3@5:6D @C 6>A=@J66D F?56C #$p h`\p[ E96 C:89E\E@\<?@H =2H[ H9:49 4@F=5 =625 E@ 2H2C5D @7 FA E@ Sa[___ A=FD A=2:?E:77 766D] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 $6?2E6k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^84]?9]8@G^3:==0DE2EFD^A57]2DAIn:5lbagfaU2>AjBl3:=='6CD:@?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmA2DD65 2 G6CD:@?k^DA2?mk^2m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmE92E H@F=5 92G6 A2C65 324< :ED D4@A6[ =:>:E:?8 E96 {68:D=2EFC6’D 6I4=FD:G6 C@=6 E@ 7:C62C>D 2?5 H62A@?D CF=6D E92E 27764E65 DE2E6 6>A=@J66D @C DE2E6 AC@A6CEJ] %96 $6?2E6 G6CD:@? 2=D@ H@F=5 92G6 C6BF:C65 E92E 2?J 6I:DE:?8 7:C62C>D 2?5 H62A@?D C68F=2E:@?D A2DD65 3J DE2E6 286?4:6D @G6C E96:C 6>A=@J66D @C AC@A6CE:6D 6IA:C6 :? yF=J a_ah[ F?=6DD 6IA=:4:E=J C6?6H65 3J E96 {68:D=2EFC6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmqFE E96 3:== E92E 6>6C865 7C@> E96 4@>>:EE66 @7 4@?76C6?46 =2DE H66< :D 6G6? >@C6 6IA2?D:G6 E92? :ED @C:8:?2= 7@C>[ 27E6C w@FD6 #6AF3=:42?D AFD965 E96:C $6?2E6 4@F?E6CA2CED]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 7:?2= AC@A@D2= C6\6DE23=:D96D E92E E96 {68:D=2EFC6’D 2FE9@C:EJ H@F=5 DFA6CD656 2== 8@G6C?>6?E 6?E:E:6D[ DE2E6 2?5 =@42=[ 2?5 H@F=5 AC6G6?E E96 6?24E>6?E @C 6?7@C46>6?E @7 2?J “492CE6C[ AC@G:D:@?[ @C5:?2?46[ 3J=2H[ CF=6[ C68F=2E:@?[ @C A@=:4J” E92E H2D ?@E 2==@H65 3J E96 {68:D=2EFC6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 7:?2= 3:== 2=D@ :?4=F565 DEC@?86C >6492?:D>D E@ DF6 8@G6C?>6?E 6?E:E:6D] xE H@F=5 2==@H 2?J A6CD@? 288C:6G65 3J 2 8@G6C?>6?E 3@5J’D G:@=2E:@? @7 E96 =2H E@ DF6 7@C 2 564=2C2E@CJ ;F58>6?E[ 52>286D[ 2?5 6BF:E23=6 C6=:67] x7 E96 4@FCE 28C665 E92E E96C6 H2D 2 G:@=2E:@?[ E96 A=2:?E:77 H@F=5 C646:G6 2E =62DE S`[___j :7 E96 4@FCE 7@F?5 E96 6?E:EJ 925 H:==7F==J @C <?@H:?8=J G:@=2E65 E96 =2H[ E96 A=2:?E:77 H@F=5 C646:G6 2E =62DE Sa[___]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%92E G6CD:@? H:== 8@ 367@C6 E96 7F== w@FD6 2?5 $6?2E6 7@C 2 7:?2= G@E6 %9FCD52Jj :7 :E A2DD6D[ :E H:== 9625 E@ v@G] z6==J pJ@EE6’D 56D<] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmx? 9:D =6EE6C (65?6D52J[ u@C>6==2 42==65 9:>D6=7 2 “DEC@?8 $64@?5 p>6?5>6?E DFAA@CE6C” 2?5 D2:5 96 925 E2<6? 24E:@?D :? 72G@C @7 8F? @H?6CD] qFE 96 D2:5 E96 7:?2= G6CD:@? 925 >F=E:A=6 7=2HD E92E 4@F=5 9FCE E9@D6 D2>6 7:C62C>D C:89ED]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmu@C :?DE2?46[ 3642FD6 E96 4@>>:EE66 @7 4@?76C6?46 G6CD:@? H@F=5 C6BF:C6 2== 6I:DE:?8 7:C62C>D A@=:4:6D 2?5 CF=6D E@ DF?D6E :? a_ah[ E96 3:== H@F=5 7@C46 “2? :?4C65:3=6 DFC86 @7 CF=6>2<:?8” 29625 @7 E92E 5625=:?6[ u@C>6==2 HC@E6] %92E AC@46DD 4@F=5 E6C>:?2E6 A@=:4:6D E92E 2C6 C6DEC:4E:G6 E@ 7:C62C>D[ 3FE :E 4@F=5 2=D@ 6?5 A@=:4:6D E92E 2C6 AC@E64E:G6 @7 7:C62C>D[ 96 HC@E6[ “4C62E:?8 E96 5:DE:?4E A@DD:3:=:EJ E92E E96 @G6C2== C68F=2E@CJ 6?G:C@?>6?E 7@C 8F? @H?6CD 4@F=5 86E H@CD6[ ?@E 36EE6C]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 3:== 4@F=5 =:<6H:D6 4@?DEC2:? E96 6I64FE:G6 3C2?49 7C@> 6?24E:?8 A@=:4:6D E92E 96=A 8F?@H?6CD[ u@C>6==2 2C8F65] w6 A@:?E65 E@ 2? 6I2>A=6 :? a_`h[ H96? E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 $276EJ 25@AE65 492?86D E@ E96 DE2E6’D vF? {:?6 — E96 DJDE6> E92E 6?23=6D 324<8C@F?5 4964<D 7@C 7:C62C>D AFC492D6D — E@ 255C6DD 4@>A=2:?ED @G6C 56=2JD[ 27E6C #6AF3=:42?Dk^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?6H92>AD9:C63F==6E:?]4@>^a_a`^_g^`_^677@CE\E@\6?5\DE2E6D\8F?\=:?6\DE2==D\H:E9\A2:C\@7\DF?F?F\G6E@6D^QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm925 AFD965 E@ 6?5 :E 6?E:C6=Jk^DA2?mk^2mkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm“%96D6 AC@3=6>D H6C6 C6>65:65 3J 6IA65:E65 492?86D E@ @A6C2E:?8 AC@465FC6D 2?5 A@=:4:6D E92E H@F=5 ?@E 36 A@DD:3=6 :7 E9:D 3:== H6C6 25@AE65[” u@C>6==2 HC@E6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmu@C>6==2 25565 E92E E96 3:== 4@F=5 92G6 C:AA=6 67764ED @? =2H 6?7@C46>6?E 286?4:6D[ H9@ >:89E C67C2:? 7C@> :DDF:?8 ?66565 FA52E6D E@ 7:C62C>D A@=:4:6D DF49 2D DE@C286 A@=:4:6D[ :7 E96J 5:5 ?@E 92G6 6IA=:4:E =68:D=2E:G6 2FE9@C:EJ]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmp?5 96 2C8F65 E92E @? 2 3C@256C =6G6=[ E96 3:== H@F=5 92>A6C E96 DE2E6’D 23:=:EJ E@ AC@E64E $64@?5 p>6?5>6?E C:89ED 2?5 “E:6 E96 92?5D @7 2 4@\6BF2= 3C2?49 @7 DE2E6 8@G6C?>6?E @? 7:C62C>D C68F=2E:@?D 2?5 E96 AC@E64E:@? @7 $64@?5 p>6?5>6?E C:89ED]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm“~?46 282:?[ E96 A@E6?E:2= 7@C F?:?E6?565 4@?D6BF6?46D E92E 2C6 92C>7F= E@ 8F? @H?6CD :D G2DE[” u@C>6==2 HC@E6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmu@C>6==2 FC865 =2H>2<6CD E@ 56762E E96 4@>>:EE66 @7 4@?76C6?46 C6A@CE 2?5 “E@ 724:=:E2E6 7FCE96C 5:D4FDD:@?” 2?5 DEF5J E96 :DDF6 7FCE96C[ 2?5 D2:5 E96 pEE@C?6J v6?6C2=’D ~77:46 H@F=5 36 C625J E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? DF49 5:D4FDD:@?D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmqFE {2J@? DF886DE65 E92E >2?J #6AF3=:42? =2H>2<6CD 92G6 2=C625J >256 FA E96:C >:?5D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm“pE :ED 962CE[ wq e_h :D 23@FE 6?DFC:?8 E92E E96 ?2EFC2= C:89ED @7 @FC 4:E:K6?D 2C6 ?@E EC2>A=65 3J @FE\@7\4@?EC@=[ C65\E2A6 3FC62F4C2ED 2?5 CF?2H2J =@42= C68F=2E:@?D[” D96 D2:5 :? E96 DE2E6>6?E] “%9:D 3:== 6?DFC6D E92E ?@ 2C3:EC2CJ[ 3FC62F4C2E\DE2>A65 CF=6 :D 7@:DE65 FA@? E96 A6@A=6 F?=6DD E96 6=64E65 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D @7 E96 A6@A=6 8:G6 E96> E96 4@?D6?E E@ 24E]” k^DA2?mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.