A Day at The Range

Last week was a big week, beginning with the Boston bombings on Monday. A horrifying event such as that impacts so many people in our country and across the world. Violence of all forms strikes our communities every day and its effects are devastating and life-changing. Last week was also a week of gun violence awareness that I had been planning since the beginning of the semester. Tuesday was the 6^th year anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre and Saturday also marked 14 years since the Columbine High School shooting. It also happened to coincide with a major vote on gun legislation in the U.S. Senate. On Wednesday, the Senate failed to pass expanded background checks, something that 90% of Americans support. The week of gun violence awareness events drew students, faculty and the community of Davidson together to learn about the issue. The events included a documentary screening on Tuesday, a petition signing and information table on Wednesday, and a lecture on Thursday by a visiting speaker.

After all of these events were over, I breathed a sigh of relief. Everything had gone smoothly and I had received many positive responses from people who had attended. Normally, I would have spent a Friday afternoon after a busy week staying in and relaxing. However, that afternoon proved to be quite exciting. In what turned out to be an especially ironic end to the week, I went to the gun range. It was something I’d been wanting to do since I started researching gun violence. I think it’s important and helpful to have had a positive experience with guns when talking about the issue.

My good friend, whom I’ve known since kindergarten, offered to take me and guide me through the process. And so, on Friday afternoon, I went to The Range at Lake Norman, excited but also pretty nervous. I was definitely outside my comfort zone. My friend had been there before, so he helped me get set up, which took probably around 30 minutes. I had to watch a 10 minute video, which basically told me to always keep the gun facing the target and to yell “Cease Fire!” if I saw any unusual behavior or needed assistance in any way. We rented our guns, a Smith and Wesson semi-automatic handgun chambered in .22LR for me, and a Sig Sauer semi-automatic handgun chambered in 9mm for my friend. I did try the 9mm a few times, and was shocked by the big difference in power. I hope I described those correctly, I’m still learning.

The Range at Lake Norman is a state of the art facility. Here are some of its highlights, taken from the website:

• First woman owned firearms range and store in the Carolinas
• First state of the art firearms range and store in Mecklenburg County, offering facilities that are consistent with the current state Sheriff range qualification standards
• First solar powered firearms range and store in the United States
• First state of the art firearms range and store to serve the Lake Norman area in Mecklenburg County
• First all LED lighted firing lanes in the Carolinas
• First firearms facility in the Carolinas to offer ownership opportunities for our members
• First NSSF Five Star Range in Mecklenburg County

In the moment, I felt very safe and comfortable as I concentrated on doing everything carefully and correctly. I owe much of that to my friend who taught me how to handle the gun and patiently answered all of my questions. He showed me all the basics—how to load, aim, and fire, and how to stand and hold the gun. What made me nervous throughout the process was mostly being aware of the other strangers shooting nearby in other lanes. At one point, a safety officer came into the room and abruptly approached a shooter, telling him to be more careful with his gun because he had seen him pointing it in a dangerous direction, 90 degrees from the target and towards other people.

I’m really not sure how to best describe my overall experience and how I felt shooting a gun. I learned so much in the process and am now better informed about guns, so I’m very glad I went. However, I can’t say I enjoyed the experience to the extent that I would be excited to go again. I couldn’t help but think about the destructive consequences that can result from the gun I was using. As I faced the target, it felt a little too much like I was practicing to shoot a person. All but one of the targets you can choose from at the range are in the outline of a person. My knowledge of gun violence and personal investment in the issue has definitely influenced my way of thinking about guns. Nevertheless, I am so thankful to have had the opportunity of going to the range, especially with an old friend. As I continue to understand the issue of gun violence in our country and all arguments being presented, I’ll always have this invaluable experience to remember and reflect upon.

They deserve a vote!

They deserve a vote! (And they’re one step closer to getting one)

What happened this week in Congress…

In President Obama’s State of the Union address on February 12th, he made the plea for a vote on legislation to reduce gun violence, saying that the families and survivors of gun violence “deserve a vote.” Yesterday, these families are one step closer in reaching that vote, as the U.S. Senate approved a procedural motion to allow debate on the gun legislation proposed. The vote to debate the bill passed 68-31.

What is the legislation they will be debating and hopefully voting on in the weeks ahead?

The Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act is a compromise between Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Republican Senator Pat Toomey from Pennsylvania. It would expand background checks to include internet sales and all gun shows, crack down on straw purchasers of guns and enhance school security. However, the bill does not include background checks for gun sales and transfers between friends and acquaintances, and explicitly bans any sort of national firearms registry.

What happens now?

The Senate is now poised for weeks of intense debate on the issue of gun violence and gun rights in America, a deliberation not seen in Congress since the 1990’s. The Hill, a congressional newspaper,reports that not all Democrats can be counted on supporting the final bill and five Republican votes will be needed to send the bill to the House. Currently, Democrats only seem to have Republican Senators Toomey, the co-author of the bill, and Kirk set to support the legislation. There will likely be several amendments presented to the bill, and even a different bill entirely from Republican Senator Grassley. These amendments would need 60 votes to pass.

The threaten of a filibuster earlier in the week

The 68-31 vote overcame the attempted filibuster of the bill by several Republicans. Why Senators would refuse to even vote against legislation they disagree with is ridiculous, and according to Vice-President Biden, “embarrassing.” He wasn’t the only one criticizing the Republicans for threatening filibuster action this week.

Vice-President Biden on Tuesday

“What are you going to say to those parents? Look them in the eye and tell them you concluded there’s nothing you can do?” he said. “We have an obligation to try. We know if we do the things we’re talking about, we will save lives.”

Newtown families on Thursday

"The senators who have vowed to filibuster this bill should be ashamed of their attempt to silence efforts to prevent the next American tragedy…Their staunch opposition to sensible gun reform is an affront to the 26 innocent children and educators who were murdered in Newtown. No one should have to experience the pain we have endured – commonsense gun laws will help spare others from the grief we live with every day."

Senator John McCain on Sunday

“I don’t understand [the filibuster]. The purpose of the United States Senate is to debate and to vote and to let the people know where we stand.”

President Obama on Monday in Connecticut, addressing Sandy Hook families

“The day Newtown happened was the toughest day of my presidency. But I gotta tell you, if we don’t respond to this, that will be a tough day for me too. Because, we’ve got to expect more from ourselves. We’ve got to expect more from Congress. We’ve got to believe that every once in a while, we set politics aside and we just do what’s right. We gotta believe that.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Monday

“There is simply no reason for this blatant obstruction…Now when they encounter an issue that they’re afraid to debate in full public view they want to thwart debate all together.”

Legislation on guns on its way in U.S. Senate

The Senate Judiciary Committee recently passed four significant pieces of legislation in an effort to make America safer and reduce gun violence—the most controversial being the "Fix Gun Checks Act of 2013" and the "Assault Weapons Ban of 2013." The two other bills reported to the Senate were S.54, Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2013, a bill to increase public safety by punishing and deterring firearms trafficking, and S.146, School Safety Enhancements Act of 2013, a bill to enhance the safety of America's schools. In this post, I've offered some summaries of the legislation, some of the reasoning behind the opposition and support of the bills, and where we can expect to go from here.

S. 374, the “Fix Gun Checks Act of 2013,” sponsored by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), is a bill to ensure that all individuals who should be prohibited from buying a firearm are listed in the national instant criminal background check system and require a background check for every firearm sale.

S. 150, the “Assault Weapons Ban of 2013,” sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), was passed by a vote of 10-8 in the committee along party lines. Here is the brief summary of the bill:

The Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 bill prohibits the sale, manufacture, transfer and importation of 157 of the most commonly-owned military-style assault weapons. It bans an additional group of assault weapons that can accept a detachable ammunition magazine and have one or more military characteristics. In addition, the bill bans large-capacity magazines and other ammunition feeding devices that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.

But it exempts:

• Any weapon that is lawfully possessed at the date of the bill’s enactment;
• Any firearm manually operated by a bolt, pump, lever or slide action;
• Assault weapons used by military, law enforcement, and retired law enforcement; and
• Antique weapons.
• 2,258 hunting and sporting rifles and shotguns by specific make and model.

Additionally, the bill: 

• Requires a background check on all sales or transfers of a grandfathered assault weapon.
• Prohibits the sale or transfer of large-capacity ammunition feeding devices lawfully possessed on the date of enactment of the bill.
• Allows states and localities to use federal Byrne JAG grant funds to conduct a voluntary buy-back program for grandfathered assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices.
• Imposes a safe storage requirement for grandfathered firearms, to keep them away from prohibited persons.
• Requires that assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices manufactured after the date of the bill’s enactment be engraved with the serial number and date of manufacture of the weapon.

NRA Response

The National Rifle Association was quick to criticize the “Fix Gun Checks Act” and the “Assault Weapons Ban” with a press release, which they titled “U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Passes Semi-Auto and Private Sales Bans.” This release suggests that all semi-automatic weapons and private sales would be banned under these bills—a false and deceptive exaggeration. They say nothing of the thousands of firearms exempted from the ban in the bills. The NRA also makes the debate personal by describing an exchange between Senators Cruz and Feinstein at the Committee’s meeting, saying Feinstien “[scolded] Cruz for daring to ask questions.” From this statement, it would seem that Feinstein, the author of the bill, is attempting to advance her agenda without respecting the views of others or failing to respond to questions. However...

I watched the video from this meeting to find out what really happened and to hear all arguments made about the legislation. As the NRA said, “Sen. Cruz questioned Feinstein if it would be proper for Congress to determine which books are appropriate for citizens to read, or which persons could be exempted from Fourth Amendment protections.” In other words, he was asking if she thought Congress should limit other rights in the Constitution, since he felt she was limiting the rights of the second amendment. But as the U.S. Supreme Court stated in the Heller decision,

“Like most rights, the Second Amendment right is not unlimited. It is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose:  For example, concealed weapons prohibitions have been upheld under the Amendment or state analogues. The Court’s opinion should not be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms. Miller’s holding that the sorts of weapons protected are those “in common use at the time” finds support in the historical tradition of prohibiting the carrying of dangerous and unusual weapons.”

And so did Senator Feinstein “scold” Senator Cruz for “daring to ask questions” about this Constitutional question? Here’s what she really said:

“I’m not a sixth grader. Senator, I’ve been on this committee for twenty years. I was a mayor for nine years…I’m not a lawyer, but after twenty years, I’ve been up close and personal to the Constitution. I have great respect for it…The Heller decision clearly points out three exceptions, two of which are pertinent here…It’s fine you want to lecture me on the Constitution, I appreciate it. Just know I’ve been here for a long time, I’ve passed on a number of bills, I’ve studied the Constitution myself, I’m reasonably well educated, and I thank you for the lecture…I respect your views, I ask you to respect my views.”

Understanding the Issues

There were other concerns with the legislation brought up at the Committee meeting. I’ve responded to a couple of them below. I definitely recommend watching video of these meetings if you're interested in understanding both sides of the argument.

Senator Cornyn (R-TX): “We’re gonna give the American citizen a peashooter to defend themselves with. [This is] inadequate.” (referring to the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013)

Besides the fact that the Senator decides to use the word “peashooter,” I find it interesting that he fails to recognize the adequacy of the 2,258 weapons that are exempted from the ban. Apparently Mr. Cornyn believes that many weapons still aren’t adequate enough for an American to defend himself.

Senator Grassley (R-IO): “As a witness stated at the hearings, there’s no way to enforce universal background checks without implementing gun registration. I acknowledge Senator Schumer says that the federal law prevents such a registry, but federal law can be changed by federal law and this would be federal law requires the federal licensed dealer to keep a registration record of the transfer. Mass shootings would continue to occur, despite universal background checks, criminals will continue to steal guns and buy them illegally to circumvent the requirement. When that happens, we will be back again debating whether gun registration is needed and when registration fails, the next move will be gun confiscation.”

Universal background checks are NOT gun registration. And, as Mr. Grassley points out himself, “federal law prevents such a registry.” The idea that background checks would lead to gun confiscation is ridiculous. Furthermore, Mr. Grassley’s argument that federal law can be changed by federal law” is completely unsubstantiated. No one is saying that background checks will solve all our nation’s problems, but why would we have them on only some of the gun sales? Congress should be enacting laws like this to make it more difficult for criminals to get guns and the majority of Americans agree with me.

Looking Ahead

Though the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 passed the Committee, it will not be voted on as it currently is in the Senate. After a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Feinstein learned that the bill she would not make it to the Senate floor. Instead, it can be offered as an amendment to the eventual Democratic gun package. This Democratic gun package will be likely be voted on in April in the Senate and will go one of two ways, “a gun trafficking bill with a school safety provision and background checks and the assault weapons ban would then be offered as amendments” or “a background checks bill that includes the gun trafficking and school safety provisions, with assault weapons again offered as an amendment.”

Call your Senators at (202) 224-3121 to support these pieces of legislation coming up in the Senate in the next few weeks!