States that have passed gun control are getting the publicity it seems. New York with its SAFE Act and Colorado with the magazine restrictions (among others) seem to show that the pendulum is swinging the other way on the right to keep and bear arms.
What do the numbers tell us?
Right to Keep and Bear Arms is a DKos group of second amendment supporters who have progressive and liberal values. We don't think that being a liberal means one has to be anti-gun. Some of us are extreme in our second amendment views (no licensing, no restrictions on small arms) and some of us are more moderate (licensing, restrictions on small arms.) Moderate or extreme or somewhere in between, we hold one common belief: more gun control equals lost elections. We don't want a repeat of 1994. We are an inclusive group: if you see the Second Amendment as safeguarding our right to keep and bear arms individually, then come join us in our conversation. If you are against the right to keep and bear arms, come join our conversation. We look forward to seeing you, as long as you engage in a civil discussion.
First, a
link to the NYTimes.
About 1,500 state gun bills have been introduced since the Newtown massacre. 178 passed at least one chamber of a state legislature. 109 have become law.
In the 12 months since the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., almost every state has enacted at least one new gun law. Nearly two-thirds of the new laws ease restrictions and expand the rights of gun owners. Most of those bills were approved in states controlled by Republicans. Those who support stricter regulations won some victories — mostly in states where the legislature and governorship are controlled by Democrats — to increase restrictions on gun use and ownership. Select categories from the table below to see all gun bills that passed at least one chamber of a state legislature.
Ok, so what are the pro/anti numbers? (Or for those who argue that point of view, the pro-RKBA vs pro-gun control numbers?)
Thirty nine laws have tightened firearm restrictions. Seventy have loosened firearm restrictions. In order to get a good breakdown, I suggest going to the link above and selecting which type of law (public carry, mental health, guns in schools, etc). You'll get an overall view and a state by state breakdown.
Does this surprise anyone?
The one graphic that I AM going to spell out is the partisan breakdown for these laws.
Democratically controlled state legislatures and Democratic governors passed 25 gun control laws and three pro-RKBA laws. Republican controlled state legislatures and Republican governors passed nine gun control laws and 49 pro-RKBA laws. States with mixed control passed five gun control laws and 18 pro-RKBA laws.