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Firearm Preemption Laws

Gun control supporters demand that state legislatures impose a wide variety of gun control restrictions within their borders. However, they hypocritically cry foul when legislatures use their power to limit gun control. Frustrated at their inability to convince state legislatures to adopt the restrictive firearm laws they propose, gun control supporters say that local jurisdictions should be able to adopt those restrictions independently.

Aside from gun control supporters’ hypocrisy, there are multiple arguments against local restrictions on basic firearm rights. Historically, some local jurisdictions have imposed clearly unconstitutional restrictions on gun ownership—the District of Columbia’s and Chicago’s since-overturned handgun bans being two recent examples. It also creates confusion when laws vary widely within a state, potentially placing otherwise law-abiding citizens at risk of violating an ordinance of which they were not previously aware, as they travel within their states, and more so when they travel outside their state of residence.

As a result, almost all states today have a law prohibiting local jurisdictions from imposing gun control restrictions that are more severe than state law.

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News  

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

West Virginia: Senate passes bill nixing local gun laws

The West Virginia Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would shoot down municipal gun control laws in cities ...

News  

Friday, February 14, 2014

Arizona could penalize cities for gun laws

The state of Arizona could impose fines on cities and towns that enforce gun ordinances stricter than the ...

News  

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Kansas: House panel reviewing preemption measure

A Kansas House committee is taking up legislation stripping cities and counties of any power to regulate guns ...

News  

Friday, February 7, 2014

Kansas: House panel to vote on gun rights measure

A Kansas House committee is preparing to vote on legislation stripping cities and counties of any power to ...

News  

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Nebraska: Bill would limit local gun restrictions

A Nebraska lawmaker is proposing legislation that would prevent cities and counties from enacting stricter gun regulations than ...

News  

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Tennessee: Bill would remove bans on guns in city parks

Cities in Tennessee could be forced to remove bans on handguns in their parks if a push underway ...

Fox News  

Friday, December 13, 2013

Vermont: Burlington may push gun control despite preemption in 2014

It's against state law to try to regulate guns in the Green Mountain State, but city officials here ...

News  

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

California: Oakland looks to toughen ownership rules under law

Oakland could become the first city in California to require residents to register guns with the city or ...

News  

Friday, September 6, 2013

Ohio: Oberlin's law on firearms in parks makes city a target for gun litigation

City Council is reluctantly mulling a change to its law that prevents firearms in city parks, as it ...

News  

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Illinois governor amends concealed carry gun legislation

Calling it a "flawed bill with serious safety problems," Gov. Pat Quinn changed a concealed carry measure Tuesday ...

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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.