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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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Colorado: Lafayette Considering Carry Ban & Other Anti-Gun Proposals

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Colorado: Lafayette Considering Carry Ban & Other Anti-Gun Proposals

On June 21st, the Lafayette City Council will consider, on second reading, anti-gun legislation that was enabled by the ...

Virginia: 2022 Legislative Session Convenes Today

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Virginia: 2022 Legislative Session Convenes Today

Today, January 12th, the Virginia General Assembly begins the 2022 legislative session. The anti-gun majority in the House ...

NRA-ILA Winter 2021 Litigation Newsletter

News  

Friday, December 17, 2021

NRA-ILA Winter 2021 Litigation Newsletter

NRA-ILA’s Office of Litigation Counsel spent 2021 defending the Second Amendment across the country. As new cases were ...

Colorado: New Anti-Gun Bills Filed

Friday, April 30, 2021

Colorado: New Anti-Gun Bills Filed

Yesterday, anti-gun legislators filed more bills attacking the rights of law-abiding citizens.

Oregon: UPDATE Legislature Attempting to Combine Anti-Preemption AND Mandatory Storage Into Single Bill

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Oregon: UPDATE Legislature Attempting to Combine Anti-Preemption AND Mandatory Storage Into Single Bill

As we previously reported, anti-preemption legislation, SB 554, was scheduled for 2 Public Hearings and a possible Work ...

Oregon: Anti-Preemption Legislation Scheduled for Public Hearings this Week

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Oregon: Anti-Preemption Legislation Scheduled for Public Hearings this Week

On Wednesday, April 21, and Thursday, April 22, the House Rules Committee is scheduled to consider anti-gun legislation, Senate Bill ...

New Hampshire: House Passes Pro-Gun Measures

Friday, April 9, 2021

New Hampshire: House Passes Pro-Gun Measures

Earlier this week, the House of Representatives held floor votes on pro-gun measures, House Bill 307 and House ...

Iowa: Monroe Co. Sues IFC for Asking Them to Follow Law

Saturday, March 27, 2021

Iowa: Monroe Co. Sues IFC for Asking Them to Follow Law

Monroe County is suing Iowa Firearms Coalition, an NRA state affiliate, along with one of its members, in retaliation for ...

Wyoming: Committee Passes Bill Protecting Second Amendment Rights on Campus

Sunday, March 14, 2021

Wyoming: Committee Passes Bill Protecting Second Amendment Rights on Campus

On March 12th, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to pass Senate File 137 to ensure that Second Amendment ...

Victory in Washington Preemption Case

Monday, February 22, 2021

Victory in Washington Preemption Case

Today, the Washington Court of Appeals struck two firearms-storage ordinances under the state’s preemption law in an NRA-ILA case.

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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.