A great ideological and legal gulf divides Americans on the issue of the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. The state of Washington passed an assault weapon ban that Democrat Governor Jay Inslee promised to sign – with more gun control sure to come. Republican Governor Ron DeSantis signed Florida’s constitutional carry bill into law, removing the permit requirement for concealed carry. Both of these most recent developments occurred in the month of April! As disparate factions move entire states to opposing poles on the issue, where does the Second Amendment stand in America? What is the balance – and how will it affect the people?
Blame the Guns, Ban the Guns
Presently, nine states and the District of Columbia have so-called assault weapons bans in place. California and New York are likely the most obvious, but also on the list are Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Hawaii, Delaware, and Illinois – with those last two, respectively, being the most recent states to enact such laws. The ban in Illinois just went into effect in January, and already it has been challenged in court and by counties that have declared themselves “Second Amendment Sanctuaries.”
But Washington looks to be state number ten. HB 1240, which prohibits the manufacture, sale, or purchase of so-called assault weapons, passed the state House 55-42 on March 8 and the state Senate 27-21 on April 8. Though there should have never been any question as to whether anti-gun Governor Jay Inslee would sign it, he dispelled any such fantasies shortly after the bill’s passage in an interview with MSNBC. The governor promised to sign the assault weapons ban “in the next couple of weeks,” and hinted at more gun control to come in the next year or so. According to the governor, “we need to do several things,” including requiring a firearms safety course before one can purchase a weapon and adding a ten-day waiting period before any sale can be concluded.
Two other states have such Clintonian or Biden-esque gun control measures in the works. Colorado Representative Elisabeth Epps and state Senator Rhonda Fields – both Democrats – introduced HB23-1230 on March 3. Democrats control both houses of the General Assembly, enjoying a 23-12 majority in the Senate and 46-19 lead in the House. Democrat Governor Jared Polis has called for a ban since at least as early as 2013. Washington may be the next “assault weapons ban” state – but it seems a safe bet Colorado won’t be far behind.
On April 11, Sen. Heidi Campbell and Rep. Bo Mitchell – again, both Democrats – introduced SB 1569 and HB1579 in their respective chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly, which would also prohibit the sale or purchase of an “assault weapon.” Of course, that’s a pipe dream. The Volunteer State is about as close to the exact opposite of Colorado as one can get. “As governor, I’ll oppose any attempt to ban an entire (class) of weapons,” Republican Bill Lee declared in 2018. And even if he weren’t against it, the GOP controls the House 75-24 and the Senate 27-6, easily giving Republicans the power to overturn any veto. No Tennessean need fear a ban any time soon.
An Armed Society
Ron DeSantis (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has long opposed gun control, signed GB 543 into law on April 3, saying simply: “Constitutional Carry is on the books.” As the 26th state to join the movement, Florida tips the scales. Now a majority of states supports – at least to some degree – the idea that the Second Amendment of the Constitution is the only permit people require to go armed. Of course, Floridians beware: The law doesn’t go into effect until July 1. Until then, concealed carry will still require a permit.
As of July 1, open carry will remain, in most cases, illegal. However, Floridians will no longer be required to get a concealed carry permit to carry a firearm concealed, and people who do have a license won’t have to have it with them and show it to law enforcement. These are important distinctions for two reasons. First, thinking that “constitutional carry” in the Sunshine State applies to open carry can cause all sorts of legal woes. Second, the fact that Florida will still have a permit available leaves open an important option. Most of the top companies offering self-defense or concealed carry insurance require concealed carry permits for their most comprehensive plans.
Back in 2022, Liberty Nation named Florida, Georgia, and Nebraska as the states to watch. Florida and Georgia can be taken off the list, as they’ve joined the movement. Nebraska’s “permitless constitutional carry” bill, LB77, passed the first round in the state legislature on Friday, March 3. The Cornhusker State’s unicameral legislature has a 32-17 GOP majority, and Republican Governor Jim Pillen seems to support gun rights, so perhaps Nebraska will be the next constitutional carry state. In South Carolina, the House passed a constitutional carry bill in February, and the Senate will likely vote on it soon. Should both states follow Georgia and Florida, the number would rise to 28. Montana,* which has had a constitutional carry law in effect since 2021, is also considering changing the state constitution to match. If HB 551 can get the support of 100 legislators, it would then go on the 2024 ballot for the people to decide.
A Nation on the Move
(Photo by Seth Herald/Getty Images)
So that’s nine – soon to be ten, and then probably 11 before very long – states plus the nation’s capital that embrace strict gun control compared to 26, potentially as many as 29, states going the opposite direction. Should we expect to see this trend exacerbate the exodus from blue states already in effect?
“Sometimes, you have to make progress state by state, not necessarily in the congressional field,” Governor Inslee said in the MSNBC interview. And really, what could be more American than that? Never mind the fact that people can’t simply be satisfied with changing their own state laws – many on both sides are gunning for sweeping federal control. In theory, gun control fanatics should be thrilled to live in states like California, New York, and Washington. And for those who long for the freer days of yore, the ever-growing constitutional carry movement is opening up options. On the other hand, it traps those unable to move in a hell of fear and dread – for one group, that they’ll be gunned down any day, and for the other, that the government is coming for their guns.
But back to the national level. As progressive laws take effect, tightening the noose on issues as diverse as school choice, gun rights, and taxation, conservatives and even some middle-of-the-road types are fleeing the tyranny. If that trend continues, how will it affect the electoral map in years to come?
*Editor’s Note: The Montana mention was updated Wednesday, April 19, to correct a mistake, as it originally said that Montana was considering constitutional carry. But as an astute Liberty Nation reader pointed out in an email, Montana joined that club in 2021.
