Please halp me formulate a letter to my preresentatives.
http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_democrats/repsites/r86/R86_20070103.html
http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_democrats/repsites/r86/R86_20070103.html
Orentlicher offers three proposals to curb gun violence
INDIANAPOLIS — State Rep. David Orentlicher (D-Indianapolis) announced today that he will file three proposals for consideration in the 2007 session of the Legislature that are designed to curb the increases in gun violence that have taken place in Indiana and other states.
Orentlicher's initiatives, contained in House Bills 1089 and 1090, would make it more difficult to make mass purchases of handguns, particularly at gun shows, and restore Marion County's right to pass ordinances regulating guns.
"By any reasonable assessment of the situation, criminals from other states are taking advantage of Indiana's gun laws to purchase large numbers of handguns and other weapons," Orentlicher said. "Indiana has become a gunrunning state, and part of the reason is that the laws here are so lax that we are practically encouraging the criminal element to come here to buy their guns."
Orentlicher said one proposal, contained in House Bill 1090, will limit everyone to one handgun purchase a month.
"This language is aimed at one of the biggest problems faced by law enforcement today: the use of so-called 'straw purchasers' who buy guns in bulk, then sell them for use in crimes," he said. "Virginia had a similar problem with people purchasing guns that were used in crimes across the Northeast U.S. Once that state instituted a limit on purchases, there was a substantial decline in the numbers of guns from Virginia used to commit crimes."
Orentlicher said House Bill 1090 also will require criminal background checks at gun shows.
"Right now, if you are a criminal, you can go to an unlicensed seller at one of these shows and purchase a gun with virtually no questions asked," Orentlicher said. "There are no background checks, and if you have the money, you can walk away with as many guns as you would like."
House Bill 1089 would restore Marion County's ability to pass gun control ordinances, a right taken away by the Legislature in 1994.
"Right now, state law preempts any local ordinances in this area, a direct slap in the face of the concept of home rule," Orentlicher said. "With the marked increase in violence in Indianapolis and Marion County that has been seen over the past year, I believe we must amend this law to enable urban areas to enact the types of measures that can be reasonably expected to help address these crimes committed by handguns and other weapons."
Orentlicher noted that Indiana's gun laws have helped create an environment where criminals can thrive.
"Right now, you don't have to register a gun in Indiana," Orentlicher said. "You don't have to have a license or a permit to purchase a gun. There is no waiting period to purchase a gun. There are no limits on assault weapons. State background checks are not required for rifles, shotguns and most assault weapons. In fact, there are virtually no limits of any type on assault weapons.
"If we are to be serious about ending this cycle of violence, we cannot ignore the impact of guns," he concluded.
Both measures will be eligible for consideration when the Legislature resumes its session on Monday (January 8).
