With 2017 now past, it’s time to turn our eyes to 2018 and all that it holds in store. While there’s no doubt that 2018 holds a lot of promise in a variety of ways, it also almost certainly holds plenty of battles that must be fought when it comes to protecting our Second Amendment rights. For gun rights proponents, here are the biggest issues we need to keep a watch on heading into 2018.
Getting States to Honor the Reciprocity Act
In 2017, Congress took a big step toward protecting the Second Amendment rights of American citizens by passing the Reciprocity Act. The Reciprocity Act dictates that states must honor concealed carry permits regardless of the state that they were issued in. Before the Reciprocity Act, a state such as New Jersey – which does not recognize out-of-state permits – could arrest a citizen who is carrying a concealed weapon with a permit issued outside the state of New Jersey and subject them to a 3.5 year minimum prison sentence.
The Reciprocity Act is a huge step in keeping atrocities such as this from happening and securing the rights of Americans to defend themselves no matter which state they are in., However, the bill still has a lot of opponents, and there are sure to be some important court battles in the near future that will be instrumental in ensuring it is upheld by all states.
Gun Rights for Medical Marijuana Cardholders
In a move that is highly questionable from both a legal and logical standpoint, the ATF has deemed it illegal for medical marijuana cardholders to purchase a firearm. New to the background check that firearm dealers must conduct is the question of whether the applicant uses marijuana. If the answer is yes, then a sale cannot take place.
Of course, the reality is that medical marijuana cardholders do not present any more danger than someone who consumes alcohol, someone who is on prescription drugs, or any other citizen, for that matter, and denying them the right to own firearms is unprecedented and unconstitutional. With more and more states moving to legalize marijuana, something must be done to prevent the ATF from using marijuana’s legalization as an excuse to restrict Second Amendment rights.
Avoiding Complacency Heading into the Midterms
When Donald Trump won the 2016 election and immediately moved to fill the courts with conservative, pro-gun judges, many gun rights activists breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed, for a while at least, that the gun grabbers had been knocked back decades in their efforts to restrict the Second Amendment. However, while we may have won the last battle, the war is far from over.
Taking control of the courts was huge for gun rights, however, Congress is every bit as powerful as the courts when it comes to protecting (or eliminating) gun rights, and headed into 2018, Congress is very much up for grabs. To make matters worse, gun control activists are currently grossly outspending gun rights activists.
The gun control group realized they were dealt a heavy blow in 2016 and 2017, and there’s nothing more dangerous than a cornered animal. While gun rights activists are relaxing, gun control activists are out fighting tooth and nail. It’s essential, then, for us to realize that there is still a lot to be lost and a lot to be gained. If we hope to secure Second Amendment rights for generations to come, we can’t sit back on recent victories and expect them to remain forever.
Heading into the 2018 midterms and beyond, gun rights supporters must continue to fight as hard as they always have with their voices, their votes, and their pocketbooks. It’s an unfortunate reality that 2017’s many victories have made us complacent, and when it comes to protecting our right to own firearms there is nothing more dangerous than complacency.
Conclusion
2017 was a great year for American freedom, and the potential certainly exists for us to continue winning key battles in 2018 and beyond. Winning those battles, though, starts by recognizing that they exist, then doing whatever it takes to ensure that preservation of freedom is always the outcome. With all of that said, here’s to the success we had in 2017 and the battles we must continue to fight in 2018.
~ American Gun News
When it comes to guns laws, the activists and people in Congress are protecting the criminals. You say tougher gun law will keep weapons off the street, I say bull …t because a criminal will get a gun from the underground somewhere some how. I also feel that if you have a concealed and carry from another state and you move, you should be able to show that to county or state representative in charge of the concealed and carry and issue a concealed and carry for that state. I am a gun owner, and damned if I am turning my guns overs. I will stand up for the 2nd amendment right to bare arms.
This is why Mandatory Drug Testing for every NEW Firearm Purchase or Transfer through an FFL Dealer is so important. The TSA Swab Technology used to test Flight Crews and Transportation Workers (Like Train Engineers) and Public Safety Officers….like TSA……is not invasive, quick and the result could be submitted to NCIC.
Seriously? You think that every NEW firearm purchase needs to have mandatory drug testing? I’m 52 years old and buy guns and ammo all the time. Bow shores a drug test prevent a gun from vetting into the wrong hands? FYI, since you seem to be so concerned for everyone’s safety and appear to be a gun control or anti gun person why not test for alcohol use? Maybe they need to test for someone in pain pills? Let’s be serious for a moment. There were over 88 THOUSAND alcohol related deaths last year and over 63 THOUSAND deaths from opioids and or meth. There were only anny 5,700 gun deaths and half of those were suicides. Explain how guns are a big problem that the gov’t or someone whose never seen touched or used a firearm can ban me of my 2nd amendment rights? I hunt every year to provide for my family as we can’t afford to purchase meat from the store. I’m on permanent disability and live on a very low income now. People have been Brain washed into thinking guns are such a bad thing. The media doesn’t report that there were over 1.5 million crimes prevented by law abiding chin carrying citizens because then that goes against there political platform. I know I’ve personally stopped 2 break ins while living in GA. Did I shoot them, no? Would I have been in the right of the law, yes at that time. You see, gun owners that carry are much more educated about guns and the consequences of using. It’s the people that have been scared by politicians because the see a scary gun in a movie and think all those guns are scary and need to be taken away from law abiding citizens. You get a CCW you have to pay lots of money, take classes and pass background checks. Those of us who carry aren’t the ones you need to be afraid of. It’s politicians which is the reason we have the 2nd amendment in the 1st place. I probably won’t be alive but someday there’s going to be a civil war here in America over the 2nd amendment rights and I know I’m preparing my family to be safe and protected from tranny. The DEMS or libs want us to live in a socialist country so we have to live under there control. Sorry I’m a free thinking American and don’t and won’t be controlled by the gov’t.
Are you really that stupid ? While your at it why not want breathalyzers required in every vehicle ? And only allow a family to have only one child (like China ) and require children to go to school 7 days a week 365 days a year . Yes it is THAT STUPID !
James Hood, you are obviously wrong.
Please consider the amazing success of the war on drugs; drugs are very hard to find these days….the war on gangs; gangs have been nearly eradicated in the US…the war on crime; soon, crime will be but a distant memory…
@Cynicles…Not sure what planet you dwell on, but as for this one, if it is so hard to find drugs these days, why do a keep reading of very frequent deaths from drug overdoses in the news? And, as for gangs being eradicated, why do nearly every police department in the country still have gang units? MS 13 has only been slowed down, but is still in business despite the intervention of the Feds to assist local gang units of the police. Might be a cool idea if you lay off of whatever you’re drinking. It might give you a little better focus on what’s really going on.
LEAVE THE GUNS ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOD GIVEN RIGHT!!!!
I agree