Last Thursday, Vice President Joe Biden told reporters that new gun laws will not change the likelihood of another mass shooting. He also noted the impact of the tragedy in Newton, Conn. had on America’s gun control views.
According to Biden, there are things that can be done that can save some lives without having any impact on American’s Second Amendment rights to own a weapon for self-defense and recreation.
“Nothing we’re going to do is going to fundamentally alter or eliminate the possibility of another mass shooting or guarantee that we will bring gun deaths down to 1,000 a year from what it is now,” Biden said to reporters on Jan. 31.
After the Newton shooting took place, Biden was put in charge of a push to get Congress to pass gun control legislation by Pres. Obama. Obama has called for a ban on assault weapons, gun magazine size limits and universal background checks among other things.
Speaking on behalf of the hearing held by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, Biden said the meeting had little to do with gun violence. Instead, Biden says Democrats and gun-violence victims debated with Republicans and the National Rifle Association on the impact of universal background checks. The main argument was whether or not these background checks would reduce the rate of gun crimes.
Meanwhile, on the same day of Biden’s interview, members of the Wyoming House gave initial approval to House Bill 104. This bill would nullify any gun laws passed by the U.S. Congress dealing with magazine clips or semi-automatic weapons.
Because the constitution says that states are not permitted to pass laws that would displace federal legislation, this move by Wyoming House members has been said to be unconstitutional. It also has been deemed unnecessary because Congress has not passed any new gun laws to be nullified.
Kendell Kroeker, a Wyoming State Representative, argued this accusation, saying that congress has yet to pass any gun laws and so the nullification approval in no way violates the Constitution.
“It is clearly a different case than trying to nullify something that’s already in existence,” Kroeker said.
House Bill 105 was amended last Wednesday calling to allow not only concealed, but also open carry in schools for those with state-issued concealed carry permits. The House also passed House Bill 216 on first reading, a bill enabling judges to decide who is able to have a deadly weapon in a court room.
HB 104 has made amendments to enforce misdemeanor charges for federal employees to try to enforce gun laws in the state of Wyoming. This is slightly less harsh than the original bill, which amended for felony charges. The next step for the approved bill is to go to the Wyoming Senate. With the 23-7 Republican majority over Democrats, it has potential to receive more support.
