Alaska House fires back at proposed federal gun registration

[lukem]

The Alaska House sent a message to Washington, D.C. last week opposing a measure that would require federal firearm licensing for some guns.

All 40 representatives signed onto House Joint Resolution 17, sponsored by Rep. John Harris, R-Valdez. The Senate is working through a mirror resolution.

Introduced by Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., the national bill isn’t expected to go far, National Rifle Association spokeswoman Rachel Parsons said.

Sen. Gene Therriault, R-North Pole, initiated the resolution and asked Harris to sponsor the House version urging Congress to oppose House Resolution 45, the Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009.

The federal bill would require a federal license to possess certain firearms, including handguns and some rifles. The bill also makes it a felony to violate license-related rules.

“Right now, there are no co-sponsors,” Parsons said. “But the minute we stop taking bills like this seriously is the minute it does start going somewhere. We are staying vigilant.”

Therriault sponsored the resolution because he believes the federal government has no right to make a step toward firearms registration and government control, he said. Senate Joint Resolution 6 was approved by the State Affairs Committee and referred to Judiciary.

“In the state of Alaska, (a gun) is a tool that people use,” he said. “Legislation that might make sense back in New York does not fit the state of Alaska, with our hunting and fishing heritage and wild areas and rural lifestyle.”

Alaskans concerned about their right to bear arms should make their positions known loudly at even small efforts to alter those rights, he said.

NRA spokeswoman Parsons said people should be “outraged” on attempts like HR 45 to restrict gun rights, noting that the group does not trust President Barack Obama on gun rights issues.

Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s chief of staff, signed onto a similar bill introduced last year by Rush. And, Attorney General Eric Holder on Wednesday said the administration will take steps to reinstate a ban on assault weapons that was signed into law in 1994 by Bill Clinton, and allowed to expire in 2004 under George W. Bush.

Alaska’s Congressional delegation is opposed to HR 45, and they don’t expect to gather much steam.

Rep. Don Young, a Republican, said he’s “very excited” that state legislators are so solidly behind the Second Amendment.

“This is the holy grail, as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “This is an issue not only about freedom, but individual rights.”

He said resolutions such as the one approved by the state House are helpful in sending a message to gun-control advocates in Congress. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski told Alaska legislators last week that she finds resolutions of will useful in Washington, D.C.

Her spokesman, Michael Brumas, said Murkowski opposes HR 45 as “unacceptably invasive and very likely unconstitutional.”

Sen. Mark Begich, a Democrat, also is opposed to the “extremely onerous infringement on Second Amendment rights,” press secretary Julie Hasquet said.

Source: Newsminer.com

[hatteras]

Thanks for the information. I wonder how expensive it would be to move to Alaska! Thank ?GOD we have states that see the absurdity of this. Other states should show their resolve to defeat legislation like this. Vigilance is still necessary by all Proud, Patriotic Americans. I urge all that read this to contact their representatives...see post by me to do so easily!

[OldOwl]

Not to derail the thread, but since you asked... I read about a Dr. who'd had enough of the red tape and decided to move to Alaska, and ended up needing about 50 permits stamps and licenses just to move and set up shop there. Quite expensive.

License and Permit Information: Division of Administrative Services - Alaska Department of Fish and Game