Still Report #1018 – June Gun Sales Crush Previous Record

from Bill Still

lass=”” >Guns flew off the shelves of U.S. gun shops last month.
The FBI processed 2.1 million gun-related instant background checks in June, a 29% increase over last June and the 14 straight month in a row to see a new background check record.
Typically, June’s gun sales begin a summer-long decline as Americans head off for the beach with children out of school – but not this year. Gun rights activists believe the spike is from the surge of Islamic terror incidents, along with the requisite calls by Democrats, President Obama, and Hillary Clinton to push for addition gun control measures.
Last Friday, California governor Jerry Brown signed 6 new gun control measures, but vetoed 5 others. One of the new laws required law-abiding residents to turn in hi-capacity ammunition clips – those holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition – and require background checks on ammunition sales.
According to Sen. Loni Hancock, the Democrat who sponsored the bill:
“These … high-capacity magazines are not for target shooting or hunting. Their sole purpose is to kill as many people as possible in the shortest period of time.”
However, Governor Brown vetoed 5 other gun control measures, sending them to be voted on by the California electorate in November.
One such measure would make firearm theft a felony and require ammunition vendors to report lost or stolen supplies within 48 hours.
And there may be evidence that older California gun control measures are working. According to a study by the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, gun death rates fell 56% in California from 1993 to 2010.
However, Republican Assembly member Shannon Gove, in arguing against the measure signed on Friday said:
“Criminals who are not authorized to have firearms in the first place are not going to register to buy ammunition. It’s absurd.”
Will these new measures be upheld as Constitutional? That will depend on future votes by the U.S. Supreme Court.
I’m Still reporting from Washington. Good day.