This life-saving law takes effect immediately.

Today Governor Kate Brown signed Senate Bill 941, legislation to require criminal background checks on all handgun sales. The law takes effect immediately, and background checks will be required on all transfers — with some exceptions, as outlined in the bill — in 90 days.

“We did it. I wish that my mom could be here today — she’s the reason I have worked to support this bill, and I know she would be so proud of all of us,” says Jenna Yuille, whose mother Cindy Yuille was killed at the Clackamas Town Center shooting in 2012. “Universal background checks are going to save lives. I don’t want any other family to have to go through what my family has gone through.”

A coalition of Oregonians including moms, mayors, law enforcement, gun violence survivors, gun owners, veterans, faith leaders, students, public health experts and other gun violence prevention advocates came together to support SB 941, and many advocates joined Governor Kate Brown today for a signing ceremony.

“I am so grateful for everyone who has worked toward this victory: From the volunteers who worked to elect a gun sense majority in the Oregon legislature, to those who showed up at the statehouse to testify, and directed thousands of calls and emails to lawmakers demanding our representatives pass the background checks that 81 percent of Oregonians support,” said Anneliese Davis from the Oregon chapter of Moms Demand Action.

“I applaud Governor Kate Brown and our legislators who supported this bill. Thanks to their leadership, it will soon be much more difficult for criminals in Oregon to get guns,” said retired Portland Police Chief Mike Reese, who testified in favora of the bill in April. “Today is a great day for law enforcement and all Oregonians. Background checks save lives.”

Research from Everytown for Gun Safety found that background checks are proven to help prevent crime and save lives. In states with background checks on all handgun sales, 46 percent fewer women are killed by intimate partners, there are 48 percent fewer gun suicides, and 48 percent fewer law enforcement officers are killed with handguns.

This comes just six months after voters in Washington State passed background checks by ballot measure, making Oregon the 18th state to pass legislation that requires criminal background checks on all handgun sales.

For several decades, North Carolina’s background check law has kept guns out of the hands of felons, domestic abusers, and the dangerously mentally ill. Repealing the state’s background check requirement would allow felons and other dangerous people to evade background checks and arm themselves. The bill would eliminate permits for purchasing a handgun, meaning that no criminal background check would be required before buying from an unlicensed seller.

“Thanks to sneaky tactics by gun lobby-backed legislators the repeal of criminal background checks has been slipped into an omnibus bill — and it could soon be easy for dangerous people to buy firearms in our state. North Carolina Moms are watching this very closely and we will remember who sides with the NRA — instead of the 87 percent of North Carolinians who support background checks,” said Sarah Green, volunteer chapter leader of N.C. Moms Demand Action, which has more than 101,000 supporters in the state.

“Why would our legislators vote against the will of the majority of the people of North Carolina and against the scientific evidence that shows background checks save lives? Ensuring public safety, not political favors, is the obligation of our elected officials. We’re waiting for them to do the right thing for the people of North Carolina,” said Karen Halderman of Durham, a volunteer with N.C. Moms Demand Action.

“As a mom, the safety of my children is my number one priority,” said Christy Clark of Huntersville, a volunteer with N.C. Moms Demand Action. “When I’m taking them to the park or the grocery store, the last thing I want to worry about is if a stranger with a gun is a law abiding citizen or has a violent criminal record. This bill just doesn’t make sense … Why would legislators knowingly support a bill that could allow guns to easily fall into the hands of those who shouldn’t have them like domestic abusers and violent felons? That isn’t good for the safety of my children or the safety of North Carolina families.”

North Carolina lawmakers have to look no further than Missouri to see the dangerous consequences of repealing background checks. Since the state repealed its background check requirement in 2007, 68 more people are shot to death each year. This is a 25 percent spike in the state’s gun homicide rate, which is now the fifth highest in the country.

Everytown for Gun Safety released a new poll this week, showing that 87% of likely NC voters support requiring background checks for all handgun sales.

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The New Hampshire chapter of Moms Demand Action lauded Governor Maggie Hassan for declaring that she will veto dangerous gun legislation when it comes to her desk. SB 116 would repeal the permit requirement for carrying concealed, loaded handguns in public in the state.

In her statement on SB 116, Gov. Hassan stated, “New Hampshire’s current concealed carry permitting law has worked well for nearly a century — ensuring the Second Amendment rights of our citizens while helping to keep the Granite State one of the safest states in the nation… I intend to veto this measure if it passes.”

Under current law, a person must have a concealed handgun permit to carry a loaded handgun in public. New Hampshire is one of 30 states that give local police departments or other permit issuers the authority to deny a permit when there is reason to believe a person is a danger to the community.

According to the Union Leader: “Before the House voted on SB 116, Hassan told members of the N.H. Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America she would veto the bill when they delivered hundreds of postcards urging her to block it.”

“Thankfully, Governor Hassan is standing with New Hampshire moms and families — and the 73 percent of Granite Staters who support the existing concealed carry permit system,” said Amy Moore of Concord, a volunteer leader with New Hampshire Moms Demand Action. “We are grateful to have her leadership in maintaining the sensible public safety measures that will keep our communities safer from gun violence.”

“As a survivor of gun violence, a mom, and a resident of New Hampshire who cares deeply about reducing gun violence in our state, I was honored to stand alongside New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan today as she pledged to veto SB 116,” said Clai Lasher-Sommers of Westmoreland, a volunteer with Everytown for Gun Safety. “We currently have in place a line of defenses that helps ensure dangerous people are not carrying guns on New Hampshire streets. Governor Hassan’s leadership in defeating SB 116 ensures that these basic safety standards and permitting system stay in place, and helps protect New Hampshire residents from gun violence.”

New Polling released today by Everytown for Gun Safety shows 73 percent of Granite Staters support New Hampshire’s existing concealed carry permit system.

On April 14th the Oregon State Senate passed Senate Bill 941 with a 17–13 vote. This legislation would require criminal background checks on all gun sales — including private sales between strangers who meet online.

“Oregon Moms are proud to see that the Senate stood on the side of public safety by voting to close the loophole that makes it easy for convicted felons and other dangerous people to get guns,” said Anneliese Davis, volunteer chapter leader with the Oregon chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Now it’s time for the House to do the same and take this important step to help keep our families and communities safe from gun violence.”

Independent polling by The Oregonian has shown that 81 percent of Oregonians support background checks on all gun sales.

Everytown for Gun Safety, the country’s largest gun violence prevention organization, has released original research including “Officers Down,” an analysis of FBI data that revealed more than half of Oregon police shot to death in a 30-year span were murdered by people who were likely prohibited from possessing guns, and “No Questions Asked,” which found that one in 18 Oregonians seeking guns in unlicensed online sales is prohibited from buying guns.

Background checks are proven to help prevent crime and save lives. In states with background checks on all handgun sales, 46 percent fewer women are killed by intimate partners, there are 48 percent fewer gun suicides, and 48 percent fewer law enforcement officers are killed with handguns.

guns in Missouri.

What do rapists, arsonists, and child sex traffickers have in common? The NRA thinks they should all be able to legally own firearms under Missouri law.

Under Missouri law, felons are prohibited from having guns. NRA-endorsed HB 1220 would change Missouri law so that only convictions for “violent felonies” restrict gun ownership.

This list reflects just a few of the types of felony crimes that are not included in that definition. If HB1220 passes, people convicted of any of these crimes would be allowed to have a gun under Missouri law:

• Attempted Rape in the First Degree (when no injury results)
• Attempted Forcible Rape in the First Degree (when no injury results)
• Deviate Sexual Assault
• Sexual Assault/ Rape in the Second Degree
• Statutory Rape in the First Degree (unless victim under 12)
• Statutory Rape in the Second Degree
• Abusing an Individual through Forced Labor
• Trafficking for the Purpose of Slavery, Involuntary Servitude, Peonage, or Forced Labor
• Trafficking for the Purposes of Sexual Exploitation
• Sexual Trafficking of a Child
• Voluntary Manslaughter
• Involuntary Manslaughter
• Assault in the Second Degree (unless a special victim)
• Assault in the Third Degree
• Domestic Assault in the Second Degree
• Domestic Assault in the Third Degree
• Assault while on School Property
• Assault of a Law Enforcement Officer in the Second Degree § 565.082
• Felonious Restraint
• Child Abduction
• Invasion of Privacy in the First Degree
• Infanticide
• Promoting Prostitution in the First Degree
• Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree
• Promoting Prostitution in the Third Degree
• Promoting Travel for Prostitution
• Robbery in the Second Degree
• Arson in the Second Degree
• Knowingly Burning or Exploding
• Causing Catastrophe
• Use or Possession of Metal Penetrating Bullet During the Commission of a Crime
• Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
• Promoting Child Pornography in the First Degree
• Promoting Child Pornography in the Second Degree
• Possession of Child Pornography
• Repeated Cross Burning
• Rioting
• Promoting a Civil Disorder in the First Degree
• Making a Terrorist Threat
• Killing or Disabling a Police Animal
• Trafficking Drugs in the First Degree
• Treason
• Supporting Terrorism

This is the NRA leadership’s extremist vision for America: guns for everyone, everywhere, no questions asked. Join the fight to Stop Crazytown today.

Source: Everytown for Gun Safety’s analysis of the Missouri Revised Statutes