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Alaskans Take Dim View of Obama’s Gun ProposalsState Speaker of the House files legislation to fight enforcementRelated Content
ANCHORAGE/JUNEAU - Alaskans have strong opinions about their guns. After President Obama unveiled a package of initiatives designed to curb gun violence, gun owners’ response has been clear: They don't like new limitations, and they don't like not knowing what these new laws will mean for the guns they already own. “I think it's ridiculous, and it’s totally against my rights,“ said Tamra Freeman, a mother and a gun owner. She said she’s not happy with the plans the president announced today. She said that taking guns out of the hands of responsible and law-abiding people would not keep the weapons from criminals. But not all Alaskans think the new proposals are a bad thing. “When the Constitution was written, they were taking like a minute to load like one shot for their firearms, right?” Darren Mackie asked. He’s not a gun owner, and said he’d never want one. “When they wrote it, the ‘right to bear arms,’ but now they’ve got guns that can shoot out like a thousand rounds a minute, or some craziness like that,” he said. He supported new background checks to obtain guns and said he agrees with the idea of limiting the number of rounds that are allowed to fit in a magazine. At Rabbit Creek Shooting Park in South Anchorage, gun owners were out practicing today. And while many declined to be interviewed on camera, one new gun owner said talk of the new federal restrictions are the reason he was there, practicing with a new gun he feared would soon be impossible to buy. At Alaska Custom Firearms, Gunsmith Stephen Koziczkowski said he thinks even the language used to discuss guns needs to be clearer. “High capacity magazines is another one of those things that are very subject to interpretation,” he said. “If a rifle comes out with a thirty round magazine, for that rifle, that is a standard-issue magazine.” What’s considered a high capacity magazine for one gun, Koziczkowski said, is simply standard on another. And the idea of better background checks, while well meaning, is another phrase that leaves gun advocate nervous. “Comprehensive is open to interpretation,” he said. “How comprehensive do you want to make the background check? Do you want to go through a federal security check like they do at the airport every time you buy a firearm? That takes weeks. That's pretty comprehensive. But even we've had people there slip through the cracks.” Despite the uncertainty, gun sales continue to soar in Alaska, and across the country. And though many questions remain about what Obama’s proposals mean for gun owners, demand for guns remains high. And with new regulations now in play, it's anyone's guess when manufacturers and retailers will be able to meet that demand. After the president's speech, a Nikiski lawmaker wasted no time filing legislation to combat some of the president's plans. House Bill 69, introduced today by Republican Speaker of the House Mike Chenault, would charge any federal employee with a misdemeanor if they tried to enforce any of the executive orders issued today by the president. This follows the lead of Wyoming and Texas, two states which have already introduced similar. bills. Chenault says the bill is important to protect gun rights in Alaska. “While its pretty harsh, I think Alaskans think that highly of their guns, and the rights to bear arms,” he said. “I think that they would probably support that issue.” But other lawmakers think Chenault has overstepped his bounds. “I think the idea of arresting federal officials is just about as bad an idea as you can have, and I'm surprised that any person would file such a bill,” Anchorage Democratic Senator Hollis French said. “You know I support the second amendment, but that is now what this bill is about. This bill is apparently about bringing back the civil war.” French added, “When you talk about arresting federal officials, you're asking for an incitement, and that's not the right way to solve problems in America, you sort of look for constructive solutions, and this isn't one.” Chenault says he had been working on the bill before the president's announcement today. For his part, French says he doubts the bill will leave the House. |
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ben said on Friday, Jan 18 at 8:48 PM
steve is right! check at the airport same for all, goverment officials go around the security checks as the way they will with guns....
111676161Paul Revere said on Friday, Jan 18 at 10:48 AM
Alaskans are bound by the same rules and regulations as the rest of us in the lower 48. Don't fight it, just lube it up and bend over!
111636351Really? said on Thursday, Jan 17 at 11:40 PM
AKGuns: the Bill of Rights *is* part of the constitution; the first ten amendments. The Constitution affords you that right. It was written in 1787, adopted in 1789. The Revolutionary War ended in 1783, so, no, neither the Constitution - or the Bill of Rights - were written to fend off invading Brits. And if they knew that we'd use it to justify assault weapons and high capacity clips being thrown into the hands of any untrained idiot (outside of a well regulated militia) for a cash exchange, they'd have swam back across the Atlantic. Google before you opine about things you clearly have no knowledge of.
111598822freedom fighter said on Thursday, Jan 17 at 3:58 PM
'those who give up essential liberty for temporary safety deserve neither' - benjamin franklin
111576415John said on Thursday, Jan 17 at 8:48 AM
Does anyone know how to pull up the gun bills he signed? They seem impossible to pull up. I think it is our right to read them.
111541222Anonymous said on Thursday, Jan 17 at 8:18 AM
Everyone knows that the Sandy Hook shooter was a direct result of Obamacare (drugged up). Now he wants to take our guns, how ridiculous...
111538831alaskan said on Thursday, Jan 17 at 1:52 AM
Did someone say they were going to take my guns? I missed that.
111516456yeah why bother to get a gun? said on Thursday, Jan 17 at 1:02 AM
Everyone I know owns guns...so if I would be needing one they would let me borrow it...but most I know would opt to put in security cameras and see what is wrong and what is lacking first...to find out why I would need to borrow it...out here it's live entertainment...
111514941Akguns said on Thursday, Jan 17 at 12:40 AM
you don't even own a BB gun, you fool no one.
111514571Prob said on Thursday, Jan 17 at 12:29 AM
Problem with Alaska now is the libs ruined other states and now run here as a last bastion. Run them out, and we regain our freedoms. Everywhere libs meddle there are unintended consequences and they keep ignoring them because they know better, like bammy using the word common sense, he needs some.
111514251Sure said on Thursday, Jan 17 at 12:24 AM
They say getting an ID for a voter disenfranchised minorities and elderly, but for a gun it's fair game. The Fed won't enforce immigration laws, or pot laws, but new guns laws they will enact and enforce. Credibility is crud. Just talking points with no idea on the right way to deal with and issue, once again.
111513952cooljulie said on Thursday, Jan 17 at 12:16 AM
This is becoming an issue of emotion instead of common sense. We can't play the 'when the constitution was written' game. Life is dramatically different now, so either we re-write the entire thing, or we accept the wisdom of the founding fathers. Do you think Jefferson sat there musing that 'these modern muzzle loaders are becoming a threat to society; why, bow and arrows were never this dangerous!' Anyone with access to the internet, the same internet which allows you to read this comment, can learn to build or modify a firearm. The lunatic bent on shooting up a school IS GOING TO DO IT. All the laws in the world won't change that fact. Innocent wide-eyed kids huddled around the president in a manipulative photo shoot won't change that fact. Taking away every last gun and piece of ammo from us, the common citizens, won't change that fact. Should we outlaw cars because someone at the wheel can mow down dozens of pedestrians? Use your BRAIN people!!!
111513702AKguns said on Wednesday, Jan 16 at 11:57 PM
so sick of hearing the defence of the constitution and the 2nd amendment. I own semiautomatic weapons but no where in the constitution does it give me, a regular citizen the right to own a firearm. this is stated in the bill of rights written 250 years ago to protect my home from invading British soldiers.
111513096gunowner said on Wednesday, Jan 16 at 11:45 PM
we are surrounded by crazy people . the government is not taking our right to own a firearm away . there is nothing wrong with a complete background check . get a grip people .
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