[Ruger Collector]

Article[/URL]":tyr42kn8]A Senate bill proposes to make it unlawful for the governor or any government entity to restrict the lawful possession of firearms during a declared state of emergency. SB157, sponsored by Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Lehi, proposes to prohibit the restriction or confiscation of a firearm or ammunition during an emergency. Specifically, the government would not be able to restrict the lawful possession, transfer, sale, transport, storage, display or use of a firearm or ammunition. The bill, which is in Senate Rules, provides exceptions, such as if a firearm is confiscated in self-defense, if an individual is committing a felony or misdemeanor or if a person is not legally allowed to possess a firearm.

 

[bane]

*WOW* -- Seeing a bill like this one is certainly encouraging.

 

[Paul]

So how do we help support this bill? can I just write to my Senator and tell him I support this bill?

 

[Car Knocker]

The text of SB157 can be found here:
http://se10.utahsenate.org/perl/bb/bb_find.pl

 

[bane]

So how do we help support this bill? can I just write to my Senator and tell him I support this bill?

Yep. Or email. Or call.

 

[Ruger Collector]

You can find your senator here, just click on your district a few times and you'll get their email, phone and snail address.

http://se15.utahsenate.org/perl/spage/distmapal.pl

You folks in Utah County should contact Sen. Madsen and express your appreciation for this bill.

 

[Ty]

Looks like a good bill. I've written to my senator and forwarded the bill to a few friends emails to have them write to theirs.

 

[doconix]

You folks in Utah County should contact Sen. Madsen and express your appreciation for this bill.

Note that he is asking us to thank Sen. Madsen because he authored the bill. Those of us in Utah County actually have several senators -- be sure you write to the right one in support of the bill. Sen. Madsen is not over the entire county.

 

[bane]

Here's the text of the email I wrote to my Senator:

Senator Waddoups,

I am writing to you in reference to SB157, "Rights of Citizens to Carry Firearms in Declared Emergency", sponsored by Senator Madsen. I am in support of this bill and am asking for you to add your support to it as well.

As we have seen in times of emergency (such as Hurricane Katrina), our community's First Responders are typically completely overwhelmed and unable to provide an adequate response to private citizens in need of assistance. In such times, the criminal element also typically thrives. Private law-abiding Citizens are left without any means to secure their lives and property except for their inherent Right to self-defense. There are numerous examples throughout recent history of law-abiding Citizens defending themselves and those around them from criminal assault by utilizing their Right to bear arms.

SB157 recognizes this real need. Without this bill, our Right to self-defense stands a very real threat of infringement during times of great emergency. Without SB157, only law-abiding Citizens would, in reality, be disarmed. The criminal element, by their very nature, will not subject themselves to emergent disarmament. Securing the Rights of the law-abiding is the only means of maintaining social order in such times and is the best way to limit murder, rape, assault, and theft.

Thank You for Your Time,

[Me and my address]

 

[bane]

Here's the reply I got from my Senator... not only was he quick, but I'm glad to see that Taylorsville and W. Jordan are being well-represented:

Thank you for your correspondence. I agree with you and will support
the bill and your request.

Senator Waddoups
Representing Taylorsville & West Jordan

 

[Ty]

Letter I wrote to Senator Dayton who represents Orem

Senator Dayton
I am writing to you to ask if you would review S.B. 157, the bill that protects the rights of citizens who own firearms in a declared emergency, and that you would support this bill. I believe that this bill, unfortunatly, is required, after the confiscation of citizens firearms duiring the emergency that took place in New Orleans during the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. I believe that there is no reason to disarm the public, who legally are able to purchase a firearm, during a declared emergency.

Reply

Tyler - thanks for your input on this issue.
i am a second ammend rights advocate - and a member of the NRA.
We're on the same page.
Senator Dayton

 

[Jeff Johnson]

Quite a number of states have passed or are considering such a bill. This is in response to the disgusting, unconstitutional and disgraceful events in New Orleans perpetrated by the Nagin administration there. Almost all of the guns confiscated there have yet to be returned to their lawful owners even though they've been ordered by multiple court rulings to do so.

This bill is an excellent step.

 

[Strategic Tactical]

I was in New Orleans right after the hurricane..... This was not a good time to be there. We had our firearms but we wee in uniform as security contractors and had no problems with our firearms....I just wrote my senator and am waiting a reply from him. I will post what he says on here.

 

[DBL Tap]

Thanks for the heads-up on this bill. I wrote my Senator, Carlene Walker, urging her support. She responded that she is supporting this bill.

I would urge everyone who hasn't already contacted their ellected official regarding this bill to do so. Although Utah is very pro-gun, its in our best interest to remind the politicians of our views.