Do you remember just three years ago, when crazed anti-gun petty tyrants shutdown the gun stores in Anchorage?
We fought that fight, and the stores that should never have been closed were re-opened.
Right now, legislation is being considered in our state legislature, that could either protect our rights (limit the government), or harm our liberties.
It is known as House Bill 61 (HB61). The Senate companion legislation is SB63.
Both of these bills are being marketed as protecting your gun rights during times of emergency or disaster declarations.
This is not true.
The proposed legislation claims to prevent gun stores and shooting ranges from being shut down by disaster declarations or emergency orders.
It actually does the opposite. The legislation would give government the power to shut down gun stores and ranges, along with other stores and businesses.
Both bills have the fatally flawed poison-pill phrasing. Starting page 1, line 15:
(4) unless the closure or limitation applies equally to all forms of commerce within the jurisdiction, closing or limiting the operating hours of…
The first half of that sentence gives government the authority to shutdown all commerce relating to firearms.
Right now, the authority in state law to shutdown gun stores doesn’t exist. This bill (as written) would add it into our law books.
Why is it okay to shutdown gun stores, as long as you close every other store at the same time?
It isn’t. This is unacceptable.
It’s time to urge your legislator to reject the phrase: “unless the closure or limitation applies equally to all forms of commerce within the jurisdiction”.
This legislation claims to prevent gun stores and shooting ranges from being shut down by disaster declarations or emergency orders.
As it is currently written, it actually does the opposite.
That specific language allows government to shut down gun stores and ranges, along with other stores and businesses.
We’ve been communicating to the committees that heard this legislation, and they’ve all failed to fix it.
Now, it’s time to activate and urge the legislature to fix HB61.
It has been announced that it will be on the State House Floor on Monday.
Right now, your legislator needs to hear from you!
You can reach out to your Representative and demand that they do the right thing and fix HB61.
Tell them to offer an amendment, or support an amendment on Monday to fix the bill.
Your message could be something as simple as:
Dear Representative,
I urge you to fix HB61 and remove the current flawed language that allows the government to shutdown gun stores (at the same time as all other commerce).
Sincerely,
Call or email them now:
Representative Jamie Allard Representative.Jamie.Allard@akleg.gov 907-465-2995
Representative Ben Carpenter Representative.Ben.Carpenter@akleg.gov 907-465-3779
Representative Julie Coulombe Representative.Julie.Coulombe@akleg.gov 907-465-3879
Representative Mike Cronk Representative.Mike.Cronk@akleg.gov 907-465-4527
Representative David Eastman Representative.David.Eastman@akleg.gov 907-465-2186
Representative Neal Foster Representative.Neal.Foster@akleg.gov 907-465-3789
Representative Craig Johnson Representative.Craig.Johnson@akleg.gov 907-465-3892
Representative DeLena Johnson Representative.DeLena.Johnson@akleg.gov 907-465-4958
Representative Kevin McCabe Representative.Kevin.McCabe@akleg.gov 907-465-2679
Representative CJ McCormick Representative.CJ.McCormick@akleg.gov 907-465-4942
Representative Tom McKay Representative.Tom.McKay@akleg.gov 907-465-4993
Representative Dan Ortiz Representative.Dan.Ortiz@akleg.gov 907-465-3824
Representative Josiah Patkotak Representative.Josiah.Patkotak@akleg.gov 907-465-3473
Representative Mike Prax Representative.Mike.Prax@akleg.gov 907-465-4797
Representative George Rauscher Representative.George.Rauscher@akleg.gov 907-465-4859
Representative Justin Ruffridge Representative.Justin.Ruffridge@akleg.gov 907-465-2693
Representative Dan Saddler Representative.Dan.Saddler@akleg.gov 907-465-3783
Representative Laddie Shaw Representative.Laddie.Shaw@akleg.gov 907-465-4945
Representative Will Stapp Representative.Will.Stapp@akleg.gov 907-465-3004
Representative Louise Stutes Representative.Louise.Stutes@akleg.gov 907-465-2487
Representative Jesse Sumner Representative.Jesse.Sumner@akleg.gov 907-465-4833
Representative Cathy Tilton Representative.Cathy.Tilton@akleg.gov 907-465-2199
Representative Frank Tomaszewski Representative.Frank.Tomaszewski@akleg.gov 907-465-4457
Representative Sarah Vance Representative.Sarah.Vance@akleg.gov 907-465-2689
Representative Stanley Wright Representative.Stanley.Wright@akleg.gov 907-465-2095
And if none of those listed are your representative (or you’re not sure who is), reach out to the Speaker’s office and urge Speaker Tilton to fix HB61:
Representative Cathy Tilton Representative.Cathy.Tilton@akleg.gov 907-465-2199
Now is the time to let your voice be heard.
Time to step up and use your 1st Amendment right to defend your 2nd!