A smarter path to firearm safety through property rights

July 1, Eric Ruben, an assistant professor at the SMU Dallas Dedman School of Law, for an op-ed suggesting establishing property rights law and policy can help New Yorkers to safeguard their domains against an influx of concealed carry proponents following the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen ruling. Published in the New York Daily News under the heading A smarter path to firearm safety through property rights: https://bit.ly/3yfSEPg

New York State legislators were called back for a special session this week to consider a groundbreaking response to the Supreme Court’s far-reaching expansion of gun rights. Last week’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen will make it easier for people to obtain concealed-carry gun licenses in New York and across the country. But nothing in the Second Amendment — nor anywhere else in the Constitution — gives people a right to carry guns onto other people’s private property.

An astute group of policymakers is aware of this and crafted a commonsense legislative response to the Bruen decision. Alongside vital changes to the training requirements for gun permits and other reforms, the legislation requires gun owners to have express permission from property owners in order to carry their guns onto private property: homes, stores, restaurants, offices, nightclubs, movie theaters and the like.

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‘Boyfriend loophole’ stalls bipartisan Senate gun deal. It’s time to close it.

June 21, Natalie Nanasi, assistant professor of law at the SMU Dallas Dedman School of Law and co-author Jeana Foxman, for an op-ed calling immediate passage of gun legislation that closes the “boyfriend loophole.” Published in the Orange County Register under the heading ‘Boyfriend loophole’ stalls bipartisan Senate gun deal. It’s time to close it: https://bit.ly/3HExizg

When 19 children were gunned down last month in their fourth-grade classroom in Uvalde, Texas, the worst nightmare of each victim’s family became a horrible reality. Since that fateful day, families across the country wake up with vacillating feelings of guilt-ridden gratitude and utter fear.

Silver linings seem callous in this instance, but the unspeakable tragedy has finally compelled our elected officials to take action to reform our nation’s gun laws. The “bipartisan framework” announced this week is the most promising action on gun control we have seen in a generation.

Progress is being derailed, however, by some lawmakers’ objections to closing the so-called “boyfriend loophole.” Federal law prohibits those who have committed domestic violence against a spouse or former spouse —  or a person they currently live, previously lived, or share a child with — from possessing a gun. Adolescents and teenagers — who are less likely  to be married, have children, or be living with anyone other than their parents — are left unprotected from an abuser with a gun. Such as a boyfriend.

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What god gave you the right to guns?

Sept. 5, Deanna Hollas, Perkins alum now serving as coordinator of the Gun Violence Prevention ministry of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, for an op-ed calling for an end to gun violence. Published in The Hill: https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/460194-what-god-gave-you-the-right-to-guns

On Aug. 31, Texas experienced its second mass shooting in as little as four weeks. Texas House Rep. Matt Schaefer responded to the call to “do something” on Twitter by saying he has no plans to support legislation that limits access to deadly weapons because it is a “God-given right.” I don’t know what god House Rep. Schaefer is referring to, but as a pastor, I can say it is not the god of Jesus.

Some form of Jesus’ command to love God and love thy neighbor appears in each of the four gospels. When something appears in all four gospels, it clues us in to the fact that this is a primary teaching. We think Jesus wasn’t clear about who we are to love, but he also tells us to love our enemies. This means that everyone is included in Jesus’ command to love. It is impossible to love another human when one is preparing to take up arms against them.

 

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