TruthOut10
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- Dec 3, 2012
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The corporate-backed American Legislative Exchange Council works hand-in-glove with the National Rifle Association.
It makes sense that everyones eyes angrily turned to the National Rifle Association (NRA) in the wake of the mass killing in Newtown, Connecticut. For too long, the NRAs deep war chest and lobbying apparatus has shaped the debate over guns in this country.
But theres another group working hand-in-glove with the NRA that deserves scrutiny: the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). ALEC, the Koch Brothers-backed group that is funded by big corporate interests, first attracted attention in the wake of the Trayvon Martin killing. The group, which brings together corporate interests, right-wing lobbyist groups and conservative politicians, passes model legislation that politicians take back ready-made to their state. The NRA has funded ALEC and co-chaired ALECs Public Safety and Election Task Force, which passes model bills on guns.
By way of the Center for Media and Democracys ALEC Exposed project, Digbys Hullabaloo blog posted links to some of the model legislation on guns the group is pushing. Here are 9 of the awful gun bills ALEC wants to bring to a state near you.
1. Guns on Campus
Dubbed the Campus Personal Protection Act, this model legislation would allow handguns to be carried on campus. The ALEC bill would also limit regulations that the governing boards of colleges imposed on the carrying of guns on campus.
The bill is part of a wave of concealed carry gun laws that have passed around the nation--some with ALECs help. As the Center for Media and Democracy notes , allowing concealed carry has been a long-standing part of the NRA-ALEC agenda, passing in Wisconsin a year ago at the urging of Governor Scott Walker, who was given an award by the NRA for making this item law along with a version of the controversial ALEC-NRA "Stand Your Ground"/"Castle Doctrine" bill. A concealed carry law also was just passed last week in Michigan .
2. Immediate Firearm Purchases
ALEC wants you to be able to get your gun--and get it fast. Blueprint legislation passed by the groups NRA-chaired Public Safety and Election Task Force would prohibit waiting periods from being used on gun purchases. The imposition of waiting periods for firearms purchases is a diversion of scarce law enforcement resources away from violent crime and criminals, the bill reads.
3. More Stand Your Ground Laws
The Trayvon Martin case made stand your ground laws, or Castle Doctrine laws, a household name. Martins killer, George Zimmerman, claimed that he acted lawfully in self-defense when he shot the unarmed teenager. Florida has a Stand Your Ground bill on the books that makes it more difficult to prosecute people for killing someone if they claim self-defense.
ALEC wants to bring more of these laws to your state. Heres how they sum up what the bill does: This act authorizes the use of force, including deadly force, against an intruder or attacker in a dwelling, residence, or vehicle under specified circumstances. Many states already have have stand your ground laws.
9 Horrible Gun Laws Backed by the Right Wing | Alternet
It makes sense that everyones eyes angrily turned to the National Rifle Association (NRA) in the wake of the mass killing in Newtown, Connecticut. For too long, the NRAs deep war chest and lobbying apparatus has shaped the debate over guns in this country.
But theres another group working hand-in-glove with the NRA that deserves scrutiny: the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). ALEC, the Koch Brothers-backed group that is funded by big corporate interests, first attracted attention in the wake of the Trayvon Martin killing. The group, which brings together corporate interests, right-wing lobbyist groups and conservative politicians, passes model legislation that politicians take back ready-made to their state. The NRA has funded ALEC and co-chaired ALECs Public Safety and Election Task Force, which passes model bills on guns.
By way of the Center for Media and Democracys ALEC Exposed project, Digbys Hullabaloo blog posted links to some of the model legislation on guns the group is pushing. Here are 9 of the awful gun bills ALEC wants to bring to a state near you.
1. Guns on Campus
Dubbed the Campus Personal Protection Act, this model legislation would allow handguns to be carried on campus. The ALEC bill would also limit regulations that the governing boards of colleges imposed on the carrying of guns on campus.
The bill is part of a wave of concealed carry gun laws that have passed around the nation--some with ALECs help. As the Center for Media and Democracy notes , allowing concealed carry has been a long-standing part of the NRA-ALEC agenda, passing in Wisconsin a year ago at the urging of Governor Scott Walker, who was given an award by the NRA for making this item law along with a version of the controversial ALEC-NRA "Stand Your Ground"/"Castle Doctrine" bill. A concealed carry law also was just passed last week in Michigan .
2. Immediate Firearm Purchases
ALEC wants you to be able to get your gun--and get it fast. Blueprint legislation passed by the groups NRA-chaired Public Safety and Election Task Force would prohibit waiting periods from being used on gun purchases. The imposition of waiting periods for firearms purchases is a diversion of scarce law enforcement resources away from violent crime and criminals, the bill reads.
3. More Stand Your Ground Laws
The Trayvon Martin case made stand your ground laws, or Castle Doctrine laws, a household name. Martins killer, George Zimmerman, claimed that he acted lawfully in self-defense when he shot the unarmed teenager. Florida has a Stand Your Ground bill on the books that makes it more difficult to prosecute people for killing someone if they claim self-defense.
ALEC wants to bring more of these laws to your state. Heres how they sum up what the bill does: This act authorizes the use of force, including deadly force, against an intruder or attacker in a dwelling, residence, or vehicle under specified circumstances. Many states already have have stand your ground laws.
9 Horrible Gun Laws Backed by the Right Wing | Alternet
