Weapons laws and regulations
Nicole Golden, a spokesperson for Moms Demand Action, speaks to members of the media during a protest in front of the Texas Governor's Mansion, Thursday, June 17, 2021, in Austin, Texas, after Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill Wednesday that would allow Texans who are 21 years old or older to carry handguns without a permit. The permit-less carry measure will go into effect Sept. 1. (Ana Ramirez/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
Texas joins list of states dropping permit rules for guns

By Lindsay Whitehurst And Jim Vertuno Jun. 17, 2021 03:05 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 26, 2021 file photo, Dr. Anthony Fauci, speaks during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee looking into the budget estimates for NIH and the state of medical research, on Capitol Hill in Washington. On Friday, June 11, The Associated Press reported on stories circulating online incorrectly claiming people should stop wearing masks because leaked emails written by Fauci said masks aren’t effective against COVID-19. (Sarah Silbiger/Pool via AP, File)
NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn't happen this week

By The Associated Press Jun. 11, 2021 01:42 PM EDT

FILE - In this Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013, file photo, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington to introduce legislation on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition feeding devices. U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez of San Diego ruled Friday, June 4, 2021, that the state's definition of illegal military-style rifles unlawfully deprives law-abiding Californians of weapons commonly allowed in most other states. California first restricted assault weapons in 1989, with multiple updates to the law since then. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
California appeals court ruling upending assault weapons ban

By Don Thompson Jun. 10, 2021 04:21 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 9, 2021, file photo, House members meet in the Statehouse, in Boise, Idaho. Mainstream and far-right Republicans are battling for control of the party and the state in the deeply conservative state. (AP Photo/Keith Ridler, File)
Far-right Idaho Republicans battle to control party, state

By Keith Ridler Jun. 08, 2021 12:40 PM EDT

The annual "Rally to Protect Your Right to Keep and Bear Arms" is held at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., Monday, June 7, 2021. (Dan Gleiter/The Patriot-News via AP)
NRA's gun rights message not slowed by legal, money troubles

By Colleen Long Jun. 08, 2021 06:02 AM EDT

Editorial Roundup: New York

By The Associated Press Jun. 02, 2021 02:54 PM EDT
Albany Times Union. June 2, 2021. Editorial: Stop the gunfire The gun violence Albany is experience this year is part...

Illinois state Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, introduces Senate Bill 825, an election omnibus bill which would change Illinois' 2022 primary election from March 15 to June 28 along with voter access changes, on the floor of the Illinois House of Representatives at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Ill., Monday, May 31, 2021. (Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register via AP)
$41B budget, trickier issues face Legislature on final day

By John O'connor May. 31, 2021 06:15 PM EDT

Lawmakers focus on justice reform, guns as session wanes

By Sam Metz May. 21, 2021 11:21 PM EDT
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada lawmakers passed hundreds of bills this week to reform the criminal justice system, boost funding for K-12 schools and ban ...

Sen. Del Marsh talks on the senate floor during the last day of the regular session at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Ala., on Monday May 17, 2021. (Mickey Welsh/The Montgomery Advertiser via AP)
Alabama Legislature: What passed and failed on the last day

By Kim Chandler May. 18, 2021 01:09 AM EDT

A look at bills passed by the Missouri Legislature in 2021

May. 14, 2021 11:52 AM EDT
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers faced a 6 p.m. Friday deadline to pass legislation during their annual regular session. Here's a look at some of...

Missouri lawmakers pass high-profile gun bill on last day

By Summer Ballentine May. 14, 2021 06:17 AM EDT
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's Republican-led Legislature passed a high-profile measure to ban local enforcement of federal gun laws with just an hour...

House OKs doing away with purchase permits to buy handgun

By Gary D. Robertson May. 05, 2021 08:45 PM EDT
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina's long practice of county sheriffs granting permits to local residents before they can buy a handgun would end under...

Montana Legislature wraps up with $12B, two-year budget

By Amy Beth Hanson Apr. 29, 2021 07:03 PM EDT
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The Montana Legislature wrapped up its 2021 session Thursday having passed a $12 billion two-year budget, set a framework for spending $2...

FILE - In this June 20, 2019, file photo, the Supreme Court is seen in Washington as a storm rolls in. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal to expand gun rights in the United States in a New York case over the right to carry a firearm in public for self-defense. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Supreme Court to take up right to carry gun for self-defense

By Mark Sherman Apr. 26, 2021 12:20 PM EDT

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., accompanied by Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., speaks at a news conference after the Senate passed a COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act on Capitol Hill, Thursday, April 22, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Democrats move 2 bills showing strength and limits of power

By Alan Fram Apr. 23, 2021 12:22 AM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2018, file photo, semi-automatic rifles are displayed on a wall at a gun shop in Lynnwood, Wash. Lawmakers in Oregon are considering a proposed gun storage law that would be the among strongest in America (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
Oregon gun storage law would be among the toughest in the US

By Andrew Selsky Apr. 19, 2021 11:56 AM EDT

State Sen. Beth Mizell, R-Franklinton, the Senate's second-highest ranking member, speaks about legislative work in response to a report that details Louisiana State University's repeated mishandling of sexual misconduct allegations, on Friday, March 19, 2021, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Melinda Deslatte)
Louisiana lawmakers ready for latest session starting Monday

By Melinda Deslatte Apr. 10, 2021 10:14 AM EDT

Gun rights advocates sue lawmakers over virtual meetings

By Randall Chase Apr. 09, 2021 07:00 PM EDT
DOVER, Del. (AP) — Gun rights advocates have filed a federal lawsuit challenging continued virtual meetings of the Delaware General Assembly after Democrats...

President Joe Biden speaks about gun violence prevention in the Rose Garden at the White House, Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Biden orders gun control actions — but they show his limits

By Alexandra Jaffe, Aamer Madhani And Michael Balsamo Apr. 08, 2021 06:05 PM EDT

Editorial Roundup: Idaho

By The Associated Press Apr. 01, 2021 12:41 PM EDT
Recent editorials from Idaho newspapers: Idaho lawmakers prefer potholes over pupils April 1 The...