South Dakota Governor, Kristi Noem (R), who’s only been in office for a month, signed a bill repealing the law that requires people to have a permit to carry a concealed weapon in South Dakota. Noem said she was proud that this was the very first bill she signed into law in her gubernatorial freshman year. In her words, “It's special for me to … [Read more...]
New Restrictions on Semiautomatic Assault Rifles Go Into Effect in Washington State
In November 2018, voters in the state of Washington approved Initiative 1639, an omnibus gun control ballot measure that included a range of provisions. It was the most ambitious gun control ballot measure in the history of Washington State. And when the calendar ticked over to 2019 on January 1, one important element of the proposal – … [Read more...]
Fourth Circuit Temporarily Delays Emoluments Lawsuit Against Trump
(Photo Credit: Bin im Garten - CC 3.0) The Trump Administration won a temporary victory in December when the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a stay in a lawsuit filed by state attorneys general alleging that Donald Trump is illegally profiting from his private business interests while serving as President. The Fourth Circuit's ruling … [Read more...]
“Fetal Heartbeat” Law Unconstitutional, Rules Iowa Judge
In a recent controversial decision in Iowa, Polk County District Judge Michael Huppert ruled that Iowa’s fetal heartbeat law, which is the most restrictive abortion limit in the country, violates the Iowa Constitution and cannot be legally enforced. Citing the Iowa Supreme Court’s ruling in 2018 related to a different abortion restriction, the … [Read more...]
New Jersey Democrats Withdraw Gerrymandering Plan After Outraged Response
The national conversation over gerrymandering usually focuses on Republicans, especially in states like Wisconsin and North Carolina, where the state Republican Parties used a fortuitously timed 2010 wave to entrench their power in what are actually very competitive states. Obviously, this is not because Democratic politicians are so virtuous … [Read more...]
U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Challenge To Consumer Protection Bureau
On Monday the U.S. Supreme Court turned away a Texas bank’s constitutional challenge to the structure of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, passing up a case that could have led to more presidential power over an independent agency that President Donald Trump’s administration already has weakened, According to Reuters. The decision … [Read more...]
New Jersey Ban on Large Ammunition Magazines Upheld in Court
The state of New Jersey's ban on firearm magazines holding more than 10 bullets can be enforced, a federal court ruled in early December, a victory for the state and for gun control activists who argue the ban is a common sense gun safety rule. The ruling from the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia upheld a similar decision by a … [Read more...]
Death Penalty Support Falling According to Death Penalty Information Center Report
The Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) is a non-profit organization that studies the use of capital punishment in the United States. The DPIC does not hold a position of its own on the use of the death penalty but simply releases reports on its use throughout the 50 states. And, according to its report released in October 2018, support for the … [Read more...]
Multiple States Move to Expand Government Expression of Religion
A coordinated push by religious groups is resulting in an explosion of legislation across the country that mandates the inclusion of “In God We Trust” in schools and other constitutionally dubious public religious expressions. With a conservative majority on the Supreme Court, activists are hoping any litigation will result in important … [Read more...]
Kentucky Right to Work Law Upheld, Ohio Republicans Pass Stand Your Ground Bill
Republicans in control of the governments in two states – Ohio and Kentucky – won big victories in mid-November, as the latter's Right to Work law was upheld by a state court and the former's GOP-dominated legislature passed a controversial stand your ground bill. These victories show just how meaningful control of state governments can be, … [Read more...]
