Senate Bill 543, a bill which will suspend Second Amendment rights and confiscate firearms without sufficient due process, is currently in the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee awaiting a hearing. In addition, the committee also has Senate Bill 700 to ensure law-abiding citizens may carry firearms for self-defense on public transit. Please contact committee members and ask them to OPPOSE SB 543 and SUPPORT SB 700.

Senate Bill 543, sponsored by Senator Jamilah Nasheed, allows the seizure of an individual’s firearms on baseless accusations without a hearing or other opportunity for the person to be heard in court. It permits the government to seize firearms based on weak evidence and nebulous standards of evidence.

A person subject to a suspension of a Constitutional right should be entitled to high evidentiary standards, an opportunity to be heard, and the right to face his or her accusers. Civil liberties advocates from across the political spectrum have expressed concerns on these “red flag” bills and how the procedure might lead to abuses of the process because of insufficient due process protections.

Senate Bill 700, sponsored by Senator Bob Onder, removes the prohibition on law-abiding citizens carrying firearms for self-defense on public transit property and in vehicles. In addition, it allows law-abiding citizens to transport unloaded or non-functioning firearms on buses. This repeals an arbitrary “gun-free zone” that does nothing to hinder criminals while leaving law-abiding citizens defenseless. It ensures that citizens with varying commutes throughout their day and of various economic means are able to exercise their Second Amendment rights and defend themselves.

Again, please contact committee members and ask them to OPPOSE SB 543 and SUPPORT SB 700.