A map of firearm registration laws in the United States...

[spin]

For an interactive version of the map visit http://www.opencarry.org/register.html

Lots of interesting maps on the site including this one about restaurant carry.



or this map on private transfers.



edited to add maps

[TPaine7]

1. "But, but, is that gun registered?" n/t

[tosh]

2. OMFG.....

what have we become?

[mvccd1000]

3. Free? nt

[spin]

4. Here's an interesting map of states that allow concealed carry...

and a really neat interactive map to see what other states honor your carry permit as legal can be found at
http://www.usacarry.com/concealed_carry_permit_reciprocity_maps.html

[old mark]

12. People doing what they want to do without government interference.

Why is it so hard to accept this?

mark

[spin]

20. A lot of the gun control movement is based on racism ...

and the fear of allowing "those people" to be armed.

[tosh]

27. In the spirit of good discussion,

I'd like to say that I sense just the opposite. I sense that many are arming themselves "to protect" from "those people".

[spin]

29. The minority communites are well armed ...

the KKK doesn't do any night rides anymore. White sheets make good targets.

[tosh]

32. I see that we are neighbors, spin.

I live to the west of you. I don't hear any "2A" terminology or discussion among my AA friends and colleagues, but it comes up frequently in some caucasian circles. I find it interesting that you see this so differently from me.

[spin]

34. I spent 37 years in the Tampa Bay area ...

and I had numerous AA co-workers and friends. Many owned firearms. I also introduced a number of my minority co-workers to shooting and at least two now have a concealed carry permit.

The shooting range I shot at in those days had a number of Hispanic and Black members who shot on a regular basis and were strong supporters of the 2nd Amendment.

Currently, where I now live at, my next door neighbor is Black and has a concealed carry permit. We recently discussed the best firearm for him to buy for everyday carry. He was fond of several small 9mm pistols but being an old timer I was trying to convince him of the advantages of a small snub nosed revolver like the S&W Model 642.

It's possible that I have discussed firearms with more AAs than you because I've always been very open about my gun ownership and was viewed as a reliable source of information on handguns at work. One of my Black co-workers would often tell people about how I introduced him to shooting and the good times we had at the range even at company meetings. Often people would just walk up and ask me about how to get into shooting and what firearms to buy for self defense. I was always glad to give advice and would give them a number of good internet links to research. I also would invite them to the range to try several of my firearms before they decided what to buy.

[tosh]

37. That makes sense...

that you would have those discussions. I did not / do not doubt that the minority community is well armed. I was startled at the thought that the pro-control pov could be perceived as racist. That really took me by surprise.

I live in the panhandle but my hometown (where I spend a LOT of time) is in rural southwest Georgia, the "blue belt", which has a very large AA population. In both areas, gun ownership is a way of life and taken for granted. But in discourse about gun rights that I've been subjected to lately, the term "criminals" seems to be a euphamism for "those people".

Thanks for having this discussion with me. I really do appreciate it.:hi:

[SteveM]

43. You may be interested in how racial fears spawned gun-control...

From journalist Robert Sherrill, an early advocate for gun control, commenting on the passage of the Gun Control Act of 1968: "...to shut off weapons access to blacks... while leaving over-the-counter purchases... to the affluent." Note: he did not condone the motivations (race) for explaining the passage of the act.

SEE: www.georgiacarry.org Search locally for legal briefs and read the one submitted on behalf of Heller. It is an excellent summary of the myriad laws keeping blacks from owning arms, from the Colonial Period, through the ante-bellum era, through Jim Crow, up into the early part of the 20th Century. Even NYC's "Sullivan Laws," nearly outlawing guns in that city, were based on anti-Italian, anti-immigrant hysteria.

I don't worry about some loud-mouth "arming themselves 'to protect' from 'those people.'" Most of "those people" can readily and legally acquire firearms -- unless you are black and living in Chicago, NYC, D.C., S.F., and other locales. D.C.'s system of gun bans will crumble, as will Chicago's in the pending McDonald case. (BTW, McDonald is a black citizen of Chicago.)

Note: early in his career as a civil rights leader, MLK applied for a concealed-carry permit. He was denied.

[proteus_lives]

30. Grabbers will not admit it though.

They get steamed when you mention the racist, elitist roots of gun control.

[spin]

35. I am sure that those who oppose firearm ownership by civilians ...

have many reasons for their views. Unfortunately, some have a fear of armed minorities and in some cases it may be subconscious.

I have been very fortunate to have Black and Hispanic co-workers and friends. I remember one friend who grew up in the 50s and how we spent hours discussing the racism he experienced in Mississippi.

I personally grew up in a rural area of Ohio and there were only two African Americans in my high school class. One was the quarterback for our team and his sister was a cheerleader. They were very popular.

I joined the Air Force and first encountered racism when I made friends with some of the Black airmen I served with. Some of the other airmen ostracized me which I simply ignored.

Racism in any form pisses the hell out of me. That's one reason I oppose the draconian gun control laws in many of the large cities and some states in our nation. I favor the right of any citizen who can pass a NICS background check to be able to buy a firearm if he wishes. I firmly back "shall issue" concealed carry permits as they eliminate the ability of some biased Sheriff or state government official to deny an American citizen the right to carry based on the color of his skin or gender.

edited for composition.

[onehandle]

14. A nation scared of our own shadows, thanks to decades of Republican fear mongering. nt

[spin]

18. Criminals don't like armed citizens ...

in fact they fear armed citizens more than police.

The new laws have caused criminals to be more afraid of honest citizens and being armed causes honest citizens to be less afraid of criminals.

The Democratic Party has been on the wrong side of the gun control issue for decades. Effectively, our party has shot itself in the foot by supporting foolish "feel good" laws that accomplished nothing.

As these graphs show 32% of Democrats live in households with a firearm, and 23% personally own a firearm. And no they don't just own a firearm for hunting, 69% of Democrats own a firearm for self protection (more than either Republicans or Independents) but Democrats also enjoy target shooting and hunting.





graphs from http://www.gallup.com/poll/21496/gun-ownership-higher-among-republicans-than-democrats.aspx

This 2006 Gallup shows that Republicans do favor gun ownership higher than Democrats but my question is how many Democrats deserted their party over this issue? How many Democrats chose to vote for a pro-gun Republican in state and congressional races rather than lose their rights to own firearms by voting for a Democrat who favored strict gun control?

Many people have large monetary investments in their gun collections and enjoy using their firearms for sporting purpose but also realize that they are useful for self defense. When their sport, hobby and security are threatened they will hold their nose and vote for a Republican.

Gun control is a losing issue for Democrats and Obama seems to understand this.

[onehandle]

21. Look out behind you, a criminal!

Made you look.

[spin]

25. LOL (n/t)

[proteus_lives]

31. So owning a gun means you're scared?

I'd like to hear the logic behind that little gem.

[beevul]

39. Indeed, I wish those republican bradys would shut up. N/T

[GreenStormCloud]

17. We have become a nation with a much lower violent crime rate. N/T

[SteveM]

42. What are you afraid of?

[virginia mountainman]

5. Very Good post...

It is really eye opening to some, to show just how far we have come..

We are the mainstream.

[tosh]

6. We? Like I said...OMFG.

[virginia mountainman]

7. Yes, "We"....

We are Pro-Civil rights here on DU are we not??

[friendly_iconoclast]

8. And the murder rate has been declining in recent years.

What's not to like?

[spin]

9. To many Democrats this is an indication of progress ...

to others it's an indication of insanity.

It is surprising how times have changed since Florida allowed "shall issue" concealed carry.



Another surprising graph shows that violent crime in the U.S. has underwent a dramatic decrease during this time frame.



Obviously the amount of firearms in civilian hands skyrocketed during this period with some estimates showing as many as 300 million firearms in our country and 40% of homes having at least 1 firearm.

Thirty-eight percent of Americans report having a gun in their homes, and another 2% say they have a gun elsewhere on their properties (like in a garage, barn, or car). The percentage of Americans reporting they have a gun in their homes has hovered around the 40% mark since 2000.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/14509/americans-guns-danger-defense.aspx

It's also interesting to see how many Democrats own firearms.





and why people own firearms



and how it breaks down according to party affiliation.



Note: the last four graphs can be found at:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/21496/gun-ownership-higher-among-republicans-than-democrats.aspx

[PavePusher]

13. Would you care to state what the problem is?

Or are you only here to indulge in hysterics?

[spin]

10. Thanks for the support. (n/t)

[Hoopla Phil]

11. Great post. Recommended.

[X_Digger]

15. k&r n/t

[GreenStormCloud]

16. That many states that allow CC in restaurants without it being a problem...

...and it still gets argued against by some of the gun-control advocates here.

That many states with "shall-issue" CC, and some of the gun-controllers still try to argue against it.

[spin]

19. Just as many said that every state that would pass "shall issue" ...

concealed carry laws would turn into the "Wild West". Many predicted that states that passed "Castle Doctrine" and "Stand your Ground" law would have Avon ladies killed when they rang door bells.

Constantly yelling "The sky is falling, the sky is falling" is a poor tactic when the sky doesn't fall.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

22. I believe Ohio is incorrect on your first map.

Ohio resident here. I know of no localities that require registration of anything.
On top of that, Ohio has state preemption so laws throughout the state should be uniform.
As the state does not require registration, local registration would be prohibited.

[spin]

23. Question on Cleveland ...

This info may not be up to date ...

Chapter 674 — Handgun Possession and Sale
Complete to June 30, 2009

674.05 Registration of Handguns; Application; Fee

(a) Application for a handgun registration card shall be made in writing by the person claiming to be the owner of the handgun to be registered at any office where identification cards may be issued under Section 674.04. The application shall be accompanied by an application fee of two dollars ($2.00) for each handgun to be registered, which shall be paid into the Treasury of the City, with separate accounting made for it When satisfied that the applicant holds a valid identification card and is not in that class of persons prohibited from holding the same, a registration card shall be issued to the applicant no sooner than three (3) days and no more than sixty (60) days after the date of application.

(b) All registration cards issued under this section shall be entitled "City of Cleveland, Ohio, Handgun Registration Card;" be serially numbered according to a system devised by the Chief of Police; bear date of issue, the name of the Chief of Police, the applicant's name, home address, identification card number, the signature of the applicant; and contain the name, type, caliber, and serial number of the handgun. A copy of each registration card shall be retained by the Chief, together with a copy of the application, which documents shall be maintained on permanent file by the Chief and shall not be deemed a public record nor be disclosed to unauthorized persons.

(c) Any person who sells or otherwise transfers possession of a registered handgun shall, within five days of the date of transfer of possession of the handgun, surrender the registration card for the handgun with the name, address, or social security number, and identification card number, if required by law, of the buyer endorsed on it, to any office where identification cards are issued, and obtain a receipt for it. The office receiving the same shall immediately cancel the registration card.
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/clevelandcodes/cco_part6_674.html

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

26. Ohio has state preemtion that came with the Castle Doctrine law.

Technically, Columbus still bans assault weapons too.
The old laws are still on the books. For awhile cities were still trying to prosocute on them.
The cases got thrown out before they ever went to court and false arrest charges are files.

I lived in east-cleveland for nearly 4 years... handgun registration is history.
The laws are there but they carry ZERO weight and cannot be legally enforced.
To rub it in their faces, open-carry marches have been held in columbus and cleveland. ROFL.

[spin]

28. That's good news ...

I grew up in Ashtabula, Ohio and I still have fond memories of the state although I prefer living in Florida. I'm glad Ohio is finally catching up to Florida on gun rights and you guys also allow open carry which we prohibit.

I don't miss shoveling snow though.

[kimjamey69]

24. knr

[proteus_lives]

33. Good maps. We still have work to do but we've made great progress!

:thumbsup:

[spin]

36. We are on a roll, especially if SCOTUS gives us another ...

favorable ruling in the Chicago gun ban case.

Mayor Daley will continue to resist and will put all sorts of obstacles in the way of the citizens of Chicago who want to own firearms but he will just be delaying the inevitable.

Even if the Supreme Court rules that states and cities can have their own own laws, the tide of change will eventually sweep his draconian laws out and Illinois will join many other states with reasonable firearms law.

[Tim01 2.0]

38. Wow. I didn't realise we were gaining so much ground. nt

[2Design]

40. too many guns bullets and bombs in the world and it is one

thing the usa manufactures - mercenaries and Weapons of mass destruction and we supply the rest of the world with them - we are part of the problem and we are not the solution - this is how our corporations make so much money or iran/contra and the poppy fields of afganistan and the drug cartels - sorry the killing and wmd's of the world are the problem and obviously I don't think guns are any solution

[PavePusher]

44. 'Mercenaries' and 'Weapons of mass destruction'?

What are you talking about?

Please, explain?

[2Design]

45. do you know how to use the Internet? Research will help educate you n/t

[PavePusher]

46. I know the definitions of the words.

I am unclear as to what you mean by the U.S. exporting them, and how this relates to private firearms ownership in the U.S.

Could you please make your point a little clearer?

[old mark]

41. The county in which I live in PA has well over 25 thousand people

licensed to carry firearms. And the lowest crime rate in over 30 years. Many anti's here predicted the usual-blood in the streets-when PA became a "shall issue" state, but violent crime went down despite the fewer police to deal with it due to budget cuts.

mark