First, House Bill 9, also referred to as Bennie’s Legislation, goals to make it against the law if dad and mom don’t correctly retailer their firearms away from youngsters. This invoice has been extremely anticipated since final August, when 13-year-old Bennie Hargrove was shot and killed at Washington Center College.
The writer of HB 9, Rep. Pamelya Herndon, says this invoice is designed to guard youngsters within the state and maintain dad and mom accountable and accountable gun house owners.
“What occurs once I ship my youngster or anyone else sends their youngster to highschool? Are you going to have to fret about whether or not or not they’re going to come again? As a result of another youngster was in a position to entry a gun {that a} mum or dad or guardian has not stored in a safe place, or no less than out of the entry of one other youngster,” Herndon stated.
Subsequent, House Bills 26 and 28 introduce increased sentences if a gun is utilized in sure crimes. In HB 26, it makes carrying a firearm whereas trafficking managed substances a third diploma felony. Then HB 28 would require a 5-year jail sentence for felons present in possession of a firearm.
Lastly, House Bill 156 would make it against the law to own {a magazine} that may maintain greater than 15 rounds of ammunition.
It’s no secret gun violence is an issue within the state and in the previous few years many organizations and people have referred to as on the Roundhouse to cross stricter gun legal guidelines like these talked about.
Earlier this yr, KOB 4’s Tessa Mentus and Chris Ramirez sat down with “Mothers Demand Motion” and so they say they’ve been pushing for these bills for years.
“It’s the identical issues that wanted to occur 6 years in the past when my son was murdered. That is the sixth legislative session that I will likely be together with this huge group that legislature ought to know, we will likely be there holding them accountable and try to combat for stronger legal guidelines,” mom Nicole Chavez stated again in November.
Quick-forward to the present session, Herndon stated she is assured that is the session we’ll see change.
“I’m anticipating the legislatures to cross this invoice,” Herndon stated, “as a result of it’s important and it’s wanted.”