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up front Friday 12 May 2023

Despite cracks in Republican gun-rights wall, differences between states widen

Continued from Front Among the states staying
pro-gun are Florida and
And two Republicans in a Nebraska, which have be-
Texas legislative committee come the latest Republi-
broke ranks to advance a can-controlled states to let
bill that would raise the pur- people carry a concealed
chase age for semi-auto- handgun without a permit.
matic rifles from 18 to 21. Permits and usually a back-
“We cannot assume that ground had once been
gun safety is not possible in required to carry a con-
states led by Republicans,” cealed handgun in public
said Allison Anderman, in every state but Vermont.
who tracks state legislation With the votes in Nebraska
for the Giffords Law Center and Florida, 26 states have
to Prevent Gun Violence, now repealed such re-
which favors more restric- quirements since 2011. Flor-
tions. ida’s law takes effect July
Still, a quick Republican 1. Nebraska’s law takes ef-
turnaround is unlikely after fect Sept. 10.Of the remain-
decades of making gun ing 23 states without broad
rights a party cornerstone. permitless carry laws, only
Top GOP lawmakers and Louisiana, South Carolina
Gov. Greg Abbott oppose and North Carolina seem
the Texas bill, while Lee has Abel Lopez, right, father of Xavier Lopez who was killed in the shootings in Uvalde, Texas, holds ripe for expansion. While
faced resistance from Ten- a banner honoring the victims after a Texas House committee voted to take up a bill to limit the Republican lawmakers in
nessee Republicans. As age for purchasing AR-15 style weapons in the full House in Austin, Texas, Monday, May 8, 2023. North Carolina earlier over-
Associated Press
state legislatures meet in rode a veto by Democratic
2023, if anything, differenc- sales and requiring secure expanded background gun-rights supporters. Gov. Roy Cooper to allow
es on gun laws between storage of guns. Whitmer checks, attaching them to Democrats renewed their people to but a handgun
Republican-controlled and is expected to sign legisla- a budget bill on Wednes- push following a shooting without getting a permit
Democratic-controlled tion later this month so that day. this month at an Atlanta from a local sheriff, a top
states keep widening. people who are an immi- GUN CONTROL FRUSTRA- doctor’s office that killed Republican has effectively
Here’s what’s happening: nent danger to themselves TION one and wounded four quashed legislative efforts
A FLURRY IN MICHIGAN or others could have their Unlike in Michigan and Min- others, with 71 Democratic to let people carry a con-
A Democratic takeover of guns confiscated, based nesota, supporters of strict- House members signing a cealed handgun without
both houses of the Michi- on a judge’s decision. er gun laws in many Repub- letter asking Republican another type of permit.
gan Legislature, combined She told supporters last lican-controlled states are Gov. Brian Kemp to call a The permitless carry ef-
with Gretchen Whitmer month when signing some voicing frustration. Georgia special session. But Kemp fort also appears dead for
winning a second term as bills to “buckle up, we’re Democrats, for example, and other Republicans are this year in South Carolina,
governor, has led to sev- going to continue this filed 16 bills to tighten gun laying low. If anything, gun while outgoing Louisiana
en gun-related bills get- work.” laws this year. The only bill rights supporters expect a Gov. John Bel Edwards, a
ting passed and signed, Democrats in Minnesota that got a committee hear- further loosening of laws in Democrat, has opposed
including bills expanding are also trying to push ing was received with hos- Georgia. a broad expansion in his
background checks to all through a red flag law and tility by Republicans and PERMITLESS CARRY state.q

IRS takes steps to protect identity of

workers in effort to deter personal threats

By FATIMA HUSSEIN track down and identify IRS last year included $80 bil-
Associated Press employees, their families, lion funding for tax collec-
WASHINGTON (AP) — In their homes, and personal tion efforts.
an effort to deter threats information to threaten, in- Since then, misinformation
aimed at IRS employees, timidate, or locate them for has spread online, includ-
the agency said Thursday physical violence.” ing by Republican law-
it will start limiting workers’ The IRS said it will remove makers, that 87,000 armed
personal identifying infor- workers’ first names from agents authorized to use
mation on communica- communications, leaving deadly force were going to
tions with taxpayers. their last names and re- crack down on taxpayers The exterior of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) building in
The change begins next spective Mr., Ms., or a gen- of all earnings levels. Washington, on March 22, 2013.
month. der-neutral title. In August, IRS leadership Associated Press
The Treasury Department’s Phone numbers will still be announced that it would
inspector general for tax included in communica- conduct a comprehensive fort to dispel any lingering is foreseen for the criminal
administration said in a re- tions. review of the safety at its misperceptions about our investigation unit, which
port this week that it was The decision comes as the 600 facilities nationwide, work,” then-Commissioner represents 3% of the agen-
“concerned that taxpay- agency has received in- after increased threats to Chuck Rettig said in a letter cy’s workforce and em-
ers and anti-government creased attention after the workers were tied to the to workers. ployed roughly 2,077 spe-
or anti-tax groups with ma- climate, health care and conspiracy theories. New IRS Commissioner cial agents as of the 2022
levolent intent may use the tax legislation signed into “For me this is personal. I’ll Daniel Werfel said last budget year, according to
Internet or social media to law by President Joe Biden continue to make every ef- month that no hiring boost the IRS’ annual report.q