firearms Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

California Assault Weapons Ban ‘Disrespects’ Freedom, Federal Judge Writes

By NPR News June 6, 2021

Bryan Oberc, in Munster, Ind., tries out an AR-15 from Sig Sauer in the exhibition hall at the National Rifle Association Annual Meeting in Indianapolis in 2019. CREDIT: Michael Conroy/AP

For more than three decades, California has banned certain types of semiautomatic rifles including the AR-15 under an "assault weapons" ban. On Friday, a federal judge threw out the ban, ruling that it violates the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.Read More

Governor Jay Inslee Expected To Sign Bill Banning Open Carry At Washington Capitol

By NWPB News April 20, 2021

Jason McMillan carrying a firearm in the Washington House gallery in 2015. Beginning in January of 2018, all guns will be banned from the Senate gallery. AUSTIN JENKINS/NORTHWEST NEWS NETWORK

People would be prohibited from openly carrying guns and other weapons at the Capitol and surrounding grounds and at or near permitted public demonstrations across the state under a measure approved Tuesday by the Washington Legislature.Read More

‘It Has To Stop’: President Biden Takes Initial Action On Guns, Calls On Congress To Do More

By NPR News April 8, 2021

Biden greets former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords after speaking Thursday about gun violence prevention in the White House Rose Garden. Giffords and other advocates in favor of stricter gun laws attended the announcement. CREDIT: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Declaring U.S gun violence an "epidemic" and "an international embarrassment," President Biden outlined actions to regulate certain firearms and to try to prevent gun violence after a spate of mass shootings in recent weeks and pressure from advocates.Read More

Washington Senate Votes To Ban Open Carry Of Guns At Capitol And Public Demonstrations

By Austin Jenkins February 25, 2021

public demonstration at Washington state capitol - person open carrying rifle and handgun

Following a year of frequent armed protests, some of which turned violent, the Washington Senate voted Thursday to ban the open carry of firearms at the state Capitol and within 250 feet of permitted demonstrations anywhere in the state.Read More

Guns In State Capitols Divide States After Armed Protests Highlight A Contentious Year

By NWPB News February 19, 2021

Jason McMillan carrying a military-style pistol in the Washington state House gallery in 2015. Beginning in January of 2018, all guns were banned from the state Senate gallery. | CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3

In the past year, insurrectionists have breached the U.S. Capitol and armed protesters have forced their way into statehouses around the country. But the question of whether guns should be allowed in capitol buildings remains political, and states are going in opposite directions.Read More

In Rural North Idaho, With Help Far Away, Communities Take It Upon Themselves To Tackle Suicide

By NWPB News October 16, 2020

Hank Thornton makes the rounds in Benewah County, Idaho, where he checks on veterans to see if they need services like food assistance and medical treatment. He also looks for signs of suicide risk and offers resources and an ear when needed. Rural Mountain West communities have high suicide rates and help is often far away, so community members like Thornton have taken it upon themselves to reach out to their neighbors. CREDIT: Heath Druzin / Guns & America

Tens of thousands of Americans die every year from gun suicide, and some of hardest-hit areas spend the least on prevention. In the Idaho Panhandle, some small-town residents are stepping in where the government has failed.Read More

Coronavirus Fears Have Produced A Lot Of New Gun Owners — And Need For Safety Training

By NPR News April 19, 2020

Chuck Rossi, the co-founder of Open Source Defense, at his home in California. He uses video conferences to connect with new gun owners. Leigh Paterson/Guns and America

Many gun dealers say they are seeing a number of first-time buyers. Long-time gun owners from across the U.S. are helping the newcomers learn to handle firearms safely in a time of social distancing.Read More

In Gun-Friendly Idaho, Dispute Over Sandpoint Festival Pits 2nd Amendment Against Property Rights

By NWPB News March 6, 2020

A "No Firearms" sign outside of the Bonner County Courthouse in Sandpoint, where the case, Bonner County v. City of Sandpoint, is being heard. CREDIT: Nick Deshais/N3

A gun ban at a popular music festival in North Idaho is splitting the community, leading to a lawsuit between Bonner County and its largest town, Sandpoint. Read More

Washington Lawmaker Wants To Ban Openly Carried Firearms At The State Capitol

By Austin Jenkins February 3, 2020

Under current Washington law, visitors to the Capitol can openly-carry firearms. A bill introduced in the Legislature would ban weapons from the statehouse and Capitol grounds. CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3

State Rep. Tana Senn of Mercer Island said she filed her bill Monday, just days before a key cut-off deadline, after witnessing what she described as an "unsafe work environment" at the Capitol last Friday. Read More

New Zealanders Hand In More Than 50,000 Weapons As The Country’s Buyback Program Ends

By NPR News December 21, 2019

A gun is prepared for use in a bullet trap as part of a demonstration during a firearm buy-back collection event on July 4 in Wellington, New Zealand. CREDIT: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

The Pacific nation's months-long program ended this week with questionable success. A ban on most semi-automatic and military-style rifles also took effect across the country.Read More

1st Supreme Court Gun-Rights Battle In 10 Years May Transform Legal Landscape

By NPR News December 2, 2019

A view of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

With Justice Brett Kavanaugh replacing Anthony Kennedy, a clear conservative majority could make regulating guns very difficult.Read More

At Buffalo Bill Center Of The West, Gun Museum Focuses On Safety, History And Culture

By NWPB News August 26, 2019

Some of the Cody Firearms Museum exhibits focus on the design and mechanics of guns. Kamila Kudelska/Wyoming Public Radio

Tucked away in the northwest corner of Wyoming is one of the largest gun collections in the world: The Cody Firearms Museum. But it's recently gotten a makeover, moving away away from being a monument to guns and toward being an educational space on gun safety, history and culture.Read More