Some States Still Not Running Background Checks on Gun Purchasers Says Brady Campaign

"We need tougher federal laws, but action at the state level can halt gun violence and pave the way for common sense federal gun laws." -- Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign

Most states have weak or non-existent gun laws that help feed the illegal gun market, allow the sale of guns without Brady background checks and put families and children at risk, according to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. But according to a release from the group, more states are pushing legislation to strengthen their gun laws. The organization's 2008 state scorecards, which rate each state on the strength of its gun laws, are being released today for all 50 states.

"Once again, the scores for most states are abysmal. Most people don't realize how few laws we have on the books restricting easy access to guns. As a result, we continue to make it too easy for dangerous people to get dangerous weapons," says Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign. "We need tougher federal laws, but action at the state level can halt gun violence and pave the way for common sense federal gun laws."

No states got a better score for 2008 than for 2007. Five states saw their scores drop: Florida, Georgia and Louisiana for passing laws forcing employers to allow employees to bring guns into workplace parking lots, and two states, West Virginia and Wyoming, for passing so-called "Shoot First" laws that authorize deadly force in public against a perceived threat even if ways to avoid the threat are available.

The scores range from a mere two points out of a hundred -- in Kentucky, Louisiana and Oklahoma -- to a score of 79 for California. Other high scores include those for Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland and New York.

The Brady Campaign says it is seeing a marked increase in the number of states pushing for stronger gun laws. State lawmakers across the country are ramping up efforts to pass new legislation on gun violence prevention, following nearly a decade during which gun advocates dominated state houses. Much of the proposed legislation focuses on cutting off easy gun access to convicted criminals and the dangerously mentally ill and on improving methods to trace guns used in crimes.

Last year, the Brady Center identified 52 bills it considers a priority for passage in 22 states, compared with 30 such bills two years ago. The Brady Campaign says it expects even more states to make the push for stronger gun laws during 2009 state legislative sessions. In sharp contrast, said  the group, the gun lobby proposals to force guns on college campuses and in the workplace are being met with limited or little success.

Weak state gun laws create a dangerous combination of risk, said the release: they don't require Brady background checks for every gun purchase and they don't take other actions to effectively combat gun trafficking. For example, states like Arizona, Kansas, Florida, Missouri and Texas don't check the background of every gun purchaser, thus making it easier for felons and other prohibited purchasers to get guns, and they also have no laws on the books to effectively combat trafficking in illegal guns. As a result, they make it a lot easier for dangerous people to access guns.