(Washington, D.C.) In its fourth annual analysis of state laws protecting children from gun violence, Handgun Control today announced that 25 states received grades of "D" or "F" for the 1999-2000 school year. Under pressure from the gun lobby, which traditionally wields much power in state legislatures, 15 states either refused to pass measures which would have made guns less accessible to children and criminals; weakened existing laws; or passed laws pre-empting cities' rights to hold the gun industry accountable for its negligent and irresponsible conduct.

Three states - New York, Maryland and New Hampshire - improved their grades, in most cases with tough new gun laws that mandate gun industry and gunowner responsibility. Furthermore, Massachusetts, which received an A- last year, this year began implementing the nation's first consumer protection regulations for firearms. New Jersey may become the first state in the nation to insist on the sale of personalized ("smart") guns in the coming year.

On the other hand, several states which have suffered mass shootings in the past few years, including Colorado, Georgia and Kentucky, failed to pass stiffer gun laws in their legislative sessions. Kentucky actually stretched the grade scale this year by further weakening its already lax concealed-carry law, becoming the first state to earn an F minus.

"At a time when we are still losing 10 young people a day to gun homicides, suicides and accidents, the failure of so many states to strengthen their gun laws is unconscionable," said Sarah Brady, chair of Handgun Control. "When the United States Congress is AWOL on our children's safety, and when we have a presidential candidate running on the NRA's platform, it is all the more important that governors and state legislators take responsibility for protecting our families."

Each state was carefully rated for the existence of six types of legislation that protect children from guns, and also for the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of that legislation. The five types of legislation include:

1. Carrying Concealed Weapons (CCW) law -- whether or not individuals are allowed to carry loaded concealed guns, whether the police have discretion in issuing CCW permits, and if training is required of applicants;
2. Juvenile Handgun Possession law -- whether or not it is illegal for an individual under the age of 18 to own a handgun;
3. Juvenile Handgun Sale/Transfer Prohibition law -- whether or not it is illegal to sell a handgun to someone under 18;
4. Child Access Prevention law -- whether or not adults are required to store their firearms responsibly and out of the reach of children, and are penalized for leaving guns accessible to children;
5. "Local Rights" law, or "Preemption" -- whether the state has made it illegal for its cities to enact stricter gun control laws than exist in the state in general. For example, in 1995 the Georgia General Assembly pre-empted the city of Atlanta's attempts to more strictly regulate firearms, despite the fact that Atlanta led the nation in violent crime that year. Preemption has been a favorite legislative tool of the gun lobby.
6. Secondary sales laws - whether the state requires some type of background check or reporting of secondary/private sales

Additionally, states were awarded "extra credit" or demerits on other issues, ranging from the special protection extended to the gun industry in some states by pre-empting cities' lawsuits to regulations governing secondary sales at gun shows and other venues.

"In a year where a million moms marched around the nation to call for more sensible gun laws, it's time for politicians to wake up and listen," Mrs. Brady said. "Half our states are flunking the most elementary tests of public safety."

Source: Handgun Control Incorporated

Editor's Note - The "Million Mom March" didn't draw anywhere near a million people. It was closer to 20,000. This is just another example of the lies and disinformation HCI spews out.