Associated Press
Starting Saturday, concealed guns will be permitted at college campuses in Georgia and Kansas, more public buildings and bus stations in Tennessee, and at the Iowa state Capitol as new laws take effect continuing the steady expansion of gun rights in Republican-controlled states.
The firearms policies are among scores of laws scheduled to take effect Saturday, along with the start of the new fiscal year in many states. Some of those laws continue a recent trend of states taking the initiative to fix aging roads and address the drug overdose epidemic.
The gun laws reflect divided public preferences, highlighted by a recent Pew survey that found people nearly evenly split on whether gun control or gun rights were more important.
A voter-approved gun-control initiative prohibiting people from possessing ammunition magazines capable of holding more than 10 bullets was to go into effect Saturday in California. But it was blocked this week by a federal judge, who said it would have made criminals out of thousands of otherwise law-abiding citizens who own the magazines. A similar law passed by the Democratic-dominated Legislature also is subject to the preliminary injunction.
For decades, the National Rifle Association pushed for state laws allowing people to carry concealed guns with permits. Having succeeded nationwide, gun-rights advocates now are gradually expanding where those weapons can be taken. Yet even some of the new laws contain exceptions.
Georgia’s law will allow people with concealed handgun permits to take their weapons into classrooms but not dormitories, and college sports fans will be able to pack weapons while tailgating but not inside stadiums.
A Tennessee law allowing guns in many local public buildings, bus stations and parks can be voided if authorities instead opt to install metal detectors staffed by security guards.
Concealed guns will be allowed at college campuses in Kansas as a result of a 2013 law that applies to public buildings lacking heightened security such as metal detectors and guards. A four-year exemption for universities expires Saturday. But in a setback for the NRA, a law that Republican Gov. Sam Brownback is allowing to take effect without his signature will make permanent a similar exemption for public hospitals and mental health centers.
In Iowa, where permit holders will be able to carry concealed guns in the Capitol, the state Supreme Court has responded by banning weapons in all courthouses statewide.
Jennifer Baker, a spokeswoman for the NRA Institute of Legislative Action, described 2017 as another “successful year for gun rights.”
But advocates for greater gun regulations also are pleased with the results. On Thursday, Democratic-led Hawaii became the third state to enact a law requiring notification to law enforcement when people prohibited from owning guns try to obtain them anyway.
“This was an excellent year for killing bad gun-lobby bills,” said Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “The bills that the gun lobby did get through, in many cases, we helped to water those down.”
Here’s a look at some other laws taking effect Saturday:
ABORTION
As with guns, some Republican and Democratic states continue to move in opposite directions on abortion-related policies.
A Tennessee law will require doctors to determine the viability of fetuses of at least 20 weeks of gestation, making it a felony to abort a viable fetus unless the pregnancy puts a woman at risk of death or serious injury. In South Dakota, new felony charges will double the potential fines and prison time for physicians who abort a fetus capable of feeling pain, except in cases of medical emergencies.
Other new laws deal with notifications required before abortions.
A Wyoming law will require abortion providers to give women the opportunity to view an ultrasound and listen to the fetal heartbeat. It also will prohibit the use of aborted fetal tissue for research.
A Kansas law will require abortion providers to give women more information about their doctors, including their credentials, malpractice insurance, disciplinary records and hospital privileges. The law also eliminates fine print, requiring the information to be presented in 12-point Times New Roman type on white paper.
A West Virginia law will end a doctor’s ability to waive parental notification, allowing only a judge to do so. But a federal judge has blocked an Indiana law that would require courts to consider whether to notify parents about a minor’s request for an abortion.
In Maryland, a law taking effect without the signature of Republican Gov. Larry Hogan seeks to mitigate potential federal funding cuts to Planned Parenthood. The measure directs $2.7 million from state funds for family planning services and preventive health care, if needed.
TRANSPORTATION
States are increasingly aligning behind new laws raising taxes and fees for transportation projects.
Starting Saturday, the gas tax will rise by 10 cents a gallon in Indiana, 4.5 cents in Montana, 4 cents in Tennessee, 3.5 cents in West Virginia and 2 cents in South Carolina. In some cases, it’s the initial step in a multi-year tax increase.
In South Carolina and Tennessee, the gas tax hike is the first in about three decades.
The vehicle sales tax cap also is rising in South Carolina, and vehicle or driver’s license fees will rise in Indiana, West Virginia and Wyoming.
In Oklahoma, a 1.25 percent vehicle sales tax will kick in Saturday. But it won’t result in an influx for road projects, because millions of dollars of existing road funds are being diverted to help fill a budget shortfall.
The latest round of tax hikes means nearly three-fourths of states have taken some sort of action to increase transportation funding over the past five years.
Some states also are ramping up other vehicle-related laws.
Mississippi will require seat belt use by all vehicle occupants, instead of only front-seat passengers and children. Iowa will join most other states by making texting while driving a primary offense, meaning police can stop motorists for the violation instead of having to spot some other offense in order to pull them over.
Virginia will require driver’s education courses to include instruction on how to respond when pulled over by police.
HEALTH
Numerous laws addressing health care also are taking effect.
Most Arizona employers will be required to offer paid sick leave to their workers because of a 2016 ballot initiative that takes effect Saturday. Arizona will be the seventh state with such a requirement, all enacted since 2011.
New Mexico and Kentucky are enacting laws attempting to safeguard student athletes. New Mexico will require student training on the danger of brain injuries, while Kentucky will prohibit high school coaches from putting athletes back in the game after potential concussions if no doctors are available to assess them.
Other new laws will expand patients’ rights in an attempt to avoid unexpected medical costs. A Missouri law will require health care providers to give patients costs estimates upon request, and a California law will require patients’ written consent before receiving services from providers outside their insurance network.
Several laws seek to combat opioid addiction.
Kentucky will ban doctors from prescribing a more than a three-day supply of prescription painkillers, although the law has various exceptions.
New laws in Virginia will legalize syringe exchange programs and require physicians to check a prescription drug monitoring database before prescribing opioids for more than seven days. Wyoming will join most other states in providing immunity to those who administer overdose medications.
Republished with permission of The Associated press.
