HJR 4 - OPPOSE GUN CONTROL ORDERS & LEGISLATION  2:15:24 PM CHAIR KELLER announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 4, Urging the President of the United States to rescind 23 executive orders related to regulation of firearms; and urging the United States Congress to refrain from passing legislation that restricts the right of individuals to keep and bear arms. [Included in members' packets was a proposed committee substitute for HJR 4, Version 28-LS0362\U, Strasbaugh, 2/6/13.] REPRESENTATIVE MILLETT, speaking as the sponsor of HJR 4, indicated that the proposed committee substitute (CS) in members' packets need not be adopted at this time because further changes to the resolution would be forthcoming to address the fact that the 23 executive orders referenced in the resolution [were instead issued] as executive actions or executive recommendations. She explained that HJR 4 addresses Alaskans' right to bear arms as outlined in both the U.S. Constitution and the Alaska State Constitution. Alaskans pride themselves on gun ownership, gun safety, and the ability to recreate with guns - hunting and target shooting, for example. Referring to recent tragedies that occurred in the Lower 48 involving firearms, she said that the Second Amendment and the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution must still be protected nonetheless. Gun legislation currently making its way through Congress would restrict the rights of Alaskans to make their own decisions about guns and their associated laws and regulations. REPRESENTATIVE MILLETT said HJR 4 urges the Obama Administration and the United States Congress not to pass any gun legislation that would restrict or damage the people's Second Amendment rights. Alaskans themselves, she opined, are the best ones to decide upon Alaska's gun laws. Alaska has a large gun-owner population, but few instances of what she referred to as gun abuse. In conclusion, she recommended that members view HJR 4 as way of sending a message to Congress and the Obama Administration that a one-size-fits-all approach to guns won't work for Alaska, and opined that the state's right to control its own guns must prevail. In response to a question, she relayed that in addition to changing the references to executive orders, further changes regarding congressional action on gun laws might also be forthcoming [in a new proposed (CS)]. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG - referring to a document in members' packets produced by the White House titled, "NOW IS THE TIME, The President's plan to protect our children and our communities by reducing gun violence" - observed that the legislature may not necessarily wish to oppose all 23 of the executive orders/actions/recommendations. 2:23:13 PM BRIAN JUDY, Senior State Liaison, National Rifle Association - Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), said the NRA supports HJR 4 and is strongly opposed to the President's legislative proposals, and thus views the most important aspect of the resolution as being its urging of Congress to refrain from passing [restrictive gun-related] legislation. Regardless that some of the 23 executive orders/actions/recommendations are good or benign, some are potentially very bad and thus the resolution should continue to ask the President to rescind all 23. In conclusion, he urged support for HJR 4, and said he thinks it's a good idea for Alaska to assert its prerogative as a state and to point out that one-size-fits-all approaches don't fit everywhere. In response to a question, he offered his understanding of what some of the 23 executive orders/actions/recommendations might entail. REPRESENTATIVE MILLETT did so as well. MR. JUDY added his belief that the 23 executive orders/actions/recommendations are going to impact law-abiding gun owners and could have unintended consequences. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG suggested that the resolution be changed so that it focuses only on the executive orders/actions/recommendations that would cause problems in Alaska - outlining why as well as possible alternative solutions - and asked that specific information about each order/action/recommendation be provided to the committee. 2:35:55 PM SCOTT HAMANN said he supports HJR 4 and views it as addressing a state's rights issue. As such, the resolution should continue referencing all 23 executive orders/actions/recommendations regardless of whether any of them individually are looked upon with favor by the legislature. CHAIR KELLER ascertained that no one else wished to testify on HJR 4. [HJR 4 was held over.]