New York, Jan 1 (NationPress) States across the United States have initiated their own firearm legislation that will take effect on January 1, as violence related to firearms continues to plague the nation, with reports indicating nearly 500 mass shootings in 2024.
In September 2024, California's Governor Gavin Newsom enacted a series of laws aimed at enhancing firearm safety. These regulations mandate that schools establish safety programs and plans and create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which will have deadlines in the upcoming years. Several of these laws will come into effect on January 1, according to Xinhua.
Beginning January 1, in Colorado, any handgun that is stored inside an unoccupied vehicle must be placed in a locked, hard-sided container that is not visible from outside the vehicle, which must also be locked, with certain exceptions. In 2025, individuals seeking a concealed carry permit in Colorado will have to complete an eight-hour training course that includes a written test and a live-fire exercise.
In New Hampshire, the only firearm-related legislation signed into law in 2024 will expand gun rights, set to take effect on January 1. HB 1186 enhances privacy protections surrounding gun regulations by preventing the use of specific merchant category codes, while HB 1336 prohibits employers from preventing employees from keeping firearms in locked vehicles.
Kentucky is among the ten states that passed a Merchant Category Code (MCC) ban in 2024, as reported by the National Rifle Association (NRA). At least five other states had previously enacted similar laws, and a few states, including California, have implemented legislation requiring this. The NRA has highlighted that several states have passed laws to prevent the assignment of a code for firearm retailers, known as a merchant category code (MCC).
Minnesota has enacted a ban on binary triggers, which will also take effect on January 1. A binary trigger allows a firearm to be discharged once when the trigger is pulled and again upon releasing the trigger.
As of January 1, Delaware will extend its Safe School Zone regulations to cover university campuses, making it a felony to carry a firearm on these grounds.
