Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I—Pulaski) said today a bill (A380) that is moving quickly through the State Assembly and is currently on the legislative calendar for a vote is yet another attack on 2nd Amendment Rights--the right to Bear Arms. The majority-sponsored legislation would make it so that those holding a pistol permit would need to renew their permit every five years.

"This proposal serves no purpose, other than to limit access for responsible citizens to protect themselves and their property and to infringe again on sportsmen. It's another layer of government and fees that responsible pistol permit owners do not need," said Barclay. "In many cases, people invest in a pistol permit with the hope they will never have to use it to protect themselves from an intruder, for example. A pistol permit renewal of every five years is unnecessary."

Barclay said he will vote against this measure when it reaches the Assembly floor. There are already enough safeguards in the law to protect those who might not be responsible from legally holding a gun permit, he said. For example, it is illegal for a person convicted of a felony or a domestic violence misdemeanor, suffering from a mental incapacity or subject to an order of protection to possess firearms.