Gun-control measures approved

Senate Democrats on the Executive Committee hastily approved four gun-control measures Wednesday amid partisan rancor. Another Senate panel already had rejected much of the legislation, and some Republican senators repeatedly expressed disapproval at the work-around tactic. Senate Bills 1330, 1331 and 1332 were approved Wednesday even though the Senate Judiciary Committee rejected identical legislation earlier this session.

Senate Bill 1332 was the only one of the four gun proposals that had not been previously rejected by the Judiciary Committee. It would mandate that dealers of "concealable firearms" - handguns - be licensed by the state. Violations would be a Class 4 felony, but the legislation would not apply to individual hobbyists buying and selling from their own collections.

Under SB1332, gun buyers would be limited to purchasing one handgun each 30 days. The legislation is intended to curb the practice of "straw purchasers," where a legally qualified individual buys a gun for someone who is not qualified to make the purchase on his own.

SB1331 would expand the definition of a "public nuisance" to include gun dealers who do not take "reasonable precautions" to ensure that purchasers do not use their weapons illegally.SB1330 would permit victims of gun crimes to sue anyone who "intentionally or negligently" delivered the gun, ammunition or silencer to an unauthorized buyer, straw purchaser or individual with criminal intent.