Gun-rights supporters across the US are voting to enact local laws that bar police from enforcing most federal firearms regulations -- essentially telling Washington that when it comes to guns, the government's writ does not apply to them.
The movement is gathering pace as gun advocates worry near daily mass shootings will prompt Washington to tighten some of America’s lax firearm regulations.
President Joe Biden, who has called the gun violence crisis an "international embarrassment", has issued executive orders aiming to address the issue and on Wednesday he took aim at illegal gun dealers.
In a bid to thwart federal gun laws, an estimated 1,500 jurisdictions have in recent years declared themselves "Second Amendment sanctuaries", mimicking left-wing democratic cities that called themselves “sanctuaries” for immigrants illegally residing in the US.
From small towns to states like Nebraska and Montana, local politicians have declared that the 18th-century constitutional right to bear arms outweighs most existing federal firearms laws -- or any new ones.
In Arizona, new legislation gives the state's gun laws primacy over any federal regulations.
"The feds can try and come into our state to enforce these unconstitutional gun grabs, but it will go nowhere," Leo Biasiucci, a state representative who sponsored the bill, told The National.
"My bill makes it clear that any gun laws that are implemented at the federal level will not apply in the state of Arizona if they do not align with our state gun laws.”
Mr Biasiucci said the Arizona statute, which makes it illegal for state and local officials to enforce federal firearms laws, was “100 per cent enforceable”.
But the legality of such measures and similar laws in state and local jurisdictions has not yet been tested.
That soon will change, however, as a court in Oregon in the Pacific Northwest has been asked to rule on the issue.
Columbia County, located about 50 kilometres north of Portland and home to about 50,000 residents, has been a gun sanctuary since 2018 and voters last year reaffirmed that status.
But the law is confusing for local officials, who want to know if they are allowed to ignore state and federal gun laws.
"We want to be able to direct the district attorney and the sheriff [on] what can and cannot be prosecuted," county spokeswoman Julie Thompson told The National.
“That is why we are sending it to the court for judicial examination. … The board of commissioners does want to uphold the will of the voters but there are legal questions.”
Geoff Bickford, executive director of the Maine Gun Safety Coalition, said gun sanctuaries have no legal standing.
"The term doesn’t really mean anything. These declarations are worth the paper they are printed on, which means not very much,” he said.
"It’s a matter of basic civics. Towns and municipalities cannot choose what laws they chose to enforce, nor can sheriffs or local law enforcement."
In America, where guns outnumber people and about 40,000 die in gun-related homicides and suicides each year, it is notoriously easy to buy a firearm.
But federal law bans anyone with three or more serious convictions from owning a gun, and it is illegal to bring a gun into a school, carry a weapon while committing a violent crime or to use a stolen gun.
Federally licenced firearms dealers are obligated to carry out background checks on potential owners, though this requirement does not apply to private sales or those made at gun shows.
In April, Mr Biden unveiled a series of measures focused gun violence including a ban on “ghost guns” that are sold in kits and are untraceable as they have no serial numbers.
He wants to do more, though meaningful reform is unlikely for now, given opposition from not only Republicans but, in an equally divided Senate, West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin.
On the campaign trail, Mr Biden promised to ban the manufacture and sale of assault weapons, as well as outlawing high-capacity magazines that allow shooters to unleash sustained and devastating attacks.
He has also promised to introduce universal background checks, covering the estimated 22 per cent of gun sales that are subject to no scrutiny whatsoever, allowing weapons to fall into the hands of mentally ill people and those convicted of domestic violence.
Police, who frequently are most at risk from gun violence, are torn about the need for tighter laws, said Arthur Rizer, a former law enforcement officer and director of Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties at the R Street Institute in Washington.
“There is a schizophrenic relationship between gun rights and the police. Many are quasi-conservative and support gun rights, but at the same time, they are the ones who feel the brunt of loose gun laws,” he said.
Christopher Galdieri, an associate professor of politics at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, said gun sanctuaries are a popular political move in conservative America.
"If you are a Republican chair, county commissioner or local official supporting this sort of thing, it scores points with gun owners and people who feel they are being left behind culturally by Joe Biden and the progressives," he said.
In the US, county sheriffs also have to face the voters, unlike urban police.
Politically, it makes sense to fall into line with the wishes of their community, said Richard Mack, who heads the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association.
"There will be more sheriffs doing this: if they don't, they won't get re-elected."
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, which can lead to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer.
There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.
Hepatitis C is mostly transmitted through exposure to infective blood. This can occur through blood transfusions, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injecting drugs. Sexual transmission is also possible, but is much less common.
People infected with hepatitis C experience few or no symptoms, meaning they can live with the virus for years without being diagnosed. This delay in treatment can increase the risk of significant liver damage.
There are an estimated 170 million carriers of Hepatitis C around the world.
The virus causes approximately 399,000 fatalities each year worldwide, according to WHO.
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Overview
What: The Arab Women’s Sports Tournament is a biennial multisport event exclusively for Arab women athletes.
When: From Sunday, February 2, to Wednesday, February 12.
Where: At 13 different centres across Sharjah.
Disciplines: Athletics, archery, basketball, fencing, Karate, table tennis, shooting (rifle and pistol), show jumping and volleyball.
Participating countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Qatar and UAE.
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'Outclassed in Kuwait'
Taleb Alrefai,
HBKU Press
Joe Root's Test record
Tests: 53; Innings: 98; Not outs: 11; Runs: 4,594; Best score: 254; Average: 52.80; 100s: 11; 50s: 27
Thor: Ragnarok
Dir: Taika Waititi
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson
Four stars
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Day 1, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dimuth Karunaratne had batted with plenty of pluck, and no little skill, in getting to within seven runs of a first-day century. Then, while he ran what he thought was a comfortable single to mid-on, his batting partner Dinesh Chandimal opted to stay at home. The opener was run out by the length of the pitch.
Stat of the day - 1 One six was hit on Day 1. The boundary was only breached 18 times in total over the course of the 90 overs. When it did arrive, the lone six was a thing of beauty, as Niroshan Dickwella effortlessly clipped Mohammed Amir over the square-leg boundary.
The verdict Three wickets down at lunch, on a featherbed wicket having won the toss, and Sri Lanka’s fragile confidence must have been waning. Then Karunaratne and Chandimal's alliance of precisely 100 gave them a foothold in the match. Dickwella’s free-spirited strokeplay meant the Sri Lankans were handily placed at 227 for four at the close.
Company%20profile
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Fitness problems in men's tennis
Andy Murray - hip
Novak Djokovic - elbow
Roger Federer - back
Stan Wawrinka - knee
Kei Nishikori - wrist
Marin Cilic - adductor
Scores
Scotland 54-17 Fiji
England 15-16 New Zealand
Fringe@Four Line-up
October 1 - Phil Nichol (stand-up comedy)
October 29 - Mandy Knight (stand-up comedy)
November 5 - Sinatra Raw (Fringe theatre)
November 8 - Imah Dumagay & Sundeep Fernandes (stand-up comedy)
November 13 - Gordon Southern (stand-up comedy)
November 22 - In Loyal Company (Fringe theatre)
November 29 - Peter Searles (comedy / theatre)
December 5 - Sinatra’s Christmas Under The Stars (music / dinner show)
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo
Transmission: six-speed automatic
Power: 165hp
Torque: 240Nm
Price: From Dh89,000 (Enjoy), Dh99,900 (Innovation)
On sale: Now
The Gentlemen
Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant
Three out of five stars
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
MO
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Get inspired
Here are a couple of Valentine’s Day food products that may or may not go the distance (but have got the internet talking anyway).
Sourdough sentiments: Marks & Spencer in the United Kingdom has introduced a slow-baked sourdough loaf dusted with flour to spell out I (heart) you, at £2 (Dh9.5). While it’s not available in the UAE, there’s nothing to stop you taking the idea and creating your own message of love, stencilled on breakfast-inbed toast.
Crisps playing cupid: Crisp company Tyrells has added a spicy addition to its range for Valentine’s Day. The brand describes the new honey and chilli flavour on Twitter as: “A tenderly bracing duo of the tantalising tingle of chilli with sweet and sticky honey. A helping hand to get your heart racing.” Again, not on sale here, but if you’re tempted you could certainly fashion your own flavour mix (spicy Cheetos and caramel popcorn, anyone?).
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre V6
Power: 295hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 355Nm at 5,200rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
Price: Dh179,999-plus
On sale: now
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
RESULTS
Catchweight 82kg
Piotr Kuberski (POL) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ) by decision.
Women’s bantamweight
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) beat Cornelia Holm (SWE) by unanimous decision.
Welterweight
Omar Hussein (PAL) beat Vitalii Stoian (UKR) by unanimous decision.
Welterweight
Josh Togo (LEB) beat Ali Dyusenov (UZB) by unanimous decision.
Flyweight
Isaac Pimentel (BRA) beat Delfin Nawen (PHI) TKO round-3.
Catchweight 80kg
Seb Eubank (GBR) beat Emad Hanbali (SYR) KO round 1.
Lightweight
Mohammad Yahya (UAE) beat Ramadan Noaman (EGY) TKO round 2.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) beat Reydon Romero (PHI) submission 1.
Welterweight
Juho Valamaa (FIN) beat Ahmed Labban (LEB) by unanimous decision.
Featherweight
Elias Boudegzdame (ALG) beat Austin Arnett (USA) by unanimous decision.
Super heavyweight
Maciej Sosnowski (POL) beat Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) by submission round 1.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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