How much harm/good can AG's do?

[snowman]

I'm currently in the process of deliberation re: how to vote. I would like some assistance with the following question, which has me a bit befuddled: How much harm can an antigun state Attorney General do to our firearms rights? The flipside is also pertinent, but maybe not quite so consequential: How much good can a pro-gun state Attorney General do for our firearms rights?

In other words, is the state Attorney General in a position to promote his/her gun views in such a way as to result in real consequences, good or bad, for our 2nd Amendment freedoms? Or are his duties limited in such a way that his/her views on the matter don't matter, so to speak?

I trust that responses won't cross the line into forbidden political discussion. I'm merely trying to learn something of the AG's job description so as to vote wisely as a gunowner.

Thank you for your time, friends.
Andy

 

[ASA335]

May vary from state to state, but my understanding is:

The AG provides legal guidance and interpretation of law to government departments and agencies. This can be good if using just the clear reading and intent of the law, or it can be bad if a broad or creative interpretation is used.

The AG influences how aggressively gun laws are enforced. This can be good if targeted against the real criminals, or it can be bad if targeted against ordinary gun owning citizens.

The AG also represents the state when gun law is being challanged in court, or when providing briefs to supreme courts on gun law cases.

Peace,

 

[Bat Guano]

AND they can be very overtly political. It does matter who holds the position.

 

[2152hq]

In 2000, NYS was introduced to Ballistic Fingerprinting. They call it 'CoBIS' system here. Sold as a way to end violent gun crime by positively ID'g the criminal through the empty shell casing left behind at the crime scene.
A ludicrous plan, crazy expensive, and to date has not brought one criminal to court.

At the time it was proposed and passed into law here,, the AG was a guy named Eliot Spitzer. His anti gun stance was well known.

A chance to place his mark in that arena onto the State w/o haveing a vote in the process was simple. He's considered the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the State.
He went before the State Legislature to demand they pass it. It was absolutely needed to keep the citzens safe,,yada,yada,,,.

His support behind such issues navigates them more easily through a Legislature that might otherwise be hostile to the idea.
It passed,,a Republican Governor signed it into law (Pataki) and we're still stuck with it.

Here we are in 2010,,,Client #9 is gone from State politics (for now),,,, and running for the State AG this Nov is a guy named Schneiderman.
His views are anti 2A (though he gives lip service to the gun owners).

What's one of his top prioritys for NYS if elected??....MicroStamping.

One failed venture into the techy world of crime fighting by a past cronie,,might as well do another. The reason?..It gets votes from the uninformed and the fearfull who expect the Gov't to care for them 24/7.,,and this and alot of states are full of such people.

There's a very good chance if Schneiderman is elected (he's ahead in the polls),,he'll he working with a new Governor here,,,Andrew Cuomo (late of the Clinton administrations AWB)
Guess who's the current NYS A/G.

..and Andrew would like to be your President some day in the not to distant future.

Get out and VOTE

 

[OKFC05]

Many states have given the AG power to decide reciprocity, interpret carry laws, and write rules.
It matters a LOT how anti-gun they are.
For example, I used to be able to renew the WA CHL by mail, but now I don't have one because the AG decided all applications/renewals must be done in person, even for the non-resident CHLs. There is no such requirement in the law.

 

[HKSmith]

Since you live in Ohio, it makes a big difference. The AG negotiates and signs CHL reciprocity agreements with other states. Because we've had pro-gun AG's, Ohio now has reciprocity with 16 states. An anti-gun AG might not pursue any further agreements or possibly not continue the current ones.

I'm voting for Richard Cordray for Ohio AG - he and Governor Strickland are very solidly progun.

 

[moonclip]

You do not want an anti-gun state Attorney General. Period.

......moon

 

[walnutred]

Ohio's choices in November are both frustrating and confusing this year. For both Governor and AG we have Republicans running who have anti 2nd voting track records and Democrats who have neutral or pro 2nd voting records. Unfortunately it looks like we will end up with anti Bill of Rights Gov and AG simply because they will be surfing the anti Democrat tide into office.

 

[srgvaz]

Fill in the blank;
A politician is ______

 

[Dusty Miller]

Fill in the blank;
A politician is #*@*%^%$!*)*^^%!&&#&!!%^^!!%&$%&&^$$#$!!

There, I fixed it for you!!

 

[moonclip]

Dusty, you're too kind!

......moon

 

[Leonard]

Being from Ohio its the most frustrating choice I have had to face in years. I cannot vote for a Dem as they have proven beyond a doubt they cannot be trusted with our country.

Having spoken with our Repub gov candidate and knowing people that have known him for years I believe him when he says his assault weapon vote was a big mistake and he now realizes does nothing to curb crime. His and running mates combined NRA rating is higher than Dems combined.

The AG is like being between a rock and a hard place one is an idiot and the other a Dem I will vote an independent for the 1st time.

 

[walnutred]

Yeah, it always makes me nervous when a politician is so arrogant that he is convinced he knows better than those who wrote and ratified the Constitution. Makes me wonder what other Amendments that they are willing to undermine because they "thought it would do some good". Isn't that the mantra every time a gun control bill fails to accomplish what it's backers said it would? "We thought it would help, it didn't, must not have been strong enough, let's pass some stricter legislation.".