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Guns Against The State
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Self-defense and gun ownership are constantly being attacked in modern discourse and by the mainstream media, yet their legitimacy rests on principles far older than any constitution, preceding and transcending any political framework. The importance of self-defense lies in its role as a safeguard against both private and state aggression.
Unlike modern states, which increasingly disarm their citizens and leave them defenseless, a private-law society would place no restrictions on the individual ownership of firearms or other weapons. In a genuinely free society, the preservation of liberty does not depend on armies or governments but on morally responsible individuals capable of self-reliance. |
AZ: (in)Defensible: Prescott area officials likely to face lawsuit in controversial self-defense case
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The case against Massucci began on July 16, 2023.
Parra's wife called 911, claiming Massucci had pulled a gun on their family outside a gas station.
Everyone left the scene before police arrived. Acting solely on the family's account, officials arrested Massucci days later and charged him with four felonies, which cumulatively carried decades of prison time.
It would take two years and surveillance video to eventually show it was Parra - intoxicated after his brother's funeral - who followed Massucci to his car and confronted him. That's when Massucci says he pulled a gun from his center. |
MO: Missouri Republicans push bill to ban red flag laws, curb local gun regulation
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A Missouri House committee heard testimony Wednesday on a bill that would prevent courts from seizing weapons from high-risk individuals.
The bill contains changes to state firearm statutes, a catch-all that rounds up a number of gun-related provisions that Republicans have attempted to pass in previous legislative sessions.
Alongside prohibiting so-called red flag gun seizure laws, it eliminates all local authority to regulate firearms and expands self-defense presumption. It is sponsored by Rep. Chad Perkins, a Republican from Bowling Green. |
MN: Gun shops see a notable spike in business following recent ICE activity
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Gun shop owners in Minnesota are reporting a surge in business following recent shootings involving ICE agents and immigration enforcement across the state.
“It’s my second time in this week, trying to sign up for this class,” Dylan Solon, a customer at Bill’s Gun Shop and Range in Robbinsdale, said. He has been trying to enroll in permit-to-carry classes.
“It’s wild times, things are getting kind of crazy,” he added, noting the increased interest in self-defense amid community unrest. “I’m not even a little bit surprised,” he said about the uptick in business. |
AL: Woman not guilty in 2022 killing of beloved barber at Birmingham apartment complex
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A Birmingham woman has been acquitted in the 2022 Labor Day shooting death of a beloved barber.
Sabrina Andrews, now 23, was charged with capital murder in the slaying of 23-year-old Keondra Ra’Shun “Keke” Hollis. The charge was capital because the victim was in a vehicle when she was slain.
Andrews’ trial began Tuesday before Jefferson County Circuit Judge Kandice Pickett and ended Friday afternoon with a verdict of not guilty. |
CA: Federal appeals court upholds California’s switchblade restrictions under Second Amendment test
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A federal appeals court on Friday upheld California’s decades-old restrictions on switchblades, rejecting a broad Second Amendment challenge from a San Diego group calling itself Knife Rights, Inc., which includes two San Diego County retailers.
The group had sued to strike down California’s switchblade law, arguing that it violated the U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings on the Second Amendment.
In its January 30 opinion, the federal appellate court disagreed and ruled against the group.
In the 31-page opinion, Federal Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw said California’s ban on switchblades is a reasonable restriction and therefore passes constitutional muster. |
PA: Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors message to the state: ‘We are still a Second Amendment sanctuary county’
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As the General Assembly debates several proposed gun control measures, the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors wants to make it clear where it stands.
Livingston District Supervisor Jacob Lane took time during Thursday’s board meeting to reiterate the county’s vote to approve a resolution in 2019 describing Spotsylvania as a “Second Amendment sanctuary,” meaning that the sheriff’s office will not enforce state-level gun laws that many believe infringe on constitutional rights.
A state Senate committee advanced several gun control bills this week that will now advance to the full Senate, including making it a Class 1 misdemeanor to import, sell, manufacture, buy, own, or transport an assault firearm. |
NM: Republicans Oppose Unconstitutional SB 17 Bill
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Jan. 28, Senate Bill 17 received a ‘Do Pass’ recommendation from the Senate Health & Public Affairs Committee on a 6-4 party line vote. This controversial and egregiously unconstitutional proposal was met with fierce opposition from Republican committee members. Led by Ranking Member Sen. Larry Scott (R-Hobbs), Sens. David Gallegos (R-Eunice), Jay Block (R-Rio Rancho), and Rex Wilson (R-Ancho) were unified in their ‘no’ votes.
SB 17 effectively:
--Grows government control over guns
--Burdens small, local gun dealers
--Targets law-abiding citizens, not criminals
--Adds red tape and new penalties
--Threatens Second Amendment rights
--Won’t stop violent crime |
VA: Democrats Advance 7 Bills Restricting Gun Rights in the Virginia State Senate
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The Second Amendment states, and the Virginia Constitution repeats, that "the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." Someone ought to tell the Virginia state Senate. This week, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee advanced seven bills that shall infringe on one of Americans' most sacred and important rights.
Senate Bill (S.B.) 749, introduced by state Sen. Saddam Salim (D–Merrifield), outlaws the importation, sale, and possession of "assault firearms," which the Virginia Code defines as "any semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol…equipped at the time of the offense with a magazine which will hold more than 20 rounds of ammunition or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or..." |
ME: Bangor woman accused of knife attack acted in self-defense, lawyer says
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When Johnson returned home there were drug traffickers squatting in her vacant house, Soondar said. In the weeks since she had been trying to get them off her property.
Johnson had talked to police about the squatters before the stabbing, Soondar said.
Three people, including the woman who was allegedly stabbed, barged into Johnson’s house without permission on Jan. 24, Soondar said.
Every time Johnson asked them to leave, the people would have a gun on the table, he said. Johnson had a pocket knife on her, as she usually does, and was simply defending herself, Soondar said.
It was self-defense, he said. |
WY: Critics: Self-Defense Legal Fee Reimbursement Bill Could Spark Court Chaos
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A bill calling for counties to pay back the legal fees of Wyomingites cleared of murder or manslaughter charges in shootings ruled as self-defense could chill police investigations and throw courts into chaos, some critics said.
House Bill 14 , set to go before the 2026 Legislature, could undermine the principle of equal protection under the law, former Washakie County prosecutor John Worrall told Cowboy State Daily.
The bill’s text states that “the county where the person was charged or subject to criminal prosecution shall reimburse the person for all reasonable costs, including loss of time, bail costs, attorney fees and other costs and expenses involved in the person's defense, including the costs of seeking or receiving an…” |
GA: Murder charge for groom who killed stepfather at wedding; sheriff says it’s self-defense
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A groom shot and killed his bride’s stepfather hours after the wedding ceremony, but the sheriff said he should not be charged with murder.
Butts County Sheriff Gary Long says the felony murder charge against Aaron White for the July 2024 shooting on his wedding night marks the first time since he became sheriff 13 years ago that he has publicly disagreed with his district attorney.
“Clearest case of self- defense that I have personally seen in 30 years of law enforcement,” Long told Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne.
Jonathan Adams says did the right thing as the DA.
“You better be right if you’re going to kill someone,” he said. |
FL: Ambush Thwarted: St. Petersburg Vehicle Robbery Ends in Fatal Self-Defense Shooting
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A parked car on 22nd Lane South became the flashpoint of a deadly confrontation Friday evening. Around 6:30 p.m., St. Petersburg police (SPPD) responded to reports of gunfire and discovered a scene that investigators are now calling a clear act of self-defense. According to SPPD, 29-year-old Syltico Morand and a 30-year-old accomplice, both armed, approached a vehicle with the intent to rob the two men sitting inside.
The intended victims, however, were also armed. A violent exchange of gunfire erupted between the four men. Morand died at the scene, and his accomplice was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries. |
GA: DA indicts groom in fatal wedding day shooting despite earlier self-defense finding
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Kailagh White has publicly stood by her husband, saying she believes she married her “best friend,” despite the tragedy unfolding on their wedding day.
A grand jury previously reviewed the case and determined Aaron acted in self-defense. However, Butts County District Attorney Jonathan Adams chose to present the case to a second grand jury, which indicted Aaron on a felony murder charge Wednesday. His bond was set at $100,000.
The decision has sparked sharp criticism from both law enforcement and the defense. Butts County Sheriff Gary Long said he believes the prosecution is unjustified.
“There’s an innocent man in my jail,” Long said, adding that he does not believe Aaron committed a crime that should be tried. |
CA: No Charges in Stockton Flea Market Shooting: DA Cites Justified Use of Force
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A violent encounter at the Stockton Flea Market earlier this month has concluded with a legal ruling of self-defense. Stockton police announced on Tuesday that the shooting on January 19, which resulted in the deaths of two men and the wounding of a woman, was a justified response to an attempted armed robbery. Investigators have determined that the employees involved, specifically the son of a long-time jewelry business owner, acted within the law to protect themselves and others.
Salvador Cervantes, the owner of the jewelry booth targeted in the attack, recounted the harrowing moments when he saw an individual walking toward him with a gun pointed. |
2nd Amendment advocates issue dire warning over Trump’s Pretti gun remarks
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The White House labels itself the “most pro-Second Amendment administration in history.” But Trump’s comments about Pretti, who was legally carrying a licensed firearm when he was killed by federal agents last week, have some gun rights advocates threatening to sit out the midterms.
“I’ve spent 72 hours on the phone trying to unfuck this thing. Trump has got to correct his statements now,” said one Second Amendment advocate, granted anonymity to speak about private conservations. The person said Second Amendment advocates are “furious.” “And they will not come out and vote. He can’t correct it three months before the election.” |
CA: Ninth Circuit upholds California's switchblade ban
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A Ninth Circuit panel of judges upheld a lower court decision Friday, siding with California in a Second Amendment challenge brought by a knife advocacy organization to carry concealed switchblades in public.
Knife Rights Inc. and two retailers argued on appeal that California’s ban on switchblades is unconstitutional, urging the court to reverse two lower court rulings that switchblades are not protected “arms” under the Second Amendment and are “not in common use for lawful purposes” because they are “dangerous and unusual.” |
Right-Wing Gun Enthusiasts and Extremists Are Working Overtime to Justify Alex Pretti’s Killing
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Gun Owners of America also posted on X, stating “peaceful protests while armed isn’t radical—it’s American,” alongside a clip of Trump telling reporters at the White House, “you can’t walk in with guns.” The National Rifle Association avoided specifically mentioning Trump but stated, “All law-abiding citizens have a right to keep and bear arms anywhere they have a legal right to be.”
But a WIRED review of gun enthusiast forums and Facebook groups for private militias and extremists reveals that the vast majority of Second Amendment supporters in these online meeting spaces are willing to look past the president’s remarks, and lay the blame on Pretti himself. |
NORML Argues in Supreme Court Brief That Disarming Cannabis Consumers Is Unconstitutional
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NORML’s Amicus Committee today filed an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in United States v. Hemani, arguing that the federal government’s categorical ban on firearm ownership for individuals with a history of marijuana use violates the Second Amendment.
“For centuries, Americans cultivated, consumed, and prescribed cannabis without any suggestion that doing so warranted loss of firearms rights. And state-legal medical cannabis users readily continue to do so today with the protection of Congress,” the brief explains. |
Trump Enforcers Reject Second Amendment After Minneapolis Shooting
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As Democrats continue to organize groups of agitators bent on disrupting federal efforts to apprehend and deport those who have violated the sovereignty of America’s borders, it is becoming clear that more and more on the left are arming themselves in preparation for violent confrontations with law enforcement. This dangerous disposition is becoming increasingly prevalent as leftists brag about turning Second Amendment tables on conservatives without realizing that our motivations could not be further at odds. It is also cause for concern as it seems many within the Trump “best people” inner circle have used it as an excuse to speak out against gun owners carrying in public... |
HI: Supreme Court Poised to Strike Down Backdoor Ban on Concealed Carry
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In what would be a major victory for Second Amendment advocates, the Supreme Court appears likely to strike down a Hawaii law that functions as a de facto blanket ban on concealed carry rights. The decision could also effectively nullify similar laws in other liberal cities and states.
On January 20, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Wolford v. Lopez, a case concerning Hawaii’s limits on concealed carry. Under current law in the Aloha State, it is illegal for an individual with a concealed carry license to carry their firearm on private property that is open to the public without “express authorization” from the property owner. |
FL: Gun-safety advocates push to preserve Florida’s red-flag law
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One major part of the 2018 gun safety law approved by the Florida Legislature following the mass school shooting in Parkland would already be history if the state House had its way. The chamber voted earlier this month (for the fourth year in a row) to lower the legal age to purchase a long gun from 21 to 18.
Now at least one member of the House wants to revoke another provision of that law, establishing risk-protection orders. These can authorize confiscation of firearms from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others. Rep. Tyler Sirois, R-Merritt Island, would accomplish this through (HB 6029). |
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