|
|
AR: The line of fire
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
As crime rose during the era of Prohibition and into the 1960s, the NRA worked closely with the government to pass meaningful gun reform, including the National Firearms Act of 1934, the Gun Control Act of 1938, and in California the Mulford Act, which prohibited the open carry of firearms. The latter, passed in 1967, was signed into law by then-Gov. Ronald Reagan.
All were effective at reducing the types of guns used in crime. |
OR: Originalist Sin
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Thus the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals applied the originalist formula, using the lens of white males from centuries ago, to legislation prohibiting possession of firearms by those with domestic violence restraining orders, to rule that such orders violate the Second Amendment rights of the abuser, as in the recent case of United States v. Zackey Rahimi.
This decision illustrates the folly of the originalist approach to today’s issues and our attempts to fashion legislative solutions. First, the firearms of 200 years ago are not the firearms of today. A single-shot musket is not the firearm of a high velocity semi-automatic with large capacity magazines and high velocity bullets that pierce body armor. |
GA: Proposed Georgia gun legislation has unintended consequences, expert says
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"I think everybody or almost everybody would be in favor of having stricter penalties against people that use a gun to, say, rob a convenience store or commit a more heinous crime like rape or murder," Evans said. "But what this bill includes — among the crimes that they’re quote-unquote, cracking down on — is aggravated assault.
"We all think aggravated assault sounds terrible, and we’d like to crack down on that too," Evans added. "But that is the most common crime that lawful gun owners are wrongfully charged with when they use their firearm for self-defense."
Evans said the quickest fix would be to remove aggravated assault from the list of crimes in the legislation. |
ID: Idaho Supreme Court hears Festival weapons case
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Whether the Festival at Sandpoint can ban firearms at the summer music series was taken up by the Idaho Supreme Court on Monday.
The case is the latest filed by Scott Herndon, Jeff Avery, Idaho Second Amendment Alliance and Second Amendment Foundation over their denial by the Festival at Sandpoint to allow them to enter a 2019 concert with firearms.
Idaho law forbids curtailment of Second Amendment rights on public lands. War Memorial Field is owned by the city and leased to the Festival for two weeks in August. |
ND: Republican states sue Biden administration over new pistol brace rules
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
More than 20 Republican-led states, along with gun rights groups and a disabled Army veteran, on Thursday sued the Biden administration over a new rule restricting sales of gun accessories known as pistol braces.
In a lawsuit filed in federal court in North Dakota, the states said that the rule finalized earlier this year by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was “arbitrary and capricious” and violated the right to bear arms under the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment.
Ed.: A separate case was filed by TX yesterday. |
OR: Oregon Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Voter-Approved Gun Laws
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
The Oregon Supreme Court has declined to overturn a lower court’s ban on a slate of new gun laws in the state. Measure 114 requires anyone purchasing a firearm to take a gun safety course and obtain a permit, and also banned magazines holding more than 10 rounds, Jonathan Levinson reports for OPB. The law was immediately challenged and four cases pending in federal court have since been consolidated into one. In a temporary restraining order, Circuit Court Judge Robert Raschio blocked the law’s provisions from taking effect, and later extended the order. |
Tenney introduces legislation to exempt firearms from bankruptcy proceedings
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today introduced the Protecting Gun Owners in Bankruptcy Act. This bill would exempt $3,000 worth of firearms from bankruptcy proceedings, allowing Americans to maintain their Second Amendment rights through tough financial times.
Current bankruptcy law allows debtors to maintain items to support a base quality of life, including a primary residency, car, clothing, household appliances, and even musical instruments.
But there is no current exemption for a firearm that can be used for self-defense, a constitutional right. This important piece of legislation ensures that Americans can keep their firearms to defend themselves, no matter their financial state. |
MS: Mississippi Senate passes bill allowing teachers to be armed
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Legislation that would allow public and private school teachers in the Magnolia State to be armed has passed the Mississippi Senate.
On Wednesday, Senate Bill 2079, authored by Senator Angela Hill, R-Picayune, passed after receiving 39 yea votes and 13 nay votes.
The bill would establish a School Safety Guardian Training Program, which would be administered by Mississippi Homeland Security under the umbrella of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS). |
VT: Slate Ridge fiasco pushes lawmakers to ban 'paramilitary facilities' in the state
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Right now, there is no law preventing facilities like Slate Ridge in Vermont. The legislature is taking up the issue this session.
“The testimony that we got this morning was surprising,” Baruth said. “And it indicated that we may have a bigger problem than we knew. So, the witness we have this morning talked about several such camps, not just Slate Ridge.”
The bill is very specific and won’t include shooting ranges, hunting safety courses approved by The Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife, or trainings done by municipalities, state, and federal agencies. |
CO: Commissioners one step closer to having ability to prohibit unsafe gun discharge
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
A bill introduced from Clear Creek County that would give commissioners the ability to ban the discharge of firearms in certain unincorporated areas with a certain population density passed 9-4 in the Local Government House Committee on Feb. 8.
Currently, county commissioners may not prohibit the discharge of firearms in unincorporated areas of counties in shooting galleries, on private grounds or in residences under circumstances that do not endanger people or property.
The current law says the area must have a population density of 100 people or more per square mile to prohibit shooting. |
MD: Maryland Lawmakers Want Sci-Fi Technology to Track Your Guns in Real Time
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Someone needs to figure out what in the wide world of dystopian Buck Rogers in the 25th Century sci-fi fantasy world is going on in Maryland’s legislature. Antigun lawmakers there are advancing legislation that would require firearm manufacturers to attach RFID trackers to each and every firearm so government officials could track their whereabouts at all times.
Not only is this a clear invasion of privacy rights and Constitutional protections against illegal search-and-seizure, this is an idea that’s not even technologically possible. This is the stuff of Hollywood – and antigun politicians that don’t understand the first thing about firearms or manufacturing processes. |
FL: Ocala judge tosses out aggravated battery case, cites inconsistent testimony
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Ramputi said testimony presented in court from three prosecution witnesses was inconsistent − to the point where the judge felt he could no longer continue with the trial.
In a three-page document outlining his ruling, Brigham wrote: "To conclude the trial testimony of these three witnesses differed significantly from their earlier testimony would be an understatement. Simply put, these three witnesses undermined the conclusion that the State retained clear and convincing evidence that Mr. Vanscooter was not entitled to the immunity protections of Chapter 776, Florida Statutes." |
NC: Man shot on Bethabara Pointe Circle in self-defense, Winston-Salem police said
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
No charges will be filed against a Greensboro woman after shooting a man Thursday in Winston-Salem, police said.
Officers were called to an apartment complex on Bethabara Pointe Circle after 5 p.m. Police said they found Johordon Davis, 24, injured in the parking lot with a gunshot wound to his neck. Another victim was found inside the apartment with non-life-threatening injuries.
According to investigators, Davis and a family member arrived at the complex to grab his belongings from his ex-girlfriend's apartment. Police said Davis became irate and then began assaulting multiple women inside the apartment, including his mother and ex-girlfriend. |
MO: Missouri Republicans block proposed ban on kids carrying guns in public
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
The Republican-controlled Missouri House of Representatives rejected a proposal Wednesday that would have banned children from being able to openly carry firearms on public land without adult supervision.
The proposal, which was part of a long debate in the chamber on how to fight crime in St. Louis, was defeated by a vote of 104-39, with just one Republican voting in support of the ban. After the amendment on the open-carry restrictions for minors was initially supported by the Republican legislator sponsoring a broader crime bill, GOP lawmakers on a committee that he leads removed the firearms provision last week. |
NRA Has Lost Over a Million Members Since Corruption Allegations Surfaced
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
The NRA’s financial troubles have worsened.
Despite what some detractors have long said, the NRA is primarily funded by its millions of members. That’s why it’s such a terrible sign for the group that it has lost over a million of those members since corruption allegations were first levied against NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. That membership downturn has driven a stark decline in revenues.
Combined with still-skyrocketing legal costs, the NRA has fallen into massive budget deficits. That means more cuts to core programs. |
The Second Amendment’s Legal Landscape Is Getting Weirder
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Last week, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a federal provision that prohibits people under restraining orders for domestic violence from possessing firearms. The following day, a federal district court in Oklahoma struck down a similar provision that applied to people who unlawfully use or are addicted to a controlled substance. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals parted ways with the other courts when it came to the provision’s application to people convicted of felonies. But even that decision may not be long for this world. |
TX: Paxton Sues Biden Administration to Block Illegal Rule that Infringes on the Second Amendment Rights of Americans
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Attorney General Paxton, along with a coalition of other plaintiffs, is suing the Biden Administration over a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) rule targeting pistol owners who use stabilizing braces. Attorney General Paxton is partnering with Gun Owners of America in this lawsuit.
For years, Americans have widely used stabilizing braces when exercising their Second Amendment rights for numerous purposes, with millions sold throughout the country. Braces can reduce recoil, assist people with disabilities, prevent injury, and overall help individuals operate weapons more safely and accurately.
Ed.: This case is separate from the one also filed yesterday by 20 states, led by ND. |
IA: Student’s Second Amendment shirt prompts First Amendment lawsuit
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
At the start of the school year, Johnston High School government teacher Thomas Griffin gave a lesson about free speech, explaining that students’ rights to it were “extremely limited” while on school property, according to a new lawsuit.
He said that he wouldn’t allow students to “wear any clothing that depicts guns, alcohol, or any other ‘inappropriate material,’” the document alleges.
But one student at the Johnston, Iowa, school felt her teacher was “wrong about the scope” of the First Amendment. The next time she had class, she walked in wearing a black T-shirt that read “What part of ‘shall not be infringed’ do you not understand?” alongside an image of a rifle. |
Gun-Ban Senators Form Caucus to Attack 2nd Amendment
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Last week, a group of eight U.S. Senators formed the brand new “Gun Violence Prevention Caucus.” When you see their names—hint, the list reads like a who’s who of gun-ban legends—you’ll have no doubt about what their true goal is.
Of course, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., was among those proclaiming themselves arbiters of the Second Amendment.
“We wake every day to headlines of another mass shooting in this country,” Feinstein said. “We can’t allow this to continue. We know that no single bill will solve the problem, but by working together to develop a comprehensive approach, we believe there is an opportunity to pass reasonable gun safety bills.” |
AK: Lawmakers Introduce Emergency Powers Bills
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
House Bill 61 and Senate Bill 63 prohibit state and local government entities from closing lawful firearm businesses or restricting an individual’s access to firearms, ammunition, and component parts during declared states of emergency, unless such closures and limitations apply to all forms of commerce equally. This prevents anti-gun officials from interfering with Second Amendment rights under the guise of a declared emergency, when citizens need them the most. Further, the bills provide legal recourse for people who experience unjust infringements on these essential rights. |
ND: Self-defense bill on radar of ND state’s attorneys
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
A rally of opposition by North Dakota’s state’s attorneys came too late for a House bill that would provide financial reimbursement to assault or murder defendants who are acquitted on self defense.
Ward County State’s Attorney Roza Larson, president of the North Dakota State’s Attorney’s Association, said the association will be working in the North Dakota Senate to defeat the bill, which passed the House 50-40 on Jan. 20. |
WA: Camas woman acquitted in fatal shooting of husband
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Stephanie “Sam” Westby sobbed as she embraced friends and family Thursday after a judge acquitted her of murder and assault charges in the September 2019 fatal shooting of her husband at their Camas home.
Clark County Superior Court Judge Nancy Retsinas heard from more than 30 witnesses and considered more than 130 pieces of evidence before ruling Westby acted in self-defense.
The judge said the evidence showed there was an “intense struggle” between the couple in their bedroom, where Sam Westby shot her husband, Joe Westby, twice. Retsinas said the evidence also showed Joe Westby threatened Sam Westby and that she feared for her safety. |
CCW Safe vs US Law Shield [2023]: Which CCW Insurance Do We Prefer?
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
CCW Safe and US Law Shield have already been ranked in our Best Concealed Carry Insurance List and each have their own full reviews: CCW Safe Review and US Law Shield Review.
But many of you have been asking for direct comparison of these two companies even though CCW Safe took the #1 spot.
In this CCW Safe vs US Law Shield comparison, we’re going to compare the coverage and features of these two concealed carry insurance providers to help you decide which one might be right for you. |
NM: New Mexico House narrowly passes firearm storage bill
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
The House endorsed the legislation on a 37-32 vote, sending it to the Senate. Some Democrats crossed party lines to join Republicans against the bill.
“This bill is about keeping children safe,” Rep. Pamelya Herndon, D-Albuquerque, said, alluding to Bennie’s death. “We had two minors. One had access to a gun and one is dead.”
The measure triggered a combative three-hour debate in the House as Republican legislators contended the bill inappropriately targeted law-abiding gun owners. They also expressed frustration as Herndon wouldn’t offer a “yes” or “no” answer to some questions. |
Wilson Combat SFX9 9mm 1911 Variant Pistol: Full Review
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Bill Wilson has been building and perfecting his own variations of the 1911 since 1977, so it makes sense that when it was time for a 1911 reimagining, Wilson was the one driving it. The SFX9 is the latest iteration of the Wilson X9 pistol that represents this evolution of the 1911. The X9 series is a single-action, hammer-fired semiauto, not unlike the 1911. What the X9 lacks are the vestigial remains of the original. |
Senators Markey & Menendez Re-Introduce Keep Americans Safe Act Which Bans High-Capacity Firearms
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a founding member of the U.S. Senate Gun Violence Prevention Caucus, and 26 of his Senate colleagues in reintroducing the Keep Americans Safe Act, renewing efforts to ban the importation, sale, manufacturing, transfer, or possession of gun magazines that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. High capacity ammunition magazines allow shooters to fire a large number of bullets without stopping to reload. |
MN: Gun safety bills gain in Minnesota amid Democratic control
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Gun safety bills are advancing at the Minnesota Legislature, backed by Democrats who are hoping their new control of both chambers will help them pass proposals that Republicans were able to block in recent years.
The two main bills would expand background check requirements for firearm sales and other transfers, and allow authorities to temporarily confiscate guns from people in crisis under what are commonly known as red flag laws or extreme risk protection orders. They're moving ahead as the national debate over preventing gun violence becomes increasingly polarized. |
|
|
