|
|
MT: Montana Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans Betrays our Nation’s First Principles!
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Chairman Usher (R, D20), along with Senators Smith, Olsen (D, D50), Lammers (R, D41), Neumann (D, D30), voted in favor of the amendment (SB0127.001.002), which would require a unanimous jury verdict in order to grant reimbursement for court costs that result from a self-defense incident. Given the fractured state of our society, getting a jury to come to a unanimous decision during a contentious self-defense trial is fanciful at best.
Meaning this amendment would render the legislation all but useless. Sen. Emrich (R, D11) and the bill sponsor Sen. Manzella (R, D44) pointed that out to the committee members before the vote.
Given that Senators Usher and Lamers broke ranks, the bill supporters were compelled to table S.B. 127. |
Sweden: Mass shooting: Sweden to do in a week what US couldn't in years– limit access to semi-automatic guns
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Sweden’s government announced on Friday (February 7) that it would move to amend the country’s gun laws, imposing stricter restrictions on semi-automatic weapons.
The declaration came in response to the deadliest mass shooting in the country’s history, which claimed the lives of eleven people, including the gunman, last week.
According to police, the shooter was licensed to own four firearms, three of which were found next to his body. Officers also recovered several long-barrelled weapons and 10 empty magazines from the scene. |
Netflix Eyes Award-Winning Sundance Documentary Examining Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” Laws
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Netflix is in talks to acquire “The Perfect Neighbor,” a powerful documentary that won the Directing Award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Directed by Geeta Gandbhir, the film explores a fatal neighborhood dispute in Florida, shedding light on the state’s controversial self-defense legislation.
The documentary, which premiered in the U.S. Documentary Competition, uses police body camera footage and interviews to examine how a minor disagreement between neighbors turned deadly. By focusing on a single incident, the film raises critical questions about community safety and legal standards for self-defense. |
NC: High Point Police Determine Deadly Shooting Was Justified Self-Defense
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Police in High Point, North Carolina, have determined that a fatal shooting inside a home last month was a case of self-defense, meaning no charges will be filed.
The incident occurred just after midnight on January 11, when officers responded to reports of an assault with a deadly weapon at a residence on Colony Drive. Inside, four individuals were present when gunfire erupted. Investigators confirmed that multiple shots were fired, leaving 20-year-old Brandon Harris Jr. dead at the scene and two others injured. |
Appeals court to answer whether noncitizens have Second Amendment rights
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Whether illegal immigrants have the right to keep and bear arms is a question now up for the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
The case USA v. Heriberto Carbajal-Flores centers around Flores’ arrest in Chicago for having a firearm. Representing the federal government, Margaret Steindorf said Flores’ immigration status is important.
“There is the common thread here of felons not abiding by the law and those unlawfully in the country also not authorized to be in the country,” Steindorf said in arguing court precedent allowing for certain individuals to be prohibited from having a firearm. |
Federal Court Declares Machine Gun Ban Unconstitutional
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
In a major ruling out of the Southern District of Mississippi, Judge Carlton Reeves has struck down the federal machine gun ban as unconstitutional under the Second Amendment. The case, United States v. Brown, follows the framework established by the Supreme Court in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which requires gun laws to be justified by historical tradition.
As someone who has appeared before Judge Reeves, most recently in The Jones Group of Mississippi, LLC v. Zurich American Insurance Co., No. 3:20-CV-151-CWR-FKB (S.D. Miss. Dec. 1, 2020), I can attest that he is a fair and methodical judge. |
NC: State lawmakers file bills to allow for concealed carry without a permit in North Carolina
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Standing behind a display case inside his business, Tar River Arms owner Kurt Lieberman shared that he often hears the same questions from customers.
"It's almost every day. I get it on the phone, I get it in here. When they purchase (a gun), what can they do? What are they supposed to do when they're carrying in their car? There's quite a bit of confusion around it," said Lieberman.
Currently, to get a concealed carry permit, you must be 21 years old and need to complete a firearms safety course, while meeting other residency requirements and pass a background check. |
Federal Judge Dismisses Illegal Machine Gun Possession Case
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Federal Judge Carlton Reeves, a 2010 Obama appointee to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, has begrudgingly ruled in favor of a motion to dismiss charges of illegal machine gun possession in the case of United States of America v. Justin Bryce Brown. It is important to distinguish that Reeves did not rule on the Constitutionality of the post-1986 machine gun ban enacted by the Hughes Amendment, a provision of the Firearm Owners' Protection Act (FOPA) that updated the Gun Control Act (GCA) of 1968. Instead, he recognized that the government’s case did not satisfy the standard set by the landmark 2022 United States Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen. |
OH: New Albany mass shooting: We've had enough of the babbling
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
I don’t believe that God intended for us to behave like this.
I pray for the family and friends who have been affected by the New Albany mass shooting and that the victims and other employees get the help they need to recover from this shooting.
As for the shooter, I hope that he is prosecuted to the maximum sentence allowed in a case like this.
It’s time this country said that we are not going to accept these shootings anymore and that anyone who does this will be prosecuted to the fullest extent, even if that means the death penalty. |
TX: San Antonio Barbershop Owner Shoots Armed Robber Dead in Self-Defense
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
According to the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD), a man entered the barbershop in the 2000 block of Basse Road around 7:30 p.m., demanding wallets and purses while brandishing a firearm. When one of the owners, a 26-year-old man, did not comply fast enough, the suspect struck him with the firearm.
The armed robber then turned his attention to a 51-year-old female co-owner, pulling out zip ties, possibly in an attempt to restrain her. Seizing the opportunity, the male business owner drew his own firearm and fired multiple shots, striking the suspect in the chest. |
Blind Man Gets Carry Permit To Push For Qualification Requirements
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
A blind man from Indiana who obtained his concealed carry permit is using that experience to advocate for stricter laws regarding who may carry a concealed firearm for self-defense. And he is also attracting considerable media attention in the process.
According to a report at keyc.com, Terry Sutherland sought a permit in his home state of Indiana, even though the state has a constitutional carry law, and he didn’t need one to legally carry a firearm there. Sutherland’s solution would be for states to have to go back to requiring a live-fire shooting test to qualify for a permit—a requirement that runs afoul of the Second Amendment. |
Federal Judge Rules Machinegun Charges Against Mississippi Man Violate Second Amendment
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Merely possessing a machinegun is not a crime, according to one federal judge.
US District Judge Carlton Reeves dismissed charges against Justin Bryce Brown, a Mississippi man with no prior criminal record, over his ownership of an unregistered machinegun last week. He found the federal law effectively banning the sale and possession of new production or unregistered machineguns was unconstitutional as applied to Brown’s specific circumstances. He argued the Supreme Court’s ruling in 2022’s New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen required him to reach that conclusion. |
FL: DeSantis 'Second Amendment Summer Tax Holiday' for Florida Turns Heads
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Floridians may be in for summertime tax savings. Gov. Ron DeSantis’ 2025-2026 budget proposal includes several tax holidays, funding for disaster prevention, and a one-time mortgage tax exemption.
“Florida’s steadfast commitment to fiscal conservatism is why we are in such good financial shape,” DeSantis said in a press release. “Florida has experienced historic success by keeping government spending low while balancing significant investments in meaningful initiatives.” |
Kennedy, Crapo reintroduce Hearing Protection Act to remove regulatory burden for lawful gun owners
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and colleagues in reintroducing the Hearing Protection Act (HPA) to help law-abiding gun owners better access suppressors to preserve their hearing and safety. The HPA would reclassify suppressors so that they receive the same regulation as traditional firearms, removing regulatory burdens.
“Big government shouldn’t stand in the way of protecting lawful gun owners’ hearing. I’m proud to help introduce this bill to make it easier for Louisianians and all Americans to practice their Second Amendment rights safely,” said Kennedy. |
California Democrat hits Kash Patel for ties to gun rights group
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., grilled Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the FBI, over Patel’s pro-gun stances.
Asked by Padilla whether Patel believes background checks on firearm purchases are constitutional during the nominee’s confirmation hearing Thursday, Patel responded that he didn’t know "the in-depths of it," but believed "that’s what the Supreme Court said." |
Shifting Focus & Future at the ATF Under the Trump Administration
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
In a significant move signaling changes at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Attorney General Pam Bondi, under President Donald Trump’s administration, has issued directives to reprioritize the agency’s focus. This adjustment emphasizes combating immigration issues, human trafficking, and transnational gangs over traditional ATF tasks like alcohol and tobacco enforcement. |
TN: A rural Tennessee county changed the way it separates guns from dangerous people. Now the rest of the state may follow suit.
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Tennessee is one of about a dozen states that allows someone who is ordered to surrender their guns to give them to a third party like a friend or relative. And it’s one of the only states that doesn’t require that person be identified in court. In such cases, someone could say they gave up their guns but still have access to them without any oversight, advocates for domestic violence victims say.
This bill, introduced to the statehouse by Rep. Kelly Keisling, R-Byrdstown, and Sen. Becky Massey, R-Knoxville, would change the state’s form, requiring the name, the address and the signature of the recipient of the dispossessed guns. |
HI: More Guns, More Gun Violence in Hawai‘i
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
The report says that from 2000 to 2023, the annual number of statewide permit applications that were processed increased by 262.6%, annual firearm registrations grew 280.5% and the number of firearms annually imported into Hawai‘i increased 263.4%.
Meanwhile, in four of the past five years, statewide crime reports show the percentage of murders, robberies and aggravated assaults committed with firearms was higher than in any other year this century. Mijuskovic says customers at Firearms International are a diverse group – mostly everyday people – and many are first-time firearm owners. Others have some experience with guns and some want to learn more about firearm safety and the handling of firearms. |
New Hunting Shotguns from SHOT Show 2025
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
It’s hard to dispute that handguns and rifles stole the show in 2025, but there was still plenty to love for shotgunners at 2025’s SHOT Show in Las Vegas. Whether you pursue gobblers, waterfowl, upland birds, or even clays, there’s something coming to pique your interest. Here’s a look at our top picks in hunting-related scatterguns.
CVA Scout Spur
Even little guns make big news at SHOT. The new CVA Scout Spur is a baby bore .410 turkey hunting darling. There’s a 20-inch smoothbore barrel fitted with an XX-Full Browning Invector extended choke tube. The blued metalwork pairs with an OD green synthetic stock with sling studs and molded grip panels. |
WA: Hundreds of Washington police officers could be in danger of being shot by their own guns
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
A line of police recruits stood on the firing range at the Spokane Police Academy last October. Video shows a recruit from the Yakima Police Department drawing his handgun. Just as it leaves the holster, his Sig Sauer P320 handgun fired and the bullet narrowly missing the recruit standing next to him.
That incident sparked a statewide investigation into the P320 by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC), which trains and certifies all police officers in Washington.
What alarmed experts is that the Yakima recruit says he never pulled the trigger on his P320. A firearms instructor standing next to him said the same thing, according to documents obtained by KING 5 through a public records request. |
Guns of the Decades - 1980s: SIG Sauer P226
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Welcome back to Guns of the Decades, where we highlight a certain firearm and discuss its place in the decade. It's not supposed to be an all-encompassing record of the firearm or a claim that it was the best firearm of the time, it's just a fun read about a gun in a particular decade. Today the decade is the 1980s, and the firearm is the SIG Sauer P226. |
Dems Keep to the Left on Guns
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
This week, we got a glimpse into how Democrats are going to handle guns in the wake of their 2024 loss.
David Hogg, the prominent and aggressive gun-control activist, became one of the DNC’s vice chairs. His bombastic style and the lack of Democratic support for pro-gun legislation send a clear signal on where the party is at today, as I explain in a member’s piece.
Trump’s Attorney General pick was confirmed this week, too. And she took some immediate action on the ATF. But probably not the action gun-rights advocates were hoping for. |
|
|
