Keep and Bear Arms - Gun Owners Home Page

Why These Black Individuals Choose to Own Guns
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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In recent years, discussions around gun ownership have expanded to include diverse perspectives, particularly from within the Black community. Responsible gun ownership is not just about possession; its about education, training, and understanding the legal landscape. Marcus Weldon, Murner R. Hilliard Jr., and Jacquiline Rigard exemplify dedicated Black gun owners focused on self-protection, safety, and community advocacy.

Craig DeLuz: The Evolving Presence Of Blacks In The Firearms Industry
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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In a commentary published at The Sacramento Observer, Project 21 Ambassador Craig DeLuz profiles several black Americans involved in the firearms industry, and discusses what the increase in gun ownership among black Americans means for our society:

The growing involvement of Black Americans in the firearms industry signifies a step towards dismantling stereotypes and fostering empowerment. As this community continues to flourish, it is poised to not only advocate for their rights, but also to change the conversation surrounding firearms in America to one rooted in education, safety, and, ultimately, empowerment for all.

WY: Despite bipartisan support, Second Amendment bill may fail to become law
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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While anti-gun-regulation advocates have seen many successes in this year's legislative session, a bill to amend the state's Second Amendment Protection Act (SAPA) may not become law despite receiving bipartisan support.

Senate File 196, Second Amendment Protection Act amendments, was passed by the Wyoming Legislature and sent to Gov. Mark Gordon for his consideration. If the governor signs it or allows it to become law without his signature, it would allow individuals to take legal action against institutions that violate their gun rights.

It would further prohibit local law enforcement from helping the federal government to enforce federal gun laws.

NY: More Gun Owners Take NYPD to Court Over Concealed Carry License Delays
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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In another round of legal action, a new group of New York gun owners has launched a federal lawsuit against New York City. They are challenging what they describe as unconstitutional delays in processing firearms license applications by the NYPD Licensing Division. The case, filed in the Southern District of New York (Case No. 1:25-CV-1732), accuses the city of deliberate and excessive delays that violate the Second Amendment.

RI: A vote to ban firearms is an infringement of the RI Constitution Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
I've read with interest that 65% of Rhode Islanders support a gun ban (which, make no mistake about it, is what they are proposing, a near total gun ban). I'd be curious to know if those 65% knew that effective May 1843, R.I. State Constitution - Section 22 says: "The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." One sentence, that's it, clear as day.

NM: AMAC Opposes an Assault Weapons Ban in New Mexico
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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On behalf of the over 2 million members of AMAC Association of Mature American Citizens, including over 15,400 who reside in New Mexico, I write to oppose Senate Bill 279 and any subsequent substituton bills of the same topic.

The 2nd Amendment of our revered United States Constitution, the supreme law of the land, states in no uncertain terms that the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed. There is no listed prohibition there for any given weapon, and as such, any infringement on manufacture, sale, possession, and/or transfer made based on the method by which a firearm operates, or its design parameters, is absolutely an infringement prohibited by the Constitution.

NY: NYC Concealed Carry Applicants File Federal Lawsuit Over Extreme Licensing Delays
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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Nine New York City residents who applied for concealed carry licenses have filed a federal lawsuit against the City of New York, accusing the city of unconstitutional delays in processing their applications. The case, Milani et al. v. New York City, was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and directly challenges the New York Police Departments License Division over excessive, unreasonable, and unjustifiable processing times that plaintiffs say violate their Second Amendment rights.

IA: Bills on elections, immigration and guns squeak past Legislatures funnel deadline
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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House Study Bill 262, which would lower the age limit to carry a firearm from 21 to 18, will head to the House floor.

Holt said there will likely be an amendment stipulating that permits will not be allowed for 18-21 year-olds to satisfy the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS, requirements.

Under current law, Iowa is a permitless carry state for anyone over the age of 21.

Are Duty to Retreat Laws Making Your CCW Useless?
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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The debate over self-defense laws in the United States often boils down to two major legal doctrines: duty to retreat and stand your ground. According to The U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA), the duty to retreat principle requires individuals to attempt to escape a dangerous situation before resorting to force, especially deadly force. This legal framework prioritizes de-escalation and conflict avoidance over immediate self-defense.

While this might sound reasonable in theory, in practice, duty to retreat laws can create serious problems for lawful gun owners and concealed carry permit holders (CCW).

Mexico Aims to Reshape the US Firearm Industry by Suing Gun Makers: The Supreme Court Will Decide Whether That Threat to the Second Amendment Is Legally Viable
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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President Donald Trump, who imposed punitive tariffs on Mexico this week, complains that our southern neighbor is not doing enough to stop illegal drugs from crossing the border. Mexico has a similar complaint about the United States and guns, as reflected in a case that the Supreme Court heard on the same day the tariffs took effect.

Officially, the Mexican government sued American gun manufacturers, blaming them for "aiding and abetting" the trafficking of firearms to drug cartels. But its real beef is with the Second Amendment, which prohibits the sort of sweeping gun restrictions that Mexican officials think public safety requires.

FL: Man killed by resident in Lake City home invasion identified by friends as MMA fighter Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Police have released the identity of the man killed Tuesday while breaking into a home on SW Leslie Glen. Langston Sykes, 31, forced his way into the home just before 11 a.m. before being shot to death by a resident acting in self-defense, a Lake City police news release states.

CA: California sheriff speaks out, claims new bill would make self-defense illegal
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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Sheriff Chad Bianco with the Riverside County Sheriff's Office (RCSO) released a video on social media explaining how a recently introduced bill in the California State Assembly would essentially "make self-defense against criminals" illegal.

According to KRCR, Assembly Bill 1333 was introduced by Assembly Member Rick Zbur of Santa Monica on February 21st and aims to "eliminate certain circumstances under which homicide is justifiable, including, among others, in defense of a habitation or property."

FL: Pensacola Hotel Employee Shoots Attacker/Stalker in Self-Defense
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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A female employee at the Holiday Inn in downtown Pensacola defended herself with a legally owned firearm after being attacked in the hotels laundry room on Monday morning.

Pensacola Police say 35-year-old Marquise James had been stalking the woman for some time, using social media and other means to harass her. Despite previous warnings to leave her alone, James confronted the woman at her workplace and, this time, immediately began punching her. Fearing for her safety, she drew her handgun and shot James once in the leg.

Trump Addresses Congress: One Hundred Minutes and Not a Peep About the Second Amendment
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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The substance of the speech covered a variety of topics, focusing on President Trump's second-term accomplishments thus far, his contributions to the US economy, a renewed push for Congressional border funding, and his plan to secure peace around the globe. I dont mean to diminish the importance of any of these subjects, however, for a speech about renewing the American dream, a conspicuously absent mention of the Second Amendment gives me pause as I wonder where such a fundamental Constitutional guarantee falls within this administrations priorities. I heard First Amendment accomplishments mentioned within eleven minutes of commencement, so naturally, I looked forward to hearing plans for the Second Amendment, which never materialized.

Is Bondi Going to Deliver on 2A or Not? Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
With the deadline approaching for the Presidents executive order on protecting the Second Amendment, many gun rights advocates are asking a crucial question: Is Pam Bondi going to be a defender of the Second Amendment, or is she going to continue policies that infringe on gun rights?

FL: Florida lawmakers consider lowering gun purchase age, guns on campuses
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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Florida's gun debate is heating up as lawmakers in Tallahassee focus on the Second Amendment and have a plan to put guns into the hands of more young people.

It doesn't stop there, as some Republican lawmakers are pushing for guns on college campuses, too.

Jean Marcjozard is a freshman at Florida SouthWestern State College and said he supports people under 21 being allowed to purchase and own guns.

Younger people should be able to protect themselves as much as older folks, Marcjozard said.

NH: New Hampshire lawmakers advance bill closing firearm loophole
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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New Hampshire would join other states in sharing mental health information about potential gun buyers under a bipartisan proposal moving through the legislative process, but the move faces opposition from Second Amendment groups.

The legislation, which was approved by the House Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, would require New Hampshire to begin sharing mental health data about potential gun buyers with the National Instant Criminal Background System, which is overseen by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Strong ATF Director Pick Gives Trump Chance At Being Hero To Gun Owners
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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President Trump is five weeks into his second term, and hes already off to a strong start in following through with his commitment to protect Americans Second Amendment rights. His executive orders directing the Department of Justice to put together a comprehensive pro-Second Amendment plan of action and ending the weaponization of the federal government are historic enough, but by making FBI Director Kash Patel the acting head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Trump can make even greater strides towards putting an end to federal law enforcements politicization against law-abiding Americans.

FL: While Lauding FL Govs Pro-2A Remarks, Dont Ignore Alarming Dem Discipline
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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While gun rights activists in Florida and across the country are giving Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis high marks for his call to re-evaluate Sunshine State gun control laws during his state-of-the-state address, they should remain vigilant following Tuesdays embarrassing performance by Congressional Democrats during President Donald Trumps Capitol speech.

DeSantis, according to the Tallahassee Democrat, may have set the stage for what may become the most memorable gun fight in state Capitol history.

Impact of Trump Gender Ideology Order on Firearm Transactions to Be Determined
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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Gun owners will recall that in 2020, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive revised the ATF Form 4473 Firearm Transaction Record, required when purchasing a firearm from a federally licensed dealer. Among other changes, ATF added a box under Sex for prospective gun purchasers to check if they self-identify as non-binary.

What this means is the Form 4473 will need to be revised again if ATF is to comply with the executive order. As Orchid Advisors reported on AmmoLand in 2019:

ME: Bill to expand right to self-defense in Minnesota fails House vote
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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In Minnesota, you can use force, even deadly force, to defend yourself provided you first try to get away from your attacker and your counterforce is commensurate with the danger you are facing.

And that duty to retreat legal standard will remain the case because the House was unable to garner enough votes Thursday to pass HF13, which would have allowed a person to use reasonable force in self-defense regardless of whether a reasonable possibility of retreat to avoid the danger exists.

U.S. House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on The Right to Self Defense
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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The U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, under the leadership of Chairman Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), held a committee hearing focused on the right of law-abiding Americans to protect themselves.

Its a critical moment for Second Amendment rights as President Donald Trump campaigned on restoring community safety and vowing to protect the Constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans. That priority resonated with voters, including more than 26.2 million law-abiding Americans persuaded by crime and threats of violence in their communities to purchase a firearm for the first time over the past five years.

MN: MN bill to eliminate 'duty to retreat' in self-defense fails to pass
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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A bill seeking to eliminate a person's "duty to retreat" before using reasonable force when defending themselves or others failed to get enough votes in the Minnesota House of Representatives on Thursday.

Minnesota's current "duty to retreat" policy requires a person to try to escape a situation in which they feel threatened before resorting to using reasonable force in self-defense.

Republican Rep. Matt Bliss said he introduced the bill in response to a Minnesota Supreme Court ruling in 2024, which upheld the state's requirement to retreat when possible before using or threatening to use force against a potential attacker.

SD: Concealed guns on campus could become reality with South Dakota governors signature
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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People with firearms training will be allowed to carry concealed handguns on college campuses in South Dakota if Gov. Larry Rhoden signs a bill passed by the House of Representatives on Thursday at the Capitol in Pierre.

A call for rejection from a representative who formerly served as a Highway Patrol trooper and said he lost sleep over the proposal, along with a plea from another who leads a campus suicide prevention group, werent enough to keep Senate Bill 100 from a 55-14 win.