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Smart People, Dumb Ideas
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For instance: How about his appalling dismissal of “259 justifiable homicides” in 2012? (Given that it’s Violence Policy Center-sourced, we’re suspicious already, but that is for another day.) But we simply must ask: Does Prof. Levitin hear himself? Those were justifiable homicides: In other words, those people absolutely needed their wherewithal, but Levitin can’t bear not to cast these in doubt by linking them in the same sentence to accidental shootings. Accidents are tragic (and largely preventable), we agree, but a completely different problem. Or look at it this way: Levitin got to make his choice, with the firearms of his choice—which of those 259, we wonder, would he have denied their own? |
KY: 'Open Carry' walk sparks gun rights discussion at U of L
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Gun rights advocates walked around the University of Louisville campus with their firearms Friday to encourage a discussion on the subject of campus carry.
Ilya Chernyavskiy and Aaron Spalding are U of L students and helped organize the Open Carry/Firearm Education Walk. This is the first open carry walk of its kind near a Kentucky university or college campus.
“Students should have the ability to conceal carry and have means of self-defense on campus without the fear of repercussion from administration,” Chernyavskiy said. |
Rotary International Gives the Boot to Gun Owners, Cites “Reputation Risk” In New Firearms Ban
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But one thing is clear: Those who prize America’s Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, or who simply appreciate the many benefits of owning firearms, are no longer welcomed within the group’s ranks.
The new policy bans any Rotary entity – including clubs and districts – from selling, raffling, or transferring firearms. It also bans these entities from participating in activities where any sort of firearm raffle or other transfer occurs, whether or not Rotary is the owner of the items. Rotary entities are also prohibited from sponsoring or conducting gun shows or other exhibitions involving guns. |
Tested: Mossberg 590 Shockwave
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Americans are fascinated with exotic scatterguns of all shapes and sizes, especially those models kept just out of reach by strict federal regulations. We can enjoy watching them in action on the silver screen but buying one is a financially prohibitive proposition. This year, Mossberg has found a way to offer their customers a pump gun with a 14" barrel that can be purchased without the need for a stack of National Firearms Act (NFA) paperwork. It's called the 590 Shockwave, and its one handy little 12 gauge. |
Debbie Wasserman Schultz may propose bill about transporting guns on airplanes
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Wasserman Schultz is considering proposing legislation related to rules about passengers transporting firearms. But any proposals about firearm restrictions could be dead on arrival in a Republican-led Congress.
Under current federal rules, airline passengers can transport unloaded firearms as checked baggage in a locked hard-sided container. The Transportation Security Administration has the power to enact rules related to what passengers can transport on airplanes via checked or carry-on luggage but has not announced any changes since the Fort Lauderdale shooting. Wasserman Schultz said she is pressing TSA to review policies. |
Once-booming gun industry now recalibrating under Trump
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President Donald Trump promised to revive manufacturing in the United States, but there's one once-burgeoning sector poised to shrink under his watch: the gun industry.
Fears of government limits on guns — some real, some perceived — led to a surge in demand during President Barack Obama's tenure and manufacturers leapt to keep up. Over the decade ending in 2015, the number of U.S. companies licensed to make firearms jumped a whopping 362 percent. But sales are down and the bubble appears to be bursting with a staunch advocate for gun rights in the White House and Republicans ruling Congress. |
Using A Single-Action Revolver For Self-Defense
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Far from being antiques, modern single-action revolvers are extremely popular among today’s handgunners. In this day of higher-capacity semi-autos and double-action revolvers, it’s difficult for some to consider the single action as a viable choice for personal defense.
But, single-action revolvers were originally designed as fighting guns and they did an excellent job of taking care of defensive chores for many, many years. |
The Mainstream Media Gets ‘Stand Your Ground’ Laws Wrong — Again
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And then there is the universal exception to any legal duty to retreat: the so-called Castle Doctrine, which holds that even in cases when one would otherwise have a legal duty to retreat, that legal duty doesn’t apply if they are in their “castle” — meaning their home and sometimes their business or vehicle — and they are facing armed intruders who have forcibly entered. In such a home-invasion, there is no legal duty to retreat, so “Stand Your Ground” laws do not apply. |
MA: Ashland woman sues state over Taser ban
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Lyn Bates teaches courses to women on how to defend themselves against rape, and is an author of a book about stalking. Her goal is to try to make women safer.
But, Massachusetts does not allow a tool that would help protect women and others, as well. The state is one of just a few that bans the public from possessing Tasers or stun guns.
“There are pros and cons for every kind of tool for self-defense,” said Bates, 70, of Ashland. “A lot of people study martial arts, and that’s great. Physical self-defense only works if you’re young enough and strong enough. For someone like me, I’m not big enough to defend myself against someone twice my size and half my age.” |
AZ: Some Arizona Lawmakers Concerned About Smart Gun Technology
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Some Arizona lawmakers voted to block a measure that would stop people from buying smart guns.
The House bill would prohibit any mandatory tracking technology on guns, but most of Thursday’s debate centered on the idea of who is and who isn't supposed to be able to fire the gun.
Proponents said smart gun technology could prevent shooting tragedies like what happened last week when a little boy was killed by his two year old brother. |
IA: Iowa Man Charged After Taking Joe Biden’s Shotgun Advice
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Firing so-called “warning shots” are almost never justified in a self-defense context. You’re either justified in discharging a shot at a deadly force threat, or not justified in firing at all. There’s not much legal middle ground in most jurisdictions, and firing in the air or at someone who is running or driving away is almost always going to result in criminal charges.
Wagner made a critical mistake, and he now faces criminal charges as a result.
Biden, of course, faces no repercussions for his bad advice. |
'Democrats Are Good For Gun Sales': Guess What Happened After Trump's Election
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Donald Trump won the backing of the National Rifle Association and many gun owners by opposing limits to the Second Amendment's right to bear arms. But since his election and in the early months of his presidency, Trump has not been good for the gun business.
Shares of publicly traded firearms companies have fallen. The pro-gun president nicking the fortunes of the industry he vowed to protect may seem illogical on its face.
But the slump makes complete sense when seen through unusual economics underlying the gun business. Most businesses are influenced by things such as interest rates and consumer confidence. |
IA: Funnel Week Delays Omnibus Gun Bill HF517 Vote
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Despite their best efforts our allies in the Iowa Senate were unable to bring HF517, the Omnibus Gun Bill, to the Senate floor for debate and a vote this week. The reason? Today (Friday) is the second funnel of the 2017 legislative session.
Our bill cleared this procedural hurdle two weeks ago, but several other non-Second Amendment issues needed to get passed out of committee by today in order to remain viable. Also, according to Senator Brad Zaun, some key Senators who want to enthusiastically vote YES on HF517 had planned absences this week and wouldn't be present if the bill was brought to the floor this week. |
GA: Georgia lawmakers back bill allowing guns on campuses
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Georgia lawmakers sent Gov. Nathan Deal a bill on Friday that would permit licensed gun owners to carry concealed handguns on public college campuses, hoping they’ve made enough changes to win over the Republican who vetoed a similar measure last year.
The House and Senate both approved the compromise measure after midnight Thursday, the traditional end to the legislative session, following several hours of closed-door debates between members for both chambers. |
GA: Winners and losers of the 2017 Georgia legislative session
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Licensed weapons carriers, who have been fighting for five years to allow guns on college campuses — a matter they view as a Second Amendment right, were given special consideration after legislative negotiations. A conference committee between the House and Senate met Friday to make ... In addition to dormitories, Greek houses and athletic events, as well as on-campus child care facilities and classrooms where high school students are present, the committee agreed to add faculty and administrative office spaces and disciplinary hearings to the list of restricted areas where a concealed weapon cannot be carried. Deal has said he is “receptive” to the bill with those changes. |
AR: Bill allowing Razorback Stadium to ban guns passes Senate
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Last week Governor Asa Hutchinson signed a bill into law which allows concealed carry on college campuses. After outcry from the NCAA and SEC, Senator Jonathan Dismang introduced a new bill that allows athletic stadiums, day cares and hospitals to ban guns within their walls.
Friday, an emotional Senator Stephanie Flowers told the Arkansas Senate that the bill did not go far enough. She spoke about the death of her sister. |
AR: Bill on guns at college sports events goes to Arkansas governor
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Lawmakers on Friday sent to Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s desk a bill to allow concealed handguns to be banned at college sports events and a few other places if a state-approved security plan is in place.
The Senate voted 23-7 to approve Senate Bill 724 by Senate President Pro Tem Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy. The chamber first approved the bill last week but had to vote again on it because it was amended in the House.
The House approved the bill Thursday in a 71-20 vote.
A spokesman for Hutchinson said the governor plans to sign the bill Monday. |
Efficacy of background checks still up for debate, 36 years after the assassination attempt that spawned NICS
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“What did the Oregon killer, the WDBJ killer, the Charleston church killer, the Santa Barbra killer, the Maryland mall killer, the LA airport killer, the DC Navy yard killer, the Aurora movie theater killer, the Tucson killer, the Virginia Tech killer and both Fort Hood killers have in common? Every single one of them passed a background check,” said Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president and CEO of the National Rifle Association in a January video campaign against expanded background checks. “If you cast a net and the fish swim through the holes, you don’t need a bigger net. You need tighter holes.” |
RISE Armament Welcomes New Competitor to Shooting Team
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RISE Armament proudly welcomes Rebecca King to its competitive shooting team.
“We’re excited to have Rebecca join our team and represent RISE. She’s a talented shooter, firearms educator and advocate of the Second Amendment. More importantly, she’s an upstanding person who holds herself to high standards,” said Matt Torres, president of RISE Armament. |
Trans Rights Weren’t the Only Target of North Carolina’s ‘Bathroom Bill’
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The law further enables outside parties to bring lawsuits against local officials in a personal capacity if their city does not abide by the state’s mandates. It also empowers the Florida governor to play king, and remove any official believed to be willfully violating the law’s intent.
Gillum, whose city has long-standing regulations on the books that prohibit people from shooting guns in public parks, soon experienced preemption’s punishment. In 2014, the Second Amendment Foundation and Florida Carry sued the mayor because, Tallahassee had not officially rescinded its gunfire ordinances, despite their being effectively null and void. Gillum has been tied up in legal proceedings ever since. |
Disgraceful gun bill endangers veterans: Army vet
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I am a proud veteran of the Army. The seven Army Values are a part of my moral DNA. Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage are at the heart of who I am today.
These values serve as the backbone to every service member who has served or is still serving in our armed forces, and they deserve better than what our federal lawmakers have given them. Instead of protecting our most vulnerable veterans — men and women with severe mental illness — the House recently passed a bill that made it easier for them to get guns. |
PA: Pittsburgh gun store, owner facing federal charges
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A western Pennsylvania gun store is in hot water after regulatory inspectors contended proper records weren’t kept on 100 transactions and its owner had an unregistered National Firearms Act item.
Erik David Lowry, owner of Pittsburgh Tactical Firearms in McKeesport, was indicted on March 21 in federal court for felony witness and evidence tampering and owning a shotgun classified under the NFA as a destructive device without supporting documentation. In a separate indictment, his shop was cited for failure by a federally licensed dealer to keep proper records. |
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