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More Self-Defense Gun Stories Submitted by: Rob Morse Website: http://www.selfdefensegunstories.com/	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Firearms Instructor Heather Reeves brings us four news stories of armed defense. Armed at home and in public, by day and by night, these honest gun owners faced a lethal threat and saved lives. What would you do in their place? Text and links to the original news sources are at the episode webpage.

Stand Your Ground, Self-Defense and the Rhetoric That Emboldened Recent Shooters
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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Ringing the wrong doorbell, pulling into the wrong driveway, accidentally getting in the wrong car: Mundane, everyday mistakes ended in the shootings of several young people and the death of one of them last month when the men on the receiving end of the errors reached for their firearms and decided to shoot.

The shootings captured public attention nationwide, breaking through the unfortunate white noise of pervasive gun violence for their brazenness and similarities. They have reignited the fight over so-called stand your ground laws expanding the legal protections around self-defense. And critics, too, have pointed to the incidents as the natural end result of a society flooded with firearms.

NY: Marine involved in fatal NYC subway chokehold was acting in self-defense, his lawyers say
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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Attorneys for the Marine veteran who placed a man in a lethal chokehold on the New York City Subway this week released a statement Friday declaring their client was acting in self-defense.

24-year-old Daniel Penny allegedly put Jordan Neely, a homeless repeat offender, in a chokehold on a New York City Subway car Monday, according to The New York Times. The exact circumstances leading up to the chokehold are unclear, but a bystander reportedly heard Neely say he was prepared to go to jail and "ready to die" shortly before Penny placed him in a chokehold, The New York Times reports.

IA: General Assembly Adjourns from 2023 Legislative Session
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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Yesterday, the Iowa General Assembly adjourned sine die from the 2023 session of the 2023-2024 General Assembly. This year, the House passed the Safer Families Act, to ensure that law-abiding citizens may store firearms in their personal vehicles while at work and drive onto school grounds to pick-up or drop-off their students without first having to unload and store away their firearms in their vehicles. The House also amended Senate File 507 to include language ensuring that Iowa taxpayer dollars do not go to businesses that boycott the firearm industry, among other industries, and sent it back to the Senate. Unfortunately, the Senate failed to pass either of these bills.

OH: Ohio Man w/ CCW Shoots At Car Before Getting Run Over During Parking Lot Altercation
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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A man was charged with felonious assault after allegedly running over another man riding a motorized scooter in a grocery store parking lot in south Columbus on April 16. According to court records, the victim, who has a CCW license, told officers that the suspect, identified as Khristopher Mahr, almost hit him while he was riding his scooter near the grocery store parking lot and called him a racial slur. The victim avoided the confrontation and proceeded towards a bus stop.

Time to Go After Supreme Court
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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As the stories of justices Roberts, Gorsuch, Alito, and Thomas appear every day in the paper, it appears there is some hesitancy on attacking the legitimacy of the Court. That needs to end. It is obvious that the Court will not be working for political rights, human rights, fair elections, or anything else for decades in the future. It is also obvious that they are just another branch of an oligarchic government.

Beretta 80x Cheetah Pistol A Classic Returns
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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When I first picked up the Beretta 80x Cheetah handgun, I loved everything about the gun except the method of operation and the caliber. And to be honest, it took the advice of a friend who put the guns philosophy of use into perspective to really get my head wrapped around the gun.

Because for me at least when it comes to self-defense handguns its 9mm parabellum or bust. Yes, smaller calibers can and do work to stop threats. But if Im carrying a gun for the same reason I own a fire extinguisher, I want as much fight-stopping capability as I can feasibly handle and conceal.

FL: Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment to be on 2024 Ballot
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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Last week, the House voted 116-0, and the Senate voted 38-1, in favor of House Joint Resolution 1157. This puts forth a proposal to Florida voters on the 2024 ballot to amend the State Constitution to affirm that:

Fishing, hunting, and the taking of fish and wildlife, including by the use of traditional methods, shall be preserved forever as a public right and preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife. This section does not limit the authority granted to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission under Section 9 of Article IV.

NH: No brass knuckles allowed: Senate committee balks at lifting ban on blackjacks, other weapons
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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Get caught in New Hampshire with brass knuckles, a blackjack club, or slung shot and you could face misdemeanor charges. The police can also take them. Despite efforts of largely House Republicans, that looks unlikely to change.

In a 4-1 vote, the Senate Judiciary Committee is recommending the full Senate kill House Bill 31, which would lift the prohibition on selling and possessing those items, often referred to as street-fighting weapons, in most cases. A blackjack is a weighted leather club, usually 8 to 12 inches long. A slung shot, different from a slingshot, is a weight attached to the end of a hand-held cord.

IL: Illinois federal appeals judge reverses lower court's halt on weapons ban Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
A federal appeals judge in Chicago on Thursday put a hold on a ruling by a lower court judge that blocked enforcement of Illinoiss assault-style weapons ban. Appellate Judge Frank Easterbrook's stay stops the ruling by U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn from taking effect. Easterbrook gave both sides more time to file briefs.

GA: Time to stand up to lawmakers blocking gun law reforms
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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The NRAs extreme positions on guns have been long out of step with the beliefs of most Americans, including gun owners. The NRAs membership has been declining and most gun owners do not even belong to the organization. Most important, the NRAs financial woes in recent years have also weakened its influence. The organization has been plagued by internal strife and mismanagement, resulting in declining donations and an attempted bankruptcy.

We need to resist the old 1990s narrative of blaming the now-weak NRA on gun violence.

MI: Ontonagon County OKs resolution on 2nd Amendment
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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The Ontonagon County Board passed a resolution in April asking Michigans legislators not to pass bills conflicting with the Second Amendment or the corresponding section in the state constitution, paired with a demand for more mental health funding.

Ontonagon Countys board voted unanimously in favor of the resolution, which also included a pledge to continue to support the U.S. and Michigan constitutions. It also called for adequate funding of mental health services to provide for timely intervention, while also ensuring they dont infringe on the constitutional rights of the people who need the services.

OK: Oklahoma Governor Signed Two Important Second Amendment Bills: Boat Carry and Constitutional Carry Cleanup
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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Firstly, Senate Bill 978, also known as the Boat Carry Bill, has been signed into law. This bill recognizes individuals right to carry a firearm on a boat as long as they are legally allowed to possess a firearm. This is a significant victory for those who enjoy recreational boating and want to exercise their right to self-defense.

Secondly, House Bill 1789, also known as the Constitutional Carry Cleanup Bill, has been signed into law. This bill clarifies language in the existing constitutional carry law and ensures that law-abiding citizens can carry a firearm without unnecessary government permission slips.

Cleveland, other shootings show the gun industry's business model
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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Im furious on behalf of the victims and their families. Im especially furious with the gun lobby for pushing this dangerous shoot first, ask questions later mentality for decades, both through its culture of illogical fear, gun rights absolutism and deification of violent vigilantes such as Kyle Rittenhouse. The gun industry wants Americans to feel constantly under siege because, well, its good for business.

How did we get here? It wasnt by accident it was by design. Over the past 25 years, the gun lobby has systematically crafted this dystopian version of America by stoking fear and passing laws that encourage violence, including stand your ground laws in 30 states.

TX: Ted Cruz challenger said it would've been 'better' if Second Amendment 'had not been written'
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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A challenger to Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz said it would have been "better" if the Second Amendment "hadnt been written."

In a resurfaced video from 2018, Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, weighed in on the right to bear arms and said he did not believe the Second Amendment should have been written in the first place.

"Within the confines of the accurately applied Second Amendment, we can do everything we want to do, as far as regulating weapons and all that," Allred said. "The Second Amendment does have, in the first sentence, in order to maintain a well-regulated militia, and 'the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.'"

ME: Several Critical Gun Bills Being Heard Next Week
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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The Criminal Justice and Public Safety committee will be holding several hearings during the week of May 8th that will greatly impact your Second Amendment rights in Maine. Some of the proposals being heard are listed below. NRA members and Second Amendment supporters are strongly urged to attend these hearings and make their voices heard. For those who are unable to attend, please press the take action button below to contact committee members and make your voices heard!

HHS Xavier Becerra makes play to destroy 2nd Amendment
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra reportedly called gun violence, in the aftermath of an Atlanta shooting, a public health crisis a label the left has been trying to affix for some time so as to sidestep the Constitution and put the Second Amendment in the hands of medical bureaucrats to control.

Cause they did such a great job with COVID mitigation. Right?

[W]e learned the tragic news that Amy St. Pierre, an HHS colleague at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was the victim of a senseless shooting in Atlanta, Becerra said in a statement reported by The Hill.

WA: Bill of Rights guarantees come with limits and duties
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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Although its true the Bill of Rights embodies us all with certain guaranteed rights, those rights are not unlimited, as some mistakenly believe. I cant help but think that the author of one recent Forum essay may believe as such.

If I may, our freedom of speech can be restricted as to time, place or manner by government. Speech that is not protected includes incitement, defamation, fraud, obscenity, child pornography, certain threats, libel, slander and hate speech. Podcaster Alex Jones learned this the hard way.

CO: Extreme Private Property Ban Killed
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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Thanks to the strong response of NRA members and Second Amendment supporters, HB23-1165, the bill giving counties the power to ban shooting on private property in their jurisdiction, was defeated. NRA also thanks all lawmakers who defended the Second Amendment for law-abiding citizens in Colorado.

This extreme bill sought to control your PRIVATE PROPERTY, and would have made it necessary for law-abiding citizens to pay to attend a shooting range.

NC: Concealed Carry Bill Falls Short at Crossover
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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This week, HB 189, originally titled the 'NC Constitutional Carry Act', moved through several committees in the North Carolina House of Representatives. As drafted, this legislation would have removed unnecessary government permission slips to exercise your Second Amendment rights. Unfortunately, the bill was amended in committee to include a mandatory training and education requirement; as a result, the bill was no longer constitutional carry.

The bill title was changed to "Freedom to Carry Act," but with the legislation facing other concerns, it was taken off of the floor calendar, and failed to meet the crossover deadline to pass the House of Representatives.

FL: DeSantis-Backed Bill to Reverse Trump-Approved Gun Control Dies in Florida
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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A Florida measure that would have rolled back the law restricting adults aged 18 to 20 from purchasing long guns and that was being strongly backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis met an untimely death when the session ended on March 5.

DeSantis, a Iraq War veteran, had said the restriction on adults who can legally do most other things older adults can do is unconstitutional.

"If we're going to say as a society that the age of adulthood is 21 then that would be one thing, DeSantis said in response to a question asked at a May 3 press conference. But it's not. I mean, you send people out when they're 18, they can vote when they're 18."

When Politicians Push Gun Control, This Happens
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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As anti-Second Amendment politicians in a few states continue to push, and even pass, gun bans and other legislation that infringes on Americans constitutional rights, theyre seeing increased firearms sales in those same states.

While the latest National Instant Background Check System (NICS) numbers show that, nationwide, April background checks (an indirect indicator of new firearms sales) were up about 1% from April of last year, states where politicians are cracking down on law-abiding gun owners saw much bigger increases.

HI: Legislature Adjourns Sine Die from 2023 Session
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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They first passed, and Governor Josh Green signed, House Bill 426, to open the door for anti-gun zealots to bankrupt the firearm industry with frivolous lawsuits in order to prevent law-abiding citizens from accessing firearms. They also passed Senate Bill 1230, to ignore the U.S. Supreme Courts Bruen decision and continue to prevent law-abiding citizens from being able to defend themselves. The bill massively expands gun-free zones, creates a complicated patchwork of where people can lawfully carry, and creates a permitting system with subjective factors that are ripe for abuse. It will soon be transmitted to Gov. Greens desk. Please click here to continue to contact Gov. Green and urge him to veto SB 1230.

VT: Vermont gun bill creating 72-hour waiting period passes
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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The Vermont Legislature on Friday passed a bill that requires a 72-hour waiting period for the purchase of guns and includes other provisions aimed at reducing suicides and community violence.

The Vermont House concurred with a Senate amendment by a vote of 106 to 34. But Republican Gov. Phil Scott has significant concerns about the constitutionality of the waiting period provision, his spokesman Jason Maulucci said Friday.

Congressman Matt Gaetz, Senator Markwayne Mullin Introduce National Stand Your Ground Act
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01) and U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) will introduce the National Stand Your Ground Act of 2023 in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, respectively. These bills would codify Floridas Stand Your Ground law at the federal level, abolishing the duty of retreat when attacked. Rep. Gaetzs House legislation is co-sponsored by Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ-05) and Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-09).

Every American has the right to defend themselves and their loved ones from an attacker. If someone tries to kill you, you should have the right to return fire and preserve your life. Its time to reaffirm in law what exists in our Constitution and in the hearts of our fellow Americans.

Three Things You Need Before You Carry A Gun Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Any responsible gun owner should have three elements in place before stepping outside the home with a gun: the correct mindset, proper training and enough of it, and self-defense liability insurance. All three are important for protecting yourself and loved ones. Lets find out why.