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Sotomayor Without Tears
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Justice Sonia Sotomayor might retreat to her chambers for a good cry now and again, as she herself confesses, but not this time. In the matter of New York State’s efforts to drive the National Rifle Association out of business, she just delivered a glorious opinion for a unanimous court vindicating one of America’s most distinguished civil rights organizations. She moved to protect the famed defender of the Second Amendment with the sword of the First.
Brava, we say, brava. These columns have been covering this case since its origins in the dark days of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s self-righteousness and his efforts to expunge the Second Amendment in the Empire State. |
USVI: Son Shot By Father During Self-Defense Response Dies at Hospital
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A man who had violently approached his father with a machete and later a battery-powered reciprocating saw died from gunshot injuries at the Juan F. Luis Hospital after being shot by his father in what appears to have been a self-defense response.
The V.I. Police Department is currently investigating the incident that occurred in Sion Hill. Initial reports from the VIPD indicated that the son had died at the scene, but the department later updated its report to clarify that the victim had undergone emergency surgery. On Friday, the VIPD reported that the son, identified as 44-year-old James, eventually succumbing to his injuries at JFL. |
Rising Gang Activity: What Armed Citizens Need to Know
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Gang violence is nothing new within the Continental United States. Urban areas, in particular, are often plagued by criminal gang violence. Even in the 19th Century, areas like the Five Points neighborhood in Manhattan were ruled by rival gangs. Then, Prohibition gave rise to the mobs of the 1920s and after. Clearly, gang activity and the associated violence that comes with it is nothing new. The later 20th Century saw the rise and dominance of street gangs, such as the notorious Bloods and Crips, in cities like Los Angeles. Following this, particularly violent gangs originating out of Latin America, such as MS13, gained prominence. |
CA: Homeowner Shoots Yearling Bear in Self-Defense in California
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On Memorial Day, a homeowner in Tahoe, California, shot and killed a yearling bear that entered his home through an unsecured backdoor. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Law Enforcement Division received notification of the incident around 2:30 p.m. on May 27. The yearling bear shot has caused some controversy.
Peter Tira, a CDFW information officer, stated, “You have the right to protect yourself while an animal enters your home. It’s not a crime to defend your home from a wild animal that enters it.” The homeowner reportedly attempted to scare the bear away by shouting and making noise, but the bear advanced towards his dog. The homeowner then retrieved a .22 rifle from his bedroom and shot the bear twice. |
TX: Intruder With ‘Hail Satan’ Knife Shot During Taylor Break-In
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An armed intruder is in custody after being shot during a break-in in Taylor. According to the Taylor police, Austin Sumpter, armed with a knife, broke into a home on Donna Drive late Monday night. The incident occurred around 11:35 p.m.
The homeowner, upon discovering the intrusion, immediately called 911. As the police were en route, Sumpter managed to enter the home, prompting the homeowner to defend themselves by shooting him. When officers arrived, they discovered Sumpter lying on the front porch, suffering from a gunshot wound to his hip. |
NH: New Hampshire Senate Shoots Down Bill Pushing Psychiatric Records Requirement For Gun Purchases
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Republican New Hampshire State Sens. have reportedly defeated an effort to impose the inclusion of psychiatric records in background checks for firearm purchases.
Lawmakers on Thursday stopped a final attempt to push the measure, arguing that it would violate Second Amendment protections on the right to keep and bear arms, according to the New Hampshire Bulletin. The bill would have included mental health records, such as psychiatric hospitalizations, in the background check process. It also would have allowed for a “process for the confiscation of firearms following certain mental health-related court proceedings.” |
Supreme Court Unanimously Upholds First Amendment in NRA Lawsuit
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In a rare unanimous decision, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that an anti-gun, anti-Second Amendment, anti-NRA New York State official overstepped her lawful bounds.
Maria Vullo, while acting as the superintendent of New York’s Department of Financial Services (DFS) in 2018, threatened insurance companies under her jurisdiction with sanctions and fines unless they terminated their business relationships with the National Rifle Association (NRA). |
NY: NRA Wins Supreme Court Decision in NRA v Vullo
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On May 11, 2018, over six years ago, the National Rifle Association (NRA) filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging the Government of New York violated the organization’s First Amendment rights by coercing third parties, particularly insurance companies and banks, to cease to do business with the NRA. The government officials explicitly stated their dislike of the advocacy of the NRA to promote gun ownership and the Second Amendment. The opinion was issued on May 30, 2024. The ruling was expected, as explained in a previous AmmoLand article. |
CA: CRPA Plans to Challenge the New 11% Excise Tax on Firearm and Ammunition Sales
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CRPA intends to challenge the 11% excise tax set to begin July 1. We are seeking plaintiffs, likely FFL’s that will be disproportionately impacted by the onerous new tax. Drop us a line at potentialplaintiffs@michellawyers.com if interested!
CRPA is receiving many questions about the new 11% firearm and ammunition excise tax that takes effect on July 1, 2024. CRPA and our strategic partners are well aware of this new tax and are working to put together a plan to challenge it in court. We recognize that this new tax, which will be collected from consumers through firearm and ammunition retailers, represents a substantial financial burden on law-abiding gun owners. |
NY: Brutal Times Square NY Machete Attack Proves Anti-Gunners Are Clueless
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The brutal stabbing of a man in New York City’s Times Square Thursday underscores the futility of public disarmament, which affects only law-abiding citizens, and proves the proponents of so-called “sensitive zones” are clueless, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said.
Several news agencies reported the incident, indicating three men were involved, and they apparently used a machete to wound the victim in both legs. Police have detained three suspects, but CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb said the attack should never have happened in a place where honest citizens cannot legally carry firearms for personal protection. |
FL: Was It Self-Defense? A Florida Jury Will Decide
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Rachael Wilks claims she acted in self-defense when she shot and killed Brian Brown, the father of her unborn twins, inside their Gainesville home on New Year’s Eve 2021. Her attorney, Aaron Kelley, told the jury on Wednesday that Wilks feared for her life after enduring numerous instances of domestic violence and threats from Brown. |
FL: Florida Deputy Who Shot Airman Roger Fortson Receives Termination
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The Florida sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot U.S. Air Force senior airman Roger Fortson in his apartment has been fired following an internal affairs investigation. The sheriff’s office deemed the deputy’s use of deadly force as “not objectively reasonable,” as the airman had not committed any crime. Initially, the sheriff’s office had described the shooting as a case of self-defense, but the body camera footage showed a different story. The incident took place on May 3 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. |
Sen. Cruz Leads Bicameral Amicus Urging Court to Hear Case on American Sovereignty and the Second Amendment
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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to grant certiorari in Estados Unidos Mexicanos v. Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) joined Sen. Cruz’s brief. Additionally, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.-48) led 13 House Members in joining Sen. Cruz’s brief. |
Will Hunter Biden’s Gun Charges Impact the Second Amendment?
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Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden (D), will face gun charges in federal court after an appeals court recently threw out his attempt to have them dismissed. The trial is set to begin the week of June 3.
“The defendant’s Second Amendment defense does not implicate a right not to be tried that can be collaterally appealed,” the three-judge panel said. “Constitutional defenses, like the defendant’s Second Amendment defense, can be effectively reviewed on appeal after final judgment.”
The panel consisted of Judges Thomas Hardiman, nominated by George W. Bush; Cheryl Ann Krause, nominated by Barack Obama; and Arianna J. Freeman, nominated by Joe Biden. |
MA: District Court judge shoots down state’s license-to-carry law
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The state’s license-to-carry statute violates the Second Amendment by not providing objective standards for local police chiefs to exercise their authority to deny a gun owner’s application for a permit based on a finding of “dangerousness,” a Holyoke District Court judge has held.
The case addressed Holyoke Police Chief David Pratt’s denial of an LTC permit application submitted by petitioner Randy Westbrook.
In his appeal from the denial of the application, the petitioner argued that G.L.c. 140, §131, runs afoul of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen and other recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions interpreting the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms. |
FL: Bradenton police say lock your cars and lock up your guns
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Bradenton police are warning residents to lock up their cars after a jump in the number of vehicle burglaries.
It’s a trend seen before in Bradenton and across the country by law enforcement.
“Historically, vehicle burglaries tend to go up over the summer months and that has happened not only here in Bradenton, but nationwide," police spokesperson Meredith Censullo said. |
TX: NRA-PVF Endorses State Representative Gary VanDeaver for Re-Election in House District 1
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More significant pro-gun measures have passed and become law in the Lone Star State during Rep. VanDeaver's tenure in the Texas House than in any other state in the nation. Rep. VanDeaver voted for historic open carry, campus carry, and constitutional carry legislation, a landmark bill prohibiting companies that discriminate against the firearm industry from obtaining government contracts, critical emergency powers reform measures preventing closure of firearm businesses during future disasters, a first-in-the-nation travelers' protection law ensuring that hotel guests can transport and store their guns in overnight accommodations, and a newly-minted statute outlawing the use of unique merchant category codes... |
GOA Announces Brownells as Title Sponsor of GOALS Conference in Knoxville
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Gun Owners of America (GOA) is thrilled to announce Brownells as the Title Sponsor of the inaugural Gun Owners Advocacy and Leadership Summit (GOALS) in Knoxville, Tennessee this August.
Based in Grinnell, Iowa, Brownells has built an incredible reputation as a leading distributor of firearms, parts, ammunition, and shooting supplies for over eighty-five years. With their lifetime guarantee and superior customer service, Brownells has become the go-to retailer for countless Americans nationwide when it comes to shooting supplies.
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AR: Supreme Court admonishes circuit judge over comments about guns in courthouses
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His response does not demonstrate that he understands the severity of his conduct. Suggesting that his comments were consistent with “the vigorous written debate that has defined our judiciary for over a century” is misguided. A trial court is not “participating in rigorous debate” when it receives a mandate from an appellate court and issues an order staying most of it and labeling it as “LOCO.” That is disingenuous. Imagine if circuit courts across this state were to ignore mandates and stay orders of the Supreme Court of Arkansas and our Court of Appeals. It would be unprofessional, rebellious, and harmful to the public’s confidence in the judiciary’s ability to follow its own rules. |
CO: Colorado governor signs law banning firearms in certain places. Here’s what’s covered.
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Colorado has made it a misdemeanor to knowingly carry a firearm onto school grounds, into a polling place or inside a government building under a law signed Friday by Gov. Jared Polis.
The ban, which takes effect July 1, includes the open and concealed carry of firearms, and it applies to public and private schools as well as colleges, universities and child care centers. It contains exemptions for law enforcement, military and security personnel, along with some others who carry guns as part of their official duties. Permitted concealed-carry permit holders can have a firearm in parking lots adjacent to banned locations. |
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