Litigation
A three-judge panel for the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has unanimously ruled in the case McRorey v. Garland that the “enhanced” background check provisions of the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) for 18-20-year-old gun buyers does not run afoul of the Second Amendment, saying “The [Second Amendment’s] plain text covers plaintiffs’ right ‘to keep and bear arms,’ and on its face ‘keep and bear’ does not include purchase-let alone without background check.” We’ll see.
Twenty-six Republican attorneys general filed lawsuits Wednesday challenging the new Biden administration “engaged in the business” rule making nearly everyone a firearms “dealer” and requiring background checks of buyers involved in private sales.
From one of the above suits: “The text of the Second Amendment provides no qualifications or limitations constraining who may exercise the right or for what purpose the right may be exercised. Accordingly, the Second Amendment presumptively protects all Americans and all lawful purposes.” You know, I’ve been saying that for over 40 years…
SCOTUS will consider cert for several cases challenging bans on so-called “assault weapons” and magazine capacity in Illinois and in Maryland at its May 16 conference. Two of the cases involve the Second Amendment Foundation. They are known as Harrel v. Raoul (Illinois) and Bianchi v. Frosh (Maryland). Also distributed were cases known as Gun Owners of America v. Raoul, Caleb Barnett v. Raoul and Javier Herrera v. Raoul, all three which come from Illinois. There has been some speculation about these cases possibly being consolidated if certiorari is granted.
Legislation & Regulation
- We just reported on the announcement by the US Department of Commerce Department that it is permanently clamping down on the issuance of new export licenses for civilian products by the firearms industry. That move is already putting US companies out of business.
- More (here and here).
NRA
- EVP selling off museum collection, funding corruption. We knew this.
- NRA reformers Judge Phil Journey, Jeff Knox, Rocky Marshall, and Dennis Fusaro were all elected to three-year terms on the board of directors, while current board member and reformer Owen “Buz” Mills won re-election for another three-year term. Two former NRA presidents, David Keene and John Sigler, did not get elected.
- The bylaw amendment to add the new position of Chief Compliance Officer passed by an “overwhelming” majority.
- “It’s War! Plus A Warning”
Enemies
ATF
The Only Ones
- We have learned the identity of the Secret Service officer assigned to protect Vice President Kamala Harris who got into a brawl with her colleagues last week. Michelle Herczeg was removed from her duties last Wednesday after displaying erratic behavior and assaulting a superior officer while awaiting Harris’ departure from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
- Former Washington state school resource officer Elias Huizar died from a self-inflicted gunshot after a car chase with police, and the body of his 17-year-old girlfriend – a child rape victim and mother of his 1-year-old son whom he was accused of kidnapping, was also found in his home last week. Apparently the protection order didn’t work. Huizar is also accused of fatally shooting his ex-wife outside of an elementary school last week.
- Former Central Kentucky FBI agent Michael Van Aelstyn, 45, was sentenced to three years probation in a plea deal on March 28 for obstruction of justice and possessing an unregistered firearm, according to court documents. He was originally charged with possession of a firearm made in violation of the National Firearms Act, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful transfer of a firearm to an out-of-state resident, according to a May indictment. Van Aelstyn was accused of removing two illegal firearms from a suspect’s home, transporting them to an FBI office for storage, and later removing them from the evidence room and taking them to his residence, according to court documents. No prison time.
- New York City will now provide FDNY EMS personnel with body armor and self-defense training every three years.
Lyin Biden. Still.
- President Joe Biden Says He Was ‘Arrested Standing On The Porch With A Black Family’
- Meanwhile, Mr. Biden was in rare form as he took to a podcast to announce that gun control will be the centerpiece of a second term during the aptly-named “Smartless” podcast.
- Biden also shilled for gun bans in the wake of four law enforcement officers being murdered by a felon in Charlotte, NC. The felon was already prohibited from even touching a gun. So guess who the new proposed gun bans are for?
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Even Anti-Gun AG Merrick Garland Admits That It’s *Gang* Violence, Not “Gun Violence.”
Because “gun violence” isn’t a thing.
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Survey says…
A new study listing Washington as the eighth most dangerous state in the country refutes the hype from national gun control groups, which give the state high marks for gun laws.
DGUs
- The Armed Citizen:
- A Good Guy With A Gun. UPDATED: Compiling Cases where concealed handgun permit holders have stopped likely mass public shootings.
- Defend yourself, go to jail.
Not a DGU.
- Two London police officers were hospitalized after suffering “horrifically serious” injuries as they rushed to stop a sword-wielding attacker and murder suspect on a suburban street. Apparently none of the responding officers were armed with a firearm. Three other victims were also hospitalized.
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The ACLDN and Rangemaster May newsletters are out.
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Mississippi Training & Shooting
- Report on Boondocks’ Pow Wow.
- Providence Hill Sporting Club between Vicksburg and Jackson
Tactics & Stuff
- Thoughts on shooting back.
- Too many gadgets, perhaps?
A Little Good (Industry) News
- Smith & Wesson has sold Thompson/Center Arms to former owner Greg Ritz, a seasoned media and manufacturing entrepreneur, who is also the host of the “Hunt Maser” series on the Outdoor Channel. “Thompson/Center is back, once again family owned, and will continue to be made in the USA while restoring the core values of innovation, customer focus and the lifetime guarantee that has traditionally defined this brand. Follow along as we relaunch this iconic company from the ground up,” said Ritz. T/C will resume production with a new 2025 product line.
- Windham Weaponry is back in business, with new, completed rifles now for sale as it reboots its production line in Maine.
Products
- Galco’s Fastrax Pac
- The Wilderness Safepacker
- I’m not sure if I have previously advised that DeSantis offers its Swift Strip .38/.357 strip loaders for revolvers. I have not tried them but prefer the ORANGE Tuff Strips brand over all others I’ve tried, including Tuff Strips’ black version, because the orange polymer holds up much better, much longer.
- FREE RIFLE
- From May 1 through Dec. 31, customers who purchase any new Springfield Armory® Model 2020 Waypoint or Model 2020 Redline rifle will qualify to receive a “Gear Up” package featuring a free Model 2020 Rimfire Target rifle worth $434, AND the purchaser will also be offered the option of upgrading the rifle with a $139 Viridian® EON 3-9×40 rimfire rifle scope for just $49.99 at the time of redemption.
- Springfield Armory’s “new” retro SA-16A2
- Infinite Defense’s Infinity Targets are self-healing & spray-paintable, reusable, have a Hi Vis splatter effect, no ricochet or spalling, completely weather and water proof, archery compatible & Made in USA.
MS Gun Bills Update
2024 MS Gun Bills Still Alive
4/25/2024: Summary of gun related bills still alive this legislative session. NOT guaranteed complete.
HB 903
By: Reps. Felsher, Boyd (19th), Denton
Signed into law.
Creates a state felony criminal offense for manufacture, possession, or use of a machine gun conversion device. There are technical differences between the various incarnations of this bill.
HB 1379
By: Reps. Barton, Roberson
Amended versions DIED in conference.
Establishes state-required standards and protocols for school “active shooter” drills and violence prevention programs. Amended version does not include state-required standards and protocols for school “active shooter” drills but establishes a task force and mandates the “Mississippi Behavioral Threat Assessment Management System.” Drills are already required by state law.
HB 1441
By: Reps. Horan, McLean
Amended versions recommitted for further conference. Deadline for adoption is today, 5/03.
Amended version adds a mandatory 20-year additional prison term for any person who uses or displays any firearm during the commission of a felony that is defined as a crime of violence in Section 97-3-2.
HC 19
By: Rep. Eubanks
To: Rules
House Concurrent Resolution to declare the State of Mississippi as a “Second Amendment Sanctuary” state.
What I’m Reading
