Housekeeping

• Our apologies for the late newsletter. Sometimes you get what you pay for…

Administration

• FBI Director Kash Patel has been removed as the Acting Director of the BATFE and replaced by Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll, who will continue to serve as Army Secretary while he also oversees the ATF as Acting Director. Apparently Patel had actually been removed as ATF director a few days after he was sworn in to the position in late February, but senior ATF leadership had not been informed of that. Patel remains Director of the FBI. We have seen no evidence that Secretary Driscoll will be a good – or bad – director.

• Long-time Bureau of BATFE Deputy Director (second-in-charge at ATF) and avowed anti-gunner Marvin Richardson has been dismissed from his post after being forced to retire. His other option was to be forcibly removed from his position.
• The US Department of Justice on Monday repealed a Biden-era “zero tolerance” policy that called for revoking the licenses of gun dealers who committed unintentional and minor regulation violations. The policy was implemented during the previous administration simply to drive gun dealers out of business. Cases of FFLs that were affected by the zero-tolerance policy will be reviewed by the ATF. If it is determined that the FFL revocation was done because of the zero-tolerance policy, the decision will be reversed. Hundreds of FFLs could have their businesses restored. The announcement also stated the agency was reconsidering the “Engaged in the Business” Final Rule and the Final Rule regarding factoring criteria for firearms with attached “stabilizing braces,” both of which have been enjoined by federal courts.
• The Department of Justice has also announced a new 2nd Amendment Task Force that “will combine department-wide policy and litigation resources to advance President Trump’s pro-gun agenda and protect gun owners from overreach.”

• The Trump administration also announced a “reduction in force that aims to cut 10,000” federal employees under the Department of Health and Human Services, which affects the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including the very anti-gun National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

Litigation

• SCOTUS denied certiorari in Antonyuk v. James, a challenge to the unconstitutional post-Bruen NY concealed carry law.
• We previously reported that the US Justice Department is investigating untimely delays and excessive fees for carry licenses by the Los Angeles County (CA) Sheriff’s Department. It turns out that the Justice Department’s Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division is on the case. The Special Litigation Section was created to protect people in several areas, including those in jails or prisons, individuals with disabilities, confined youth and “people who interact with state or local police or sheriffs’ departments.” AND, the Special Litigation Section has NEVER LOST a case. Sic ’em.
• A Texas church and coffee shop’s First Amendment suit against local law enforcement officials, challenging state laws that require them to post signs stating that guns aren’t allowed on their property, was revived by a split US Fifth Circuit. I have nothing further at this time.
• Analysis: History Shows Americans Under 21 Could Buy Guns at the Founding.
• Grassroots Judicial Report.
• More on the Bondi v. VanDerStok Decision

NRA

• Former NRA President Lt. Col. Oliver North is reportedly filing suit against the NRA for malicious prosecution.
• Early NRA Board election results:
  • “NRA 2.0” candidates John Richardson, Theresa Inacker, Jim Sheckels, Scott Emslie, Anthony Colandro, Al Hammond, Todd Ellis, Jim Porter, Knox Williams, Jonathan Goldstein, Philip Gray, Willes Lee, Cathy Wright, Mitzy McCorvey, Jack Hagan, Howard Massingill, Dick Fairburn, Jim Fotis and Jason Wilson were elected.
  • Todd Vandermyde, Frank Tait, David Mitten, Regis Synan, Todd Figard, Jim Wallace and Charles Hiltunen, along with the two write-in candidates, Paul Babaz and Charles Brown failed to win or retain seats on the board.
  • LaPierre loyalists Bob Barr and Sandy Froman were re-elected.
• The 154th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits are set for April 24-27 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

Enemies

• ATF. Still. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been using the NICS system to monitor lawful Americans residing in California to see if they are violating STATE law with their gun purchases.
• New York: Turn in your guns while defenseless children are being stabbed.
• No One Is Ignoring “Well Regulated.” We Just Know What It Means.
• The Family Research Council is urging “the U.S. Department of Justice to immediately sever all ties with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and formally renounce its influence on federal law enforcement and public policy decisions. The SPLC is a Leftist aligned organization that has a long and well-documented history of smearing faith-based organizations, mischaracterizing mainstream Christian and conservative groups as ‘hate groups,’ and inciting division and violence in our country.” The SPLC is itself a hate group and it hates you and your guns. You can sign the petition here.

The Only Ones

• Washington, D.C. Police Officer Maleek Isaiah Loggins, 22, was pulled over and detained in Prince George’s County, MD, with illegal guns AND drugs (and a scale) inside his car, but is only being cited for traffic violations.
• Sonya McKnight, an elected Pennsylvania magistrate judge accused last year of shooting and wounding her ex-boyfriend in the head as he slept, was convicted Wednesday of attempted homicide and aggravated assault charges and faces 60 years. McKnight was not charged when she shot her estranged husband in 2019 after inviting him over to help her move furniture, with prosecutors citing self-defense.
• NYPD Officer Jason McLeod, 37, Accused of Leaving Pile of Guns Within Reach of Baby Daughter.
• We have a report that guns turned in to Chicago police during “buybacks” are later turning up at crime scenes. That doesn’t really surprise me, since those “buybacks” are themselves crimes.

DGUs

• Two Dead After Customer Shoots Employee, Is Then Shot by Armed Coworker
• Armed Citizen Cleared After Shooting Man Who Tried to Snatch His Daughter. That boy is mighty lucky to be going to jail.
• Armed Father Stops Active Shooter Threat After Daughter Targeted by Roommate.
• Armed Homeowner Fends Off Five Intruders in Violent Los Banos (CA) Home Invasion.
• The Armed Citizen:
  • America’s 1st Freedom – April 5,2025
  • American Rifleman – April 7, 2025
  • American Rifleman – April 4, 2025
• Yes, you can legally shoot through a door. SOMETIMES.

DGUs vs. The Only Ones

• The actual study from the Crime Prevention Research Center. This study is the first to systematically compare how uniformed police and citizens with concealed handgun permits perform in stopping active shooter attacks. Citizens with permits stopped the attacks more frequently and faced a lower risk of being killed or injured than police. Officers who intervened during the attacks were far more likely to be killed or injured than those who apprehended the attackers later. (We note that the study and Dr. Lott erroneously use the term “civilians” when referring to non-LEO citizens. Law enforcement officers – except for the military – are also civilians.)

GFZs

• Deputies fatally shot a man inside the emergency room at Sentara Albemarle Medical Center in Elizabeth City, North Carolina early Tuesday morning after authorities said he pointed a gun at them. The man had pointed his gun at several staff members, and an unarmed security guard tried to restrain him before law enforcement arrived. Gun free zone.
• Another one. That Pull-A-Part location (and perhaps all of them) is posted with “no guns” signs.

• Some interesting studies about the Army’s firearms training practices. FWIW, I hear the Air Force is much worse, though they are planning to improve.

Tactics & Stuff

• Shotgun safeties. Learn something. Put it into practice.
• Insurance. PS: Don’t buy gun or related insurance from a guy who isn’t carrying.
• Rendering aid. Nope.
• You Can’t Always Be There, or “Situational Awareness Skills For Kids.”
• Pepper spray how-to.
• Concealment Tune-Up. Some excellent illustrations.
• Micro 380 Pistols: Reservations.

Industry News

• Tariffs.
• Sig. The latest discussions about the Sig P320 in-holster discharge issues seem to be centered around some cases of holsters for pistols with lights mounted, the clearance for which leaves extra space around the trigger area when the gun is seated in the holster, allowing foreign objects to intrude. But it seems to me if that was the issue, we would see it with other brands as well.
• China has developed a new 16-barrel gun system to improve its anti-drone warfare and neutralize low-flying rockets, missiles, and helicopters, including drone swarms. The air defense system is known as the anti-drone swarm and anti-missile barrage weapon system.

Iguanas.

• Didn’t get enough hunting this season? Try iguanas.

Products

• Clarification: The new GunBroker non-FFL shipping service also allows you to easily ship to a licensed dealer, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT SELLING THE GUN. You must have a (free) GunBroker account.
• Axcess Triggers. A Timney company.
• Palmetto State Armory has a short-time sale price of $99.99 on the GForce GF2P 18.5″ 12 Gauge Pump-Action Shotgun.
• Shooterschoicesc.com has the Stoeger STR-9SC Optics Ready 9mm Pistol, with two 10+1 Round Magazines marked down to $149.99 after a MFG’s rebate.
• Falco Holsters has a wide selection, including some gun fits that I have found to be pretty rare. Their online configurator allows you to choose a number of options. Check ’em out.
• Check-Mate’s 19-Round Flush Fit Double Stack 1911 Magazine. $85.
• NAA Sidewinder: Tiny Revolver, Big Upgrade.
• Smith & Wesson has added .45-70 Government chambering to the Model 1854 stable. The Model 1854 is also available in .357 Mag., .44 Mag. and .45 Colt. I’m not a fan of the single-tube magazine.
• Nightstick’s new USB-588-T: Turbo High Candela USB Dual-Light Rechargeable Tactical Flashlight features a flashlight rated at 1100 lumens, in addition to a 350 lumen downward-facing floodlight.