Trump Talk

• Last week, President Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at “Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful” that established a D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force that will, among other things, collaborate “with appropriate local government entities to provide assistance to increase the speed and lower the cost of processing concealed carry license requests in the District of Columbia.”

Litigation

• The US Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is looking into the illicit untimely delays and excessive fees for carry licenses in Los Angeles County, a “particularly egregious offender.” There are plenty more jurisdictions with the same problem to keep them busy, and the DOJ recognizes that.
• US District Judge M. James Lorenz of the Southern District of California in San Diego issued a summary judgment last week that a California state law prohibiting the sale by FFLs of semi-automatic rifles and other long guns to 18-to-20-year-olds – with exceptions – does not violate the Second Amendment and that the restriction “fits within the historical tradition of firearm regulation.” We are unaware of any such historical example.
• The Second Amendment Foundation, FPC, NRA, et al., have filed a lawsuit in Denver County District Court challenging Colorado’s Proposition KK as an unconstitutional tax on the exercise of a fundamental constitutional right, claiming that the state’s 6.5% excise tax on the retail sale of any firearm, firearm precursor part, or ammunition is unconstitutional in that it impermissibly singles out the exercise of a constitutional right for special taxation. The SAF notes that there have been several rulings by the US Supreme Court prohibiting such a tax scheme, and claims that “Not only does the tax lack any basis in our nation’s history and tradition of firearms regulation, it violates Supreme Court precedent that states the exercise of constitutional rights cannot be targeted through taxation.” A couple of points: Why is no one challenging the over 100-year-old federal excise tax on arms and ammunition? Or is that now considered a “traditional” infringement? We all know that special, extra taxes on constitutional rights is not constitutional. That’s why we no longer have poll taxes.
• (Meanwhile, the federal Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act bill (S.1169 and H.R.2442 respectively) has been introduced in Congress and if passed would prohibit STATES from levying excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, and components. But again, why isn’t Congress repealing the unconstitutional federal excise tax – which Congress passed – on guns and ammo? Is this a “do as I say, not as I do” event?)
• The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has rendered a unanimous decision to uphold the bipartisan Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which reversed the Pennsylvania Superior Court’s decision to allow the frivolous lawsuit of Gustafson v. Springfield (Armory), Inc. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision held that the PLCAA is constitutional and applies to bar the lawsuit. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court joins the supreme courts of Missouri, Alaska, Illinois and the US District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in upholding the constitutionality of the PLCAA. To date, every state or federal appellate court to consider the constitutionality of the PLCAA has upheld the statute.
• Selective silence. Remember the advice of Ayoob, Hayes, et al., about giving only the necessary facts and then agreeing to cooperation once you’ve consulted your attorney.
• More on VanDerStok.
• More on that Army range access lawsuit.
• Grassroots reports (March 31 and April 1).
• The system. Broken.

Enemies

• The HandsOff movement: Who are they?
• Gun ban group March For Our Lives is firing 13 of its 16 full-time staffers and named a new executive director. Jaclyn Corin, a 24-year-old Parkland survivor and group co-founder, will take over. Former executive director Natalie Fall resigned in February. Public records show fundraising at its two non-profit entities – a non-political foundation political advocacy arm – has declined dramatically in recent years, and of course without the Democrat USAID funds they appear to be hurting.

• Head of Moms Demand Action says blocking young adults from legally buying guns not a Second Amendment issue.
• We previously reported that the ATF has been secretly using facial recognition technology to track and identify gun owners, without sufficient oversight, transparency, or even basic training for agents. Now US Rep. Andy Biggs, chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, is demanding that Acting ATF Director Kash Patel hand over all documents relating to the agency’s use of facial recognition software.
• We also previously reported on the case of a US sailor falsely convicted and imprisoned by the feds. Now felonious federal prosecutors and ATF agents are doubling down on their lies and perjuries to oppose the appeal. Simply put, they made up the “evidence,” and they are the ones who should be serving decades-long federal prison sentences.
• Anti-gun extremist US Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ).

The Only Ones

• Mississippi Capitol Police arrested 22-year-old Michael McLeod, a University of Mississippi Medical Center Police Officer (that’s the “Barney Fife” department I’ve previously referred to), and his brother, 21-year-old Marquavius McLeod in connection to the downtown Jackson shooting that occurred hours after the March 22 Hal’s St. Paddy’s Day Parade. Seven people were injured and one person died. The two have each been charged with one count of murder and seven counts of aggravated assault. Additional arrests are anticipated. Michael served as a police officer with UMMC Police and Public Safety Department for about a year, and he was fired on March 27. According to UMMC, Michael was not on duty at the time of the shooting and his UMMC-issued firearm was not used. I’m sure that takes a big load off everyone’s mind.
• Jackson, MS Police don’t seem to worry too much about folks misusing guns, unless of course, the cops are the victims. They did catch the suspect.
• The Harris County, TX, Sheriff’s Department has had four of its deputies to commit suicide within the span of six weeks.
• Alabama police officer denied immunity for shooting armed man 18 times in his own front yard during a truck repossession. The judge ruled that the officer was “acting outside of the scope of his authority” to investigate a menacing allegation “and was therefore a trespasser.”

Newsletters

• The ACLDN and Rangemaster April newsletters are out.

DGUs

• UPDATED 2: A Deep Dive into Cases Where Civilians Stopped Active Shooters.
• “It was impressive. It was like he was Agent 007 … He’s my hero.”
• American Rifleman: The Armed Citizen – March 28, 2025
• American Rifleman: The Armed Citizen – March 31, 2025
• Man Stabbed in the Neck Shoots Attacker in Driveway Self-Defense Incident. (But it looks like he didn’t really use enough gun.)
• A Louisville, KY, juvenile trying to kick a door in was shot and arrested. The shooting was ruled self defense.
• Ayoob files. If the victim had initially responded with a shotgun, it probably would have been a lot easier and less painful.
• Idaho gun owner found not guilty in self defense case that should have never happened. “There isn’t a person with any common sense who would have charged him with a crime.”
• Injustice.

Tactics & Stuff

• Outstanding resource: Torque specs. Now you have NO excuse.
• Ayoob: Is your trigger finger placement wrong?
• Dirty Cans: Cleaning a Suppressor. (Also see the suppressor special below.)
• Also, Otis has a suppressor cleaning kit.
• A word on rifling twist rates.
• The Cookie Tin of Doom.
• Responding to “Mass Shootings” versus “Active Killer” Attacks: “Let the dumb s***s shoot each other.” Amen.
• Gaslighting. Farnam.

Products

• Gunbroker non-FFL shipping. GunBroker.com has launched a new shipping solution to help non-FFLs site members ship guns and stuff to FFLs. Sellers of firearms can enter the FFL number of the destination shop and labels will be automatically created, ensuring that all address and shipping information is accurate and FFL status is verified. The label is also automatically “sanitized” of any information that identifies the package as containing a firearm. For example, if the recipient is “John’s Gun Warehouse” the label will display it as “JG Warehouse” or “JGW.” Shippers are also guided through the shipping options, based on what type of firearm is being shipped, to comply with all shipping regulations for that type of gun. GunBroker has also negotiated attractive pricing for this program.
• Armslist offers considerable bang for the buck.
• From April 1-15, 2025, Silencer Central will pay for your tax stamp with every BANISH suppressor priced $849 and up.
• Strike Industries’ new A2 Blast Shield is a drop-in solution to reduce side concussion and redirect muzzle blast forward for shooters looking to enhance comfort without replacing the A2 birdcage flash hider.
• The Chiappa LA322 T.D. Bandit is a 2 pound “Mare’s Leg” .22LR firearm with a 12″ barrel, no shoulder stock, and 23.6″ OAL.
• OK guys, why doesn’t anyone make a semiauto version of the Kel-Tec KSG?
• Kiddie gun fun.

What I’m reading.

This one is definitely different. You should read it.