MS federal gun case
The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that an employee of a company contracted to do work at a Nissan plant in Canton, Mississippi who was fired for having a firearm in his car at work has no legal protection, even under the state’s law that allows for some legal gun owners to lawfully store their firearms in their vehicle while they’re at work.
The case was brought by Michael Wayne McIntyre, who was an employee of CalsonicKansei North America, Inc., which in turn was a subcontractor for Nissan North America. In February of 2016, CalsonicKansei was informed through an anonymous tip that McIntyre had a gun in his vehicle, and when a security officer for the company searched McIntyre’s car, he discovered McIntyre’s legally possessed handgun in the center console. McIntyre was sent home, and ultimately fired from CalsonicKansei.
In his suit, McIntyre claimed that he was wrongfully terminated and had the right under Mississippi law to legally store his gun in his vehicle, but both a U.S. District Judge and the Fifth Circuit disagreed, noting that the parking lot protection law has an exemption that allows companies to ban employees from storing firearms in their vehicles while they’re at work if access to the parking lot is “restricted or limited.” According to the Fifth Circuit, the CalsonicKansei parking lot that McIntyre used as an employee meets that definition.
“The drop arms, whatever the facts on how often they were down, provided at least a periodic limitation. Further, a security camera was directed at Entry 1A and was monitored from a central security office. Security officers continuously patrolled the entire plant, including Lot 1B. An additional limit to the public’s access to Lot 1B was created by the barbed-wire-topped, chainlink fence surrounding the entire plant. We conclude that fact is statutorily relevant because limiting access to a larger facility will also limit access to its individual components. Finally, there were visible no-trespassing signs posted at all plant entrances. Signs limit by declaring there is no right to enter. Indeed, posted notice prohibiting entry is a significant legal restriction because entering another’s property in disregard of a properly displayed sign can be a criminal offense.”
In other words, if McIntyre had parked in an open parking lot and was fired for having a gun in his vehicle, he would have had a case. Best to park in an “open” lot and don’t ever give permission to search (I hear that in some cases, entering a property IS giving such permission. But don’t tell them you agree to or give permission for a search.) I don’t know if there are any “open” lots at that location.
SCOTUS update
Another Monday With No Cert Grants on the 10 2A Cases Before SCOTUS Could Be a Bad Sign
Election
Crazy Uncle Joe continues to prove he’s the biggest fool in national politics, which is a pretty darned impressive feat.
NRA
Rumor has it that the potential dates for the postponed 2020 NRA Annual Meeting are September 5th-7th, 2020 in Springfield, MO.
Also in the news, NRA is being sued for incessant illegal fundraising/membership phone calls.
Riots
Many of those “protests” are not protests in support of the oppressed — they’re riots perpetrated by felonious thugs against folks who had absolutely nothing to do with any injustice. So far, at least 15 people have died in these riots. I suppose we’re getting a preview of what it will be like when Trump wins in November. So be it.
Rioters are pre-staging piles of bricks in areas to be attacked. If you see anything like a brick stockpile, report it to the police. Unfortunately in many of the most violent areas, police have been ordered to stand down while those neighborhoods are destroyed. No word on criminal charges for those giving the orders or those obeying them.
And you are on your own.
Racist US Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) said of the violent riots: “Protesters in Minneapolis and across the country are employing their constitutional right of free speech and the right to assemble… We are witnessing the expected result of African-Americans being brutalized and dehumanized for centuries,” and added that he sees [unspecified] right-wing extremists at the root of the riots. Well Bennie, speech and assembly yes. Riots, no. Those criminals, whether white or black, left or right, do NOT have the right to riot and commit felonies in the name of the First Amendment.
Record gun sales and shortages across the country are again occurring as a result of the unrest. May 2020 estimated sales of 1,595,790 are the highest on record for any May since record keeping began, up 75% over last May and the third highest monthly total ever. This follows similar increases of in March (also an all-time record) and April (highest in over 20 years). Retailers report that 40% of the recent sales are to first-time gun buyers and that 40% of those are female. I guess those demanding mommies are demanding heat. Gee, I wonder why?
ATF is warning FFLs in areas of potential unrest to secure their stuff, lock up, and go home. Walmart has “temporarily” removed firearms and ammunition from the sales floor of some stores, to now be kept in a “secure” area, but remain for sale upon request.
Colinford Mattis, 32, an Ivy League graduate (Princeton and NYU) corporate lawyer and member of Community Board 5 in East New York, and fellow attorney Urooj Rahman, 31, are facing with federal charges of throwing a Molotov cocktail into an empty NYPD vehicle outside a police station early Saturday morning during a protest. There is video of the attack by the two unemployed legal buzzards.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County, Florida, praised people in his community who protested last week’s death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minnesota cop, but warned potential rioters that his county’s residents are well-armed and “if you try to break into their homes to steal, to set fires, I’m highly recommending they blow you back out of the house with their guns.”
A well-intentioned warning. Don’t be safe. Be ruthless.
Enemies
US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is one of the worst gun-grabbers we have. She says we shouldn’t have guns. But she is “special.”
I have to admit, that’s the best she has ever looked.
Why should we pay no attention to celebrities on political matters? Because they play games or pretend, for a living.
Did you notice? The folks claiming that “Only the cops need guns” are the same folks saying “The cops are racist and are out to kill you.” Do the math.
The Only Ones
In Missouri City, Texas, about 15 miles southwest of Houston, a resident called police at around 1:45am last Friday to report that someone suspicious was running in the block. Fort Bend County sheriff’s deputies and a deputy constable responded. Ten minutes after getting the 911 call, the officers came upon an unoccupied home with an unlocked back door and entered to search it. We don’t know why. While clearing the home, an unidentified sheriff’s deputy fatally shot the deputy constable, mistaking him for an intruder. (Which actually they both were.)
The constable, who was wearing his body armor vest at the time, suffered a single gunshot wound to the chest. He was airlifted to a hospital where he later died.
Two lessons/questions:
- Why did they enter the house, unless they saw or had evidence of a break in, or had permission?
- “Bulletproof” vests are called “bullet resistant” or “body armor” and not “bulletproof” for a reason.
Catch and Release in Hinds County, MS
Rangemaster’s June Newsletter (.pdf document). Good read.
About police shootings. Another good read.
The Best Defense – mob attacks vehicle (Video)
Tactical tips from John Farnam’s excellent DTI Operator videos.
Turn your light on only when you’re stationary and already ready to shoot, and then only for maybe 2 seconds. Then immediately move. Do not move with the light on.
Defensive revolver considerations
Basic 1911 pistol info
Shooting through glass. A lot to consider.
“Pure unfiltered awesome.” A 62-lb. 9mm. Really. Father’s Day is coming up…
SIG sours
SIG Sauer GmbH, based in Eckernförde, Germany is shutting down because shareholders are unwilling to invest further funds in the struggling European arm of the company. SIG Sauer GmbH is a separate entity to the US-based SIG Sauer, Inc. Both the German arm and US-based company are owned by Lüke & Ortmeier Holding Gruppe. The company also owns Swiss company SIG SAUER AG (formerly Swiss Arms).
Products
Trijicon’s new Ventus and Ventus X is a magical handheld ranging device that measures not only ranges out to 5,000 yards, but also provides a three-dimensional wind map out to 500 yards.
Leupold has announced a burnt bronze model of its VX-3i CDS-ZL 4.5-14×40 riflescope. Hopefully more to come.
CZ-USA’s new All-Terrain Series includes the semi-auto 1012 and break barrel Bobwhite G2, Drake, Redhead Premier and Upland Ultralight models. Features of the All-Terrains include OD Green Cerakote finish, premium walnut stock and forend, sling-swivel studs, extended chokes, and extractor/ejector rare earth magnets on break-open variants to retain shells even when the gun is turned upside down. I wonder if anyone still makes non-steel head shells for which those magnets will not work, and I am assuming the ejector models will overcome the magnets and still eject.
Hornady’s new 6mm ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge) is a SAAMI-spec cartridge based on the 6.5 Grendel case necked down for 6mm bullets and purpose-built to optimize the capabilities of AR-platform firearms. They probably should have named it the 6mm Grendel. If you already have a rifle chambered in 6.5 Grendel, the ONLY thing you need to change is the barrel and ammo. Sort of a shorter, fatter, slower .243, and it beats the 6×45. Perhaps it’s what NATO should be using, and in fact the US DoD has received a production run of Barrett rifles in this new caliber. Beware that one issue reported with the 6.5 Grendel (in heavy use in the M4 platform) has been chronic bolt breakage.
