GRPC
Did you miss the Gun Rights Policy Conference? Here ya go.
NRA
NRA Executive Vice President/CEO Wayne LaPierre was re-elected 44-2 (with 3 abstentions) by secret ballot of the NRA Board of Directors at their meeting last weekend.
LaPierre acolytes Charles Cotton, Lt. Col. Willes K. Lee (ret.), and David Coy were elected President, First Vice President, and Second Vice President, respectively. Cotton and Coy are members of the board’s Audit Committee, which spent the last two years covering up and not auditing anything.
Action item. This might help. Write down the address then send in the petition.
BATFE
A leaked Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives video conference meeting revealed that the agency is looking to double its size over the next five years. The ATF plans to expand to around 2500 special agents, up from 1700 gun-carrying agents. This amount would put the number of agents at a higher level than the IRS, with 2000 special agents.
Meanwhile, a whistleblower within the agency has exposed Bureau administrative employees defrauding the American taxpayers for possibly millions of dollars.
Actual Headlines
- “After Defunding Police, Portland To Give Firefighters Bulletproof Vests Amid Surging Gun Violence”
Well, duh.
- “JPMorgan Chase & Co. says it’s being shut out of underwriting municipal-bond deals in Texas after the state enacted a law banning government work with banks that limit business with the firearms industry.”
That’s a little good news.
Female CCW info
Very informative.
Litigation
The U.S. Supreme Court is back in session (live and in person this time), and is scheduled to hear arguments Nov. 3 in the case New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v Bruen. This case represents is a real challenge to New York’s longstanding arbitrary and discriminatory state law mandating anyone wishing to carry a handgun in public must demonstrate “a special need for self-protection distinguishable from that of the general public” to obtain a license to exercise their civil rights. There are other similar laws around the country, and we understand that lawsuits against those are all lined up and ready to go, pending the outcome of this case. Lower courts are compelled to rule based on the SCOTUS decision, though they sometimes refuse to do so on gun cases.
On Monday the court declined to take up three challenges to a federal ban on gun ownership for people convicted of nonviolent crimes, the court let stand a series of lower court rulings that prohibited people convicted of driving under the influence, making false statements on tax returns and selling counterfeit cassette tapes from owning a gun.
The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) have filed a new lawsuit on behalf of three New York City residents looking to purchase a stun gun or Taser for self-defense. The suit was filed against New York City and its police commissioner Dermot Shea to invalidate the city’s ban on Tasers and stun guns. The suit alleges that the absolute prohibition of these weapons represents a violation of the Second Amendment.
“It is difficult to maintain the illusion that we are interpreting a Constitution, rather than inventing one.” – U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Scalia
Legislation
U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) has taken a stance against all the anti-gun provisions in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (H.R. 1620) or VAWA. Sen. Smith clarified that she does want to see VAWA pass but without all the anti-gun sections of the bill. (Meanwhile, you can go on a 3-day quail & pheasant hunt with her in south Mississippi for just $10k. $5k if you skip the hunt and just have dinner.)
If passed, the Recreational Lands Defense Act (H.R. 988) or RLDA would restore Second Amendment rights of individuals recreating on lands managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Under current law, an individual may carry a firearm on lands managed by the U.S. Department of Interior and U.S. Department of Agriculture, including National Parks and National Forests, as long as it is consistent with state law. The RLDA would treat Army Corps land in the same manner, allowing parity on nearly 12 million acres of Army Corps recreation lands. It would not change current legal prohibition of guns in federal facilities.
Enemies
Alliance for Wild Rockies
Center for Biological Diversity
Humane Society of the United States
Sierra Club
WildEarth Guardians
Defenders of Wildlife
Earthjustice
Native Ecosystems Council
- Equal Access to Justice (Part 1 of 3)
- Equal Access to (In)Justice Act, Part II
- Equal Access to (In)justice, Part 3
You are on your own
Report about one sword-armed ninja man who scared 25 U.S. Army Special Operations troops into self-imposed lockdown, requiring their rescue by local cops. Really.
Tactics and response
- Having a gun doesn’t mean you will save the day. Big tactical failure here.
- A good reminder for the post-incident environment. Don’t talk yourself into jail.
- Safe driving tips
- Getting your pocket picked
Surveys, surveys
Imports
Over 6.8 million firearms were imported into the United States in 2020, which is more than any other year on record, according to the ATF’s 2021 annual report on firearms commerce (.pdf link) in the United States.
Exports
A report from The New York Times indicates that gun dealers in Afghanistan are selling those left-behind U.S. pistols, rifles, and other weapons in their stores. No FBI background check required. I’m still waiting on that Biden prosecution.
New owners
Blogger Stephen Wenger notes that “Many newcomers to the exercise of the RKBA have traditionally been Democratic voters and can use some gentle persuasion that continued voting for that party is not in their best interest if they wish to continue exercising that right.”
Emphasis on gentle.
Products
.45 Colt DA upgrade to accept .45 ACP with moon clips.
We previously reported on the demise of Hodgdon’s black powder operation (GOEX & Olde Eynsford brands). Not being a black powder user, I have little knowledge of the industry but it is my understanding that the unrelated Skirmish, Swiss, Schuetzen and KIK brands will remain available (as will the Hodgdon products should someone purchase them and continue production). The remaining brands are all imported.
Recycled leather. Interesting. I have questions about its durability and strength if used for holsters, belts, slings, etc.
Beretta APX A1 Carry is the newest evolution of the popular APX Carry series platform, and features a shorter and lighter trigger pull, red-dot optic ready slide, and improved modularity. It is a single-stack, sub-compact with a thin grip design. The red-dot ready slide is designed to receive a variety of optics plates, one of which will be provided by Beretta free of charge through the warranty registration process online, including Burris, C-more, Shield RMS-C, and Holosun K Series. Available in Standard Black, Flat Dark Earth, Wolf Grey, and OD Green frame colors, and offers an extended 8-round magazine, a 6-round magazine with pinky extension, and a flush baseplate (included in the box). $449.
S&W now has an optics-ready version of its popular M&P9 Shield Plus 3.1″ pistol.