Litigation

Two Central American countries, 12 U.S. states and the District of Columbia are supporting a $10 billion lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court by Mexico against gun manufacturers Smith & Wesson, Barrett, Beretta, Colt, Glock, and Ruger for allegedly marketing their products to criminal organizations. No word on any lawsuits against the U.S. government for actually trafficking illegal guns to Mexican drug cartels.

Attorneys General for the following governments have filed amicus briefs supporting Mexico’s claims:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Belize
• Massachusetts
• California
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Hawai’i
• Illinois
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• Oregon

One commenter noted that guns carried by these folks’ bodyguards, and that constantly protect them and their families, are manufactured by these same companies they’re so self-righteously trying to destroy, and that they have no plans to stop buying their guns for these bodyguards, police and military if the lawsuit is unsuccessful in destroying the gun companies.

More from Shotgun Joe

“The guns are—we should be—the idea of background checks are [sic] critical. But you can’t stop something like this if someone is on the street buying something from somebody else on the street.” – Joe Biden, responding to a question about the impact of a Texas synagogue hostage situation on his gun control efforts.

Meanwhile he proposes to continue to try to take guns away from the people who didn’t do it.

Another turd in the NRA pile

• More Looks Into the NRA 990 for 2020

Call 911 and die

Lesson: A phone (or an alarm) will not defend you. Take care of business. It is preferable for 911 to hear your defensive gunshots instead of hearing your murderer’s gunshots, IF you were able to call 911 first.

Enemies – ATF

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) proposed this week to give an additional $1.5 BILLION to an ATF Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns, to crack down on “illegal guns” in New York. That would more than double the agency’s budget, allowing them to buy more tanks and firebombs. There are about 1200 shootings involving injury in all of New York state annually (pdf link), so that’s about $1.25 million per shooting.

More on ATF’s unlawful nonsense.

But wait – there’s more!

And if you order now, you get more crap for free.

An additional bonus to every caller – ATF continues to compile its illegal gun sales registry, with nearly one BILLION records kept so far.

Further, the DOJ has announced a new crackdown on home-built firearms. We note that it is perfectly legal to build your own gun and to posses such a gun (if you’re not a prohibited person). We further note that committing crimes with or without such a gun is already illegal. I’m going to suggest that everyone should be making guns at home.

More Enemies

More and more, it seems the folks supporting and passing gun control legislation are bad people, and not simply good people who are mistaken. For instance…

ACLU. Still.

About those background checks

An 11-year-old Florida boy found TWO Barrett 50-caliber lower receivers while magnet fishing in a Miami-Dade canal with his grandfather. I bet Easter is a hoot down there.

Baldwin

ABC “News” is reporting that the family of the crew member killed on the set of the “Rust” film set in New Mexico took the first steps in filing a wrongful death lawsuit, through the filing of a petition in Santa Fe County District Court naming an attorney as the estate’s personal representative.

That’s not the news here. What’s important is ABC’s characterization of the tragedy:

“Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed in October by a gun being held by actor Alec Baldwin during the filming of ‘Rust.'”

In other words the gun did the killing and it was only being held by a person. That’s literally what they said.

The Only Ones

An unidentified Clark County [WA] sheriff’s deputy “unintentionally” shot and killed an armed off-duty Vancouver [WA] police officer after the officer scuffled with an armed robbery suspect at the police officer’s home last weekend. From the report, it appears that the responding deputy may have misidentified the police officer as the suspect, since the armed officer/victim was apparently pursuing the suspect from the officer’s driveway to (or into) the officer’s home (where his wife was) at the time the deputy shot him multiple times with a rifle.

Hillsborough County [Tampa, FL] Sheriff’s Detective Daniel Leyden, 31, shot and killed a deputy with whom he had a romantic relationship before then killing himself. It happened in St. John’s County [Jacksonville, FL].

Safety

We have word this week from Utah that a 58-year-old woman was shot and killed in an apparent hunting related accident. The woman was reportedly riding in a side-by-side ATV (UTV) when a rifle discharged, hitting her in the mid-body area. We know no more that that, but I do have some thoughts. It sounds like perhaps the rifle was being transported in the bed of the side-by-side, with the muzzle pointed at the woman. Clearly the rifle was loaded. Many long guns designed for sporting use have safeties that only block the movement of the trigger, leaving them vulnerable to discharge on impact (like bouncing around in a UTV bed), and thus cannot be relied upon. So, unload before casing or transporting and do not stow the rifle such that it tends to be pointed at anyone.

Guns Kill People, and Tyrants with Gun Monopolies Kill the Most

A University of Denver Legal Studies Research Paper by Dave Kopel. 23 pages.

---

GFZs

You’ve probably heard about the shooting aboard a stopped Greyhound bus in California, where one was killed and several injured. Gun free zone. Greyhound doesn’t even allow pocket knives, pepper spray, sticks, or any sort of weapon outside of checked baggage and doesn’t allow guns or fake guns, period. I suggest a lawsuit holding the company responsible for disarming the victims and failing to disarm the perpetrator.

……….

6 Signs that Your Gun Rights Group is a Scam

……….

Newsletters

The ACLDN and Rangemaster February (pdf) newsletters are out

---

Ayoob speaks

• Listen.

Check out the kids’ wildlife songbird art winners

• Wow. Just wow.

Gun Schools

• Front Sight

If you are familiar with Front Sight Firearms Training Institute in Nevada, you may be interested in this. If you are not familiar, I suggest you not waste your time with them.

• Boondocks FTA

We recently posted some excellent training from world-class experts coming up at Boondocks Firearms Training Academy at Raymond, MS. We now have word that the company is going out of business, after failing to secure a buyer. The last class date for Boondocks FTA, LLC will be April 24th, 2022, with current business hours and Alumni Range hours through Sunday, April 24, 2022.

The Timney Lollipop

• Timney’s Sweet Secret

Old Ammo

Apparently it’s sometimes better than new ammo.

Gun Buying Advice for Women

• From a Woman

Safety warning

FN America has announced a safety bulletin for its FN 502 Tactical .22 LR pistol, which I understand are actually made by Umarex. FNA has learned that a very limited number of FN 502 Tactical pistols in the field may have an improperly installed manual safety. In these cases, the external safety lever will not function as designed and may result in unintended firing.

Products

Remington ammo has introduced a new .22 LR subsonic round with a 40 gr. plated HP bullet at 1050 fps. It’s supposed to be good but very pricey. I have very positive experience with a previous Remington .22 LR subsonic HP load. It worked very well for me for pest control. If I recall correctly that load was actually made by Eley.

The Korth Mongoose revolver, available from Nighthawk Custom, is now offered in .44 Magnum, with either a 3″ or 4″ vent rib barrel. The front sight is a 14K gold bead. The grip is made from Turkish walnut and the metalwork is billet steel with a DLC finish. $4300.

2022 MS gun bills

Below is a report on current gun bills in the Mississippi Legislature:

Summary of gun related bills filed this legislative session. NOT guaranteed complete.

Next deadline: February 10 for original floor action on bills from own house.

http://www.legislature.ms.gov/legislation/

HB 125
By: Rep. Miles
Ref: Constitution; Jud. B – DIED IN COMMITTEE

Prohibits firing a gun within 1500 feet of a building on school, church, public park, ballpark, public gymnasium, youth center or movie theater property, or within 1000 feet of those properties. Very poorly worded bill.

HB 141 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Rep. Paden
Ref: Jud. B; Constitution

Requires CCW license applicants to provide proof that they have submitted to a mental health evaluation and such evaluation evidences no sign of mental illness. The evaluation must be performed by a psychiatrist licensed in this state and the evaluation taken no more than twelve (12) months before submitting an application for a license.

HB 170 – DIED IN COMMITEE
By: Rep. Patterson
Ref: Jud. B

Exempts CCW licensees from carrying the CCW license during mandatory emergency evacuations. Does not provide for non-licensees’ exemption from a license in the same situation.

HB 183 & 187 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Rep. Burnett
Ref: Jud. B

Authorizes nonviolent felons to possess and use otherwise prohibited weapons, including firearms, in defense of their residence or owned motor vehicle.

HB 247 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Rep. Denton
Ref: Jud. B; Constitution

Apparently unnecessary clarifications of CCW prohibitions for the mentally incompetent.

HB 253 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Reps. Oliver, Ladner, Barnett
Ref: Constitution

Second Amendment Preservation Act. With some exceptions, beefs-up state preemption of local gun laws and prohibits enforcement of federal laws violating Second Amendment.

HB 254 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Rep. Patterson
Ref: Jud. B

Interposes state law in place of any federal law confiscating firearms.

HB 361 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Rep. Wright
Ref: Rules

Authorizes House and Senate Sergeant at Arms to carry firearms. We note that if those sergeants have enhanced concealed carry licenses, they are already legal to carry at the State Capitol.

HB 595 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Rep. Criswell
Ref: Jud. B

Firearms Protection Act. Prohibits enforcement of federal firearms laws in the cases of intrastate items or semiauto or magazine bans.

HB 597 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Rep. Criswell
Ref: Jud. B

Removes the term “stun gun” from the concealed firearms category in state law, thus making them legal to carry without restriction.

HB 667 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Rep. Debra Gibbs
Ref: Education

Requires school district employees to attend active shooter training every three years.

HB 712 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Rep. Banks
Ref: Constitution; Jud. B

Repeals limitations on local governments’ abuse of the public’s right to keep and bear arms under state law.

HB 1010 – PASSED COMMITTEE
By: Rep. Barnett
Ref: Jud. B

Slightly relaxes prohibitions on felons possessing non-firearm weapons.

HB 1043 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Reps. Williams-Barnes, Summers
Ref: Jud. B

Prohibits persons convicted of domestic violence from carrying a weapon.

HB 1114 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Reps. Smith, Calvert, Gibbs (36th), Lancaster
Ref: Constitution

Second Amendment Preservation Act; create to provide that the Legislature preempts local firearms ordinances.

HB 1418 – PASSED COMMITTEE
By: Reps. Oliver, Aguirre, Bain, Bell (21st), Boyd, Carpenter, Crawford, Criswell, Felsher, Goodin, Gunn, Hale, Hobgood-Wilkes, Hood, Horan, Horne, Mangold, Pigott, Rushing, Wallace
Ref: Jud. B

Second Amendment Preservation Act, with exceptions for universities and colleges, beefs-up state preemption of local gun laws and prohibits enforcement of federal laws violating Second Amendment.

SB 2021 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Sen. Hill
Ref: Jud. A

Provides for enhanced CCW licenses for 18-20 year olds.

SB 2042 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Sens. McCaughn, Boyd & Suber
Ref: Jud. B

Clarifies that possession of multiple firearms shall subject a felon to multiple charges of possession. Doesn’t seem to be worded well.

SB 2095 – PASSED BY LEGISLATURE & SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
By: Sens. Blackwell, Barnett, Butler (36th), Butler (38th), DeLano, Hickman, Horhn, Jackson (11th), Simmons (12th), Simmons (13th)
Ref: Public Health and Welfare

This is the “medical” marijuana bill. I am only including it here as a reminder that under federal law, marijuana users are prohibited persons for guns. My understanding is that possession of a prescription or state-issued weed card may be evidence enough to trigger a federal prosecution.

SB 2290 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Sen. Jordan
Ref: Elections; Constitution

CLAIMS to restore ALL civil rights to a criminal who has paid his or her debt to society. In actuality, this bill seems to be only about voting rights for the Left.

SB 2353 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Sen. McDaniel
Ref: Jud. A; Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

Prohibits state/local enforcement of federal rules or regulations unless specifically authorized by the state legislature.

SB 2355 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Sen. McDaniel
Ref: Jud. B; Jud. A

Prohibits state/local enforcement of federal semiauto or magazine bans, registration, or confiscation.

SB 2395 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Sen. Sojourner
Ref: Jud. B

Interposes state law in place of any federal law confiscating firearms.

SB 2538 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Sen. England
Ref: Jud. B

Provides that a person who uses or threatens to use justified force as legalized in state law is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use or threatened use of such force, by the person, personal representative, or heirs of the person against whom the force was used or threatened, unless the criminal against whom the justified force was used is/was a law enforcement officer.

SB 2547 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Sen. Younger
Ref: Jud. B

Criminalize discharge of a firearm within limits of or into a municipality, with exceptions for self defense, authorized gun ranges, etc. Penalty could be a felony. Seems to ignore existing state law that covers this in conjunction with municipal ordinances.

SB 2553 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Sen. Derrick T. Simmons
Ref: Jud. B

Makes criminals with misdemeanor convictions with enhanced sentences into prohibited persons for weapons possession. The enhanced sentences are basically the result of a “hate crimes” conviction against protected classes of victims.

SB 2558 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Sen. Tate
Ref: Jud. B

Generally prohibits shooting guns at any public park.

SB 2676 – DIED IN COMMITTEE
By: Sen. Hill
Ref: Jud. A; Appropriations

Mississippi School Protection Act. Authorizes schools to assemble teams of armed employees for school protection. We note that individuals who have the existing enhanced CCW license are already legal to carry at schools in Mississippi, though they may be at risk of losing their jobs.