McLaughlin Poll Exposes Concern About Media Bias on Guns, 2A

A new McLaughlin survey finds a clear majority of Americans are concerned about media bias when reporting on gun violence and the Second Amendment.

A new McLaughlin survey released Thursday shows a majority of Americans are “concerned” about media bias when it comes to reporting on gun-related violent crime and Second Amendment issues.

The poll was conducted by McLaughlin & Associates, a national survey research and strategic services company specializing in public opinion research and media planning, for the Second Amendment Foundation. SAF was not involved in crafting survey questions or the actual polling, the group said in a release.

McLaughin revealed that a whopping 71.9 percent of Americans are concerned that the national media and news organizations such as ABC, CBS and NBC are biased when it comes to reporting about gun violence and Second Amendment issues. By contrast, only 16.6 percent of respondents are “not very concerned”, and a scant 8.9 percent are “not concerned at all” about the perceived bias.

This comes on the heels of a Rasmussen survey which found a majority of likely voters do not believe the media is covering the important issues of the upcoming presidential election campaign. According to Rasmussen, “Only 28% of voters rate the national news media as doing a good or excellent job in terms of covering the most important issues, while 46% give the media a poor rating.”

This begs the question: Is the media out of touch with average Americans? SAF’s Alan Gottlieb had an interesting observation as he announced the McLaughlin survey results. “If media bias on this issue is so clear to Americans, it raises the question as to why?”

Media bias has become an embarrassing issue in recent weeks, following an Op-Ed by now-former NPR veteran business editor Uri Berliner accusing NPR of bias. Berliner subsequently resigned.

Scrutiny on alleged bias has become so intense that on May 8, the House Energy Committee held a hearing on the subject and NPR CEO Katherine Maher declined an invitation to appear before the committee, according to Fox News. An NPR spokesperson reportedly told Fox News Digital that Maher would be willing to testify on a different date.

The question of media bias against guns is nothing new. Almost two years ago, the Associated Press announced a style change in how newspapers should report on so-called “assault weapons,” as reported by the National Review.

“The preferred term for a rifle that fires one bullet each time the trigger is pulled, and automatically reloads for a  subsequent shot, is a semi-automatic rifle. An automatic rifle continuously fires rounds if the trigger is depressed and until its ammunition is exhausted,” the AP said in its Stylebook, which is considered the equivalent of a bible for copy editors and reporters.

But to this day, very few news agencies appear to have switched gears on this important issue. Semi-auto rifles are still referred to as “assault rifles,” which the firearms community knows is simply false. It is one thing to make an error and correct it, and an entirely different thing when the known error continues to be repeated. This is the sort of thing which contributes to criticism of media bias about guns and the Second Amendment.

Veteran pollster Jim McLaughlin, president and partner at McLaughlin and Associates, is quoted in a SAF news release observing, “Clearly the vast majority of Americans have lost faith in the national media when it comes to reporting honestly and fairly about gun violence and Second Amendment issues. Interestingly, not only are Republicans (83%) suspect of the information they receive, but Independents (69%) and even Democrats (63%) are worried about bias on Second Amendment and gun violence issues.”

SAF’s Gottlieb believes guns, crime and the Second Amendment will be “major issues” in the 2024 presidential and congressional elections, and gun rights versus gun control will likely be an issue in gubernatorial and legislative elections as well.

Joe Biden has been outspoken in his efforts to ban so-called “assault rifles” and even 9mm pistols. Many gun owners and rights activists say the president has “weaponized” the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to crack down on firearms dealers, and also to add restrictions on law-abiding gun owners who make private sales or purchases of firearms as collectors or hobbyists.

The McLaughlin survey also found that 36 percent of respondents considered themselves Democrats, another 36 percent are Republicans and 28 percent are Independents.

Interestingly, 29.1 percent identified as liberal, 35 percent identify as moderate and 35.9 percent consider themselves conservative, the poll found.

Another revelation about the McLaughlin poll is that an overwhelming majority (85.4%) are regular voters, with 64.8 percent saying they always vote and 20.5 percent saying the “almost always” vote.

And there was another stunning revelation of the McLaughlin survey. Only 24 percent believe the United States is on the “right track” while 68.2 percent believe the country is on the “wrong track.” Likewise, a May 13 Rasmussen poll said only 28 percent of likely voters think the country “is heading in the right direction” while 67 percent “believe the nation is headed down the wrong track.”

The pollsters are evidently on to something, and it will likely play out Nov. 5.

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About Dave Workman

Dave Workman is a senior editor at TheGunMag.com and Liberty Park Press, author of multiple books on the Right to Keep & Bear Arms, and formerly an NRA-certified firearms instructor.

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Cornyn Resolution a Desperate Attempt to Save Face After Being Outmaneuvered by Democrats

John Cornyn and “friend” agreeing on “bipartisan” ways to “fight crime.”

“Cornyn, Tillis, Colleagues Introduce Resolution to Block Unconstitutional Biden ATF Rule,” a Wednesday press release announces. Their intent is to “to strike down the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) rule on the definition of ‘Engaged in the Business’ as a Dealer in Firearms, which ignores the law and congressional intent and flagrantly violates the Constitution to try to require anyone who sells a firearm to register as a federal firearm licensee.”

Well, who signed on to the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, giving Joe Biden’s ATF and its Democrat, media, and citizen disarmament lobby allies all the cover they needed to overreach and impose? How can veterans John Cornyn, Thom Tillis, and other Republican “Vichycons” — who gave the antis the votes they needed — possibly claim to be surprised that enemies of the right of the people to keep and bear arms won’t stretch any inch given into a mile and then some? What did they think Chris Murphy had in mind, fast-tracking a bill after the high-profile Uvalde school massacre (where a maniac took predictable advantage of a “gun-free zone” while cops dithered in the hall for 78 minutes)?

Of course, Democrats will abuse any concession. Just in recent history, we’ve seen the NRA give Donald Trump a green light on “special rules” for bump stocks and then seen the ATF turn that into a “Mr. and Mrs. America turn them all in” ban.

As an aside, there are still some gun owners dismissing this as a “hill not worth dying on over a stupid piece of plastic” who are completely missing the point – it’s not about bump stocks, it’s about bureaucrats usurping authority with “rules” to rewrite definitions and mandate new prohibitions – against pistol braces, against frames and receivers, and give them time, against semiautos.

That’s the reason those who fight unyieldingly for the Second Amendment have consistently screamed at dolts who earn the “Stupid Party” epithet every time they yield to those who want it all but will take it a piece at a time. Do they think it will make them appear “reasonable” and that it will earn them praise from the same people who smear even moderates as “extremists” and worse whenever it suits their purposes?

Way to take the fire out of constituent bellies.

If experience has proven anything, it’s that the antis will never be satisfied and they will never go away. Ceding anything just means surrendering to demands for which they have no legitimate claim. Concessions have the same effect as throwing a scrap of meat to a pack of circling jackals in the hopes they’ll leave you alone. That doesn’t happen in nature, and it doesn’t happen in politics. Instead it emboldens them.

They mean to take it all. Any Republican who doesn’t realize that is either too dumb or too corrupt (which aren’t mutually exclusive) to be entrusted with power. If you give up on ANY point, you then free up prohibitionist resources to be used against you on their next attack and give them a new beachhead from which to launch it. Again, this is about nothing less than freedom, and that’s about nothing less than your life and the lives of everyone you care about.

Not wanting to admit the Democrats just “pantsed” them in front of the whole country, Cornyn, Tillis, et al. have come up with this preelection posturing to make it look like they’re being proactive about putting out a fire they helped start. But they can’t. Their statement is smoke and mirrors. Because it will take a lot more than this to – in their words — “strike down the … rule.”

The Resolution states “That Congress disapproves the rule submitted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives relating to Definition of Engaged in the Business as a Dealer in Firearms (89 Fed. Reg. 28968 (April 19, 2024)), and such rule shall have no force or effect.”

Good luck with that. Because, per the Senate website, a joint resolution “requires the approval of both Chambers in identical form and the president’s signature to become law.”

It’s a game Republicans play all the time, stirring up hope when they know they won’t have to make good on things and nothing will change. Did anyone see nationwide concealed carry or freeing suppressors from NFA restrictions when Republicans had it all?

A recent case in point is a bill to “that would abolish transfer taxes on firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act.” It sounds good (but not as good as repealing the damn Hughes Amendment to really bring prices down), until it smacks into reality. Per the GovTrack legislation website:

“Prognosis 0% chance of being enacted.”

Cornyn’s joint resolution doesn’t fare much better:

“Prognosis 8% chance of being enacted or passed.”

It’s true that major players, the National Rifle Association, Gun Owners of America, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation have endorsed the resolution. What else are they going to say?

That they’ll now have to expend precious resources fighting this in the courts against a government with a virtually unlimited war chest that can drag things out for years through appeals…? And if the same Republicans who can‘t get their act together and play hardball against Democrat lawfare, dirty tricks, and electoral sabotage blow it in November, the Supreme Court majority – and with it the Bruen decision gun owners are counting on – will be at the mercy of Chuck Schumer, with no  shortage of “moderate Republicans” approving Democrat nominees…?

And John Cornyn will continue to stand with his “friend,” Sheila (Heavy as 10 Boxes) Jackson Lee, in support of “bipartisan” ways to “fight crime”:

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About David Codrea:

David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating/defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” is a regularly featured contributor to Firearms News, and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.

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DHS Admits to Monitoring 3D Printer Purchases with the Help of Amazon, eBay, and PayPal

Young engineer working on a 3D printer 3d guns ghost iStock-demaerre 586694292

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) made a shocking admission while speaking about a Staten Island man who was arrested for making homemade firearms. The DHS, with the help of Amazon, eBay, PayPal, and others, is monitoring Americans buying 3D printers and 3D printing materials that could be used for making firearms.

The Homeland Security Investigations New York’s El Dorado Task Force (EDTF), which consists of various units for DHS, including the Homeland Security Investigations Financial Crimes Task Force, helped the New York Police Department (NYPD) raid the home of John Raia. The 57-year-old man was accused of manufacturing firearms without serial numbers and having several standard compacity magazines, which are against New York State law to own. New York law enforcement authorities arrested the man. After this raid, the task force showed off the guns and ammo it had seized during the raid.

Sgt. Rashawn Vaughn, commanding officer of the Homeland Security Investigations Financial Crimes Task Force (HSIFCTF), spoke with the press after the raid and made some startling admissions. According to the investigator, DHS is tracking the sale of anything that can be used to create a firearm, including metal rails used in 3D-printed guns. Not only is the government monitoring the sale of perfectly legal gun parts, but they are also tracking things such as the purchase of 3D printers. The vast majority of people who buy 3D printers do not use them to print guns, but buying too many printing supplies or printers could get you investigated by Homeland Security.

There is no federal law against making homemade firearms, even though the Biden Administration demonizes the practice by calling privately manufactured firearms (PMFs) “ghost guns.” The lack of federal statute banning the PMFs means that DHS is investigating people for carrying out perfectly lawful commerce. If someone passes a certain threshold for purchasing 3D printing supplies, which DHS hasn’t announced, the federal government admitted that it would investigate the buyer and monitor their social media.

More disturbing is that giant online retailers such as Amazon and eBay and payment processors such as eBay are turning over sales records of anyone who purchased certain items, including 3D printers, every two months to authorities to sift through. None of those being investigated broke any laws for their purchases. To many, this would be like investigating anyone who buys a car because they might buy one to use as a getaway vehicle to be used during a bank robbery. In an article published by AmmoLand a couple of weeks ago, the FBI was quoted as saying that they cannot investigate people for Constitutionally protected conduct, but that seems to be what DHS is doing when it comes to buying 3D printers and legal gun parts.

“We just basically track internet purchases from eBay, PayPal, Amazon, different various online companies,” Vaughn said. “We get a list every other month, backdated a month, with people purchasing components that could possibly create a ghost gun, like the rails, the 3-D printer.”

This practice reminds the gun community about the Gun Violence Prevention Through Financial Intelligence Act (GVPTFIA). That act would require the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to help banks track gun purchases so they can notify the federal government. This time, it is reversed. The big tech giants that take gun owners’ money are turning over thousands of records to the federal government on the suspicion that someone might make their own gun, even though that is not federally illegal and is legal in most states.

The gun community has a deep distrust of the government and perceives the FBI, DHS, and the ATF to be Big Brother-like entities. In the monitoring of lawful commerce, these departments are doing nothing to build trust with the people of the Country. AmmoLand News will file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to get more details on the monitoring programs to determine how widespread and long it has been in effect. If you have bought a 3D printer, especially in a state like New York, you should know that Big Brother might be watching you.

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About John Crump

John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. Mr. Crump has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.

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Montana Supreme Court 2024 Candidates: Why Your Choices Are Pretty Awful

Opinion

iStock-Lazy_Bear

If you missed my comments about legislative and statewide candidates that the Montana Shooting Sports Association (MSSA) has endorsed or supported, they are posted on the MSSA Website at mtssa.org.

People are asking me who MSSA has endorsed for the two open seats on the Montana Supreme Court (MSC).

MSSA makes no endorsements for the MSC because we have no basis for that – no voting records on gun bills, as with former legislators and judicial candidates, who almost never return MSSA’s Judicial Candidate Questionnaire. They hide behind an alleged canon of judicial ethics saying they cannot comment on anything that might come before them on the court. So, voters are expected to buy a pig in a poke – to choose a candidate with no useful information about the candidate. Unfortunately, the candidate who raises and spends the most money usually wins. With no data as a basis for an endorsement, MSSA cannot make one.

Still, the inquirer asks, “Okay, Gary, what are your personal preferences?” Alright, here they are:

Corey Swanson is running for Chief Justice, and Dan Wilson is running for Associate Justice. If that’s all you want to know, go vote. If you want more information, keep reading.

Each race has three candidates. The top two vote-getters in each race will advance to the General Election ballot in November, which is where the real election contest will be.

Judicial races are allegedly nonpartisan in Montana. That is, candidates do not file for office under the banner of a political party. Nevertheless, judicial races are usually a contest between liberal and conservative, especially for the MSC. If you have read my recent essay on the subject, The Corrupt Liberal Politics of the Montana Supreme Court, you will know my opinion that the MSC is the last bastion of liberal power in Montana and is fiercely defended by liberals (those who prefer shifting money, power, and choice from people to government). Conservatives keep trying to break this death grip that the liberals have on Montana via the MSC but with little success. This election cycle presents an opportunity to begin breaking out of that bondage.

With that context in mind, it is no surprise that the candidates for these two MSC seats can be described by how they fit into this liberal/conservative struggle.

Let’s talk first about the race for Chief Justice. The candidates are Jeremiah Lynch, Doug Marshall, and Cory Swanson.

I have little information about Doug Marshall, although he is a trial lawyer. Trial lawyers are the most important source of money and political support for liberal candidates for judicial positions. For them, this seems to be more about political power than justice, public service, or constitutional civics.

Jeremiah Lynch is a former U.S. Magistrate. That is a judicial position with the U.S. District Court with many of the same powers and duties as the lifetime-appointed U.S. District Court Judge. A Magistrate does much of the busywork and carries much of the administrative load for the District Court Judge. Little is known about Lynch’s judicial philosophy. However, he did rule in a case that denied any right of self-defense when defending against a Grizzly attack. Thus, he may well be personally hostile to the RKBA.

Cory Swanson has been a county attorney for years. Swanson has long been an officer in the National Guard. I have discussed constitutional issues with him (not recently) and know he has a higher regard for the Constitution than many judicial candidates. As a county attorney and military officer, Swanson is a bit more tolerant of government power than fits well with my quasi-libertarian philosophy. Still, I like that he generally seems to have more respect for the Constitution than others. Plus, I hope and believe that Swanson is a strong enough personality to be able to hold his own in the liberal environment of the MSC.

So, in this race for Chief Justice of the MSC, Marshall and Lynch appear to be the liberal offerings and Swanson is the conservative, thus my personal preference for Swanson.

Katherine Bidegaray, Jerry O’Neil, and Dan Wilson are the candidates for the MSC seat of Associate Justice.

Katherine Bidegary is the known liberal in this race. Enough said.

Dan Wilson is the known conservative in the race. There may be questions about his personality and temperament, but I see that as a plus for having the spine necessary to contend with the liberals on the MSC.

Jerry O’Neil is an interesting wildcard. Jerry is a friend of mine, is also a libertarian and sometimes Libertarian, and has zero chance of getting elected. First, Jerry is not an attorney, blessed by the brotherhood of the private Bar Association, and current Montana law requires that of candidates for judicial office. Jerry has a lawsuit pending to challenge this requirement. His lawsuit will be decided by members of the brotherhood he challenges. Thus, he will lose, I predict, and therefore become ineligible to serve on the MSC. The brotherhood protects its own.

I cannot resist further comment about this conundrum.

Imagine if to be a candidate for the Legislature, it were required that a person be a member in good standing of the public employees’ union or the Montana Stockgrowers Association. Or suppose a requirement that a person could not run for public office unless the person had a degree in public administration from a government-accredited university. Such requirements would be highly improper. Nevertheless, in order to be a candidate for District Court Judge or MSC Justice, a person must be licensed by the state to practice law, which effectively requires that a person must be a graduate of an accredited law school, have passed the Montana BAR exam, become a member of the Montana BAR Association (controlled by the MSC), and be admitted to the practice of law in Montana. What a racket! End of rant.

So, in this Associate Justice race, I prefer Dan Wilson.

Again, for clarification, the Montana Shooting Sports Association makes no endorsement(s) for MSC races because we lack the data for a basis for any endorsement (perhaps by design).

I hope this helps.

Best wishes,

Gary Marbut, President
Montana Shooting Sports Association
www.mtssa.org
Author, Gun Laws of Montana
www.mtpublish.com

Read Related: The Corrupt Liberal Politics of the Montana Supreme Court

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About Gary Marbut

Longtime Montana political observer and participant Gary Marbut is president of the Montana Shooting Sports Association, the primary political advocate for Montana gun owners.

Gary Marbut

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Turks & Chaos: Island Jurisdiction is a Nightmare for U.S. Gun Owners

Opinion

iStock

Set aside communist Cuba for a moment. These days, another Caribbean island jurisdiction is providing a cautionary tale for U.S. gun owners. Multiple Americans face 12 years in prison in separate incidents for allegations they inadvertently possessed ammunition in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

According to reports, Richmond, Va. EMT, husband, and father Tyler Wenrich was charged with possessing ammunition in the island nation on April 23. An article from ABC Richmond affiliate WRIC stated that the ammunition was found in Wenrich’s possession as his cruise ship stopped at the British overseas territory.

The Richmond gun owner’s wife told the news outlet that her husband has a concealed carry permit and noted that “the bag the ammunition was found in may have been the same bag [her husband] uses to go to the gun range.” Addressing the potential penalties for ammunition possession in the islands, the wife said, “Just the idea that your family might not be whole anymore. It’s just really scary and heartbreaking,” adding, “All I could imagine was my son growing up without a dad.”

Describing the situation to a news outlet, Wenrich explained, “I’ve used that bag to go to the shooting range with friends and to carry my firearm in the past. So it was, you know, I checked it before I left, and it was just a complete oversight on me. TSA and, the port security, you know, three groups missed that ammunition.” CBS’s Richmond affiliate noted that it was only two rounds of ammunition that triggered the arrest.

This incident followed the arrest of Oklahoma husband and father of two Ryan Watson for ammunition possession in early April. Watson was visiting the islands for his 40th birthday when authorities discovered the ammunition at the airport.

Explaining the situation to NBC’s Boston affiliate, the gun owner explained, “They were hunting ammunition rounds that I use for whitetail deer and I recognized them and I thought, oh man, what a bonehead mistake that I had no idea that those were in there.” Watson went on to state, “There was zero criminal intent. I had never, ever intended to bring any type of ammunition into this country.”

In February, Pennsylvania father of two Bryan Hagerich was detained on the Turks and Caicos Islands when ammunition was found in his luggage during an airport search as he and his family were leaving the jurisdiction. Addressing the matter on Fox News, the Pennsylvania father said,

It’s a very strict law. They’re trying to combat violence…gun trafficking, et ceterra, which I have the utmost respect for, but when you have a law that takes essentially a one-size-fits all approach, there are unintended consequences… We’re not a threat to the island. We’re not a threat to the people. We’re good, loving human beings that simply made a mistake.

The mother of Indiana man Michael Grim, who was sentenced to eight months in prison for ammunition possession in August 2023, was less charitable. Speaking with NBC’s Boston affiliate, the mother explained that her son “did not have a gun. And, you know, there was no violence involved. And so we really did hold out hope that he would possibly get a very hefty fine… But once everything was set into motion, you know, it was a devastating experience.” According to the report, the family “spent more than $100,000 on an extended stay, bail money and attorney fees.”

Further, the family was forced to fear for Grim’s safety. The mother pointed out that the prison where her son was incarcerated “had been sanctioned by the U.N. for unsanitary conditions.”

According to a statement put out by the Turks and Caicos Islands government, since increasing the penalty for firearm and ammunition possession in 2022, the law has ensnared eight U.S. tourists.

Key to avoiding any potential problems is for traveling gun owners to always ensure they start the packing process with an empty bag. However, despite taking precautions, gun owners know that these types of possession accidents can happen. Ammunition and ammunition components are often quite small and can find their way into places they don’t belong. No one’s life should be forever altered over this type of inadvertent possession.

That’s why NRA-ILA has worked with state lawmakers in some jurisdictions to enact safe harbor provisions for travelers. These laws help to ensure that those who discover the possession of a firearm or ammunition during the airport screening process are not prosecuted under state law for illegal firearm or ammunition possession, provided they leave the secure area of an airport immediately. Such laws do not prevent potential federal penalties or, of course, prosecution by foreign governments.

The Turks and Caicos Islands’ insistence on severely punishing otherwise law-abiding American tourists for innocuous conduct is curious. The islands’ primary industry is tourism, which accounts for about 70 percent of the jurisdiction’s gross domestic product. About 82-percent of tourists who arrive to the islands by air are from the U.S. Recent NBC news polling showed that more than half of American households own firearms.

Moreover, Turks and Caicos has a host of real problems to address. Unsurprisingly, they don’t involve well-meaning visitors from the U.S.

In October 2023, The Guardian published an item titled, “Turks and Caicos engulfed by gang warfare, says Foreign Office report.” According to the outlet, an internal UK Foreign Office report “lays bare the extent to which the islands were engulfed by extreme violence… amid a turf war for control of drug trafficking routes.” The report concluded that “The scale of threat posed by serious crime has overwhelmed the capacity and capabilities of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force.”

Official corruption may also be a problem. The same article cited a report from the UK’s Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice at Sheffield Hallam University. Describing the findings, the outlet noted,

“Corruption is widely recognised across TCI’s public service system by interview participants [and] survey respondents,” it said. So endemic was the problem that islanders believed corruption was “the second most important crime concern to address on the islands after murder”.

Back in 2009, the UK government suspended the Turks and Caicos government and imposed direct rule on the islands following alleged widespread corruption.

Since September, the U.S. State Department has issued two warnings to those travelling to the Turks and Caicos Islands to take extra care to check luggage for any firearms or ammunition before travelling to the islands. Hopefully the State Department is taking additional measures to help ensure that the outstanding ammunition incidents are resolved without the further incarceration or impoverishment of the U.S. citizens involved.

U.S. gun owners may want to take the Turks and Caicos Islands’ actions into account before risking a trip to the Caribbean jurisdiction. Even U.S. gun owners confident in their ability to purge their luggage of any potential contraband may want to consider the wisdom of spending their money in a jurisdiction that would treat their countrymen in such a manner.

Read Related: SAF Travel Advisory: Avoid Turks & Caicos Islands ~ DO NOT VISIT

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About NRA-ILA:

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess, and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org

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Armed Americans Will Likely WIN in Challenge Of ATF’s Arbitrary Arm Brace Rule

Yes, the fact that pistol braces are now illegal sucks – but at least there are hundreds of options available to shooters. IMG Jim Grant

The Second Amendment Foundation has filed a reply brief with the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in its challenge of the “Final Rule” issued by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives regarding arm braces for pistols.

In 2023, SAF won, in part, a preliminary injunction in the case. Last August, in a 2-1 ruling, a Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel said the rule was “likely illegal” because the government had violated the Administrative Procedures Act by adopting the rule without meaningful opportunity for public comment.

The case is known as SAF v. ATF and was filed in February 2023. SAF is joined by Rainier Arms, LLC, and two private citizens, Samuel Walley and William Green. They are represented by attorney Chad Flores at Flores Law in Houston, Tex.

In their brief to the court, SAF and its partners maintain that the appeals court should hold the plaintiffs to have established a likelihood of success because the Final Rule changes the definition of an arm brace “using the guise of mere clarification.”

“Our challenge is part of a consolidation of four separate cases for briefing purposes, underscoring the broad and compelling opposition to the ATF’s action,” said SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut. “We have contended all along the Final Rule regulates brace-equipped pistols, which are in common use, as short-barreled rifles. This is a complete reversal of previous policy.”

“Our earlier victory in the case should have signaled to the government to back away from its rule,” SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb observed. “Instead, the government has appealed in hopes of saving this arbitrary restriction, and we’re simply asking the court to affirm its earlier ruling.”

Other cases involving gun rights organizations and a Wisconsin legal group are part of the consolidation, but the issues in each challenge differ substantially. The National Rifle Association had asked to join the litigation but was denied.

“We expect oral arguments in this case,” Kraut said, “and what remains now is to see how the Appeals Court proceeds.”

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Second Amendment Foundation

The Second Amendment Foundation (saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 720,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.

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Relief Just An Election Away as Polls Signal Trouble for Biden

With the national elections just five months away, Joe Biden and his Democrat allies on Capitol Hill could be in trouble, new polling suggests. An I Voted sticker on an IWI X95 bullpup carbine in 5.56mm with an Elcan SpectreDR 1.5-6x optic on top. IMG Jim Grant

New polls published in recent days amount to a shot across the bow for President Joe Biden and anti-gun Democrats on Capitol Hill, with strong signals of a looming defeat for the Party of Gun Prohibition.

A New York Times/Siena College/Philadelphia Inquirer poll shows Biden losing in four of five critical states the president won in 2020, with former President Donald Trump now ahead in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania. Biden is barely ahead in Michigan, and that could change between now and Election Day since the Great Lake State has a large gun owner population.

Then comes the latest Rasmussen survey, showing likely U.S. voters trust Republicans more than Democrats on several key issues. Rasmussen pollsters discovered that 51 percent of voters trust Republicans more to handle the economy, while only 39 percent trust Democrats. On immigration, 54 percent trust the GOP, while only 35 percent trust Democrats.

This comes just days after a separate Rasmussen survey revealed 53 percent of likely voters trust Republicans more than Democrats when it comes to dealing with crime and law enforcement issues. Only 35 percent trust Democrats more. According to Rasmussen, “This marks a net increase of six points in the GOP margin since February, when Republicans led Democrats by 12 points, 48% to 36%, on the crime issue.”

The earlier poll shows likely voters, by “almost a 4-to-1 margin,” think the problem of violent crime in America is getting worse (61%) than those who think things are improving (16%).

Another signal from the crime survey: A whopping 79 percent of voters say the issue of crime will be important in this year’s presidential election, including 45 percent who expect the crime issue to be “very important.”

Then comes Rasmussen’s “Right Track/Wrong Direction” survey showing only 28 percent of likely voters think the U.S. is on the right track, while 67 percent believe the country is heading in the wrong direction.

A microcosm of this situation may be found in Washington State’s gubernatorial election, where Democrat Attorney General Bob Ferguson—who has championed restrictive gun control laws including a ban on so-called “assault weapons” and “large-capacity magazines” over the past two years while being perceived as soft on crime—is facing a serious challenge by Republican Dave Reichert, a former seven-term member of Congress and before that, a no-nonsense sheriff on whose watch the notorious “Green River Killer” was captured and convicted.

Ferguson made headlines this week by playing the victim in a surreal campaign twist when two other men also named Bob Ferguson filed to run for governor as Democrats. On Monday, Ferguson held a news event during which he, and former King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, strongly hinted at criminal prosecution of the two men for violating a state law regarding candidates with the same name. Both men subsequently withdrew from the race, but Ferguson may not have scored any political points.

Back to Biden’s predicament, Fox News noted Trump is up by six points in Arizona, nine points in Georgia and 13 points in Nevada.

Under Biden, gun control has been an issue since before he was sworn into office in 2021. Second Amendment activists say Biden has “weaponized” the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to go after gun owners with restrictive regulations such as reversing decades of policy on private gun sales and on how a firearm is defined.

The Second Amendment Foundation’s repeated use of a Biden remark during a CNN Townhall almost three years ago has revealed the president’s agenda. He acknowledged trying to ban the sale of “assault weapons” and even 9mm pistols.

However, in order for all of this to translate to a change of occupancy at the White House, and a change of power on Capitol Hill, gun owners will have to vote in November. Unfortunately, gun owner apathy at election time is a traditional problem.

Between now and then, every gun owner needs to confirm his/her voter registration at their current address. Sign up for an absentee ballot if the election falls on a day you may be on a hunting trip.

No doubt with the National Rifle Association gathering in Dallas, Texas this weekend for its 153^rd annual meetings and exhibits. The event is being held in the Kay Baily Hutchison Convention Center. Trump is scheduled to speak at the event.

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About Dave Workman

Dave Workman is a senior editor at TheGunMag.com and Liberty Park Press, author of multiple books on the Right to Keep & Bear Arms, and formerly an NRA-certified firearms instructor.

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Upholding Liberty: Understanding the Connection Between 1st & 2nd Amendments ~ VIDEO

Follow Mark Smith at The Four Boxes Diner and stay up to date with breaking Second Amendment events.

In a recent address to the audience at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito emphasized the burgeoning threats to the First Amendment—our cherished right to free speech. This discourse, though focused on the First Amendment, resonates profoundly with another fundamental cornerstone of American liberty: the Second Amendment.

As an advocate for constitutional rights and a firm believer in the sanctity of the Bill of Rights, I find Justice Alito’s insights particularly alarming and a call to vigilance for all supporters of the Second Amendment. The crux of his warning lies in the growing disdain for free speech, especially in academic circles, which traditionally have been bastions of free expression.

This decline is not just an academic issue but a beacon of what could transpire with our right to bear arms if we’re not careful.

Much like its First Amendment counterpart, the Second Amendment protects individual liberties against government overreach. Historically, courts have attempted to apply various levels of scrutiny—strict, intermediate, and rational basis—to determine if the government’s need to regulate a right is justified enough to override constitutional protections. This method, however, poses a significant risk as it essentially allows courts the leeway to determine which rights can be diluted in favor of governmental interests.

Let’s break this down: if the First Amendment can be circumvented under the guise of protecting public interest, what stops the government from doing the same with the Second Amendment? The answer is nothing but our vigilance and insistence on strict adherence to constitutional texts.

Justice Alito’s speech sheds light on a critical issue: the manipulation of judicial standards like ‘tiers of scrutiny’ to potentially weaken our rights.

The recent movements against free speech are indicative of a broader trend that could affect all rights, including our right to keep and bear arms. It’s essential to recognize that any erosion of these rights, whether through judicial activism or legislative overreach, is an erosion of the very foundations of American democracy.

As Second Amendment advocates, our duty extends beyond protecting just the right to bear arms. We must uphold all constitutional rights with the utmost respect and precision. This starts with understanding the interconnectedness of these rights. The erosion of one right invariably weakens others.

Today, it is the First Amendment under siege; tomorrow, it could very well be the Second.

So what is the Take Away?

Justice Alito’s warnings are not just about the present but a foresight into what could become a broader dismantling of constitutional safeguards. As proud and informed citizens, we must stand vigilant against any efforts that undermine our rights. The battle for the Second Amendment is not just about guns—it’s about maintaining the integrity of our entire Bill of Rights. Let us heed Justice Alito’s cautionary tale and reaffirm our commitment to defending the liberties enshrined in our Constitution.

I urge you to engage, discuss, and educate others about the importance of every amendment and the role they play in safeguarding our freedoms. Remember, the strength of our rights lies in our understanding and our unwavering resolve to protect them.

Thank you to Mark Smith at The Four Boxes Diner for highlighting this concerning speech by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.

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About Tred Law

Tred Law is your everyday patriot with a deep love for this country and a no-compromise approach to the Second Amendment. He does not write articles for Ammoland every week, but when he does write, it is usually about liberals Fing with his right to keep and bear arms.

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President Ronald Reagan Gave Us The Answer For Rejecting Gun Control

Opinion
By Mark Oliva

Joe Biden IMG whitehouse-gov

President Joe Biden said it again. Given another term, he’ll do gun control.

This time, he’s grotesquely dismissive of the high price of freedom that has been paid with the lives of those who fought and died to preserve American independence. Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Bill of Rights, famously wrote “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”

President Biden told the “Smartless” podcast, according to Breitbart, that he will “make sure that we do something about gun violence in this country” should he be elected for a second term, adding, “this — the [tree of] liberty is watered with the blood of patriots, I mean, that’s a bunch of crap.”

President Biden specifically took aim at re-enacting the failed 1994 Assault Weapons Ban, that even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention admitted had no effect on crime reduction. He reiterated his disproven claims about “cannon control” and again placed himself as the pre-eminent Second Amendment authority, despite the U.S. Supreme Court clearly establishing the Second Amendment as a right of individual Americans.

It’s a mantra that would be easy to dismiss if it weren’t for all the gun control he’s already implemented by bypassing Congress and abusing his executive authority to attack the firearm industry.

Punishing Second Amendment Freedom

He targets “rogue” gun dealers, when even his own Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) officials published data showing they’re not the problem. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Volume Three of the National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment show just 0.1 percent of all federal firearms licensees were implicated in allegedly illegal firearm trafficking between 2017 and 2021.

President Biden’s Commerce Department published a punishing Interim Final Rule through the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and slapped on new firearm export restrictions that have the intent of hobbling U.S. firearm manufacturers and exporters. The administration grasped at straws to justify it for national security reasons but it also belies ATF data. The ATF’s National Firearm Commerce and Trafficking Assessment shows less than one percent of legally exported firearms are ever traced in connection with a crime taking place in a foreign country.

Recently, Everytown for Gun Safety’s President John Feinblatt boasted of his gun control organization’s collusion with the White House’s office of Gun Violence Prevention, staffed by his former employee Rob Wilcox, and the City of Chicago to bring a frivolous and harassing lawsuit against Glock. The handgun maker is renowned for their product’s reliability and Feinblatt and others are upset because Glock refuses to change their handgun designs because criminals illegally alter them by affixing auto-sears – what ATF calls “machinegun conversion devices (MCD) -that are illegal to import, make, possess and install on a firearm. A dozen Democrat state attorneys general are threatening to sue, as is Hawaii.

The goal is to overturn the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), the law that prohibits frivolous lawsuits against the firearm industry for the harm caused by remote third parties. To more easily understand that, “remote third parties” is legal-speak for criminals. Feinblatt, President Biden and the Congressional gun control cabal want to return to the days of the late 1990’s and early 2000’s when unscrupulous trial lawyers in shiny suits in concert with gun control groups paraded a series of failing lawsuits to drain firearm manufacturers of funds with claims that were never successful.

That wasn’t the point, though. Disgraced former New York Gov. Anderw Cuomo served as the Housing and Urban Development Secretary under President Bill Clinton and infamously threatened the firearm industry with “death by a thousand cuts.” The objective was to bring the industry to its knees and force through court-ordered settlements gun control measures rejected by Congress or ratchet up the cost of litigation and shutter the industry through bankruptcy. Nothing changed.

Look to Another American President

It’s time to reject this mentality. There was a time in this nation when Americans shrugged off the collective blame that society shoulders responsibility for the ills that plague us and focused instead on holding criminals accountable. Instead of listening to the 46th President of the United States, America should recall the words of the 40th President.

“We must reject the idea that every time a law’s broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker,” President Ronald Reagan said. “It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.”

President Reagan delivered those remarks to the Republican National Convention in Miami in 1968. Those words are as fitting today as they were over a half century ago.

President Biden, with the help of gun control cronies, wants to shift the blame for criminals misusing firearms to snatch that Constitutionally-protected right from every American. Together, they’re doing it through executive fiat, judicial abuse and regulatory overreach. They’ve gone so far as to create an office within The White House that is structured to do that, staffed by former gun control lobbyists.

The notion that others are to blame for an individual’s failings and crimes is as juvenile as the toddler’s “the devil made me do it” excuse. Laws are enacted to protect society. They give society the tools by which to hold individuals accountable when they don’t respect the rights of others or the consequences of their actions. When President Biden and his gun control factions talk of repealing PLCAA, enacting unconstitutional restrictions through the rulemaking process instead of working through Congress – the representatives of “We, the People,” they are abrogating their responsibility to protect the very people they’ve been entrusted to govern. They break the social contract with Americans to shift the blame for crime from the criminal to those who had no part or responsibility for that crime.

This isn’t how Americans want to be governed. Weaponizing government – including the courts to cast the blame for criminal misbehavior on an industry or the rest of society – is anything but accountability. It gives the criminal a free pass. It punishes the innocent and negates rights that belong to law-abiding Americans.

This isn’t what the Founding Fathers envisioned. Americans must not tolerate a chief executive who crassly dismisses the hard-fought liberties that have been secured by patriots with their lives. Americans must not surrender their liberties to carry the collective blame when individuals break the law. Stripping Americans of their Second Amendment rights doesn’t make the country safer. It emboldens criminals and makes citizens wards of an Orwellian government.

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About The National Shooting Sports Foundation

NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations, and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org

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Mining for Iron in Dallas: 2024 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits

Opinion

2024 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits

“As iron sharpens iron, so does one person sharpen another.” ~ Proverbs 27:17.

As I prepare to head out to Dallas for the 2024 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits, I’m thinking about the years I’ve spent banging my head against the stone wall that has been the NRA establishment and the frustration I’ve felt seeing good people shunned by the NRA Board and its “leadership” for having the temerity to question certain policies and activities within the Association.

Since my election to the NRA Board last month, I’ve noticed some shift in the way my soon-to-be fellow Board members deal with me. I don’t become an official member of the Board until the meetings in Dallas, but my election was a major milestone, and I’m ready for the difficult work to come.

The first order of business will be to convince my fellow Directors that I’m not the enemy.

Too many Directors have simply gone along with the “leadership” for all these years, believing what they told them about NRA finances and the various scandals while also believing the propaganda that anyone who questions the actions of the top brass is out to destroy the NRA, and that I personally am some sort of petulant child still fighting a decades-old feud between my father and Wayne LaPierre.

To begin with, I’m no child. I’ll turn 64 next month, and I’ve been a Life Member of the NRA for some 45 of those years. Coincidentally, the feud between Dad and Wayne was based on exactly the things that were exposed in the recent trial in New York, just not at so grand a scale. My objective is and has always been to help make the NRA stronger and more effective. Having witnessed the fights between Dad and the NRA “Old Guard” gives me a historical perspective that few share. It is my sincere hope that now that Wayne is gone and the Directors know the truth that I – we – have been telling them for years, we can set aside our personal differences and work together to restore the NRA to its rightful position as the leading organization standing for the shooting sports and gun owners everywhere.

Whether you’re a believer or not, a lot of wisdom has been accumulated and passed down through the centuries and millennia in the book we call the Bible. One of my favorite nuggets from that book is the reminder that “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” The point of this short verse, Proverbs 27:17, is that, just as grinding two blades together in a cooperative manner makes both sharper, so too does discussion, debate, and wrestling over ideas in a respectful process result in all involved coming out with a sharper understanding of the topics at hand, and each other.

Too often, we, as humans, lock into one idea or train of thought and refuse to even hear, much less actually consider, the ideas or positions of others. We seek out those who agree with us and hear only arguments that support our position, pushing away those who disagree or have other ideas. The retreat into echo chambers has become the hallmark of politics in the new millennium. It seems that everyone has chosen sides and gone into their camp, refusing to even hear the ideas, positions, or even questions of others.

It’s come to the point that if you disagree or don’t agree loudly enough, not only are you wrong, you’re evil!

That’s not how any organization, including the NRA Board of Directors, should operate. We have an obligation to our members to not only know the laws, regulations, and policies under which we are to operate but to engage in our duties with conviction and an attitude of respect for all involved. It’s our job to hear each other, hear our bosses – the members – and do everything we can to find the best course for getting where we all want to go, even if that means debating and wrestling over exactly what that “best course” might be.

Unity for the sake of unity is as futile and counterproductive as conflict and disagreement for the sake of conflict and disagreement. There are very few of my soon-to-be fellow Directors with whom I have had personal disagreements and hard feelings. I hope we can set those differences aside and avoid the bickering and back-biting to focus on the real challenges the organization now faces.

Undoubtedly, there will be disagreements and some very difficult and possibly painful decisions. Still, as long as we remember that we are all working toward shared goals, we should be able to have those discussions and debates like adults, challenging one another on the merits of our ideas and arguments, not personal feelings or past conflicts.

NRA members deserve a Board of Directors that does what it was elected to do: oversee the operation of our Association to the best of its ability, always working toward the goals that best benefit our members and fulfill the Association’s mission statement.

Over the course of decades, the NRA brass has developed a culture of fear and intolerance toward disagreement with the “leadership.” That’s a huge problem. We, as a Board, should strive to build a culture where iron sharpens iron, encouraging discussion and debate, refining ideas, and setting egos aside with a sincere desire to understand and improve each other’s ideas and positions, regardless of whose ideas and positions they might be.

With a board of 76 members, it’s easy to assume that someone else knows more about and is in control of any given situation. That’s a flawed assumption. It’s also impossible to get anything done without the support and cooperation of the majority, so we must form alliances to work together. We must avoid forming alliances based on criteria other than commitment to the Association and our members. We don’t need to agree on everything. We don’t even need to like each other. But we must be willing to work together to get the job done.

It is my honor to serve on the NRA Board. I pledge to do my best to act with a spirit of cooperation and work together with all of my fellow Directors, sharpening iron for the benefit of our members. I trust that the other Directors will, for the most part, do the same.

Read Related:

• All Four Reform Candidates Win Seats on NRA Board

• Insiders Reveal the Rot Within the NRA

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About Jeff Knox:

Jeff Knox is a second-generation political activist and director of The Firearms Coalition. His father Neal Knox led many of the early gun rights battles for your right to keep and bear arms. Read Neal Knox – The Gun Rights War.

The Firearms Coalition is a loose-knit coalition of individual Second Amendment activists, clubs and civil rights organizations. Founded by Neal Knox in 1984, the organization provides support to grassroots activists in the form of education, analysis of current issues, and with a historical perspective of the gun rights movement. The Firearms Coalition has offices in Buckeye, Arizona, and Manassas, VA. Visit: www.FirearmsCoalition.org.

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Barr for NRA President Would Prove Association Has Learned Nothing

“An honor to give the keynote address today at the Atlanta.223 – Day of Resistance Rally at the state Capitol in support of the Second Amendment. I will always lead on supporting the Constitution and gun rights.” Except when he leads on infringements. (Bob Barr/Facebook)

“Insiders Reveal the Rot Within the NRA,” John Crump reported Wednesday. “AmmoLand News has been speaking to several insiders on the condition of anonymity at the National Rifle Association (NRA) and NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) about the state of the historic gun rights organization since former Executive Vice President Wayner LaPierre and the NRA was found liable in a civil corruption case out of New York State.”

Revelations show the Herculean task facing the four recently elected “reform candidates” to bring about real changes in the way the association operates. That assumes they can recruit support from other Board members, and exert sufficient influence on senior management and staff to rein in excesses/reverse the corrupt practices instilled in decades of the Wayne LaPierre administration.

It’s been known for some time that powerhouse NRA Counsel William Brewer has long-donated to gun-grabbers, and while separating itself from his disastrous representation will be necessary for the association’s future credibility with no-compromise gun owners, one revelation in Crump’s report seems more immediately pressing and correctable:

“AmmoLand News has also been told that former Congressman Bob Barr will be the next President of the NRA. Mr. Barr is currently on the Board of Directors and is the only one that AmmoLand News knows of who has had a negligent discharge of a firearm. According to our sources at the NRA, Mr. Barr is a Brewer loyalist.”

That was anticipated when then-candidate Jeff Knox told AmmoLand readers:

“Then in a surprise move, the board elected Bob Barr to replace Willes Lee as First Vice President. Without the Bylaw change, Lee would have been expected to be elected President at that meeting.”

My reaction to reading that: “Who better than a Lautenberg Amendment fanboy?”

That’s a lifetime ban on possessing firearms for anyone convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence. And that could plunge people into “horrors stories” over “offenses” including “a wife tear[ing] her husband’s pocket during an argument [or] a daughter throw[ing] keys at her mom – and miss[ing]” — or simply pleading down to the misdemeanor charge to avoid expensive prosecution and the threat of more severe incarceration penalties.

From Gun Owners of America:

In early March, Rep. Bob Barr endorsed the concept of the Lautenberg gun ban, calling it “important and worthwhile legislation.” Barr’s comments appeared as an editorial in the March 6, 1997 issue of USA Today, where he called for only a limited repeal of the Lautenberg ban. While he opposed the retroactive part of the ban, Rep. Barr endorsed the underlying principle behind the Lautenberg gun ban, stating that, “This is important and worthwhile legislation, and we cannot allow its effectiveness to be reduced.”

Read the entire GOA article because there’s plenty more.

And then listen to Barr’s own words when he was running for president as the Libertarian Party candidate and see if you heard any repudiation or apology:

Telling the audience how he improved a bad bill hardly addressed his assertion that Lautenberg “is strong protection for women and children,” or his claim that his amending language kept it from being “declared unconstitutional.” He then goes on to support the concept of “prohibited persons.” So, the answer is, no, he wouldn’t repudiate his past support and spearhead the effort to repeal it. Instead, he preferred you to be caught in the trap and then go through a Catch-22 appeals process.

As an aside, since the LP platform on immigration is one of “come one/come all,” perhaps would-be future NRA president Barr can explain how the “pathway to citizenship” Democrats are paving into a superhighway won’t end up with leftist supermajorities and court appointments that will end up reversing Bruen and giving the gun-grabbers the keys to the kingdom.

See further related posts over at the original The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance.

If you agree this guy doesn’t belong anywhere near the presidency, tell the NRA to “Say ‘NO’ to Lautenberg Bob.”

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About David Codrea:

David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating/defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” is a regularly featured contributor to Firearms News, and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.

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Hawaii Firearms Coalition Celebrates Landmark Victory for Second Amendment Rights in Honolulu

Honolulu, HI – In a significant victory for the rights of gun owners in Hawaii, the Hawaii Firearms Coalition (HIFICO) is pleased to announce a favorable resolution in the recent litigation concerning the issuance of concealed weapon licenses in the City and County of Honolulu. This stipulated judgment and permanent injunction mark a pivotal moment in our ongoing efforts to protect and enhance Second Amendment rights in our state.

The decision brings crucial changes to the process of obtaining a License to Carry a concealed weapon, ensuring that the system is more transparent, fair, and in compliance with legal standards. This outcome not only benefits plaintiffs directly involved in the case but also sets a positive precedent for all current and future applicants in Honolulu.

Key Highlights from the Decision:

• Enhanced Clarity and Efficiency: Plaintiffs Nelson and Kama, are to complete additional training and verify their background information. Upon completion, they will be issued a License to Carry within five business days.
• Fair Processing of Applications: All applications for concealed weapon licenses submitted before February 29, 2024, be processed within 60 days, with clear communication on the approval or denial decisions. This ensures that all applicants are treated fairly and with respect to their rights under the law.
• Innovations in Application Processing: All applications received after March 1, 2024, will be considered accepted the day they were/are received. Applicants will be informed of any additional requirements in a timely manner. All applications will be processed within 120 days of acceptance. This adjustment eliminates unnecessary delays and simplifies the application process.
• Commitment to Modernization: By March 8, 2026, the County is expected to implement a fully operational online application system, which will facilitate the submission, tracking, and approval of applications. This system aims to be accessible, user-friendly, and secure, representing a significant advancement in the use of technology to support civil rights.

A Step Forward for Constitutional Rights

Today’s victory is a testament to the resilience and dedication of our members and legal team. We are proud to have been part of this action to ensure the legal rights of Hawaii’s law-abiding gun owners are respected.

We believe that these changes will not only benefit our members but also enhance the safety and security of all residents of Honolulu by ensuring that responsible citizens can exercise their rights without undue hindrance.

Continued Advocacy

Hawaii Firearms Coalition remains committed to advocating for the rights of gun owners in Hawaii and will continue to monitor the implementation of this judgment to ensure compliance and efficacy. We thank our members, supporters, and the legal team for their relentless dedication to upholding the principles of liberty and justice.

Hawaii State Map

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Oregon: Don’t Let the Corporate Lobbyist Pick You Representatives

Opinion

iStock-wildpixel

Ballots are out. If you have already voted, thanks for taking part in this election, as frustrating and pointless as it may seem.

If you have not yet voted, please don’t let your voice go unheard.

As we have noted recently, Oregon Firearms Federation’s Political Action Committee found very few candidates worth endorsing this year.

However, there are some candidates we are urging you to support if you live in their districts. These are the candidates of the people and NOT the candidates of the corporate lobbyists who buy elections to maintain the status quo and their grip on legislation.

The lobby’s main interest is ensuring the legislature continues to do its bidding uninterrupted. As a result, you can bet they will always support candidates who don’t rock the boat. But right now, Oregon’s boat is the Titanic, and it’s steaming full speed towards an iceberg.

Some of the strongest voices for our rights have been silenced by Republican “leadership’s” sellout to the Democrat bullies. Because they stood tall they cannot run for office again. But, at least in some cases, you can still vote to continue their dedication to principle, and against their paid-for opponents.

In Senate District 1 you can vote for Todd Vaughn and against David Brock Smith.

While some Senators risked their political futures by standing up and walking out, Smith sat on the Senate Floor day after day to do the bidding of the Democrats. His goal? Protect his seat and his ability to funnel taxpayer money into his own pocket. And while Smith hilariously crows about his NRA endorsement, we all know what a joke that is. His touting of an endorsement from“Oregon Gun Rights” is equally absurd.

It was the actions of people like Smith that helped the Democrats steal even more of your personal liberty.

Smith showed how out of touch he is with his constituents by twice voting to put tampons in kindergartner boy’s bathrooms and then denying it. Smith has demonstrated he is there to follow orders of the party in power and he really must go.

In Senate District 2, Senator Art Robinson stood up for your rights and helped deny quorum.

Then, of course, after Art walked out for you, ending his political tenure, the Senate Republican leader rolled over to the Democrats and gave them everything they wanted. Robinson’s sacrifice meant nothing to the inside players who run the show on both sides of the aisle. But you have a chance to keep Art’s principles and spirit fighting for you in Salem by voting for his son Noah Robinson who has been working with Art daily at the legislature and shares his passion, commitment, and values.

Noah’s Republican opponent is Christine Goodwin who saw the principled actions of Robinson as the perfect chance to move up from the House to the Senate. Goodwin, you will recall, was the lucky recipient of an “endorsement” from a “pro-gun” organization created solely to give her the appearance of gun owner’s support.

That “organization” consists of two people; the former Senate Republican “leader’s” son and a staffer for House Rep and sell-out former Republican “leader” Vikki Iverson!?

Now it what can only be seen as a total desperation, Goodwin is texting this bizarre ad of herself [endorsing Donald Trump]. We are sure Donald is thrilled at this endorsement and no doubt it will take his race for president over the top…

Senate District 28 is also losing one of the most dedicated defenders of gun rights because of his dedication to protecting them.

Senator Dennis Linthicum has also been stripped of his ability to seek his seat again, and voters in his district have been robbed of their right to vote for the candidate of their choice. But Dennis’s wife, Diane Linthicum, has filed to run, and that means voters can turn the tables on the Democrats and elect a person of integrity who will continue to stand up for the principles Dennis has fought for. We believe Diane will continue to take the tough stands for your rights. We cannot say that about her opponent.

House District 51

And, of course, no contest is more a race between the people and the lobby than the election in House District 51, where lobby darling and establishment suck-up Christine Drazan is trying to “regain” “her” seat from incumbent Republican James Hieb.

Hieb is certainly not an establishment stooge. If Drazan manages to buy her way back into that seat the damage she is capable of is incalculable. Please support Hieb if you live in the 51st District in Clackamas County.

The lobby, and their money, have made their picks. We urge you to vote for the people who care more about you than lobby money.

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About Oregon Firearms Federation:

The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no-compromise lobbying group; OFF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights, and, when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

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