Litigation
Nutball US District judge Marcia S. Kreiger has ruled in favor of Colorado’s new gun-control laws that mandated background checks for all gun sales and limited the capacity of ammunition magazines to no more than 15 rounds, saying that the Second Amendment doesn’t protect your right to use your choice of firearm for self protection, because, according to the court, while Colorado’s gun-control laws do burden an individual’s Second Amendment right to acquire and use firearms that are both widespread and commonly used for self and home defense, the burden is not “severe.”
But the Second Amendment doesn’t say, “shall not be severely infringed.”
This one will be appealed.
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Justice William Murray Jr., writing for the California Court of Appeal this week, said that a California law making it a felony to possess a shotgun with a barrel shorter than 26″ does not violate the Second Amendment or the Equal Protection Clause, either on its face or as applied to a person who possesses the weapon at home with the sole intent to use it for self-defense.
Murray rejected the defense contention that there is a fundamental right under the Second Amendment to possess a shotgun of any length, at home, for self-defense.
He distinguished District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) 554 U.S. 570 and McDonald v. City of Chicago (2010) 130 S.Ct. 3020, finding that there is a fundamental, individual constitutional right to bear arms, including the possession of a handgun in one’s home. But apparently he didn’t apply those cases to this decision. He also apparently didn’t review the Miller case.
The case is People v. Brown, 14 S.O.S. 3220.
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Legislation
Federal
Anti-gun bill HR 4783
http://www.nraila.org/legislation/federal-legislation/2014/6/ask-your-us-rep-to-oppose-wide-ranging-gun-control-bill-hr-4783.aspx
Pro-gun bill HR 2959
http://www.nraila.org/legislation/federal-legislation/2014/5/ask-your-us-representative-to-cosponsor-and-support-hr-2959-the-right-to-carry-reciprocity-act-of-2013.aspx
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Mississippi
Mississippi House Bill 314 became effective July 1. It provides that any state official or employee or any county or municipality may not interfere with citizens’ right to possess firearms and provides a procedure involving the state attorney general to remedy violations of the prohibition by counties or municipalities (but not state agencies or officials).
http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2014/pdf/HB/0300-0399/HB0314SG.pdf
Mississippi Carry, Inc., based in Hernando, MS, says it has/will present a total of twenty-seven (27) complaints to the Mississippi Attorney General’s office concerning county and municipal signs and ordinances which violate state preemption statutes. MCI’s attorney Reed Martz says “we expect the counties and cities to immediately take steps to amend, remove, or rescind the offending signs and ordinances upon notice of their illegality,” and Mike Stuart, Director of Mississippi Carry said, “We expect to start seeing responses before August 1st and most likely many on the list will make changes as soon as they know they are in violation.”
I’m not as optimistic. But we understand that the DeSoto County sheriff and Southaven police department have been removing their illicit gun ban signs. But they still run metal detectors at board meetings, just so they know who’s armed.
Here’s the list local municipalities and counties which MCI has filed complaints against:
City of Biloxi Civic Center & Public Library
DeSoto County
City of Diamondhead
City of Ellisville
Hancock County
Harrison County Sand Beach Authority
Harrison County
Hinds County Chancery Courthouse
Hinds County Circuit Courthouse
Itawamba County Courthouse
Jasper County
Lafayette County
Lee County Justice Center
Marshall County Courthouse
Madison County
Monroe County Courthouse
Oxford City Parks
Oxford RSVP
Panola County
Rankin County
Richland Community Center
Southaven Arena
Sturgis
City of Vardaman
Warren County Courthouse
Water Valley Library and City Hall
Waynesboro Courthouse
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MS CCW license updates
The Mississippi DPS has posted the following on its website:
URGENT: CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS There has been a departmental policy change regarding the recertification of certified instructors. If you (1) hold a VALID Mississippi firearms permit, (2) hold a permit with any state that MS has a reciprocal agreement with, or (3) are a full time certified law enforcement officer actively working, you will no longer have to recertify with this office. Although you will not have to be fingerprinted for a background check, it will be your responsibility to keep your instructor certificate up to date and on file with us.
URGENT: Enhanced endorsements are now valid indefinitely instead of 5yrs. The permit itself will still have to be renewed every 5 years.
Also, Rick Ward reports that due to DPS’ misinterpretation of flawed language in HB 764 (which only added the words “and disabled veterans” to the list of people exempt from permit fees), now EVERYONE must sign a waiver giving the department access to and permission to investigate your “past record and character, whether it be military, medical, judicial or personal reference…”
http://www.dps.state.ms.us/wp-content/uploads/Individual-Firearms-Permit-Application-Package.pdf
http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2014/pdf/HB/0700-0799/HB0764SG.pdf
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Tennessee
Effective July 1, carrying a loaded defensive firearm without a permit in a vehicle is legal in Tennessee, as it already reportedly was in every contiguous state except Alabama.
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Advice on courtroom safety, from John Farnam
http://defense-training.com/dti/courtroom-safety/
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Enemies
We have a report that according to Google Support’s “Dangerous Products or Services” page, the company “[wants] to keep people safe both online and offline, so [they] won’t allow the promotion of some products or services that cause damage, harm, or injury.”
Included in the dangerous products for which ads will be blocked beginning in September are “Guns & Parts.” This covers “functional devices that appear to discharge a projectile at high velocity, whether for sport, self-defense, or combat.”
Also included is a ban on ads for “any part or component that’s necessary to the function of a gun or intended for attachment to a gun.” This covers “gun scopes, ammunition, ammunition clips or belts.”
The ban will also halt ads for “dangerous knives… throwing stars, brass knuckles, [and] crossbows,” among other things.
Or maybe it won’t. My understanding is that this is not new and is just a small part of a larger policy that affects only Google AdWords text advertising, and AdWords has had policies against advertising firearms, ammunition, and accessories for quite a while. This reportedly will not affect Google search results and you’re not likely to notice any difference at all.
But Google is still anti-gun.
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A Mr. Frank DiGirolamo of Point Pleasant, NJ, thinks all homes containing guns should be posted with signs indicating that fact.
Well here’s your sign to post at your house, Frank, but it says you’re a fool.
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Brady Bunch is caught lying. Again.
http://gunssavelives.net/blog/politifact-catches-brady-campaign-lying-about-child-gun-death-numbers/
So is Bloomberg:
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/06/26/Bloomberg-s-Gun-Group-Claims-100-Children-Accidentally-Killed-Since-Newtown-CDC-Says-No
And Everytown for Gun Safety’s president John Feinblatt says they don’t want to take your guns, but at the same time want to keep guns “out of the hands of dangerous people” (which means you). Everytown is the merger of the groups formerly known as Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action.
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The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence is attacking VISA for offering affinity VISA cards through NRA to NRA members, with a portion of purchase proceeds benefiting the NRA.
Oh, and the CSGV also says it’s not anti-gun. So I guess we caught them lying too:
https://www.facebook.com/CoalitiontoStopGunViolence/photos/a.149713771722863.24741.147886928572214/877210038973229/?type=1
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Meanwhile, an “interrupter” (one who’s supposed to stop violence) for Chicago’s CeaseFire gun ban group program has been arrested on 36 counts of sexually assaulting and kidnapping a teenage girl while he worked for the CeaseFire program.
The man, Richard Hernandez, is reportedly just one of at least nine employees of the gun ban group to face serious criminal charges in recent years. Others include former CeaseFire Illinois Director Tio Hardman, who was charged with domestic violence, CeaseFire worker Sylvester Hudson, who was charged last year with selling heroin to a federal informant outside CeaseFire’s headquarters at UIC, another CeaseFire employee was sentenced to Cook County boot camp in 2011 for illegal possession of a machine gun. Our report also states that just since 2010, five other CeaseFire employees have been sentenced to federal prison and a sixth was sentenced to probation, in drug cases.
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Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities, rates organizations from one to four stars, with four being the highest rating possible. Charity Navigator has now stripped their ratings of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and other animal rights groups and replaced them with a “Donor Advisory” warning.
A “Donor Advisory” means that “serious concerns have been raised about this charity which prevents the issuance of a star rating.” So they don’t even rate one star.
This happened after Feld Entertainment, Inc., operator of the Ringling Brothers Circus, recovered $15.75 million in attorney fees from HSUS and their co-defendants who include Born Free USA/Animal Protection Institute, Fund for Animals, Animal Welfare Institute, and the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Each of the co-defendants except for ASPCA also had its rating revoked.
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Statement excerpt from Target stores interim CEO, John Mulligan:
“Our approach has always been to follow local laws, and of course, we will continue to do so. But starting today we will also respectfully request that guests not bring firearms to Target – even in communities where it is permitted by law.
We’ve listened carefully to the nuances of this debate and respect the protected rights of everyone involved. In return, we are asking for help in fulfilling our goal to create an atmosphere that is safe and inviting for our guests and team members.
This is a complicated issue, but it boils down to a simple belief: Bringing firearms to Target creates an environment that is at odds with the family-friendly shopping and work experience we strive to create.”
Another Target spokesperson “clarified” that “It is not a ban. There is no prohibition,” and that no signs will be posted.
Apparently this “request” applies to discretely concealed firearms as well as to openly carried ones. I simply no longer go to Target, period. And now your employees and customers are sitting ducks. Good job.
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UN
We have a report that recently the United Nations began advertising open positions for “Disarmament Officers” and the duty station listed is “New York.”
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Friends
Shooters Grill in Rifle, CO – where staff and patrons are armed. Owner Lauren Boebert says, “We called it Shooters and started throwing guns and Jesus all over the place.”
http://www.postindependent.com/news/11970006-113/shooters-rifle-guns-carry
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Blonde 19-year-old Texas Tech cheerleader Kendall Jones is a big game huntress. And she’s taking heat from the left wingnuts for her African safaris.
https://www.facebook.com/kendalltakeswild/timeline
http://dailycaller.com/2014/07/01/texas-tech-cheerleader-shoots-big-game-in-africa-photos/
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Dis-armed Forces
Air Force Instruction 31-117:
“Senior military and civilian officials may not bear government-owned firearms for personal protection within the United States.”
“When a stupid man is doing something he is ashamed of, he always declares it his ‘duty.'” – Apollodorus (Played by Stuart Granger) in the 1945 feature film, “Caesar and Cleopatra”
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MS election
After incumbent US Representative Thad Cochran (R-MS) narrowly won the Republican primary runoff election only by garnering Democrat and minority crossover voters and supported by gun-banner Michael Bloomberg, the news this week is that those voters say Thad owes them. They want him to vote with the liberals on issues such as government giveaway programs. Time will tell if this purchased election will also cost us more gun control votes.
In fact, Cochran already sent out a message this week announcing the funding of a new Coast Guard cutter to be built at Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, MS. Cochran is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations committee which approved the funding, meaning Cochran is probably making nice with Democratic anti-gun committee members such as Patrick Leahy, Dianne Feinstein, Mary Landrieu and Richard Durbin.
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The future
More than two-thirds of America’s youth would fail to qualify for military service because of physical, behavioral or educational shortcomings, which include obesity, lack of a high-school diploma, felony convictions, prescription-drug use for ADHD, and being foolish enough to fail military appearance standards due to piercings and tattoos.
But they can vote. I suggest that the voting qualification criteria are far too lax.
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A place to shoot
MS – The Lafayette County, MS Planning Commission has approved a preliminary site plan for a $1.8 million shooting range to be built by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks near the F.D. “Buddy East” Training Complex outside of Oxford. Plans include a shooting range on 300 acres with classrooms, skeet shooting, pistol ranges, rifle ranges, 5-stand and an archery range.
LA – The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has announced that construction on the handgun range at the Sherburne WMA has been completed and the range is now open. Both shotgun ranges and archery ranges are also open. Only handguns and .22 rimfire rifles may be used on the handgun range. The rifle range will remain closed until July 31, 2014 due to the second phase of the construction project which involves installation of baffles on the range. Sherburne WMA is located within the Morganza Floodway portion of the Atchafalaya Basin, between the Atchafalaya River and the East Protection Levee, in Pointe Coupee, St. Martin and Iberville parishes. The WMA is accessible from US Hwy. 190 and I-10.
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MS Training
The Southwest Gun Club in McComb is offering NRA Basic Pistol and MS Enhanced CCW license & LA CCW license training on August 23 & October 25. $65.
NRA Women On Target will be offered Nov. 8.
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Selling guns?
We have a heads-up that a common method used by ATF to establish that an unlicensed vendor is not simply selling firearms from his own collection is to have one informant sell him a firearm, then have a second informant purchase it at the same event.
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Products
Taurus has patented a curved, contoured handgun intended to better conform you your body shape while worn.
We have word that SIG Sauer will be producing all of its guns in the USA by next year. We don’t know if that means ALL of its guns, or just all of its US market guns.
Cartridge-related jewelry, etc.
Lipsey’s has a new exclusive Ruger Single Seven .327 Federal Magnum revolvers with seven shot unfluted cylinders, stainless steel construction, fully adjustable sights, slim wood grips and the choice of 4-5/8″, 5-1/2″ and 7-1/2″ barrel lengths. I understand it’s built on the Single Six size frame.
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“If you don’t support the Second Amendment, what else in the Constitution don’t you support? And I use that as a litmus test, as a guide, to how much someone really respects the Constitution. If they don’t respect the Second Amendment, as far as I’m concerned, they don’t respect the Constitution anywhere else.” – Paul Chauvin