2A News: April 1, 2016 Newsletter by Jeff Pittman
Fairy tales
The NRA partnered with an author to clean up some of Grimm’s fairy tales so that they now have happy endings. Now the anti-gunners are losing their minds over story changes such as Hansel and Gretel rescuing two kids from the witch and having the witch captured by the sheriff, instead of Hansel and Gretel being left in the woods to starve to death because the parents can’t afford to feed them.
I said they were antigunners. I didn’t say they weren’t psychotic.
Litigation
Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the US District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands has declared the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands’ (CNMI) ban on handguns and ammunition to be unconstitutional under the Second Amendment. Manglona said the implied prohibition on issuing weapons identification cards (WIC) for self-defense, or “family defense” as stated on the WIC application, is declared unconstitutional and in violation of the Covenant that incorporated the Second Amendment. My understanding is this is (was) the last outright gun ban in the US.
CNMI is governed under “a Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America,” making several provisions of the US Constitution applicable to the Commonwealth through that Covenant, including the Second Amendment, according to the court.
The court found that:
- The import ban on handguns and handgun ammunition is unconstitutional,
- Refusing to use “family defense” or “self-defense” as a valid reason for issuing a Weapons Identification Card” (WIC), required for purchasing a firearm, is unconstitutional.
- Refusing to issue a WIC to a lawful permanent resident is unconstitutional;
- A WIC will be issued to the plaintiffs, if they meet the other requirements, within 30 days;
- Costs and fees will be awarded to the plaintiffs;
- Any response by the defendants shall be filed by April 18.
http://14544-presscdn-0-64.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/60-160328-Radich-Order-Granting-MSJ.pdf
Meanwhile the Marianas Senate passed a gun control bill this week but the House of Representatives did not act on it. The Marianas government and other minions consider the bill urgent following the federal court’s ruling on Monday that the CNMI ban on handguns is unconstitutional. I guess it’s urgent to restrict peoples’ rights as soon as they become free to exercise them.
Legislation
US Rep. Frank Guinta (R-NH) plans to introduce legislation which would expand 18 U.S.C. 922(b)(3), which currently allows interstate purchase of long guns from another state, to apply to both handguns and long guns purchased from a dealer in another state.
MS Legislation Update
Next deadline: April 14 for concurrence in amendments from other chamber.
You can view bills at http://www.legislature.ms.gov/Pages/default.aspx under “Legislation.”
SALES, RECORDS, SUPPRESSORS
SB 2313
Sen. Tindell
PASSED SENATE
PASSED HOUSE – sent to Governor; due back 4/6
Removes state silencer registration requirement from state law.
SB 2515
Sen. Hill
PASSED SENATE
AMENDED VERSION PASSED HOUSE – goes to concurrence/conference
Exempts the records of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks relating to applications for and holders of hunting licenses from the provisions of the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983. Records shall be released only upon proper court order or to law enforcement upon request.
RANGES
HB 1300
Reps. Hood, Crawford
AMENDED VERSION PASSED HOUSE
AMENDED VERSION PASSED SENATE
HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE CONCURRED – goes to Governor
Cleans up and adds some protections for sport shooting ranges, but also includes provision allowing the government to close private ranges due to “incompatibility with nearby population or land use.”
CARRY, PLACES, RESTRICTIONS
HB 786 – AMENDED
Reps. Representatives Gipson, Morgan, Mettetal, Beckett, Rogers (61st), Tullos, Oliver, Baker, Kinkade, Hale, Rushing, Formby, Chism, Miles, Bain, Mims, Criswell, Willis, Currie, Boyd, Bomgar, Hopkins, Weathersby, Moore, Shirley, Arnold, Staples, Monsour, Barnett, Crawford, Dixon
PASSED HOUSE
AMENDED VERSION PASSED SENATE – goes to concurrence/conference
Allows churches to authorize armed “security” church members & offers a defense of statutory immunity to churches and those members from related civil liability if such designated members are enhanced permit qualified, and an additional defense (with burden on the accused member and NOT an exemption or immunity) to those members against criminal prosecution.
Note that it’s already legal to CCW at a church with the enhanced permit or to open carry without a permit, and the bill does not speak to those actions outside of the new security teams, so I think the practical effect of this part of the bill is very minimal, and of no consequence at all for CCW with the enhanced permit. The liability limitation for churches and team members is new. Also, it seems that this bill may allow the “authorized” members to CCW at church with no permit or non-enhanced qualified (if they want to give up the civil immunity). It is my understanding that this church language would only apply to church “members” (and presumably staff/leadership) and NOT to hired private security guards or companies, who may still be able to carry under the separate security guard licensing in the law.
HOLSTER CARRYÂ — This bill also now includes the open carry language (not related to churches) from HB 1352, that “No license shall be required under this section for a loaded or unloaded pistol or revolver carried upon the person in a sheath, belt holster or shoulder holster…” (”…or carried in a purse, handbag, satchel, other similar bag or briefcase or fully enclosed case”).
BUT, the Senate committee added a prohibition of this unlicensed open carry in any of the same listed places in which you cannot CCW with the standard permit (including places posted with signs, as I read it). THIS SECTION WOULD SEEM TO CONTRADICT THE CURRENT OPEN CARRY LAW, FOR GUNS OPENLY CARRIED (not hidden in a bag, etc.).
The current law reads:
“(24) No license shall be required under this section for a loaded or unloaded pistol or revolver carried in a purse, handbag, satchel, other similar bag or briefcase or fully enclosed case.”
From the Senate amendment:
“A [concealed carry] license under this section [ 45-9-101] is not required for a loaded or unloaded pistol or revolver to be carried upon the person in a SHEATH, BELT HOLSTER OR SHOULDER HOLSTER or in a purse, handbag, satchel, other similar bag or briefcase OR FULLY ENCLOSED CASE if the person is not engaged in criminal activity other than a misdemeanor traffic offense, is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a pistol or revolver under state or federal law, AND IS NOT IN A LOCATION PROHIBITED UNDER SUBSECTION (13) OF THIS SECTION.”
From the current open carry statute (97-37-1):
“(4) For the purposes of this section, ‘concealed’ means hidden or obscured from common observation and SHALL NOT include any weapon listed in subsection (1) of this section, including, but not limited to, a loaded or unloaded pistol carried upon the person in a SHEATH, BELT HOLSTER OR SHOULDER HOLSTER that is wholly or partially visible, or carried upon the person in a SCABBARD OR CASE for carrying the weapon that is wholly or partially visible.”
The amendment also included language from House Bill 782, prohibiting state enforcement of unconstitutional federal gun control measures issued by rule, regulation, agency order, or executive order.
Here’s another posting of this information by attorney Reed Martz.
Commentary — “Guns in Church in Mississippi”
The Unarmed Forces
We have word that video of on-duty military personnel at Penn Central Station in NYC after the Brussels bombings apparently shows UNARMED NY ARNG guardsmen teams “patrolling.” Maybe the purpose is to provide the terrorists with more targets than they have bullets/bombs for? If they can stop laughing long enough to shoot at us, that is.
More military
The Army is adding 6′ of barrel length to its M-777 howitzer, to obtain a range of 43 miles — over double the current 18 miles. Upgrades also include an Orbital ATK contract modification to make kits that turn conventional 155mm artillery into a near-precision shell by the use of “smart” guidance fuzes, allowing the use of artillery in congested areas or near friendly forces.
Meanwhile, the Marine Corps Times reports the USMC is phasing out the OTIS soft cleaning kits to go back to the three-rod cleaning kits originally issued with the M16A1 rifles, because the soft kit didn’t clean as well and was unable to clear stuck-case malfunctions.
Enemies
Pope Francis, the feckless head of the Catholic church and former bar bouncer, has condemned legitimate gun manufacturers and dealers as being responsible for the Islamic terrorist bombings in Brussels last week. He is wrong, and I suspect he knows it. Not much of a Christian example, that one.
Comcast, the nation’s largest cable TV company and likely already the most hated company in the US, formally decided last month to ban ads for guns and ammo. Comcast joins fellow “Pravda” media companies Time Warner Cable (the nation’s second largest cable TV provider), Cox Communications, (third largest), and all the major TV networks (including Fox) in their firearms/ammo ad ban.
We also have a report that the Nissan plant in Canton, MS claims that guns are “not allowed in the parking lot” because the plant is a federally designated foreign trade zone. This may conflict with state law, and the missive I received also claimed that the local sheriff would enforce this “federal” ban. I smell fish.
The Library of Congress has announced that it will use the terms “unauthorized immigration” and “noncitizen” to replace terms like “illegal aliens” in its bibliographical records.
The Only Ones
- Officers Stephen Green and Joseph Tyer of the Atlanta Police Department got into an argument about who would beat each other in a foot race, when Tyer reportedly told Green, “I’m going to punch you in the face,” and pulled out his gun. Other officers intervened. Green has remained on administrative leave while Tyer resigned on Mar. 22.
- An unidentified former Chicago police officer who later joined a police force in the northern suburbs has been linked to a gun used in the shooting of three Chicago police officers last week. That officer was fired from his job with the Lake County sheriff’s department last Friday after being placed on leave two days earlier, for undisclosed reasons. He says he didn’t even know his gun was missing.
- An apparently intoxicated FBI employee, James Doyle, is facing charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, being a licensee carrying a firearm while intoxicated, and disorderly conduct after he allegedly pointed a gun at a woman’s head inside a Boston area restaurant. Our report does not state that the “employee” is a sworn law enforcement agent.
Man charged with felony after mistakenly checking wrong box on gun purchase form
Presidential felons
Earlier this week, President Obama commuted the sentences of 12 felons convicted of firearms offenses. But he wants you to be a felon just for owning a firearm.
Record shot
On November 22nd, Jim Spinella hit a 36″ plate at 4210 yards (2.4 miles) with a HCR .375 CheyTac.
Tannerite. If you’re stupid, it will do more than put your eye out. One wonders how he got to be 32 years old.
Well let’s just pee all over ourselves, shall we?
Some students at Emory University in Atlanta say they were frightened and “in pain” after someone apparently much smarter than them wrote “Trump 2016” in chalk around campus. The Chicken Littles claimed their “safe space” was violated when the “hate” messages showed up on sidewalks and buildings. One “student” even said she “feared for her life” because she thought a “KKK rally” was going on, while others were scared a mass shooting was going to take place and wouldn’t walk alone. (Seems to me that walking alone in itself would prevent mass anything…)
Jim Wagner, so-called president of the so-called university, up an investigation into whoever chalked the messages, and offered counseling to the poor babies who were intimidated.
What is the standard for entry into Emory? Being able to cry? Frankly, I miss the days when they would be given something to cry about.
Meanwhile over at the University of North Dakota, Assistant Professor Heidi Czerwiec says she is going to call 911 to report every time the UND ROTC cadets exercise on the quad. Here’s your pee bag, ma’am.
Happy Birthday
- The M1911 pistol turned 105 this week (anniversary of Army adoption).
- The Thompson submachine gun turns 100 this year.
Unhappy Anniversary
35 years ago this week, John Hinckley shot President Reagan, press secretary James Brady, Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy and police officer Thomas Delahanty outside a Washington, D.C., hotel, sparking creation of the “Brady Bunch.”
Today, Hinckley, acquitted by reason of insanity, lives at his mother’s estate in a luxurious 2900-acre community astride the 13th hole of a PGA championship golf course, complete with a picturesque view of a tranquil lake. The community features million-dollar mansions, three championship golf courses, a marina, recreation centers with outdoor pools and tennis, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and jet skiing. And an insane murderous psychopath released by our justice system precisely because he is insane.
Reloading technical
If you load for a .280 Ackley Improved rifle, you might want to read Lane Pearce’s article in the May 2016 Shooting Times magazine, concerning dies and shellholders.
Products
- Packin’ Neat purse carry inserts
- Henry’s new rifle, the Long Ranger, is a detachable-box magazine fed lever rifle, similar to the Browning BLR, chambered in .223, .243 or .308. Aluminum receiver. 7 lbs. $1015.
- American Rifle Company has some interesting scope rings.
- Lyman’s Auto-Advance Remote Controlled Target System permits shooters to scroll to a new target using a hand-held remote from up to 200 yards away. It comes with a 50 ft. roll of standard bullseye targets, and additional 50 ft. target rolls are available with bullseye, animal and silhouette designs. $230. Additional target rolls are $20 each.
- Ladies’ holsters
- Gun Goddess
- Fancy Pants Holsters
- Soteria Leather
- The Swan Holster by MTR Custom Leather
Quotes of the Week
“Left-wing liberals can’t pass any common-sense gun laws because they aren’t proposing any.” — Alan Korwin
“If the representatives of the people betray their constituents, there is then no recourse left but in the exertion of that original right of self defense which is paramount to all positive forms of government.” — Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist (#28)
