The US Supreme Court considered nearly a dozen different Second Amendment-related cases in conference last week, but has not yet accepted or dismissed any of the cases. Instead, the Court carried all of them over, so they will again be heard in conference in May. The Court is now hearing arguments by phone.
GOA sues ATF over revocation of NICS purchase exemption for Alabama CCW permit holders.
More on the Mississippi Wildlife Federation’s lawsuit against the state.
US District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock took Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker’s attorneys to task for offering “concerted silence” about why the state closed gun stores during the COVID-19 outbreak while allowing liquor stores and other retailers without constitutional underpinnings to remain open. Good question. Defending Baker, MA Assistant Attorney General Julia Kobick said she didn’t know why. Judge Woodlock issued an injunction allowing gun stores to remain open.
NRA “leadership”
It appears that there will be a bitter fight between the current leaders and Board members at NRA and those dedicated members who are tired of their brand of leadership. One commenter opined that EVP Wayne LaPierre “is hanging on for dear life and won’t let go because he can’t. He needs to be the one controlling the lawyers for reasons more than just monetary, making him cornered, desperate, and as we saw with the unceremonious ouster of Chris Cox, dangerous to anyone in the inner circle getting ideas.”
Enemies
Apple, Google block Gunbroker App.
Wells Fargo dumps NRA, funds anti-gun research.
Virus
Facing meat shortages, some Americans turn to hunting during pandemic.
US Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith goes to bat for the Second Amendment.
Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the Illinois Department of Corrections has prematurely released some 4,000 inmates, many of which are not just “non-violent” offenders. The list includes convictions for murder, child rape, kidnapping, child molesting, kiddie porn, home invasion, rapes, arson of an occupied dwelling, and lots of “armed habitual criminals.” Included are 403 Class X offenders; literally the worst of the worst. I guess they have to keep those Chicago murder numbers up.
Sales still up
The April 2020 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,678,223 is an increase of 69.1% compared to last April’s 992,642. For comparison, the unadjusted April 2020 FBI NICS figure of 2,878,176 reflects a 24.9% increase from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 2,305,136 in April 2019.
DGU stats
Mr. Budweiser reminded me of the Heritage Foundation’s new DGU database. I don’t know how valid it is.
Rationalizing defensive guns
Your probability of being a victim of violent crime is about three times that of the odds of injury from a motor vehicle accident. You take safety precautions and wear your seatbelt, don’t you?
Michael Janich on knife fighting
Training
John Farnam has made several of his operator videos available online. BIG files and slow to stream or download on my connection. Thanks, John.
Making fiber optic sights brighter
Products
Remington’s new R2MI is a left-hand operated, right-hand eject bolt-action rifle in .50 BMG with a 10-round box magazine. $4600.
Springfield Armory is now chambering its SAINT Victor Pistol in .308 Winchester. $1363. That’s kind of a thumpin’ truck gun.
CZ-USA now offers their Redhead Premier Over-and-Under in 16 gauge, with auto ejectors, a single selectable trigger, and 28-inch barrels with fixed (why?) IC/MOD chokes. 8 lbs., $988.
Winchester has expanded its AA shotshell line with the new AA Diamond Grade, which features all the AA shotshell benefits and new precision sorted, copper-plated, 8% antimony Diamond Grade shot. That’s four times the antimony of standard target loads, resulting in the hardest copper-plated shot available to target shooters, designed to deliver more round pellets with higher energy retention downrange for dense, consistent, hard-hitting patterns. Available in 12 ga., 1 or 1-1/8 oz. loads of #7.5 shot at 2 different velocities each.
Diamondback Firearms has introduced the DBX 5.7, a one-of-a-kind semi-auto pistol chambered in 5.7x28mm with an 8″ barrel sporting a DBX muzzle device. It has a standard AR-15 mil-spec trigger and a Magpul MOE-K grip. The frame is anodized 7075 aluminum and the handguard is 6061 aluminum. It comes with a Magpul Handstop kit, 20-round magazine, and a rear Picatinny mounted, side-folding brace. The OAL is 25.4″ with the brace and 16.1″ without it. 3 lbs. unloaded without the brace.
