Ayoob leads SAF

Internationally-known firearms author and trainer Massad Ayoob has been named president of the Second Amendment Foundation, succeeding the late Joseph Tartaro. The SAF is an outstanding organization very deserving of our support.

Election

Just a reminder that Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, among many other anti-gun actions, actually signed on to an amicus curiae brief in the U.S. Supreme Court case District of Columbia v. Heller, in which she argued that a complete ban of law-abiding, sane, adult U.S. citizens owning and possessing handguns in their own home was constitutional. At the same time, Harris admitted that she herself is a long-time owner of defensive handguns.

FWIW, I don’t like Mr. Trump at all, but I am very happy with his judicial appointments, which is my sole criterion when voting for a president.

SCOTUS

President Trump’s SCOTUS nominee, 7th Circuit Judge Amy Coney Barrett is reportedly not only an outstanding human being, but an outstanding lawyer and judge. She appears very perceptive on Second Amendment issues, for instance:

• She correctly concluded that a blanket ban on owning firearms by nonviolent felons is unconstitutional (Kanter v. Barr, 919 F.3d 437 (7th Cir. 2019)), and she held that mere possession of a gun does not give police the right to stop and investigate someone for potential wrongdoing, since exercising one’s Second Amendment right to possess a firearm is not a crime (United States v. Watson, 900 F.3d 892 (7th Cir. 2018)).

Regarding that nonviolent felon ban, do you know how broad that the definition of nonviolent felonies is? In Michigan for example, it includes people convicted of redeeming large quantities of out-of-state bottle deposits.

Judge Barrett’s confirmation hearings begin Oct. 12. Republicans say the votes are there.

• I taught and worked with Amy Coney Barrett. Here’s what people get wrong about her faith.
• Law Professor: Amy Coney Barrett Mentored the First Blind Female Supreme Court Clerk in U.S. History
• Supreme Court Nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett A Jurist For All Rights
• Barrett Signaled Willingness to Go Farther on Guns Than Scalia
• Trump’s Short, Short SCOTUS List

Litigation

Pennsylvania Superior Court Prothonotary (court clerk) Joseph D. Seletyn reported that a three-judge panel ruled last week that the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) of 2005 violates the 10th Amendment, which states that all powers not specifically delegated to the federal government are the responsibility of states. The PLCAA provides immunity for gun companies for harm caused by others who “criminally or unlawfully misuse firearm products or ammunition products that function as designed and intended.” Seletyn said the court found the PLCAA unconstitutional in its entirety and rejected the defense of the law as part of the federal government’s power to govern interstate commerce. A gun being sold across state lines at some point “does not give Congress perpetual authority to regulate any harm it may cause,” he wrote.

He does have a point there. A gun being sold across state lines at some point does not give Congress perpetual authority to regulate anything about it, except perhaps that one instance of interstate sale. Shall we actually adhere to the 10th Amendment?

News Roundup

• Texas church defender officially exonerated
• CBD oil and gun possession
• Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network Attorney Question of the Month

For the ladies

• CCW skirt

Enemies

• Prevaricating pope

Friends

• Larry Gatlin is NRA Country

God Bless Texas

Department of Idiocy

Actual headline: “Minneapolis City Council alarmed by surge in crime months after voting to defund the police.”  Well, duh.  This is now officially known as the “Minneapolis effect.”

A 4th-grader in Louisiana was suspended for 6 days for having a BB gun in his own bedroom in his own home that was visible on his computer video during school hours. The school is Woodmere Elementary in Jefferson Parish. People who abuse children should be locked up for a very long time.

“The party is me. Right now, I am the Democratic Party. I am the Democratic Party right now.” — Joe Biden

So the Democratic Party is a ______ (fill in the blank).

The Only Ones

An unidentified Los Angeles Police Department officer suffered minor injuries during an altercation in a police station with a man who wrestled away the officer’s gun, fired it and then ran when another officer shot at him without result.

Rare Snake Found

• Rare striped copperhead snake found in MS

Shot Record

• 2,010-yard “handgun” shot

Industry News

Bankrupt Remington is being split up and sold off in pieces. Remington was run into the ground by its Wall Street investors (Cerberus Capital Management) who don’t know snot about guns and who couldn’t stay profitable selling guns and ammo during a time when gun and ammo sales were at all-time highs and the industry can’t make products fast enough. Here’s where the pieces are going.

We note that buyer Roundhill Group, LLC, is a property investment firm located in Virginia, which my research indicates has been dissolved. JJE Capital is the owner of Palmetto State Armory among other companies.

For now, Remington guns will still be made and sold just like they have been. No word on the future of the bogus Sandy Hook families vs. Bushmaster lawsuit, which has been delayed by the bankruptcy proceedings.

Swann’s Gun & Repair, Jackson, Mississippi’s last local gun shop (in the city), has shut down after repeated burglaries. Jackson never had many gunsmiths and now there are only a couple of repute in the central MS area.

Front Sight Firearms Training Institute (FST) popped up again last month as a topic on a couple of podcasts. The gist was that FST has a pretty negative business reputation but media folks don’t like talking about them because FST has a history of suing its critics. That makes you wonder why FST has a problem with critics. Actually, I don’t wonder.

More problem companies

While we’re at it, I recommend that you NOT do any business with the following companies, as I myself have had bad experiences with their incompetence, deception, overcharging, delays, and/or poor customer service.  SHOP ELSEWHERE.

1. Big Boyz Toyz, a local Jackson, Mississippi powersports parts/repair/customization shop
2. Babbitt’s Online, a Michigan-based online powersports parts store

Products

Springfield Armory now offers bolt rifles.

The Strike Industries AR Modular Magazine Release offers a quick and simple way to configure your mag button preference to one of three (3) included options (Standard, Extended and Oversized). The mag buttons are made from lightweight polymer paired with SUS630 stainless steel shaft sleeve and mag button adapter. Included as well is a steel magazine catch along with a magazine spring to give you everything out of the package for a drop-in installation. No need to remove the mag catch if you just want to change the button. $36.

The Federal Premium FireStick is a new ignition system for muzzle loaders that uses a polymer encapsulated, moisture impervious propellant charge (Hodgdon Triple Eight powder), with user-provided 209 shotshell primer, inserted from the breech, basically just like loading a single-shot, breech-loading cartridge rifle or shotgun, except the user-provided bullet is separately loaded from the muzzle. The FireStick is intended for use in the Traditions NitroFire rifle. Boy if they keep up with these developments, soon they will invent complete self-contained ammunition cartridges.

Quotes

“I have to keep reminding myself that I’m not moving out of California to a third-world country, I’m leaving a third-world country to join America.” — Stephanie Morris, 9/26/20 Napa Valley Register

“If you’re not free to defend yourself, you’re not free.” — NRA EVP Wayne LaPierre