Litigation
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in Jones v. Hendrix, 21-857, that people who have used up their appeals don’t get another day in court “based solely on a more favorable interpretation of statutory law adopted after his conviction became final.” In this case, the convicted man, Hendrix, who was given a 27-year prison sentence for violating a federal law prohibiting felons possessing guns, argued that his conviction should be overturned based on another case ruling saying that prosecutors must prove that people charged with violating federal gun laws knew they were not allowed to have a weapon.
More on felon gun possession appeals.
Meanwhile, U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves ruled this week in a Mississippi case that being convicted of a violent felony is not enough to deprive someone of their Second Amendment rights for life.
Virginia mom of 6-year-old who shot teacher will cite Hunter Biden’s plea deal for leniency.
We have discussed the issue of the accuracy of firearms forensics testing and testimony before. Now the Maryland Supreme Court has ruled that firearms experts will no longer be allowed to testify that a specific gun fired a specific bullet. The decision is binding on lower courts in the state. The practice known as firearm “tool mark” analysis postulates that the tiny machining marks made on guns are in turn uniquely imprinted on ammunition components when fired and are then detected and identified under a microscope during analysis, leading to “expert” testimony that a gun recovered by law enforcement fired bullets or used casings found at a crime scene. But four of seven justices on the state Supreme Court found that the scientific methodology is not reliable enough to allow examiners to testify that a particular gun fired a particular bullet. Examiners can, however, testify “that patterns and markings on bullets are consistent or inconsistent with those on bullets fired from a particular known firearm.”
Rhode Island’s convoluted CCW permit system has been allowed to stand, for now. Rhode Island’s Superior Court ruled that the system is constitutional, a year after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Bruen that New York’s similar system of requiring a demonstrated “special need” is unconstitutional. However, Rhode Island’s system is dual. Residents can allegedly obtain a permit in either of two ways: from their local municipality, usually the police department, or the state attorney general. Wording of the law governing the two avenues differs. It says municipalities “shall issue” permits to qualified, suitable applicants who meet certain legal requirements – which include a “proper showing of need,” while the attorney general at his discretion “may issue” permits. So it looks to me like there is no system guaranteeing the right to bear arms for ordinary citizens in Rhode Island.
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the weapons supervisor charged with involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a cinematographer on the New Mexico set of the Alec Baldwin film “Rust” has been charged with evidence tampering for allegedly passing drugs to someone else on the day of the shooting in an attempt to prevent her “apprehension, prosecution or conviction.” Prosecutors have also alleged that Reed was under the influence or hung over that day. Reed is currently the sole remaining defendant in the case, though prosecutors have said they may re-charge Baldwin.
Legislation & Regulation
NRA Implosion
WLP and other executives and former executives, Bill Brewer & Co., Ackerman McQueen & Co., and most of the directors and many former directors should serve time in prison, in my opinion (more here).
Enemies
Shotgun Joe says we the people need F-16 fighter jets to defend ourselves from his corrupt government. OK.
Biden is a big, fat liar. Hundreds of public lies about guns.
Atlanta Roman Catholic Archbishop Gregory John Hartmayer says that “Public officials must put into practice common sense (sic) reforms: a total ban on assault weapons, universal background checks for all gun purchases.”
The Only Ones
Three San Antonio police officers have been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a woman who was experiencing what the city’s police chief said was a “mental health crisis.” Sgt. Alfred Flores and Officers Eleazar Alejandro and Nathaniel Villalobos were suspended without pay and later arrested on murder warrants.
The Louisiana Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, decertified former New Orleans Police Department officers Robert Faulcon Jr. and Anthony Villavaso, as well as two former sergeants, Kenneth Bowen and Robert Gisevius, for their roles in opening fire on six unarmed New Orleans residents, two of whom died, on the Danziger Bridge days after Hurricane Katrina nearly 20 years ago.
DGUs
- Fatal robbery attempt at Meridian, MS church.
- Texas woman shoots, kills home intruder, police say
- The Armed Citizen
- America’s 1st Freedom – June 23, 2023
- American Rifleman – June 23, 2023
- American Rifleman – June 26, 2023
Survey Says…
- We don’t know how many people own guns, but it’s more than we think.
Double guns
The Rangemaster July Newsletter is out.
Tactics & Stuff
- Shotgun malfunctions.
- Carry. Dabbs.
- More carry.
- Churches.
Industry news
- Colt CZ Group SE has purchased – with cash – 100% of the Swiss ammunition producer swissAA Holding AG, a “highest quality ammunition producer” based in Switzerland.
- A semitrailer loaded with shotgun shell primers exploded while being transported inside the Winchester ammunition plant owned by Olin Corp. at East Alton, IL last Thursday, killing the driver.
Products
- Timney’s new USA-made cost effective drop-in Remington 700 trigger. $125.
- Ruger has reintroduced the Marlin Model 1894 Classic chambered in .44 Mag./.44 Spl. Standard 6-groove rifling. Additional models in different calibers and configurations will be released throughout the coming year. Limited availability and strong demand is anticipated.
Quotes
“Learn to shoot like a girl, if you’re good enough. – h/t Larry Arnold
“Success is not a barometer for tactical proficiency.” – unknown
“Carrying with an unloaded chamber is the same thing as not wearing a seat belt and hoping you can put it on right before a car accident.” – Travis Pike