Litigation

• A panel of the US Ninth Circus Court of Appeals has ruled against Knife Rights in their appeal of the District Court decision in a lawsuit challenging California’s unconstitutional ban on all possession, all forms of carry, and all sale, purchase, or transfer of switchblade (automatic) knives with a blade 2 inches and greater on Second Amendment grounds.
• Knife Rights has appealed its challenge to the constitutionality of the Federal Switchblade Act under the Second Amendment. The case is Knife Rights et al v. Bondi & USDOJ.
• In United States v. Charles Hembree, a panel of the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 3-0 that the federal government cannot permanently disarm a person based solely on a single, non-violent drug possession conviction. Applying the Supreme Court’s modern Second Amendment framework, the court held that enforcing the federal “felon-in-possession” statute, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), against Hembree – a Mississippi man with a single felony drug possession conviction – violated the Constitution.
• Months after the State of California adopted legislation repealing a prohibition on non-resident concealed carry licenses, the state has agreed to pay legal fees accrued by plaintiffs who challenged the prohibition in federal court.
• Grassroots judicial report.

Government & Enemies

• Traitor much? US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro – a long time anti-gunner – came under fire after saying anyone who carried a firearm in the nation’s capital should “count on going to jail” during a Monday Fox News appearance. “You bring a gun into the district, you mark my words, you’re going to jail,” Pirro said. “I don’t care if you have a license in another district, and I don’t care if you’re a law-abiding gun owner somewhere else. You bring a gun into this district, count on going to jail, and hope you get the gun back, and that makes all the difference.” Pirro also said “Let me be clear: I am a proud supporter of the Second Amendment.” Mr. Trump, cleanup on aisle 1.
• Trump ATF Director Nominee Faces Little Pushback in Confirmation Hearing
• 97Percent. I don’t remember this group.

More bogus studies

• Study Claims Stricter Gun Laws Reduce School Shootings

The Only Ones

• Anti-gun University of New Hampshire Chief of Police Steven Lee, 50, recently testified that college students absolutely shouldn’t be trusted with guns on campus, because “They’re too drunk.” But just two weeks ago Chief Lee was himself arrested in Portsmouth at almost 1 a.m. for DUI. I guess that makes him an expert on “drunk.”
• ICE Takes Down Illegal Immigrant Police Hire in New Orleans.

Products & Reviews

• I’ve been playing with the Exothermic Technologies Pulsefire LRT flamethrower that my son-in-law brought me. Pretty cool, or should I say hot. You will definitely want the optional (and expensive) backpack fuel tank accessory because it is a gas hog and only runs for 27 seconds on the integral 1/3 gallon gas tank. That’s about 47 gallons per hour. Now I sorta actually want to find a yellow jacket nest. I wonder if I can mount a couple of these on the front of my truck? Also FYI, Palmetto State Armory has the smaller, underbarrel version on sale for $370 and the compact version for $280.
• I have now used my Streamlight SL-Sidesaddle USB headlight and it works pretty well for short to mid-range use. I have it mounted on a cloth baseball cap. I don’t like the teeny-weeny-tiny sized threaded mounting studs. I’ve also found it probably needs to be on the side opposite my gun side to reduce flashback into my face from reflecting off the gun. I don’t yet have experience on how well a battery charge holds up.
• I’ve also used an example of the MAC 1014 shotgun, which is a (MUCH cheaper) Turkish-made clone of the famous Benelli M4 Tactical. It is apparently one of a very few riot/defense guns threaded for choke tubes. This one is the nickel-finished Marine model. It is now altered with an SDS Arms magazine extension, a Midwest Gun Works larger bolt charging handle to replace the rinkydink arthritis-unfriendly original one, and an XS Sights Big Dot white front sight bead. It seems to be a well-made, legit gun, and I’ve popped a couple of varmints with it. Funny thing: after the mag extension was installed it would not feed the last round or two from an empty mag. The mag spring that came with the extension was a bit short. It was even shorter than the original spring. I put the original spring back in while keeping the extension tube, and it worked. It probably needs a bit longer spring for confidence. Those are available direct from Wolff Gunsprings. MidwayUSA has not had them in stock for a long time.
• Belgium vs. Japan: Who Made the Better Browning Auto-5?
• Browning BAR Mk 4 DBM Hunter: Full Review.
• Federal has received the 2026 Gold Award in the Shotshells category from the Predator Xtreme readers (meaning the product works) for its Federal Premium Buckshot 4B (P158 4B) load. I’m a big fan of big lead shot for varmints and pests, but only occasionally use buckshot. Meanwhile, CCI won the 2026 Gold Award in the category of Rimfire Ammunition (with no specific load listed). CCI notes the rimfire category was added in 2016, and CCI has won gold every single year.
• Newly Revised Winchester Model 70.
• Lipsey’s has the all-steel Lipsey’s Exclusive Smith & Wesson Model 36 Field Ethos “Tropical” Edition.
• The Böker Plus Extension Knife. 4.7″ or 7.3″ D2 blade, same single-blade knife. Interesting.
• The new Walther RS 3 is a bullpup straight-pull rifle. But it’s a bit heavy.
• The Grizzly Coolers Alpha hunting blind. Impressive.
• Drone Round Defense has 5.56 NATO and 7.62 NATO loads designed specifically to neutralize small unmanned aerial systems. Sales are currently restricted to military and law enforcement only, with additional calibers in development. It is also illegal to shoot at a drone in the USA. But I’m wondering if these would also be decent varmint loads.
• Viridian’s new RFX1 is a green dot reflex sight designed specifically for the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 pistol, with contours and serrations of the sight’s housing that exactly match those of the pistol’s slide.
• ATN’s new ThOR 6 Mini compact thermal riflescope features SharpIR AI-enhanced imaging, lightweight magnesium construction, and advanced features like Wi-Fi connectivity, with pricing starting at $895.00.