Litigation, Legislation, Government
- US Post Offices opinion. The United States Department of Justice has released a formal Office of Legal Counsel memorandum opinion clarifying that law-abiding Americans may carry constitutionally protected firearms into publicly accessible post offices for self-defense without violating federal criminal law. It seems that legally carried defensive firearms are carried for “lawful purposes.” Who knew? Well, I did.
- Federal Judge Deals Final Death Blow to ATF’s “Engaged in the Business” Rule.
- Chief US District Judge Reed O’Connor of the Northern District of Texas ruled Tuesday in favor of Defense Distributed, accepting arguments that the “frame or receiver rule” enacted by the BATF was unconstitutional on both Fifth Amendment and Second Amendment grounds. In the opinion, O’Connor said the rule deprived people seeking to manufacture their own firearms of due process and also unconstitutionally prohibited people from acquiring the means to manufacture firearms on their own.
- The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has agreed to stop slow-walking carry permits in a deal with the US Department of Justice. But apparently no punishment of any kind for the guilty parties.
- US Third Circuit Court of Appeals: “‘keep[ing] and bear[ing] Arms’ does not encompass sending them abroad in violation of arms-trafficking laws.” The case is US v. Clerfe.
- The Second Amendment Foundation, Firearms Policy Coalition and NRA have filed a lawsuit in US District Court for the Western District of New York challenging New York law that bars the sale and transfer of Glock and Glock-style handguns.
- Trump administration moves to restore nonviolent felons’ gun rights.
- More on the NFA decision and suppressor situation. In a nutshell, use caution. Note that there is a difference in the two combined cases, with two different outcomes, and two different plaintiff groups, and that citizens of plaintiff states are not automatically covered.
- Gun Owners of America has introduced a corporate membership so firearms dealers (FFLs) can be included in the plaintiffs of the case and presumably deal in the previously restricted items.
- Similarly the American Suppressor Association and Texas State Rifle Association are offering a dual membership to FFL/SOT dealers.
- The SAF and CCRKBA have announced a new joint membership for one price – $25. I believe that is a one-year membership, and it’s only available for a limited time.
- Judicial Update for August 19, 2026.
- Bonus reading: How to regulate a sport to death. But don’t expect them to listen.
DGUs & GFZs
- Homeowner Shoots Aggressive Dog During Violent Florida Attack
- American Rifleman, The Armed Citizen: August 14, 2026 and August 17, 2026
- You saw the news that at least five people were shot at Virginia State University last Saturday morning. Gun Free Zone.
- Scores of violent teens brawl at Wisconsin State Fair, turning event into dystopian chaos. Gun Free Zone.
Tactics & Stuff
- A “Stand Your Ground” reminder.
- Appendix inside the waistband (AIWB) carry: You’ll shoot your junk off. Really.
- Considerations if You Carry at Work.
- Jeff Cooper’s Color Code: You’re Doing it Wrong.
- Bear guns. One thing is for sure — a defensive handgun left behind will not work on a bear.
- Threadlockers.
Industry News
- Ammunition Depot is working on a program where you will be able to buy a little ammo at a time, over time, but they will hold it and ship it later after the accumulated amount justifies the shipping cost. Brilliant. Currently, they offer 5% off hunting products on orders over $149 when you use discount code DOVE2026 at checkout.
- Ammo Squared already does the same thing.
- The Pentagon is defending the safety of M17 and M18 handguns — military versions of the controversial SIG Sauer P320 — saying that “there has never been a mechanically caused accidental discharge” involving the service weapon, and that “all investigated incidents of alleged ‘uncommanded discharges’ have been traced back to the trigger being pulled.” Unlike the civilian P320, the M18 and M17 pistol designs are equipped with a manual safety.
- Someone has registered a bogus Les Baer domain name and is attempting to feloniously sell Les Baer products and services on the Internet. Please be advised that the ONLY official website for Les Baer Custom, Inc. is www.lesbaer.com. Any others are unauthorized and do not represent the company.
- US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum this week issued an order to help remove unnecessary barriers to hunting and fishing at 111 refuges and hatcheries across the country. The final rule, first proposed in January, will increase access at 111 US Fish and Wildlife Service field stations, including 107 national wildlife refuges and four national fish hatcheries, offering 1,488 new hunting and sport fishing opportunities on these lands in 32 states. It also includes “first-ever hunting or sport fishing opportunities at 14 refuges and three hatcheries, reflecting continued progress toward maximizing access where compatible with conservation goals.”
Products
- Update on CMP M14 rifles. Sales begin in January, 2027.
- Benelli’s all-new M2-G1 Tactical is a purpose-built semi-automatic shotgun engineered to meet the demands of today’s defensive professionals, law enforcement officers, and serious tactical shooters. It draws a lot of inspiration from the company’s iconic M4, but does so in a cost-effective manner without sacrificing much, if anything, in the way of reliability. It is designed around an innovative new Rear Piston Operated (R.P.O.) gas system and has a lot of bells and whistles. Around $2000.
- Zeiss has removed some of its sports optics production from Germany and is now making a new riflescope line in Japan. The Zeiss V3 models are attractively priced and reportedly excellent products. Japan makes outstanding optics.
- Major Kong Industries is now selling a reproduction model of Surefire’s long-discontinued MR07 light mount for the 1911 pistol. $200 plus light.
- Federal Ammunition’s new specialized Raptor Steel waterfowl loads.
- Clever Ammunition is a new name to me. It’s an Italian company, apparently only making shotshells. I found their standard 12 gauge 00 buckshot hunting loads online by the case for just 50 cents a round.
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In 1825, William Rawle, a prominent lawyer who had been a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly that ratified the Bill of Rights, published an influential treatise, later published in his book, “View of the Constitution,” in 1829, which was the standard Constitutional law text at leading universities in the early 19th Century. He analyzed the Second Amendment as follows: “The first [principle] is a declaration that a well regulated militia is necessary to the security of a free state; a proposition from which few will dissent …. The corollary, from the first position is, that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The prohibition is general. No clause in the constitution could by any rule of construction be conceived to give to congress a power to disarm the people. Such a flagitious attempt could only be made under some general pretence by a state legislature. But if in any blind pursuit of inordinate power, either should attempt it, this amendment may be appealed to as a restraint on both.” Rawle 121-122.
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