Litigation, Legislation, Government

• A divided three-judge panel for the US Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals last week upheld Illinois’ Protect Illinois Communities Act, which, among other restrictions, bans the manufacture, sale, and possession of semi-automatic weapons and standard capacity magazines, with grandfather clauses for prior owners. The 2-1 panel reversed a 2024 district court decision that struck the law down as unconstitutional. The majority said it was compelled to uphold the law because it fit within the country’s historical tradition of regulating “particularly dangerous weapons.” The court used Bowie knife bans as an analogy. Here’s the thing about the goofy “history and tradition” test: what if the historical analogies were themselves unconstitutional from the get-go? Because many were. Bowie knives were both widespread and used for lawful purposes. This case will be appealed to the US Supreme Court.
• Meanwhile in Illinois, the National Rifle Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Illinois State Rifle Association, and several gun sellers and gun owners in the state of Illinois have filed a new federal lawsuit challenging the state’s 72-hour waiting period for gun sales. Similar challenges have been brought against waiting periods in a handful of other states in recent years, and a split among the appellate courts is developing as these cases progress.
• A unanimous three-judge panel for the US Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the government can continue to disarm some marijuana users, this just a few weeks after the Supreme Court first weighed in on the issue in favor of potheads, who are in fact “the people.”
• The NRA, Firearms Policy Coalition, Second Amendment Foundation, and American Suppressor Association filed an amicus brief July 13 in United States v. Machamer, arguing that short-barreled rifles are protected arms and that the National Firearms Act’s registration scheme is unconstitutional. Well, pretty much all gun control laws are unconstitutional…
• Banning Parents from Possessing Guns Because Their Child Has Described Thoughts of “Harming Herself Using a Rope” Violated Second Amendment. This is the sort of event that simply burns me up, and the authorities involved in this atrocity should be jailed.
• SCOTUSblog: Narrow holdings with broad consequences. A discussion of the High Court’s decisions in United States v. Hemani (guns & marijuana) and in Wolford v. Lopez (Hawaii’s “vampire” law).
• Grassroots Judicial Report—July 15, 2026.
• SCOTUS Gun Watch 7/13/2026.
• An interesting admission: “In almost all cases, fingerprint cards are of little utility to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (‘FBI’) when it conducts National Instant Criminal Background Check System (‘NICS’) background checks on applicants to make, transfer and register NFA firearms or to become GCA licensees. According to ATF and FBI subject matter experts, fingerprint cards have only been helpful (and used) for NICS purposes in processing fewer than 1 percent of these applications. Similarly, 2″ x 2″ passport-style photographs serve little specific utility as a means of verifying an NFA or GCA applicant’s identity.”
• On Tuesday, the US House of Representatives passed HR 1181, the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act, which would ban financial institutions from using Merchant Category Codes (MCC) unique to gun retailers. The bill, which passed on a vote of 221 to 201, was backed by only five Democrats and all but one Republican.
• You know, if trial or appellate judges’ decisions are overturned on appeal often enough, that should be like failing too many tests. There should be consequences.

Activism

• Making ATF Comments

Enemies

• States with strictest gun control. Also known as Democrat-controlled states.

The Only Ones

• The Supreme Court Is Building Its Own Massive Police Force. That sounds to me like a slam-dunk that we can have whatever arms they have. The Constitution says “the PEOPLE,” get to have arms, not the federal government outside of the military.
• California colleges forced to disclose armories — some with military weapons. So much for those gun-free zones. California has some of the strictest gun control laws in the nation for regular citizens. “Assault weapon” (sic) bans, magazine restrictions, red flag laws, the works. But campus cops are sitting on arsenals that would make a lot of us jealous — often acquired or maintained through federal surplus programs that transfer military gear to law enforcement — at your expense. While law-abiding Californians jump through hoops for basic firearms, public institutions — often the same places that villainize firearms and their owners — build up tactical capabilities with minimal real scrutiny, so that when their protected free speech protests turn violent they will have the means to kill the protesters.
• Creve Coeur, Illinois, Police Officer Caitlynn J. Girkin, 27, has been charged with first-degree murder after she shot and killed her roommate after she said she sent Snapchat photos to him of her holding a gun to her head.
• Now-former Georgia police officer Derrick Harris Jr., 37, who was an officer with the DeKalb County Police Department, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, a felony, and reckless conduct, a misdemeanor, after he negligently discharged his weapon during an arrest, fatally shooting a teenage suspect he was attempting to handcuff. The DeKalb County Police Department said that Harris has been terminated due to “violations of laws.”
• Investigators believe that the veteran NYPD cop shot during a chaotic confrontation with a gun-toting teen Sunday was struck by friendly fire from another cop.
• An unidentified Mississippi Highway Patrol trooper’s department-issued firearm was stolen from his vehicle back in April.
• Former Canadian parliament member arrested after police seize 439 guns and antique cannon from his home.

DGUs

• Armed Citizens Stop Supermarket Shooter In Missouri
• Two men try to rob off-duty Long Beach police officer at gunpoint, prompting a shooting, officials say
• Hattiesburg police investigating apparent self-defense shooting on Hardy Street
• .30-06 vs. wolf pack. But he didn’t act like the “expert” he claims to be, or even very smart.
• The Armed Citizen (American Rifleman) – July 10, 2026 and July 13, 2026

Statistics

• Firearms are NOT the leading cause of death for young people.

Tactics & Stuff

• Open carry. Generally don’t.
• Carry Confidently: 5 Essential CCW Tips for Women.
• “To cause the lowest victim-count if attacked, the church must successfully counterattack and stop the Active Shooter (sic) as soon as possible, but at least within 30 seconds. This can be done with guns or by other means. But using guns is by far the most efficient way, and most successful way, to stop an Active Shooter (sic). Churches having an armed welcoming party for an Active Shooter (sic) have been successful 100% of the time, so far.” — Ed Monk (These are active killers, not active shooters – who are not necessarily criminals. — JP)
• Self-Defense and the Law: Should You Engage or Stand Down? Ayoob.
• The Rules (a review): Familiarity Breeds Contempt — We Must Do Better

Technical, Misc. & Industry News

• Army develops new electrochemical machining technique for rifling cannon bores.
• New Russian anti-drone rounds. Be reminded that it’s pretty much always illegal to shoot at an aerial drone in the USA.
• World-record clay shooter Steve Gould teamed up with Benelli in Alexandria, Minnesota, to take on the ultimate A.I. Challenge and accomplish something no shotgun had ever done before. Using a production Benelli ETHOS SuperSport A.I. with Advanced Impact barrel technology, Steve broke clays and records at:
  • 130 yards with Federal All-American #7.5 target load
  • 160 yards with Federal Prairie Storm #5
  • 181.5 yards with Federal Heavyweight TSS #9
  • 201.5 yards with Federal Heavyweight TSS #7

• European American Armory (EAA Corp) has acquired a large manufacturing facility in Mountain City, Tennessee with additional acreage for future expansion. The facility is currently undergoing extensive renovations and modernization to support advanced manufacturing, machining, assembly, logistics, and other firearm industry operations, and EAA Corp is actively seeking strategic industry partners interested in leasing or establishing manufacturing operations within the facility.
• Factoid: FBI firearms instructors started wearing Royal Robbins climbing pants (the pants model was called the 5.11, named after a difficult climbing route) and polo shirts as their uniforms in the 1990s. Royal Robbins spun off the 5.11 pants into a separate sales division called 5.11 Tactical in 2003. That’s the brand you all know well. I also started out with Royal Robbins’ 5.11 pants and now exclusively wear 5.11 Tactical pants, not because they’re “tactical” or “cool,” but because they’re very comfortable and practical for me. I mean, who can’t use seven generous pockets and kneepads?

Products

• (Digital) Rifle & Handgun Magazine September-October 2026 Issue Now Available Free.
• Palmetto State Armory has the Vortex Strikefire II 1×30, 4 MOA red/green dot sight on sale now for just $90, and the Vortex SPARC II AR 2 MOA red dot for just $70.
• Vortex has also upgraded their Crossfire line: The Crossfire II dot now has solar capabilities, a green dot option, motion activation, and other small upgrades. $220-250.
• Charter Arms’ new Walker Series revolvers are ultra-compact, rimfire revolvers designed for concealed carry, available in .22 LR or .22 WMR with eight-round capacities. Not that I recommend smallbores or rimfires for defense, but whatever floats your boat. About $450.
• Kent Cartridge’s new Southern Reserve Dove is a purpose-built field-weight dove load built with high brass heads and Kent’s proprietary highly polished and uniform size 7½ Diamond Shot for exceptional pattern consistency. Available in 12, 20, and 28 gauge and .410 bore.
• Kent’s new Ultimate Pheasant is a purpose-built duplex load assembled with Kent’s proprietary Diamond Shot technology and a layered 4×6 shot payload. Available in 12 ga. 3″ and 20 ga. 3″. But why not just use my favorite #5 shot and be done with it?
• Similarly, Apex Ammunition (Columbus, MS) has introduced dove loads in its Stratified line of hard-hitting, superior patterning shotshells. Featuring layered shot sizes of either L3 high-antimony lead (#7 & #8) or S3 steel (#6 7 #7) pellets, they are available in several 12- and 20-gauge loads.
• CAA USA, an American designer and manufacturer of handgun conversion kits and tactical accessories, offers its MCK EVO (Micro Conversion Kit) platform, a chassis designed to transform your handgun into a compact, high-performance Personal Defense Weapon (PDW) SBR-type platform compatible with over 120 handguns, including popular models from Glock, Sig Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Springfield Armory, FN, and Taurus. And now it’s available in bright, hi-vis yellow, and five other colors. $330-$385.
• Auto-Ordnance has introduced the new suppressor-ready M1 Carbine Short Barreled Rifle (SBR) with an overall length of just 30 inches, featuring a 12-inch barrel equipped with a standard 1/2-28 threaded muzzle and integrated M-Lok slots along the bottom of the forearm. $1,870.

• KAK Industry has a new AR bolt carrier designed for optimal use with forced reset triggers. The Dead Blow Carrier (DBC) has a floating weight in the carrier tail which has a dead blow effect eliminating bolt bounce, and providing enough mass for the FRT to function as intended.
• Moriarti Armaments, a new name to me, has some 5″ AR pistols.
• Instead of a flash hider or suppressor, how about a flash and sound ENHANCER? For the weak-minded I suppose.

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“It is a lesson of history that it is ethically, morally, and philosophically impossible to have too many personal weapons, whether they be edged, impact or projectile.” – David W. Loeffler