Charlie T Waite

We should always be vigil for those kinds of qualities in the people we select for leadership in this country

At our ranch we welcome the season as a time to reflect on the blessings of the past year, while we cherish the moments we’ve enjoyed with those who matter most. Whether near or far, our family is grateful to have you as part of our extended cowboy family. In that spirit, our wishes for you and yours are: May your holidays be filled with laughter, your tables with delicious foods, and your homes with the magic of the Christmas Season. Wishing you a joyous and Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year! Charlie T Waite

Thanks

This week, there was a significant push for a gun policy that crossed party lines. It is actually directly related to the last big bipartisan gun push. Related in the sense that it's trying to fix an apparently unintended consequence of that bill. A group of nearly two dozen senators lobbied the Department of Education to change its interpretation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act because it has led to the defunding of hunter safety training at schools nationwide. As I explain in a member-exclusive piece, the pair of letters sent by the senators represents the first real cross-party agreement on guns since last year. What the political parties are unlikely to agree on, though, is the latest news surrounding Hunter Biden's brief tenure as a gun owner. The Special Counsel assigned to his case announced this week they will be filing charges against him related to his purchase and possession of a gun while being a drug user. Boston was also back in the news this week. It's being accused, once again, of slow-walking gun-carry permit applications. It lost on this point once before and had to pay the legal fees of gun-rights activists. There's not much reason to think this time will turn out any different. And I do a deep dive into President Biden's latest gun action, which seeks to expand who would have to obtain a federal license to legally sell used guns. Cam Edwards of Bearing Arms joins the podcast to dissect the new rule. Bipartisan Group of Senators Demand Biden Restore Hunting, Archery Funding By Stephen Gutowski 18 senators, including eight Democrats and one Independent, want funding for hunter safety training in schools to be reinstated. The bipartisan group sent a letter to the Biden Administration on Tuesday demanding it reverse course on efforts to deny federal dollars to the school programs. The senators argued that the administration is misreading the changes most voted for in last year’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA). “Unfortunately, and contrary to Congressional intent, the Department of Education (“the Department”) has misinterpreted the language to exclude certain educational activities from receiving federal resources,” the group said. Click here to continue reading. Analysis: The Politics of the Hunter Safety Funding Mess [Member Exclusive] By Stephen Gutowski Last year, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act showed where there was agreement among the parties over gun policy. This year, backlash to part of its implementation is doing the same thing. On Tuesday, a group of senators shot off a pair of letters in hopes of reviving funding for hunter safety training programs at schools across the country. It is the only gun policy effort to see significant support from both sides of the aisle. All said, 21 senators who backed the BSCA joined in the effort to undo its effect on hunting programs--including the two who negotiated the bill. A dozen of them are Democrats. Many involved either play a prominent role on firearms policy for their respective parties, such as John Cornyn (R., Texas) and Chris Murphy (D., Conn.), or they represent key swing states. The entire Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Arizona delegations were on board. As were Senators from New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Carolina. That level of cooperation on any gun policy provides a strong signal of the political calculations at play. Here, that signal is clear: the federally funded school programs providing hunter safety and archery training enjoyed by millions of students nationwide are quite popular. Cutting off their funding is not. If you're a Reload Member, click here to read the rest. If not, buy a membership today for exclusive access! Hunter Biden to Face Federal Gun Charges By Stephen Gutowski President Joe Biden’s son will be indicted on gun charges stemming from his drug use. Special Counsel David Weiss said on Wednesday his office intends to file charges against Hunter Biden before the end of the month. He referenced potential violations of federal law for both lying on the background check Hunter completed to obtain a gun and his possession of it while allegedly using crack cocaine. “The Speedy Trial Act requires that the Government obtain the return of an indictment by a grand jury by Friday, September 29, 2023, at the earliest. The Government intends to seek the return of an indictment in this case before that date,” Weiss’s office wrote in a court filing. Click here to read more. Boston Sued Again Over Gun-Carry Permitting Delays After Losing Previous Case By Jake Fogleman Massachusetts’ largest city finds itself in the crosshairs of gun-rights advocates once more over its handling of firearms license applications. The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), and Commonwealth Second Amendment filed suit against Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox on Friday. The complaint, filed on behalf of four Boston residents seeking gun-carry permits, alleges that the Boston Police Department has once again implemented “substantial and untenable delays” in gun license processing. “Previously, in 2020 and 2021, the Licensing Unit made individuals seeking licenses wait for months on a ‘wait list’ before they could submit applications—a practice it abandoned in response to a prior lawsuit by some of the Plaintiffs here,” they wrote in White v. Cox. “Now, the Licensing Unit is accepting individuals’ license applications without significant delay, but is making them wait for many months to submit samples of their fingerprints. Thus, while it has purportedly abandoned its use of a ‘wait list’ to submit applications, the Licensing Unit is still using the equivalent of a ‘wait list’ to prevent people from completing the application process.” Click here to read the full story. Podcast: Biden Moves to Expand Who Needs a Gun Dealing License (Featuring Cam Edwards of Bearing Arms) By Stephen Gutowski This week, President Joe Biden announced new executive action aimed at tightening gun laws. This time, he wants to expand who must get a license to legally sell used guns. So, I brought back Bearing Arms editor Cam Edwards to review the ATF’s proposed rule. Plus, Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman and I talk about how Tennessee shows “red flag” laws have hit a political ceiling. You can listen to the show on your favorite podcasting app or by clicking here. Video of the episode is also available on our YouTube channel. Analysis: Will Biden’s New Gun Action Fare Better Than the Others? [Member Exclusive] By Stephen Gutowski President Joe Biden tripled down on using the ATF to try and tighten America’s gun restrictions. His first two tries have faired poorly. Will the latest do any better? On Thursday, the Biden Administration announced a new ATF rule proposal. This time, the administration is targeting used gun sales. It aims to force more Americans to obtain federal licenses to deal guns or face fines and jail time. In August 2022, President Biden unilaterally banned “ghost gun” kits. By July 2023, it was stuck down by a federal court. It remains in effect thanks to an emergency stay issued by the Supreme Court, but the rule is facing an uphill legal battle. In January 2023, the Biden Administration reclassified pistol-brace-equipped guns to make them illegal to own unless registered with the ATF. Only a tiny percentage of Americans complied despite the agency waiving the tax associated with registration. By August 2023, a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals panel found the rule unlawful. There’s also the bump stock ban. Former President Donald Trump implemented that, but it was defended in court by the Biden Administration. Unsuccessfully, it should be noted. By April 2023, two federal appeals courts had found it unconstitutional. These rulings all followed the same basic logic. The ATF exceeded its authority under the law, and it was too inconsistent in applying the law to expect regular citizens to understand and be held to the rules it tried to enact. The new gun dealer rule is likely vulnerable to the same line of legal attack. If you’re a Reload Member, click here to continue reading. If not, join today for exclusive access to this and hundreds of other analysis pieces! Outside The Reload Guns and Ammunition Tax Passed by California Senate | Wall Street Journal | By Christine Mai-Duc and Zusha Elinson US wins injunction over devices it says turn rifles into machine guns | Reuters | By Jonathan Stempel Texas wanted armed officers at every school after Uvalde. Many can’t meet that standard | AP News | By Paul J. Weber, Acacia Coranado and Kendra Lafleur Storing guns away from home could reduce suicides, but there are legal hurdles | Montana Public Radio | By Aaron Bolton Oklahoma college to offer nation's first bachelor's degree in gunsmithing | The Oklahoman | By Carmen Forman Permitless Carry takes effect in Nebraska | Bearing Arms | By Cam Edwards

I didn't get as much done this last trip to the ranch - mostly cleanup from the storm after I unloaded the trailer; and installing some additional security cameras. I didn't have as much time as I had to return to ND for VA & post op appts. While at the post-op I was sent for an MRI of the left shoulder after I received my injection in it. The results are in: They found a large full-thickness tear and retraction of the supraspinatus with some undersurface partial thickness tearing of the infraspinatus as well as involvement along the anterior infraspinatus fibers and prominent intrasubstance tearing along the posterior deltoid. What does this all mean? Well a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty of the left shoulder this time. So I go back Oct 6th to schedule the 9th surgery in 2 3/4 years...I'll definitely be worth more in spare parts - (a big sarcastic) Woo Hoo. Maybe after this one I can get back to shooting SASS on a monthly basis instead of sporadically shooting. Keep me in you thoughts & wish me luck. Charlie

There is new data on the nation's murder spike. And this time it's good news. An analysis of the first half of the year shows murder rates may be coming down. The numbers are limited and preliminary, but they are interesting nonetheless. Hopefully, the trend continues. Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman looks at what the political implications will be if it does. The courts were busy too. A federal judge tossed President Joe Biden's "ghost gun" ban. He ruled the ATF didn't have the power to rewrite the definition of what constitutes a firearm to try and get control over unfinished gun parts. And I reason through the potential outcomes of the Supreme Court's new Second Amendment case. This one is much more unpredictable than the last. We also have new details on the active shooter that was thwarted in Las Vegas recently. It turns out the guard who shot the gunman was voluntarily carrying his own personal firearm. Plus, a rabbi from the New York State Jewish Gun Club joins the podcast to talk about a recent ruling upholding the synagogue gun ban. Report: Murder Rate Drops in 2023 By Jake Fogleman America’s multi-year spike in homicides may finally be receding. At the midway point of 2023, the murder rate is down roughly 11 percent in 100 major U.S. cities. That’s the conclusion of a new report from Jeff Asher, a widely-cited crime analyst and AH Datalytics co-founder. He found the overall murder rate is still about 12 percent above pre-pandemic levels. But the numbers are currently on track to result in approximately 2,500 fewer murders nationally than the post-pandemic peak in 2021. “The decline in big cities would portend to a 7-10 percent decline nationally in 2023 if that figure holds up,” Asher, a former analyst for the Department of Defense and New Orleans Police Department who has authored pieces on crime statistics for CNN, The New York Times, and The Atlantic, wrote last week. “It would also be among the largest declines in murder ever formally recorded.” Click here to read the rest. Analysis: The Murder Rate Appears to Be Dropping. How Will That Impact Gun Politics? [Member Exclusive] By Jake Fogleman After a multi-year spike following the onset of the COVID pandemic, the U.S. homicide rate looks to be falling. If that continues, it could usher in a reshuffling of the country's current gun politics. The murder rate is down roughly 11 percent in 100 major U.S. cities through the first half of the year, according to crime analyst Jeff Asher. Though the overall murder rate is still about 12 percent above pre-pandemic levels, according to the AH Datalytics dashboard, the numbers are on track to land 10 percent lower than last year. That drop would "be among the largest declines in murder ever formally recorded," according to Asher. He found that the U.S. homicide rate declined slightly in 2022 from 2021 levels as well, though not to the same degree as in the first half of 2023. That means that the decline in murder has been more sustained than just a simple six-month window of good fortune. If Asher's analysis is anything close to accurate, and the reduction in homicide continues to be as substantial as it appears, the American people will eventually take notice. If you're a Reload Member, click here to read more. If not, join today for access to this and hundreds more exclusive articles! Federal Court Tosses Biden ‘Ghost Gun’ Ban By Stephen Gutowski The ATF’s attempt to redefine what counts as a firearm has been vacated. On Friday, Federal District Court Judge Reed O’Connor ruled in favor of the gun companies and gun-rights groups challenging the ban. He found the ATF exceeded its authority when it decided to treat unfinished firearms parts, often used to build homemade guns President Joe Biden called “ghost guns” due to their lack of serial numbers, the same way as completed and functional firearms. “This case presents the question of whether the federal government may lawfully regulate partially manufactured firearm components, related firearm products, and other tools and materials in keeping with the Gun Control Act of 1968,” Judge O’Connor wrote in Vanderstok v. Garland. “Because the Court concludes that the government cannot regulate those items without violating federal law, the Court holds that the government’s recently enacted Final Rule… is unlawful agency action taken in excess of the ATF’s statutory jurisdiction. On this basis, the Court vacates the Final Rule.” Click here to read more. Study Finds Americans Reluctant to Tell Researchers They Own Guns By Stephen Gutowski Some gun owners don’t want researchers to know they own guns. Those are the findings of a study published in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology by the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at Rutgers University this month. It found estimates of how many Americans own guns could be off by as much as 45 percent. It also identified several demographics of people who may be most uncomfortable sharing information about their firearms with researchers. “Bottom line of the study is that some gun owners aren’t comfortable disclosing firearm ownership in surveys. So, from a research perspective, we may not be fully capturing who owns firearms in the US,” Allison Bond, lead author of the study and a doctoral student at the center, told The Reload. “That’s limiting our understanding of firearm ownership and also our ability to reach these individuals and provide them information on things like secure firearm storage methods.” Click here to continue reading. Police Report: Quick Action from Armed Employee, Rifle Malfunction Saved Lives in Vegas Attack By Stephen Bole The Las Vegas shooter who opened fire in an apartment complex last week had his AR-15 malfunction after getting just one round off. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrest report accuses 32-year-old Andrew Warrender of pointing his AR-15 at several people and firing at one security officer before his weapon jammed, according to documents obtained by 8 News Now. Another security guard, who was voluntarily carrying his personal firearm, then shot him. “Warrender walks toward main lobby and quickly points and aims toward (privacy) as he is behind the front desk,” the review of video surveillance states. “(Privacy) ducks behind the front desk and almost simultaneously, Warrender fires a shot.” Click here to read the full story. Podcast: Examining the Ruling Upholding NYC’s Synagogue Gun Ban With a Jewish Gun Club Rabbi By Stephen Gutowski This week, we’re examining a new ruling in favor of New York’s ban on carrying a concealed gun in places of worship. It’s a somewhat surprising decision that comes after the state already abandoned the total ban and several other judges have struck it down. So, the whole situation is a bit confusing. That’s why we have New York State Jewish Gun Club member Rabbi Tzvi Hershel Goldstein on the show. He is directly affected by the new ruling, and his group helped fund the case against it. Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman and I talk about the breaking news that the Supreme Court has agreed to take a new Second Amendment case. We go over the details of the case and try to read some tea leaves on where the Court may come down. Plus, Reload Member Michael tells us his difficult but important story of struggling with mental health and addiction while being a gun owner. You can listen to the show on your favorite podcasting app or by clicking here. Video of the episode is available on our YouTube channel. Reload Members get access on Sunday, as always. The show goes public on Monday. Supreme Court Agrees to Take Up New Gun Case By Stephen Gutowski The nation’s highest court has agreed to hear another Second Amendment case just a year after it handed down a landmark decision that forged a new test for the constitutionality of gun laws. On Friday, the Supreme Court granted review in United States v. Rahimi. In February, a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled the prohibition on owning guns while being subject to a domestic violence restraining order is unconstitutional. The Department of Justice (DOJ) appealed that decision, and now the Court will now take up that same question. The case marks a sustained uptick in the Court’s appetite for Second Amendment cases. While the Court has only considered seven major Second Amendment cases, with one being mooted and another being a unanimous per curiam opinion, three of those seven have come in the last three years. With 2022’s New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen creating a new Second Amendment test the Court will likely have reason to take even more gun cases in the future as circuit splits develop over how to properly apply the new test. Click here to read more. Analysis: The Supreme Court Could Go Either Way in New Gun Case [Member Exclusive] By Stephen Gutowski On Friday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a new Second Amendment case. Despite the justices’ ideological leanings, it’s unclear how they will rule for several reasons. The Court will take up United States v. Rahimi in its October term. A Fifth Circuit panel ruled back in February that Zachary Rahimi’s conviction for possessing guns while under a domestic violence restraining order violated his Second Amendment rights. The Department of Justice appealed, and the Court accepted. Usually, one sign of how the Court might rule is that they’re more likely than not to take up a case with a decision they wish to overturn. However, in this case, that’s less of an indicator because the Court is also more likely than not to take up a case where a federal law has been invalidated. The legal and political implications of the case provide a better guide for how things might go. If you’re a Reload Member, click here to read the rest. If not, join today for exclusive access to this and hundreds of other analysis pieces! Outside The Reload Democrats’ effort to force gun votes fizzles in House | The Hill | By Mike Lillis, Emily Brooks, and Mychael Schnell Philadelphia files lawsuit to crack down on ghost guns | Axios | By Isaac Avilucea How Minnesota Became a Success Story for Gun Control Advocates | The Trace | By Chip Brownlee Delaware Democrats approve gun control bills, vow more action to come | Bearing Arms | By Cam Edwards Extremist-Related Mass Killings Have Been On The Rise | FiveThirtyEight | By Kaleigh Rogers and Mary Radcliffe

Hello Michael, Big news just broke minutes ago. The Supreme Court is taking up a new Second Amendment case. This marks the third gun case the court has granted in the last three years and will have huge implications for gun rights in America. Supreme Court Agrees to Review Domestic Violence Restraining Order Gun Ban By Stephen Gutowski The nation's highest court has agreed to hear another Second Amendment case just a year after it handed down a landmark decision that forged a new test for the constitutionality of gun laws. On Friday, the Supreme Court granted review in United States v. Rahimi. In February, a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled the prohibition on owning guns while being subject to a domestic violence restraining order is unconstitutional. The Department of Justice (DOJ) appealed that decision, and now the Court will now take up that same question. The case marks a sustained uptick in the Court's appetite for Second Amendment cases. While the Court has only considered seven major Second Amendment cases, with one being mooted and another being a unanimous per curiam opinion, three of those seven have come in the last three years. With 2022's New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen creating a new Second Amendment test the Court will likely have reason to take even more gun cases in the future as circuit splits develop over how to properly apply the new test. Click here to read the full report. We'll continue following this story as it develops. And we'll surely have a lot of analysis of what exactly it all means for Reload Members. So, make sure you join today! Thank you, Stephen Gutowski Founder The Reload

The post-Bruen legal landscape had a few more brush strokes added to it this week. A pair of federal court rulings tested the limits of the Second Amendment. In New York, a judge ruled against a group of Jewish worshipers who were trying to block the state's near-total ban on carrying a gun in a synagogue--or any other place of worship for that matter. That ruling came despite the fact that several other judges have found the provision unconstitutional and New York itself has already abandoned it. But the reasoning in the ruling reveals one of the key points of contention in determining what constitutes an acceptable historical tradition under Bruen's 2A test, as Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman explains in a member-exclusive piece. In Mississippi, another judge found the law against felons owning guns couldn't withstand the Bruen test. He dismissed a case against a man who was convicted in connection with a deadly bar fight decades ago but was recently arrested again for owning a gun. The judge's ruling is dripping with contempt for Bruen and the Supreme Court's overall approach to the Second Amendment, but it's also a serious examination of the popular rationals that have been used to uphold felon-in-possession charges under the Court's latest precedent. We also have a look at an up-and-coming competitive shooter. Writer Stephen Bole interviews and profiles 20-year-old Olympic hopeful Matthew Kutz. It's a great story of how a kid from small-town Texas went from fearing the recoil of a shotgun to being on the cusp of competing in Olympic Trap at the 2024 Paris games. And we have information, at least as much as is currently available, on what appears to be an active shooter who was thwarted by an armed civilian at an upscale apartment building just off the Las Vegas strip. Plus, Popehat's Ken White joins the podcast to dissect the Hunter Biden gun deal and its political implications. And Jake shows us the new collectible he bought from the Civilian Marksmanship Program! OUR FLASH SALE IS ALMOST OVER! JUST 4 SLOTS LEFT AT 20% OFF! Federal Judge Upholds New York’s Synagogue Gun Ban Even After State Abandons it By Jake Fogleman An outright ban on licensed gun carry in all places of worship is compatible with the Second Amendment, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge Vernon Broderick, an Obama appointee, denied a request for a preliminary injunction on Wednesday in a lawsuit challenging New York’s law deeming all churches “sensitive places” where civilian gun possession is prohibited. He found that the nation’s historical tradition of gun regulations supported the state’s ability to do so. “There is a sufficient historical record to support the finding that houses of worship are sensitive places, where it is constitutionally permissible for the state to regulate the carrying of firearms,” Broderick wrote in Goldstein v. Hochul. “There are both laws that specifically outlaw the carrying of weapons in churches or places of worship, and broader founding era regulations that limit the ability for law-abiding individuals to carry weapons in public generally, which would include inside places of worship.” Click here to continue reading. Analysis: What Constitutes a Valid ‘Historical Tradition’ of Gun Regulation? [Member Exclusive] By Jake Fogleman A New York federal judge just ruled that the state’s ban on gun possession in churches is likely constitutional. How he got to that decision may be more interesting than the decision itself. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Vernon Broderick denied a request for a preliminary injunction against a provision of New York law deeming all places of worship a “sensitive location” where gun carry is banned. He found that such a ban was consistent with the nation’s historical tradition of gun regulation. “There is a sufficient historical record to support the finding that houses of worship are sensitive places, where it is constitutionally permissible for the state to regulate the carrying of firearms,” Broderick wrote in Goldstein v. Hochul. “There are both laws that specifically outlaw the carrying of weapons in churches or places of worship, and broader founding era regulations that limit the ability for law-abiding individuals to carry weapons in public generally, which would include inside places of worship.” That “historical record” of “founding era” regulations Broderick identified relied heavily upon a series of laws, passed primarily in southern states and western territories between 1870-1889, that banned gun carrying into churches and other places of worship. That analysis, with its emphasis on late 19th-century historical analogues, marks a serious departure from how other judges have handled challenges to New York’s law to date. If you're already a Reload Member, click here to read on. If not, buy a membership today (at 20% off) to get exclusive access! Federal Judge Tosses Gun Possession Case Against Convicted Felon By Jake Fogleman Being convicted of a felony–even a violent one–is not enough to deprive someone of their Second Amendment rights for life, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves, an Obama appointee, dismissed a felon-in-possession of a firearm prosecution against Jesse Bullock, a Mississippi man, on Wednesday. Judge Reeves ruled that the federal government failed to meet its burden of showing that the historical tradition of firearms regulation supported permanently disarming Bullock for his past crimes, as required under the Supreme Court’s latest precedent. “The government’s arguments for permanently disarming Mr. Bullock, however, rest upon the mirage of dicta, buttressed by a cloud of law review articles that do not support disarming him,” Judge Reeves wrote in United States v. Bullock. “In Bruen, the State of New York presented 700 years of history to try and defend its early 1900s‐era gun licensing law. That was not enough. Bruen requires no less skepticism here, where the challenged law is even younger.” Click here to read more. A 20-Year-Old Rising Star Shoots for Gold: Matthew Kutz's Olympic Chase By Stephen Bole It's May 23rd, 2022 in Shul, Germany, and Matthew Kutz stands at the final firing position with his shotgun ready. He's waiting for the last target to fly up so he can knock it out of the sky. The crowd around him is silent, dripping with anticipation. The clay disc is launched, and Kutz mirrors its path through the blue background with the bead at the tip of his shotgun just ahead of the orange object. He smoothly squeezes the trigger as the target nears the apex of its travel and snipes it out of the air. A loud cheer resonates around him, and deservedly so--it is Kutz's 47th hit out of a possible 50 in the final round, earning him and his teammates a gold medal at the International Shooting Sports Federation Junior World Cup. Kutz is a self-described "regular college student" at Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas. Like many 20-year-olds, he enjoys video games (Rainbow Six Siege in particular), pool, foosball, hanging out with his girlfriend, and even just relaxing when he gets a break from his hectic workload. But, unlike most other kids his age, he also travels the world with his shotgun competing in Olympic Trap. The Goliad, Texas, native has only been active in the sport for three years, but he's already racking up accomplishments. He has joined his USA Shooting teammates to compete in locations as far-flung as Germany, Morocco, and Croatia. Now, he is laser-focused on qualifying for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Despite his relative newness to the event, Kutz has found it to be his calling. "There's so many opportunities that come with it," he told The Reload. "It's fast paced and exciting. I fell in love with it." Click here if you want to read the rest. Armed ‘Hero’ Ends Vegas Gunman’s Attack By Stephen Bole A Las Vegas man stopped what could have been a deadly attack on Friday by shooting a gunman who opened fire in an apartment complex. A man wearing a helmet and carrying a rifle can be seen on video apparently shooting through the lobby doors at Turnberry Towers late last week. But the video, posted by a local Vegas-news-focused Twitter account, shows he did not make it much farther before being confronted and shot by somebody else. Several residents of the towers praised the man who stopped the gunman. “Homberto, who works in receiving is a hero,” said a Twitter user who goes by the name Brianna Dymond, who also posted what appears to be a video of the aftermath. “He shot the armed man and saved so many lives.” Click here to read the rest. Podcast: Examining Hunter Biden’s Gun Deal With Popehat’s Ken White By Stephen Gutowski This week, we’re looking closely at the deal Hunter Biden struck with federal prosecutors over his 2018 gun purchase while he was using illicit drugs. That’s why I brought on a former federal prosecutor and current criminal defense attorney Ken White. He’s also a podcast host and writes under the name Popehat. So, he’s able to explain the ins and outs of the indictment and give some analysis of the politics of it all too. Plus, Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman and I discuss the surprising failure of the pistol-brace ban repeal resolution in the Senate. And Jake tells us about a collectible gun he bought from the Civilian Marksmanship Program. You can listen to the episode on your favorite podcasting app or by clicking here. Video of the show is available on our YouTube channel. Reload Members get access on Sunday, as always. Everyone else can listen when the show goes public on Monday. THE NEXT FOUR PEOPLE TO BUY A MEMBERSHIP GET 20% OFF! Analysis: A Worrying Sign for Gun-Rights Supporters [Member Exclusive] By Jake Fogleman One of the biggest strengths of the gun-rights movement has long been the asymmetry in electoral passion over guns among voters. But that could be changing. Gun-rights supporters have traditionally been highly passionate about gun policy, willing to engage in the political sphere, and often highly mobilized to vote in elections where they perceive gun rights to be at stake. At the same time, gun-control supporters have tended to be less singularly focused on gun control as a political priority. Even at times when public sentiment has tilted in favor of stricter gun laws, such as in the aftermath of high-profile mass shootings, the gun-rights position has tended to win the day just based on the simple fact that gun control has typically ranked lower on the priority list of voters who support it, behind more kitchen table issues such as the economy, crime, health care, etc. Even in instances where the gun-control position has achieved victory in the policy sphere, such as in blue state ballot measures, the margins of those victories have almost unanimously been slimmer than general issue polling would have suggested. Unfortunately for gun-rights advocates, there’s some early evidence that this might be changing. If you’re a Reload Member, click here to read the rest. If not, join today for exclusive access to this and hundreds of other analysis pieces! Outside The Reload Ninth Circuit seems puzzled by California ban of firearm ads for minors | Courthouse News Service | By Edvard Pettersson Federal appeals court considers Illinois assault weapons ban | Chicago Sun Times | By Jon Seidel Fifth Circuit hears argument over ATF's pistol brace rule | AP News | By Kevin McGill It’s Shockingly Easy To Buy Illegal Machineguns On Instagram, Facebook And Twitter | Forbes | By Cyrus Farivar Maine Senate defeats gun-control proposal to expand background checks | Bangor Daily News | By Billy Kobin Harvard poll: Most Americans don't want to live in states with strict gun control | Bearing Arms | By Cam Edwards More Americans see gun violence as major problem, poll finds | Washington Post | By Mariana Alfaro NYC buying $90,000 in submachine guns for officers at Rikers | Gothamist | By Matt Katz

The pistol-brace ban got a somewhat surprising vote of confidence from the Senate this week. In a 50 to 49 vote, the upper house of Congress rejected a resolution to repeal the ban. All Democrats stuck together and voted against repeal. Given how often more moderate Dems have been willing to buck President Biden on these sorts of resolutions, and that this ban affects literally millions of gun owners, I thought there'd be at least two willing to cross over. The fact that there weren't is a political loss for gun-rights advocates. And, as I explain in a members' piece, it hurts the legal fight against the ban too. Hunter Biden was catapulted back into the news this week when he agreed to a deal with prosecutors that included coping to a federal gun charge related to his past drug use. He's agreed to forfeit his gun rights, but he managed to avoid prison time. The Third Circuit dealt a partial setback to those challenging New Jersey's latest gun-carry restrictions. Most "gun-free" zones are back in force, but the default ban on carrying in publicly-accessible private property remains blocked. Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman checked out the latest developments in New York and New Jersey's efforts to implement a microstamping mandate for members too. And I helped fact-check some false claims President Biden has made about guns in recent days over at CNN. Plus, Biofire founder Kai Kloepfer joins the podcast to answer questions about his "smart gun." Also, we've got a sale going on. We don't do this often, and there are only a few slots available. So, if you've been considering joining, now's the time! FLASH SALE 20% OFF FOR THE NEXT 20 MEMBERS Senate Rejects Pistol-Brace Ban Repeal in Party-Line Vote By Stephen Gutowski The resolution to undo President Joe Biden’s pistol-brace ban won’t make it to his desk. In a party-line vote, the Senate rejected the attempt to overturn the ATF’s reclassification of the devices on Thursday. The failure comes just a week after the same resolution passed the House of Representatives with minor crossover support from moderate Democrats. None of the Democratic senators or the independents who caucus with them voted for the repeal effort. The final vote was 50 to 49, with Senator Chris Coons (D., Del.) not voting because his office said he was absent for “precautionary medical tests.” Click here to read more. Analysis: What the Pistol-Brace Ban Repeal Defeat Means [Member Exclusive] By Stephen Gutowski The Senate voted against undoing President Joe Biden's pistol-brace ban. That probably won't have a direct practical impact on the ban's fate, but it will have a political and, potentially, even a legal one. On Thursday, the Senate voted 50 to 49 against a resolution to repeal the ATF's brace rule. The vote was entirely along party lines. Not a single Democrat or Republican crossed over in either direction. Now, it might not seem like a Senate controlled by the party of the President that instituted the policy refusing to undo it isn't that unexpected. But there are a couple of reasons this move was surprising. If you're a Reload Member, click here to read more. If not, take advantage of our flash sale and buy a membership today! Hunter Biden Cops to Gun Charge, Gets Diversion Program By Stephen Gutowski President Joe Biden’s son can no longer own guns. That’s one of the conditions of the deal he struck with federal prosecutors that was announced on Tuesday. In addition to pleading guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges, Hunter Biden agreed to a diversion program in lieu of felony charges related to his 2018 purchase of a firearm. He will avoid jail time under the deal but will have to stay clean for 24 months and agree to never own guns again, according to The New York Times. “The second Information charges the defendant with a firearm offense—namely, one count of possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(e)(3) and 924(2)(2) (2018). The defendant has agreed to enter a Pretrial Diversion Agreement with respect to the firearm Information,” a letter filed by the Department of Justice with the US District Court in Delaware reads. Click here to continue reading. Podcast: Biofire Founder Kai Kloepfer Answers Questions About His New ‘Smart Gun’ By Stephen Gutowski This week, we’re joined by the man behind the first “smart gun” that’s going to come to market. Kai Kloepfer is the founder of Biofire, a company that has been getting a lot of attention since announcing it will ship a 9mm pistol with integrated biometric locks this year. He answered a wide array of different questions on smart guns and the Biofire model in particular. Plus, Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman and I discuss Congress taking on the pistol-brace ban. And I talk about the setback I just had in obtaining my DC concealed carry license. You can listen to the show on your favorite podcasting app or by clicking here. Video of the episode is available on our YouTube Channel. Reload Members get access on Sunday, as always. Everyone else can listen when it goes public on Monday. Federal Appeals Court Stays Ruling Against New Jersey ‘Gun-Free Zones’ By Jake Fogleman Broad swaths of New Jersey are going back to being off-limits for licensed gun owners to carry a firearm. That’s thanks to a 2-1 ruling from the Third Circuit Court of Appeals released Tuesday. The court issued a partial emergency stay on a lower-court order blocking most of New Jersey’s recently enacted “sensitive place” restrictions, where legal gun carry is prohibited. The stay will allow the state to resume enforcing its gun-carry ban in schools, parks, zoos, libraries, museums, restaurants that serve alcohol, casinos, health care facilities, and anywhere within 100 feet of public gatherings. But the court allowed the injunction against the state’s ban on gun carry on private property, vehicles, and movie sets to remain in effect while the appeals process plays out. Click here to read the full piece. FLASH SALE 20% OFF FOR THE NEXT 20 MEMBERS Analysis: New York and New Jersey Go On a Microstamping Snipe Hunt [Member Exclusive] By Jake Fogleman New York and New Jersey are attempting to join California on its quixotic project to make microstamping a reality. It’s not going well. On Thursday, Politico reported that the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office is five months behind on its statutory deadline to determine the “technological viability” of microstamping in guns. “Work on the microstamping regulations and investigation is proceeding and will be completed as soon as possible,” Michael Symons, an AG spokesperson, told the outlet. “Every effort has been made to implement the microstamping law as quickly as possible and much of the work necessary to reach that goal has been completed. This includes reviewing the viability of the technology, which is currently underway.” That report comes after Gothamist first reported the Empire State was having the same exact issues with its own recently-passed microstamping requirement. “A New York state law requiring microstamping capability in new pistols is already five months behind schedule, with final results from a required study of the technology not expected until later this year,” the outlet reported. The state’s Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), the agency tasked with certifying the technological viability of microstamping, was supposed to conclude by December of last year. Six months later, the agency is struggling to fulfill its obligation. If you’re a Reload Member, click here to read more. If not, take advantage of our sale and join today to read the whole piece! Outside The Reload Fact check: Biden makes 5 false claims about guns | CNN | By Daniel Dale Hunter Biden’s Case Highlights Gray Area of U.S. Gun Laws | The Daily Beast | By Jose Pagliery Maryland Supreme Court Limits Testimony on Bullet-Matching Evidence | Reason | C.J. Ciaramella How US-made ammunition ends up in Russian rifles | Politico | By Sergey Panov, Sarah Anne Aarup, and Douglas Busvine Iconic 1911 Pistols Have Finally Been Retired From Marine Corps Service | The Drive | By Joseph Trevithick

Hello Michael, The House of Representatives swung into action this week as millions of Americans now face possible federal charges over their newly-illegal pistol-brace-equipped guns. In a 219 to 210 vote, the House voted in favor of a resolution that would undo the brace ban. In a member exclusive, I explain why it's likely to get further than you might think but why the legal fight is still the smarter bet for getting rid of the ban. Speaking of lawsuits, the inventor of the "smart gun" tells me why he is joining the fight against one of California's strictest gun laws. Biofire founder Kai Kloepfer says the state's handgun roster is cutting off consumer choice and preventing them from accessing the latest safety innovations. He says his company may get involved in other lawsuits against laws that directly implicate their potential customers too. Texas added momentum to the push against specialized tracking codes for gun store purchases by passing its own ban this week. Another attempt to hold gun businesses liable for the criminal acts of third parties failed in court. Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie explained why he thinks new federal gun restrictions won't stop mass shootings. And a Houston homeowner fought off a pair of armed criminals with his own gun. Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman also explains why the latest ruling against the lifetime ban on gun ownership for a non-violent felon is more reason to think the Supreme Court is likely to address questions on who can be barred from buying guns before it decides other Second Amendment issues. And I explain why California Governor Gavin Newsom's new campaign to write gun restrictions into the Constitution is more intended to help him create a shadow presidential campaign than actually result in an amendment. Plus, National Review's Jim Geraghty joins the podcast to give his take on why the brace ban went bust. House Votes to Repeal Pistol-Brace Ban By Stephen Gutowski A resolution to overturn President Joe Biden’s rule registering guns equipped with pistol braces will now head to the Senate. The House of Representatives passed H.J. Resolution 44 on Tuesday by a vote of 219 to 210. The resolution would undo a rule created by the ATF at the request of President Biden that affects millions of gun owners and went into effect at the beginning of the month. The vote was mainly along party lines, with all but two Republicans voting for it and all but two Democrats voting against it. “By passing H.J.Res. 44 today, the House has sent a resounding message to both the judicial system and the nation that it firmly rejects the ATF’s unconstitutional rule and executive overreach, unapologetically defends service-disabled veterans’ unalienable right to keep and bear arms, and refuses to back down in the fight to protect all Americans’ Second Amendment liberties,” Representative Andrew Clyde (R., Ga.) told The Reload. Click here to read more. Analysis: Lawsuits Remain Most Likely Path to End Pistol-Brace Ban [Member Exclusive] By Stephen Gutowski The House of Representatives voted this week to repeal the pistol-brace ban. The resolution heads to the Senate, where it will get a vote and has a decent chance of passing. But court challenges are still gun-rights advocates' best bet for blocking the ban. On Wednesday, the House passed H.J. Resolution 44 by a mostly-party-line vote of 219 to 210. Anybody who knows the makeup of the Senate and can do math might assume that's the end of the story since Democrats control what legislation comes to the floor in regular order. But the repeal has a better chance of making it to President Joe Biden's desk than it might appear at first glance because Resolution 44 won't be going through regular order. Instead, it's a privileged motion under the Congressional Review Act (CRA). That means it will get an up or down vote without the opportunity for poison pill amendments to be added by opponents. It will only need a majority to pass. If you're a Reload Member, click here to read the rest. If not, join today for exclusive access to this and hundreds of other analysis pieces! ‘Smart Gun’ Inventor Explains Why He’s Trying to Get a California Gun-Control Law Struck Down By Stephen Gutowski The man behind the first gun with an integrated biometric lock set to come to market is backing a suit against one of California’s most restrictive gun laws. Kai Kloepfer, Biofire founder, told The Reload his company wrote an amicus letter supporting plaintiffs in a case against the state’s Unsafe Handgun Act (UHA) because it believes the law holds back firearms safety innovation. That law bans the sale of any handgun that isn’t on the state’s approved roster, which hasn’t seen a new handgun model added to it since 2013. Biofire wrote to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this month urging them to strike down the law in Boland v. Bonta. “Our argument is the roster doesn’t serve the needs of Californians because it arbitrarily restricts the options that are available,” Kloepfer told The Reload. “California is to guns as Cuba is to cars. You can’t take advantage of all the advancements in technology, including in safety, that have been made since the guns the roster grandfathered in.” Click here to read more. Texas Blocks Gun Retail Tracking Codes By Stephen Bole Republican efforts to prevent the use of a financial tracking code for firearm retailers have expanded. Over the weekend, Texas Governor Gregg Abbott (R.) signed House Bill 2837. The law prohibits transactions at firearm retailers from being tracked with a specialized Merchant Category Code (MCC). Texas joins Montana, North Dakota, Idaho, West Virginia, Mississippi, and Florida in passing laws to ban the use of the specialized codes. The move makes Texas the biggest state to implement restrictions on the use of MCCs. It also represents a victory for gun-rights advocates and gun industry members who have been pushing back against the idea of trying to track, and potentially flag, certain kinds of gun purchases. Click here to read the full story. Federal Appeals Court Tosses Lawsuits Against Online Gun Marketplace By Jake Fogleman The online firearms marketplace Armslist cannot be held liable for a pair of shootings in Wisconsin that involved guns bought through ads posted on the site, a federal appeals court has ruled. On Monday, a three-judge panel for the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court’s dismissal of the two suits in a joint decision. The court found that even though the circumstances surrounding the cases “are grave and the allegations are serious,” Armslist cannot be found liable for negligence under Wisconsin law because it is not a firearms dealer. “Concluding that the allegations in this first category can proceed would impose the responsibilities of firearms dealers on actors which the Wisconsin legislature has not chosen to regulate in this manner,” Judge Michael Brennan, a Donald Trump appointee, wrote on behalf of the court. “It would also hold Armslist LLC liable for failing to operate as an arm of the state where Wisconsin has not given it this function. Just so, on allegations about background checks and transaction records—the second category—the Wisconsin legislature has not chosen to regulate websites or private sellers…or to oblige them with enforcement.” Click here to continue reading. Chris Christie Says More Gun Control Won’t Stop Mass Shootings By Stephen Bole Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie argued Monday that restrictive gun laws don’t work. Taking the stage at a CNN town hall, the former New Jersey governor was asked about gun violence by Nevada retiree Joe Robbins, whose son was killed in the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting. Christie said the issue is complex and hard to solve. But he also indicated he is not seeking to implement new federal gun restrictions. “I don’t think with 350 million or so guns out there that tighter gun control is going to keep the gun out of the hands of someone who’s going to do what happened in Las Vegas or what happened in Uvalde or what happened in Sandy Hook,” Christie said. Click here to read the full piece. Texas Man Shot by Burglars, Fights Them Off With His Own Gun By Stephen Bole A west Houston resident was shot confronting two burglars early Saturday morning, but he survived after returning fire and killing one of the assailants. KTRK reported that the man received an alert through his Ring doorbell at about 3:30 am on Saturday and saw the two suspects walking into his garage. Seeing them walking away from the garage with a box of tools, the homeowner grabbed his handgun and went outside to confront the men. The police say the resident told the suspected burglars to leave, and, in response, they pulled out guns. The homeowner was shot in the leg but returned fire, killing one of the suspects and injuring the other. The injured suspect was able to flee the scene and has not been found. Click here to read the rest. Podcast: NRO’s Jim Geraghty on Biden’s Brace Ban Bust By Stephen Gutowski This week, National Review’s Jim Geraghty comes back to the show to give us his reaction to President Joe Biden’s pistol-brace ban. As we reported first at The Reload, only a tiny fraction of the guns required to be registered actually were. Geraghty said he thinks Americans are distrustful of the government and unwilling to tell them what guns they have. He argued that effect is especially strong with Joe Biden in office given how aggressively he is trying to expand gun restrictions. Plus, Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman and I talk about a federal appeals court casting down on the non-violent felon gun ban. You can listen to the episode on your favorite podcasting app or by clicking here. Video of the show is available on our YouTube channel. Reload Members can listen starting on Sunday, as always. Everyone else can listen when it goes public on Monday. Analysis: New Circuit Split May Force SCOTUS to Address Prohibited Possessors Next [Member Exclusive] By Jake Fogleman When the Supreme Court handed down its Bruen decision, many gun rights advocates eagerly expected a raft of favorable decisions on “assault weapon” bans, the National Firearms Act, or other longstanding gun policy bugaboos to be on the horizon. Instead, it’s increasingly starting to look like the Court will have to address who can and can’t be permanently banned from owning guns. On Tuesday, a full panel of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the federal prohibition on felons owning firearms did not apply to a Pennsylvania man with a nearly 30-year-old conviction for lying on a food stamp application. “We agree with Range that, despite his false statement conviction, he remains among ‘the people’ protected by the Second Amendment,” Judge Thomas Hardiman wrote for an 11-4 majority in Range v. Attorney General. “And because the Government did not carry its burden of showing that our Nation’s history and tradition of firearm regulation support disarming Range, we will reverse and remand.” At the time of his offense, Bryan Range pled guilty to a state misdemeanor, was sentenced to three years probation, and paid under $3,000 in fines. Despite never serving a day in jail, Range was barred from owning guns for life under the Gun Control Act, which prohibits anyone convicted of a felony that could be punished with more than a year in prison or a misdemeanor punishable by more than two years in prison from possessing guns. Under Pennsylvania law at the time of his conviction, Range’s crime could have been punished by up to five years in prison, thus preventing him from acquiring firearms legally until this week. The decision is hugely significant for several reasons. It created the first crack in the question of the constitutionality of the federal gun ban for all non-violent felons. It also created a brand-new circuit split in the process. If you’re a Reload Member, click here to read more. If not, join today to read the whole piece! Analysis: California Governor’s Gun Amendment is a Political Stunt By Stephen Gutowski On Thursday, Gavin Newsom (D.) announced his plan to amend the Constitution to add a slew of gun-control policies. But the call is more political than practical. The California Governor wants America to adopt a 28th Amendment. It would effectively serve as a partial repeal of the Second Amendment, adding a quartet of new gun restrictions. Those restrictions include a ban on so-called assault weapons, universal background checks, a ban on 18-to-20-year-olds owning guns, and mandatory waiting periods. The question of whether it has any chance of being ratified isn’t particularly interesting. The answer is no. At least, not for the foreseeable future. The policies Newsom wants to add to the Constitution are not popular. Some certainly poll better than others; majorities now often oppose assault weapons bans. But none of them have been adopted by even a majority of states. Click here to read the full analysis. Outside The Reload Mother of 6-year-old who shot teacher pleads guilty to using marijuana while having a firearm | AP News | By Ben Finley Sixteen months for a carry license in New York? | Bearing Arms | By Cam Edwards White House threatens to veto GOP resolution against its pistol brace ban | The Hill | By Alex Gangitano SCOTUS Could Hear Case on Guns For People Subject to Domestic Abuse Orders | New York Times | By Adam Liptak House Democrats look to force Republican majority to act on ‘Assault Weapon’ Ban | Washington Post | By Marianna Sotomayor More Coloradans carrying as concealed handgun permits climb above pre-pandemic levels | Complete Colorado | By Sherrie Pief Oregon State study finds gun views impact self-defense views | Bearing Arms | By Tom Knighton

A collection of federal courts swooped in right at the deadline this week to block enforcement of Joe Biden's pistol-brace ban. But there are some catches. The main one is that the injunctions don't apply to everyone. In fact, there was even some confusion about who exactly they do apply to earlier this week. I explain exactly what's going on with these court rulings and where they leave one of President Biden's biggest gun agenda items. We also got new insight into how gun-control advocates are trying to influence Hollywood's depiction of firearms in their TV shows and movies. Stephen Bole, our summer intern from the National Journalism Center, looks at a guide from USC that heavily sources its claims from Brady United and Everytown for Gun Safety. Bole also updates us on two new statewide bans against using specialized credit card codes to track sales at gun retailers and the ATF's reaction to Minnesota legalizing marijuana. Meanwhile, Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman looks at a new law in Texas that requires all schools to have armed security. And I explain why President Biden's abysmal approval rating on gun policy is unlikely to rise anytime soon. Plus, Hot Air's Ed Morrissey joins the podcast to break down the gunfight between Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump. And I give an update on my experience trying out appendix carry with the Phlster Enigma. What do you guys think? Should I switch over? We also have a cross-promotion this week. As The Reload enters its third year, I'm looking for ways to keep the publication growing. So, when Ari David from Upward News reached out about sharing our newsletters across our respective email lists, I thought it made a lot of sense. Upward News is a startup that tries to aggregate and analyze the news for conservative-leaning readers in a sensible way that shuns much of the overheated rhetoric and bombast you often find elsewhere. I like that approach. So, I'm a subscriber. I think it's definitely worth your time to check out. We've got more info on them below. Third Injunction Issued Against Biden Pistol Brace Ban on Eve of Enforcement By Stephen Gutowski The ATF can’t enforce its pistol-brace ban against Texas state employees and Gun Owners of America (GOA) members. That’s the ruling a federal judge handed down just hours before the ban is set to go into effect. On Wednesday, Judge Drew B. Tipton issued a preliminary injunction against the ban. He found the pistol-brace ban is likely unconstitutional, and should be blocked as the case against it moves forward. “Defendants are ENJOINED from enforcing the Final Rule against (1) the private Plaintiffs in this case, including its current members and their resident family members, and (2) individuals employed directly by the State of Texas or its agencies,” Judge Tipon wrote in Texas v. ATF. Click here to read more. Analysis: What the Injunctions Against Biden's Brace Ban Actually Do [Member Exclusive] By Stephen Gutowski Three federal court judges and one appeals panel have now issued injunctions against President Joe Biden's pistol-brace ban. Worse for him and the ATF, the judges have clarified those injunctions extend to millions of members of a collection of gun-rights groups. However, they don't extend to everyone. This is a clear setback for Biden, the brace ban, and his larger effort to enact new gun restrictions through executive actions. But it isn't a total win for gun-rights activists. On Wednesday, three different federal courts released orders saying the ATF could not enforce the ban. They enjoined the agency against arresting the named plaintiffs in the case over the rule. The fact that three major gun-rights groups were named plaintiffs in those cases complicated things a bit. At first, it was unclear whether members of the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), and Gun Owners of America (GOA) were covered by the injunctions. FPC and SAF filed motions asking the courts to clarify shortly after the rulings came down, and the courts did. If you're a Reload Member, click here to read the whole thing. If not, join today for exclusive access to this and hundreds of other pieces! Get smarter about politics The Upward News daily brief brings you need-to-know news and insights you won’t find in the mainstream media. No opinions, no sensationalism, just level-headed analysis. It's free and keeps you informed in just minutes. Some topics you can expect to see on a daily basis: The 2024 Election: Coverage of candidates, polling data, campaign strategies, and debates. The Culture War: Social conflicts, including free speech, education, and 2A. Emerging trends in America: Demographics, immigration, social changes, and state politics. D.C. Politics: Examining legislation, power dynamics, and policy-making in the U.S. capital. Get smarter about politics and join 60K+ readers today. Click here to check out Upward News and subscribe to their newsletter today! USC Highlights Gun-Control Groups’ Talking Points in Guide Intended to Influence Hollywood’s Depiction of Guns By Stephen Bole The University of Southern California (USC) released a new guide for filmmakers that hopes to stigmatize some kinds of gun use in entertainment. “Trigger Warning: Gun Guidelines for Media,” published last week, provides guidance on how TV shows, movies, and even news shows should approach issues such as officer-involved shootings, gun storage, mass shootings, school shootings, and partner violence. USC said it aimed to change the impact that media have on how Americans view guns. However, despite claims the guide is about promoting “responsible gun ownership,” the school’s guide repeated a number of disputed studies and claims commonly used by gun-control groups. “From ‘designated driver’ to ‘buckle up,’ we all know how Hollywood helped make our roads safer by depicting responsible driving. Could there be a better moment than this one for the entertainment industry to get behind a similar effort for gun safety, and depict responsible gun ownership?” Kate Folb, director of USC’s Hollywood, Health & Society, which published the guide, said in a press release. “TV shows are in a unique position to change the narrative, reset the bar, and provide representation of safe, responsible behavior when it comes to firearms.” Click here to read more. Montana, North Dakota Block Gun Retailer Tracking Codes By Stephen Bole Republicans continue to fight against the introduction of a financial tracking code for firearm retailers. On May 19th, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte (R.) signed Senate Bill 359, which blocks transactions at firearm retailers from being flagged with a Merchant Category Code (MCC). Gianforte signed the law less than a month after North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum (R.) signed a version in his state. Montana and North Dakota join Idaho, West Virginia, Mississippi, and Florida in passing laws to bar the use of specialized MCC codes for gun stores. The laws represent continuing momentum in the firearms industry’s pushback against gun-control advocates’ efforts to enlist the financial industry in their work to restrict gun sales. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), an industry trade group, said “gun owners should worry about what’s in their wallet, not who’s in their wallet” and the collection of new financial regulations accomplish that goal. Click here to read the full piece. Texas Lawmakers Pass Bill Requiring Armed Security at All Schools By Jake Fogleman Lawmakers in the Lone Star State have passed a sweeping school safety bill to harden schools to prevent future attacks. The Texas legislature gave final approval on Sunday to a bill that would require armed security on every school campus in the state and boost mental health training for school employees, among other provisions. It reached Governor Greg Abbott’s (R.) desk on Tuesday. His office did not respond to a request for comment, but he is expected to sign the bill into law. The bill’s passage arrives shortly after the first anniversary of the Robb Elementary School massacre in Uvalde, Texas. That school shooting, which claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers, is the deadliest in Texas history and one of the worst in American history. The police response to the Uvalde shooting drew heavy criticism for the inaction of responding officers. It reignited the political debate over school safety, armed responses to mass shootings, and gun control. The bill reflects Republicans’ preference for providing armed deterrence and better mental health screenings to prevent future attacks, and its passage could serve as a model to other red states searching for politically palatable measures to curb school shootings. Click here to read the rest. ATF Reminds Marijuana Users of Gun Restrictions After Minnesota Decriminalization By Stephen Bole As marijuana restrictions loosen around the country, the ATF wants Americans to know users of the drug are still prohibited from owning guns. On Tuesday, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) clarified what Minnesota's recent legalization of marijuana means for current and future firearms owners in the state. The agency said the federal Gun Control Act of 1968 bars anyone who unlawfully uses a controlled substance from possessing guns or ammunition. And, while marijuana is now decriminalized in Minnesota and 23 other states, use of the drug is still unlawful under federal law. "Until marijuana is legalized federally, firearms owners and possessors should be mindful that it remains federally illegal to mix marijuana with firearms and ammunition." Jeff Reed, an ATF agent, said in a press release. Although cannabis use is now legal in nearly half of the U.S. states and decriminalized in multiple others, the federal government has not budged on prohibitions surrounding gun and marijuana use. That has sparked efforts by some gun-rights advocates to change the law. Minnesota's legalization adds momentum to the decriminalization movement and provides further opportunities for gun-rights advocates to challenge the status quo. Click here to read the rest. Podcast: Will DeSantis Attacks on Trump Gun Record Work? (Featuring Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey) By Stephen Gutowski This week, we have one of the people who inspired me to get into political writing all the way back in college. Ed Morrissey, the managing editor of Hot Air, has long been one of the most insightful conservative political analysts out there. He joins the show to break down the early days of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, especially his latest attacks on frontrunner Donald Trump’s gun record. In one of his first interviews after launching his campaign, DeSantis said Trump’s 2018 call to ‘take the guns first, go through due process second’ was “wrong” and “unconstitutional.” Plus, Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman and I do our best to explain the latest developments with the injunctions against Biden’s pistol-brace ban. (The Fifth Circuit issued a clarification that it does cover FPC members and Maxim Defense customers after we recorded the episode) You can listen to the show on your favorite podcasting app or by clicking here. Video of the episode is also available on our YouTube channel. As always, Reload Members get access on Sunday. Everyone else can listen when it goes public on Monday. Analysis: Biden’s Poor Approval on Guns Unlikely to Rise Anytime Soon [Member Exclusive] By Stephen Gutowski Just 31 percent of Americans think President Joe Biden is doing a good job of handling gun policy. That number marks a new low, but it’s also unlikely to rise much before the 2024 election. On Monday, The Associated Press (AP) and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research released a poll that showed Biden’s approval on the issue dropped five points from last June. A CNN/SSRS poll released on Friday found Biden’s approval falling to an all-time low as well, with just 30 percent of respondents happy with his performance. Both found his approval on guns was significantly lower than his overall approval rating. Biden’s general approval, as you might expect, is highly polarized. Democrats are more likely to approve of the job he’s doing than Republicans. That’s true on gun policy as well, but to a lesser degree because Democrats are almost evenly split on how he’s handled that issue. The AP poll shows 50 percent of Democrats approve of how the president has handled firearms, but 48 percent disapprove. Those are lower marks than they give him on the economy, immigration, and student loans. But the underperformance on gun policy isn’t new for Biden. His approval on the issue has languished behind his general approval since early in his presidency. There are at least two factors at play that drive that dynamic. If you’re a Reload Member, click here to read more. If not, join today to read the whole piece! Outside The Reload Hunter Biden’s Lawyers Cite Landmark Gun Ruling in Bid to Stave Off Charges | New York Times | By Glenn Thrush and Michael S. Schmidt Constitutional Carry set for final vote in Louisiana | Bearing Arms | By Cam Edwards New Jersey’s Effort to Pave the Way for Smart Guns Hits Another Bump | The Trace | By Champe Barton NY passed a microstamping gun law. It’s already months behind schedule. | Gothamist | By Jon Campbell U.S. judge upholds gun ban for those on probation for misdemeanors | Washington Post | By Spencer S. Hsu Ghost gun maker Polymer80 agrees to pay LA $5 million and abide by new regulations | Courthouse News Service | By Hillel Aron

This week, President Biden's executive gun actions took another hit from the courts. Two federal judges issued injunctions blocking the ATF from enforcing his pistol-brace ban just as the registration deadline is about to hit. It isn't a total win for gun-rights activists, though. The injunctions only apply to the named plaintiffs in each case, and exactly what it means remains unclear at the moment. But it's not good news for the constitutionality of Biden's action. And it comes on top of other bad news for the president. Americans' approval of the way he's handled guns has dropped to an all-time low, according to a new poll. That wasn't the only interesting poll released this week. Another one found growing support for "stand your ground" laws but shrinking support for gun rights overall. Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman examines the long-term trend to see how bad that news is for gun-rights supporters. Spoiler: it's not good. That analysis piece follows another one where he looked at how Republicans underperforming in the 2022 election has played out in new gun restrictions in some states. And he looks at the state where the opposite just came true. We also saw some non-gun-related Second Amendment news. Hawaii agreed to end its baton carry ban after losing a legal fight. Baton and billy club bans may be the next front in the fight over non-firearm weapon prohibitions. Plus, the Second Amendment Foundation's Alan Gottlieb joins the podcast to respond to a Wall Street Journal story raising questions about his group's finances. Oh, and I give an update on my quest to rework my carry setup after upgrading my carry gun. It has been a bit of an adventure... Second Federal Judge Expands Block on Biden Pistol-Brace Ban as Registration Deadline Approaches By Jake Fogleman Another federal court has cast doubt on the legality of one of President Biden’s unilateral attempts at implementing new gun restrictions. United States District Judge Jane L. Boyle of the Northern District of Texas issued a preliminary injunction against the ATF’s ban on pistols equipped with stabilizing braces on Thursday in the case Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) v. ATF. Drawing on the injunction issued against the ban on Tuesday by a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Boyle said similar concerns over administrative procedure and Second Amendment rights were at issue in the case before her court. She limited her injunction to just the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. “Although the Fifth Circuit’s order limited relief to the plaintiffs in that case, the Court finds the same relief is appropriate here,” Boyle wrote in her order. “And while Plaintiffs raise some arguments that were not raised in Mock, the resolution of that appeal will almost certainly affect, if not control, the Court’s decision on Plaintiffs’ Motion. For these reasons, the Court GRANTS IN PART the Motion and issues a preliminary injunction as to Plaintiffs in this case only, pending resolution of the expedited appeal in Mock v. Garland.” Click here to read the full story. Poll: Majority of Adults Support ‘Stand Your Ground’ Laws, Sour on Need to Protect Gun Rights By Jake Fogleman A significant majority of the general public support robust legal protections for their public self-defense rights. That’s according to a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released Wednesday. Nearly six-in-ten U.S. adults said they support laws so-called stand-your-ground laws that “allow people who are in a public place and believe that their life or safety is in danger to kill or injure the person who they think is threatening them,”—up three percent since it last polled the question. More than 80 percent of Republicans and 57 percent of Independents said they agreed with the laws, while only 40 percent of Democrats said the same. At the same time, the poll identified a broader trend of the public turning against the need to defend gun rights in favor of reducing gun violence. It found 60 percent of Americans now think controlling gun violence is more important, while just 38 percent say the opposite. That’s a significant change from 2013, the year the poll first began asking this question, when the public was evenly split between defending gun rights and curbing violence. Click here to read the full piece. Analysis: Is the Court of Public Opinion Turning Against Gun Rights? [Member Exclusive] By Jake Fogleman Gun-rights advocates have had tremendous success in courtrooms across the country as of late, but have they ceded ground in the court of public opinion? An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released Wednesday found the highest number of Americans in more than a decade who say the need to defend gun rights is less important than reducing gun violence. It found 60 percent of Americans now think controlling gun violence is more important, including 55 percent of self-described political independents, while just 38 percent say the opposite. That’s a significant change from 2013, the year the poll first began asking this question, when the public was evenly split on the question. The percentage of respondents who moved away from prioritizing gun rights steadily increased each year in between. That’s a troubling sign if you’re a gun-rights supporter. If you're a Reload Member, click here to read the rest. If not, buy a membership today for exclusive access to this piece and hundreds more. DeSantis Says Trump’s Call to ‘Take the Guns First, Go Through Due Process Second’ is Unconstitutional By Stephen Gutowski Florida Governor Ron Desantis (R.) said on Thursday that former-president Donald Trump’s call to take guns from people before they can defend themselves in court is wrong. The day after he announced his run for the Republican presidential nomination, DeSantis attacked front-runner Donald Trump’s position on so-called red flag laws. He claimed the former president’s 2018 proposal to take guns from potentially dangerous people before courts can vet claims against them violates several parts of the constitution. “That’s unconstitutional,” DeSantis told conservative radio host Dana Loesch. “It violates the Second Amendment, but I think, even more important, it violates the Fifth Amendment because they can’t take anything from you without due process. It’s not just firearms. And, so, the idea that you’re seizing people’s property and then promising due process later; that is wrong. That’s not something I would support.” Click here to read the rest. Approval of Biden Gun Policy Hits New Low, Down to 31 Percent By Stephen Gutowski President Joe Biden gets low marks from Americans on how he is handling guns, according to a new poll. On Monday, The Associated Press (AP) and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research released a poll that found just 31 percent of adults approve of Biden’s gun policy. The number is five points lower than when the same survey was taken last June. Disapproval hit an all-time high at 67 percent, up five points in the same period. The numbers are significantly lower than Biden’s overall performance rating, which sits at 40 percent approval and 59 percent disapproval. “Views of how Biden is handling the national economy, gun policy, and immigration are more negative,” the pollster said in a release. “Only a third approve of Biden’s handling of these issues.” Click here to continue reading. Hawaii Agrees to Drop Baton Ban After Losing Court Fight By Stephen Bole Hawaiians can now carry billy clubs and batons for self-defense as the legal fight over the weapons ends. On Tuesday, United States District Judge Jill A. Otake implemented a permanent injunction on the law prohibiting Hawaiian citizens from carrying billy clubs as a condition of a settlement in Yukutake v. Shikada. The settlement allows law-abiding Hawaiians to own and carry “cudgels, truncheons, police batons, collapsible batons, billy clubs, or nightsticks” for their protection. It also orders the state to pay $50,000 to cover the plaintiffs’ legal fees. “[T]he Attorney General shall direct her agents and all other persons under her authority to comply with the terms of this Injunction and will direct all persons under the legal authority of the Attorney General not to enforce the “billy” provision of HRS § 134-51(a) as set forth in the Injunction,” Judge Otake wrote in his order. Click here to read more. Podcast: Second Amendment Foundation’s Alan Gottlieb Responds to Financial Questions By Stephen Gutowski This week, Alan Gottlieb of the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) joined the show to respond to questions about the group’s finances. As I promised on the previous podcast, I asked Gottlieb about the ins and out of how the two non-profits he’s a director of interact with the private entities he operates and what safeguards are in place to ensure the groups aren’t being overcharged. He said SAF and the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) have boards that approve the contracts with the private companies he owns, and he has no say over those decisions. He noted the relationships have been disclosed on the group’s financial filings for decades, as required by law. Plus, Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman and I discuss the Supreme Court’s decision not to issue an emergency injunction against an Illinois city’s AR-15 ban. You can listen to the show on your favorite podcasting app or by clicking here. Video of the episode is also available on our YouTube channel. As always, Reload Members get access to the show on Sunday. Everyone else gets access on Monday. Analysis: 2023 State Legislative Sessions Show Elections Have Consequences for Gun Policy [Member Exclusive] By Jake Fogleman “Elections have consequences” is an old adage in politics, made especially famous by then-President Obama in the aftermath of the 2008 election. But it’s just as relevant now in the current context of state legislative sessions across the country, especially when it comes to gun policy. On Tuesday, the Minnesota state legislature approved a “red flag” law to temporarily confiscate guns from people deemed a threat to themselves or others and expanded background check requirements for most private gun sales. It now finds itself on its way to the desk of Governor Tim Walz (D.), who has said he will sign it into law. “As a veteran, gun-owner, hunter, and dad, I know that basic gun safety isn’t a threat to the Second Amendment,” Walz tweeted on Wednesday. “It’s about our first responsibility to our kids: Keeping them safe. When the bill reaches my desk, I’m going to sign a red flag law and background checks into law.” The bill’s passage marks a significant win for gun-control advocates on its own merits, but it also marks the latest instance of new movement on gun bills in states where Democrats gained political power in the 2022 midterm elections. Last November, the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party regained trifecta control of the state government for the first time since 2014 after flipping the state Senate by a one-seat margin. That gave the party the votes to finally pass new gun restrictions after years of unsuccessful attempts due to Republican opposition. If you’re a Reload Member, click here to read more. If not, join today to read the whole piece! Outside The Reload New Jersey appeals federal ruling blocking enforcement of gun carry law | New Jersey Monitor | By Dana DiFilippo Louisiana House passes permitless carry bill with veto-proof majority | Louisiana Illuminator | By Piper Hutchinson Whitmer signs Michigan red flag law | Detroit Free Press | By Clara Hendrickson Our Unenforced Gun Laws | National Review | By Robert VerBruggen State lawmakers OK'd more pro-gun bills than control measures since Uvalde | Axios | By Russell Contreras and Erin Davis Why mass shootings won’t change Serbia’s gun culture | The Spectator | By Charlotte Eagar How Peaceful Sweden Became Europe’s Gun-Murder Capital | Wall Street Journal | By Sune Engel Rasmussen Trio of Republican lawmakers demand TN governor cancel special session on "red flag" proposal | Bearing Arms | By Cam Edwards

This week, the Supreme Court is at the top of the gun news heap. But this time it's for something it didn't do. The Court denied an emergency request for an injunction against an Illinois city's AR-15 sales ban. That dashed the hopes for a quick resolution to the broader question of whether such bans are constitutional under the new Bruen standard handed down last year. But I explain in a member-exclusive piece why the fight is far from over. Elsewhere in the federal courts, a district judge issued a preliminary injunction against much of New Jersey's Bruen-response law. She found the state's expansive list of new "gun-free" zones aren't constitutional. But she also determined most of its new permitting requirements are acceptable. We also saw new gun-control laws enacted in a pair of states where Democrats beat weak Republican candidates to take total control of the state government. Minnesota passed universal background checks and a "red flag" law. Maryland passed a Bruen-response bill that mirrors the one just blocked in New Jersey and now the Old Line state faces lawsuits from a host of major gun-rights groups hoping for a repeat of their success against the Garden State. Plus, Cam Edwards from Bearing Arms joins the podcast for a close look at the Tennessee "red flag" proposal. We also discuss Trump's bump stock ban defense and my analysis that it is more important for legal and political reasons than the former president would like to admit. Supreme Court Decides Against Early Intervention in Illinois AR-15 Ban Case By Stephen Gutowski The Supreme Court declined to issue an emergency injunction request against an Illinois city’s “assault weapons” ban on Wednesday. The request was made by the National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR), which has challenged a ban on AR-15s and similar firearms enacted by Naperville, Illinois. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who oversees the circuit the case is filed in, requested a brief from the city in defense of its law after the gun-rights group asked the Court to intervene because a lower court upheld the ban. “The application for a writ of injunction pending appeal presented to Justice Barrett and by her referred to the Court is denied,” the order in NAGR v. Naperville reads. Click here to continue reading. Analysis: Despite Supreme Court Inaction, Illinois 'Assault Weapons" Ban Fight Far From Over [Member Exclusive] By Stephen Gutowski The Supreme Court's decision not to intervene in the case against an Illinois city's AR-15 ban has caused consternation and celebration on either side of the debate. But the cheers and jeers are premature. On Wednesday, the Cout unceremoniously denied an emergency request to block Naperville, Illinois's so-called assault weapons ban. It didn't offer any explanation for the decision, and none of the justices attached any of their thoughts either. That is undoubtedly a loss for the National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR), who brought the case, and gun-rights advocates hoping for a quick resolution. But it isn't a major one. It's akin to missing a buzzer-beater from beyond half-court... at the end of the first quarter. The game is far from over. If you're a Reload Member, click here to read the rest. If not, buy a membership today for exclusive access! Federal Judge Blocks Most New Jersey ‘Gun-Free Zones,’ Upholds Permitting Requirements By Stephen Gutowski Many of the carry restrictions New Jersey passed in response to last year’s landmark gun-rights ruling by the Supreme Court are unconstitutional. That’s the decision released by U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb on Tuesday. She found most of the state’s new “sensitive place” gun-carry restrictions, its automatic private property gun restrictions, and its gun insurance mandate can not be enforced. She ruled they were not backed up with the kind of historical tradition required under the test laid out by the Supreme Court in 2022’s New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen. “The Constitution leaves the States’ some measures’ to combat handgun violence. But what the Second Amendment prohibits the States from doing, and what the State of New Jersey has done here with much of Chapter 131, is to ‘prevent[] law-abiding citizens with ordinary self-defense needs from exercising their right to keep and bear arms,'” Judge Bumb wrote in Koons v. Platkin. “That is plainly unconstitutional.” Click here to read more. Lawsuits Roll in as Maryland Passes Sweeping Gun-Carry Restrictions By Stephen Gutowski Major gun-rights groups are jumping into court to challenge Maryland’s latest gun-control law. The National Rifle Association (NRA) and Maryland State Rifle and Pistol Association filed Kipke v. Moore against the state’s new law increasing concealed carry permitting fees and vastly expanding “gun-free zones” on Tuesday. The Second Amendment Foundation, Firearms Policy Coalition, and Maryland Shall Issue filed Novotny v. Moore the same day. Maryland lawmakers, who passed the new restrictions as a response to the Supreme Court striking down their previous restrictive permitting law in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, argued the law will make the state safer. Governor Wes Moore (D.) said the bill “strengthened common sense gun laws” during his signing ceremony. Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller (D.) argued the new restrictions “will keep Marylanders, particularly children, safe from gun violence.” Click here to read the rest. Minnesota Passes ‘Red Flag’ Law, Universal Background Checks By Jake Fogleman Gun-control advocates will soon notch another legislative victory in the upper Midwest. The Minnesota House of Representatives voted to approve Senate File 2909 early Tuesday morning. The wide-ranging public safety bill contains provisions for a “red flag” law to temporarily confiscate guns from people deemed a threat to themselves or others and expanded background check requirements for most private gun sales. The bill now heads to Governor Tim Walz’s (D.) desk. He has already pledged to sign it into law. “As a veteran, gun-owner, hunter, and dad, I know that basic gun safety isn’t a threat to the Second Amendment,” Walz tweeted today. “It’s about our first responsibility to our kids: Keeping them safe. When the bill reaches my desk, I’m going to sign a red flag law and background checks into law.” Click here to read the full piece. Podcast: Examining Tennessee’s ‘Red Flag’ Proposal & Trump’s Bump Stock Defense with Bearing Arms’ Cam Edwards By Stephen Gutowski We’re bringing back a fan-favorite guest this week: Cam Edwards of Bearing Arms. He joins the show to discuss Tennessee’s new “red flag” proposal. We talked about the major differences between Governor Bill Lee’s (R.) proposal and other laws already on the books. The Tennessee proposal is one of the first to try and address many of the due process concerns raised by the other laws. Plus, Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman and I discuss federal court rulings upholding the gun ban for those involuntarily committed and striking down the sales ban for adults under 21. You can listen to the show on your favorite podcasting app or by clicking here. Video of the episode is also available on our YouTube channel. As always, Reload Members get access on Sunday. Everyone else can listen when the show goes public on Monday. Analysis: Despite Trump Claim, Bump Stock Ban is Important [Member Exclusive] By Stephen Gutowski Former President Donald Trump (R.) hand waved his decision to unilaterally ban bump stocks in the wake of the Las Vegas shooting as “very unimportant.” But the ban was enormously consequential both legally and politically. On Wednesday, Trump was asked about his ban by a Republican primary voter at CNN’s town hall. “As you know, the bump stocks are actually a very unimportant thing,” Trump replied. “NRA I went with them, and they said, ‘it doesn’t mean anything, or actually all they do is teach you how to shoot very inaccurately.’ So, we did that.” It is true that the National Rifle Association (NRA) supported instituting the ban via executive order after balking at a legislative ban they argued went too far. Trump listened to NRA and issued an order to have the ATF craft a rule banning the devices as unregistered machineguns–possession of which could lead to upwards of ten years in prison under the National Firearms Act (NFA). However, he turned a deaf ear when the NRA complained the rule went too far by refusing to exempt those who’d legally bought the stocks before Trump ordered the rule. If you’re a Reload Member, click here to read more. If not, join today to read the whole piece! Outside The Reload Nevada governor vetoes 3 gun-control bills | AP News | By Gabe Stern Louisiana legislative committee advances permitless carry bill | Louisiana Illuminator | By Piper Hutchinson Tennessee Gov. Lee signs bill protecting gun industry from lawsuits | Chattanooga Times Free Press | By Andy Sher After red-state shootings, gun-control advocates see glimmers of change | The Washington Post | By Karin Brulliard and Annie Gowen Detroit City Council moves forward with plans to make downtown a "gun-free zone" | Bearing Arms | By Cam Edwards

There are times I have found what I am looking for here as well: https://www.cdnnsports.com/

If only people would remember this as well as the fact that most of our insulin and blood thinners come from cows.

Donald Trump is back at the top of the news this week after appearing on a CNN town hall this week. A lot of headlines came out of that event, but one of the lesser-discussed ones may prove to be one of the more impactful as far as the Republican primary goes. That's the former president's defense of his unilateral bump stock ban. That ban has since been found unconstitutional by two federal appeals courts and Trump doubling down on it may leave him vulnerable to his right on gun policy. And I take a close look at how Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has positioned himself to do just that. But how do their records on guns compare? The federal courts were active this week as well. As judges try to feel out the edges of Second Amendment protections in the wake of the landmark Bruen decision, we're beginning to see more and more decisions on who can be barred from owning guns and who can't. Most recently, we have a ruling saying the dangerously mentally ill can be but 18-to-20-year-0lds can't be. Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman does a deep dive into Tennessee Governor Bill Lee's (R.) proposal to temporarily take guns from those deemed a threat to themselves or others and how it mirrors and diverges from typical "red flag" laws. Plus, author Mark W. Smith joins the podcast to explain where the Supreme Court's recent action on AR-15 bans may lead. Trump Defends Bump Stock Ban, Says it Was the NRA’s Idea By Stephen Gutowski Former President Donald Trump defended his decision to unilaterally ban bump stocks, which he called “very unimportant,” during a CNN town hall on Wednesday night. The Republican presidential primary frontrunner didn’t turn back on his support for the ban, which has since been found unconstitutional by two federal appeals courts. He said he consulted with the National Rifle Association (NRA) before issuing an order to the ATF to find a way to outlaw the devices. He said the group was supportive of his effort. “As you know, the bump stocks are actually a very unimportant thing,” Trump said. “NRA I went with them, and they said, ‘it doesn’t mean anything, or actually all they do is teach you how to shoot very inaccurately.’ So, we did that.” Click here to read more. Judge Rules Federal Ban on Adults Under 21 Buying Handguns is Unconstitutional By Stephen Gutowski 18-to-20-year-olds are entitled to the same Second Amendment protections as other adults, according to a federal judge in Virginia. On Wednesday, District Judge Robert Payne found the federal prohibition on sales of handguns to adults under 21 is unconstitutional. He ruled the government can’t stop licensed dealers from selling pistols to all adults. He said the Constitution protects the right to buy guns as part of the right to keep and bear them. “[T]he Government’s argument is predicated on a limited, and erroneous reading, of the fundamental right protected by the Second Amendment,” Judge Payne wrote in Fraser v. ATF. “[T]he Second Amendment protects the right to purchase, not just to possess, a firearm.” Click here to read the full piece. Tennessee Governor Announces Special Session for ‘Red Flag’ Style Gun Law By Jake Fogleman The Tennessee General Assembly will officially reconvene this summer to consider legislation aimed at preventing future mass shootings. On Monday, Governor Bill Lee (R.) formally announced a special legislative session starting August 21st. The goal of the session will be to “strengthen public safety and preserve constitutional rights,” according to Lee, and will likely involve debate over his take on legislation aimed at temporarily taking guns from those determined to be a threat to themselves or others. “After speaking with members of the General Assembly, I am calling for a special session on August 21 to continue our important discussion about solutions to keep Tennessee communities safe and preserve the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens,” Lee said. “There is broad agreement that action is needed, and in the weeks ahead, we’ll continue to listen to Tennesseans and pursue thoughtful, practical measures that strengthen the safety of Tennesseans, preserve Second Amendment rights, prioritize due process protections, support law enforcement and address mental health.” Click here to continue reading. Analysis: What Makes the Tennessee Governor’s ‘Red Flag’ Proposal Different? [Member Exclusive] By Jake Fogleman Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R.) has gone to great lengths to say his order of protection proposal is unlike so-called red flag laws. But how different is his preferred policy from current examples? On Monday, Lee formally announced a special legislative session beginning August 21st dedicated to legislation aimed at preventing mass shootings. While not exclusively so, the session will likely center around his take on legislation aimed at temporarily taking guns from those determined to be a threat to themselves or others. “After speaking with members of the General Assembly, I am calling for a special session on August 21 to continue our important discussion about solutions to keep Tennessee communities safe and preserve the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens,” Lee said. “There is broad agreement that action is needed, and in the weeks ahead, we’ll continue to listen to Tennesseans and pursue thoughtful, practical measures that strengthen the safety of Tennesseans, preserve Second Amendment rights, prioritize due process protections, support law enforcement and address mental health.” Lee is attempting to walk a fine line politically. Being perceived as calling for gun control in an overwhelmingly Republican state risks alienating gun-rights supporters and right-leaning voters more broadly. That's why he is attempting to control the narrative around what his proposal actually is, drawing sharp contrasts with commonly understood “red flag” laws adopted in other states. Now that a draft proposal of Lee’s policy has been released, it’s worth looking at how different Lee’s proposal truly is compared with the red flag confiscation orders passed elsewhere. If you’re a Reload Member, click here to read more. If not, join today to read the whole piece! Podcast: Examining the Supreme Court’s Renewed Interest in AR-15 Bans With Author Mark W. Smith By Stephen Gutowski The Supreme Court is back in the spotlight because it showed a sign it might soon act on so-called assault weapons bans. But the sign comes in the form of a complex legal maneuver that needs some explaining. That’s why we have author and pro-gun lawyer Mark W. Smith on the show to suss out exactly what’s going on and what it means. Plus, Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman and I discuss the effects of Colorado’s decade-long push to tighten its gun laws. You can listen to the full episode on your favorite podcasting app or by clicking here. Video of the show is also available on our YouTube channel. As always, Reload Members get early access to the show on Sunday. Everyone else can listen on Monday. Analysis: DeSantis Gun Policy Moves Exploit Trump Vulnerability [Member Exclusive] By Stephen Gutowski Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s aggressive push for new pro-gun laws has set him up with an opportunity to outflank former president Donald Trump in the Republican presidential primary. This week, DeSantis signed new regulations into law that prevent banks from denying loans and accounts to people for lawfully owning guns or operating gun businesses. It also bars banks that use social credit scores that factor gun ownership into lending decisions from doing business with the state government. It is the second major gun reform that DeSantis has signed into law this session. Last month, DeSantis signed a bill eliminating permitting requirements for lawful adults over 21 to carry a concealed firearm. He made Florida the 25th state to do so and the second-largest behind Texas. That is a remarkable turnaround for a state that had been tightening its gun laws just a few years prior in the wake of the Parkland school shooting. Florida had banned those under 21 from buying guns and instituted a “red flag” law, which temporarily seizes guns from those deemed to be a threat to themselves or others. And it came on the back of a Republican supermajority in both houses that has come into power since DeSantis became governor. If you’re a Reload Member, click here to read more. If not, join today to read the whole piece! Outside The Reload Gun Group’s Financial Dealings With Founder Spark State Investigation | Wall Street Journal | By Zusha Elinson and Mark Maremont NY State Police union says investigators 'overwhelmed' by gun seizure cases | Albany Times Union | By Brendan J. Lyons Mass shootings scar this blue state. But it killed an assault weapons ban | The Washington Post | By Karin Brulliard Rhode Island Democrats set to advance assault weapon ban bill | Bearing Arms | By Cam Edwards Federal judge upholds ban on unserialized or defaced firearms | Colorado Politics | By Michael Karlik New York amends concealed carry law after legal challenges from gun owners | The Buffalo News | By Jay Tokasz The Allen Massacre Underlines the False Promise of 'Universal Background Checks' | Reason | By Jacob Sullum Ninth Circuit urged to block Nevada ghost gun ban | Courthouse News Service | By Bob Leal Illinois State Police: ‘Assault weapons’ bought during week of injunction are illegal | The Center Square | By Greg Bishop

It wasn't mine...I found it a while ago & saved it - just came across it again & decided to post it.

The other day, a young person asked me: - What did it feel like to be old? I was very surprised by the question, since I did not consider myself old. When he saw my reaction, he was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question. And after reflection, I concluded that getting old is a gift. Sometimes I am surprised at the person who lives in my mirror. But I don't worry about those things for long. I wouldn't trade everything I have for a few less gray hairs and a flat stomach. I don't scold myself for not making the bed, or for eating a few extra "little things." I am within my rights to be a little messy, to be extravagant, and to spend hours staring at my flowers. I have seen some dear friends leave this world, before they had enjoyed the freedom that comes with growing old. -Who cares if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 in the morning and then sleep until who knows what time? I will dance with me to the rhythm of the 50's and 60's. And if later I want to cry for some lost love...I will! I'll walk down the beach in a swimsuit that stretches over my plump body and dive into the waves letting myself go, despite the pitying looks of the bikini-wearers. They'll get old too, if they're lucky... It is true that through the years my heart has ached for the loss of a loved one, for the pain of a child, or for seeing a pet die. But it is suffering that gives us strength and makes us grow. An unbroken heart is sterile and will never know the happiness of being imperfect. I am proud to have lived long enough for my hair to turn gray and to retain the smile of my youth, before the deep furrows appeared on my face. Now, to answer the question honestly, I can say: -I like being old, because old age makes me wiser, freer!-. I know I'm not going to live forever, but while I'm here, I'm going to live by my own laws, those of my heart. I'm not going to regret what wasn't, nor worry about what will be. The time that remains, I will simply love life as I did until today, the rest I leave to God......

The Supreme Court may already be considering wading into the debate over the constitutionality of so-called assault weapons bans. This week, Justice Amy Coney Barrett requested Naperville, Illinois submit a defense of its ban after a gun-rights group requested an emergency injunction from the Court. That means at least one justice wants to hear more on the case before SCOTUS decides what to do with the emergency request. That doesn't necessarily mean the Court will intervene and block the city's ban, but it is a live possibility. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R.) also made a splash this week. He signed a new bill to block banks from closing the accounts of gun businesses. His decision to do so stems in part from a story The Reload broke earlier this year. Colorado made its own waves by going in the opposite direction. Governor Jared Polis (D.) signed a package of new gun restrictions, and more may be on the way soon. Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman does a deep dive into the state's recent experiment in gun control and whether it has had the desired effect in reducing gun murders, suicides, or even mass shootings. He also explains why the latest ruling against former president Trump's bump stock ban casts a new shadow over President Biden's "ghost gun" and pistol brace bans. Plus, gun-rights scholar David Kopel joins the podcast to talk about the legal case against "assault weapons" bans. Supreme Court Requests Brief in Case Against Illinois Town’s ‘Assault Weapons’ Ban By Stephen Gutowski Naperville, Illinois, will have to defend its ban on the sale of AR-15s and similar firearms before the Supreme Court. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who oversees the circuit the case against the ban is happening in, asked the city to respond to an emergency request for an injunction against the ordinance on Monday. That means at least one justice wants to hear more about the case before the High Court decides whether or not to weigh in. The city has until May 8th to answer claims that the ban violates the Constitution. “We’re thankful the Supreme Court is taking the Second Amendment rights of Illinoisans seriously,” Dudley Brown of the National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR), a plaintiff in the case, said in a statement. Click here to read the full piece. Florida’s DeSantis Signs Law Banning Banks From Dropping Gun Businesses By Stephen Gutowski Florida banks can’t deny services to gun owners or companies under a new law signed by Governor Ron DeSantis (R.) this week. The governor signed House Bill 3 on Tuesday, enacting new financial regulations over who banks can cut business ties with and why. Under the rules, banks can’t deny credit or accounts to anyone on the basis that they are lawful gun owners, makers, or dealers. It also bars the state from using so-called “social credit” scores to determine who to do business with or work with any bank that uses the scores. DeSantis said Floridians need those protections because some companies have begun discriminating against people whose politics they dislike. “If you’re engaged in traditional energy production, they don’t like that. If you have a gun store or you’re a gun owner, they don’t like that,” he said at a signing ceremony for the bill. “There are certain things that they don’t like. And people feel the brunt of that. So, we wanna make sure that in Florida people have access to these services and they’re not discriminated against based on their political orientation or their religious beliefs or anything like that.” Click here to read more. Colorado Governor Signs Four Gun-Control Bills, Draws Immediate Lawsuits By Jake Fogleman Lawmakers in the Centennial State have officially added to their decade-long gun-control push with a fresh crop of new restrictions. Gun-rights advocates in the state aren’t taking it lying down. Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D.) signed into law a package of four bills on Friday. They include waiting periods for gun sales, an expansion of categories of persons able to file for an Extreme Risk Protection Order, a total ban on gun sales to those under 21, and a repeal of the state’s gun industry liability shield against lawsuits for gun crimes committed by third parties. “Today we are taking some important steps to help make Colorado one of the ten safest states, and building upon the ongoing work to make Colorado communities safer,” Polis said in a statement. Before the ink was dry on the bills, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (RMGO) filed two separate lawsuits against the waiting period and sales ban for 18-to-20-year-olds. The group called the new laws “unconstitutional” and said they would harm victims of violent crime. Click here to continue reading. Analysis: Has a Decade of Colorado Tightening Its Gun Laws Worked? [Member Exclusive] By Jake Fogleman Colorado has again expanded its gun regulations, but how effective has the decade-long push for more restrictions been? Governor Jared Polis (D.) signed a package of four new gun-control bills into law last Friday. The signed bills include new three-day waiting periods for all gun sales, an expansion of who can file for an Extreme Risk Protection Order, a total ban on gun sales to those under 21, and a repeal of the state's gun industry liability shield against lawsuits for gun crimes committed by third parties. "I was honored to sign these bills alongside the survivors of gun violence, advocates, and state lawmakers," Governor Polis said. "Together, we are working to make Colorado one of the 10 safest states in the nation and address this challenge." A fifth bill that would ban the sale and possession of unserialized firearms and firearm components, referred to as "ghost guns" by advocates, has already cleared the state Senate and is expected to pass the House and get signed into law by Polis after the end of the legislative session next week. A sixth bill to allow county governments to ban shooting firearms on private property has also already cleared one chamber, though its path to the Governor's desk before the end of the session is less certain. The bills together mark one of the most significant legislative sessions in years, but they continue a recent trend in the state. Since 2013, the once-purple state has adopted fourteen new gun-control laws, mainly in response to high-profile mass shootings in Colorado. That has made the state an outlier in state-level gun policy over the last decade and is, therefore, one of the gun-control movement's biggest political success stories. "Colorado has many strong firearm laws and has made significant progress in its gun law strength in the years since the 2012 Aurora movie theater shooting," the gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety said of the Centennial State on its website. The group currently ranks the state 12th in the nation in terms of "gun law strength." The gun-control group Giffords likewise gives Colorado high marks for its strict gun laws in the form of a "B" grade in its latest rankings (which does not include the four bills signed into law this session). Given that the state's turn towards stricter gun laws has often responded directly to mass shootings and other violent crimes, it's worth evaluating how a decade of gun control has moved the needle on either front. If you’re a Reload Member, click here to read more. If not, join today to read the whole piece! Podcast: The Fate of ‘Assault Weapons’ Bans According to Gun-Rights Scholar David Kopel By Stephen Gutowski Another federal judge ruled on Friday that so-called assault weapons bans likely violate the Second Amendment. So, the Illinois ban is blocked for now. But Washington’s was just signed. And Delaware’s 2022 ban is still standing. Elsewhere, bans on the popular guns, including the AR-15, have been forestalled by political reality. Independence Institute’s David Kopel understands the fight well having just gone through it in his home state of Colorado, where Democrats who control the government weren’t able to push a ban over the finish line. But he has also filed many court briefs and written even more books or academic papers on the topic from a pro-gun point of view. He joins the show to discuss the political and legal landscape in the fight over assault weapons bans. Plus, Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman and I discuss the wide-reaching implications of the bump stock ban being stuck down by another federal appeals court. The full episode is available on your favorite podcasting app or by clicking here. Video of the show is also available on our YouTube channel. As always, Reload Members get access on Sunday. Everyone else can listen or watch on Monday. Analysis: The Latest Bump Stock Rulings Could Spell Doom for Biden Gun Bans [Member Exclusive] By Jake Fogleman The Supreme Court has more incentive than ever to weigh in on the Trump-initiated bump stock ban. If it does, the implications could extend to Biden’s gun orders. On Tuesday, a three-judge panel for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a Kentucky man who challenged the legality of the ATF’s administrative ban on bump stocks. The unanimous panel ruled that it is unclear whether bump stocks fit within the current statutory definition of “machinegun” because of the multitude of existing legal opinions on the matter—including from the ATF itself. Therefore, the court determined that the definition should be interpreted to exclude them. “An Act of Congress could clear up the ambiguities, but so far Congress has failed to act,” Judge Ronald Lee Gilman, a Clinton appointee, wrote on behalf of the court in Hardin v. Garland. “The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (the ATF) has been on both sides of this issue, with its current regulation (the Rule) banning bump stocks as a machinegun part. In this situation, the rule of lenity that is applicable to criminal offenses requires us to rule in favor of Hardin.” In other words, because the legal experts tasked with evaluating the regulation and the agency that administered it can’t seem to agree on whether bump stocks are machineguns, an average citizen cannot be subject to criminal enforcement. The ruling is significant for two reasons. If you’re a Reload Member, click here to read more. If not, join today to read the whole piece! Outside The Reload Illinois assault weapons ban back in effect after ruling by federal appeals judge in Chicago | Sun-Times Media Wire | By Jon Seidel GOP leadership kills North Carolina permitless carry bill | The News & Observer | By Avi Bajpai and Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan Vanderbilt Poll: Red-flag laws, safe storage laws favored across party lines in Tennessee | NewsNation | By Erin McCullough Red flag law applications up over 1,000% in NY, even as judges rule unconstitutional | The Center Square | By Tom Gantert Why Do Federal Bureaucrats Need So Much Firepower? | Reason | By Joe Lancaster The rise in gun ownership among orthodox Jewish women | The Free Press | By Adam Popescu As deadline passes, Brazil aims to seize unregistered guns | AP News | By Lais Martins Gun Group’s Financial Dealings With Founder Spark State Investigation | Wall Street Journal | By Zusha Elinson and Mark Maremont

Cylinderella saw the post so now I need to drag wood up, cut some like BuckShot Bear & get a fan for the top like his...Thanks BSB, I thought the project was done for now...; BTW the house sat empty for 2+ years so lots of things to do. This past week at the ranch we just bought, The Montgomery Ward Wood Stove needed some TLC - removed an cleaned glass inside / out - cleaned and corrected airflow in firebox & installed wood rack properly - straightened inside chimney pipe, cleaned flu & added new section above roof. Finally restored ceiling tile from water leak stain then rewired circulation fan & connected the heat sensor. Everything's working great & you can even see the bark through the glass now. (pictures are not in order).

You know you could also use an old rifle stock if you have one lying around as well...

They're doing it here in the US as well, it's called "Red Flag Laws".

i had a right reverse Feb last year & am supposed to get the left done after the next hand surgery. - Other than working to run belt through middle loop in back the shirt tucking thing no other issues. Per surgeon you are limited in amount of weight you should lift (for rest of life). I have had no issues shooting once I was told I could. I did buy 1 each of LimbSaver Protective Shooting Pad & Caldwell Recoil Shields with Adjustable Fit and Padding for Shotgun and Rifle Recoil Reduction as a just in case. It is a bit more recoil sensitive but not enough to need the pads, but I enjoy shooting more with them on & wish I would have got them long ago. You'll be moving the lower arm by the next day. I got rid of the tie down almost immediately after getting home & only worn it for sleeping for about 10 days (that doesn't mean you should). Each person reacts differently & I tend to push myself very hard. It takes about 3 months for the surgical pain to go away & a bit longer to work the stiffness out but it's worth it & yes I will get the other done.

Washington, DC is targeting minorities with illegal stops and searches to enforce its strict gun laws, according to a class-action lawsuit. A federal judge recently ruled plaintiffs have shown enough evidence to continue the suit. She denied a request by the city to have the case tossed. I spoke with the plaintiffs' lawyers who said they hope to end DC's own version of the infamous "stop and frisk" policy championed by former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. But there's another important aspect to the story. The inequitable enforcement of "stop and frisk" policies gets most of the attention. But I explain why the gun laws they're enforcing create the incentives that lead to these scandals. There were also two big gun-carry stories this week. Florida Governor Ron Desantis (R.) took another step toward shoring up his pro-gun credentials by signing permitless concealed carry into law on Monday. At the same time, Minnesota's ban on 18-to-20-year-olds carrying guns was struck down in federal court. I also take a close look at the new template judges are using to uphold bans on AR-15s and similar firearms. It has already been used in Deleware and Oregon. Expect to see it repeated throughout the country in the near future. Plus, Pepperdine University professor Jake Charles joins the podcast to explain how significant Bruen's impact on the lower courts has already been. Judge Allows Discrimination Claim Against DC 'Stop and Frisk' Gun Enforcement to Move Forward By Stephen Gutowski A lawsuit accusing the nation's capitol of engaging in discriminatory "stop and frisk" tactics to enforce its strict gun laws can continue. That's the ruling Federal District Court Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, an Obama appointee, handed down last week. The class-action suit claims the Gun Recovery Unit (GRU) of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) routinely detained and searched residents without probable cause, especially Black men who live in poorer parts of the city. The judge found the plaintiffs presented enough evidence in the case to overcome an attempt by the city to have the case dismissed. "The court has found that Plaintiffs have adequately alleged that policymakers either knew or should have known of the GRU's unconstitutional 'stop and frisk' practices," Judge Chutkan wrote in Crudup v. DC. Click here to read more. Analysis: How Strict Enforcement of Strict Gun Laws Begets Discrimination [Member Exclusive] By Stephen Gutowski Washinton, DC, has been accused of using unconstitutional and discriminatory tactics to enforce its gun laws. Last week, a federal judge ruled a class-action suit against city officials over alleged targeting of Black men in poorer sections of the city for unwarranted scrutiny can move forward. The lawsuit claims police would use pre-texts to stop the men without probable cause to believe they'd committed a crime and then search them without permission or a warrant. This was all done in pursuit of getting guns off the street. It's a familiar story. Infamously, Michael Bloomberg instituted an even more aggressive version of this "stop and frisk" strategy during his time as New York City mayor. At least until it was ruled unconstitutional for targeting minorities. The scandal surrounding Baltimore, Maryland's Gun Trace Taskforce reached new lows using similar methods, combined with outright corruption, in their own pursuit of racking up gun seizures. But these enforcement schemes all have something in common beyond a blatant disregard for the Fourth Amendment rights of their victims: they're the result of gun laws that are nearly impossible for many to actually comply with. And that's no coincidence. It's the intended design of many of the laws in question. But it's also the part of the story that often goes unexamined. If you're a Reload Member, click here to read the rest. If not, join today for exclusive access! Florida Governor Desantis Signs Permitless Gun Carry Into Law By Stephen Gutowski A majority of states no longer require law-abiding residents to obtain a permit to carry a concealed firearm. On Monday, Florida Governor Ron Desantis (R.) signed HB 543. The bill will allow anyone over 21 who would qualify for a concealed-carry permit to carry without obtaining one first. That makes Florida the 26th state to adopt permitless carry. “This bill is a big step, a big step to help the average law-abiding citizen, to keep them from having to go through the hoops of getting a permit from the government to carry their weapon,” Bill sponsor Chuck Brannan (R., Macclenny) said on the floor of the statehouse last month. “It is also not going to change who can and who cannot carry a gun. People that are prohibited now are still going to be prohibited.” Click here to read more. Federal Judge Strikes Down Minnesota Age Limit for Gun-Carry Permits By Jake Fogleman 18-to-20-year-olds in Minnesota may soon be able to exercise the same right to carry a handgun as their peers. U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez, a Biden appointee, ruled on Friday that a Minnesota law requiring an applicant for a concealed carry permit to be at least 21 years of age is unconstitutional. She noted that the state government failed to demonstrate a historical tradition of “relevantly similar regulations” singling out adults under 21 from carrying firearms for self-defense. “Based on a careful review of the record, the Court finds that Defendants have failed to identify analogous regulations that show a historical tradition in America of depriving 18–20-year-olds the right to publicly carry a handgun for self-defense,” Menendez wrote in her Worth v. Harrington opinion. “As a result, the age requirement prohibiting persons between the ages of 18 and 20 from obtaining such a permit to carry violates the Second Amendment.” Click here to continue reading. Podcast: Bruen is Outpacing the Effects of Heller (Feat. Pepperdine University’s Jake Charles) By Stephen Gutowski This week, we’re discussing the tremendous effect the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision has had on the lower courts in a few short months. Jake Charles, an associate professor at Pepperdine University, joins the show to give us an overview of his latest paper. In it, he comprehensively breaks down how many Second Amendment claims have been successful thus far and which ones have performed best. With 31 successful claims, the post-Bruen era has seen far more decisions against gun laws than the immediate aftermath of 2008’s Heller decision. Plus, Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman and I talk about a federal judge upholding Delaware’s “assault weapons” ban despite finding the guns are in “common use” for self-defense. You can listen to the show on your favorite podcasting app or by clicking here. Video of the episode is available on our YouTube channel. Reload Members get access to the show on Sunday. Everyone else will be able to listen on Monday. Analysis: A Legal Template for Upholding AR-15 Bans is Emerging [Member Exclusive] By Stephen Gutowski A federal judge upheld Delaware’s “assault weapons” ban this week using reasoning likely to resonate with other courts inclined to reach the same outcome. On Monday, Federal District Judge Richard G. Andrews, an Obama appointee, found the state’s ban on AR-15s, AK-47s, and similar firearms–along with its ban on magazines that hold more than 17 rounds–is constitutional. He did so despite finding the guns were “in common” use for lawful purposes. “[I] conclude that the prohibited LCMs, like the prohibited assault long guns, are in common use for self-defense and therefore ‘presumptively protect[ed]’ by the Second Amendment,” Judge Andrews ruled in Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association v. Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security. That probably left a lot of people doing a double-take. But Judge Andrews came to his conclusion after arguing AR-15s and the like weren’t common during the founding era and represented a technological advancement that is responsible for a uniquely modern problem: mass shootings. Because of this, he argued Bruen allowed him to look for historical analogues that show a history of regulation instituted for the same purpose and using the same means. He ruled there was such a tradition. If you’re a Reload Member, click here to read more. If not, join today to read the whole piece! Outside The Reload Oregon legislators move to pass gun restrictions based on ballot measure held up in state court | OPB | By Jonathan Levinson DOJ agrees to $144M settlement in Sutherland Springs lawsuit alleging background check negligence | Fox News | By Greg Norman California backlog persists on illegal guns | CalMatters | By Nigel Duara The NRA Paid a $12 Million Settlement to Its Former PR Firm | The Trace | Will Van Sant Firearms Law and the Decline of Chevron | Duke Center for Firearms Law | By Andrew Willinger Massachusetts handgun roster goes before First Circuit | Courthouse News Service | By Andy Monserud Do 'More Guns Lead To More Deaths'? | Reason | By Nick Gillespie NM Governor wants lawmakers to take up assault weapons ban in 2024 | Sante Fe New Mexican | By Daniel Chacon