bearingarms--2020-04-15--IL Man With Pending Attempted Murder Charge Arrested With Firearm

Time and time again , we ’ re told that gun licensing makes it harder for bad people to get guns .
If they need a license to buy a gun , then that adds another roadblock and that criminals simply won ’ t be able to get a firearm .
However , a case out of Illinois–a state that requires a license to buy a gun–illustrates just how stupid this claim actually is .
Not only is Chicago a hotbed of violence and carnage despite the law , but plenty of people are able to get guns outside of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well .
Including one man accused of murder .
Kane County prosecutors allege that the Waterman man , who is amid an Attempted Murder case , and was arrested on new gun charges , last week , was within close proximity to the victim ’ s home in Elburn when he was found with a weapon .
As of Tuesday , 33 year-old Frank Ryan of N. Cedar St. in Waterman , remains held in the Kane County Jail on $ 1 million bail .
His next court date has now been set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was out on bond at that time , is charged with felonies for Possession of a Firearm with a Revoked FOID Card , two counts of Aggravated Unlawful Use of Weapon , and a count of Violation of Bail Bond .
Those are in addition to his case from January where he faces counts of Attempted Murder , Criminal Damage to Property , Reckless Conduct and Battery .
Well , this suggests that the FOID isn ’ t worth the paper it ’ s printed on , now doesn ’ t it ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a mass shooter with a felony record was able to get a gun with a FOID , and the whole system just doesn ’ t seem to live up to the hype .
The truth is , bad people are going to do bad things .
The only thing that will stop them , really stop them , is fear .
They either need to fear the repercussions of their actions or they need to fear their potential targets .
If we ’ ve seen nothing else over the years , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t fear the system all that much .
That means they need to fear the population at large .
That means freer access to guns for law-abiding citizens .
The FOID isn ’ t helping with that .
It ’ s making it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to own a firearm .
It ’ s clear that Ryan , despite not having his FOID , was somehow allegedly able to get a gun .
That tells you that the system doesn ’ t stop someone like him from getting a gun in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murder charge hanging over their head .
That means the system simply doesn ’ t work as advertised .
Maybe the problem isn ’ t that you should be trying to keep guns out of their hands .
Maybe you should be trying to put more guns into the good guys ’ hands .
After all , good guys outnumber the criminals by orders of magnitude , right ?
Use that and stop treating everyone like they ’ re the criminals for a change .

Time and time again, we’re told that gun licensing makes it harder for bad people to get guns. If they need a license to buy a gun, then that adds another roadblock and that criminals simply won’t be able to get a firearm.
However, a case out of Illinois–a state that requires a license to buy a gun–illustrates just how stupid this claim actually is. Not only is Chicago a hotbed of violence and carnage despite the law, but plenty of people are able to get guns outside of the Windy City without a FOID as well. Including one man accused of murder.
Kane County prosecutors allege that the Waterman man, who is amid an Attempted Murder case, and was arrested on new gun charges, last week, was within close proximity to the victim’s home in Elburn when he was found with a weapon. As of Tuesday, 33 year-old Frank Ryan of N. Cedar St. in Waterman, remains held in the Kane County Jail on $1 million bail. His next court date has now been set for May 7. Ryan, who was out on bond at that time, is charged with felonies for Possession of a Firearm with a Revoked FOID Card, two counts of Aggravated Unlawful Use of Weapon, and a count of Violation of Bail Bond. Those are in addition to his case from January where he faces counts of Attempted Murder, Criminal Damage to Property, Reckless Conduct and Battery.
Well, this suggests that the FOID isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on, now doesn’t it?
Couple stuff like this with the fact that a mass shooter with a felony record was able to get a gun with a FOID, and the whole system just doesn’t seem to live up to the hype.
The truth is, bad people are going to do bad things. The only thing that will stop them, really stop them, is fear. They either need to fear the repercussions of their actions or they need to fear their potential targets. If we’ve seen nothing else over the years, we’ve seen that they don’t fear the system all that much.
That means they need to fear the population at large. That means freer access to guns for law-abiding citizens. The FOID isn’t helping with that. It’s making it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to own a firearm.
It’s clear that Ryan, despite not having his FOID, was somehow allegedly able to get a gun. That tells you that the system doesn’t stop someone like him from getting a gun in the first place, despite an attempted murder charge hanging over their head. That means the system simply doesn’t work as advertised.
Maybe the problem isn’t that you should be trying to keep guns out of their hands. Maybe you should be trying to put more guns into the good guys’ hands. After all, good guys outnumber the criminals by orders of magnitude, right? Use that and stop treating everyone like they’re the criminals for a change.


bearingarms--2020-04-15--MI Governor Faces Lawsuit, Protests Over Shutdown Order

As thousands of Michigan residents took part in a rolling protest of Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ’ s stay-at-home order on Wednesday , a legal group launched a federal lawsuit challenging several aspects of the governor ’ s executive order , including alleged violations of the Second Amendment rights of those in the state .
“ Operation Gridlock ” is the name of the protest that saw hundreds of people gather on the capitol grounds in Lansing , Michigan , while hundreds more took to their cars and drove around the state capitol complex , all in an effort to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Meshawn Maddock , a spokesperson for the group , says there has been no action from Gov .
Whitmer to promote both physical and economic health while the stay-at-home order is in effect .
“ There is no reason why she can ’ t be looking at some safe ways to be opening up businesses .
Instead of talking about what ’ s essential and nonessential , let ’ s talk about what ’ s safe and not safe , ” Maddock said .
“ Safe businesses and safe workers need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American Freedom Law Center ’ s new federal lawsuit alleges that Whitmer isn ’ t just keeping people away from work , but infringing on their rights as well .
The lawsuit notes that Whitmer ’ s executive order on essential businesses does not include gun stores , though for the moment many stores remain open .
Still , the suit argues , those hoping to purchase a firearm and ammunition are violating the governor ’ s order if they do exercise their right to acquire a firearm .
As the lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s order Michigan residents can still leave their homes to purchase dog food or cannabis , but not firearms and ammunition .
That , say attorneys for AFLC , is a violation of the Second Amendment and the Michigan state constitution .
Both the United States Constitution and the Michigan Constitution grant individuals a right to keep and bear arms for self-defense and to ensure the security of a free State .
The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution provides , “ A well regulated Militia , being necessary to the security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the people to keep and bear Arms , shall not be infringed.
” Article 1 , § 6 of the 1963 Michigan Constitution , which is Michigan ’ s equivalent to the Second Amendment , states , “ Every person has a right to keep and bear arms for the defense of himself and the state.
” The Second Amendment is fully applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment .
The Second Amendment and Article 1 , § 6 guarantee the individual the right to possess and carry weapons in case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this protection is the right of law-abiding , responsible citizens , such as Plaintiff Muise , to use arms in defense of “ hearth and home.
” In order for this right to have any meaning and effect , individuals must be permitted to purchase firearms and ammunition within the State .
When a law burdens the fundamental right to bear arms , the government bears the burden of establishing that there is a reasonable fit between the asserted substantial or important governmental objective and the burden placed on the individual .
Executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and this is evident by the numerous exceptions it provides for activity that is not protected by the United States or Michigan Constitutions .
This new lawsuit doesn ’ t just take on Whitmer ’ s order as it applies to gun stores .
It also challenges the portion of the stay-at-home order that prevents people from traveling to cabins or other property that they own in the state , as well as limitations on the size of public and private gatherings .
From a legal perspective , a narrow lawsuit focused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s executive order might fare better in court , but there are good arguments to be made against every aspect of the governor ’ s order that ’ s being challenged in the AFLC lawsuit .
I won ’ t predict how a judge will rule on the case , but in the court of public opinion , Gov .
Whitmer ’ s actions clearly don ’ t have unanimous support from Michigan residents .

As thousands of Michigan residents took part in a rolling protest of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home order on Wednesday, a legal group launched a federal lawsuit challenging several aspects of the governor’s executive order, including alleged violations of the Second Amendment rights of those in the state.
‘GOVERNOR, OPEN OUR ECONOMY ON MAY 1 AND RESPECT OUR RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS.’ Wild scene in Lansing, Michigan as hundreds of people protest the state’s stay-at-home order. Team coverage from @WOODTV‘s @_HeatherWalker and @LeonHendrix. pic.twitter.com/CySg9Y6Nx8 — Austin Kellerman (@AustinKellerman) April 15, 2020
“Operation Gridlock” is the name of the protest that saw hundreds of people gather on the capitol grounds in Lansing, Michigan, while hundreds more took to their cars and drove around the state capitol complex, all in an effort to force the governor to relax her order.
Meshawn Maddock, a spokesperson for the group, says there has been no action from Gov. Whitmer to promote both physical and economic health while the stay-at-home order is in effect. “There is no reason why she can’t be looking at some safe ways to be opening up businesses. Instead of talking about what’s essential and nonessential, let’s talk about what’s safe and not safe,” Maddock said. “Safe businesses and safe workers need to get back to work.”
Meanwhile, the American Freedom Law Center’s new federal lawsuit alleges that Whitmer isn’t just keeping people away from work, but infringing on their rights as well. The lawsuit notes that Whitmer’s executive order on essential businesses does not include gun stores, though for the moment many stores remain open. Still, the suit argues, those hoping to purchase a firearm and ammunition are violating the governor’s order if they do exercise their right to acquire a firearm.
Executive Order 2020-42 orders all nonessential businesses and activities to cease. Though this order exempts “critical infrastructure,” Defendant Whitmer purposefully references an outdated list of such industries (issued March 19, 2020) rather than the most current federal guidelines (issued March 28, 2020) that designate firearm and ammunition retailers as critical. This deliberate action shuts down gun stores in order to deny citizens, including Plaintiff Muise, access to their Second Amendment rights and their rights protected by Article 1, § 6 of the Michigan Constitution.
As the lawsuit points out, under the govenor’s order Michigan residents can still leave their homes to purchase dog food or cannabis, but not firearms and ammunition. That, say attorneys for AFLC, is a violation of the Second Amendment and the Michigan state constitution.
Both the United States Constitution and the Michigan Constitution grant individuals a right to keep and bear arms for self-defense and to ensure the security of a free State. The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution provides, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Article 1, § 6 of the 1963 Michigan Constitution, which is Michigan’s equivalent to the Second Amendment, states, “Every person has a right to keep and bear arms for the defense of himself and the state.” The Second Amendment is fully applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment. The Second Amendment and Article 1, § 6 guarantee the individual the right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation. At the core of this protection is the right of law-abiding, responsible citizens, such as Plaintiff Muise, to use arms in defense of “hearth and home.” In order for this right to have any meaning and effect, individuals must be permitted to purchase firearms and ammunition within the State. When a law burdens the fundamental right to bear arms, the government bears the burden of establishing that there is a reasonable fit between the asserted substantial or important governmental objective and the burden placed on the individual. Executive Order 2020-42 fails to satisfy this burden, and this is evident by the numerous exceptions it provides for activity that is not protected by the United States or Michigan Constitutions.
This new lawsuit doesn’t just take on Whitmer’s order as it applies to gun stores. It also challenges the portion of the stay-at-home order that prevents people from traveling to cabins or other property that they own in the state, as well as limitations on the size of public and private gatherings.
From a legal perspective, a narrow lawsuit focused on just one aspect of Whitmer’s executive order might fare better in court, but there are good arguments to be made against every aspect of the governor’s order that’s being challenged in the AFLC lawsuit. I won’t predict how a judge will rule on the case, but in the court of public opinion, Gov. Whitmer’s actions clearly don’t have unanimous support from Michigan residents.


bearingarms--2020-04-15--PA Background Checks Have Increased, But So Have Denials

With the surge in gun sales bogging down the NICS background check system , many people warned that prohibited people might well try and take advantage of things .
After all , no return on a background check is as good as a pass after a certain point of time .
Some argued that prohibited persons might well try and take advantage of that fact in an effort to get their hands on firearms .
I figured that was pretty unlikely .
After all , criminals already had sources for guns .
Well , a news report out of Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The number of firearms purchase checks conducted by state police shot up in the first quarter of 2020 , and so did the number of denials .
State police reported Tuesday that they conducted 304,876 checks between January and March , nearly 40,000 more than for the same period in 2019 .
Of the 2020 checks conducted through the Pennsylvania Instant Check System , 4,866 resulted in denials , compared to 3,260 denials for the first quarter of last year , police said .
Around 1,226 have been referred to law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Form 4473 .
That ’ s more than twice the number from the same time period in 2019 .
So , what gives ?
Well , it seems that some people got the idea that they should try and pick up a gun amid the confusion .
At least an additional 600 or so people did , apparently .
But what about the rest ?
Honestly , that could be any number of things .
One , of course , is that it ’ s convicted felons who knowingly tried to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another may well have been people who pled out to something like a domestic violence charge because they wanted to put everything behind them who now feel like they need a gun .
A buddy quips , “ As long as you ’ re not a felon , you can buy a gun , ” so he tries and is denied .
It ’ s possible that a number of these that were made in good faith by people who didn ’ t realize they were prohibited .
Of course , it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these denials are false denials .
Maybe someone input a social security number in wrong or somehow got fumble-fingered and the NICS check squawked at it .
That ’ s certainly possible too .
While there seems little doubt that an increased number of prohibited people are attempting to buy guns , including those who apparently know good and well they shouldn ’ t be buying guns , we don ’ t have really enough information about the data to know precisely what that means .
One thing we can tell , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not circumventing the background check system simply because of a bogged-down system .
The NICS is flagging them and they ’ re not getting their guns .
That was the great fear by anti-gunners and that looks to be a big old nothing .
Maybe , when things settle down a bit , we ’ ll be able to get some detailed information so we can really understand just what ’ s going on .
Until then , there doesn ’ t appear to be much reason for anyone to worry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @

With the surge in gun sales bogging down the NICS background check system, many people warned that prohibited people might well try and take advantage of things. After all, no return on a background check is as good as a pass after a certain point of time. Some argued that prohibited persons might well try and take advantage of that fact in an effort to get their hands on firearms.
I figured that was pretty unlikely. After all, criminals already had sources for guns.
Well, a news report out of Pennsylvania suggests that I might have been mistaken.
The number of firearms purchase checks conducted by state police shot up in the first quarter of 2020, and so did the number of denials. State police reported Tuesday that they conducted 304,876 checks between January and March, nearly 40,000 more than for the same period in 2019. … Of the 2020 checks conducted through the Pennsylvania Instant Check System, 4,866 resulted in denials, compared to 3,260 denials for the first quarter of last year, police said.
Around 1,226 have been referred to law enforcement for investigation, apparently for false statements on the Form 4473. That’s more than twice the number from the same time period in 2019.
So, what gives?
Well, it seems that some people got the idea that they should try and pick up a gun amid the confusion. At least an additional 600 or so people did, apparently. But what about the rest?
Honestly, that could be any number of things. One, of course, is that it’s convicted felons who knowingly tried to buy a gun despite being prohibited.
Another may well have been people who pled out to something like a domestic violence charge because they wanted to put everything behind them who now feel like they need a gun. A buddy quips, “As long as you’re not a felon, you can buy a gun,” so he tries and is denied.
It’s possible that a number of these that were made in good faith by people who didn’t realize they were prohibited.
Of course, it’s also completely possible that a number of these denials are false denials. Maybe someone input a social security number in wrong or somehow got fumble-fingered and the NICS check squawked at it. That’s certainly possible too.
While there seems little doubt that an increased number of prohibited people are attempting to buy guns, including those who apparently know good and well they shouldn’t be buying guns, we don’t have really enough information about the data to know precisely what that means.
One thing we can tell, though, is that those prohibited people are not circumventing the background check system simply because of a bogged-down system. The NICS is flagging them and they’re not getting their guns. That was the great fear by anti-gunners and that looks to be a big old nothing.
Maybe, when things settle down a bit, we’ll be able to get some detailed information so we can really understand just what’s going on. Until then, there doesn’t appear to be much reason for anyone to worry, even if I was mistaken before.


bearingarms--2020-04-15--Gun Rights, Emergencies, And Petty Tyrants

The current coronavirus pandemic absolutely poses a threat to the health and well-being of millions of Americans , but the stay-at-home orders and the shutdown of broad swaths of the economy pose another threat to the liberty and freedom that we all enjoy in this country , as well as the livelihoods and health of all of us as well .
We ’ re stuck in a spot without any great options at the moment , but unfortunately some in authority don ’ t seem nearly as concerned about protecting individual liberty as they do in putting ridiculous rules in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in several states .
Of course gun control activists are thrilled to see any gun store shut down temporarily , and their hope is that those shuttered gun stores never re-open for business .
David Kopel , research director at the Independence Institute and a longtime Second Amendment scholar , attorney , and advocate , joins me on today ’ s Bearing Arms ’ Cam & Co to talk about the history of the gun control movement , and why anti-gun activists are so terrified of the number of Americans exercising their right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very first time .
Kopel has written a great piece detailing the history of the modern gun control movement dating back to the early 1970 ’ s , and how the movement ’ s push for things like universal background checks , gun licensing , and registration inhibit the right to keep and bear arms in the best of circumstances .
Waiting periods that require two trips to a store to buy a single gun might not matter to someone who resides near the Cabela ’ s in Thornton , Colorado .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives hours away from a gun store , the additional burden is high enough to make firearms acquisition impossible , especially during peak periods .
Alternatively , California ’ s badly-administered new laws for background checks on ammunition is making ammunition purchases impossible for many lawful buyers .
Maximizing harassment of law-abiding gun owners is a feature , not a bug , of gun control .
The fewer gun owners , the easier to constrict the remnant of clingers .
Now that harassment of law-abiding gun owners has been ramped up even further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that no American be allowed to purchase a firearm or ammunition to protect themselves or their family during the coronavirus pandemic .
Clearly though , millions of Americans are rejecting the gun control mentality and purchasing firearms for the very first time , and Kopel says those new gun owners are likely to be a potent force in support of the Second Amendment in the months and years ahead .
Be sure to check out the entire interview with David Kopel above , and stick around for more news , like the Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who ’ s now accused of a murder committed just a day after his release , an armed citizen in Maine who ’ s getting praise from police after holding a burglar at gunpoint until officers could arrive , and a Massachusetts state trooper who ran into a burning home and helped save seven individuals inside .

The current coronavirus pandemic absolutely poses a threat to the health and well-being of millions of Americans, but the stay-at-home orders and the shutdown of broad swaths of the economy pose another threat to the liberty and freedom that we all enjoy in this country, as well as the livelihoods and health of all of us as well. We’re stuck in a spot without any great options at the moment, but unfortunately some in authority don’t seem nearly as concerned about protecting individual liberty as they do in putting ridiculous rules in place, including ordering gun stores closed in several states.
Of course gun control activists are thrilled to see any gun store shut down temporarily, and their hope is that those shuttered gun stores never re-open for business.
David Kopel, research director at the Independence Institute and a longtime Second Amendment scholar, attorney, and advocate, joins me on today’s Bearing Arms’ Cam & Co to talk about the history of the gun control movement, and why anti-gun activists are so terrified of the number of Americans exercising their right to keep and bear arms for the very first time.
Kopel has written a great piece detailing the history of the modern gun control movement dating back to the early 1970’s, and how the movement’s push for things like universal background checks, gun licensing, and registration inhibit the right to keep and bear arms in the best of circumstances.
Waiting periods that require two trips to a store to buy a single gun might not matter to someone who resides near the Cabela’s in Thornton, Colorado. But for the busy rancher or farmer who lives hours away from a gun store, the additional burden is high enough to make firearms acquisition impossible, especially during peak periods. Alternatively, California’s badly-administered new laws for background checks on ammunition is making ammunition purchases impossible for many lawful buyers. Maximizing harassment of law-abiding gun owners is a feature, not a bug, of gun control. The fewer gun owners, the easier to constrict the remnant of clingers.
Now that harassment of law-abiding gun owners has been ramped up even further, with anti-gun politicians and activists demanding that no American be allowed to purchase a firearm or ammunition to protect themselves or their family during the coronavirus pandemic. Clearly though, millions of Americans are rejecting the gun control mentality and purchasing firearms for the very first time, and Kopel says those new gun owners are likely to be a potent force in support of the Second Amendment in the months and years ahead.
Be sure to check out the entire interview with David Kopel above, and stick around for more news, like the Florida man freed from jail over coronavirus concerns who’s now accused of a murder committed just a day after his release, an armed citizen in Maine who’s getting praise from police after holding a burglar at gunpoint until officers could arrive, and a Massachusetts state trooper who ran into a burning home and helped save seven individuals inside.


bearingarms--2020-04-15--What "No School Shootings In March" Really Means

Over the last couple of years , the phrase “ school shootings ” has appeared in countless newspaper articles , website posts , and television news stories .
None of that even touches on the pundit programs or opinion stories .
It ’ s been part of a nearly infinite number of conversations and internet discussions .
Then , on Tuesday , a news story announced that for the first March since 2002 , there were no school shootings .
The nationwide lockdown to stop the spread of COVID-19 has shuttered schools in nearly every state .
And , perhaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since 2002 , last month was the first March without a school shooting in America , according to a data check by a Washington Post reporter .
This statistic is coupled with the fact that this past March also saw the second-highest gun sales in any month since 2000 .
With 1.9 million gun purchases in March 2020 , many are blaming fears of social unrest sparked by the pandemic .
Leading gun control advocates celebrate reporter Robert Klemko ’ s findings , but they also fear that there may be a spike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Common Dreams , a nonprofit social justice organization , writes .
However , it ’ s also important that people understand just what a school shooting actually is .
In many minds , the term “ school shooting ” conjures imagines of Parkland or Columbine .
They picture a student with a gun stalking the halls , killing any and all who cross their path , all in some horrific quest to kill as many people as possible .
And , to be sure , that does qualify as a school shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ totality of school shootings .
While politicians and activists are crowing about how upsetting that it took something like this to reach this “ milestone , ” all fail to note that school shootings are defined as pretty much any shooting within a school .
That means a kid who snuck a gun in school , then negligently discharges it has committed a school shooting , despite never having hurt a living soul .
It doesn ’ t matter if that kid had the gun to protect himself from a bully or intended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t differentiate between the two .
In fact , the lone kid with a gun to potentially shoot one particular student is far more likely than the maniac trying to hit a “ high score.
” A lot more likely , as a matter of fact .
Just look at the breakdowns some time of what is being counted as school shootings and you ’ ll see a lack of mass shootings on the list .
So yes , there aren ’ t any school shootings because there ’ s no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean what a lot of people think it means .
More importantly , it doesn ’ t mean what a lot of people want you to think it does .
Instead , they want you to believe that we have an epidemic of mass shootings , that they ’ re happening every single day and that the only thing that ’ s stopped them is a complete lockdown of our country , where our children aren ’ t going to school anymore .
They want to try and leverage this into pushing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new gun owners who may have had to navigate the already byzantine process to exercise their Second Amendment rights .
Yes , this is an accurate statement of fact .
There were no school shootings in March .
There probably won ’ t be any in April .
But what they ’ re not telling you is just what that really means .
It means no gang-motivated shootings .
It means no scared kids taking Dad ’ s gun out of outright fear .
It means no criminal activity on school property .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the off chance someone planned a school shooting for March , they didn ’ t do that either .

Over the last couple of years, the phrase “school shootings” has appeared in countless newspaper articles, website posts, and television news stories. None of that even touches on the pundit programs or opinion stories. It’s been part of a nearly infinite number of conversations and internet discussions.
Then, on Tuesday, a news story announced that for the first March since 2002, there were no school shootings.
The nationwide lockdown to stop the spread of COVID-19 has shuttered schools in nearly every state. And, perhaps not surprisingly, for the first time since 2002, last month was the first March without a school shooting in America, according to a data check by a Washington Post reporter. This statistic is coupled with the fact that this past March also saw the second-highest gun sales in any month since 2000. With 1.9 million gun purchases in March 2020, many are blaming fears of social unrest sparked by the pandemic. Leading gun control advocates celebrate reporter Robert Klemko’s findings, but they also fear that there may be a spike in shootings, once the lockdowns end, Common Dreams, a nonprofit social justice organization, writes.
However, it’s also important that people understand just what a school shooting actually is.
In many minds, the term “school shooting” conjures imagines of Parkland or Columbine. They picture a student with a gun stalking the halls, killing any and all who cross their path, all in some horrific quest to kill as many people as possible.
And, to be sure, that does qualify as a school shooting. It’s just not the totality of school shootings.
While politicians and activists are crowing about how upsetting that it took something like this to reach this “milestone,” all fail to note that school shootings are defined as pretty much any shooting within a school. That means a kid who snuck a gun in school, then negligently discharges it has committed a school shooting, despite never having hurt a living soul.
It doesn’t matter if that kid had the gun to protect himself from a bully or intended to commit wholesale slaughter. The definition doesn’t differentiate between the two.
In fact, the lone kid with a gun to potentially shoot one particular student is far more likely than the maniac trying to hit a “high score.” A lot more likely, as a matter of fact. Just look at the breakdowns some time of what is being counted as school shootings and you’ll see a lack of mass shootings on the list.
So yes, there aren’t any school shootings because there’s no school, but that doesn’t mean what a lot of people think it means. More importantly, it doesn’t mean what a lot of people want you to think it does.
Instead, they want you to believe that we have an epidemic of mass shootings, that they’re happening every single day and that the only thing that’s stopped them is a complete lockdown of our country, where our children aren’t going to school anymore. They want to try and leverage this into pushing for more gun control, despite millions of new gun owners who may have had to navigate the already byzantine process to exercise their Second Amendment rights.
Yes, this is an accurate statement of fact. There were no school shootings in March. There probably won’t be any in April.
But what they’re not telling you is just what that really means. It means no gang-motivated shootings. It means no scared kids taking Dad’s gun out of outright fear. It means no criminal activity on school property.
And yes, it means that on the off chance someone planned a school shooting for March, they didn’t do that either.
That’s all it means.


bearingarms--2020-04-15--Gun Control Advocate Claims Crime Won't Rise, Even In A Depression

Anti-gun activists are increasingly desperate to convince Americans that they don ’ t need a firearm for self-defense in these uncertain times .
On Tuesday , Brady president Kris Brown mocked new gun owners for purchasing a firearm over the last month , while making it clear that she doesn ’ t believe there ’ s ever a good time to buy a gun .
Now The American Prospect ‘ s Candace McCoy is claiming that , even if the coronavirus chaos causes our economy to slip into a depression , there ’ s no reason to think that violent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s really no reason to own a firearm for self-defense .
Whether the economic meltdown of 2020 will be similar to the market crash of 1929 is currently unknown .
Most economists predict a deep recession , some even using the “ D-word.
” Millions of people have suddenly lost their jobs and are hoping that federal aid will cover their rent , medical bills , and food costs .
In the meantime , fears about the virus and mass unemployment have raised anxieties about other threats , such as crime .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has little basis .
The first crime reports emerging now after the onset of the virus spread show drastic reductions in most serious street crime—over 25 percent in New York City in the first week of the crisis .
Many people think unemployment is one of the circumstances that leads to increased crime .
But research in criminology shows almost no correlation between unemployment rates and crime rates .
These findings are based on data on serious felonies collected in the FBI ’ s Uniform Crime Reports , which measure homicides , sexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ larceny , arson , car theft , and burglary .
Unemployment is linked only to a comparatively minor crime—shoplifting—not to violent felonies .
First of all , it ’ s absurd to look one week ’ s worth of data in one city and declare that everything ’ s going to be just fine .
While New York City may have seen a drop in violent crime , other cities are already dealing with a surge in violence .
In Fresno , California shootings have increased this year compared to last , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in April of this year are nearly double what they were in 2019 .
McCoy claims that during the Great Depression , crime wasn ’ t much of a problem , which is a gross misreading of history .
The Great Depression lasted for almost a decade , and from 1929 to 1933 , violent crime did increase .
In fact , the U.S. homicide rate reached a high of 9.4 per 100,000 in 1933 , four years after the stock market crash of 1929 .
It ’ s true that violent crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even in 1939 the nation ’ s homicide rate was 6.4 per 100,000 , which is higher than our current national homicide rate of 5 homicides per 100,000 ( according to FBI crime stats for 2018 ) .
The truth is that we don ’ t know what will happen over the next few months .
During the Great Recession a decade ago , violent crime rates continued to fall , from 454 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2008 to 380.6 per 100,000 in 2018 .
Hopefully that trend will continue in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s no guarantee that will be the case .
Even if it does , we know that crime isn ’ t going to disappear completely , and the right to keep and bear arms in self-defense will remain as important as ever .

Anti-gun activists are increasingly desperate to convince Americans that they don’t need a firearm for self-defense in these uncertain times. On Tuesday, Brady president Kris Brown mocked new gun owners for purchasing a firearm over the last month, while making it clear that she doesn’t believe there’s ever a good time to buy a gun. Now The American Prospect‘s Candace McCoy is claiming that, even if the coronavirus chaos causes our economy to slip into a depression, there’s no reason to think that violent crime rates will climb, so there’s really no reason to own a firearm for self-defense.
Whether the economic meltdown of 2020 will be similar to the market crash of 1929 is currently unknown. Most economists predict a deep recession, some even using the “D-word.” Millions of people have suddenly lost their jobs and are hoping that federal aid will cover their rent, medical bills, and food costs. In the meantime, fears about the virus and mass unemployment have raised anxieties about other threats, such as crime. The worry about crime, however, has little basis. The first crime reports emerging now after the onset of the virus spread show drastic reductions in most serious street crime—over 25 percent in New York City in the first week of the crisis. Many people think unemployment is one of the circumstances that leads to increased crime. But research in criminology shows almost no correlation between unemployment rates and crime rates. These findings are based on data on serious felonies collected in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, which measure homicides, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, larceny, arson, car theft, and burglary. Unemployment is linked only to a comparatively minor crime—shoplifting—not to violent felonies.
First of all, it’s absurd to look one week’s worth of data in one city and declare that everything’s going to be just fine. While New York City may have seen a drop in violent crime, other cities are already dealing with a surge in violence. In Fresno, California shootings have increased this year compared to last, and in Detroit, homicides and non-fatal shootings in April of this year are nearly double what they were in 2019.
McCoy claims that during the Great Depression, crime wasn’t much of a problem, which is a gross misreading of history. The Great Depression lasted for almost a decade, and from 1929 to 1933, violent crime did increase. In fact, the U.S. homicide rate reached a high of 9.4 per 100,000 in 1933, four years after the stock market crash of 1929. It’s true that violent crime began to decline shortly afterwards, but even in 1939 the nation’s homicide rate was 6.4 per 100,000, which is higher than our current national homicide rate of 5 homicides per 100,000 (according to FBI crime stats for 2018).
The truth is that we don’t know what will happen over the next few months. During the Great Recession a decade ago, violent crime rates continued to fall, from 454 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2008 to 380.6 per 100,000 in 2018. Hopefully that trend will continue in the tumultuous months ahead, but there’s no guarantee that will be the case. Even if it does, we know that crime isn’t going to disappear completely, and the right to keep and bear arms in self-defense will remain as important as ever.


bearingarms--2020-04-15--FL Prisoner Freed Due TO COVID-19 Fears Accused Of Murder One Day Later

On Tuesday , we wrote about how a prisoner released from a New York prison committed a violent assault .
That was a very serious crime , to be sure .
However , it ’ s also important to remember that New York wasn ’ t the only state to release prisoners over concerns of the virus .
A lot of them did .
And , to be sure , a lot of those released prisoners are seemingly keeping their noses fairly clean right now .
That ’ s good .
The problem is , though , a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that indefinitely .
It ’ s only a matter of time before many of them kill someone , like this released prisoner in Florida .
An inmate who was released from the Hillsborough County Jail in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus is back behind bars and accused of committing second-degree murder the day after he got out of jail , deputies say .
The Hillsborough County Sheriff ’ s Office confirms 26-year-old Joseph Edwards Williams was arrested on a warrant Monday night in Gibsonton .
They say he is connected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Progress Village area .
Deputies responded at 10:40 that night to several 911 calls about gunshots fired near 81st Street South and Ash Avenue .
A man was pronounced dead at the scene .
Online jail records show Williams had been released from custody at 8:02 a.m. on Thursday , March 19 per an administrative order aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 in the county jails .
The sheriff ’ s office says he was one of more than 100 inmates released from custody until trial .
“ There is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health emergency to commit crimes while he was out of jail awaiting resolution of a low-level , non-violent offense , ” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement .
“ As a result , I call on the State Attorney to prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent of the law.
” Williams , it seemed , had a non-violent charge and probably would have been one that probably would have been released under most any form of scrutiny you wanted to apply prisoners prior to release .
There ’ s no indication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The problem , though , was that he ’ d been arrested for possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia .
That suggests he was either a dealer or a habitual drug user ( heroin usually isn ’ t for the recreational user , after all ) .
That suggests he was part of a violent subculture , either to protect his business or to score drugs .
Just because he hadn ’ t been caught before doesn ’ t mean he was a saint .
Look , when you put predators back out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prey , guess what ’ s going to happen ?
You ’ re going to get stuff like this .
People will die at the ends of these predators .
Is it any wonder that more and more people bought firearms ?
Sure , the anti-gunner can claim it ’ s NRA fearmongering , but the truth is that a lot of people are looking at all these prisoners being released and knowing where it will end .
Now , no , not all released prisoners are going to do this kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just how many have to before you understand this might not have been the best idea ?

On Tuesday, we wrote about how a prisoner released from a New York prison committed a violent assault. That was a very serious crime, to be sure. However, it’s also important to remember that New York wasn’t the only state to release prisoners over concerns of the virus. A lot of them did.
And, to be sure, a lot of those released prisoners are seemingly keeping their noses fairly clean right now. That’s good.
The problem is, though, a lot of these violent criminals won’t do that indefinitely. It’s only a matter of time before many of them kill someone, like this released prisoner in Florida.
An inmate who was released from the Hillsborough County Jail in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus is back behind bars and accused of committing second-degree murder the day after he got out of jail, deputies say. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office confirms 26-year-old Joseph Edwards Williams was arrested on a warrant Monday night in Gibsonton. They say he is connected to a March 20 shooting homicide in the Progress Village area. Deputies responded at 10:40 that night to several 911 calls about gunshots fired near 81st Street South and Ash Avenue. A man was pronounced dead at the scene. Online jail records show Williams had been released from custody at 8:02 a.m. on Thursday, March 19 per an administrative order aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 in the county jails. The sheriff’s office says he was one of more than 100 inmates released from custody until trial. “There is no question Joseph Williams took advantage of this health emergency to commit crimes while he was out of jail awaiting resolution of a low-level, non-violent offense,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “As a result, I call on the State Attorney to prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent of the law.”
Williams, it seemed, had a non-violent charge and probably would have been one that probably would have been released under most any form of scrutiny you wanted to apply prisoners prior to release. There’s no indication he had a prior criminal record.
The problem, though, was that he’d been arrested for possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia. That suggests he was either a dealer or a habitual drug user (heroin usually isn’t for the recreational user, after all). That suggests he was part of a violent subculture, either to protect his business or to score drugs. Just because he hadn’t been caught before doesn’t mean he was a saint.
Look, when you put predators back out on the street in and amongst their prey, guess what’s going to happen? You’re going to get stuff like this. People will die at the ends of these predators.
Is it any wonder that more and more people bought firearms? Sure, the anti-gunner can claim it’s NRA fearmongering, but the truth is that a lot of people are looking at all these prisoners being released and knowing where it will end.
Now, no, not all released prisoners are going to do this kind of thing. But the question is, just how many have to before you understand this might not have been the best idea?


bearingarms--2020-04-15--California Scheming: Lawmakers, Judges Threaten 2A Rights

The fight over the right of California residents to acquire firearms and ammunition during the coronavirus pandemic is playing out in courtrooms and the statehouse in Sacramento .
On Tuesday , a Los Angeles judge upholding a decision by the mayor declaring that firearms retailers must close , while a state assemblyman from L.A. is asking Gov .
Gavin Newsom to order a statewide shuttering of gun stores .
Superior Court Judge Mary Strobel rejected a request for a temporary injunction blocking City Attorney Mike Feuer ’ s order declaring gun stores “ non-essential ” filed by the California Rifle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun shops .
The Long Beach Post was the first to report on the judge ’ s decision , as well as reaction from City Attorney Mike Feuer , a longtime gun control advocate .
Feuer is engaging in a bit of duplicity with his remarks .
The gun stores and the CRPA weren ’ t arguing that they deserved special treatment compared to other non-essential businesses .
Their argument is that gun stores aren ’ t non-essential at all , but are instead a critical component of the workforce and must remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to exercise their Second Amendment rights during a state of emergency .
The long lines outside of LA gun stores in recent weeks is evidence that plenty of residents agree with the gun stores suing to stay open , but for now their doors will remain locked , even while demand remains high .
Meanwhile , Assemblyman Miguel Santiago is asking Gov .
Gavin Newsom to issue a statewide order declaring gun stores non-essential , rather than allowing counties and cities to decide if gun shops can remain open .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ panic buying ” of firearms must stop , and the only way to do that is to shut down every gun store in the state .
Adding more firearms to our current state of affairs perpetuates the cycle of public panic and impulsive action .
An increased population of firearms in our state not only poses a greater risk to children and families who are largely confined to their homes , but also to our communities facing racially motivated or otherwise targeted hate .
The people of California are grappling with a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a responsibility to respond to our state ’ s need for confidence and certainty .
By suspending firearm and ammunition sales and arming Californians with strong safeguards on public health and safety reinforced by state peace officers , we can mitigate undue risks to our public .
I ’ m not sure there ’ s such a thing as “ panic buying ” when any new gun owner has to endure the state ’ s 10-day waiting period , but Santiago is simply taking the position that more guns in the hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the coronavirus is just a timely excuse for Santiago to push to make it impossible for Californians to exercise their right to keep and bear arms , unless they had the foresight to purchase a gun before the pandemic began .
It ’ s shameful , but not surprising , to see these moves in California to prevent residents from exercising their rights in a time of crisis , especially when law enforcement is expressing growing concern about an increase in crime in the days and weeks ahead .
Our constitutional rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of emergency .
In fact , there ’ s a strong case to be made that our right of self-defense is never more important than it is in times like these .
Instead of standing up for the Second Amendment , sadly too many in position of authority in California are intent on shutting it down .

The fight over the right of California residents to acquire firearms and ammunition during the coronavirus pandemic is playing out in courtrooms and the statehouse in Sacramento. On Tuesday, a Los Angeles judge upholding a decision by the mayor declaring that firearms retailers must close, while a state assemblyman from L.A. is asking Gov. Gavin Newsom to order a statewide shuttering of gun stores.
Superior Court Judge Mary Strobel rejected a request for a temporary injunction blocking City Attorney Mike Feuer’s order declaring gun stores “non-essential” filed by the California Rifle & Pistol Association and several Los Angeles gun shops. The Long Beach Post was the first to report on the judge’s decision, as well as reaction from City Attorney Mike Feuer, a longtime gun control advocate.
“I’m very pleased that once again our office has successfully defended the mayor’s Safer at Home Order against a push to open gun stores during this public health emergency,” Feuer said in a statement. “The mayor’s order treats gun stores and other non-essential businesses the same, requiring them all to be closed to protect public health and speed the day Angelenos can get back to work.”
Feuer is engaging in a bit of duplicity with his remarks. The gun stores and the CRPA weren’t arguing that they deserved special treatment compared to other non-essential businesses. Their argument is that gun stores aren’t non-essential at all, but are instead a critical component of the workforce and must remain open in order for Los Angelenos to be able to exercise their Second Amendment rights during a state of emergency. The long lines outside of LA gun stores in recent weeks is evidence that plenty of residents agree with the gun stores suing to stay open, but for now their doors will remain locked, even while demand remains high.
Meanwhile, Assemblyman Miguel Santiago is asking Gov. Gavin Newsom to issue a statewide order declaring gun stores non-essential, rather than allowing counties and cities to decide if gun shops can remain open. In the letter, Santiago claims that “panic buying” of firearms must stop, and the only way to do that is to shut down every gun store in the state.
Adding more firearms to our current state of affairs perpetuates the cycle of public panic and impulsive action. An increased population of firearms in our state not only poses a greater risk to children and families who are largely confined to their homes, but also to our communities facing racially motivated or otherwise targeted hate. The people of California are grappling with a new reality brought on by COVID19 and we have a responsibility to respond to our state’s need for confidence and certainty. By suspending firearm and ammunition sales and arming Californians with strong safeguards on public health and safety reinforced by state peace officers, we can mitigate undue risks to our public.
I’m not sure there’s such a thing as “panic buying” when any new gun owner has to endure the state’s 10-day waiting period, but Santiago is simply taking the position that more guns in the hands of Californians is a bad thing, and the coronavirus is just a timely excuse for Santiago to push to make it impossible for Californians to exercise their right to keep and bear arms, unless they had the foresight to purchase a gun before the pandemic began.
It’s shameful, but not surprising, to see these moves in California to prevent residents from exercising their rights in a time of crisis, especially when law enforcement is expressing growing concern about an increase in crime in the days and weeks ahead. Our constitutional rights don’t disappear during a state of emergency. In fact, there’s a strong case to be made that our right of self-defense is never more important than it is in times like these. Instead of standing up for the Second Amendment, sadly too many in position of authority in California are intent on shutting it down.


bearingarms--2020-04-15--New Mexico Gun Shop Says It Will Re-Open In Defiance Of Shutdown Order

An Albuquerque , New Mexico gun store owner says he will defy Gov .
Michelle Lujan Grisham ’ s state of emergency order requiring firearm retailers to shut down , even as a lawsuit challenging Grisham ’ s order awaits a hearing in federal court .
Louie Sanchez , who owns Calibers gun shop , tells KOB-TV in Albuquerque that the public health order from Grisham is an unconstitutional overreach .
“ So , we at Calibers have decided that we are going to open up with social distancing on our range , ” Sanchez said .
“ And you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take this fight back to her .
We feel that unless , somehow , she got a magical power to take the Second Amendment out of our constitution , that we have the right to open up.
” Sanchez says when his establishment does re-open , employees will practice social distancing measures to help keep customers and staff safe .
He also told KOB that Calibers is continuing to train folks at the store as well .
Meanwhile , a spokeswoman for Gov .
Grisham ’ s office claims that the governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but apparently that support doesn ’ t extend to folks acquiring firearms for self defense in a state of emergency .
The state has taken and will continue to take an extremely broad view of what is considered non-essential to public health amid this pandemic .
Gun stores are hardly the only entity having to adapt as we work to stem illnesses and prevent deaths .
No one is happy about closing in-person business in our state – no one , including the governor .
But it is inarguable that the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fewest number of deaths that we can manage is to limit travel outside of the home to the greatest extent possible – and while we as an administration unequivocally support the constitutional right to purchase a firearm , we recognize that right does not correspond to a right to congregate in a store and infect neighbors and workers and public safety officers amid an unprecedented global pandemic .
The last line of the statement by spokeswoman Nora Meyers Hackett really sums up the governor ’ s position .
It doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stores and ranges put in place , Gov .
Grisham simply wants these stores closed .
The ATF has already told gun stores that they can conduct business outside , which would mean that customers aren ’ t “ congregating ” in the store .
In fact , if Calibers and other New Mexico gun stores were to operate by appointment only , there wouldn ’ t be any congregating either .
Grisham ’ s position is that police should still be able to enter Sanchez ’ s gun store , but only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either from a public health or a constitutional standpoint .
Meanwhile , a federal lawsuit filed by several Second Amendment organizations and New Mexico residents challenging Grisham ’ s order is awaiting a hearing on a request for a temporary injunction against the portion of the governor ’ s order mandating that gun stores close .
Hopefully it won ’ t be long before that hearing takes place , but in the meantime , at least one gun shop in the state is willing to risk the wrath of the governor in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a time of crisis .

An Albuquerque, New Mexico gun store owner says he will defy Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s state of emergency order requiring firearm retailers to shut down, even as a lawsuit challenging Grisham’s order awaits a hearing in federal court.
Louie Sanchez, who owns Calibers gun shop, tells KOB-TV in Albuquerque that the public health order from Grisham is an unconstitutional overreach.
“So, we at Calibers have decided that we are going to open up with social distancing on our range,” Sanchez said. “And you know what, we’re going to take this fight back to her. We feel that unless, somehow, she got a magical power to take the Second Amendment out of our constitution, that we have the right to open up.”
Sanchez says when his establishment does re-open, employees will practice social distancing measures to help keep customers and staff safe. He also told KOB that Calibers is continuing to train folks at the store as well.
“We are indeed doing education courses, just one person, one trainer at six feet social distancing,” he said. “And we’re allowing for military and law enforcement to utilize our ranges.”
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Gov. Grisham’s office claims that the governor “unequivocally” supports the Second Amendment, but apparently that support doesn’t extend to folks acquiring firearms for self defense in a state of emergency.
The state has taken and will continue to take an extremely broad view of what is considered non-essential to public health amid this pandemic. Gun stores are hardly the only entity having to adapt as we work to stem illnesses and prevent deaths. No one is happy about closing in-person business in our state – no one, including the governor. But it is inarguable that the only way we get through this pandemic with the fewest number of deaths that we can manage is to limit travel outside of the home to the greatest extent possible – and while we as an administration unequivocally support the constitutional right to purchase a firearm, we recognize that right does not correspond to a right to congregate in a store and infect neighbors and workers and public safety officers amid an unprecedented global pandemic.
The last line of the statement by spokeswoman Nora Meyers Hackett really sums up the governor’s position. It doesn’t matter how many social distancing measures gun stores and ranges put in place, Gov. Grisham simply wants these stores closed. The ATF has already told gun stores that they can conduct business outside, which would mean that customers aren’t “congregating” in the store. In fact, if Calibers and other New Mexico gun stores were to operate by appointment only, there wouldn’t be any congregating either.
Grisham’s position is that police should still be able to enter Sanchez’s gun store, but only police. That makes no sense, either from a public health or a constitutional standpoint.
Meanwhile, a federal lawsuit filed by several Second Amendment organizations and New Mexico residents challenging Grisham’s order is awaiting a hearing on a request for a temporary injunction against the portion of the governor’s order mandating that gun stores close. Hopefully it won’t be long before that hearing takes place, but in the meantime, at least one gun shop in the state is willing to risk the wrath of the governor in order to continue to serve the community in a time of crisis.


bearingarms--2020-04-15--NY AG Wants Feds To Shut Down "Ghost Guns" During Pandemic

The state of New York has an awful lot on its plate .
It ’ s pretty much the epicenter for the COVID-19 outbreak at the moment with New York City having the lion ’ s share of infected in the nation .
Yet it seems , at least for the attorney general , that the novel coronavirus that has sparked a shutdown of the world ’ s economy isn ’ t the real threat out there .
Oh , no , that comes from “ ghost guns ” and the fact that some people might totally make a gun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something .
New York Attorney General Letitia James , as part of a multistate coalition of 25 attorneys general from around the nation , has called on the Trump Administration to enforce federal laws and stop companies from disseminating dangerous files for 3D-printed gun files on the internet .
In a letter to Secretary Michael Pompeo of the U.S. Department of State and United States Attorney General William Barr of the U.S. Department of Justice , Attorney General James and the coalition called on the federal government to stop the company Defense Distributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specifications for particular guns — including the “ Liberator ” pistol and a number of other weapons — which would then give individuals the ability to manufacture unregistered and untraceable 3D-printed firearms that can be extremely difficult to detect , even with a metal detector .
Untraceable firearms are sometimes called “ ghost guns ” because they lack a serial number or other identifying features .
“ At a time when first responders are overrun with calls related to COVID-19 , companies should be working to limit the dangers Americans face , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make it easier for criminals to get guns and for anyone to print unregistered , untraceable , and , in many cases , undetectable firearms , ” said Attorney General James .
“ Defense Distributed is attempting to take advantage of a national pandemic and is hoping states will not notice its unlawful distribution of files it knows it is barred from disseminating .
We ’ re calling on the Trump Administration to take immediate action against Defense Distributed because ghost guns endanger every single one of us and the printing of them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away from what should be their priority right now — taking care of coronavirus patients.
” And yet , despite these claims , violent crime is down in most of the nation .
Not Chicago , apparently , but in most places it is .
If more guns mean more crime and Defense Distributed is somehow illegally providing files to people , then that should mean more crime , right ?
That ’ s not the case .
That ’ s not the case at all .
And , frankly , 3D-printed guns–the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to firearms without a serial number and isn ’ t exclusively about 3D-printed weapons–don ’ t represent the risk James is claiming .
In fact , we see remarkably few such weapons used in crime .
Why ?
Because the technology is still fairly expensive and the weapons designed for the technology are bad choices for carrying concealed .
James is doing nothing more than trying to use COVID-19 as political leverage .
Meanwhile , those files are already all over the internet .
Even if Defense Distributed ceased to exist as of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ barn .
The era of gun control is over .
People like James need to deal with it and move on , perhaps by focusing their efforts on preventing people from becoming criminals in the first place .
I know , it ’ s a novel suggestion , but it might be worth a try .
Or , conversely , she can shut up about this kind of thing when her state is a viral hotbed that ’ s also released an untold number of violent criminals into the population .
It seems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of New York right now is the government of New York .

The state of New York has an awful lot on its plate. It’s pretty much the epicenter for the COVID-19 outbreak at the moment with New York City having the lion’s share of infected in the nation. Yet it seems, at least for the attorney general, that the novel coronavirus that has sparked a shutdown of the world’s economy isn’t the real threat out there.
Oh, no, that comes from “ghost guns” and the fact that some people might totally make a gun without the government’s permission or something.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, as part of a multistate coalition of 25 attorneys general from around the nation, has called on the Trump Administration to enforce federal laws and stop companies from disseminating dangerous files for 3D-printed gun files on the internet. In a letter to Secretary Michael Pompeo of the U.S. Department of State and United States Attorney General William Barr of the U.S. Department of Justice, Attorney General James and the coalition called on the federal government to stop the company Defense Distributed from unlawfully releasing easily downloadable files with specifications for particular guns — including the “Liberator” pistol and a number of other weapons — which would then give individuals the ability to manufacture unregistered and untraceable 3D-printed firearms that can be extremely difficult to detect, even with a metal detector. Untraceable firearms are sometimes called “ghost guns” because they lack a serial number or other identifying features. “At a time when first responders are overrun with calls related to COVID-19, companies should be working to limit the dangers Americans face, not increasing them by publishing files that will make it easier for criminals to get guns and for anyone to print unregistered, untraceable, and, in many cases, undetectable firearms,” said Attorney General James. “Defense Distributed is attempting to take advantage of a national pandemic and is hoping states will not notice its unlawful distribution of files it knows it is barred from disseminating. We’re calling on the Trump Administration to take immediate action against Defense Distributed because ghost guns endanger every single one of us and the printing of them will only threaten to take law enforcement away from what should be their priority right now — taking care of coronavirus patients.”
And yet, despite these claims, violent crime is down in most of the nation. Not Chicago, apparently, but in most places it is.
If more guns mean more crime and Defense Distributed is somehow illegally providing files to people, then that should mean more crime, right? That’s not the case. That’s not the case at all.
And, frankly, 3D-printed guns–the term “ghost gun” simply refers to firearms without a serial number and isn’t exclusively about 3D-printed weapons–don’t represent the risk James is claiming. In fact, we see remarkably few such weapons used in crime. Why? Because the technology is still fairly expensive and the weapons designed for the technology are bad choices for carrying concealed.
James is doing nothing more than trying to use COVID-19 as political leverage.
Meanwhile, those files are already all over the internet. Even if Defense Distributed ceased to exist as of today, that horse has left the barn. The era of gun control is over. People like James need to deal with it and move on, perhaps by focusing their efforts on preventing people from becoming criminals in the first place. I know, it’s a novel suggestion, but it might be worth a try.
Or, conversely, she can shut up about this kind of thing when her state is a viral hotbed that’s also released an untold number of violent criminals into the population.
It seems like the only one endangering the people of New York right now is the government of New York.


bearingarms--2020-04-14--KelTec Steps Up To Keep Healthcare Workers Safe

Many companies in the firearms industry are stepping up and retooling their factories to produce everything from face shields to masks for frontline healthcare workers , but KelTec engineer Toby Obermeit is putting his skills to work with the Medical University of South Carolina to redesign face masks and improve on the filters that keep the coronavirus away from the lungs of doctors and nurses caring for those infected .
According to a release from the firearms manufacturer , Obermeit has found a way to not only expand the types of filtration cartridges that can be used by the S.A.F.E @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make them even safer .
“ After Toby studied the original S.A.F.E .
filter cartridge design , he then optimized it by making it faster and easier to print ” said Marketing Manager , Matt Stanek .
“ He submitted this improved design to MUSC , and officials at the University were so impressed that they asked for help with the next generation mask design ” .
The original design required cutting and gluing a HEPA filter , however the new designs utilize various Roomba® Filters , making them much easier to assemble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot.
” said Obermeit .
“ We ’ ve made improvements to the mask itself , as well as created multiple cartridges which take different types of filters .
There is even a mask design that has an integrated filter cartridge.
” While Obermeit is helping with the design of the masks and filters , Keltec is repurposing its 3D printers to actually manufacture the N99 masks for healthcare workers .
“ Caring about each other , our families and neighbors is in our DNA , ” concluded Sales Director , Derek Kellgren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have friends , family members , neighbors and customers on the front lines .
We ’ re just glad we can be of some help , given how much they ’ re helping us and our communities.
” Not only has the company started making masks of their own , they ’ re also sharing the files so that others can use the same design and print masks with their own 3D printers .
It ’ s great to see so many companies stepping up and doing what they can to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the invisible killer that is the COVID-19 virus .
We ’ re going to continue to highlight these companies in the days and weeks ahead , but if you know of someone or some company in the firearms industry that ’ s going above and beyond to aid in the efforts to protect folks from the coronavirus , please let me know , either on Twitter , where you can find me @ camedwards , or via email at

Many companies in the firearms industry are stepping up and retooling their factories to produce everything from face shields to masks for frontline healthcare workers, but KelTec engineer Toby Obermeit is putting his skills to work with the Medical University of South Carolina to redesign face masks and improve on the filters that keep the coronavirus away from the lungs of doctors and nurses caring for those infected.
According to a release from the firearms manufacturer, Obermeit has found a way to not only expand the types of filtration cartridges that can be used by the S.A.F.E. masks, but has managed to make them even safer.
“After Toby studied the original S.A.F.E. filter cartridge design, he then optimized it by making it faster and easier to print” said Marketing Manager, Matt Stanek. “He submitted this improved design to MUSC, and officials at the University were so impressed that they asked for help with the next generation mask design”. The original design required cutting and gluing a HEPA filter, however the new designs utilize various Roomba® Filters, making them much easier to assemble. “We’ve accomplished a lot.” said Obermeit. “We’ve made improvements to the mask itself, as well as created multiple cartridges which take different types of filters. There is even a mask design that has an integrated filter cartridge.”
While Obermeit is helping with the design of the masks and filters, Keltec is repurposing its 3D printers to actually manufacture the N99 masks for healthcare workers.
“Caring about each other, our families and neighbors is in our DNA,” concluded Sales Director, Derek Kellgren. “These are difficult times and we have friends, family members, neighbors and customers on the front lines. We’re just glad we can be of some help, given how much they’re helping us and our communities.”
Not only has the company started making masks of their own, they’re also sharing the files so that others can use the same design and print masks with their own 3D printers.
It’s great to see so many companies stepping up and doing what they can to keep Americans safe, whether from violent intruders to the invisible killer that is the COVID-19 virus. We’re going to continue to highlight these companies in the days and weeks ahead, but if you know of someone or some company in the firearms industry that’s going above and beyond to aid in the efforts to protect folks from the coronavirus, please let me know, either on Twitter, where you can find me @camedwards, or via email at [email protected]


bearingarms--2020-04-14--ATF's Drive Through Gun Rule More Important Than Some Realize

It ’ s official .
You can now obtain a firearm via the same type of service as you can get a burger .
We ’ re really living in a glorious age right now , aren ’ t we ?
Of course , there are significant differences in buying a burger and buying a gun .
Even those burgers arguably kill more people every year , you don ’ t have to undergo a background check for them nor is anyone talking about a licensing requirement prior to getting a Big Mac .
But the fact that gun stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handle business , or use a drive-through window if they have one , is an important step .
However , it ’ s also a signal of something very important , and that ’ s just how many stupid rules there are that are being stripped bare due to COVID-19 .
Not a week goes by that we don ’ t hear about how rules are being ripped apart to speed up a process or to try and deal with a shortage .
All those rules and regulations , things we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own good , are dismantled in an instant because as it turns out , they ’ re not that important in the first place .
There ’ s absolutely no reason why gun sales have to be inside a physical building .
There ’ s no reason why breweries and distillers couldn ’ t be making hand sanitizer .
There ’ s no reason truck drivers couldn ’ t put in more hours on the road if they chose .
They couldn ’ t do those things , though , because the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t safe , they claimed , so they mandated who could do what and where .
Yet when COVID-19 poked its head up on U.S. soil , things changed .
Suddenly , it became clear that the rules that we were told were for our own protection were making things worse .
They always had , of course , but now it was laid out for the whole nation to see .
The truth was revealed and there was little to like about the system as it stood .
Now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses ” and the government has loosened rules to allow them to be safer while conducting business .
Meanwhile , there ’ s no evidence that this shouldn ’ t have been permitted all along .
Hell , it ’ s not like they lifted background check requirements or anything .
The ATF just said , “ Hey , you know what ?
Why don ’ t you go outside where you don ’ t have to get as close to folks and you can have this cross-breeze to help prevent the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better for everyone.
” Why , again , was this even needed ?
Far too many regulations , be they gun regulations or in any number of other industries , have nothing to do with safety or security .
They have to do with bureaucrats justifying their own existence .
The problem is , we all know now just how ridiculous some of those rules actually were .
The big question is , will common sense win out when this is all over ?
Will gun stores still be allowed to do business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way for parking lot sales or any number of other options ?
They need to .
We already know the rule isn ’ t needed , which means it needs to die .

It’s official. You can now obtain a firearm via the same type of service as you can get a burger. We’re really living in a glorious age right now, aren’t we?
Of course, there are significant differences in buying a burger and buying a gun. Even those burgers arguably kill more people every year, you don’t have to undergo a background check for them nor is anyone talking about a licensing requirement prior to getting a Big Mac.
But the fact that gun stores can set up a table outside and handle business, or use a drive-through window if they have one, is an important step. However, it’s also a signal of something very important, and that’s just how many stupid rules there are that are being stripped bare due to COVID-19.
Not a week goes by that we don’t hear about how rules are being ripped apart to speed up a process or to try and deal with a shortage. All those rules and regulations, things we’re told are put in place for our own good, are dismantled in an instant because as it turns out, they’re not that important in the first place.
There’s absolutely no reason why gun sales have to be inside a physical building. There’s no reason why breweries and distillers couldn’t be making hand sanitizer. There’s no reason truck drivers couldn’t put in more hours on the road if they chose.
They couldn’t do those things, though, because the government wouldn’t allow it. It wasn’t safe, they claimed, so they mandated who could do what and where.
Yet when COVID-19 poked its head up on U.S. soil, things changed. Suddenly, it became clear that the rules that we were told were for our own protection were making things worse. They always had, of course, but now it was laid out for the whole nation to see. The truth was revealed and there was little to like about the system as it stood.
Now, we see gun stores as “essential businesses” and the government has loosened rules to allow them to be safer while conducting business. Meanwhile, there’s no evidence that this shouldn’t have been permitted all along. Hell, it’s not like they lifted background check requirements or anything. The ATF just said, “Hey, you know what? Why don’t you go outside where you don’t have to get as close to folks and you can have this cross-breeze to help prevent the spread of the virus. It’s better for everyone.”
Why, again, was this even needed?
Far too many regulations, be they gun regulations or in any number of other industries, have nothing to do with safety or security. They have to do with bureaucrats justifying their own existence. The problem is, we all know now just how ridiculous some of those rules actually were.
The big question is, will common sense win out when this is all over? Will gun stores still be allowed to do business in the parking lot, opening the way for parking lot sales or any number of other options?
They need to. We already know the rule isn’t needed, which means it needs to die.


bearingarms--2020-04-14--A Girl & A Gun Goes Virtual With Training Conference

Like pretty much every event out there , A Girl & A Gun ’ s training conference scheduled for later this spring has been impacted by the coronavirus chaos , but instead of simply cancelling the event , hundreds of pro-2A women from across the nation are now going to gather online .
On today ’ s Bearing Arms ’ Cam & Co , Robyn Sandoval from A Girl & A Gun joins me to talk about how the organization ’ s adapting , as well as the resources for new gun owners that they ’ re making available online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the digital conference , and they ’ ll be taking the knowledge they gain back to their local chapters .
Sandoval says that ’ s important , especially given the number of new gun owners that we ’ re seeing .
In fact , A Girl & A Gun has been seeing a lot of interest from those new gun owners , and the organization is a great place for those who ’ ve never handled a firearm before , as well as for more experienced shooters .
Check out the entire interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s recidivist report featuring a violent criminal now back behind bars after an early release due to coronavirus concerns , an armed citizen who helped bring three Ohio burglars to justice , and an incredibly good deed from KelTec engineer Toby Obermeit , who ’ s helping to ensure the safety of front-line healthcare workersin conjunction with the Medical University of South Carolina .
Cam Edwards has covered the 2nd Amendment for more than 15 years as a broadcast and online journalist , as well as the co-author of `` Heavy Lifting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Start a Family , and Other Manly Advice '' with Jim Geraghty .
He lives outside of Farmville , Virginia with his family .
https : //bearingarms.com/author/camedwards/

Like pretty much every event out there, A Girl & A Gun’s training conference scheduled for later this spring has been impacted by the coronavirus chaos, but instead of simply cancelling the event, hundreds of pro-2A women from across the nation are now going to gather online.
On today’s Bearing Arms’ Cam & Co, Robyn Sandoval from A Girl & A Gun joins me to talk about how the organization’s adapting, as well as the resources for new gun owners that they’re making available online.
More than 400 women will attend the digital conference, and they’ll be taking the knowledge they gain back to their local chapters. Sandoval says that’s important, especially given the number of new gun owners that we’re seeing. In fact, A Girl & A Gun has been seeing a lot of interest from those new gun owners, and the organization is a great place for those who’ve never handled a firearm before, as well as for more experienced shooters.
Check out the entire interview above, and stick around for today’s recidivist report featuring a violent criminal now back behind bars after an early release due to coronavirus concerns, an armed citizen who helped bring three Ohio burglars to justice, and an incredibly good deed from KelTec engineer Toby Obermeit, who’s helping to ensure the safety of front-line healthcare workersin conjunction with the Medical University of South Carolina.


bearingarms--2020-04-14--Gun Grabber Argues Gun Sales Are Due To Fear Of "Zombies"

I make it a point to try and understand why the rank and file gun control advocate supports gun control .
For me , it ’ s important to understand where they ’ re coming from if I want to have a hope in hell of changing their minds .
Even if you can ’ t change their thinking , it allows you to undermine their arguments .
As bestselling author and confirmed gun nut Larry Correia often notes , arguing on the internet is a spectator sport .
You ’ re not arguing for them , but for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s important to at least understand where they at least say they ’ re coming from .
Unfortunately , the other side rarely returns the favor .
Instead , they make up these wild fantasies about what we do and why we do it .
Sometimes , the fantasies get downright ridiculous .
In an interview with Cheddar news earlier this month , David Chipman , a “ senior policy advisor ” for the anti-gun group Giffords , was asked about his “ biggest concerns ” regarding the “ coronavirus gun sales spike.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bell , Mr. Chipman , formerly a “ senior advisor ” with Bloomberg ’ s pre-Everytown group MAIG and an ex-ATF agent , has , among other things , advocated that AR-15 rifles should be regulated “ just like ” fully automatic machine guns . )
During the interview , he claimed that first-time gun owners may think “ in their [ own ] mind they might be competent.
” However , they were really “ putting themselves and their families in danger ” based on whether these guns were being “ stored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sitting in what appeared to be his own kitchen , Chipman advised “ those people who were first-time gun owners ” to “ secure that gun locked and unloaded and hide it behind the cans of tuna and beef jerky that you ’ ve stored in a cabinet and only bring that out if the zombies start to appear , and I don ’ t think they are.
” Well…someone ’ s watched too much The Walking Dead .
I ’ d like to believe that Chipman is trying to use zombie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refer to the shambling hordes that many fear will raid the countryside looking for food during an economic collapse that may well be following on the heels of the pandemic .
But , he doesn ’ t say so and for a guy who thinks AR-15s should be treated exactly like their full-auto cousins , I ’ m not really willing to give him the benefit of the doubt .
Even if he did mean it as a metaphor , though , he ’ s still an idiot .
Look , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think there ’ s a strong possibility of precisely that sort of thing happening .
I ’ m not the only one .
However , I also think we ’ re far more likely to see an increase in crime as desperate people turn to violence and crime to feed their families .
That is something we should all be concerned about , and for many that concern translates into a strong desire to purchase a firearm .
Of course , Chipman prefers guns to be stored in such a way that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense , so this isn ’ t surprising .
Then again , if people did store them as he suggests , he ’ d then use the lack of their use–a lack solely because people couldn ’ t get to them when needed–proved they weren ’ t needed for self-defense .
Whether Chipman thinks we ’ re literally worried about zombies or not isn ’ t really relevant .
What is , however , is that he and his crowd are once against dismissing the concerns of millions of Americans during a time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be concerned .
Yet if he and his ilk will dismiss your concerns now , what will they do when things get really bad ?

I make it a point to try and understand why the rank and file gun control advocate supports gun control. For me, it’s important to understand where they’re coming from if I want to have a hope in hell of changing their minds. Even if you can’t change their thinking, it allows you to undermine their arguments. As bestselling author and confirmed gun nut Larry Correia often notes, arguing on the internet is a spectator sport. You’re not arguing for them, but for the people watching.
So, it’s important to at least understand where they at least say they’re coming from.
Unfortunately, the other side rarely returns the favor. Instead, they make up these wild fantasies about what we do and why we do it. Sometimes, the fantasies get downright ridiculous.
In an interview with Cheddar news earlier this month, David Chipman, a “senior policy advisor” for the anti-gun group Giffords, was asked about his “biggest concerns” regarding the “coronavirus gun sales spike.” (If the name rings a bell, Mr. Chipman, formerly a “senior advisor” with Bloomberg’s pre-Everytown group MAIG and an ex-ATF agent, has, among other things, advocated that AR-15 rifles should be regulated “just like” fully automatic machine guns.) During the interview, he claimed that first-time gun owners may think “in their [own] mind they might be competent.” However, they were really “putting themselves and their families in danger” based on whether these guns were being “stored safely” and properly in the home. Sitting in what appeared to be his own kitchen, Chipman advised “those people who were first-time gun owners” to “secure that gun locked and unloaded and hide it behind the cans of tuna and beef jerky that you’ve stored in a cabinet and only bring that out if the zombies start to appear, and I don’t think they are.”
Well…someone’s watched too much The Walking Dead.
I’d like to believe that Chipman is trying to use zombie as a metaphor here, perhaps to refer to the shambling hordes that many fear will raid the countryside looking for food during an economic collapse that may well be following on the heels of the pandemic. But, he doesn’t say so and for a guy who thinks AR-15s should be treated exactly like their full-auto cousins, I’m not really willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Even if he did mean it as a metaphor, though, he’s still an idiot.
Look, I’m on the record as saying I think there’s a strong possibility of precisely that sort of thing happening. I’m not the only one. However, I also think we’re far more likely to see an increase in crime as desperate people turn to violence and crime to feed their families. That is something we should all be concerned about, and for many that concern translates into a strong desire to purchase a firearm.
Of course, Chipman prefers guns to be stored in such a way that they’re pretty much useless for personal defense, so this isn’t surprising. Then again, if people did store them as he suggests, he’d then use the lack of their use–a lack solely because people couldn’t get to them when needed–proved they weren’t needed for self-defense.
Whether Chipman thinks we’re literally worried about zombies or not isn’t really relevant. What is, however, is that he and his crowd are once against dismissing the concerns of millions of Americans during a time that everyone has a damn right to be concerned. Yet if he and his ilk will dismiss your concerns now, what will they do when things get really bad?


bearingarms--2020-04-14--Fact Check: Gun Control And A 4th Stimulus Bill

Back on January 30th , Rep. Hank Johnson introduced HR 5717 , a gun control bill on steroids that would , if enacted into law , impose a laundry list of anti-gun restrictions on our right to keep and bear arms , including : • requiring individuals to obtain a license to purchase , acquire , or possess a firearm or ammunition ; • raising the minimum age—from 18 years to 21 years—to purchase firearms and ammunition ; • a federal “ red flag ” law allowing a family or household member to petition a court for an extreme risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual ; • a ban on semiautomatic rifles and ammunition magazines that can hold more than ten rounds ( with a grandfather clause ) ; • undoing the Protection of Lawful Commerce In Arms Act ; • allows the Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue safety standards for firearms and firearm components Obviously this bill would be awful if it became law , but the chances of that are slim at best .
At the moment , HR 5717 has 18 co-sponsors in the House , and there ’ s virtually no chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That hasn ’ t stopped some folks from claiming , without any evidence whatsoever , that House Democrats are planning on inserting the language of HR 5717 into a fourth stimulus bill in the hopes of sneaking it past pro-2A lawmakers and President Donald Trump .
Is it possible that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would try to sneak gun ban language into any additional stimulus measures ?
Sure , it ’ s possible , but if she were going to do so , why wouldn ’ t she have done that with any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed so far ?
After all , those bills were passed in a much bigger rush than a potential fourth stimulus measure .
Heck , Pelosi says the House isn ’ t even coming back into session until early May , so she ’ s clearly not in any hurry to force a vote on another financial package aimed at helping small businesses .
We don ’ t even have proposed language for a fourth stimulus bill , so I ’ m unconvinced that unnamed sources have uncovered a big plan by Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun control language .
I think the reason this rumor sounds plausible to so many people is that we did watch as House Democrats tried to pack the last stimulus bill full of unrelated items that have long been a priority for the party , including hundreds of millions of dollars for government agencies like the National Endowment for the Arts .
If Democrats were willing to play games with the third stimulus measure by stuffing it full of pork , why wouldn ’ t they try to pack the next stimulus bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real threat posed by HR 5717 will come this November , not May .
If Democrats hold on to the House and take back the Senate and the White House on Election Day , Johnson ’ s bill could very well come up for a vote in the next session of Congress , and I have no doubt it would pass .
The measures proposed by Johnson aren ’ t that different from Joe Biden ’ s gun control agenda , and there ’ s no reason to believe that Biden would veto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desk .
I ’ m sure he ’ d be happy to sign off on the bill in the Oval Office , likely surrounded by Bloomberg ’ s anti-gun flunkies and an adoring press corps .
If you want to contact your congresscritter and tell them to oppose the insertion of any gun control language in any future stimulus bills , go right ahead , but don ’ t think that is enough .
If you ’ re truly concerned about the future of your right to keep and bear arms you need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this November so we can consign HR 5717 and Nancy Pelosi ’ s gun control agenda to the dustbin of history .

Back on January 30th, Rep. Hank Johnson introduced HR 5717, a gun control bill on steroids that would, if enacted into law, impose a laundry list of anti-gun restrictions on our right to keep and bear arms, including:
requiring individuals to obtain a license to purchase, acquire, or possess a firearm or ammunition;
raising the minimum age—from 18 years to 21 years—to purchase firearms and ammunition;
“universal background checks” for firearm transfers between private parties;
a federal “red flag” law allowing a family or household member to petition a court for an extreme risk protection order to remove firearms from an individual;
a ban on semiautomatic rifles and ammunition magazines that can hold more than ten rounds (with a grandfather clause);
banning unserialized firearms;
undoing the Protection of Lawful Commerce In Arms Act;
allows the Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue safety standards for firearms and firearm components
Obviously this bill would be awful if it became law, but the chances of that are slim at best. At the moment, HR 5717 has 18 co-sponsors in the House, and there’s virtually no chance of the Senate approving the measure. That hasn’t stopped some folks from claiming, without any evidence whatsoever, that House Democrats are planning on inserting the language of HR 5717 into a fourth stimulus bill in the hopes of sneaking it past pro-2A lawmakers and President Donald Trump.
Is it possible that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would try to sneak gun ban language into any additional stimulus measures? Sure, it’s possible, but if she were going to do so, why wouldn’t she have done that with any of the three stimulus bills that have passed so far? After all, those bills were passed in a much bigger rush than a potential fourth stimulus measure. Heck, Pelosi says the House isn’t even coming back into session until early May, so she’s clearly not in any hurry to force a vote on another financial package aimed at helping small businesses.
We don’t even have proposed language for a fourth stimulus bill, so I’m unconvinced that unnamed sources have uncovered a big plan by Pelosi to rig the bill with poison pill gun control language. I think the reason this rumor sounds plausible to so many people is that we did watch as House Democrats tried to pack the last stimulus bill full of unrelated items that have long been a priority for the party, including hundreds of millions of dollars for government agencies like the National Endowment for the Arts. If Democrats were willing to play games with the third stimulus measure by stuffing it full of pork, why wouldn’t they try to pack the next stimulus bill with gun control?
I believe the real threat posed by HR 5717 will come this November, not May. If Democrats hold on to the House and take back the Senate and the White House on Election Day, Johnson’s bill could very well come up for a vote in the next session of Congress, and I have no doubt it would pass. The measures proposed by Johnson aren’t that different from Joe Biden’s gun control agenda, and there’s no reason to believe that Biden would veto the bill if it got to his desk. I’m sure he’d be happy to sign off on the bill in the Oval Office, likely surrounded by Bloomberg’s anti-gun flunkies and an adoring press corps.
If you want to contact your congresscritter and tell them to oppose the insertion of any gun control language in any future stimulus bills, go right ahead, but don’t think that is enough. If you’re truly concerned about the future of your right to keep and bear arms you need to be working to elect pro-2A candidates this November so we can consign HR 5717 and Nancy Pelosi’s gun control agenda to the dustbin of history.