bearingarms--2020-12-08--GOP Fractures Already Showing Up In Virginia Governor's Race

I ’ ve been pondering this nightmare scenario for the past couple of weeks or so ; a 2024 presidential race that features four major political parties .
For the first time since 1860 I think it ’ s a genuine possibility , with the Right splitting up into the MAGA Party and the remnant GOP and the Left formalizing the fracturing of the Democrat Party by breaking up into the Democratic Socialist Party and the Democrats .
I ’ m not saying it ’ s likely to happen at this point , but it ’ s certainly conceivable , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things to come in next year ’ s gubernatorial elections in Virginia .
Governors can serve only one term in Virginia , which means “ King Ralph ” Northam is on his way out next year , and the fractures in the Republican Party are already having an impact on next year ’ s race .
Republicans looked to be headed for a bruising primary battle between state Senator Amanda Chase ; a Trumpian defender of the Second Amendment who ’ s running as an outsider , and Del .
Kirk Cox , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an establishment GOP figure .
That changed this past weekend , however , as the state GOP decided that the nominee would be picked via a convention of delegates , rather than a primary where far more voters would have a say .
Republican Sen. Amanda Chase announced on Facebook today that she will now be seeking the nomination for governor as an independent .
Chase says that she has come to this decision after the Republican Party of Virginia decided to use a convention method instead of a primary election .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ feels running as an independent is the only way “ to bypass the political constituents and the Republican establishment elite who slow play the rules or even cheat grassroots candidates.
” The senator plans to start collecting signatures to get her name on the ballot for governor in January .
There are a few other Republicans who are thinking about running , so Cox isn ’ t guaranteed of the nomination , but the chances are really good that Chase will be able to collect enough signatures to get on the ballot .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates .
What about the prospects of a Democratic crack-up ?
There ’ s already a crowded field in the Democrat primary , with former governor Terry McAuliffe expected to officially announce his campaign on Wednesday , joining Lt. Gov .
Justin Fairfax and state legislators Jennifer McClellan and Jennifer Carroll Foy .
There ’ ve also been rumors that Richmond mayor Levar Stoney could announce a run , along with Del .
Lee Carter , a Democratic Socialist who represents the northern Virginia suburb of Manassas and portions of Prince William County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be able to defeat McAuliffe , who I suspect will be the clear front runner when he officially announces , but McAuliffe will be toxic to the socialist wing of the Democratic party .
He ’ s an establishment Democrat who ’ s been enriching himself off of politics since the Clinton administration .
Carter has said he ’ s seriously considering running for governor next year , but he doesn ’ t have to run as a Democrat .
Like Chase , he too could choose to run as an independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bros in northern Virginia and the state ’ s college towns .
Each of those four candidates ; Chase , Cox , McAuliffe , and Carter , would start with a substantial base of support , and it could turn into an incredibly close race and a preview of things to come if the national parties continue to fracture along the many emerging fault lines .
More likely , unfortunately , is the possibility that Democrats will mostly unite around a single candidate , while conservatives and the GOP will split their vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the eventual Republican nominee .
That would deliver the governorship to the Democrats once again , ensuring four more years of attempts to target our Second Amendment rights .
As a Virginia resident and gun owner , I ’ m really hoping that ’ s not the case , so I find myself in the odd position of rooting for a socialist to throw his hat into the ring to even the odds a little bit .
I ’ d rather have four candidates across the political spectrum for voters to choose from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Right , but I don ’ t know that ’ s what we ’ re going to get .

I’ve been pondering this nightmare scenario for the past couple of weeks or so; a 2024 presidential race that features four major political parties. For the first time since 1860 I think it’s a genuine possibility, with the Right splitting up into the MAGA Party and the remnant GOP and the Left formalizing the fracturing of the Democrat Party by breaking up into the Democratic Socialist Party and the Democrats. I’m not saying it’s likely to happen at this point, but it’s certainly conceivable, and we may get a preview of things to come in next year’s gubernatorial elections in Virginia.
Governors can serve only one term in Virginia, which means “King Ralph” Northam is on his way out next year, and the fractures in the Republican Party are already having an impact on next year’s race. Republicans looked to be headed for a bruising primary battle between state Senator Amanda Chase; a Trumpian defender of the Second Amendment who’s running as an outsider, and Del. Kirk Cox, a former House speaker and the epitome of an establishment GOP figure. That changed this past weekend, however, as the state GOP decided that the nominee would be picked via a convention of delegates, rather than a primary where far more voters would have a say.
Republican Sen. Amanda Chase announced on Facebook today that she will now be seeking the nomination for governor as an independent. Chase says that she has come to this decision after the Republican Party of Virginia decided to use a convention method instead of a primary election. Chase explains in her statement that she feels running as an independent is the only way “to bypass the political constituents and the Republican establishment elite who slow play the rules or even cheat grassroots candidates.” The senator plans to start collecting signatures to get her name on the ballot for governor in January.
There are a few other Republicans who are thinking about running, so Cox isn’t guaranteed of the nomination, but the chances are really good that Chase will be able to collect enough signatures to get on the ballot. That will give the Right its two candidates. What about the prospects of a Democratic crack-up?
There’s already a crowded field in the Democrat primary, with former governor Terry McAuliffe expected to officially announce his campaign on Wednesday, joining Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and state legislators Jennifer McClellan and Jennifer Carroll Foy. There’ve also been rumors that Richmond mayor Levar Stoney could announce a run, along with Del. Lee Carter, a Democratic Socialist who represents the northern Virginia suburb of Manassas and portions of Prince William County.
It’s unlikely that Carter would be able to defeat McAuliffe, who I suspect will be the clear front runner when he officially announces, but McAuliffe will be toxic to the socialist wing of the Democratic party. He’s an establishment Democrat who’s been enriching himself off of politics since the Clinton administration. Carter has said he’s seriously considering running for governor next year, but he doesn’t have to run as a Democrat. Like Chase, he too could choose to run as an independent, courting the AOC fans and Bernie Bros in northern Virginia and the state’s college towns.
Each of those four candidates; Chase, Cox, McAuliffe, and Carter, would start with a substantial base of support, and it could turn into an incredibly close race and a preview of things to come if the national parties continue to fracture along the many emerging fault lines.
More likely, unfortunately, is the possibility that Democrats will mostly unite around a single candidate, while conservatives and the GOP will split their vote between Chase’s independent candidacy and the eventual Republican nominee. That would deliver the governorship to the Democrats once again, ensuring four more years of attempts to target our Second Amendment rights.
As a Virginia resident and gun owner, I’m really hoping that’s not the case, so I find myself in the odd position of rooting for a socialist to throw his hat into the ring to even the odds a little bit. I’d rather have four candidates across the political spectrum for voters to choose from than a consolidated Left and a fractured Right, but I don’t know that’s what we’re going to get.


bearingarms--2020-12-08--Illinois Town's Assault Weapon Ban Upheld By Court

The city of Deerfield , Illinois wanted their own assault weapon ban , one far in excess of anything the state was doing at the time .
It was a useless bit of local legislation that would be virtually impossible to actually enforce and may well push citizens to move outside the city limits , but they passed it .
Then a permanent injunction was issued which put an end to the stupidity , for a little while at least .
Unfortunately , now a court has changed everything .
eerfield could soon begin enforcing its ban on certain semi-automatic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week by a state appeals court .
A divided three-judge panel of the Illinois 2nd District Appeals Court Friday lifted permanent injunctions issued last year by a Lake County judge , which had forbidden village officials from enforcing any part of the Assault Weapons Ban Ordinance trustees passed unanimously in April 2018 .
The ruling found Deerfield had the power to regulate assault weapons at the time and sent the case back to Lake County circuit court for further proceedings .
Lawsuits challenging Deerfield ’ s ban from two sets of plaintiffs — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rifle Association , Second Amendment Foundation , as well as John Wombacher and the group Guns Save Life — were consolidated into a single appeal .
The challenges argued the ban was forbidden under the 2013 laws that created a new legislative framework for legal firearm ownership after a federal court in found Illinois ’ previous gun laws were unconstitutional the year before .
Those new laws — the Concealed Carry Act and the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act , or FOID Card Act — allowed local governments to pass their own assault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so within 10 days of the Concealed Carry Act ’ s passage in July 2013 .
The law also specifically allowed for those regulations to be amended in the future .
Back in 2013 , the Deerfield Village Board passed an ordinance defining assault weapons and mandating certain measures be taken when transporting or storing them , but stopping short of an outright ban .
Judge Kathryn Zenoff agreed with the village ’ s interpretation that lawmakers in Springfield had provided for a brief window for local governments to retain the power to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had done so .
In other words , the judge argues that the ban is legal because it was an amended part of an existing law .
However , the problem I have here is that a ban isn ’ t some tweak in existing law .
It ’ s not a simple adjustment to what ’ s already codified .
It ’ s an entirely new regulation , which makes it a new law , at least in my mind .
Then again , I ’ m not an attorney , nor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There may well be some legal fiction used to justify this kind of thing , something that makes sense to lawyers and a few others .
I don ’ t know .
What I do know is that the initial injunction implies at least some judges view this the same way I do .
Undoubtedly , this will move up the legal food chain .
It looks like this story is far from over .

The city of Deerfield, Illinois wanted their own assault weapon ban, one far in excess of anything the state was doing at the time. It was a useless bit of local legislation that would be virtually impossible to actually enforce and may well push citizens to move outside the city limits, but they passed it.
Then a permanent injunction was issued which put an end to the stupidity, for a little while at least.
Unfortunately, now a court has changed everything.
eerfield could soon begin enforcing its ban on certain semi-automatic long guns following an opinion released last week by a state appeals court. A divided three-judge panel of the Illinois 2nd District Appeals Court Friday lifted permanent injunctions issued last year by a Lake County judge, which had forbidden village officials from enforcing any part of the Assault Weapons Ban Ordinance trustees passed unanimously in April 2018. The ruling found Deerfield had the power to regulate assault weapons at the time and sent the case back to Lake County circuit court for further proceedings. Lawsuits challenging Deerfield’s ban from two sets of plaintiffs — Daniel Easterday and the groups Illinois State Rifle Association, Second Amendment Foundation, as well as John Wombacher and the group Guns Save Life — were consolidated into a single appeal. The challenges argued the ban was forbidden under the 2013 laws that created a new legislative framework for legal firearm ownership after a federal court in found Illinois’ previous gun laws were unconstitutional the year before. Those new laws — the Concealed Carry Act and the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act, or FOID Card Act — allowed local governments to pass their own assault weapons regulations as long as they did so within 10 days of the Concealed Carry Act’s passage in July 2013. The law also specifically allowed for those regulations to be amended in the future. Back in 2013, the Deerfield Village Board passed an ordinance defining assault weapons and mandating certain measures be taken when transporting or storing them, but stopping short of an outright ban. Judge Kathryn Zenoff agreed with the village’s interpretation that lawmakers in Springfield had provided for a brief window for local governments to retain the power to regulate assault weapons — and the village had done so.
In other words, the judge argues that the ban is legal because it was an amended part of an existing law.
However, the problem I have here is that a ban isn’t some tweak in existing law. It’s not a simple adjustment to what’s already codified. It’s an entirely new regulation, which makes it a new law, at least in my mind.
Then again, I’m not an attorney, nor have I ever played one on TV. There may well be some legal fiction used to justify this kind of thing, something that makes sense to lawyers and a few others. I don’t know.
What I do know is that the initial injunction implies at least some judges view this the same way I do.
Undoubtedly, this will move up the legal food chain.
It looks like this story is far from over.


bearingarms--2020-12-08--The Legal Fight To Restore 2A Rights To Young Americans

It ’ s the right of the people to keep and bear arms that shall not be infringed , according to the Second Amendment , but many states and the federal government have placed draconian restrictions on American adults under the age of 21 when it comes to the right to keep and bear arms .
On today ’ s Bearing Arms ’ Cam & Co. Alan Gottlieb of the Second Amendment Foundation joins the show to talk about a series of lawsuits filed around the country challenging those infringements , as well as his thoughts on the potential dangers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s a great conversation , and I encourage you to check out the entire thing in the video window above .
When it comes to the litigation strategy pursued by SAF and other 2A allies like the Firearms Policy Coalition , Gottlieb says they ’ re pursuing complementary cases around the country , where one good decision could have an impact on other lawsuits or could create a split among the various circuit courts , making it more likely that the Supreme Court would agree to hear one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the SAF and others are engaged in at the moment that deal with the right to keep and bear arms for adults under the age of 21 , all of them part of a larger effort by the SAF to take the Second Amendment fight to the courts , where they ’ re currently involved in around 40 separate litigation efforts .
We kicked off our conversation with a discussion about Jones vs. Becerra , which challenges California ’ s prohibition on 18-20 year-olds lawfully purchasing or possessing center-fire rifles .
Taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on retail sales of handguns to those under the age of 21 , the state has created a situation where “ the vast majority of firearms—including the firearms most useful for self-defense—are now off-limits to law-abiding Californians in this age bracket.
” The lawsuit asks that the “ age-based firearm ban must be enjoined , for the Second Amendment takes such a draconian infringement of the right to keep and bear arms ‘ off the table.
’ ” SAF , along with the Firearms Policy Coalition , recently requested an injunction with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sales of center-fire rifles to those under 21 from being enforced , and we ’ re waiting now on the court ’ s response .
In Pennsylvania , meanwhile , SAF and FPC are challenging the state ’ s ban on concealed carry for those not yet 21 .
As Gottlieb notes , for the past two years the state has actually operated under a declared emergency by Gov .
Tom Wolf , which under state law suspends the right to openly carry a firearm .
Again , the totality of the laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the age of 21 have now lost all legal means of carrying for self-defense .
The case , known as Lara vs. Evanchick , was just filed back in October , so the case has not yet gone to trial , but the gun rights groups have requested a preliminary injunction seeking both an expedited trial as well as judicial relief allowing those under the age of 21 to apply for a license to carry .
Louisiana is the setting for a lawsuit challenging the federal prohibition on handgun purchases for 18 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Once again the FPC is playing a role in the litigation , but the gun groups have also been joined by the Louisiana Shooting Sports Association in the quest to declare that section of federal law null and void .
“ One mission of the Louisiana Shooting Association is to protect Americans ’ right to keep and bear arms which necessarily includes their ability to acquire firearms , ” said Dan Zelenka , Louisiana Shooting Association ’ s president .
“ Handguns are the firearm of choice for self-defense as well as for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nothing in the Constitution would subject adults under the age of 21 to different rights and protections under the Second Amendment as adults over the age of 21 .
On behalf of our members who are currently banned under federal law , as well as our younger members who will soon be in that banned age group , the Louisiana Shooting Association is proud to be a part of this effort to stop the federal government from enforcing its unconstitutional ban.
” The last case that Gottlieb and I discussed involves Washington State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which included a ban on so-called “ assault weapons ” for adults under the age of 21 .
The SAF and the National Rifle Association recently appealed a ruling by a federal judge that upheld the gun control restriction , but oral arguments in the Ninth Circuit have yet to be scheduled in the case .
Taken in total , these four cases represent an excellent opportunity for the Supreme Court to weigh in before long , and hopefully on the side of the Constitution .
It makes absolutely no sense that 18-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the draft and can be compelled to bear arms in defense of this nation , while at the same time being prohibited from keeping or bearing arms in self-defense .
Let ’ s hope that there are at least five justices on the Supreme Court who agree .

It’s the right of the people to keep and bear arms that shall not be infringed, according to the Second Amendment, but many states and the federal government have placed draconian restrictions on American adults under the age of 21 when it comes to the right to keep and bear arms.
On today’s Bearing Arms’ Cam & Co. Alan Gottlieb of the Second Amendment Foundation joins the show to talk about a series of lawsuits filed around the country challenging those infringements, as well as his thoughts on the potential dangers awaiting gun owners in a Biden presidency. It’s a great conversation, and I encourage you to check out the entire thing in the video window above.
When it comes to the litigation strategy pursued by SAF and other 2A allies like the Firearms Policy Coalition, Gottlieb says they’re pursuing complementary cases around the country, where one good decision could have an impact on other lawsuits or could create a split among the various circuit courts, making it more likely that the Supreme Court would agree to hear one of the challenges.
There are four main lawsuits that the SAF and others are engaged in at the moment that deal with the right to keep and bear arms for adults under the age of 21, all of them part of a larger effort by the SAF to take the Second Amendment fight to the courts, where they’re currently involved in around 40 separate litigation efforts.
We kicked off our conversation with a discussion about Jones vs. Becerra, which challenges California’s prohibition on 18-20 year-olds lawfully purchasing or possessing center-fire rifles. Taken together with the state and federal ban on retail sales of handguns to those under the age of 21, the state has created a situation where “the vast majority of firearms—including the firearms most useful for self-defense—are now off-limits to law-abiding Californians in this age bracket.” The lawsuit asks that the “age-based firearm ban must be enjoined, for the Second Amendment takes such a draconian infringement of the right to keep and bear arms ‘off the table.’”
SAF, along with the Firearms Policy Coalition, recently requested an injunction with the Ninth Circuit to block the ban on sales of center-fire rifles to those under 21 from being enforced, and we’re waiting now on the court’s response.
In Pennsylvania, meanwhile, SAF and FPC are challenging the state’s ban on concealed carry for those not yet 21. As Gottlieb notes, for the past two years the state has actually operated under a declared emergency by Gov. Tom Wolf, which under state law suspends the right to openly carry a firearm. Again, the totality of the laws has resulted in a situation where those under the age of 21 have now lost all legal means of carrying for self-defense.
The case, known as Lara vs. Evanchick, was just filed back in October, so the case has not yet gone to trial, but the gun rights groups have requested a preliminary injunction seeking both an expedited trial as well as judicial relief allowing those under the age of 21 to apply for a license to carry.
Louisiana is the setting for a lawsuit challenging the federal prohibition on handgun purchases for 18, 19, and 20-year olds. Once again the FPC is playing a role in the litigation, but the gun groups have also been joined by the Louisiana Shooting Sports Association in the quest to declare that section of federal law null and void.
“One mission of the Louisiana Shooting Association is to protect Americans’ right to keep and bear arms which necessarily includes their ability to acquire firearms,” said Dan Zelenka, Louisiana Shooting Association’s president. “Handguns are the firearm of choice for self-defense as well as for many types of sport shooting disciplines. Nothing in the Constitution would subject adults under the age of 21 to different rights and protections under the Second Amendment as adults over the age of 21. On behalf of our members who are currently banned under federal law, as well as our younger members who will soon be in that banned age group, the Louisiana Shooting Association is proud to be a part of this effort to stop the federal government from enforcing its unconstitutional ban.”
The last case that Gottlieb and I discussed involves Washington State’s 2016 gun control referendum, which included a ban on so-called “assault weapons” for adults under the age of 21. The SAF and the National Rifle Association recently appealed a ruling by a federal judge that upheld the gun control restriction, but oral arguments in the Ninth Circuit have yet to be scheduled in the case.
Taken in total, these four cases represent an excellent opportunity for the Supreme Court to weigh in before long, and hopefully on the side of the Constitution. It makes absolutely no sense that 18-year olds would be required to register for the draft and can be compelled to bear arms in defense of this nation, while at the same time being prohibited from keeping or bearing arms in self-defense. Let’s hope that there are at least five justices on the Supreme Court who agree.


bearingarms--2020-12-08--LA DA's "Justice Reform" Gets Priorities Askew

Newly elected DA for Los Angeles George Gascon has some thoughts on how the office should be run .
Then again , he ’ s the incoming district attorney .
That ’ s probably how it should be .
However , it seems that his priorities or a bit wonky .
See , he sent an open letter to police officers in L.A. County , and it seems he ’ s apparently ready to be soft on criminals , but tough on cops .
Gascon ’ s letter warned that he has “ profound intolerance ” for dishonest officers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have severely hindered the standing and safety of us all , ” Gascon wrote in the letter , obtained by NBC LA .
“ We are all scarred by their misdeeds , leading many in our communities to perceive police as persecutors instead of protectors , ” he said .
Among the reforms expected to be detailed : • Prosecutors will no longer ask for the accused to be held in lieu of cash bail .
Rather , prosecutors will request detention with no bail for those accused of certain serious or violent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of misdemeanors and , “ non-violent , non-serious , ” felonies to be released on their own recognizance .
• Gascon ’ s office will immediately drop any efforts to seek the death penalty in murder cases and will disband the committee of prosecutors who decided which cases were suitable for a death sentence .
• Prosecutors will no longer be allowed to seek sentencing enhancements , such as those for committing a crime to benefit a gang or for the use of a gun .
Gascon ’ s office will also apply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause the resentencing of tens of thousands of people already sent to prison to new , shorter terms .
• Juvenile cases will never be allowed to be transferred to adult court , no matter the offense .
Gascon ’ s office will ask that any pending cases be returned to juvenile court , where sentences are much shorter and focused more on rehabilitation .
• Prosecutors will stop charging many crimes , and almost all misdemeanors , related to , “ poverty , homelessness , or addiction.
” Now , there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profoundly troubling , at least to me .
First , only those accused of “ certain serious or violent crimes ” will be held .
Others , including some violent criminals that aren ’ t accused of “ certain ” crimes , are to be released without bail .
That means violent and potentially violent offenders will be dropped right back onto the streets where they can continue to commit various crimes .
That ’ s plenty of time to cause still more problems .
After all , there is a long time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by refusing to seek sentencing enhancements , even going so far as to try and remove them retroactively , Gascon is looking to put violent criminals back out on the streets all that much sooner .
While I tend not to like the idea of the weapon used factoring into the decision–do you really care if your loved one is murdered with a gun versus a knife ?
–there are times that it matters .
Take an aggravated assault case where someone is shot versus someone being punched in the head , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their place .
Then there ’ s the fact that Gascon isn ’ t going to prosecute any number of crimes if they relate to any of these three things .
The thing is , a case could be made that almost all crimes relate to “ poverty , homelessness , or addiction ” in some way , shape , or form .
Is Gascon basically saying that he ’ s not planning on prosecuting much of anything ?
It sure sounds like it .
Also , let ’ s note what ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s ready to clamp down on the police and ready to let the criminal element run wild , there ’ s absolutely no mention of looking the other way when law-abiding citizens accidentally run afoul of California ’ s draconian gun regulations .
He ’ ll let prostitutes walk the city without fear of prosecution or let petty thieves destroy people ’ s businesses , but if you have a magazine that holds more than 10 rounds that you purchased when you lived out of state , well…you ’ re screwed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it might be a good time to move .

Newly elected DA for Los Angeles George Gascon has some thoughts on how the office should be run. Then again, he’s the incoming district attorney. That’s probably how it should be.
However, it seems that his priorities or a bit wonky. See, he sent an open letter to police officers in L.A. County, and it seems he’s apparently ready to be soft on criminals, but tough on cops.
Gascon’s letter warned that he has “profound intolerance” for dishonest officers. “Those who engage in unconstitutional policing have severely hindered the standing and safety of us all,” Gascon wrote in the letter, obtained by NBC LA. “We are all scarred by their misdeeds, leading many in our communities to perceive police as persecutors instead of protectors,” he said. … Among the reforms expected to be detailed: Prosecutors will no longer ask for the accused to be held in lieu of cash bail. Rather, prosecutors will request detention with no bail for those accused of certain serious or violent crimes and will not oppose those accused of misdemeanors and, “non-violent, non-serious,” felonies to be released on their own recognizance.
Gascon’s office will immediately drop any efforts to seek the death penalty in murder cases and will disband the committee of prosecutors who decided which cases were suitable for a death sentence.
Prosecutors will no longer be allowed to seek sentencing enhancements, such as those for committing a crime to benefit a gang or for the use of a gun. Gascon’s office will also apply the criteria retroactively, which could potentially cause the resentencing of tens of thousands of people already sent to prison to new, shorter terms.
Juvenile cases will never be allowed to be transferred to adult court, no matter the offense. Gascon’s office will ask that any pending cases be returned to juvenile court, where sentences are much shorter and focused more on rehabilitation.
Prosecutors will stop charging many crimes, and almost all misdemeanors, related to, “poverty, homelessness, or addiction.”
Now, there are a number of issues here that are profoundly troubling, at least to me.
First, only those accused of “certain serious or violent crimes” will be held. Others, including some violent criminals that aren’t accused of “certain” crimes, are to be released without bail. That means violent and potentially violent offenders will be dropped right back onto the streets where they can continue to commit various crimes. That’s plenty of time to cause still more problems. After all, there is a long time between arrest and trial.
Second, by refusing to seek sentencing enhancements, even going so far as to try and remove them retroactively, Gascon is looking to put violent criminals back out on the streets all that much sooner. While I tend not to like the idea of the weapon used factoring into the decision–do you really care if your loved one is murdered with a gun versus a knife?–there are times that it matters. Take an aggravated assault case where someone is shot versus someone being punched in the head, for example.
And gang enhancements definitely have their place.
Then there’s the fact that Gascon isn’t going to prosecute any number of crimes if they relate to any of these three things. The thing is, a case could be made that almost all crimes relate to “poverty, homelessness, or addiction” in some way, shape, or form. Is Gascon basically saying that he’s not planning on prosecuting much of anything? It sure sounds like it.
Also, let’s note what’s not included here. While he’s ready to clamp down on the police and ready to let the criminal element run wild, there’s absolutely no mention of looking the other way when law-abiding citizens accidentally run afoul of California’s draconian gun regulations. He’ll let prostitutes walk the city without fear of prosecution or let petty thieves destroy people’s businesses, but if you have a magazine that holds more than 10 rounds that you purchased when you lived out of state, well…you’re screwed.
If you live in Los Angeles County, it might be a good time to move.


bearingarms--2020-12-08--TN Man Out On Bond For Murder Found With Guns

Gun control advocates claim that gun control laws work , which is why criminals routinely bypass all the gun control laws on the books to get guns and commit crimes with firearms , thus prompting gun control advocates to call for more gun control .
Such is the natural order of things for the Yellow-Bellied Gun Grabber .
However , at some point , they have almost got to acknowledge that the gun control laws on the books aren ’ t working and that a completely different approach is required .
I mean , if someone out on bond for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A police license plate reader on Sunday morning led officers to the vehicle of a man who is out on bond for murder .
Two guns were found in the vehicle occupied by Terrence Dewayne Lewis , Jr. , 25 , and another man .
Police said they recovered a gun later confirmed to be stolen , as well as a second gun on the passenger side .
Police said the vehicle was confirmed to be stolen and involved in a homicide , and the passenger side gun was also confirmed to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December 2017 , Lewis was charged with shooting UTC student Evan “ Thad ” Derry of Franklin , Tn.
, in what police described as a drug deal .
Lewis has a trial date on the murder and robbery for next July 13 .
Both suspects were taken into custody .
Lewis is facing the following new charges : reckless endangerment , evading arrest , unlawful possession of a weapon and two counts of theft of property .
Honestly , this is legitimately troubling for me .
This is a guy set to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drug dealer , and he was able to get his hands on a stolen gun .
Whether he stole it or purchased it from someone else is unclear at this time .
I ’ d love to hear the gun control crowd ’ s solution for stolen guns , particularly one that doesn ’ t require all guns to be removed from law-abiding citizens ’ hands .
Mandatory storage laws won ’ t cut it , either , because the storage systems themselves can be stolen along with the guns .
This includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full-sized gun safes .
Oh , they may be heavy , but they ’ re not immovable .
After all , they had to be moved in .
Of course , the bigger problem is that it takes so long for a murder suspect to be brought to trial .
Lewis is charged with a murder from 2017 .
It ’ s 2020 right now .
That ’ s three years and he wasn ’ t set for trial until July of next year .
Three and a half years .
Now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declined to indict .
He was rearrested in September 2019 , which means it ’ s “ only ” a little over a year and a half .
Somehow , that doesn ’ t make it a whole lot better .
Let me be clear , I don ’ t oppose people being released on bond .
They ’ re innocent until proven guilty , after all .
What I do have a problem with is a criminal justice system that takes this long to bring people to trial , particularly for cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address violent crime , this would be a dandy place to start that doesn ’ t interfere with anyone ’ s rights .
Hell , since the Constitution guarantees a speedy trial , it even enhances it .
Think any of them will jump on that bandwagon ?

Gun control advocates claim that gun control laws work, which is why criminals routinely bypass all the gun control laws on the books to get guns and commit crimes with firearms, thus prompting gun control advocates to call for more gun control. Such is the natural order of things for the Yellow-Bellied Gun Grabber.
However, at some point, they have almost got to acknowledge that the gun control laws on the books aren’t working and that a completely different approach is required.
I mean, if someone out on bond for a double murder can get a gun…
A police license plate reader on Sunday morning led officers to the vehicle of a man who is out on bond for murder. Two guns were found in the vehicle occupied by Terrence Dewayne Lewis, Jr., 25, and another man. … Police said they recovered a gun later confirmed to be stolen, as well as a second gun on the passenger side. Police said the vehicle was confirmed to be stolen and involved in a homicide, and the passenger side gun was also confirmed to be associated with the same homicide. In December 2017, Lewis was charged with shooting UTC student Evan “Thad” Derry of Franklin, Tn., in what police described as a drug deal. Lewis has a trial date on the murder and robbery for next July 13. Both suspects were taken into custody. Lewis is facing the following new charges: reckless endangerment, evading arrest, unlawful possession of a weapon and two counts of theft of property.
Honestly, this is legitimately troubling for me. This is a guy set to be tried for murder, an apparent drug dealer, and he was able to get his hands on a stolen gun. Whether he stole it or purchased it from someone else is unclear at this time.
I’d love to hear the gun control crowd’s solution for stolen guns, particularly one that doesn’t require all guns to be removed from law-abiding citizens’ hands. Mandatory storage laws won’t cut it, either, because the storage systems themselves can be stolen along with the guns. This includes gun locks, obviously, but also full-sized gun safes. Oh, they may be heavy, but they’re not immovable. After all, they had to be moved in.
Of course, the bigger problem is that it takes so long for a murder suspect to be brought to trial. Lewis is charged with a murder from 2017. It’s 2020 right now. That’s three years and he wasn’t set for trial until July of next year. Three and a half years.
Now, in fairness, the initial grand jury declined to indict. He was rearrested in September 2019, which means it’s “only” a little over a year and a half. Somehow, that doesn’t make it a whole lot better.
Let me be clear, I don’t oppose people being released on bond. They’re innocent until proven guilty, after all.
What I do have a problem with is a criminal justice system that takes this long to bring people to trial, particularly for cases like murder. If anti-gunners want to address violent crime, this would be a dandy place to start that doesn’t interfere with anyone’s rights. Hell, since the Constitution guarantees a speedy trial, it even enhances it.
Think any of them will jump on that bandwagon?
Yeah, me neither.


bearingarms--2020-12-08--BA Gift Guide- Six Books Every 2A Supporter Should Own

If you ’ re looking for that perfect Christmas gift for the gun owners in your life , but can ’ t find any ammunition to put under the tree , why not arm your loved ones with knowledge instead ?
Here ’ s a list of some new releases and must-own classics that focus on the history of the Second Amendment , debunk anti-gun myths , and deliver gripping stories both fiction and factual about living under repression once the right to keep and bear arms has been destroyed .
The Fighting Bunch : The Battle of Athens and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Only Successful Armed Rebellion Since the Revolution by Chris DeRose .
We had Chris on Cam & Co a few weeks ago , right after his latest book was released , and I enjoyed the conversation as much as I ’ ve enjoyed reading this deep dive into the Battle of Athens ; a mostly forgotten but fascinating tale of how returning GI ’ s took on the Memphis political machine and helped to restore representative democracy to their corner of the state of Tennessee .
Negroes and the Gun : The Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve read this book every year since it ’ s release back in 2014 , and I always put it down with a renewed sense of appreciation for how the Second Amendment has been used throughout our nation ’ s history to advance the cause of freedom ; from the armed abolitionists working the Underground Railroad to Ida Wells ’ embrace of the Winchester repeating rifle as an anti-lynching tool , to Mississippi farmers like Hartman Turnbow who worked non-violently to obtain the right to vote , while still protecting his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and members of the KKK intent on denying black Americans the full exercise of their rights .
This Nonviolent Stuff ’ ll Get You Killed : How Guns Made the Civil Rights Movement Possible by Charles Cobb .
This is a great companion piece to Nicholas Johnson ’ s book , and it ’ s a must-read for those interested in U.S. history , the civil rights movement , and the right to keep and bear arms .
Cobb , a former member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee , weaves his own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with tales from the broader civil rights movement .
It ’ s another book that I re-read on a regular basis , and Cobb ’ s powerful story is one that should resonate with gun owners today .
Policing the Second Amendment : Guns , Law Enforcement , and the Politics of Race by Jennifer Carlson .
This book , which was released in September of this year , isn ’ t written from a pro-Second Amendment perspective , but I think it ’ s still worth a read , if only to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is shifting in academia .
Carlson finds a contradiction between gun control activists ’ demands that police enforce gun control laws and the support by many law enforcement officers for the Second Amendment , exploring the racial dynamics of enforcement of gun laws in the process .
Gun Control Myths : How politicians , the media , and botched “ studies ” have twisted the facts on gun control by Dr. John Lott .
The longtime researcher ’ s latest book was released in July of this year , and is chock full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of anti-gun activists , from red-flag laws to gun-free zones .
While Lott is an academic , the book is anything but dry and boring , and will serve as great reference material for Second Amendment supporters in their debates with family and friends .
Crisis by Kurt Schlichter .
The latest novel in the Kelly Turnbull franchise sees the hero trying to stop the United States from sliding into civil war , and explores why the country split apart in our not-too-distant future .
It ’ s a love letter to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warning about the dangers that our fractured nation faces , but it ’ s also a really fun and fast-paced story that will keep you turning pages until the very end .
We ’ ll have a more holiday gift ideas in the days ahead , but hopefully this will help with your shopping for the Second Amendment supporters in your life .
Heck , you could even buy one of these books for a gun control advocate .
There ’ s no guarantee that they ’ d read it , but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these books they may have their minds opened as well , which would be a true Christmas miracle .

If you’re looking for that perfect Christmas gift for the gun owners in your life, but can’t find any ammunition to put under the tree, why not arm your loved ones with knowledge instead? Here’s a list of some new releases and must-own classics that focus on the history of the Second Amendment, debunk anti-gun myths, and deliver gripping stories both fiction and factual about living under repression once the right to keep and bear arms has been destroyed.
The Fighting Bunch: The Battle of Athens and How World War II Veterans Won the Only Successful Armed Rebellion Since the Revolution by Chris DeRose. We had Chris on Cam & Co a few weeks ago, right after his latest book was released, and I enjoyed the conversation as much as I’ve enjoyed reading this deep dive into the Battle of Athens; a mostly forgotten but fascinating tale of how returning GI’s took on the Memphis political machine and helped to restore representative democracy to their corner of the state of Tennessee.
Negroes and the Gun: The Black Tradition of Arms by Nicholas Johnson. I’ve read this book every year since it’s release back in 2014, and I always put it down with a renewed sense of appreciation for how the Second Amendment has been used throughout our nation’s history to advance the cause of freedom; from the armed abolitionists working the Underground Railroad to Ida Wells’ embrace of the Winchester repeating rifle as an anti-lynching tool, to Mississippi farmers like Hartman Turnbow who worked non-violently to obtain the right to vote, while still protecting his family with a shotgun from night riders and members of the KKK intent on denying black Americans the full exercise of their rights.
This Nonviolent Stuff’ll Get You Killed: How Guns Made the Civil Rights Movement Possible by Charles Cobb. This is a great companion piece to Nicholas Johnson’s book, and it’s a must-read for those interested in U.S. history, the civil rights movement, and the right to keep and bear arms. Cobb, a former member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, weaves his own story of embracing the right of self-defense with tales from the broader civil rights movement. It’s another book that I re-read on a regular basis, and Cobb’s powerful story is one that should resonate with gun owners today.
Policing the Second Amendment: Guns, Law Enforcement, and the Politics of Race by Jennifer Carlson. This book, which was released in September of this year, isn’t written from a pro-Second Amendment perspective, but I think it’s still worth a read, if only to see how the debate over gun control is shifting in academia. Carlson finds a contradiction between gun control activists’ demands that police enforce gun control laws and the support by many law enforcement officers for the Second Amendment, exploring the racial dynamics of enforcement of gun laws in the process.
Gun Control Myths: How politicians, the media, and botched “studies” have twisted the facts on gun control by Dr. John Lott. The longtime researcher’s latest book was released in July of this year, and is chock full of facts and studies debunking the claims of anti-gun activists, from red-flag laws to gun-free zones. While Lott is an academic, the book is anything but dry and boring, and will serve as great reference material for Second Amendment supporters in their debates with family and friends.
Crisis by Kurt Schlichter. The latest novel in the Kelly Turnbull franchise sees the hero trying to stop the United States from sliding into civil war, and explores why the country split apart in our not-too-distant future. It’s a love letter to the Second Amendment as well as a timely warning about the dangers that our fractured nation faces, but it’s also a really fun and fast-paced story that will keep you turning pages until the very end.
We’ll have a more holiday gift ideas in the days ahead, but hopefully this will help with your shopping for the Second Amendment supporters in your life. Heck, you could even buy one of these books for a gun control advocate. There’s no guarantee that they’d read it, but I have a feeling if they open one of these books they may have their minds opened as well, which would be a true Christmas miracle.
When you make a purchase, Townhall Media receives a revenue share from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate.


bearingarms--2020-12-08--No One Interested In Trudeau's "Buyback" Scheme

Canadia Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took a step that would likely have sparked a civil war here in the United States .
He unilaterally banned an entire category of guns with , basically , a stroke of his pen .
While Americans would have kicked off the Boogaloo with a stunt like that , Canadians are far more chill about having their rights stripped from them for some reason .
Instead , they gripe and resist through the legal system , but they ’ re not likely to get that rowdy over it .
However , it seems that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strip people of their lawfully-purchased property can ’ t find anyone to actually create the program to do the stripping .
Despite the millions of dollars that a contractor stands to earn , the federal government is struggling to find private sector entities interested in providing the services needed to carry out its confiscation program .
The initial solicitation seeking bidders on the contract for the “ design and implementation of a potential buyback program for recently prohibited firearms , ” posted in August , was unsuccessful .
A second public tender notice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a Potential Buyback Program for Recently Prohibited Firearms ( 202101502-1 ) , was posted on October 16 .
As was the case with the initial solicitation , the notice lists 15 entities that were invited to submit bids , but adds that other interested parties could secure an invitation to bid on request .
The invitees included Ernst & Young LLP , Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP , IBM Canada Limited/IBM Canada Limitée , and others .
This tender solicitation expired in November without attracting a successful bidder .
The tender notice contains what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the project is already off the rails .
Besides the curious reference to “ potential buyback ” in both notices , the most recent notice states that the planning and design phase , “ Phase One , ” was to run from the date the contract was awarded until March 31 , 2021 .
The successful bidder would grant the government an “ irrevocable option ” to acquire its services for “ Phase Two , ” the actual implementation stage , “ for up to one additional two-year period under the same conditions.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 16 months , the framing of the implementation period as continuing well beyond April 2022 suggests that the original timeline has been abandoned .
Indeed , with no private corporation apparently willing to be associated with Trudeau ’ s toxic confiscation of property from farmers , hunters , sport shooters and other law abiding citizens , the entire project is beginning to look more than a little shaky .
See , if there ’ s no program in place , there simply can ’ t be a buyback , and if Trudeau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it had a plan in place , well , whose fault is that ?
No one is required to bid on a government contract , after all .
Trudeau managed to screw the proverbial pooch here so badly , it ’ s outright hilarious .
What ’ s not funny , though , is that there ’ s still a very real threat to the gun rights of millions of Canadian gun owners .
It ’ s also not funny that Joe Biden wants to do the same thing here within our own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dig in and get ready to fight .

Canadia Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took a step that would likely have sparked a civil war here in the United States. He unilaterally banned an entire category of guns with, basically, a stroke of his pen.
While Americans would have kicked off the Boogaloo with a stunt like that, Canadians are far more chill about having their rights stripped from them for some reason. Instead, they gripe and resist through the legal system, but they’re not likely to get that rowdy over it.
However, it seems that the government that jumped at the chance to strip people of their lawfully-purchased property can’t find anyone to actually create the program to do the stripping.
Despite the millions of dollars that a contractor stands to earn, the federal government is struggling to find private sector entities interested in providing the services needed to carry out its confiscation program. The initial solicitation seeking bidders on the contract for the “design and implementation of a potential buyback program for recently prohibited firearms,” posted in August, was unsuccessful. A second public tender notice, Compensation Model and Program Design Options for a Potential Buyback Program for Recently Prohibited Firearms (202101502-1), was posted on October 16. As was the case with the initial solicitation, the notice lists 15 entities that were invited to submit bids, but adds that other interested parties could secure an invitation to bid on request. The invitees included Ernst & Young LLP, Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP, IBM Canada Limited/IBM Canada Limitée, and others. This tender solicitation expired in November without attracting a successful bidder. The tender notice contains what appears to be a tacit acknowledgement that the project is already off the rails. Besides the curious reference to “potential buyback” in both notices, the most recent notice states that the planning and design phase, “Phase One,” was to run from the date the contract was awarded until March 31, 2021. The successful bidder would grant the government an “irrevocable option” to acquire its services for “Phase Two,” the actual implementation stage, “for up to one additional two-year period under the same conditions.” Given that the amnesty period expires in 16 months, the framing of the implementation period as continuing well beyond April 2022 suggests that the original timeline has been abandoned. Indeed, with no private corporation apparently willing to be associated with Trudeau’s toxic confiscation of property from farmers, hunters, sport shooters and other law abiding citizens, the entire project is beginning to look more than a little shaky.
This makes me giggle.
See, if there’s no program in place, there simply can’t be a buyback, and if Trudeau’s government decided to jump before it had a plan in place, well, whose fault is that? No one is required to bid on a government contract, after all.
Trudeau managed to screw the proverbial pooch here so badly, it’s outright hilarious.
What’s not funny, though, is that there’s still a very real threat to the gun rights of millions of Canadian gun owners. It’s also not funny that Joe Biden wants to do the same thing here within our own borders.
It’s time to dig in and get ready to fight.


bearingarms--2020-12-08--Why Did Chinese Spy Focus On Democrats?

Why Did Chinese Spy Focus On Democrats?

After four years of hearing “ Russian collusion ” because the former Soviet Union bought a bunch of ads on Facebook , it seems Democrats have some explaining of their own to do .
Axios , which is anything but a right-leaning publication , released a story on Monday finding ties between an alleged Chinese spy and a significant number of Democratic lawmakers .
A suspected Chinese intelligence operative developed extensive ties with local and national politicians , including a U.S. congressman , in what U.S. officials believe was a political intelligence operation run by China ’ s main civilian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Axios found in a yearlonginvestigation .
Among the most significant targets of Fang ’ s efforts was Rep. Eric Swalwell ( D-Calif. ) .
• Fang took part in fundraising activity for Swalwell ’ s 2014 re-election campaign , according to a Bay Area political operative and a current U.S. intelligence official .
Swalwell ’ s office was directly aware of these activities on its behalf , the political operative said .
That same political operative , who witnessed Fang fundraising on Swalwell ’ s behalf , found no evidence of illegal contributions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t indicate Fang herself made donations , which are prohibited from foreign nationals .
• Fang helped place at least one intern in Swalwell ’ s office , according to those same two people , and interacted with Swalwell at multiple events over the course of several years .
A statement from Swalwell ’ s office provided to Axios said : “ Rep .
Swalwell , long ago , provided information about this person — whom he met more than eight years ago , and whom he hasn ’ t seen in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To protect information that might be classified , he will not participate in your story.
” • Fang helped with a fundraiser for Rep. Tulsi Gabbard ( D-Hawaii ) in 2013 , according to a flyer from the event Fang shared on Facebook .
She appeared in photos over multiple years with a host of California politicians , including Khanna , Swalwell , Rep. Judy Chu ( D-Calif. ) and then-Rep. Mike Honda ( D-Calif. ) .
• Gabbard “ has no recollection of ever meeting or talking with her , nor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role at the fundraiser , ” a spokesperson said in an email to Axios .
• Fremont City Councilmember Raj Salwan , whose name appears on the flyer , told Axios he was unaware of Fang ’ s role in the event and her name was added to the flyer by other Asian American leaders .
• Chu ’ s office said they have no records of Christine Fang .
Honda said he had no memory of meeting Fang .
Now , understand , none of these lawmakers appear to be implicated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a couple of mayors from the Midwest who also engaged in sexual relations with the alleged spy , named Fang Fang or Christine Fang .
No , most were merely candidates that Fang apparently sought to help rise up the ranks .
This doesn ’ t look like an espionage operation , after all .
However , the unifying theme appears to be that they ’ re all Democrats .
Wonder why that is ?
Fang ’ s reported mission was to help politicians who would be most favorable to the communist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situations where you ’ re likely to find a Republican take a more favorable stance toward communism or communist countries than Democrats will .
Further , I can ’ t help but feel that the Second Amendment likely plays a factor as well .
China has shown some expansionistic tendencies in the very recent past , after all .
Those tendencies could put it on a collision course with the United States .
Hence the push to help fuel the rise of politicians most likely to be sympathetic with China .
Is it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of disarming the American populace to make any attack on American soil more difficult to thwart ?
After all , while the quote from Japanse Admiral Yamamoto about there being a rifle behind every blade of grass may be apocryphal , it doesn ’ t mean it ’ s wrong .
Could that be playing as part of the strategy here as well ?
Or , and this may be more likely , that it ’ s simply a convergent event ?
After all , Democrats tend to be anti-gun .
They don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help with that , after all .
Still , it ’ s funny that Fang apparently targeted Democrats almost exclusively .
She doesn ’ t seem to be involved with Representative-Elect Daryl Issa , for example , nor any other Republicans from the California delegation .
It looks like Democrats have their own collusion questions to answer .

After four years of hearing “Russian collusion” because the former Soviet Union bought a bunch of ads on Facebook, it seems Democrats have some explaining of their own to do.
Axios, which is anything but a right-leaning publication, released a story on Monday finding ties between an alleged Chinese spy and a significant number of Democratic lawmakers.
A suspected Chinese intelligence operative developed extensive ties with local and national politicians, including a U.S. congressman, in what U.S. officials believe was a political intelligence operation run by China’s main civilian spy agency between 2011 and 2015, Axios found in a yearlonginvestigation. … Among the most significant targets of Fang’s efforts was Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.). Fang took part in fundraising activity for Swalwell’s 2014 re-election campaign, according to a Bay Area political operative and a current U.S. intelligence official. Swalwell’s office was directly aware of these activities on its behalf, the political operative said. That same political operative, who witnessed Fang fundraising on Swalwell’s behalf, found no evidence of illegal contributions.
Federal Election Commission records don’t indicate Fang herself made donations, which are prohibited from foreign nationals.
Fang helped place at least one intern in Swalwell’s office, according to those same two people, and interacted with Swalwell at multiple events over the course of several years. A statement from Swalwell’s office provided to Axios said: “Rep. Swalwell, long ago, provided information about this person — whom he met more than eight years ago, and whom he hasn’t seen in nearly six years — to the FBI. To protect information that might be classified, he will not participate in your story.” … Fang helped with a fundraiser for Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) in 2013, according to a flyer from the event Fang shared on Facebook. She appeared in photos over multiple years with a host of California politicians, including Khanna, Swalwell, Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and then-Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.).
Gabbard “has no recollection of ever meeting or talking with her, nor any recollection of her playing a major role at the fundraiser,” a spokesperson said in an email to Axios.
Fremont City Councilmember Raj Salwan, whose name appears on the flyer, told Axios he was unaware of Fang’s role in the event and her name was added to the flyer by other Asian American leaders.
Chu’s office said they have no records of Christine Fang. Honda said he had no memory of meeting Fang.
Now, understand, none of these lawmakers appear to be implicated in any wrongdoing. The exceptions seem to be a couple of mayors from the Midwest who also engaged in sexual relations with the alleged spy, named Fang Fang or Christine Fang. No, most were merely candidates that Fang apparently sought to help rise up the ranks. This doesn’t look like an espionage operation, after all.
However, the unifying theme appears to be that they’re all Democrats. Wonder why that is?
Fang’s reported mission was to help politicians who would be most favorable to the communist country. There aren’t many situations where you’re likely to find a Republican take a more favorable stance toward communism or communist countries than Democrats will.
Further, I can’t help but feel that the Second Amendment likely plays a factor as well.
China has shown some expansionistic tendencies in the very recent past, after all. Those tendencies could put it on a collision course with the United States. Hence the push to help fuel the rise of politicians most likely to be sympathetic with China.
Is it possible that they also like the idea of disarming the American populace to make any attack on American soil more difficult to thwart? After all, while the quote from Japanse Admiral Yamamoto about there being a rifle behind every blade of grass may be apocryphal, it doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Could that be playing as part of the strategy here as well?
Or, and this may be more likely, that it’s simply a convergent event? After all, Democrats tend to be anti-gun. They don’t need a lot of Chinese help with that, after all.
Still, it’s funny that Fang apparently targeted Democrats almost exclusively. She doesn’t seem to be involved with Representative-Elect Daryl Issa, for example, nor any other Republicans from the California delegation.
It looks like Democrats have their own collusion questions to answer.


bearingarms--2020-12-08--Mall Santa Resigns After Going Full Scrooge Over Nerf Gun Request

An Illinois mall Santa is making news for all the wrong reasons after telling a young kid that he wouldn ’ t be bringing him a Nerf gun for Christmas .
Sabella DeCarlo brought her son Michael to the Harlem Irving Plaza shopping mall in Norridge , Illinois the other day so he could visit Santa , but the child ended up in tears after asking for a Nerf gun for Christmas , only to be told by sanctimonious Santa that he doesn ’ t deliver toy guns for Christmas .
On Facebook , DeCarlo wrote that this was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to visit Santa .
It was supposed to be magical but instead I had to watch my sweet little boy fight back tears because Santa told him No because of his own personal beliefs .
I had to think fast and explain to him that this Santa was just a helper and not the real guy .
I just wanted to console my baby and get him out of there , flipping out on Santa would have only made it worse .
His Elfie is going to bring him a Nerf gun directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real Santa , tonight .
I have a feeling Michael is going to have more Nerf guns than he knows what to do with now that the story ’ s gone viral .
In fact , Texas Rep. Chip Roy tweeted out an update to the story on Tuesday showing a special emissary from the mall making a home delivery to the DeCarlo residence .
Good for the mall for trying to make things right , and I hope that Woke Santa , as Rep. Roy called him , learns a Christmas lesson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own politics aside once you put on your furry red suit .
You ’ re there to make sure the kid walks away with a smile on his face , not to reenact your favorite scene from A Christmas Story and tell a child that they ’ ll shoot their eye out .
In a statement on Facebook , mall management posted an apology to DeCarlo and her son Michael , stating that the mall and the 3rd party Santa company are “ deeply distraught ” over what happened .
Sabella DeCarlo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the viral video to help other kids this Christmas .
In a Facebook post , one of DeCarlo ’ s friends mentioned that she is now organizing a “ large Nerf and toy collection for kids in need.
” That ’ s a great way to turn lemons into lemonade ( or maybe rotten eggs into eggnog ) , and great to see DeCarlo using her 5 minutes of fame to help others in addition to highlighting the issue with the anti-toy gun Santa .

An Illinois mall Santa is making news for all the wrong reasons after telling a young kid that he wouldn’t be bringing him a Nerf gun for Christmas.
Sabella DeCarlo brought her son Michael to the Harlem Irving Plaza shopping mall in Norridge, Illinois the other day so he could visit Santa, but the child ended up in tears after asking for a Nerf gun for Christmas, only to be told by sanctimonious Santa that he doesn’t deliver toy guns for Christmas.
Liberal Santa sends Young Boy Away in Tears After Refusing to Gift Him a Nerf Gun for Christmas @Hasbro pic.twitter.com/9QbKtxcJGK — Matthew 🎄🎅🏻 🔫 (@WhiteHovse) December 7, 2020
On Facebook, DeCarlo wrote that this was the first year her son was actually excited to visit Santa.
It was supposed to be magical but instead I had to watch my sweet little boy fight back tears because Santa told him No because of his own personal beliefs. I had to think fast and explain to him that this Santa was just a helper and not the real guy. I just wanted to console my baby and get him out of there, flipping out on Santa would have only made it worse. His Elfie is going to bring him a Nerf gun directly from the North Pole, from the real Santa, tonight.
I have a feeling Michael is going to have more Nerf guns than he knows what to do with now that the story’s gone viral. In fact, Texas Rep. Chip Roy tweeted out an update to the story on Tuesday showing a special emissary from the mall making a home delivery to the DeCarlo residence.
Good for the mall for trying to make things right, and I hope that Woke Santa, as Rep. Roy called him, learns a Christmas lesson of his own; you leave your own politics aside once you put on your furry red suit. You’re there to make sure the kid walks away with a smile on his face, not to reenact your favorite scene from A Christmas Story and tell a child that they’ll shoot their eye out.
In a statement on Facebook, mall management posted an apology to DeCarlo and her son Michael, stating that the mall and the 3rd party Santa company are “deeply distraught” over what happened.
Santa is heartbroken and crushed that he has made this child so sad and upset, and turned in his resignation. The Santa company will continue to remind all Santa’s how important it is to not impose personal opinions during visits with the children. HIP immediately contacted the family and worked with our Santa company in hopes of rectifying the situation. We are happy to report that the “real” Santa visited the boy at his home today to bring him a nerf gun! We hope we restored Christmas magic to this boy and his family with Santa’s special visit.
Sabella DeCarlo, on the other hand, is using the viral video to help other kids this Christmas. In a Facebook post, one of DeCarlo’s friends mentioned that she is now organizing a “large Nerf and toy collection for kids in need.” That’s a great way to turn lemons into lemonade (or maybe rotten eggs into eggnog), and great to see DeCarlo using her 5 minutes of fame to help others in addition to highlighting the issue with the anti-toy gun Santa.


bearingarms--2020-12-08--State Won't Investigate Police Shooting Of Casey Goodson, Jr.

The killing of 23-year old Casey Goodson , Jr. , a Columbus , Ohio man shot and killed last Friday by a Franklin County Sheriff ’ s Deputy , won ’ t be investigated by the state ’ s Bureau of Criminal Investigation .
Officials with the state Attorney General ’ s office said on Monday that they won ’ t accept a request by the Columbus police and the Franklin County Sheriff ’ s Office to investigate Goodson ’ s death because the agencies shouldn ’ t have waited three days to ask the office to investigate .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three-day-old office-involved shooting case , ” says Steve Irwin with the Attorney General ’ s Office .
“ Not knowing all the reasons as to why so much time has passed before the case was referred to BCI , we can not accept this case.
” Irwin says it is rare that BCI would turn down a case , but rarer still that local authorities would wait three days before involving the Bureau .
“ BCI is the first call because we can not be the subject matter experts unless we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the evidence of what happened from the start , ” Irwin says .
“ Three days after the crime scene has been dismantled and the witnesses have all dispersed does not work.
” On Tuesday morning , Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost , whose office oversees the Bureau of Criminal Investigation , tweeted out a further explanation of why his office won ’ t be handling the investigation .
Why didn ’ t Columbus PD and the Franklin County Sheriff request the BCI investigate the shooting at the time ?
After all , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the task force ’ s warrant , had no criminal record , and multiple family members say he was holding a Subway sandwich bag in one hand and had his house keys in the other when he was shot by a Franklin County deputy .
Police , meanwhile , say that Goodson , who was licensed to carry a concealed firearm , “ waved a gun ” at deputies as he drove by them , and then refused to drop his gun when a deputy followed him and ordered him to drop his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ car after he parked it in the driveway of his grandmother ’ s home where he lived .
This isn ’ t something that should have been handled internally , and if I were Yost I ’ d be angry that his office appears to have been used as a cover-your-rear afterthought on the part of those agencies .
We ’ ve also learned that the sheriff ’ s deputy who shot Goodson was not wearing a body camera when he confronted the 23-year old as Goodson was entering his family ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told reporters on Monday that the county had been considering purchasing cameras for several years , and had recently committed to equipping deputies with body cameras in 2021 .
The police chief in Columbus says that his department is capable of conducting a thorough investigation , but that begs the question of why Chief Thomas Quinlan asked for BCI to get involved three days after the shooting took place and days after the internal investigation was launched .
“ We understand that issues of perception can impact how the public views the results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said in a written statement .
“ To remove any doubt among the public about the independence of this investigation , ” Quinlan said he believed it was appropriate to refer the case to state investigators .
With that option closed , Columbus police will likely have to proceed with their investigation because another law enforcement agency might have the same issues with coming in after the fact .
So , there won ’ t be any independent investigation and there ’ s no body camera footage to be released .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ may very well have real doubts about what happened last Friday when Goodson was shot and killed .
The handling of the investigation into Goodson ’ s death has been anything but confidence-inspiring to date .
It ’ s going to be even more important for the Columbus PD to be open and transparent in their investigation , because at the moment there ’ s plenty of skepticism about the official accounts of what happened in the minutes and moments before Goodson was shot and killed .

The killing of 23-year old Casey Goodson, Jr., a Columbus,Ohio man shot and killed last Friday by a Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy, won’t be investigated by the state’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Officials with the state Attorney General’s office said on Monday that they won’t accept a request by the Columbus police and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office to investigate Goodson’s death because the agencies shouldn’t have waited three days to ask the office to investigate.
“We recieved a referral to take a three-day-old office-involved shooting case,” says Steve Irwin with the Attorney General’s Office. “Not knowing all the reasons as to why so much time has passed before the case was referred to BCI, we cannot accept this case.” Irwin says it is rare that BCI would turn down a case, but rarer still that local authorities would wait three days before involving the Bureau. “BCI is the first call because we cannot be the subject matter experts unless we’re on scene from the beginning to document the evidence of what happened from the start,” Irwin says. “Three days after the crime scene has been dismantled and the witnesses have all dispersed does not work.”
On Tuesday morning, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, whose office oversees the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, tweeted out a further explanation of why his office won’t be handling the investigation.
We were invited in *three days* after the fact—after CPD processed & cleared the scene, after the first round of witnesses were interviewed, after the canvass. We do these tough investigations all the time—but from the beginning. This one belongs to CPD. https://t.co/l5tpgcf5ov — Dave Yost (@Yost4Ohio) December 8, 2020
Why didn’t Columbus PD and the Franklin County Sheriff request the BCI investigate the shooting at the time? After all, Goodson wasn’t the subject of the task force’s warrant, had no criminal record, and multiple family members say he was holding a Subway sandwich bag in one hand and had his house keys in the other when he was shot by a Franklin County deputy.
Police, meanwhile, say that Goodson, who was licensed to carry a concealed firearm, “waved a gun” at deputies as he drove by them, and then refused to drop his gun when a deputy followed him and ordered him to drop his weapon as Goodson got out of his car after he parked it in the driveway of his grandmother’s home where he lived.
This isn’t something that should have been handled internally, and if I were Yost I’d be angry that his office appears to have been used as a cover-your-rear afterthought on the part of those agencies.
We’ve also learned that the sheriff’s deputy who shot Goodson was not wearing a body camera when he confronted the 23-year old as Goodson was entering his family’s home. Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin told reporters on Monday that the county had been considering purchasing cameras for several years, and had recently committed to equipping deputies with body cameras in 2021.
The police chief in Columbus says that his department is capable of conducting a thorough investigation, but that begs the question of why Chief Thomas Quinlan asked for BCI to get involved three days after the shooting took place and days after the internal investigation was launched.
“We understand that issues of perception can impact how the public views the results of a case such as this,” he said in a written statement. “To remove any doubt among the public about the independence of this investigation,” Quinlan said he believed it was appropriate to refer the case to state investigators. With that option closed, Columbus police will likely have to proceed with their investigation because another law enforcement agency might have the same issues with coming in after the fact.
So, there won’t be any independent investigation and there’s no body camera footage to be released. I hope Quinlan understands why the public may very well have real doubts about what happened last Friday when Goodson was shot and killed.
The handling of the investigation into Goodson’s death has been anything but confidence-inspiring to date. It’s going to be even more important for the Columbus PD to be open and transparent in their investigation, because at the moment there’s plenty of skepticism about the official accounts of what happened in the minutes and moments before Goodson was shot and killed.


bearingarms--2020-12-08--SAF Files Lawsuit Over CA's "21 To Buy" Long Guns Law

In the wake of Parkland , one of the more popular measures with anti-gun lawmakers was to create a requirement that you had to be 21-years-old to purchase a long gun .
While federal law only restricted handguns to those over 21 , several states took it a step further in a bit of knee-jerk reactionism that made every gun-rights supporter cringe .
Now , though , California ’ s version of that law is being challenged .
The Second Amendment Foundation has filed a motion with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals , seeking an injunction against a section @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prohibits young adults , ages 18-20 from purchasing or acquiring firearms .
SAF is joined by the California Gun Rights Foundation , Firearms Policy Coalition , Inc. , PWGG , LP.
, North County Shooting Center , Inc. , Beebe Family Arms and Munitions , LLC and three private citizens all within the affected age group at the time the lawsuit was filed .
The case is known as Jones v. Becerra .
As noted in the court documents , the California statute “ categorically bars them from purchasing or acquiring all semi-automatic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Taken in combination with existing state and federal laws barring 18-to-20-year-olds from acquiring handguns , the result of the challenged provision is that the vast majority of firearms—including the firearms most useful for self-defense—are now off-limits to law-abiding Californians in this age bracket .
That age-based firearm ban must be enjoined , for the Second Amendment takes such a draconian infringement of the right to keep and bear arms ‘ off the table.
’ ” “ We ’ re challenging this law because it clearly violates the Second and Fourteenth amendment rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb .
“ When a citizen turns 18 years old in this country , he or she is considered a legal adult , free to exercise their rights under the Constitution , and that certainly should include the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
” “ The Jones case and our other lawsuits challenging age-based bans are about fighting for the rights of America ’ s young adults , protecting the rights and liberties of future generations , and restoring the Second Amendment for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brandon Combs .
The 82-page brief was filed by attorneys David H. Thompson , Peter A. Patterson , John D. Ohlendorf , and Haley N. Proctor of the Washington , DC-based firm Cooper & Kirk PLLC .
Honestly , this is one gun control measure that I ’ m quite sure will be struck down , even in the ninth circuit .
See , for me , the problem here is that you ’ re telling legal adults they don ’ t get their full set of constitutionally-protected rights until much later .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the military , sign contracts in your own name , or any number of other things that mark you as an adult in our society , but the one thing you can ’ t do is own any kind of firearm .
For the life of me , I can ’ t comprehend how this law won ’ t be overturned , though I could say that about any bit of gun control .
What I sincerely hope to see , though , is this worm it ’ s way up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kill all such laws throughout the nation .
There are a lot of adults being denied their constitutionally-protected rights because of these laws .
Watching them go down in flames will be pretty satisfying .

In the wake of Parkland, one of the more popular measures with anti-gun lawmakers was to create a requirement that you had to be 21-years-old to purchase a long gun. While federal law only restricted handguns to those over 21, several states took it a step further in a bit of knee-jerk reactionism that made every gun-rights supporter cringe.
Now, though, California’s version of that law is being challenged.
The Second Amendment Foundation has filed a motion with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking an injunction against a section of California’s penal code that prohibits young adults, ages 18-20 from purchasing or acquiring firearms. SAF is joined by the California Gun Rights Foundation, Firearms Policy Coalition, Inc., PWGG, LP., North County Shooting Center, Inc., Beebe Family Arms and Munitions, LLC and three private citizens all within the affected age group at the time the lawsuit was filed. The case is known as Jones v. Becerra. As noted in the court documents, the California statute “categorically bars them from purchasing or acquiring all semi-automatic centerfire rifles based solely on their age. Taken in combination with existing state and federal laws barring 18-to-20-year-olds from acquiring handguns, the result of the challenged provision is that the vast majority of firearms—including the firearms most useful for self-defense—are now off-limits to law-abiding Californians in this age bracket. That age-based firearm ban must be enjoined, for the Second Amendment takes such a draconian infringement of the right to keep and bear arms ‘off the table.’” “We’re challenging this law because it clearly violates the Second and Fourteenth amendment rights of young adults,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “When a citizen turns 18 years old in this country, he or she is considered a legal adult, free to exercise their rights under the Constitution, and that certainly should include the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.” “The Jones case and our other lawsuits challenging age-based bans are about fighting for the rights of America’s young adults, protecting the rights and liberties of future generations, and restoring the Second Amendment for all individuals,” said FPC President Brandon Combs. The 82-page brief was filed by attorneys David H. Thompson, Peter A. Patterson, John D. Ohlendorf, and Haley N. Proctor of the Washington, DC-based firm Cooper & Kirk PLLC.
Honestly, this is one gun control measure that I’m quite sure will be struck down, even in the ninth circuit.
See, for me, the problem here is that you’re telling legal adults they don’t get their full set of constitutionally-protected rights until much later. Sure, you can vote, serve in the military, sign contracts in your own name, or any number of other things that mark you as an adult in our society, but the one thing you can’t do is own any kind of firearm.
If people are adults, they’re adults.
For the life of me, I can’t comprehend how this law won’t be overturned, though I could say that about any bit of gun control. What I sincerely hope to see, though, is this worm it’s way up to the Supreme Court where it will hopefully kill all such laws throughout the nation.
There are a lot of adults being denied their constitutionally-protected rights because of these laws. Watching them go down in flames will be pretty satisfying.


bearingarms--2020-12-09--Six Great Scopes That Won't Break The Bank

With more than 8-million new gun owners across the country , and millions more who have added to their collection this year , accessories for firearms are going to be a hot item this holiday season and a quality rifle scope is sure to be appreciated by almost every owner of a long gun .
Here are a few picks that deliver a lot of innovation at a reasonable price ( I ’ m so proud of myself for not making a “ bang for the buck ” pun here ) : 1- Vortex Optics Crossfire II 1-inch rifle scope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disagreement from gun owners about the Crossfire II from Vortex Optics .
Several models in the Crossfire II line have been named some of the best scopes of 2020 by Optics Magazine and American Hunter , and for good reason .
The versatility of the scope is unquestioned , but what really sets the Crossfire II apart is its Dead Hold BDC reticle , which was “ designed to minimize the need for guessing bullet hold-over at long distances ” , according to the company .
2- Pinty Rifle Scope 3-9×32 Rangefinder – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rangefinder rifle scope , but also a red/green dot sight as well as a laser sight .
It offers magnifications from 3X up to 9X , along with 5 brightness adjustments for the red/green dot sight , and 5 brightness adjustments available for the riflescope as well , all at a price well below $ 200 .
3- Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight Riflescope – This isn ’ t the scope you want for big game hunting or long distance shooting , but if you ’ re looking for a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the TRS-25 is a fantastic option for a first scope .
Coming in under $ 100 , the scope offers a 3 MOA Dot reticle with 11 brightness settings housed in a waterproof and shockproof compact and lightweight cylinder .
There ’ s nothing too fancy about the Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 , but its durability and ease of use make it a standout and a favorite for many gun owners of AR-style rifles .
4- Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle Adjustable Objective Riflescope , 6-18X 50mm – Let ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paragraphs , because the Dusk & Dawn line of riflescopes is worth talking about .
The 50mm version offers up to 18x magnification , while the lenses are designed to give you the maximum visibility in low light situations .
That makes this a solid choice for those who love ( or at least tolerate ) getting up in the pre-dawn hours in order to hunt for wild game .
5- Monstrum 2-7×32 AO Rifle Scope – This scope is beefy without being too bulky , and offers 2-7x magnification , adjustable reticle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to choose between red and green .
The adjustable objective lens allows users to better align their eye with the reticle and the target that the user is aiming at , and the illuminated rangefinder reticle is a boon in low-light situations .
The body of the scope is crafted out of aircraft-grade solid aluminum , ensuring its durability in the field .
6- ATN Thermal Rifle Scope – Okay , so maybe the title of this piece should have been “ Five Great Scopes That Won ’ t Break The Bank ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , despite the four-figure price tag , I couldn ’ t resist including ATN ’ s thermal rifle scope on the list .
Its 30mm tube is made of hardened aluminum alloy and is tough enough to handle the recoil from even large caliber firearms , and the rechargeable battery offers 16+ hours of continuous use .
I would love to have one of these scopes handy the next time coyotes come prowling around my farm looking for a quick meal , and this would be a great addition to any gun owner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the most expensive option by far of all the scopes on our list .

With more than 8-million new gun owners across the country, and millions more who have added to their collection this year, accessories for firearms are going to be a hot item this holiday season and a quality rifle scope is sure to be appreciated by almost every owner of a long gun.
Here are a few picks that deliver a lot of innovation at a reasonable price (I’m so proud of myself for not making a “bang for the buck” pun here):
1- Vortex Optics Crossfire II 1-inch rifle scope – You won’t find much disagreement from gun owners about the Crossfire II from Vortex Optics. Several models in the Crossfire II line have been named some of the best scopes of 2020 by Optics Magazine and American Hunter, and for good reason. The versatility of the scope is unquestioned, but what really sets the Crossfire II apart is its Dead Hold BDC reticle, which was “designed to minimize the need for guessing bullet hold-over at long distances”, according to the company.
2- Pinty Rifle Scope 3-9×32 Rangefinder – This multipurpose scope not only comes with a rangefinder rifle scope, but also a red/green dot sight as well as a laser sight. It offers magnifications from 3X up to 9X, along with 5 brightness adjustments for the red/green dot sight, and 5 brightness adjustments available for the riflescope as well, all at a price well below $200.
3- Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight Riflescope – This isn’t the scope you want for big game hunting or long distance shooting, but if you’re looking for a great optic that has a proven track record, the TRS-25 is a fantastic option for a first scope. Coming in under $100, the scope offers a 3 MOA Dot reticle with 11 brightness settings housed in a waterproof and shockproof compact and lightweight cylinder. There’s nothing too fancy about the Bushnell Trophy TRS-25, but its durability and ease of use make it a standout and a favorite for many gun owners of AR-style rifles.
4- Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle Adjustable Objective Riflescope, 6-18X 50mm – Let’s stick with Bushnell for another couple of paragraphs, because the Dusk & Dawn line of riflescopes is worth talking about. The 50mm version offers up to 18x magnification, while the lenses are designed to give you the maximum visibility in low light situations. That makes this a solid choice for those who love (or at least tolerate) getting up in the pre-dawn hours in order to hunt for wild game.
5- Monstrum 2-7×32 AO Rifle Scope – This scope is beefy without being too bulky, and offers 2-7x magnification, adjustable reticle illumination with five settings and the option to choose between red and green. The adjustable objective lens allows users to better align their eye with the reticle and the target that the user is aiming at, and the illuminated rangefinder reticle is a boon in low-light situations. The body of the scope is crafted out of aircraft-grade solid aluminum, ensuring its durability in the field.
6- ATN Thermal Rifle Scope – Okay, so maybe the title of this piece should have been “Five Great Scopes That Won’t Break The Bank (And One That Might). Still, despite the four-figure price tag, I couldn’t resist including ATN’s thermal rifle scope on the list. Its 30mm tube is made of hardened aluminum alloy and is tough enough to handle the recoil from even large caliber firearms, and the rechargeable battery offers 16+ hours of continuous use. I would love to have one of these scopes handy the next time coyotes come prowling around my farm looking for a quick meal, and this would be a great addition to any gun owner’s collection, though it’s the most expensive option by far of all the scopes on our list.
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bearingarms--2020-12-09--Wilkinsburg Buyback Nets Whopping 40 Guns

Last week , I wrote about a gun buyback in Wilkinsburg , Pennsylvania .
This is the same area that is so afraid of COVID-19 that they can ’ t bother to process people ’ s concealed carry permits but could manage to find it in their heart to hold a gun buyback .
Well , hey , at least they took a pile of guns off the streets , right ?
OK , maybe not .
The socially distanced line around the Wilkinsburg Borough Building was at its longest just before 10 a.m. Saturday , the official start of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swapped for Giant Eagle gift cards .
Detective Doug YuHouse came outside with an orange milk crate and began filling it with guns .
The transactions were swift , with some lasting less than a minute if no one stopped to chat .
In the first 20 minutes , he ’ d already collected that many weapons , some never used , many discovered by relatives while sorting through belongings of loved ones .
But the early rush proved to be the only one .
Overall , the Wilkinsburg Police Department collected 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shotguns and a rifle .
In 2019 , the police department took in 120 guns , which he described as an average haul .
One year , it was as high as 160 .
You mean that in a year when people are buying up every firearm they can find , some have decided not to part with a gun they already have for chump change ?
After all , here ’ s what was on the table for those who brought guns to the buyback : The Wilkinsburg police rate was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pistol and a $ 25 gift card for a long gun .
After years of doing this , Chief Coleman knows it ’ s not really about the money .
Many who come to drop off weapons simply don ’ t want them in their homes .
“ I was going through my mom ’ s house and these were in the garage , ” said William Roman , unloading several weapons .
He got spooked about having them around after two kids tried unsuccessfully to break into his mother ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that ’ s a fair concern .
However , Roman would have done better taking them to a gun store and putting them on consignment .
Not only would he have gotten more money , but the dealer would still have performed a NICS background check .
No selling to bad guys that way , if that ’ s something one is concerned about .
Look , I find buybacks are only good for mockery in the grand scheme of things .
They don ’ t really accomplish anything other than allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about all the good they ’ re doing without them having to actually do any good .
It doesn ’ t take guns from criminals with the exception of those looking to dump guns anyway .
Plus , let ’ s face it , 40 total firearms aren ’ t going to make a damn bit of difference in this world , especially since more are being made all the time .
But someone gets to flex and pretend they ’ re making a difference , which is all this is ever about @

Last week, I wrote about a gun buyback in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. This is the same area that is so afraid of COVID-19 that they can’t bother to process people’s concealed carry permits but could manage to find it in their heart to hold a gun buyback.
Well, hey, at least they took a pile of guns off the streets, right?
Right?
OK, maybe not.
The socially distanced line around the Wilkinsburg Borough Building was at its longest just before 10 a.m. Saturday, the official start of an annual exchange where unwanted firearms are swapped for Giant Eagle gift cards. Detective Doug YuHouse came outside with an orange milk crate and began filling it with guns. The transactions were swift, with some lasting less than a minute if no one stopped to chat. In the first 20 minutes, he’d already collected that many weapons, some never used, many discovered by relatives while sorting through belongings of loved ones. But the early rush proved to be the only one. Overall, the Wilkinsburg Police Department collected 40 weapons Saturday — 36 handguns, 3 shotguns and a rifle. “A very down year,” Detective YuHouse lamented. In 2019, the police department took in 120 guns, which he described as an average haul. One year, it was as high as 160.
You mean that in a year when people are buying up every firearm they can find, some have decided not to part with a gun they already have for chump change?
After all, here’s what was on the table for those who brought guns to the buyback:
The Wilkinsburg police rate was a $50 Giant Eagle gift card for a pistol and a $25 gift card for a long gun. After years of doing this, Chief Coleman knows it’s not really about the money. Many who come to drop off weapons simply don’t want them in their homes. “I was going through my mom’s house and these were in the garage,” said William Roman, unloading several weapons. He got spooked about having them around after two kids tried unsuccessfully to break into his mother’s home in Munhall.
And, honestly, that’s a fair concern. However, Roman would have done better taking them to a gun store and putting them on consignment. Not only would he have gotten more money, but the dealer would still have performed a NICS background check. No selling to bad guys that way, if that’s something one is concerned about.
Look, I find buybacks are only good for mockery in the grand scheme of things. They don’t really accomplish anything other than allow folks to pat themselves on the back about all the good they’re doing without them having to actually do any good. It doesn’t take guns from criminals with the exception of those looking to dump guns anyway.
Plus, let’s face it, 40 total firearms aren’t going to make a damn bit of difference in this world, especially since more are being made all the time.
But someone gets to flex and pretend they’re making a difference, which is all this is ever about.