bearingarms--2020-03-22--One Woman's Message To Politicians: Don't Leave Me Defenseless Right Now

Carletta Whiting is a breast cancer survivor , but like many who ’ ve fought that terrible disease and won , her victory over cancer came with a cost .
The treatment she received may have destroyed the cancer cells in her body , but it also weakened her immune system , leaving her more vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus .
Whiting knows that she can isolate herself and hopefully minimize exposure to the disease , but she ’ s worried that anti-gun politicians will make it impossible for people like her to protect themselves from criminals who may try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current state of emergency .
On Saturday , NRA shared Whiting ’ s message to politicians , and it ’ s a must watch .
In the video clip , Whiting gives voice to the concerns of millions of Americans when she says , “ I know from history how quickly society breaks down during a crisis , and we ’ ve never faced anything like this before .
And never is the Second Amendment more important than during public unrest .
It ’ s no surprise why sales of guns and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California are lining up because they know that the government the government will not be able to protect them.
” Whiting warns Americans who are lining up at grocery stores to stockpile food that if they ’ re not prepared to protect themselves and their property , that they ’ re just “ stockpiling for someone else.
” The NRA member also says that anti-gun politicians will try to use this current emergency to pass gun control legislation in the name of safety , and I suspect she ’ s right .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsom and Tom Wolf declare that gun stores are “ non-essential ” businesses that must close , despite lines out the doors of gun stores in both states over the past week .
“ Unlike the elites who look down on gun owners , ” Whiting argues , “ I don ’ t have the luxury of living in an affluent neighborhood with private security .
In my neighborhood , crime and violence is a part of every day life .
Without my firearm , I ’ m defenseless.
” The answer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Gavin Newsom believe that Carletta Whiting and other gun owners would be better off disarmed and defenseless at the moment , and they ’ re doing everything they can to limit the exercise of the Second Amendment .
So far we ’ ve seen efforts to deny people the ability to acquire firearms and ammunition , but it ’ s not unreasonable to question whether anti-gun governors and mayors will try to use their emergency powers to restrict and infringe on our right to keep and bear arms even further .
Of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacking Whiting ’ s message .
Actually , I take that back .
The usual suspects have come out attacking the NRA , and ignoring Whiting completely .
It shouldn ’ t be a surprise that Murphy distorts Whiting ’ s message for his own agenda , but he should be called out for it .
Whiting didn ’ t talk about a “ civil war.
” She spoke of civil unrest , and that is not an unreasonable concern , especially when we have jails across the country letting inmates out early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus in jails and prisons and police departments quarantining dozens of officers who may have been exposed to the coronavirus .
Whiting and the NRA aren ’ t rooting for unrest , but they ’ re aware that it is a possibility .
Second Amendment supporters like Carletta Whiting aren ’ t trying to please gun control advocates like Chris Murphy .
They ’ re trying to protect the right to keep and bear arms during these troubled times .

Carletta Whiting is a breast cancer survivor, but like many who’ve fought that terrible disease and won, her victory over cancer came with a cost. The treatment she received may have destroyed the cancer cells in her body, but it also weakened her immune system, leaving her more vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus.
Whiting knows that she can isolate herself and hopefully minimize exposure to the disease, but she’s worried that anti-gun politicians will make it impossible for people like her to protect themselves from criminals who may try to prey on the most vulnerable during the current state of emergency.
On Saturday, NRA shared Whiting’s message to politicians, and it’s a must watch.
Americans are flocking to gun stores because they know the only reliable self-defense during a crisis is the #2A. Carletta Whiting, who’s disabled & vulnerable to #coronavirus, asks Dems trying to exploit the pandemic: Why do you want to leave people like me defenseless? pic.twitter.com/wDeEYHqzOU — NRA (@NRA) March 21, 2020
In the video clip, Whiting gives voice to the concerns of millions of Americans when she says, “I know from history how quickly society breaks down during a crisis, and we’ve never faced anything like this before. And never is the Second Amendment more important than during public unrest. It’s no surprise why sales of guns and ammunition have skyrocketed. Even liberals in California are lining up because they know that the government the government will not be able to protect them.”
Whiting warns Americans who are lining up at grocery stores to stockpile food that if they’re not prepared to protect themselves and their property, that they’re just “stockpiling for someone else.”
The NRA member also says that anti-gun politicians will try to use this current emergency to pass gun control legislation in the name of safety, and I suspect she’s right. We’re already seeing governors like Gavin Newsom and Tom Wolf declare that gun stores are “non-essential” businesses that must close, despite lines out the doors of gun stores in both states over the past week.
“Unlike the elites who look down on gun owners,” Whiting argues, “I don’t have the luxury of living in an affluent neighborhood with private security. In my neighborhood, crime and violence is a part of every day life. Without my firearm, I’m defenseless.”
Whiting then poses a simple question for anti-gun politicians:
“Do you really wish to leave someone like me, a disabled woman, completely unable to defend myself during one of the most uncertain times of our lives?”
The answer, sadly, is “yes.” Politicians like Gavin Newsom believe that Carletta Whiting and other gun owners would be better off disarmed and defenseless at the moment, and they’re doing everything they can to limit the exercise of the Second Amendment. So far we’ve seen efforts to deny people the ability to acquire firearms and ammunition, but it’s not unreasonable to question whether anti-gun governors and mayors will try to use their emergency powers to restrict and infringe on our right to keep and bear arms even further.
Of course the usual suspects have come out attacking Whiting’s message. Actually, I take that back. The usual suspects have come out attacking the NRA, and ignoring Whiting completely.
Mainstream gun owners have left the NRA, so now they’re reduced to telling people to stockpile assault weapons, instead of food, to get ready for the coming Coronavirus civil war. So sickening. https://t.co/tOwUBHCDSu — Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) March 21, 2020
It shouldn’t be a surprise that Murphy distorts Whiting’s message for his own agenda, but he should be called out for it. Whiting didn’t talk about a “civil war.” She spoke of civil unrest, and that is not an unreasonable concern, especially when we have jails across the country letting inmates out early to try to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus in jails and prisons and police departments quarantining dozens of officers who may have been exposed to the coronavirus.
Whiting and the NRA aren’t rooting for unrest, but they’re aware that it is a possibility. Second Amendment supporters like Carletta Whiting aren’t trying to please gun control advocates like Chris Murphy. They’re trying to protect the right to keep and bear arms during these troubled times.


bearingarms--2020-03-22--IL Gov Gives Green Light To Gun Stores To Remain Open During Emergency

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has declared all “ non-essential ” businesses in the state must close , and unlike California , New York and Pennsylvania , where similar orders have been issued , gun stores in the state will remain during the state of emergency .
I ’ m honestly surprised that the governor didn ’ t follow his fellow Democrats like Gavin Newsom and Tom Wolf in declaring that gun stores weren ’ t essential businesses during a state of emergency .
Liquor stores , weed dispensaries and gun stores all are deemed “ essential ” and will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public .
Also open : laundries , most factories , hardware stores , construction jobs , home residential care , and “ critical trades ” providers such as plumbers , electricians and exterminators .
Pritzker , a billionaire businessman , is clearly trying to strike a balance between closing broad swaths of the economy and trying to ensure as many people as possible stay at home to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus to avoid overwhelming the hospital network in the state .
I ’ m glad to see him erring on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other Second Amendment advocates are also finding themselves in the odd position of being genuinely happy with a decision by Gov .
Pritzker , who ’ s been a reliable supporter of gun control since he took office .
The Second Amendment Foundation ’ s Alan Gottleib also praised the governor ’ s decision to allow gun stores and ammunition retailers to remain in operation .
“ When an anti-gun Democrat governor declares that essential businesses include firearm and ammunition suppliers and retailers for the purposes of safety and security , that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb .
“ Every governor should copy the Illinois example when issuing ‘ shelter-in-place ’ and business closure orders in the face of the Coronavirus.
” Three other states are already under sweeping emergency orders as the nation copes with the Coronavirus pandemic .
They are New York , Pennsylvania and California .
“ Depending upon how long this emergency continues , ” Gottlieb observed , “ many Americans may find themselves facing situations where they will need to be their own first responders .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we encourage the governors of all other states to recognize this isn ’ t an issue of party politics but of personal and community safety.
” I know a lot of these governors are kind of making it up as they go along right now , and I think the public is willing to grant them some leeway in the exercise of their emergency powers .
However , we ’ ve all seen the long lines and sparse shelves at gun stores over the past few days .
It ’ s clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential items right now , and the right to keep and bear them has certainly not been taken away simply because of a declaration of emergency .
The governors that have ordered gun stores to shut down need to rescind those orders and follow the example of Gov .
Pritzker in recognizing the importance of the Second Amendment at this point in time .

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has declared all “non-essential” businesses in the state must close, and unlike California, New York and Pennsylvania, where similar orders have been issued, gun stores in the state will remain during the state of emergency. I’m honestly surprised that the governor didn’t follow his fellow Democrats like Gavin Newsom and Tom Wolf in declaring that gun stores weren’t essential businesses during a state of emergency.
Liquor stores, weed dispensaries and gun stores all are deemed “essential” and will be able to sell their products to the public. Also open: laundries, most factories, hardware stores, construction jobs, home residential care, and “critical trades” providers such as plumbers, electricians and exterminators.
Pritzker, a billionaire businessman, is clearly trying to strike a balance between closing broad swaths of the economy and trying to ensure as many people as possible stay at home to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus to avoid overwhelming the hospital network in the state. I’m glad to see him erring on the side of the Second Amendment, and other Second Amendment advocates are also finding themselves in the odd position of being genuinely happy with a decision by Gov. Pritzker, who’s been a reliable supporter of gun control since he took office. The Second Amendment Foundation’s Alan Gottleib also praised the governor’s decision to allow gun stores and ammunition retailers to remain in operation.
“When an anti-gun Democrat governor declares that essential businesses include firearm and ammunition suppliers and retailers for the purposes of safety and security, that is a really big deal,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “Every governor should copy the Illinois example when issuing ‘shelter-in-place’ and business closure orders in the face of the Coronavirus.” Three other states are already under sweeping emergency orders as the nation copes with the Coronavirus pandemic. They are New York, Pennsylvania and California. “Depending upon how long this emergency continues,” Gottlieb observed, “many Americans may find themselves facing situations where they will need to be their own first responders. Gov. Pritzker obviously understands this, and we encourage the governors of all other states to recognize this isn’t an issue of party politics but of personal and community safety.”
I know a lot of these governors are kind of making it up as they go along right now, and I think the public is willing to grant them some leeway in the exercise of their emergency powers. However, we’ve all seen the long lines and sparse shelves at gun stores over the past few days. It’s clear that for many Americans, firearms are essential items right now, and the right to keep and bear them has certainly not been taken away simply because of a declaration of emergency. The governors that have ordered gun stores to shut down need to rescind those orders and follow the example of Gov. Pritzker in recognizing the importance of the Second Amendment at this point in time.


bearingarms--2020-03-23--NJ Gun Store Now Offering Home Delivery Of Ammunition

A New Jersey gun store owner is now offering home delivery of ammunition to legal gun owners in the state , after Gov .
Phil Murphy declared that gun stores and ranges must close , ending sales but not demand for firearms and ammunition .
Derek Pitera , the owner of SC Arms in Spotswood , New Jersey , said the governor ’ s order will “ put a hurt ” on his business , and he was looking for a way to keep some generating some cash while supporting people ’ s rights to keep and bear arms as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea .
Pitera tells Bearing Arms that he was doing some research into the governor ’ s order , and realized that while “ non-essential ” brick and mortar stores have been ordered shut , online sales and deliveries are allowed to continue .
Pitera says he and his employees can legally deliver ammunition to any resident with an FID card , and can conduct the sales without any person-to-person contact .
Even before the governor ’ s order to close his store , Pitera was practicing safe social distancing at his Spotswood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that wasn ’ t enough for New Jersey ’ s anti-gun governor , so now Pitera is getting the word on social media out about his new Uber for ammo delivery system .
“ The response has been insane , ” Pitera told Bearing Arms , and noted that he ’ s getting orders from across the state .
Unlike your local pizza place , SC Arms will deliver anywhere in the state of New Jersey , though you may be paying a little bit more in delivery fees depending on how far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re going to keep delivering until he run out of ammo , ” declared Pitera , though he quickly noted that at the moment , he still has a constant resupply coming in , though quantities are limited because of the sky-high demand around the country .
Pitera says he hasn ’ t heard of any issues with factories having to shut down because of the coronavirus , though he said he ’ s hearing rumblings within the industry that components are becoming a little more scarce to find domestically .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is still running full scale , it just can ’ t keep up with consumer demand .
I think Pitera ’ s idea is a brilliant one , and I hope gun stores in Pennsylvania and New York follow suit .
California gun owners are out of luck , given the fact that all ammunition sales in the state now require background checks , but both Pennsylvania and New York are still allowing deliveries of goods during the state of emergency .
As Pitera says , not only would this be a financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would help ensure that residents can protect themselves if need be during the current crisis .
Meanwhile , if you ’ re a current gun owner in New Jersey in need of some ammunition , you can reach out to Pitera and SC Arms at 732-425-4996 to schedule a delivery .

A New Jersey gun store owner is now offering home delivery of ammunition to legal gun owners in the state, after Gov. Phil Murphy declared that gun stores and ranges must close, ending sales but not demand for firearms and ammunition. Derek Pitera, the owner of SC Arms in Spotswood, New Jersey, said the governor’s order will “put a hurt” on his business, and he was looking for a way to keep some generating some cash while supporting people’s rights to keep and bear arms as well when he stumbled on to the idea.
Pitera tells Bearing Arms that he was doing some research into the governor’s order, and realized that while “non-essential” brick and mortar stores have been ordered shut, online sales and deliveries are allowed to continue. Pitera says he and his employees can legally deliver ammunition to any resident with an FID card, and can conduct the sales without any person-to-person contact.
Even before the governor’s order to close his store, Pitera was practicing safe social distancing at his Spotswood, New Jersey location.
However, that wasn’t enough for New Jersey’s anti-gun governor, so now Pitera is getting the word on social media out about his new Uber for ammo delivery system.
“The response has been insane,” Pitera told Bearing Arms, and noted that he’s getting orders from across the state. Unlike your local pizza place, SC Arms will deliver anywhere in the state of New Jersey, though you may be paying a little bit more in delivery fees depending on how far they have to drive.
“We’re going to keep delivering until he run out of ammo,” declared Pitera, though he quickly noted that at the moment, he still has a constant resupply coming in, though quantities are limited because of the sky-high demand around the country. Pitera says he hasn’t heard of any issues with factories having to shut down because of the coronavirus, though he said he’s hearing rumblings within the industry that components are becoming a little more scarce to find domestically. At the moment, he says, production is still running full scale, it just can’t keep up with consumer demand.
I think Pitera’s idea is a brilliant one, and I hope gun stores in Pennsylvania and New York follow suit. California gun owners are out of luck, given the fact that all ammunition sales in the state now require background checks, but both Pennsylvania and New York are still allowing deliveries of goods during the state of emergency. As Pitera says, not only would this be a financial lifeline for many gun shops, it would help ensure that residents can protect themselves if need be during the current crisis.
Meanwhile, if you’re a current gun owner in New Jersey in need of some ammunition, you can reach out to Pitera and SC Arms at 732-425-4996 to schedule a delivery.


bearingarms--2020-03-23--Columnist: Gun Bans Won't Stop Deadly Virus

Right now , the Covid-19 infection is taking up a lot of the news .
It ’ s understandable .
It ’ s a scary illness that ’ s killing a lot of people right now .
While we may debate about just how severe the pandemic actually is , we do know that it ’ s bad enough .
Making it worse , though , are those who have used it as an excuse to curtail the Second Amendment rights of ordinary Americans .
One of those is New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell .
Now , a columnist in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her actions .
Most leaders have an agenda .
Now is not the time .
New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell is doing a great job protecting the city she runs from the spreading of the coronavirus .
But she went too far when signing an emergency order last week giving her the power to suspend the sale and transporting of firearms .
“ The emergency authority is hereby empowered , if necessary , to suspend or limit the sale , dispensing , or transporting of alcoholic beverages , firearms , explosives , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a state of emergency read in part .
As a Democrat , Cantrell likely and sincerely views the physical gun , not the dark heart of the person illegally pulling the trigger , as the main cause of violence in New Orleans .
But unjustifiably shooting someone is already illegal .
Outlaw guns and only outlaws will have them .
To “ suspend or limit the sale or transporting of guns ” only prevents law-abiding citizens from defending themselves .
This is a time when we need to know our leaders are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limit our freedoms .
Most of us are willing to give up some freedoms if it leads to saving lives by slowing the spread of the coronavirus .
Taking away the ability to purchase or transport a firearm does nothing , nothing , to stop the spread of the virus .
What it does do is shift the power balance decidedly in favor of the criminal as opposed to the law-abiding citizen if things get crazy .
Sure , there are many of us who find “ shelter in place ” orders grating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberties , but many more tolerate them because they ’ re hopeful we can stop the spread of the disease .
Yet gun stores aren ’ t known vectors for the disease .
People aren ’ t picking up a Glock and Covid-19 .
It ’ s just not an issue .
The truth is , Cantrell wants to halt gun sales because she doesn ’ t like guns .
She mistakenly believes that this is somehow a good thing and is using the virus to advance her own agenda is perfectly acceptable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will likely attribute any decrease in violent crime to her shuttering of gun stores rather than the plethora of other potential factors such as people being off the streets completely .
We all know this is coming and we might as well prepare for it .
But Fagan is right to call out Cantrell on her antics now , not waiting until there are still more antics later .
She went too far and her efforts will do nothing to impact the virus .

Right now, the Covid-19 infection is taking up a lot of the news. It’s understandable. It’s a scary illness that’s killing a lot of people right now. While we may debate about just how severe the pandemic actually is, we do know that it’s bad enough.
Making it worse, though, are those who have used it as an excuse to curtail the Second Amendment rights of ordinary Americans.
One of those is New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell.
Now, a columnist in nearby Baton Rouge is taking issue with her actions.
Most leaders have an agenda. Now is not the time. New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell is doing a great job protecting the city she runs from the spreading of the coronavirus. But she went too far when signing an emergency order last week giving her the power to suspend the sale and transporting of firearms. “The emergency authority is hereby empowered, if necessary, to suspend or limit the sale, dispensing, or transporting of alcoholic beverages, firearms, explosives, or combustibles,” Cantrell’s proclamation of a state of emergency read in part. As a Democrat, Cantrell likely and sincerely views the physical gun, not the dark heart of the person illegally pulling the trigger, as the main cause of violence in New Orleans. But unjustifiably shooting someone is already illegal. Outlaw guns and only outlaws will have them. To “suspend or limit the sale or transporting of guns” only prevents law-abiding citizens from defending themselves.
Columnist Dan Fagan added:
This is a time when we need to know our leaders are cautious and prudent when taking measures to limit our freedoms. Most of us are willing to give up some freedoms if it leads to saving lives by slowing the spread of the coronavirus. Taking away the ability to purchase or transport a firearm does nothing, nothing, to stop the spread of the virus. What it does do is shift the power balance decidedly in favor of the criminal as opposed to the law-abiding citizen if things get crazy.
He’s absolutely correct on all counts.
Sure, there are many of us who find “shelter in place” orders grating and an odious abridgment of our civil liberties, but many more tolerate them because they’re hopeful we can stop the spread of the disease.
Yet gun stores aren’t known vectors for the disease. People aren’t picking up a Glock and Covid-19. It’s just not an issue.
The truth is, Cantrell wants to halt gun sales because she doesn’t like guns. She mistakenly believes that this is somehow a good thing and is using the virus to advance her own agenda is perfectly acceptable.
To make matters worse, Cantrell will likely attribute any decrease in violent crime to her shuttering of gun stores rather than the plethora of other potential factors such as people being off the streets completely. We all know this is coming and we might as well prepare for it.
But Fagan is right to call out Cantrell on her antics now, not waiting until there are still more antics later. She went too far and her efforts will do nothing to impact the virus.


bearingarms--2020-03-23--Fact Check: Did Kentucky Governor Order Gun Stores To Close?

I had someone on Twitter tell me earlier today that Kentucky Gov .
Andy Beshear had ordered gun stores to close as part of his declaration that non-essential businesses must shut down .
The tweet didn ’ t shock me , because we ’ ve seen other Democrat governors take similar steps in places like New York , Pennsylvania , and New Jersey .
However , I did some checking just to be sure , and as it turns out that tweet was wrong and gun and ammo sales will be allowed to continue .
Part of the confusion comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order doesn ’ t list gun stores as either “ essential ” or “ non-essential ” businesses .
As the Louisville Courier-Journal points out , however , the order does have some specific language dealing with firearms .
As state leaders limit or close access to a growing number of businesses in an aggressive attempt to contain the potentially deadly virus , some gun sellers in Louisville and the surrounding areas say their stores have been slammed in recent days with customers looking to stock up on weapons and ammo .
Beshear ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firearm or ammunition in either the “ life-sustaining ” or “ not life-sustaining ” retail businesses category .
However , it includes language that nothing in the order is meant to “ interfere with the lawful sale of firearms and ammunition.
” Those businesses must follow social distancing and hygiene guidance from the CDC or they could face closure , according to the order .
That ’ s very good news , and it ’ s worth noting that while all of the states that have closed gun stores are run by Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lead of Gavin Newsom , Tom Wolf , and Phil Murphy .
Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker and Connecticut Gov .
Ned Lamont have specifically designated stores selling firearms and ammunition as essential businesses , which has been a pleasant and welcome surprise .
In Kentucky , it not only makes good sense constitutionally to keep the stores open , but it ’ s a smart move politically for Beshear as well .
There are a lot of new gun owners in the state , and if the governor were to close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acquiring firearms in order to exercise their Second Amendment rights , it would destroy his political career .
Beshear is the only Democrat to hold statewide office in Kentucky , and he narrowly defeated Matt Bevin last November while Republicans were making gains in the state legislature .
It would be political suicide for Beshear to try to deprive residents of their right to keep and bear arms at this moment in time .
I don ’ t know if that ’ s what led him to make the decision , but regardless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right move to make .

I had someone on Twitter tell me earlier today that Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear had ordered gun stores to close as part of his declaration that non-essential businesses must shut down. The tweet didn’t shock me, because we’ve seen other Democrat governors take similar steps in places like New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. However, I did some checking just to be sure, and as it turns out that tweet was wrong and gun and ammo sales will be allowed to continue.
Part of the confusion comes from the fact that Beshear’s order doesn’t list gun stores as either “essential” or “non-essential” businesses. As the Louisville Courier-Journal points out, however, the order does have some specific language dealing with firearms.
As state leaders limit or close access to a growing number of businesses in an aggressive attempt to contain the potentially deadly virus, some gun sellers in Louisville and the surrounding areas say their stores have been slammed in recent days with customers looking to stock up on weapons and ammo. Beshear’s order doesn’t specifically list firearm or ammunition in either the “life-sustaining” or “not life-sustaining” retail businesses category. However, it includes language that nothing in the order is meant to “interfere with the lawful sale of firearms and ammunition.” Those businesses must follow social distancing and hygiene guidance from the CDC or they could face closure, according to the order.
That’s very good news, and it’s worth noting that while all of the states that have closed gun stores are run by Democrats, not every Democrat governor has followed the lead of Gavin Newsom, Tom Wolf, and Phil Murphy. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont have specifically designated stores selling firearms and ammunition as essential businesses, which has been a pleasant and welcome surprise.
In Kentucky, it not only makes good sense constitutionally to keep the stores open, but it’s a smart move politically for Beshear as well. There are a lot of new gun owners in the state, and if the governor were to close the gun stores and prevent Kentuckians from acquiring firearms in order to exercise their Second Amendment rights, it would destroy his political career. Beshear is the only Democrat to hold statewide office in Kentucky, and he narrowly defeated Matt Bevin last November while Republicans were making gains in the state legislature. It would be political suicide for Beshear to try to deprive residents of their right to keep and bear arms at this moment in time. I don’t know if that’s what led him to make the decision, but regardless of his reasons, it was the right move to make.


bearingarms--2020-03-23--NJ Gov Denying Access To Firearms During Emergency

New Jersey Gov .
Phil Murphy ’ s unilateral decision to close gun stores and ranges and order the state police to stop conducting firearms purchase background checks is depriving millions of residents of their right to keep and bear arms by shutting off their access to their Second Amendment rights during a time of emergency .
Now , gun groups are firing back at the governor ’ s order , legally speaking , by filing lawsuits challenging the governor ’ s order in federal court .
Scott Bach , executive director of the Association of New Jersey Rifle & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arms ’ Cam & Co today to talk about the group ’ s plans to sue the state , and the governor personally , over his decision .
As Bach explains , not only do the closures of gun stores impact the ability of the state ’ s 8-million non-gun owners to exercise their Second Amendment rights for the first time in their lives , but by shuttering public and private ranges , the governor is also depriving existing gun owners of their right to gain proficiency with their arms .
Meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the governor and the police superintendent in federal court , along with a New Jersey resident and a gun store in the state .
Joining SAF in this action is the New Jersey Second Amendment Society , on behalf of Robert Kashinsky and Legend Firearms , a gun shop in the state .
They are represented by noted civil rights attorney David Jensen .
Kashinsky sought to purchase a firearm for personal protection during the current crisis , but Murphy issued Executive Order 107 on March 21 , which ordered all non-essential retail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order does not include licensed firearms dealers on its list of “ essential ” businesses that may continue operating during the crisis .
“ In order for New Jersey residents to purchase firearms , ” noted SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb , “ they must go through a licensed firearms retailer and pass a background check .
However , Murphy ’ s order was subsequently followed by a notice posted on the State Police website that the agency is no longer conducting background checks .
“ Gov .
Murphy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and neither can Supt .
Callahan , ” he continued .
“ Yet , under this emergency order , that ’ s exactly what they ’ re doing .
The Constitution , and federal law , don ’ t allow that .
New Jersey may have been the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights , but they ’ re the last state to recognize it.
” Meanwhile , we know , at least anecdotally , that many of the people lining up to buy firearms right now are first-time gun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pleased to see organizations like the NRA and NSSF push out basic gun safety rules on their social media , and firearms attorney , veteran , and all around Second Amendment supporter Ryan Cleckner is doing his part at Gun University , where he ’ s made a ton of training material for new gun owners available .
Ryan joins me on today ’ s program to talk not only about the effort to ensure that new gun owners have access to basic gun safety training , but the fact that these new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Second Amendment debate going forward .
Suddenly , the idea of owning a gun for self-defense doesn ’ t sound crazy to a lot of people , and we need to welcome these new gun owners into the fold with open arms and encourage them to get active politically to defend the rights they ’ ve chosen to exercise .

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s unilateral decision to close gun stores and ranges and order the state police to stop conducting firearms purchase background checks is depriving millions of residents of their right to keep and bear arms by shutting off their access to their Second Amendment rights during a time of emergency. Now, gun groups are firing back at the governor’s order, legally speaking, by filing lawsuits challenging the governor’s order in federal court.
Scott Bach, executive director of the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs, joins me on Bearing Arms’ Cam & Co today to talk about the group’s plans to sue the state, and the governor personally, over his decision. As Bach explains, not only do the closures of gun stores impact the ability of the state’s 8-million non-gun owners to exercise their Second Amendment rights for the first time in their lives, but by shuttering public and private ranges, the governor is also depriving existing gun owners of their right to gain proficiency with their arms.
Meanwhile, the Second Amendment Foundation has officially sued the governor and the police superintendent in federal court, along with a New Jersey resident and a gun store in the state.
Joining SAF in this action is the New Jersey Second Amendment Society, on behalf of Robert Kashinsky and Legend Firearms, a gun shop in the state. They are represented by noted civil rights attorney David Jensen. Kashinsky sought to purchase a firearm for personal protection during the current crisis, but Murphy issued Executive Order 107 on March 21, which ordered all non-essential retail businesses closed to the public. The order does not include licensed firearms dealers on its list of “essential” businesses that may continue operating during the crisis. “In order for New Jersey residents to purchase firearms,” noted SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb, “they must go through a licensed firearms retailer and pass a background check. However, Murphy’s order was subsequently followed by a notice posted on the State Police website that the agency is no longer conducting background checks. “Gov. Murphy cannot simply suspend the Second Amendment, and neither can Supt. Callahan,” he continued. “Yet, under this emergency order, that’s exactly what they’re doing. The Constitution, and federal law, don’t allow that. New Jersey may have been the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights, but they’re the last state to recognize it.”
Meanwhile, we know, at least anecdotally, that many of the people lining up to buy firearms right now are first-time gun buyers. I’ve been really pleased to see organizations like the NRA and NSSF push out basic gun safety rules on their social media, and firearms attorney, veteran, and all around Second Amendment supporter Ryan Cleckner is doing his part at Gun University, where he’s made a ton of training material for new gun owners available. Ryan joins me on today’s program to talk not only about the effort to ensure that new gun owners have access to basic gun safety training, but the fact that these new gun owners could change the face of the Second Amendment debate going forward. Suddenly, the idea of owning a gun for self-defense doesn’t sound crazy to a lot of people, and we need to welcome these new gun owners into the fold with open arms and encourage them to get active politically to defend the rights they’ve chosen to exercise.


bearingarms--2020-03-23--PA Lawsuit Against Governor's Order To Shut Down Gun Stores Dead

Pennsylvania ’ s Governor Tom Wolf isn ’ t the only governor to decide gun stores aren ’ t essential businesses .
While Illinois was surprisingly insightful on this , others aren ’ t .
New Jersey currently faces lawsuits over its decision .
Wolf is far from alone .
However , it seems that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has decided not to hear the case .
In a major blow to constitutional rights of Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth , the Pennsylvania Supreme Court declined to exercise its King ’ s Bench jurisdiction to review the executive fiat issued by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the enforcement of the Governor Wolf ’ s Order will begin tomorrow ( Monday ) at 8 AM .
A copy of the PA Supreme Court ’ s Order declining to exercise its King ’ s Bench jurisdiction is available here .
As the Court declined to exercise its discretionary review , it did not rule on any of the legal arguments contained within the challenge , including that Governor Wolf ’ s Order is ultra vires .
Accordingly , any individuals cited for violating the Order will still be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statutory and constitutional grounds in a court of law .
What was interesting , however , was what three Democratic justices wrote in their dissent .
I write separately because the present Application for Emergency Relief brings to the Court ’ s attention a deprivation of a constitutional right .
The Governor ’ s Order of March 20 , 2020 , the “ Order of the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Regarding the Closure of All Businesses That Are Not Life Sustaining ” ( the “ Order ” ) , makes no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firearm dealers .
In light of the regulatory framework attending the sale and transfer of firearms , the inability of licensed firearm dealers to conduct any physical operations amounts to a complete prohibition upon the retail sale of firearms—an activity in which the citizens of this Commonwealth recently have been engaging on a large scale , and one guaranteed by both the United States Constitution and the Constitution of this Commonwealth .
This is a profound and sensible argument .
While many may understand the necessities of many of the emergency procedures currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truth is that the curtailment of civil liberties will only generally be tolerated to a certain point .
You can tell people not to do things , even block church , if they can see the reason for it .
Banning gatherings might well make sense to many of them .
But the odds of transmission in a gun store is less than that of a grocery store .
Those are still open , though , and for understandable reasons .
The truth is , these orders tend to come from anti-gun governors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC .
Why is that ?
Could it be that it has nothing at all to do with the virus ?
That ’ s my guess .
As for the state supreme court ’ s decision , that ’ s disappointing .
It should be noted that while three Democrats dissented , a couple of Republicans voted to not hear the lawsuit .
It ’ s a stark reminder that just because someone has an “ R ” after their name , it doesn ’ t make them pro-gun .
Of course , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of HB 2344 , a bill introduced by Republican state Rep. Thomas Murt that would require a permit in order to buy ammunition .
Luckily , my understanding is that HB 2344 is dead on arrival , but it ’ s still telling that it ’ s introduced so close to the time when Republican justices refuse to stand for the Second Amendment .
Hopefully , Pennsylvanian voters will adjust their attitudes come election time .

Pennsylvania’s Governor Tom Wolf isn’t the only governor to decide gun stores aren’t essential businesses. While Illinois was surprisingly insightful on this, others aren’t. New Jersey currently faces lawsuits over its decision. Wolf is far from alone.
However, it seems that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has decided not to hear the case.
In a major blow to constitutional rights of Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court declined to exercise its King’s Bench jurisdiction to review the executive fiat issued by Governor Wolf regarding COVID-19. As such, the enforcement of the Governor Wolf’s Order will begin tomorrow (Monday) at 8 AM. A copy of the PA Supreme Court’s Order declining to exercise its King’s Bench jurisdiction is available here. As the Court declined to exercise its discretionary review, it did not rule on any of the legal arguments contained within the challenge, including that Governor Wolf’s Order is ultra vires. Accordingly, any individuals cited for violating the Order will still be able to challenge the validity of the Order on statutory and constitutional grounds in a court of law.
What was interesting, however, was what three Democratic justices wrote in their dissent.
I write separately because the present Application for Emergency Relief brings to the Court’s attention a deprivation of a constitutional right. The Governor’s Order of March 20, 2020, the “Order of the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Regarding the Closure of All Businesses That Are Not Life Sustaining” (the “Order”), makes no allowance for any continued operation of licensed firearm dealers. In light of the regulatory framework attending the sale and transfer of firearms, the inability of licensed firearm dealers to conduct any physical operations amounts to a complete prohibition upon the retail sale of firearms—an activity in which the citizens of this Commonwealth recently have been engaging on a large scale, and one guaranteed by both the United States Constitution and the Constitution of this Commonwealth.
This is a profound and sensible argument. While many may understand the necessities of many of the emergency procedures currently being enacted throughout the nation, the truth is that the curtailment of civil liberties will only generally be tolerated to a certain point. You can tell people not to do things, even block church, if they can see the reason for it. Banning gatherings might well make sense to many of them.
But the odds of transmission in a gun store is less than that of a grocery store. Those are still open, though, and for understandable reasons.
The truth is, these orders tend to come from anti-gun governors and mayors rather than people like the CDC. Why is that? Could it be that it has nothing at all to do with the virus? That’s my guess.
As for the state supreme court’s decision, that’s disappointing. It should be noted that while three Democrats dissented, a couple of Republicans voted to not hear the lawsuit. It’s a stark reminder that just because someone has an “R” after their name, it doesn’t make them pro-gun.
Of course, Pennsylvanians have another reminder in the form of HB 2344, a bill introduced by Republican state Rep. Thomas Murt that would require a permit in order to buy ammunition. Luckily, my understanding is that HB 2344 is dead on arrival, but it’s still telling that it’s introduced so close to the time when Republican justices refuse to stand for the Second Amendment.
Hopefully, Pennsylvanian voters will adjust their attitudes come election time.


bearingarms--2020-03-23--Columnist: We Need Coronavirus-like Interventions For Gun Violence

There ’ s no shortage of hot takes at the moment .
Unlike the run on toilet paper , guns , and ammunition that have left store shelves picked over , the supply of dumb ideas inspired by the coronavirus is far outstripping demand .
Columnist Mary Mitchell with the Chicago Sun-Times has an absolutely idiotic idea inspired by the coronavirus : why can ’ t we “ curb rights ” to fight gun violence the same way that we ’ re curbing constitutional rights to slow the spread of the coronavirus ?
Seemingly overnight , Americans are being denied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to attend church and school and to entertain themselves in an effort to save lives .
Similarly drastic measures could be used to curb the gun epidemic that claims lives every day .
I am taking precautions and following the CDC guidelines , and you should , too .
I ’ m also praying I make it back to my own home before domestic air travel is canceled .
But I am more afraid of walking the dog early in the morning or late at night in a neighborhood plagued by guns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will fire a gun on the expressway just for the heck of it and take a life .
And I ’ m more afraid that a gun will fall into the wrong hands .
If we can fight a war against an enemy we can ’ t see or touch , we certainly could use draconian measures to fight the gun violence in our schools , in our workplaces and on our streets .
There ’ s so much to unpack here I hardly know where to begin .
Mitchell says that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prevent violent crime in Chicago .
Like what , exactly ?
Of course she doesn ’ t say .
The sad fact is that Chicago has instituted drastic measures to curb crimes involving firearms , and it was a miserable failure .
From 1982 until 2010 , handguns were banned in the city .
Unless you were a cop or a politician , it was illegal for you to possess a handgun .
Did that do anything for Chicago ’ s crime rate ?
Absolutely not .
In fact , Chicago ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back in 1992 , ten years after the ban took effect .
943 people were murdered in the city that year .
In 2019 , nearly a decade after Chicago ’ s ban was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in McDonald v Chicago , and six years after the state ’ s concealed carry law took effect , there were 490 homicides in city .
Obviously that number is still far too high , but it ’ s also almost 50-percent lower than the high reached when the city ’ s handgun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Second Amendment rights of Americans doesn ’ t lead to increased violent crime .
Ignoring criminal behavior does .
Disarming people does .
As it turns out , I too would love to see Illinois take drastic action to reduce gun-related violence , but I don ’ t believe gun control is the answer .
Focus efforts on identifying the most violent offenders and take their cases to federal court , provide witness protection services to those who are needed to testify against those bad actors , and remove the bureaucratic hurdles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requirement for legal gun owners , to ensure that as many Illinois residents can protect themselves if need be .
We don ’ t need to shelter in place to prevent violent crime .
We don ’ t need to strip people of their constitutional rights either .
To borrow a phrase from the public health world , we need to focus on the “ super-spreaders ” of violent crime , and stop them in their tracks .

There’s no shortage of hot takes at the moment. Unlike the run on toilet paper, guns, and ammunition that have left store shelves picked over, the supply of dumb ideas inspired by the coronavirus is far outstripping demand.
Columnist Mary Mitchell with the Chicago Sun-Times has an absolutely idiotic idea inspired by the coronavirus: why can’t we “curb rights” to fight gun violence the same way that we’re curbing constitutional rights to slow the spread of the coronavirus?
Seemingly overnight, Americans are being denied the right to assembly, to travel, to attend church and school and to entertain themselves in an effort to save lives. Similarly drastic measures could be used to curb the gun epidemic that claims lives every day. Don’t take this wrong. I am taking precautions and following the CDC guidelines, and you should, too. I’m also praying I make it back to my own home before domestic air travel is canceled. But I am more afraid of walking the dog early in the morning or late at night in a neighborhood plagued by guns. I’m more afraid someone will fire a gun on the expressway just for the heck of it and take a life. And I’m more afraid that a gun will fall into the wrong hands. If we can fight a war against an enemy we can’t see or touch, we certainly could use draconian measures to fight the gun violence in our schools, in our workplaces and on our streets.
There’s so much to unpack here I hardly know where to begin. Mitchell says that “similarly drastic measures” could be used to prevent violent crime in Chicago. Like what, exactly? Of course she doesn’t say.
The sad fact is that Chicago has instituted drastic measures to curb crimes involving firearms, and it was a miserable failure. From 1982 until 2010, handguns were banned in the city. Unless you were a cop or a politician, it was illegal for you to possess a handgun. Did that do anything for Chicago’s crime rate? Absolutely not.
In fact, Chicago’s all-time record for homicides was set back in 1992, ten years after the ban took effect. 943 people were murdered in the city that year. In 2019, nearly a decade after Chicago’s ban was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in McDonald v Chicago, and six years after the state’s concealed carry law took effect, there were 490 homicides in city.
Obviously that number is still far too high, but it’s also almost 50-percent lower than the high reached when the city’s handgun ban was still the law. Recognizing the Second Amendment rights of Americans doesn’t lead to increased violent crime. Ignoring criminal behavior does. Disarming people does.
As it turns out, I too would love to see Illinois take drastic action to reduce gun-related violence, but I don’t believe gun control is the answer. Focus efforts on identifying the most violent offenders and take their cases to federal court, provide witness protection services to those who are needed to testify against those bad actors, and remove the bureaucratic hurdles like the state’s FOID card requirement for legal gun owners, to ensure that as many Illinois residents can protect themselves if need be. We don’t need to shelter in place to prevent violent crime. We don’t need to strip people of their constitutional rights either. To borrow a phrase from the public health world, we need to focus on the “super-spreaders” of violent crime, and stop them in their tracks.


bearingarms--2020-03-23--Chris Murphy Lies About What NRA Suggests In Video

Over the weekend , the National Rifle Association released a video with a disabled woman talking about important the Second Amendment is at a time like this .
We covered it over the weekend here .
It ’ s an important message that can ’ t be overstated .
Especially right now .
Many people rely on their firearms for self-defense primarily because they really don ’ t have any other choice .
Yet Connecticut ’ s anti-gun Senator Chris Murphy couldn ’ t address the actual points being made , he had to outright lie about what the video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carletta Whiting didn ’ t say that at all .
First , on the subject of stockpiling food , there ’ s absolutely nothing said against people doing so .
Frankly , as people are being told to shelter in place and even that may not halt the spread of the disease , stockpiling food makes a great deal of sense .
Especially as people continue to panic and horde essentials .
Buying a little extra each trip might be quite prudent .
After all , it ’ s only a surprisingly short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Which brings me to what Whiting actually did say .
She pointed out that if you ’ re stockpiling supplies but have no means to defend those supplies , then you ’ re really stockpiling them for someone else .
In other words , if you don ’ t have a gun to protect your stuff , someone with a gun may well come and take all that you ’ ve put aside .
Oh , sure , there are ways to mitigate the risk , but all it takes is for one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BOOM !
You ’ ve got a problem .
Whiting ’ s advice to have a gun is dead accurate , but she never advocates anyone to “ stockpile assault weapons , instead of food , to get ready for the coming Coronavirus civil war.
” First , actual assault weapons are generally impossible for the average American to get anyway .
However , that ’ s being pedantic .
You and I know what Murphy is talking about , though .
Whiting never says to stockpile them .
She suggests having a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ semi-auto AR-15 chambered in 9 mm , which Murphy calls an assault rifle , but isn ’ t really that much different than the handguns currently being ignored by anti-gun lawmakers .
Whiting doesn ’ t mention models , calibers , types , or anything else , though .
How is she advocating stockpiling “ assault weapons ” when she never mentions a specific type of gun ?
Further , stockpiling suggests that she expressly advocating buying a lot of them , which is also false .
As for “ the coming Coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pure fiction as well .
Civil unrest and looting do not a civil war make .
Honestly , Murphy just made up whatever he wanted to say because he knows that most of his followers won ’ t actually listen to Whiting .
They ’ ll take Murphy ’ s BS assessment of what was said as gospel truth and run around like their hair is on fire telling people the NRA is warning people of a coronavirus civil war and that they should stockpile guns and stuff .
They don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to demonize their boogieman more than normal .

Over the weekend, the National Rifle Association released a video with a disabled woman talking about important the Second Amendment is at a time like this. We covered it over the weekend here.
It’s an important message that can’t be overstated. Especially right now. Many people rely on their firearms for self-defense primarily because they really don’t have any other choice.
Yet Connecticut’s anti-gun Senator Chris Murphy couldn’t address the actual points being made, he had to outright lie about what the video said.
Mainstream gun owners have left the NRA, so now they’re reduced to telling people to stockpile assault weapons, instead of food, to get ready for the coming Coronavirus civil war. So sickening. https://t.co/tOwUBHCDSu — Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) March 21, 2020
Except, the NRA nor Carletta Whiting didn’t say that at all.
First, on the subject of stockpiling food, there’s absolutely nothing said against people doing so. Frankly, as people are being told to shelter in place and even that may not halt the spread of the disease, stockpiling food makes a great deal of sense. Especially as people continue to panic and horde essentials. Buying a little extra each trip might be quite prudent.
After all, it’s only a surprisingly short hop from panic buying to looting.
Which brings me to what Whiting actually did say. She pointed out that if you’re stockpiling supplies but have no means to defend those supplies, then you’re really stockpiling them for someone else. In other words, if you don’t have a gun to protect your stuff, someone with a gun may well come and take all that you’ve put aside.
Oh, sure, there are ways to mitigate the risk, but all it takes is for one person to know you have something and BOOM! You’ve got a problem.
Whiting’s advice to have a gun is dead accurate, but she never advocates anyone to “stockpile assault weapons, instead of food, to get ready for the coming Coronavirus civil war.”
First, actual assault weapons are generally impossible for the average American to get anyway. However, that’s being pedantic. You and I know what Murphy is talking about, though.
Whiting never says to stockpile them. She suggests having a firearm. Period. She has a semi-auto AR-15 chambered in 9 mm, which Murphy calls an assault rifle, but isn’t really that much different than the handguns currently being ignored by anti-gun lawmakers. Whiting doesn’t mention models, calibers, types, or anything else, though. How is she advocating stockpiling “assault weapons” when she never mentions a specific type of gun?
Further, stockpiling suggests that she expressly advocating buying a lot of them, which is also false.
As for “the coming Coronavirus civil war,” that’s pure fiction as well. Civil unrest and looting do not a civil war make.
Honestly, Murphy just made up whatever he wanted to say because he knows that most of his followers won’t actually listen to Whiting. They’ll take Murphy’s BS assessment of what was said as gospel truth and run around like their hair is on fire telling people the NRA is warning people of a coronavirus civil war and that they should stockpile guns and stuff. They don’t care about the truth, they just want to demonize their boogieman more than normal.


bearingarms--2020-03-23--Dispatches From A Deep South Outbreak #2: Now It's Getting Serious

There ’ s a big debate going on right now over just how serious the Covid-19 pandemic really is .
Is this the new Black Death ?
Is it little worse than the regular flu season ?
Somewhere in between ?
I can ’ t speak on that , really .
I don ’ t have the relevant expertise to judge for myself .
What I do know , however , is that my hometown of Albany , Georgia is catching it pretty damn badly right now , and it ’ s the last thing we needed .
You see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got hit with a series of storms .
Tornadoes from two different storm systems hit the town , ravaging parts of the city .
Later that year , we got hit by a hurricane .
Luckily , it was only a category one when it got here , so we handled that one pretty well .
Then we got hit by Hurricane Michael the next year .
Again , we were devastated , but we recovered .
Well , we ’ re still recovering .
That recovery has slowed down thanks to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pun fully intended ) .
For most of you , Albany , Georgia is a place you may or may not have heard of .
Right now , we ’ re getting some national media attention because of how hard we ’ re being hammered by this disease , but few actually know my hometown .
If you look for it on Google , you ’ re also likely to learn a few things .
We ’ re a fairly high-crime city and impressively high poverty rate .
We have a university here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known for our educational system .
At least not in a good way .
We ’ re a city on the decline and nothing our city leaders have tried has turned that around .
Currently , we have the highest per capita rate of infection in the state .
Our raw numbers are on part with the Atlanta counties , but with a fraction of their population .
In fact , while I ’ m not a math guy , my own figures put our per capita rate of infection up there near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it in perspective .
Late last week , Mayor Bo Dorough issued a shelter in place order .
Effective Sunday , he tightened it .
Mayor Bo Dorough , City of Albany , and Chairman Christopher S. Cohilas , Dougherty County Board of Commissioners , escalated to a more stringent Shelter-In-Place order in the wake of the Coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) Pandemic and under the Authority of the Georgia Emergency Management Act of 1981 .
The order is in effect beginning 6 p.m. on March 22 , 2020 through 11:59 p.m. on April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extended , rescinded , superseded , or amended in writing by the Mayor and Chairman .
The escalated order places additional restrictions on area businesses , as well as those who have either tested positive for COVID-19 and are recovering at home or those who are awaiting test results to adhere to the self-quarantine rule .
An official signed copy of the order addressing these patients will be provided to them by Phoebe Putney upon discharge from the hospital .
Shelter-In-Place discourages all non-essential travel through the community and in and out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to those traveling to work in an essential business or essential government function , including health care operations , home health workers , essential infrastructure , including construction of housing and operation of public transportation and utilities , grocery stores , farmers ’ market , food banks , convenience stores , businesses that provide necessities of life for economically disadvantaged individuals and shelter facilities , pharmacies , healthcare supply stores and healthcare facilities , gas stations and auto repair facilities , banks , etc .
Essential businesses such as grocery stores will remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exceed 50 percent occupancy at one time .
Those patrons should be reminded to keep a six-foot distance from others for extended periods of time .
Restaurants are prohibited from providing services in their dining rooms , but may provide drive-through , pickup/curbside , and delivery services .
Bars , gyms , and similar businesses will continue to fall under the temporary closure order .
A lot of you reading this are under similar orders , I ’ m sure .
Others are being told to self-isolate and practice social distancing .
Please @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that .
Do that so you all don ’ t end up being basically under house arrest for anything other than doctor ’ s visits and grocery store runs .
Meanwhile , I ’ m sitting here finding out that four people in my neighborhood have tested positive for the disease .
This is concerning because while I normally keep to myself , that wasn ’ t really the case a couple of weeks ago when there was a shooting in the neighborhood .
We all talked about that for a couple of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients .
At this point , I ’ m probably OK , but it ’ s still kind of scary .
Especially since my son has a history of asthma and my daughter needed breathing treatments not all that long ago .
Look , I ’ m not going to say this is the end of times .
Not seriously , anyway .
I ’ m also not ready to call this nothing , either .
It ’ s serious and people should take it as such .
However , I ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ramifications coming for this disease that have to be accounted for now .
As noted previously , we ’ re a notoriously poor community .
We have a lot of poverty and a lot of working poor here .
My neighborhood is full of working-class folks .
Yet none of those working poor or working-class folks are really getting a chance to work .
While restaurants can provide delivery and curbside pickup , the waiters and waitresses aren ’ t able to earn a living .
Neither are a lot of other people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Right now , we ’ re looking at another two weeks without these people being able to work , but these folks live on a thin margin as it is .
“ Oh , they can file for unemployment , ” some will say , and sure .
Many can .
Others still have a job , but greatly reduced hours .
Can they ?
Further , unemployment is typically only a percentage of what you made .
It ’ s not something that replaces your entire salary .
When you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but not a lot .
At some point , a choice has to be made .
Do these people get to go back to work as we take other steps to try and mitigate the spread of the disease , or do we tank our city ’ s economy to such a profound degree that we drive a stake through Albany ’ s already struggling economic heart ?
Honestly , the virus could disappear tomorrow and we ’ d still be suffering , but at least it ’ s suffering we can endure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months of lockdown , though , and that would be beyond anything this city could survive .
I ’ m just thankful I work online .
My family ’ s disruptions are minimal .
We ’ re doing homeschooling despite being completely ill-equipped for homeschooling .
We ’ re binge-watching television shows despite not particularly caring to do that .
We ’ re spending a lot of time together as a family .
Yet , for the most part , it feels like a kind of long weekend where we have nothing planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I work online and our income isn ’ t disrupted in the least .
But I ’ m the exception here , not the rule .
Pray for us .
Pray for your own community .
Keep your heads down and your powder dry .
We ’ ll get through this , but who knows what the other side will really look like .

There’s a big debate going on right now over just how serious the Covid-19 pandemic really is. Is this the new Black Death? Is it little worse than the regular flu season? Somewhere in between?
I can’t speak on that, really. I don’t have the relevant expertise to judge for myself.
What I do know, however, is that my hometown of Albany, Georgia is catching it pretty damn badly right now, and it’s the last thing we needed.
You see, a few years ago, we got hit with a series of storms. Tornadoes from two different storm systems hit the town, ravaging parts of the city. Later that year, we got hit by a hurricane. Luckily, it was only a category one when it got here, so we handled that one pretty well.
Then we got hit by Hurricane Michael the next year. Again, we were devastated, but we recovered.
Well, we’re still recovering. That recovery has slowed down thanks to the Covid-19 virus that is plaguing us (pun fully intended).
For most of you, Albany, Georgia is a place you may or may not have heard of. Right now, we’re getting some national media attention because of how hard we’re being hammered by this disease, but few actually know my hometown.
If you look for it on Google, you’re also likely to learn a few things. We’re a fairly high-crime city and impressively high poverty rate. We have a university here, but we also aren’t known for our educational system. At least not in a good way. We’re a city on the decline and nothing our city leaders have tried has turned that around.
Now, we’re a hot spot for a pandemic.
Currently, we have the highest per capita rate of infection in the state. Our raw numbers are on part with the Atlanta counties, but with a fraction of their population. In fact, while I’m not a math guy, my own figures put our per capita rate of infection up there near Seattle’s, just to put it in perspective.
Yeah, it’s bad.
Late last week, Mayor Bo Dorough issued a shelter in place order. Effective Sunday, he tightened it.
Mayor Bo Dorough, City of Albany, and Chairman Christopher S. Cohilas, Dougherty County Board of Commissioners, escalated to a more stringent Shelter-In-Place order in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic and under the Authority of the Georgia Emergency Management Act of 1981. The order is in effect beginning 6 p.m. on March 22, 2020 through 11:59 p.m. on April 7, 2020, unless it is extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended in writing by the Mayor and Chairman. The escalated order places additional restrictions on area businesses, as well as those who have either tested positive for COVID-19 and are recovering at home or those who are awaiting test results to adhere to the self-quarantine rule. An official signed copy of the order addressing these patients will be provided to them by Phoebe Putney upon discharge from the hospital. Shelter-In-Place discourages all non-essential travel through the community and in and out of the community. It does not apply to those traveling to work in an essential business or essential government function, including health care operations, home health workers, essential infrastructure, including construction of housing and operation of public transportation and utilities, grocery stores, farmers’ market, food banks, convenience stores, businesses that provide necessities of life for economically disadvantaged individuals and shelter facilities, pharmacies, healthcare supply stores and healthcare facilities, gas stations and auto repair facilities, banks, etc. Essential businesses such as grocery stores will remain open, however, are not to exceed 50 percent occupancy at one time. Those patrons should be reminded to keep a six-foot distance from others for extended periods of time. Restaurants are prohibited from providing services in their dining rooms, but may provide drive-through, pickup/curbside, and delivery services. Bars, gyms, and similar businesses will continue to fall under the temporary closure order.
A lot of you reading this are under similar orders, I’m sure.
Others are being told to self-isolate and practice social distancing. Please, take it from me. Do that. Do that so you all don’t end up being basically under house arrest for anything other than doctor’s visits and grocery store runs.
Meanwhile, I’m sitting here finding out that four people in my neighborhood have tested positive for the disease. This is concerning because while I normally keep to myself, that wasn’t really the case a couple of weeks ago when there was a shooting in the neighborhood. We all talked about that for a couple of days, meaning I interacted with potential patients.
At this point, I’m probably OK, but it’s still kind of scary. Especially since my son has a history of asthma and my daughter needed breathing treatments not all that long ago.
Look, I’m not going to say this is the end of times. Not seriously, anyway.
I’m also not ready to call this nothing, either. It’s serious and people should take it as such.
However, I’ll also point out that there are other ramifications coming for this disease that have to be accounted for now.
As noted previously, we’re a notoriously poor community. We have a lot of poverty and a lot of working poor here. My neighborhood is full of working-class folks. Yet none of those working poor or working-class folks are really getting a chance to work. While restaurants can provide delivery and curbside pickup, the waiters and waitresses aren’t able to earn a living. Neither are a lot of other people who struggle from paycheck to paycheck.
Right now, we’re looking at another two weeks without these people being able to work, but these folks live on a thin margin as it is.
“Oh, they can file for unemployment,” some will say, and sure. Many can. Others still have a job, but greatly reduced hours. Can they? Further, unemployment is typically only a percentage of what you made. It’s not something that replaces your entire salary. When you’re barely squeaking by, unemployment helps, but not a lot.
At some point, a choice has to be made. Do these people get to go back to work as we take other steps to try and mitigate the spread of the disease, or do we tank our city’s economy to such a profound degree that we drive a stake through Albany’s already struggling economic heart?
Honestly, the virus could disappear tomorrow and we’d still be suffering, but at least it’s suffering we can endure through.
Some are advocating for three months of lockdown, though, and that would be beyond anything this city could survive.
I’m just thankful I work online. My family’s disruptions are minimal. We’re doing homeschooling despite being completely ill-equipped for homeschooling. We’re binge-watching television shows despite not particularly caring to do that. We’re spending a lot of time together as a family. Yet, for the most part, it feels like a kind of long weekend where we have nothing planned. I’m thankful for that. I work online and our income isn’t disrupted in the least.
But I’m the exception here, not the rule.
Pray for us. Pray for your own community. Keep your heads down and your powder dry. We’ll get through this, but who knows what the other side will really look like.


bearingarms--2020-03-23--WA City Readies Emergency Ordinance Gutting 2A Rights Of Residents

Bellingham , Washington city council members are set to debate an emergency declaration that would empower the mayor ( on paper , anyway ) to not only force gun stores to close , but ban the transportation and mere possession of a firearm as well .
Jason Rantz of KTTH radio in Seattle was the first to report on the order , which is slated for discussion and a vote at Monday night ’ s meeting .
That meeting , by the way , is open to the public , though the council says residents won ’ t be allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself .
Instead , the council says the public can submit comments via email .
Given the sweeping powers to abridge the constitution that the council is considering , I hope they ’ re flooded with emails from Bellingham residents .
5 .
An order requiring the discontinuance of the sale , distribution , or giving away of firearms and/or ammunition for firearms in any or all parts of the city ; 7 .
An order requiring the closure of any or all business establishments where firearms and/or ammunition for firearms are sold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with respect to those business establishments which are not primarily devoted to the sale of firearms and/or ammunition and in which such firearms and/or ammunition may be removed or made secure from possible seizure by the public , the portions thereof utilized for sale of items other than firearms and ammunition may , in the discretion of the mayor , be allowed to remain open ; 9 .
An order prohibiting the carrying or possession of firearms or any instrument which is capable of producing bodily harm and which is carried or possessed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cause such harm ; provided , that any such order shall not apply to peace officers or military personnel engaged in the performance of their official duties ; As Rantz notes , Washington State has a firearms preemption law that should make these proposed actions illegal , but the talk show host is concerned that council members will decide to err on the side of government power instead of individual rights .
A very clear principle inherent in the right to bear arms is to protect oneself .
Self protection is something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis .
People are panicked .
And a coronavirus shelter-in-order declaration seems imminent .
You should have the right to protect yourself if people act out in ways that put you or your family in harm ’ s way .
And a business that serves the purpose of allowing citizens to exert their constitutional rights , should be deemed an essential business .
Right now , under the governor ’ s declaration , pot shops remain open .
But when it comes to guns shops we ’ d close them down ?
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of shelter-in-place directives .
It ’ s a power the governor clearly has and he ’ d be right , at this point , to use it .
But this is transparent anti-gun nonsense .
This is very clearly a way to exploit the coronavirus to attack gun rights and again demonize gun owners as somehow a demographic you need to worry about during a crisis .
Rantz will be joining me Tuesday on Bearing Arms ’ Cam & Co to talk about the outcome of tonight ’ s meeting , but if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ please contact your city council member and the mayor ’ s office to voice your objection to this unconstitutional gun grab proposal .
Beyond the glaring constitutional concerns , there ’ s also a practical matter to consider .
We ’ re already seeing sheriffs across the state take steps to reduce the number of people in jail right now in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Do council members really believe that the police in Bellingham should attempt to confiscate firearms or arrest individuals simply for possessing their legally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are being let loose ?
How would gun owners turn in their firearms during the state of emergency , and how could they be guaranteed to have their firearms returned to them after the emergency order was lifted ?
Maybe they do , but I suspect if they go forward and approve this measure , there ’ ll be a lawsuit filed Tuesday morning .
I also suspect if the mayor were to try to exercise the powers the city council is considering , there would be widespread noncompliance from both law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintaining order in Bellingham have much bigger issues to worry about right now than the residents who are exercising their right to keep and bear arms for self-defense .

Bellingham, Washington city council members are set to debate an emergency declaration that would empower the mayor (on paper, anyway) to not only force gun stores to close, but ban the transportation and mere possession of a firearm as well.
Jason Rantz of KTTH radio in Seattle was the first to report on the order, which is slated for discussion and a vote at Monday night’s meeting. That meeting, by the way, is open to the public, though the council says residents won’t be allowed to make any comments during the meeting itself. Instead, the council says the public can submit comments via email. Given the sweeping powers to abridge the constitution that the council is considering, I hope they’re flooded with emails from Bellingham residents.
5. An order requiring the discontinuance of the sale, distribution, or giving away of firearms and/or ammunition for firearms in any or all parts of the city; 7. An order requiring the closure of any or all business establishments where firearms and/or ammunition for firearms are sold or otherwise dispensed; provided, that with respect to those business establishments which are not primarily devoted to the sale of firearms and/or ammunition and in which such firearms and/or ammunition may be removed or made secure from possible seizure by the public, the portions thereof utilized for sale of items other than firearms and ammunition may, in the discretion of the mayor, be allowed to remain open; 9. An order prohibiting the carrying or possession of firearms or any instrument which is capable of producing bodily harm and which is carried or possessed with the intent to use the same to cause such harm; provided, that any such order shall not apply to peace officers or military personnel engaged in the performance of their official duties;
As Rantz notes, Washington State has a firearms preemption law that should make these proposed actions illegal, but the talk show host is concerned that council members will decide to err on the side of government power instead of individual rights.
A very clear principle inherent in the right to bear arms is to protect oneself. Self protection is something you might want to do during a crisis. People are panicked. And a coronavirus shelter-in-order declaration seems imminent. You should have the right to protect yourself if people act out in ways that put you or your family in harm’s way. And a business that serves the purpose of allowing citizens to exert their constitutional rights, should be deemed an essential business. Right now, under the governor’s declaration, pot shops remain open. But when it comes to guns shops we’d close them down? I’ve rejected concern over the constitutionality of shelter-in-place directives. It’s a power the governor clearly has and he’d be right, at this point, to use it. But this is transparent anti-gun nonsense. This is very clearly a way to exploit the coronavirus to attack gun rights and again demonize gun owners as somehow a demographic you need to worry about during a crisis.
Rantz will be joining me Tuesday on Bearing Arms’ Cam & Co to talk about the outcome of tonight’s meeting, but if you’re a Bellingham resident, please contact your city council member and the mayor’s office to voice your objection to this unconstitutional gun grab proposal.
Beyond the glaring constitutional concerns, there’s also a practical matter to consider. We’re already seeing sheriffs across the state take steps to reduce the number of people in jail right now in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Do council members really believe that the police in Bellingham should attempt to confiscate firearms or arrest individuals simply for possessing their legally owned guns when burglars and other criminals are being let loose? How would gun owners turn in their firearms during the state of emergency, and how could they be guaranteed to have their firearms returned to them after the emergency order was lifted?
Maybe they do, but I suspect if they go forward and approve this measure, there’ll be a lawsuit filed Tuesday morning. I also suspect if the mayor were to try to exercise the powers the city council is considering, there would be widespread noncompliance from both law enforcement and gun owners. Those tasked with maintaining order in Bellingham have much bigger issues to worry about right now than the residents who are exercising their right to keep and bear arms for self-defense.


bearingarms--2020-03-23--Gun Groups Sue NJ Governor Over Order Suspending Gun Sales

New Jersey governor Phil Murphy has ordered all gun stores in the state to remain closed during the declared state of emergency over the coronavirus , but several gun groups are launching lawsuits aimed at rescinding the order in the hopes of helping state residents protect themselves when they are most vulnerable .
Murphy ’ s order not only declares gun stores to be “ non-essential ” businesses , but according to the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs , the governor has shut off access to NICS for firearm retailers .
Now the ANJRPC says it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the governor ’ s emergency order .
While ANJRPC continues to dialogue with the Governor ’ s office over this dramatic and unprecedented overreach , we are not optimistic about changing it through discussion .
Accordingly , ANJRPC is proceeding with rapid development of a major lawsuit to address these unconstitutional measures and to take Governor Murphy ( and others in the executive branch of government ) to task for overreaching and essentially suspending Second Amendment rights , at a time of emergency when those rights may be needed most for self-protection by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also pursuing , at the federal government level , potential proposals that will incentivize states to protect Second Amendment rights in times of emergency instead of undermining them .
They ’ re not the only ones .
The New Jersey Second Amendment Society and the Second Amendment Foundation , along with a New Jersey gun store and a resident who recently obtained his Firearms ID card allowing him to purchase a long gun , but who now can ’ t purchase a firearm because stores have been ordered closed .
From the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defendants ’ acts of prohibiting the operation of retail firearms businesses without regard to their manner of operation and of foreclosing any ability to access the background check portal prohibit law-abiding individuals from purchasing firearms or ammunition for the purpose of protecting themselves and their families ( or for any other purpose ) .
By their terms , these acts stand as a perpetual bar on firearms ownership .
While state and local governments have the power to reasonably regulate the keeping and bearing of arms , they do not have the power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arms , nor do they have the power to close the channels of distribution by which people obtain firearms and ammunition .
Defendant Murphy ’ s directive ( in Executive Order 107 ) that all dealers in firearms and ammunition must close themselves to the public , without exception , stands as a perpetual ban on purchasing firearms and ammunition .
Defendants ’ policy or practice of making the State Police background check portal unavailable also stands as a perpetual ban on purchasing firearms and ammunition .
Defendants ’ ongoing threat to enforce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Plaintiffs ’ members , as well as their ongoing policy or practice of making the State Police background check portal unavailable , prevents the Plaintiffs and/or the Plaintiffs ’ members from purchasing and selling firearms and ammunition , thus causing injury and damage that is actionable under 42 U.S.C .
§ 1983 .
The actions by Gov .
Phil Murphy are an egregious abuse of power and authority , and I ’ m glad to see the lawsuits that are being filed .
Obviously gun owners aren ’ t guaranteed a win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try , these orders are going to stand and countless residents are going to be denied their constitutional rights .
Other states , including Illinois and Ohio , are specifically declaring gun stores to be essential businesses at the moment .
If Phil Murphy won ’ t take that common sense step voluntarily , hopefully a federal judge will compel him to do so .

New Jersey governor Phil Murphy has ordered all gun stores in the state to remain closed during the declared state of emergency over the coronavirus, but several gun groups are launching lawsuits aimed at rescinding the order in the hopes of helping state residents protect themselves when they are most vulnerable.
Murphy’s order not only declares gun stores to be “non-essential” businesses, but according to the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs, the governor has shut off access to NICS for firearm retailers.
Although the Executive Order does not specifically discuss gun stores or ranges, it applies to all businesses except those specifically exempted, and gun stores and ranges are not listed as exempt (ironically, certain non-essential sellers are exempted while gun sellers aren’t). Additionally, we have received specific “clarification” from the Governor’s office that: Gun stores are not deemed “essential” and are therefore ordered closed (shutting off the flow of firearms and ammunition to honest citizens, who may need them in times of emergency); The National Instant Check System in NJ (NICS) for processing all firearms and ammunition transactions has been shut down completely; and All ranges (indoor and outdoor, public and private) are ordered closed under a restriction on “recreational activities” (is developing proficiency to defend your life really just “recreation?”).
Now the ANJRPC says it’s prepping for a major lawsuit challenging the governor’s emergency order.
While ANJRPC continues to dialogue with the Governor’s office over this dramatic and unprecedented overreach, we are not optimistic about changing it through discussion. Accordingly, ANJRPC is proceeding with rapid development of a major lawsuit to address these unconstitutional measures and to take Governor Murphy (and others in the executive branch of government) to task for overreaching and essentially suspending Second Amendment rights, at a time of emergency when those rights may be needed most for self-protection by the most vulnerable in society. ANJRPC is also pursuing, at the federal government level, potential proposals that will incentivize states to protect Second Amendment rights in times of emergency instead of undermining them.
They’re not the only ones. The New Jersey Second Amendment Society and the Second Amendment Foundation, along with a New Jersey gun store and a resident who recently obtained his Firearms ID card allowing him to purchase a long gun, but who now can’t purchase a firearm because stores have been ordered closed.
From the initial filing in Kashinsky v Murphy:
Defendants’ acts of prohibiting the operation of retail firearms businesses without regard to their manner of operation and of foreclosing any ability to access the background check portal prohibit law-abiding individuals from purchasing firearms or ammunition for the purpose of protecting themselves and their families (or for any other purpose). By their terms, these acts stand as a perpetual bar on firearms ownership. While state and local governments have the power to reasonably regulate the keeping and bearing of arms, they do not have the power to prohibit the keeping and bearing of arms, nor do they have the power to close the channels of distribution by which people obtain firearms and ammunition. Defendant Murphy’s directive (in Executive Order 107) that all dealers in firearms and ammunition must close themselves to the public, without exception, stands as a perpetual ban on purchasing firearms and ammunition. Defendants’ policy or practice of making the State Police background check portal unavailable also stands as a perpetual ban on purchasing firearms and ammunition. Defendants’ ongoing threat to enforce Executive Order 107 against the Plaintiffs and/or the Plaintiffs’ members, as well as their ongoing policy or practice of making the State Police background check portal unavailable, prevents the Plaintiffs and/or the Plaintiffs’ members from purchasing and selling firearms and ammunition, thus causing injury and damage that is actionable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
The actions by Gov. Phil Murphy are an egregious abuse of power and authority, and I’m glad to see the lawsuits that are being filed. Obviously gun owners aren’t guaranteed a win in the courts, but unless we try, these orders are going to stand and countless residents are going to be denied their constitutional rights. Other states, including Illinois and Ohio, are specifically declaring gun stores to be essential businesses at the moment. If Phil Murphy won’t take that common sense step voluntarily, hopefully a federal judge will compel him to do so.


bearingarms--2020-03-23--Democrat Introduces Gun Control Measure During Pandemic

Right now , a lot of Americans have their minds focused on a lot of things besides politics .
Investments are crashing , a deadly disease is infecting our very neighborhoods , and many people technically have jobs , they ’ re just not allowed to go to work because they ’ re considered non-critical .
It ’ s a bad time and a lot of people are focused on that .
The truth is , we saw this pandemic coming well before the World Health Organization declared it as such on March 11 .
So Georgia Democrat Rep. Hank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on trying to pull this while people are distracted elsewhere .
As you can see from all of this , what we have here is basically a single bill that pushes forward with everything the Democrats have been harping on these past couple of years .
Everything from red flag orders to gun purchase licensing .
The bill currently has 18 cosponsors , which isn ’ t as many as one might think for something like this , which raises questions about whether this actually goes too far for the current crop of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats generally love them some assault weapon bans and things of that sort , they know gun licensing isn ’ t a winning position for them .
A lot of people are uncomfortable going that far .
While many support various limits on the Second Amendment , they feel that requiring a license to purchase a gun goes beyond just limits and essentially makes the Second Amendment null and void .
For many of us , that ’ s a distinction we don ’ t really get .
The amendment says it “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is , so why do they balk at one more infringement ?
That ’ s not how many normally anti-gun people see it .
They figure that so long as you have a firearm available for purchase , your right isn ’ t really infringed .
Yes , it ’ s a BS argument , but that ’ s how they see it .
Licensing , however , changes that .
As such , they can ’ t back it .
But wouldn ’ t a long-time congressman like Johnson know better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been alive longer than he ’ s been in Congress and he didn ’ t realize that Guam wouldn ’ t actually tip over , so there ’ s that .
Still , I can ’ t help but feel like this was meant to fly under the radar during this difficult time .
After all , most eyes are on the pandemic gripping our nation .
On behalf of the state of Georgia , I ’ d like to apologize for this dipstick .
He isn ’ t my rep , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but I ’ m still sorry we inflicted him on the rest of the nation .

Right now, a lot of Americans have their minds focused on a lot of things besides politics. Investments are crashing, a deadly disease is infecting our very neighborhoods, and many people technically have jobs, they’re just not allowed to go to work because they’re considered non-critical. It’s a bad time and a lot of people are focused on that.
It’s really pretty understandable.
The truth is, we saw this pandemic coming well before the World Health Organization declared it as such on March 11.
So Georgia Democrat Rep. Hank Johnson doesn’t get a pass on trying to pull this while people are distracted elsewhere.
As you can see from all of this, what we have here is basically a single bill that pushes forward with everything the Democrats have been harping on these past couple of years. Everything from red flag orders to gun purchase licensing.
The bill currently has 18 cosponsors, which isn’t as many as one might think for something like this, which raises questions about whether this actually goes too far for the current crop of Democrats. It just might.
While Democrats generally love them some assault weapon bans and things of that sort, they know gun licensing isn’t a winning position for them. A lot of people are uncomfortable going that far. While many support various limits on the Second Amendment, they feel that requiring a license to purchase a gun goes beyond just limits and essentially makes the Second Amendment null and void.
For many of us, that’s a distinction we don’t really get. The amendment says it “shall not be infringed” and yet it is, so why do they balk at one more infringement?
That’s not how many normally anti-gun people see it. They figure that so long as you have a firearm available for purchase, your right isn’t really infringed. Yes, it’s a BS argument, but that’s how they see it.
Licensing, however, changes that. As such, they can’t back it.
But wouldn’t a long-time congressman like Johnson know better? Probably not. He’s been alive longer than he’s been in Congress and he didn’t realize that Guam wouldn’t actually tip over, so there’s that.
Still, I can’t help but feel like this was meant to fly under the radar during this difficult time. After all, most eyes are on the pandemic gripping our nation.
On behalf of the state of Georgia, I’d like to apologize for this dipstick. He isn’t my rep, so I can’t vote him out, but I’m still sorry we inflicted him on the rest of the nation.