by Stephen J. Feltoon It seems that this year more than ever, increasing numbers of state legislatures are considering expanding concealed carry rights. As firearms are a hot-button issue, the print medium…
Congressional Fly-In Brings Industry and Lawmakers Together
NEWTOWN, Conn. — The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) — the trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry — hosted its annual Congressional “Fly-In” for executives from industry companies this week….
Take Action to Stop Pending Gun Ban
(Washington, DC) The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is seeking public comment on their recent “study” on the importability of certain shotguns. It is critical that rights supporters express their objections to this “study” and its pending implementation in no uncertain terms. A strong showing of opposition can help to stiffen the spines of members of Congress and a poor showing will absolutely be pointed to as proof that people support expanded importation bans.
Comments need to be clearly opposed to expanding import bans and, most importantly, they must be submitted in a timely fashion. Intending to send a comment, but never actually getting around to it, does no one any good. The comment period is open now through the end of April. Comments can be submitted via email to shotgunstudy@atf.gov or by fax to (202) 648-9601.
Below is a sample comment you can paraphrase or simply cut and paste into your own email:
At least 10 victims dead in Brazilian school attack: Killer’s suicide note cites ‘islamic fundamentalism’
by Chad D. Baus
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services is reporting that at least 11 people, mostly children, died Thursday and more that 15 were wounded when an armed man attacked a school in Realengo in the poor suburbs of Rio de Janeiro.
From the article:
According to a preliminary police report, the attacker—a 24-year-old former student at the school—was among the dead after shooting himself in the head. He attacked Tasso da Silveira school, where some 400 students ages 9-14 were in classes.
Police Col. Djalma Beltrami said the killer used two handguns and a lot of ammunition. The suspect left behind a letter, in which he anticipated committing suicide after the attack. Beltrami, however, gave no details of any possible motive.
Beltrami described the letter as “the words of a person who no longer believes in anything, full of sentences that made no sense and references to Islamic fundamentalism.”
The latest on the ATF “Gunrunner” scandal: Wondrous things, the subpoena…
by Jim Shepherd
In the Paul Newman classic “Absence of Malice” a federal investigator played by Wilford Brimley is trying to get to the bottom of a case that has gone off the rails and threatens the careers of everyone associated with it.
In a pivotal scene, Brimley sets all the involved parties in a room and tells them his deputy “has a briefcase over there full of subpoenas.”
“Wondrous things, the subpoena. I hand you one and you have to tell me anything I want to know about whatever’s on them or you go to jail. Now two things are going to be certain when I leave here, I’m going to get to the bottom of this mess – and I’m going to have someone’s ass in my briefcase. So, deputy, start passing out them subpoenas.”
When subpoenas start flying, it’s a sign that things are about to get complicated.
Friday morning, Congressman Darrell Issa issued a congressional subpoena to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for documents related to the Gunrunner probe. Issa had tried nicely to get the documents, writing acting ATF Director Kenneth Melson to request the information by a Wednesday, [March] 30, 2011 deadline.
Seems now he’s kicking another hornet’s nest when it would seem everyone else in the Justice Department would prefer the whole Gunrunner deal just disappear. Now, instead of drowning a Congressman in a sea of redacted documents, Melson’s simply made Issa angry.
Restaurant/ Car Carry Rules Fix and Restoration of Rights scheduled for possible vote in Senate committee
After another disappointing week with no floor action in the Republican-led House on HB45 (Restaurant/Car Carry Rules Fix) and HB54 (Restoration of Rights), both of which have been passed in committee after…
Coughlin may seek GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, challenge anti-gun Sen. Sherrod Brown
by Chad D. Baus Last week we reported that Ohio Treasurer of State Josh Mandel (R), who has earned the endorsement of Buckeye Firearms Association in several previous campaigns, is reportedly leaning…
March sees 15% increase in firearms sales checks over same month last year
The March 2011 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 990,840 is an increase of 15 percent over the NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 861,408 in March 2010.
For comparison, the unadjusted March 2011 NICS figure of 1,437,709 is an increase of 11.3 percent over the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,291,618 in March 2010. The adjusted NICS data was derived by NSSF by subtracting out all NICS purpose-code permit checks used by several states such as Kentucky, Iowa and Utah for CCW permit application checks as well as checks on active CCW permit databases.
While not a direct correlation to firearms sales, the NSSF-adjusted NICS data provide a more accurate picture of current market conditions. In addition to other purposes, NICS is used to check transactions of firearms sales and transfers on new and used handguns and long guns.
Six years’ hard work: Lawful concealed carry on TARTA buses is finally recognized
Immediately after passage of Ohio's concealed carry law in 2004, the Toledo Area Regional Transportation Agency (TARTA) banned concealed handgun license-holders (CHLs) from their stations and buses, despite Section 9 of the legislation which became Ohio's concealed carry law (House Bill 12) having clearly prohibited such action.
Pro-gun activists, including those represented by this political action committee, immediately began working to reverse the illegal policies. When pointing out the plain wording of Section 9 didn't work, then-Sen. Randy Gardner asked for an opinion from the Attorney General's office, which took a quick and firm position when it came to TARTA and other Section 9 violators.
In an email response to long-time pro-gun activist Bruce Beatty in April 2004, Sen. Gardner's office said the following:
"The AG's office is under the belief that public buses are not exempted and that local ordinances can't override state law."
But even after the AG opinion, TARTA and other public entities refused to remove their illegal bans, even when they were faced with the fact that criminals were still bringing weapons on TARTA buses despite the ban.
It was this kind of blatant violation of the law that led to Buckeye Firearms Association's push to pass legislation that would enforce a statewide preemption against local gun control measures (House Bill 347), which eventually became law when the legislature overrode a veto by then-Gov. Bob Taft (R) in 2006.
But even the passage of the preemption law, and after court challenges which eventually resulted in the law being upheld by the Ohio Supreme Court in 2010, TARTA still continued to blatantly violate the law.
Thankfully, in 2011, Beatty is still on the case. Following is a letter to Buckeye Firearms Association from Beatty, describing the progress that has been finally made on this issue:
Op-Ed: Obama triangulates on gun control
by Chuck Norris Loyal readers will recall that I warned last year of the perfect storm approaching on gun control. Now, with the Tucson tragedy as a stepping stone, and with eyes…