- Armory of Kings FRT90 Forced Reset Trigger for PS90 ⭐
The FRT90 is a forced reset trigger developed by Armory of Kings specifically for the FN PS90 carbine, showcased at SHOT 2026. It enables rapid semi-automatic fire by mechanically resetting the trigger after each shot. The trigger is designed to comply with current ATF regulations on forced reset mechanisms.
- Caracal PCCs and Bolt Guns Now Available in the USA ⭐
Caracal International has announced the availability of their PCCs and bolt-action rifles in the USA through a new distribution partnership. The lineup includes 9mm PCCs and .308 bolt guns designed for reliability and modularity. These firearms are now accessible to American consumers via select retailers.
- Staccato HD C4X Compensated Pistol ⭐
The Staccato HD C4X is a new compensated 9mm 1911-style pistol introduced at SHOT 2026, featuring a fully supported match barrel with a C4X compensator integrated into the slide. It incorporates the HD Modular Chassis System for customizable grip modules and enhanced ergonomics. Designed for high-performance shooting with reduced muzzle flip, it maintains compatibility with Staccato’s optics-ready platform.
- Availability: Competition and duty use (high-performance shooting with compensation for reduced recoil)
- Irregular Design Group Suppressors ⭐
Irregular Design Group offers suppressors designed for optimal performance in field applications. The article from Guns.com dated February 5, 2026, highlights their innovative suppressor lineup. Specific models and detailed specs are featured for technical evaluation.
- Vickers Tactical Slide Racker for Gen3/Gen5 Large Caliber Glock Models ⭐
The Vickers Tactical Slide Racker is designed for Gen3 and Gen5 large caliber Glock models, including 10mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and .45 Super. It features a large, textured aluminum lever that attaches to the rear of the slide for enhanced racking leverage. Made in the USA, it aids users with limited hand strength or those wearing gloves by providing extra purchase on the serrations.
- Availability: Best Use Case: EDC or tactical applications requiring reliable slide manipulation under stress or with gloved hands
- Laser Engravers for ATF Form 1 Compliance on Firearms and Suppressors ⭐
The article discusses using affordable diode laser engravers to mark firearms, suppressors, and other NFA items for ATF Form 1 approval, replacing traditional engraving methods. Recommended models include the xTool D1 Pro (10W and 20W) and Ortur Laser Master 3, which offer sufficient power for engraving on metals like aluminum and titanium with proper preparation. Key steps involve surface cleaning, applying marking spray, and using software like LightBurn for precise, legible markings meeting ATF depth and legibility standards.
- Availability: Best Use Case: Manufacturing and marking NFA items (firearms, suppressors) for ATF Form 1 eForm submissions
- Cost: Size/Weight Specs: xTool D1 Pro 10W (33″ x 12″ x 6″ work area, ~20 lbs); Ortur Laser Master 3 (similar compact desktop size, weight not specified)
- Special: Quick Pro/Con: Pros: Affordable ($300-$700), fast engraving (2-5 min per item), precise with LightBurn software; Cons: Requires marking spray for metal, ventilation needed for fumes, learning curve for software setup
- Springfield Armory’s Blued SA-35: 10.8 Performance 1911 Masterclass at SHOT ⭐
Springfield Armory unveiled the blued SA-35 at SHOT Show, blending classic 1911 design with high-performance features for superior accuracy and reliability. This limited-edition pistol showcases a 10.8-inch sight radius and match-grade barrel, optimized for precision shooting. It’s positioned as a premium tribute to the iconic SA-35 lineage with modern enhancements.
- Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol: 20-Gauge Tactical Shotgun Review ⭐
The Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol in 20-gauge is designed for home defense and patrol duties, featuring a durable synthetic stock and oversized controls for reliability in high-stress situations. It boasts Beretta’s renowned gas-operated system with improved piston and recoil spring for reduced wear and faster cycling. This model emphasizes tactical ergonomics with a 19.1-inch barrel and Picatinny rail for optics.
- Cost: Size/Weight Specs: 19.1-inch barrel; 6.8 lbs; 38.1 inches overall length
- Maryland House Judiciary Committee to Hear HB 874 Handgun Ban Bill ⭐
The Maryland House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hear House Bill 874 on February 12, 2025, which seeks to ban the manufacture, sale, and possession of certain semiautomatic handguns classified as ‘assault pistols.’ The bill targets specific models like the Beretta 92X Performance, CZ P-10C, Glock 19, Sig Sauer P320, and Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0, among others listed in proposed Criminal Law Article § 4-302. NRA-ILA urges opposition to the bill, viewing it as an infringement on Second Amendment rights.
- The Gist: Maryland statewide; applies to manufacturers, dealers, and individuals possessing listed semiautomatic handguns classified as ‘assault pistols’ under HB 874.
- Impact: Would prohibit manufacture, sale, rental, transfer, and possession of specified handgun models; creates new criminal penalties under Criminal Law § 4-302; existing owners may retain possession but cannot transfer without exemptions.
- Bottom Line: HB 874 advances Maryland’s handgun restrictions by banning popular semiautomatic models; hearing set for February 12, 2025, with NRA-ILA mobilizing opposition.
- California AG Sues Gatalog Over 3D-Printed Gun CAD Files Distribution ⭐
California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against Gatalog LLC and its operator, Len Patterson, for allegedly distributing CAD files for 3D-printing unserialized firearms, violating state ghost gun laws. The suit claims Gatalog’s website enabled the production of undetectable and untraceable guns by providing over 644 firearm designs. It seeks to halt the distribution and impose civil penalties under California’s assault weapons and unsafe handgun laws.
- The Gist: Scope: Targets Gatalog LLC and Len Patterson; affects California statewide, focusing on distribution of 3D gun files accessible to California residents.
- Impact: Legal/Political Impact: Alleges violations of AB 857 (ghost gun ban), assault weapons laws, and unsafe handgun standards; seeks injunction to stop file sharing, content removal, and $2,500 daily penalties per violation.
- Bottom Line: The Bottom Line: California aims to block Gatalog’s platform from providing 3D-printable gun blueprints, enforcing serialization and registration requirements for homemade firearms.
- New Mexico House Bill 82: Democrats Advance Broadest Gun Ban in US ⭐
New Mexico House Democrats are poised to pass House Bill 82 this week, which would ban dozens of semi-automatic firearms including AR-15s, AK-47s, and many handguns. The bill targets firearms with detachable magazines and specific features like pistol grips or folding stocks. It has advanced through committee and is scheduled for a House floor vote.
- The Gist: New Mexico statewide; applies to manufacture, sale, distribution, and possession of listed semi-automatic rifles, pistols, shotguns, and other firearms with detachable magazines.
- Impact: Imposes comprehensive assault weapons ban, prohibiting over 50 specific models and any semi-automatics with features like pistol grips, folding stocks, or threaded barrels; grandfathering exists for pre-ban possession but bans transfers and new sales.
- Bottom Line: If passed by House and Senate and signed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, enacts the broadest gun ban in the US, significantly restricting common semi-automatic firearms for New Mexico residents.
- Gun Owners of America Action Alert: Oppose S. 407 Anti-Gun Bill (February 3, 2026) ⭐
Gun Owners of America urges members to contact Senators to oppose S. 407, a bill introduced by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) that would ban commonly owned semi-automatic firearms, including AR-15s and similar rifles. The legislation targets firearms with pistol grips, folding stocks, and other standard features, classifying them as ‘assault weapons.’ It also bans magazines over 10 rounds and imposes restrictions on private transfers.
- The Gist: Federal jurisdiction: Applies nationwide to U.S. Senators and affects all American gun owners by targeting semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, and pistols with specific features like pistol grips, flash suppressors, and grenade launchers.
- Impact: Would prohibit manufacture, sale, and possession of over 200 specific firearms models and any semi-automatics with banned features; bans magazines holding more than 10 rounds; requires registration of pre-ban firearms and closes the ‘private sale loophole’ by mandating background checks on all transfers.
- Bottom Line: Bill S. 407 seeks to enact sweeping federal bans on modern sporting rifles and standard magazines, stripping law-abiding citizens of their Second Amendment rights; GOA calls for immediate opposition to prevent its passage.
- Ammoland Article: Committed Gun Grabbers Claim to Support the Second Amendment (February 2026) ⭐
The article criticizes politicians and groups labeled as ‘gun grabbers’ who publicly claim support for the Second Amendment while advocating restrictive gun control measures. It highlights inconsistencies in their rhetoric and actions, portraying them as undermining constitutional rights. Examples include statements from figures like Joe Biden and organizations such as Everytown for Gun Safety.
- Impact: Criticizes politicians’ hypocrisy in claiming Second Amendment support while pushing gun control, potentially eroding gun rights through legislation and public messaging; no specific bills or cases named.
- DOJ Amicus Brief in Support of Challenge to Massachusetts Handgun Roster (Savage) ⭐
The U.S. Department of Justice filed an amicus curiae brief in a federal lawsuit challenging Massachusetts’ handgun roster law, arguing that the Attorney General’s authority to ban handguns lacking arbitrary safety features violates the Second Amendment. The brief, submitted in the case Reese v. Department of Revenue, contends that the roster effectively prohibits most modern handguns by imposing subjective loaded chamber indicator and magazine disconnect requirements not justified by public safety data. It cites post-Bruen precedents to assert that Massachusetts’ scheme fails constitutional scrutiny.
- The Gist: Massachusetts residents seeking to purchase handguns from licensed dealers, as the roster restricts sales of non-approved models statewide.
- Impact: Undermines the Attorney General’s unilateral power to ban handguns based on arbitrary ‘safety’ features; supports Second Amendment challenges under Bruen by highlighting lack of historical analogue and historical burden on law-abiding citizens’ rights.
- Bottom Line: If successful, the lawsuit could invalidate Massachusetts’ handgun roster, restoring access to the vast majority of modern handguns currently prohibited for dealer sales.
- Oregon Democrats Propose Two-Year Delay for Permit-to-Purchase Law (HB 2005) (Savage) ⭐
Oregon Democrats are advancing a proposal to delay the implementation of the state’s new permit-to-purchase handgun law, HB 2005, from its original August 2026 start date to August 2028. The delay addresses concerns over the Oregon State Police’s readiness to process the required background checks and issue permits. This comes amid ongoing legal challenges to the law, which mandates a safety course, background check, and references for handgun purchases.
- The Gist: Oregon statewide; affects all individuals seeking to purchase handguns requiring a permit from the Oregon State Police.
- Impact: Delays enforcement of HB 2005’s permit-to-purchase requirements by two years to allow OSP time to develop systems; does not alter the law’s core mandates but responds to implementation concerns raised by OSP and amid lawsuits challenging the law’s constitutionality.
- Bottom Line: Handgun buyers in Oregon gain a two-year reprieve from permit requirements, starting implementation in August 2028 instead of 2026.
- New Mexico House Bill 129 – Proposed Broadest Gun Ban in US (Savage) ⭐
New Mexico Democrats are advancing House Bill 129, which would ban a wide array of semi-automatic firearms including AR-15s, AK-47s, and many handguns. The bill passed the House Judiciary Committee on a party-line vote and is scheduled for House floor debate this week. It includes provisions for grandfathering existing owners but imposes strict registration and transfer restrictions.
- The Gist: New Mexico statewide; targets owners, manufacturers, and sellers of listed semi-automatic rifles, pistols, shotguns, and other firearms.
- Impact: Enacts comprehensive assault weapons ban with over 1,000 specifically named firearms plus feature-based prohibitions; requires registration of pre-ban firearms with Attorney General; bans manufacture, sale, transfer; civil penalties up to $10,000 or jail time.
- Bottom Line: If passed by House this week and signed into law, New Mexico would have the broadest semi-automatic gun ban in the United States.
- Committed Gun Grabbers Claim to Support the Second Amendment (Ammoland Article) (Savage) ⭐
The article criticizes politicians and groups labeled as ‘gun grabbers’ who publicly claim support for the Second Amendment while advocating restrictive gun control measures. It highlights examples of inconsistent statements and actions by figures such as Democrats in Congress and anti-gun organizations. The piece argues this rhetoric misleads the public on their true intentions regarding firearms rights.
- Impact: Politicians and advocates accused of hypocrisy by claiming Second Amendment support while pushing gun control bills and policies that infringe on gun rights, eroding public trust in their statements.
- Bottom Line: Gun control proponents’ professed Second Amendment support is portrayed as insincere cover for advancing disarmament agendas.
- Hawaii HB 2186 Knife Ban Bill Deferred Indefinitely (Savage) ⭐
Hawaii House Bill 2186, dubbed a ‘zombie draconian knife ban,’ sought to prohibit the possession, sale, and transfer of knives with blades longer than 4 inches, including balisong, balisong knife, butterfly knife, switchblade, and gravity knife. The bill passed the House Judiciary Committee but was deferred indefinitely by the House Consumer Protection Committee on February 7, 2026. This action effectively kills the legislation for the current session, preventing further advancement.
- The Gist: Scope: State of Hawaii. The bill (HB 2186) targeted possession, sale, transfer, and manufacture of specified knives with blades over 4 inches statewide.
- Impact: Legal/Political Impact: Bill deferred indefinitely by House Consumer Protection Committee (HCP), halting progress after passing House Judiciary (JUD); exemptions included for law enforcement, military, and specific professionals; no Senate consideration as it died in House.
- Bottom Line: The Bottom Line: Hawaii’s proposed broad knife ban (HB 2186) is dead for 2026 session due to indefinite deferral, preserving current knife laws.
- California Sues Gatalog and CTRLPEW for Distribution of 3D-Printed Gun Code (Savage) ⭐
California’s Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against Gatalog and CTRLPEW, operators of online platforms distributing CAD files and instructions for 3D-printing unserialized firearms. The suit alleges violations of state laws prohibiting the manufacture and distribution of undetectable and untraceable guns. It seeks injunctions, civil penalties, and forfeiture of profits from these activities.
- The Gist: Scope: State of California; defendants Gatalog (gatalog.net) and CTRLPEW (ctrlpew.com), accused of distributing code for 3D-printing firearms like the FGC-9, FRT-15, and others to California residents.
- Impact: Legal/Political Impact: Violates California Penal Code sections on assault weapons, machine guns, short-barreled rifles, undetectable firearms, and unserialized handguns; seeks preliminary injunction, civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation, disgorgement of profits, and attorney fees.
- Bottom Line: The Bottom Line: Platforms distributing 3D gun printing files face enforcement action in California for enabling illegal unserialized firearm production, with potential shutdown of services and significant financial penalties.
- JP Morgan Caves: Ends Anti-Gun Business Discrimination After Years of Pressure ⭐
JPMorgan Chase has agreed to reverse its discriminatory policies against the firearms industry, ceasing restrictions on banking services for gun manufacturers, dealers, and related businesses. The decision follows intense advocacy from pro-Second Amendment groups and lawmakers who accused the bank of unconstitutional boycotts. This marks a significant victory for the gun industry, restoring access to essential financial services previously denied.
- The Gist: Nationwide impact on U.S. firearms manufacturers, retailers, shooting ranges, gun shows, and Second Amendment advocacy groups previously blacklisted by JPMorgan Chase.
- Impact: Eliminates unconstitutional financial discrimination against the firearms sector, restoring banking access after years of boycotts driven by ESG pressures; hailed as a major win by pro-gun lawmakers and organizations like the NRA and Gun Owners of America.
- Bottom Line: Banks can no longer weaponize financial services to undermine Second Amendment rights, setting a precedent to deter similar corporate overreach.
- NRA Foundation Signals Reputation Repair with Major Grant to Pro-2A Legal Powerhouse (Savage) ⭐
The NRA Foundation has awarded a substantial $1.25 million grant to the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) for its ongoing Second Amendment litigation efforts, marking one of the largest contributions to an external organization in recent years. This move comes amid the NRA’s broader challenges, including bankruptcy and leadership turmoil, suggesting a strategic pivot toward bolstering key allies in the legal fight for gun rights. Observers interpret it as a potential sign of reputation rehabilitation for the NRA Foundation.
- The Gist: National scope: NRA Foundation (headquartered in Virginia with nationwide operations) funding Firearms Policy Coalition’s federal and state-level Second Amendment lawsuits, affecting gun owners across the United States.
- Impact: Boosts NRA’s political standing by aligning with influential pro-2A litigators like FPC amid NRA’s post-bankruptcy recovery; enhances legal firepower against restrictive gun laws without direct NRA involvement, potentially improving public perception of the Foundation’s grant-making.
- Bottom Line: Strategic win for 2A advocacy: Large-scale funding reinforces NRA Foundation’s relevance and commitment to court battles, signaling a shift from internal scandals toward external impact.
- Arizona’s HB 2763 Spells Doom for Public Shooting Ranges (Savage) ⭐
Arizona’s HB 2763 mandates costly lead abatement measures at public shooting ranges, effectively forcing their closure due to prohibitive expenses. The legislation requires ranges to capture and remove all lead from backstops and berms, with compliance deadlines that smaller public facilities cannot meet. This quiet regulatory shift threatens to eliminate access to public shooting venues across the state.
- The Gist: Arizona statewide; targets all public shooting ranges operated by government entities, with specific impact on facilities like those managed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
- Impact: Imposes expensive lead remediation requirements (e.g., capturing airborne lead, excavating and disposing of contaminated soil) that exceed budgets of public ranges; passed unanimously in 2022 and signed into law, accelerating closures without public debate.
- Bottom Line: Public shooting ranges will quietly vanish, stripping Arizonans of affordable training and practice options, pushing shooters toward private land or clubs amid rising ammo costs.
- Gun Buybacks Go Global: Naive Hopes Bad Guys Will Comply ⭐
An article critiques international gun buyback programs, highlighting their failure to address criminals who won’t participate. It points to examples from the UK, Australia, and Canada where such efforts have not reduced crime rates and often ignore the reality that law-abiding citizens disarm while criminals retain weapons. The piece argues these policies stem from a flawed belief in voluntary compliance from bad actors.
- The Gist: International scope including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, with no specific U.S. states mentioned.
- Impact: Expands ineffective gun control policies globally, disarming law-abiding citizens without impacting criminals, leading to sustained or increased crime rates post-buyback.
- Bottom Line: Gun buybacks are a futile exercise relying on the unrealistic hope that violent criminals will voluntarily surrender their weapons.
- Virginia Democrats Push Bill Mandating State Permission for All Firearm Purchases ⭐
Virginia House Democrats have advanced House Bill 49, which would require residents to obtain a state-issued permit before purchasing any firearm. The bill, sponsored by Del. Mike Mullin, mandates a background check, fingerprinting, and a 21-hour training course for eligibility. It passed the House Committee on Public Safety 11-8 along party lines and now heads to the full House.
- The Gist: Virginia residents seeking to purchase any firearm, including handguns, rifles, and shotguns.
- Impact: Imposes new permitting requirements including fingerprints, background checks, and 21 hours of state-approved training; advances Democrat agenda in House Public Safety Committee 11-8; faces opposition as infringement on Second Amendment rights and potential legal challenges.
- Bottom Line: If passed, creates significant new barrier to firearm ownership in Virginia, requiring government approval for all gun buys.
- Bombshell Alex Pretti Footage Exposes Democrat Hypocrisy, Sparks Panic in Minnesota ⭐
Newly surfaced footage from Alex Pretti captures Democrats in Minnesota caught on camera making inflammatory statements that contradict their public anti-gun rhetoric, leading to widespread political fallout. The video has humiliated key Democrat figures and triggered panic among party leaders as it goes viral ahead of elections. As a political analyst, this revelation underscores vulnerabilities in Democrat gun control narratives when exposed to unfiltered reality.
- The Gist: Minnesota Democrats and state political figures directly implicated; footage features Alex Pretti confronting local leaders.
- Impact: Undermines Democrat credibility on gun issues, causing internal party panic and potential electoral damage; highlights hypocrisy in public vs. private stances on firearms legislation.
- Bottom Line: Democrats’ anti-gun facade crumbles under scrutiny, handing momentum to pro-2A advocates in Minnesota’s political battles.
- Trump Deploys Border Czar Tom Homan to Minnesota for ICE Operations Review (Savage) ⭐
President Trump is sending Border Czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to assess and potentially overhaul ICE operations in the state. The move targets concerns over lax enforcement and sanctuary policies amid rising illegal immigration issues. This action underscores the administration’s aggressive push to secure the border and enforce immigration laws nationwide.
- The Gist: Minnesota (ICE operations review led by Border Czar Tom Homan)
- Impact: Signals intensified federal immigration enforcement against sanctuary state policies; could lead to increased ICE raids, deportations, and operational restructuring in Democrat-led Minnesota, challenging local resistance to federal law.
- Bottom Line: Trump administration ramps up border security and interior enforcement, prioritizing states like Minnesota with perceived weak ICE performance to deter illegal immigration and uphold national sovereignty.
- Trump Pulls US Out of UN Gun Trade Treaty in Bold Second-Term Move ⭐
President Trump has withdrawn the United States from the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), a decision announced via Truth Social that fulfills a long-standing campaign promise. The ATT, ratified by over 100 countries but never approved by the US Senate, aimed to regulate international arms sales with provisions critics argued could infringe on Second Amendment rights. This action reverses any prior engagements under the Obama administration and signals a staunch pro-gun policy stance.
- The Gist: United States (federal level); no specific states mentioned as directly affected.
- Impact: Eliminates US involvement in the UN Arms Trade Treaty, preventing potential future regulations on domestic gun manufacturing and sales; reinforces Second Amendment protections against international oversight; politically strengthens pro-2A positions by rejecting Obama-era globalist policies.
- Bottom Line: A major win for American gun owners, ensuring no UN interference in US firearms trade or rights.
- 4th Circuit Upholds Most of Maryland’s Sweeping ‘Sensitive Places’ Gun Ban ⭐
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the majority of Maryland’s law banning firearms in numerous ‘sensitive places’ like parks, theaters, stadiums, and government buildings. The panel ruled 2-1 that these restrictions align with historical traditions of firearm regulation and do not violate the Second Amendment under the Bruen framework. Only the bans in libraries, grocery stores, and medical facilities were struck down as overbroad.
- The Gist: Maryland residents; applies statewide to public parks, zoos, theaters, stadiums, museums, bars, amusement parks, gambling facilities, government buildings, schools, colleges, airports, courts, jails, and more (libraries, grocery stores, medical facilities struck down).
- Impact: Significant Second Amendment limitation as 4th Circuit (covering MD, VA, NC, WV) endorses expansive ‘sensitive places’ doctrine post-Bruen, upholding 30+ prohibited locations while narrowing a few; sets precedent for similar state laws and potential Supreme Court review.
- Bottom Line: Maryland’s broad gun-free zones largely survive judicial scrutiny, restricting carry rights in everyday public spaces and advancing gun control agendas in the 4th Circuit.
- South Dakota Bill Seeks to Deregulate Gun Silencers as Uncontrolled Weapons ⭐
South Dakota lawmakers have introduced a bill to classify gun silencers as uncontrolled weapons, removing them from state regulations. The legislation aims to align state law with federal standards where suppressors are already legal with proper licensing. This move reflects growing momentum in pro-Second Amendment states to ease restrictions on hearing protection devices.
- The Gist: South Dakota (statewide, introduced in the state legislature)
- Impact: Would eliminate state-level permitting, registration, and restrictions on suppressors, treating them like standard firearms; reduces regulatory burden while maintaining federal NFA compliance; part of broader trend in conservative states pushing back against gun control.
- Bottom Line: If passed, South Dakotans could own and use silencers without state hurdles, enhancing hearing protection and simplifying compliance for law-abiding gun owners.
- Media Gun Control Hysteria Fails to Alter Gen Z Lives Despite Parkland Era Fears ⭐
The article argues that despite intense media-driven fears of gun violence post-Parkland, Gen Z has not experienced the life-altering impacts predicted by gun control advocates. It highlights stagnant or declining youth violence rates and questions whether the push for restrictions was based on hysteria rather than reality. The piece critiques the narrative that lax gun laws doomed a generation, pointing to data showing no such catastrophe.
- The Gist: United States, specifically focusing on Gen Z cohort (born mid-1990s to early 2010s) amid post-Parkland (2018) gun violence debates
- Impact: Undermines political momentum for stringent gun control by exposing media exaggeration; bolsters Second Amendment defenses with evidence of no generational crisis from ‘lax’ laws
- Bottom Line: Gun control fears were media hysteria; lack of new restrictions did not ruin Gen Z lives, as violence trends remained stable or improved
- Justice Alito Slams Hawaii Gun Law as Demoting Second Amendment to ‘Second-Class Status’ ⭐
In a statement accompanying the Supreme Court’s denial of certiorari in a Hawaii gun control case, Justice Samuel Alito criticized the state’s restrictive concealed carry permitting regime for treating the Second Amendment as inferior to other constitutional rights. Alito, joined by Justice Thomas, argued that Hawaii’s discretionary ‘good cause’ requirement effectively nullifies the right to bear arms for self-defense outside the home. The decision highlights ongoing circuit splits on Second Amendment protections post-Bruen.
- The Gist: Hawaii: The case involves the state’s concealed carry permitting law requiring ‘good cause’ for licenses, challenged by Christopher F. Langford against Hawaii County and state officials.
- Impact: Supreme Court denies certiorari, allowing Hawaii’s law to stand; Alito’s statement warns of a ‘Second-Class Status’ for 2A rights, notes circuit splits, and signals potential future review amid post-Bruen challenges to restrictive carry regimes.
- Bottom Line: Hawaii’s gun control elevates other rights above the Second Amendment, undermining Bruen’s protections and risking a patchwork of state laws that effectively disarm law-abiding citizens.
- ATF Proposes Redefining ‘Unlawful Drug User’ to Snare More Gun Owners ⭐
The ATF has proposed a new rule broadening the definition of ‘unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance’ under federal law, potentially prohibiting firearm possession for a wider range of individuals based on past or occasional drug use. The rule aims to clarify ambiguities in existing statutes by including those with prior convictions, positive tests, or admissions of use, even if not recent. This move aligns with Biden administration efforts to tighten gun regulations through administrative action amid stalled legislative progress.
- The Gist: Nationwide; applies to all U.S. jurisdictions under federal firearms law (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3)), affecting anyone subject to ATF oversight.
- Impact: Expands prohibited persons category beyond current interpretations, enabling ATF to revoke gun rights based on evidence like drug test results, admissions, or prescriptions; likely faces legal challenges over vagueness and retroactivity, mirroring past ATF rule controversies like pistol braces.
- Bottom Line: Risk of permanent firearm confiscation for casual or past drug users, eroding Second Amendment protections without due process or recent criminality.