22 State Attorneys General Join Pro-Second Amendment Brief in SAFE Act Appeal
Amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) briefs have been filed in Nojay v. Cuomo, the appeal from the decision of Judge William Skretny last year that largely upheld New York’s Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement (“SAFE”) Act. The plaintiffs challenged bans on large-capacity magazines and “assault weapons” (as redefined), the requirement that magazines contain no more than seven rounds, and new rules on ammunition sales, as unconstitutional. After Judge Skretnty denied most of these claims, the case (decided as New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, Inc. v. Cuomo) was appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Attorneys General for 22 states – Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming – have filed an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs.
In contrast, the chief legal officers for only nine states (plus D.C.) – Maryland, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, and Oregon – have opted to support the SAFE Act through their own amicus filing. Predictably, many of these Continue reading
Whitman Publishing Launches New Firearms Imprint – 2nd Amendment Media
Whitman Publishing, LLC is proud to announce the creation of a new imprint, 2nd Amendment Media.
2nd Amendment Media focuses on publications and other popular media celebrating all things related to firearms, covering topics like gun collecting, firearms history, practical use and famous marksmen. The staff of 2nd Amendment Media, under the direction of General Manager Jay Langston, brings more than half a century of in-depth firearm knowledge to the marketplace. Publications slated to debut in 2014 will focus on concealed carry gun laws and training, gun values, handloading, long-range marksmanship, and survival. By the end of 2014, 2nd Amendment Media will release 15 new publications to bring firearm information to the consumer in a fresh, new, and informative way. 2nd Amendment Media will employ the formulas that have garnered Whitman success in the area of antiques and collectibles to create a brand that offers firearms enthusiasts’ publications to meet all their needs.
About Whitman Publishing, LLC
Whitman Publishing, LLC has more than 80 years of experience in coin and currency publications. They are best known for their yearly #1 Best Selling U.S. Coin Price Guide — The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United States Coins. Whitman Publishing markets its books and accessories nationwide through major hobby distributors, dealers, and national accounts. For more information on Whitman please visit, www.whitman.com.
Pinch Yourself… Firearm Carry in DC?
UPDATE (7/29/2014) Motion to stay decision pending appeal granted. While this is in place, you cannot legally carry in DC.
If you follow GunLink on social media like Twitter or Facebook, peruse the GunLink forums or listen to the “gun buzz,” you may have already heard the big news coming out of DC. Over this past weekend, a major decision and order was handed down from the US District Court in the District of Columbia in Palmer et al. vs DC.
In case you haven’t been paying, this is the case where plaintiffs Palmer, Lyon, Raymond, McVey and the Second Amendment Foundation claim that “[b]y requiring a permit to carry a handgun in public, yet refusing to issue such permits and refusing to allow the possession of any handgun that would be carried in public, Defendants [the District of Columbia] maintain a complete ban on the carrying of handguns in public by almost all individuals” and that “banning the carrying of handguns in public violate[s] the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, facially and as applied against the individual plaintiffs in this action, damaging plaintiffs in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983.”
In a landmark win for rights in our nation’s capital, after the District Court heard arguments from Alan Gura – whose name you probably remember from such notable cases as McDonald V Chicago, DC v Heller, Moore v Madigan and others – Senior US District Court Judge Frederick Scullin Jr handed down his opinion (full text of opinion): Continue reading
Ukraine Related Sanctions Hit Firearms Market
Concern Kalashnikov/Izhmash Added to Sanctions List – No More Imports… For Now
The US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) last week released a list of Ukraine-related sanctions as part of Executive Order 13662—Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Ukraine. To the dismay of AK-type rifles and shotguns, that list included Concern Kalashnikov.
The relevant portion of the sanctions list reads:
The following entities have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:
KALASHNIKOV CONCERN (a.k.a. CONCERN KALASHNIKOV; a.k.a. IZHEVSKIY MASHINOSTROITEL’NYI ZAVOD OAO; f.k.a. IZHMASH R&D CENTER; f.k.a. JSC NPO IZHMASH; f.k.a. NPO IZHMASH OAO; a.k.a. OJSC CONCERN KALASHNIKOV; f.k.a. OJSC IZHMASH; f.k.a. SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTION ASSOCIATION IZHMASH JOINT STOCK COMPANY), 3, Derjabin Pr., Izhevsk, Udmurt Republic 426006, Russia; Registration ID 1111832003018 [UKRAINE2].
Target Latest Retailer to Ask Customers Not to Carry in Their Stores
The second largest discount retailer in the US announced today that they would be deviating from their historical policy of deferring to state and local laws regarding firearms carry in their stores.
In their release, the 36th ranked Fortune 500 company said that they “respectfully request that guests not bring firearms to Target – even in communities where it is permitted by law,” making them the latest in a string of businesses making statements. That list includes companies such as Starbucks, Chili’s, Chipotle and others who would rather their customers check their rights at the door than allow them to #EatSafe or #ShopSafe.
As you’ve likely seen in the media, there has been a debate about whether guests in communities that permit “open carry” should be allowed to bring firearms into Target stores. Our approach has always been to follow local laws, and of course, we will continue to do so. But starting today we will also respectfully request that guests not bring firearms to Target – even in communities where it is permitted by law.
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This is a complicated issue, but it boils down to a simple belief: Bringing firearms to Target creates an environment that is at odds with the family-friendly shopping and work experience we strive to create.
As our friends over at Guns Save Life put it, “if Target can’t even keep your credit card data safe, why would you trust them to keep you and your family safe?” Continue reading
NOIR Episode 7: Our Responsibility
The seventh episode of NRA Freestyle’s NOIR with Mr. Colion Noir and Amy Robbins is now up.
Owning a gun is just cool. Ask our favorite gun enthusiast and he’ll tell you “they’re sexy, fun, entertaining, empowering and fascinating.” But the most important part of being a gun owner is understanding the responsibility that comes with it. In NOIR Episode 7 “Our Responsibility,” Colion and Amy discuss the responsibilities of gun ownership in self-defense and recreation.
Watch the full episode below, check out nrafreestyle.tv to watch new episodes live on Sunday nights and come back right here on the GunLink Blog to watch new episodes any time.