BATFE 41P – No News is…. No News
As we get closer and closer to the theoretical “12/00/2015” final action date for the ATF’s Rule 41P – the rule that would make it more difficult to make or transfer NFA items to a gun trust – there hasn’t been much chatter about it. This includes the absence of a reply to the 9,500 or so comments that were submitted during the comment period that must be responded to. Prince Law reported in August that there were four reviewers working through those comments.
This year saw, once again, renewed pushes for more gun control that fell flat and served to do little other than rally support against such gun control measures. Anti-gun zealots were, once again, caught cooking the books to get false numbers that they spread as gospel and telling outright lies. This, along with mainstream media coverage of the danger of “gun free zones” this year may even be awakening some of the general public to the utter nonsense that is the gun control agenda.
That turning tide of Second Amendment proponents away from being “the silent majority” is a great thing to see. Some of the delay in 41P movement is said to have been a result of the government resources that had to be devoted to reading the more than 300,000 comments on the armor piercing ammunition regulations (which were ultimately scrapped because “we spoke, they listened“).
Note that this mythical zeroth day of December cited on the Rule 1140-AA43 page is not given as an effective date for 41P. It is the current “final action” date, upon which they will decide whether to scrap this ruling, as they did with the ammo ban, or go with it.
Public sentiment aside, there is also the question of political sentiment. Second Amendment rights are again becoming a hot topic that is finding its way into the media’s political spotlight, to include presidential debates. Add to that the fact that there is legislation introduced that will weaken the NFA’s grip on silencers rather than tighten it, as 41P would do. HR3799 is drawing congressional support with 17 Representatives from 14 states cosponsoring the bill.
In other congressional news, HR3799 co-sponsor Rep. John Carter (R-TX) proposed an amendment to the FY16 appropriations bill, HR2578, which would neuter 41P. H.Amdt 320, which prohibits funds made available by the appropriations bill from being “used to propose or to issue a rule that would change the Chief Law Enforcement Officer certificate requirement in a manner that has the same substance as the proposed rule published on September 9, 2013” was agreed to by a voice vote the day before the bill passed the House. However, H.Amdt 320 – as Sec. 548 in the 6/8/2015 version referred in Senate – appears to be struck from the 6/18 version reported with amendment to Senate.
In sum, nobody still knows when anything will happen or, if and when it happens, what it will be. Nobody knows if 41P will die on the vine, be dropped altogether, or picked up and run with. Nor, if it is the latter, does anyone know how such a scheme would be implemented, what would (or would not) be grandfathered, what would happen to submitted applications in the processing queue, etc. At least, if they do know, they aren’t telling.
The Ins and Outs of Shipping Firearms
Shipping a firearm can be a confusing ordeal and the plethora of conflicting information and anecdotes floating around online and at gun counters doesn’t make the matter any clearer. Is it illegal to ship a firearm with a particular carrier? Is it against this carrier’s company policies? What about the USPS? Can it go across state lines? Does it matter who I ship it to? Can I ship it to myself instead of flying with a firearm?
First off, the rules are different for licensees (FFL holders) versus non-licensees. We are mainly going to cover the rules for the non-licensed average Joe here since, if you are an FFL you probably already know how to ship firearms. We will briefly touch on some aspects of FFL shipping, however, since having a licensee do your shipping can often be easier and more affordable than doing it on your own.
If you ship incorrectly, you may end up facing consequences like denied insurance claims if your firearm is lost or damaged or, worse, going to jail. With these kind of high stakes, it pays to do it right at all levels when shipping a firearm. Continue reading
Armed Citizen: Bank robber foiled by Right-to-Carry permit holder
An armed criminal entered a Citizens Bank branch in Warren, Mich. and proceeded to rob the bank. According to a report, as the thief was leaving with the cash, he threatened a 63-year-old Right-to-Carry permit holder. The permit holder responded by drawing a gun and shooting the robber, who only made it just outside the building before collapsing. Warren Mayor Jim Fouts later said of the permit holder’s actions, “This citizen did have a 2nd Amendment right… He must have been a pretty good shot.” (The Detroit Free Press, Detroit, Mich. 09/21/15)
See more stories of how responsible owners have used their firearms to protect themselves at NRA-ILA Armed Citizen.
Businesses Honor Those Who Served with Meals, Discounts
The servicemen and women who step up and voluntarily put their lives on the line to keep us safe deserve our support and respect 365 days a year. However, one week from today marks the annual day when people across the nation honor those who serve.
Veterans Day 2015 is Wednesday, 11 November and, as usual, many businesses are saying “thank you” by offering free meals, discounts, and more. The list below details some of these offers.
Note that, although many of these offers are from nationwide chains, participation and details may vary from store to store. Those wishing to make use of the offers should verify ahead of time to ensure that your location is participating in the offer. Additionally, some proof of service is usually required, so be prepared to produce a military ID, separation documents such as a DD-214, or other documentation.
Check out the list below: Continue reading
Armed Citizen: Gas station clerk scares off robber
A man entered a Shell station in New Orleans, La. and attempted to rob the cashier, by claiming he was carrying a gun. The cashier responded by retrieving a gun and leveling it at the thief, prompting the criminal to flee. (The Times Picayune, New Orleans, La. 09/02/15)
See more stories of how responsible owners have used their firearms to protect themselves at NRA-ILA Armed Citizen.
Amateur Radio Special Event Commemorates NRA’s 144th Birthday
Radio Amateurs Celebrate Second Amendment with On-Air Meetup
The Yavapai Amateur Radio Club (YARC) of Prescott, AZ, will operate a special event station November 17, 2015, from 10 AM to 7PM EST (1500Z -2400Z) in celebration of the NRA’s 144th birthday.
The special event station will operate from Gunsite Academy’s 2,000-acre campus in Paulden, AZ, north of Prescott with a special event call sign will be K7NRA. Operations will be conducted on 7.250, 14.040, 14.250 and 21.335 MHz. All amateur stations, especially those operated by NRA members and Gunsite alumni, are urged to participate. Click here to sign up or renew your NRA membership today and save $10 on dues.
A special certificate will be awarded to those stations making contact during the event. Additional details and QSL information is available on the YARC event page and on p92 of the November issue of American Rifleman.
see also Adding a HAM, CB or other radio to your preps – GunLink Forums
