NSSF Thanks Trump Administration for Industry’s Critical Infrastructure Designation
Department of Homeland Security includes firearm manufacturing, distribution, retail and ranges as essential critical services.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearm and ammunition industry, is grateful for the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) inclusion of the firearm industry’s manufacturing, distribution, retail and range businesses as essential critical services that should remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic. NSSF has been working closely with the Trump Administration and DHS to convey the important role the firearm and ammunition industry performs for national security, public safety, and the ability for continued exercise of individual constitutional liberties and self-protection.
“We are deeply appreciative to the Trump Administration and Department of Homeland Security for recognizing the vital role our industry fulfills in our nation,” said Lawrence G. Keane, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for NSSF. “We have seen over the past week hundreds of thousands, even millions of Americans choosing to exercise their right to keep and bear arms to ensure their safety and the safety of loved ones during these uncertain times. Americans must not be denied the ability to exercise that right to lawfully purchase and acquire firearms during times of emergency. This guidance from the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is crucial to governors and local officials as they craft the orders to preserve public health.” Continue reading
NRA, SAF, CGF, FPC, Others Sue California
Coalition Files Federal Lawsuit Against Los Angeles Sheriff Villanueva, California Gov. Gavin Newsom Over Constitutional Violations
Today, the National Rifle Association (NRA) joined individuals, retailers, and other gun rights groups in filing a federal lawsuit challenging state and local policies and enforcement practices that violate Second and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The gun rights groups includes the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), the California Gun Rights Foundation (CGF), and the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC). A copy of the lawsuit can be found here.
“Municipalities who target lawful gun stores for closure aren’t promoting safety—by weaponizing their politics to disarm you and your loved ones, these shameless partisans are recklessly promoting a gun-control agenda that suffocates your self-defense rights when you need them most,” said NRA-ILA Executive Director, Jason Ouimet. “NRA members recognize these unlawful power-grabs for what they are, and the National Rifle Association is proud to stand and fight alongside fellow Second Amendment groups who recognize it, as well.”
“California’s attack on fundamental rights in times of emergency must be stopped in its tracks,” observed SAF founder and Executive Vice President, Alan Gottlieb. “This case is part of our mission to win firearms freedom one lawsuit at a time. And more, the lawsuits we are filing across the country are making a large number of other states, counties, and cities think twice before closing down essential gun stores.” Continue reading
SAF: Shootings Again Prove Failed Logic of CA Gun Control
The school shooting near Los Angeles and Sunday’s multiple homicide in Fresno are more examples of the failure of extremist California gun control, the Second Amendment Foundation said today.
Two students were murdered at Saugus High School last Thursday by a teenager who could not legally carry a handgun, and four people died at a residential gathering Sunday evening when unidentified gunmen opened fire. But anti-gun-rights California lawmakers have spent years adopting increasingly restrictive gun control laws that were sold to the public as schemes to prevent such horrendous crimes.
“With each new gun control law,” noted SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb, “California citizens were assured that the new restrictions were necessary to stop deadly crimes. But the only people to suffer the consequences are law-abiding gun owners and innocent victims.
“The Saugus school shooting should convince any rational person that lawmakers in Sacramento have perpetuated a fraud,” he observed. “They’ve known all along that their gun control agenda was only going to prevent honest citizens from exercising their Second Amendment rights. Criminals, regardless of their age, have never been prevented from committing deadly crimes by California’s extremist gun laws.
Within hours of the school shooting, anti-gun Democrats were renewing their push for so-called “universal background checks” and a ban on so-called “assault weapons,” despite the fact that the alleged teen gunman couldn’t legally have the gun he used, which was a .45-caliber pistol, not a rifle. Continue reading
Constitutional Carry OK in Oklahoma
The National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) welcomes Oklahoma as the newest constitutional carry state. Constitutional carry, now the law in 16 states across the country, allows law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms without first getting government permission to do.
The NRA-backed law, which takes effect Friday, Nov. 1, fully recognizes the constitutional right of law-abiding gun owners to carry a firearm openly or concealed without a permit.
“Government exists for the people, not the other way around. This law honors the right of law-abiding Oklahomans to defend themselves and their loved ones without begging for the government’s permission beforehand,” said Jason Ouimet, executive director, NRA-ILA. “The NRA fights for law-abiding gun owners because we recognize that our freedoms are fundamental and natural, not government-given.”
For nearly 10 years, the NRA has worked closely with the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association to make constitutional carry a reality in Oklahoma.
“After 112 years, constitutional carry returns the fundamental right to self-defense to every law-abiding Oklahoman,” said Don Spencer, president, Oklahoma Second Amendment Association. “By eliminating financial barriers imposed by government permitting schemes, constitutional carry ensures that law-abiding, but economically disadvantaged Oklahomans can always protect themselves in times of crisis.” Continue reading
Guns & Ammo Releases Best (and Worst) States for Gun Owners
Guns & Ammo has released their 2019 Rankings of Best States for Gun Owners. Of course, everyone knows who the usual culprits are at the bottom of the list – New York, Massachussetts, New Jersey, California – but how does your state stack up. Head over the the Local Boards on the GunLink forum to let us know what you think of the ratings.
Based on various aspects, such as right to carry, use of force laws such as Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground rules, ownership of NFA-regulated firearms, availability of modern firearms (read: designed since the 1950s), state-wide preemption of local laws, red flag laws, and more, they have scored the 50 states of our great Union and put them in order for us.
Like a dense turd in an otherwise delicious punch bowl, New York sank to the bottom for mandatory storage regulations, magazine restrictions, bribe-only CCW permits, lack of NFA items, and a host of other reasons. Massachusetts and New Jersey were close behind, followed by Hawaii and California rounding out the bottom five.
Topping the list for 2019 is Arizona, who passed zero new gun bills this year (good or bad), who have permit-less Constitutional Carry, state preemption, and strong protections for gun owners and those who must use a firearm in self defense. Idaho, Alaska, Kansas and Oklahoma follow right behind Arizona with Kentucky, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and Texas completing the top ten.
See the full list over at Guns & Ammo.
34th Annual National Gun Rights Policy September 20-22 in Phoenix
With guns and the Second Amendment in the political crosshairs this year, and promising to be a major issue in the 2020 national and state elections, the Second Amendment Foundation and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms are expecting huge interest in this year’s 34th annual Gun Rights Policy Conference the weekend of Sept. 20-22 in Phoenix, Ariz.
The conference will be held at the Sheraton Crescent Hotel, 2620 W Dunlap Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85021. It is co-sponsored by SAF and CCRKBA. Hundreds of Second Amendment activists and experts from across the country are expected to attend.
The full list of speakers is not finalized, but there will be appearances by SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb, nationally-syndicated radio hosts Tom Gresham (Gun Talk) and Mark Walters (Armed America Radio), SAF President Joseph Tartaro. Stephen Gutowski with the Washington Free Beacon and AWR Hawkins with Breitbart.com and many others. In addition, SAF and CCRKBA leaders will be joined by representatives from Gun Owners of America, the National Rifle Association, Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership and Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership.
The 2019 GRPC will feature panel discussions on state and national political issues ranging from gun rights to the 2020 elections outlook, legal battles and legislation. Almost 1,000 gun owners, activists and experts from across the country are pre-registered to attend, and the number is growing. The record attendance is being fueled by calls from Democratic presidential candidates for mandatory surrender of most semi-automatic firearms with gun owners facing prison terms for non-compliance.
“Just like last year’s record-setting conference,” Gottlieb said, “we will be live-streaming this year’s event and we anticipate more than 100,000 viewers. Those in attendance will go home with valuable books and other materials important to Second Amendment protection. We look forward to seeing everyone.”
Attendance is free, and on-line registration is available at www.saf.org/grpc.
