Not every news story makes it on the Shooter’s Log—however; there are many stories that need our attention. That is why we have gathered what is trending on Facebook, Twitter and the most-trusted news sources from the around the web to bring you the low-down of all the hottest 2A news that happened this week.
Headlines
The End is Near—Colt Close to Deal
Colt’s private equity owner and its bondholders are close to reaching a deal, ending the company’s stint in bankruptcy. Morgan Stanley took Colt to court on Monday, but Judge Laurie Silverstein stopped hearings so the opposing parties could meet. Auction proceedings for bids on Colt have been postponed for three weeks. John Rapisardi, an attorney for Colt said, “It’s fair to say the parties are very close to a deal.” If Colt does go up for sale on October 20, it may face labor disputes.
The Responsible Transfer of Firearms Act Introduced
Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced the Responsible Transfer of Firearms Act on Tuesday. Applying to FFL dealers and private sales, Kaine’s bill holds dealers and private sellers of firearms criminally liable if steps are not taken to ensure a buyer is legal to own a firearm.
Kaine says, “It would hold a seller or transferor of firearms criminally liable should they fail to demonstrate they took reasonable steps to prevent a weapon from falling into prohibited hands.” Even though Kaine has not outlined what exactly those “reasonable steps” are, he says, “…this act is a step in the right direction.”
Despite Maine Law—Section 8 Complex Disarms Elderly Man
Rockland, Maine resident, 67-year old ex-police officer Harvey Lembo who is wheelchair-bound shot an intruder who broke into his home to steal his prescription pain meds.
Despite a 1995 law that bans the Housing Authority from preventing residents from keeping guns in their homes, the complex Lembo lives in said he cannot have his gun. The manager of the apartment complex said, “We have house rules that prohibit firearms on the property. It’s in the lease. It’s really for the safety of all the tenants.” Even though technically privately owned, Park Place Apartment accepts section 8 housing vouchers and subsidies.
The NRA has stated it “will be following this case closely and is committed to ensuring that no publicly-funded entity arbitrarily deprives its customers or constituents—especially vulnerable individuals like Harvey Lembo—of their constitutionally-guaranteed right to keep and bear arms for self-protection.”
Hawaii Destroys $570k Worth of Service Pistols
The Honolulu, Hawaii police department is upgrading their duty weapons and unlike in years past, instead of selling the old guns, the department is deciding to destroy 2,300 Smith & Wesson 9mm semiautos worth $570,000. When previous service weapons were retired, the police department has auctioned off its old handguns or let other law enforcement departments bid on them. However, a Honolulu city official spokesperson said, “The only remaining option was to destroy the guns so they don’t end up on the street.”
Pro-gun groups in Hawaii wrote Kirk Caldwell, Honolulu’s Mayor a letter stating, “You should be ashamed for suggesting that the good citizens of Hawaii cannot be trusted with buying HPD’s surplus guns for fear of them falling into criminal hands when record numbers of firearms have been bought by those same citizens for the last 10 years without any such problems.”
Gov. Cuomo Calls for National Gun Policy
NYC Gov. Andrew Cuomo pushes for universal background checks after a member of his administration was shot in what is suspected to be a gang-related shootout during a parade honoring West Indian American Day on Monday. Gov. Cuomo told CNN, “How many weeks do we have to have with the same story over and over and over about the insanity that this country is allowing to continue with violence and loss of life of innocent people, because we have people who have no business having guns having guns? The only way to deal with this is a national gun policy.”
Naming Babies After Guns Becomes Popular
After Nameberry released the 2014 list of top popular names for a baby—many of them gun-related—a writer for Gizmodo published an article titled, “Please Stop Naming Your Children After Guns.” Leah Becerra writes that names like Gunner—in the top 200—and Cannon—in the top 1,000—are “just mean.”
Nameberry’s original article titled “The Frightening New Wave of Baby Names” cites that “names inspired by guns and other weapons, by violent behavior, and by historical and mythical warriors are all on the rise—for girls as well as boys. Names related to guns and firearms manufacturers are one of the most dominant types…”
This just proves to me that gun ownership is on the rise and not the decline as mainstream media would like us to believe.
Names on the website’s list include Trigger, Shooter, Caliber, Magnum, Pistol, Barrett, Remington, Kimber, Ruger, Wesson, Browning, Benelli and Beretta.
Would or have you named your child after a firearm?
Request for Background Checks Increase
According to FBI records, August 2015 had the highest number of monthly requests since 1998 for federal background checks at 1.7 million. June and July of 2015 also broke monthly records. Larry Keane, general counsel for NSSF said, “Whenever there is a call for gun control, sales increase. The concern that anti-gun politicians are seeking to infringe and restrict the right to keep and bear arms is very real and well-founded.”
Terry Nichols Writes Letter Asking for His Guns Back
Terry Nichols is serving 161 consecutive life sentences for his part in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, but he has now filed a request with the U.S. District Court for the return of his seized guns. In a handwritten letter, he asked that the guns—which had no part in the bombing—be released to either an ex-wife or his sister so they can sell them and give the money to Nichols’ children. Amy Padden, Assistant U.S. Attorney wrote she is planning to talk to Nichols further about the situation so they can avoid going to court.
New Hampshire Gun Owners Hope to Override Constitutional Carry Law Veto
New Hampshire gun owners alert! On Wednesday, September 16, 2015, the legislature is going to try to override the Governor’s veto of SB116, a Constitutional Carry bill. Vice President of the New Hampshire Firearms Coalition (NHFC), Scott Krauss, is asking for all New Hampshire gun owners to help. Contact your representatives and senators and ask them to support the override. If you are available, the NHFC needs boots on the ground! From 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., gun owners will stand in support outside the Statehouse and Legislative Office Building. Click here to help.
Florida Carry Sues Florida State University for Gun Ban
Florida Carry, on behalf of Florida State University (FSU) student, Rebekah Hargrove filed suit in court against FSU. FSU bans guns in parking lots on campus. Sean Caranna, Florida Carry’s executive director says, “This newest prohibition they put on their game day plan was such a blatant violation of state law. The law always allows this, but the problem is that we have a university saying people will be arrested for violating an illegal policy.”
Update: Florida Carry sued FSU on Tuesday. Wednesday, FSU announced that concealed carry permit holders will be allowed to keep guns cased in a locked car in the parking lot of Doak Campbell Stadium. Florida Carry will continue with the lawsuit. The group won a lawsuit against FSU in 2013 with overturned the ban on guns in locked cars on the FSU campus.
The Firearms Policy Coalition Prepares to File Suit Against California
California SB 707 is headed towards Governor Jerry Brown’s desk and the Firearms Policy Coalition is ready to fight. SB 707 expands the “Gun-Free School Zone Act of 1995.” The current law allows those with concealed carry permits and retired law enforcement to carry on school grounds. However, the new law removes those exemptions.
Amendments were added to SB 707 on September 2, accommodating law enforcement groups’ requests of furthering exemptions, like allowing retired police reservists. The Firearms Policy Coalition President Brandon Combs says, “If Governor Brown signs SB 707, we will file for an injunction in federal court at the very first opportunity. After we win that case, we will systematically challenge similar injustices, not only in California but also across the United States. I’m sick and tired of law enforcement political organizations bending law-abiding gun owners over a barrel. Californians are losing their Second Amendment rights, because special interest groups such as the Sacramento Deputy Sheriffs’ Association lobby to pass gun control for us ‘regular people’ but cut shady backroom deals to get their own special exemptions from laws—special privileges that last well beyond their law enforcement careers. It’s time to level the playing field.”
Product News
Springfield Armory Introduces XD Mod.2 4” Service Model
Springfield Armory announced its newest model XD, the XD Mod.2 Service Model chambered in 9mm with 4-inch barrel. It is shipping to customers now. It is 7.3-inches long and weighs 28 ounces unloaded. Springfield optimizes the XD Mod.2 Service 4” Model’s longer sight radius by upgrading the front sight with a red fiber optic rod. The new model incorporates all features of the Mod.2 XD models—improved grip, easy take-down, striker-status and loaded chamber indicators, Melonite-coated steel slide and barrel, and palm-grip safety. Springfield Armory’s marketing director Chad Dyer says, “We’re thrilled to introduce the new XD Mod.2. It has a 30 percent improved Grip Zone surface comfort and improved Point and Shoot Ergonomics, reinforcing Springfield Armory’s leadership position to continue to evolve and deliver the best polymer striker-fired pistol products year after year. The new Springfield XD Mod.2 Service ships with one 16-round or one 10-round magazine. Prices start at $478.77
New Trap Shotguns from TriStar
TriStar introduces its new line of affordable shotguns designed for trap shooting. The TT-15 trap shooting shotguns are available in over/under and Top-Single and Un-Single. Made in Turkey, the TT-15 shotguns have Turkish walnut Monte Carlo stocks, fully adjustable combs, high-standing three-point adjustable ribs, fiber optic front sights, auto ejectors, and Beretta/Benelli-compatible choke tubes. Professional trap shooters aided in the design of the new TriStar trap guns. Ryan Bader, TriStar’s sales and marketing manager says, “Quality trap guns have always commanded a higher price, which can be discouraging to those looking to participate in the sport. The TT-15 is not only a great entry-level gun, but one that will continue to perform for shooters at any skill level.” Prices start at $948.99
Winchester Introduces New SXP Turkey Hunter Synthetic Models
Winchester released two new models of pump shotguns in the SXP Super X Turkey Hunter line. A 12 and 20 gauge model will be available with Mossy Oak Break-Up Country camo synthetic stocks, 24-inch barrel, TruGlo fiber optic adjustable sights and Invector-Plus chokes. Prices start at $47.35.
In case you missed them, here are the top 10 read blog posts this week:
- AR-15 Two-Stage Triggers
- Free and Almost-Free Handguns, Rifles, Shotguns, Ammo and More! September 2015
- Hi-Point’s Affordable .45 Caliber Carbine
- How the British Gun Control Program Precipitated the American Revolution
- Top 10 AR-15 Rifles 2014
- CPRC Shoots Holes in Study that Claims States with More Guns Have More Police Deaths
- Is it Time to Put Away the Pink?
- DUEL 3: More Than $130,000 in Prizes and 125+ Firearms Up for Grabs
- Glock 19 Pros and Cons
- The Best Bang for Your Buck — Cheap AR-15s
Doesn’t look like the American Indian Nation is going to buy Colt Defense after all. Colt defense got a “Default Grading” after NOT paying an Interest Payment and now Stanley Morgan, want’s to “Liquidate” Colt Defense remaining assets. The Court has given Colt Defense a 30-day extension, before action is to be taken on the Manufacturer…
Regarding the topic “The Responsible Transfer of Firearms Act Introduced” (second from top), it will never happen. Preliminary injunctions would tie it up for so long in the Supreme Court system it will never see the light of day.
Court standing to file such a lawsuit on behalf of all citizens would be strong given how easy it would be to submit evidence that such a law is designed to burden and punish sellers to prevent the sale of firearms rather than to promote a reasonable and compelling element of safety.
Regardless, when it comes to the sale of goods and services courts have already upheld that merchants (sellers) cannot be held responsible to such a degree as to check into every single buyer before a sale. It would by synonymous with holding every private seller of a used car responsible for first ensuring a buyer has insurance or never had a DUI or license suspended.
Where commerce is concerned, it would place a cost prohibitive encumbrance on less fortunate sellers that may happen to be poor, and an unreasonable financial burden on everyone else. Unless the government is willing to come up with a free streamlined process like NICS for everyone to use, it just won’t fly. But just willy-nilly expecting private citizens to pay out of pocket for pre-sale background checks is outrageous and deeply crosses a line into government compelled privacy act violations by everyday citizens.
On the topic of “Gov. Cuomo Calls for National Gun Policy” (fourth item from the top), while tragic that his aide was shot in gang violence crossfire, I can’t help but laugh at the thought the Governor of the second largest city in the world thinks the solution is to push for universal background checks.
Because after all, everyone knows that regardless of all their illegal gang activities, one thing a banger will always do is purchase their weaponry through legal means thus ensuring background checks to be an effective means in curbing that aspect of their illegal enterprise.