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Shockingly, Gov. Hickenlooper Does The Right Thing

March 24, 2017 by 1 Comment

I have been very critical of Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) aka John Hickenstupid over the years when it comes to Second Amendment issues. Yesterday, he did something right when it comes to the Second Amendment if you bear in mind that the Second Amendment applies to not just firearms but all arms or weapons (in common use). He signed into law the bill that repealed the Colorado ban on switchblades and gravity knives.

The repeal of this ban was supported by not only groups like Knife Rights but the ACLU, the ACLU of Colorado, and the County Sheriffs of Colorado.

As the note from Knife Rights below makes clear, the effective date of the ban repeal will be on or about August 9, 2017. Up until that time, switchblades and gravity knives will still be illegal in the state of Colorado.

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper on Thursday signed SB 17-008, the bill to repeal Colorado’s switchblade and gravity knife ban. Congratulations to sponsors Sen. Owen Hill and Rep. Steve Lebsock for their effective leadership in moving this bipartisan bill thorough the legislature with overwhelming votes in both houses. Thanks to everyone who called or emailed the Governor urging him to sign the bill.

Knife Rights was pleased to be able to assist the sponsors in moving this bill through the legislature. Knife Rights’ Director of Legislative Affairs, Todd Rathner, traveled to Denver to lobby the bill at the invitation of the sponsors, overcoming objections raised by some legislators. We’d also like to thank Sen. Hill’s constituent, retired Air Force Master Sgt. John Bloodgood, whose request was the inspiration for this bill and who did a great job supporting the bill in testimony at the hearings.

We’d also like to thank the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Colorado and County Sheriffs of Colorado for supporting this important criminal justice reform bill.

Note that the repeal does not become effective until 90 days after the current legislative session ends. That would make enactment approximately August 9, 2017. We will let you know the actual enactment date once the session ends. Until enactment, possession of automatic and gravity knives remains illegal in Colorado. Also worth noting is that once enacted and the ban is repealed, automatic knives will be subject to Colorado’s concealed carry blade length limitation of 3.5 inches or less.

Colorado is the twelfth switchblade ban repeal passed since Knife Rights passed the nation’s first repeal of a switchblade (automatic) knife ban in 2010 in New Hampshire. Since then we have passed repeals of switchblade bans and repealed other knife restrictions in Alaska, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and now Colorado’s ban is repealed as well.

Now if only Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) would show similar intelligence when such a bill is presented to him again repealing New York’s ban on gravity knives. He vetoed the first attempt even though groups such as the NAACP and the ACLU were in full support of the bill.

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Good Move On NRA Training’s Part

March 23, 2017 by 2 Comments

I will be taking the NRA’s Basic Pistol Training Instructor course this weekend. As part of the prerequisites for the instructor course, you have to take the NRA’s Basics of Pistol Shooting online class portion. I will say it is comprehensive but like anything online it has its flaws. The most obvious one I can see is that program regularly hangs up or freezes. The other flaw is that you can’t ask questions of the instructor as you go along.

It was with interest that I saw this announcement this morning from NRA Training:

FAIRFAX, Va. – The National Rifle Association is introducing an improved Basics of Pistol Shooting Program, engineered to meet the demands of NRA Certified Instructors and students alike. 

The improved Basics of Pistol Shooting Program places NRA Certified Instructors in the driver’s seat. Based on valuable feedback from our corps of dedicated instructors and training counselors nationwide, the NRA has introduced an Instructor Led Training (ILT) edition of the program, and will continue to offer the existing Blended Learning version. Most importantly, both versions of the course will be conducted entirely under the direct supervision of an NRA Certified Instructor.

These updates to the program, which become effective on April 4, 2017, give NRA Instructors the ability to administer both versions of the course in their entirety, as well as the freedom to choose the method best suited for each student based on their needs. This instructor-focused approach puts Certified Instructors at the forefront of the training experience for students, while maintaining the ease of access, use and learning for those seeking the benefits of our proven training courses. 

NRA Instructors will evaluate each student and determine their individual aptitude and ability. They are the best representation of the NRA to our members, and their years of expertise in firearms training is one of our most valuable assets.

For more information about the NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting Program, as well as all of NRA’s legendary training courses and offerings and information on how to become an NRA Certified Instructor, visit http://www.nrainstructors.org.

As anyone who has had to take any training on-line for work will tell you, it can be boring. This is part of the problem I’m having with the Basics of Pistol Shooting online version. I know the parts of a cartridge and how they come together to work. Nonetheless, I can’t skip ahead. Interacting with a live instructor would alleviate some of the boring aspects in my opinion – or so I would hope.

I think giving student that option of the Blended Learning version or the Instructor Led version is a smart move on the part of NRA Training and a testament to their willingness to listen to their students and instructors.

H/T Outdoor Wires

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Judge Gorsuch On Heller

March 21, 2017 by 2 Comments

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and ardent gun prohibitionist, got her chance to question Judge Neil Gorsuch on the Heller decision. She tried to corner him on it. She lost.

As Judge Gorsuch says in his testimony below, Heller is the law of the land.

I do have to disagree with Judge Gorsuch on one thing. I don’t think Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson is a very fine judge nor do I think Judge Wilkinson respects the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Heller decision. Wilkinson is a member of the Virginia gentry, who I suspect, thinks that the problem with the Second Amendment is that it allows the riff-raff to own guns. That riff-raff is you and me, the non-prep school, non-Yalie, non-son of a banker sorts who actually have the temerity to believe that the Second Amendment means what it says.

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Walther CCP Safety Recall

March 20, 2017 by 1 Comment

Walther Arms is recalling their CCP pistol due to a potential to discharge when dropped whether or not the manual safety is engaged. They are requesting Walther CCP owners to send in their pistols for the free upgrade. The current turnaround time is approximately 3 weeks. Walther will pay shipping both ways.

More details below:

CCP RECALL

Re: Important Safety Recall – MARCH 2017 Walther CCP Pistols
Walther Arms has identified a potential condition in Walther CCP pistols that could potentially cause it to discharge if dropped whether the manual safety is engaged (on) or disengaged (off).  The safety of our customers is our paramount concern so we have voluntarily initiated this recall because of the possibility of a drop-fire occurring.
Please do not load or fire your Walther CCP pistol and contact us immediately to arrange to have your pistol upgraded free of charge.
If your pistol has already been upgraded, there will be a dot milled onto the back side of the magazine opening.  

The upgrade will be done at no charge to you.  For free shipping, please enter your information here, and complete the online form, making sure to include the serial number.  After completion of the form a confirmation email will be sent including shipping information.
Please note:  The serial number is located on the right side of the pistol (circled in red below)

Please submit your information here – http://www.waltherarms.com/ccp-information-submission/.

Please check this website and all safety notices on a regular basis for current information about your firearms.  You may also contact us by phone at 1-866-503-3389, by email at ccprecall@WaltherArms.com or by mail at Walther Arms, Inc., 7700 Chad Colley Boulevard, Fort Smith, AR  72916.
The current time to repair your CCP is approximately 3 weeks from the time we receive it.

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A Different Sort Of Bracketology – Sink Or Swim 2017

March 14, 2017 by 3 Comments

With March Madness upon us, it is only natural that it be copied in other arenas. Thus, the Naval Historical Foundation developed their own round of 32. The call it Sink or Swim 2017 – Axis vs. Allies.

Every year, the Naval Historical Foundation likes to blend a little naval history into the spirit of NCAA March Madness. During the tournament, we have carefully selected thematic events, ships, and planes of the United States Navy for our fans on social media to vote as their favorite. This year, you will help us decide what our fans think is the most formidable ship of World War II. We are placing the Axis vs. Allies once again. Vote early and often to find out who reigns supreme!

In this first round, one side of the bracket pits the US Navy versus the Imperial Japanese Navy while the other side pits the Royal Navy against the Kriegsmarine.

Having entered my own picks, I will note that it takes a bit of research. Does airpower beat heavy armament, does speed matter more than the size and range of the main battery, and does stealth beat power are all questions you’ll have to decide for yourself.

You can enter your picks here. You have until Friday, March 17th at noon, to enter your first round of picks.

Here is the full bracket:

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This And That

March 13, 2017 by

I was out of town at the end of last week at a company meeting. I missed that the House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee was having a hearing regarding the death of ICE Special Agent Jaime Zapata. However, David Codrea didn’t miss it nor the fact that two BATFE officials on their own accord skipped the meeting despite being “invited” to appear.

He (former Agent Vince Cefalu) was referring to Thursday’s appearance (video below) before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Activities by Thomas E. Brandon, Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The hearing was held to further explore the ambush murder of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent Jaime Zapata by cartel operatives in Mexico, where “straw-purchased” guns allowed by ATF to “walk” across the border were recovered from the scene.

Two of Brandon’s agents, Associate Deputy Director Ronald Turk and Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge William Temple, were no-shows to the hearing. They decided on their own not to come testify, and Brandon informed Committee Chair Jason Chaffetz that he agreed with their decision.

Recognizing a continuation of the stonewalling that was dragged on for years by ATF and the Department of Justice under the Obama administration, Chaffetz was having none of it. He immediately issued subpoenas for Temple and Turk to appear on March 22.

Ronald Turk, you may recall, is the one who wrote a white paper discussing, among other things, removing suppressors from the NFA. You’d think a guy who is clearly aiming to be named the new Director of BATFE would want some face time with Congress even if it wasn’t going to be all favorable.

I also missed that Remington Arms Company is again laying off employees at their Ilion, New York plant due to slowing sales. My friend Rob Morse didn’t miss it. He noted:

Remington Arms is moving out of anti-gun New York..one layoff at a time. They expand their production in Alabama during a market increase, and cut from the New York plant during the downturns. I guess elections have consequences as New York voters raised both the price of doing business and of owning a gun in NY.

If you listen to the news lately, you would think that the mainstream media has been teleported to the 1950s with all the hysteria over Russia. It is almost like that 60s move The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming! Lest you think that we in the gun culture are exempt from the Russian hysteria, Sebastian discusses a Daily Beast article trying to tie the NRA to Vlad (the Impaler) Putin.

I did work the GRNC booth Saturday morning at the Asheville Gun Show. While our business was a bit slow, the crowds seemed bigger than this time last year. I don’t know whether it was bargain shopping on the part of attendees or because we were supposed to get snow Saturday night.

I didn’t check the prices of ARs at the show but they did seem down at the Winston-Salem show I attended the preceding weekend. If anyone is looking for an AR15, now is as good a time as you’ll ever get to buy one. I have seen Ruger AR-555s selling under $500 at multiple locations, off-brands for under $400, and the S&W M&P-15 in the low $500 range. If you want to look for deals, check the Reddit sub group called gun deals.

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It’s Time Again For Floridians To Call Their Legislators

March 9, 2017 by

The Florida Senate is considering SB 128 which would restore the immunity from prosecution in legitimate self-defense shootings. The original 2005 law had that but the Florida Supreme Court then placed the burden of proof on the defendant and not the prosecution. SB 128 would reverse this.

It should be noted that just because a legislator has a “R” after his or her name does not mean her or she is on our side. Lee Williams, The Gun Writer, illustrates this clearly in his posts about the treachery of Senate President Pro Temp Anitere Flores (R-Miami). She was for gun rights before she was against them. She is responsible for killing the bills that would allow campus carry.

More on the issue in this FloridaCarry alert:

SB 128 – Burden of Proof
Full Senate hears bill tomorrow!

Contact Senators Now!!!

Perhaps the single most important bill of the session, SB 128 – Burden of Proof, restores the
full effect of legislative immunity back to the lawful user of self-defense where it belongs!
When the first claims of immunity were made under the 2005 “stand your ground” bill package, the courts had no judicial procedure in place to deal with the legislative immunity created by the bill.

Chapter 776.032 Florida Statutes clearly states –

A person who uses or threatens to use force as permitted in s. 776.012, s. 776.013, or s.776.031 is justified in such conduct and is immune from criminal prosecution… 


 


As used in this subsection, the term “criminal prosecution” includes arresting, detaining in custody, and charging or prosecuting the defendant.




The Florida Supreme Court created a procedure, but ignored legislative intent. Under current case law –






1. The burden of proof that self-defense was necessary is on the defendant, not the State.






2. Any evidence or statements made by the defendant may be used against him in any ensuing action.






This great bill restores full effect to the Legislature’s immunity statute, which the Court has improperly neutered.






Four amendments were filed today to dilute this bill!



Senators Simmons, Thurman, and Rodriguez have together filed four amendments today, all watering down certain provisions of this bill. These amendments must be defeated or the intent of the Legislature will continue to be ignored by the courts.

Florida Carry opposes the floor amendments filed today, and enthusiastically supports SB 128 as tendered.


An 

important note on contacting your legislators:



We
cannot stress enough the necessity of telling legislators how you feel
they should vote. During the legislative sessions, we issue Action Alerts asking
our members and supporters to take a few moments to contact
legislators. Email addresses, subject line, and sample body are all
included in these alerts to allow cut and paste into your email client.

Please
take the few seconds it takes to send an email when you receive an
Action Alert from Florida Carry. The failure or success of a bill can
hinge on that simple act.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” – Edmund Burke

Please, take a few moments to ask the members of the Senate to support SB 128.

Remember
that whether you contact the committee members either by email or by
phone, to be courteous and respectful above all else. Be sure to keep
your message brief, and thank them for their time.

In the subject line put:  SUPPORT SB 128 – Burden of Proof

(Copy and Paste All email addresses into the “Send To” box)
artiles.frank@flsenate.gov;
baxley.dennis@flsenate.gov;
bean.aaron@flsenate.gov;
benacquisto.lizbeth@flsenate.gov;
book.lauren@flsenate.gov;
bracy.randolph@flsenate.gov;
bradley.rob@flsenate.gov;
brandes.jeff@flsenate.gov;
broxson.doug@flsenate.gov;
clemens.jeff@flsenate.gov;
flores.anitere@flsenate.gov;
gainer.george@flsenate.gov;
galvano.bill@flsenate.gov;
garcia.rene@flsenate.gov;
grimsley.denise@flsenate.gov;
hukill.dorothy@flsenate.gov;
hutson.travis@flsenate.gov;
latvala.jack@flsenate.gov;
lee.tom@flsenate.gov;
mayfield.debbie@flsenate.gov;
montford.bill@flsenate.gov;
negron.joe@flsenate.gov;
passidomo.kathleen@flsenate.gov;
perry.keith@flsenate.gov;
rouson.darryl@flsenate.gov;
simmons.david@flsenate.gov;
simpson.wilton@flsenate.gov;
stargel.kelli@flsenate.gov;
steube.greg@flsenate.gov;
young.dana@flsenate.gov
Sample Body:
Dear Senator,
In
2005, the Legislature approved immunity for those involved in lawful
acts of self-defense. This immunity included protection from the expense
and embarrassment of arrest and prosecution unless sufficient evidence
existed to show the act was not in lawful self-defense. The Florida
Supreme Court neutered legislative intent by not only placing the burden
of proof on the defendant, but that testimony given in defense can be
used against the defendant in later proceedings. This flies in the face
of Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination and certainly
is in contrast to the long held American legal principle one is innocent
until proven guilty.

Please support SB 128.

Respectfully,

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For Prairie Staters – Call For Witness Slips

March 7, 2017 by 1 Comment

Illinois Carry issued a call for witness slips in reaction to a bill that could outlaw lead-based ammunition for use in hunting in the state. They note that most non-lead alternatives are banned under state law. I presume this is because they are considered “armor piercing”.

While the state of Illinois and its General Assembly come under a lot of criticism for a number of factors, one thing that they do get right is witness slips. Not everyone can leave their job and travel to Springfield to testify in person on a bill. Witness slips allow citizens of the state to register his or her opinion on a bill before legislators. I don’t know whether witness slips are more or less effective than letters and emails to your own legislator but it is definitely a plus.

Call to Action
Witness Slips Needed
After taking last week off, our Call to Action this week asks your help with a number of bills. Some of these, taxes on firearms and bans on arbitrarily defined “assault weapons”, are included for obvious reasons. Others, though still obvious, have potential ramifications beyond the language of the bill alone. SB1985 Wildlife Cd Lead Ammunition Ban is one of these.
Introduced by Senator Don Harmon out of concern for the environment, it ignores that fact that most alternatives to lead ammunition are banned under Illinois law. The result? Whether one agrees with the Senator or not his bill, if it becomes law, will effectively end all handgun hunting in Illinois. Coupled with SB1722 Safe Neighborhoods Reform Tech, a bill seeking to drastically increase the penalties for the use of lead-alternative ammunition and other non-violent firearm offenses, an environmentally aware hunter could easily face a minimum 7 to 14 years in prison. We include only SB1985 in our current Action Alert, and will continue to monitor developments on SB1722.
Please help us keep Illinois on the right course by filing witness slips on the bills listed below.
Hearings will occur in a variety of committees as early as the morning ofMarch 7, 2017.
Don’t delay!
File Witness Slips Now!
To avoid having to complete each field manually, Log on to your ILGA Dashboard (or Create a New Account if you have not already done so) then return to this email and click on the links for each witness slip. If you do not wish to create an account, simply click on each witness slip link and complete the required fields manually:
I, IDENTIFICATION: Enter your personal information. Enter “NA” for the Firm/Business or Agency and Title fields unless you are officially representing an organization.
II. REPRESENTATION: Enter “Myself” unless representing an organization.
III. POSITION: Unless instructed otherwise for a particular bill leave the description field at its default value “Original Bill”. Indicate your position by selecting the “Proponent” or “Opponent” radio button.
IV. TESTIMONY: Select the “Record of Appearance Only” radio button.
If filing manually, complete the Captcha challenge and agree to the ILGA Terms of Agreement.
Then click Create Slip.

Oppose

Support
Witness slips can be tracked here:

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Volunteers Needed For Asheville Gun Show

March 6, 2017 by

Grass Roots North Carolina sent out an alert this morning saying they need volunteers for the Asheville Gun Show this weekend at the WNC Ag Center. I have volunteered to work on Saturday morning. I try to work the GRNC booth for as many gun shows as I can.

ASHEVILLE GUN SHOW
NEEDS
VOLUNTEERS!
Volunteers are needed
to help man the GRNC table at the upcoming MK Shows, in Fletcher, on March 11th and 12th,
2017. The show will be held at the WNC Agricultural Center, located at 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd., Fletcher, NC
28732.

Help defend Second Amendment freedom and join GRNC in expanding North Carolina gun
rights!

Potential Volunteers
should contact John Hammond by email at johndhammond@msn.com or by phone at 828-699-3117.

I’d love to see some new people volunteering to help. I’ve made some great friends over the years working the booth and have met a lot of nice people at the gun shows.

This is your chance to help out the Second Amendment in North Carolina. While we have a solid pro-gun Republican majority in both houses of the General Assembly, they still have let us down on things like the pistol purchase permit system. When you also factor in that North Carolina has both a governor and attorney general who are not exactly gun friendly, the work that GRNC does in Raleigh becomes critical. We need both members and volunteers if we are to make headway.