by Believe it or not but the gun meme of the day comes from a screen cap of a Saturday Night Live episode featuring Walton Goggins.
You can watch the full skit here.
Month: June 2025
Plan B
Now that Senate Majority Leader John Thune has kowtowed to the Left’s Deep State Operative aka the Senate Parliamentarian on needed reform to the National Firearms Act, it is time for Plan B.
According to a text I received this morning from John Commerford, Executive Director of the NRA-ILA, the tax on silencers, short barreled rifles and shotguns, and any other weapons has been lowered to zero dollars in the text of the bill. Additionally, they will be exempted from the excise taxes of the Pittman-Robertson Act. However, all of these items will still be subject to all the laws and regulations of the National Firearms Act including registration. This also means you have to ask ATF for a “mother, may I” permission slip to cross state lines even temporarily with your short barreled rifle or shotgun. Silencers and AOWs are exempt from that requirement.
As my friend Miggy Gonzalez said on Facebook, “We were hoping for a free steak dinner, but we are getting a side of large fries for a Happy Meal instead.”
A coalition of the groups fighting for NFA reform which included the NRA, the American Suppressor Association, GOA, SAF, FPC, and others released this statement yesterday.
The bottom line is ain’t nobody that happy on our side of the fence while the other side is enjoying the fact that their Deep State Operative came through for them. That, and as Diamondback notes, John Thune is a “Temu knockoff of Mitch McConnell.” You would think that with how Elizabeth McDonough just dissed the entire GOP majority of the Senate Finance Committee that the Republicans might show more spine and less squishiness. A guy can dream, right?
Lasswell, Animal House, Oliver Twist, And The Big Beautiful Bill
Harold Lasswell was one of the icons of political science of the 20th century. Not content to be one of the founding fathers of political psychology and policy sciences, he was one of the earliest to recognize that mass communications was worthy of scholarly study. Long before modern political science devolved into trendy genres like feminist theory, queer theory, and fill in the blank theory, Lasswell was studying propaganda and had invented content analysis to search for patterns within it.
Lasswell wrote over 30 books and somewhere near 250 scholarly journal articles. This is a massive output by any measure. That said, the one book that always caught my attention was an early work entitled, Politics: Who Gets What, When, and How. (#commission earned). This is because I have always had a Lasswellian view of politics at its most basic. It is about the fight by both the elites and the masses to see who gets the spoils along with the countervailing fight by their opponents to keep the spoils for themselves. You can gloss up politics with all sorts of theories but it always comes back to power and the spoils that come with it.
This morning we learned of the infuriating ruling by the Senate Parliamentarian, an appointed and not elected official, that the inclusion of parts of the Hearing Protection Act and the SHORT Act violated the so-called Byrd Rule. This was notwithstanding that the US argued that the National Firearms Act did not violate the Second Amendment because it was a “revenue measure” in US v Miller. The Parliamentarian, Elizabeth McDonough, argued the NFA was a regulation and not a tax which is utter bovine manure.
Making matters worse, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) who controls McDonough’s appointment has indicated he does not plan to challenge her ruling.
I see Thune as acting like Kevin Bacon’s character in the movie Animal House. What Thune seems to forget that he would not even be Senate Majority Leader if gun owners had not provided the margin of victory in key Senate races in states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Montana.
The question is what to do now as well as what not to do. Gun owners should not do is be like Oliver asking for more. It is time we stop groveling!
The first thing we should be doing is calling our US Senators and letting them have it for kowtowing to the parliamentarian appointed by none other than Harry Reid. Call 202-224-3121 and ask for the offices of your two senators. Keep the pressure up and let them know that merely stripping the NFA reform provisions out of the Big Beautiful Bill is not going to cut it. Here is the list of those up for reelection in 2026. They should be the first targets of your call.
Here are the options as I and others see them:
- Do nothing – definitely possible given the Senate
- Fire Elizabeth McDonough – probably not going to happen
- Have J. D. Vance overrule McDonough as President of the Senate – possible
- Leave the regulatory aspects of the NFA in place and lower the tax to zero or $1 – wimpy but likely
- Rewrite the provisions to try and get past the parliamentarian – maybe
- Set the tax at $1 and preempt all the state’s that ban NFA items – suggested by Kostas Moros
Stephen Gutowski of The Reload thinks that McDonough will neither be fired nor overruled. His argument is that doing so may endanger the sacred tradition of the fillibuster.
While the Majority Leader can fire the parliamentarian or the Vice President can overrule their decisions, there are good reasons that’s happened so rarely. It all has to do with the filibuster. Since reconciliation is a special Senate process designed to allow budget bills to avoid the 60-vote filibuster threshold–but only budget bills. So, the process is designed to root out anything that doesn’t primarily have a budget impact.
In other words, the process is designed to protect the legislative filibuster.
He very well may be correct. Stephen goes on to add that if McDonough is overruled or fired by the Republicans it will be due to other items stripped out of the bill and not the NFA items. In other words, no matter how important these items are to the gun community – and they are – they just don’t seem that important to the Republican senators.
That is a perception that needs to be changed. The time for going before Congress on bended knee is over. Every 2A organization from the NRA to state level groups needs to mobilize their members to say hell no. As I said in the beginning referring to Harold Laswell, politics is who gets what, when, and how.
We know what we want and we know we want it now.
“The Secret To A Happy Life”
I certainly cannot disagree with this bit of advice.
Rob Beckman For NRA Board
Trainer, podcaster, social media influencer, and IT professional Rob Beckman is running for the NRA Board of Directors by petition. I fully support Rob and consider him just the sort of well-qualified reformer that we need on the Board.
If you are a Life Member or a 5-year continuous Annual Member, I would urge you to sign Rob’s petition.
You can find it here.
During my run for the Board, Rob interviewed me on his Firearm Trainer’s Podcast. He stood solidly on the side of reform and electing reformers. He is a strong believer in using education and training as way to both get back to the NRA’s roots and to rebuild our membership. Further, he believes as I do in effective and proper governance is the way to restore the faith of the members in the NRA.
If you look at Rob’s LinkedIn profile and biography here are some things that jump out at me.
- Business experience – Senior Project Manager for a global industrial company
- Non-profit experience – currently VP & Hunting Director of Ohio Rifle and Pistol Association and former Board of Directors of Dan Beard Council, Scouting USA
- NRA Training Counselor
- Social Media experience – Firearm Trainer’s Podcast
- Hunter – Not only hunts but is a hunting safety instructor
This is the type of person we need on the Board of Directors and I would urge you to sign his petition.
Town Hall With Doug Hamlin
This Thursday, June 26th, NRA EVP Doug Hamlin will be holding an online town hall at 8pm EDT.
Use this link to register for the town hall: nraorg.webex.com/weblink/register/r312f0632a0597fdd15f19ab91332807c
I can tell you from personal experience that Doug listens to both the members and the Board of Director. Contrast that with Wayne LaPierre who only listened to his personal clique and treated the rest of the Board like vassals seeking the king’s blessings.
This is your chance to ask questions. Use it.
“Allegedly Plotting to Overturn” Stein’s Veto Of Permitless Carry
The hyperbole used by the anti-rights forces is always amusing even if it is downright disingenuous.
My case in point. I received a press release about an hour ago from an Olivia Eguia representing a trio of Bloomberg organizations. They included Everytown, the Demanding Moms, and the Demanding Students (or is it petulant Gen Z’ers).
Included in the press release is a quote from a Mary Lahr Cain who reportedly is a volunteer with the Demanding Moms. Ms. Cain, if her LinkedIn profile is to be believed, was the editor of a defunct weekly newspaper out of Fuquay-Varina called the Cleveland Post.
“After Governor Stein stood up for public safety and the will of North Carolinians, extremist Republican lawmakers are allegedly working behind closed doors to override his veto last week and make this dangerous bill law before their constituents even know what’s happening,” said Mary Lahr Cain, a volunteer with North Carolina Moms Demand Action. “I’m outraged that our legislators would do this in secret instead of listening to the people they were elected to represent. Our families deserve transparency and laws that keep us safe — not political games and backroom deals that put lives at risk.”
OMG! Those evil Republicans are working behind closed doors to carry out their constitutional duties under Section 22 of the North Carolina Constitution. I would go on to note that the committee hearings on SB 50 – Freedom to Carry NC – were open to the public in both houses of the General Assembly. Moreover, the votes on the bill were done in public and a roll call vote was held.
What the anti-rights forces are calling “the will of North Carolinians” is nothing more than a poll, which with the right wording, can be made to favor any position you want.
In his veto message, Gov. Josh Stein (D-NC) said, “authorizing teenagers to carry a concealed weapon with no training whatsoever is dangerous.” I am all for training regardless of whether a permit is required or not and for people of all ages However, teenagers age 18 and older can currently carry a weapon with no training whatsoever. They just are required to do it openly and that is their constitutional right per State v. Kerner (1921) Those with criminal intent already ignore the law and will carry in whatever manner they choose. Seriously, what is a misdemeanor penalty of 30 days for a first offender when compared to 17 years for armed robbery?
Lest anyone forget, a majority of the states in the US currently allow permitless concealed carry. The addition of North Carolina would bring the total number to 30 with five out of the 10 largest states allowing it.
Cherry-picking statistics to bolster your argument is not a convincing way to win. Looking at what has not happened in the states that have adopted permitless concealed carry is more instructive. That is, blood has not run in the streets.
To conclude, sure there are politics involved with any bill. It was political that the General Assembly passed SB 50, it was political that Gov. Josh Stein vetoed the bill to appease his constituency, and it will be political how and when the Republican leaders choose to hold an override vote.
Suppressor Steve
The Senate Finance Committee amendments are the best as they remove suppressors, short barreled rifles, short barreled shotguns, and any other weapons from the NFA. In addition, there is language that will satisfy state requirements requiring registration or licensing under the NFA.
Call the U.S. Senate switchboard operator at (202) 224-3121 to connect with your state’s U.S. Senators – tell them once again to pass the Finance Committee’s firearm and related tax reforms in full.
As I have said from the beginning, you don’t get what you don’t ask for – or in this case, demand. While it may be more that we expect to get, we still should get something if only the suppressor portion.
PS: Regular blogging will resume. The Complementary Spouse and I just spent 9 days in Alaska seeing the sights and visiting my cousin Ginny.
Rhino Conservation
Rhino Rescue: Battling Extinction in South Africa is a documentary that details the efforts to protect one of Africa’s most endangered species. The documentary is funded in part by the Dallas Safari Club along with others in the outdoor industry including Leupold scopes and Federal ammunition.
Set against the vast and untamed landscapes of Rockwood Conservation, a 33,000-acre sanctuary dedicated to preserving the future of white rhinos, the film immerses audiences in the harrowing realities of conservation. With approximately 400 white rhinos residing within its borders, Rockwood represents a glimmer of hope for a species on the brink of extinction. However, the growing threat of poaching continues to push these majestic animals closer to the edge, making this conservation mission an urgent and formidable challenge.
From the outset, Rhino Rescue goes beyond traditional wildlife documentaries by presenting the personal stories of individual rhinos, showcasing their unique personalities, social behaviors, and deep familial bonds. The film underscores the fact that each lost rhino is not just a statistic—it’s a life filled with connections and experiences.
The documentary also shines a light on the dedicated veterinarians, caretakers, and conservationists working tirelessly to protect, heal, and rehabilitate rhinos injured by poachers. Through raw and emotional storytelling, viewers witness the deep emotional toll of conservation work, as well as the extraordinary dedication required to give these animals a fighting chance. One particularly moving sequence follows a young rhino calf that, after losing its mother to poachers, struggles to adapt to life in the sanctuary. The conservation team’s unwavering efforts to nurture and rehabilitate the calf provide a heart-wrenching yet inspiring portrait of resilience.
The trailer for the documentary is below:
The documentary is available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime. You can find it here. (#commission earned) It is also available on Make Ready TV and Apple TV. It appears that there is no cost to view it on Make Ready TV thanks to ads.
The documentary was directed and produced by Fernando Coehlo. Interestingly enough, I met Fernando and his wife Bri at the Atlanta airport as we both were coming back from South Africa last year. We had a nice chat while waiting to go through US Customs. Given they were traveling with film gear I am wondering if they hadn’t just filmed this documentary. I know they had done some hunting while in South Africa.
NRA Gun Of The Week – The Roscoe
I have to admit I am tempted especially at the Heritage Manufacturing’s price point for the Roscoe. MSRP is $364-378. Street price is as low as $279 if you search places like Classic Firearms or a little bit more if using Gallery of Guns which includes shipping and tax..
While the Roscoe is available in both a 2″ model and a 3″ model, it is the 3″ model that catches my eye. You have a slightly longer sight radius along with just a bit more weight at the muzzle to control muzzle flip.
American Rifleman has filmed a short video describing the Roscoe and you can see how the 2″ model handles.
You can read more of the editors take on the Roscoe here. The Heritage Manufacturing’s page on the Roscoe is here.