The Ides Of March

Anyone who has studied Latin or has seen Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar knows of the Ides of March. It marks the day that the Roman dictator Gaius Julius Caesar was assassinated in the Roman Senate. He had been warned by a fortune teller to “avoid the Ides of March”.

But what is Ides in the Roman calendar?

It marks the middle of each month when the full moon has risen. The Ides were traditionally observed with feasts and sacrifices. Moreover, as the Roman calendar began the year with March, the Ides of March marked the first full moon of the new year. As such, it was a day of great importance. It was also notable as the day for settling debts.

And so it was that the group of 60 Roman senators led by Marcus Junius Brutus who feared Caesar’s reforms would threaten the Roman Senate “settled their debt” by stabbing him to death.

So much for the history lesson.

Here is what the Ides of March is really about.

FNH Contends Ruger’s SFAR Violates SCAR Trademark

FN Herstal SA and FN America LLC filed a trademark lawsuit against Sturm, Ruger and Company yesterday in US District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. They are contending that Ruger’s SFAR™ (Small Frame Automatic Rifle) violates their trademark for the FN SCAR® family of rifles and associated products. SCAR® stands for Special Operations Forces Combat/Capable Assault Rifle.

FN asserts that consumers will confuse the Ruger SFAR with their SCAR as they “are very similar or nearly identical in size, purpose, weight, feel, color, caliber, capacity, features, and even style to the firearms marketed and sold by FN for nearly fifteen (15) years under the SCAR Mark.” Moreover, they allege that since Ruger didn’t put “Ruger” in front of “SFAR” in their advertising nor put hypens between the letters it will pronounced as one word similar to that of the FN SCAR®.

As part of their complaint, they post pictures of Ruger’s SFAR™ and FN’s SCAR® as to how they are very similar in look and feel. On this, I have to disagree with the lawyers from FN. The Ruger product look very much the same as any other AR-10/AR-15 while the FN product have a much different and distinctive look about it. While FN argues that consumers will a) confuse the two products and b) think that the “SFAR” is endorsed or sponsored by FN.

FN’s complaint alleges four causes of action against Ruger. They include infringement of Federally-registered trademarks, unfair competition under the Lanham Act, violation of North Carolina’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and trademark infringement under NC common law. FN seeks a permanent injunction against the use of “SFAR”, the destruction of all materials including firearms within Ruger’s possession marked with SFAR™, disgorgement of any profits from the sale of the rifle by Ruger, and finally, triple damages.

Ruger has no official response on their website as of today to this lawsuit. As the suit was filed yesterday, it is also too soon for a response in court.

So that you may view the exhibits contained in the complaint, I have embedded it below:

gov.uscourts.ncmd_.98070.1.0

My 2024 NRA Ballots

Here are my ballots for the 2024 NRA Board of Director election and for the bylaw change.

Now to explain my votes. It should go without saying that I support the Four for Reform. I signed and promoted their petitions to be on the ballot as well as have supported them here. I would love it if they ended up as the top four winning candidates.

I would have voted for Owen Buz Mills except that he told Jeff Knox that he wanted people to bullet vote for the Four for Reform. As to why I added Rick Ector as the fifth candidate, his “missionary work” in Detroit in which he has introduced thousands of women is worthy of recognition. Just as importantly, he bucked the Old Guard aka “The Cabal” when he endorsed Wade Callender to be the next Executive VP of the NRA. These two factors were why I added Rick to the list of candidates for whom I voted.

While I consider the bylaw change to add a Chief Compliance Officer independent of the EVP as closing the barn doors after the horses have escaped, it is a reform in the right direction. I worked for 25 years in the financial services industry and we always had a Chief Compliance Officer. There were times I thought they were a bit “nit-picky” but their goal was to protect both the company and the client. If I had questions on something such as a political contribution, I knew I could reach out to them for advice on the best way to handle it.

While the appointment of a Chief Compliance Officer must wait until the vote is tallied, it appears that a candidate has been hired in anticipation of the bylaw change. Robert Mensinger was hired by the NRA in September 2023 as a Managing Director. He holds a law degree, has had an extensive career as a compliance and business integrity officer, and spent almost 25 years working as a Special Agent/Criminal Investigator for the Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and Treasury Department. My only reservation about Mensinger is that he was selected for his present job by Wayne LaPierre upon the advice and counsel of Bill Brewer. Other than that, he seems ideal for the job. Only time will tell if I was worried about nothing which is my actual hope.

UPDATE: This is just a reminder that you should vote by NAME and not by NUMBER. There are 5 or so different ballots and the order of the names varies. It is randomized as a security measure.

The NRA Responds

It appears that my post on the promotion of Wayne LaPierre’s niece, Colleen Sterner, has hit a nerve at the NRA. I received a direct message on Twitter/X from Billy McLaughlin who is the NRA’s spokesperson. It was sent yesterday afternoon.

Here is the message in its entirety:

John: This is Billy McLaughlin, NRA’s spokesman. Although the NRA does not typically respond to the false reports such as yours- we do so here given the that motivation seems to be reporting falsely the circumstances of our employees. Therefore, we confirm that your report is 100 percent false. In fact, the only information in your report which is accurate is that the employee in question is held in high regard by her supervisor. Please check your sources and “facts” – it is amazing what qualifies as “reporting” about the NRA these days.

First and foremost, I stand by my sources and the veracity of the information that they shared with me. I would not have written the post nor would I have posted it if I did not trust my sources to give me honest and accurate information.

Second, this response is very reminiscent of the NRA’s response to the Mike Spies article in The New Yorker. In that article, Tyler Schropp is quoted as saying, “Sterner is an ‘extraordinary and valuable employee’ who manages ‘national events that make a positive impact on the N.R.A., its members, and its mission.'” Likewise, McLaughlin’s predecessor as spokesperson and now his boss Andrew Arulanadam said, “Sterner “played a leading role in producing’ the affair.” This was in reference to a 2015 Women’s Leadership Forum summit where internal NRA documents showed her responsibilities were basic and rather menial.

Third, as an Endowment Life Member of the NRA my “motivation” is not as McLaughlin states “to be reporting falsely the circumstances of our employees” but to ask why a relative directly linked to what the jury in New York considered a dereliction of LaPierre’s fiduciary duties was promoted. That Tyler Schropp holds her “in high regard” is irrelevant. While it might not seem fair that she is tainted by association with her uncle’s misdeeds, it is what it is.

Finally, given McLaughlin asserts that the “report is 100 percent false”, I would say as my old high school chemistry and physics teacher would say, show me. Is Mrs. Sterner not Wayne and Susan LaPierre’s niece? No, we know that she is. Did she not get promoted to be Director of Events for Advancement? No, we have Tyler Schropp’s email announcing her promotion. Did not Wayne LaPierre divert flights to Nebraska to pick up Mrs. Sterner? No, we have the documentation provided in court that proves it. A blanket assertion that a story or report is false is the oldest tool in the PR flack’s toolbox. It is the PR equivalent of yelling, “squirrel!!!!!”

Nepotism Lives On At The NRA

One might be under the impression that the NRA has cleaned up its act, put new procedures in place, is respectful of the member’s money, and that the misdeeds of the LaPierre era are never to be repeated. Indeed, that is the premise of the NRA attorney’s arguments as they head into the next phase of the New York trial. Attorney Sarah Rogers of Brewer, Attorneys and Counselors, wrote in a letter to Judge Cohen, “The remainder of the trial should focus on the sole remaining triable issue of fact: whether any of the statutory violations established in the jury phase are continuing or are imminently likely to reoccur.”

Unfortunately, as I found out yesterday from multiple sources, regardless of the new procedures, nepotism and the disrespect for the members’ money lives on at the NRA. That is because a mere 21 days after Wayne LaPierre’s resignation from the NRA became effective, his niece Colleen Sterner was promoted to be Director of Events for Advancement. She will continue to live and work from her home in Nebraska. According to my sources, insiders are saying her salary is estimated to be in the $300,000 range.

Making the promotion was Tyler Schropp, the Executive Director of the NRA Office of Advancement, and the second highest compensated employee at the NRA according to the NRA’s 2022 Form 990. His total compensation was reported to be $854,219. As exhibits in the New York trial make clear, Schropp went by the “Wayne said/Wayne OK’ed it” modus operandi and actual procedures and documentation be damned.

The NRA Employee Handbook, Sec. C1.12, states that relatives of current employees including nieces and nephews can be hired if qualified. Sterner was first hired by the NRA in 2015 to work for the Women’s Leadership Forum which was led by her Aunt Susan (LaPierre) on a volunteer basis. Sterner supposedly helped organize “national events” but, as an article in The New Yorker points out, her assignments tended to be basic tasks such as helping out with registration.

According to Andrew Arulanandam, an N.R.A. spokesperson, Sterner “played a leading role in producing” the affair. Yet one of the summit’s organizers told me, “I’d never met Colleen before the event started, but Susan had mentioned she’d be part of the staff. She didn’t work at headquarters, and she wasn’t on the regular planning calls or meetings that we had. Her status was never clear to me.”

Internal N.R.A. records show that Sterner was assigned a half dozen basic responsibilities, such as providing “registration support as needed” and serving as a point of contact for a trap and skeet shooting activity. Multiple people who worked the summit said that it was often difficult to locate Sterner.

The article in The New Yorker by Mike Spies which includes many interviews with NRA employees casts serious doubts on her actual work for the NRA. This correlates with what my own sources have told me about Sterner. I would say read the entire article and make up your own mind about whether Sterner is now qualified for a $300,000 director level position. While Spies does write for The Trace and I would disagree with much of his conclusions, the guy gets his facts correct.

The private jet and helicopter flights that the jury in the New York trial found Wayne LaPierre liable for repaying include those that diverted to Nebraska to pick up Sterner as well as a helicopter flight to a NASCAR race in which her husband Terry was a passenger. It is also why Wayne was found to have breached his fiduciary duty under the Non-Profit Corporation Law.

The NRA is currently recruiting for a Meetings Manager. This would be at least one level below a director. Requirements include a college degree, 5+ years of experience, and preferably hold the Certified Meeting Professional designation. Part of the job requirements including contract review and negotiations. Unless I am grossly mistaken, I just don’t see Sterner holding the requisite qualifications other than, perhaps, a college degree.

One has to wonder if the promotion of Sterner to be Director of Events for Advancement was not a quid pro quo negotiated by LaPierre with Schropp in his final days at the NRA. It would not surprise me in the least if it were. Given that Judge Cohen was reportedly leaning away from appointing a monitor to oversee the NRA, this could and should give pause to that. It is more evidence that new leadership is needed, that the house (including upper level NRA managers) must be cleansed, and that the Old Guard and their supporters cast out if the NRA is to be saved as an effective Second Amendment organization. Members, current, former, and future, are not going to donate unless this happens.

2024 SCI Convention – World-Class Taxidermy

If you ever wanted to see museum quality taxidermy outside of a museum, the Safari Club International Convention was the place to be. There were displays from the 19 taxidermy companies that exhibited at the convention as well as displays of mounted animals in many of the outfitters’ booths. In addition, there were exhibits of world-record animals on loan to SCI from their owners.

Here are some examples of North American animals:

Photo by B. Richardson
Non-typical piebald whitetail. Photo by B. Richardson
Grizzly full mount. Photo by B. Richardson
Walrus from Nunavut.
Non-typical whitetail deer.
Non-typical shown at outfitter’s booth.

Of course, there were many examples of animals from Africa. Some were in large exhibits in the hallway such as the Cape buffalo shown below while others were of individual animals.

Photo by B. Richardson
Lions fighting over a zebra kill.

As you can tell, not all the taxidermy mounts were serious!

Photo by B. Richardson

Finally, there was replica mounts done by Kanati Taxidermy Studio. Some, like the polar bears, are restricted from being imported into the United States. Likewise, the rhino mounts are reminders of darting rhinos for relocation. I must say these replicas seemed as authentic as any animal taken in the wild.

The taxidermists who exhibited at the convention were from around the world. I counted 14 from the United States, three from South Africa, and one each from Canada and New Zealand. In addition, you had companies such as Coppersmith and Trophy Shippers which would help you get your trophy, either finished or unfinished, back home to you.

Note: Photos taken by me are shown without credit while those taken by the Complementary Spouse aka B. Richardson are credited.

Every Picture Tells A Story, Vol. 2, No. 5 (Updated)

I really did not expect to be doing this post so soon after publishing Vol. 2, No. 4. Nonetheless, the South Carolina House and Senate got their act together to pass permitless carry. The Palmetto State now becomes the 29th state to allow permitless carry. Gov. Henry McMaster (R-SC) is expected to sign the bill into law as early as today.

HB 3594 will allow anyone age 18 or greater who is legally able to possess a firearm to carry concealed without a permit. The law will go into effect as soon as Gov. McMaster signs it. The law also authorizes the SC State Law Enforcement Division to create a twice monthly, free training class. That is still in development as is how it will be offered (online or in-person).

From The State on other provisions of the bill:

The bill includes stricter penalties for people who repeatedly carry guns into places they are not allowed to, including schools and courthouses. It also adds penalties for those who commit a crime with a concealed weapon who do not have a CWP.

A property owner, holder of a lease interest, or operator of a business can prohibit patrons from entering with a firearm by posting a “NO CONCEALABLE WEAPONS ALLOWED.” A person convicted of knowingly carrying a firearm into a liquor, beer or wine store for consumption on the premises is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Thanks to Rob Vance, we have an updated graphic to show the state of freedom in the United States.

Looking at the remaining “Shall-issue” states, North Carolina is the most likely to adopt permitless carry in the near to intermediate future. I could see Pennsylvania and Wisconsin passing it if they were to elect a Republican governor to go along with their Republican legislatures. I hate to say but the rest seem to be a lost cause and that includes Virginia. If anything, the remaining shall-issue states seem to be regressing when it comes to firearms.

Update: Gov. Henry McMaster signed the South Carolina Second Amendment Preservation Act into law this afternoon.

He said on signing it:

With my signature, South Carolina is now the 29th state in the country with constitutional carry. This bill expands the Second Amendment rights of our law-abiding citizens and will keep violent criminals behind bars with increased penalties for illegal gun use and possession.

From McMaster’s Facebook page.

2024 SCI Convention – Glassing For Big Game

There were a number of seminars offered at the 2024 Safari Club International Convention held in Nashville. One of the more interesting was a seminar led by outdoor writer and hunter Tom Claycomb on glassing for big game. The seminar included tips on optics, caring for them, and how to use them effectively to search for game animals.

With regard to binoculars and spotting scopes, Tom said to buy quality. In the past this meant what he called the Big Three – Leica, Zeiss, and Swarovski. He noted the optics world has become much more competitive and has really improved. The difference between the Big Three and the rest has really contracted. He also said to look at the warranty as a good optics company will warranty their product. Optics are hard to compare before buying as most outdoor stores rarely carry an extensive inventory of binoculars. One thing to look for when comparing optics, if possible, is to look for shadows at the edge of the image. A top quality optic will not have these shadows.

Tom noted he had moved from 8 power to 10 power binoculars. He suggested that 10×42 as a start though you could go higher. He tends to go with a compact size of binoculars. However, in the fall, he said compact and then super compact would work. He likes an elastic strap to carry his binoculars. In terms of cleaning the glass, Tom said plain water works best.

Glassing aka searching using optics will allow you to find more game. Even if the terrain looks barren, you can glass and see stuff after searching for a few minutes. Rarely will you see the whole animal but you will see either parts of it or movement. That might be as small as an ear flicking at a fly or turning to listen. Make sure not to sit on the skyline and look to break your outline. If you can see them, often they can see you.

Assuming you do spot your desired game animal, glassing will help you in planning your stalk as well as play the wind. You should pick out spots to mark as a landmark such as a patch of flowers, big trees, and the like. Glassing will also help you plan in advance how you are going to pack out an animal assuming you are successful. Often that is when the real work begins!

Finally, Tom said to have a system. Search left to right or the reverse but keep it systematic. Then overlap the field of view as you move all the way up the mountain or from near to far. Even if you are not hunting in the great expanses of the western US or the plains of Africa, searching for your game using optics will give you a better chance of success.

Every Picture Tells A Story, Vol. 2, No. 4

Louisiana became the 28th state to sign permitless carry into law as of today. While it had been passed by the Louisiana legislature in past sessions, previous Gov. John Bel Edwards (D-LA) would veto it. What a difference a year and a new governor makes. Gov. Jeff Landry (R-LA) today signed SB 1 – Constitutional Carry – as one of the bills passed during the Special Session on Crime.

SB 1 allows for the permitless concealed carry by anyone age 18 or above who is not otherwise prohibited. The law does not restrict it to residents of the State of Louisiana. It goes into effect on July 4, 2024. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Blake Miguez (R-New Iberia).

Thanks to the efforts of Rob Vance, my long running series of Every Picture Tells A Story has the update which adds Louisiana. This series has been running since 2011 and the changes to the gun rights landscape have been monumental.

I am still holding out hope that a permitless carry bill of some stripe will pass the North Carolina General Assembly this spring. It will need a spending or fiscal component attached to it. We almost had it passed through the House of Representatives at the crossover deadline until opposition from the NRA caused Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) to pull the bill. Meanwhile, a bill allowing permitless carry in South Carolina is bouncing back and forth between the House and the Senate. I would not foresee any more of the “shall-issue” states passing permitless or constitutional carry in the near future.