Show Hearings, Unconstitutional Gun Ban are Good Reminders of the Importance of #GUNVOTE

Aug 2, 2022

Editor’s Note: Today’s Op Ed is from the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

The debacle over guns in the U.S. House of Representatives is a stark reminder of what is at risk when it comes to elections.

The U.S. House of Representatives held hearings and a vote that trounced on Constitutionally protected rights, ignored U.S. Supreme Court precedent and told the American public they aren’t being governed by elected officials representing “We the People.” Instead, the country is being ruled by an elite and out-of-touch governing class that’s bent on dictating “needs” over “rights.”

The House – led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) – turned their collective noses at the rights belonging to the American public and protected by the Constitution to score political points with their special-interest gun control donor class.

Last week’s power grab was kicked off by Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) calling on firearm manufacturing CEOs from Daniel Defense and Sturm, Ruger & Co., to testify in an Oversight and Reform Committee hearing. It was a kangaroo court. A show trial. It was an attempt to name-and-shame the firearm industry for the criminal actions of others.

For those watching carefully, the Congressional circus revealed their folly. Chairwoman Maloney dangled the claim gun manufacturers made a $1 billion to put profits over people. Daniel Defense CEO Marty Daniel rejected the blame firearm manufacturers responsible for the heinous crimes committed by deranged individuals, telling the committee, “These acts are committed by murderers. The murderers are responsible.”

Sturm, Ruger & Co., CEO Chris Killoy rejected Chairwoman Maloney’s inflammatory descriptions of Modern Sporting Rifles (MSRs), saying, “I don’t consider what my company produces to be ‘weapons of war.’”

They’re both right. The companies produce semiautomatic rifles, technology that has existed since the late 1800’s and was commercially available in the early 1900s. These rifles operate the same way as popular duck-hunting shotguns and self-defense handguns.

Lawmakers never alleged an actual crime by the firearm manufacturers. Nor did they blame the criminals committing the crimes. The hearing was a made-for-television production designed to boost Chairwoman Maloney’s profile as she heads into an August Democratic primary against Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.). The two are facing off against one another in for the same Congressional seat after their respective Congressional districts were merged.

Chairwoman Maloney’s gun control hearing, and the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022, passed by Chairman Nadler from his House Judiciary Committee and by the House in a 217—213 vote, was nothing less than political chest-thumping to their New York gun control base. They would snatch Constitutionally protected rights from law-abiding Americans to outdo one another in their increasingly desperate attempt to cling to power.

Chairman Nadler is no better. He admitted during the mark-up for H.R. 1808, the bill to ban MSRs and some semiautomatic shotguns and handguns, that he knew the legislation was unconstitutional and defied the rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court in both Heller and Bruen.

Heller held that firearms in common use by the American public are protected. NSSF released the most recent MSR production figures that show there are more than 24.4 million MSRs in circulation between 1990 and 2020. That doesn’t include what’s been produced in 2021 and so far in 2022, nor those made from 1963 – when they entered the commercial market – and 1990. That dwarfs the estimates of Ford F-Series pick-up trucks on the road, which number just 16.1 million in comparison.

Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in the Bruen decision, that, “…the government must demonstrate that the regulation is consistent with this Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation.”

The Bruen decision further held that modern arms are analogous to those arms in existence at the time the Second Amendment was ratified.

For Congressman Nadler, history, tradition, the Constitution and the Supreme Court be damned. He, and the other 217 Members of Congress that voted for this ban couldn’t be bothered with the rights of “the People.” He needed to “one-up” Rep. Maloney on his gun control credentials. Her points were already scored. She wasn’t even there for the final vote on the bill instead, she attended a political fundraiser.

This legislation has no chance in the U.S. Senate. That doesn’t mean these attacks on the firearm industry or gun rights will end. That’s why it is imperative for all who value freedom and their Constitutional rights to learn the issue, register to vote and show up on Nov. 8 to #GUNVOTE. Don’t risk your rights.

— Lawrence G. Keane

Lawrence G. Keane is the Senior Vice President and General Counsel for NSSF, the firearm industry trade association.

NSSF Denounces Unconstitutional Gun Ban Passed by U.S. House of Representatives

NEWTOWN, Conn. — NSSF®, the firearm industry trade association, condemns the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of H.R. 1808, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022, as amended. The legislation ignores the Constitutional right, upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, for law-abiding Americans to keep and bear arms that are in common use. NSSF estimates that there are over 24.4 million Modern Sporting Rifles (MSRs) in circulation in America between 1990 and 2020.

“This legislation is as dangerous as it is revealing of the contempt for which the House Democrats hold for the Constitution and the U.S. Supreme Court,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF’s Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “Chairman Jerrold Nadler admitted during debate in his committee that he didn’t care the legislation was unconstitutional and defied Supreme Court precedent. Democratic representatives are not fulfilling the interest of ‘the People,’ instead representing special-interest gun control groups that seek to disarm law-abiding citizens and scapegoat them for crimes committed by others.” Read more

USCCA Denounces Egregious Violation of Second Amendment Rights

The Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 ineffectively addresses violent crime and punishes law-abiding citizens

West Bend, WI – The U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA), which is one of the fastest-growing organizations in the country representing responsibly armed Americans, released the following statement on the House passage of the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022:

“The fundamental, natural-born right to defend yourself and your family should not be subject to what the federal government deems ‘acceptable’ for private civilian use,” said USCCA President and Founder Tim Schmidt. “The arbitrary label ‘assault weapon’ was created and perpetuated by anti-gun politicians and the media. Guns are inanimate objects and do not possess the ability to hurt people on their own.” Read more

FPC Statement on House Passage of the “Assault Weapons Ban of 2022”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Firearms Policy Coalition issued the following statement in response to the House vote on H.R.1808, the “Assault Weapons Ban of 2022”:

Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R.1808, which would, if enacted, criminalize the lawful and constitutionally protected conduct of millions of Americans.

In a time of economic recession, gross overreach and abuse of power by the federal government, and cascading governmental policy failures at all levels, 217 depraved representatives, including the deciding votes cast by Republicans Jacobs (NY) and Fitzpatrick, voted to violate natural rights and our Constitution, choosing to promote policies that would imprison peaceable people who have done no wrong.

There is no world in which American gun owners bend the knee and comply with this evil legislation. Further, if H.R.1808 is enacted, FPC Law will swiftly and aggressively take all actions necessary to fight and enjoin the bill.

Individuals who would like to Join the FPC Grassroots Army and support important pro-rights lawsuits and programs can sign up at JoinFPC.org. Individuals and organizations wanting to support charitable efforts in support of the restoration of Second Amendment and other natural rights can also make a tax-deductible donation to the FPC Action Foundation. For more on FPC’s lawsuits and other pro-Second Amendment initiatives, visit FPCLegal.org and follow FPC on InstagramTwitterFacebookYouTube. Read more

FPC Files New Brief in Lawsuit Challenging Pennsylvania Young Adult Handgun Carry Ban

Philadelphia, PA– Thursday, Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced the filing of an opening letter brief in Lara v. Evanchick, its Pennsylvania lawsuit seeking to restore the right to carry arms in public for adults under 21 years of age. The brief, which was requested by the Court after the Supreme Court’s opinion in NYSRPA v. Bruen, can be viewed at FPCLegal.org.

“The impact of Bruen on this case is plain: it establishes that the Second Amendment protects the right to publicly carry and transport firearms, it forecloses the Commissioner’s argument that 18-to-20-year-old adult Pennsylvanians may be excluded from the enjoyment of that right, and it precludes the application of means-end scrutiny to the Pennsylvania age restrictions, which are instead invalid per se,” argues the brief. “The Court should reverse the decision below and order entry of judgment in Plaintiffs’ favor.”

“This is just the latest case against unconstitutional carry laws where we have responded to a request for additional briefing regarding Bruen’s impact,” said Director of Programs Bill Sack. “We look forward to restoring the People’s right to bear arms nationwide as the Supreme Court’s decision begins to affect numerous other pending cases.” Read more

NRA America’s 1st Freedom: What We Must Do to Defend Gun Manufacturers and Stores

NRA America’s 1st Freedom: What We Must Do to Defend Gun Manufacturers and Stores

As the lead attorney for the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), Lawrence Keane, is involved in litigation and legislation related to the firearm industry. Lately, firearm manufactures and stores are constantly vilified and under attack by the Biden administration.

“Many banks and other financial-service providers have been discriminating against the firearms industry for years now,” says Keane before getting into what we can do about it. Because there are things we can and must do, as America’s firearms manufacturers and gun stores are under attack from many directions.

The full interview with Keane is available exclusively at A1F.com. Read more

Boone and Crockett Club Opposes H.R. 8167, The RETURN Our Constitutional Rights Act

MISSOULA, Mont. (July 21, 2022) – The Boone and Crockett Club opposes the ill-named Return Our Constitutional Rights Act (H.R. 8167). The “RETURN Act” would eliminate the sportsmen-supported excise tax on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment that provides the vast majority of funding for wildlife conservation.

“For 85 years, the Pittman-Robertson Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act has served as the foundation for our American system of conservation funding, which provides dedicated revenue for state wildlife agencies to successfully restore wildlife populations and grow opportunities for hunting and recreational shooting,” commented Tony A. Schoonen, chief executive officer for the Boone and Crockett Club. “Our Club members played a key role in getting the Pittman-Robertson Act signed into law in 1937 and have continued to advocate for dedicated funding for wildlife conservation efforts ever since. Repealing this law would significantly undermine our nation’s successful wildlife conservation legacy.”

Since it was enacted, the Pittman-Robertson Act has generated over $15 billion to conserve wildlife, improve recreational shooting and hunting access, and fund hunter education programs. In 2021 more than $1.5 billion was raised and distributed to state fish and wildlife agencies to build target shooting ranges, purchase wildlife management areas to increase public hunting opportunities, conserve game species, and recruit America’s next generation of hunter-conservationists.

“We are working with our partners in the conservation community to educate our members of Congress about how conservation is funded in this country and how sportsmen and women have willingly provided the bulk of wildlife funding through this user pay, public benefit system,” Schoonen concluded. “The RETURN Act is misguided. We hope members of Congress who sponsored this legislation will withdraw their support.” Read more

Democrats Look to Circumvent the Constitution on Gun Rights Again

By Jim Shepherd

Another big day in Washington.

The House is holding hearings to lay the groundwork what are essentially“work-arounds” for anti-gun legislators. They’re looking for ways to punish gun owners, manufacturers, dealers and distributors since the Supreme Court seems insistent on upholding the position that enumerated rights – especially the right to “keep and bear arms” mean exactly what they say.

The House Judiciary Committee is “marking up” H.R. 1801, their latest Assault Weapons Ban. H.R. 2814 the “Equal Access to Victims of Gun Violence Act” is also up as well.

H.R.1801 is exactly what it sounds like: another proposed ban on those evil, black rifles that apparently possess the souls of a minuscule percentage of their users, forcing them on murderous rampages. Unlike the “Clinton ban” this version has no expiration date.

H.R. 2814, however is not exactly what’s implied. It’s not a crusade to protect innocent victims, it’s an attempt to repeal The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. The PLCAA prevents the manufacturers of firearms from being sued for the actions of others (you could use the word criminals) employing their products for nefarious purposes.

Recently, we told you that the CEOs of three gun companies, Smith & Wesson, Daniel Defense, and Ruger had been “invited” by House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Mahoney to testify before the panel – today.

They won’t be there. No, it’s not an act of defiance, it’s scheduling issues. But they won’t be there to either be lectured or grilled by the committee, so scratch one anti-gun photo op.

If you doubt this description of the less-than-cordial greeting she had planned, Rep. Mahoney’s “invitation” told the invitees: “the sale and marketing of assault weapons and the broad civil immunity that has been unfairly granted to manufacturers” would be part of the discussion.

She also wrote that the CEO’s products (these particular CEOs) “have been used for decades to carry out homicides and even mass murders.”

That would certainly have me rearranging my schedule to try and be there for Rep. Mahoney if I were Messrs. Daniel, Killoy or Mark Smith of Daniel Defense, Ruger and Smith & Wesson, respectively. Read more

CCRKBA: Armed Citizen Saves Lives, This Time at Indiana Mall

BELLEVUE, WA – The quick actions of a legally-armed private citizen saved countless lives Sunday at a crowded Indiana shopping mall, and that courageous young man is rightfully being hailed as a hero, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said today.

“While the gun prohibition lobby is remaining essentially silent,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb, “we are glad to see the mayor and police chief of Greenwood, Indiana crediting the armed citizen for stopping what could have been a slaughter. Even the Greenwood Park Mall has posted a statement on its website expressing gratitude to the first responders, including what it calls the ‘heroic actions of the Good Samaritan who stopped the suspect.’

“It wasn’t the first time a good guy with a gun has stopped a bad guy,” he continued. “Last year, the FBI noted six incidents in which armed citizens intervened in mass shootings, including four where the perpetrator was killed. The gun ban lobby has long justified its push for disarming private citizens by arguing that if gun control saves just one life, it’s worthwhile. But how many lives were saved Sunday because a responsible young man was armed? All we hear from gun grabbers right now are crickets.” Read more

NSSF Fires Back at Gun Control’s Attempts to Chill First Amendment Rights

NEWTOWN, Conn. — NSSF®, the firearm industry trade association, defended the First Amendment rights of firearm manufacturers in a letter to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Samuel Levine. The letter was in response to several complaints by special-interest gun control groups falsely accusing NSSF members of violating the Federal Trade Commission Act. These attacks are nothing short of well-financed, special-interest gun control groups attempting to limit the First Amendment rights of firearm manufacturers to advertise lawful products.

Letters have been sent the FTC by gun control groups Everytown for Gun Safety, The Brady Campaign, Giffords Law Center and similar special-interest groups.

“These gun control groups are not content in attacking and denying one Constitutional right. They are now bent on attacking another,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “These groups are attempting to abuse the levers of government to deny the right to advertise a lawful product even as they use those same complaints as fundraising tools. This is a disgusting attempt to twist the role of a federal agency as a neutral arbiter to one that uses the weight of federal authority to deny not one, but two Constitutionally-protected rights.

“The NSSF is compelled by our duty to our members and our respect for the Constitution to stand against, and call out, such egregious manipulation of federal regulations by these groups,” Keane added. “Their disdain for the Second Amendment does not give them the right to infringe on the First Amendment rights of our members and others with whom they disagree.” Read more

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