Category: Self Defense

SAF Seeks Supreme Court Review in Challenge of California Handgun Statute

BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation and Calguns Foundation have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for a review of their challenge to California’s “Unsafe Handgun Act,” a part of that state’s penal code that violates the Second Amendment by banning handguns of the kind in common use for traditional lawful purposes.

SAF and Calguns are joined by private citizens Ivan Pena, Dona Croston, Roy Vargas and Brett Thomas. They are represented by attorneys Donald Kilmer of California and Alan Gura of Virginia. The case is known as Pena v. Horan.

“Our challenge of the California Unsafe Handgun Act (UHA), if the high court accepts it for review, could be a critical wake-up call to lower federal courts that continue to employ what they call an ‘interest-balancing approach’ to deciding gun control cases because that strategy is forbidden by the 2008 Heller decision,” noted SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “It is time to bring a halt to what is essentially a revolt by the lower courts against the landmark Heller opinion, and the Pena case could provide that vehicle.”

California’s Unsafe Handgun Act generally prohibits the manufacture, import or distribution of handguns that do not meet the state’s extremely restrictive design requirements under the state penal code. The result, as the plaintiffs contend in their petition for high court review, is that the state is gradually achieving a handgun ban because they cannot meet the impossible requirements, which include microstamping. That technology is not offered by any handgun manufacturer because it cannot be practically implemented, the petition notes. Read more

Gun Control, Self Defense

“Shield Our Schools” Program Expansion

THE SHIELD OUR SCHOOLS INNITIATIVE EXPANDS TO OFFER MORE OPTIONS FOR KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE

With the Simple Notion of Keeping Schools Safe, Shield Our Schools Partners with SwiftShield™, TeacherLock™, Bolo Stick and Armoured One to Provide Affordable Options

In an emergency situation, everyone wants the same thing – we want our kids to be safe. Period. It’s that simple. In making our schools a safe haven for learning, we know we must do whatever it takes to keep harm from befalling the classroom and it’s precious contents. The Shield Our Schools (S.O.S.) program works to match corporate partners and individual donors with schools in their areas to sponsor the implementation of SwiftShield™ and Bolo Stick barricades, TeacherLock™ mechanisms, and Armoured One active shooter training and consulting. The program is 100-percent cost free to the school and can quickly add a level of deterrent and protection to a school in need of assistance.

“The Shield Our Schools Initiative was developed by a group of people who, like you, wanted to find real solutions to protecting and shielding our kids from a potential violent attack when they are in school, and not make it dependent on school funding,” said George Klaybourne, CEO of Shield Our Schools. “As we have seen from tragic events, classrooms may be vulnerable in the event of an actual emergency – with an unsecured door being the only thing standing between our children and disaster.”

The founders of the S.O.S. program didn’t want product selection to be a deterrent to participation, so they sought to partner with other safety device manufacturers to broaden the scope of the initiative and get more people actively involved. That is where Bolo Stick, TeacherLock and Armoured One come in. Read more

Self Defense

SAF, Defense Distributed Ask TRO, Injunction Against NJ AG

BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation and Defense Distributed have filed a motion in federal court in Texas seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal to prevent enforcement of a new law that they believe is a direct infringement of their First Amendment rights.

On Thursday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed Senate Bill 2465, which is specifically aimed at censoring SAF and Defense Distributed, violating their First Amendment rights under color of law. During a press conference, Grewal acknowledged that this new measure was designed to prevent publication of instruction codes that would explain how to produce a firearm with a three-dimensional printer.

The motions were filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division. It is part of a broader civil rights action against several governors, attorneys general and other government officials that was brought by SAF and Defense Distributed.

“We’ve had to take this extraordinary step to defend our First Amendment rights because Attorney General Grewal has literally threatened to ‘come after’ us, or anyone else, who is ‘contemplating making a printable gun,’” explained SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “Grewal and the governor aren’t merely trying to stop what people do, now they’re also trying to dictate what people think. That amounts to extremism on steroids.” Read more

Gun Control, Self Defense

Phantom Rescue Depends On PepperBall LifeLite

Lake Forest, Ill. —Each year, nearly 300,000 children are sold into sex slavery. Together, Phantom Rescue and PepperBall® are taking a stand in an effort to stop child trafficking.

Phantom Rescue is an elite group of former law enforcement officers, military professionals, government officials and business leaders that have come together for a single cause – the recovery of abducted children. Since 2007, Phantom Rescue has utilized Special Operations expertise, created a coalition of anti-trafficking organizations and established connections with state, federal and international authorities to perform successful extractions.

“When we go into other countries, we can’t take lethal weapons, so when we came across the PepperBall® LifeLite™, we felt like we have a fighting chance to defend ourselves and be successful in bringing these children home to safety,” said Tony Sparks, CEO of Phantom Rescue. “We are thrilled to work with the PepperBall team in these efforts to protect these children.” Read more

Self Defense

SAF Joins California Groups Suing Riverside County, Sheriff Over CCW Policies

BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation has joined in a federal lawsuit challenging Riverside County, California and Sheriff Stanley Sniff over the county’s handgun carry license policies, which plaintiffs assert are unconstitutional.

Joining SAF in this legal action are the Calguns Foundation, Firearms Policy Coalition, Firearms Policy Foundation and Madison Society Foundation, and a private citizen, Arie Van Nieuwenhuyzen, a legal resident alien who lives in Riverside County. They are represented by Attorney George M. Lee of Seiler Epstein Ziegler & Applegate, a San Francisco law firm.

“This is not the first time we’ve been involved in a legal action on behalf of a legal resident alien,” noted SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “Mr. Van Nieuwenhuyzen came to this country decades ago and has lived in Riverside for more than 30 years. While he retains his citizenship in The Netherlands, he has raised a family here and operated a business. He is a productive member of the community. Read more

Gun Control, Self Defense

New 40 Foot Bear Spray from Counter Assault

Counter Assault once again has proven to be the leader in bear spray, making the first true advance in twenty years.

Counter Assault has developed and received EPA registration for the very first 40-foot bear spray on the market. In addition, this product is the only bear deterrent pepper spray to meet the requirements of the EPA Significant New Alternative Policy (SNAP) of the Clean Air Act relating to ozone depleting substances. Counter Assault has taken the lead in the industry and moved forward with meeting these important environmental goals.

Counter Assault has a long history of leading product innovation, regulatory standards and sustainability. In July 1991, Counter Assault developed the first bear deterrent pepper spray to achieve Canada Health registration and in May 1998, was the first company to receive EPA registration for bear deterrent pepper spray. In December of 1998, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (“IGBC”), a group consisting of various federal and state wildlife agencies awarded Counter Assault the 1998 Grizzly Bear Stewardship Award for significant participation in the research and development of bear deterrent pepper spray.

With this new product launch in first quarter 2019, Counter Assault’s 10.2 oz. canister will have a spray distance up to 40 feet with 8 seconds of spray time and Counter Assault’s 8.1 oz canister will have a spray distance up to 32 feet with 7 seconds of spray time. Read more

Self Defense

Safariland “Emergency Response to an Armed Intruder” Instructor Course

Safariland Delivers “Emergency Response to an Armed Intruder” Instructor Course for Law Enforcement Professionals Across U.S.

Students taught by premier training academy instructors can now receive continuing education credits

ONTARIO, California – The Safariland Group, through its Safariland Training Academy, a specialized division providing a full spectrum of law enforcement training classes, continues to receive excellent reviews for its “Emergency Response to an Armed Intruder” course, in part due to its new adult learning format that allows students to easily digest the lessons. Reaching law enforcement agencies, schools and businesses throughout the U.S., students may also receive continuing education credits upon course completion through a partnership with Columbia Southern University. Read more

Self Defense

SAF, CCRKBA Join in Amicus Brief Challenging Maryland Gun Law

BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms have joined in an amicus (friend of the court) brief in a case challenging Maryland’s process to obtain a licenses to possess a handgun in one’s home, contending that this violates the Second Amendment.

SAF and CCRKBA are joined by the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association, International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors, Professors of second Amendment Law, Jews for the Preservation of Firearms ownership, Millennial Policy Center and Independence Institute. Their joint amicus brief opposes a motion for summary judgment by the defendants, and supports the plaintiffs’ cross motion for summary judgment.

The case was brought by Maryland Shall Issue, Inc.

“We’ve joined in this brief because Maryland’s licensing process is expensive and lengthy, and a right delayed is a right denied,” said SAF founder and CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. “No citizen should have to jump through so many hoops simply to have a gun in their own home. There were no such requirements or regulations in Maryland at the time the Constitution was ratified, and the current regulatory scheme seems more intended to discourage responsible firearms ownership than guarantee that gun owners safely handle their firearms.

“The training requirement in Maryland imposes a burden on a citizen’s ability to exercise his or her Second Amendment rights,” he continued. “But evidently in Maryland, as in some other states, the government has arbitrarily decided to treat the Second Amendment right as a regulated privilege, and that simply cannot be allowed to stand.”

The 46-page amicus brief looks at the history of gun rights since colonial days. The brief was prepared by Maryland attorney Gregory M. Kline, with support from Joseph G.S. Greenlee at the Millennial Policy Center and David B. Kopel with the Independence Institute, both located in Denver.

The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 650,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.

Gun Control, Self Defense

Viridian Releases New “Art of Defense” Episodes on YouTube

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. –– Viridian Weapon Technologies has released new “Art of Defense” video episodes, showcasing potentially life-saving firearms and defensive techniques for personal protection. Episodes 2-4 are now available for viewing on YouTube, and viewers are encouraged to subscribe to the Viridian YouTube channel to be notified when additional episodes are released.

“Art of Defense” Series

Presented by Defensive Mindset Training and Range Systems, the “Art of Defense” video series is hosted by Beau Doboszenski, owner and lead instructor for Defensive Mindset Training. The series is designed to address common defensive mistakes, answer everyday questions, provide concealed carry tips and deliver instruction on using tools like Viridian laser sights. Both novice and skilled shooters can take advantage of the materials and use the videos as a resource for effective firearms operation. Episodes cover a variety of topics, ranging from target acquisition and trigger control to improved draw and more. Read more

Optics, Self Defense
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