BELLEVUE, WA — The Second Amendment Foundation has won a significant court ruling in the case of Miller v. Bonta , which challenged the constitutionality of California’s ban on so-called “assault weapons,” with U.S. District Court Judge Roger T. Benitez declaring the state’s statutes regarding such firearms to be unconstitutional.

SAF was joined in this action by the Firearms Policy Coalition, California Gun Rights Foundation, San Diego County Gun Owners PAC, Poway Weapons and Gear, Gunfighter Tactical, LLC, and several private citizens including James Miller, for whom the case is named.

“In his 94-page ruling, Judge Benitez has shredded California gun control laws regarding modern semi-automatic rifles,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “It is clear the judge did his homework on this ruling, and we are delighted with the outcome.”

In his opening paragraph, Judge Benitez observes, “Like the Swiss Army Knife, the popular AR-15 rifle is a perfect combination of home defense weapon and homeland defense equipment. Good for both home and battle, the AR-15 is the kind of versatile gun that lies at the intersection of the kinds of firearms protected under District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008) and United States v Miller, 307 U.S. 174 (1939). Yet, the State of California makes it a crime to have an AR- 15 type rifle. Therefore, this Court declares the California statutes to be unconstitutional.”

Later in the ruling, Judge Benitez observes, “The Second Amendment protects modern weapons.” A few pages later, he adds, “Modern rifles are popular. Modern rifles are legal to build, buy, and own under federal law and the and the laws of 45 states.” Perhaps most importantly, the judge notes that California’s ban on such firearms “has had no effect” on shootings in the state. “California’s experiment is a failure,” Judge Benitez says.

“There is not much wiggle room in the judge’s decision,” Gottlieb stated. “Today’s ruling is one more step in SAF’s mission to win back firearms freedom one lawsuit at a time.”

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.

Houston, TX – U.S. LawShield®, the leader in the Legal Defense for Self-Defense industry, has recently filed a joint lawsuit with the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) against the City of Winchester, Virginia for violating articles of the Constitution of Virginia.

“Our mission is based on preserving and protecting our members’ Constitutional right to bear arms—particularly in order to defend themselves and their loved ones,” says Randy Macchi, COO and General Counsel for U.S. LawShield. “We have filed this lawsuit to protect the rights of our 10,000+ members in Virginia and to stop the unconstitutional infringement of those rights. U.S. LawShield and the VCDL are requesting that temporary and permanent injunctions be filed against recent implementations of city and state codes.”

Currently, there is no Virginia statute that prohibits a person from openly carrying a firearm. Virginia code does state that a person is prohibited from carrying a concealed handgun in public unless that person is issued a Concealed Handgun Permit. Virginia, like many other states, has what is known as “preemption” laws, which prevent localities from creating a patchwork of gun laws across the Commonwealth that are difficult or burdensome for otherwise law-abiding gun owners to navigate. Recent city ordinances in Winchester and several other Virginia jurisdictions have begun to implement these types of firearms restrictions. Read more

CONTACT: Keeley Christensen
kchristensen@pluspr.com

The Path Forward Should Be Focused on Supporting and Protecting Responsible, Law-abiding Americans — Not More Failed Regulation

West Bend, WI – The U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA), which is one of the fastest-growing organizations in the country advocating for responsibly-armed Americans, said today that the new gun control measures proposed by President Biden would do virtually nothing to actually reduce crime or help more Americans keep their families safe.

Pointing to the record national gun sales over the last year and the explosion in demand among Americans of all backgrounds for firearms education and training, the USCCA said the President should be focused instead on supporting and protecting responsible, law-abiding Americans.

“Organizations like the USCCA exist to help responsible Americans avoid danger, save lives and keep their families safe, and our elected leaders in Washington have an incredible obligation to pursue those same goals,” USCCA President and Founder Tim Schmidt said today. “That is why it’s deeply troubling to see the President and others in Washington calling for more failed laws and regulations. We need common-sense reforms, like national concealed carry reciprocity, that are grounded in reality rather than anti-gun political ideology, and a new path with the goal of keeping Americans safe by ensuring they can protect their families and loved ones at all times. Today’s announcement falls woefully short of meeting that goal.” Read more