Mexico Loses Claim Against U.S. Firearms Manufacturers

From Jim Shepherd…

Earlier this week, Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor of the Massachusetts Federal District Court dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Mexican government against U.S. gunmakers.

The Mexican government brought a $10-billion lawsuit against several gunmakers, alleging they had used negligent business practices that had led to illegal arms trafficking and deaths in Mexico.

According to the claims made in the case, Mexico’s “high-impact crimes” are primarily committed using U.S. made firearms.

The basis of their claim -the appeal of those guns- isn’t all that different from the argument used by California legislators in their latest raft of gun regulations: that the marketing and manufacturing of “high-powered weapons” by the manufacturers had “appeal” to a certain potential market demographic.

California claims the impressionable youths of that state are irresistibly wooed by the marketers.

Mexico, however, claims that irresistibility is to their (many) criminal cartels.

Saylor dismissed the Mexican claim, saying U.S. law “unequivocally” prohibits lawsuits that seek to hold gun manufacturers responsible when people use their products for their intended purposes.

The foundational law Judge Saylor cites is, of course, the law that anti-gunners have been trying to get repealed since its passage on October 26, 2005: the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Firearms act.

In his ruling, Judge Saylor said the court had “considerable sympathy for the people of Mexico, and none whatsoever for those who traffic guns to Mexico.”

But, he concluded, the court was “duty-bound to follow the law.”

Mexican officials say they’ll appeal the decision and will continue insisting that the “weapons trade be responsible, transparent and with accountability.”

As you might imagine, U.S. manufacturers were less than excited at yet another lawsuit trying to make them responsible for the criminal acts of others.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s Larry Keane said that while he sympathized with the people of Mexico, the crime there was “not the fault of the firearms industry.”

“Under federal law,” Keane says, the firearms industry can only “sell their lawful products to Americans exercising their Second Amendment rights- after passing a background check.”

The Mexican government’s response was simple: “we don’t accept that and therefore we’re going to appeal.”

Firearms

Ohio Man Convicted of Fraud in Hunting Lease Scheme

COLUMBUS, Ohio – An Ohio man was convicted of wire fraud and sentenced to prison for his role in an illegal scheme to solicit payments and sell hunting leases on properties where he had no authority, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

The U.S. District Court in Southern Ohio found Nathan L. Knox, 30, of Mechanicsburg, guilty on September 8 and sentenced him to one year and one day in prison, three years of supervised release, and restitution of $18,037.

According to court documents, the defendant operated a scheme in 2019 where he placed advertisements on social media pages for supposed hunting leases in Ohio, but he had no right to sell the leases in question. The defendant charged prospective clients between $400 and $5,000 and offered pictures of mature buck deer as false evidence of the parcels. In total, he solicited payments from at least 68 different individuals, all residing outside Ohio, and received payments totaling $34,000 from at least 59 of those individuals. Read more

Hunting

Federal Ammunition 100-Year Celebration Sweepstakes Winner Announced

ANOKA, Minnesota – October 6, 2022 – As part of the 100-year anniversary celebration, Federal Ammunition partnered with the NRA to hold one if its largest sweepstakes in company history. Tom from Arkansas was awarded the massive prize package that included more than 54,000 rounds of Federal Ammunition valued at over $28,000.

“This sweepstakes was a great way to accentuate Federal’s 100-year anniversary celebration,” said Federal’s Director of Marketing, Brian Anderson. “The scope of the ammunition included in the prize package showcases the wide range of ammunition and innovation throughout Federal’s 100-year history. This was a fun sweepstakes event, and we congratulate the winner.”

The giveaway event ran during the spring and summer months of 2022. Ammunition included in the prize package highlights some of Federal’s most popular loads in the most popular cartridges.

“I give my sincerest thanks to Federal Ammunition for this undeserving prize,” said Tom. “This ammunition will be a blessing to both my family and friends. But beyond that, it will also be used by my son’s high school trap team.” Read more

Ammunition

Inaugural Virginia Elk Hunt Generates $600K+in Conservation Funding

MISSOULA, Mont. — Hunters supporting Virginia’s first-ever managed elk hunt scheduled to take place October 8-14 generated more than $606,000 to bolster wildlife and management projects within the state’s elk management zone.

“This funding is an indicator of the significant contributions of hunters who support Virginia’s elk and elk country,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “We also salute our partners at the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) for their diligence in successfully managing the state’s growing elk herd. Those efforts open the door for this first, historic hunt.”

DWR awarded its first elk conservation license to RMEF which conducted a raffle that generated more than $93,000 for conservation. That came on the heels of DWR’s initial lottery of five antlered elk tags that raised more than $513,000.

“That’s approximately half a million dollars that will go right back into wildlife conservation because of the contributions of these hunters,” said Ryan Brown, DWR executive director. “Though a small hunt, it’s significant in marking the early success of the restoration of this magnificent animal to Virginia, and also a tremendous opportunity to show the greater public the conservation benefits of hunting.” Read more

Hunting

New Research Reveals How Critical Forests are to Drinking Water Supply

In many places, networks of pipelines and canals divert water from its source to high-need areas. The California Aqueduct in the Mojave Desert near Palmdale, California carries water the length of state from the wet north to the dry deserts of Southern California. (Courtesy photo GettyImages/Steve Proehl.)
Feather River, Middle Fork, on Plumas National Forest in California. National forests supply drinking water to almost 90% of the people served by public surface water systems in the West. (USDA Forest Service photo by Tim Palmer.)

Location, Date – Access to high-quality water will be a defining feature of the 21st century. Record heat waves and drought are not only leading to more frequent and intense wildfires but are also putting one of life’s most valuable resources at risk: the water we drink.

A new Forest Service research report describes how extensively public drinking water systems rely on national forests and grasslands. Read more

Wildlife

S3DA & Safari Club International Foundation Youth Elk Hunt

Williamsburg, KY – Through a partnership with the Safari Club International Foundation, S3DA was able to reward one deserving youth archer with a New Mexico elk tag. Archers submitted an application to S3DA with some of their pertinent demographic information along with some essay questions regarding their hunting experience and why they should be chosen. The applications are then reviewed by a committee which ultimately decides the recipient, which this year was Blayne Hunt.

Blayne, his dad Nathan, and his stepmom Catie spent a week in New Mexico chasing elk for the very first time. This story is in Nathan’s words: “Soaking wet gear, boots that may never recover, tired legs and eyes. From the very first afternoon we were on elk. After two close calls on decent bulls, the hail and rain hit for two straight days. Finally, we caught a break in the weather and Blayne and I were able to call/sneak in on an absolute hammer of a bull who made it to exactly 43 yards, slightly quartering away.

He blew our hats off with his last growling bugle – staring right through Blayne and me as our ears rang. It was magnificent! Everything went as planned except for the shot. A deflection in the thick timber sent one just over him (luckily a clean miss and not an injury). And that was that. We both stood there in disbelief… dreams crushed… defeated.

Down, but not out. On the 1,000 ft climb back to camp, the heavens opened up yet again and we spent the remainder of the day and night in wet sleeping bags and a tent. Friday was our last chance.

We woke up to 20 mph winds, thick fog, bitter cold, and hoping just to hear one. Luckily, we did. The three of us climbed another mile or so trying to get in front of him, only to have him go silent. We started to slip out the general direction he was headed last, and he crested the hill quartering toward us. 50… 45… the wind switched just faintly, and he stopped in his tracks, turned, and eased just enough behind cover that Blayne couldn’t take an ethical shot before he vanished in the broken fir trees. It was over as fast as it started.

As they always do, the days blended and eventually came to quickly to an end. We’ll share these memories forever – 10-12 miles at 11k elevation – listening to bulls bugle all night under the stars – witnessing these majestic creatures do what they do, and as it was intended. I want to thank S3DA and Safari Club International Foundation for a once in a lifetime opportunity. Blayne never would have gotten the opportunity otherwise.”

Read more

Hunting

Silencer Central to Present Live Demonstration of Banish Series at TriggrCon 2022

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – October 6, 2022 – Silencer Central is slated to attend TriggrCon October 7-8, 2022, in Fall River, Kansas. As America’s leading silencer dealer, Silencer Central will feature a sneak peek of a new Banish product set to launch the first of November as well as a live-fire demonstration of the entire Banish line.

“TriggrCon showcases the most innovative products in the industry, and we’re excited to present our Banish line with a special feature of a brand-new Banish product,” said Brandon Maddox, CEO of Silencer Central. “We look forward to hitting the road for this premier event and showing other professionals first-hand what this line has to offer.”

Presented by UN12, TriggrCon exhibits exclusive debuts of leading products from a variety of brands and companies. Industry professionals, media and shooting enthusiasts will gather at the Flint Oak Hunting Lodge to experience these major product launches and a look into what has made an impact on the industry this year. Read more

Firearms

Primary Arms Government Sponsors TTPOA SWAT Competition

HOUSTON, TEXAS – Primary Arms Government is sponsoring the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association 2022 SWAT Competition, which runs October 6th-9th at the Conroe/FBI Training Range in Conroe, Texas.

The TTPOA SWAT Competition is a 4-day challenge for SWAT team members and active-duty military from all across America. With stages focused on communications and team dynamics, the TTPOA SWAT Competition puts professional marksmen to the test with exciting stages that challenge their shooting skills. Teams come from all around the U.S. to compete, and to support the event, Primary Arms Government has joined as a competition sponsor.

Dedicated to supporting Law Enforcement and Military professionals, Primary Arms Government is a full-service partner for procurement, equipment support, and more. As one of Texas’ largest Law Enforcement suppliers, Primary Arms Government has expressed its pride in supporting this year’s TTPOA SWAT Competition. Read more

Self Defense

Whitetails Unlimited Offers Free Sight-In Targets

Rifle, shotgun, and muzzleloader deer seasons are fast approaching, but whatever firearm is used it is very important for the hunter to be confident with their abilities to hit a target accurately – every time. To help ensure that you and your firearm are shooting accurately, Whitetails Unlimited will ship ten 100-yard sight-in targets at no cost. The targets measure approximately 14 x 16 inches and have 1-inch grids with a 6-inch center highlight ring.

Whitetails Unlimited celebrates the American tradition of hunting deer, the most popular big-game animal in North America. WTU expects hunters to go afield on ethical, fair-chase hunts; part of that hunting ethic is to only take shots when the hunter is sure of the target, knows what is beyond the target, and is following all applicable hunting laws and regulations. For more information about hunting safely and legally, contact your state’s department of natural resources.

To receive your targets, contact the Whitetails Unlimited National Headquarters at 1-800-274-5471 or via email at nh@whitetailsunlimimted.com. Read more

Hunting
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