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Today I'm going to share some very somber and thought provoking information from Front Sight Founder and Director Report #6: Moral and Ethical Decisions in the Use of Deadly Force.  After reading this report I believe you will understand why such decisions must be made well in advance of a lethal confrontation.

Click and read

http://frontsight.com/newsletter/html/06-deadly-force.html

Man taken to jail for misconduct with a handgun

California Castle Law

No duty to retreat if in the home.

  • California California Penal Code § 198.5 sets forth that "Any person using force intended or likely to cause death or great bodily injury within his or her residence shall be presumed to have held a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily injury to self, family, or a member of the household when that force is used against another person, not a member of the family or household, who unlawfully and forcibly enters or has unlawfully and forcibly entered the residence and the person using the force knew or had reason to believe that an unlawful and forcible entry occurred."[18] This would make the homicide justifiable under CPC § 197.[19] CALCRIM 506 gives the instruction, "A defendant is not required to retreat. He or she is entitled to stand his ground and defend himself and, if reasonably necessary, to pursue an assailant until the danger ... has passed. This is so even if safety could have been achieved by retreating." However, it also states that "[People v. Ceballos] specifically held that burglaries which 'do not reasonably create a fear of great bodily harm' are not sufficient 'cause for exaction of human life.'” The court held that because the defendant had constructed a gun-firing trap, the doctrine did not apply because mechanical devices are without mercy or discretion.[20]

Bill to Ban Open Carry passed on Jan 2012 in California

When can you use deadly force?

The short answer is that your attacker must possess the ability and opportunity to do you grave harm—but you must also have to have done everything in your ability to avoid a confrontation.

In the new Gun Digest book Armed: The Essential Guide to Concealed Carry, author Bruce Eimer, Ph.D., provides more insight to this point:

Here’s a guy holding a knife in an aggressive manner. Can you shoot him? Not a chance, with that fence in between you. Though this guy is behaving in a threatening manner, unless he vaults over that fence like Superman, there’s no real threat to you.

When would the use of deadly force by a private citizen against another human be considered judicious? How can a private citizen be authorized to kill another human under his or her own summary judgment? The very simple answer is that deadly force is recognized as a last resort for use only when you need to save your life.

We are referring to the “doctrine of competing harms” and the “doctrine of necessity.” Put very simply, you are allowed to break the law (in this instance, kill), in the rare circumstances where following the law (not killing) would cause more injury to you or other innocent humans.

Same guy, same fence, same knife. But now you’re both on the same side of the fence. Can you shoot him? Maybe, maybe not. He’s still at a pretty good distance—do you have the time to escape and a direction in which to do so? This would be a really good time to yell, “Stop! Leave right now! I am armed!”

In reality, the answer is not so simple. Any time you even draw your gun in a social confrontation, you are walking on thin ice. If you are going to keep orcarry a gun for self-defense, in addition to being well trained in marksmanship and tactics, you should be well-educated about the circumstances under which the use of deadly force is warranted legally and morally, so that you can be judicious.

Can you shoot this knife-wielding attacker, who’s now at bad-breath distance and looks like he’s about to gut you like a fish? Possibly, probably—but you have lots of other questions to answer first. Do you have a knife and are you physically equal to the attacker? Is there still time to escape? Is there any other less-than-lethal force, such as pepper spray or martial arts skills, that can diffuse this situation? You MUST think through every and all options before you draw your gun and shoot.

The Ability to Do Great Harm

Here we are talking about the concepts of power and disparity of force. Clearly, a person with a gun or a knife and the ability to use it has the power to kill or cripple you. However, you can’t shoot that person unless he has the immediate opportunity to use that ability on you and he acts in such a manner that leads you to reasonably conclude you are in immediate jeopardy. But, what about if the threat does not have a gun, knife, or bludgeon? There are several other factors that would fulfill the criterion for ability.

1. Force of numbers. Two or more threatening persons, even without identifiably deadly weapons, against you alone, would constitute a disparity of force. If they attack you and act in such a manner as to lead you to believe that, unless you do something, they are going to kill or cripple you, then you are on solid legal ground. Against a group of attackers, each member of the group shares the same responsibility for the fear the group creates in the intended victim, and also shares the danger from the intended victim’s lawful response.

2. Able-bodied versus the disabled. If you are old and frail or physically challenged and you are viciously attacked by a younger, more able-bodied man (and the criteria of opportunity and jeopardy are in play), you are on solid legal ground.

3. Greater physical size and strength. If you are attacked by King Kong Bundy, you are on solid legal ground in using a force multiplier (a weapon) to avoid being killed or crippled.

4. Training or reputation. Is the attacker a person known to you to be highly trained in the martial arts? For this criterion to be considered a valid, affirmative defense for the defensive use of deadly force, you must have known about it before you resorted to using deadly force. It is not valid if you didn’t know it at the time, but learned that it was so after the fact. You will be judged based solely on what you knew at the time.

5. Male versus female. Our society assumes that females are more vulnerable and that there is a cultural predisposition for males to be more inclined to violent physical aggression than females. So, if you are female, you are being attacked by a lone male, and the other criteria of opportunity and jeopardy are in play, you are on solid legal ground in terms of using deadly force if you have no other viable choice to avoid being killed or crippled. This would also include self-defense against rape.

To read more about the issues surrounding concealed carry and use of deadly force, check out Eimer’s new book, Armed: The Essential Guide to Concealed Carry.

Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, NRA Certified Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor, Certified Utah Concealed Firearms Instructor, and a professional writer. His daily work includes practicing clinical psychology, conducting forensic evaluations, writing, and training people in the defensive use of firearms through his company, Personal Defense Solutions, LLC. Doctor. Eimer has testified as an expert witness in civil, criminal, gun rights, and self-defense cases. He is the owner of the popular online forum, www.DefensiveHandguns.com and writes the monthly “Armed Senior Citizen” column for Concealed Carry Magazine. Doctor Eimer is the co-author of the Essential Guide To Handguns (Looseleaf Law Publications, 2005) and has contributed articles to various gun magazines such as Combat Handguns and www.GunsAndPatriots.com.

From NSSF

Wildlife Conservation Funds
Could Be Raided to Reduce Deficit

BREACH OF TRUST WITH AMERICA'S SPORTSMEN . . . One more negative outcome of the inability of Congress and the Obama administration to reach an agreement on reducing the federal deficit may be the siphoning off of millions of dollars from wildlife conservation funding provided by the 10-11 percent tax paid on new firearms and ammunition under the 75-year-old Pittman-Robertson Act. This eventuality is brought to you courtesy of the so-called budget sequestration measure that forces a $1.2 trillion cut in federal spending should Congress fail to enact a deficit-reduction plan. Because no such agreement is yet in view, draconian mandated across-the-board budget cuts, sometimes referred to as "the fiscal cliff," are what awaits the nation starting early in 2013. Granted, there are larger economic issues posed by our burgeoning national debt and the inability of our elected leaders to reach a comprehensive agreement on taxing and spending, but any funds taken from what is supposed to be a dedicated trust fund to benefit wildlife conservation still constitutes a breach of trust with America's sportsmen and reneges on a promise first made during the height of the Great Depression. Hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts should call their U.S. representatives and senators at 202-224-3121 and tell them to safeguard Pittman-Robertson funds for their historic conservation purposes.

Government Relations

  • ANTI-GUN CHICAGO POLITICIANS ARE AT IT AGAIN . . . Last week, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle decided to solve their budget problems by attacking law-abiding firearms owners and retailers. The proposed 2013 budget plan seeks to tax all purchases of firearms and ammunition in Cook County. The budget proposal will impose a tax of a nickel per bullet (or shotgun shell) and $25 for each firearm purchased; basically penalizing individuals for exercising their constitutional right.Please contact Board President Preckwinkle and all the Cook County Board of Commissioners today and urge them to oppose this unfair tax on your rights.

  • JUSTICE FOR THE SECOND AMENDMENT . . . As the election nears, it is important to remember that the battle for our rights is fought not only in the halls of Congress, but also before nine people who are seated in a building just across the street from the U.S. Capitol -- the Supreme Court. The next president could have the opportunity to nominate as many as three new justices to the Supreme Court. The recent Heller v. District of Columbia and McDonald v. City of Chicago decisions illustrate all too well the importance of Supreme Court justices who understand and support the Second Amendment. These victories, which confirmed that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to keep and bear arms for all Americans no matter where they live, came by the thinnest possible margin: 5 votes to 4. Read more at the NSSF blog.

  • A TIPPING POINT? . . . Is the presidential election at a tipping point? The recent national poll from Gallup indicates that Mitt Romney has taken a sharp lead in the national polls after two debates. Now the pundits are arguing over whether the poll is critically flawed. Others are pointing to the poll as evidence that Romney may over-perform in the raw national vote number while still losing the Electoral College. Certainly, other polls of swing states find the gap between the candidates is smaller.Read more.

  • BACK TO THE FUTURE? . . . During the second presidential debate, President Obama stated in a clear answer to a questioner that " . . . what I'm trying to do is to get a broader conversation about how do we reduce the violence generally. Part of it is seeing if we can get an assault weapons ban reintroduced. But part of it is also looking at other sources of the violence. Because frankly, in my hometown of Chicago, there's an awful lot of violence and they're not using AK-47s. They're using cheap handguns." Read more.

  • #GUNVOTE . . . NSSF extends its thanks to all in the industry who are helping to spread the word of the 2012 #gunvote campaign -- posting the #gunvote button to their websites, sharing #gunvote information and videos, using the #gunvote hashtag on Twitter. Please, help us spread the word. The votes of shooters, hunters and gun owners can make a huge impact at the polls. Learn more at nssf.org/gunvote.

  • ARMALITE RETURNS AS TITLE SPONSOR OF SHOT MOBILE APP . . . ArmaLite Inc. has again signed on as the title sponsor of SHOT Mobile for the 2013 SHOT Show. With its renewed sponsorship, ArmaLite joins Outdoor Channel and NBC Sports Network as major industry supporters of the SHOT Show. SHOT Show attendees will find the SHOT Mobileapp an invaluable tool for searching exhibitors, navigating the show floor via interactive maps, finding new products, learning about show specials, viewing the show's education schedule such as for SHOT Show® UniversitySM, setting up appointments with exhibitors, requesting callbacks and finding show services. Read more at the SHOT Show Blog. Sign up to be notified when the 2013 SHOT Mobile app is ready to download to your smartphone

  • VIDEO: 2013 SHOT SHOW NEWS UPDATE . . .The 35th Anniversary SHOT Show is just a short time away, and there's no time like the present to start planning your show. Watch this brief news update for details on what you need to know about the 2013 SHOT Show. SHOT Show will run Jan. 15-18 at the Sands Expo Convention Center in Las Vegas. Register now: Attendees | Media

  • EXHIBITOR REGISTRATION AND DASHBOARD TOOL ARE NOW LIVE . . . SHOT Show exhibitors may now order show credentials for booth personnel on the Exhibitor Dashboard. All exhibit staff must wear credentials at all times in order to gain access to the show floor. Order your credentials today and avoid on-site lines and fees. Get more details at the SHOT Show blog.

  • NANCY FRIEDMAN, 'THE TELEPHONE DOCTOR,' TO SPEAK AT SHOT SHOW UNIVERSITY . . . Among the all-star faculty at the 2013 SHOT Show University on Monday, Jan. 14, will be Nancy Friedman, president of Telephone Doctor Customer Service Training, who will be delivering a content-rich program designed to get your customers swearing by you, not at you! This excellent program blends sales and customer service skills that, when employed, will delight your customers and increase your sales. Friedman will also cover techniques on how to navigate customer phone inquiries. If your store gets calls from people who wish to get a price and then hang up after you give it to them, this program is for you. Take a look at the entire lineup of speakers (click on their names for even more background information) and thenregister for SHOT Show University--before it reaches its usual sold-out status.

  • JOIN NSSF FOR $35: GET SPECIAL MEMBER PRICING ON SSU . . . To celebrate 35 years of NSSF's SHOT Show, NSSF retail/range memberships for a limited time are as low as $35. Retailers can take advantage of this offer while registering for the showor by visiting nssf.org. In addition to all of NSSF's retailer-specific benefits -- including access to ATF compliance consulting, FFL Hotline, NSSF research and more -- retailer members benefit from special pricing when signing up for SHOT Show University.

  • PATRIOT RANGE DAY . . . Shooting facilities and shooting-competition organizers are urged to participate in the inaugural Patriot Range Day, Nov. 8-11, which will support the efforts of Folds of Honor. It will allow shooters to help families of our nation's heroes and will draw attention to the meaning of Veteran's Day as a time to honor those who have served to protect our freedoms. Patterned after a similar Labor Day program that allows golfers to add to their greens fees to make a donation, this program, endorsed by NSSF, will allow shooters registering for a scheduled competition, through a donation check box on the entry form, to make a donation. Learn more and act quickly to become part of this new program.

  • NSSF OFFERS RETAIL MEMBERS FFL COMPLIANCE CONSULTING OPPORTUNITY . . . Did you know that NSSF offers federally licensed firearms retailer (FFL) members the opportunity to work with experienced advisors who, as former ATF officials, understand what it takes to stay compliant with ATF rules and regulations?Read more at the NSSF Blog.

  • SHOOTING INDUSTRY MASTERS RIDES INTO CODY, WYO., FOR 2013 EVENT . . . Organizers of the Shooting Industry Masters announced the 11th annual match will be held at the Cody Shooting Complex in Cody, Wyo., July 19-20, 2013. The purpose of the match is to raise awareness and funds for NSSF's First Shots program, which helps introduce individuals to shooting and gun safety. The Masters has raised $141,000 for First Shots during the last four Masters events. The Shooting Industry Masters is owned and operated by FMG Publications. For Masters team entry and sponsorship information, contact Elizabeth O'Neill atelizabeth@shootingindustry.com or 1-888-315-3641. For more information on the Shooting Industry Masters, visit shootingindustry.com/masters.

  • ATK AWARDED $32 MILLION AIR FORCE AMMO CONTRACT . . . ATK (NYSE:ATK) announced that the U.S. Air Force awarded the company a $32 million contract to produce 30mm tactical (PGU-13) and training (PGU-15) ammunition. The ammunition is used by the U.S. Air Force's A-10 Thunderbolt cannon.

  • NATIONAL SPORTING CLAYS CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINS OCT. 23 . . . The National Sporting Clays Championship gets underway tomorrow at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas, and will conclude with a new national champion determined on Sunday, Oct. 28. Some 1,800 shooters have signed up, with 1,637 of them opting for the main event, shattering the previous registration record. You can get forms and links to registration and activities, view or download the program and get an updated map of the complex's layout at the National Championship webpage.

Protecting Traditional Ammunition

NSSF TO INTERVENE . . . The anti-hunting Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and six other groups last week filed a lawsuit designed to pressure the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) into banning traditional ammunition containing lead components, an action that NSSF immediately responded to, saying it would intervene to represent the interests of industry, hunters and target shooters. EPA has twice denied petitions filed by CBD to ban traditional ammunition, citing correctly that it does not have the authority to regulate ammunition under the Toxic Substances Control Act. "This is a frivolous lawsuit clear and simple," said Lawrence G. Keane, senior vice president and general counsel for NSSF. "There is no sound science that shows the use of traditional ammunition has harmed wildlife populations or that it presents a health risk to humans who consume game taken with such ammunition." NSSF called on industry members, hunters and shooters to support an amendment to the Farm Bill (read below) that contains legislation that would clarify the exemption. Read the NSSF press release and learn more about traditional ammunition.

  • AMENDMENT OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO SPORTSMEN . . . Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) have filed an historic package of sportsmen's bills as an amendment to the 2012 Farm Bill that includes NSSF's top legislative priority, the Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Protection Act, which would clarify that ammunition is excluded from regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Comprising 16 separate pieces of legislation, the package includes the majority of the firearms and ammunition industry's legislative priorities for the 112th Congress. A similar but less extensive package of bills--the Sportsmen's Heritage Act of 2012 (H.R. 4089)--was passed by the House in April by a bipartisan vote of 276 to 146. Read the press release.

  • FIREARMS IMPORT/EXPORT CONFERENCE; REGISTER TODAY . . . To help Federal Firearms License holders stay on top of and in compliance with myriad federal laws and regulations, a joint presentation of NSSF and the FAIR Trade Group will take place July 31 to Aug. 1 at the Hyatt Regency Reston Town Center in Reston, Va. Last year's event was sold out, so please plan ahead in getting registered. Learn more and register today atnssf.org/ImportExport.

  • HOLDER TO FACE CONTEMPT VOTE . . . The House Oversight Committee will vote next week on whether to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for failure to produce thousands of documents related to the Fast and Furious "gunwalking" investigation, CBS News reports. If the committee cites Holder for contempt, the full House would likely take up the matter. Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) are leading the investigation into Fast and Furious. CBS reports this is only the fourth time in 30 years that Congress has initiated a contempt proceeding against an executive branch member. Read contempt report draft.

  • VIOLENT CRIME DECLINES AGAIN . . .Preliminary crime statistics for 2011 released today by the FBI show a 4 percent decrease in violent crime--a continuation of a long-term downward trend nationwide. The report highlights that all four violent crime categories--murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault--declined in the country's four major geographical regions and in all city population groups. The report also noted that violent crime decreased both in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties. The continuing decrease in violent crime comes at a time when firearms ownership has increased across America, a fact that utterly contradicts the mantra of anti-gun groups that more guns equals more crime. "Every firearms owner should be armed with this information," said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti. Read the report.

  • BATTENFELD TECHNOLOGIES, INC. SOLD . . . The Potterfield family has announced the sale of their entire interest in Battenfeld Technologies, Inc. to Clearview Capital, a private equity group based in Connecticut, and to members of Battenfeld's existing management team. Battenfeld Technologies, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of shooting, reloading, gunsmithing and gun-cleaning supplies.

  • ILLINOIS COLLEGE OFFERING UTAH CONCEALED FIREARM PERMIT COURSE . . . In a refreshing twist, Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, Ill., is offering its own fully legal concealed firearm permit course for students and citizens-at-large, so long as they don't carry in Illinois and aren't residents of Utah. The university's Business & Community Education Department is bringing in outside instructors to teach the four-hour course.

  • RETAILER EDUCATION SEMINAR SET FOR LAS VEGAS . . . NSSF will be presenting a Retailer Education Seminar on Wednesday, June 20, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the J.W. Marriott in Las Vegas. Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) registered in Nevada should have received postcard invitations from NSSF to attend that seminar. Presented in cooperation with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), the seminar provides guidance and education on the rules and regulations governing the sale and transfer of firearms. The free seminar, exclusively for FFLs and their employees, is one of the outstanding benefits NSSF provides firearms retailers. Seating is limited, so Nevada FFLs receiving an invitation must register online or contact Cathy Walker by email (cwalker@nssf.org) or phone (203-426-1320) and provide the pass code appearing on the invitation to secure their reservation.

  • SUBSCRIBE TO, ADVERTISE IN THE EXCLUSIVELY DIGITAL RANGE REPORT MAGAZINE . . . The Range ReportSM, NSSF's magazine for shooting facilities, will be distributing its first exclusively digital edition in early July. The Summer '12 Edition will include five feature articles, as well as regularly appearing departments, including "Undercover Shooter," "Q&A" and more. Make sure you receive each quarterly issue as the enhanced Range Report enters the digital age by signing up for a free subscription. Advertisements are being accepted for the Fall '12 Edition. Contact Ann Siladi via email at asiladi@nssf.org or call her at 203-426-1320 to learn more about advertising possibilities.

  • ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL 2013 SHOT SHOW . . . We haven't even reached the official start of summer, but the SHOT Show seems just around the corner. And there's no time like the present to prepare. Here are five things to do now to ensure your 2013 SHOT Show is a success.

  • FAIRGUIDE STRIKES AGAIN . . . Exhibitors and attendees of the SHOT Show should be especially cautious if they receive mail inviting them to update their company listings in certain international online or print trade directories. NSSF is aware of at least two directory publishers --  Construct Data Verlag AG of Slovakia (formerly of Austria), which produces FAIRGuide, and Commercial Online Manuals of Mexico, which produces Expo-Guide -- who are seeking to take advantage of unsuspecting businesses. Read more.

  • LAST CALL: NSSF LOOKING TO GIVE AWAY $50K IN SCHOLARSHIPS . . . There are just a few days left to apply for education aid through the NSSF Voting Member Scholarship Program. Applications for scholarships must be submitted by 5 p.m. EDT on Friday, June 15. Scholarships are available only to employees and their family members of Voting Member companies of NSSF. Winners will be contacted by email by July 13. Click here to learn more about the program and apply.

  • MORE OLYMPIC SHOOTING SPOTS AWARDED . . . The USA Shooting Team's Olympic Trials at Ft. Benning, Ga., have identified five more shooters who will be on their way to London for the Summer Games and one more will be decided by the end of today's action. Sandra Uptagrafft (Women's 25m Pistol), Staff Sgt. Michael McPhail (Men's Rifle Prone), Amanda Furrer (Women's 50m Rifle Three Position), Sgt. First Class Keith Sanderson (Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol) and Emil Milev (Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol) have all secured nominations for the Olympic team. The Men's 50m Rifle Three Position Event was to be concluded today, with Sgt. First Class Jason Parker in the lead. Visit the USA Shooting's website for the latest news on the Olympic Trials.

  • MAYES RECORDS 200TH PERFECT 100 WITH .410 IN SKEET . . . Veteran skeet shooter Wayne Mayes recorded his 200th performance of breaking 100 straight clay birds with a .410-bored shotgun, achieving the milestone at the Pan American shoot at the Dallas Gun Club. Being acclaimed as a world record, the achievement is being commemorated at the Hall of Fame Museum at the National Shotgunning Complex in San Antonio, Texas, where the original score sheet and hull for the load that broke the last clay are on display

  • CALIFORNIA DOJ SEEKS COMMENTS ON MIRCOSTAMPING REGULATIONS . . . As reported back in February, the California Department of Justice at the time published proposed regulations to implement microstamping even though Attorney General Jerry Brown had not yet certified the concept. Last week, again without the attorney general certifying microstamping, the California DOJ announced it is seeking further comment on the "revised" regulations by Nov. 19 at 5 p.m. NSSF will once again be commenting on the microstamping regulations and pointing out that the concept is still flawed, easily defeated and protected by numerous patents. View the newly revised regulations.

  • COOLEY LEADS IN CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL RACE . . . In a hotly contested race, Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley (R) has widened his lead over the weekend and now leads his Democrat rival, San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris, by nearly 37,000 votes, according to the latest statewide figures. The lead has gone back and forth between the two since Election Day, and there are still close to 900,000 mail-in and provisional ballots left to count. The wait will continue as counties have four weeks after Election Day to complete the count.

  • DON'T LIE FOR THE OTHER GUY LAUNCHES IN GULFPORT . . . To help stop illegal purchases of firearms, the Don't Lie for the Other Guy campaign was launched in Gulfport, Miss., this week. The Don't Lie message, "Buy a gun for someone who can't, and buy yourself ten years in jail," will be displayed on billboards and posters throughout the region and Don't Lie radio ads will be heard on local radio stations. Don't Lie for the Other Guy is a joint program of ATF and NSSF. The Gulfport launch of Don't Lie is being funded exclusively by the Gulfport Police Department.

  • PRESIDENT OBAMA CONCEDES THAT 1099 RULES ARE BURDENSOME . . . Following last week's midterm elections, which saw the Republicans take back control of the House of Representatives and eroded the Democrats' majority in the Senate, President Obama conceded that new Form 1099 reporting requirements are "burdensome" for small businesses and vowed to work with Republicans on a legislative fix. NSSF was one of the first groups to bring this important matter to Congress' attention. Read more.

  • HELLER GOES BACK TO COURT . . . On Nov. 15, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit will hear oral arguments in the lawsuit brought by Dick Heller seeking to overturn the district's new Post-Heller firearms regulations. Heller, the lead plaintiff who challenged the district's previous handgun ban in the U.S. Supreme Court two years ago and won, sued the district a second time claiming that its new firearms registration process, its ban on certain commonly possessed semiautomatic firearms and its prohibition of "large" capacity magazines were unduly burdensome and violated the Second Amendment. NSSF will be monitoring this case closely. Subscribe to NSSF Government Relations blog posts to receive future updates via e-mail.

  • EPA DENIES PETITION SEEKING BAN ON LEAD-BASED FISHING PRODUCTS . . . The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has denied a petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, American Bird Conservancy, Association of Avian Veterinarians, Project Gutpile and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility calling for a ban on the manufacture and use of lead-based fishing gear. The decision comes two months after the agency denied another portion of the petition calling for a ban on traditional ammunition. EPA sent a letter to the petitioners stating that they failed to demonstrate that the rule is necessary to protect against an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment. Responding to the EPA denial, the CBD issued a press release, stating, "The agency has attempted to punt on this issue, but we're not going to let it walk away from taking action on the preventable poisoning of birds and other animals."

  • VIDEO: NSSF DISCUSSES THREAT TO TRADITIONAL AMMUNITION . . . In response to a petition filed with the Environmental Protection Agency to ban traditional ammunition, NSSF's Lawrence G. Keane sits down to answer a few questions about this threat and what hunters and shooters can do to help. NSSF urges all sportsmen to contact the EPA to oppose the petition filed Aug. 3 by the extremist Center for Biological Diversity. Learn more | Play video

  • ILLINOIS GOVERNOR WANTS REFERENDUM ON FIREARMS . . . According to Capitol Fax, a political reporting news service, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has filed a petition for an advisory referendum this November asking voters in Cook County whether they support a ban on semi-automatic firearms and so-called "assault weapons" (also semi-automatic). Though it appears the petition is well short of the signatures needed to place the question on the ballot, it's clear that Gov. Quinn is attempting to attack the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners in a calculated political move that would circumvent the recent Supreme Court Decision in McDonald v. Chicago.

  • FREE HUNTING DAYS IN CALIFORNIA CLEARS COMMITTEE . . . NSSF-supported legislation (SB 1179) has passed out of the California Assembly Appropriations Committee (17-0) and will now go to the Assembly floor for a vote. The bill, sponsored by State Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth (R), requires the director of the California Department of Fish and Game to designate two free hunting days per year. This legislation cleared the California Senate by a vote of 28-6 in early June.

  • LONG-GUN REGISTRATION ON MOVE IN CALIFORNIA . . . Last week the California Senate Appropriations Committee passed Assembly Bill 1810, legislation that would establish a registration system for all newly acquired long guns. Under the bill, personal information about the purchaser, along with the make, model and serial number of the firearm, would be recorded and sent to the California Attorney General's office. This legislation will now go to the full senate for a vote. Long-gun registration has already passed the California Assembly. Should it clear the state senate, it will move to the governor's desk for his signature. NSSF is encouraging all Californians to contact their state senator and urge him or her to oppose this registration scheme.

  • RECENT UPDATES FROM ATF FOR FIREARMS RETAILERS . . . NSSF has posted several recent ATF updates for federal firearms licensees (FFLs). The updates include ATF's latest FFL newsletter, a new list of the most common errors retailers encounter when processing Form 6 applications, the most recent edition of the "FFL Quick Reference and Best Practices Guide" and an update from ATF on its current procedures for administrative hearings held as part of firearms license proceedings (as posted in the Federal Register).

  • ONCE CONSIDERED PRO-GUN, SENATOR ENDORSED BY ANTI-GUN GROUP . . . The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence has endorsed U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in her re-election bid. As a congresswoman representing an upstate New York district, then U.S. Rep. Gillibrand was considered to be pro-gun, earning high marks from the National Rifle Association. However, upon her appointment to Hillary Clinton's senate seat, Gillibrand flip-flopped on all major Second Amendment-related issues, ultimately leading to last week's endorsement from the Brady Campaign. "She was either being dishonest with her voters in the congressional district or she's being dishonest to the voters in New York State," said NRA's chief lobbyist, Chris W. Cox. "Either way, the key word is dishonest."

  • REMEMBERING SEN. TED STEVENS . . . NSSF lost a good friend last week in former Sen. Ted Stevens. Stevens, 86, was a staunch supporter of hunters, shooters, anglers and conservation. As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, he played a major role in securing federal funding for NSSF's Project HomeSafe/Project ChildSafe program. This support, along with additional funding from the firearms industry, has allowed this firearm safety education initiative to distribute more than 35 million gun lock safety kits free of charge to gun owners in all 50 states and in the U.S. Territories. The program continues to remind gun owners to safely store their firearms in order to help prevent gun-related accidents, particularly among children

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  • ILLINOIS FIREARMS RETAILERS FILE LAWSUIT AGAINST CHICAGO. . . The Illinois Association of Firearms Retailers (ILAFR), a state affiliate of NSSF, has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of several recently adopted anti-gun laws designed to circumvent the Supreme Court's recent ruling in McDonald v. Chicago. In that landmark decision, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the fundamental right of all law-abiding Americans to keep and bear arms, while outlawing the power of state and local governments to ban firearms. Read NSSF's news release.

  • CHICAGO'S STRICT NEW GUN ORDINANCE TAKES EFFECT . . . A new gun ordinance in Chicago that officials say is the strictest of its kind in the country went into effect today, the Associated Press reports. As mentioned above, the Illinois Association of Firearms Retailers has filed a lawsuit challenging the ordinance. The new regulations were pushed through quickly by Mayor Richard Daley and the City Council after the Supreme Court's decision last month. The ordinance permits residents to have only one working gun at a time in their homes and prohibits them from stepping outside, even onto their porches or in their garages, with a handgun. The ordinance also bans firearms retailers from doing business in the city.

  • MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR PUSHES ONE-GUN-A-MONTH LEGISLATION . . . NSSF and the Gun Owners Action League (GOAL) continue to fight Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick's legislation (H4102), which, if passed, among many other things, would make it illegal to purchase more than one gun in a one-month period. Of course, the only individuals in the state impacted by this legislation would be law-abiding firearms owners, sportsmen and firearms retailers. As if existing onerous firearms laws are not enough in Massachusetts, this would further limit the rights of citizens in the Commonwealth. NSSF urges everyone in Massachusetts to contact members of the House Ways and Means Committee and urge them to oppose H4102.

  • POLL: 67% SAY CITIES HAVE NO RIGHT BAN HANDGUNS . . . According to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey, 67 percent of Americans say city governments do not have the right to prevent citizens from owning handguns. Support for stricter gun-control laws also has fallen to its lowest level in several years.

  • FIREARMS MICROSTAMPING STUDY BILL INTRODUCED IN HOUSE . . . U.S. Rep. Dan Boren introduced legislation last week (H.R. 5667) to direct the U.S. Attorney General to work with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a comprehensive study of firearm microstamping. NSSF supports this bipartisan legislation as a means of ensuring adequate research of microstamping is completed, and the concept is proven to work reliably, prior to states mandating microstamping through the legislative process. Read more.