|
|
DC: D.C. Court Grants En Banc Rehearing in Benson Magazine Ban Case
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
The legal fight over Washington, D.C.’s ban on so-called “large-capacity” magazines is not over. In a new order filed April 22, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals granted rehearing en banc in Benson v. United States, vacated the panel’s March 5 opinion and judgment, and set the case for argument before the full court.
That means the earlier panel ruling is no longer controlling, at least for now. The full court will take a fresh look at one of the most important Second Amendment cases to come out of the District in years, and gun owners should be paying very close attention. |
WY: Wyoming HB14 Shows the Second Amendment Is Still a Second-Class Right
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas spoke at my alma mater a few days ago. After his speech, he sat down for a Q&A with William Inboden, the executive vice president and provost at the University of Texas at Austin.
Those of us hoping for some insider insight into the current antics at 1 First Street, NE came away empty-handed. Thomas’ speech and comments didn’t have much to say about the Second Amendment at all. Of course, it’s possible there was an agreement to avoid questions about the court’s prolonged inactivity. |
VA: Virginia’s Assault Weapons Bills Head Back to Governor’s Desk Without Modification
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
The Virginia General Assembly passed both SB 749 and HB 217 earlier this year. The identical bills would ban the future transfer, sale, and manufacture of many commonly owned semi-automatic firearms classified as “assault firearms,” along with standard-capacity magazines holding more than 15 rounds. These restrictions would not apply to firearms or magazines lawfully owned before the July 1, 2026, effective date.
The bills reached Governor Abigail Spanberger’s desk, but the former CIA agent returned them to the legislature with recommended amendments. |
GA: Woman critically injured in Cobb self-defense stabbing, police say
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Cobb County Police responded to 880 S. Cobb Drive around 12:10 a.m. on April 23 after receiving reports of a person stabbed. When officers arrived, they found a 32-year-old woman suffering from multiple stab wounds.
She was taken to a local hospital, where she is listed in critical but stable condition.
What they're saying:
Investigators say the incident began as a dispute between two friends. Based on preliminary findings, authorities believe another person used a knife in self-defense after being assaulted by the victim. |
MI: No charges in fatal triple shooting at Detroit gas station, prosecutors determine self-defense
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office says it will not file charges against a 22-year-old who fatally shot three people during an altercation at a Detroit gas station.
Prosecutors say they received a warrant request on Monday but determined that the shooting was in self-defense.
"Under Michigan law a person can use deadly force if they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent death or serious bodily harm to themselves or others. After a careful review of the facts and evidence WCPO has determined that the warrant will be denied for insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the suspect did not act in lawful self-defense and in defense of others," prosecutors said. |
MI: Triple fatal shooting at Detroit gas station ruled self defense
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"While there the three exited their vehicle and went to the driver’s side door, opened it, and engaged in a physical altercation with the driver," Assistant Prosecutor Maria Miller said in a press release. "During the physical altercation, the suspect, who was seated in the rear of the vehicle, fired a weapon, fatally wounding the three victims."
Detroit police officers were called to the gas station at about 3 a.m. April 19 and found Jasmine Sheeler with a gunshot wound to the chest, while Owens and Sheeler Jr. were shot in the head. |
OH: Retrial begins for former Ohio sheriff's deputy charged with murder of Casey Goodson, Jr.
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
The Franklin County Coroner's Office found that Goodson had been shot six times from behind, including five times in his back.
A judge ruled ahead of the trial that Meade will be allowed to argue self-defense during his second trial, according to WSYX.
Prosecutors had argued that Meade should not be able to claim self-defense because he caused the situation that led to Goodson's death, WSYX reported, but the judge ruled that Meade does have the option to argue self-defense because no evidence has been presented yet in this new trial. |
CA: Barstow veteran acquitted of murder, manslaughter in fatal shooting
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
A jury acquitted a Barstow military veteran of murder and manslaughter Wednesday following the fatal shooting of another man two years ago, records show.
Patrick Dull, 52, was found not guilty of both charges in the Victorville branch of San Bernardino County Superior Court on April 22, according to court records and documents.
The case stemmed from the shooting death of 25-year-old Ryan Dazzi of Barstow on Feb. 9, 2024, in the 1200 block of Joshua Tree Drive.
The two men became involved in a verbal argument, which escalated into gunfire, Barstow Police Department officials said at the time. |
GA: 11th Circuit Upholds Federal Machine Gun Ban, Rules Second Amendment Does Not Protect Automatic Weapons
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit has upheld the federal ban on machine guns, ruling that the Second Amendment does not protect the possession of fully automatic weapons or conversion devices that turn semi-automatic firearms into machine guns.
The opinion, issued April 21, 2026, affirms the conviction of Maxon Alsenat, a Florida man indicted for knowingly possessing a machine gun conversion device in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(o)(1). Chief Judge William Pryor authored the opinion, joined by Judges Brasher and Abudu. |
Dear Republicans: Don’t Create a Two-Tiered Second Amendment
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Late last week, Republican Congressman Pat Harrigan introduced a new bill that would “extend federal concealed carry authority to both serving and veteran special operations forces whose firearms training and marksmanship standards match or exceed those of retired law enforcement officers.”
As a veteran and avid Second Amendment advocate, you would probably think that I enthusiastically support such legislation. But here’s why the bill could actually end up hurting Americans’ constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms – and why Republicans shouldn’t create a two-tiered Second Amendment. |
VA: Only Five Vetoes out of 1,082 Bills
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger ran as a moderate, but her actions after the first legislative session prove otherwise. She has embraced an extreme left-wing agenda, eroding Second Amendment rights and backing laws that will make Virginia an even more expensive place to live. For the first time in five years, the state is now facing a budget deficit.
The Democrat-controlled legislature sent 1,082 bills to the governor’s desk to sign. She vetoed only five bills, amended 111 (which will return to the legislature for consideration), and allowed the rest to become law. |
Amanda Suffecool Honored with NRA's Prestigious Sybil Ludington Women's Freedom Award
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Women for Gun Rights (WGR) proudly recognizes Amanda Suffecool, WGR Advisory Board Member, for receiving the Sybil Ludington Women's Freedom Award at last week's National Rifle Association event in Houston, Texas. This award honors women's leadership and advocacy in support of the Second Amendment.
Named after Revolutionary War heroine Sybil Ludington, who is remembered for her courageous horseback ride in 1777 to rally American forces - the award honors modern women who demonstrate exceptional courage, leadership, and commitment to freedom. |
Beretta Showcases M9A4 Overlanding Series at Gun Owners of America's Gun Empowerment and Adventure Recreation Summit
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Beretta will attend the 2026 GEAR Summit (Gun Empowerment and Adventure Recreation Summit), hosted by Gun Owners of America, taking place April 24–26 at Merus Adventure Park in Amarillo, Texas. Beretta will be bringing a dynamic lineup of pistols and immersive experiences to one of the fastest-growing gatherings of Second Amendment advocates.
Headlining Beretta's presence is the M9A4 Overlanding Series, including all three models in Lunar, Clay and Nomad Bronze, a purpose-driven evolution of the legendary M9 platform designed for versatility, durability, and real-world adventure. |
Eleventh Circuit Says Machine Guns Are Not Protected by the Second Amendment
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has ruled that machine guns are not protected by the Second Amendment, citing the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s opinion in District of Columbia v. Heller. The court held that machine guns are dangerous and unusual weapons, and can be banned under the United States Constitution.
The case, United States v. Maxon Alsenat, involved the conviction of Maxon Alsenat under 18 U.S.C. § 922(o)(1), which prohibits the possession of a machine gun (including conversion devices). |
Guns and the Left: Liberal America Is Quietly Arming Itself
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Gun ownership in the United States is no longer just a conservative issue. The culture around firearms is shifting, including on the left, as more liberal voters buy pistols and rifles and train at shooting ranges. Not out of tradition, but out of a growing sense of risk.
The data points to a clear trend. An NBC News poll found the share of Democratic households with guns rose from 33% in 2019 to 41% five years later. Among Republicans, ownership remains significantly higher, holding steady at roughly 60% to 65%. The gap is still wide, but it is narrowing. |
Chiappa 92 Wildlands Field Lever-Action Rifle in .44 Remington Magnum
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Developed with practical hunting and field work in mind, the all-new Chiappa 92 Wildlands Field is a lever-action rifle built around the proven 1892-style system and chambered in .44 Remington Magnum. The rifle maintains the familiar handling lever-gun shooters expect while incorporating a few purposeful updates that improve adaptability without straying from the platform’s traditional identity.
The Wildlands Field retains the smooth, reliable 1892-style action and feeds from an 8+1-round tubular magazine. |
Massie argues for nationwide permitless carry, release of data that show racial disparities in denied gun purchases
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Massie's National Constitutional Carry Act has two main provisions. One would prohibit all states from imposing penalties on individuals carrying firearms in public. The second would invalidate any existing state or local law that penalizes or otherwise dissuades the carrying of firearms in public.
Massie made the case for the legislation in a hearing last week.
"Twenty-nine states now recognize that the right to keep and bear arms should not require permission from your government," he said. "And so they have permitless carry. I have advanced a bill... that would extend that to all 50 states and the territories." |
Gun Control Group Scrambles to Distance Itself From Swalwell
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Now that philandering U.S. Rep. Gary Swalwell, D-California, has been exposed as a molester and possible rapist, people and groups formerly in lockstep with the disgraced governor wannabe are abandoning him like rats abandoning a sinking ship.
Five women have accused Swalwell, who a few years back had an affair with a Chinese spy, of sexual misconduct in recent days. A former staffer accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2019 and 2024, and another woman has alleged that Swalwell drugged and raped her in a hotel room in 2018.
Among the groups now trying to distance themselves from Swalwell is the rabidly anti-gun Brady Campaign, which had been thick as thieves with Swalwell for years. |
When Fear Is Not Enough
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
On April 10, 2026, a 27-year-old firearms instructor fatally shot a 26-year-old man, claiming he had acted in self-defense. Prosecutors, however, charged him with homicide rather than exceeding the limits of self-defense.
For some, this is proof that the case does not qualify as self-defense at all. For others, it symbolises a state that places more trust in the aggressor than in a citizen defending against violence. The question returns once again: where, in fact, do the limits of self-defense lie? And does a law meant to protect victims sometimes turn them into the accused? |
CT: House approves ban on selling pistols that convert to ‘machine guns’
Submitted by:
Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
One thousand rounds a minute.
That's what a handgun can fire when it is outfitted with a tiny piece of plastic called a "Glock switch."
Now state lawmakers are taking action.
The Connecticut House of Representatives voted to ban sales of new Glocks and other “convertible pistols” on Wednesday, until the company redesigns its handguns.
But critics said the ban will do little to get dangerous guns off the streets. |
|
|
