Keep and Bear Arms - Gun Owners Home Page

Hyde-Smith to stop enforcing vacated pistol brace rule
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today joined several colleagues in calling on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to cease any efforts to enforce a vacated Biden-era rule that placed onerous registration and fee requirements on pistol brace owners. Hyde-Smith signed a letter led by U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) to Acting ATF Director Daniel Driscoll that reprimands the agency for signaling in court cases that it will continue enforcement of the now-vacated 2023 Biden rule that classified all braced pistols as short-barrel rifles under the National Firearms Act (NFA) and exposed millions of American gun owners to criminal penalties for noncompliance.

Sen. John Sununu: Why I support the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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The Second Amendment gives all Americans the right to keep and bear arms, yet gun owners still face a confusing patchwork of contradictory laws and regulations at the state level. When lined up alongside the Second Amendment, none of these state laws make less sense than those governing concealed carry.

In New Hampshire, we believe deeply in the values of local control and state autonomy, but the rights outlined in the Constitution, particularly those found in the Bill of Rights, should be universal among all citizens regardless of where they live.

VA: DOJ warns Virginia over AR-15 ban, citing constitutional rights
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon formally notified Virginia officials that the DOJs Civil Rights Division would sue if the state enacts SB 749, which would ban the sale, manufacture, purchase, and transfer of certain assault-style firearms, including AR-15s. Dhillon cited the Supreme Courts 2022 Bruen decision and other rulings to argue these rifles are protected under the Second Amendment. She warned the bill would unconstitutionally restrict firearms in common use by millions of Americans.

MD: Maryland House Passes HB 577, Doubling Down on Senates Efforts to Stop the Spread of DIY Machine Guns Across the State
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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The legislation prohibits the sale of handguns that can be easily converted into fully automatic machine guns, holding manufacturers to a basic safety standard: if you want to sell in Maryland, your pistol cannot be designed to accept a switch. This approach does not infringe on gun ownership or take away any firearms already owned by Marylanders. Rather, it targets industry designs that make machine gun conversion easy.

Ed.: They are banning the most popular semi-auto handguns in America.

MA: Are Trumps policies spurring more Mass. liberals to turn to guns?
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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Ihioma Bremeus has always had a clear policy in her Boston home about guns: Theyre not allowed. Not even toy guns.

So when she signed up for a firearms training course at Spark FM, a community radio station in Mattapan, her kids were shocked.

Im not someone who believes in guns, said Bremeus, but our president and this Make America Great Again those things scare me.

Now shes planning to get a license and possibly a gun.

VA: Former VA Lt. Gov. Kills Wife, Self Amid 'Messy' Divorce Proceedings
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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A Pittsburgh native, Fairfax served as lieutenant governor under Gov. Ralph Northam.

"At one point in time, it's fair to say Justin Fairfax... before he was lieutenant governor... while serving as lieutenant governor... and even afterwards was a rising political star not just in Northern Virginia, but in Virginia," Davis said.

"So it's high-profile in nature, it's tragic in nature, and certainly a fall from grace for a relatively high-profile family that seemingly had a lot of things going in their favor."

First Circuit Upholds 72-Hour Waiting Period Law
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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As recounted in an August 29, 2025 post, the First Circuit heard argument on a Second Amendment challenge to Maines newly enacted 72-hour waiting period law. The law, as discussed in Andrew Willingers March 6, 2025 post, was enacted in response to Maines deadliest mass shooting, which took place in October 2023. The waiting period was intended to address, and hopefully prevent, firearm suicides (which at the time accounted for approximately 87% of the firearm fatalities in the state; that figure has now risen to 92% of all firearm deaths). Plaintiffs (Maine citizens including businesses and federally-

RI: Rhode Island Moves From Gun Sales Bans to Possession Crackdown Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Less than a year after enacting a sweeping ban on Modern Sporting Rifles (MSRs) mislabeled as assault weapons, Rhode Islands Democratic leadership is back this time targeting possession of commonly owned firearms. At a recent House Judiciary Committee hearing, lawmakers pushed 18 gun control bills in a single slate. The package goes well beyond sales restrictions.

CO: Colorado's Assault on Second Amendment Continues Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Because the Second Amendment protects the right to both keep and bear arms, there's a third thing implied. You can't keep or bear guns if you're unable to acquire them in some manner. In Colorado, where they've been attacking building firearms at home, they're also going after the gun stores with new rules.

Trump DOJ keeps Biden-era gun rule Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
he Trump Department of Justice (DOJ) is backing a Biden-era gun rule over objections from Second Amendment advocates. The administration intends to maintain the Biden administrations Frame or Receiver definition, which subjects firearm parts kits, or ghost guns, to the same regulations as traditional firearms, according to an email shared by Gun Owners of America.

RI: Gun-related legislation is an infringement of RI Constitution
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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I was very glad to see the Middletown Town Council rejected the law passed by the General Assembly which violated the state Constitution home rule charter of cities and towns, article 13 grants cities and towns significant self governing powers while maintaining state oversight grants and confirms to the people of every city and town in Rhode Island, the right to self governing in all local matters, except for taxes and spending money. The General Assembly not only violated the Constitution. They also violated their oath of office; if they can't adhere to their sworn oath of office, they cannot be trusted for anything, and the people of the state should replace them.

DOJ Surrenders its Appeal in Fight Over ATF "Engaged in the Business" Rule
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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Gun Owners of America (GOA) and Gun Owners Foundation (GOF) are proud to announce a major win in our ongoing legal battle against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive's (ATF) Biden-era "Engaged in the Business" rule. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has asked the Fifth Circuit to dismiss its appeal of the preliminary injunction GOA, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, Utah Attorney General Derek Brown, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch obtained against ATF's unconstitutional Biden-era "Engaged in the Business" rule.

Bearing arms: Shifting views among gun owners on a foundational right
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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Reporter Patrik Jonsson has been writing about guns for 15 years. As the Monitors beat reporter in the American Southeast, Patrik has covered gun violence and gun rights; coffee shops banning firearms and stand-your-ground-law advocates using them; mass shootings and the National Rifle Association, and whether the gun itself has become a sacred object in America.

In this weeks magazine, he writes about a new twist in what has become one of this countrys most emotional, and debated, issues: a growing liberal embrace not just of guns themselves, but of an approach to the Second Amendment long associated with the conservative right.

IL: Gun owners take on the Illinois Capitol
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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Supporters of gun rights and Second Amendment advocates gathered in downtown Springfield Wednesday for the annual Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day, or also known as IGOLD. The event started at the Bank of Springfield Center, where attendees gathered before making their way through downtown streets toward the Illinois State Capitol. Participants gathered in front of the Capitol building, where speakers addressed the crowd.

During the rally, attendees voiced opposition to pending legislation, including a proposed five-cent tax on ammunition and requirements that would mandate matching serial numbers on bullets and casings.

MN: Court of Appeals upholds pistol permit revocation
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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A man who had his permit to carry a pistol revoked due to a belief he posed a danger to the public appealed the decision. In a split decision filed April 6, the Minnesota Court of Appeals concluded that the district court was justified in revoking the permit.

Minnesotans who want to obtain a carry permit must satisfy statutory requirements and submit their application to the county sheriff. The sheriff can issue permits but also petition the court to revoke permits. If the court finds by clear and convincing evidence a substantial likelihood the permittee is dangerous to themselves or the public, the court must revoke.

CO: CBI: Woman who called 911 says she shot man in self-defense
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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On Thursday, April 16, the CBI released the identity of the man killed: 40-year-old Zebariah Boh. The coroners findings have been shared with investigators, though no additional details were made available to the public as part of the active investigation.

The 43-year-old female involved has been cooperating with authorities after admitting to firing the weapon in the incident. She has claimed the action was taken in self-defense, the CBI said in the update on Thursday. Investigators are continuing to thoroughly examine the circumstances of the incident, and no official determination has been made to date, nor has case information been presented to the District Attorney for a charging decision.

IL: Hundreds Rally in Springfield for IGOLD 2026 as Gun Owners Push Back on Democrat Policies
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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More than 500 law-abiding citizens and Second Amendment advocates gathered in Springfield on April 15 for the Illinois State Rifle Associations annual Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day (IGOLD), delivering a strong and visible message to lawmakers just steps from the State Capitol.

The event, held at the Bank of Springfield Center, brought together gun owners from across the state to stand in defense of their constitutional rights amid continued pressure from Democrat-led policies in Illinois.

Massie Tells Senate the Second Amendment Exists to Thwart Tyranny
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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Testifying before the United States Senate, Representative Thomas Massie did not hedge, soften, or apologize for the plain meaning of the right to keep and bear arms. He said, The simple and direct language of our Constitution is clear. The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. There are no qualifiers on who may keep arms, what types of arms they may keep, or for what purposes.

He also cut through one of the oldest anti-gun talking points in the book, saying, It certainly doesnt say that the right to bear arms is about trivial matters like deer hunting or skeet shooting. Exactly right.

Swalwell Scrubbed: Brady Group Wipes Site After Aide Assault Allegations
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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The gun control advocacy group Brady has removed all mentions of Representative Eric Swalwell from its official website and YouTube channel following allegations that the congressman assaulted a female aide.

The digital cleanup occurred shortly after the New York Post reported on Swalwells attendance at a 2024 Brady gala awards event, the same night the alleged incident took place.

Swalwell, a longtime ally of the organization, had previously received the groups endorsement and served as a guest speaker at high-profile events. In response to the emerging scandal, Brady has not only scrubbed its archives but has also publicly called for the congressmans resignation.

DOJ Drops Defense of ATF Engaged in the Business Rule in Texas v. ATF
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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The Department of Justice has filed a motion to dismiss the landmark federal lawsuit Texas v. ATF. This is a big triumph for gun rights, as the administration appears to be dropping its defense of a controversial ATF regulation that overreached on private gun sales (EIB rule). It amounts to a significant victory in the fight to protect Americans constitutional right to keep and bear arms without excessive federal interference.