Democrats and Republicans: Gun Right LET'S TAKE A LOOK

Oral Arguments Begin In Oregon Supreme Court Over Restrictive Gun Law Challenge Mark Chesnut Oral arguments begin before the Oregon Supreme Court in the challenge to Measure 114—the restrictive gun-control law passed by voters three years ago. For background, Measure 114 was voted on in November 2022 and passed by a narrow margin of 50.65% to 49.35%. The law includes a very restrictive permit-to-purchase scheme, so-called “universal” background checks, and a 10-round magazine capacity limit. The permit-to-purchase provision is extremely problematic in that even if Oregon citizens jump through all the required hoops, receiving the permit doesn’t mean they’ll be able to purchase a firearm. The law actually states: “A permit-to-purchase issued under this section does not create any right of the permit holder to receive a firearm.” As for so-called “high-capacity” magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, such magazines are commonly owned by millions of Americans for all manner of lawful purposes, including self-defense, sporting and hunting. In fact, Americans owned approximately 115 million such magazines as of November 2022, with millions more purchased since then. In December 2022, just before the measure was set to take effect, a district court judge blocked the law from being enforced. Shortly after, then-state Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum asked the Oregon Supreme Court to step in and allow the law to take effect, but that court declined to overturn the lower court’s decision. Then, on March 12, 2025, the Oregon Court of Appeals reversed the lower court ruling that declared the law unconstitutional. The law remains on hold and has not yet taken effect due to the ongoing legal battle.

How Gun-Banners Bought A Red-Flag Law Mark Chesnut - After a terrible mass murder in Lewiston, Maine, back in October 2023, gun-ban advocates began to push all manners of new gun control laws, despite the fact that few if any would actually make anyone safer. One such was a so-called “red-flag” law, which would allow the state to confiscate firearms from lawful owners without due process, the same as most such laws. Gun grabbers didn’t get everything they wanted, though, as the legislature instead passed a “yellow-flag” law that sought to protect due process rights of Pine Tree State gun owners. That law required law enforcement to request emergency restraining protective orders, and there was also a requirement for mental health consultation. That, however, wasn’t enough restrictions for gun-ban advocates, who wanted to make it where family members can turn in their gun-owning kin, without due process of law, of course. Fast forward to Nov. 4 of this year, and gun-ban advocates finally got what they wanted. Despite that fact that important voices across the political spectrum, from Governor Janet Mills to Governor Paul LePage, advised voters to oppose Question 2, the problematic measure passed with nearly 63% approval. About 306,000 people voted for the measure, compared to 180,000 who voted against it. If you wonder exactly how that happened, look no further than the money trail. According to a report at ammoland.com, anti-gun groups spent 12-times more money to get the scheme passed than pro-gun groups spent trying to defeat the proposal.

Socialist New York Governor Hochel NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will become a national anti-gun force NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has become a national anti-gun spokesman. by Lee Williams Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson described Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani’s election victory as “the biggest win for socialism and the biggest loss for the American people.” Speaker Johnson understands how badly the New York City mayor-elect can harm our civil rights, especially our Second Amendment rights. The mainstream media looks at Mamdani with damn-near lust in their eyes. He’s 34, good-looking, well spoken, Muslim and even more leftist than the reporters who cover his every single word. The anti-gun media has constantly tried to stamp-out those who support the Second Amendment. Their only problem has been finding the right sources. However, once Mamdani is sworn in as Mayor, the media’s wait is over. Mamdani will become a loud national anti-gun voice. The Democratic Socialists of America could hardly contain their glee Tuesday night, firing off a lengthy statement that contained most of their policy plans, at least the ones they want the public to know about. “We look forward to fighting alongside Mayor Mamdani to win a rent freeze, fast and free buses, and universal childcare. We will continue to fight for a free Palestine, to get ICE out of our cities, fight for alternatives to policing that truly keep communities safe, and stand up to Donald Trump’s attacks on our social services,” Democratic Socialists of America posted on its website. For all gun owners, not just those behind the lines in New York City, Mamdani’s election was the absolute worst. He never hid his hatred of modern firearms. In fact, he was lobbying hard against legal firearm ownership before he was elected mayor. “We are reminded—no matter how strong our gun laws are in this state—we are only as safe as the weakest laws in this nation,” Mamdani claimed throughout his mayoral campaign. He even had it posted on his X account. Like New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Mamdani has repeatedly called for a federal ban on what he and Hochul call “assault rifles.”

Governor Ron DeSantis Florida Judges Strike Down Key Gun Restrictions While Lawmakers Face Pressure to Act Scott Witner Two recent court decisions in Florida have declared parts of the state’s gun laws unconstitutional, shaking up the legal landscape in one of the nation’s most firearm-friendly states and prompting calls for lawmakers to act. Despite Florida’s reputation as a pro-gun state, its Republican-controlled Legislature passed several restrictive measures after the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Those included raising the minimum age to buy a firearm to 21 and maintaining a ban on open carry. Now, both of those laws are under fire, and the courts appear to be siding with the Constitution. Broward County Judge Strikes Down Age Restriction In Broward County, Circuit Judge Frank Ledee ruled that Florida’s ban on concealed carrying for adults under 21 is unconstitutional. The ruling came after he overturned the conviction of 19-year-old Joel Walkes, who had been charged with a third-degree felony for carrying a concealed handgun. Under current law, 18- to 20-year-olds can legally own a firearm if it’s gifted or inherited, but they cannot purchase one or carry it concealed. Judge Ledee found that the restriction fails the “historical tradition” test established by the U.S. Supreme Court in NYSRPA v. Bruen, which requires gun laws to align with the nation’s historical understanding of the Second Amendment. Ledee also referenced a recent appellate decision striking down Florida’s open carry ban, noting that the state’s firearm laws have become inconsistent. “Distilling these inconsistencies into a framework of firearm regulations compatible with the guarantee to bear arms…is best left to the wisdom of legislative debate,” Ledee wrote. Open Carry Ruling Adds Fuel to the Fire Florida’s First District Court of Appeal addressed the open carry issue in September in a case involving a man arrested in downtown Pensacola on July 4, 2022, for openly carrying a holstered handgun along with a copy of the U.S. Constitution. The court ruled that Florida’s blanket prohibition on open carry cannot stand under the Second Amendment, effectively restoring the right to carry a firearm openly. Existing limitations still apply, including bans on carrying in a threatening manner or in prohibited areas such as schools, bars, or government meetings.

What You Should Never Do or You Need Think About As A Legal Gun Owner Gregg Kielma looks at what to and not to do when carrying a firearm. Please, friends, as legal firearm owners, we need to think about using a firearm in self-defense. We need to be the "Responsible Person" Let’s take a look at the 12 thoughts about owning and brandishing a firearm. Americans love guns. They love to point them at a target and squeeze off a few rounds, whether to eliminate stress or just to see what happens when a bullet traveling at high velocity shreds a Budweiser can. Indeed, the numbers prove it – there are 393 million firearms owned by civilians in the U.S., a number that’s higher than the number of people in the U.S. As much as Americans love guns, they can sometimes be a bit forgetful when it comes to the rules. That’s a sorry situation because those rules are there to ensure that everyone goes home safe and sound after a day at the range. Here’s our list of rules, guidelines, and advice for what you should never do as a gun owner. 1. Don’t Carry Without a Permit… EVER! This may seem obvious, but many rules seem obvious, and people flout them anyway. So we’re going to start off with a no-brainer that we implore you to take seriously – if your state requires a permit for carrying concealed or open, take that permit with you if you’re going to do some shooting. Think of it the same way you will always carry your license if you want to drive. 2. Never Point a Gun at Something You Don’t Mean to Shoot Again, this may seem obvious, but the headlines are full of tragic stories of people who inadvertently ended someone else’s life because they were absent-mindedly pointing a gun in some random direction. If you don’t want to turn up on the six o’clock news or be found guilty of criminal negligence, don’t point your gun at anything you don’t plan on shooting. 3. Get the Background Check Background checks vary from state to state, with some requiring longer waiting periods than others in order to make sure someone buying a gun doesn’t have a long history of violent crime. While you may have never committed a crime in your life, you still don’t want to dispense with background check, which is part of making sure that every aspect of your gun ownership is done by the book and to the letter. 4. Never Leave Your Gun Unsecured…EVER! This should really go without saying, but apparently, a lot of people never got the memo, so please pay attention to the following statement – never leave your gun unsecured. Store it in a safe, a locked cabinet, any other place with a mechanism that prevents access without a key. This is especially important for anyone with children, particularly small children who like to get into every cabinet and drawer in the house and ask, “What does this do?” 5. Educate Your Household If you’ve bought a gun, or several guns, it’s important that you sit down with your entire household and explicitly discuss the safety protocols with everyone until it’s clear to you that you’ve been understood. Even if you have someone in your household who is 100% against guns and never intends to touch one, make sure you educate them as well. You never know. 6 . Never Use Alcohol or Drugs While Handling Guns…EVER! Maybe the easiest way to demonstrate this rule is by comparing it to driving. If you wouldn’t steer a two-ton metal object down the highway at 95 miles per hour after a few drinks, then you should likewise not start playing with a gun under those circumstances either. You’re not okay to shoot, any more than an inebriated motorist is okay to drive. 7. Don’t Brandish Your Weapon to Intimidate…EVER! First, there are laws against waving a gun around to threaten somebody, even if you have no intention of firing it. Guns can discharge accidentally if mishandled, potentially resulting in lengthy prison sentences. So please, only make gestures with your index finger. 8. Never Assume a Gun is Unloaded…It’s ALWAYS LOADED! This is one of the first things that’s taught in gun safety courses – never assume that a gun is unloaded. In fact, perhaps it’s safer yet to assume it’s loaded unless you see some kind of ironclad evidence to the contrary. Treat every gun like a loaded gun until you’ve personally checked it and made sure it’s not a danger to anyone, including yourself. 9. Don’t Shoot Without Knowing What’s Behind Your Target…DON’T HURT ANYONE BEYOND THE INTENDED TARGET! If you’re shooting at something, it’s important to remember that you’re not just shooting at a target. You’re also shooting at what’s behind that target. Bullets can go through walls, windows, and many other things that your target may be in front of, so be aware of what lurks behind whatever it is that you’re pumping full of hot lead. 10. Control Your Emotions…Deescalate… Just as you shouldn’t drive angry, you shouldn’t shoot while you’re angry. It’s also not such a hot idea to shoot when you’re consumed with despair. Basically, if you’re going to handle a gun, make sure your mind is clear and your emotions are cool. The prisons are full of people who got momentarily upset and made a choice in the heat of the moment that can never be undone. 11. Don’t Dismiss the Importance of Mental Health. Sometimes, when a horrifying story about a shooter makes the headlines, the shooter has been in the throes of an untreated mental illness that makes it hard for them to tell right from wrong. If you’re a gun owner and you feel like you may be struggling with such common mental health issues as depression or anxiety, seek out medical help sooner rather than later, so it doesn’t turn from a treatable mental illness into something much worse. 12. Never Use a Gun to Solve Personal Problems. The headlines are full of stories about people losing their lives to gun violence. Sometimes, it was all over a property dispute, a noise complaint, or some other small-time nuisance that could have been resolved without violence, and the aftermath can be devastating. Firearms advocates are clear in their belief that guns should be used for protection and defense only, not for resolving personal disputes.

Gregg Kielma says"Glock My Choice" Has Been for 40 Plus Years Is it worth spending extra on a Glock or similar firearm, or is a Hi-Point or similar firearm sufficient for most basic needs? What About Training? Gregg Kielma USCCA Instructor-FFL-Gunsmith There are several topics to discuss here. Let's Take A LOOK. First: If you are new to firearms, you want a pistol that works for you, is reliable, and can fit your budget. But remember that cheap is not necessarily good; it can be, but it’s not generally the way to go; what matters is that it fits you, and you are effective with it. I can’t emphasize that enough. I always tell new firearm owners that they must try different pistols to find the one that works best for them. THE best-feeling pistol I’ve ever held in my hands was a Glock 19. It felt as if it had been purpose-designed to fit my own hands. It felt…wonderful. I have owned my Glock 19 35 years, 40K rounds through it and never had a single issue. I’m a Glock firearms proponent in every sense of the word. It will always be firearm of choice. As a gunsmith, this is my choice. For you? I have no idea. I know competitive shooters who do quite well with Glocks; they like them a lot. The point is that you can’t know, just by the brand name. Yes, Glocks have a great reputation. This is what I recommend to my students and clients. Second, a High-Point is an inexpensive gun. You may be able to tweak it to be able to run reliably, but to do that, you need to know something about pistols. You don’t, so I would, hands-down, urge you not to buy one. Presumably you want this for personal protection and defense; you do not want to put that reliance on a cheap, possibly ineffective firearm. Quality matters here. I’ve owned a High-Point 9mm pistol. I’d read about how it could be made to run reliably (primarily by tweaking the magazine feed lips and polishing the feed ramp), and that sounded like something I’d like to try. So I bought one and proceeded to play with it and tweak it. It ran reliably, for the most part, once I modified it. It was an ugly gun, designed to be cheap, and it was. But all it took was one of these and that was it for me. What am I talking about? A jam. I used all different ammunition manufacturers and my own loads I made which are in my opinion perfect. The round didn’t feed into the chamber (the open space just to the right of the bullet), it jammed left of the barrel and chamber no matter what I used. Not something you want when in a difficult spot. For whatever reason, the High Point didn’t like that bullet profile. It was an absolute bear to get that jam cleared. and that was it for me. The gun would load and shoot standard FMJ (full metal jacket) bullets quite well, but not my own TCB handloads. It's now sitting in my collection of firearms I'll never use again. Third, you want a firearm that fits you, with which you are accurate, and which uses ammunition cheap enough that you’ll practice with it. A 9mm pistol fits this bill best, IMO. A lot of new shooters will gravitate toward .380 pistols, but it is not only a less-capable round, but its ammunition is also expensive compared to the 9mm offerings. That means you will likely shoot less because it costs more. Shooting is a perishable skill that you need to refresh on a regular basis. Fourth, you really, really want to get some training. Me, Gregg Kielma from Tactical K Training and Firearms can teach you about shooting, so you learn good habits from the start. A good teacher will instruct you in grip, sight picture, stance, and trigger control. As an FFL and range owner I can also help you find the best pistol for you. I have several models you can test for fit and ease of use. This is crucial; if you don’t know much about firearms, please get some training with Gregg. Yes, it’s going to cost, but if you can’t use a firearm effectively, what’s the point in buying one? Fifth, while Glock is an excellent name, its fame is tied to being one of the very first effective polymer-framed handguns. Many manufacturers now make excellent pistols. You know what my first choice is, Glock. Don’t limit yourself to thinking about the cheapest (High Point). Get a reliable firearm you know will not jam when you need it most. Have fun figuring out what is the best gun for you, enjoy the process. We have over 150 firearms for sale get one that’s right for you! Good luck, and please call me to get the training you need. Stay Safe! Gregg Kielma Tactical K Training and Firearms

If I'm legal to carry a gun but conceal it without a license, can I really get in trouble? Gregg Kielma USCCA Firearms Instructor Says Gregg Kielma FFL, Firearms Instructor, Gunsmith, and ERT Captain. I get asked this question a lot. "Do yourself a favor and spend the money to take the class and get the permit. Knowledge is power and ignorance of the law is not an excuse. Invest in yourself, know the laws and understand how a firearm is used. Please take my class for the most up to date information available. Yes, if you get caught carrying a concealed weapon without a permit in a state that requires permits, that is a crime, and you can go to jail for it. Many states allow permitless open carry but require a permit for concealed carry in most circumstances. My home state of Virginia is one of them. In Virginia, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit is a class 1 misdemeanor, good for up to 1 year in jail and a $2500 fine for the first offense. Subsequent offences can be charged as a class 6 felony. Many states recognize Constitutional carry, i.e. concealed carry without a permit. The states that recognize Constitutional Carry are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Even if you live in a Constitutional Carry state, it is still in your benefit to get a carry permit, because that gives you reciprocal carry rights in other states that recognize your permit. EG a Vermont resident visiting Virginia would need either a Vermont resident permit or a Virginia non-resident permit to carry a concealed handgun in Virginia. Even in your home state, a valid carry permit creates an additional layer of trust and legal protection when dealing with law enforcement.

Akron Man Gets 10 Years for Illegal “Glock Switch” Firearm – Part of a Growing National Trend Scott Witner An Akron, Ohio man has been sentenced to ten years in prison after being convicted of possessing an illegally modified Glock pistol equipped with a “switch,” a small device that converts a handgun from semi-automatic to fully automatic fire. Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich announced that 33-year-old Maurice Arnold received the sentence following his conviction on weapons and drug charges. Investigators said one of the Glock pistols found in his home was fitted with an illegal switch, a device about the size of a quarter that allows a pistol to fire continuously with a single pull of the trigger. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) classify these devices as machine guns under federal law. Possession is illegal under both federal and Ohio statutes. According to a 2025 ATF report, law enforcement recoveries of Glock switches have increased 784 percent since 2019, with more than 5,800 seized nationwide in 2023. Arnold’s case began when his parole officer, who was supervising him for a 2012 felonious assault conviction, noticed social media posts showing him handling firearms. After multiple parole violations, police obtained a warrant for his arrest and searched his Akron residence, where they recovered three firearms, including one Glock equipped with the switch, and about 300 grams of marijuana. Arnold was initially released on bond but later removed his GPS ankle monitor and attempted to flee. He was eventually captured and convicted in September on the following charges: • Having weapons while under disability (two forfeiture specifications) • Unlawful possession of dangerous ordnance with a six-year firearm specification • Trafficking in marijuana “Glock switches endanger everyone in our streets, and there is no need for anyone to own one,” said Prosecutor Kolkovich. “Removing these tools of mass violence from the streets and holding those who possess them accountable is one of my key enforcement priorities.” A Local Case Reflecting a National Trend Arnold’s case is part of a growing national issue surrounding Glock switches and the federal government’s efforts to control them. As previously reported in Glock Discontinues Dozens of Pistol Models Amid ‘Switch’ Controversy and Market Shift, Glock has taken significant steps to refocus its product line amid increasing scrutiny from lawmakers and the media.

SAF, Other Groups File Brief With Supreme Court In Marijuana User Gun Ban Challenge Mark Chesnut The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), along with a handful of partner organizations, have filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) urging the court to grant certiorari in a case challenging the federal ban on firearm possession by individuals who use marijuana. The case, Harris v. United States, revolves around whether the law restricting marijuana users for purchasing or possession guns violates the Second Amendment-protected rights of those pot users. And plaintiffs are challenging the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals ruling from earlier this year. “Because of the prohibition found in 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), if Americans choose to use marijuana or other cannabis products (that often are legal in their state), they must surrender their Second Amendment right before they do so—and not only when they are intoxicated,” the amicus brief stated. “They may not even own firearms if they regularly consume cannabis products. This does not square with the lengthy historical tradition of how alcohol and firearms have been regulated.” Kostas Moros, SAF director of legal research and education, said the 3rd Circuit got it wrong in its earlier ruling. “The Third Circuit’s ruling defies Bruen and Rahimi by upholding a lifetime disarmament of sober citizens who occasionally use a substance—marijuana—that is now legal to various extents in 40 states and socially accepted by a supermajority of Americans,” Moros said in a news release announcing the filing. “History shows that Founding-era laws addressed the danger of mixing alcohol and firearms by temporarily disarming the actively intoxicated, never by stripping gun rights from anyone who simply drank in moderation. The Third Circuit ignored this close historical analogue and instead relied on remote comparisons to laws disarming the ‘furiously mad.’ We urge the Court to intervene and restore the proper Bruen framework.”