Free Republic

During her confirmation hearing, 7th Circuit Court nominee Nancy Maldonado was questioned by Sen. John Kennedy about supporting Illinois’ “assault weapons” ban. Maldonado had signed a brief arguing such weapons could be banned as too dangerous for self-defense. However, when Kennedy pressed her to define “assault weapon,” Maldonado said she was “not a gun expert” and could not remember the exact definition. Kennedy said, “You said, ‘Assault weapons may be banned because they’re extraordinarily dangerous and are not appropriate for legitimate self-defense purposes.’ Tell me what you meant by ‘assault weapons’?” Kennedy noted she had submitted a brief calling to...

On March 8, 2024, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman decided against a federal ban on gun ownership for illegal immigrant Heriberto Carbajal-Flores. The case at hand centered on Carbajal-Flores, who was “charged with possession of a firearm while illegally or unlawfully in the United States.” He had a handgun in his possession “in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois,” on June 1, 2020. He was charged for being a non-citizen in possession for a firearm.

An anti-gun bill creating a mandatory seven-day waiting period for firearm transactions in New Mexico is now awaiting the governor’s approval following its passage in the state legislature after extensive discussions on Monday evening. The bill underwent some revisions from its original form before securing approval with a narrow 36-32 vote, where it faced opposition primarily from Republican legislators, although some Democrats voted against the anti-gun bill. This marks the second occasion the House has deliberated on the bill due to amendments introduced by the Senate earlier in the session. Key modifications to the bill pertain to exemptions from the...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Legal gun owners who are in possession of firearms since banned by the State of Illinois have been slow to register the weapons under a new law.The Protect Illinois Communities Act banned 170 “assault-style” firearms.The guns are no longer available to purchase in Illinois, and current owners must register with the Illinois State Police by January 1st, 2024.However, in the first two weeks since the registrations opened, the Illinois State Police say only 0.07% of 2.4 million Firearm Owner’s Identification card holders have taken that step.According to police statistics, a total of 1,618 gun owners have...

On Friday, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller (D) responded to Gov. Michell Lujan Grisham’s (D) amended order — banning concealed carry in city parks and playgrounds — by explaining the city of Albuquerque banned guns in city parks three years ago. He noted the ban is facing a lawsuit: Grisham issued her original order banning concealed and open carry in many New Mexico cities on September 8. Lawsuits were almost immediately filed against the order and on September 13, a Biden-appointed judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the ban on concealed and open carry.

A large coalition of House Republicans led by Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., introduced a resolution Thursday condemning Democratic New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham over her now-blocked gun carry ban. The GOP resolution would condemn Lujan Grisham in response to her emergency order last week which suspended concealed and open carry in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the surrounding Bernalillo County for at least 30 days. Republicans, some Democrats and Second Amendment advocates have heavily criticized Lujan Grisham, arguing the order infringes on Americans' constitutional rights. "The shocking move from Governor Grisham is a blatant subversion of the U.S. Constitution and...

On August 3, 2023, Judge Janet Bond Arterton of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut ruled on whether the recent Connecticut law banning the possession of common semi-automatic rifles and pistols under the appellation of “assault weapons” and of standard capacity magazines which hold more than ten rounds. Judge Arterton ruled the law is not prohibited by the Second Amendment. She does not see it as an infringement because, she claims, “assault weapons” and magazines over ten rounds are not arms protected by the Second Amendment. Magazines that hold more than ten rounds are referred to...

Colorado mothers hold sit-in to demand ban on all guns in violation of constitutions BY JUSTIN ADAMS JUNE 5, 2023 / 11:27 AM / CBS COLORADO Thousands of women, many who are moms, gathered at the Colorado State Capital for an anti-gun event on Monday. The group, "Here 4 The Kids," wants Gov. Jared Polis to sign an executive order banning guns altogether, including law enforcement and the national guard, even though they know it violates United States and Colorado constitutions. The crowd arrived just before 5 a.m. "We are here for the kids. We are here to ban guns...

When Governor Murphy and the New Jersey Democrats rushed a flurry of gun laws through the legislature last June of 2022, one of the laws rammed through was under the guise of banning guns with no serial numbers.This law banned millions of rifles, shotguns, handguns, hunting guns, target shooting guns, military surplus guns, and virtually ALL muzzleloaders, black powder guns, antique guns, air guns and BB guns.There are NO exceptions and there is NO grandfathering. This was the largest gun ban ever passed in the history of the United States. The law bans ALL firearms with a “…firearm frame or...

Gun ownership increased sixfold under former Brazilian President Bolosonaro, homicides dropped 34% A gun expert is asking academics to put their money where their mouths are and bet $1,000 on Brazil as a case study that stricter gun laws won't mean less crime. No one has taken him up on the bet yet, but some have hit back by calling the challenge a "stunt" and saying they will put cash up if the terms meet their requirements. Brazil took a hard turn away from gun ownership with a new left-wing presidential administration this year, sparking a debate on whether Brazil’s...

Here 4 the Kids, a gun control group comprised of mothers, is urging Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) to use an executive order to ban all guns in the state. The mothers are hoping a “group of 25,000 will come together for a sit-in at the state Capitol” on June 5 to demand all guns be banned, 9 News reports. The homepage on the Here 4 the Kids website says, “We demand that Colorado Governor Jared Polis sign an executive order to ban guns and buy them back.” Another section of their website explains, “We are not an organization. This...

Suburban gun shop owners were swamped with weekend crowds after a federal judge in the district court for the Southern District of Illinois issued an injunction Friday, blocking enforcement of the state’s January ban on military-style firearms.When Roger Krahl, owner of RGuns in Carpentersville, heard about the injunction, he said the phones in his office lit up like a Christmas tree.“Within 15 minutes, we had people coming in,” Krahl told the Tribune on Saturday. “There was a line outside the door before I could open up this morning. There will be no lunch today, because we’ll be going nonstop.”Krahl told...

On March 1, 2023, Governor Jim Justice of West Virginia signed SB 10, the Campus Carry Act into law. The law goes into effect on July 1, 2024. Governor Justice was enthusiastic about signing the new law. He proudly described his growing up in West Virginia and told a story about hunting grouse with a 20 gauge shotgun, which was repaired by one of the people in attendance at the ceremony. West Virginia is the 12 state to remove bans on the carry of weapons at institutes of post-secondary education. Numerous members of the West Virginia Citizens Defense League (WVCDL)...

Three federal lawsuits against Illinois’ gun ban made some movement Monday as a federal judge ordered a response from the state to show “each and every item banned.” In the Southern District of Illinois, four cases are pending. One is from the Federal Firearms Licensees of Illinois. Plaintiffs in that case filed a motion for preliminary injunction last week. In three other cases, federal Judge Stephen McGlynn ordered state defendants to provide “illustrative examples of each and every item banned” under state law. Thomas Maag, who brought the state level Crawford County case that was transferred to federal court, said...

A sheriff in southern Illinois has said the state's ban on the sale and possession of semiautomatic weapons, which was signed into law on Tuesday by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, is unconstitutional and that he won't enforce the ban. Edwards County Sheriff Darby Boewe posted a letter on the sheriff's department Facebook page that states, "Part of my duties that I accepted upon being sworn into office was to protect the rights to all of us in the Constitution. One of those rights enumerated is the right of the people to keep and bear arms provided under the Second Amendment." Boewe...

HB5855 is a bill that heavily infringes on the right to arms protected by the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America. Ironically, it is titled the “Protect Illinois Communities Act”. The bill has been introduced into the Illinois House of Representatives by Representative Bob Morgan, (D) of the 58th District in Springfield, Illinois. Representative Morgan is a prolific introducer of bills. In 2022, he introduced 38 bills, none of which has moved beyond the introduction phase and passed to the House of Representatives. He introduced 36 bills in 2021, but again none of them passed...

Twitter overlord, Elon Musk, once again terrorized the world this week, tweeting a photo of his bedside table covered in Coke and guns. The guns appear to be a replica of a Revolutionary War era flintlock pistol, and a prop sci-fi gun with no trigger. The Coke appears to be Diet."This is why we don't want Twitter in the App Store," said Apple boss Tim Cook, "This man wantonly terrorizes the firearm ignorant community, which is our most loyal customer base." Tim Cook shared a picture of a tearful young woman wearing a shirt that read, "Bear Arms are for...

Fewer guns mean safer communities. That’s why the Government of Canada is implementing some of the strongest gun control measures in a generation. Handguns are the weapon of choice in most firearm-related crimes, which is why limiting the number of handguns is a critical part of our plan to protect Canadians from gun violence. The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the national freeze on the sale, purchase, and transfer of handguns comes into effect. From now on, people cannot buy, sell, or transfer handguns within Canada, and they cannot bring newly acquired handguns into the country. A national handgun...

The House passed an assault weapons ban Friday evening looking to give Democrats a last-minute win on their way out the door for August recess. Five Democrats voted against the measure - Reps. Kurt Schrader, Ore., Vicente Gonzalez, Texas, Rep. Jared Golden, Maine and Rep. Ron Kind, R-Wisc. Two Republicans voted for the measure - Reps. Chris Jacobs, N.Y., and Brian Fitzpatrick, Pa. The ban cleared a procedural hurdle that allowed the House to move forward with expedited debate on Friday afternoon, with a final vote expected to follow. Three Democrats - Reps. Vicente Gonzalez, Texas, Jared Golden, Maine, and...

On 20 August 2021, the U.S. Department of State released a fact sheet announcing Russian firearms and ammunition importation will be banned for a minimum of 12 months starting 7 September 2021. From state.gov: New sanctions imposed today under the CBW Act include:Restrictions on the permanent imports of certain Russian firearms. New and pending permit applications for the permanent importation of firearms and ammunition manufactured or located in Russia will be subject to a policy of denial.The ban is listed as a sanction pursuant to the Chemical and Biological Weapons (CBW) Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991, over the...