Keep and Bear Arms - Gun Owners Home Page

Rape on Campus - Learning from the Experience of Others
Submitted by: Robert Morse
Website: slowfacts.wordpress.com

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Western culture changed. Compared to 50 years ago, we now encourage women to excel in the workplace. We want women to take all the education they can and then start powerful careers.

Unfortunately, college presidents and university regents don�t provide physical safety on campus. Until we change the political landscape that keeps honest people disarmed, avoid the colleges that leave you defenseless and vulnerable.

HI: Firearm Surrender Bill to be Heard, Trigger Modification Bill Passes Committee
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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On February 6th, the Hawaii Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs (PSM) passed Senate Bill 2046 and also passed Senate Bill 2436 with amendments. Both bills will now move to the Senate Judiciary Committee for further consideration. Tomorrow, February 8th, the House Committee on Public Safety will hear House Bill 2228, legislation that will drastically reduce the time period that prohibited persons have to surrender firearms. Please contact members of the House Committee on Public Safety and urge their opposition to House Bill 2228. Click the �Take Action� button below to contact members of the committee.

Is 8 Enough?
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Man has long been faced with difficult decisions. Is it hereditary or environment? Form or function? Ginger or Mary Ann? One we can mostly answer when it comes to firearms is which is most important: form or function? Unless you�re simply a non-shooting collector, function has to be preeminent. However, at least for me, I not only want perfect function (or as close as we can get to it), I also prefer eye-pleasing sixguns and semi-autos.

IDPA: New rules, same challenge
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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IDPA has changed. Over the course of the last several years, IDPA has made multiple substantial changes to its rulebook to the delight of some and the lamenting of others.

Just like our own Constitution, IDPA's rulebook is a "living" document and changes to keep up with the times. Sometimes you get prohibition-type rules that are quickly repealed, and sometimes you get lasting rules that change the sport for the better.

I was thrust headfirst into these changes as I recently competed in the 2018 South Mountain Showdown presented by Healy Arms at the Phoenix Rod and Gun Club.

WA: Gun control bills still active at session mid-point
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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A number of gun control bills are continuing to move through the Washington State Legislature as the short 60 day session reaches its mid-point. Feb. 1 marked the deadline for bills to exit their committee of origin, giving some representatives the confidence to announce the demise of certain gun control bills.

According to Representative Matt Shea from the Spokane Valley, a number of negative gun control proposals �died in committee� last week including a proposal to ban magazines that hold more than 10 rounds (House Bill 2422/Senate Bill 6049) and a proposal to make it unlawful for someone to carry a concealed firearm into another person�s home without express permission (SB 6415).

Smith & Wesson .44 Combat Magnum
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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In November 1955, Smith & Wesson presented Bill Jordan with the first .357 Combat Magnum. This 6-shot medium-frame revolver weighed 1/2 pound less than the original .357. This was a very significant development, however, one month later it was overshadowed by the introduction of the first .44 Magnum. Both of these classics are now gone, however, they have been blended together in the 5-shot L-Frame Combat Magnum chambered in .44 Magnum.

NJ: Second Amendment activists challenge N.J.�s strict gun laws Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
A New Jersey man who was denied a permit to carry a concealed firearm is suing state law enforcement officials and judges in federal court, claiming they violated his constitutional rights. The lawsuit was filed just days after state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced that the state was reverting to a stricter standard for granting firearm permits.

Feds move to drop charges against remaining Bundy standoff defendants
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Federal prosecutors want to drop charges against the four remaining defendants in the Bundy Ranch standoff case, including two militia members from Arizona.

Attorneys for the Nevada U.S. Attorney's Office filed a motion late Wednesday asking the court to dismiss the remaining cases "in the interest of justice."

Dave and Mel Bundy, and Arizona residents Joseph O'Shaughnessy and Jason Woods, were scheduled to stand trial Feb. 26.

Russia: Russian Post Office Intercepts Attempt to Mail AK-47 to Siberia Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Russian postal employees have intercepted an attempt to send a Kalashnikov rifle through the mail from Moscow to Siberia. Russia has strict gun laws that make it hard for residents to obtain firearms, although hunting rifles are common. In 2014, a law was passed that licensed the carrying of guns for self-defense.

Banning 'bump stocks' falls on states, cities after Las Vegas shooting
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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A slew of cities and states have pushed to pass laws banning the so-called �bump stock� recoil devices that authorities say shooter Stephen Paddock used when he opened fire at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas, killing 58 people and injuring hundreds of others.

Local officials say they have grown frustrated with the federal government's inaction and have begun taking matters into their own hands.

But the local efforts have found mixed success.

TX: Texas shoots holes in gun stereotypes Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
There is a rather large and noticeable sign outside the entrance to Amarillo City Council which prohibits attendees from carrying a firearm into city council chambers. The sign has been there since at least 2016. The city is entitled by state law to restrict where licensed firearm owners can carry their firearms on city property, as are other governmental entities in the state of Texas.

WY: �Stand Your Ground� bill proposed in Legislature
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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A bill that would extend protections for a person who uses deadly force under a serious threat of harm has been introduced in the Wyoming Legislature.

Republican Sen. Anthony Bouchard, of Cheyenne, is the main sponsor of the so-called �stand your ground� proposal.

Bouchard�s bill offers protection both against criminal charges as well as civil lawsuits if the person was clearly acting in self-defense against an attack.

Ed.: Third story from top of page.

Bipartisan Legislation Introduced To Restore Veterans� Second Amendment Rights
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) introduced bipartisan legislation along with Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) to restore veterans� Second Amendment rights. Under current practice, once the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assigns a fiduciary to help a veteran manage benefit payments, the VA will report that veteran�s name to the National Criminal Instant Background Check System (NICS), commonly known as the national gun ban list.

Column against gun rights misses target
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Once again, Cynthia Tucker gets it all wrong in her piece titled �Congress still ignores gun violence.�

The term �gun violence� is a complete misnomer. It is not the gun that is violent, but the person using it. Blaming the gun for violent acts instead of the person using it is like blaming the car for the death caused by the drunk driver.

We need to address better ways to deal with violent criminals, the mentally disturbed and the gang brutality mentality, as stricter gun laws that only burden law-abiding citizens will not fix America�s violence problem.

A 2nd Amendment Thought Experiment
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Here's a simple thought experiment regarding the 2nd Amendment. What do you think the U.S. would be like if we didn't have it?

Without the 2nd Amendment, firearms would likely be highly restricted and controlled. Various state legislatures might not vote for that, but it would come about through a combination of federal action, judicial decisions, and bureaucratic decrees. Violent crime would probably be higher as an unarmed citizenry is easy prey for criminals. In all likelihood, America would look like other Anglo countries such as Australia and Great Britain with respect to gun ownership.

WA: Additional Gun-Control Bill Fails Deadline, Others Still Moving
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Yesterday was the deadline for all bills with a fiscal note to pass out of the Senate Ways & Means Committee and House Appropriations Committee. Substitute Senate Bill 5444, which would create a back-door registry and 10 day waiting period on commonly owned semi-automatic firearms, failed to receive a committee vote by the fiscal cutoff deadline and is likely defeated for the year. As previously reported, SB 5444 was referred to the Senate Ways & Means Committee last week after passing the Senate Law and Justice Committee on a 4-3 vote.

Bump Stocks Shouldn�t Be Regulated, Public Tells ATF
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was recently flooded with comments requesting the agency to abstain from regulating bump stocks, a firearms accessory that gained notoriety after it was used by a gunman who targeted a Las Vegas concert in October 2017.

A bump stock effectively allows a semi-automatic weapon to simulate automatic fire. In 2010, the ATF found that �the stock has no automatically functioning mechanical parts or springs and performs no automatic mechanical function when installed.�

Let Medical Marijuana Patients Have Guns, Former NRA Head Says
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Federal restrictions that criminalize medical marijuana patients are causing �real problems,� the former president of the National Rifle Association (NRA) says.

�The refusal of the federal government to accede to the judgment of the states on the issue has created problems for tens or even hundreds of thousands of gun owners who are being forced to either trade their Second Amendment rights for a chance to live pain-free or risk prosecution and imprisonment,� David Keene, who was NRA�s president until 2013, wrote in a Washington Times op-ed.

NV: Time for Nevada to put tracer ammunition in its crosshairs
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Tracer ammunition was developed so that soldiers could more effectively kill enemy combatants at night and over long distances. It was later was found useful in air warfare, where it helped pilots see the trajectories of the bullets fired from their planes.

So what need would there be for civilians to have tracer bullets?

There isn�t one, which is why some Americans may have been surprised by last week�s news that Stephen Paddock legally bought hundreds of rounds of tracer ammo before the Oct. 1 shooting.

FL: Why should veterans get concealed weapon permits? Adam Putnam says it's because they face threats from ISIS
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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The road to Tallahassee was paved with a Wednesday pit stop at the Veterans Art Center in St. Petersburg for gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam, who shared his �conservative vision� to �push back against forces of the left that want Florida to be more like California or Illinois or New York or other failed states.�

John Denver�s �Take Me Home Country Roads� played in the background.

Putnam, Florida�s Commissioner of Agriculture, was introduced as a �devout husband, father and unabashed Christian.�

NY: Pistol permit holders offered grace recertification period
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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While those who neglect to renew their pistol permits could ultimately have their licenses revoked, there will be leeway granted initially, Mr. Duffy said.

�State police will not take criminal enforcement action against those permit holders who unknowingly fail to recertify,� he said. �Since we have upwards of 40,000 paper forms that need to be entered into the system, it will be a while � possibly up to a year or more � before we have complete and accurate records. Until that time, enforcement will be impossible.�