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TN: Police investigating self-defense claim after deadly Antioch shooting Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
According to authorities, two men were reportedly following a white pickup truck they said was stolen. When the truck driver � who was armed with a machete � stopped, one of the men following in a gray pickup fired, killing him, officials said. Police are looking into the self-defense claim as they investigate the fatal shooting. No additional details have been released about the incident.

UT: Woman accused of killing professional bull rider was acting in self-defense, attorneys claim
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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Wiley said there was video footage of Allen and Bagley�s friend kicking at Bagley�s door attempting to open it. The footage also allegedly showed Allen with �an object� in his hand, which he said was consistent with a rock found at the crime scene near a broken window pane. The rock reportedly did not make it through the interior window, however, Wiley said the rock is believed to be used to break an exterior window pane.

Court documents say Bagley had called 911 during this time and told the operator, �They�re beating on my window.� Shortly after, shots were fired from inside the apartment and Allen was struck multiple times. Allen was taken to the hospital where he ultimately died due to his wounds.

OK: Former cop: Stop punishing Oklahoma women who survive domestic violence
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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As a current professor and a former police detective, I�m on my third decade of investigating violent behavior for a living. The evidence is clear: Self-defense isn�t a �logical� decision. It is a neuro-biological response, hardwired in our brains as a subconscious imperative for self-preservation. Survivors of domestic violence are human beings, doing what humans are designed to do: survive.

We, on the other hand, are punishing them for it. Let me explain.

NM: New Mexico governor issues order suspending the right to carry firearms in public across Albuquerque
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday issued an emergency order suspending the right to carry firearms in public across Albuquerque and the surrounding county for at least 30 days amid a spate of gun violence.

The Democratic governor said she is expecting legal challenges but felt compelled to act in response to gun deaths, including the fatal shooting of an 11-year-old boy outside a minor league baseball stadium this week.

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Under the order, people with concealed carry permits still are allowed to transport guns to some private locations, such as a gun range or gun store � provided that the firearm has a trigger lock or some other container or mechanism that makes it impossible to discharge.

Short Circuit: A Roundup of Recent Federal Court Decisions
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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Two California gun owners claim it's essentially impossible to get an open-carry permit. They sue and ask for a preliminary injunction, which has four famous factors, the first of which is likelihood of success on the merits and another of which is the public interest. District court: I don't have to look at the merits because guns are bad and not in the public interest. Ninth Circuit: Um, what? In a constitutional case you always have to look at the merits because it affects the rest�such as it not being in the public interest to violate constitutional rights. Remanded to do it over.

MN: Minnesota Carry Law Banning 18- To 20-Year-Olds Appeal Moves Forward
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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Minnesota later chose to appeal the ruling to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and briefs were recently filed by parties on both sides of the debate. In making the earlier ruling, District Court Judge Kathleen Menendez used the new criteria set down in last year�s Bruen case to make her decision. That ruling set a new standard in which courts are to first ask whether the �Second Amendment�s plain text covers an individual�s conduct.� Then, the court should determine whether there exists a �historical precedent from before, during and even after the founding [that] evidences a comparable tradition of regulation.�

CA: Wrong Standard Used in Declining to Block Firearms Laws
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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Judge Lawrence VanDyke wrote the opinion, in which Judge Kenneth Kiyul Lee and Senior Judge N. Randy Smith joined. It reverses a decision of District Court Judge Kimberly J. Mueller of the Eastern District of California.

VanDyke wrote:

�This appeal presents the question whether, in a case in which a plaintiff alleges a constitutional violation, a district court can deny a motion for a preliminary injunction without analyzing the plaintiff s likelihood of success on the merits. The answer to that question is clear: a district court may not do so.�

The Best Zero Tolerance Knives For Everyday Carry
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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While it doesn�t possess the same level of name recognition as outfits like Spyderco, Gerber, or Benchmade, Zero Tolerance is a knife brand that�s lauded by EDC enthusiasts for its super premium, over-engineered blades. As one of many high-end knife makers currently in operation, it can sometimes be difficult for those not in the know to wrap their head around why ZT is so heralded amongst knife and everyday carry aficionados. In an effort to shine a light on what makes this firm so special, we�re taking a deep dive into the company, unpacking its history and what sets it apart from other brands in the space, along with counting down our picks for the best Zero Tolerance knives for everyday carry.

Everytown Comes Out From Behind the Curtain
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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For years, gun control organizations have been seeking to dismantle the bipartisan Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA). That�s the crucial federal law shielding firearm manufacturers and sellers from frivolous lawsuits designed to bankrupt law-abiding businesses by blaming them for the criminal misuse of lawfully sold firearms or drive the industry to its knees and impose gun control through court ordered settlements. It is what former Clinton Secretary of Labor Robert Reich dubbed �regulation through litigation.�

Thune, Rounds Introduce Bill to Protect School Hunting, Archery Programs
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced the Allowing for Recreational Resources for Outdoor Wellness (ARROW) Act, legislation that would prevent the Biden administration from blocking funding for elementary and secondary schools� hunting and archery programs. Specifically, the legislation would clarify that the prohibition of the use of federal education funds for certain weapons does not apply to funds for sports clubs, teams, trainings, or related activities provided for students.

NC: Fact check: Tillis says bill would impose 1,000% tax on 'most firearms'
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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David Kopel, research director of the Independence Institute, believes the email�s claim has credibility.

�First, the bill taxes the most popular rifles sold today, which are in themselves a substantial fraction (but not the majority) of total firearms sales,� Kopel said in an email. �Second, the bill taxes the vast majority of standard magazines that are sold with semi-automatic pistols.�

CA: Ninth Circuit puts California�s ban on open carry guns in crosshairs
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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The panel gave the lower court judge instructions on how she must consider the law in her ruling. She will be required to determine if California�s sweeping open-carry ban is covered by the Second Amendment. She must also consider if the State of California can show that an open-carry ban was in place when the Second Amendment or the 14th Amendment was ratified.

The lower court judge must also determine if Baird and Gallardo are likely to win their appeal on the basic right to open carry.

MI: MSU bans concealed weapons on university property
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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Michigan State University has strengthened the weapons ban on university property, closing a loophole that had allowed concealed pistol license holders to carry weapons in outdoor areas of the campus.

The university�s ordinance still allows anyone legally allowed to carry concealed to have a weapon in their car while passing through the East Lansing campus or other university property, so long as they do not leave the vehicle.

OR: Sherman Co. Sheriff Releases Statement on Upcoming Trial Over Measure 114
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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Sheriff Brad Lohrey released this statement regarding the upcoming trial in Harney County over the statewide constitutionality of Measure 114, the gun control law that was passed in 2022:

�I write to express my profound concerns regarding the constitutionality of Measure 114, which will be under trial in Harney County, Oregon later this month. As Sheriff of Sherman County, it is my duty to uphold the law and protect the rights of our citizens, and I believe that Measure 114 violates the fundamental principles enshrined in our Constitution.

CA: California lawmakers approve raising taxes on guns, ammunition to pay for school security
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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California lawmakers on Thursday voted to raise taxes on guns and ammunition to pay for security improvements at public schools and gun violence prevention programs.

The federal government already taxes the sale of guns and ammunition nationwide. The government gives that money to the states, which spend it on wildlife conservation and hunter safety programs.

California�s proposed tax, if it becomes law, would be 11% � matching the highest tax imposed by the federal government on guns.

TN: �It seems like a game�: Tennessee gun reform push ends in whimper
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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The deadly shooting at a Nashville suburban Christian school in March sparked an outcry among devastated parents, students and Democratic lawmakers who called for tighter gun laws in Tennessee, where they are notoriously weak. It also set off a series of political events, including the failed Republican-led banishment of two Democratic state representatives, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson of the �Tennessee Three�, for protesting guns on the House floor.

WY: Wyoming Points To Southern Court Siding With Pistol Braces, Awaits ATF Ruling
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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Wyoming, a handful of other states and a gun-rights group are waiting for a federal judge in North Dakota to decide whether to block the federal government�s sweeping restriction on pistols fitted with stabilizing braces.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in May started enforcing its new rule treating braced pistols as short-barreled rifles, meaning gun owners now have to register their pistols under the National Firearms Act, destroy their braced weapons or pistol braces, or face a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

NM: Police state: New Mexico�s Democrat governor bans all guns in Albuquerque, except for police
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: www.marktaff.com

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Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced on Friday an order that temporarily outlaws firearms, both openly and concealed, in Albuquerque and throughout Bernalillo County for the next 30 days.

This sweeping measure applies regardless if individuals possess a firearm permit.

Grisham, a Democrat, issued the executive order Thursday, categorizing gun violence as a public health emergency in the state of New Mexico.

OH: �If You Just Change the Color of the People��: Attorney for Woman Acquitted of Carjacker�s Murder Says She Was Charged Because She Is Black and He Was White Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
A judge cleared an Ohio woman of a carjacker�s murder in a case in which her attorneys asserted that she wouldn�t have been charged with multiple counts of murder and assault had she been white and the carjacker been Black. Leeyonna Ward, 22, was charged with the murder of 24-year-old Preston Allman on May 1, 2021, according to The Columbus Dispatch.

SC: University Of South Carolina Student Shot, Killed Trying To Enter Wrong Home
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On August 26, a sophomore attending the University of South Carolina was shot and killed when he mistakenly tried to enter the wrong home.

According to CNN, Nicholas Donofrio of Connecticut was returning home in the early morning hours around 2 a.m. and began knocking, pounding, and yelling at the door in the 500 block of South Holly Street in Columbia.

The homeowner/resident called the police, reporting an attempted burglary in progress. Apparently, the situation escalated while authorities were en route, as the homeowner began to fear for his life and shot Donofrio once through the window.

IL: Home Intruder Breaks Into Home In Broad Daylight, Homeowner Responds With Gunfire
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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Just before 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 3, gunshots rang out in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood on Chicago�s Northwest Side, which is not typically a hotspot of violence or crime.

A man tried to force his way into a home and was repelled by the homeowner or resident (details are few at this time), who opened fire on the man. Neighbors described hearing four to five gunshots.

Police responded quickly to the scene, �swarming� the area, according to eyewitnesses. EMS transported the wounded intruder to Loyola Hospital for treatment.

MI: Unsecured Weapons and the Alarming Rise in Child Fatalities in Detroit
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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The numbers are stark and deeply troubling. Over the past few years, Detroit has witnessed an increase in incidents where children gain access to unsecured firearms, leading to devastating consequences. Between the beginning of 2015 and the conclusion of 2022, there have been no less than 2,802 accidental shootings by individuals aged 17 or below, resulting in 1,083 fatalities and 1,815 injuries, as reported by the non-profit organization Everytown for Gun Safety. In April, Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan enacted legislation mandating secure storage protocols for firearms. This law came into effect due to the documentation of over 110 domestic firearm-related incidents involving children in Michigan since 2015.