2A NEWSLETTER: WEEK OF JANUARY 5TH

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Gun rights groups take Colorado to court over new ‘ghost gun’ ban

In the latest defense of Second Amendment rights, the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (RMGO) have taken a stand against Colorado's new ban on "ghost guns". This federal lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, is a significant pushback against what RMGO perceives as an unconstitutional infringement on gun rights.

Colorado's anti-2A legislation was passed in 2023, which the RMGO argues is a clear violation of the freedoms guaranteed under the Second Amendment. This law, which came into effect on January 1st, has sparked controversy, especially among staunch supporters of gun rights.

RMGO's Executive Director, Taylor D. Rhodes, fiercely criticized the law, describing it as "an outright assault on the constitutional rights of peaceable Coloradans." Rhodes also emphasizes that the ban is more than just an overstep; it's a direct defiance to our Second Amendment freedoms.

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the 2022 New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen case is a key reference point in the lawsuit. This landmark ruling declared New York's requirement for a license to carry concealed weapons in public unconstitutional. According to the Bruen decision, any law infringing on the right to bear arms must align with the Second Amendment's historical understanding. RMGO argues that Senate Bill 23-279 fails this test, noting that if unserialized guns were illegal during the founding of the nation, Americans might well be speaking with British accents today.

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16 Million Guns Purchased as Americans Challenge Biden's Gun Control Efforts

Americans are enthusiastically exercising their Second Amendment rights, as evidenced by the nearly 16 million firearms purchased last year, according to FBI background check data representing a clear stance against President Biden's gun control agenda. The FBI reported a staggering 29.8 million background checks in 2023, marking the fourth-highest record ever. When non-sales checks are excluded, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) indicates this translates to an estimated 15.8 million actual firearm sales.

The firearm industry saw impressive sales in December, continuing a trend of over 1 million sales for the 53rd month in a row. In December, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) reported a staggering 1,775,834 gun purchases.

With the NSSF reporting a staggering 1,775,834 gun purchases in December, it seems that firearms might just be the new go-to holiday gift. Who needs a partridge in a pear tree when you can have a piece of the Second Amendment under the Christmas tree? Jokes aside, these numbers indicate that more and more people are choosing to give the gift of security and constitutional rights during the festive season. This trend is expected to continue, especially as President Biden has declared gun control a central element of his agenda.

Mark Oliva, a spokesperson for NSSF, highlights that these sales figures underscore Americans' strong commitment to their Second Amendment rights. He criticizes the Biden-Harris administration's approach to firearms, which he views as an attempt to undermine and eventually abolish these rights. According to Oliva, the surge in gun purchases reflects the value law-abiding citizens place on their safety and freedoms.

The NSSF also notes that 24 states have regulations allowing previously approved gun buyers to expand their collections without new background checks. This suggests actual gun purchases in 2023 could be even higher than reported.

Despite the Biden campaign's claims of upholding American democracy and rights, many gun owners are concerned about potential infringements on crucial constitutional rights, including those related to the First and Second Amendments.

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New study shows crime dropped after permitless carry law went into effect

A new study, published on January 3, 2024, reveals a significant decrease in firearm-related crime incidents in Ohio following the implementation of the state's permitless carry law, Senate Bill 215. This law, often referred to as "constitutional carry," came into effect on June 13, 2022, positioning Ohio as the 23rd state to allow residents to carry concealed handguns without a license or mandatory training. This finding challenges the predictions of critics, including groups like Moms Demand Action, who anticipated an increase in gun-related violence as a result of the law.

The research, conducted by the Center for Justice Research in collaboration with the office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Bowling Green State University, examined the impact of permitless carry in Ohio's eight largest cities. The results showed up to a 22% decrease in gun crime rates. This study specifically looked at the period from June 2021 to June 2023 and found a noteworthy decline in firearm-related crimes in cities like Akron, Columbus, and Toledo.

Dean Rieck, Executive Director of the Buckeye Firearms Association (BFA), wasn't surprised by these findings. He emphasized that the permitless carry law did not alter the landscape for criminals, who are typically the ones committing gun crimes and are generally prohibited from possessing firearms. Instead, the law made it easier for law-abiding Ohioans to carry firearms without the need for a license.

Rieck further clarified that permitless carry doesn't change human behavior. Those who carried legally with a license would continue to do so, while those waiting for carrying to become legal without a license were obviously law-abiding. He also pointed out that criminals, who carry illegally, would continue to disobey the law regardless of the permit requirement.

Rieck critiqued gun control advocates for failing to distinguish between ordinary, law-abiding citizens and violent criminals, noting that most violent crimes are committed by a small fraction of the population. He referred to a study by the Columbus Dispatch, which found that a minute percentage of Columbus's population, involved in gangs, were linked to a significant portion of the city's homicides.

Reflecting on the past two decades since the BFA-backed HB 12 permitted concealed carry in Ohio, Rieck noted that initial fears of chaos and violence were unfounded. The same unfounded fears were repeated with the permitless carry law, and once again, they were proven wrong.

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