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2A Newsletter: Week of July 14th thumbnail image

2A Newsletter: Week of July 14th

80 Percent Arms   |   Jul 14th 2023

Washington Crime Report Highlights Failure of Gun Control

Photo Source: Wkmike1003 via Shutterstock

The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) recently released a report that exposes the stark failure of extreme gun control measures (specifically in Washington state). These statistics show that despite the passage of Initiative 594 in 2014 and I-1639 in 2018—both funded by billionaires promising safer streets—homicides have soared by an alarming 96% since 2019. In fact, the 394 murders recorded in 2022 were the highest number since 1980.

You'd think these startling figures would prompt some soul-searching and a reevaluation of policy. Instead, in 2021, the Democrat Attorney General pushed for a ban on so-called 'large-capacity magazines' in HB-1164. The result? An additional increase in murders by 16.6% over 2021. It's clear that such legislation has done nothing to make people safer; on the contrary, it has only rendered them more vulnerable.

The WASPC report also reveals a worrying trend: the number of law enforcement officers is decreasing while crime rates rise. The state of Washington is ranked last in terms of the number of officers per thousand residents, with the number of reported assaults on officers increasing by 20.7% in 2022.

Now with HB-1240, the “assault weapons” ban of this year, there's no telling what the crime statistics will look like for residents of The Evergreen State. Gun store owners and citizens are in the dark about whether or not they can become a felon and be charged with the crime of utilizing the second amendment. All the while, drug users and repeat offenders walk the street and are given seemingly unlimited get out of jail free cards.

It’s time to hold those responsible accountable and urge the legislature to accept the failure of their extreme gun control measures. For a safer Washington and a safer America, we must insist on policies that focus on the root causes of crime, not an arbitrary tool that a criminal might choose to use when committing a crime.

Vermont Shooting Range Owner Destroys His Property to Avoid PrisonVermont Forces Destruction of Shooting Range

Photo Source: Daniel Banyai via The Gun Writer

Consider this a tale of modern-day tyranny: Daniel Banyai, the owner of a 30-acre shooting range in Pawlet, Vermont, has been cornered into demolishing his private shooting range, "Slate Ridge." Why? To avoid an indefinite prison sentence. Let's back up for a moment.

We previously talked about this issue in May after the Banyai's city, Pawlet, upped the ante. Banyai and his range initially became the target of the town's wrath in 2013. Over the years, zoning disputes and subsequent court rulings mandated Banyai to remove unpermitted structures and berms around the property. The resilient range owner stood his ground, only to be held in contempt of court and fined $200 per day. The Vermont Environmental Court Judge justified this punitive measure, citing Banyai's "willfulness" in disregarding town bylaws and court orders.

To add insult to injury, the same judge issued a writ of mittimus—an arrest warrant of sorts—calling for Banyai's arrest and imprisonment until the range was demolished. This is no light sentence; Banyai could have been imprisoned for months, or even years. The tough decision was clear. He really only had two options: dismantle his range or trade his freedom for an indeterminate jail term.

Banyai, who also runs an organic farm on the same property, chose to prioritize the welfare of his livestock. According to his lawyer, Robert K. Kaplan, "Daniel was forced to put his responsibility to the animals ahead of the principles he has fought so hard for despite his willingness to lose his liberty in service to his cause. At the end of the day, Daniel was unwilling to allow innocent animals to become casualties of his conflict with the Town of Pawlet.”

But this isn't the end of the story. Banyai is fighting back. He's filed a federal civil rights lawsuit with the Second Amendment Foundation against the Town of Pawlet, Judge Durkin, and 20 additional defendants. The lawsuit, which alleges violations of his Second and Fourteenth Amendment rights, remains unaffected by his decision to demolish his range. Amid this ongoing legal battle, the Pawlet Town Attorney remains tight-lipped, saying, "I do not have any comment on this zoning matter at this time.”

Banyai's case raises some troubling questions. In an era where repeat offenders often walk free, how can a man be subjected to indefinite prison time for operating a shooting range on his property? Banyai committed no crime, yet he faced a draconian choice between destroying his property and forfeiting his liberty. This seems less like justice and more like a twisted game of power and control—a game in which the citizens are always the losers.

More proof the NRA is a jokeNRA

Photo Source: Chris Dorney via Shutterstock

Look, the NRA convention is cool and once upon a time, the NRA really was a beacon for gun rights - the poster child that lit the path for gun advocates. But within the past decade, it's been reduced to a washed-up reality TV star, stumbling and bumbling around, while the FPC, SAF, and GOA, our emerging protagonists, are quietly getting things done. It's like watching an intern outperform the CEO.

The NRA seems to have developed an unhealthy relationship with failure, which might be fine if they were trying to win a reality TV show, but it's less entertaining when it comes to defending our rights. In one season of this real-life drama, they forked over $60 Million to their high-priced lawyers at the Brewer law firm. But what did they get for it? A blooper reel of failed cases and rejected motions.

One of the most recent and notable blunders was their belated attempt to intervene in a case brought by the Second Amendment Foundation and Rainier Arms. The case was centered around challenging the BATFE's new rule on pistol stabilizing braces—a rule that we've repeatedly condemned over its ability to criminalize millions of gun owners of AR pistols if they don't register them as SBR's. 

Ultimately, the NRA's request to join the party was declined with the judge pointing out that the NRA's application was far from timely, and the current plaintiffs adequately represented the NRA's interests. Essentially, they walked into class 45 minutes late and were surprised when the teacher just told them to leave.

Meanwhile, the SAF and FPC came out of the same court case with a preliminary injunction. Following the case, the Second Amendment Foundation graciously extended an invitation to NRA members to join them: 

“While we’re certain NRA members are disappointed,” SAF Founder Gottlieb said, “by joining SAF they can get the protection of the judge’s ruling.”

We're all watching the NRA try to command a stage they can't seem to find. Will they rediscover their glory days or continue to stumble under the bright lights of failure? As they grapple with their identity crisis, let's remember there are actually organizations getting work done for 2A rights. Still, we hope that NRA leadership wakes up and gets its act together before the curtain falls.

In Other 2A News:

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