Shield Nation: The 2A News You Need to Know

California’s strict handgun laws were recently expanded to include banning hundreds of firearms that are available in most other states, but these so-called “Roster” laws are now being challenged in a federal lawsuit.

Palo Alto is on the cusp of passing new “safe storage” requirements, adding to a growing list of cities and counties throughout the region that have done the same.

A study by UC Davis finds that of the approximately 110,000 firearms sold in California between March and July of 2020, more than 47,000 were sold to first-time gun buyers. In spite of its anti-gun laws, California is the third largest market for firearm sales, just behind Texas and Florida.

The Colorado Supreme Court is hearing a case that could change the way prosecutors rebut a defendant’s claim of self-defense. U.S. LawShield Independent Program Attorney Drew Eddy says: “Self-defense is a fundamental right in our country, and prosecutors carry the heavy burden of disproving such a defense beyond a reasonable doubt. A ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court in favor of the defendant in this case would reinforce the prosecution’s burden and further protect the right to self-defense and defense of others.”

Gun store owner and Representative Andrew Clyde already has federal legislation named after him that prohibits certain civil asset seizures by the IRS; as a new congressman, he’s focusing on preserving and reclaiming Second Amendment rights.

Officials in Kuna, Idaho, recently voted unanimously to approve a resolution declaring the town a “Second Amendment sanctuary city,” vowing to “oppose the enactment of any legislation that would infringe upon the rights of the people to keep and bear arms.”

Having trouble getting your Illinois FOID card? You’re not alone. Some Illinois residents have waited up to a year to receive their cards.

Will Indiana join 16 other states in adopting constitutional carry laws? Under current state law, you must have a license to carry a loaded handgun on your person (whether concealed or not) or to keep a loaded handgun in your vehicle. However, at least two bills proposing changes are expected this year.

Having trouble getting your firearm license processed in Massachusetts? You’re not alone—and the slow-down has given rise to a lawsuit. U.S. LawShield Independent Program Attorney Jason Guida is one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys in the pending litigation.

Amidst concerns of a new wave of COVID-19 infections, Massachusetts gun owners and gun associations are requesting the governor include firearm retailers as “essential” businesses in any future coronavirus restrictions that may be on the horizon. He refused to do so earlier this year, resulting in a lawsuit which went unresolved due to the reopening of businesses.

While Minneapolis continues to struggle with police reform, violent crime across the city has skyrocketed. According to the Minneapolis Police Department, 2020 saw more than 375 violent carjackings—a type of crime that was previously so rare, the MPD didn’t even track it.

Remember the McCloskeys? The St. Louis prosecutor leading the case against Mark McCloskey has been disqualified. Circuit Judge Thomas Clark, II dismissed Circuit Court Attorney Kim Gardner, citing fundraising emails from Gardner to her constituents that alluded to the McCloskey case.

Could legally possessing a medical marijuana card compromise your Second Amendment rights? Right now that’s exactly the case in Missouri.

It seems that four juveniles had forgotten the meaning of Christmas when they tried to carjack a lone female outside of Kansas City on December 27. The victim was in her car when one of the would-be carjackers demanded her vehicle at gunpoint. Fortunately, she was armed and drew her gun, causing the attackers to flee the scene.

Montana may soon become the latest state to legalize campus carry. A number of gun-related bills will be addressed this session—among them, House Bill 102 would see an expansion of concealed handgun carry locations, including on college campuses.

The New Jersey Attorney General subpoenaed Smith & Wesson’s advertising material in an attempt to prove the gun maker engaged in false advertising. Smith & Wesson has sued the state, saying the subpoenas are politically motivated and part of NJ’s “name and shame” policy.

A would-be mugger learned not to bring a knife to a gun fight in New Mexico. While wielding a machete, he attempted to attack a man at an ATM. The victim was able to draw his firearm and fire a single round, effectively ending the attack.

A team of New York legislators is seeking to shield iconic gun maker Remington Arms from COVID-19 restrictions. In September, the new owners stated their intentions to reopen the facility in Ilion and have employees return to work as soon as possible.

Huge news for the Second Amendment community in Ohio! Governor Mike DeWine has signed “Stand Your Ground” legislation into law. Anyone who has followed Ohio news recently knows this was not a foregone conclusion.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf vetoed a number of bills recently, including two that directly relate to the Second Amendment. Both HB1747 and HB2440 sought to protect the rights of gun owners during disaster emergency declarations, such as the ongoing COVID-19 declaration.

Texas State Representative Matt Krause (R-Fort Worth) pre-filed a bill on November 24 intended to prohibit state agencies and law enforcement officers from cooperating with certain federal gun control measures, including registration requirements and capacity or size limitations not already in effect.

Should a non-violent felony conviction in your past cost you your Second Amendment rights forever? During her battle with drug addiction years ago, a Utah woman attempted to negotiate a false check, which landed her a felony conviction, a trip to federal prison, and the loss of her 2A rights. More than a decade later, she’s completely clean, earned two master’s degrees, and started a non-profit to help others struggling with addiction; now she’s fighting to restore her gun rights.