National Rifle Association (“NRA”) and the California Rifle and Pistol Association Foundation (“CRPAF”) representatives made presentations to the California Fish and Game Commission (“Commission”) at its June 30, 2011 meeting in Stockton, California. The presentations revealed the numerous obstacles frustrating the NRA/CRPAF’s pursuit of underlying data behind taxpayer funded “research” that is being used to advocate proposed lead ammunition bans in California and in other states.

The information behind these... http://www.calgunlaws.com/index.php/california-agency-publications/47-ca...

Written by Buck Sexton

For 99.9% of Californians, you can’t carry your handgun concealed, you can’t open carry it loaded, but you can open carry it unloaded. That is unless a growing effort in the state legislature succeeds to make the 2nd Amendment null and void in the Golden State.

Sam Wolanyk doesn’t want to see that happen. He is an advocate for open carry- which in California is legal if the weapon is completely unloaded. To make his point, Wolanyk carries a pistol on his belt with a detached magazine on his other hip while he walks around downtown San Diego.

This public display in support of... http://www.theblaze.com/stories/calif-polticians-working-to-abolish-open...

Twelve Democratic senators have joined 45 Republicans in a fast growing movement to halt progress on an Obama-backed United Nations effort that could bring international gun control into the United States and slap America's gun owners with severe restrictions.

Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester's office today provided... http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2011/07/26/democrat...

The Second Amendment to the Constitution, which concerns the right to bear arms, is always a hot-button issue, especially during election season. Gun rights and gun control groups alike have been lobbying Congress for decades to craft legislation in their respective favors. Twice in the past two years...

http://www.usnews.com/topics/subjects/gun-control-and-gun-rights

Written by Buck Sexton

Generally, you can go to court to protect your Constitutional right to bear arms, or to fight federal laws that infringe upon the rights of states. But one enterprising Montana gun enthusiast is currently bringing a court case that seeks to promote both: gun rights and states’ rights.

Today the WSJ reported on Gary Marbut, a Montana firearms instructor and enthusiast who has crafted a legal challenge against the federal government so that he may sell a special type of .22 caliber firearm he builds himself — the Montana Buckaroo — within the state of Montana, and without the interference of the federal government and its agencies.

Marbut’s premise is straightforward: if he builds the Montana Buckaroo in-state, marks it as such, and sells it within the state’s borders, federal gun regulations such as recording the transaction and paying a licensing fee do not apply.

Marbut’s legal quest so far has seen... http://www.theblaze.com/stories/can-the-govt-regulate-private-gunmakers-...

(from CD Michel @ calgunlaws.com)Judging the Judges: Are the Taurus and Rossi “Judge” Firearms Legal Under California Law?

California has some of the most restrictive and complicated anti-self-defense laws in the nation. Not only do these laws often ban of firearms that are legal to possess throughout the rest of the country, they also subject law abiding California residents to felony prosecution for inadvertent possession of firearms that pose relatively no threat to public safety beyond the threat that any firearm presents when misused by a violent criminal. California’s complicated laws often keep firearms that are ideal for self defense and personal protection out of the hands of California residents, or create such confusion that a rigorous legal analysis by both law enforcement and attorneys must be performed to determine a firearm’s legality.

Two prime examples: the Taurus Judge handgun line, and the... http://moderndefensetraining.com/2a-scuttlebutt/judging-the-judges-are-t...

Eight states have thrown down the gauntlet and denied the federal government's authority to regulate firearms that never cross state lines. In 2009, Montana became the first to enact a law declaring any gun manufactured and kept within the state’s borders was subject only to state rules. It’s now up to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to decide whether Montana - and by extension Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wyoming - must yield to the whims of Uncle Sam.

Gary S. Marbut, president of... http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jun/15/states-challenge-feds-on...

Written by Larry Bell

It may not come as surprising news to many of you that the United Nations doesn’t approve of our Second Amendment. Not one bit. And they very much hope to do something about it with help from some powerful American friends. Under the guise of a proposed global “Small Arms Treaty” premised to fight “terrorism”, “insurgency” and “international crime syndicates” you can be quite certain that an even more insidious threat is being targeted – our Constitutional right for law-abiding citizens to own and bear arms.

What, exactly, does the intended agreement entail?

While the terms have yet to be... http://blogs.forbes.com/larrybell/2011/06/07/u-n-agreement-should-have-a...

On Monday, May 23, 2011, the CRPA Foundation and a number of San Diego residents had attorneys from Michel & Associates, PC file their opening brief in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in their appeal seeking to overturn a U.S. District Court ruling from December 10, 2010 that upheld San Diego Sheriff William Gore’s restrictive and unfair policies in issuing permits to carry concealed firearms. The case is Peruta v. County of San Diego.

On May 30, 2011, the prestigious International Law... http://www.calgunlaws.com/index.php/current-litigation/82-cases-litigati...

SACRAMENTO, CA. - Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), the California Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) and California State Parks warn outdoor recreationists to take precautions this spring season. This year’s abundant snowfall and spring snowmelt will result in swift and cold river flows that can create treacherous conditions for all recreationists – waders, swimmers, paddlers, boaters, anglers and even hikers cooling off at the water’s edge.

The utility and state departments cautioned that the water content of California’s mountain snowpack was at 163 percent of normal as of April 1 – the highest amount since 1995. As warmer weather and longer days begin melting snow in mountainous regions, water temperatures will continue to drop and flows will continue to rise in waterways and reservoirs. Reservoir operators have begun increasing water releases in anticipation of filling later in the spring. Most PG&E reservoirs are expected to fill and water to flow over dam spillways in the May through July period.

“Those planning outings near mountain streams, rivers and reservoirs need to be extra vigilant and take appropriate safety measures,” said Alvin Thoma, director of PG&E’s power generation department. “Water flows will fluctuate with the warming and cooling of the day so always be prepared for a change in conditions.”

“Even experienced swimmers can get caught in swift river flows,” said DBW’s Acting Director Lucia C. Becerra. “Stay safe by checking local conditions before taking a boating trip, wear a life jacket and avoid alcohol.”

“Spring is a wonderful time to visit our beautiful lakes and fast moving rivers,” said Ruth Coleman, director of California State Parks. “But please read the safety tips in this water safety warning because making a mistake could kill you or a loved one.”

Here are some safety tips:

Know the Water
• Sudden immersion in cold water can stimulate the “gasp reflex” causing an involuntary inhalation of air or water. It can even trigger cardiac arrest, temporary paralysis, hypothermia and drowning. When faced with swift water, even the strongest swimmers may be easily overwhelmed.
• Cold water entering the ear canal can cause vertigo and disorientation. This may confuse swimmers, causing them to venture deeper into the water.

Know your limits
• Swimming in open water is more difficult than in a swimming pool – people tire more quickly and can get into trouble.
• Cold water causes impairment leading to fatalities. It reduces body heat 25-30 times faster than air does at the same temperature.
• Many unseen obstacles can be lurking below the water’s surface. Swift water can make these obstacles even more treacherous.

Wear a life jacket
• Conditions change quickly in open water and even the best swimmers can misjudge the water and their skills when boating or swimming. Wearing a life jacket can increase survival time.
• A life jacket can provide some thermal protection against the onset of hypothermia and keep you afloat until someone else can rescue you.

Parental Supervision
• Actively supervise children in and around open bodies of water, giving them your undivided attention. Appoint a designated “water watcher,” taking turns with other adults.
• Teach children that swimming in open water is not the same as swimming in a pool: they need to be aware of uneven surfaces, river currents, ocean undertow and changing weather.

Know the Law
• A 2010 boating law states that children under age 13 must wear a life jacket when on a moving vessel that is 26 feet or less in length.
• Every person on board a personal watercraft (popularly known as “jet skis”) and any person being towed behind a vessel must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
• It is against the law to operate a boat or water ski with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or more. You can be arrested even when your BAC is less than 0.08 percent if conditions are deemed to be unsafe.

About DBW
DBW enhances public access to California’s waterways and promotes on-the-water safety through programs funded by vessel registration fees, boating fuel tax dollars and boating facility construction loan payments. For more information, visit www.dbw.ca.gov.

About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to 15 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/about/.

About California State Parks
California State Parks manages 278 parks units in a system that contains 1.5 million acres, 300 miles of the California coastline, 640 miles of lakefront and more than 300 miles of rivers. More than 65-million people visited State Parks in 2010. For more information, visit www.parks.ca.gov.

The California Rifle and Pistol Association Foundation (CRPAF) has submitted a letter correcting and clarifying some of the areas of California firearm law addressed in a draft ATF Study that could result in banning the importation of self-defense shotguns. Other issues raised by the Study are being addressed by organizations like the National Rifle Association.

In January 2011, BATFE published a preliminary "Study on the Importability of Certain Shotguns." The study addresses the federal law that restricts the importation of firearms, with an exception for firearms that are generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to "sporting purposes." 18 USC § 925(d)(3). As part of the process of finalizing the report, ATF has invited comments from the public.

A working group... http://calgunlaws.com/index.php/us-agency-publications/41-us-agency-bull...

San Francisco just can’t seem to get self-defense civil rights right. San Francisco politicians reacted hostilely to the U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings affirming that the Second Amendment does protect an individual civil right to keep and bear arms from infringement by any level of government. And despite the express guidance from the Supreme Court that individuals have a right to use firearms to defend themselves from violent criminals, the City has nonetheless maintained a blanket prohibition on the discharge of firearms since 1938 – even in self-defense emergencies. For 73 years, San Francisco law was no firearm discharges allowed – no exceptions.

Then the National Rifle Association (NRA) and California Rifle and Pistol Association Foundation (CRPAF) filed a lawsuit challenging the City’s discharge prohibition, along with the City’s requirements that all firearms be stored inoperable in the home so they are useless for immediate self-defense, and its ban on the sale of self-defense ammunition. Jackson v. City and County of San Francisco, No. C09-2143 (N.D. Cal).

While the Jackson case was... http://www.calgunlaws.com/

A RadioShack in Montana gained national attention last week after offering would-be satellite customers more bang for their buck. Literally. As part of a promotion for new customers, the store offered customers a coupon for a Pizza Hut gift card, a pistol, or a shotgun. That is until RadioShack stepped in yesterday to shut down the promotion.

The Ravalli Republic reported last week that... http://www.theblaze.com/stories/buy-a-satelite-dish-get-a-free-gun-prmot...

Written by Ben van der Meer/Appeal-Democrat

An ordinance restricting firearm use on Sutter County levees drew such a volley of fire that supervisors felt compelled Tuesday to holster the idea for 45 days to allow more thoughts and comments.

The ordinance, which would've banned discharge of firearms or bows and arrows on a county levee, got a hostile response from many hunters, who believed the result would be fewer areas for their hobby.

More than 50 people packed the board chambers — many of them in camouflage-pattern hats — to oppose the ordinance they said the county had acted on too hastily and without enough notification to those affected.

"There's no reason to rush this through tonight," said Ed Worley, a state liaison with the National Rifle Association, one of three gun rights groups represented at the meeting. "The NRA counsel hasn't had time yet to review the amendments you've made."

In response to... http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/county-104883-ordinance-levee.html

Written by C D Michel

Matt Corwin is a former military police officer who was attending Los Angeles City College while on injured reserve leave from the Army before being reactivated. He was active in conservative politics on campus. On April 23, 2007, someone from his school called the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and told Detectives about Matt’s MySpace webpage, which depicted numerous legal firearms, as well as videos of Mr. Corwin shooting at a range.

From there, Matt’s horror story began. Now, the California Rifle and Pistol Association (CRPA) Foundation, in cooperation with National Rifle Association (NRA) News, has released a video documenting Matt’s experience, and the outlandishness of California’s law banning certain semi-automatic sporting firearms. Twenty years after it’s passage, the law has only a legacy of injustice. The compelling video, “A Legacy of Injustice,” is posted below:

California law essentially bans the possession of certain firearms designated as “assault weapons.” But the term “assault weapon” has no meaning in technical firearm parlance. It is a purely legal term, arbitrarily defined by statute and administrative regulations and contrary to common sense. As a result, there is a tremendous amount of confusion about what constitutes an “assault weapon.” (To read about these laws please visit the Reference Materials section of our website at: Michellawyers.com.)

Private citizens are not alone in their confusion over what is regulated by California’s “assault weapon” control law. Police, prosecutors, and judges are equally confused. Many of these leaders are interviewed in the video.

Watch “A Legacy of Injustice” and consider how easy it could be for you or your family to become an accidental felon under California’s vague gun laws.

Seventeen years ago the NRA and CRPA joined forces to fight local gun bans being written and pushed in California by the gun ban lobby. Their coordinated efforts became the NRA/CRPA “Local Ordinance Project” (LOP) - a statewide campaign to fight ill-conceived local efforts at gun control and educate politicians about available programs that are effective in reducing accidents and violence without infringing on the rights of law-abiding gun owners. The NRA/CRPA LOP has had tremendous success in beating back most of these anti-self-defense proposals.

In addition to fighting local gun bans, for decades the NRA has been litigating dozens of cases in California courts to promote the right to self-defense and the 2nd Amendment. In the post Heller and McDonald legal environment, NRA and CRPA Foundation have formed the NRA/CRPA Foundation Legal Action Project (LAP), a joint venture to pro-actively strike down ill-conceived gun control laws and ordinances and advance the rights of firearms owners, specifically in California. Sometimes, success is more likely when LAP’s litigation efforts are kept low profile, so the details of every lawsuit are not always released.

To see a partial list of the LOP and LAP’s recent accomplishments, or to contribute to the NRA or to the NRA/CRPAF LAP and support this and similar Second Amendment cases, visit http://www.nraila.com/ and http://www.crpafoundation.org./

Recently the National Rifle Association (NRA) filed a motion to intervene to fight for hunter’s rights in a lawsuit brought by self-proclaimed environmentalists that seeks to force the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban the manufacture, processing, and distribution of lead shot, bullets, and fishing sinkers throughout the country. NRA, joined with Safari Club International (SCI), seeks to enter into the case to defend the rights and interests of hunters, competitive shooters, and other firearm owners who would otherwise likely not be adequately represented in the case.

An adverse ruling... http://michellawyers.com/nra-seeks-to-protect-hunters%E2%80%99-interests...

January 24, 2011 - Today the Fresno Superior Court issued an Order of Permanent Injunction in the NRA - CRPA Foundation funded legal challenge to AB962, Parker v. California. The order permanently prevents the state and its agents from enforcing the provisions of AB962 (Penal Code sections 12060, 12061, and 12318). The Order comes following a dramatic ruling giving gun owners a win in a National Rifle Association / California Rifle and Pistol (CRPA) Foundation lawsuit. On January 18th, Fresno Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Hamilton ruled that AB 962, the hotly contested statute that would have banned mail order ammunition sales and required all purchases of so called "handgun ammunition" to be registered, was unconstitutionally vague on its face. By enjoining enforcement of these statutes, mail order ammunition sales to California can continue unabated, and ammunition sales need not be registered under the law. A formal written ruling from the court will be issued soon.

The lawsuit was... http://www.calgunlaws.com/index.php/current-litigation/52-court-decision...

Brian Aitken, 27, seen here in an undated photograph, was sentenced to seven years in prison for guns his attorney and father claim were owned legally. Some experts told FoxNews.com the entrepreneur was a victim of the country's "patchwork" of gun laws.

The case of Brian Aitken, 27, had become a cause célèbre among gun-rights advocates. On Jan. 2, 2009, Aitken, an entrepreneur and media consultant with no prior criminal record, muttered to his mother that life wasn't worth living after a planned visit with son was abruptly canceled at the last minute. Aitken then left his mother's home in Mount Laurel as she called police, who later found two locked and unloaded handguns in the trunk of his car.

Aitken had purchased the guns legally in... http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/12/21/christie-commutes-sentence-ma...

By JASON NARK
Philadelphia Daily News

narkj@phillynews.com 856-779-3231

EVERYTHING Brian Aitken was or had worked for was wiped away one winter afternoon after his mother called the police on him.

Separated from his wife, the entrepreneur and media consultant, now 27, had moved back home to New Jersey from Colorado toward the end of 2008 to be closer to their young son.

In between jobs, his well-oiled life was running ragged, and on Jan. 2, 2009, when his ex canceled his visit with their son, he became distraught, muttered something to his mother, and left his parents' home in Mount Laurel, N.J.

"He said... http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20101130_Family__New_Jersey_man_servin...