This week, we had a lot of news across a variety of topics.
The biggest political story was President Biden wiping out the gun convictions against his son via a sweeping pardon. The biggest non-political story was the assassination of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO in a brazen daylight shooting.
I detail Biden’s reasoning and exactly how rare Hunter’s gun charges are. Then, as I did on CNN a couple of times this week, I do a deep dive into the raw footage of the CEO killing and reveal some of the key details it reveals about the shooter. That second piece is a member exclusive, but I’ve extended our sale so you can get a membership for 20% off your first year!
We also have a guest analysis piece from George Mason University Professor Robert Leider, where he explains why reforming the ATF is likely a more effective path for gun-rights activists than trying to disband it.
Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman takes a look at another Donald Trump law enforcement nominee with a background of supporting stricter gun laws. Or, at this point, former nominee.
The Supreme Court was busy this week as well. First, gun-rights advocates made their final pitch for why the Court should take up the case against Maryland’s AR-15 ban. Then, Smith & Wesson received backup from the House of Representatives in its fight with Mexico.
Plus, Jake and I answer your questions on the podcast! And we have a boatload of other stories down in the link section.
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Biden Wipes Out Hunter’s Gun Conviction
By Stephen Gutowski
President Joe Biden has pardoned his son of all federal crimes, including his gun infractions.
On Sunday, Hunter Biden had his convictions undone. Despite repeatedly saying he would not intervene to help his son, President Biden issued a sweeping pardon that covers the last ten years and even potential crimes Hunter has not been indicted over. That applies to his three convictions on federal gun crimes, which Biden argued were unfair.
“Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter,” President Biden wrote. “From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted. Without aggravating factors like use in a crime, multiple purchases, or buying a weapon as a straw purchaser, people are almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form.”
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Analysis: What the CEO Killer’s Gun Tells Us About Him [Member Exclusive]
By Stephen Gutowski
The man who murdered the CEO of UnitedHealthcare remains unknown and at large, but the gun he used and how he used it reveal some key details about him.
On Wednesday, a masked man ambushed Brian Thompson outside a New York City hotel. He fired three shots, killing Thompson. Then he fled and remains on the run as of Friday morning.
Video of the murder (warning: it’s graphic) and a few other important pieces of evidence show the killer used an unusual setup that provides some insight into his skill level and preparedness.
One clear takeaway from the video, despite its blurry nature, is the type of gun the shooter used.
If you’re a Reload Member, click here to read the rest. If not, buy a membership during our Black Friday Sale for exclusive access to this and hundreds of other stories!
Analysis: Gun-Rights Advocates Would Benefit More From ATF Reform Than the Agency’s Elimination
By Robert Leider
President Donald Trump’s successful 2024 campaign has Second Amendment advocates facing a dilemma. They can either try to use their political capital to destroy the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) or work within it to accomplish their preferred policy goals.
At the top of some advocates’ wish lists is finding an ATF director who will shut down or otherwise cripple ATF. Even in the unlikely event they were successful, shutting down ATF could backfire spectacularly without substantial, and likely unobtainable, federal firearms law reforms. Instead of trying to eliminate ATF, gun advocates would fare better working through ATF to implement their preferred regulatory reforms.
US House Backs Smith & Wesson in Supreme Court Fight With Mexico
By Stephen Gutowski
On Tuesday, the United States House of Representatives told the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) that siding with Mexico in its liability suit against American gun makers would violate the separation of powers.
In an amicus brief, the House argued federal regulation of the gun industry is squarely within its purview. It said granting the relief sought by Mexico in its battle with Smith & Wesson, which aims to hold the American gun industry liable for Mexican cartel violence, would be tantamount to SCOTUS usurping new powers for the federal courts. The House urged the Court to reverse the lower court holding and dismiss the case as incompatible with the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA).
“Indeed, the Mexican government’s suit here urges the lower court to impose all sorts of far-reaching regulations on the firearms industry, restrictions that Congress itself has considered and declined to adopt,” lawyers with the House Office of General Counsel wrote in Smith & Wesson v. Mexico. “This suit thus attempts to use the Judicial Branch to seize legislative power.”
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Trump’s DEA Pick Backed Stricter Gun Laws
By Jake Fogleman
For the second time in as many weeks, the President-elect has tapped a person with a history of supporting gun-control measures to fill a senior federal law enforcement position.
Donald Trump announced over the weekend his plans to nominate Chad Chronister (R.), the current Sheriff of Florida’s Hillsborough County, to lead the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). As recently as 2019, Chronister expressed support for “enhanced mental health screening” for anyone who wants to own a gun, universal background checks, and Florida’s “red flag” law.
“We all as a society need to do more about gun safety and those who possess firearms,” Chronister said after stopping a copycat mass shooting threat in the wake of 2019’s El Paso shooting, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Chronister has since withdrawn his nomination.
Podcast: We Answer Your Questions on Trump, SCOTUS, and More!
By Stephen Gutowski
A lot has happened since the last time we did a Q&A episode. So, this week we’re answering Reload Member questions.
Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman joins me in fielding a bunch of different topics. We cover everything from the status of the legal fight over “assault weapons” bans, to what Second Amendment case the Supreme Court might take next, to what Donald Trump’s next administration will look like.
We do our best to give as much insight as possible into where things currently lie and where they’re headed. Reload Members, as always, give us a lot of great questions to work with!
You can listen to the show on your favorite podcasting app or by clicking here. Video of the episode is available on our YouTube channel. An auto-generated transcript is here.
Analysis: Gun-Rights Advocates Make Final Pitch for SCOTUS to Take Up ‘Assault Weapon’ Case [Member Exclusive]
By Jake Fogleman
The ball is officially in the justices’ Supreme Court on whether to decide if AR-15 bans are constitutional.
The petitioners challenging Maryland’s ban on so-called assault weapons filed their final brief asking the Supreme Court for cert on Monday. It responds to Maryland’s argument against taking the case and makes one last attempt to persuade at least four members of the Court that this term is the right time to hear an AR-15 ban case.
“Incredibly, in the sixteen years since Heller every single court of appeals to consider the question has concluded that such bans are constitutional, employing a variety of tests that are uniform only in their failure to adhere to the principles established by this Court,” the petitioners’ reply brief in Snope v. Brown reads. “Maryland asks this Court to deny certiorari to allow even more time for percolation, but enough is enough. The lower courts have proven themselves incapable of following Heller’s clear guidance, and this Court should intervene without delay.”
A day after the petitioners filed the reply brief, the Court distributed the case for its December 13 conference, where the justices will convene and decide which cases to grant and which to reject. That means the Court could issue its order on the Snope case as soon as December 16, though it could choose to re-list the case one or more times before announcing its decision. It also means that the petitioners’ arguments will be the most recent thing on the justices’ minds when doing so.
If you’re a Reload Member, click here to read the rest. If not, buy a membership during our Black Friday Sale for exclusive access to this and hundreds of other stories!
Outside The Reload
Trump Has ‘Lost Faith’ in N.R.A., Says Gun Group Official | New York Times | By Danny Hakim
California’s Ammo Background Check Law Gets 9th Cir. Questioning | Bloomberg Law | By Mike Vilensky
That’s it for this week in guns.
I’ll see you all next week.
Thanks,
Stephen Gutowski
Founder
The Reload
