We’re quickly approaching the Georgia runoff, which will determine the ultimate balance of power in the Senate. While Democrats will maintain control either way, the outcome will affect how easily President Joe Biden and his party can push through judges and judicial appointments. That means the impact the race has on gun policy will be more than just trivial.
So, it makes sense that the NRA has dumped over $3 million into the campaign so far. But it’s pretty odd that the major gun-control groups have stayed on the sidelines. Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman dives into the groups’ FEC filings and potential explanations for the spending freeze.
We also got further insight into how the public is reacting to the post-Bruen legal landscape. A new poll shows most Americans approve of what the Court decided. And the trend line since June is pretty interesting too.
Speaking of the post-Bruen legal landscape, a new suit was recently filed in North Carolina. This one is a follow-up to a previous claim against one of the state’s sheriffs. He’s accused of slow-walking gun-carry permits, just as he did with pistol-purchase permits during the onset of the pandemic.
Jake also takes a look ahead at the gun-control policies Colorado is likely to pursue in the wake of the election and the Club Q shooting. Will the state expand its “Red Flag” law? Will it enact new restrictions on AR-15s? What about homemade guns?
Plus, I examine whether the new Everytown Uvalde lawsuit against gun companies and cops can succeed in court.
Gun-Control Groups Staying Out of Georgia Senate Runoff as NRA Spending Surges
By Jake Fogleman
Gun group spending ahead of the Georgia Senate runoff has been decidedly one-sided.
With the election only days away, none of the three major national gun-control groups–Everytown for Gun Safety, Giffords, and Brady–are making much of an effort to influence the race’s outcome, Federal Election Commission (FEC) records show. The latest filings for Everytown for Gun Safety’s Super PAC show it has only spent $1500 for phone calls in support of incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock (D.). Neither Brady PAC nor Giffords PAC has submitted updated filings since the November general election. None of the gun-control groups’ websites refer to any new spending or advertising campaigns ahead of the final Senate race.
The lack of activity among the major gun control groups stands in stark contrast to the strategy taken by gun-rights advocates ahead of election day. The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund has poured more than $3 million into the race on television ads, digital ads, media placement, mailers, and text messages in support of Herschel Walker (R.), the PAC’s filings show.
Poll: Majority Approve of Pro-Gun Supreme Court Ruling
By Stephen Gutowski
Americans like the Supreme Court’s recent expansion of Second Amendment protections.
A new poll from Marquette University’s law school released on Wednesday shows 64 percent favor the ruling in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen. On the other hand, 35 percent said they oppose the decision.
The poll found a sizeable enthusiasm gap as well. 36 percent of respondents, the largest single share, said they strongly favor the Court’s ruling. Only 16 percent strongly oppose it.
The significant support for the Court’s Bruen opinion striking down New York’s restrictive gun-carry law comes as its effects are starting to be felt. It may signal most Americans are happy with expanded gun-rights protections, and that could undermine future efforts to overturn the Court’s landmark Second Amendment rulings.
Click here to read the whole story.
Analysis: Everytown’s Uvalde Lawsuit Against Gun Companies, Law Enforcement Unlikely to Succeed in Court [Member Exclusive]
By Stephen Gutowski
One of the nation’s most prominent gun-control groups is trying to hold gun companies and the police liable for the Uvalde mass shooting.
Everytown Law is representing Sandra Torres, whose 10-year-old daughter was murdered during the attack, in her suit against the maker of the AR-15 used in the attack, the gun shop that sold it to the attacker, and a myriad of Uvalde law enforcement and school officials. Lawyers for the group claim that the AR-maker Daniel Defense (DD) was negligent in how it advertised the gun, and dealer Oasis Outback was negligent in selling it to the attacker. They further claim that Uvalde officials and individual officers on the scene are liable for their extended inaction during the shooting.
“The shooting in Uvalde was a horrific tragedy – and wholly preventable,” Eric Tirschwell, executive director of Everytown Law, said in a statement. “The massacre that killed Eliahna Torres and 20 others that day wasn’t just an act of one violent, troubled young man armed with an assault rifle. There are several actors responsible for putting the gun in his possession and failing to protect the children he attacked. This lawsuit is intended to hold them accountable.”
But all of these claims have been tried before in recent years, and none have resulted in actual court victories.
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Gun-Rights Groups Sue North Carolina Sheriff Over Carry Permit Delays
By Jake Fogleman
For the second time since 2021, gun-rights groups are taking the sheriff of one of North Carolina’s most populous counties to court over gun permit delays.
Gun Owners of America (GOA) and Grass Roots North Carolina (GRNC) filed a new suit against Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden (D.) in federal court on Monday. They accuse the sheriff’s office of exploiting mental health provisions of the state’s permitting law to intentionally delay the issuing of concealed carry permits for months at a time.
“Sheriff McFadden’s delay is wholly unnecessary, unreasonable and is an intentional act to deprive the residents of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina of their right to bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution,” the complaint reads.
Analysis: A Colorado Gun-Control Push is Coming [Member Exclusive]
By Jake Fogleman
Following a deadly week of multiple mass shootings, gun policy changes once seen as likely now seem inevitable.
Nowhere is that more true than in Colorado. Not only was the state the site of one of this past week’s high-profile shootings, but its political balance of power also provides ample opportunity for legislation to pass.
Over the past decade, Colorado has been one of only a handful of states where gun-control advocates have made serious legislative gains. Armed with that recent success and bolstered by unprecedented Democratic majorities in the state legislature thanks to this month’s midterms, gun-control advocates are moving full steam ahead with new proposals.
A group of 20 Democrats in the Colorado state house and state senate just announced the formation of a formal “Gun Violence Prevention Caucus” this week. The new caucus has already earned plaudits from gun-control groups like Giffords, and it will be headed by newly elected state senator Tom Sullivan (D.), who received more than $1 million in support from Everytown for Gun Safety during his campaign.
Members of the newly formed caucus have already begun floating some changes they would like to see in the wake of the Club Q shooting. Here’s a look at what will be on the table when the state assembly reconvenes in January.
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Outside The Reload
Report: California gun data breach was unintentional | AP News | By Adam Beam
Second lawsuit filed against Measure 114 days ahead of enactment | Bearing Arms | By Cam Edwards
Minnesota Dems to reintroduce gun control legislation in January | KSTP 5 | By Jay Kolls
Black Friday gun sales were third highest ever | Washington Examiner | By Paul Bedard
That’s it for this week in guns.
I’ll see you all next week.
Thanks,
Stephen Gutowski
Founder
The Reload
