H R 4676 On July 23rd, proposed bill HR4676 (the Modern Firearms Safety Act) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and referred to its Judiciary Committee. The bill’s official summary of purpose reads: “To prohibit the imposition of requirements that handguns have certain features generally absent from firearms in common use, and to restore the civil and natural rights of Americans in States hostile to liberty, and for other purposes.“ “States hostile to liberty” sounds like it is describing New York State!  (And California, Massachusetts, Illinois, etc.) HR4676 would preempt any requirements that exceed those imposed by Federal statute.  It would make it illegal for any state or political subdivision to pass a law or regulation which mandates: “any design feature, functionality, safety mechanism, or performance standard that is not required by Federal statute.”  (Emphasis added.)  It won’t stop NY State from passing these laws but they would be immediately voided by any reasonable court since the wording is very clear. In particular this law would ban state laws requiring microstamping, among other things.  (Microstamping is not required by federal law.) Why is this law necessary?  The bill explains: “State and local governmental requirements for handgun design that mandate features not ordinarily present on the affected models: limit the selection of handguns available to law-abiding citizens in these jurisdictions; artificially inflate the price of constitutionally protected arms; present safety concerns by altering the intended design and function of the affected models; violate the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; pose an unacceptable restraint on interstate commerce.“ That last comment is necessary since Congress – not the states - regulates interstate commerce.  This should prevent any challenges based on the 10th Amendment.   As usual, any proposed bill that is good for 2A has Claudia Tenney as a cosponsor and this one is especially good for New York gun owners. We are done playing defense and this bill definitely puts us on the offense and is well worth your time in contacting your Representative and encouraging their support of it.

US Representatives

Microstamping

Microstamping is a technology in which the gun’s firing pin imprints each fired cartridge with a unique microscopic identifying code.  This is touted as a tough on crime measure.

Maybe not.

In 2023, California passed a law requiring microstamping of firearms, once it becomes feasible. California’s Department of Justice (DOJ) studied its feasibility and, this year, issued a report saying that it’s viable.

One of the many problems with microstamping is that the firing pin coding wears down after multiple uses.  But California’s DOJ’s report says it won’t wear down, even after thousands of rounds are fired.  Of course, most of the studies the DOJ relied on came from companies that stand to profit from selling microstamping components. 

By January 2026, companies can start applying for licenses to produce the microstamping parts and by mid-2026, California will begin signing contracts with them. On January 1, 2028, only pistols equipped with these components will be allowed to be sold in California.

First, what if the studies that California’s DOJ has relied upon turn out to be wrong, as we suspect?

Second, lawful gun owners have no reason to file-down or otherwise destroy the imprint but criminals would certainly do that.  So, if this will only impact law-abiding owners, is it really a crime prevention issue? But the lie of microstamping being tough on crime will still be trumpeted by the left-wing media. 

Attorney William Kirk recently made some interesting observations about this.

If only California was to require this, the cost and complexity of retooling every pistol model with unique microstamping components might make it unprofitable for most manufacturers. “You are not going to go through the expense of producing unique firing pins just for one state,” Kirk said. Would most manufacturers stop selling pistols in California, leaving very few models available?  Is that, in fact, the real purpose of this law?

Adding a unique firing pin to every single handgun line, just for California, does not make business sense. But what happens when the same requirement pops up in other states?  If other states follow suit, how many states must require it in order to make the retooling worthwhile?

California will have full control over which brands and models get approved.  An anti-gun state government will be picking winners and losers in the retail gun market.  What could go wrong? 

It will be a bureaucratic mess: reports, standards, deadlines, and licensing rules, mostly invisible to the non-gun buying public as only gun owners will feel the pain. 

The microstamping approach avoids passing handgun bans and running afoul of our 2nd Amendment freedoms, while producing the same result. Kirk described it as: “They have absolutely thwarted any reasonable opportunity you have to arm yourself with a handgun.”

New York State has had laws proposed regarding microstamping of firearms for several years.  The current versions are S02158 and A03021 and they rest in committees, but could be activated once the Democrat controlled legislature comes back in session in January.

It’s important that New Yorkers stand firm against S02158 and A03021 to protect our 2nd Amendment rights.

Presidential Message on National Shooting Sports Month The White House August 4, 2025

From the earliest days of our great national story, hunters, fishers, sportsmen, and gun owners have carried forth a storied legacy of recreation and competition, proudly embodying our timeless principles of liberty, responsibility, and self-reliance.  This National Shooting Sports Month, my Administration honors these cherished American traditions—and we pledge to keep them alive and flourishing for generations to come. Since the ratification of the Second Amendment in 1791, shooting sports have instilled the values of focus, discipline, and confidence in our citizens—connecting generations, binding together communities, and reminding us of the freedoms that define our Republic.  Sports like hunting and fishing also provide a glimpse into the beauties of God’s creation and allow countless Americans to experience the splendors of the great outdoors.  For as long as I am President, the Federal Government will abide by the premise that the God-given right to bear arms shall not be infringed. This National Shooting Sports Month, we honor the generations of sportsmen who have carried forward our traditions of marksmanship, responsibility, outdoorsmanship, and freedom.  We encourage every citizen to promote a culture of firearm safety.  And above all, we recommit to the eternal truth that our constitutional rights do not come from the hands of government, but from the hands of Almighty God.

More Ridiculous Comments

Last week, SCOPE emailed comments about the 345 Park Avenue shooting and some of the expected comments by the gun grabbing left, especially Kathy Hochul.  There’s more and they get even more ridiculous.

Governor Kathy Hochul noted the alleged Manhattan shooter had a concealed carry permit and she claimed the permit allowed the shooter to have an AR-15. 

The shooter did have a concealed carry permit from Nevada but it applies only to handguns and not AR-15’s.  One Pinocchio for Hochul.

And besides, NY State does not recognize the concealed carry permit from any of the other 49 states and in NY State there is a prohibition against so-called ‘assault weapons.’  So, NY’s draconian gun laws meant nothing to criminals; they only impact law abiding gun owners.  Another Pinocchio for Hochul.

Although New York’s “assault weapons” ban failed to prevent the Manhattan attack, Hochul made it clear that she believes such a ban on a national level would amount to being “tough on crime.” 

Tough on legal gun owners, yes, but definitely not tough on crime.  Another Pinocchio.

Communist NY City Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani addressed the mass shooting at the Park Avenue office building while at his family’s private compound in Uganda.  He also called for such a ban to be enacted nationwide and has said that, if elected, he will “lead calls” to pass such a nationwide ban.  And in true communist fashion, Mamdani had previously called for a ban on all firearms: “We need to ban all guns.” (May 24, 2022, tweet.)

No Pinocchio here as he was telling the truth.  In the best traditions of Joe Stalin and Mao Tse Tung, he will ignore the 2nd Amendment and do everything he can to disarm law-abiding American citizens.

In a 2016 speech, Barack Obama said: “…it is easier for a teenager to buy a Glock than get his hands on a computer or even a book.”

Not to be outdone by Obama, New York City Mayor Eric Adams claimed, “Automatic weapons are as easy to get as a cell phone.”

First, you have to find an automatic weapon (machine gun) manufactured before 1984 since it is illegal to purchase one manufactured after that date.  That’s no easy task.  Conversely, there is no cutoff date on purchasing cell phones.

One big Pinocchio for Adams!

To buy that automatic weapon, you must be fingerprinted and photographed and pass a background check and pay a federal tax of $200 and register the firearm with the ATF. The process for doing this can take months.

I know the lines in the cell phone store can get long but come on…

Another big Pinocchio for Adams

And by the way, the Manhattan attacker did not use an automatic weapon. He used a semiautomatic rifle.  As a former NY Police Department Captain, one would expect Adams to know the difference between an automatic and semi-automatic firearm.

One would also expect gun-grabbers to know the difference between laws that impact criminals and laws that impact law-abiding citizens.  But they don’t and we still labor under these ill-conceived laws.

345 Park Avenue Shooting  by Tom Reynolds

By now, you have probably read about the shooting that occurred at 345 Park Avenue in New York City at about 6:30 PM on Monday.  The media covers it in their own, usual way but here are some added thoughts.

President Trump said. "I trust our Law Enforcement Agencies to get to the bottom of why this crazed lunatic committed such a senseless act of violence."  Seems sensible.  It was a senseless act of violence and the police need time to get the facts behind it.

On the other hand, after identifying the gun used as an AR-15-style “assault” rifle, Governor Hochul wasted no time in calling on Congress to pass a national assault weapons ban. 

What piece of logic did she miss?

Estimates are that there are 20-30 million AR15 style rifles in the U S A.  Does Hochul believe they will all be turned in?  Does she believe criminals will turn in their illegal guns?  All she wants to do, which is standard for the gun grabbing left, is to disarm law abiding citizens and put them at a disadvantage to armed criminals.

No surprise there.  Hochul relies on emotion and misinformation to sell her agenda.  Never miss the chance to use a crisis to further a political agenda.

It’s reported that the rifle used was a Palmetto State Armory PA-15 rifle and early reports claimed it was equipped with a suppressor.  (It was not.  The sling was mistaken for a suppressor.)  Palmetto does sell PA 15 rifles that are semi-automatic and most chamber in .556 or .223 ammo.  None of the PA15’s fire automatically, which is necessary to be a military ‘assault’ weapon, a fact ignored by gun grabbers in order to make the semi-automatic rifle sound worse.   

Some reported that the shooter bought a ‘lower’ and built his own weapon which is meant to start the ‘ghost gun’ stampede.  But the gunman’s supervisor at the Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas has admitted that he purchased a fully assembled AR-style rifle in Las Vegas and sold that rifle, the one used in the New York City office shooting, to Tamura for $1,400.

Some report it had a 30 round magazine.  Enter the large capacity magazine banners.

CNN claimed the active shooter in New York City is a “possibly white” male.  They are probably the only people in the world who could see his picture and say he might be white.

A couple decades ago, I attended a dozen meetings in that same building.  In front of the patio is an automobile waiting area, where limos usually wait, and it is reported that the shooter double parked there.  The entrance patio is about 20 yards long so it took the shooter 15-25 seconds to exit his car and walk to the front door.  It’s a busy area and you can tell from a picture that people are standing in front of the cars.  And yet, no one noticed a man with a rifle!  No one called 911!  No one yelled, ”Hey, he's got a gun!” 

Could it be that everyone was too busy staring at their cell phone?

One of the main preventive measures taught in defense classes is ‘situational awareness.’  Had anyone been aware, that tragedy might have been avoided.  The would-be witnesses missed one of the most tragic events they will ever experience.    

Hochul also used this as an opportunity to complain about states that do not have New York’s strict gun laws; “…our laws only go so far when an AR-15 can be obtained in a state with weak gun laws and brought into New York to commit mass murder."

There were probably hundreds of people in the building.  Pictures show rooms inside the building being barricaded.  Due to NY’s strict gun laws, no one was ‘carrying.’  No one (or multiple persons) was armed and could step up and challenge the murderer.  All the hundreds of law-abiding, would-be victims could do was hide and pray.

And finally…

Numerous studies estimate there is a median figure of 1.6 million Defensive Gun Uses occurring in the U S A, every year.  (Very few end up with shots being fired.)  If 1% of those would have ended in a murder, that is 16,000 murders prevented.  Gun Violence Archives estimates there is an average of 14,567 non-suicide, illegal gun homicides over nine years.  (There is an average of 1,882 legal gun homicides.)  It’s quite possible that guns prevent more murders than they are used in.  Another issue Hochul chooses to ignore.

The Ninth  Surprises

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals covers the ‘Left Coast’ and is the most far left federal appeals court.  (Any further left and you will get your feet wet in the Pacific Ocean.)

So, when it gave 2A advocates a huge win, that was a surprise.  In a 2-1 decision, the three-judge panel approved a permanent injunction delivered by a U.S. District Court judge, early last year.  It concluded that the California law on Background check requirement on sales of ammunition (and prohibiting residents from ordering ammunition online or bringing ammunition purchased out-of-state back into California)  is facially unconstitutional, meaning there's no circumstance where it can be lawfully applied.

The Ninth’s opinion stated that the law: "meaningfully constrains the right to keep operable arms."

Some highlights of the decision (which look a lot like Kathy Hochul’s and Letitia James’ efforts in NY State.)

California’s ammunition background check regime regulates all ammunition acquisitions by California residents; the regime applies not only to every transaction in California but also to ammunition purchases by California residents outside the state.

It requires California residents to pay for and complete an in-person background check before each ammunition acquisition.

A California resident may be required to purchase ammunition during a specified period of time—e.g., 18 hours—after passing a background check.

Though not all the rules comprising California’s ammunition background check regime impose delays on their face, they do not require California to approve checks within a certain timeframe.  (Emphasis added.)

The regime applies to all types of ammunition, and California residents cannot avoid the background check requirements by taking advantage of internet or out-of-state sales. Rather, out-of-state purchases are subject to additional delays and fees.

Given the fees and delays associated with California’s ammunition background check regime, and the wide range of transactions to which it applies, we conclude that, in all applications, the regime meaningfully constrains California residents’ right to keep and bear arms. Thus, it is not a “presumptively lawful regulatory measure.”

Appeals court decisions only are binding in the appeals court’s district which is, in this case, the left coast.

New York is trying many of the same things that California was doing in the above law.  Let’s hope that liberal New York courts also surprise us and outlaw many of the same laws.

And at the federal level, in another issue:

Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced that it has filed a motion for summary judgment in the case of Elite Precision Customs v. ATF. At issue are federal laws that ban licensed firearm dealers from selling handguns to buyers who live in another state. Under current law, it is illegal for federally licensed firearms dealers to sell handguns to individuals who reside in a different state, even if the buyer is fully eligible to possess firearms and passes a background check. Instead, buyers must arrange for the handgun to be shipped to a dealer in their home state, incurring additional fees and delays.

In a similar case, the federal ban was struck down by a district court but that decision was reversed by an appeals court.  However, this happened before the decision in NYS Rifle & Pistol v Bruen, which is the basis for this reconsideration. 

Under the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision, courts are required to assess whether modern firearms regulations are consistent with the Second Amendment’s text and historical understanding.  The plaintiffs wrote: “The Government does not cite a single law that burdened the right of peaceable citizens to acquire arms in another state or colony in any way like the laws at issue here.”

As SCOPE recently wrote, the Trump Department of Justice (DOJ) has been refusing to defend some anti-2A cases that the Biden DOJ would pursue to the bitter end.  Will the Trump DOJ decide to not defend this law and let a summary judgement against the law be imposed?  Let’s hope so.

Vintage Firearms Update

SCOPE President John Elwood received a text message from Robert Donald, former owner of Vintage Firearms.  He is the subject of a lawsuit to which, as you may recall, SCOPE donated money.  The lawsuit stemmed from the mass shooting in Buffalo, New York in 2022.  Vintage Firearms was one of several being sued by the families.  

Below is the text message Elwood received from Robert Donald.

On July 15, 2025, I sat down with 10 lawyers present and 17 on video conference for approximately 6 hours and answered questions concerning the legal sale of a rifle to Payton Gendron and later used in the horrific Tops Supermarket shooting in Buffalo, NY, in May of 2022.  The opposing lawyers were very professional, but almost all the questions were designed to make it appear I did something wrong.  I was truthful to the best of my recollection and did my best to answer their questions.  It was my first deposition and hopefully my last.  6 hours of answering questions is not easy and I was glad when it was over.

My attorneys will now proceed with a motion for summary judgement and a dismissal of the lawsuit as frivolous and unwarranted.  In my opinion, and many others, the legal system should never have let these actions against Vintage Firearms LLC proceed.  Vintage is still standing strong to protect your and future generations' right to own and possess firearms.

Elwood asked Mr. Donald to keep SCOPE informed on the status of his case.  This is one case where SCOPE is making a difference. 

 Thank you for your hard work in protecting, restoring, and expanding the Second Amendment for all NY State citizens.  

Trump Administration and 2A

In the upcoming Firing Lines, we discuss Trump and the 2nd Amendment.  Since our cut off for its publication, more has happened.

Usually, the Department of Justice (DOJ) leans toward enforcement and regulation. It’s rare for the DOJ to support rolling back gun control but the Trump administration is doing just that.

In 2021, the Biden administration promulgated a rule through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) setting forth a framework for determining whether pistols equipped with stabilizing braces are considered “short-barreled rifles” and subject to a tax and registration requirements under the 1934 National Firearms Act.  That rule went into effect in 2023 and pistol braces were reclassified as short barreled rifles and a $200 tax and registration requirement were imposed on the estimated 40 million braces in circulation.  Non-compliance meant potential felony charges carrying up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.

2A advocacy groups argued that the pistols constitute protected arms.

There were many cases challenging the ATF rule and two appeals courts found against the ATF despite the continuing efforts of the Biden administration.

It was recently announced that the Trump (DOJ) has formally ended its defense of that directive.  (By the way, 40 million pistol braces would seem to qualify as ”in common use.”)

In a case involving state laws:

In July, Trump’s DOJ filed a legal brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the case and strike down sweeping state-level firearm restrictions, in several states.  A 2A win at the Supreme Court level would likely strike down several major gun laws and force states to rethink their entire approach to firearms regulation.  Such a decision could create a national standard that constitutional rights can’t ‘get the run around’ by state-level lawmakers.

The DOJ’s brief targets Hawaii’s law that bars people from carrying firearms on private property unless there’s a visible sign allowing it; lawful carry is a crime unless a property owner explicitly says otherwise. Since most businesses don’t post any signs at all, this creates a “near-complete ban on public carry.”  (SCOPE members will remember that New York State’s ‘Concealed Carry Improvement Act’ also did this.) 

The DOJ is using the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen decision (Bruen) as the foundation for its brief; modern gun laws must align with the historical traditions of firearm regulation in America. The DOJ argues that bans on magazine sizes, carry restrictions, age limits, and licensing schemes do not meet this historical test.  (Again, NYS is a constitutional failure.)

This puts the DOJ on the side of gun owners. The DOJ brief states that the United States “has a substantial interest in the preservation of the right to keep and bear arms.”

In another case, a lower court struck down handgun purchase bans for 18-to-20-year-olds. The court cited the Bruen standard and found the age-based ban unconstitutional

Trump’s DOJ chose not to appeal that decision

This change in attitude at the federal level is important in another sense. 

Previously, NY State lawmakers ignored the U S Constitution when passing laws attacking 2A.  There attitude was ‘sue us.’  Private citizens had to sue the state using private citizen funding while the state used ’house money’ (the taxpayers seemingly bottomless pockets.)  If the state lost at one level, they just appealed to the next level, costing the citizen hundreds of thousands of dollars.  NY’s strategy was to physically, mentally - and most importantly - monetarily exhaust the NY citizen.

With the federal government taking the lead, the feds have a bigger pocket of ‘house money’ and they can afford to challenge the states, where private citizens had to do it in the past.

Of course, it’s the taxpayers’ state money versus the taxpayers’ federal money, but NY State no longer holds the money cards.

Trump and 2A

After four and a half years of Trump being President, has Donald Trump been good or bad for the 2nd Amendment?

He has said the right things, loudly and clearly, but actions speak louder than words.  Let’s look at his actions.

Good stuff.

During COVID many ‘blue states’ declared gun stores and ranges as “non-essential” and closed them.  Trump declared firearms retailers, manufacturers, and ranges as essential critical infrastructure, keeping them open.

In his first term, Trump directed agencies to eliminate regulations that infringed on 2A.  Following up on that, on February 7, 2025, Trump issued an Executive Order that: ‘will halt existing policies designed to curtail the clear right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms.’

In July 2025, Trump’s Department of Justice proposed a new rule that could grant gun rights to potentially thousands of Americans who are currently barred from owning firearms.  The proposed rule would create a pathway for individuals with criminal convictions to have their gun rights restored, with final discretion left to the attorney general on a case-by-case basis.

In his first term, Trump signed the Fix NICS Act.  It required federal agencies to upload more disqualifying records, like mental health adjudications and domestic violence convictions.  This helped ensure that prohibited folks couldn’t slip through the cracks. Also – and very importantly - it didn’t create any new restrictions on law-abiding owners.

In Trump’s first term, 234 federal judges were confirmed, including 54 to the appellate courts and three Supreme Court justices: Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.  These were solidly 2A judges and the monumental Supreme Court decision in ‘Bruen’ (and other follow up decisions) were made possible by these appointments.  These are his longest lasting, pro 2A achievements.

On the negative side, there are some specific issues that some 2A advocates dislike.

After the Parkland shooting in 2018, Trump suggested Red Flag laws could help address mental health threats. But it was just a comment.  No federal Red Flag law was enacted.

Under Trump, after the Las Vegas shooting in 2018, the ATF issued a rule that reclassified bump stocks as machine guns. However, this was a strategic move by Trump to head off Congress from rushing through more sweeping legislation that would have certainly impacted and perhaps outlawed semi-automatic rifles. And in 2024, the Supreme Court, led by the Trump-appointed justices, overturned that bump stock ban.

Good or bad.  Too early to tell

In May, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) leaked that it is moving forward with plans to merge the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).  It is expected to be proposed as part of the White House's full fiscal year 2026 budget. The proposal requires congressional approval.

In addition, since Trump was inaugurated on January 20th, there have been stories of cuts of between 500 and 1,800 ATF employees.  However, some or all of these cuts may be transfers in the above reorganization.

Some argue that this merger will result in more resources available to the ATF

The ATF does serve a purpose but it was used by the Biden administration (and could be used again by future left-wing administrations) as ‘lawfare’ against FFL’s and gun owners.

One other thing

If one searches the NY legislature for proposed bills covering guns or firearms, you will find more than 70 bills and most are anti-2A proposals.

When last we looked, if you also search the federal Congress for proposed bills covering guns or firearms, you will find very few and most are pro-2A.

NYS is dominated by anti-2A Democrats while Congress has a slim majority of Republicans and most of the latter will defend 2A.  Trump has been very clear he would veto anti-2A bills.  Certainly, he deserves some credit for discouraging the anti-2A folks and the dramatic difference between the NY legislature and Congress.

Legal Updates

Every month, Schuyler County publishes Legal Updates.  The following are some 2nd Amendment highlights for June and July.

New York state budget creates Office of Gun Violence Prevention

The enacted state budget for fiscal year 2025 creates a formal New York State Office of Gun Violence Prevention to consolidate gun control efforts. OGVP will be part of the Division of Criminal Justice Services, the agency that oversees law-enforcement training and data collection.

The budget bills specifically earmark just under $60 million that’s new:

• $2.5 million for the OGVP

• $7.2 million for community-based gun- and domestic-violence prevention programs

• $40 million for police and legal costs to better enforce Extreme Risk Protection Orders, or “red flag” laws

$10 million in competitive grants to local community groups like the Greater Direction mentorship programs in Buffalo

Republican legislators far and wide have decried most of the budget for being too expensive and ignoring effective solutions to violent crime.

New Mandatory Insurance Law Could Lead to Civilian Disarmament

A new bill in New York State, known as Senate Bill S5974, could force all gun owners to carry at least $1 million in liability insurance. Sponsored by Senator Kevin Parker, this proposal isn’t just aimed at new buyers – anyone who already owns a gun would also be required to comply.

According to the bill, insurance must be purchased before someone can legally possess a firearm, and it must be maintained continuously. If you lose your coverage, you lose your legal right to own the gun. That’s not a suggestion – it’s automatic revocation.

The insurance requirement in the bill specifically covers damages from negligent acts involving firearms. In simple terms, if you accidentally fire your weapon and someone is hurt or property is damaged, the insurance is supposed to help cover those costs. However, if the firearm is used in self-defense, which is considered an intentional act, most general liability policies wouldn’t pay out.

As William Kirk of Washington Gun Law explained, “Insurance is only going to cover you for negligent activity at best.” That means people using guns legally in defense won’t even benefit from this requirement.

Kirk points out that the kind of insurance this bill demands doesn’t actually exist in most markets. If your insurance lapses, your registration and permits are automatically void. That gives the state the power to confiscate your guns, without any new due process. “They’ve created essentially a domino effect,” Kirk said. “Cancel the insurance, cancel the permit, then confiscate the firearms.”

That’s a serious escalation, and it shows how financial requirements can be turned into legal weapons.

One of the more overlooked aspects is how this could disproportionately hurt working-class Americans. It sets up a financial barrier that many can’t afford, especially in cities where gun ownership is already hard to navigate. This could become a form of economic discrimination that punishes the poor.

As Kirk said, “This is a law that’s really just designed to throw up yet another barrier… to access what is supposed to be an inalienable right.” If it passes, expect other states to follow. If it fails, expect it to come back next year, just like it has every year since 2013. Either way, it’s clear the battle over civilian gun rights is moving into the realm of insurance, and that should concern every American who values their freedom.

Citi Ends Political De-Banking Policy, Rescinds Requirement for Clients to Restrict Gun Sales

Financial services company Citi is walking back its political de-banking policy and its requirement for retail clients to restrict gun sales, making it the latest large corporation to distance itself from progressive corporate governance.

Citi announced the changes …after examining its corporate policies in light of shifts to the regulatory climate and President Trump’s executive orders.

Citi’s rescinded policies are both part of the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) movement in corporate America that seeks to use corporations as vehicles for progressive goals.

 Conservatives have raised the alarm about financial companies “de-banking” right-wing clients and denying them access to services because of political orientation. The practice has mostly impacted right-wing extremists, but it has spilled out into industries disfavored by the left and other conservative institutions. Republican lawmakers have also raised the alarm about cases of debanking involving gun dealerships and religiously affiliated institutions.

 Schuyler Co. Legal Updates