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Concealed Agenda: Inside the FBI’s Secret Scheme to Strip US Citizens of Gun Rights

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The FBI worked hand in hand with federal agencies for nearly a decade to strip at least 60 U.S. citizens of their gun rights — a once-secret operation largely brought to light as part of a Washington Examiner investigation.

Between 2011 and 2019, the FBI coordinated with the Secret Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to obtain signatures on internal bureau forms from citizens at their homes and in other undisclosed locations that stripped their rights to own, buy, or even use firearms, according to multiple reports from the Washington Examiner and the Daily Caller beginning in September 2022.

“Bureaucrats at the FBI created an unconstitutional form without authorization from any statute and began pressuring people with mental illness to give up their rights to own a firearm,” Aidan Johnston, a lobbyist for Gun Owners of America, the firearms rights group that’s uncovered documents in connection to the FBI’s form as part of its Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, told the Washington Examiner.

Johnston added, “Congress needs to hold hearings and investigate the cruelty of this form.”

At least one hearing has taken place that partially focused on the forms. The House Judiciary Committee held one in December 2022 that saw Democrats and Republicans debating legislation sponsored by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) that would let people add themselves to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System, thereby forfeiting their gun rights. (Read more from “Concealed Agenda: Inside the FBI’s Secret Scheme to Strip US Citizens of Gun Rights” HERE)

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‘Unconstitutional’: Federal Judge Blocks Multiple California Gun Restrictions

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A federal judge issued a temporary injunction blocking multiple California gun restrictions Monday, saying the laws violated the Constitution in light of a landmark Supreme Court case in June.

Federal District Judge Cormac J. Carney, a George W. Bush appointee, temporarily restricted portions of California’s Unsafe Handgun Act that mandated purchase restrictions on certain handguns, such as magazine safety requirements and ammunition micro-stamping, as they violate the Second Amendment. Carney blocked the restrictions following precedent set forth in the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen case, leaving Democratic California District Attorney Robert Bonta 14 days to request a stay or submit an appeal.

“Californians have the constitutional right to acquire and use state-of-the-art handguns to protect themselves,” Carney wrote in the ruling. “They should not be forced to settle for decade-old models of handguns to ensure that they remain safe inside or outside the home.”

The California gun roster, implemented in 2001, restricts handguns from being imported into California to be sold, lent, given, kept for sale, or offered unless the firearm had passed a multitude of tests and been listed in the roster, according to the law. Relic handguns and certain single-action revolvers were exempt from the rule.

“For decades, this ‘roster’ law has deprived law-abiding citizens of the right to choose a handgun appropriate for their individual needs,” Chuck Michel, head of the California Rifle & Pistol Association, said in a press release. (Read more from “‘Unconstitutional’: Federal Judge Blocks Multiple California Gun Restrictions” HERE” HERE)

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Federal Law Enforcement Pressured Dozens of Americans to Forfeit Gun Rights: Report

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A trio of federal law enforcement agencies have reportedly worked together to strip dozens of Americans of their gun rights through secretive plea agreements and a form not authorized by Congress.

The FBI, Secret Service, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement stripped at least 60 people of their right to firearms between 2011 and 2019, according to The Washington Examiner. In at least one case, the FBI and Secret Service worked with a federal prosecutor to pressure a defendant into signing his gun rights away as a condition for a legal agreement.

“Dear Agent [redacted], You will find enclosed the NICS firearm form which has been signed by my client and his doctor. This is being provided in compliance with [redacted] plea agreement. Yours sincerely,” an attorney’s letter to a Secret Service agent on June 10, 2019, said according to the Examiner.

The letter was obtained by the gun rights group Gun Owners of America through a Freedom of Information Act request. It’s unclear what the defendant was charged with or why the FBI and Secret Service were involved. The case number on the letter was redacted. (Read more from “Federal Law Enforcement Pressured Dozens of Americans to Forfeit Gun Rights: Report” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

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Court Overturns a Trump-Era Bump Stock Ban

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A Trump-era ban on bump stocks, a firearm accessory that enables a semi-automatic gun to shoot at an increased rate of fire, was struck down by a federal appeals court.

In a 13 to 3 decision, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled that bump stocks are not covered under the same machine gun laws.

The court concluded that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), rushed the legislative process by approving a rule to define bump stocks as “machineguns,” in which the court ruled that the group did not have the authority from Congress to do so.

“A plain reading of the statutory language, paired with close consideration of the mechanics of a semi-automatic firearm, reveals that a bump stock is excluded from the technical definition of ‘machinegun’ outlined in the Gun Control Act and National Firearms Act,” a statement from the court read. (Read more from “Court Overturns a Trump-Era Bump Stock Ban” HERE)

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James Cameron Cut Just Ten Minutes of Gun Action From ‘Avatar 2’: ‘What’s Happening With Guns in Our Society Turns My Stomach’

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Hollywood director James Cameron has revealed he cut ten minutes of gun action from the new Avatar sequel, saying “what’s happening with guns in our society turns my stomach.”

In an interview with Esquire Middle East, James Cameron also spoke about gun culture in his adopted country of New Zealand.

““I’m happy to be living in New Zealand where they just banned all assault rifles two weeks after that horrific mosque shooting a couple of years ago,” he told the magazine.

Cameron explained why he cut the scenes from Avatar: The Way of Water.

“I actually cut about 10 minutes of the movie targeting gunplay action,” he said. “I wanted to get rid of some of the ugliness, to find a balance between light and dark. You have to have conflict, of course. Violence and action are the same thing, depending on how you look at it. This is the dilemma of every action filmmaker, and I’m known as an action filmmaker.” (Read more from “James Cameron Cut Just Ten Minutes of Gun Action From ‘Avatar 2’: ‘What’s Happening With Guns in Our Society Turns My Stomach’” HERE)

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Senator Demands Investigation Into Secret FBI Gun Confiscation Forms

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A Republican senator is calling for an investigation into the FBI, Secret Service, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for secretly coordinating to strip U.S. citizens of their rights to own, use, or even buy firearms.

The Washington Examiner reported on Dec. 13 that the three federal agencies waived people’s gun rights without congressional approval with internal forms. Now, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) wants answers from the government on this “extremely concerning” revelation and for Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, to “immediately hold a hearing” with FBI, ICE, and Secret Service officials.

“It is extremely concerning that federal agents have allegedly been pressuring American citizens to waive their constitutional rights. The Second Amendment is not negotiable and cannot be waived by signing a form, regardless of what the deep state wishes,” Blackburn, who is also a member of the Judiciary Committee, told the Washington Examiner.

“A federal agency cannot simply strip Americans of their Second Amendment right,” she said. “We need answers and documents that will tell us exactly what happened.” (Read more from “Senator Demands Investigation Into Secret FBI Gun Confiscation Forms” HERE)

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TSA Reports Record Number of Gun Interceptions at US Airports

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Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers said Friday the agency intercepted a record number of firearms at airport security checkpoints this year, a nearly 10% increase over 2021’s record level.

Officials reported the agency stopped 6,301 firearms from crossing through secure areas of airports since the beginning of 2022 and anticipates detaining approximately 300 more before the new year. Of those firearms, more than 88% were loaded, the agency said.

The number of firearm interceptions surpassed the previous record of 5,972 firearms detected in 2021.

“I applaud the work of our Transportation Security Officers who do an excellent job of preventing firearms from getting into the secure area of airports, and onboard aircraft,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a news release. “Firearms are prohibited in carry-on bags at the checkpoint and onboard aircraft.”

Although firearm possession laws vary by state and local government, passengers are prohibited from carrying guns in carry-on bags at any TSA security checkpoint, even if a passenger has a concealed weapon permit. However, the agency says passengers may travel with a firearm — but it must be unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container and transported as checked baggage only and declared each time they present it for transport as checked baggage. (Read more from “TSA Reports Record Number of Gun Interceptions at US Airports” HERE)

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Biden Threatens Second Amendment Once Again (VIDEO)

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President Joe Biden and his Democrat constituents are threatening to take America’s Second Amendment away by attempting to pass a bill that would ban assault rifles during the lame-duck session before the next Congress forms. . .

“No. 2, the idea … we still allow semi-automatic weapons to be purchased is sick. It’s just sick. It has no, no socially redeeming value. Zero. None. Not a single, solitary rationale for it except profit for the gun manufacturers,” Biden said.

A reporter then asked the president if he would attempt to sign new gun laws with Republicans in control of the House next year, in which Biden said that he would make that assessment as he counts votes.

“I’m going to try,” Biden said, adding “I’m going to try to get rid of assault weapons.”

(Read more from “Biden Threatens Second Amendment Once Again” HERE)

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State’s New Gun Control Law Sparks Buying Spree as Thousands Race to Get Firearms

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Oregon’s new law that will rigidly tighten the state’s gun restrictions led to a massive uptick in attempted firearms purchases, according to NBC affiliate KGW8.

Ballot Measure 114 was passed during the midterm elections and is credited as one of the most restrictive gun laws in the country, sending background checks skyrocketing from 850 per day, prior to the midterms, to 4,000 per day after the law’s passing, according to KGW8. The measure, often referred to as the Reduction of Gun Violence Act, will require deeper background checks, firearm training, fingerprint collection and a permit to purchase any firearm, according to the legislation, set to be effective in December.

The Oregon state police reported more than 18,000 transactions during election week, resulting in a backlog in background checks, according to KGW8. In 2020, COVID-19 restrictions caused a backlog in background checks that eventually leveled off right before the elections, the Oregon State Police reported.

The measure’s requirements have caused controversy for gun owners in Oregon, leading Lincoln County Sheriff Curtis Landers to release a statement Wednesday clarifying the new law.

(Read more from “State’s New Gun Control Law Sparks Buying Spree as Thousands Race to Get Firearms” HERE)

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Democratic State Lawmakers Rewrite Gun Carry Laws to Require Insurance, Non-Family References to Carry a Gun

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New legislation rolled out by New Jersey lawmakers on Thursday could require insurance to carry a firearm in the state. The new requirements also restrict where permit holders are allowed to carry guns.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that citizens have a right to carry firearms in public for self-defense. Following the decision, Democrat lawmakers in New Jersey were quick to ratchet up state restrictions.

“The decision by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year stripped away the right for states to regulate who is able to carry concealed weapons in public,” said Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D). “This bill, ensuring gun owners prove a legitimate reason for carrying concealed handguns in public, is a promising step in the right direction.”

Democratic Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Senate President Nicholas Scutari reported that the new legislation unveiled on Thursday will prevent permit holders from carrying a firearm in schools, government buildings, polling places, bars, restaurants, theaters, sporting arenas, parks, airports, casinos, and childcare facilities.

Those applying for a concealed carry permit would be required to have accidental discharge insurance. According to Scutari, marketplaces already offer similar insurance plans. (Read more from “Democratic State Lawmakers Rewrite Gun Carry Laws to Require Insurance, Non-Family References to Carry a Gun” HERE)

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