Supreme Court Amicus Briefs on Gun Crime in Mexico
Originally published on Reason.com In Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos, the Mexican government is suing several of the most popular American firearm manufacturers in an attempt to hold them liable for violence committed by Mexican drug cartels in Mexico. The Mexican government seeks billions of dollars in damages and the imposition of […]
Fast Reloading of Guns in the 19th Century
Originally published on Reason.com This post describes the speediest means of reloading firearms in the 19th century. The main focus is not the ammunition capacity of any particular type of arm, but rather how quickly various arms could be reloaded after the initial ammunition was spent. As the post also explains, although the 19th century was, […]
The Founders Were Well Aware of Continuing Advances in Arms Technology
Originally published on Reason.com During the 19th century, firearms improved more than in any other century. As of 1800, most firearms were single-shot muzzleloading blackpowder flintlocks. By end of the century, semiautomatic pistols using detachable magazines with modern gunpowder and metallic cartridges were available. Would the Founders be surprised by the improvements in ability to exercise […]
Amicus Brief on Lawsuits against Gun Manufacturers Invokes NY Times v. Sullivan
Originally published on Reason.com Should gun manufacturers be liable for misuse of guns? Should printing press manufacturers be liable for misuse of presses? The answer to both questions is “no,” according to an amicus brief I filed today in support of a Supreme Court cert. petition. Amici include the Cato Institute, the Firearms Policy Coalition, several […]
Daisy Airgun Museum
Originally published on Reason.com The small and excellent Daisy Airgun Museum tells the story of America’s most iconic manufacturer of air guns, including the famed Red Ryder, the most common first gun for many generations of American children. Rose City Art The museum is located in the center of Rogers, Arkansas, about a mile south of […]
J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum
Originally published on Reason.com J.M. Davis Arms Museum building. (Rose City Art) Located near Tulsa on Route 66, the J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum amazes and overwhelms. With 12,000 firearms on display, it offers the largest collection of guns you can see at any museum. But it’s not just a firearms museum. Boasting 50,000 total artifacts, […]
Gun ban for young adults would be wholly unconstitutional
Besides violating the laws of some states and cities, firearms bans for young adults also violate the Constitution. In District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), the Supreme Court reiterated that “[c]onstitutional rights are enshrined with the scope they were understood to have when the people adopted them.” When the Second Amendment was adopted, there were no firearms restrictions on 18-to-20-year-olds, and they were included in every militia across the country.
What if there were serious gun controls?
After the Las Vegas murders, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) urged Congress to “take a stand against gun violence by passing common-sense gun safety laws.” On Monday, after the mass murder in Texas, he wrote, “A simple idea: Anyone convicted of domestic abuse should see their rights under the 2nd Amendment severely curtailed.” On Tuesday, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) announced that he and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) are writing a bill “to prevent anyone convicted of domestic violence — be it in criminal or military court — from buying a gun.
Puerto Rico Law Limiting Use of Shooting Ranges
An official with Puerto Rico’s Justice Department has announced that the Department will propose changes in the island’s firearms laws, to bring them into line with Heller and McDonald. However, two of the proposed changes appear to be unconstitutional: Torres said the measures will include a requirement that shooting ranges keep logs of how much ammunition […]
Mayor Daley and Other Mayors: Seek “Redress against the Gun Industry” in the World Court
Originally published on Volokh.com April 27 was the tenth annual “Richard J. Daley Global Cities Forum,” held in Chicago. Over a hundred mayors and other local government leaders assembled to discuss global issues. As reported in the Chicago Sun-Times, “Daley convinced more than a dozen of his counterparts from around the world to approve a resolution […]
