The Truth About Guns
Exploring the ethics, morality, business, politics, culture, technology, practice, strategy, dangers and fun of guns
Updated: 1 day 7 hours ago
Family Targeted: Living Through the Terror of a Wrongful ATF Raid
(Editor’s Note: Another day, another ATF story it seems, hardly any of them painting a glowing picture of the agency and how it operates. Thanks to SAF’s Investigative Journalism Project and Lee Williams for sharing this one.)
Mark “Choppa” Manley is a gun owner, a gun collector and a Second Amendment advocate who has more than 70 legally owned firearms stored in a gun safe at his Baltimore home.
All of his firearms comply with both federal law and the laws of Maryland.
ATF Working To Secure Gun Shops From Thieves
Having credibility means being fair and calling things in both directions as you see them. It is clear by now that I am not averse to calling out the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) when it comes to anything I see as a violation of the Second Amendment and our Constitutional rights in general. Many Americans make their living and support their families through the work they do at the ATF. While I know securing gun stores from theft is part of the agency’s agenda to keep unaccounted-for firearms off the streets, robberies can be a real hassle for gun store owners and employees who work hard to take care of their families and spread the American tradition of freedom and self-preservation to their communities.
Continue reading ATF Working To Secure Gun Shops From Thieves at The Truth About Guns.
New Year Brings New Gun Laws
As the calendar flips to 2025, a number of new gun laws are set to take effect across the United States, some strengthening gun rights protections and some simply eroding them. Here’s a look at some of the more notable ones as reported by USA Today that are taking effect.
No Surprise, More Gun Restrictions in California
California remains at the forefront of restrictive gun policies with several new laws going into effect.
Continue reading New Year Brings New Gun Laws at The Truth About Guns.
Year in Review: Looking Back at the Top 10 Read Articles on TTAG in 2024
As 2024 comes to a close, we reflect on the most read articles based on site traffic that captivated, informed, entertained or even pissed off readers of The Truth About Guns. Here are the Top 10 most-read stories of the year (and yeah, I don’t totally get some of them either, but this is how the site traffic shook out for the year):
10. Is .357 Magnum Good for Self-Defense?
Armed Citizen Defends Family in Christmas Eve Walmart Shooting
A 19-year-old man is facing charges after an altercation inside a crowded Walmart in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Christmas Eve escalated into a shooting, police said.
The Clarksville Police Department (CPD) reported that Labron Gibson, 19, was charged with four counts of aggravated assault after allegedly initiating the confrontation, during which he displayed a firearm.
The Incident
The shooting occurred around 12:45 p.m. at the busy Walmart where hundreds were busy doing last minute Christmas shopping.
Wisconsin Rule Banning Guns While Fishing is Reeled In
Anglers in Wisconsin can now legally carry firearms while fishing, following a recent decision by the state’s Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules. The Republican-controlled committee voted 8-2 on Dec. 17 to temporarily repeal a long-standing Department of Natural Resources (DNR) rule that prohibited guns “that might be used for the purpose of fishing.” The DNR has indicated it will permanently repeal the rule as part of a lawsuit settlement, mostly because it just stupid.
Continue reading Wisconsin Rule Banning Guns While Fishing is Reeled In at The Truth About Guns.
BREAKING: ATF Director Reportedly Resigns
While there is not yet confirmation of this from official sources or the White House, Jared Yanis at Guns & Gadgets on YouTube shared a letter late yesterday allegedly from ATF Director Steve Dettlebach to President Joe Biden announcing his resignation effective January 18, 2025.
“Pursuant to the Memorandum for Presidential Appointees on Guidance on Letters of Resignation dated December 18, 2024, I hereby tender my resignation as Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive (ATF), effective as of January 18, 2025,” the letter reads.
Continue reading BREAKING: ATF Director Reportedly Resigns at The Truth About Guns.
Congress Passes Bill To Expand Public Shooting Opportunities
The U.S. Congress has passed and sent to President Joe Biden for his signature a measure that would greatly expand shooting opportunities on public lands. The legislation is important because the U.S. government manages about 28% of the country’s land mass for purposes that include the preservation and development of natural resources and outdoor recreation.
The Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, which had broad bipartisan support, was passed by the U.S.
Proposed PARTS Act Would Clarify Suppressor Definitions
Last month, Representatives August Pfluger (R-TX) and Jared Golden (D-ME) introduced the bipartisan “Protecting Americans’ Right to Silence Act of 2024” (PARTS Act), H.R. 10145, which seeks to modernize and clarify the federal definition of firearm suppressors under the Gun Control Act. Supported by Silencer Shop and the American Suppressor Association (ASA), the bill is designed to address outdated regulatory language, streamline the purchase process for legal silencer owners, and protect against potential overreach by federal agencies.
Continue reading Proposed PARTS Act Would Clarify Suppressor Definitions at The Truth About Guns.
Trump Eyeing Masters for ATF Top Job While Dettelbach Defends His Record
President-elect Donald Trump has signaled a shakeup at the ATF, pledging to replace current Director Steve Dettelbach on his first day in office. While Dettelbach defends his record of reducing violent crime and modernizing gun regulations, speculation about his replacement has ignited debate within Second Amendment circles.
Blake Masters Emerges as a Controversial Candidate
According to the Arizona Daily Independent News Network, Blake Masters, a failed congressional and senatorial candidate in Arizona, is being considered for the role of ATF director.
Court Rules Those Convicted Of Nonviolent Misdemeanors Retain 2A Rights
A Pennsylvania man who pled guilty to food stamp fraud back in 1995 got a great Christmas present two days early.
Bryan Range had been denied his right to keep and bear arms for nearly 30 years. But on December 23, the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals reaffirmed its earlier ruling that a person who commits a “nonviolent, nondangerous misdemeanor” and hasn’t been incarcerated cannot be deprived of his or her Second Amendment rights.
Smith & Wesson Response 9mm Carbine Review: A Versatile and Reliable PCC
Smith & Wesson’s introduction of the Response 9mm Carbine is an exciting addition to their lineup, offering shooters a lightweight and versatile pistol-caliber carbine (PCC). While the company’s FPC (Folding Pistol Caliber Carbine) has been successful as a compact and portable option, the Response carbine is designed for a different role, delivering enhanced handling and precision for home defense, competition and recreational shooting.
Design and Features
The Response shares an AR-style design with controls that will feel intuitive to anyone familiar with the AR-15 platform.
Supreme Court Lets Hawaii Off With a Warning … For Now
Last February, we reported on the judicial equivalent of a temper tantrum emanating from the Hawaii Supreme Court over the U.S. Supreme Court’s Second Amendment jurisprudence. That outburst finally reached the ears of its intended targets, the nine justices of America’s highest court, as they considered earlier this month whether to review the case of State v. Wilson. Ultimately, the justices did what the Hawaii Supreme Court had not by calmly and dispassionately applying the law to find the Second Amendment issues in the case were not yet ripe for review.
Continue reading Supreme Court Lets Hawaii Off With a Warning … For Now at The Truth About Guns.
“Expect to be Shot,” Florida Sheriff Warns After Man Defends Home Against Intruders
A Florida homeowner fatally shot a masked intruder and scared off another during a home invasion this week, prompting a stern warning from local law enforcement. “If you want to break into someone’s home, you should expect to be shot,” Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells said during a press conference, according to Fox News.
The incident occurred just after 9 p.m. Thursday in Manatee County. The homeowner, using a video surveillance system, saw two masked men attempting to break into the back of his house.
FPC Sues Louisiana Over Nonresident Carry Ban
The Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) has announced it has filed a lawsuit challenging Louisiana’s ban on firearms carry by nonresidents.
In the case, Mate v. Westcott, which is being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, FPC argues that the carry of firearms by residents and nonresidents alike is protected under the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Consequently, Louisiana’s ban on nonresident carry is unconstitutional.
Continue reading FPC Sues Louisiana Over Nonresident Carry Ban at The Truth About Guns.
Two New Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite Pistols
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. just released two new Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite rimfire pistols. The new pistols offer a custom look and custom features without a custom price tag.
Like the rest of the MK IV series, the new pistols are chambered for .22 LR. That’s to be expected, although it might be interesting to see a .21 Sharp version at some point. The new 22/45 Lite’s have 4.40″ threaded cold-hammer forged barrels, adjustable sights, a Picatinny top rail and an ambidextrous manual safety.
Continue reading Two New Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite Pistols at The Truth About Guns.
Everytown For Gun Safety Needs a Safe Space as Constitutional Carry Reduces Permit Applications
In 2024, South Carolina became the 29th state to implement Constitutional Carry, permitting citizens legally allowed to possess firearms to carry a concealed handgun without paying a fee or obtaining a license and without fear of being arrested or prosecuted for doing so. If we are being honest, instituting Constitutional Carry is more of a reaffirmation of that state’s commitment to the country and its citizens while giving them back a right that should have never been taken away in the first place.
San Antonio Shooting Highlights Texas Property Defense Laws
A San Antonio homeowner, Johnathon Vasquez, 32, faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly shooting a woman on his property Saturday morning. The case, reported by Fox San Antonio, has sparked a debate among locals about the rights of property owners to defend themselves and their homes under Texas law.
According to police, Vasquez was working on his car outside his West Side residence when he saw a woman, whom he had previously noticed peering into neighbors’ yards, step onto his property.
Felon Cites Bruen In Second Circuit Interstate Regulation Gun Charges
Federal public defender Kendra Hutchinson braved an uphill climb on December 12, presenting a despondent Second Amendment challenge before a panel consisting of U.S. Second Circuit Judges and Biden appointees Beth Robinson, Myrna Perez and Allison Nathan. Needless to say, any argument based on Americans’ gun rights is bound to fall on deaf ears in this kangaroo court of bad actors, but I digress.
Hutchinson’s client, Steven Perez, is currently serving a 16-month prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release for receiving a firearm from an unlicensed South Carolina dealer.
Still Baffling: AR-15 Provides Homeowners with Unfair Advantage Over Intruders?
Sometimes in researchinig stories to share with TTAG’s audience you come across an old one that still makes you shake your head. Sometimes you come across an old one that makes you shake your head so much you just have to share it. After all these years, what this grandfather says, in spite of his obvious grief, is still a head scratcher. So here’s the story:
Years ago, Massad Ayoob once told me, “In a fight for your life, if it’s a fair fight, your tactics suck.” Like many of us, I’ve heard (and used) that same expression countless times.