2A Newsletter: Week of June 16th

Excess gun control makes us all less safe

Are you doing your part for gun rights? Photo Source: Branding Pot via Shutterstock

The recent surge in gun control laws across an ever-increasing number of states has sparked a heated debate on their effectiveness in curbing violence and ensuring the safety of law-abiding citizens. While proponents argue that these measures are necessary to reduce crime rates, evidence from these predominantly blue states says otherwise.

For instance, states with highly restrictive gun laws, such as California, Illinois, and New York, have experienced high levels of gun-related crimes. These states have all implemented various regulations, including bans on certain firearms, waiting periods for purchases, and strict background checks. Despite these measures, they continue to grapple with gun violence.

Contrary to the "intended purpose", crime rates have not seen a significant improvement since the enactment of these gun control laws. According to the CDC's fatal injury data and FBI data, both violent crime rates and violence-related firearm deaths have increased in almost all highly regulated states from 2017 to 2021. Meanwhile, neighboring Northeastern states such as New Hampshire, which maintained more lenient gun regulations, experienced a decrease in both categories.

This data highlights the potential pitfalls of overly restrictive gun control measures, which inadvertently make law-abiding citizens more vulnerable. As gun control advocates continue to push their narrative, individuals must approach the topic with skepticism and remember that the Second Amendment protects their right to bear arms.

As gun owners and advocates navigate this "sea of trash" in social science and statistics, it's essential to maintain a healthy dose of skepticism when confronted with gun control arguments. Ultimately, the right to keep and bear arms is constitutionally protected, and the effectiveness of any gun control measure should not overshadow this fundamental right. So please make sure you show up to the polls every single chance you get. 

BOA turns over gun owners’ information to FBI

Folks, it's time to boycott BoA. Photo Source: Jonathan Weiss via Shutterstock

In an "alarming" turn of events, whistleblowers from the FBI have revealed that Bank of America (BoA) has shared its customers' gun purchase information with the FBI without a warrant. This raises serious concerns about the protection of private data by banking institutions and points to an egregious breach of privacy.

Following the U.S. Capitol protest in January 2021, BoA reportedly provided the FBI with a list of customers who made relevant transactions or booked accommodations in the Washington, D.C. area. Despite lacking probable cause for a court order, BoA complied with the FBI's request for customer records, which included information about gun purchases.

This development has led Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Jim Jordan (R-OH) to send letters regarding whether other major banks have also violated their customers' privacy rights. Letters have been sent to JPMorgan Chase & Co, Citigroup, Truist Financial Corporation, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bancorp, and PNC Financial Services, seeking information about their communication with federal law enforcement agencies.

The role of Congress in protecting Americans' private information from unwarranted collection by federal agencies is crucial as outlined in Carpenter vs. United States. This incident has raised questions about the potential weaponization of government agencies against certain groups and individuals. The cooperation between big business and big government in this case is a cause for concern for all Americans, not just gun owners.

Bank of America's actions serves as a reminder for individuals to remain vigilant and demand transparency and accountability from both government and private institutions. Ensuring that financial institutions prioritize the protection of their customer's data is essential in maintaining trust and preserving individual privacy rights.

TX Governor Signs Pro-Second Amendment Bills into Law

Former President Trump shaking Texas Gov. Greg Abbot's hand in El Paso. Photo Source: Jeff Schultes via Shutterstock

In a significant 2A win for Texas, Governor Greg Abbott recently signed critical legislation that protects the privacy rights of lawful firearms purchasers and strengthens the state firearms preemption law. These new laws, which will take effect on September 1, 2023, will hopefully lay the groundwork to be emulated nationwide.

The first of these bills, House Bill 2837, prohibits financial institutions and credit card companies from requiring licensed dealers to use a firearms-specific merchant category code (MCC) for retail gun purchases. Instead, a general merchandise retailer code or a sporting goods retailer code can be used, ensuring that the privacy rights of lawful firearms and ammunition purchasers are protected from surveillance, reporting, or disclosure. This should ideally help prevent the issues we saw with the BoA debacle regarding the January 6th event.

The second bill, House Bill 3137, expands the state firearms preemption law, preventing municipalities or counties from requiring firearm owners to obtain liability insurance. This proactive measure stops costly, California-style local regulations from being imposed on law-abiding Texas gun owners.

In May, Governor Abbott also signed House Bill 1760, which clarifies the prohibition on firearms possession at school-sponsored activities. This bill ensures that License To Carry (AKA CCW) holders and permitless carriers with legal firearms at various locations would not become felons simply because students are on the same premises.

These new laws are critical in the protection of Second Amendment rights as they address multiple frustrating grey areas many have been dealing with on a regular basis. Some politicians truly have our best interests at heart and Gov. Abbot has shown that in spades. We hope that this swift action taken in Texas encourages other states to follow suit, further safeguarding Americans' gun rights.

In Other 2A News

Photo Source: Carroteater via Shutterstock

• Do you know who your representatives are? Use this GOA tool to find out!
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