Monthly Firearm News Roundup as of February 01, 2024
Recent developments in gun legislation and court rulings across the United States highlight shifting trends. Alabama aims to implement stricter gun control laws with a proposed red flag bill, while Louisiana and South Carolina have both passed constitutional carry laws. Michigan has strengthened gun storage and background check requirements. Meanwhile, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that warning shots could be considered self-defense, and New Jersey is advancing microstamping technology to help solve gun crimes. Nationwide, these changes underscore the ongoing debate on gun regulation, safety, and Second Amendment rights.
Alabama:
Proposed Alabama HB49 would allow courts to issue one-year red flag protective orders, requiring the respondent to surrender all firearms in their possession to law enforcement. This bill is one of many bills aiming to restrict firearm access in Alabama. Other bills propose prohibiting bump stocks and restricting minors’ access to assault weapons. Alabama bump stocks
Arizona:
The 11th Annual Celebrate and Protect the Second Amendment Rally was held on February 17, 2024. Attorneys for Freedom’s own Marc J. Victor and Lauren Liberty spoke at the rally. A well-known YouTuber and our friend, Heavy Duty Country, also made an appearance! [Link to videos/photos from event]
California:
A fourteen-year-old boy was arrested for 3D-printing a gun in his own home. The boy was also found to be in possession of gang paraphernalia.
California:
US District Judge William Haynes struck down a California law barring the purchase of more than one gun in a thirty-day period. Judge Haynes found the law failed the test for firearm regulations laid out by New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which was decided by the US Supreme Court in 2022.
Georgia:
Remington is officially moving from Ilion, New York, to Georgia. CEO Ken D’Arcy said the company is excited to move to Georgia, a state that “enthusiastically supports and welcomes companies in the firearms industry.”
Hawai’i:
On February 7, 2024, the Hawai’i Supreme Court held that “there is no constitutional right to carry a firearm in public” in Hawai’i. In State v. Wilson, the Court found Hawai’i’s license to carry law did not violate an individual’s federal constitutional rights. The Court found the US Supreme Court does not strip states of “sovereignty to pass traditional police power laws designed to protect people.”
Illinois:
The National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR) has petitioned the United States Supreme Court to overrule the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling and strike down Illinois’s “assault weapons” ban. The NAGR asks the Supreme Court to consider whether the ban is constitutional.
Louisiana:
Constitutional Carry Bill SB1 has been signed into law by Governor Jeff Landry! Although Governor Landry signed SB1 on March 5, 2024, Constitutional Carry will not take effect until July 4, 2024. This bill will allow adults over eighteen to carry a concealed handgun without permits or training, bringing constitutional carry to Louisiana.
Michigan:
New laws went into effect on February 13 requiring Michigan residents to keep firearms stored unloaded and within a locked box if it is “reasonably known” that a minor is or could be present. The laws also include provisions lowering the costs of gun storage devices, requiring universal background checks, creating a red flag law, and preventing individuals convicted of domestic violence from owning guns for eight years after sentencing.
Missouri:
Three men were charged in connection with the recent Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade shooting. One suspect admitted he “randomly picked” his target when deciding to shoot his firearm. He informed investigators that he did so because he feared for his life. Missouri Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Parade
Montana:
Olympus Arms, found in Helena, has ramped up production of its Vulcan high-caliber recoilless rifle. The Vulcan is designed with a barrel that reciprocates inside the body of the rifle to reduce the recoil after firing the gun.
New Jersey:
Attorney General Matt Platkin has approved microstamping technology, which would allow a gun’s firing pin to imprint naming marks on cartridge cases fired from the gun. Platkin hopes this will allow his office to name individuals whose guns are used in crimes even when the gun itself is not recovered. Gun retailers are expected to carry guns with this technology after approval.
Ohio:
The Ohio Supreme Court held that firing warning shots can be considered self-defense. Three liberal justices and one conservative justice reached the decision. The judges found Ohio’s laws only require the “intent to repel or escape force” in asserting self-defense. [link to TikTok]
Rhode Island:
A federal appeals court held Rhode Island’s ban on owning ammunition magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds does not violate the Second Amendment. The judges reasoned that large-capacity magazines are rarely used in self-defense, so the law does not meaningfully burden Rhode Islanders’ Second Amendment rights.
South Carolina:
Governor Henry McMaster signed into law a bill that brings constitutional carry to South Carolina. Residents can now carry guns with or without a permit.
Texas:
Three students were suspended after not reporting that their classmate had brought a gun to school. One student has spoken out, saying she did not report her classmate because she was unsure if the gun was real, and she was concerned he would harm her if she reported him.
Utah:
HB406 was passed by the Utah legislature this session. The bill prevents financial institutions from requiring gun merchants to use firearms code 5723, a code developed by the International Organization for Standardization when processing a payment card transaction for a gun. Code 5723 currently allows the federal government to flag certain firearm purchases; the new bill will prevent this government oversight.
Washington:
United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke rejected a challenge to a Washington state law that allows the state to hold gunmakers liable for shootings. Judge Dimke found the challenging party, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, lacked standing; therefore, the door is still open for a party with standing to challenge the law in the future.
West Virginia:
In 2020, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention provided West Virginia with $525,000 to collect data on gun injuries to help prevent future shootings. West Virginia did not use the grant, so the funds will be returned to the US Treasury.
Wyoming:
Gun-free zones are set to be repealed in Wyoming after HB125 passed the state legislature. While some exceptions still exist, concealed carry permittees will now be able to carry a concealed weapon at government meetings and public schools.
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About the Author Criminal Defense Attorney Rachel A. Moss
Rachel A. Moss is a Criminal Defense Attorney and author of the Attorneys On Retainer Blogs. With a dedication to defending her clients and supporting the liberty movement, Rachel believes in giving people second chances to their freedom and fights for justice.
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