The NRA has scored a major legal victory, winning a unanimous decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled that New York State officials acted improperly in trying to influence multiple financial entities and insurance companies to halt their relationships with the NRA.
The Shooting Wire reports: “Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the National Rifle Association’s free speech rights were violated when the top financial regulator for New York State pushed banks and insurance companies to sever ties with [the NRA]. The opinion wasn’t just unanimous, it was written by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, not one of the ‘usual’ 2A supporters. But her opinion wasn’t about the mission of the NRA, it was about the organization’s ‘plausible allegation’ that the New York regulators violated the First Amendment.”
Justice Sotomayor wrote, “The critical takeaway, is that the First Amendment prohibits government officials from wielding their power selectively to punish or suppress speech, directly or (as alleged here) through private intermediaries.” Sotomayer continued: “Government officials cannot attempt to coerce private parties in order to punish or suppress views that the government disfavors.”
The majority opinion did suggest that NY insurance regulatory officials were allowed to pursue violations of New York’s state insurance laws. However, the the First Amendment violation occurred when New York’s Insurance Commissioner acted “to threaten enforcement actions against DFS-regulated entities in order to punish or suppress the NRA’s gun-promotion advocacy. Because the complaint plausibly alleges that Vuollo (the commissioner) did just that, the court holds that the NRA stated a First Amendment violation.”
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NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits The NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Indiana proved a popular and successful event. There were over 600 exhibitors showcasing a huge variety of firearms, optics, hunting gear, and other products.
NRA member attendance was excellent, with large crowds in the Exhibit Halls, and long lines to attend the major speaking events, which included an address by former President Donald Trump at the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum.
Forum members who attended said the “vibe” at the event was very positive, with strong attendance. That’s a good sign for the future. The 2024 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits will be held in Dallas, Texas. That should prove a very popular venue.
There were many new guns and optics on display. The GunsAmerica Digest team has reports on multiple new (or recently introduced) products. You can see a dozen videos from the 2023 NRA Show on the GunsAmerica YouTube Channel. GunsAmerica Digest Editor True Pearce was impressed with a new semi-auto rifle from IWI, which has some real advantages over AR-platform rifles. The new IWI Carmel Rifle has an adaptable chassis, and can switch between normal and suppressor modes.
“This new semiautomatic rifle [from IWI] features a short-stroke gas piston system and a locking, rotating bolt system for maximum safety…. The Carmel rifle is fully ambidextrous, making it easily customizable with MLOK rails at the 3, 6, and 9 positions for compatibility with various accessories. It also has a 2-position gas regulator, allowing the user to switch between regular and suppressor mode. The rifle’s cold hammer-forged, chrome-lined, free-floating barrel enhances accuracy and prolongs the life cycle of the weapon.” — GunsAmerica Digest, by S.H. Blannelberry.
GunsAmerica Digest Editor True Pearce also visited the CZ booth to check out the brand new Scorpion 3+, which is available in three versions. Micro with 4.2″; Pistol with 7.8″ barrel, and Carbine with 16.3″ barrel.
New Pistols and Colt Rifle on Display at NRA Show
The NRA’s American Rifleman magazine has also featured five new guns on display at the NRA Exhibit Hall: Colt CBX TacHunter rifle; FN America Reflex compact pistol; EAA Girsan MC 14T .380 ACP pistol; Henry Big Boy revolver; and Kimber KDS9 Double-Stack pistol.
Here is the new Colt CBX TacHunter rifle, the first rifle offering from Colt in many years. Price at $999 MSRP, the Colt CBX has some notable features:
“A flat-bottom receiver is designed to reduce flexing, which helps to aid precision shooting. The gun’s action features a short, 60-degree bolt throw for fast follow-up shots while also providing clearance for mounted optics. Users will also find an ambidextrous magazine-release latch, three sling-swivel studs, angled pistol-grip stock and textured gripping surfaces. The TacHunter is available in .308 Win.”– American Rifleman
Silencer Central Takes ATF eForm Applications at NRA Show The Silencer Central booth was swamped, and one staff member reported they expect to process the paperwork for anywhere from 500 to 700 suppressors. Photo by P. Erhardt.
Paul Erhardt of the Outdoor Wire Digital Network* was impressed by the turn-out of members at the NRA Meetings: “What many people don’t realize about the NRA Show is that it is actually not just a consumer expo but a real selling show. Obviously not for firearms or ammunition, but just about everything else that isn’t regulated or restricted is being sold, and most often at show special pricing. Several exhibitors that had retail operations in their booths were slammed with customers during the opening hours of the show.
But perhaps nothing compared to the frenzy at the Silencer Central booth where they were helping customers prepare and submit their ATF eForms for suppressor purchases. Customers were backed up into the booth as they waited their turn at the two banks of laptops and digital fingerprint scanners used to process paperwork which is now taking on average 270 days for the ATF to process.”
CLICK HERE for Full Shooting Wire NRA Show Report with 10 Show Photos and more products.
* The Shooting Wire is a free email newsletter that is published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The Shooting Wire is part of the Outdoor Wire Digital Network which is comprised of 10 individual wires, as well as a Spanish language edition of The Outdoor Wire.
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If you plan to travel far from home this year with firearms, then you should research legal requirements before you head to the airport or hit the road in your car or truck. To help Road Warriors, The Shooting Wire website recently published an excellent article concerning Travel with Firearms. This helpful article by Joe Balog features smart advice from 3-Gun competitor Rich Yoder.
Here are Highlights from the Travel with Firearms Article…
Traveling by Road:
Regulations for transporting firearms in a vehicle vary from state to state. Some are quite lenient, while others are much stricter. Within many states, gun transportation laws also vary considerably from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. If possible, keep your gun cases locked in your vehicle’s trunk or truck bed, as long as your bed has weather-tight and lockable security. If your guns are outside the passenger compartment, in a case, unloaded, and kept separate from ammunition, you’ll be in compliance with all but the strictest of local and state gun laws.
Traveling by Air:
When checking in at the airport, travelers need to declare that they are traveling with a gun. At that point, airline personnel will quickly advise the traveler of the need to open his or her case and inspect the firearm. Always wait for the TSA inspector before unlocking or opening the case, and only do so when clearly directed to do so by TSA personnel. Never take a firearm out of its case in an airport.
You have the right to remain with your firearm at all times during the inspection process. Never leave your firearm until the inspection is complete, the case has been re-locked, and you are in possession of the key or combination.
Traveling Overseas:
There are additional steps during international travel. Specifically, guns must clear customs in the destination country, and once again when entering back into the United States. Multiple government forms may need to be completed and carried with the firearm, like U.S. Customs Form 4457. Be sure to check into all required paperwork well before traveling.
Remington Outdoor Company (“ROC”), is shaking up its leadership — starting at the top. Effective immediately, Jim (“Marco”) Marcotuli has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), replacing George Kollitides II, who served as Chairman and CEO. Board member James P. (“Jim”) Campbell has been appointed Vice Chairman of the Board. Mr. Marcotuli will also serve as interim Chairman of the Board. Additionally, ROC’s Chief Financial Officer Ron Kolka is retiring but will remain with the Company for the next 30 days. Also leaving ROC are former Directors Walter (“Wally”) McLallen and James J. Pike.
Jim Shepherd of the Shooting Wire says the shake-up at Remington stems, at least in part, from ROC’s recent struggles with product recalls and class actions: “Having spoken with several top execs in other gun companies, this latest move is being viewed as the company’s attempt to move past some stormy recent history. That, however, might be easier said than done as two significant class actions still loom on the horizon and the calamitous recall of Model 700 rifles [still eats] into cash flows. Shepherd also suggests that former Chairman and CEO Kollitides was eased out: “In most financial circles, that abrupt departure would be called ‘he got quit’.’
About the New CEO, Jim “Marco” Marcotuli
Mr. Marcotuli has 25 years of management and operations experience, most recently serving as President and CEO of North American Bus Industries (NABI), where he successfully boosted the company’s market share while significantly growing earnings and revenue. Prior to that position, Mr. Marcotuli held senior leadership roles at various companies, predominately in the aerospace and automotive industries. “Over the past nine months Marco has distinguished himself as a visionary operator and remarkably effective change agent who has driven measurable results across our organization,” said Rob McCanna, senior vice president of sales at ROC. Said Mr. Marcotuli: “I am honored to have the opportunity to help write the next chapter for our Company and to work with our entire team to deliver consistently superior quality and excellence across the enterprise.”
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