Saturday Shootaround

It’s Saturday and time for your weekly 2A and shooting post here at MVAP. Instead of a verse, we’re going to start this week’s Shootaround with a collection of quotes.

A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition”
Rudyard Kipling

Remember the first rule of gunfighting … have a gun.”

“The purpose of the pistol is to stop a fight that somebody else has started, almost always at very short range.”
Col. Jeff Cooper

The way to reason with a predator is to make it aware that it can live in a cage, or it can die, but it can no longer prey upon us.”

“Firearms, if you think about it, are power tools. They drill holes in things and chew things up. That’s their purpose. The purpose of the user is, quite simply, to puncture and destroy the right things and not the wrong things.”
Massad Ayoob

The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) is one of the pro-2A groups getting stuff done. They recently had a minor victory in Pennsylvania. Before we get to that, some background is in order. Back in 2020, SAF filed a suit in PA, Lara v Evanchick, that challenged some of that state’s restrictions on under-21s to transport handguns.

Pennsylvania law generally allows for individuals over the age of 18 years-old to openly carry firearms without a License to Carry Firearms (LTCF). However, the law provides for extremely limited transportation of firearms absent a LTCF – allowing an individual to take an unloaded firearm from their home to only certain locations. As a result, people without LTCFs may not take an unloaded firearm from their home to most locations in order to then openly carry for self defense. To compound the issue further, the law does not allow for an individual under the age of 21 to apply for a LTCF.

As a result, Young Adults (ages 18-20-years-old) are unable to acquire licenses and are barred from exercising their right to bear arms outside the home. The Second Amendment’s plain text, as informed by this nation’s history and tradition, reveals that prohibiting the bearing of arms by Young Adults is constitutionally impermissible. There were no colonial or founding era laws that restricted the rights of Young Adults to keep and carry arms.

After having the case dismissed by US district Judge William Stickman, SAF and FPC filed an appeal to the 3rd Circuit court of appeals. In January a three judge panel of that court reversed and remanded it to the lower court. At this point the state of Pennsylvania is enjoined from enforcing the transport provisions on under 21s.

Here’s the minor victory. PA requested an en-banc rehearing on the matter. The court refused. That means the state cannot enforce the transport ban.

More winning. This time in Virginia where Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed a raft of gun control bills. H/T Rogue Unicorn:

HB2 and SB2 would have banned many commonly owned semi-automatic centerfire rifles, pistols, and shotguns manufactured after July 1, 2024. Additionally, the legislation would have imposed arbitrary magazine limits and discriminated against young adults by prohibiting them from purchasing certain firearms.
HB183 and SB368 would have mandated firearm storage requirements in the home.
HB318 and SB491 would have subjected firearm industry members to frivolous lawsuits. This legislation would have been detrimental and costly to the industry and would have made it more challenging and expensive for you to exercise your constitutional rights.
HB466 would have diminished opportunities for those with out-of-state concealed carry permits to carry in the Commonwealth. Currently, Virginia recognizes all out-of-state valid concealed carry permits. This bill would have instituted a new standard, which could cause some states to lose recognition.
HB585 would have banned home-based firearm dealers from opening or continuing to operate if they were located within 1.5 miles of any elementary or middle school. This extreme radius would have caused many firearm dealers to lose the ability to operate their small businesses.
HB1174 and SB327 would have discriminated against young adults by disallowing them to own certain handguns, rifles, and shotguns.
HB1195 and SB273 would have imposed a mandatory five-day waiting period for firearm purchases.

Good news for denizens of the Old Dominion.

This is a bit of older news, I probably should have covered it before. Anyway, GunTuber Brandon Herrera forced a primary runoff in his race to be the Representative from Texas congressional district 23. The incumbent, Tony Gonzales, nominally R, faced censure from the Texas GOP over his anti-2A votes in the aftermath of the Uvalde school shooting. Herrera, known as “the AK Guy” owns a gun building company in Texas as well as creating content for YouTube. He may soon add US Representative to his resume.

Gun Porn

This week’s gun porn features an antique rifle, The Whitney-Kennedy. Produced as both a rifle and a carbine, the Whitney-Kennedy was a slight redesign of the 3rd model Burgess rifle. It was initially chambered in .44 WCF. Total production of all variants of the Whitney-Kennedy are estimated at approximately 23,500. Later models introduced other chamberings like .40-60 and .45-75.

Here’s what the seller has to say:

For bid is a Whitney Kennedy 44-40 Cal. Lever Action Rifle. Rifle is in great shape for its age. As expected, there are signs of wear as well as some period gunsmithing at the screw points. Rifle is old enough to qualify as an antique so does not require an FFL. Please confirm with your state laws to confirm no FFL will be required.

Whitney Kennedy 44-40 Cal. Lever Action Rifle, #C256 on lever, 24” oct. bbl., mfg. from 1880 until 1886.