Tim Walz's attempt to woo men with hunting-themed photo op backfires



Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, have major issues with red-blooded American men and the Second Amendment. In a desperate effort to gain the support of the former and simulate support for the latter, Walz donned an orange hat and participated in a hunting-themed photo op on Saturday near Sleepy Eye, Minnesota.

This attempt to rehabilitate Walz's public image backfired — especially after footage circulated online showing the Democratic governor struggle with his firearm.

On Oct. 3, Trump campaign strategist Chris LaCivita noted on X, "Word on the street is Tampon Tim will be staging a Pheasant hunt soon ... manicured hands and all to prove that he is in fact not really a 'Beta' ... this will be fun to watch."

Sure enough, following days of mockery — during which Elmer Fudd memes and AI-generated images of Walz loading a shotgun with feminine hygiene products figured prominently — the Democratic governor participated in the 12th annual Minnesota Governor's Pheasant Hunting Opening in Sleepy Eye, then promptly shared a video documenting his failure to shoot a bird.

'This is just embarrassing.'

The proud gun-control supporter can be seen in the video walking around with a shotgun, chugging a diet Mountain Dew, and telling the tale of the time he allegedly "got a double."

While birds safely fluttered in the distance, Walz shared a few one-liners, including, "That's why it's hunting, not shooting, right?" and "There's good days and there's great days pheasant hunting."

After his not-so-great day pheasant hunting, critics seized upon a clip showing the governor struggle to load his shotgun.

Former Spartanburg Police Officer Cody Garrett, writing as Donut Operator, noted on X, "For a lifelong hunter, you sure were having trouble loading your own gun."

Another user wrote, "Bruh.. come on. This is just embarrassing. It's a good thing you defected before your deployment."

"Tim Walz claimed he carried 'weapons of war in combat' but he can’t load a shotgun? This guy is beyond weak. My little sister could beat him up," tweeted country music singer John Rich.

Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) was among the many who had some fun at Walz's expense, tweeting, "SLING AND A MISS."

"My prediction was in fact accurate," wrote LaCivita. "Staged ..and watching him bumbling around trying to load his shot gun was fun."

Referring to cable news footage of the outing, the Trump War Room noted, "MSNBC implies that Tim Walz going pheasant hunting is nothing more than a desperate attempt to make up ground with male voters. Sorry Tim, men aren't voting for a gun grabber."

The Harris-Walz campaign has significant ground to make up with male voters in the final weeks before the election.

A recent New York Times/Siena College poll revealed that 51% of likely male voters said they would vote for Trump. Only 40% of men said they would vote for Kamala Harris. This gendered skew is pronounced in swing states such as Arizona and Nevada, where a recent Suffolk University/USA TODAY survey indicated Hispanic men are majoritively keen to vote for Trump.

Although immigration appears to be a top concern for many likely male voters who are now supporting Trump, Harris and Walz may also have alienated men with their records on gun rights.

'The hunting community, in my opinion, will vote for someone that puts America first.'

The Harris campaign website indicates that if elected, she would "ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require universal background checks, and support red flag laws that keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people."

Harris previously threatened to storm the homes of law-abiding Americans for surprise gun inspections; endorsed a handgun ban without buybacks; and signed an amicus curiae brief both justifying a total handgun ban and suggesting that the Second Amendment does not secure an individual right but rather a "collective" or "militia-related" right.

The Washington Post noted that unlike Harris, Walz was not always hostile to the Second Amendment, having once earned an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association. However, in recent years, he has become a zealous anti-gun activist, proudly earning nothing but straight "F" ratings and publicly blasting the NRA as "the biggest single obstacle to passing the most basic measures to prevent gun violence in America."

Walz has since boasted of his efforts to ban bump stocks and assault rifles, as well as his fight to prevent concealed-carry reciprocity. In June, Walz ratified legislation banning the use of binary triggers. Last year, he ratified a raft of gun-control measures, including universal background checks and a red-flag law.

Walz's photo op is unlikely to make critics forget about his record or Harris', just as it appears to have done little to win over hunters and conservationists.

Gabriella Hoffman, director of the Center for Energy and Conservation at the Independent Women's Forum, told the Spectator, "No $40 camo hat will convince most sportsmen and women that Harris-Walz represents them."

"Vice President Harris has been an active partner with President Biden in being the most hostile administration to shooting sports, hunting, and fishing access. Her name is co-signed on closing millions of acres of public hunting lands in Alaska, forbidding lead tackle on national wildlife refuges, and recently shutting down shooting sports opportunities in the entirety of Bears Ears National Monument — 1.3 million acres," said Hoffman. "Hunters and anglers don’t trust Harris-Walz."

Derek Wolfe, host of the outdoorsman podcast "Wolfe Untamed," said, "They have made it clear that they are coming for guns, fracking, gas-powered vehicles, just to name a few. They know that 10 million hunters didn't vote in the last election, so they are reaching out, but it's a waste of their time because the hunting community, in my opinion, will vote for someone that puts America first. And I believe that man is Donald J. Trump."

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FACT CHECK: Did Kamala Harris Lie About Owning a Firearm?

The post refers to an error within the CNN transcript and closed-captions

'Blaze News Tonight' RECAP: Elon Musk's Trump donation, Secret Service failure, and a Jan. 6 victory



In the wake of Trump’s near-assassinaton, Elon Musk has not only endorsed Donald Trump for president but has also pledged $45 million a month to a Trump-affiliated PAC, likely making him an even bigger target for the left. Corrupt Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez (N.J.) has been convicted on 16 counts, leading several Democrat senators to call for his resignation, even threatening to expel him if he refuses to step down. Next, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) gives her thoughts in an exclusive interview on Trump’s decision to appoint JD Vance as his running mate, as well as Biden’s calls for unity. Next, former Navy SEAL and security expert Erik Prince joins the show to shed light on the newly surfaced Iranian assassination plot, as well as the failure of the Secret Service not only at the rally but in general. However, there is a hopeful development in one January 6 case. A federal judge ordered the release of January 6 prisoner John Strand. Blaze News investigative journalist Steve Baker calls in to discuss the ruling.

Elon Musk Goes Full MAGA with Monthly $45M Trump Super PAC Pledge | Guest: Erik Prince | 7/16/24 www.youtube.com

Elon gets super political in super PAC donation

Senior politics editor and Washington correspondent for Blaze Media Christopher Bedford joins Jill and the panel on “Blaze News Tonight” from day two of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to discuss Elon Musk’s recent political moves and Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez’s conviction.

In regard to Musk’s donation pledge, Bedford says, “My gosh, he’s brave.”

Not only did Musk pledge “$45 million a month, a staggering amount of money,” to a Trump super PAC, but he also expressed his disapproval of Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s bill that permits children to transition behind their parents’ backs by vowing to “move his space company to Texas.”

Further, Democrat Senator Bob Menendez, who Bedford says is “one of the more openly corrupt senators” and “an incredibly arrogant politician,” has been convicted on “federal corruption charges.”

Even “the Democrats just want him to go away,” says Bedford.

Further, Julio Rosas, Blaze Media’s national correspondent, who is also attending the RNC convention, spoke with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) about her thoughts regarding Trump’s VP pick, JD Vance.

“It’s the direction I want the party to go in, and that’s going to be America first,” Greene said of Vance.

To Biden’s calls for “unity,” Greene was candid: “If Joe Biden and the Democrats were serious about unity, he would completely stop the weaponized Department of Justice that he has enabled, he would reel back Merrick Garland, he would drop all the charges against President Trump, [and] he would release political prisoners who are being held in prison for years now for protesting election fraud.”

Secret Service failure and Kimberly Cheatle’s refusal to step down

The Secret Service is on high alert after reports of an Iranian plot to assassinate Donald Trump have surfaced. Former Navy SEAL and security expert Erik Prince joins the show to shed light on the threat.

“I think this is a desperate effort to deflect from a completely botched job of protecting the leading Republican candidate and front-runner for the next presidency,” Prince tells Jill, adding that he doesn’t give the threat “a whole lot of credibility.”

“We suffer from a from a whole collection of federal agencies that are bloated, obese, unaccountable, and ineffective, and we continue to steer away from a merit-based, execution-based excellent society to our detriment,” he continues, noting that had Trump been killed, “we could have literally torn the country asunder.”

When Prince points to the lack of merit in our federal agencies, he is, at least in part, referring to Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle’s DEI initiative to ensure 30% of the force is made up of women.

Even though Cheatle has technically “[taken] responsibility” for Trump’s near-assassination, she has nonetheless refused to step down from her position.

While the FBI has sworn to investigate Saturday’s unfortunate events, Jill questions the authenticity of their claims, given “the way that the federal agencies have handled Donald Trump-related issues in the past.”

Prince agrees, stating he has “zero confidence in the federal government being able to investigate itself.”

A January 6 victory

The tides have turned for one January 6 defendant, John Strand, who was ordered to be released by a federal judge this July.

Blaze News investigative journalist and fellow January 6 victim Steve Baker joins the show to explain the details of Strand’s case. Steve tells Jill and the panel that Strand is one of the more “high-profile cases” of all the January 6 defendants.

Strand attended the Capitol on January 6 because he was the friend and bodyguard of Dr. Simone Gold, who was deplatformed during the height of COVID for recommending “alternate therapies that were not part of the approved narrative from the administration.”

Dr. Gold was scheduled to speak at the Capitol that day — an event that was “legally permitted.” When the Oathkeepers and Strand escorted Dr. Gold to her speaking location, however, the chaos had already begun.

“John Strand and Simone Gold did not participate in violence; they did not participate in breaching the Capitol building whatsoever,” says Baker, “but when the doors opened, they, like so many hundreds and even thousands of others, did in fact go inside peacefully, and she actually decided to deliver her prepared remarks there in the Rotunda.”

After Dr. Gold delivered her speech, she and Strand “peacefully left.” However, both were “arrested very early on” and were “charged not only with a handful of misdemeanors,” but also with the “infamous 1512 obstruction of an official preceding felony, which carried up to 20 years potential imprisonment.”

While Gold ended up “taking a plea deal" involving “60 days in prison,” Strand decided that “he was going to be a warrior” and fight the charges. In the end, he was sentenced to “32 months in prison.”

“They committed exactly the same crimes, but because he wasted the government's time and he put them through the hassle of having to prepare for a trial … Simone got two months in prison and he got 32 months in prison,” says Baker.

However, the Supreme Court’s “overturning of 1512" led to Strand’s release.

'Blaze News Tonight' RECAP: Implications of Trump’s near-assassination, JD Vance, and eerie parallels between Trump and Roosevelt



Last weekend, President Trump came within a literal inch of death during an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania. The following Monday, Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed his classified documents case due to the unconstitutionality of Jack Smith's involvement. BlazeTV host of “Stu Does America” Stu Burguiere joins "Blaze News Tonight" to discuss the historic last few days for Donald Trump and what they could mean come November. Next, Blaze Media senior politics editor Christopher Bedford and Blaze Media national correspondent Julio Rosas tune in from the RNC convention in Milwaukee to discuss President Trump's VP pick — Ohio Senator JD Vance — and the anti-Trump protests raging in the streets outside the convention. Next, the panel discusses the group of attendees at the Butler, Pennsylvania, rally who witnessed the shooter mount the roof and who called for help but were ignored. Former intelligence analyst for the Department of Defense and chief researcher for Glenn Beck Jason Buttrill joins to break down the failure of the Secret Service to protect former President Donald Trump from danger. Lastly, BlazeTV host of "The Glenn Beck Program" and Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck joins the show to discuss the parallels between the attempted assassination of Trump and that of President Theodore Roosevelt.

'America’s Hitler'?! Biden’s Unity Message TANKS After Trump Picks JD Vance for VP | 7/15/24www.youtube.com

Historic days for Donald Trump

At a rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania, former president Donald Trump was nearly assassinated when a shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire from a nearby rooftop, hitting Trump in the ear. Two days later, Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed Trump’s classified documents case, ruling that special counsel Jack Smith was unconstitutionally appointed.

“This is probably one of the craziest sequences of events that I've ever seen in politics,” says BlazeTV’s Stu Burguiere.

“To just have a bullet go through your ear, you're an inch away from dying, to have the presence of mind to stand up there and raise your fist and show America that … not only did this not hurt you, but we're going to keep going is one of the most incredible moments — the most bada** moment — I've ever seen,” he tells Jill.

According to Stu, Trump’s bold display of courage will likely result in “a bump” for him, meaning that people who have never considered voting for him before may find themselves “crossing that line for the first time because there is something really, truly American” about “the way [Trump] reacted.”

Further, Stu suspects the mainstream media will soften toward Trump for a while and conveniently “forget about all the rhetoric” it’s been spreading about his similarity to Hitler.

“You call somebody Hitler over and over and over again, it's going to create an impression among some unstable people that the correct, moral thing to do is to take him out,” says Stu, suggesting that the media’s rhetoric is at least partially to blame for Trump’s almost-assassination.

Republicans unite at Milwaukee RNC Convention, anti-Trump protests rage on

According to Blaze Media senior politics editor Christopher Bedford, currently attending the RNC convention in Milwaukee, the events that occurred over the weekend seem to be unifying the right.

“The Republicans were already set to walk into this week more unified than the Democratic Party by an absolute long shot, but the historic deadly attack and the attempted assassination that we watched on television on Saturday has even heightened that,” says Bedford, adding that the spectrum of Republicans coming together ranges from warmongering Nikki Haley to 50 Cent.

As for Trump’s VP pick — Ohio Senator JD Vance — Bedford alleges that the majority of convention attendees seem “thrilled with this decision,” but there are certain individuals, “some of the old Tea Party conservatives,” for example, who are not so thrilled.

“What choosing Vance says — a young senator, 39 [years old], in his first term, a rising star, telegenic, intelligent — is it allows the MAGA movement to know that there's some kind of future, a potential successor, after Trump's second term in office if he wins,” Bedford explains.

For all the unity among Republicans, however, there seems to be equal solidarity among Trump-haters. Footage shows mass anti-Trump protests in the streets of Milwaukee, where Trump-Hitler rhetoric has not waned at all.

Blaze Media national correspondent Julio Rosas tells Jill that in the press conference that followed the march on the RNC, protest leaders were “denouncing Trump,” likely realizing that his “popularity [is] rising in the aftermath” of the assassination attempt.

“One of the speakers did say that, generally speaking, she was against any assassination attempt on any politician, but then she caveated that by saying it's undeniable that Trump's rhetoric, policies, and actions has led to the legitimization of political violence by white nationalists,” Rosas reports.

Secret Service failure?

Police forces and Secret Service at the rally where President Trump was shot have come under intense scrutiny after a group of bystanders witnessed the armed shooter mount the roof but were ignored when they reported the threat.

Jill plays the footage of one witness recounting to the BBC’s Gary O'Donoghue that he “[pointed] at the guy crawling up the roof” to police and Secret Service and even told police that “there's guy on the roof with a rifle,” but nothing was done until after Crooks had already started firing.

He also asked: “Why is there not Secret Service on all of these roofs?”

Former intelligence analyst for the Department of Defense and chief researcher for Glenn Beck Jason Buttrill calls the situation “ridiculous” and “chaotic.”

Jason, who’s “worked alongside Secret Service,” says that he “cannot fathom how this happened,” as Secret Service — especially when the protective operation involves a president — will “show up weeks in advance” to conduct a “site survey” for the purpose of developing a “multi-tiered security plan.”

Part of that security plan involves setting up “firing positions” that fall “outside the perimeter,” completely debunking the narrative of the Secret Service director who claimed that “they’re not responsible outside that perimeter.”

All considered, it seems highly unlikely that the roof from which the shooter fired was not considered a high-risk area by the Secret Service prior to the rally.

Parallels between Teddy Roosevelt & Donald Trump’s almost-assassinations

Glenn Beck, a lover of history, couldn’t help but notice several parallels between Donald Trump’s near-death experience and that of Teddy Roosevelt in 1912.

When Roosevelt was shot, the bullet “didn't go into his lungs” but rather “lodged between two ribs because the speech and his glasses,” which he’d put into his front coat pocket, “caught that bullet,” says Glenn, adding that Roosevelt “went on to give the speech” despite his wound.

“The way Donald Trump handled the assassination attempt is almost identical to what Teddy Roosevelt did,” he tells Jill. “When Donald Trump got up and he said, ‘Wait, wait, wait,’ and then he looked at the crowd and held his fist up and he said ‘fight.’ I ... immediately thought of Theodore Roosevelt.”

Jill agrees, adding that Trump “never backs away from a fight,” which is also “what Teddy Roosevelt is known for.”

As for Trump’s decision to select JD Vance as his running mate, Glenn says, “I think it was a really good move.”

Vance, according to Glenn, has the potential to carry on Trump’s legacy and counteract the left’s narrative that Trump will refuse to leave office.

“You could interpret this as … Donald Trump saying, ‘I know I'm only going to be there four years,”’ says Glenn, meaning that Vance, if he runs for president in 2028, could actually accomplish much of what Trump set out to do — things that Trump knows are impossible to achieve in one term.

'Blaze News Tonight' RECAP: Project 2025, the SAVE Act, and Inflation



The left is panicking over Project 2025, villainizing it as far-right extremism, but what's really in the document? Heritage Foundation president and co-author of the initiative Kevin Roberts joins the show to answer questions and debunk lies regarding Project 2025. Next, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) explains the SAVE Act — a bill that would bar non-citizens from voting in the 2024 election. Democrats have largely voted against it; Biden has even vowed to veto it, and yet, 81% of the American people agree that only American citizens should have the right to vote in U.S. elections. What the people want is crystal clear, but how likely is the SAVE Act to pass prior to November? Finally, Carol Roth joins the program to tell us the truth about inflation, including what the recent one-tenth drop means for the average American.

Project 2025: Heritage President DEBUNKS Lies | Guests: Kevin Roberts & Sen. Mike Lee | 7/11/24www.youtube.com

Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts on Project 2025

Democrats are in an uproar over Project 2025, calling the initiative far-right extremism and attempting to attach the document to Donald Trump, who has denied any affiliation. Headed by the Heritage Foundation, Project 2025 is a detailed plan of policy proposals for the next conservative administration. What's in the document, though? Kevin Roberts, Heritage Foundation president and co-author of Project 2025, joins the show to "separate fact from fiction."

The list of lies liberals are spreading about Project 2025 grows longer by the day, but "the one thing they get right," Roberts says, "is that we call for the utter elimination of the U.S. Department of Education."

As for the people "doxxing" and "threatening" those behind Project 2025, Roberts promises unapologetic prosecution.

"We are going to prosecute you, and we're going to do that using every ounce of the law. It's going to be peaceful; it's going to be lawful, but you have picked the wrong fight," he says.

Sen. Mike Lee on the SAVE Act

Among the many fears Americans harbor regarding Biden's open border policies that have ushered in millions and millions of illegal immigrants is the concern that non-citizens will be given voting rights prior to the 2024 election, potentially changing the outcome. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), however, alongside Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and House Speaker Mike Johnson, have proposed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act that aims to ensure only American citizens can vote in the 2024 election. Unsurprisingly, most Democrats have voted against it. Biden has also mentioned vetoing the bill.

Sen. Mike Lee, who joins the show, explains that liberal opposition to the bill is rooted in Democrats' desire to "rely on non-citizens" to impact "a federal election" — something he calls "terrifying."

While Lee admits that they face "some heavy obstacles to passing [the SAVE Act]," he knows that should the bill be voted down, the decision "is going to come at a price," granted "81% of American voters agreed that only citizens — only American citizens — should vote in federal elections," which is "a huge bipartisan supermajority."

Sen. Lee also broke down his op-ed on Blaze News, which discusses the legal lawfare the left has used to take down Trump. "[Democrats] are the rule of law," he says, adding that "Democrats love throwing around ... the term 'our democracy,' and yet, when they use the term democracy, they're more often than not talking about something that is the exact opposite of democracy."

As for President Biden's cognitive decline, Lee says his Democratic colleagues "are referring behind closed doors to this situation ... as the 'Weekend at Bernie's' chat."

"I think they've finally started to accept the fact that they've pushed it so far they can't take it any farther."

Carol Roth on inflation

Blaze News contributor and author of "You Will Own Nothing" Carol Roth joins the show to tell us the truth about inflation, one of the biggest — if not the biggest — complaint of American citizens.

"The top issue on Americans’ minds as they head to the polls is the economy," Roth wrote in her recent article "The GOP needs to stay focused on inflation, not cognition."

Roth, who agrees that Biden's mental acuity is a problem, argues that his administration's destructive policies — including the ones driving inflation through the roof — are the far more pressing issue.

"We're missing the opportunity when we're talking about his cognitive decline to talk about the fact that whether it's Biden or someone they put in his place ... these are the broader policies of not just this man but of the Democrats and that if we want to save our country, we need to be making a change in holding those people accountable, and that goes farther than just Joe Biden," she says.

As for inflation, which as of yesterday was down "one-tenth of 1%," Roth says she isn't hopeful it will make a real difference for the average American.

"A quarter of a percentage point, which is probably what is on the table today for September (if that even happens) isn't going to change things meaningfully," she says, adding that she thinks "we need to see something like a 1% cut ... then maybe Americans start to feel a little bit of relief in terms of anything that is tied to an interest rate."

"The most meaningful thing it will mean is that the $35 trillion in debt we have — that big portion of it that needs to be refinanced plus the almost $2 trillion deficits that we're running that need to be financed — they will be able to be financed hopefully at lower interest rates, which will overtime, theoretically, bring down the deficits and hopefully have a positive impact on inflation ... that's the best we can hope for."

For more provocative opinions, expert analysis, and breaking stories you won’t see anywhere else, tune in to 'Blaze News Tonight' daily on BlazeTV.

Michigan township forms militia to protect citizens' 2nd Amendment rights from Gov. Whitmer's gun regulations



A township in Muskegon County has declared itself a Second Amendment sanctuary and created a maximally inclusive militia in hopes of protecting citizens' constitutional rights from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's gun control laws.

What's the background?

Democrats control both chambers of the Michigan state legislature. With this power and Whitmer's signature, they have successfully pushed through numerous bills aimed at curtailing Second Amendment rights.

For instance, SB 83, ratified by Whitmer in May, allows family members, quacks, cops, roommates, and others to petition to void another citizen's Second Amendment rights if they can halfway persuade a judge it might prevent the targeted citizen from doing future harm either to themselves or to others.

In the face of the leftist power trifecta's gun control efforts, constitutionalist officials across the state have signaled their opposition with largely symbolic local ordinances and resolutions.

The Holland Sentinel indicated earlier this year that well over 50 of Michigan's 83 counties have adopted resolutions declaring themselves Second Amendment sanctuaries or at the very least reaffirming their support for gun rights. Several townships and at least one city have followed suit.

The Holton Township Militia

Holton Township Clerk Malinda Pego, who is also co-chair of the Michigan GOP, introduced a motion at a Nov. 14 board meeting declaring the township a Second Amendment sanctuary.

The resolution stated that "the Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of our nation; ... the Second Amendment to the Constitution states, 'A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed'; and ... the United States Supreme Court has affirmed that the right of an individual to 'keep and bear arms,' as protected under the Second Amendment, is incorporated by the Due Process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment against the states."

Noting that board members will remain steadfast in upholding the the U.S. and Michigan constitutions and oppose "any law that would unconstitutionally restrict the rights of the citizens of Holton Township to keep and bear arms," the resolution called for the technical establishment of a militia.

Accordingly, all legal residents with primary residency within the township who are 18 or older, capable of passing a federal firearms background check, and desire to do so can become a member of the Holton Township Militia simply by indicating their intent "on open media or to friends and or family or by letter."

The resolution further claimed that admission into the militia protects various items from federal, executive, county and state regulations, including all federally permissible ammunition of any current caliber; all federally legal accessories, including stocks, grips, optics, magazines, clips, and suppressors; and body armor legal under federal law.

The motion passed with the support of all board members with the exception of the treasurer, who was not present, meaning Holton Township, 200 miles northwest of Detroit, will "not acknowledge any new laws that are associated with red flag laws, or any other infringement of the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution" or "acknowledge any new regulation that prohibits open carry or concealed carry."

Managing expectations

Township Supervisor Alan Jager told WXMI-TV that in the face of Democratic legislation like SB 83, militia membership will ensure that citizens see some sort of due process when threatened with having their firearms seized.

Jager, who voted in support of the resolution, said, "If you got to court, [you can say] I have a right to these guns because I need them to protect myself and to protect my community."

"Then you can maybe have a jury of your peers, or at least have a lawyer present and try to explain your case ... my neighbor just don't like me, so he called on me and now I'm gonna lose my guns," said Jager.

Jager told Michigan News Source there's little demand on militia members, as there are no monthly meetings or paramilitary activities.

"All you have to do is say, 'I'm in.' If you don't want to be in, all you have to do is just never say anything," said Jager.

The township supervisor suggested the savage Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks on Israel revealed the need to remain vigilant and not to be caught off guard.

"They took their guns away. An then look what happened. 1,400 people died," said Jager. "And now they're telling people in that same area 'buy guns to protect yourself, because you're not safe."

While a militia might defend against attackers, attorney Randall Levine told WOOD-TV that membership in a militia would not ultimately protect a resident from subjection to state laws regulating firearms.

"I think a resolution is more of a statement," said Levine. "There's nothing in the creation of a militia which is going to alter in any way the prescriptions in Michigan law that pertain to responsible gun ownership and use."

"How they're used, the fact that if they're used responsibly, where they can be carried, how they can be carried is a subject that is exclusively within the purview of the Legislature," added Levine.

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Felon with armed robbery convictions still has 2nd Amendment rights and cannot be charged for possessing firearm, judge rules



A federal judge in Illinois has ruled that a felon did not lose his Second Amendment right to own a firearm, even after he had been convicted of multiple gun-related crimes.

The astonishing ruling stems from an alleged robbery in Chicago in September 2021. At the time, Glen Price supposedly robbed three men on a CTA train. When police searched Price, they reportedly found a stolen credit card, cocaine, a 9mm handgun, and extra ammunition.

As Price, now 37, had already been convicted of felony armed robbery three times in the past, federal law prohibited him from owning a gun. So officers charged Price with possessing a firearm as a felon, a federal statute with a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years.

On November 2, however, the federal case against Price was dismissed after U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman, a Clinton appointee, determined that the statute prohibiting felons from possessing firearms was unconstitutional. That law "imposes a far greater burden on the right to keep and bear arms than the historical categorical exclusions from the people's Second Amendment right," Gettleman wrote in the 22-page decision.

Gettleman said he based his ruling on the 2022 SCOTUS case New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen. In that 6-3 decision, the justices struck down a New York state law requiring people to demonstrate "proper cause" when seeking a permit to carry a concealed handgun.

Gettleman said that Bruen compelled the government to "provide evidence of a historical analogue that is both comparably justified and comparably burdensome of the right to keep and bear arms." The judge said he went all the way back to 1677 but couldn't find historical precedent for a similar prohibition on criminals possessing firearms.

He also said that the "plague" of violence in some communities did not override the need for historical precedent that "authorized capital punishment and estate forfeiture for felonies" as demanded by Bruen. While there are "strong policy reasons" for trying to prevent violent crime, "lifetime disarmament" is not "rooted in our Nation’s history and tradition," Gettleman asserted, quoting from another 2023 federal ruling.

Bill Kushner, a police affairs consultant for WLS-TV, argued that the statute preventing felons from possessing weapons came about in the 1930s and then expanded in the 1960s for good reason: it helps prevent violent crime. "The carjackings, the shootings, these are not just demonized youth," Kushner said. "These are people that feel that they have a free hand to do whatever they want without fear of repercussions."

Even Richard Pearson, the executive director of Illinois State Rifle Association, disagreed with Gettleman's decision. "I'm opposed to criminals who have been charged with violent crimes and convicted of those violent crimes from getting a handgun or an FOID card or concealed carry permit of any kind," Pearson said.

U.S. attorneys have already filed an appeal in the case, Law&Crime reported. The outlet also stated that the case "seems fated to find its way before the U.S. Supreme Court."

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Israel relaxes gun laws to increase number of armed and ready citizens in wake of terrorist attacks



In the wake of the Hamas terrorist attacks over the weekend and the war now under way, Israelis are looking to bolster their security. To this end, the Israeli government is now relaxing some of its stringent gun laws to ensure that qualifying citizens can even the odds should they again become the last line of defense.

What's the background?

Whereas anywhere from 32% to 60% of Americans possibly pack heat, the BBC reported earlier this year that only around 2% of Israelis own guns.

Haaretz indicated in January that Israel, which has a population of just over 9 million people, had roughly 148,000 licensed gun holders, not including security forces, soldiers, policemen, and security guards. This number has apparently been on the rise on account of recent Islamist attacks.

According to the national security ministry, applications for gun licenses more than doubled in 2022, from 19,000 in 2021 to 42,236.

"I carry a weapon for the simple reason that I won't be defenseless. I will be able to protect myself and those around me," Hosha'aya Volman, a Jewish resident in the northern West Bank settlement of Kohav Hashahar, told the BBC.

The former minister of internal security relaxed the criteria for ownership somewhat in 2018, such that adults with combat military service with advanced infantry training can receive firearms. It also became easier for volunteers in emergency rescue organizations and residents in high-risk areas to acquire permits to carry weapons.

Nevertheless, the Algemeiner indicated that there remain various criteria applicants must satisfy in order to qualify.

Civilians can apply only for a pistol and are unable to acquire rifles. Additionally, civilians have only been allowed to have 50 bullets in their possession at any given time. Applicants must be 27 years old unless they've completed a two- or three-year military service, in which case they can apply on their 20th birthday. Eligible applicants must also pass a theoretical exam, present a health declaration signed by a doctor, pay a licensing fee, attend 4.5 hours of training, and demonstrate basic knowledge of the Hebrew language.

Precedent for change

Despite the apparent difficulty of acquiring a gun in Israel, there has been ample evidence to suggest that an armed citizenry can be lifesaving.

An Islamist murdered four people and wounded two others in a ramming and stabbing attack in Beersheba on March 22, 2022. The rampage was brought to an end by two armed civilians who blew the attacker away.

Another stabbing and car-ramming attack in the West Bank settlement of Ariel on Nov. 15, 2022, was brought to an end by armed civilians, aided ultimately by IDF soldiers.

On March 31, 2022, a civilian fatally blasted a Palestinian radical who had stabbed a 28-year-old on a bus near the West Bank settlement of Efrat.

In a comparable incident on July 19, 2022, a Palestinian radical stabbed a 41-year-old in the head with a screwdriver. The assailant was incapacitated by a news photographer who happened to be armed.

Critics have noted that Hamas terrorists might not have been able to so easily massacre hundreds at the Supernova festival in Re'im, Israel, over the weekend were there similarly armed citizens in the crowd, reported Newsweek.

According to Israeli officials, over 900 Israelis have been killed and 2,741 have been injured by Hamas. Fifty families have been notified that their loved ones were taken hostage.

Arming 'as many citizens as possible'

Following the recent Hamas terror attacks on Israel, Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir indicated Sunday the country will ease its gun laws in hopes of arming "as many citizens as possible."

In a post on X, Ben-Gvir noted how the laws, effective Monday, would be eased:

  • Applicants without a criminal or medical record would need only undergo a telephone interview instead of a physical interview and would receive permission to carry a gun within a week;
  • Anyone who received a conditional permit to buy a gun but has not yet done so this year can now buy a gun, even if that permit has expired;
  • Citizens who deposited their weapons having previously failed to undergo refresher training will be given their guns back; and
  • Citizens can now purchase and possess up to 100 bullets as opposed to 50.

These revised rules will reportedly impact thousands of Israelis.

Ben-Gvir had suggested doing something similar in January, stating, "I want more weapons on the streets, so that the citizens of Israel could defend themselves."

Jeffrey Gunter, a former U.S. ambassador and a Republican Jewish Coalition board member, told Just the News, "There's a great desire of Israelis to protect their homeland. ... And I think along with that will be an increased desire to have gun ownership."

In a response to a tweet from Donald Trump Jr., which suggested the recent attacks have highlighted the importance of the Second Amendment, Gun Owners of America wrote, "Israel JUST loosened firearm licensing, but many Israelis still don't live in an eligible region. Others simply cannot afford to wait a week for a telephone interview or need more than the allotted 100 rounds of ammo. A good first step, but Israel needs a Second Amendment ASAP!"

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Smith & Wesson pulls up stakes in blue state with worsening gun control laws, relocates to Tennessee



Smith & Wesson has been arming Americans for over 170 years. Although headquartered in Massachusetts since the mid-19th century, the gunmaker recently pulled up stakes and moved to a red state, citing constrictive Democrat gun control legislation.

On Saturday, the company celebrated the grand opening of its new $160 million, 650,000 square-foot home base in Maryville, Tennessee.

Smith & Wesson CEO Mark Smith told the thousands who gathered for the campus' opening ceremony and corresponding fall festival, "From where I stand, the next 170 years of Smith & Wesson are looking pretty good," adding, "It is something special here," reported the Daily Times.

Bryan Daniels, president and CEO of Blount Partnership, emphasized that the company's relocation would "positively change the lives of our citizens" for generations.

According to Daniels, the move comes with 800 jobs, the promise of a $125 million investment, and a commitment to offer a $25.97 sustained minimum wage.

Smith & Wesson spokesman Dave O'Connor told the Knoxville News Sentinel the company is looking to add at least 620 jobs as well as a company museum and retail space on the new campus.

The company announced the move from Springfield, Massachusetts, to Tennessee back in September 2021, making no secret of the reason why.

Mark Smith noted that Democratic gun control legislation "would prevent Smith & Wesson from manufacturing firearms that are legal in almost every state in America and that are safely used by tens of millions of law-abiding citizens every day exercising their Constitutional 2nd Amendment rights, protecting themselves and their families, and enjoying the shooting sports," reported WBZ-TV.

"While we are hopeful that this arbitrary and damaging legislation will be defeated in this session, these products made up over 60% of our revenue last year, and the unfortunate likelihood that such restrictions would be raised again led to a review of the best path forward for Smith & Wesson," added Smith.

Boston.com reported that Democratic lawmakers unveiled new legislation this month that would not only prohibit individuals from carrying guns into a person's home without their permission, but would require key gun components to be serialized and registered with the state. The bill would also bar law-abiding citizens from firing guns near homes as well as from carrying weapons in schools, polling places, and government buildings.

Jim Wallace, executive director of the Gun Owners' Action League said, "It's a train wreck. ... It's a complete re-write of the gun laws."

Massachusetts dropped nine points between 2016 and 2021 on the Cato Institute's "Freedom in the 50 States" index, such that it now sits at #30 in the union overall.

By Cato's estimation, "The Second Amendment is nearly a dead letter in Massachusetts: the state tries to make guns as expensive as possible (locking mandates; dealer licensing; license to purchase any gun, with safety training) and virtually prohibits carry in public."

Tennessee, by way of comparison, is ranked as the fourth most free state in the nation.

The National Rifle Association celebrated the move, telling Fox News Digital in a statement, "Congratulations to Smith & Wesson on their grand opening in Tennessee. This move is a testament to their enduring legacy, their commitment to firearm excellence, and to the importance of preserving America’s gun industry and Second Amendment rights in a fair environment."

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), also present at the ribbon cutting, said, "In Tennessee, we know that the Second Amendment is non-negotiable and are pleased to officially welcome Smith & Wesson to Maryville. Their significant investment in our state is a testament to our pro-business policies, and we look forward to their continued partnership to bolster our economic development and exceptionally skilled workforce."

Legendary Texan professional shooter Jerry Miculek, who is sponsored by the company, marked the occasion by setting an NRA World Record with six shots at seven feet in 1.88 seconds with a 9mm revolver.

Yesterday at Smith & Wesson\u2019s new headquarters in Tennessee, Jerry Miculek set the #NRA World Record for hitting six steel plates with a 9 mm revolver at seven yards after a 1.88-second run. Congratulations, Jerry! @Smith_WessonInc #shootingsports #CompetitiveShooting
— Shooting Sports USA (@Shooting Sports USA) 1696703408

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Gun groups ready for showdown after Newsom doubles gun taxes and adds new limits on where and how Americans can exercise their 2A rights in California



Just hours after introducing penalties for California schools that protect children from LGBT and identitarian propaganda, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom doubled taxes on guns and introduced new limits on Second Amendment rights in the state. According to the governor, who has ruled out a 2024 presidential run, the 23 gun control bills he ratified Tuesday "will make our communities and families safer."

Gun groups have already taken legal action, stressing that the new laws are "unconstitutional."

While some Democrats in the state are in denial about their constitutionality of their initiatives — even after having their ban on large-capacity magazines struck down last week by U.S. District Court Judge Benitez — Newsom has acknowledged that the new gun control legislation might similarly be short-lived.

Among the state's new penalties and restrictions on law-abiding gun-owners is Democratic Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel's AB 28, which imposes an 11% excise tax on guns and ammunition sold by gun manufacturers and dealers. According to the governor's office, this tax will take $160 million annually out of the pockets of Americans keen to exercise their Second Amendment rights.

The 11% tax, which will be added atop existing 10%-11% federal excise taxes on guns and ammunition, will go into effect in July 2024.

Senate Bill 2, also ratified Tuesday by Newsom, sets out subjective language concerning who can carry firearms in public and vastly grows the number of "sensitive public spaces" where guns are prohibited, such that every park, every hospital, all public transportation, any place that sells alcohol, libraries, churches, banks, zoos, and various other places are now effectively gun-free zones — at least where law-abiding citizens are concerned.

Furthermore, SB 2 requires not only that California residents be 21 years old as opposed to 18 in order to obtain a concealed carry permit but also that applicants provide character references and agree to have their social media pages and publicly available statements reviewed.

Despite Democratic state Sen. Anthony Portantino's contention that SB 2 is "constitutional and consistent with the Supreme Court's guidance in the Bruen decision," the Los Angeles times indicated this law could nevertheless result in a Supreme Court fight.

Newsom has himself acknowledged that the laws may "mean nothing if the federal courts are throwing them out," reported NPR.

"We feel very strongly that these bills meet the [new standard], and they were drafted accordingly," added Newsom. "But I'm not naive about the recklessness of the federal courts and the ideological agenda."

The California Rifle and Pistol Association and other pro-Second Amendment groups filed a federal lawsuit earlier this month challenging SB 2, suggesting the legislation is the latest in an ongoing effort by California politicians to "eviscerate the very right to be armed in public that the plain language of the Second Amendment secures and that our forebears uniformly understood to preexist any constitutional text."

"California's newly passed Senate Bill 2 ... turns the Bruen decision on its head, making nearly every public space in California a 'sensitive place' (in name only), and forbidding firearm carry even after someone has undertaken the lengthy and expensive process to be issued a concealed handgun license ('CCW permit') under state law."

Extra to SB 2, AB 28, and over a dozen other bills, Newsom ratified:

  • SB 452, which requires all semiautomatic pistols sold in the state to use microstamping technology whereby unique identifiers are etched into expended cartridges for easier tracking by law enforcement;
  • AB 455, which allows courts to prevent individuals participating in mental health diversion programs from possessing or buying guns;
  • AB 725, which changes the definition of a firearm to include the frame or receiver of a weapon;
  • AB 732, which beefs up the process by which guns are confiscated from convicts; and
  • AB 92, which makes it a felony for convicted violent felons to own or buy body armor.

Chuck Michel, president of the California Rifle and Pistol Association, stressed that "these laws will not make us safer," reported NPR.

"They are an unconstitutional retaliatory and vindictive response to the Supreme Court's affirmation that the Second Amendment protects an individuals' right to choose to own a firearm for sport or to defend your family," said Michel. "They are being challenged, and the second they are signed, the clock starts ticking towards a judgment striking them down."

Kris Brown, the president of the gun control group Brady, lauded the new laws, saying, "Several of these bills aim to address the supply side of the gun industry with policies that will mandate the use of merchant category codes for firearm retailers, require important training for firearm dealers and their employees, and crack down on the production of ghost guns. All of these initiatives will help prevent firearms from landing in the hands of people who shouldn’t have them."

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