Tennessee Enhances Legal Protection for the Firearms Industry

While some states have pushed legislation designed to evade federal law to hold firearms manufacturers and sellers liable for rising violent crime perpetrated by third parties, Tennessee has taken steps to bolster protection for the firearms industry against such lawsuits. Governor Bill Lee recently signed TN Senate Bill 0822 into law which is similar to the Protection of Lawful Commerc...
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Congressional Democrats Explore New Way to Implement Gun Control

May 12, 2023 - Last week, Democratic Senators Cory Booker and Elizabeth Warren joined Democratic representative Robin Kelly and introduced the “Firearm Safety Act of 2023.”  The Bill is deceptively short, with a mere eleven lines of text, but could have far reaching consequences for the firearms industry. If enacted, this Bill would remove the firearms exemption from the laws ...
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Illinois District Court Grants Preliminary Injunction Prohibiting Enforcement of the Illinois Assault Weapons Ban

April 29, 2023 - A federal judge in the US District Court for the Southern District of Illinois issued an Order granting plaintiffs’ consolidated motions for preliminary injunction prohibiting statewide enforcement of the Illinois assault weapons ban, the Protect Illinois Communities Act (“PICA”), until there can be a final determination of the merits as to the law’s constitutionality. The Order ...
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Washington Bans Sale of “Assault Weapons,” while Similar Bill in Colorado Fails

April 28, 2023 - This week, Washington became the tenth state to pass legislation broadly restricting the sale, manufacture, and transfer of “assault weapons.” Washington now joins California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York, as well as the District of Columbia, as jurisdictions with “assault weapons” bans. This follows Washington’s recen...
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Washington State Legislature Passes Bill In An Effort to Expose the Firearms Industry to Unprecedented Liability

On April 14, 2023, the State of Washington’s legislature passed Substitute Senate Bill 5078 (“SB 5078”). This bill is expected to be signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee. The new law is designed to avoid the application of a federal law, which prohibits lawsuits against firearms industry members when their legally sold products are used by criminals to injure or kill others. Washington State’s ...
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RLF’s Strategic Pre-Answer Motion to Dismiss Compels Plaintiff to Drop Lawsuit Against Firearm Manufacturer

April 13, 2023 - Renzulli Law Firm successfully convinced a plaintiff to dismiss her product liability case alleging various design and manufacturing defects against a U.S. based firearm manufacturer. Following several procedural and substantive missteps by the plaintiff, RLF responded to the lawsuit by filing a comprehensive motion to dismiss which laid out the fatal errors in the case. In parti...
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RENZULLI LAW FIRM PREVAILS IN PRODUCTS LIABILITY CASE ALLEGING DROP-FIRE DISCHARGE

April 3, 2023 - Renzulli Law Firm secured a complete dismissal of a product liability case on behalf of a U.S. based firearm manufacturer through a motion for summary judgment.  Plaintiffs alleged that the subject pistol contained a design defect, and that defect resulted in the pistol discharging after the owner dropped it.  RLF proved that the design of the pistol met all industry standards wit...
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Texas Federal Judge Rejects Preliminary Injunction Against ATF Pistol Brace Rule 

On March 30, United States District Judge Reed O’Connor denied plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction preventing the ATF from enforcing its recent rule effectively banning pistol braces.  The case, William T. Mock, et al. v. Merrick Garland et al., is pending in the Northern District of Texas and was brought by the Firearms Policy Coalition and Maxim Defense in the wave of legal challen...
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Federal District Court Rejects California’s “Unsafe Handgun Act” as Unconstitutional 

March 20, 2023 - The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California has issued an order enjoining the State of California from enforcing its so-called “Unsafe Handgun Act” on the ground that it violates the Second Amendment under New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, 142 S. Ct. 2111, 2126 (2022). The Unsafe Handgun Act, codified at Cal. Penal Code §§ 31910, 320...
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Michigan Legislature Moves Closer to Passing New Firearm Restrictions and Removing State Immunity Protection

March 15, 2023 - In Michigan, the Democrat-controlled Legislature is set to pass a series of firearm related bills aimed at imposing additional restrictions on law-abiding firearm owners. Multiple Bills were recently introduced to the Senate, and a vote is imminent. If passed, these Bills would impose sweeping changes to firearm laws in Michigan, including expanding background check requirements,...
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Eleventh Circuit Court Upholds Florida Law Prohibiting Firearm Purchases by Persons Under 21

March 9, 2023 - Today a three judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appels for the Eleventh Circuit issued a decision that Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act (the “Act”) is constitutional. The Act precludes those under 21 from buying firearms while allowing that age group to freely possess and use firearms of any legal type. See 2018 Fla. Laws 10, 18–19 (codified at Fla. ...
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Illinois Federal Court Holds that “Assault Weapons” and “Large Capacity” Magazines are Not Protected by the Second Amendment

March 6, 2023 - A federal judge in Illinois recently issued a decision in the case of Bevis v. City of Naperville, Illinois holding that the Second Amendment does not apply to “assault weapons” and “large capacity” magazines because they are dangerous weapons that have historically been subject to bans. The City of Naperville, Illinois recently issued a ban on “assault we...
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ATF’s New Stabilizing Brace Rule Challenged by 26 States and the Firearms Industry

February 10, 2023 - Two significant lawsuits were filed yesterday seeking to block enforcement of the ATF’s recently enacted Final Rule on Factoring Criteria for Firearms With Attached “Stabilizing Braces” (“Final Rule”). As we have reported, under the Final Rule, almost all pistols with a barrel length of less than sixteen inches that are equipped with a stabilizing brace are considered a short-...
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The Impact of Bruen on Recent Second Amendment Decisions

In September 2022, we reported about the domino effect of the Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n, Inc. v. Bruen, as federal courts began issuing opinions applying this historic precedent. The Supreme Court in Bruen held that the “Second and Fourteenth Amendments protect an individual’s right to carry a handgun for self-defense outside...
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ATF Publishes Final Rule on Stabilizing Braces

January 31, 2023 - ATF published the final stabilizing brace rule in the federal register. As we reported earlier this month, under this rule, any pistol with a barrel length of less than sixteen inches that is equipped with a stabilizing brace is considered a short-barreled rifle (SBR) and subject to the heightened ownership and transfer restrictions in the National Firearms Act, including regis...
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Lawsuits Filed Challenging Illinois HB 5471 Result in Temporary Restraining Order

On January 10, 2023, Illinois enacted HB 5471, the Protect Illinois Communities Act, which was effective immediately.  HB 5471 contains three primary provisions: (1) a ban on "assault weapons"; (2) a ban on .50 BMG rifles and ammunition; and (3) a ban on "large capacity" magazines. HB 5471 was initially introduced on January 31, 2022, solely as a bill to amend Illinois’ Insurance Code, without an...
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ATF Issues Final Rule Regarding Stabilizing Braces for Pistols

January 13, 2023 - Just in time for SHOT Show, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland signed Final Rule 2021R-08F to reclassify pistols with stabilizing braces as short-barreled rifles.Under this rule, any pistol with a barrel length of less than sixteen inches that is equipped with a stabilizing brace that allows it to be fired from the shoulder is now considered to be a short-barreled rifle and ...
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ATF Issues Open Letter Concerning Impact of Rule 2021-05F on Partially Complete Pistol Frames 

December 29, 2022 - The ATF’s definition of “firearm” was drastically changed with the enactment of Final Rule 2021-05F in August of 2022. In particular, this Rule added a new definition for a “[p]artially complete, disassembled, or nonfunctional frame or receiver,” which includes, among other things, “a frame or receiver parts kit, that is designed to or may readily be completed, assembled, rest...
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Buffalo and Rochester, New York File Lawsuits Against the Firearm Industry 

On December 20, 2022, the City of Buffalo, New York filed a complaint against numerous manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of firearms, as well as various manufacturers and sellers of 80% receivers, or so-called “ghost guns.”  On December 21, 2022, the City of Rochester filed an almost identical complaint against the same defendants.  Both complaints raise four causes of action: (1) violat...
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Supreme Court Decision Could Create New Ammunition for Firearm Brands to Fight Infringement 

December 19, 2022 - There are countless examples of apparel, accessories, and other merchandise that unlawfully use the trademarks, logos, and brands of firearms manufacturers popular within the industry.  Trademarks are powerful tools for consumer and brand protection, but trademark rights do not trump the First Amendment.  When an individual uses another’s trademark in an artistic or expressive...
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ATF RELEASES NEW VERSION OF THE FORM 4473 

December 7, 2022 - The ATF released a new version of the Form 4473 today.  According to the ATF, this revised version was necessitated by new statutory requirements implemented though the NICS Denial Notification Act and the Bipartisan Safer Community Act, and to reflect the implementation of Final Rule 2021R-05F (new definitions of “firearm frame or receiver” with new markings requirements – whi...
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Federal Judge to Hear Challenge to California Statute Shifting Attorney’s Fees in Firearms Cases

December 2, 2022 - California recently enacted a statute intended to prevent lawsuits challenging state and local statutes restricting firearms through an onerous attorney’s fees provision. Thus, not only does California continue to enact unconstitutional laws restricting its citizens from exercising their Second Amendment constitutional rights, but it is now trying to punish those that challenge...
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The Firearms Industry Has Much to be Thankful for this Year

November 23, 2022 - Happy Thanksgiving to all our friends and family! As Thanksgiving Day approaches, we look forward to seeing family and enjoying a home cooked meal with the people we love. This is a time to be grateful for the things in our lives that we often take for granted. The firearm industry in particular has a lot to be thankful for this year since the issuance of the Supreme Court’s d...
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New Gun Control Laws in Maryland and Oregon

November 17, 2022 - In the wake of Election Day 2022, at least two new restrictions on the Second Amendment are poised to be enacted.  Oregon voters passed a ballot measure that would restrict firearm ownership and ban “large capacity” magazines, and Montgomery County, Maryland passed a new version of an invalidated state law. Oregon  Oregon voters have narrowly approved Measure 114, w...
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Federal Court Enjoins New York from Enforcing Significant Provisions of the Concealed Carry Improvement Act

November 7, 2022 - As Renzulli Law Firm previously reported, on July 1, 2022, New York State introduced the so-called Concealed Carry Improvement Act (“CCIA”). In response, Ivan Antonyuk, along with five other New York State residents, all of whom are members of Gun Owners of America, filed a lawsuit against Bruen and several other state actors (Antonyuk v. Hochul). The plaintiffs then filed an e...
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Election 2022: Firearm Laws on the Ballot

November 2, 2022 - The 2022 midterm elections are next Tuesday, November 8, 2022, and early voting has commenced in many states. Although politicians have dominated the news cycle, it is important to remember that other laws and initiatives are also on the ballot. In two states – Iowa and Oregon – citizens will vote on proposed firearm laws that illustrate the deep divide on firearm policy in the...
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Mexico Files Second Lawsuit Against the U.S. Firearms Industry

October 28, 2022 - Following the  complete dismissal of Mexico’s lawsuit against firearms manufacturers and a distributor by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the Mexican government has turned its attention to firearms retailers closer to the U.S.-Mexico border. On October 10, 2022, Mexico filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona against five...
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ALL RISE. HERE COMES THE JUDGE. Court Is In Session and so is Yankees Playoff Baseball.

October 20, 2022 - While the New York Yankees are in the middle of postseason baseball, a panel of judges at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) is in the middle of a trademark application opposition case involving Yankees’ star outfielder, Aaron Judge.  Judge, who most recently broke the American League record for the most homeruns in a single season, is well-known by some of his catchph...
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Federal Court Holds Provisions of New York’s Concealed Carry Improvement Act Unconstitutional

October 13, 2022 - As Renzulli Law Firm previously reported, in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, New York State introduced the so-called Concealed Carry Improvement Act (“CCIA”) on July 1, 2022. The CCIA added new and onerous requirements to obtain a license to carry a handgun in New York. It also prohibited licensed persons...
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MEXICO’S LAWSUIT AGAINST THE FIREARM INDUSTRY DISMISSED

On Friday, September 30, 2022, Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a decisiondismissing Mexico’s lawsuit against the firearms industry in its entirety. Mexico had filed a complaint against seven firearms manufacturers and one firearms distributor on August 4, 2021, claiming that they supply a large majority of the illegal fire...
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Recent Second Amendment Cases from Federal Courts Applying Bruen

September 28, 2022 - The domino effect of the Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n, Inc. v. Bruen has commenced, as more and more federal courts issue opinions applying this historic precedent. While it remains unclear which federal and state laws will be found unconstitutional under Bruen, it does appear that the lower courts are finally enforcing the Second Amendm...
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Federal Judge Issues Injunction Limiting ATF’s “Ghost Gun” Rule

September 22, 2022 - In April, 2022, the ATF published Final Rule 2021R-05F that, among other things, revised the definitions of “Frame” and “Receiver” to include some unfinished firearm frames in an attempt to curb the spread of so-called “Ghost Guns.”  You can read more about the Final Rule here.The Final Rule went into effect in early August and it had an immediate effect.  Many law-abiding bu...
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Democrats and Their Anti-Gun Lobby Partners Convince Credit Card Companies to Track Firearm Sales

On September 1, 2022, Elizabeth Warren, and several other Democratic Senators and Representatives, sent a letter to the CEOs of Mastercard, American Express, and Visa requesting that the financial institutions adopt a “merchant category code” for firearm and ammunition retailers. On September 9, 2022, it was then announced that the International Organization for Standardization (“ISO”), a Geneva-...
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Federal Court Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging New York’s Concealed Carry Improvement Act

September 8, 2022 - In response to the Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, New York State introduced the so-called Concealed Carry Improvement Act (“CCIA”) on July 1, 2022.  Among other things, the CCIA prohibits persons from carrying a firearm in an extensive list of “sensitive locations,” including government buildings, churches, libraries, ...
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D.C. CIRCUIT UPHOLDS ATF’S RULE CLASSIFYING BUMP STOCKS AS MACHINE GUNS

August 9, 2022 - A three judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a decision unanimously affirming the trial court’s decision that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) properly classified bump stocks as machine guns.   Although the ATF had previously concluded that bump stocks are not machine guns, after a 2017 shooting at...
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Colorado Federal Court Enters TRO Barring Enforcement of a Town “Assault Weapons” Ban Based on the Second Amendment

August 9, 2022 - The Town of Superior, Colorado enacted Ordinance No. O-9-2022 on June 7, 2022, which established comprehensive regulations regarding the possession and use of weapons within the town.  Among other things, the Ordinance banned the possession, sale, and transfer of “assault weapons,” which it defines based on a features test, within the town effective July 1, 2022.  Persons who law...
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California Joins Rush of Recent Gun Control Legislation

August 1, 2022 - Several states have recently enacted additional gun control laws as the focus on gun control moves out of Washington, DC and into statehouses around the country.  In the wake of new gun control measures passed in New York, New Jersey, and Delaware (read more about these laws here), California has finalized its version of a law that will allow private citizens to seek “bounties” f...
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MAYORS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES MEET TO PLAN CONCERTED ATTACK ON THE FIREARM INDUSTRY

July 20, 2022 - Mayors Against Illegal Guns (“MAIG”), a coalition of Democratic mayors affiliated with the gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety and its gun control proponent founder billionaire Michael Bloomberg, attended a summit in New York City to plan a simultaneous attack against firearm manufacturers and distributors. Mayors of multiple Democratic controlled cities attended the meetin...
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CALIFORNIA’S ADVERTISING BAN FACES LEGAL CHALLENGE

On June 30, 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2571 into law. AB 2571 makes it unlawful for any “firearm industry member” to “advertise, market, or arrange for placement of an advertising or marketing communication concerning any firearm-related product in a manner that is designed, intended or reasonably appears to be attractive to minors.” AB 2571 also prohibits a “fire...
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New York, New Jersey, and Delaware Enact Additional Gun Control Laws

July 7, 2022 - In response to the Supreme Court’s landmark decision striking down New York’s discriminatory and unconstitutional concealed carry handgun permitting process, Democratic leaders of the state rushed through several bills last week that will ultimately make it even more difficult and restrictive to legally carry a concealed handgun for self-defense in New York. When the new laws go in...
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PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNS NEW GUN CONTROL LAWS

June 25, 2022 - President Biden signed into law S. 2938, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (the “Act”), which includes a comprehensive package of new gun control laws. The following is an overview of what was ultimately included in the Act and how it will affect the firearms industry.Federal Funding for Red Flag Laws - Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have previously...
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SUPREME COURT DECLARES THAT NEW YORK’S HANDGUN LICENSING LAW VIOLATES THE SECOND AMENDMENT

June 23, 2022 - Today, in a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that New York State’s law requiring a license to carry a handgun in public for purposes of self-defense based on a “proper cause” standard violates the right to keep and bear arms.  In New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, the majority held that the “Second and Fourteenth Amendments protec...
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California Assembly Passes Bill to Circumvent the PLCAA

June 10, 2022 - Following New York’s attack against the firearms industry, the California State Assembly recently passed the Firearm Industry Responsibility Act, AB1594. AB1594 is an attempt to negate the immunity provided by the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (“PLCAA”). California Assembly Bill 1594 is modeled after a similar New York law that was recently enacted.  Like the New York ...
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New York State Continues Its Assault on the Firearms Industry and Second Amendment by Passing Additional Gun Control Laws

June 3, 2022 - New York State has continued its attacks against law abiding firearm owners by rushing to pass gun control legislation in response to the shootings in Buffalo, New York and Uvalde Texas.  Like with the SAFE Act that was rushed through in 2013, New York’s Democratic Governor and the Democratic leaders of the State Assembly and Senate announced and passed numerous gun control laws wi...
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FIREARMS INDUSTRY TO APPEAL FEDERAL COURT’S DISMISSAL OF CHALLENGE TO THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE NEW YORK NUISANCE STATUTE

June 2, 2022 - The attack on the firearms industry in New York continues with the issuance of a decision dismissing the industry’s lawsuit challenging New York’s recent public nuisance statute, enacted with the express purpose of attempting to bypass the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (“PLCAA”).  On July 6, 2021, New York enacted General Business Law §§ 989-a-e, to create a new statute...
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Ninth Circuit Strikes Down California’s Age-Based Restrictions on Sales of Semi-Automatic Rifles

May 19, 2022 - In a 2-1 decision issued last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed a decision by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California that had upheld a California statute banning the sale of center-fire, semi-automatic rifles to residents less than 21 years old.  This statute went into effect in 2021 and built upon prior gun contr...
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What Does the Trademark Modernization Act Mean for Your Business?

May 13, 2022 - In 2020, President Trump signed the Trademark Modernization Act (TMA) into law.  After initial regulations were released and commented on by the public, final regulations were published and several key provisions of the law went into effect in December, 2021.  You can read more about the history of the TMA’s adoption and implementation here and here. The TMA is the most substantial...
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Washington State Supreme Court Holds City Ordinance Regulating Storage of Firearms is Preempted by State Law

May 6, 2022 - In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court of the State of Washington recently held that a city ordinance enacted by the City of Edmonds regulating the storage of firearms is preempted by state law. The ordinance was passed by the City Council in July 2018, and attempted to require firearm owners to keep their firearms “secured by a locking device” and inaccessible to persons “other...
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“Pistol Brace Protection Act” Proposed to Prevent Pistols with Stabilizing Braces Being Classified as NFA Firearms

April 29, 2022 - Representative James Kanford (R. Okla.), recently introduced S.4069, the Pistol Brace Protection Act (“PBPA”).  If enacted, the PBPA would amend the National Firearms Act (“NFA”) to provide that pistols with stabilizing braces are not considered to be short-barreled rifles (“SBRs”).  Over the years, the ATF has issued numerous classification letters confirming that pistols with s...
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ATF Reversing Prior Determinations against Dealers and Seeking Revocation Instead

April 19, 2022 - Renzulli Law Firm is aware of several recent circumstances in which the ATF is instituting revocation proceedings against federal firearms licensees (FFLs) where the cases had been previously closed after a warning conference.  It appears the ATF is not only taking a “zero tolerance” approach to current situations and audits, but also reviewing prior “closed” cases to determine i...
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ATF PUBLISHES FINAL RULE MAKING SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO FEDERAL FIREARMS REGULATIONS

On April 10, 2022, Attorney General Garland signed a Final Rule titled “Definition of ‘Frame or Receiver’ and Identification of Firearms” (“Final Rule”).  This 364 page document makes extensive revisions to the Code of Federal Regulations governing commerce in Firearms, including the regulations adopted pursuant to the Gun Control Act (“GCA”), the National Firearms Act, and the Arms Export Contro...
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Anti-Gun Groups Demand Federal Trade Commission Investigate Firearms Industry

April 12, 2022 - Last week Brady United, Giffords Law Center, March for Our Lives, and the Firearms Accountability Task Force filed a petition with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") requesting an investigation into the firearms industry’s advertising practices. The petitioners allege that firearm industry members engage in false and misleading advertising by suggesting that firearms are a...
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Vermont Enacts Statute Extending the Delay Period to Complete Background Checks 

April 8, 2022 - Vermont Governor Phil Scott recently signed Senate Bill 4 ("S.4"), which extends the required waiting period before a federal firearms licensee (“FFL”) can transfer a firearm to someone without an FFL when the results of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (“NICS”) is still listed as delayed.  Federal law allows an FFL to transfer a firearm after three full busin...
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United States and European Union Agree to Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework   

March 30, 2022 - Late last week, the Biden Administration and the European Commission announced that they had agreed in principle to a framework that would allow the flow of personal information between the United States and the European Union (EU) to continue.  The transfer of this information is critical to the operations of Google, Amazon, Facebook, and other online commerce and social media c...
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Alabama, Ohio, and Indiana Enact Constitutional Carry Laws

March 24, 2022 - This month, Alabama, Ohio, and Indiana enacted constitutional carry legislation, eliminating the permit requirement for carrying concealed firearms. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed H.B. 272 into law, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed S.B. 215 into law, and Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed H.B. 1296 into law.  With the recent additions of Alabama, Ohio, and Indiana, there are ...
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Connecticut Introduces Comprehensive Gun Control Bill

March 17, 2022 - At the start of Connecticut’s 2022 legislative session, Governor Ned Lamont introduced GB-16 “An Act Addressing Gun Violence and Juvenile Crime” for action by the Connecticut legislature.  Governor Lamont, an ardent gun control supporter, stated the bill is “aimed at eliminating gun violence in Connecticut through a series of targeted initiatives” and claimed these “commonsense” ...
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Congressional Republicans Introduce “No REGISTRY Rights Act”

March 10, 2022 - Earlier this week, Texas Representative Michael Cloud and 44 Republican co-sponsors introduced legislation that would prevent the incidental creation of a federal firearms registry.The “No Retaining Every Gun In a System That Restricts Your Rights Act,” or “No REGISTRY Rights Act” for short, would prevent the ATF from collecting firearm transaction records from federal firearms l...
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U.S. Department of Justice Challenges Missouri’s Second Amendment Preservation Act in Federal Court

March 3, 2022 - The United States recently filed a complaint in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri challenging the constitutionality of the Missouri Second Amendment Preservation Act, and seeking an injunction prohibiting Missouri from enforcing it. As we previously reported, the Act states that “all federal acts, laws, orders, rules, and regulations,” that infringe on the S...
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NEVADA SUPREME COURT DENIES PLAINTIFFS’ PETITION FOR REHEARING OF DECISION HOLDING THAT THEIR CLAIMS ARE BARRED BY NEVADA’S IMMUNITY STATUTE

February 24, 2022 - Today the Nevada Supreme Court issued an order unanimously denying plaintiffs’ petition for rehearing from its December 2, 2021 decisionregarding the Nevada firearm industry immunity statute, NRS 41.131(1).  The December 2, 2021 decision was issued in the case of Parsons v. Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC, et al. and held that NRS 41.131(1) provides the manufacturers and deal...
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Proposed Arizona Law Would Require Gun Safety Course in Grade School

February 23, 2022 - Arizona State Representative Quang Nguyen recently introduced House Bill 2448, which would require public and charter schools to provide students in grades six through twelve with “one or more training sessions in firearms safety in an age-appropriate manner.”  If enacted into law, Arizona schools would be required to offer firearms safety training to students by a q...
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RENZULLI LAW FIRM WINS SUMMARY JUDGMENT FOR FIREARMS DEALER PURSUANT TO NEW HAMPSHIRE IMMUNITY LAW

On February 14, 2022, Renzulli Law Firm won a motion for summary judgment dismissing claims against a firearms dealer pursuant to New Hampshire’s firearms industry immunity law.  RLF’s client, a federally licensed firearms dealer in New Hampshire, legally sold a firearm to a purchaser.  Six weeks later, the purchaser used the firearm to shoot two police officers.  The purchaser was...
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Missouri Supreme Court to Decide Case Involving the Second Amendment Preservation Act

On February 7, 2022, the Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments regarding the state’s Second Amendment Preservation Act (the “Act”) in the case of City of St. Louis v. State of Missouri.  The Act, which was signed into law by Governor Mike Parson last Summer, states that “all federal acts, laws, orders, rules, and regulations,” that infringe on the Second Amendment right to ke...
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ATF Finalizing Rules To Classify Pistols With Stabilizing Braces As Short-Barreled Rifles

On January 31, 2022, the ATF published a Notice in the Federal Register regarding its plans to finalize the proposed rule regarding Factoring Criteria for Firearms with an Attached Stabilizing Brace that it had first published on June 10, 2021.  The ATF also noted its plans to finalize the proposed rule regarding the Definition of “Frame or Receiver” and Identification of ...
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WASHINGTON STATE SENATE INTRODUCES BILLS TO BAN “ASSAULT WEAPONS” AND “LARGE CAPACITY” MAGAZINES

January 27, 2021 The Washington State Senate recently introduced bills seeking to ban “assault weapons” and “large capacity” magazines. SB5217 would ban “assault weapons,” which it defines as: (1) dozens of specifically named models; (2) any semi-automatic rifle with an overall length of less than 30”; and (3) “copycat weapons.”  Copycat weapons are defined as any semi-automatic...
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FIREARMS STORAGE BILL INTRODUCED IN MICHIGAN SENATE

January 21, 2022 Democrats in the Michigan State Senate recently introduced a bill, the passage of which would affect firearm sellers, retail purchasers, and existing firearm owners in Michigan. SB550 would require retail dealers to provide a written warning to firearm purchasers and post conspicuous warnings at the counter, informing customers of their legal obligation to safely sto...
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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE PROPOSES BILL TO CIRCUMVENT THE PLCAA

January 14, 2022A proposed bill was recently introduced in the California Assembly to bypass the immunity provided to members of the firearms industry by the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (“PLCAA”).  AB-1594 would add a new provision to the California Civil Code stating that: A gun industry member shall have created or maintained a public nuisance, as defined in Section 3480, if ...
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ATF REGULATIONS EXPAND REQUIREMENTS FOR SECURE GUN STORAGE OR SAFETY DEVICES

January 10, 2022 The Gun Control Act (“GCA”) requires all federally licensed firearms dealers to certify that they have secure gun storage or safety devices available for purchase by their customers. On Monday, the DOJ published a new regulation in the Federal Register that expands this requirement.  The new rule, which goes into effect on February 3, 2022, applies to all federa...
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RENZULLI LAW FIRM ACHIEVES VICTORY IN PRODUCT LIABILITY CLAIM AGAINST FLARE LAUNCHER MANUFACTURER

December 16, 2021 Renzulli Law Firm represented an industry leading manufacturer of safety equipment in a lawsuit pending in federal court in Indiana.  Plaintiff claimed that one of defendant’s products, a marine flare launcher, caused her serious injuries due to an alleged defect in design.  Plaintiff was using the product in her home for self-defense purposes, and had no intention of using i...
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ORAL ARGUMENT BEFORE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT IN SECOND AMENDMENT CASE

November 3, 2021 Oral argument was held before the United States Supreme Court this morning in the case of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Kevin P. Bruen, in his Official Capacity of Superintendent of New York State Police. As previously reported, this lawsuit arises from a challenge to New York’s concealed carry law that requires applicants to make a showing of “proper ...
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RENZULLI LAW FIRM IS VICTORIOUS BEFORE THE MISSOURI COURT OF APPEALS IN CASE ALLEGING STRAW PURCHASE OF AMMUNITION

September 24, 2021 On September 21, 2021, the Missouri Court of Appeals issued a decision affirming the dismissal of a case in which plaintiffs alleged that a sporting goods store illegally sold ammunition to a straw purchaser.  Renzulli Law Firm represented the store in both the trial court and on appeal. Plaintiffs claimed that the store sold ammunition to a straw purchaser, w...
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President Biden Pulls Nomination of Chipman

September 9, 2021 It is being widely reported that President Biden is withdrawing the nomination of David Chipman to be the next Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Mr. Chipman’s nomination was uniformly opposed by firearms industry members and Second Amendment advocates, and widely supported by gun control groups, such as Brady United, Everytown for Gun ...
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Mexico Sues Firearms Companies in Boston Federal Court

August 9, 2021 On August 4, 2021, Estados Unidos Mexicanos (Mexico) filed a Complaint in the District of Massachusetts against several firearms manufacturers and one distributor. Mexico deceptively claims that these defendants manufacture a large majority of the illegal firearms used to commit crimes in Mexico, especially those used by drug cartels. Mexico claims that the defendants ...
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Renzulli Law Firm Successfully Defeats Appeal on Behalf of New York Shooting Association

July 23, 2021 RLF achieved another victory for one of its firearm industry clients by successfully defeating an appeal brought by the Plaintiff in a case against the Long Island Practical Shooters Association (LIPSA).  The case involved a competitive quick-draw shooting competition hosted by LIPSA on August 21, 2016.  The Plaintiff, who had extensive experience participating in compe...
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TEXAS ISSUES UNANIMOUS DECISION IN PLCAA IMMUNITY CASE ARISING FROM THE SUTHERLAND SPRINGS CHURCH SHOOTING

June 25, 2021 Today the Texas Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision granting a petition for a writ of mandamus filed by Academy, Ltd. d/b/a Academy Sports + Outdoors (“Academy”) to dismiss lawsuits arising from the 2017 church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas pursuant to the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (“PLCAA”). Plaintiffs in four consolidated lawsuits had argued t...
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New York Senate Passes Series of Gun Control Bills Targeting the Firearms Industry

June 9, 2021 The New York Senate and Assembly recently passed a series of gun control bills targeting the firearms industry at-large, as well as law abiding gun owners in the Empire State. The following are some of the key aspects of the bills that are likely to be signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo.  Assembly Bill A6762B (passed by both the NY Senate and Assembly) declares the i...
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ATTEMPT BY CONGRESS TO REPEAL PLCAA

May 19, 2021 Democrats on Capitol Hill recently introduced bicameral legislation called the “Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act” that will open the gun industry to even more frivolous lawsuits.  In 2005, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (“PLCAA”) became law.  The PLCAA protects the licensed and heavily regulated firearms and ammunition industries fro...
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SUPREME COURT TO DECIDE MAJOR SECOND AMENDMENT CASE

April 26, 2021 For the first time in more than a decade, the Supreme Court is poised to issue a major decision regarding the scope of the right to keep and bear arms protected by the Second Amendment.  Earlier today, the Supreme Court granted a petition for a writ of certiorari in the case of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Keith M. Corlett, in H...
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President Biden Unveils New Executive Actions on Gun Control

April 8, 2021 Today, from the Rose Garden, President Joe Biden announced a series of Executive Actions to further the Biden Administration’s gun control agenda.  Realizing that Congressional action on gun control is unlikely due to a deeply divided Senate and a filibuster that affords Republicans the ability to block excessive gun control proposals from becoming law, President Biden is, o...
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UNDERTAKING A RECALL: WHAT A MANUFACTURER SHOULD KNOW

February 5, 2021 UNDERTAKING A RECALL: WHAT A MANUFACTURER SHOULD KNOW  Christopher Renzulli and Howard Schilsky of Renzulli Law Firm, LLP were published in the February 2021 edition of Westchester Lawyer Magazine for their article addressing the legal implications of undertaking a recall.  Whether to issue a recall of a product, and how to effectively proceed in that endeavor, are s...
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TRADEMARK MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2020 ESTABLISHES NEW RULES FOR NON-U.S. OWNERS OF REGISTRATIONS ISSUED UNDER §§ 66(A) AND 44(E) OF U.S. TRADEMARK ACT

February 1, 2021 In the waning days of 2020, the United States Congress enacted and President Trump signed into law the Trademark Modernization Act of 2020 (“TMA”).  The legislation establishes a new category of administrative proceeding within the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) and may significantly impact the way non-U.S. firearms companies and other clients approach their U...
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FIREARMS IMPORT-EXPORT UPDATE PART I – DETERMINING THE APPLICABLE ECCN AND NEED FOR AN EXPORT LICENSE

January 21, 2021 We attended the NSSF’s January 11-14 firearms import-export webinars so that we can pass on the valuable information to those of you who were unable to attend.  As many of you know, jurisdiction over the export of the majority of firearms and ammunition was formally transferred from the Department of State to the Department of Commerce on March 9, 2020.  Most firearm...
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RLF CONVINCES PA SUPERIOR COURT TO WITHDRAW DECISION DECLARING THE PLCAA UNCONSTITUTIONAL

December 4, 2020 Renzulli Law Firm was successful in convincing the Pennsylvania Superior Court (the state’s intermediate appellate court) to withdraw its prior decision declaring the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (“PLCAA”) to be unconstitutional.  A September 28, 2020 decision by a three-judge panel had held that Congress did not have the authority to enact the PLCAA pur...
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PROPOSED LEGISLATION SEEKS TO REPEAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE ATF

November 20, 2020 U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) recently introduced S. 4841, the ATF Improvement and Modernization Act of 2020 (“AIM Act”) which would repeal numerous restrictions on the ATF that have been added to federal law through appropriations bills over the years.  Among other provisions, the AIM Act would repeal the “Tiahrt...
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TEXAS JUSTICE – HANDGUN MANUFACTURER DISMISSED AT EARLY STAGES OF TWO LAWSUITS BASED ON PLCAA IMMUNITY

September 23, 2020 Litigators in the Lone Star State are the first to admit: justice often doesn’t come swiftly in Texas courts.  And parties to lawsuits can attest that when a case drags on through the court system – even where there are strong defenses – it will be a costly endeavor for the client.  RLF bucked this trend for its handgun manufacturer client when it was successful in...
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NINTH CIRCUIT AFFIRMS DECISION HOLDING THAT CALIFORNIA’S MAGAZINE CAPACITY BAN VIOLATES THE SECOND AMENDMENT

August 17, 2020 California’s 2016 ban on so-called “high capacity magazines” (defined as any magazine holding more than ten rounds of ammunition) has been struck down by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. A three judge panel issued a decision today holding that California’s ban was not narrowly tailored to the state’s interest in preventing mass shootings,...
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PROTECTION OF A PRODUCT’S DESIGN FEATURES AS “TRADE DRESS”

July 31, 2020 Trademarks are a type of commercial speech.  The presence of a trademark on a product assures the marketplace that all goods bearing the mark come from the same source and are of uniform quality.  To many, the term “trademark” refers to a word, phrase, or design/emblem that appears on a product or its packaging.  While this is true, trademark law in the United States has long rec...
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U.S. SUPREME COURT REJECTS USPTO’S PER SE RULE DENYING REGISTRATION TO “GENERIC.COM” TRADEMARKS

Trademarks help companies communicate with their customers.  The presence of a trademark on a product assures the marketplace that all goods bearing the mark come from the same producer and are of uniform quality.  The system of trademark registration in the United States is administered by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”).  The USPTO generally functions well...
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COLORADO SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS BAN ON MAGAZINES THAT HOLD MORE THAN 15 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION

On June 29, 2020, in a unanimous opinion, the Colorado Supreme Court upheld the state’s ban on “large-capacity magazines.”  In 2013, the Colorado Governor, John Hickenlooper, signed HB 13-1224 into law. HB 13-1224 banned the sale, transfer, or possession of “large-capacity magazines,” which are defined as “any fixed or detachable magazine, box, drum, feed strip, or similar device capabl...
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US SUPREME COURT DECLINES TO ISSUE SUBSTANTIVE DECISION ON THE SECOND AMENDMENT

April 27, 2020The Supreme Court issued its decision today in the Second Amendment case of New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, Inc. v. City of New York, New York.  The case involved a Second Amendment challenge to restrictions that the City of New York placed on premises pistol permits that prevented permit holders from transporting handguns (unloaded and in a locked case) to another resi...
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ATF ISSUES OPEN LETTER ON FIREARMS SALES BY DEALERS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

April 13, 2020 As noted in our April 10, 2020 blast, some states have closed down firearms dealers based on their non-essential business designation.   The majority of states, however, have allowed firearms dealers to remain open for business and demand for firearms is at a record high.  Open firearms dealers, like all other businesses, are being urged to practice social distancing.&...
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LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO REPEAL THE TIAHRT AMENDMENT

The Tiahrt Amendment, Public Law 112-55, 125 Stat. 609-610, generally prohibits the ATF from disclosing trace data, and records required to be maintained or reported by federal firearms licensees pursuant to the Gun Control Act, such as acquisition and disposition records, Form 4473s, and multiple sale reports.  Exceptions are made for disclosure to law enforcement agencies for use in crimin...
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Practice Alert: Mandatory Warnings in California Have Changed – Are You Compliant?

On January 1, 2018, key legislative amendments went into effect that substantially revised and updated child-related firearm warning requirements in California. Prior to January 1, California law required the following child-related warning, in both English and Spanish, to be placed on the packaging of any firearm, and any descriptive materials that accompany any firearm, sold or transferred in Ca...
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California Law Prohibiting Firearms Retailers from On-Site Advertising of Handguns Violates First Amendment

In what can only be regarded as a win for firearm retailers in the state of California, Judge Troy L. Nunley, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of California, issued a decision on September 11, 2018, in which he concluded a California statute prohibiting firearm retailers from on-site advertising of handguns violated the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.  ...
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FIREARMS ON DEMAND? A FEDERAL JUDGE HITS THE PAUSE BUTTON ON 3D PRINTED FIREARMS

This week, a federal judge granted an emergency temporary restraining order (“TRO”) preventing Defense Distributed, a Second Amendment advocacy group, from distributing files on the Internet that could be used to create firearms on a 3D printer. Here is the Renzulli Run Down of what you need to know:  Defense Distributed, led by Cody Wilson, has been in a multi-year fight with the federal ...
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Practice Alert: Revise Your Warnings to Comply With Changes to California’s Prop 65 Regulation

Significant changes to California’s Proposition 65 warning regulations will go into effect in two months, on August 30.  Enacted in 1986, California’s Proposition 65 (commonly called “Prop 65”) requires businesses to provide a warning regarding products that contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.  Prop 65, especially ...
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California’s New Consumer Privacy Act Ushers In New Requirements

Throughout the months leading up to the implementation of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) -- the EU’s radical overhaul of data privacy rules and regulations -- we predicted that the states would begin enacting tougher, more stringent data privacy laws. (We even predicted that California would take the lead.)  Yesterday, California enacted the California Consumer Privacy Act o...
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Trump Administration Proposes Substantial Improvements to the Firearm Export Process

The Trump Administration recently published regulations (which had been drafted by the Obama Administration, but never published), that would transfer jurisdiction over the export of most firearms from the Department of State to the Department of Commerce.  The proposed regulations, if enacted, will greatly benefit the firearms industry, which has been lobbying for these changes for several y...
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The GDPR Applies Around The World, Not Just In The EU

A common misconception is that the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies only to businesses physically located in the EU. As you know from our previous article (“The Final Countdown To The GDPR Is Here. Are You Ready?”), the GDPR – which becomes officially effective one month from today on May 25, 2018 – is a radical overhaul of the EU’s regulatory scheme, and one of its most sign...
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The Final Countdown To The GDPR Is Here. Are You Ready?

The European Union's most comprehensive data privacy overhaul in decades, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), becomes effective on May 25, 2018 – just over one month away. With the deadline fast approaching, it has been widely reported that businesses around the world are not prepared or are significantly underprepared for the GDPR. This poses a serious problem because the GDPR is a r...
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NEW “ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN” INTRODUCED TARGETING SPECIFIC FIREARMS, DEVICES, AND MANUFACTURERS

Two Democratic Representatives, David Cicilline (D-R.I.) and Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), have introduced a sweeping bill called the “Assault Weapons Ban of 2018.” The bill, if passed in its current version, would make it illegal to “import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, a semiautomatic assault weapon,” and would ban devices such as...
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