“Renzulli Run Down” — The RLF Firearms and Shooting Sports Industry Newsletter
CONN. SUPREME COURT ALLOWS “NARROW LEGAL THEORY” TO PROCEED IN SANDY HOOK CASE; AFFIRMS DISMISSAL OF ALL OTHER CLAIMS
Today, the Connecticut Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of all of plaintiffs’ claims against the manufacturer, wholesale distributor, and retail dealer in Soto v. Bushmaster Firearms International, LLC, et al., except for a narrow theory related to the marketing of firearms. The Court unanimously dismissed plaintiffs’ primary claims that the sale of Modern Sporting Rifles,…
Breaking News: “Red Flag” Bill Signed Into Law in New York
Breaking News: “Red Flag” Bill Signed Into Law in New York At the end of January, the New York legislature passed a package of gun control laws ranging from a ban on bump stocks to a “red flag” law that would allow educators, law enforcement, or family members to petition a judge to confiscate an…
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW BUMP STOCK REGULATIONS
President Trump directed the Attorney General to draft regulations banning bump stocks after the October 21, 2017 shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada during which Stephen Paddock used AR type rifles with bump stocks installed on them to kill 58 people and injure approximately 500. Bump stocks are replacement…
Renzulli Run Down: New Jersey Enacts “Ghost Gun” Ban
This month, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed into law a broad ban on so-called “Ghost Guns” (which we have covered previously). In a press release he stated: “Ghost guns can be created by anyone with a computer and access to a 3D printer, giving the public at large the ability to build their…
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,…
TRUMP’S SUPREME COURT NOMINEE IS EXPECTED TO SUPPORT SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS
Last night, President Donald Trump nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to the U.S. Supreme Court, to fill the seat left open in the wake of Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement. The nomination (Trump’s second to the U.S. Supreme Court) is likely to have a lasting…
“RED FLAG” FIREARM SEIZURE LAWS PROLIFERATING
Seven states have enacted “red flag” laws this year, continuing a demonstrable trend since the Parkland shooting. Now, a total of twelve states, including California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, have “red flag” laws on the books. These laws allow law enforcement officials and family members…
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…
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…
Justice Kennedy’s Retirement Gives Trump Opportunity to Shape U.S. Law and Protect the Second Amendment
Yesterday, Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement, effective July 31, from the U.S. Supreme Court. Justice Kennedy, who has served on the Supreme Court for almost three decades, is frequently cast as a crucial “swing vote” in controversial cases, meaning that he is perceived as being the fifth vote in narrow 5-4 decisions. As the…
U.S. Supreme Court Rules States Can Require Internet Retailers To Collect Sales Tax
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that states can compel online retailers to collect sales tax. The case, South Dakota v. Wayfair (No. 17-494), overturns two previous Supreme Court decisions and represents a landmark shift in law and policy that will tremendously impact online shopping. Here is the Renzulli Run Down of what you need…
NRA CALLS OUT GOVERNOR CUOMO AND OTHER NEW YORK POLITICIANS
The National Rifle Association (NRA) is taking on New York Governor Cuomo and other high-ranking government officials in New York. In a lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, the NRA accuses Cuomo and other officials of pressuring private companies, both publicly and behind closed doors, to…
New Jersey Governor Signs Stringent “Gun Control” Measures Into Law
As expected, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed six stringent “gun control” bills into law. We brought these measures to your attention in our “Renzulli Run Down” earlier this week. Here is what you need to know about the new laws: Bill No. A-1181 mandates the seizure of firearms owned by individuals if a…
New Jersey Expected To Enact Stringent New Firearm Laws
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is expected to sign six new “gun control” laws this week, which Governor Murphy touts are “sweeping gun safety legislation” that will be some of the “toughest gun laws” in the nation. Here is the “Renzulli Run Down” of what you need to know: Bill No. A1181 mandates the seizure…
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…
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…
ILLINOIS SENATOR PROPOSES LEGISLATION ROLLING BACK OVERLY RESTRICTIVE REGULATIONS ON AIR-GUN OWNERSHIP
If you own a high-powered air-gun in Illinois this may surprise you: Your air-gun may (technically) be a firearm. The current law in Illinois treats air-guns with projectiles that measure larger than .177 caliber, or have a muzzle velocity of more than 700 feet per second, as firearms. Accordingly, the standards and requirements governing…
SIG SAUER EMPLOYEES INDICTED FOR ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF THE GERMAN FOREIGN TRADE ACT
Five employees of Sig Sauer GmbH have been indicted by the public prosecutor in Kiel, Germany and charged with violating the German Foreign Trade Act. The indictment stems from allegations that Sig Sauer GmbH illegally exported approximately 36,000 pistols to the Colombian National Police during the period from 2009 to 2012. During that time, Colombia…
FLORIDA MUNICIPALITIES SUE OVER STATE FIREARM LAW
Ten Florida municipalities and their elected officials filed a lawsuit in Florida on Monday challenging a Florida state law that imposes penalties on municipalities and their officials when they are found to knowingly and willfully impinge on the State Legislature’s exclusive jurisdiction over firearm and ammunition regulation. The plaintiffs assert that in light of the…
APPELLATE DIVISION REJECTS CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES TO NEW YORK’S REQUIREMENTS REGARDING CONCEALED CARRY LICENSES
In an unfortunately predictable decision given New York’s aggressive gun-control measures, New York’s Appellate Division, First Department, rejected constitutional challenges to New York’s legal requirements for obtaining a license to carry a concealed firearm. Jonathan Corbett brought several constitutional challenges relating to the licensing requirements in New York. His initial claim was filed in New York…
Congress Set to Consider “Extreme Risk Protection Orders”
Senate Bill 2521, a bill to authorize the issuance of extreme risk protection orders, has gained another Republican co-sponsor, Senator Collins (R-ME), as of March 23, 2018. The bill, originally introduced on March 8, 2018 by Senators Blumenthal (D-CT) and Graham (R-SC), is similar in scope and effect to the Florida ‘red flag’ bill which…
DOJ Inches Closer To Federal Bump Stock Ban
DOJ has finally released a notice of proposed rulemaking (“Notice”) that would effectively ban “bump stocks,” “slide-fire” devices, “and devices with certain similar characteristics.” As originally announced, DOJ intends to clarify that all bump stock devices are “machineguns” under the Gun Control Act (“GCA”) and National Firearms Act (“NFA”). The Notice contends in large part…
NRA FILES LAWSUIT TO ENJOIN FLORIDA’S VIOLATION OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF YOUNG ADULTS
Florida Governor Rick Scott signed SB 7026 into law on Friday. Among other things, SB 7026 raised the minimum age to buy a rifle or shotgun from 18 to 21, effective immediately. The new provision is Fla. Stat. § 790.065(13), which provides that: “A person younger than 21 years of age may not purchase a…
U.S. DOJ Takes Step Toward Bump Stock Ban
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a notice of proposed regulation relating to “bump stock” devices. The DOJ has identified the following objectives and goals in filing the notice: Clarify that the definition of “machinegun” in the National Firearms Act (NFA) and Gun Control Act…