“Renzulli Run Down” — The RLF Firearms and Shooting Sports Industry Newsletter
Hearing Loss Claims in Firearms Litigation
In recent months, we have seen an upward trend in claims being made by individuals alleging hearing loss as a result of firearm noise. Litigants have asserted such claims against firearms manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, as well as shooting ranges and the manufacturers of ammunition, suppressors, hearing protection, and other firearms accessories. Our Firm has…
Successfully Navigating the Complex Maze of Firearm Import and Export Laws
The laws governing the import and export of firearms are complex and regularly changing. Numerous federal agencies, including the Department of State, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Commerce have jurisdiction regarding the import and export of firearms. Renzulli Law Firm, LLP regularly counsels its firearms industry clients…
U.S. Supreme Court Vacates Decision Upholding Stun Gun Ban
On March 21, 2016 the United States Supreme Court issued a per curiam (“by the Court”) opinion, without full written or oral arguments, in Caetano v. Massachusetts vacating a decision by the Supreme Court of Massachusetts that upheld the conviction of Jaime Caetano for possession of a stun gun. Ms. Caetano had possessed the stun…
SHOT Show 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada
It was another successful SHOT Show for the firearms industry this year. The NSSF reports that it was the second highest attendance total ever – more than 64,000 industry professionals attended the Show. The industry sent a message to its detractors through its robust attendance that it is alive and well and flourishing and will…
Supreme Court Denies Review of Assault Weapons Ban
Supreme Court Denies Review of Assault Weapons Ban On Monday, December 7, 2015, the United States Supreme Court denied review of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuits ruling in Friedman v. City of Highland Park. The case arose out of the City of Highland Parks ordinance prohibiting possession of assault weapons…
Seattle City Council Adopts New Firearm Tax; Court Upholds FL Law Protecting Firearm Owners’ Privacy
Seattle City Council Adopts New Firearm Tax On August 10, 2015 the Seattle City Council adopted two ordinances affecting firearm purchasers and owners. First, the Council unanimously approved a $25 tax on all firearms sold in the city in what it claims to be an effort to combat violent crime. The proposal also includes a…
Texas Governor Signs Open Carry Bill; New “Smart Gun” Bill Introduced
Texas Governor Signs Open Carry Bill; New “Smart Gun” Bill Introduced Texas Governor Signs Open Carry Bill June 15, 2015; Texas Governor Greg Abbot has signed HB 910 (The Texas Open Carry Bill for Concealed Handgun Holders) and SB 11 (the Campus Carry Bill) into law. HB 910 – which will go into effect on…
Equity Firm Offers Cash-Out for Remington Shares; Supreme Court Rules on Felon Firearm Transfers
Firm Offers Cash Out to Investors who Own Shares in Remington Outdoor May 19, 2015; Private equity firm Cerberus Capital issued a letter to its investors on Friday, advising them that they are permitted to sell their stakes in Remington Outdoor (formerly known as Freedom Group). Investors now have thirty days to make a decision…
NY Senate Majority Leader Willing to Revise SAFE Act; NJ Legislators Rethinking “Smart-Gun” Mandate
NY Senate Majority Leader Willing to Revise SAFE Act May 15, 2015; NY Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan (R-Long Island) recently stated that he is willing to work with his colleagues in an effort to amend two major parts of the NY SAFE Act – the first being restrictions on passing firearms to family members…
New York Court Orders Release of Firearm Registration Data; 3-D Firearm Designer Sues State Dept
New York Court Orders Release of Firearm Registration Data Judge Thomas J. McNamara (NY Supreme – Albany County) has ruled that the New York State Police must release data regarding the registration of firearms that may qualify as “assault weapons” under the provisions of the NY SAFE Act. The case, Robinson v. Cuomo et al.,…
FL Tightens Backyard Rules; Sweeping Reform in NC; NRA Suit to Continue
Florida Considers Tightening of Backyard Range Rules The Florida House has passed a bill that would make it a misdemeanor to discharge a firearm for recreational purposes in a residential area with a density of one or more housing units per acre. If passed by the Senate (and signed into law), the bill (couched as…
Bill to Eliminate Race Disclosure on 4473s; Video Ad Criticizes Kroger’s Open-Carry Policy
April 16, 2015: Bill Proposes Elimination of Mandatory Race Disclosure for Firearm Sales The Freedom From Intrusive Regulatory Enforcement of Arbitration Registration Mandates (FIREARM) Act was reintroduced this week by Republican Representatives. If passed, the FIREARM Act would eliminate the requirement that firearm dealers submit information about the race of their customers on 4473s. The…
Dem Proposes Tax Credit for Handing Over “Assault Weapons”; 3-D Printed Weapons Ban?
March 9, 2015: Democrat Proposes Tax Credit for Handing Over “Assault Weapons” Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) introduced the “Support Assault Firearm Elimination and Reduction for our Streets Act” (also known as the SAFER Streets Act) Monday. If passed, the bill would provide for a $2,000 refundable tax credit to “assault weapon” owners who turn in…
Anti-Firearm Hoax; Marco Rubio’s Bill; BATFE Raids Home of Texas Judge
States United to Prevent Gun Violence Hoaxes “Customers” Anti-firearm lobbyist group States United to Prevent Gun Violence recently set up a fake firearm retail shop in New York City for purposes of invoking scare tactics upon customers who sought to purchase firearms. When the customers would inquire about specific firearms, or when they would simply…
Anti-Firearm Hoax; Mark Rubio’s Bill; BATFE Raids Home of Texas Judge
States United to Prevent Gun Violence Hoaxes “Customers” Anti-firearm lobbyist group States United to Prevent Gun Violence recently set up a fake firearm retail shop in New York City for purposes of invoking scare tactics upon customers who sought to purchase firearms. When the customers would inquire about specific firearms, or when they would simply…
House Dems Propose Ammo Ban; Concealed Carry Laws Across the US; Colorado Ends Mag Capacity Ban
March 18, 2015: House Dems Propose Ammo Ban Approximately one week after the BATFE announced it “will not at this time seek to issue a final framework” with respect to its proposal to ban commonplace ‘green tip’ ammunition, House Democrats have introduced the Armor Piercing Bullets Act (HR1358). The bill – sponsored by Representative Eliot…
RLF Convinces Court to Allow Range Construction; Proposed Ammo Ban Boosts Sales; New Laws in MI
March 2, 2015: RLF Convinces Mass. Court to Allow Construction to Begin on Gun Range A rod and gun club in Massachusetts that had been in operation for over eighty-five (85) years was ordered, amongst other things, to close down its fifty-yard firearm range due to claimed safety concerns of neighboring homeowners. After a trial…
NJ’s Antique Firearm Legislation; FL Campus Carry Bill; PA Federal Court Rules Against GCA Provision
February 23, 2015: NJ Assemblywoman to Introduce Antique Firearm Legislation New Jersey Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande (R) intends to introduce legislation that would exempt antique firearms from NJ firearm laws. The legislation comes in response to the recent news that a 72-year-old NJ man is facing ten years in prison for possessing an unloaded, 300-year-old pistol.…
Federal Courts Rule on Non-Resident Purchases, NY City Pistol Permit Law
Federal Court Overturns Prohibition Against Handgun Sales to Out-of-State Residents Federal Court Judge Reed O’Connor (Northern District of Texas) ruled yesterday that a provision within the Gun Control Act of 1968 prohibiting the sale of handguns to out-of-state residents was unconstitutional. In striking down the ban, Judge O’Connor reasoned that the ban was “not narrowly…
Dems to Introduce Legislation on Magazine Capacity; Updates in Virginia Firearm Legislation
February 6, 2015: Dems Plan to Introduce Legislation on Magazine Capacity New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez (D), along with other high-ranking Democrats on Capitol Hill, announced this week a plan to introduce legislation which would renew a federal prohibition on magazines that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. The bill (which has been labeled…
NSSF Examines Choke Point; VT Firearm Group Opposes Legislation; WV “Permitless Carry” Bill
NSSF to Determine Extent Of Operation Choke Point’s Impact At last week’s SHOT Show, one topic in particular was brought up several times: Operation Choke Point. The operation is a government program that was originally created to prohibit fraudulent business transactions through financial payment processors like PayPal and Square. Several firearm industry members, however, are…
2015 SHOTSHOW; Sandy Hook Panel Proposes Ban; Kansas Concealed Carry Bill
January 23, 2015: 2015 SHOT SHOW Held in Las Vegas The 2015 SHOT SHOW was held this week at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The firearm industry’s largest annual event was attended this year by more than 65,000 industry professionals from all 50 states. On Wednesday, Christopher Renzulli of Renzulli Law Firm…
KY Safe Students Act; TX Leads the Way; Suit Against Newtown; MO’s Domestic Violence Bill
January 15, 2015: Kentucky Representative Introduces Bill Which Would Repeal “Gun-Free School Zones” Earlier this week, Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie (R) introduced HR 86, the Safe Students Act. If passed, the legislation would repeal the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990, a bill that “made it unlawful for any individual knowingly to possess a firearm…
I-594 Challenged; Sixth Circuit Mental Health Decision; Navy Vet Sues NY State; MI New Legislation
January 5, 2015: Happy Holidays from Renzulli Law Firm Renzulli Law Firm would like to wish all of its friends a healthy and prosperous New Year! Washington’s I-594 to be Challenged in Court Earlier this week, a federal lawsuit challenging recently-enacted Initiative-594 was filed in the Western District of Washington. The plaintiffs in the suit…