“Renzulli Run Down” — The RLF Firearms and Shooting Sports Industry Newsletter
Supreme Court Rules “Straw” Purchase Illegal Even if True Buyer Legally Permitted to Purchase
June 16, 2014: Earlier today, a divided Supreme Court (5-4) ruled that the federal ban on straw purchases can be enforced even when the actual intended purchaser is legally permitted to purchase and own a firearm. The case, Abramski v. United States, involved a former Virginia police officer (Bruce Abramski) who purchased a firearm for…
Reduced Mag Capacity Awaits NJ Governor’s Decision, Reform Proposed for Mentally Unstable
June 10, 2014: NJ Assembly Bill 2006, which would reduce the maximum magazine capacity in NJ to 10 rounds from its current limit of 15 rounds, recently passed both houses of the NJ legislature. The bill includes limited exceptions for retired law enforcement personnel and tubular feeding devices which are only capable of holding 15…
NSSF and RLF Join the Fight Against Connecticut’s Public Act 13-3
May 29, 2014: On Friday, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. (“NSSF”) and five other groups filed amicus curiae briefs in the pending appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in June Shew et al. v. Dannel Malloy et al. NSSF’s brief, which was prepared by Renzulli Law Firm, supports and expands on the…
Judge Upholds D.C. Firearms Registration in New Heller Opinion
May 16, 2014: Yesterday, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued the latest installment of Heller v. D.C. when he upheld D.C.’s firearms registration requirements finding that city officials acted “in a constitutionally permissible manner” and that the restrictive laws were consistent with the Second Amendment. Judge Boasberg held that requiring registrants to appear in person…
Reduced Mag Capacity Coming to NJ
May 14, 2014: This week the NJ Senate passed Assembly Bill 2006 which would reduce the maximum magazine capacity in NJ to 10 rounds from its existing limit of 15 rounds. The Senate, however, amended the bill, so it is headed back to the Assembly for another vote. The bill substitutes the number 10 in…
Supreme Court Passes on Right to Carry Dispute
May 8, 2014: This week the Supreme Court opted not to review a challenge to New Jersey’s restrictive approach on issuing permits to carry. The plaintiff in the case applied for a permit to carry a firearm in order to defend himself because his job involved him transporting large quantities of cash. When his application…
New “Shall issue” Legislation; GA’s New Law
April 28, 2014: In the wake of the recent 9th Circuit rulings overturning the “may issue” practices of two California counties, new legislation has been proposed which would make California a “shall issue” state. The bill would amend California Penal Code section 26150 by replacing “may issue” with “shall issue” and expressly providing that self-defense is…
Lawsuits: One Awaiting Decision, One Decided, Two on Appeal
April 18, 2014: Just more than a week ago, the trial ended in the 2nd Amendment challenge to Colorado’s 2013 anti-firearms legislation. Now, the fate of the law rests with Judge Marcia Krieger, and a decision could come any day. At the same time, the federal court challenges to the New York SAFE Act and Connecticut’s…
NY Deadline Approaches; New Laws, Courtroom Activity and Statistics
April 10, 2014: This year New Yorkers have another reason to dislike April 15—it’s the deadline for registering assault weapons under the NY SAFE Act. As the date approaches, many believe that it, like the deadline in CT, will be largely ignored. How the state will respond if it is ignored remains unknown. In addition, firearms…
Courts Continue to Support Right to Bear Arms; GA Bill Sent to Governor
March 24, 2014: The Supreme Court of Delaware recently ruled that the Wilmington Housing Authority (WHA) cannot set limits on residents’ rights to carry guns in common areas of public housing. In prohibiting such restrictions, the Court noted that placing restrictions on which areas of the public housing residents can possess a firearm conflicts with…
Firearms Legal Round-Up
March 17, 2014: In California, the 9th Circuit recently issued another victory for firearms owners. The Court followed its previous decision declaring San Diego’s “good cause” requirement to be unconstitutional, and held that Yolo County, California can no longer require residents to prove a threat of violence or robbery to obtain a carry permit. In Pennsylvania,…
Clock Ticking on NJ Smart Gun Law; MO Nullification Law Passes Senate
February 21, 2014: In 2002, NJ passed a law banning the sale of firearms other than “Smart Guns.” The law provides that it becomes effective 3 years after a “Smart Gun” goes on sale in the U.S. Start the clock, because the Armatix iP1 pistol (.22LR, 10 round capacity) is now on sale in California.…
9th Cir. Strikes Down ‘Pressing Need’; CT Gun Law Ignored; IL Registration Law
February 14, 2014: The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals recently struck down a San Diego County policy which required county residents to show a “pressing need” in order to obtain a concealed carry permit. The Court held that the policy was an unconstitutionally restrictive interpretation of California’s “good cause” requirement for obtaining a concealed carry…
CT 2nd Amendment Challenge Dismissed, But Far From Over
February 3, 2014: At the end of last week, a Federal District Judge dismissed the Connecticut Citizen’s Defense League’s (“CCDL”) Second Amendment challenge to Connecticut’s new firearms laws. Although he acknowledged that the law burdens Second Amendment rights and is lacking in clarity, Judge Alfred Covello held that the law does not substantially burden Second…
New Laws and New Legislation
January 31, 2014: With the New Year comes another wave of proposed legislation and already numerous states appear headed towards expanding firearms rights. Among the states seeking to expand firearms rights are: South Carolina (bill permitting concealed weapon permit holders to carry firearms in bars is headed to the Governor for approval); Tennessee (bill proposed…
RLF Speaks at SHOT; NSSF/SAAMI File Suit, Chicago Ban Struck Down
January 21, 2014: At last week’s SHOT Show, John and Christopher Renzulli gave a presentation concerning the best corporate forms for FFLs. The presentation provided an overview of the various corporate forms available to FFLs and addressed the pros and cons of each form in the context of the firearms industry in order to permit…
Legal Updates, Approaching Deadlines and Emerging Issues
December 23, 2013: In Connecticut, the Connecticut Citizens Defense League’s 2nd Amendment challenge to Connecticut’s new firearms laws is scheduled for a hearing in Hartford, CT before U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello on January 30, 2014 at 1pm. Before the hearing date, however, Connecticut citizens will be required to register their assault weapons and large…
Proposed Renewal of 3D Plastic Gun Law Headed to Senate; Support for Stricter Gun Laws Declining
December 5, 2013: The Undetectable Firearms Act expires on December 10. With just 5 days to go, a bill to renew the law for 10 years passed the House of Representatives. Notably, the bill which passed the House did not include any expansion of the existing laws which had been proposed, such as requiring at least…
RLF Speaks on Industry Outlook; California Ammo Sales Statute Unconstitutional
November 18, 2013: Earlier this month Renzulli Law Firm offered insights on what the future holds for the firearms industry. Speaking at the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers Expo, John Renzulli and Christopher Renzulli addressed a group of expo attendees in regards to recently passed legislation, its impact on the firearms industry and strategies…
Legislation Brewing in OH
November 4, 2013: In Ohio, a new bill would create incentive for citizens to challenge local government firearms ordinances by awarding successful challengers their attorneys’ fees and court costs, as well as $100 for every day the ordinance remains in effect after the challenge is filed. The bill would also require that state courts rule…
NY Court of Appeals Rules Part-Time Residents Cannot be Denied Their Right to Keep and Bear Arms
October 17, 2013: The New York Court of Appeals ruled by a 7-0 vote Tuesday that part-time residents of a county or city in New York are eligible for gun permits (see Osterweil v. Bartlett decision). A panel led by Judge Eugene Pigott Jr. clarified the State’s pistol and revolver license statute in the decision,…
UPDATE: CA Gov. Vetoes Four; Signs Nine
October 11, 2013: Further to our update this afternoon, Governor Brown’s decisions on thirteen pending firearms bills have been released. Among the highlights are Gov. Brown’s approval of the bill banning lead ammo by 2019 (AB 711) and permitting “federal law enforcement” to purchase non-rostered handguns (SB 363), and his veto of the bills proposing…
CA D-Day Looms, but there is a silver lining; CO Flooding Highlights Flaws in New Legislation
October 11, 2013: Thirteen firearms bills continue to await California Gov. Jerry Brown’s decision. Gov. Brown has until Sunday to approve or veto the pending legislation, which, among other things, would ban all semi-automatic centerfire rifles without fixed magazines, ban lead ammunition, revise some statutory definitions applicable to “assault weapons,” impose further restrictions and increased waiting…
RLF Joins the Fight Against the NY SAFE Act
October 3, 2013: Last week, RLF filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief on behalf of the National Shooting Sports Foundation in the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Cuomo case, which is currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. The brief, which was filed…