A recent story that came to my attention has caused me to take a good hard look at Connecticut, The Constitution State. Of course everyone is familiar with the tragedy in Newtown at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Likewise many people are familiar with the gun control measures Connecticut instituted in the wake of Newtown. However, this particular story does not involve a gun at all. Instead it sheds some light on the idiocy, tragedy and injustice that occurs when the focus is on guns rather than where it truly belongs. This story began some 20 years ago with a heinous robbery/murder in which justice has been repeatedly denied.

As we reported in EVERYTOWN: Lying In Plain Sight the Bloomberg-backed group’s findings from its “investigation” of online gun sales were not only slanted, to say the least, but included misinformation that they should have known to be incorrect. We have recently discovered that Bobby Richards and Crossfire Arms were known to Moms Demand Action For Gunsense In America. MDA prominently displayed a BuzzFeed “news” story on there page, Are People Selling Guns On Facebook? This story featured Mr. Richards and Crossfire Arms as an example of those doing it “by the book” and included the verification by a former BATFE agent corroborating Mr. Richards legally compliant business practices. That was in February of last year (2014) and since then two Bloomberg-backed anti gun groups merged to create Everytown For Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action and Mayor Against Illegal Guns. So, at least some on the Moms Demand side of the merger were obviously familiar with Mr. Richards and his Federally Licensed and legally compliant Crossfire Arms business. I shared my findings with Mr. Richards for potential use in his lawsuit against the anti-gun group as possible evidence of prior knowledge before his company was “inadvertently” included on their list of “unlicensed sellers” online. This is a developing story and Mr. Richards is expected to issue a press release through his attorneys very soon.

I have been a card carrying NRA Endowment Life and Golden Eagles member (I joined this because the NRA was looking for “patriotic NRA members who feel they are ready to assume a more prominent role in our cause,” which I assumed meant gun rights) for several years. So, I speak as an NRA member and CHL holder with a bone to pick. The TSRA, which is basically the Texas arm of the NRA, has released its “top priority bills filed to date” list. The TSRA seems to be misleading its members in order to push for licensing away your rights.

*Updated Jan. 29, 2015

It was recently brought to my attention that the Everytown.org Vermont site has posted a “Hiding In Plain Sight investigation” into online private sales by “unlicensed sellers.” Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s various anti-gun groups have a history of operating fast and loose with the truth. Many city mayors quit Bloomberg’s Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition after discovering his true Ban/Confiscate-All-Guns agenda. Moms Demand Action For Gunsense In America and now Everytown For Gun Safety appear to be following that deceptive trend. This time Everytown is going after “unlicensed sellers” selling firearms to criminals and ne’er-do-wells through private sales and without background checks. The only problem is, their “investigation” is thoroughly flawed and some that they identify as “unlicensed sellers” are in fact LICENSED FFLs that are in complete compliance with all state and federal regulations.

Phrases like “Reasonable” and “Common Sense” regulations or restrictions to “protect the children” are a common mantra of the anti-gun crowd. Such sound bites and catch phrases sound good on TV and make good bumper stickers as well. The question is, what is TRULY common sense and reasonable in regards to our children’s safety in a nation where there are roughly as many firearms in circulation as there are people. According to latest estimates and census numbers there are just over 300 million Americans and an estimated 280-300 million firearms in circulation. With new gun purchases on the rise and women rapidly joining the ranks of the American Gun Culture, societal opinions are shifting in favor of gun rights and gun ownership. Legislation across the nation is trending towards more gun freedom as well. So, what is the “Reasonable” and “Common Sense” approach to “protecting the children” in this American Gun Culture Freedom Revival and into the future?

Come And Take It Texas, the group who started the open carry movement in Texas, has planned an event to celebrate a new open or constitutional carry law, even though the new session of the Texas Legislature has only just begun and Governor Greg Abbott was just sworn in. The event plans are already set for September 1st. Optimistic? Yes they are, but their planning also includes a “Plan B” just in case an open/constitutional carry bill is not signed into law. The next five months of the Texas Legislative session promise to be interesting to say the least and regardless of the outcome at 12:01 AM on September 1st, 2015 SOMETHING will be happening at the State Capital.