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Posts that have been tagged as "Firearms"
Bump Stocks: Gun Owners of America v. Barr — Brief for Appellants
admin June 24, 2019 Firearms Law, U. S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
Today we filed our opening brief in the Sixth Circuit case of Gun Owners of America v. Barr — challenging the district court's refusal to issue a preliminary injunction to stop the ATF total ban on the private ownership of bump stocks.
BATFEFirearmsNFA WeaponsSecond AmendmentSeparation of Powers
New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. City of New York (Merits)
admin May 14, 2019 Constitutional Law, Firearms Law, U. S. Supreme Court
Today we filed our second amicus brief in support of a challenge to New York City's near prohibition on transporting firearms. This is the first Second Amendment case that the U.S. Supreme Court has heard since Heller (2008) and McDonald (2010). Our brief details the lower courts' open prejudice against gun rights and its disregard for the Supreme Court's protection of Second Amendment rights since those earlier cases. Read More
Amicus - SCOTUSBible CitationsFirearmsSecond Amendment
Doe v. Woodard
admin April 10, 2019 Constitutional Law, U. S. Supreme Court
Today our firm filed an amicus brief involving a challenge to a Fourth Amendment violation by a social worker who strip-searched a four-year-old girl, without consent of the child or her mother, in search of tell-tale signs of child abuse. The Tenth Circuit dismissed the case, ruling that the social worker was not liable under the Supreme Court's doctrine of qualified immunity. Our brief argues for limitations on the qualified immunity doctrine, and explains why the doctrine does not apply in this case.
Amicus - SCOTUSFirearmsFourth AmendmentQualified Immunity
Bump Stocks: Reply Brief on Emergency Motion in SCOTUS
admin March 27, 2019 Firearms Law, Litigation, U. S. Supreme Court
The Supreme Court allowed us to file a reply to the government's opposition to our motion for an emergency stay of the ATF bump stock ban, which we filed at noon today.
Link to reply
FirearmsNFA Weapons
Bump Stocks: Emergency Application for Stay by SCOTUS Pending Appellate Review
Today our firm filed an emergency application for stay with the U.S. Supreme Court (directed to Justice Sotomayor, Circuit Justice for the Sixth Circuit), requesting that the Court stay the effective date of the ATF's Final Rule banning bump stocks pending review of the case by the Sixth Circuit.
Link to application for stay
Bump Stocks: GOA Files 28(j) Letter in Sixth Circuit
admin March 23, 2019 Firearms Law, Litigation, U. S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
Today our firm filed a 28(j) letter with the Sixth Circuit, citing additional information in the D.C. Circuit cases of Guedes and Codrea. We point out that although the courts have issued stays in these and similar cases, the stays only apply to the specific appellants in each case, and do not grant the nationwide relief to bump stock owners being sought by Gun Owners of America, et al.
Link to letter
Bump Stocks: GOA Replies to Government Opposition
At 5:00 today, the Justice Department opposed our petition for emergency relief in the Sixth Circuit. At 10:30 tonight, we filed our reply to their opposition. The Sixth Circuit granted leave to file our reply brief.
Link to Government's Opposition
Link to GOA Reply
Bump Stocks: Emergency Petition for Writ of Mandamus Filed in Sixth Circuit
The ATF reclassification of bump stocks as machineguns will take effect on Tuesday, March 26. The federal district court in which we challenged this classification change has yet to rule on our motion for an injunction. Therefore, we were forced to file this emergency petition in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Link to petition
Article: NPR Reports on GOA Bump Stock Litigation
admin February 4, 2019 Press Coverage
National Public Radio ran a story about the Trump Administration's regulation to ban bump stocks, and the legal challenge we filed for Gun Owners of America, in which Rob Olson of our firm was interviewed.
Jeremy Kettler v. United States
admin January 14, 2019 Constitutional Law, Firearms Law, Statutory Construction, U. S. Supreme Court
Today, we filed a Petition for Certiorari on behalf of Jeremy Kettler, who was convicted of possessing an unregistered firearm suppressor. Our petition asks the Supreme Court to review the Tenth Circuit's decision, and to determine whether the National Firearms Act continues to be an appropriate exercise of Congress's taxing power due to the many changes that have been made to the NFA over the last eight decades. Additionally, if the NFA is still justifiable under the taxing power, we have asked the Court to determine whether firearm accessories such as suppressors are protected by the Second Amendment and whether the NFA is impermissible as a tax on the exercise of a constitutional right. Read More
BATFEFirearmsNFA WeaponsPet. Cert/Juris. StatementSecond AmendmentTaxing Power
Bump Stocks: Gun Owners of America files Motion for Preliminary Injunction Against Bumpstock Regulations
admin December 26, 2018 Administrative Law, Litigation, U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
Today, our firm filed a motion for a preliminary injunction, seeking to stop the Bumpstock regulations from going into effect on March 26, as planned.
(Plaintiffs') Motion for Preliminary Injunction (December 26, 2018)
(Plaintiffs') Memorandum in Support of Motion for a Preliminary Injunction (December 26, 2018)
(Plaintiffs') Party Declarations (December 26, 2018)
(Plaintiffs') Richard Vasquez Declaration (December 26, 2018) Read More
BATFEFirearms
Bump Stocks: Gun Owners of America files Challenge to ATF Bumpstock Regulations
Today, ATF published in the Federal Register its final regulations imposing a total ban on private ownership of bumpstocks, overruling numerous prior ATF decisions. Later that same day, our firm filed a chellenge to this regulation on behalf of Gun Owners of America, Guy Owners Foundation, Virginia Citizen Defense League, and three individuals — Matt Watkins, Tim Harmsen and Rachel Malone. The challange was filed in the federal district court for the Western District of Michigan. Read More
Young v. Hawaii
admin November 19, 2018 Constitutional Law, Firearms Law, U. S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Today we filed an amicus brief opposing a request for rehearing by the State of Hawaii of a Ninth Circuit decision which overturned Hawaii's virtual ban on citizens bearing weapons. We opposed Hawaii's argument that its laws against carrying firearms were long-standing, explaining that those laws existed when Hawaii was a monarchy where the reigning king or queen was sovereign — not as in the United States where the people are sovereign. Read More
Amicus - USCAFirearmsSecond Amendment
Comments to ATF Opposing Bump Stock Restrictions (Round 2)
admin May 9, 2018 Administrative Law, Firearms Law
Today we submitted another set of comments to ATF opposing its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which would reverse long-standing ATF policy to determine, in violation of federal law, that a "bump fire" stock constitutes a "machinegun." Our comments were filed on behalf of Gun Owners Foundation. Earlier, on January 18, 2018, we filed comments for GOF on the ATF's Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
Link to comments
BATFEFirearmsNFA Weapons
Comments to ATF Opposing Bump Stock Restrictions
admin January 18, 2018 Administrative Law, Firearms Law
Today, we submitted comments to ATF on clarifying whether "bump fire" stocks fall within the statutory definition of "machinegun." Our comments were filed on behalf of Gun Owners Foundation.
United States v. Kettler — Oral Argument
admin January 16, 2018 Constitutional Law, Firearms Law, U. S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit held oral argument on the Kettler case. Our co-counsel in the case, Joe Miller, presented oral argument for Mr. Cox. The panel hearing the appeal consisted of Judges Hartz, Seymour and Phillips.
The oral argument my be listened to here.
BATFEFederalismFirearmsNFA Weapons
United States v. Kettler — Reply Brief
Jeremiah Morgan November 21, 2017 Constitutional Law, Firearms Law, U. S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
Today, we filed a reply brief responding to the Government's brief in opposition on behalf of Jeremy Kettler. Mr. Kettler was convicted in federal district court of possessing a firearm noise suppressor that was not registered to him pursuant to the National Firearms Act ("NFA"). Read our previous discussion of the case and opening brief here.
Read Reply Brief here.
Third Set of Comments filed with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives opposing Multiple Rifle Sale Reporting
Jeremiah Morgan November 13, 2017 Administrative Law, Firearms Law
Today, our firm filed comments on behalf of Gun Owners of America, Inc. and Gun Owners Foundation, expressing opposition to the ATF's continuing effort to require federally licensed firearms dealers (FFL's) to report to ATF information regarding the sale of multiple rifles.
Purportedly concerned about firearms being trafficked to Mexican drug cartels, about six years ago ATF created a new requirement that all FFLs located in the four southwest border states (California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas) must report to the ATF any sale to a single person of two or more rifles within a five day period. Read More
Kolbe v. Hogan
Michael Harless August 25, 2017 Constitutional Law, Firearms Law, U. S. Supreme Court
Today we filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court, asking that Court to review a decision of the Fourth Circuit which would strip the Second Amendment rights of Marylanders.
Amicus - SCOTUSFirearms
Article: "Trump, Pro-Gun Groups Headed for SCOTUS Duel?"
Michael Harless August 9, 2017 Press Coverage
Bloomberg BNA carried an article discussing the brief we filed in U.S. v. Robinson on July 24, 2017.
Civil LibertiesFirearmsFourth Amendment
Article: "Amicus Groups Try to Sway Conn. Supreme Court in Sandy Hook Hearing"
admin July 27, 2017 Press Coverage
This article in the Connecticut Law Tribune summarizes the GOA/GOF brief in the Soto v Bushmaster litigation in Connecticut.
United States v. Robinson
Michael Harless July 24, 2017 Constitutional Law, Firearms Law, U. S. Supreme Court
Amicus - SCOTUSFirearmsFourth Amendment
United States v. Kettler
Michael Harless July 21, 2017 Constitutional Law, Firearms Law, U. S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
Today, we filed a brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit as co-counsel for the defendant, Jeremy Kettler. Mr. Kettler was convicted in federal district court of possessing a firearm noise suppressor that was not registered to him pursuant to the National Firearms Act ("NFA").
In purchasing his suppressor, Mr. Kettler had relied on the Kansas Second Amendment Protection Act which states that a firearm or firearm accessory (such as a suppressor) that is manufactured, owned, and kept entirely within the borders of Kansas is not subject to any federal law. When Mr. Kettler revealed that he purchased such a suppressor, however, agents from the Obama Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") swooped in to make an example of Mr. Kettler, and his co-defendant Mr. Cox. Read More
Soto v. Bushmaster
Michael Harless May 30, 2017 Firearms Law, Supreme Court of Connecticut
Today, May 30, 2017, we filed an amicus brief in the Connecticut Supreme Court in support of gun manufacturers Bushmaster and Remington, who had been sued by the families of the Sandy Hook school shooting victims.
The plaintiffs in the case had brought a "negligent entrustment" claim, arguing that the AR-15 style rifle should never have been sold because it was foreseeable that it would be used in the crime. However, as we pointed out, neither the manufacturer, distributor, nor dealer did anything wrong with respect to this particular sale — the essence of a legal negligent entrustment claim. Rather, the Plaintiffs instead were making the policy argument that generally no one should ever be permitted to sell any AR-15. In other words, they were asking judges to legislate to ban AR-15 style rifles. Read More
Amicus - State CourtsFirearms
Hamilton v. Pallozzi
Michael Harless March 10, 2017 Firearms Law, U. S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
Today, we filed our second amicus brief in this case, in support of a petition for rehearing en banc in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. We urged the Fourth Circuit to rehear the case, because the panel decision ignored the requirements of the U.S. Constitution's Full Faith and Credit clause. The issue involved a Maryland resident's right to purchase and possess firearms despite the judicial removal of disability to own firearms by a Virginia court after a Virginia conviction. Read More
Amicus - USCAFirearmsfull faith and credit clause