By Tanya Metaksa
What’s New—Biden’s BATFE new proposed rule comments close on Dec. 7; Illinois: latest registration numbers and Illinois definition of “assault weapon”; Massachusetts-The Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security held an in-person and virtual hearing on Nov. 28, on approximately 56 firearms related bills; Nebraska-City of Kearney: gun-free ordinance was repealed on a 3-2 vote; News of the Day: FBI Firearms background checks equaled 214,913 on Black Friday;
Biden Administration
BATFE proposed rule published: new “Definition of ‘Engaged in the Business’ as a Dealer in Firearms”
NPRM 2022R-17
All comments are due by Dec. 7. Using the BiPartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022 as a mandate, BATFE on Sept. 9 published the new proposed rule. According to the press release the proposed rule would require anyone who sells firearms online, at gun shows or anywhere, even from a private collection, to obtain an FFL. Public comments may be made by mail or submitted to Federal eRulemaking Portal for this rule.
Legislation and local communities
The following states are currently in session: California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Wisconsin. All the rest have adjourned for 2023.
The following states allow bills from the 2023 session to carry-over to the 2024 session: Alaska, California, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma; Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee; Vermont, and Washington
Illinois: Latest numbers for Illinois’ gun ban registry: Endorsement affidavits for assault weapons, assault weapon attachments, .50 caliber rifles, and .50 caliber cartridges must be submitted by January 1, 2024.
Persons completing a Disclosure: 4877
Total Disclosures: 14,229
Firearms Disclosures:9,295
Accessory Disclosures:4,847
Ammunition Disclosures: 87
The “assault weapon attachment” turns firearms into an assault weapon—the definition is—any device capable of being attached to a firearm that is specifically designed for making or converting a firearm into an assault weapon as defined in the Act.
Here is a list on the Illinois.gov website of items that make any rifle an “assault weapon.”
- a pistol grip or thumbhole stock;
- any feature capable of functioning as a protruding grip that can be held by the non-trigger hand;
- a folding, telescoping, thumbhole, or detachable stock, or a stock that is otherwise foldable or adjustable in a manner that operates to reduce the length, size, or any other dimension, or otherwise enhances the concealability of the weapon;
- a flash suppressor;
- a grenade launcher;
- a shroud attached to the barrel or that partially or completely encircles the barrel, allowing the bearer to hold the firearm with the non-trigger hand without being burned, but excluding a slide that encloses the barrel;
- a threaded barrel; and
- a buffer tube, arm brace, or other part that protrudes horizontally behind the pistol grip and is designed or redesigned to allow or facilitate a firearm to be fired from the shoulder.
Massachusetts: The Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security held an in-person and virtual hearing on Nov. 28 on approximately 56 firearms related bills that have been introduced in 2023. When the Committee will hold a mark-up session is not known at this time. 2024 appears to be the year for gun legislation in Massachusetts.
Nebraska—city of Kearney: The Kearney City Council meeting of Nov. 28 included on its agenda Adopting Resolution 2023-149A that would amend Resolution-149 regarding the placement of conspicuously placed signage on publicly accessed City buildings pertaining to the carrying of weapons. On Nov. 28 as NRA members and gun owners packed the meeting the resolution was rescinded on a 3-2 vote.
News of the Day for Second Amendment supporters
According to NSSF
NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, revealed that the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) completed 680,671 background checks related to firearms for the week leading up to, and including, “Black Friday,” one of the busiest shopping days of the year…FBI NICS completed 214,913 background checks on “Black Friday” alone. That is the highest figure recorded for a “Black Friday.” The figure approximates firearm sales at retail on that day, although it also includes background checks for other purposes related to firearms such as approvals for concealed carry permits.
Violent theft is on the Rise: According to the NY Post on X (formerly known as Twitter) “Over the past year, the United Bodegas of America and the Bodega and Small Business Group said they’ve helped at least 230 store owners apply for their gun licenses, connecting them with concealed-carry classes required by the state to obtain a permit.”
@2ndATexan on X (formerly known as Twitter) posted an interesting statistic—“According to the Bureau of Justice, less than 1% (.8%) of firearms used in crime are acquired at gun show.” So much for the anti-gun talking point about the “gun show loophole.”
