By Tanya Metaksa
What’s New—Biden’s Gun Violence Office Disappears From White House Website; U.S. Senate has confirmed four of President Trump’s cabinet nominees to date; Trump’s speech to Davos; California: to allow out-of-state firearms’ owners who belong to certain gun groups to apply for carry permits in 90-days; Anti-Second Amendment gun bills being considered in Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon and Virginia; Michigan: Gov. Whitmer signed two anti-2A bills, Indiana considering pro-Second Amendment bills.
The White House
Biden’s Gun Violence Office Disappears From White House Website
On Jan. 22, many social media sites showed an image of the Gun Violence web page with a “404 Page Not Found” when searching for it. We hope that all its employees have been summarily dismissed. Additionally, all the copycat websites, such as the DC Office of Gun Violence Prevention and the New Orleans Office of Gun Violence Prevention, should also disappear.
President Trump’s Cabinet nominations
Former Florida senator Marco Rubio is the 72nd Secretary of State. The Senate unanimously confirmed him and sworn in on Jan. 21. John Ratcliffe was confirmed as the Director of the CIA. However, the Democrats are slow-walking the rest of President Trump’s nominees for Cabinet positions. At 9:55 PM on Friday night, Jan. 24, Vice-President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote to confirm former Marine Pete Hegseth as President Trump’s Secretary of Defense. Former South Dakota governor Kristi Noem has been confirmed on a 59 to 34 vote as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Six Democrats joined all Republican senators in approving her nomination.
Trump’s speech to Davos representatives
Mark W. Smith, a pro-Second Amendment legal scholar, just made some fascinating comments concerning President Trump’s virtual speech to the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 23. As we have witnessed in the past six days, President Trump has jumpstarted his Presidency with a whirlwind of activity. During that time, he also addressed the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum held at Davos, Switzerland, every January. In his YouTube blog, Smith stated, “A critical moment in time took place when the CEO of Bank of America Brian Moynihan was addressed specifically… by President Trump…who said,…I hope you’re going to open your Banks to conservatives because what you’re doing is wrong.”
That caused Bank of America to post the following statement on X (formerly known as Twitter): “Bank of America serves more than 70 million clients and we welcome conservatives. We would never close accounts for political reasons and don’t have a political litmus test.”
After “Operation Choke Point” under the Obama administration, Smith points out that Trump’s spotlighting the banking industry’s bias against specific businesses benefits Second Amendment manufacturers and small businesses and will lead to broader acceptance and less financial marginalization of such companies and individuals.
All 50 state legislatures are in session in 2025.
Many state legislatures allow the prefiling of bills before they begin their sessions.
States convening the week of January 6: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming
California: IF you live in any of the 49 other states, you can apply for a California Concealed Carry License 90 days from Jan. 23:
The Court, having reviewed the Proposed Order, accordingly ORDERS, as to Defendant Bonta:
“Residents of states and US territories besides California who are:
Members of the California Rifle & Pistol Association, Incorporated, Gun Owners of America, Inc., Gun Owners of California, Inc., or The Second Amendment Foundation, and who are not otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms under federal or California law, upon proof of such membership, are entitled under this Order to apply for a California concealed handgun license as provided for under Penal Code sections 26150 through 26235, except that such applicants shall not be eligible for the licenses described in sections 26150(b)(2), 26155(b)(2), and 26170.”
Colorado: On Jan. 28,the Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee will consider Senate Bill 25-003, a ban on semi-automatic firearms. Testimony can be filed on the General Assembly website. Anyone can testify remotely via Zoom, submit written testimony, or do so in person through this link.
Indiana: Several pro-Second Amendment bills are being considered. HB1074, which prohibits payment processors from using firearm-specific merchant category codes for firearms, ammunition, and components, is before the House Financial Institutions Committee. The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Codes passed HB1137, which requires a court to expunge records related to protective orders if it finds the reasons for such orders are no longer valid.
Michigan: During the final days of the 2024 legislature, several anti-Second Amendment bills were passed. Just recently, Governor Whitmer signed two “packages of bills:” HB5450 and HB5451, which mandate the posting and dissemination of state firearms laws to parents of every enrolled student, and HB6144-6146, which requires law enforcement to destroy any firearms confiscated during a “gun buy-back.”
New Mexico: Anti-Second Amendment bills will be heard by the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee this week. HB12, expanding the red flag firearms surrender law, will be heard on January 28, while HB38, banning so-called “conversion devices,” will be heard on January 30.
Oregon: The legislature began its 2025 legislative session on January 21, 2025. The following bills have been pre-filed: HB 3075 attempts to change the provisions of Ballot Measure 114, which is currently prohibited from enactment under constitutional challenge. In the state Senate, SB429 is a 72-hour waiting period bill before any acquisition of a firearm. SB697 denies persons under the age of 21 the right to possess a firearm with some slight exceptions. SB698 repeals statewide preemption laws, including affirmative defense for CHL holders.
Virginia: The Senate Courts of Justice Committee, with 8 Democrats and 7 Republicans on the committee (there is currently one vacancy on the Republican side), voted out the following bills: SB848, banning young adults between 18 and 21 years of age from purchase certain semi-automatic pistols, rifles and shotguns; SB881, expanding Gun Free Zones to public rights of way, public sidewalk, park and or any other public place open to the public; SB882, prohibits the manufacture of any firearm without a serial number; SB883, adds many more misdemeanor crimes to those prohibiting exercises of Second Amendment rights; SB886. Changes the definition of “trigger activator” to that of a part altering the rate of fire; SB891 initiates a five-day waiting period before taking possession of a legally acquired firearm; SB1110, SB1182, proposes expansion of gun-free zones; SB1134 creates government-mandated gun storage laws; SB1181, bans certain semi-automatic firearms and adds limitations on magazines; and SB1329, adds new limitation of keeping a firearm in one’s vehicle. These bills can now be considered on the Senate floor.
