By Tanya Metaksa
What’s New—BATFE enforcement: Florida: Kiloton Tactical LLC had a major administrative win over ATF; Colorado: HB 24-2393, a semi-automatic ban, has been introduced; Connecticut: The legislature has convened; Hawaii: On Feb. 14, the Senate Public Safety Committee held a hearing and passed out SB2845, SB3196 and SB3349; Idaho: SB1291 and SB1217 are awaiting votes in the full Senate; Iowa: The ghost gun bill, HF488, was killed in the Subcommittee on Public Safety; Louisiana: Gov. Jeff Landry has called for a Special Session on Crime. SB1, constitutional carry has been introduced; Minnesota: HF3570 has been referred to the House Committee on Public Safety Finance and Policy. Two more anti-gun bills have been introduced: HF3672, repealing state preemption, and HF3628, banning the possession, sale, and transfer of most commonly owned semi-automatic rifles, many shotguns, and some pistols and “high capacity” magazines; New Hampshire: On Feb. 12 the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee gave HB1186, prohibiting the use of firearm specific merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition and components, a Do Pass recommendation. On February 15, the Senate failed to pass the following bills; SB360, SB571 and SB577; New Mexico: In a session that adjourned on Feb. 15 only two bills, HB129 and SB5 were passed and sent to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham; Vermont: On Feb. 16 the Senate Judiciary Committee held a work session on SB209; Virginia: Many firearms bills have passed their respective Houses; Washington: Hearing held on SB5444 and SB5985 on Feb. 16; Wisconsin: The Committee on Sporting Heritage voted 11-1 to pass AB632.
BATFE Zero Tolerance policy loses to Kiloton Tactical LLC
Kiloton Tactical LLC, a gun company, had a major victory against the ATF administratively and in federal district court. Kiloton Tactical LLC got into a fight with Joe Biden’s ATF over Biden’s Zero Tolerance policy, and despite being threatened by the Biden Administration that they would lose their federal firearms license, they have prevailed.
The Biden Administration has been implementing a policy called Zero Tolerance against FFLs. This policy directs the ATF to revoke the licenses of dealers the first time they violate federal law by willfully transferring a firearm to a prohibited person, failing to run a required background check, falsifying records such as a Firearms Transaction Form, failing to respond to an ATF tracing request, or refusing to permit ATF to conduct an inspection in violation of the law.
The good news is that Kiloton Tactical LLC, which has had an FFL license for many years, objected to this and hired a lawyer to fight back. They won at the administrative hearing and did not lose their license. At the same time, the ATF renewed Kiloton Tactical LLC’s license. Recently, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida denied the preliminary injunction that had been sought by the plaintiffs in this case, because they had already won everything they could win.
Legislation and local communities
States that do NOT hold legislative sessions in 2024: Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas,
States that are in session: Arizona, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Alaska: SB229, a red flag bill, has been introduced.
Colorado: HB 24-2393, a semi-automatic ban, has been introduced.
Connecticut: The legislature has convened.
Hawaii: On February 14, the Senate Public Safety Committee held a hearing and voted to pass SB2845, a prohibition on young adults under the age of 21 from purchasing or possessing ammunition,SB3196, a long gun ban and SB3349, establishing a Hawaii Office of Gun Violence Prevention.SB3196 bans ALL semi-automatic rifles with a detachable magazine and if the owner has any spare parts to repair them. It would ban ALL AR and AK pattern rifles as well as many others by name, regardless of features.
Idaho: SB1291, prohibits public contracts with individuals or companies that are boycotting certain industries, including the firearms industry, and SB1317, allowing Gadsden flag license plates, are before the Senate awaiting votes. HB415, allowing school employees who hold an enhanced Right-to-Carry Permit to carry concealed at school, which passed the House, is before the Senate State Affairs Committee.
Iowa: The ghost gun bill, HF488, was killed in the Subcommittee on Public Safety.
Louisiana: Gov. Jeff Landry has called for a Special Session on Crime beginning Feb. 19. SB1, constitutional carry has been introduced.
Massachusetts: On February 2, the Senate passed S2572, which is similar to HD4420 that passed the House in 2023. No hearings were held in the Senate and now this bill goes to a joint committee to work out differences. For a more thorough write-up of this law check out the GOAL webpage.
Minnesota: HF3570 has been referred to the House Committee on Public Safety Finance and Policy. This bill is an anti-semiautomatic “military assault weapons” bill.Two more anti-gun bills have been introduced: HF3672, repealing state preemption, and HF3628, banning the possession, sale, and transfer of most commonly owned semi-automatic rifles, many shotguns, and some pistols as well as “high capacity” magazines.
New Hampshire: On Feb. 12 the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee gave HB1186, prohibiting the use of firearm-specific merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition and components, a Do Pass recommendation. On Feb. 15, the Senate failed to pass the following bills: SB360, a red flag law, SB571, requiring state background checks, and SB577, imposing a three-day waiting period.
New Jersey: Anti-gun politicians are back with a bill similar to one in 2023 that is aimed at so-called “gun traffickers,” although present law is already being used to halt gun trafficking. S1425 is before the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee on Feb. 8.
New Mexico: The legislature has finished its 30-day session. Firearms bill that passed: HB129, changing the waiting period from 14 to 7 days for all firearms purchasers even those with Right-to-Carry Permits; and SB5, prohibiting firearms within 100 feet of a polling place. All the remaining gun bills were “left pending on the calendar.”
New York: A bill. S.138A, which requires any firearms safety instructor to be relicensed by the state after Dec. 31, 2026, is a clever way to de-license NRA instructors. This bill passed the Senate in 2023 and is being promoted again. It was scheduled for the Feb.5 the Senate Codes Committee voted it out. It is currently before the Senate Finance Committee.
Oklahoma: The legislative session has convened.
Oregon: The legislative session has convened.
Pennsylvania: The House Judiciary Committee considered the following bills: Laid on Table (tabled, not moving forward): HB335, a ban on multi-burst trigger activators; HB336, Banning future sales of “assault weapons;” HB777, Banning “Ghost Guns” parts; HB1157, Mental Health Reporting; and HB1190; banning 3-D printed firearms.
Tennessee: SB2223/HB2672 were introduced with the full support of Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson. This bill would prohibit the use of firearm-specific merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition, and components. Both bills are in their respective committees awaiting hearings and votes.
Utah: HB406, banning the use of firearm-related Merchant Category Codes for financial institutions, was passed by the House 51-49 on Feb. 2. It has been referred to the Subcommittee for Courts of Justice.
Virginia: House: Bills that have passed the House of Delegates: HB2, so-called “ assault weapons” ban; HB22 ban on auto sears; HB35, firearm safety device tax credit; HB46, a gun owner who is the object of a protective order must turn their guns over to someone living at a different address and at least 21-years-old; HB158, mandatory firearm locking devices (incorporates HB12); HB173, prohibits the manufacture of firearms without serial numbers; HB175, prohibits the open carry of “assault weapons” in public areas; HB183, requires all firearms in home to be locked up if a person under 17 years-of-age lives in the home; HB318, allows frivolous lawsuits against firearms industry; HB362, adds a “dating relationship” to the misdemeanor domestic violence category; HB454, bans carry in public higher education building; HB466, tightens the current standard for the recognition of out of state Right-to-Carry Permits. HB585, prohibition on home-based firearms dealers; HB637, creates a Substantial Risk Order training program for law enforcement; HB791, ban on pneumatic guns; HB797, requires live fire training and incorporates HB318 as well; HB798, those with stalking violations prohibited from purchasing, transporting or possessing a firearm; HB799, fingerprints required by local governments for Right-to-Carry applications; HB861, bans guns in hospitals; HB939, prohibits firearms withing 100 feet of election venues; HB1174, age requirement of 21 years of age to purchase “assault weapon and HB1462, penalty for leaving firearm in an unattended vehicle.
Senate: The following bills have passed the Senate: SB2, so-called “ assault weapons” ban; SB44, holding firearms owners liable for unlawful use by minors; SB47, prohibits transfers from a prohibited person; SB57, prohibits carrying firearms onto restaurant premises; SB99, prohibits carry of assault weapons in public areas; SB100, prohibits so-called plastic firearms; SB258, expands what judge may consider when issuing a red flag order; SB273, five-day waiting period; SB327, prohibits young adults (age 18-21) from purchasing a firearm; SB368, in a home with children under 18-years-of-age must keep firearms locked; SB373, bans guns in higher education buildings; SB447, civil fine with car towing if a handgun is visible in unattended vehicle; SB491, allows lawsuits against firearms industry; SB515, prohibits the carrying of a firearm in a medical facility; SB522, training requirement prior to purchase of a firearm;and SB642, expands the types of misdemeanor convictions as precursors to losing Second Amendment rights.
Vermont: On Feb. 16, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a work session on SB209, requiring serialization of firearms parts and other ghost gun bans.
Washington: Hearing held on SB5985, more background check legislation, and SB5985, codifying the ban on commonly used firearms, by the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee on Feb. 16.Wisconsin: The Committee on Sporting Heritage voted 11-1 to pass AB632. This bill redefines a “muzzle loading” firearm for the purpose of clearing up confusion concerning hunting firearms
