Special Guests

A Federal Judge Just Knocked Down a Decades Old Ban On “Assault Weapons” In California

A Second Amendment Foundation representative explains why this is a massive win – even if the fight isn’t over yet.

Despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s best efforts, it appears one judge has had enough of California’s unconstitutional “assault weapons” ban.

Federal Judge Roger T. Benitez has ruled that the decades-old ban is unconstitutional. And even though Newsom and his forces are already working on appeals, it’s still a victory for private gun owners.

Benitez noted that, “in their normal configurations, the so-called ‘assault weapons’ banned in California are modern firearms commonly-owned by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes across the nation. Under Heller, McDonald, Caetano, and Bruen, they may not be banned.”

Second Amendment Foundation applauded the decision. Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb noted, “We’ve known all along the state ban could not hold up under constitutional scrutiny, and we were encouraged by last year’s Supreme Court ruling in the Bruen case, which rejected the notion of ‘interest balancing’ when it comes to Second Amendment challenges. Judge Benitez came down on the side of the Constitution and history.”

Though the fight isn’t over, this is certainly a victory for those that appreciate the right to bear arms. A Second Amendment Foundation representative joins us now to discuss the matter further.

Q&A:

  1. Why do you think the California “assault weapons” ban was able to stand for so long? Was it on the part of Gov. Newsom, or something else?
  2. Why do states continue to try to pass “assault weapons” bans and other restrictive gun laws when the Second Amendment will easily overturn them? Are they really that concerned about violence?
  3. What do you believe Newsom and his allies will do now, aside from appeal the decision? Could they try to reconfigure the law or do something else?
  4. Where do you see the battle over “assault weapons” going as the 2024 Presidential Election approaches?
  5. Where can we learn more about the Second Amendment Foundation and its members?
    1. Those interested can visit http://www.saf.org/.

Second Amendment Foundation/CCRKBA spokespersons available to be your guest:

ABOUT CHRIS CHENG (In Pacific Time)

Chris Cheng serves on the advisory council to the Second Amendment Foundation’s Board of Trustees. He is the History Channel’s Top Shot Season 4 Champion and author of the book “Shoot to Win.” Cheng is an Asian D&I advocate in the gun community; a former Google employee who went from self-taught amateur to pro shooter.

ABOUT CAM EDWARDS (In Eastern Time)

Cam Edwards is the editor at Bearing Arms-dot-com and hosts the popular podcast Cam & Company that focuses on Second Amendment news and information. Cam is originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and has worked in radio, television, and online media for over two decades. He currently lives on a small farm with his family near Farmville, Virginia, and is a member of the board of Citizens Committee to Keep and Bear Arms.

ABOUT MARK WALTERS (in Eastern Time):

Mark Walters is a member of the board of directors for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. As a nationally syndicated host of two talk radio programs, Armed American Radio and Armed American Radio’s Daily Defense, Mark is heard on hundreds of stations weekly across the country. Mark is the co-founder of Armed American News and the recipient of the 2015 “Gun Rights Defender of the Year award.” In addition, Mark Walters is co-author of three books, including Lessons from Armed America, Lessons from Unarmed America, and Grilling While Armed.

ABOUT LEE WILLIAMS (In Eastern Time)

Lee Williams is also known as The Gun Writer and has been writing about the Second Amendment, firearms, the firearms industry, and the gun culture for more than ten years. He is the Chief Editor of the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Reporting Project and is a frequent contributor to Ammoland News and Armed American Radio. In addition, Lee serves as a board member of Florida Carry, Inc. He was also an editor for a daily newspaper in Florida. Before becoming a newspaper editor, Lee was an investigative reporter in three states and a U.S. Territory. Before becoming a journalist, he worked as a police officer. Before becoming a cop, Lee served in the Army. Lee has earned more than a dozen national journalism awards as a reporter and three medals of valor as a police officer. 

ABOUT DAVE WORKMAN (In Pacific Time):

Dave Workman is an award-winning career journalist and senior editor of TheGunMag.com. He writes for Liberty Park Press, Conservative Firing Line, and is communications director for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. He has authored Op-Ed pieces in several major newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, Seattle Times, and Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and co-authored seven books with Second Amendment Foundation Alan Gottlieb. Workman’s beat is firearms, from politics to the outdoors. He is widely considered an authority on firearms, concealed carry, and gun politics.

The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing, and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 700,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.

CONTACT: To schedule an interview, contact Jerry McGlothlin of Special Guests PR Agency at 919-437-0001 or geraldmcg@outlook.com.

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