A spokesman for the group explains the importance of the challenge, and why private gun owners’ rights shouldn’t be violated.
Connecticut’s ban on “assault weapons” has created a burden for its citizens. But the Second Amendment Foundation isn’t standing idly by as it happens.
The group is set to begin oral arguments with its challenge against the ban today, before the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York. Those interested in seeing the arguments (scheduled for 2 PM EDT today) can tune in here.
With the argument, the group believes that this Connecticut statute is one of a “one-size-fits-all” measure, where firearms previously identified by “any other firearm” by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have reclassified as “rifles” or “short-barreled rifles.” Under the state’s definition, they’ve been poorly classified as “assault weapons.”
“From the beginning,” noted SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb, “the state has insisted these firearms are not ‘in common use.’ The evidence clearly shows otherwise, yet the state wants the Court to adopt an unprecedented legal standard in contradiction to standards established by the Second Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.”
“The state’s arguments essentially defy the Supreme Court’s standards set down in the 2022 Bruen ruling,” SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut added.
A spokesman for the group joins us now to discuss these oral arguments further.
Q&A:
- Why would Connecticut institute an “assault weapons” ban to begin with, especially with the Second Amendment in place to protect the rights of private gun owners?
- How heavy a burden does the classification of “any other weapon” as “assault weapons” come across?
- Does it surprise you that a classification by the ATF seems to be playing a part in this?
- What are you hoping that the oral arguments from the Second Amendment Foundation will accomplish?
- Where can we learn more about the Second Amendment Foundation?
a. You can visit our official website at http://www.saf.org.
Second Amendment Foundation 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: Todd Baumann at 512-966-0983 or by email Jerry McGlothlin at bookings@specialguests.com.
