The Weekly Reload Podcast

This week, we're looking at potential fallout for gun owners from an unexpected area: immigration. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued a stay on an emergency basis in Noem v. Perdomo. Justice Brett Kavanaugh's statement in that case inspired UC Law Professor Rory Little to write a piece for SCOTUSblog on its potential implications in areas beyond immigration enforcement, including firearms law. He joins the show to elaborate on why he finds Kavanaugh's reasoning dangerous. Little said Kavanaugh's holding that immigration agents could use a person's apparent race, accent, and location as justification to detain them is troubling. He argued the idea that agents should be able to involuntarily stop and question somebody based on the idea that some percentage of similarly situated people may have broken the law could be turned on all sorts of people. He used gun shows as a prime example, arguing they primarily attract white men and can sometimes be the site of illegal sales. He argued an administration taking an aggressive approach to federal gun law enforcement could use Kavanaugh's logic to detain and question everyone at a gun show in hopes of catching the few that may be breaking the law. Little said that moving from a probable cause standard for detentions that relies on individualized suspicion to one based on demographics or probabilities would have far-reaching consequences for all sorts of Americans. He argued it's difficult to see how Kavanaugh's logic could be contained to immigration either, though he also emphasized Perdomo is still at a preliminary stage and other members of the majority haven't fully articulated their view on the matter.Special Guest: Rory Little.

Contributing writer Jake Fogleman and I discuss a recent ruling out of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld New York's "sensitive places" restrictions for licensed gun carriers. We also cover a Ninth Circuit ruling that sided with a Montana gun owner fighting against a charge for carrying a shotgun in a school zone. Finally, we talk about a new letter campaign from a coalition of gun rights groups seeking a commitment from major banks that they will no longer discriminate against the firearms industry.

This week, we have another episode on our nation's recent struggles with horrendous violence. However, this time we're looking at potential solutions to that struggle. That's why we have Let's Talk to Them director Jordan Estrada back on the show. His organization attempts to adapt lessons from research into the causes of mass shootings, such as work from The Violence Project, and apply them to real-world efforts. It tries to funnel those who are experiencing a potentially violent mental health spiral toward resources that can off ramp them from the path of violence. Estrada said his group believes they can apply similar techniques to disuade potential assassins from carrying out attacks, too. He said the two violent phenomena share a number of similarities. But he also noted there are some differences as well. That's why he and Let's Talk to Them are currently working on securing funding for a scientific study to better understand how prevalent mass shooting and assassination ideation really are among Americans. Then, they also want to better understand the sorts of arguments that might convince people considering those forms of violence not to go through with it. Using the lessons learned from that research, Estrada said his group plans to further update the programs it's already using to successfully off-ramp potential shooters across the country.Special Guest: Jordan Estrada.

Contributing writer Jake Fogleman and I provide an update in our attempt to gain clarity from the DC Metropolitan Police Department regarding the nature of its enforcement of the city's strict gun control laws during Trump's federal takeover. We also discuss the California legislature's passage of a first-in-the-nation ban on the sale of Glock handguns in a bid to crack down on illegal machine guns.

This week, we're discussing the murder of political commentator Charlie Kirk. To do that, we have Cam Edwards from Bearing Arms on the show. While the full details and precise motivations of the killer are not completely known, the political nature of the attack--coming in the middle of one of Kirk's public debate events--is especially concerning. Cam agreed that the vast majority of people have reacted by condemning the attack. However, he was worried about the people who reacted by condoning or even celebrating the brazen act of violence. Cam recounted how a similar phenomenon played out in his own life after he lost his wife and son. He said some people reacted with vitriol because of his firearms advocacy. However, some of those who vehemently opposed Cam's views also reached out with genuine care. In the end, Cam said it would be easy to go down a hateful path--perhaps even lucrative. But he also said it would be corrosive for himself and for society. So, he chose not to respond with hate, and he believes that's the best way forward for everyone. Don't let the violence cow you into staying silent or into hating those opposed to you.Special Guest: Cam Edwards.

Contributing writer Jake Fogleman and I unpack the latest information about the assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, including details suggesting troubling parallels with other recent acts of political violence. We also cover a pair of federal appeals court rulings upholding gun-free zone restrictions in Illinois and New Jersey.

This week, we're looking at the dueling reactions to the Annunciation school shooting. On the left, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D.) is calling for a special session of the legislature to pass a gun-control package likely to include an AR-15 ban. On the right, the Department of Justice is reportedly considering an effort to ban all trans people from owning guns. The Second Amendment Foundation is opposed to both of these ideas. So, we have Kostas Moros, a lawyer who was recently hired by the gun-rights group, back on the show to explain why he doesn't like the proposals and how they might fare legally and politically. Moros said any attempt to blanket-ban people who identify as trans or who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria from owning guns would run into serious legal and constitutional trouble. He explained that current law requires an individual finding of dangerousness for the government to strip anyone of their gun rights on the basis of mental health. He argued, even if Congress changed the law, it would run afoul of the Second Amendment, and the Supreme Court would likely strike it down. Moros argued the same is true for the potential "assault weapons" ban that could come out of Minnesota. He said four Supreme Court justices have already signaled they'd strike down a ban, and a Minnesota law could actually provide further reason for the Court to get involved.Special Guest: Kostas Moros.

Contributing writer Jake Fogleman and I break down the ongoing political fallout from the Annunciation Catholic school shooting in Minnesota that has now prompted both Governor Tim Walz and the Trump DOJ to explore possible gun restrictions. We also analyze what the latest monthly gun sales data says about the ongoing state of the industry.

This week, we're taking a look at the AR market. There has been a rash of bankruptcies and acquisitions among AR-15 makers in the past year. Some of the largest producers, like Anderson Manufacturing, have shut down their operations. To explain what's going on, we have KE Arms director Russell Phagan on the show. Phagan has been selling AR-15s and parts for over 20 years. He said the market has shifted significantly since the guns were first put on the market over 65 years ago. He said the gun's popularity was built on the back of bans, military adoption, and even pop culture prominence. However, he argued the market dynamics have shifted the past two decades. They've become more dependent on the threat of new bans in a feast-famine cycle. And the 2020 surge was so large that Phagan argued it nearly saturated the market. Combine that with a handful of other demand-depressing factors, and things are looking grim for those specializing in ARs today.

Contributing writer Jake Fogleman and I cover the Air Force Global Strike Command's recent decision to bring back the Sig M18 pistol for active service. We also talk about the 5th Circuit's re-decision in a case challenging the constitutionality of the NFA's restrictions on suppressors. We wrap up by discussing a new ruling upholding Connecticut's AR-15 ban, as well as the continued lack of clarity surrounding gun arrests in Washington, DC, under its federal takeover.