Weekly Spotlight 8/15/24 – 8/22/24
Gun Storage Week Emphasizes Importance Of Gun Safety
As National Gun Storage Week approaches the first week in September, it is crucial that responsible gun owners maintain safe firearm storage. This offers a timely reminder for all of us who are committed to protecting our families and communities by ensuring that our firearms are stored securely and out of the wrong hands.
Safe gun storage is not just a best practice—it’s a fundamental aspect of being a responsible gun owner. Using gun safes, lockboxes, and other security measures can prevent unauthorized access, whether it’s by curious children, teenagers, or anyone who shouldn’t have access to a firearm. Responsible gun owners understand the gravity of these responsibilities and the impact they can have on preventing tragedies in our homes and communities.
Gun Storage Week serves as an important reminder, but it’s only part of a larger conversation, especially as September also marks National Suicide Prevention Month. The intersection of these two observances is critical. Firearms are involved in over half of all suicide deaths in the United States, according to the CDC. Properly stored firearms can act as a barrier, reducing the likelihood of impulsive actions during a mental health crisis. USCCA members are in a unique position to advocate for secure storage practices that can actually save lives.
Commitment to safe gun storage goes beyond this one week. It’s a year-round duty that reflects the values we stand for as members of the responsible gun ownership community. By prioritizing safe storage, we contribute to the safety and security of our loved ones and help prevent the unthinkable.
This September, every gun owner should reflect on the importance of mental health, suicide prevention, and the critical role of safe gun storage. Let’s make sure our firearms are secure, our families are protected, and our communities are safer. Together we can uphold the highest standards of responsible gun ownership.
For more information on the USCCA’s training and educational resources, click here.
Join us in advocating for sensible legislative solutions that
protect our freedoms and help save lives!
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In 2002, Steven Spielberg’s “Minority Report” depicted a dystopian future where individuals could be arrested for crimes they hadn’t yet committed. Two decades later, as lawmakers push for so-called “red flag” laws, allowing the government to confiscate firearms based on perceived threats, the film’s warnings feel increasingly relevant. At the heart of the American justice system lies the principle of due process—a safeguard ensuring that no person is deprived of life, liberty, or property without appropriate legal procedures.
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When Justice Clarence Thomas penned a sweeping reinterpretation of the Second Amendment two years ago, it came as welcome news to opponents of assault weapons bans. Thomas’ ruling in the case of New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen instructed lower courts to stop balancing the need for public safety against the right to bear arms. Instead, the constitutionality of gun restrictions would depend only on whether a given law fit within a tradition of firearm regulation dating from between the signing of the Bill of Rights in 1791 and the end of the Civil War.
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Reuters: Second Appeals Court Finds US Pistol Brace Restrictions Likely Illegal
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A federal appeals court on Friday found that a U.S. regulation restricting ownership of gun accessories known as pistol braces, which was already blocked by another court, is likely illegal. A 2-1 panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that a challenge to the rule by 25 Republican state attorneys general and others was likely to succeed because the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) had not clearly explained what products would be covered by the rule, making it arbitrary and capricious.
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