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Archive for the ‘2A’ Category

CAVEAT EMPTOR: Self-Defense Liability Coverage Providers

Sunday, March 19th, 2023

Caveat Emptor – the phrase is not just for physical products. It applies just as much to training, education, and legal protection. That includes what is commonly referred to as CCW insurance.

Flagstaff, AZ 

In simplest terms, CCW insurance is financial protection against the costs of possible criminal prosecution and/or civil lawsuits if you employ deadly force in self-defense or the defense of your family.

 

CCW Insurance Providers…Or No?

Recently Ryan Cleckner, a veteran of the 75th Ranger Regiment turned attorney who taught Constitutional law courses at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, wrote an analysis of concealed carry insurance providers. Among other things, he looked at such details as:

  • Coverage of criminal defense cost
  • The right to choose your own attorney
  • The provision of money up front
  • Availability of a daily allowance/per diem to replace lost income
  • Coverage of civil defense cost
  • Coverage of administrative cost
  • Coverage of Private Investigator fees
  • Coverage of expert witnesses
  • Bail bond coverage
  • Types of legal weapons covered

 

Ryan Cleckner testifying before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform and Antitrust on the topic of “Reining in the Administrative State: Reclaiming Congress’s Legislative Power.”

Ryan Cleckner testifying before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform and Antitrust on the topic of “Reining in the Administrative State: Reclaiming Congress’s Legislative Power.”

 

While researching the details of numerous prominent CCW insurance programs and comparing them, Cleckner realized several things. Three of them are of great significance.

  1. Many of these companies are “Self-Defense Liability providers”, now what you normally think of when you hear insurance: Many, if not most, “insurance” plans available for the CCW niche aren’t insurance plans at all. They’re either pre-paid legal coverage or self-defense liability plans.
  2. Some of these programs are not their “own” programs. They are white-labeled plans from other providers. What they claim to cover may not always equate to what they actually cover, though that disparity might be more misunderstanding-disconnect than intentional corporate animus
  3. You should always read the fine print: and be cognizant of the fact that your “insurance” provider might not have read it themselves.

Cleckner says, “It’s difficult, if not impossible, to determine what self-defense liability (CCW insurance) is best for any person and their specific situation and needs. Much like I can’t determine what level of coverage you need for homeowners insurance, I can’t tell you which firearms legal protection option to get.”

You can still perform due diligence, however, and while ultimately the decisions of if and which are yours, that comparison is a good place to start.

 

Self-Defense Financial Risks of Lethal Force

The two main financial risks after using your firearm in self-defense are the costs of defending yourself in a criminal trial (if you are prosecuted by law enforcement) and/or in a civil trial (if you are sued by someone).

A shooting you believe was justified may still result in prosecution or a lawsuit. Either the evidence doesn’t clearly exonerate you, an anti-gun prosecutor wants to make an example of you, an outraged, grieving, disbelieving, or just opportunistic family might file suit against you, or something else.

This may (and frequently does) occur regardless of the ultimate legal ruling on your shooting.

In the meantime, you may need bail money to get out of jail. You might need to hire a criminal defense attorney. You could have to deal with multiple lawsuits, particularly if a civil judgement is made against you. It is not unreasonable for a criminal defense case to cost a few hundred thousand dollars or more. Then there is the matter of lost wages/income suffered while the trials are ongoing.

You will incur those costs even if you “win” the case(s).

 

caveat-emptor-Soldier-Systems-Daily

 

One Provider’s Response: Improvements Made

One good thing that’s resulted from Cleckner’s study is the successful efforts by Right to Bear.

After a very critical review in the initial comparison, Right to Bear Insurance received the worst rating possible on the Gun University scale. They received an F, just like what you get in grade school.

However , after much communication with Cleckner and others, Right to Bear has claimed the “Best Value” spot, with an A.

Says Cleckner, “Right to Bear received a bad grade out of the gate. Thankfully, [they were] open to all our previous critiques and…changed their policy and coverage to address each and every single one.”

Does that mean Right to Bear is the program for you? Not necessarily. It’s not at the top of the GU recommended list. It’s just redeemed itself and earned a top score in the budget category; maybe that’s what you can afford. Maybe you want more options and more thorough coverage.

 

CCW Insurance: Caveat Emptor

CCW insurance is a small cost per month as protection against an insurmountable cost later – it certainly could be worth the expense. Do you need it? If so, what company should you choose?

Start with the GU study and begin the process of making an informed decision.

 

Ryan Cleckner
Co-Founder, Gun University
1/75 Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment 1998-2003
Juris Doctorate (J.D.) Quinnipiac University School of Law
Author, The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Precision Rifle Shooting

 

Ryan Cleckner in Asadabad 2002

Ryan Cleckner in Asadabad 2002

Brownells Donates $22,222 to National and State Gun Rights Organizations

Monday, March 13th, 2023

GRINNELL, Iowa (March 9, 2023) — Brownells donated $22,222 to three different gun rights organizations as part of the second annual 2A Day celebration held on February 22, 2023.

The organizations receiving a $22,222 check are the Second Amendment Foundation, Gun Owners of America and the Iowa Firearms Coalition.

“As an advocate for the Second Amendment, Brownells takes great pride in supporting the fundamental right of individuals to own firearms,” said Brownells CEO Pete Brownell. “We believe responsible gun ownership is essential to safeguard the liberties and freedoms of all Americans. That’s why we are honored to contribute $22,222 to the Second Amendment Foundation, Gun Owners of America and the Iowa Firearms Coalition.”

Recently, the Second Amendment Foundation has been involved in lawsuits against the ATF’s attempts to regulate items that are not firearms as if they were firearms, New York’s attempt to largely ban concealed carry, and bans on semiautomatic firearms in Illinois.

Gun Owners of America filed suit over the ATF’s attempt to ban pistol braces as well as against anti-gun laws in New York and Oregon.

The Iowa Firearms Coalition helped Iowa amend its state constitution with a guarantee of the right to keep and bear arms and is supporting a state bill that would allow gun owners to keep their carry firearms in their cars when parked at locations that ban carry inside.

To learn more about how Brownells advocates for the 2nd Amendment and encourages customers to live a 2A lifestyle visit the Trigger Times page at Brownells.com.

SIG SAUER Reinstated On Instagram

Tuesday, February 21st, 2023

With no explanation, SIG SAUER’s Instagram account was reinstated after being placed in indefinite suspension on Sunday.

It’s great to see they are back but it would be even better if Meta, the owners of IG and Facebook didn’t go after the firearms industry.

Brownells Invites Americans to Celebrate Second Annual 2A Day, 2-22-23

Monday, February 13th, 2023

GRINNELL, Iowa (February 13, 2023) — Brownells invites freedom loving people all across the United States to celebrate, advocate and join in the rights and liberties guaranteed under the Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights during the second annual 2A Day on 2-22-23

Smith & Wesson is the co-presenting sponsor for 2A Day 2023. Other sponsors include CCI, Federal, Fiocchi, Henry Repeating Arms, SIG Sauer, Remington and Winchester. 

2A Day offers three ways for participants to engage with their uniquely American Second Amendment rights.

CELEBRATE

Brownells is partnering with ranges –both in Iowa and across the country – to host 2A Day range sessions, with free range time and limited free ammo for celebrants.

To find a participating range nearby, visit the Brownells 2A Day web page. Those interested should contact the range of their choice to ensure they have a time and lane in which to shoot.

Brownells encourages 2A Day supporters unable to attend a participating range to shoot at a range near them, or to work on building a gun at home. All are encouraged to post photos and short videos of their own 2A Day celebrations on social media with the hashtag #2ADay.

Brownells employees will have a chance to shoot on 2A Day at the Iowa range location.

ADVOCATE

Brownells encourages all gun owners to advocate for the 2nd Amendment by contacting their state and federal lawmakers and urging them to support gun rights. The Brownells 2A Day web page will include links showing how to find and contact legislators, and how to communicate effectively with them.

JOIN

On 2A Day, Brownells encourages Second Amendment supporters to join both a national and a state-level organization promoting gun rights.

The 2A Day page will link to both the Second Amendment Foundation and Gun Owners of America as national organizations.

For state-level organizations, the 2A Day page will link directly to the Iowa Firearms Coalition, and also offer a clickable map of the United States with a link to an organization in each state.

In the spirit of joining, Brownells will donate $22,222 to the Second Amendment Foundation, Gun Owners of America and the Iowa Firearms Coalition.

To learn more, visit the Brownells 2A Day page.

Assault on Firearms Industry By Anti-Gun Influencers Using Payment Companies as Weapon to Shoot Themselves in the Foot

Wednesday, November 9th, 2022

Strong-arming credit card payment companies to track firearms purchases is a smoke screen by the government and anti-gun activists and is perpetrating the beginning of the destruction of American citizen rights says Adams Arms president, Jason East. While true “bad guys” find a way around the measure, legal gun owners wonder whether targeting alcohol sales in restaurants and liquor stores is next.

(Brooksville, FL) November 07, 2022 — “Big Brother” is now tracking what they consider to be “troublesome gun purchases”. In mid-September, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) approved the creation of a new merchant code to apply to gun sellers for transactions using credit card networks. Adams Arms President, Jason East, points out the danger in this move. “When overarching organizations wield surveillance measures and disguise them as tracking troublesome or dangerous purchases, they are actually initiating the destruction of American rights – the Second Amendment is only the start,” observes East.

The change was proposed by the global Amalgamated Bank and came just days after members of Congress, attorneys general in California and New York, as well as major pension systems in their states strong-armed Visa, Mastercard, and American Express to help “tackle the gun violence epidemic.” (1)(2) Details indicate that the code will show where an individual spent their money but not what items were purchased.

As president of his Florida firearms company which has been in business for 15 years, he views the action as a way to monitor the legal gun-purchasing activities of as many Americans as possible and limit the channels they have a right to use. “What is next? Should Americans be worried that buying alcoholic drinks at a bar or purchasing liquor at a retailer will trigger an alarm that they are a danger to society?” asked East. Put in perspective, in 2021 there were 611 mass shootings in the U.S., and 103 people died. (3)  In the same timespan of 2020-2022 drunk drivers killed more than 10,000 people each year. (4) If the government were to seek abuse and problematic alcohol patterns by tracking the 2021 sales of beer, wine, and liquor which grossed $7,701M, they would be met with mass opposition. (5)

Agreeing with the observations of a popular firearms blog, (6) even in the smokescreen the new merchant coding unearths a number of logistical problems, according to East.

• Codes track expenditures but not itemized by product: how will that work at large multi-sport retailers such as Bass Pro Shops versus a small dealer?

• Who will scrutinize the algorithmic results? And who will have the manpower to police the results?

• Most firearms purchases are completely legal, and buyers will likely distrust the financial system, moving to strictly cash purchases or spread purchases over a number of cards and gift cards tied only to a single store.

• Keep in mind that those intent on purchasing for illegal purposes may follow the same tactics. As is the case with most measures aimed at curtailing anything, the bad guys always figure out a way around it. 

For years Adams Arms has been a trusted source of high-quality, reliable firearms for the U.S. military and law enforcement in addition to sports enthusiasts. Adams Arms has offered a patented Piston-Driven system that is cleaner, cooler, and more reliable for use. “Our AR-15 piston system, historically a favorite of law enforcement, is seen for its technical merit and reliability. In addition, Adams Arms has developed a backpack with folding AR-15 stock customized for School Resource Officers in protection of children in America’s schools. In short, Adams Arms is there when it counts the most, which helps all users feel safe and in control,” remarks East.

A deeply concerned East comments “All Americans ? not just legal firearms owners ? should think carefully about how much control you want the government to have over your rights as a citizen. Make your voice heard when you vote. Financial strangulation will eventually pull the rug out from under everyone’s feet.”

Polymer80 Product Changes in Accordance with ATF Final Rule

Tuesday, August 30th, 2022

Last week ATF final rule 2021R-05F, Definition of “Frame or Receiver” and Identification of Firearms, went into effect. Polymer80, Inc., the company that designs and develops innovative firearms and after-market accessories that provide ways for customers to participate in the build process while expressing their right to bear arms, is a direct target of this new rule. Polymer80 wholeheartedly disagrees with the ATF final rule, however, in an effort to maintain a legal business, will comply with the unconstitutional regulations.

In accordance with the new ATF final rule, Polymer80 will no longer offer their popular 80% kits in the same configuration in which customers have grown accustom. Instead, Polymer80 has released three new options for consumers interested in building their own legal firearm:

·      OPTION 1 is an unserialized 80% frame with rear rail, locking block rail system and pins. No jig or tools are included with this product. 

·      OPTION 2 is a serialized frame that does include a jig, tooling, rear rail and locking block rail system. This option is the same as the prior 80% kit offered by Polymer80, but with a serialized frame.

·      OPTION 3 is the “Build Back Better” kit, which includes everything listed in option 2 plus a slide assembly. This kit contains everything you need to build a complete, serialized firearm.

Option 1, the unserialized 80% blank, is currently available for purchase at www.polymer80.com. Please note that shipment is not available to all states.

For those interested in assembling without drilling, Polymer80 will continue to offer their AFT “Assemble for Thyself” kit, which includes all the necessary components to build a complete firearm, no drilling required.

Polymer80 will also continue to offer their line of complete pistols, including the popular PFC9 compact pistol and PFS9 full-size pistol, as well as parts and accessories.

Smith & Wesson CEO Issues Statement on Anti-Gun Rhetoric

Tuesday, August 16th, 2022

Smith & Wesson President & CEO Mark Smith issued the following statement:

“A number of politicians and their lobbying partners in the media have recently sought to disparage Smith & Wesson. Some have had the audacity to suggest that after they have vilified, undermined and defunded law enforcement for years, supported prosecutors who refuse to hold criminals accountable for their actions, overseen the decay of our country’s mental health infrastructure, and generally promoted a culture of lawlessness, Smith & Wesson and other firearm manufacturers are somehow responsible for the crime wave that has predictably resulted from these destructive policies. But they are the ones to blame for the surge in violence and lawlessness, and they seek to avoid any responsibility for the crisis of violence they have created by attempting to shift the blame to Smith & Wesson, other firearm manufacturers and law-abiding gun owners.

It is no surprise that the cities suffering most from violent crime are the very same cities that have promoted irresponsible, soft-on-crime policies that often treat criminals as victims and victims as criminals. Many of these same cities also maintain the strictest gun laws in the nation. But rather than confront the failure of their policies, certain politicians have sought more laws restricting the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens, while simultaneously continuing to undermine our institutions of law and order. And to suppress the truth, some now seek to prohibit firearm manufacturers and supporters of the 2nd Amendment from advertising products in a manner designed to remind law-abiding citizens that they have a Constitutional right to bear arms in defense of themselves and their families.

To be clear, a Smith & Wesson firearm has never broken into a home; a Smith & Wesson firearm has never assaulted a woman out for a late-night run in the city; a Smith & Wesson firearm has never carjacked an unsuspecting driver stopped at a traffic light.

Instead, Smith & Wesson provides these citizens with the means to protect themselves and their families.

We are proud of our 170-year history. We are proud of the commitment of our employees to making a quality product. We are proud to provide law-abiding citizens and law enforcement – our customers – with the tools to provide for their security and independence. We are proud of our responsible business practices.

We will continue to work alongside law enforcement, community leaders and lawmakers who are genuinely interested in creating safe neighborhoods. We will engage those who genuinely seek productive discussions, not a means of scoring political points. We will continue informing law-abiding citizens that they have a Constitutionally-protected right to defend themselves and their families. We will never back down in our defense of the 2nd Amendment.”

– Mark Smith, President & CEO

American Suppressor Association – June Policy Update

Sunday, July 24th, 2022

Check out the latest on Suppressor policy updates from our friends at the American Suppressor Association.