Weekly Wrap: New Gun Violence Prevention Office & Court Blocks CA Ban on Gun Ads
The Biden Administration announces new Office of Gun Violence Prevention, appeals court blocks CA ban on gun ads, and federal judge overturns NM CCW ban.
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Welcome to a weekly series here on Pew Pew Tactical dedicated to the gun news you need to know.
So, keep reading for this week’s notable news headlines…
Table of Contents
Trending: Best AR-15s & CCW Guns Under $400
Biden Administration Kickstarts Office for Gun Violence Prevention
The Biden Administration announced the start of a new office for gun violence prevention along with its new staff.
The White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention will be taxpayer-funded and run by Robert Wilcox of Everytown for Gun Safety and Greg Jackson of the Community Justice Action Fund.
Jackson and Wilcox will serve as “special assistants to the President” as Deputy Directors. The two will report to White House Staff Secretary Stefanie Feldman, named Director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
According to the White House, the office will work to “implement executive and legislative action” and drive policy efforts surrounding firearms.
President Biden has committed to tackling guns and said the office is the next step in combating “gun violence.”
"I’ll continue to urge Congress to take commonsense actions that the majority of Americans support like enacting universal background checks and banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines," Biden said in a statement.
"But in the absence of that sorely-needed action, the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, along with the rest of my Administration will continue to do everything it can to combat the epidemic of gun violence that is tearing our families, our communities, and our country apart."
It’s worth noting the White House has not named any Second Amendment advocates or shooting organizations to serve in or advise for the office.
Appellate Court Challenges CA Restriction on Gun Ads
A three-judge panel struck down California’s ban on gun ads, saying the law goes too far and restricts free speech.
Members of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of gun rights groups and the publisher of a youth shooting magazine. The group argued that the California law would block marketing and recruiting efforts for youth shooting sports and hunting.
Though a lower court denied the group’s initial request, the appeals court sided with the gun group.
The law was signed last year and effectively prohibits marketing firearms in a way that is “attractive to minors.” But the appeals court said the law violates the First Amendment and does nothing to prevent gun violence.
“There was no evidence in the record that a minor in California has ever unlawfully bought a gun, let alone because of an ad,” the opinion read.
California Gov. Gavin Newsome disagreed with the appellate court ruling and vowed to challenge it.
“The court is fighting to protect marketing weapons of war to children – a ‘junior’ AR-15,” Newsom said in a statement. “It is pure insanity.”
The issue now heads back to the lower court for reconsideration.
Federal Judge Halts New Mexico Carry Ban
A federal judge has put a New Mexico ban on open and concealed carry on ice after ruling that the newly imposed restrictions are unconstitutional.
The drama unfolded earlier this month after New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a public health order suspending the right to carry firearms in public in the Albuquerque metro area.
The temporary health order was met with immediate criticism and backlash from both sides of the aisles, calling the order extreme and raising concerns about its legality.
Less than a month later, U.S. District Judge David Urias sided with several gun groups who brought the issue to court. Urias said that while gun violence is a problem, the issue is “more narrow.”
“We’re happy to say that today the Constitution won,” said Cameron Atkinson, an attorney representing plaintiffs We The Patriots USA Inc. and Dennis Smith.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said he has no plans to defend the state in the case as he, too, believes the order goes against the state’s own constitution.
In response, Gov. Lujan Grisham narrowed the specifications, issuing a new order. This latest development states that no one may possess a gun – open or concealed – in public parks or playgrounds “or other public areas provided for children to play in.”
According to The Washington Post, this new mandate applies to cities in counties averaging 1,000 or more violent crimes per 100,000 residents per year since 2021.