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Gun rights supporters: I’m told a couple of keyboard commandos recently opined that GRNC “isn’t doing anything,” and that we’re “just in it for the money” (or words to that effect). Ignoring, for a moment, the question of why an all-volunteer organization that doesn’t pay anybody would be in it for the money(??), let’s take a look at what GRNC and its non-profit arm, Rights Watch International(RWI), having been doing with your hard-earned money. GRNC & RWI join TWO SCOTUS briefs on semi-autos
GRNC legal ACTION State v. Ducker: At issue is increasing “over-criminalization” of relatively minor offenses which, in the founding days of our nation, would not have deprived citizens of their Second Amendment rights. In NC, for example, it is a felony to pick a Venus Fly Trap. The brief on our felony firearms law, written by attorney Tyler Brooks on behalf of GRNC, argues the NC Supreme Court should overturn a NC Court of Appeals decision against Eric James Ducker. The case is pending. Missouri v. US: In defense of Missouri’s “Second Amendment Preservation Act,” which declares certain federal laws to be infringements on the Second Amendment rights of Missourians. The US filed litigation against MO under the supremacy clause. GRNC and RWI joined GOA and other amici, arguing the supremacy clause does not protect unlawful or unconstitutional federal actions. SCOTUS denied plaintiffs’ petition for certiorari (“cert”) in the case. NJ v. Bondi: GRNC and RWI joined GOA and other amici on this case over New Jersey’s refusal to allow return of forced reset triggers (FRTs) after SCOTUS denied the ATF’s attempt to broaden the definition of “machine gun” in Garland v. Cargill and a national vacatur of the FRT rule by a 5th Circuit District Court judge. The case was voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff states after ATF committed not to return FRTs in affected states. NRA v. Glass: GRNC and RWI joined GOA and other amici on this case over Florida’s denial of 2nd and 14th Amendment rights of 18-to-20-year-olds to possess firearms. Unfortunately, SCOTUS denied the case cert. S&W v. Mexico: GRNC and RWI joined GOA and other amici in this case to decide if Mexico can sue a US gun maker for shootings in Mexico on the theory that it should have done more to ensure its guns do not get sold to those who might bring them into Mexico to use in crimes. SCOTUS held Mexico’s complaint does not plausibly allege that the defendant gun manufacturers aided and abetted gun dealers’ unlawful sales of firearms to Mexican traffickers and that the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act bars the lawsuit. US v. Brown: GRNC and RWI joined GOA and other amici in this case revolving on ownership of machine guns after Judge Reed Carlton in the 5th Circuit dismissed charges a Justin Bryce Brown, noting that that because 740,000 machine guns are owned by private citizens, the government failed to meet the standard that they are “unusual.” Elsewhere, in the 6th Circuit, a different case, US v. Jermain Brown, upheld conviction of the defendant for possession of “dangerous and unusual” weapons. The potential for a circuit split increases the chance that SCOTUS will take up the case. US v. Peterson: GRNC and RWI joined GOA and other amici in this case revolving around possession of an unregistered suppressor. The 5th Circuit held that because possession of a suppressor under the 1934 National Firearms Act was essentially a “shall issue” scheme, possession of a suppressor not registered under the NFA was presumptively constitutional. Although SCOTUS denied the case cert, suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and “any other weapons” were later the subject of partially successful litigation. Maryland Shall Issue v. Moore: GRNC joined GOA and other amici in this case revolving around Maryland’s handgun purchase permit system, initially ruled unconstitutional by a 3-judge panel of our own 4th Circuit Court of Appeals but later reversed and declared constitutional in an en banc (full) hearing of the 4th. Although SCOTUS denied cert, GRNC fortunately chose not to wait for this decision when we instead repealed our pistol purchase permit system. These briefs cost serious money Rights Watch International is GRNC’s educational and legal action arm, chartered as an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. That means it is not only tax exempt, but donations are tax deductible. And right now, RWI – which also helps GRNC underwrite the Remember in November voter education project through which we distribute up to 150,000 voter guides – is strapped for cash. In my seminars, I teach that legal action is generally the last recourse because it is expensive and the outcome is uncertain. So, yes, I’m asking you to make a tax deductible donation to Rights Watch International by going to: Far from being “in it for the money” like certain other organizations, GRNC and RWI use every dime of your hard-earned money to defend your rights. As an all-volunteer organization, we vow to use your money more efficiently and effectively than any other group.
Armatissimi e liberissimi,
F. Paul Valone President, Grass Roots North Carolina Executive Director, Rights Watch International Host, Guns, Politics and Freedom Author, Rules for ANTI-Radicals: A Practical Handbook for Defeating Leftism
P.S. I realize that what GRNC and RWI do is not always obvious. But please understand that we are slugging it out for your rights every day. If you can contribute $250, $125, or even $50, it will help us continue to defend your freedom.
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POB 10665
Raleigh, NC 27605
United States
