Want to sell some illegal machinegun conversion devices? You should’ve done it yesterday. That’s because the United States Sentencing Commission’s 2025 amendments take effect today, and one of the most notable changes involves “MCDs.” The USSC was responsive to concerns over the proliferation of illegal machineguns and added a new section to §2K2.1 that will […]
USSC 2025 Amendments Read More »
The arrest described in this NY Post article presents an opportunity to highlight a subtle distinction in federal criminal law. The story notes that this defendant faces state charges for “certain persons forbidden,” which is the unique way Alabama labels people prohibited from possessing firearms. (See AL Code § 13A-11-72.) That statute includes a wide
No Body Armor for Violent Felons Read More »
The case of this dog-owning shooter reveals something about California drug laws. San Francisco police responded to a ShotSpotter alert and found a Toyota Sienna with bullet holes in the windshield. No one was on scene when they arrived. They obtained surveillance video from a nearby store that showed the man who shot up the
The Dog-Owning Shooter Read More »
This is pretty exciting. SCOTUS is going to weigh in on marijuana users possessing firearms. We could use some clarity on how far the Second Amendment goes in allowing the government to categorically prohibit non-violent (but not law-abiding) people from possessing firearms. (It’s already made clear that the law can restrict possession by dangerous people,
SCOTUS, Drugs, and Guns Read More »
When it comes to estate planning, guns are not like jewelry or tools. Instead, they raise a host of unique legal issues, including who can possess them, how they can be transferred, and whether a particular type of firearm is legal to possess at all. Because of these complex rules, it’s a good idea to
Firearms & Estate Planning Read More »
“‘The problem in this scene is that it is complete devastation,’ Chittum said.” I spoke with Rebekah Riess at CNN about the difficult, maybe impossible, task investigators face trying to determine the cause of the catastrophic explosion in Tennessee. You can read the story here: https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/14/us/tennessee-plant-explosion-blast-cause.
CNN: Investigation of Explosion Read More »
I spoke with CNN about the preliminary activities at the scene of the devastating explosion in Tennessee this morning, and the complications authorities face with rescue and recovery efforts. My heart breaks for this community. Watch the video clip here: CNN News Central – Devastating Explosion at Facility Leaves Community Shaken.
CNN: Tennessee Explosion Read More »
Yesterday was the eighth anniversary of the “1 October” Mass shooting in Las Vegas. I spoke with reporter Will Silverstein about its impact on gun law, especially ATF’s reclassification—and SCOTUS’ reversal—of bump stocks as machineguns. Read the story and see the video here: https://news3lv.com/news/local/nevada-grapples-with-gun-laws-and-mental-health-years-on-from-1-october.
Anniversary of 1-October Read More »
The nature of security threats evolve, and the strategies, tactics, and technologies for dealing with them must evolve, too. In the wake of the sniper-style assassination of Charlie Kirk, I spoke with KSNV in Las Vegas about the challenges of securing outdoor venues. See the news story here: https://news3lv.com/news/local/experts-propose-indoor-venues-to-counter-rising-security-threats-at-las-vegas-events.
Securing Outdoor Venues Read More »
I spoke with Chris Jansing about the firearm used to kill Charlie Kirk, the role of video and biological evidence, and some of the issues investigators will face identifying and hopefully one day prosecuting the killer. See the clip here: MSNBC on Charlie Kirk Murder.
MSNBC on Charlie Kirk’s Murder Read More »
