Newsletter: Trump Snubs Guns in State of Union Speech

This week, President Donald Trump gave the primary State of the Union tackle of his second time period.

It went on for almost two hours and featured quite a lot of shock visitors and a mountain of coverage dialogue. Conspicuously absent, although, was the subject of firearms. I dive into what the snub may imply for gun coverage going ahead.

Then, we’ve got a brand new installment in our collection inspecting the nexus between the Epstein Recordsdata and firearms . This time, we take a look at Epstein’s repeated makes an attempt to get his gun rights restored between his first intercourse crime conviction and his second arrest for youngster trafficking. He was even discussing more and more determined plans for restoration proper as much as the night time earlier than the Miami Herald revealed its landmark expose on his crimes.

In the meantime, the Supreme Court docket delivered dangerous information to gun-rights advocates this week by denying a case from the Nationwide Rifle Affiliation. This one pertains to their current unanimous First Modification win on the Court docket, although. Regardless of agreeing {that a} New York official doubtless violated the gun group’s rights, the Supreme Court docket determined to let stand a decrease court docket ruling defending the official from going through any actual punishment underneath the safety of certified immunity.

Contributing Author Jake Fogleman additionally takes a take a look at the Division of Justice’s temporary within the US v. Hemani case. He explains their argument for a way the weed and gun ban comports with the Second Modification.

Plus, the Virginia Residents Protection League’s Philip Van Cleave joins the podcast to present an in depth breakdown of all of the gun payments transferring via the legislature. And we’ve got a bunch of different tales down within the hyperlinks part, together with one a couple of new name for motion primarily based on our reporting about ties between Epstein and Michael Bloomberg.

Trump Snubs Gun Rights in Longest State of the Union Speech on DocumentBy Stephen Gutowski

President Donald Trump didn’t point out weapons as soon as within the first State of the Union speech of his second time period.

Whereas Trump took time to say dozens of key priorities for his administration throughout Tuesday’s occasion, he didn’t point out gun coverage in any respect. The almost two-hour speech, which was the longest speech a President has ever given to Congress, featured quite a few shoutouts to crime victims and navy members–even the US males’s Olympic hockey group garnered a outstanding function. Trump additionally repeatedly attacked Democrats through the speech, who usually responded by heckling him.

The President lined a variety of coverage subjects as effectively, discussing every thing from immigration to the warfare on medicine to tensions with Iran to prescription drug costs and the price of fuel. However he didn’t discuss firearms or the Second Modification.

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Evaluation: How A lot Does Trump Skipping Weapons within the State of the Union Matter? [Member Exclusive]By Stephen Gutowski

The President spent almost two hours on Tuesday laying out his coverage agenda, celebrating claimed accomplishments, and even heckling Democrats. However one factor was noticeably absent: any speak of weapons.

Mirroring his record-long 2024 acceptance speech, Donald Trump’s record-long 2026 State of the Union speech skipped mentioning firearms coverage. He managed to speak about immigration, the financial system, tensions with Iran, and even the US males’s hockey group. Not weapons, although.

However what does that inform us about the place gun coverage is headed in Trump’s second time period?

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Jeffrey Epstein Regularly Tried to Get Gun Rights Again After Intercourse Crime ConvictionBy Stephen Gutowski

Within the decade between his launch from jail after his first intercourse crime and his second arrest for youngster intercourse trafficking, Jeffrey Epstein repeatedly pursued more and more determined plans for regaining his means to personal weapons.

A Reload evaluation of the Epstein Recordsdata discovered quite a few events the place Epstein requested his attorneys and authorities officers how he might bypass or overcome the authorized prohibition towards him possessing weapons. At varied factors, he explored acquiring a court docket order, in search of a pardon, and pursuing rights restoration processes in a minimum of two jurisdictions. As public outrage turned again towards the sunshine sentence he negotiated in 2008 and allegations of his continued abuse of tons of of underage women mounted, Epstein’s concentrate on acquiring a gun escalated.

“Jeffrey epstein . I hereby grant a full’ pardon restoring gun r=ghts civil rights. and eradicating all restrictions usvi requireme=ts or any native consequence that flowed from the conviction 10 years. in the past i= the state of florida? part and part..; He served his sentence and since has had no violations,” is a part of the message Epstein informed his lawyer to incorporate in a letter to the governor of the US Virgin Islands on the day earlier than the Miami Herald revealed its landmark investigation of the lover deal he secured for his 2008 intercourse crime.

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SCOTUS Refuses NRA Free Speech Case, Lets Certified Immunity Ruling StandBy Jake Fogleman

The Nationwide Rifle Affiliation’s (NRA) quest to carry a former New York official accountable for pressuring firms to not do enterprise with it is not going to finish in financial damages.

That’s the results of the orders record the Supreme Court docket of america (SCOTUS) launched Monday. In it, the justices denied cert in NRA v. Vullo, a petition for evaluation of a Second Circuit Court docket of Appeals ruling that awarded certified immunity to Maria Vullo, the previous superintendent of New York’s Division of Monetary Companies (DFS), for conduct that SCOTUS beforehand acknowledged as a First Modification violation. Not one of the justices registered a dissent from the denial, nor did any decide to write down an evidence.

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Podcast: What’s Happening With Virginia’s Gun Legal guidelines? (Ft. VCDL’s Philip Van Cleave)By Stephen Gutowski

This week, we’re taking a complete take a look at the handfuls of gun payments up for debate in Virginia.

Our visitor is Philip Van Cleave. He’s the president of the Virginia Residents Protection League (VCDL), and one of many prime gun-rights activists working in Richmond. He has been on the bottom because the starting of the session, and he has tracked each gun invoice going via the legislature.

You possibly can take heed to the present in your favourite podcasting app or by clicking right here. Video of the episode is accessible on our YouTube channel.

Plus, Contributing Author Jake Fogleman and I look at what the Epstein Recordsdata reveal about how a lot contact he had with Michael Bloomberg, the highest funder of the gun-control motion. We additionally cowl Epstein’s repeated curiosity in taking pictures sports activities and the gun business effectively after his 2008 intercourse crime conviction rendered him ineligible to own firearms.

Audio right here. Video right here.

Evaluation: How the Trump Administration Plans to Defend the Gun Ban for Weed Customers at SCOTUS [Member Exclusive]By Jake Fogleman

With simply over per week to go till the Supreme Court docket hears oral arguments in its subsequent Second Modification case, the Trump Administration revealed the way it plans to defend the federal gun restriction at challenge.

The Division of Justice (DOJ) filed a brand new temporary on Thursday in response to Ali Danial Hemani’s temporary filed final month. The 29-page doc outlines why the federal authorities believes that Hemani, an admitted common marijuana consumer who was discovered with medicine and a handgun in his residence throughout an FBI raid, may be disarmed and prosecuted underneath § 922(g)(3) in full compliance with the Second Modification.

At its core, the DOJ’s reply temporary facilities on an argument that banning ordinary marijuana customers from proudly owning firearms suits inside a well-established custom of disarming folks thought to pose a hazard to society, and that Hemani’s opposite claims are unavailing.

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Exterior The Reload

CCRKBA Calls for Bloomberg ‘Come Clear’ About Epstein Relationship | Ammoland | By Alan Gottlieb

First Batch of Gun Management Payments Heads to Virginia Governor | Bearing Arms | By Cam Edwards

Oregon gun management invoice advances with greater allow charges, new guidelines | OregonLive | By Maxine Bernstein

NSSF Asks SCOTUS to Overturn New York ‘Public Nuisance’ Regulation Concentrating on Gun Trade | Bearing Arms | By Cam Edwards

Politicians Take into account Soviet-Type Controls on 3D Printers to Go After ‘Ghost Weapons’ | Purpose | By J.D. Tuccille

After ‘No Kings’ taking pictures, a lawmaker needs to make clear Utah’s self-defense regulation | Utah Information Dispatch | By Annie Knox

The ACLU, Lengthy Leery of the Second Modification, Joins the NRA in Urging SCOTUS To Uphold Pot Customers’ Gun Rights | Purpose | By Jacob Sullum

West Virginia might promote its residents machine weapons underneath new invoice | WBOY | By Joey Slightly

That’s it for this week in weapons.

If you wish to hear knowledgeable evaluation of those tales and extra, be sure you seize a Reload membership to get our unique evaluation e-newsletter each Sunday!

I’ll see you all subsequent week.

Thanks,Stephen GutowskiFounderThe Reload