Newsletter: Gun-Control Activists Romp in Off-Year Elections

The 2025 elections are within the books, and the ink is blue.

Democrats swept just about in every single place, which has some actual implications for gun coverage. The obvious got here from Maine, since its voters straight voted on one gun coverage–with stunning outcomes. Gun-control activists poured cash into that and lots of the different races, particularly in Virginia. The identical can’t be mentioned of gun-rights activists, although, which could partially clarify the lopsided outcomes we noticed.

Gun-control activists additionally pressed their benefit exterior of the elections this week. After seemingly pressuring Glock into altering its marquee pistol design, Everytown set its sights on Ruger subsequent.

Gun-rights activists tried to flex some muscle of their very own, at the least contained in the Trump Administration, by demanding modifications to the Division of Justice’s proposed gun-rights restoration course of. Contributing Author Jake Fogleman explains what it’s they need the Division to do in another way and why.

Plus, the scholar who helped develop the Supreme Courtroom’s Second Modification view joins the podcast to clarify why it’s taking a number of gun circumstances. And there are a bunch of tales down within the hyperlinks, together with a Washington Submit report on the NRA’s newest struggles.

Gun-Management Activists Swamped Cash Race en Path to Election SweepBy Stephen Gutowski

The 2025 elections had been a blowout on the poll field and within the marketing campaign coffers.

On Tuesday, Democrats swept each key race within the 2025 off-year elections by larger-than-expected margins. They did so with the complete backing of gun-control advocates, who managed to outspend gun-rights advocates by an enormous margin. The highest gun-control group even outspent the highest gun-rights group in essentially the most hotly contested election by 55-to-one.

Maine produced the end result that’s most instantly telling for gun coverage, with voters overwhelmingly passing a brand new “Purple Flag” regulation through poll measure. Virginia’s blue wave additionally has implications for gun coverage within the state, because it allowed Democrats to seize full management of the state authorities for the primary time since 2019. Comparable Democratic success in New Jersey can have much less of an affect because the state was already triple blue, but it surely retains the political dynamics which have led to among the tightest gun restrictions within the nation.

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Evaluation: What the 2025 Elections Imply for Gun Coverage [Member Exclusive]By Stephen Gutowski

Democrats simply swept to victory in convincing trend throughout the off-year contests in a number of states.

On Tuesday, Maine voted for a “Purple Flag” regulation. Virginia gave Democrats complete management of the state authorities. New Jersey retained its Democratic trifecta. Not one of the contests had been significantly shut.

However what does all of it imply for gun homeowners?

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Maine Voters Overwhelmingly Approve ‘Purple Flag’ Regulation Poll MeasureBy Jake Fogleman

Gun-control advocates in Maine have a brand new cause to have fun following the 2025 off-year election.

Pine-Tree State voters formally authorized poll Query 2 Tuesday evening by a margin of 62 % to 38 %, based on the Related Press. The measure will broaden the authority of state authorities to quickly confiscate firearms from folks deemed a menace to themselves or others, within the type of a so-called pink flag order.

“Do you wish to permit courts to quickly prohibit an individual from having harmful weapons if regulation enforcement, household, or family members present that the particular person poses a big hazard of inflicting bodily damage to themselves or others?” the query offered to voters learn. “Sure,” gained.

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After Glock Redesign, Main Gun-Management Group Calls on Ruger to Discontinue Fashionable PistolBy Stephen Gutowski

Everytown for Gun Security desires Ruger to be the following main gun maker to drop its marquee pistol from the market, following Glock’s resolution to take action final month.

On Monday, the gun-control group despatched a letter to Ruger telling the corporate to drag the RXM pistol from manufacturing. Everytown claimed that as a result of the RXM pistol makes use of a set off design that’s much like the Glock fashions at challenge, it’s as straightforward to illegally modify into firing in full-auto. It mentioned Ruger ought to both discontinue the RXM, as Glock just lately confirmed it’s doing with its pistols, or change the set off design.

“Ruger faces a alternative following Glock’s latest announcement: Will it proceed to distribute and promote the RXM regardless of the proof of its ease of convertibility to an unlawful machine gun, or will it put public security first?” Eric Tirschwell, Everytown’s chief litigation counsel, wrote to Ruger. “To make sure that Ruger doesn’t exacerbate the alarming proliferation of lethal DIY machine weapons throughout American cities and states, we urge you to take the one accountable plan of action and take away the Ruger RXM from the market until and till you modify the pistol’s design.”

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Podcast: Scholar Who Helped Form SCOTUS View on Weapons Dissects Its Newest 2A CircumstancesBy Stephen Gutowski

This week, we’re taking a big-picture view of the Supreme Courtroom’s upcoming slate of Second Modification circumstances.

So, to debate what we should always make of this Supreme Courtroom time period, we’ve received Independence Institute analysis director David Kopel again on the present. He is among the main students within the gun-rights motion, and his work helped develop and legitimize the person proper principle of the Second Modification. He has been cited in quite a few Supreme Courtroom gun opinions and is an odd-on favourite to be quoted once more this 12 months.

You possibly can hearken 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 focus on the nation’s largest gun-control group taking a victory lap after Glock introduced modifications to the design of its well-liked pistols. We speak in regards to the reputational dangers for Glock in showing to bow to strain from gun-control teams and progressive lawmakers. We additionally cowl a latest courtroom ruling out of Florida the place a state decide struck down a regulation setting 21 because the minimal age to legally carry a handgun.

Audio right here. Video right here.

Evaluation: The Adjustments Gun-Rights Teams Need in DOJ’s Rights Restoration Plan [Member Exclusive]By Jake Fogleman

The Trump Administration earned plaudits from gun-rights advocates for reviving the long-dormant gun-rights restoration course of on the Division of Justice (DOJ). However those self same advocates wish to see the administration go additional.

The general public remark interval for the DOJ’s proposal to restart the appliance course of for prohibited individuals to have their Second Modification rights reinstated closed final Monday. The administration’s plan drew greater than 3,400 feedback because it was first unveiled in July. Included in that complete had been formal remark letters from many of the nation’s outstanding gun-rights organizations, together with the Nationwide Rifle Affiliation (NRA), the Second Modification Basis (SAF), Gun Homeowners of America (GOA), and the Nationwide Affiliation for Gun Rights (NAGR).

Whereas all of the teams commented in assist of the proposed rule and reiterated their appreciation for the administration’s pursuit of a rights restoration coverage, they every additionally recognized a number of perceived deficiencies within the proposal and implored the company to broaden its pool of potential beneficiaries.

Listed here are among the areas the teams flagged as needing enchancment.

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Exterior The Reload

New Jersey Cops Took His Weapons As a result of They Had been Fearful About His Spouse’s Psychological Well being | Motive | By Jacob Sullum

Oregon Supreme Courtroom hears oral arguments in Measure 114 case | Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Shaanth Nanguneri

LA County Sheriff settles lawsuit over delays in hid carry permits | Courthouse Information Service | By Edvard Pettersson

US airmen plead responsible to false statements in taking pictures that suspended Sig Sauer M18 use | AP | By Mead Gruver

Goal Taking pictures Might Be Inflicting Mind Accidents. We Measured the Hazard. | New York Instances | By Thomas Gibbons-Neff, Dave Philipps and Jeremy White

NRA furloughs employees because it prepares to rebuild forward of 2026 | Washington Submit | By Beth Reinhard

That’s it for this week in weapons.

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

I’ll see you all subsequent week.

Thanks,Stephen GutowskiFounderThe Reload