Liz Writes Life
February 3, 2021
Right to bear arms
Currently, we live in a society that is loudly divided. I don’t have to tell you this. So, it is with care that I am going to talk about guns. Owning guns is still protected through the United States Bill of Rights and I believe that we need to be vigilant and support our 2nd Amendment rights. So, I will share several issues happening around guns.
The NRA, National Rifle Association, is a politically influential gun-rights group. It is headquartered in Virginia, but the NRA was chartered as a nonprofit in New York in 1871 and is incorporated in that state. Yep, that is right -- 150 years ago.
Over the years, NRA has weathered many attacks -- some even from within the organization. But, its goal is to advocate for U.S. citizens’ 2nd Amendment rights. Through the years, NRA has equally advocated respect for firearms and educational training. More than 125,000 certified instructors now train about 1 million gun owners each year in a variety of courses that start with basic training.
The most recent threat to NRA is that its home state of New York has filed a lawsuit to dissolve the non-profit.
Last August, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against the NRA claiming top executives illegally diverted millions of dollars for lavish personal trips and other questionable expenditures.
I have watched these accusations play out in headlines in recent years and I am frustrated when any organization’s leaders seem to take advantage of its members’ donated monies. I also know there are lots of accusations that may not be true. No one is perfect and after internal reorganizing, the NRA has a new president who is Carolyn Meadows.
Meadows claims the newest lawsuit against the NRA is an “unhinged and political attack.” Yep, politics and opinions about guns are strong on both sides.
In response to the newest lawsuit, NRA filed for bankruptcy last month. It is seeking relief through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Northern District of Texas. The group is planning to re-incorporate in Texas. The NRA’s website says that its decision to file for bankruptcy has nothing to do with its financial position, but is the result of the New York Attorney General’s present lawsuit.
NRA claims that it is in a good financial position -- actually better than ever.
Many citizens are concerned about current and potential political regulations that threaten the ownership of guns. As a result, gun ownership has increased along with support of groups like the NRA. Many new gun owners also feel the need for protection.
What I find interesting is the changing attitude regarding firearms during the last 150 years. In 1871, New York was the state where the NRA felt safe. Now it wants to move to Texas, where there are more than 400,000 NRA members and is considered a pro-2nd Amendment state. In the 21st century, a negative attitude about gun ownership is expounded in New York.
I just wanted to share information around the NRA bankruptcy. The organization is not going away.
Warrantless searches
The Gun Owners of California announced it has joined the 2nd Amendment Law Center and the California Rifle and Pistol Association in filing an Amicus (Friend of the Court) brief that will be heard by the Supreme Court of the United States regarding the use of warrantless searches.
Back in November 2020, SCOTUS agreed to hear a 4th Amendment case called Caniglia v Strom that will have a direct and significant bearing on the 2nd Amendment. Police used the principle of “community caretaking” to enter the home of Edward Caniglia and then seized and confiscated his firearms without a warrant.
Sam Paredes, Executive Director of Gun Owners of California, said the government has argued in both District and Appellate courts that the doctrine of “community caretaking” outweighs the 4th Amendment prohibitions against warrantless searches, seizures and the intrusion on individual privacy.
“If this dangerous concept is not stopped by SCOTUS, the notion of granting the government ‘community caretaking’ authority that extends to the home has the potential of putting ‘Red Flag Laws’ on steroids,” Paredes further explained.
Warrants are a sticky situation. Yes, law enforcement certainly needs the ability to obtain a warrant. Yet, citizens fear the government will at some time try to confiscate our legally-owned guns. Finding a balance is important.
Bear hunting ban
Last, but not least, a new bill has been introduced by San Francisco Democrat, Senator Scott Weiner, that would ban black bear hunting in California. The bill has not yet passed through the legislature. It is Senate Bill 252 called “The Bear Protection Act” and is sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States.
It was back in 2013, when the use of hounds to hunt bears was banned. Since then, the bear population has continued to increase and is now estimated at around 40,000 in California.
For those of us that live in rural areas this new bill will be a travesty. Ironically, society in general likes bears until they break into their homes, garbage cans and or kill their livestock or pets. In my observance, using hunting to manage the bear overpopulation is much more humane than allowing starvation and disease to take its toll.
Re-locating bears to a different area is also a travesty as it upsets the balance of predators and prey that has been established in that area.
Hunting and the use of guns is the most humane way to manage most animal populations and hunting tag fees provide funding for wildlife managers to do their job.
May there be much more understanding resulting in peace for all.
Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Columns from the past can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.
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