Archive for 2025

Analysis and Rebuttal: Washington Supreme Court Opinion in State v. Gator’s Custom Guns, Inc.

Overview of the Opinion The Washington Supreme Court’s opinion in State v. Gator’s Custom Guns, Inc. (No. 102940-3, decided May 8, 2025) upholds the constitutionality of ESSB 5078, a Washington law banning the manufacture, import, distribution, or sale of large capacity magazines (LCMs), defined as ammunition feeding devices capable of holding more than 10 rounds. The majority reverses a superior…read more →

10 May, 2025

California Entertainment Firearms Permit Guide

What is the California Entertainment Firearms Permit? The California Entertainment Firearms Permit is a license issued by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Firearms under California Penal Code Section 29500 et seq.. It authorizes individuals, such as prop masters or armorers, to receive temporary transfers of firearms and blank ammunition from licensed dealers or prop houses for use…read more →

10 May, 2025

David Souter: The Quiet Justice Who Defied Expectations

When David Souter, a soft-spoken New Hampshire judge, was nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, conservatives cheered. Here was a man who seemed the perfect fit: a reserved, bookish jurist with a thin paper trail, poised to cement a reliable conservative vote. But appearances can deceive. Souter, who passed away on May 9,…read more →

9 May, 2025

Certificate of Eligibility: What Is It and Why Would You Need One?

In the context of U.S. firearm laws, a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is a critical document primarily used in California to verify an individual’s legal eligibility to purchase, possess, or handle firearms or ammunition under both state and federal regulations. Issued by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Firearms, the COE serves as a formal clearance that confirms…read more →

9 May, 2025
The Little-Known Benefits of Being a California Firearms Consultant-Evaluator & Step-by-Step Guide For Compliance

The Little-Known Benefits of Being a California Firearms Consultant-Evaluator & Step-by-Step Guide For Compliance

In California, the term “consultant-evaluator” in the context of firearm laws refers to a consultant or evaluator who, in the course of their profession, is loaned firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer for research or evaluation purposes and holds a current Certificate of Eligibility (COE) issued pursuant to California Penal Code section 26710. These individuals are granted specific exemptions…read more →

8 May, 2025
The Great California DOJ Guide Debacle: A 24-Year Revision Comedy

The Great California DOJ Guide Debacle: A 24-Year Revision Comedy

Oh, California Department of Justice (DOJ), you absolute legends of procrastination, you’ve done it again! It’s 2025, and your Assault Weapons Identification Guide—that dusty relic from November 2001—is still the belle of the ball, strutting its stuff on your website like a time traveler who forgot the future exists. With a cheeky note proclaiming it’s “currently under revision” since, oh,…read more →

7 May, 2025

California Dealer Guide: California DOJ Bureau of Firearms Audit and Inspection

Overview The California Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Firearms (BOF) is authorized under the California Penal Code to conduct audits and inspections of licensed California Firearms Dealers (CFDs) to ensure compliance with state firearms laws (Penal Code § 26700 et seq.). This guide outlines the BOF’s limited authority, the specific records they may inspect, best practices for facilitating a…read more →

6 May, 2025

Alec Baldwin’s Rust Bombs at the Box Office: The Rust Controversy and the Need for Firearms Law and Safety Expertise in Film Production

The much-anticipated release of Rust, a Western drama starring Alec Baldwin, stumbled out of the gate with a dismal box office performance. According to Box Office Mojo, Alec Baldwin’s controversial movie Rust had an abysmal opening weekend, where it made just $217 per screen on the few screens that displayed the film. The western flick opened at just 115 theaters, making…read more →

5 May, 2025

White Paper: Why The Good Cause Requirement for Assault Weapon Possession is Illegal

Executive Summary The California Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Firearms, requires a “good cause” finding for permits to possess assault weapons under 11 CCR § 4128(a), as implemented by 11 CCR §§ 4130–4137. This brief article is not a comprehensive study of the myriad of reasons that the “good cause” provision for possession of “assault weapons” is illegal. Rather,…read more →

3 May, 2025
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