Brian McCombie

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) recently announced that it had made $100,000 in “Challenge Grants” available to encourage and improve shooting sports programs at local Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Councils.

As the Wall Street Journal recently reported, “Despite the political furor surrounding them, gun shows have little to no effect on murders or suicides in the places where they occur, a new study finds — at least in the weeks immediate following the shows. And the finding holds whether or not the gun shows conduct background checks.”

As the Army Times recently reported, the Army’s newest sniper rifle, the XM2010, has done very well for itself in the Afghanistan theater of operations—so well, it appeared the Army was ready to make the XM2010 its chief sniper rifle.

The Connecticut Legislature was considering a bill that would have outlawed larger-capacity magazines holding ten rounds or better. That bill recently died in committee, and gun owners were a big reason why.

The U.S. Army, among others, has been using ammunition made from tungsten alloy metals in an attempt to find a “green,” non-lead ammunition. It looks like the search may just have to continue, based on research recently published in the scientific journal Chemical Research in Toxicology.

Starting this April 1, Pennsylvania shooters who want to use a public shooting range on State Game Lands must have a $30 range use permit, unless they already hold a Pennsylvania hunting or trapping license.

In Mascoutah, Illinois, the Caseyville Rifle and Pistol Club has been in a six-year legal battle with St. Clair County, which was determined to close the range and appropriate the land. Recently, the Club had a big win, when the 5th District Appellate Court in Mount Vernon ruled that the County must pay $42,221 to the Club for its legal fees.

A California State Senate Committee has been considering a proposal to give a concealed carry permit to, “any applicant who is a member of Congress, a statewide elected official or a Member of the Legislature.” These elected officials could carry a gun, “for purposes of protection or self-defense.”