This Week on Gun Talk Radio – Microstamping Controversy
OutdoorHub 01.23.14
Will the requirement for microstamping mean the end of semi-automatic pistols in California? That’s what the CEO of the largest gun company in the country predicts in an interview airing this Sunday on Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk radio show. Mike Fifer, CEO of Ruger Firearms, joins Smith & Wesson’s Paul Pluff, as well as Alan Gottlieb, of the Second Amendment Foundation, to discuss California’s requirement that semi-autos on its list of approved-for-sale guns must feature an untried “ballistic fingerprinting” technology that is, in fact, blocking the sale of those guns.
“This is a serious issue,” said show host Tom Gresham. “Microstamping appears to be impossible to put into use, so the effect is that gun companies cannot put their pistols on the roster of guns approved for sale in the state.”
Fifer put it more bluntly, saying, “My prediction is within a year or two, they’re all gone. Everything’s off the list. There have been no new guns submitted and passed since the implementation of microstamping back in May of 2013. Not one.”
Both Ruger and Smith & Wesson are unable to get any new guns approved by California, and even worse, if a gun which is on the list is altered or improved in any way, it must be re-submitted for approval, and at that point it must have microstamping technology included, which has proved to be impossible, according to those companies.
The Second Amendment Foundation and the Calguns Foundation filed suit several years ago to challenge the entire roster of what California calls “not unsafe” guns, and recently added microstamping to its suit. According to SAF founder Alan Gottlieb, they have made significant progress, and the latest news that Ruger and S&W will be unable to have their pistols approved reinforces the suit’s claim that the roster, itself, is a violation of the Second Amendment rights of California citizens. That lawsuit is Ivan Pena, et. al v. Steven Lindley. (http://bit.ly/1dYP9hw). Lead attorney is Alan Gura, who argued the Heller and McDonald cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Also appearing on Gun Talk this Sunday is Max Michel, many-time speed shooting and national champion of USPSA and Steel Championship titles, and Sig Sauer team captain, to talk training and what’s coming up for him in the new year, ().
Michigan Open Carry’s Phillip Hofmeister, also visits this Sunday to discuss a $600,000 federal lawsuit filed by a citizen who was stopped by the police and held at gun point because he was carrying a firearm openly, which is not prohibited in Michigan. That encounter was captured on the police officer’s dash cam. Read more here: http://bit.ly/19j7A0x.
And don’t forget to enter to win with Timney Triggers! The Grand Prize winner will receive a $750 gift certificate to TimneyTriggers.com. And each week, ten first place winners will receive a Timney Triggers tension scale. Enter at http://www.guntalk.com/win through January 31st!
