Newsletter 1-17-25

Good morning, friends. It’s Friday, January 17th, 2025, and today’s Newsletter covers a variety of topics we think you'll find interesting. Let’s take a look:

🔫 Smith & Wesson goes back to basics
S&W releases “no lock” Classic Models 10, 19, and 36, marking a nostalgic return for enthusiasts.

⚖️ Cook County defies court over gun tax
Illinois county officials blatantly disregard a court order to cease unconstitutional gun and ammo taxation, sparking legal battles.

🛡️ Second Amendment win in Pennsylvania
Young adults gain rights to openly carry firearms during emergencies as SAF prevails in a major legal case.

📉 FBI deletes malware in U.S. computers
A victory against cyber threats as the FBI removes Chinese PlugX malware from thousands of American networks.

🏭 Anduril's autonomous weapons factory
The company announces a gigafactory in Columbus, Ohio, to bolster U.S. defense production by 2026.

Also:

• New modular Staccato pistols with Glock magazine compatibility
• Senate pushes back against ATF import restrictions
• Armed LA residents patrol against looters during wildfires

Let's get into it...

S&W Releases Model 10, Model 19, and Model 36 "No Lock" Classic Models

In Short: S&W announced the release of "no lock" Model 10, Model 19, and Model 36 Classic revolvers yesterday. The new no lock models represent the end of an era for Smith & Wesson, who only agreed to add the "safety locks" to their revolvers under duress after being heavily coerced by the anti-gun Clinton administration of the 1990s.

RevolverGuy has an excellent write-up on the lesser-known history of these locks. I would encourage you to read the whole thing, but here is a relevant excerpt:

...the Clinton assault on guns and gun owners was not complete. In an effort to place even more pressure on the industry, the President directed his Secretary for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to muscle the major firearms manufacturers into signing agreements that would place more restrictions on firearms commerce. To entice cooperation, HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo (the same Cuomo who, as Governor, would later use extra-legal measures to force the unconstitutional “SAFE Act” through the New York legislature in an after-hours, “emergency” session in January 2013) arranged for several municipalities to drop their product-liability lawsuits against firearms manufacturers who participated in the agreement.  Although the municipalities stood little chance of winning the frivolous suits, they knew that mounting a defense would be prohibitively costly for the small firearms companies they brought to court with taxpayer money.  The suits were simply designed to cripple the firearms industry through litigation, so Cuomo’s promise of relief was a compelling offer.

The rest of the industry–most notably, arch-rivals Beretta and Glock–rejected the effort, but British-owned Smith & Wesson agreed, in exchange for: Promises of favorable treatment on municipal (at least fifteen cities signed, including Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, St. Louis, and San Francisco), state,  and federal firearms contracts; The promise that they would not be sued by the Attorneys General of New York and Connecticut, and;  Being dropped as a defendant in many of the 30  existing municipal lawsuits.

The “HUD Agreement” was signed on March 17, 2000 between Smith & Wesson and the Departments of the Treasury and Housing and Urban Development. The terms of the agreement were both oppressive and extensive, requiring changes in technology, handgun “safety” features, product testing, sales and distribution agreements, records reporting to BATFE, advertising, and consumer purchase restrictions. The agreement mandated investment in “smart gun” technology, prohibited S&W from manufacturing new designs that could accommodate grandfathered magazines (under the new Clinton ban) that held more than 10 rounds, pressured dealers to share more of their sales records with BATFE than the law required, mandated magazine disconnects and loaded chamber indicators, mandated a dealers “Code of Conduct” that required (in part) background checks on every transaction (even when not required by law), mandated a prohibition on persons under 18 in gun stores without an adult being present, and limited handgun sales to one every two weeks, among a long list of other requirements.

The agreement also required an internal locking device on all guns sold by Smith & Wesson within 24 months.

Read the full history:

The new revolvers are listed on the S&W website for an MSRP between $849 and $1099.

LAWLESS: Illinois County Defies Court, Vows to Continue Collecting Gun & Ammo Tax

In Short: Cook County, Illinois, is blatantly defying court rulings, including one from the Illinois Supreme Court, by continuing to collect unconstitutional taxes on guns and ammunition despite orders to cease.

• The legal battle, led by the gun rights group Guns Save Life, spanned over 10 years and culminated in a 2021 Illinois Supreme Court decision citing violations of the Illinois State Constitution's Uniformity Clause.
• Cook County attempted to amend the taxing ordinance and sought to dismiss the case, but a Cook County Circuit Judge finally issued a summary judgment in favor of Guns Save Life on January 10th, 2025, as directed by the Illinois Supreme Court.
• County officials have explicitly stated they intend to continue taxing gun and ammunition sales, disregarding the court mandate to cease such collections.
• This situation underscores a broader concern regarding adherence to the rule of law in Cook County and signals potential continued legal conflict.

Jump to Source:

Carlos Guevara Appointed to NSSF Board of Governors

In Short: Carlos Guevara, Vice President and General Counsel of GLOCK, Inc., has been appointed to the NSSF Board of Governors, bringing extensive legal, operational, and leadership expertise to support the firearm industry.

• With over two decades of experience at GLOCK, Guevara oversees several key operations, including legal compliance, HR, marketing, media relations, and finance, among others.
• Guevara began his career at GLOCK in 1999 as Import/Export Department Manager and was promoted to General Counsel in 2006, eventually becoming Vice President in 2012.
• Joe Bartozzi, NSSF President and CEO, praised Guevara’s expertise in law, operations, and strategy, emphasizing the value he brings to the firearm industry and the board.

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SAF Wins Challenge to Pennsylvania Carry Ban for Young Adults

In Short: The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) secured a victory for young adults aged 18-20 in Pennsylvania as the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 to prevent state police from arresting them for openly carrying firearms during a declared state of emergency.

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Staccato HD: New 2011 Pistols with Glock Magazine Compatibility

In Short: Staccato has launched the Staccato HD series, a new line of 2011 pistols developed with elite users in mind, featuring modular designs, compatibility with Glock-pattern magazines, ambidextrous controls, and advanced optics mounting, available with prices starting at $2,499.

Key Details:

• Features include fully ambidextrous controls, forward thumb indexing points, and an updated HOST optic system.
• The Staccato P4, priced at $2,499, includes a 4-inch barrel and is compatible with all full-size Glock magazines.
• The upcoming Staccato P4.5, at $2,699, offers a 4.5-inch DLC barrel with a sight block for reduced recoil.

Jump to Source: Staccato HD: New 2011 Pistols with Glock Magazine Compatibility

Senators Marshall, Risch Lead Bill to Block ATF’s Ability to Deny Firearm, Ammunition Imports

In Short: Senators Marshall and Risch have introduced legislation aimed at preventing the ATF from restricting the importation of firearms and ammunition.

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145 House Dems vote against bill to deport migrants who commit sexual assault

In Short: A House-passed bipartisan bill to deport illegal immigrants convicted of sex crimes faced opposition from over 140 Democrats, who argued it could harm domestic abuse victims and broaden definitions of domestic violence, while Republicans criticized the dissent as prioritizing criminals over public safety.

• The House passed a bill, introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., to deport illegal immigrants convicted of sex crimes, with a bipartisan vote of 274 to 145; all 145 opposing votes came from Democrats.
• Opponents, including Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., claim the bill could harm victims of domestic abuse, dissuade crime reporting, and align with mass deportation strategies criticized by progressives.
• The legislation also deems illegal immigrants inadmissible if they admit to or are convicted of sex-related charges or domestic violence offenses.

Jump to Source:

Anduril Picks Columbus For First Gigafactory With Production To Start Mid-2026

In Short: Anduril Industries is building its first large-scale production facility in Columbus, Ohio, to produce autonomous systems and weapons, aiming to address America's pressing defense manufacturing needs by mid-2026.

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FBI forces Chinese malware to delete itself from thousands of US computers

In Short: The FBI successfully removed Chinese state-sponsored PlugX malware from thousands of U.S. computers by utilizing its built-in self-delete function, learned from a French law enforcement agency.

• The FBI successfully removed Chinese malware from 4,258 US-based computers and networks by activating the malware's built-in "self-delete" function.
• The malware, a variant of PlugX, was developed by the Mustang Panda group, which was funded by the People's Republic of China to target US, European, and Asian entities, as well as Chinese dissident groups, since at least 2014.
• A French law enforcement agency discovered a method to remotely remove the malware by accessing a command-and-control server capable of sending "self-delete" commands to infected systems.

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US Government To Release Half Its Bitcoin Intended for Trump’s Strategic Reserve

In Short: The U.S. government plans to return a significant portion of seized bitcoin from the Bitfinex hack, impacting Donald Trump's proposed strategic bitcoin reserve, while discussions around legislation for large-scale bitcoin purchases signal potential bullish momentum for the cryptocurrency.

• The U.S. government plans to return 94,643 BTC, worth $9.4 billion, stolen in the 2016 Bitfinex hack, significantly impacting the proposed strategic Bitcoin reserve.
• Donald Trump has pledged to hold seized Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset if re-elected, but returning the stolen BTC would reduce the reserve by nearly 48%, leaving 103,466 BTC.
• The return of the stolen Bitcoin to Bitfinex would alleviate downward pressure on Bitcoin’s price, as the court order specifies the coins must be returned in-kind rather than sold for cash.
• Growing institutional demand and potential government purchases could drive Bitcoin prices higher, especially with only 450 new BTC mined daily, leading to reduced supply and increased market pressure.

Jump to Source: US Government To Release Half Its Bitcoin Intended for Trump’s Strategic Reserve

Armed LA Residents Patrol Neighborhoods In Violation Of Evacuation Orders

In Short: Armed residents in Los Angeles County are defying evacuation orders to guard their neighborhoods against looters and fire flareups, citing distrust in overwhelmed authorities and a need to protect their homes and community.

• Looters, described as brazen and opportunistic, have targeted properties in fire-affected areas, with residents reporting attempts by large groups trying to break into homes.
• Residents like wealth-management firm president Ross Gerber and Altadena resident EveAnna Manley have armed themselves, coordinated neighborhood patrols, and established communication networks like WhatsApp for collective protection.
• The residents, calling themselves "the stayers," are not only defending against looters but are also monitoring for fire flare-ups, sharing resources, and maintaining mutual aid efforts within their neighborhoods.

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