By Tanya Metaksa
What’s New— Trump Administration kills funding to anti-Second Amendment groups; Federal Legislation: H.R. 3033, Protecting the Mailing of Firearms Act, was introduced on April 28, 2025; H.R.2930. Preserving Rights of Tenants by Ensuring Compliance to the Second Amendment Act, or the PROTECT the Second Amendment Act.; The Assault Weapons Ban of 2025, has been introduced in both the Senate and House; Iowa: HF924 concealed carry expansion was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds; Louisiana: Thursday, May 8th, at 10:00 am, is “gun day” in the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee; Maine: LD 1364 is scheduled for a vote before the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife on May 7; Michigan:SB225 and SB226 could be before The Michigan Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee as soon as this week; North Carolina: The Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, HB38, passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support; Oklahoma: SB500,was passed by the Senate in overwhelming numbers and now goes to Governor Kevin Stitt; Tennessee: SB1318/HB1332 and SB1360/HB873 are on their way to Governor Bill Lee’s desk; Texas: SB706 and SB1596 are awaiting votes in the House and SB1065, is awaiting a vote in the Senate.
Trump Administration DOJ kills funding to Anti-Gun Groups
Second Amendment advocate Mark W. Smith, who has become a great source on information on the Trump Administration’s pro-gun policies, has another video concerning Attorney General Pam Bondi’s efforts to cut millions of dollars in federal grants previously awarded to various gun violence prevention and related nonprofit organizations. It seems that the Giffords organization, a prominent gun control advocacy group headlined by former Representative Gabby Giffords, is particularly upset by these moves, which have been widely reported, including by the Washington Post.
These grants, funded by taxpayer dollars, have supported numerous nonprofits, often with little public awareness of their activities. One of the examples that Smith points out is Community Resources for Justice, a Boston-based group that reportedly lost nearly $37 million in funding, which had been allocated for crime data analysis and similar initiatives. We all are very aware that pro-Second Amendment organizations do not benefit from any federal funding. In fact, pro-Second Amendment groups for the past 50 years has been fighting against a federal bureaucracy that makes us spend immense amounts fighting federal gun initiatives.
The Washington Post reported that approximately 75 grants, totaling over $180 million, were abruptly canceled. Recipients were ordered to cease grant-funded operations immediately, and access to already allocated funds was revoked. The DOJ, under Bondi, defended the cuts as the elimination of “wasteful spending” that did not align with the Trump administration’s priorities.
In his Youtube video Smith notes that the Giffords organization criticized the cuts, claiming they would harm efforts to protect children from gun violence. However, he challenges the statistics often cited about gun violence and children, suggesting that definitions are manipulated to inflate numbers.
Federal Legislation
We have good news and bad news on the Congressional front this week, and I am choosing to start with the good news.
H.R. 3033, Protecting the Mailing of Firearms Act, was introduced on April 28, 2025, by Representative Sheri Biggs (R-SC-03) with 22 co-sponsors. If you have ever tried to ship handguns, parts or ammunition you will appreciated this bill. This legislation seeks to lift the outdated restriction on mailing handguns and ammunition through the United States Postal Service (USPS). We have all witnessed that in recent years, major common carriers have imposed increasingly stringent limitations on shipping firearms, ammunition, and related accessories, often influenced by strong advocacy from Representatives and Senators.
“South Carolinians and Americans across the country deserve leaders who will protect their constitutional rights — not bureaucrats who tie them up with red tape,” said Congresswoman Sheri Biggs. “[The Protecting the Mailing of Firearms Act] restore[s] common sense, stand[s] up for the Second Amendment, and make[s] sure freedom isn’t lost to outdated laws and regulations.”
Biggs continued, “Freedom shouldn’t be…limited by a post office counter. [The Protecting the Mailing of Firearms Act] defend[s] personal liberty, protect[s] small businesses, and make[s] it clear that in America — especially in South Carolina’s 3rd District — we still believe in the Constitution. H.R. 2930, Preserving Rights of Tenants by Ensuring Compliance to the Second Amendment Act, or the PROTECT the Second Amendment Act, was reintroduced by Representative Randy Feenstra. on April 17. This bill would prevent landlords or property managers from denying a tenants’ Second Amendment rights.inpublic housing.
On the bad news side U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D_CA), is losing no time in picking up the torch dropped by Senator Diane Feinstein. The 2025 version of an Assault Weapons ban, appropriately titled The Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 has been introduced with a long list of anti-freedom, anti-Second Amendment Senators. On the House side ithe prime sponsor is non-other than the gun prohibitionists’ darling Lucy McBath (D-GA) .
Map of CC states
You can find a map of how states recognize or honor Right-to-Carry permits here.
State Legislatures
Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming have adjourned. Kansas and Maine are in recess.
Florida: SB952 and companion bill HB6025 have been forwarded to Gov. Ron DeSantis. These bills will protect Second Amendment rights during a state of emergency.
Iowa: HF924 concealed carry expansion was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds.
Louisiana: Thursday, May 8th, at 10:00 am, is “gun day” in the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee. Multiple firearm related bills are scheduled to be heard, including three important pro-gun bills, HB 393, HB 407, and SB 101. Additionally, anti-gun HB 220 will also be heard.
Maine: LD 1364, a bill that seeks to begin the process of banning lead ammunition in Maine, is scheduled for a vote before the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife on May 7.
Michigan:SB225 and SB226 could be before The Michigan Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee as soon as this week. These bills would reduce the places in which citizens could carry firearms. The bill proposes new restrictions on where citizens can carry firearms by expanding gun free zones.
Missouri: On May 1, 2025, the House General laws Committee voted DO Pass on HB726, strengthening firearms preemption laws.
New Hampshire: LD551, a bill to remove licensing of FFLs from local governments, is still awaiting the Senate vote.
North Carolina: The Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, HB38, passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support.
Oklahoma: SB500,was passed by the Senate in overwhelming numbers and now goes to Governor Kevin Stitt. This bill prohibits public entities from entering into contracts with businesses unless they certify that they do not discriminate against firearm businesses.
Tennessee: SB1318/HB1332 sets 18 years of age as the minimum age to apply for a Right-to-Carry Permit, and SB1360/HB873 protects firearm industry members from civil liability actions brought due to the unrelated actions of a third party. These bills are on their way to Governor Bill Lee’s desk.
Texas: TheTexas House Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans’ Affairs advanced two key Pro-Second Amendment bills: SB706, recognizing all out-of-state carry licenses, and SB1596, removing short-barreled rifles and shotguns from Texas’ prohibited weapons list. Both bills await a vote in the Texas House. In the Senate as a result of the 2024 Texas State Fair prohibiting firearms SB1065, a bill that stops the creation of “gun free zones” on public property, is awaiting a vote in the Senate.
