By Tanya Metaksa
What’s New—California: The Senate Public Safety Committee has three bills scheduled for June 16 and the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on June 23 on AB2047; Delaware: SB 300: is before the full House for a vote; Massachusetts: A provision in the budget bill, H.5377, ending the ban on Sunday hunting was removed by Democrats; Michigan: Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed a second executive order establishing the Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force; New Hampshire: The legislature adjourned; two bills on their way to Gov. Kelly Ayotte: HB1279 and HB1365; New York: Governor Kathy Hochul signed S.9005c; Rhode Island: The legislature adjourned on June 12. No anti-Second Amendment bills became law;
Vermont: The Vermont legislature adjourned. Politics: June 16, 2026, runoff election in Georgia—vote Lt. Governor Burt Jones for Governor on the Republican ballot; Leaving Virginia
State Legislatures
California: The California legislature still manages to produce anti-Second Amendment legislation that surprises everyone. The Senate Public Safety Committee has three bills scheduled for June 16.
AB1743: A bill to expand information on firearms to any “not-for-profit “postsecondary educational institution to be used for research. This bill was obviously written by the anti-gun lobby. and it will be used by them to not only produce anti-Second Amendment research. I predict that we will see more personal firearms ownership data become publicly available from this state database.
AB1753: Adds severability to the protective orders of California’s Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) and adds ammunition under the same codes.
AB1810: Adds new requirements for oversight of licensed firearms dealers by adding mandatory removal for dealers who fail to meet licensure requirements, and allows removal for those who fail to remedy inspection violations within 90 days.
AB2047: The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on June 23 on AB2047, which prohibits the sale or transfer of 3-dimensional printers unless equipped with “firearm blueprint detection algorithms,” designed to detect and prevent the printing of known firearm blueprint designs. It also creates a database of all certified manufacturers of 3-D printers to be listed on the California Department of Justice’s website. Not only does this impinge on Second Amendment rights, but it also raises concerns regarding First Amendment rights.
Delaware:SB300, this bill, nicknamed the FFL Killer bill, aims to strengthen restrictions on gun retailers, by
Imposing new, more burdensome requirements on gun stores—such as advanced surveillance cameras, video storage, and more—will likely force them to either raise their prices significantly or close down. It was passed by the House Administration Committee and is now headed to the full House for a vote. Michigan: Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed a second executive order creating the Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.
Massachusetts: A provision in the budget bill, H.5377, ending the ban on Sunday hunting, expanding access to more hunting lands, and allowing crossbow hunting was removed by Democrats. Will Governor Maura Healey try to reinsert them before final passage?
Michigan: Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed a second executive order establishing the Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.
New Hampshire: The legislature adjourned, but not before two bills were headed to Governor Kelly Ayotte’s desk: HB1279 enhances self-defense laws by allowing the use of force in defense of third parties as an affirmative defense, and HB1365 expands privacy protections for license-to-carry applicants by removing requirements for references or employment information.
New York: Governor Kathy Hochul signed S.9005c, which not only banned so-called “convertible pistols” but also prohibited the possession of digital files for 3D firearm printing and their components. The legislature adjourned on June 5.
Rhode Island: The legislature adjourned on June 12. No anti-Second Amendment bills became law.
Vermont: The Vermont legislature has adjourned. After the Senate Democrats attempted to add another gun bill, S.239, the House did not consider it, and no restrictive gun bills were passed this session.
Politics
June 16, 2026, runoff election in Georgia
The NRA Political Victory has endorsed current Lt. Governor Burt Jones to become governor. Additionally, President Donald Trump has given a “complete and total” endorsement to Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the 2026 Republican primary for governor.
Georgia demonstrates how gubernatorial control can immediately influence Second Amendment policy on the ground. After passing permitless “constitutional carry” in 2022, Georgia law now allows most eligible adults to carry handguns openly or concealed without a state weapons‑carry license, including in vehicles and many public spaces. In early 2026, the Republican-controlled Senate approved SB204, preempting local gun‑storage ordinances and preventing cities from requiring firearms left in cars to be locked, creating a direct clash between local public safety regulations and a statewide deregulatory Second Amendment approach.
The same session also saw SB 499 advance, removing firearm suppressors from the state’s “dangerous weapons” list and eliminating state‑level penalties for their possession, further pushing pro‑gun policies into the margins of federal law. With Brian Kemp term‑limited and the governorship open, the 2026 race will determine whether future bills of this kind are signed, vetoed, or modified—and whether litigators will fight these issues in a unified, preemptive legal framework or as part of a patchwork of local regulations.
Leaving Virginia
Governments at the local, state, and federal levels dedicate considerable time, money, and effort to ensure that businesses employing their citizens feel welcome in their communities. They often go so far as to offer tax breaks, land rights, and financial incentives. However, Governor Abigail Spanberger’s recent actions tell a different story.
According to a new release by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, “Rideout Arsenal is an American Firearms company focused on innovation, precision engineering, and performance-driven products. From custom firearms and accessories to branded apparel and lifestyle gear, Rideout Arsenal delivers equipment built for reliability, durability, and the modern shooter who demands uncompromising quality.”
According to Editor-in-Chief Dave Workman, writing in thegunmag.com, Travis Rideout, co-founder of Rideout Arsenal, stated, “this relocation was not something we originally planned to pursue. The reality is that recent anti-gun legislation in Virginia created significant uncertainty for our company and ultimately forced us to look for a state where we could continue operating, investing, and growing with confidence. We are excited to bring new jobs and manufacturing investment to Thomas County, GA, and are grateful for the warm welcome we have already received.”
It appears that 120 jobs and substantial revenue are moving from Virginia to Georgia because of bad laws. Almost 30 years ago, when my family was living in California, and they wanted us to retire there, we chose Nevada. California’s gun laws and high taxes were the deciding factors. Freedom wins when a choice is available.
