Back in 2013, a lot of attention focused on a Third Amendment claim against Henderson, Nevada police officers. I wrote about the case here. The Third Amendment, which forbids the “quartering” of “soldiers” in private homes without the owner’s consent, is often the butt of jokes because it is so rarely litigated. But in this case, a Nevada family claimed that local police had violated the Amendment by forcibly occupying their home in order to gain a “tactical advantage” against suspected criminals in the neighboring house.

In this recent ruling, federal district court Judge Andrew Gordon dismissed the Third Amendment claim [HT: VC reader Sean Flaim]. Although it occurred several weeks ago, the ruling seems to have gotten very little attention from either the media or legal commentators outside Nevada. That is unfortunate, because the ruling raises important issues about the scope of the Third Amendment, and its applicability against state and local governments. Here are the key passages from the opinion

The director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is stepping down following controversy surrounding the agency’s proposal to ban certain types of ammunition.

The ATF announced Friday that Director B. Todd Jones is resigning at the end of the month “to pursue other opportunities in the private sector."

“ATF employees are hard-working, dedicated individuals who serve the public to make our nation safer every day,” Jones said in a statement. “I have seen firsthand their extraordinary commitment to combating violent crime, ridding the streets of criminals, and leveraging all available resources to keep our communities safe

The game generated controversy over a mission that requires players to use torture equipment in a hostage interrogation.[187] It became subject to widespread online debate over its portrayal of women, particularly in the wake of backlash against GameSpot journalist Carolyn Petit after she claimed the game was misogynistic in her review.[188] Television personality Karen Gravano and actress Lindsay Lohan have both filed lawsuits against Rockstar in allegation that characters in the game were based off their likenesses.[189][190] Australian department store, Target, pulled the game from their 300 stores following a Change.org petition against depictions of violence toward women in the game.[191] A short time later, Kmart also removed copies of the game from all their stores.

Notice to those Commenting on the Armor Piercing Ammunition Exemption Framework

Thank you for your interest in ATF's proposed framework for determining whether certain projectiles are “primarily intended for sporting purposes” within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(17)(C). The informal comment period will close on Monday, March 16, 2015. ATF has already received more than 80,000 comments, which will be made publicly available as soon as practicable.

Although ATF endeavored to create a proposal that reflected a good faith interpretation of the law and balanced the interests of law enforcement, industry, and sportsmen, the vast majority of the comments received to date are critical of the framework, and include issues that deserve further study. Accordingly, ATF will not at this time seek to issue a final framework. After the close of the comment period, ATF will process the comments received, further evaluate the issues raised therein, and provide additional open and transparent process (for example, through additional proposals and opportunities for comment) before proceeding with any framework.

WASHINGTON -

Just seven months ago, D.C. was the only place in the country that did not allow anyone to legally carry a gun outside the home. A federal court ruled that violated the Second Amendment. So now, the police department is issuing carry permits to a few people.

I have been doing a series to show how the nation's capital has abided by the federal court ruling.

To remind you of the background, the City Council passed a law in the fall that allowed for handguns to be carried in public, but the bar was set very high for a permit. You have to prove you have so-called special dangers -- specific and current threats against you or your property.

Any day now, the judge will rule on whether the city is in contempt of court for writing a new law that is still unconstitutional

The new generation of “maker” tools like 3-D printers and milling machines promises to let anyone make virtually anything—from prosthetic limbs to firearms—in the privacy and convenience of his or her own home. But first, those tools have to get to customers’ homes. That’s going to be difficult for at least one new machine with the potential to make homemade firearms, because FedEx is refusing to deliver it.

Last week FedEx told firearm-access nonprofit Defense Distributed that the company refuses to ship the group’s new tool, a computer controlled (CNC) mill known as the Ghost Gunner. Defense Distributed has marketed its one-foot-cubed $1,500 machine, which allows anyone to automatically carve aluminum objects from digital designs, as an affordable, private way to make an AR-15 rifle body without a serial number. Add in off-the-shelf parts that can be ordered online, and the Ghost Gunner would allow anyone to create one of the DIY, untraceable, semi-automatic firearms sometimes known as “ghost guns.”

OCOEE, Fla. -

There was a chaotic scene at an Ocoee movie theater, after deputies said hundreds of teens stormed the building, trying to get in for free.

Deputies told Local 6 it happened Saturday night at the AMC Theater at the West Oaks Mall.


Investigators said up to 900 middle and high school students tried storming the theater.

Deputies said about 200 students were able to get inside the building before the security gates were closed.

&quot It's) a big concern to us that are juveniles are doing this at such an early age," said Orange County Sheriff's Office Lt. Paul Hopkins.

Investigators said as the crowd was being taken from the area, several fights broke out in the parking lot.

Gunfire could be heard at one point and someone was robbed.

"Everybody just started scattering, ducking underneath the seats," said movie-goer Kenny Johnson. "It was a scary moment."

"These are middle to high school kids who have guns, who are shooting guns, are robbing people, driving stolen cars and they have drugs in their cars," Hopkins said.

Grammy Awards 2015: Kanye West Slams Beck's Win Over Beyonce


"All I know is if the Grammys want real artists to keep coming back, they need to stop playing with us. We ain't gonna play with them no more. 'Flawless,' Beyoncé video. Beck needs to respect artistry and he should have given his award to Beyoncé, and at this point, we tired of it," West said, with his wife Kim Kardashian at his side.

He continued, "Because what happens is, when you keep on diminishing art and not respecting the craft and smacking people in the face after they deliver monumental feats of music, you're disrespectful to inspiration and we as musicians have to inspire people who go to work every day and they listen to that Beyoncé album and they feel like it takes them to another place."

West was not happy that Beck's album "Morning Phase" beat out Beyonce's for the big Grammy win. He continued to rant about what he considers a slight to a better album. But he said the only reason he didn't "really" interrupt Beck was his family.

"Then they do this whole promotional event, they'll run the music over somebody's speech, the artist, because they want commercial advertising. Like, no, we not playing with them no more. By the way, I got my wife, my daughter and my clothing line, so I'm not going to do nothing to put my daughter at risk but I am here to fight for creativity. That's the reason why I didn't say anything tonight. But you all know what it meant when 'Ye walks on the stage," he said.