Three U.S. Senators send a threatening letter to manufacturer of scaled AR-15
Senators Markey, Warren, and Blumenthal penned a joint letter threatening Mountain Billy Gun Lab (formerly Wee 1 Tactical) over its scaled, lightweight AR-15 style rifle.
The Senators allege that “the company’s website and social media accounts portray the GOAT-15 series as suitable for training new shooters and ‘family range days,’ with explicit visual depictions of children using the rifles in Instagram videos and posts.”
The letter demands answers from the company on a variety of topics to ensure “compliance with applicable federal laws.” However, it remains unclear whether the company has any duty to respond. The Senators have no legal backing to threaten the manufacturer, especially after California lost two separate court cases challenging its unconstitutional youth firearm marketing laws.
In reality, these Everytown-backed elected officials are launching a cultural attack on teaching safe firearms usage and handling to children. If you’d like to support Mountain Billy Gun Lab, visit them here.
Minnesota Senate passes omnibus firearms bill
Minnesota seems to be fighting for the crown as the state passing the most gun control measures this year, just behind Virginia. Each of these measures represents incremental disarmament through the mechanism of administrative, legal, and financial penalties.
On May 4, the state Senate passed SF 4067, which bans modern sporting rifles, magazines over 17 rounds, home-built firearms, and binary triggers. It also limits self-defense rights and expands red flag laws. The new laws would largely go into effect on July 1, 2027. The 34-33 Senate vote illustrates it is a partisan measure.
In March of this year, legislators floated an “assault weapons” and mag ban measure that is still with the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.
How ATF will loosen restrictions on NFA items that impact us in everyday life
On April 29, the new ATF director, Robert Cekada, signed the “most comprehensive regulatory reform package in the history of the ATF.”
A number of those rules, filed under the “Reduce Burden” category, dramatically change how the ATF regulates suppressors, making life easier for those who own and travel with them. The American Suppressor Association summarized some of the ways these will impact individuals in a May 4 X post:
- No More CLEO Notifications – Applicants will no longer have to share sensitive tax information with local law enforcement, who more often than not didn’t know what to do with that.
- Joint Registration for Spouses – Married couples can legally share access to NFA items with no trust required.
- Easier Interstate Travel – No more notifying the ATF when traveling across state lines with NFA items for less than 365 days. Suppressors were already exempt.
Connecticut “convertible pistol” ban passes Senate, heads to Governor’s desk
On May 6, the Connecticut Senate passed a measure banning the manufacture, sale, importation, and distribution of so-called “convertible pistols” in a contentious overnight session.
It previously passed the House on April 22 and now heads to Governor Ned Lamont for consideration. The governor has publicly stated his support of the bill, adding, “I don’t know why anybody wants to make it easier to take a pistol and turn it into a machine gun.”
There will almost certainly be a legal challenge brought by gun rights advocates.
Pennsylvania advances constitutional carry measure and preemption laws
On May 6, Senate Bill 357 moved swiftly through the Senate Judiciary Committee (9-5).
This measure could make the Keystone State the 30th constitutional carry state. It would not affect previously issued carry permits, and would allow citizens who still wish to obtain a permit in order to carry in other states recognizing Pennsylvania permits to do so. It now goes to the Senate floor for a full vote.
Another significant bill, Senate Bill 822, which would strengthen the Commonwealth’s firearms preemption statute, passed the full Senate in a 30-20 vote. It reinforces state control over gun laws over local governments (cities, counties, townships, etc.).
Democrat Governor Josh Shapiro is unlikely to sign either measure if they pass the House.
Oral argument date set in Brown v. ATF challenge to the NFA
Oral arguments will proceed in June for one of the three major lawsuits brought against the National Firearms Act. Brown v. ATF was filed in August 2025 by a coalition of gun rights organizations to challenge the century-old National Firearms Act (NFA). See our full coverage of the historic lawsuit.
According to an FPC post, the district court has scheduled oral arguments for June 18 at 10 a.m., to be heard before Chief District Judge Stephen R. Clark.
NFA marking requirements rolled back as part of ATF’s new reform package
Everyone is trying to make sense of the 34 rules that ATF Director Robert Cekada signed in the largest reform package in the agency’s history.
Various groups are reviewing the implications, and at least one positive outcome, according to a National Association for Gun Rights analysis, is that current legal markings on firearms will be considered sufficient for registration purposes.
There are at least three major lawsuits challenging the legality of the NFA itself, as we’ve previously reported, and a new House appropriations bill would defund the NFA if passed.
