Israeli air attack on residential home in Rafah kills four Palestinians
Israeli warplanes have bombed a house belonging to the Shehadeh family in the Brazil neighbourhood in the Rafah governorate, south of the Gaza Strip. Four people were killed in the attack on Thursday, and dozens of others wounded. At least 15 people remain missing under the rubble. The wounded were transferred to the Abu Youssef Al Najjar Hospital and the Kuwaiti Specialty Hospital in Rafah. The house, which belonged to Abdullah Shehadeh, a doctor, sheltered dozens of displaced people. People in the neighbourhood, alongside the civil defence crews, dug through the wreckage with simple tools and their bare hands, in an attempt to retrieve the bodies of those killed that remained under the rubble. In two separate attacks on the Abu Dabaa and Ashour family homes in Rafah, the number of people killed from the aerial bombardment increased to 25. The attacks came on the same night when communication networks were cut off once again by Israeli forces, the fifth time since October 7. In a statement, the government media office in Gaza announced the Israeli policy as a “deliberate act”. “Cutting off communications and the internet means that Palestinians will face life-threatening disasters, as there will be many killed and wounded people [in Israeli attacks] that no one will be able to reach,” the media office said. “Thus, the number of victims killed will increase.” More than 280 Palestinians and about 800 others were injured on Thursday, as air raids and artillery shelling continued throughout the Gaza Strip, especially in the southern city of Khan Younis, northern Gaza, and the neighbourhoods east of Gaza City. Since the beginning of the Israeli offensive on the coastal territory, at least 18,797 people have been killed, and more than 50,000 wounded, according to Palestinian authorities. Some 7,780 Palestinians remain missing and are presumed dead under the rubble of their own homes. More than 253,000 housing units have been partially damaged by the ongoing bombing, and more than 52,000 housing units were completely demolished by the Israeli air attacks or have become uninhabitable. Adblock test (Why?)
Texas’ debate over school chaplains escalates school board culture wars
A new law lets schools use safety funds to pay for unlicensed chaplains working in mental health roles. Supporters say it helps address student mental health while critics blast it as a Christian nationalist attempt to convert children to a specific form of faith.
DeSantis pledges support for devil statue decapitator, says govt should not recognize Satanism as ‘religion’
GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis said that the Satanic Temple “should not be recognized” as a religion by the U.S. government. DeSantis made the declaration on X Friday morning, saying that satanism does not have a place in American society. The Florida governor’s tweet came after Mississippi state House candidate Michael Cassidy admitted to tearing down the Satanic Temple’s display in the Iowa state capitol. Cassidy was arrested Friday and charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, KCCI reported. SATANIC DISPLAY INSIDE IOWA STATE CAPITOL DESTROYED, MAN CHARGED: OFFICIALS “Satan has no place in our society and should not be recognized as a ‘religion’ by the federal government,” DeSantis tweeted. “I’ll chip in to contribute to this veteran’s legal defense fund.” “Good prevails over evil — that’s the American spirit,” DeSantis continued. DeSantis also addressed the Satanic Temple display at the Iowa state capitol during a recent CNN town hall event, pointing to former President Trump’s Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as to why the non-theistic religious organization is recognized as a religion. In 2019, the IRS recognized the Satanic Temple as an official house of worship, granting the entity both tax-exempt status and protections under the First Amendment. “So it’s interesting, I heard this, and then I was like, ‘Well, how did it get there? Is that even a religion?’” DeSantis said. “And low and behold, the Trump administration gave them approval to be under the IRS as a religion.” “So that gave them the legal ability to potentially do it,” DeSantis said. DeSantis said that “it very well may be because of that ruling” under Trump that the Satanic Temple “may have had a legal leg to stand on.” “My view would be that that’s not a religion that the Founding Fathers were trying to create,” DeSantis said. “But I do think that IRS ruling, I was really surprised to see that they did that.” Jake Tapper noted that the IRS granting tax-exempt status does not necessarily mean the government supports satanism. “No, yeah, exactly,” DeSantis responded. “But they recognized it as a religion, because otherwise you wouldn’t’ve been able to do it.” “I don’t think that was the right decision. Even as a religion, that’s wrong,” he continued. Lucien Greaves, one of the Satanic Temple’s founders, told Fox News Digital that “DeSantis’s remarks are raw cowardice dressed up in false heroism.” “He would like voters to believe that he is standing up against the Satanic Temple, but he is, in actuality, simply yielding to an angry, undemocratic mob that would rather see the fundamental pillars of democracy destroyed than suffer the nuisance of seeing a viewpoint they disagree with in a public forum,” Greaves said. “It is cowardice that compels him to abandon his pledge of office to uphold constitutional law and religious liberty because he can not, or will not, articulate those ideals to voters, opting instead to appeal to their most base fears and ignorance,” he continued. “I have announced that I am happy to debate DeSantis on these points at any time, but I suspect he is too cowardly for that as well,” Greaves added. The Satanic Temple was founded in 2013 and does not express belief in Satan, God, or any higher power. Instead, the atheist organization follows “seven tenets” that emphasize science and reason, and uses Satanic imagery to push their tenets and political goals, like abortion access and addressing “religious privilege.” The organization has also been known to jab at Christians, and Greaves has openly stated that the group is “openly atheist,” in a 2015 Salon interview. “Those who dislike us claim that we are not really a religion, but by what standard?” Greaves said. “These things beg for definition. In the Hobby Lobby case, there was no sincerity test at all, and no test that their exemption had some kind of spiritual basis.” “In regard to our atheism, if you have a society that grants religious privilege and exemption, and you’re willing to give privilege and exemption to certain groups, then it’s unacceptable to give that only to people who believe in the supernatural,” Greaves said. “We are openly atheist, but we have cultural identity and symbolic constructs that are deeply meaningful to our members,” he continued. In a text message to Fox News Digital, Cassidy confirmed that he had torn down the satanic display, which was erected last week by the Satanic Temple of Iowa to represent the group’s right to religious freedom. “It was extremely anti-Christian,” Cassidy told Fox News Digital when asked why he had torn the statue down. The former congressional candidate didn’t elaborate on why he had torn the statue down, but he posted a Bible verse Thursday night to X after being charged. “1 Peter 5:8 KJV Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,” he posted. Fox News Digital’s Adam Sabes contributed reporting.
Rudy Giuliani ordered to pay $148 million as defamation trial wraps up
Rudy Giuliani has been ordered to pay $148,169,000 to two women he falsely accused of committing election fraud in the 2020 election. The former New York City mayor, and Donald Trump ally and former personal lawyer, was on trial for the defamation of two Georgia election workers this week at a federal court in Washington, D.C. Giuliani had accused Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, of fraud while advancing former President Trump’s unproven claims that the 2020 election was stolen. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell had already awarded default judgment to Freeman and Moss in August. HUNTER BIDEN SUES RUDY GIULIANI OVER LAPTOP, ACCUSES EX-TRUMP LAWYER OF ‘HACKING’ Giuliani was also ordered to pay legal fees for Moss and Freeman, amounting to around $270,000. Speaking outside the courthouse Friday, Moss said “the past few years has been devastating.” “The flame that Giuliani lit with those lies and passed to so many others to keep that flame blazing changed every aspect of our lives, our home family, our work, our sense of safety and mental health,” Moss said. “And we’re still working to rebuild as we move forward and continue to seek justice.” HEAVILY REDACTED RECORDS SHOW FBI’S TARGETING OF CATHOLICS WENT BEYOND WHAT IT CLAIMED: WATCHDOG “Our greatest wish is that no one, no election worker or voter or school board member or anyone else ever experiences anything like what we went through,” she added. Giuliani said Friday he’d appeal the ruling. “The absurdity of the number merely underscores the absurdity of the entire proceeding, where I’ve not been allowed to offer one single piece of evidence in defense,of which I have a lot,” he said. “So I am quite confident when this case gets before a fair tribunal, it will be reversed so quickly, it’ll make your head spin and the absurd number that just came in will help that, actually.” The purpose of this week’s trial was to determine how much money Giuliani would have to pay the women in damages. Fox News’ Jake Gibson contributed to this report.
Disgraced NC Auditor Beth Wood pleads guilty to misdemeanor charges on last day in office
On her last day on the job, North Carolina State Auditor Beth Wood pleaded guilty Friday to two misdemeanors for misusing a state-issued vehicle for personal activities. Wake County Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway sentenced Wood to 12 months of unsupervised probation on the counts, news outlets reported. Wake District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said that Wood had paid $1,064 in restitution as part of a plea agreement. The sentencing and her resignation appear to complete a year in which Wood’s driving ultimately led to her departure as auditor, an office she first won in 2008. Wood announced her resignation last month, two days after a grand jury indicted her on the charges. JUDGE DROPS FELONY CHARGES AGAINST VIRGINIA ELECTIONS OFFICIAL ACCUSED OF 2020 MISCONDUCT The counts said that in 2021 and 2022, Wood used an assigned state-owned vehicle for “hair appointments and dental appointments out of town, traveling to shopping centers and spa locations where she was not engaged in business in her official capacity.” Wood, a Democrat, said last month that she had reimbursed the state to cover personal use of the car by purposely overpaying for miles in which she commuted to her job. Wood attorney Roger Smith Jr. said Friday that she accepted responsibility for driving her state car for personal use. “This is a sad day for Beth Wood,” Smith said in a statement. “For the past 15 years, she has been honored to serve the people of this state. She absolutely loved her job and is thankful for the opportunity to have served. She has paid a heavy price, but she looks forward to her next chapter.” While auditor, Wood was apt to receive praise or scorn from officials from both parties for reviews from her agency that criticized the misuse of government funds. “One of the things striking in this case is she, for 15 years, held people accountable but then violated the rules,” Freeman said Friday. “This is a double standard.” The indictment followed a monthslong investigation by state agents that appeared to mushroom after she was cited in December 2022 for leaving the scene of a crash when she drove her state-owned vehicle into a parked car in downtown Raleigh. No one was hurt. An apologetic Wood pleaded guilty in March to misdemeanor hit-and-run involving the crash and paid fines and court costs. A few months later, Wood, now 69, said she was still planning to run for reelection. In keeping with the state constitution, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper appointed former Wake County Commission Chair Jessica Holmes to complete Wood’s term as auditor through the end of 2024 once she departs. Holmes filed this month to run for the position next year. Several Republicans also are seeking their party’s nomination for auditor in an upcoming primary.
Fox News Politics: Democrats tell Schumer ‘hell no’
Welcome to Fox News’ Politics newsletter with the latest political news from Washington D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail. Subscribe now to get Fox News Politics newsletter in your inbox. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is getting warnings from progressive Democrats who fear the ongoing negotiations for border policy changes could give too much away to Republicans. A small, bipartisan group of Senators have been meeting privately with DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas this week, hoping to find common ground on immigration and border security measures. Republicans have insisted that additional funding for Ukraine and aid to Israel be attached to immigration reforms. The negotiations have yet to produce a deal, but reports of the proposals have rankled several Democrats. “[Schumer] and those Democrats who are contemplating these proposals need to understand that these Trumpian policies will do nothing to address our challenges at the border and will only exacerbate the problem. Immigration advocates should speak up — HELL NO is the message,” Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., — who is facing federal bribery charges — wrote on X on Thursday. ‘THREATS TO NATIONAL SECURITY’: Top Biden aide’s spouse involved with group pushing electric vehicle transition …Read more ‘UNDERMINING ISRAEL’: Sen Ted Cruz calls out VP Kamala Harris for Palestinian sympathy push …Read more ‘SWAMP’ GAME: Why Hunter Biden defied House subpoena from the House side of the Capitol …Read more ‘CRAZY MIND’: Kevin McCarthy takes parting shots at Matt Gaetz as he exits Congress: ‘He was psychotic’ …Read more ‘HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE’: Stefanik hits DC judge linked to Trump case with ethics complaint …Read more ‘UNACCEPTABLE‘: House Dem calls for answers from Mayorkas over denial of border funding extension to Arizona county …Read more ‘LONG OVERDUE’: Issa says passport reform ‘long overdue’ as bill moves through House committee with Dem backing …Read more PANIC MODE: Biden scrambles to win over Black voters as support from the traditionally blue bloc falters …Read more ‘LBJ MOMENT’: Cornel West predicts Biden will drop out before 2024 election …Read more TARGETING RIVALS: Christie targets DeSantis and Haley for treating Trump with kid gloves …Read more ‘PARTY DOES NOT EXIST’: Illinois incumbent wants primary opponent disqualified for misspelling ‘Republican’ …Read more ‘HISTORIC CONNECTIONS’: Chinese official who praised CCP makes another appearance at top Ivy League school …Read more ‘SENSE OF SUCCESS’: Melania Trump speaks to new American citizens about the responsibility of ‘guarding our freedom’ …Read more 10 MINUTES: Supreme Court justice decided to overturn Roe minutes after receiving Dobbs draft decision …Read more FOLLOW THE MONEY: Republican attorney general exposes DOJ funding to Soros-backed group that trains left-wing prosecutors …Read more AI-AI-OH: Bipartisan lawmakers eye AI safeguards for U.S. agriculture industry …Read more Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Why Hunter Biden stood in the Senate ‘swamp’ as he defied the House subpoena
Detractors refer to Washington, D.C., as “the swamp.” But this is about another swamp – specifically, the Senate “swamp.” The Senate swamp is a geographic location on Capitol Hill. It’s just across from the Senate steps and where some Senate officials park their cars. Those who work and operate on Capitol Hill have referred to this spot as the Senate swamp for decades. DOJ’S HANDLING OF HUNTER BIDEN CASE IS ‘INEXPLICABLE,’ SAYS TURLEY, AS EX-PROSECUTR FACES QUESTIONING They started calling the locale the Senate swamp in 1964. Legendary congressional correspondent Roger Mudd covered the filibuster of the Civil Rights Act for CBS. Mudd often did his TV standups from the Senate steps with a large clock behind him to show how much time had elapsed (eventually two months) during the filibuster. Southern senators complained about Mudd standing on the Senate steps. The U.S. Capitol Police moved Mudd and his compadres in the press corps across the plaza to a grassy area. Well, one day it rained. And the correspondent was named “Mudd.” So, they started referring to the area as the “Senate swamp.” However, that site is anything but a swamp. The area is paved. A panel of permanent, stainless steel TV jacks for networks to do live shots lines a narrow concrete façade. Reporters can face one direction and talk about Congress with the Capitol behind them. If reporters turn around, they can talk about legal opinions with the Supreme Court serving as a backdrop. Or, someone like Hunter Biden can use the spot for a press conference, as he did Wednesday morning, publicly defying a House subpoena for a closed-door deposition. The entrance to the Rayburn House Office Building is more than an eighth of a mile from the Senate swamp. A phalanx of reporters and photographers swarmed the halls of Rayburn, awaiting Hunter Biden’s anticipated arrival for a closed-door deposition. Another horde of journalists roamed the Rayburn “horseshoe,” a semi-circular driveway which curves up to a side entrance across from the Longworth House Office Building. No one was 100% sure whether Hunter Biden would show up. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., issued a subpoena for Hunter Biden to “testify at a deposition touching matters of inquiry,” at 9:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday in the Rayburn Building. The subpoena added that “you are not to depart without leave of said committee or subcommittee.” HOUSE VOTES TO AUTHORIZE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY In late November, Abbe Lowell — who is Hunter Biden’s attorney — countered Comer’s demand for a deposition with a demand of his own. “We have seen you use closed-door sessions to manipulate, even distort the facts and misinform the public,” wrote Lowell to Comer. “We therefore propose opening the door.” The ultimatum appeared to catch Comer and Republicans on the Oversight Committee off guard. Comer said he would grant Hunter Biden the chance to testify at an open hearing, but a closed-door deposition must come first. Comer cited how Democrats conducted multiple, private depositions in their impeachment investigation of former President Trump in the fall of 2019, ahead of public hearings a couple of months later. So, Hunter Biden indeed showed up on Capitol Hill around 9:30 am Wednesday — but not anywhere near the Rayburn House Office Building. Hunter Biden materialized an eighth of a mile away at the Senate swamp — that same locale where the Capitol Police banished Roger Mudd to report on the Civil Rights Act filibuster. Hunter Biden’s Senate swamp maneuver was a filibuster unto itself when it came to ignoring James Comer’s subpoena. But his appearance was both political stagecraft and legal scheme bundled into one. Hunter Biden showed up on Capitol Hill at the assigned time. But he wasn’t going anywhere close to the room where Comer planned a multi-hour deposition. Materializing at the Senate swamp site with the Capitol dome glimmering behind him was an effort by Hunter Biden to demonstrate he was willing to appear — just on his terms. ANDY BIGGS CALLS FOR CONTEMPT CHARGES AGAINST ERIC SWALWELL FOR AIDING HUNTER BIDEN After a brief statement, Hunter Biden left the Senate swamp site, climbed into a van and departed. Reporters and scribes were panting. Out of breath. Bent over. Hands holding their legs just above their knees like a gassed NBA shooting guard in the fourth quarter. They received word that Hunter Biden was coming to Capitol Hill. But most were over in the Rayburn House Office Building — nowhere near the spot where the news of the day unfolded. So how and why did the Senate swamp become the hot venue for the story of the day? It starts with Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif. Lawmakers are permitted to use the Senate swamp site and a similar location called the “House triangle” for press conferences and other events. The same with studios in the House and Senate Radio/TV Galleries inside the Capitol complex. However, the indoor locations generally require rank-and-file members to secure an invitation from a credentialed member of the congressional press corps. It’s rare, but not unprecedented, for a House member to book an event on the Senate side. The same with a senator on the House side. So Swalwell reserved the Senate swamp for a vague press event on Wednesday morning at 9:30. Only Swalwell had no intention of speaking to the press. This was Hunter Biden’s forum. Those are the logistics. But that doesn’t tell the full story. There’s a reason why Hunter Biden showed up on the Senate side of Capitol Hill and not the House side. Let’s say Hunter Biden ventured into the sea of reporters awaiting his prospective arrival at the Rayburn House Office Building, had his say and left. Or imagine if he had even done the same at the House triangle. The president’s son was already out of compliance with Comer’s subpoena by not attending the deposition. But showing up anywhere on the House side of the Capitol could have triggered a host of legal, constitutional
Twin Cities area judge rejects challenge to Minnesota law that lets ex-felons vote
A judge has dismissed a conservative group’s lawsuit challenging a new Minnesota law that restores voting rights for felons once they’ve completed their prison time. Anoka County Judge Thomas Lehmann ruled Wednesday that the Minnesota Voters Alliance lacked the legal standing to sue and failed to prove that the Legislature overstepped its authority when it voted in February to expand voting rights for the formerly incarcerated. Before the change, they had to complete their probation before they could regain their eligibility to vote. The alliance argued that the law violates a clause in the state constitution that says felons cannot vote “unless restored to civil rights.” The group argued that the language means all their civil rights, not just some. MINNESOTA OFFICIAL PUSHING FOR REHAB AS JUVENILE MURDER, THEFT AND VIOLENT ASSAULT INCREASES IN TWIN CITIES “The major premise of this argument is fundamentally flawed,” the judge wrote, saying the constitution does not specify “restored to all civil rights.” He cited a Minnesota Supreme Court ruling from February that put the burden on the Legislature to decide whether voting rights should be restored when people leave prison. Minnesota was among more than a dozen states that considered restoring voting rights for felons this year. Advocates for the change argued that disenfranchising them disproportionately affects people of color because of biases in the legal system. An estimated 55,000 Minnesotans regained the right to vote because of the change. A lawyer for the Minnesota Voters Alliance, James Dickey, said the group plans to appeal. It hopes to do so directly to the state Supreme Court. Attorney General Keith Ellison said he was “extremely pleased that yet another effort to undermine the voting rights of Minnesotans has been soundly rejected.” The Minnesota Court of Appeals last month rejected a different attempt to void the law along similar grounds, ruling that a lower court judge overstepped his authority when he declared the law unconstitutional.
Heavily redacted records show FBI’s targeting of Catholics went beyond what it claimed: watchdog
A conservative government watchdog has released almost 100 pages of FBI documents it says show the agency was not fully forthcoming about its actions surveilling and targeting Catholic churches. “FBI Director Christopher Wray had told congressmen that the memo was ‘a single product by a single field office,’ but the records uncovered by Judicial Watch show that it was “Reviewed by: OGC/CDC [Office of General Counsel/Chief Deputy Counsel],’” Judicial Watch posted in a press release Friday. Judicial Watch obtained the documents through a FOIA request related to an internal FBI memo leaked earlier this year, which revealed that the agency had efforts underway to identify and treat Catholics as “potential terrorists.” “The records also indicate coordination with officials from Portland and Milwaukee,” the press release said. FBI INTERVIEWED PRIEST, CHURCH CHOIR DIRECTOR AHEAD OF ANTI-CATHOLIC MEMO, HOUSE GOP FINDS The FBI Richmond internal memo, titled “Interest of Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists in Radical-Traditionalist Catholic Ideology Almost Certainly Presents New Mitigation Opportunities,” was leaked in January and drew instant criticism from Republicans. It identified “radical-traditionalist Catholic[s]” as potential “racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists” and said that “racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists (RMVEs) in radical-traditionalist Catholic (RTC) ideology almost certainly presents opportunities for threat mitigation through the exploration of new avenues for tripwire and source development.” FBI’S ‘ATTACK ON PRO-LIFE CATHOLICS’ IS WHAT YOU GET IN BIDEN’S AMERICA, JIM JORDAN WARNS FBI Director Christopher Wray and the agency have previously claimed the memo was related to a single FBI field office in Richmond. Following the leak of the memo, the FBI told Fox News Digital “headquarters quickly began taking action to remove the document from FBI systems and conduct a review of the basis for the document.” “While our standard practice is to not comment on specific intelligence products, this particular field office product — disseminated only within the FBI — regarding racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism does not meet the exacting standards of the FBI,” the statement said. The FBI told Fox News Digital earlier this year “any characterization that the FBI is targeting Catholics is false.” However, Judicial Watch suggests these new documents show that is not the case and the issue was broader than the FBI let on. “These documents disprove the FBI’s narrative that the spy operation against Catholics and churches was limited to one field office. In fact, the operation seems to have been approved by top lawyers in the FBI,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton wrote. FBI SOUGHT TO DEVELOP SOURCES IN CATHOLIC CHURCHES TO COMBAT DOMESTIC TERRORISM, DOCS SHOW “These documents should trigger a criminal inquiry into this Biden FBI scandal.” The documents released by Judicial Watch show FBI officials from different field offices discussing the program, including General Counsel Jason Jones in an email that says, “[Assistant Director] Dunham asked that we circulate the attached draft ‘Complicated Questions’ document for the Director’s upcoming testimony for your review. “As you will see, the draft reflects feedback received from various divisions/stakeholders to date, and certain topics continue to evolve.” Conservatives have long alleged that the scope of the FBI’s targeting of Catholics was much larger than they had acknowledged, and Republicans earlier this year uncovered similar documents they say showed several field offices were involved. “This new information suggests that the FBI’s use of its law enforcement capabilities to intrude on American’s First Amendment rights is more widespread than initially suspected,” Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and co-chair Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., wrote in a letter in August. The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Fox News Digital’s Brianna Herlihy contributed to this report
Biden DOJ’s gun law blueprint will impact ability to defend yourself: Gun rights groups
Gun rights groups are posturing to defy the Justice Department’s model legislation published this week that gives states a framework for codifying gun storage rules. On Wednesday, the DOJ published a framework aimed at helping “more states enact sensible gun-safety laws,” and includes requirements for securing firearms kept in residences and vehicles and requirements for reporting of lost or stolen firearms to law enforcement. “We cannot resign ourselves to losing our neighbors, our loved ones — even our children — to misuse of firearms that could have been kept safely out of reach,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco said of the announcement. “The model legislation announced today provides states with new tools to improve the safety of legally-owned firearms and reduce the tragic toll of gun violence in our communities.” However, Second Amendment advocacy groups Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the National Rifle Association (NRA) say the models are too broad and could undermine self-defense mechanisms for lawful gun owners. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ‘WEAPONIZED’ BIPARTISAN GUN SAFETY LAW TO ‘ILLEGALLY FUND’ RED FLAG LAWS, REPUBLICANS SAY “The NRA is the leader and strongest advocate for responsible storage of firearms,” Jennifer Briemann, at NRA-ILA told Fox News Digital. Briemann added that the model legislation “irresponsibly and ill-advisedly imposes top-down, one-size-fits-all mandates on how Americans should store their guns.” “Guns must be stored so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons, but the specifics depend on individual or family circumstances,” said Briemann. Briemann also charged that the DOJ is using this as an opportunity to push “extreme risk protection orders,” which she called “a sugarcoated term for gun confiscation without due process.” Chris Stone, director of state and local affairs for Gun Owners of America accused the DOJ of “wasting time and resources trying to coerce state lawmakers across the county to pass unconstitutional firearm storage requirements, just like they’ve tried with gun confiscation laws.” HOUSE REPUBLICAN MOVES TO PROTECT GUN OWNERS’ RIGHTS FROM ‘RADICAL LEFT’ NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS “At the end of the day, these laws undermine the ability of law-abiding citizens to have reliable access to firearms in home defense scenarios and violate the privacy and private property rights of American citizens.” GOA said it will fully oppose the legislation “in every state capitol and will aggressively push back with our grassroots army if any lawmakers take the bait.” The proposed model would require that a possessor of a firearm should, at all times that the firearm is not carried by the owner on their person or within such proximity that the possessor can readily retrieve and use the firearm, secure the firearm in a locked gun safe, or with a properly engaged tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other tamper-resistant safety device rendering the firearm inoperable. The legislation would impose fines if a gun owner is caught in violation. In its proposal, the DOJ argued that keeping firearms and ammunition locked has been associated with “a lower risk of firearm injuries for children and teens in homes where guns are stored.” BIDEN ADMIN’S PROPOSED RULE TO COMBAT GUN VIOLENCE WOULD REQUIRE FIREARMS DEALERS TO CONDUCT BACKGROUND CHECKS “Safe storage also protects adults by preventing unintentional shootings and decreasing the risk of gun suicides, gun thefts, and criminal discharges of firearms,” the agency argued. The DOJ noted that in 2020, firearm-related injuries became the leading cause of injury deaths for children and teens ages 1-19, firearms are used in nearly half of suicides by minors, and the majority of individuals who carried out a K-12 mass shooting obtained the firearms used in the shooting from a family member. “The Department is not endorsing any particular formulation of a safe storage statute, and the model legislation is not intended to provide a comprehensive firearm-safety scheme that could be adopted wholesale,” the department said. “Rather, this model statute draws from the state laws already in existence, identifies key provisions that may be important to help ensure fair, effective; and safe implementation of such a law; and identifies options for states to consider as they legislate in this area,” it said.