Kurt Hofmann Archive


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A former paratrooper, Kurt Hofmann was paralyzed in a car accident in 2002. The helplessness inherent to confinement to a wheelchair prompted him to explore armed self-defense, only to discover that Illinois denies that right, inspiring him to become active in gun rights advocacy. He also writes the St. Louis Gun Rights Examiner column.



Why is NSSF Trying to Expand List of "Prohibited Persons"
We might be forgiven for thinking that the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) was entirely pro gun. It seems perhaps that is not the case, as they seek to see revision of the NICS check, to potentially deny more people of their Second Amendment rights …… Read more

Obama's "Greatest Frustration" May Be America's Salvation
He has seen fit to take out his "frustrations" on some of the most vulnerable Americans--the elderly and disabled. Now he wants them disarmed and defenseless, too. Oddly, he didn't get around to explaining which mass shootings have been carried out by Social Security beneficiaries …… Read more

The Second Amendment Isn't for Playing
Some variation of the words "for sporting purposes" can be found repeated over and over again in the interminable list of "gun control" laws burdening the American people. It should be changed by a bill H.R. 2710 to - "Lawful Purpose and Self Defense Act," …… Read more

Connecticut Senators Urge Obama to Break the Law
Senators Murphy and Blumenthal want Obama to make an executive order to control private firearms sales - despite the fact that the president does not have the legal power to write a law - that is Congress' job. …… Read more

Sanders' "Middle" Ground on Guns is in Exact Center of Intolerable
U.S. Senator and Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders (I-VT) told CNN's Jake Tapper Sunday that as President, he would "bring us to the middle" in the gun rights/"gun control" debate, thus overcoming the cultural divide on the issue. Well, great--but "middle" of what? …… Read more

If Retired Cops Are Safer With Unlocked Guns, Why Aren't the Rest of Us?
The L.A. City Council is considering implementing a more restrictive "safe storage" law, requiring all handguns to be locked in a safe or disabled with a trigger locking device when not in use. A disabled gun is little more use than a door stop or blunt instrument when it comes to use for self defense …… Read more

Will Pope Francis Disarm His Guards?
Pope Francis, speaking recently in Turin, said - "those who manufacture weapons, or who invest in the manufacture of them, are "hypocrites" if they claim to be Christian. " This sort of begs the question as to whether he would be willing to have his guard disarmed! …… Read more

Christie's Efforts to Distance Himself from Gun Ban Zealots Comically Transparent
Christie has been trying to back-track on his past anti-gun performance, and now tries to turn the tables to appeal to GOP voters. It is unlikely however that this is working too well, as people do not forget his long-time stance of 'gun control' as evidenced by many things done and said in the past …… Read more

Gun Owners Cannot Count on Courts to Right "Gun Control" Wrongs
The court, without explanation, announced that it will not hear an appeal to a lower court ruling that upheld two of San Francisco's extremely restrictive gun laws. Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia stated that they would have heard the case, but they were voted down. It is truly disturbing that apparently only two of nine Justices were willing to hear the case …… Read more

Few Details on Impending Obama Administration Gun Rules, But We Know They're Wrong
Kurt gives us his appraisal on this possible set of new and extra proposed gun regulations, as if there aren't already enough attempts to further eviscerate the 2A …… Read more

Discretionary Concealed Carry Permit Systems Value Money Over Lives
Reflections on just how "good reason" approaches to CCW permit granting seem to be biased towards only situations where large sums of money are carried. The inference is simple - the saving of life matters little - it's all about the money, and so multiple 'normal' requests get turned down …… Read more

New Federal "Ban" of Combat Gear for Cops is the Kind of "Ban" Gun Owners Could Accept
Less a ''ban'' than a change in supply - such that no longer will spare military gear just be all but donated to law enforcement. Instead they will have to purchase the equipment …… Read more

Gun Bans No Longer Enough; Now They Want to Ban Gun Information
No longer faced with just the 'usual' selection of 'gun control' proposals, we now find that 'they' seem to want to control the dissemination of actual gun making data, in particular cyber details involving 3D printing CAD files etc. What's next? Books?! …… Read more

Garland, TX and the Right that Defends All Others
A look at the effective neutralizing of two armed attackers at what was essentially a First Amendment function, even if considered by some to be inflamatory. The bottom line is, it is fair to say that the 1A and 2A are in a sense mutually inclusive. One helps the other, with the 2A being paramount. …… Read more

7th Circuit OKs Gun Bans for the Illusion of Safety
The citizens of Highland Park are to give up access to the most effective militia-capable firearms in order to cater to the irrational fears of those who believe that "assault weapons" are "weapons of war" …… Read more

Netanyahu Talks a Good Game About Independence and Self-Defense, But . . .
According to the Jerusalem Post, Netanyahu said that "the meaning of independence in my eyes is the ability to defend yourself." Sadly, although a superficially encouraging statement, this was referring in essence to Israel's ability to defend itself -- but without any noticeable effort on his part to reform Israel's very restrictive gun laws. …… Read more

Congress Conspires with ATF to Expand "Sporting Purposes" Bans
An apparent conspiracy exists with a "bipartisan" cabal of Congress members, as willing, active participants--to expand the BATFE's power to ban arms that are too good at the deadly serious work of preserving life and liberty, and not good enough for playing around (article withdrawn) …… Read more

Anti-gun Congresswoman Wants Americans to Sell Their Liberty, Children's Futures
United States Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) has never met a draconian restriction on guns she didn't like, except in the sense that she would prefer that such proposals go further than they often do …… Read more

Columnist's "Modest Proposal" as Offensively Arrogant as Original, and it's Not Satire
The naivety of some writers beggars belief. They seem to think that a total clean sweep ban on civilian guns is the answer to all gun violence -- such a commonly held total misconception …… Read more

"Progressive" Writer Blames "Arsenal Owners" for Blocking Onerous Gun Laws
To reconcile the claim of declining gun ownership, with the fact of soaring numbers of privately owned guns, the 'progressives' resort to the contention that "more and more guns are owned by fewer and fewer people …… Read more

Impending "Armor-Piercing" Ammo Ban Bill Undermines Argument to Ban "Green Tip" Rounds
The anguished bleating of the gun ban zealots remains long and loud over this proposed ammo ban, as they continue to spout emotional 'reasons' for its 'dangers' …… Read more

Abolishing ATF Might Undermine One of the Best Tools for Hobbling Federal Gun Laws
The BATFE is an obscenity, and I want it gone, but first, I want the obscenities it exists to enforce abolished. Until that happens, let's leave those laws in the incompetent hands of the BATFE …… Read more

Missouri's New "Strict Scrutiny" of Gun Laws Frees Non-Violent Felon
St. Louis Circuit Judge Robert Dierker struck down "felon in possession" charges against Raymond Robinson, who last July was arrested with a handgun. This was illegal because he was convicted of a felony in 2003, which ironically, was for illegally carrying a concealed firearm …… Read more

Is Federal Express the Newest Enemy of Privately Manufactured Firearms?
The name "Federal Express" notwithstanding, the shipping company is not affiliated with the federal government, but judging by recent developments, a person could be forgiven for thinking there is such a connection. FedEx it seems has decided it will not ship "Ghost Gunner" 3D printing equipment …… Read more

Proposed Ammo Ban is Illegal Attack on Americans' Rights
Following the NRAILA item on this proposal, to ban M855 'Green Tip' ammo, Kurt digs deeper into the theory and surrounding details …… Read more

Bloomberg States His "No Guns for Negroes" Policy in Most Blatant Terms Yet
Speaking to the Aspen Institute on February 6, Michael Bloomberg said cities should ban young minority males from owning guns, both as an effort to reduce crime and to keep those minority males "alive." …… Read more

Sandy Hook Advisory Commission Not Done Adding New Infringements to List
The Sandy Hook Advisory Commission, assembled two years ago by Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, is ready to announce its draconian anti-gun recommendations …… Read more

Backlash Against "American Sniper" Illustrates More Than Hostility to U.S. Troops
The amount of vitriol aimed at "American Sniper" the movie is astounding. Rabidly anti-gun, "progressive" serial complainer Michael Moore got the ball rolling, perhaps, with his tweet calling snipers "cowards," rather than heroes, with "invaders" being even worse …… Read more

Sandy Hook Commission Shows Why Gun Registration Requirements Must be Defied
After two years deliberation, the Sandy Hook Commission has dreamed up all sorts of wonderful anti-gun goodies to try for even more control over law abiding gun owners. Kurt describes some of the near ridiculous proposals. …… Read more

Terrorists, "Gun Control" Advocates Would Be Great Allies in American "Charlie Hebdo"-Style Attack
As has been discussed before, Islamic terrorist groups have an obvious interest in keeping those whom they would oppress (or kill) disarmed, and so it's no surprise that ISIS has come out and stated that, "No guns will be allowed outside of [ISIS] ranks." The disarmed are, after all, much safer to behead …… Read more

New ATF Ruling on Privately Made Guns Defies Constitution, Logic, and English
It would appear that yet again, the BATFE is making up the rules as it goes along and, to hell with our Second Amendment. Interpretation of this latest absurdity is mind-blowing. …… Read more

Pulitzer Prize Winning Professor Identifies Militias as "The Enemy Within"
The danger, we're told, is that the nation has become so polarized that we can agree on nothing, and so nothing gets done politically, which will (somehow) prompt "decent Americans" to tolerate "authoritarian government" as the lesser of evils, thus ushering in tyranny …… Read more

Secretive "Gun Control" Cabal Threatens Liberty by its Agenda, and by its Methods
On December 8 2014, the new "gun control" group, "American State Legislators for Gun Violence Prevention" (ASLGVP--catchy name) announced its presence. They intend to further promote 'gun-control' - probably by stealth …… Read more

A Truly Progressive Solution to Cops Shooting Black Men
Among "progressives," it's an article of faith that gun rights advocacy and racism are inextricably linked. One writer goes so far as to argue that broad recognition of gun rights in the U.S. causes cops to shoot black men. …… Read more

"Progressive" Writer Blames Michael Brown Shooting on Inadequate "Gun Control"
Writing for the "progressive" media outlet Vox, Matthew Yglesias tells us that, "We shouldn't talk about Ferguson without talking about guns." The guns owned by scores of millions of private citizens …… Read more

Not All Anti-Gunners Willing to Wait for Slippery Slope
Every new restrictive gun law enacted becomes the beachhead from which the next infringement on 'that which shall not be infringed' is launched -- the proverbial "slippery slope" in action. But, the gun ban zealots want their gun bans now without any such subterfuge …… Read more

In Washington and Elsewhere, Defiance is Proper Response to "Gun Control"
We discuss the after effects of I-594 having passed and the very possible follow-up being thousands of gun owners in Washington having just the answer -- massive noncompliance …… Read more

More Americans Know a Defended Home is a Safer Home; "Gun Control" Advocates Upset
Despite a majority view that a defended home is safer home -- predictably the anti-gun groups try to suggest quite the opposite, probably being as usual in favor of more innocent victims …… Read more

WA Private Sales Ban Referendum Shows Danger of Putting Rights Up for Vote
Washington Initiative 594, is a voter referendum that would ban private gun sales (actually, private gun transfers--a much broader, and much more troubling--proposition) in the state of Washington …… Read more

Newest "Smart Gun" Concept Probably Most Sensible Yet, Still Poses Threat
An interesting new concept in "smart guns" is now reaching technological maturity, according to All Outdoor. This device, made by Yardarm Technology, has a purpose significantly different from previous "smart guns". But may it yet pose a threat? …… Read more

The "Moderate Gun Control" Group Really Exists!
Over the years, gun rights advocates have seen a number of attempts to push "gun control" (more accurately described as "forcible citizen disarmament") by stealth. Advocates of more restrictive gun regulation formed new groups, ostensibly more "moderate" than the well-known "gun control" groups …… Read more

Brady Campaign's "Gun Control for Dummies" is Missing a Word
Much of a Brady video focuses on the claim that "forty percent of gun sales happen just like this [without a background check]." Right away, the Brady Campaign is counting on an audience of dummies …… Read more

Technological Advances Aid Home Gun Manufacture, Bypass "Gun Control"
There have been dramatic new developments in the field of firearm manufacture at home. The most widely discussed of these developments is the announcement of the "Ghost Gunner" CNC (Computer Numeric Controlled) milling machine …… Read more

New Jersey Considers Mandatory Gun "Buybacks"
Assemblyman John F. McKeon, of the New Jersey state legislature, is hoping to drum up support for his bill, which would mandate nine gun 'buybacks' per year. …… Read more

Congressman Wants to Require Government Permission to Build or Print Guns
United States Representative Michael Honda (D-CA) has introduced a bill that would impose all of the same restrictive federal laws regarding sales of commercially produced firearms, to guns produced at home for one's own use …… Read more

Anti-gun Group Wants to Ban Rifles "Too Accurate" for Civilians
It would appear that some rifles are being considered more dangerous than others due to their accuracy potential - ignoring of course the shooter's own potential (or not) for skillful shooting. What's next? Perhaps camo painted rifles?! …… Read more

ISIS Would Be Well Served by its pro-"Gun Control" Stance in Jihad against U.S.
Like murderous tyrants everywhere, and throughout all of history, ISIS demands that everyone in the territory they control be denied any effective means of resisting their tyranny. As evil as that is, one can hardly deny the logic …… Read more

Gun Ban Zealots Offer Libertarians Choice: Police State or . . . Police State
Must we choose between being "policed" by an army of enforcers indoctrinated to think of the people (the same people they used to claim to "protect and serve") as enemies; or we must surrender those arms best suited to protection against those who would destroy or oppress us--including out-of-control police …… Read more

"More Guns, Less Crime" May Be True, But Misses the Point
The Washington Times notes that crime in Chicago has dipped dramatically, while at the same time, scores of thousands of Illinoisans obtain permits to carry defensive firearms …… Read more

David Frum Blames Militarization of Police on Guns in Hands of "the Policed"
David Frum, formerly a speechwriter for President George W. Bush, is probably thought by many to be a largely "conservative" voice in American politics. But, it's apparently a brand of "conservatism" that does not seek to "conserve" the right to keep and bear arms …… Read more

Kodiak Arms "Intelligun" Perhaps Well Intended, But Still Threat to Gun Owners
At JPFO, we tend to take a very dim view of any possibility of so-called "smart gun" technology becoming legally required, even if it 'seems' reliable and dependable it is still a threat …… Read more

Palmer v. D.C.
Much has been written, and with good reason, about a federal court decision finding Washington D.C.'s outright ban of the carrying of defensive firearms in the city, whether openly or concealed, to be unconstitutional …… Read more

Anti-gun Writer Fears New Army Sidearm Will Cause More "Gun Violence"
Writing for The Atlantic, Matt Valentine notes that the U.S. Army has announced a decision to seek a new sidearm to replace the 9mm M9, built by Beretta. This troubles him …… Read more

Media Matters Twists Reality to Monger Fear of .50 Caliber Rifles
Following reports of a .50 caliber sniper rifle attack on U.S. Border Patrol agents, Fox News hosts immediately recognized the threat the high-powered "battlefield weapon" poses to law enforcement …… Read more

Bloomberg's Self-Defense Catch-22 is an Old Trick in "Gun Control" Playbook
Bloomberg is advocating laws that he knows dramatically reduce people's ability to successfully defend themselves from violent crime, and what's more, is comfortable enough with that position to openly acknowledge it in the mass media. Of course his armed personal protection detail would be exempt from any such restrictions! …… Read more

Self-defense, or Defense Against Tyranny--Does it Really Matter?
To claim a difference, other than one of scale, between a thug who rapes a woman, and a tyrant who rapes a nation, is to elevate the tyrant to something greater than the thug-writ-large he is …… Read more

Trampling 2nd Amendment Not Enough for Gun Ban Zealots
Although the Second Amendment is obviously the part of the Constitution the anti-gun "progressives" most love to hate. More and more, they have set their sights on the First Amendment as well …… Read more

Author Claims Democrat "Gun Control" Timidity Undermines Constitution
"Gun nuts" (that's you, me, and everyone else who will fight to keep the palladium of liberty) will not be pacified by more aggressive forcible citizen disarmament efforts …… Read more

Supreme Court Ruling is About Registration, not Crime Control
The Supreme Court ruled Monday in Abrambski v. United States that attempting to deceive federal authorities about for whom a gun purchase is being made is a serious crime. Just another registration move …… Read more

"Gun Control" Advocates Respond to Las Vegas Killings by Advocating Tyranny
Following the Las Vegas shootings (6/7/14), Josh Horwitz, executive director of the rabidly anti-gun Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, says that the murders signal the "Time to Tread on 'Insurrectionists'" …… Read more

SWAT Team Baby Burning -- More Police Militarization?
Yet another example of over-played and badly managed unlawful intrusions into a private home, with extreme measures leading to severe infant injury …… Read more

"Gun Control" Agenda Requires Heinous "Gun Violence"
The differences between gun rights advocates and those who favor forcible citizen disarmament are (thankfully) both numerous and vast …… Read more

Brady Campaign "Smart Gun" Lawsuit Illustrates Their Yearning to Mandate Them
The Brady Campaign filed a lawsuit against New Jersey Attorney General John Jay Hoffman - starting the clock on New Jersey's 2002 law requiring smart guns after 3 years …… Read more

"Assault Weapons," "Cosmetic Features," and "Gun Control"
We on the pro-rights side have rightly pointed out that the features by which "assault weapons" are defined are merely cosmetic enhancements and ergonomic refinements …… Read more

Another Proposal to "Improve" the Second Amendment, by Rendering it Toothless
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens' expressed a wish to "fix" the Second Amendment. Now, "progressive" writer Sanjay Sanghoee is proposing his own "update" to the Second Amendment. …… Read more

Anti-Gun NJ Politician Confused About Guns
Besides the Constitutional issues with gun control, the thing that bothers me the most is that the anti-gunners just don't know what the hell they are talking about …… Read more

After Numerous Attempts, Dr. Ben Carson Still Can't Figure out "Shall Not Be Infringed"
Ostensibly "conservative" Republican and potential presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson has talked about gun politics before, but not always without some 'restrictions' …… Read more

Gun Ban Zealots' Big Money Can't Buy Grassroots, But is Still a Threat
Gun rights advocates note that no amount of money can trump grassroots activism by masses of people fiercely and passionately dedicated to a cause they know is just …… Read more

Marijuana Legalization and Armed Self-Defense Pose Legal Paradox
The prohibition on guns for those involved in the marijuana trade, even when that trade is legal under state and local law, is much saught after …… Read more

ATF, Obama Administration, Keep Tightening the Screws by Executive Fiat
Gun-rights advocates understandably pay close attention to proposed new gun laws at the federal, state, and in some cases local levels -- Feinstein considers bans on inexpensive imports a good control ploy …… Read more

Bundy Ranch Showdown Proves Militias Can Stop Government Excesses
With militia members having filed in by ones and twos, but eventually adding up to a sizable force, the BLM's paramilitary enforcers decided that a dispute was not worth orphaning their children …… Read more

Justice Stevens (Inadvertently?) Admits RKBA unconnected to Militia Service
Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has made no effort to disguise his hostility to the idea of Constitutional protection for the right to bear arms …… Read more

"Smart" Guns, Their Surprising Critics, and Powerful Allies
This technology, and calls for it being mandated for all privately owned guns, are not going away any time soon. The guns are far from "smart" …… Read more

Gun Rights Advocates Bid Farewell to Civil Rights Icon Otis McDonald
Gun rights, and civil rights in general, lost a true champion on April 4, when Otis McDonald lost his courageous battle with cancer …… Read more

School's "Duty" to Treat Student as Terrorist for Holding a Pencil Wrong?
Seventh-grader Ethan Chaplin, of Glen Meadow Middle School, in Vernon, New Jersey, discovered when he held a pencil in a manner described as "making gun motions", that he would be suspended …… Read more

Soldiers Turned by Policy into Targets
Once again, "gun control" has claimed a fresh harvest of victims on a military installation -- America's fighting men and women have been converted to dying men and women …… Read more

In Kentucky, Any "War on Women" Will Face Armed Resistance
Anyone who has an emergency protective order or a domestic violence order will be able to apply for an emergency temporary (good for 45 days) concealed carry permit …… Read more

No Room for 'Politeness' in 2A Advocacy
The idea that we must be more "polite," lest we frighten "the very people we want to attract to our side," ignores the nature of the right we are fighting for …… Read more

Yee Will Not Be Punished for His Worst Crimes
California State Senator Leland Yee has established himself as one of that state's most rabidly anti-gun lawmakers--and competition for that title is fierce indeed …… Read more

Middle School Students Learn Gun Safety, marksmanship, and Liberty
One can occasionally find reason for hope for our public schools, and for the future of our society. The Pueblo County, Colorado school district provides strong grounds for such hope …… Read more

The Hatemongers of the "Gun Control" Movement
Rhode Island State Senator Josh Miller (D-District 28), like many other "gun control" zealots, has difficulty with anger management. Miller demonstrated this starkly, and rather profanely at the Rhode Island State House …… Read more

Illinois Middle School Unapologetic about Teaching "Shall Be Infringed" Version of 2nd Amendment
Grant Middle School, in Springfield, Illinois, has been under the gimlet eye of gun rights advocates of late, with the revelation that students there are being taught a rather startling version of the Second Amendment …… Read more

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