Reader’s Links for February 19th, 2025

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Each day at just after midnight Eastern, a post like this one is created for contributors and readers of this site to upload news links and video links on the issues that concern this site. Most notably, Islam and its effects on Classical Civilization, and various forms of leftism from Soviet era communism, to postmodernism and all the flavours of galloping statism and totalitarianism such as Nazism and Fascism which are increasingly snuffing out the classical liberalism which created our near, miraculous civilization the West has been building since the time of Socrates.

This document was written around the time this site was created, for those who wish to understand what this site is about. And while our understanding of the world and events has grown since then, the basic ideas remain sound and true to the purpose.

So please post all links, thoughts and ideas that you feel will benefit the readers of this site to the comments under this post each day. And thank you all for your contributions.

This is the new Samizdat. We must use it while we can.

For those interested, please check out https://vladtepesblog.substack.com/ as an another avenue of expression. The Substack is a different project in a sense. It is older videos that in the light of subsequent events, look different or of increased importance, Check it out now and again if you like.

About Eeyore

Canadian artist and counter-jihad and freedom of speech activist as well as devout Schrödinger's catholic

42 Replies to “Reader’s Links for February 19th, 2025”

  1. Eminent economist and pragmatist David Rosenberg says Canada has rarely looked this good for American investors. While I don’t agree with everything he says, such as his wanting to subsidize certain segments of the population, it is good to hear from a smart voice outside of our own echo chamber. In other words Rosenberg is not tuned into the communist threat presented by Marx Carnage.

    https://youtu.be/kMDnRufatG8?si=idK6JM1qMpWUcuym

    • Just 2 mins in, but I notiece it sposnored by Sprott, IMO a far less than honest organization which I suspect does fractional reserve banking with people’s silver holdings that they think they have at the Canadian mint, but you cant get delivery or ever see it, even if you go there.

      2, the opening question was idiotic. Canada in no way was leaderless. We had strong and powerful leadership. Too powerful. Just really really destructive. Trudeau took us far in his vision of a basically Chinese communist society. To call it leaderless is to show a total lack of awareness of what is happening in Canada.

      I’ll try and watch the rest later.

  6. Australian Muslim leaders: Reaction to nurses threatening Israelis ‘manufactured moral panic’
    A statement signed by AFIC, Hizb Ut-Tahrir Australia, The Muslim Vote and dozens of others charged that the overwhelming response to the video was ‘calculated and politically motivated outrage.’

    https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-842699

    TL-DR: That video of Australian nurses laughing and saying that they would kill their Jewish patients and might already have done so – well, the outrage against this is totally unreasonable and maliciously manufactured because…Gaza.

  8. Gad Saad on the importance of shared values and the imminent demise of Canada on its current tragectory:

    • Gad Saad is an advisor on the board on MIT’s hilarious blog, “The Babbling Beaver”. You see quite a few Canucks among the righteous who put their names on this sinful stuff.

      Their mission statement:
      “The Babbling Beaver board of advisors comprises only the most esteemed champions of all that is good and right in the world. Unafraid to stand athwart Wokeness and yell “Stop!” they can be counted on to provide the Beaver with not only a veneer of respectability but with the moral courage of their example.

      “Not to mention the sage advice of their lived experience when it comes to sticking a rhetorical shiv in the pompous egos, fatuous intellects, and depraved morals of the university presidents, chancellors, provosts, deans, administrators, and faculty infected by the Woke Mind Virus.

      “This mental pandemic may have already destroyed our liberal arts universities, but we can’t let it vitiate STEM. The Beaver hails you stalwart comrades with a hearty Aargh!
      If you believe yourself worthy of joining this august assembly drop a note explaining why…”

      https://babblingbeaver.com

    • Dear all:

      The Baron lives in a kind of remote place where services are 1970s level except for the internet, which also is delivered in a primitive way. In fact, he would be slightly better off with a 54 baud modem I suspect and use the phone lines 🙂

      So whenever there is a snow storm, he is down from a few hours to a few weeks. The last couple have been large. I wouldn’t worry just yet. I have sent the Sheriff out there a few times already this winter, so reluctant to do it again.

      We can feel secure that he is safe. He’s be back when the phone company decides it has nothing better to do than repair the lines again.

  13. Austrian authorities arrest teenager who apparently planned an attack at a railway station
    https://apnews.com/article/austria-islamic-extremism-arrest-attack-vienna-6f78b5948df8dd1f42d1217b139a3cfb
    Austrian investigators have arrested a 14-year-old who was planning an attack at a railway station in Vienna and found material that suggested he supported the Islamic State group, authorities said Wednesday.
    The Interior Ministry said that the boy, an Austrian with Turkish roots, was arrested in the capital on Feb. 10 and had been radicalized online. The arrest was triggered by tips to Austrian intelligence that a supporter of IS had posted stories and videos with Islamic extremist content on several TikTok profiles.
    The suspect was identified and prosecutors ordered his arrest on suspicion of membership in a terrorist group or criminal organization.
    The boy had a knife in his pocket at the time of his arrest, the ministry said. During a search of his home, investigators found numerous Islamic extremist books as well as sketches of attacks with knives and machetes at a station and against police officers, and drawings of fighters with the IS flag. They also found handwritten instructions for making explosive material to serve as a detonator for a bomb.
    Further material that apparently was meant to be used in making a bomb was found in the building’s basement, along with other knives. The suspect refused to testify in initial questioning.
    The Interior Ministry said in a statement the intended target was the Westbahnhof, a major railway station in Vienna. It did not say when the attack was supposed to take place.

  14. Two Tiny Captives, Symbols of Hostage Crisis, to Go Home Dead, Hamas Says
    Hamas said it would turn over the bodies of the boys, Ariel Bibas and his baby brother, Kfir, and their mother. Israel was expected to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange.
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/18/world/middleeast/bibas-bodies-death-hamas-israel-exchange.html
    For more than a year, many Israelis and others around the world have anguished over the fates of a mother and her two young sons who were captured by gunmen and taken to Gaza during the Hamas-led assault of Oct. 7, 2023.
    On Tuesday, hopes dissipated that the Israeli woman, Shiri Bibas, and her children would be returned alive when Hamas announced that it would hand over at least some of their bodies this week. Israeli officials later warned against disseminating “rumors” regarding the hostages without extensively commenting on Hamas’s statement.
    For many Israelis, the kidnapping of Ms. Bibas, her husband, Yarden, and their redheaded children — Ariel, who was 4 at the time, and Kfir, then not even 9 months old — epitomized the cruelty of the Hamas-led attack that prompted the 15-month war in Gaza. The family’s capture became a rallying cry both for those who supported a deal to end the war and negotiate the hostages’ speedy release, and for those who believed Israel should continue fighting until Hamas was destroyed.
    News that Hamas would turn over the bodies, part of a series of negotiated exchanges in this phase of a cease-fire agreement, followed the release of 19 living Israeli hostages in recent weeks. If those releases lifted spirits in Israel, the report of the children’s deaths left many in the country distraught.
    Israel has not confirmed the deaths of the three Bibas family members, but the Israeli military said last month it was “gravely concerned” about them.
    Israel is expected to release Palestinian prisoners and detainees in exchange for the bodies.
    Mr. Bibas was abducted separately to Gaza. He was seen in video footage being driven away with a bleeding head wound. Ms. Bibas’s elderly parents were also killed in the Hamas-led attack.
    [..]

  15. Hamas to turn over bodies of Shiri Bibas and 2 young children
    https://www.foxnews.com/world/hamas-turn-over-bodies-shiri-bibas-2-young-children
    The Israeli government has received confirmation on the identities of the deceased hostages due to be released from Gaza on Thursday.
    The Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters confirmed the names of Shiri Bibas and her two children, as well as Oded Lifshitz, a journalist and peace activist. All four were murdered while in Hamas custody.
    “We received the heart-shattering news that Shiri Bibas, her children Ariel and Kfir, and Oded Lifshitz are no longer with us. This news cuts like a knife through our hearts, the families’ hearts and the hearts of people all over the world,” the organization wrote.
    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that they received the list of deceased hostages on Wednesday.
    [..]

  16. Montana May Soon Become First State to Ban mRNA Vaccines
    thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/montana-may-soon-become-first-state-ban-mrna/
    Feb. 19, 2025 3:00 pm
    U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Maily Groeschel, 23rd Medical Group beneficiary care flight chief, draws a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine from a vial at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Aug. 17, 2021. Recipients must receive the second dose of the Moderna vaccine within 30 days of the first dose. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Megan Estrada)

    The state of Montana is considering a proposal that would ban mRNA vaccines.

    Having passed out of committee, Republican lawmakers are supporting legislation that would ban the use of mRNA vaccines in most medical circumstances.

    Sponsored by Reps. Greg Kmetz, Tracy Sharp and Lukas Schubert, House Bill 371 would ban the administering of vaccines developed with mRNA, or messenger ribonucleic acid, technology on humans.

    Last week, the Montana House Judiciary Committee voted to send the bill to the floor after hearing testimony for and against the proposal, according to NBC Montana.

    “[mRNA vaccines are] the most destructive and lethal medical products that have ever been used in medical history,” Dr. Christine Drivdahl-Smith, a family physician in Miles City, told the committee earlier this month.

    Also providing testimony was Derek Oestreicher, chief legal counsel for the Montana Family Foundation, which works to inform parents about decisions related to their children’s healthcare.

    “mRNA vaccines are still in their infancy, we do not yet fully understand the long-term consequences of introducing synthetic genetic material into the human body,” he explained.

    “And the rush to roll out these vaccines without adequate long-term studies has left many individuals questioning the wisdom of their own medical choices.”

    “This is especially true for those who felt forced or coerced into taking the vaccines due to mandates, social pressures, or threats to their employment.”

    While the bill would ban mRNA vaccines “for infectious diseases,” exclusions have been carved out for “gene therapy products used to treat cancers or genetic disorders.”

    The most notorious mRNA vaccine was the COVID vaccine, which despite promises from Big Pharma to end the pandemic, did not prevent transmission of the disease.

    Under the terms of the bill, anyone healthcare professional caught administering a gene-based vaccine to a person in Montana would face a $500 fine per violation and could risk losing their medical license.

    It is currently unclear whether the bill has sufficient support to pass.

    Republicans control both Houses of the Montana State Legislature, although remain short of a supermajority.

    The state also has a Republican governor, Greg Gianforte.

    Donald Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy is known for his skepticism about mRNA technology but has insisted that anyone who wishes to take a vaccine will remain free to do so.

    However, Kennedy has promised to carry out reviews on vaccine side effects and raise the standards of approval for mRNA technology.

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/montana-may-soon-become-first-state-ban-mrna/

    • Yale scientists link Covid vaccines to alarming new syndrome causing ‘distinct biological changes’ to body

      Experts from Yale University have discovered an alarming syndrome linked to the mRNA Covid vaccines.

      The previously-unknown condition – dubbed ‘post-vaccination syndrome’ – appears to cause brain fog, dizziness, tinnitus and exercise intolerance.

      Some sufferers also show distinct biological changes, including differences in immune cells and the presence of coronavirus proteins in their blood, years after taking the shot.

      The condition also appears to reawaken a dormant virus in the body called Epstein-Barr which can cause flu-like symptoms, swollen lymph nodes and nerve issues.

      The full results of the small study have not yet been published, and the Yale experts emphasized the results ‘are still a work in progress.’

      Yet the findings, from a well-respected institution, suggest more research on post-vaccination syndrome is needed, independent experts said.

      The next phase of the research will be to ascertain how widespread the condition is and who is most at risk.

      click through for the rest

      https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14414367/covid-vaccines-new-syndrome-biological-changes-yale.html

  17. Leftists Lose It After White House Trolls with ‘Long Live the King’ Trump Meme
    thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/leftists-lose-it-after-white-house-trolls-long/
    Feb. 19, 2025 2:40 pm
    King Trump meme

    President Trump set the internet on fire on Wednesday after he trolled the left with a meme.

    The Department of Transportation moved to kill New York City’s ‘congestion pricing’ on Wednesday.

    Secretary Sean Duffy sent New York Governor Kathy Hochul a letter informing her of the Trump Administration’s decision to “terminate” the program.

    Trump declared victory in a cheeky social media post.

    “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!” Trump said on Truth Social on Wednesday afternoon.

    The White House trolled with a “Long Live The King” Trump Meme.

    “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!”
    –President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/IMr4tq0sMB

    — The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 19, 2025

    New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she is taking Trump to court over ending the city’s congestion pricing.

    ‘We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king,” Hochul said.

    We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king. pic.twitter.com/PikwB5OwnM

    — Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) February 19, 2025

    Leftists are going crazy over the meme.

    This is the most un-American White House in history

    — Brett Meiselas (@BMeiselas) February 19, 2025

    An absolute disgrace. Founding Fathers are rolling in their graves.

    — Arcadiy Ivanov (@IAmArcIvanov) February 19, 2025

    We are in pre third reich Germany rn

    — citizens broascast (@lambosinspace) February 19, 2025

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/leftists-lose-it-after-white-house-trolls-long/

  18. German Bundestag Member from Far-Left ‘Linke’ Party Wears Black Balaclava Mask and Threatens Conservatives and Populists Days Before National Election
    thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/german-bundestag-member-far-left-linke-party-wears/
    Feb. 19, 2025 1:00 pm
    Budestag member Gregor Gsyi makes video threat against conservative party.

    German national elections are scheduled for Sunday.

    The conservative-populist AfD Party is leading in several recent polls. Much of this is thanks to Elon Musk giving voice to the populist party.

    In late January, Elon Musk addressed the AfD Party convention and said this about the upcoming election, “I think it decides the entire fate of Europe, maybe the entire fate of the world.”

    AfD SURGE IN LATEST GERMAN POLL

    – 52% say they want to adopt hard line immigration and deportation policies “like Donald Trump”

    Only 3% left to go.
    Just over a week to go.

    Germany, it’s time to take your country back! pic.twitter.com/qCz6Hkojqx

    — Basil the Great (@Basil_TGMD) February 14, 2025

    For years now, the organized left in Germany has been allowed to openly hunt down and abuse AfD members.

    Just three weeks ago 12,000 masked and armed “anti” fascists attacked the AfD Convention in Germany. This shocking, violent assault on free speech was ignored by the mainstream legacy media around the world. Totally disgraceful.

    12,000 Masked and Armed “Anti” Fascists Attack AfD Convention in Germany, Assault Candidate Alice Weidel’s Limousine As She Rode to Convention Days After Elon Musk Interview

    On Wednesday, German Bundestag member Gregor Gsyi donned a black balaclava mask – similar to what the Nazis did in the past – and released a threatening video on X.

    Gregor Gsyi called on Germans to “get active now” before the elections. This was a clear, violent threat against the AfD party.

    This will not make any international headlines.

    Vice President J.D. Vance warned us about this last week during his speech in Munich.

    #NEW – Member of the Bundestag for the far-left party “Linke” wearing a black “Antifa” balaclava calls on people to “get active now” ahead of the elections in Germany.

    Gregor Gysi appears on the internet wearing a black balaclava embroidered with red thread, 161. This is a… pic.twitter.com/ItQ8OKcOsY

    — ?°•.•?°•..•°?•.•°? (@inthegear) February 19, 2025

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/german-bundestag-member-far-left-linke-party-wears/

  19. “We Don’t Owe You a Single Cent, You Bastards!” – Ungrateful Ukrainian Responds to Trump’s Demands to Repay $250 Billion – VIDEO
    thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/we-dont-owe-you-single-cent-you-bastards/
    Feb. 19, 2025 10:15 am
    An ungrateful Ukrainian responds to President Trump’s demands to payback billions sent by US to fund war. – via AussieCossack

    On Tuesday President Donald Trump told reporters he believed Ukraine should repay the United States the $350 billion the Biden regime sent to the country to fund their war with Russia.

    Of course, the billions of US dollars were never audited once they crossed the Atlantic. Much of the money disappeared. Even Ukrainian President Zelensky says he does not know where $100 billion US dollars went missing.

    One Ukrainian citizen responded to President Trump’s request to repay US billions donated to his country to fight Russia.

    Ukrainian citizen to President Trump: “We have lost the war with the United States. Who are you? Who are you? Why are you asking us? You don’t have a penny, you’re a creep.”

    Such a grateful Ukrainian. And we send $15-$350 billion to these people???

    Via Amuse and AussieCossack.

    UKRAINE: Ukrainians respond to Trump’s demand to repay the $250 billion given to Zelensky, declaring, “We don’t owe you a single cent, you bastards!”

    h/t @BowesChay pic.twitter.com/fvSthuZwYy

    — @amuse (@amuse) February 19, 2025

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/we-dont-owe-you-single-cent-you-bastards/

  21. Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump’s Firing of CIA Officers Involved in DEI Programs
    thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/federal-judge-temporarily-blocks-trumps-firing-cia-officers/
    Feb. 19, 2025 8:00 am
    Judge Anthony J. Trenga (Ballotpedia)

    Judge Anthony J. Trenga, an appointee of George W. Bush, has temporarily blocked President Trump’s move to clean house in the intelligence community—specifically targeting agents involved in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives that have compromised national security in favor of leftist ideology.

    This ruling comes after a group of anonymous intelligence officers, who had been temporarily reassigned to roles implementing controversial Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) programs, have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and the CIA.

    The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, names ODNI, the CIA, and their respective heads—Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe—as defendants.

    The plaintiffs, identified as “John Does 1-6” and “Jane Does 1-5,” claim they are being unfairly targeted simply for their prior assignments to DEIA programs.

    However, conservatives see it differently. President Trump’s Executive Order 14151, signed on his first day back in office, decisively dismantled DEIA offices across the federal government, branding them “illegal and immoral.”

    The order made it clear that radical left-wing hiring practices, which prioritized identity over merit, had no place in a serious government, especially in agencies tasked with protecting American national security.

    According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs claim they were placed on administrative leave “without cause” and fear imminent termination.

    They argue that the ODNI and CIA’s actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and the First and Fifth Amendments, essentially accusing the Trump administration of purging government agencies based on assumed political beliefs.

    However, the reality is that these DEIA assignments were nothing more than a bureaucratic extension of the far-left’s identity politics agenda, which has infiltrated every corner of government—including national security agencies.

    Many of these so-called intelligence officers were not dedicated to protecting America’s security but were instead focused on enforcing radical leftist policies that prioritized “equity” over competence.

    However, on Tuesday, Judge Anthony J. Trenga granted an administrative stay, ensuring that the plaintiffs will remain on administrative leave with full pay and benefits until the court rules further on the matter.

    The judge also set a timeline for legal proceedings, requiring the government to submit its response by February 20 and allowing plaintiffs to reply by February 21. A full hearing on the TRO is scheduled for Monday, February 24, 2025.

    More from far-left Politico:

    A lawyer for the intelligence officials, all of whom were identified by pseudonyms in the lawsuit, welcomed the ruling.

    “We’re very gratified by the judge deciding to do an administrative stay for a week, basically, while the government answered some of his questions,” attorney Kevin Carroll said.

    Carroll said his clients began getting messages over the weekend to report Tuesday to a visitor center with their official identification, a request he said typically signals a looming dismissal. He said the employees received notices specifying Trump’s executive order ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs as the reason.

    “They say this is to comply with the executive order, which is really dumb because the executive order talks about ending DEI functions. It doesn’t say you have to fire DEI personnel. And nobody is hired into the CIA to be a DEI guy. It’s a rotational duty, like you have in the Army or anywhere else,” Carroll said. “So, they can simply just reassign these people back to being an analyst or scientist or case officer, whatever they did before instead of firing them. It’s arbitrary and capricious.”

    […]

    “The paperwork from the CIA is relying solely on this subsection of the National Security Act, which says the director can do whatever he wants, which the Supreme Court has made clear applies only to national security,” the attorney said.

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/federal-judge-temporarily-blocks-trumps-firing-cia-officers/

  22. Chinese warships sail within 150 nautical miles of Sydney
    ‘Unprecedented’ manoeuvre comes as Beijing projects power further in Pacific

    The Australian navy is shadowing Chinese warships 150 nautical miles east of Sydney, the furthest China’s navy has sailed down the eastern Australian coast.
    Two Australian ships are following a Chinese naval task group — comprising two warships and a supply vessel — that appeared off the north-east coast of Australia a week ago, according to people familiar with the situation.
    One person said it was “unprecedented” for the Chinese navy to sail so far down Australia’s east coast and stressed that Beijing was normalising its projection of power beyond the first Pacific island chain, which stretches from Japan to Indonesia, and the second island chain, which runs from Japan through Guam to Micronesia.
    “As the Chinese test their ability to project power further south, in addition to east and west, the question becomes how much they can hold at risk — how much they can signal to the Australians that they can threaten them,” said Charles Edel, an Australia expert at Washington-based think-tank CSIS.
    The Australian defence ministry last week said the ships were sailing in international waters off the country’s north-east. The two warships include a frigate called the Hengyang and a cruiser, the Zunyi.
    The Pentagon last year said the People’s Liberation Army Navy was building ships that extended its reach beyond east Asia. China insists it has the right to develop its military.
    “While US foreign policy is in flux?.?.?.?the presence of the Chinese ships off Australia displays a consistency, with the Chinese navy continuing to extend the reach and intensity of its patrols in the region including off Australia and the south Pacific Islands,” said Richard McGregor at the Lowy Institute think-tank.
    “That tells you about Chinese ambitions in the Pacific where it is competing head-on for influence with Australia and, to a lesser extent, the US.”
    Chinese navy ships visited Sydney in 2019 but that visit, unlike the current deployment, was co-ordinated with the Australian government.
    The incident came as Admiral Samuel Paparo, the head of US Indo-Pacific Command, was visiting Australia, where he met defence minister Richard Marles and foreign minister Penny Wong in addition to meeting Vice-Admiral Justin Jones, the chief of joint operations.
    The Australian defence department and Chinese defence ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

    Euan Graham, a defence expert at the ASPI think-tank in Canberra, said the PLA was expressing power in the Pacific more frequently. He added that China had a history of unsafe responses to legal Australian maritime activity. Beijing objects when the US and Australian navies sail through international waters in the Taiwan Strait.
    “They want to have their cake and eat it,” said Graham. “It’s a clear double standard.”
    Marles, who also serves as deputy prime minister, said last week that the PLA Air Force had fired flares within 30 metres of an Australian P-8 aircraft, in an “unsafe” incident in international waters in the South China Sea.
    Last week, Marles ordered the Australian navy and air force to keep a “close eye” on the Chinese naval task group. Beijing responded by accusing Australia of deliberately infringing on its rights in the South China Sea.

    https://archive.is/F0bAC#selection-2391.0-2489.219

  24. FRAC and Franklin Armory Score a Victory Over the ATF
    Ammoland Inc. Posted on February 19, 2025 by John Crump
    Franklin Armory Reformation Firearm
    Franklin Armory Reformation Firearm

    The Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition (FRAC) and Franklin Armory won a significant victory over the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in a North Dakota United States District Court.

    The fight was over the ATF classification of the Franklin Armory Reformation and Antithesis firearms. The Reformation had a barrel that had straight lands and grooves. Since the statutory definition of a rifle says it must have a rifled barrel, the Reformation doesn’t meet the definition of a rifle. The barrel isn’t a smooth bore, either. The Gun Control Act (GCA) statutory definition of a shotgun states that the barrel must be a smooth bore. The statutory definition of a shotgun under the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) says that a shotgun must use shotgun shells. The Reformation is chambered in .300 Blackout. The Franklin Armory called this barrel design “NRS.” “NRS” stands for “Not a Rifle or Shotgun.”

    The Antithesis is a firearm that can use both shot shells and cartridges. According to federal statute, a rifle can shoot” only a single projectile.” Since the Antithesis shoots both shot shells and cartridges, Franklin Armory claimed the firearm was not a rifle. Both firearms were submitted to the ATF for classification letters.
    The ATF ruled that the Reformation was a shotgun under the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) because, according to the ATF, a “smooth bore” doesn’t require a bore to be smooth. The ATF said it only means that a barrel doesn’t have rifling. ATF classified the Reformation as a GCA-only regulated short-barrel shotgun. This classification is similar to those of 14-inch GCA-only shotguns like the Shockwave or TAC-14.

    In 2019, The ATF told Franklin Armory that the Reformation could only be sold or transferred to those with an FFL, and the owner could not take the firearm across state lines. The ATF said it was “currently developing the procedures and forms to address this gap in the federal firearm regulations.” There were no ATF forms for GCA-only short-barreled shotguns.

    In 2020, the ATF failed its attempt to develop a form for a GCA-only firearm. The ATF claimed that the transport or transfer of GCA-only short-barreled shotguns outside NFA regulations was inconsistent with public safety. They contended that allowance for GCA-only short-barreled shotguns “contradicts Congress’ intent to more closely regulate concealable shotguns through the NFA.”

    With the Antithesis, Franklin Armory stated they designed and advertised the firearm to fire both types of ammunition. The ATF said it didn’t matter that Franklin Armory designed the gun to fire both shot shells and cartridges. The Bureau stated that “a rifled bore is an objective design feature designed and made to fire only a single projectile.” It determined that the Antithesis was a short-barreled rifle under the GCA and the NFA.
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    In January 2023, FRAC and Franklin Armory teamed up and sued the ATF over the classifications. The ATF would then change its mind over the Reformation. The ATF issued a new classification of the Reformation, and this time, it said that the Reformation was a shotgun under the GCA and the NFA, even though it didn’t meet the definition of a shotgun under the NFA.

    The Bureau claimed that it was using “Congressional intent” when issuing the new classification. It said that Congress “did not intend for a firearm classification under these definitions to be driven by the classification of the type of ammunition the weapon is capable of firing, as opposed to the objective design features and capabilities of the weapon itself.” The ATF claimed since shotgun shells are not defined in the NFA, it could use “ordinary meaning” of “shotgun shells.” According to the ATF, a shotgun shell is “[t]he cartridge for a shotgun.” This definition means that the .300Blk cartridge could be considered a shotgun shell. The ATF tried to claim that the case was now moot because of the new classification letter. This argument failed after the plaintiff’s complaint was amended.
    The ATF argued that the court should give deference to its interpretation of GCA and NFA because firearm classification “requires a high level of technical expertise.” The plaintiffs rejected the ATF’s reasoning. They stated that criminal statute is not entitled to deference. Both the NFA and GCA are criminal statutes with serious repercussions.

    The judge highlights that in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, the Supreme Court overruled agency deference, stating the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) directs courts to “interpret constitutional and statutory provisions,” which “makes clear that agency interpretations of statutes—like agency interpretations of the Constitution—are not entitled to deference.” SCOTUS said the “best reading “of a statute is ‘the reading the court would have reached’ if no agency were involved.”

    The APA said that an agency action may be set aside if it is “arbitrary, capricious,” or “in excess of statutory . . . authority.” The plaintiffs claimed that the ATF’s action on the Reformation was both arbitrary, capricious, and the ATF exceeded its statutory authority. The judge rejected the ATF changing the definition of “smooth bore.” It also dismissed the ATF’s attempts to change the definition of “fixed shotgun shells.” The judge felt that the ATF was changing its meaning to justify its ends.

    The plaintiffs claim the ATF’s classification of the Antithesis “exceeded its authority by disregarding statutory text, the classification is arbitrary and capricious because ATF disregarded statutory text, and the classification is arbitrary and capricious because ATF failed to consider an important aspect of the problem.” The plaintiffs said that the ATF disregarded the plain statutory language of what is a rifle. The ATF claims if the statute is read how Congress wrote it. No firearm would be classified as a “rifle.” The judge rejected the ATF’s argument. Rifles are designed to fire a single cartridge, whereas the Antithesis is designed to fire both shot shells and cartridges.
    The judge ruled against the ATF and said, “Congress gave ATF the ability to enforce the law, not change it. Franklin Armory created a weapon that didn’t fit into the round holes made by Congress but did not give ATF authority to change the shape or size of the hole to make the Reformation fit. The separation of powers ‘is admitted on all hands to be essential to the preservation of liberty.’”

    FRAC President & CEO Travis White stated, “The ATF has egregiously abused the firearms technology classification process, and this is a landmark ruling in reining in such abuses.”

    Franklin Armory President Jay Jacobson said, “We spent years trying to reason with ATF leadership as they failed to classify firearms correctly. We hope that future agency leaders will stick to the law as passed by Congress. All we ever wanted was a good referee, not someone to throw the game.”

    The judge granted FRAC and Franklin Armory their motion for summary judgment. The ATF will have 180 days to create a procedure for regulating GCA-only firearms.

    https://www.scribd.com/embeds/830199243/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-aNng58celRofRA1lbWzY

    https://www.ammoland.com/2025/02/frac-and-franklin-armory-score-a-victory-over-the-atf/

  25. Very Real Potential for ‘Existential’ EMP Attack Highlights Suicidal Short-Sightedness of Gun Banners
    Ammoland Inc. Posted on February 19, 2025 by David Codrea
    Riot Burning Car iStock-532226067
    If the lights go out, the threat will be existential. Who wants to give up their guns? IMG iStock-532226067

    “A nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP) strike could cripple the U.S. electrical grid, communications, transportation, and other critical infrastructure for months, an expert warned,” Fox News reports. “Historian William Forstchen, a New York Times bestselling author and an expert on EMPs, discussed with Fox News Digital how the U.S. – and everyday Americans – can prepare for the ‘existential threat’ that the attack poses.
    That may be news to their readers, but EMP, along with preparedness planning, have been regularly featured in AmmoLand Shooting Sports News stories and other Second Amendment-promoting websites. Curiously, the ones not talking about either are gun prohibitionist lobbyists. Try using those search terms yourself at Brady United, Giffords, and Everytown, and see if you can find one word about what you can do if the real possibility of widespread social disruption happens.

    This won’t be another article on how to stock up on supplies or what to put in your bugout bag (assuming car circuitry isn’t fried and/or you have alternate means of egress), how to make sure you have enough water, food, medical supplies, ammunition, fuel, (toilet paper!) etc., how to secure your home/shelter, organize trusted friend/neighborhood alliances, etc. There are plenty of resources to consult on that, and presumably, AmmoLand readers and gun owners in general are more cognizant of them than most. Instead, let’s look at the likely universal commonalities for when the lights go out.

    Before too long, it will be clear to many that they won’t be coming back on anytime soon. It will also be clear that stores won’t be able to sell you anything because their registers won’t work. They’ll soon become dangerous places to be as people figure out if they want it, there won’t be anyone to keep them from taking it, and anyone to keep someone else from taking it from them.

    The “authorities” will be overwhelmed, at least the ones who don’t just abandon their posts to take care of themselves, as happened in Hurricane Katrina when 249 “community heroes” took care of themselves, with some even joining in the looting. They’ll organize and deploy to where they’re most needed and set up triage stations. With cars being stalled, planes crashed, emergency first responders all but helpless, hospitals trying to figure out where to put the dead…Add widespread looting and arson with firefighters pretty much helpless…

    “Many Americans Not Prepared for Disasters,” HealthDay reported from a poll back in 2012. “Nearly half of adults surveyed do not have emergency supplies, researchers find.” And the ones they surveyed has “a false sense of security.”
    There’s no reason to believe that’s changed, and every reason to believe most Americans don’t even have the three-day supply of food and water recommended by government agencies like the National Weather Service. What happens after three days? What happens after a week? Two weeks…?
    Is now a good time to mention “that lead times for transformers has grown fourfold in three years, with orders sometimes taking two years”?

    There will be no shortage of people who prepared for nothing and who, driven by desperation and already inclined to predatory practices, will be prepared to take what they want from who they want, and kill anyone who gets in their way. And they’ll spread out from the cities to find what they need, which will soon turn into who they need.
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    Now consider the numbers. Or don’t because they’re terrifying.

    With “top men” reporting the potential for EMP to shut things down and leave us all at the mercy of the merciless, it’s time to ask who the delusional ones are: American gun owners or the evil violence monopolists and their useful idiots (aka “cannibal food”) demanding citizen disarmament, and especially the banning of “weapons of war” and “high capacity magazines”?

    As I’ve asked before:

    [W]here in history is any civilization guaranteed stasis? Has not despotism and mass destruction plagued every civilization that preceded ours? Is it not, in fact, still commonplace throughout the globe? By what suspension of reality, by what denial of the observable and the probable, by what art, device or magic are we sheltered few immune from catastrophe? Are we certain, from our brief and privileged vantage point, that such things will ever remain headline curiosities? Is it not just plain stupid to proclaim that our familiar way of life will forever be the norm, when everything that has gone before us shows we are, instead, the extremely lucky beneficiaries of a rare and fortunate convergence of circumstances; and one, by the way, that has only been preserved under force of arms?

    If only the Founders had conceived of a way that Americans could band together in times of existential threat and to provide for what was “necessary to the security of a free state…”
    Oh, they did…? And what we need to do is clear…?

    I don’t suppose, with all the wish lists gun owners are preparing for Donald Trump now that he’s started issuing Second Amendment-related executive actions, anyone with the president’s ear would like to remind him that “The President shall be Commander in Chief of … the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States”? And urge him to start championing its resurrection in addition to that “Iron Dome” he’s proposing…?

    https://www.ammoland.com/2025/02/very-real-potential-for-existential-emp-attack-highlights-suicidal-short-sightedness-of-gun-banners/

  26. Mexican President Threatens Gun Makers If Trump Declares Cartels ‘Terrorists’
    By Tom Knighton | 8:29 AM | February 18, 2025
    AP Photo/Marco Ugarte

    Hypothetically, no one likes the cartels. The governments of both Mexico and the United States say they oppose them and want to do something about them, but no one actually believes it in the case of the Mexican government. Why? Because they could have done something thousands of times, including asking the US for help, and they haven’t.
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    But if I had any doubts about Mexican officials being in the pocket, they’ve been completely eradicated.

    See, President Trump has been talking about classifying the cartels as terrorist organizations. This opens up a plethora of tools the US can use to combat them, and considering how they operate, it’s not exactly wrong to think of them in such a way. Their goal is ultimately money versus politics, but that’s a difference without much distinction when it comes to what they do and who they do it to.

    And Mexico’s president doesn’t seem to like that, so if he does, she wants to up the ante with the firearm industry.

    Mexico’s president on Friday warned U.S. gunmakers they could face fresh legal action and be deemed accomplices if Washington designates Mexican drug cartels as terrorist groups.

    “If they declare these criminal groups as terrorists, then we’ll have to expand our U.S. lawsuit,” Claudia Sheinbaum said at a daily press conference.

    A new charge could include alleged “complicity” of gunmakers with terror groups, she said.

    Sheinbaum said the U.S. Justice Department itself has recognized that “74% of the weapons” used by criminal groups in Mexico come from north of the border.

    An estimated 200,000 to half a million U.S. firearms are smuggled into Mexico every year, “60 Minutes” reported in December.

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    Now, that’s an interesting take.

    Why would Sheinbaum object to the cartels being classified as terrorist organizations? She vocally rejected allegations she and her government were in the cartel’s pocket, so why is she so quick to try and defend them here and now?

    Seems a little bizarre, doesn’t it?

    As for the allegation she hopes to make against the gun companies should Trump decide to act in such a way, here’s what the report from CBS News says about those guns.

    A 2023 CBS Reports investigation found that dozens of cartel gunrunning networks, operating like terrorist cells, pay Americans to buy weapons from gun stores and online dealers all across the country, as far north as Wisconsin and even Alaska, according to U.S. intelligence sources. The firearms are then shipped across the southwest border through a chain of brokers and couriers.

    That’s right. Even CBS knows that the gun companies aren’t doing anything wrong. These are straw purchases which are already illegal, which are then trafficked into Mexico, which is also illegal, and which we’d love to stop but since the gunrunners likely use the exact same paths used to smuggle people into the country, it’s kind of tricky.
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    And I honestly don’t think a judge or jury can honestly look at this and decide that yes, the gun companies are complicit in this when they’re doing nothing but selling guns to licensed dealers or routing them through those dealers for lawful sale.

    Yet Sheinbaum’s take on this is…interesting to me.

    How can you say you oppose the cartels and that you want them out of your country while also defending them? That makes no sense at all unless you remember that people can say anything, but it’s what they do that matters.

    I can’t say definitively if Sheinbaum is taking the cartels’ coin, but I can say I wouldn’t expect her to act the least bit differently if she were.

    https://bearingarms.com/tomknighton/2025/02/18/mexican-president-threatens-gun-makers-if-trump-declares-cartels-terrorists-n1227710

  27. Don’t Tread on Me: The Gadsden Flag and What It Really Means
    By
    Scott Witner –
    February 19, 2025 4
    what does don’t tread on me mean
    A Don’t Tread on Me flag at a Take Back the House rally in front of Congressman John Yarmuth’s office in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons)

    The phrase “Don’t Tread on Me” isn’t just some old slogan—it’s a battle cry for freedom. It’s a symbol of independence, defiance, and a refusal to be controlled. You’ve probably seen it on flags, bumper stickers, and even T-shirts, but do you really know the story behind it?

    Let’s take a closer look at the Gadsden Flag, its history, and why it still resonates today.
    What Does the Gadsden Flag Represent?

    The Gadsden Flag is one of the most recognizable symbols of American liberty. That bright yellow background, coiled rattlesnake, and the words “Don’t Tread on Me” send a clear message: We are ready to defend our freedom.

    Originally designed during the American Revolution, this flag isn’t just about patriotism—it’s about standing up against tyranny, staying vigilant, and making sure no one tramples on individual rights.
    The History Behind the Gadsden Flag

    The Gadsden Flag dates back to 1775, right at the start of the American Revolution. Christopher Gadsden, a soldier and politician from South Carolina, designed the flag as a symbol of resistance. It was first used by the Continental Marines, America’s first naval force, as they prepared to take on the British.

    But why a rattlesnake? Well, back in colonial times, the rattlesnake was often used to represent the American spirit. It’s native to North America, doesn’t attack unless provoked, and gives plenty of warning before striking—qualities that perfectly reflected the mindset of the American colonies.
    The History Behind the Gadsden Flag

    Over time, the Gadsden Flag became a lasting symbol of American independence, freedom, and self-reliance. Even today, people wave this flag to make a statement about resisting government overreach and standing up for their rights.
    “Join or Die” – The Origins of the Rattlesnake Symbol

    Before the Gadsden Flag, another famous image used a snake to send a powerful message: Benjamin Franklin’s “Join or Die” cartoon.

    Published in 1754, Franklin’s illustration featured a rattlesnake cut into eight pieces, each labeled with the initials of a colony (or region). The message? The colonies needed to unite or risk being defeated.

    At the time, Franklin was urging the colonies to work together against French forces during the French and Indian War. However, the image took on a new meaning during the American Revolution—a warning that the colonies had to stand together against British rule.
    How “Join or Die” Connects to the Gadsden Flag

    While “Join or Die” was originally about colonial unity, its deeper message—strength in numbers and a fierce will to survive—perfectly connects to the spirit of the Gadsden Flag.

    Franklin’s segmented snake represented a divided people who needed to unite.
    The coiled rattlesnake on the Gadsden Flag is that same spirit, evolved—it’s now whole, ready to strike, and warning its enemies: Do not tread on us.

    The Gadsden Flag took the original idea of colonial unity and survival and transformed it into a broader symbol of American resistance and self-defense.
    What Does the Snake Symbolize?

    The rattlesnake on the Gadsden Flag isn’t just there to look cool—it has deep meaning:

    Vigilance: A rattlesnake is always aware of its surroundings and won’t hesitate to defend itself. This represents the need for Americans to stay alert and protect their freedoms.
    Independence: Unlike other animals, a rattlesnake is self-reliant. It doesn’t rely on a pack or herd, much like how the colonies wanted to govern themselves without interference.
    Defensive Posture: The rattlesnake doesn’t go looking for trouble—but if you step on it, you’ll regret it. This mirrors how the early Americans weren’t the aggressors but were more than willing to fight for their rights.

    This symbolism goes all the way back to Benjamin Franklin’s famous “Join or Die” cartoon, which depicted a segmented snake as a call for colonial unity. Over time, that imagery evolved into what we now see on the Gadsden Flag—a bold symbol of defiance and self-determination.
    Join or DieThe original “JOIN, or DIE” cartoon was created by Benjamin Franklin and first published in the Pennsylvania Gazette in 1754. It is often sited as the first America political cartoon. The cartoon became a symbol of freedom and democracy during the American Revolutionary War. – Wikipedia“
    Why the Gadsden Flag Still Matters

    Even after nearly 250 years, the Gadsden Flag still holds strong. It has appeared in military units, political movements, and cultural statements, always standing as a reminder of the fight for liberty.

    While its meaning has evolved in different contexts, the core message remains: Don’t mess with freedom-loving people.

    So the next time you see that coiled rattlesnake, you’ll know exactly what it represents—a warning, a statement, and a promise that we won’t back down.

    https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/what-does-dont-tread-on-me-mean/

  28. Acting DC US Attorney Ed Martin launches Investigation Into Threats Against DOGE Workers – Reveals Schumer is Target of Probe
    thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/acting-dc-us-attorney-ed-martin-launches-investigation/
    Feb. 19, 2025 4:45 pm
    Chuck Schumer

    Acting US Attorney for DC Ed Martin launched an investigation into threats against DOGE workers on Wednesday and revealed Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer as the target.

    Earlier this month Ed Martin announced his office would be charging and arresting individuals who threatened Elon Musk’s DOGE team.

    “Our initial review of the evidence presented to us indicates that certain individuals and/or groups have committed acts that appear to violate the law in targeting DOGE employees,” Ed Martin said.

    “We are in contact with the FBI and other law-enforcement partners to proceed rapidly. We also have our prosecutors preparing,” Ed Martin added.

    Now this…

    Ed Martin said his investigation on Wednesday was launched after he spoke to a DOGE worker last night about the ongoing threats.

    “Late last night I took a call from a senior DOGE staffer. We spoke about some pressing tech issues and then he told me about threats against DOGE workers. It is despicable that these men and women are being threatened,” Ed Martin said in an email reviewed by Reuters.

    Ed Martin named the investigation “Operation Whirlwind” after Schumer’s threats to conservative Supreme Court justices.

    Last month The Gateway Pundit reported the Department of Justice opened an investigation into Chuck Schumer for threatening Supreme Court justices during a pro-abortion rally back in 2020.

    Chuck Schumer previously threatened conservative Supreme Court justices when he shouted, “You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price.” He continued, “You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.”

    “At this time, I respectfully request that you clarify your comments from March 4, 2020. Your comments were at a private rally off the campus of the U.S. Capitol. You made them clearly and in a way that many found threatening,” Martin’s letter states.

    Ed Martin said Chuck Schumer has not responded to him.

    NEW: Here is the letter Ed Martin sent to Chuck Schumer related to threats Schumer made to Kavanaugh and Gorsuch in 2020 as the court was hearing oral arguments in a high profile abortion case. pic.twitter.com/H1trx7RvGQ

    — Julie Kelly (@julie_kelly2) February 2, 2025

    Chuck Schumer continued his attacks against DOGE workers on Wednesday.

    WATCH:

    Chuck Schumer attacks President Trump, Elon Musk, and DOGE for exposing government waste, fraud, and abuse:

    “Of course, there’s some wasteful spending, but you don’t use a meat axe & cut everything.”

    Yes Chuck… yes you do.
    pic.twitter.com/qKtOUokc9k

    — Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 19, 2025

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/acting-dc-us-attorney-ed-martin-launches-investigation/

  29. Kentucky teen shoots and kills 2 home invaders
    The 14-year-old boy was home alone and acted in self-defense after two men attempted to steal firearms from the home, police said.

    Create your free profile or log in to save this article

    Feb. 19, 2025, 11:46 AM CST
    By Terry Dickerson

    A 14-year-old Kentucky boy shot and killed two men attempting to steal firearms from a safe within a home early Sunday morning, police said.

    Clay County 911 received a call at approximately 4:24 a.m. regarding a shooting incident in Manchester. Upon responding, Manchester Police found two individuals had been shot and requested assistance from Kentucky State Police, according to a news release from KSP.

    Investigators found that the teen, who is a resident of the home, discovered the two men inside and saw them holding firearms, KSP said.

    “The juvenile, acting in self-defense, retrieved a handgun and shot both men before escaping through a bedroom window,” according to KSP.

    Chief Jeff Couch of the Manchester Police Department told NBC News on Wednesday that there were no additional residents present in the home at the time of the incident. It is unclear how the teen was able to locate the handgun that “belonged to his father,” according to Chief Couch.
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    The teen is not in police custody, Chief Couch said.

    The two men have been identified by state police as 44-year-old Roger D. Smith and 51-year-old Jeffrey M. Allen. Smith was transported to Advent Health Manchester, where he died from his injuries. Allen was pronounced dead at the scene.

    The deaths of both men were confirmed by the Clay County Coroner. Autopsies were performed by the medical examiner on Monday. The investigation remains ongoing.

    Kentucky State Police did not immediately respond to NBC News requests for comment.

    https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kentucky-child-shoots-kills-2-home-invaders-rcna192833