John Petrolino

2 weeks ago | bearingarms.com | John Petrolino

The 2025 National Rifle Association Annual Meeting was a big one for the organization. After the membership meeting wrapped up–with a number of noteworthy happenings occurring there–the newly installed board met on Monday April 28. The election of officers did not go lock-step with what the nominating committee wished, and the so-called “reformers” managed to sweep the slate, taking control of most of the organization.

2 weeks ago | shootingnewsweekly.com | John Petrolino

Firearms instructor Joe Drammissi is a member of the Board of Directors of San Diego County Gun Owners PAC, a writer, and Second Amendment activist. Drammissi has been navigating California’s gun laws for years, and we had a chat about some of the post-Bruen challenges that gun owners face in the Golden State. Drammissi breaks down some of the issues with the new training programs, how this has driven up costs for students, and the overall chaos that’s been proliferating on the left coast.

2 weeks ago | bearingarms.com | John Petrolino

In the wake of NYSRPA v. Bruen, a number of liberal leaning states enacted prohibitive carry laws in response. In September 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 2, the Golden State’s Bruen-response law, and it went into effect on January 1, 2024. Firearms instructor and San Diego County Gun Owners PAC board member Joe Drammissi has been navigating the changes in the law and spoke about it in a recent interview.

2 weeks ago | bearingarms.com | John Petrolino

President Donald J. Trump has been attending the National Rifle Association's annual meeting every year for nearly a decade. Trump did not make it to the 2025 NRAAM, but did send in a video message. Pundits have been skeptical of Trump's pro Second Amendment stance, however advocacy groups have been meeting with the administration as early as one week after the election.

3 weeks ago | bearingarms.com | John Petrolino

The Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives announced in late April 2025 that they’ve released their “Fact Sheet - Facts and Figures for Fiscal Year 2024.” The report offers an interesting glimpse into what the agency was doing last year. Some of the data that’s within the report includes:Personnel numbers and agency budget. Case and defendant data in the various phases of the judicial process. Number of federal firearms licensees and licenses issued.