Daytona Beach, FL, 25 April 2023: The Historically Discriminated Coalition has filed an amicus brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit opposing
Rhode Island General Laws § 11-47.1-3(b), which prohibits the possession, sale, and manufacture of firearm magazines with a capacity of over 10 rounds of ammunition within the state. The brief contends that R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47.1-3(b) is unconstitutional under
NYSRPA v. Bruen and significantly hinders the ability of those people who have historically been discriminated against, and who suffer from higher rates of violence and victimization, to defend themselves with firearms. Whether intended or not, this law has the effect of making women, people of color, and LGBTQ people in Rhode Island even more vulnerable to violence by disarming them in the name of public safety.
The Historically Discriminated Coalition is comprised of four groups: the National African American Gun Association (NAAGA), the Asian Pacific American Gun Owners Association (APAGOA), the DC Project Foundation (DCPF), and Operation Blazing Sword - Pink Pistols. Alongside the coalition are the Liberal Gun Club, whose membership and leadership at a national and state level, is comprised of members of all the groups listed here, and Gabriela Franco, an individual who is in the planning stages of founding another member association focused on responsible firearms ownership and self-defense.
The brief was filed by Christopher Renzulli on April 17, 2023.
NAAGA was founded in 2015 to defend the Second Amendment rights of members of the African American community. With more than 50,000 members who reside in every state and the District of Columbia, NAAGA’s mission is to establish a fellowship by educating about the rich legacy of gun ownership by African Americans, offering training that supports safe gun use for self-defense and sportsmanship, and advocating for the inalienable right to self-defense for African Americans.
APAGOA was founded in 2021 to create a community of gun owners with an Asian Pacific American Heritage. APAGOA advocates for strong firearms safety, education, and community building initiatives by providing educational materials and other supportive resources to its members and other interested parties.
The DC Project Foundation was founded in 2016 by retired police officer and professional shooting competitor, Dianna Muller. The nationwide, non-partisan organization of women believe that gun rights are women’s rights, and that education, not legislation, is the key to firearms safety and violence prevention. There are over 3000 members.
Operation Blazing Sword, Inc. was established in 2016 the day after the Orlando Pulse nightclub massacre to advocate on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) firearm owners, with specific emphasis on self-defense. It has over 1,500 volunteer firearm instructors in nearly 1,000 locations across all 50 states. Pink Pistols, founded in 2000 and incorporated into Operation Blazing Sword in 2018, is a shooting society that honors gender and sexual diversity and advocates the responsible use of firearms for self-defense.
The Liberal Gun Club was founded to provide a forum and resources for left-of-center firearms owners who are pro-Second Amendment but do not subscribe to the right-wing ideology and rhetoric that is often associated with other Second Amendment groups.
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