Welcome to a weekly series here on Pew Pew Tactical dedicated to the gun news you need to know.
So, keep reading for this week’s notable news headlines…
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Armed Rideshare Service Coming to Texas
A new rideshare service is headed to Texas, offering an armed driver experience.
BlackWolf, a rideshare startup, will soon introduce the option for riders to select an armed driver with law enforcement or military experience. The option will debut in Houston, Dallas, and Austin as soon as recruitment is complete, founder Kerry KingBrown told Chron.
“The idea came from one of my clients that I was transporting; she was caught in human trafficking for about three years…she gave me the idea and said, you need to create something, some type of transportation for people like me and my daughter,” KingBrown said.
BlackWolf started in 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia, and has since gathered over a million followers on social media. The app, which has more than 300,000 downloads, operates in Atlanta, Orlando, Miami, and Phoenix, using 45-65 drivers to serve its clientele.
The cost of a ride is more in line with that of Uber Black, but KingBrown said his company offers something other rideshare apps can’t — peace of mind.
“Those who are armed are licensed, they are vetted, and most of them are ex-military or law enforcement,” he said. “Those people understand how to carry a weapon. They’ve been trained with it.”
“I wanted to create something for people like myself, for people like my past clients, but I wanted to make it more about them. I want them to feel comfortable. I want them to have peace of mind.”
The company is currently hiring drivers with a clean license, the ability to pass a federal background check, and a carry permit. BlackWolf looks to launch its Texas operations in early 2025.
Michigan Legislators Wants to Limit Where CPL Holders Can Carry
Legislation limiting where gun owners could openly carry in Michigan passed the House and Senate and are headed to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s desk for signature.
The proposed bill would ban openly carrying guns at polling places, including where absentee ballots are counted, as well as the open carry of guns inside city and township clerk offices leading up to elections.
Uniformed law enforcement would be exempt from this restriction.
Seventeen states have already banned guns and other weapons from polling places.
The legislation comes as Democrats attempt to pass last-minute measures before a Republican majority takes control of the state House in 2025.
The bill’s original language wanted to ban both concealed carry and open carry at polling places. Concealed carry language was eventually removed from the bill’s final version after gun rights organizations raised concerns.
“Maintaining election integrity includes ensuring voters are free from the threat of intimidation that having firearms near a polling place brings,” Tsernoglou said last year, as reported by MLive. “Too many in our state have been traumatized by gun violence — they should never feel retraumatized and intimidated while exercising their right to vote.”
According to the bill, a violation would incur a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $100 fine.
Georgia Legislator Intros New Gun Laws
Sen. Emanual Jones (D-Decatur) introduced new gun policies into a Georgia state Senate committee this week.
Among the measures proposed:
- Making it a crime to give minors access to guns
- 10-day waiting period for “assault weapons” purchases – unless someone is licensed to carry
- Tax credits and homeowners’ insurance incentives for safe gun storage devices
The proposals were released at the final meeting of the Senate Study Committee on Safe Firearm Storage. The committee was introduced after a deadly school shooting in September and aimed to address youth deaths at the hands of gun violence.
Republicans on the committee would need to approve the final report. Jones said he hopes the measures will incur bipartisan support.
“My message today is we all need to join forces, and we all need to stop working on the fringes and move something forward,” Jones told the Associated Press.
Heather Hallett, an organizer with Georgia Majority for Gun Safety, told the AP that most gun owners agree that gun safety is important.
“Most Republicans, most Democrats, most gun owners agree that there are steps that you can take that have nothing to do with taking away people’s guns. It’s about creating a culture of safe gun ownership.”
Some Democrats said they were hopeful Republican Senate members would agree to the 10-day waiting period as it carves out exemptions for current carry license permit holders.
Sen Frank Ginn (R-Danielsville), who also sits on the committee, told the AP on a phone call that he opposes the waiting period.
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