Episode 261-Bang or Bong or Maybe Both? Also Available OnSearchable Podcast Transcript Gun Lawyer — Episode 261 Transcript

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

Supreme Court, marijuana, gun laws, Second Amendment, New Jersey, carry permit, sensitive places,

federal court, gun violence, national reciprocity, red flag laws, mental health, gun rights, ammunition,

online sales.

SPEAKERS

Teddy Nappen, Speaker 2

Teddy Nappen 00:15

I’m Teddy Nappen, and welcome to Gun Lawyer. Now, I promised everyone my father would be back,

and sure enough, he was back. And because he was on vacation, obviously, he got sick, and of course,

he lost his voice. So, unless we wanted him on here, and you know, coughing up a lung and him, you

know, having this turned into an ASMR of him whispering Gun Law, let’s let him recover. Don’t worry.

He’ll more than likely be back next week. Till then, let’s let him rest. But for now, we have some news to

discuss.

Teddy Nappen 00:59

So, the Supreme Court, this comes from the AP News, the Supreme Court is considering whether

people who regularly smoke pot can legally own guns. This comes from an article written by Lindsay

Whitehurst. (https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-marijuana-guns-

e86c342bf248c7822722ad027980b72b) The Supreme Court said Monday that it will consider whether

people who regularly smoke marijuana can legally own guns. Latest firearm case to come since, well,

the Bruen decision. So, I want to highlight the impact, again, the hammer of Bruen, thanks to St. Justice

Thomas, where we are slowly smashing and working our way through the various gun laws. And just to

highlight the fact that, look, you can say what you will about marijuana, okay? It’s not the cure all, but it

does have its benefits. And it’s just so prevalent, but you’ve got to focus on the fact this is about

freedom and not allowing the federal Government to take away people’s rights. Because it’s all over the

place, okay? And that comes up a lot, with a lot of clients. A lot of people are smoking weed. And as my

father publishes and puts out there and has, very much, everyone uses it now as a coined term, “Bang

or Bong. You can’t have both.”

Teddy Nappen 02:17

Well, the Supreme Court heard that, and now they’re going to figure out, can you actually have it? So,

President Donald Trump’s Administration has asked justice to revive the case of the Texas man

charged with a felony because he alleged had a gun in his home and acknowledged he was regular pot

user. The Justice Department appealed after a lower court largely struck down the law barring people

who usually use any illicit illegal drugs from having guns. They argue that the broad law written puts

millions of people at risk with the technical violation. Since at least 20% of Americans have tried pot,

according to the Government health data, about half the states have legalized recreational marijuana,

Page – 1 – of 6but it’s still illegal under federal law. Remember, that. It is still illegal under federal law. Okay? We need

to just remove this as a federal issue, as a federal disqualifier, because it screws people out of their

rights when it shouldn’t. It’s about allowing people, because we want as many people as they can, to be

able to exercise their Second Amendment rights.

Teddy Nappen 03:26

And, quite frankly, this should be removed. They should just remove marijuana as a federal disqualifier.

If there’s any other way they want to carve it out. I’m happy to listen about it, but until then, this is a

prevalent issue. It comes into play a lot for when people are looking to get mental health

expungements. We were just having that from Dr. (John) Edeen, from that exact issue where we form a

lot. If it comes up where you’re formalized your usage of marijuana, you’re screwed out of your gun

rights. And that’s not right. That is not right. People should have access to their firearms. So, it’s very

clearly a big issue, and we’ll see where the Supreme Court lines up on that. My hope is they strike it

out, and we can move on from it.

Teddy Nappen 04:18

I’d like to also talk about our friends here now at WeShoot. So, WeShoot is bursting with pride, as they

are celebrating that Katie Rutherford has officially been named New Jersey State Champion in the

highly competitive service pistol match. And she did it the true WeShoot fashion. Disciplined,

determined and absolutely dialed in. So, congratulations to Katie on her win. WeShoot offers classes

for the CCAR certification so you can get your New Jersey Permit to Carry. WeShoot is a range in

Lakewood, New Jersey. They have a fantastic facility for great training and a great pro shop. They have

all kinds of deals and specials. We love WeShoot. It’s where I go, where my father goes to shoot, and

we got our certifications there. So, just go there and mention Gun Lawyer, and you’ll be treated like

royalty. And if you don’t mention Gun Lawyer, you’ll still be treated like royalty, because they’re the

best. WeShootUSA.com is their website. Beautiful photos. You can see their WeShoot girls posing with

their gorgeous guns. And they’re the guns that they have that you can buy, and then you can have get

great deals, great sales. They’ll not only sell you the gun, but they’ll teach you how to use it effectively.

Check out WeShoot at weshootusa.com. WeShoot is conveniently located in Lakewood, New Jersey,

right off the Parkway. You’ll be glad you did it.

Teddy Nappen 05:45

I also want to mention the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs. ANJRPC just had a case in

the federal court where the Appellate Court gave a mixed win at the moment. But, of course, the fight

isn’t over. We’ll call it a partial victory regarding “sensitive places” in the Carry Killer bill. Essentially

what the status quo is at the moment that has been maintained, in which you can still carry in your

vehicle with the car jacker protection law that has still been enjoined. You can carry concealed and

loaded on your person in your vehicle if you have a New Jersey Carry Permit. That is still enjoined. You

can do it because, remember the Carry Killer Bill tried to prevent it. Also, you can still go on private

property, as long as it’s open to the public and not otherwise a sensitive place. We lost a little a bit in

terms of filming locations, in terms of movie filming, in terms of transport on public transportation. So,

you’re going to have to have your gun cased and unloaded, etc. if you’re going to go riding on the bus

or on a train.

Page – 2 – of 6Teddy Nappen 07:02

However, interestingly, they found that the $200 fee that was a $50 fee portion that goes to the State

was unlawful. It’s unlawful because it went to the VCCB, which is the Victims Crime Compensation

Board. Under the case law, you can not have a fee for licensing not go to actual regulatory activity. That

is the purpose of the fee. So, that portion has been knocked out. Now, the price of a New Jersey Carry

Permit is $150, and if you live in any towns that are refunding, such as Englishtown, which was one of

the first in the start, they were refunding their $150. So, you can actually get your carry permit in New

Jersey, in New Jersey for free. And the fight continues. There’s just one step, as we go, challenging the

Second Amendment oppressionists legislation as they laid upon us. The Association is at the forefront

fighting for your rights. Make sure you are a member of anjrpc.org, anjrpc.org.

Teddy Nappen 08:07

Let me also mention my father’s book, New Jersey Gun Law. It is the Bible on New Jersey gun law.

You can get your copy of New Jersey Gun Law at EvanNappen.com. It’ll help you navigate a very

complex course that has been laid out by the gun rights oppressionists who try to trip you up at every

turn, turn you into a criminal, stop you from being a defender and instead into a victim. You need to be

a defender instead of a victim, especially since the police have no duty to protect you, as you now

know. Get the big orange book. Order today. Scan the cover and make sure you get into the private

subscriber database. You’ll get immediate access to the archives, which we update, and that we send

out. Also download the 2025 Comprehensive Update that includes the new standalone chapter on

“sensitive places”, where you can and cannot carry. So, check it out and get your book today.

Teddy Nappen 09:06

All right. So, as we know, Press Checks are always free, and let’s see what the gun rights oppressors

are pushing. We know that we’ve always got to check in on our enemy, that is The Trace, and see what

they’re peddling. And the latest, as I was laughing when I was reading it, from The Trace, by Olga

Pierce. (https://www.thetrace.org/2025/10/gun-violence-dropping-why-us-cities-data/) Analysts show

150 U.S. cities show one of the greatest drops in gun violence ever. Huh? I wonder why that is. I

wonder why that is. Well, good news. The Trace explains itself. Gun violence is trending downward.

This is what the article is talking about. Three quarters of the cities with the most shootings, according

to the analysis of The Trace’s Gun Violence Data Hub. They highlight various cities such as St. Louis

with their gun lines trending down in the course of 12 weeks. There has been 1.4 fewer victims being

shot, translating to a 4.1% decrease of the average weekly shooting victims. They go over their details

using isolating terms, which is how they cook the books. But you know, as they highlight and ignore the

“blips” of various mass shootings, as they show the various lines trending. You can go to the article.

They highlight.

Teddy Nappen 10:45

I love how they always try to paint this here. So they say there was a large spike in pre-covid, in pre

covid. In covid levels of 2020, of the spike. Now, what they don’t like to highlight is the fact that if you

actually look at the data, you will see that the trend numbers, crime was still up very high prior. But

there has been a massive change where there’s a downturn, where, you know, remember, they were

toting during the election, where they’re saying, crime is down, crime is down. But if you actually look at

it, from pre-covid levels to now, the crime was actually very high. It wasn’t until a massive change this

Page – 3 – of 6year. I wonder what that was? So, now, after two more years, in their words, two years of sharp decline,

you know the answer? This is their reasoning they give, folks. Here it is. Teachers, counselors, after-

school programs, basketball coaches, violence interrupters and others who are the front lines of fighting

gun violence. I wonder what the others are? Also, why do they highlight basketball coaches? What is

that about, people?

Teddy Nappen 12:03

And they were also highlighting the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which gave $250 million and

$750 million to state programs, including red flag laws, mental health courts. And funding has dried up

now. They need it. Up, here it is, folks. More money, please. More money, please. So, this is where

they’re toting it. They’re trying to get the federal Government to fund their anti-gun rights programs,

where they’re pushing for more red flag, believing that that actually has an effect on crime and

shootings. It has been proven that it does not. So, they go into more citing about how they need to fund

programs like Cease Fire, other local programs, quote, unquote.

Teddy Nappen 12:56

But I want to highlight something they completely ignore. Gee, I wonder why they’re pushing for this

now? Why are they now, all of a sudden, trying to say that? They’ve been pushing for a long time that

crime is down and now, when it actually is showing where crime has dropped a crap ton in various

areas. Why is that? Well, under USACarry, pulling this up, you can actually see how all states are now

“shall issue” or Constitutional carry. (https://www.usacarry.com/concealed-carry-permit-reciprocity-

maps/) So, now, the more prevalence of people being able to carry, people being able to defend

themselves and not be victims of shootings, being able, which you gotta always cite to, I believe the

number is 3 million lives are saved. That’s from the CDC. Lives are saved from defensive uses of a

firearm. It’s one of those they need to, that is always highlighted, but they like to ignore that. So, the

mass push for carry has come up and crime is starting to tick down.

Teddy Nappen 14:10

Uh oh, look. And here comes the truth. Right here, from BearingArms by Cam Edwards.

(https://bearingarms.com/camedwards/2025/10/13/nra-calls-on-congress-to-adopt-concealed-carry-

reciprocity-n1230239) The NRA-ILA Executive Director says it’s time for Congress to step up and pass

national concealed carry reciprocity, which allows lawful gun owners to carry across the country. There

it is, folks. That is the push. Not just about the funding. Not just about the fact that they’re trying to push

for more red flag. But they know that if there was ever a time to push for national reciprocity, here it is.

And just right now in the article right from Breitbart, from AWR Hawkins.

(https://www.breitbart.com/2nd-amendment/2025/10/16/president-trump-makes-clear-national-

reciprocity-being-discussed/) Trump specifically said when a reporter asked. President Trump, could

there be any further conversion to have national concealed carry apply to actually D.C., like you have a

driver’s license in Texas and you have a permit. Trump interjected, as you know, they’ve been talking

about that for a long time. It’s an interesting question. A lot of people feel strongly both ways, but we’re

talking about that. The conversation is and he has said, if it ever reached his desk, he will sign it.

Page – 4 – of 6Teddy Nappen 15:26

So, that’s the timing is just perfect. This comes out right in the same time as October. Then The Trace

puts out this article so you can automatically see the game they’re trying to play. They’re trying to

downplay, well, we don’t need national carry. We don’t. No, no, no. You don’t need that. Yeah, all the

states. No, no, no, no. We need red flag. That’s helping, that’s what’s stopping you. Not the fact that

now more and more people are able to carry and are able to defend themselves. I wonder why they’re

trying to make this push now. So, they’re trying to stamp out the need for national reciprocity. I can

honestly see this as their play, because they’re scared. They know, because we already know, the Left

have lost the battleground of ideas. They’ve conceded that ground the moment that the Left shot and

killed Charlie Kirk. They’ve conceded those grounds. They’ve already conceded fact and logic, because

we already see the data. We already see the arguments coming to that.

Teddy Nappen 16:32

So, now they’re trying to pedal the whole argument, like it’s not needed. We don’t need this. Why do

you need national reciprocity? Why do that? Well, we certainly do. Because we see the disgusting

manners places like New Jersey, where they’re trying to push for sensitive places left and right. Trying

to go after our carry and trying to make it impossible and hamper our ability to defend ourselves. But, I

wholeheartedly, President Trump. If you’re listening to this, please push for national reciprocity. Now’s

the time. Seize it while you can and get us our national reciprocity now.

Teddy Nappen 17:13

So, as everyone knows. The favorite segment is the GOFU, the Gun Owner Fuck Up. And let us bring

up. Now, this is something that has come up recently, and this is something I need to address for

people. They need to remember. Do not buy any ammunition online. Just don’t even do that. Okay?

Here’s the problem. If you’re buying from online, which most of them do it from out of the state, you

know, buy online. You’re in state of New Jersey, and you buy online. I’ll even pull it up right on the page

in my father’s book (New Jersey Gun Law), right here, right here. On Page 13, number (8), may a

person, when you’re ordering handgun ammunition, handgun ammunition, out-of-state and receive it

via interstate commerce? There is no Federal statute prohibiting the acquisition in this manner.

However, unless the seller fully complies with New Jersey law, which includes the display of a gun

license permit and electronic recording, it is unlawful in New Jersey. Additionally, the seller could be

charged with being an unlicensed New Jersey dealer. They have to comply with reporting the 2,000 or

more bulk sales.

Teddy Nappen 18:35

Do not do this, folks, please. Please, do not do this. Okay? Buy locally. All right, go to your local gun

store to buy your ammunition, because otherwise you are setting yourselves up. They are willing. New

Jersey’s fully willing to attack and go after and we’re trying to not allow them to go after gun dealers.

Don’t give them the excuse. Please, please do not buy handgun ammunition online. Do not buy

ammunition online, okay? All right, we must all remember that gun laws do not protect honest citizens

from criminals. They protect criminals from honest citizens.

Page – 5 – of 6Speaker 2 19:16

Gun Lawyer is a CounterThink Media production. The music used in this broadcast was managed by

Cosmo Music, New York, New York. Reach us by emailing Evan@gun.lawyer. The information and

opinions in this broadcast do not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state.

Page – 6 – of 6

Downloadable PDF TranscriptGun Lawyer S3 E261_Transcript About The HostEvan Nappen, Esq.

Known as “America’s Gun Lawyer,” Evan Nappen is above all a tireless defender of justice. Author of eight bestselling books and countless articles on firearms, knives, and weapons history and the law, a certified Firearms Instructor, and avid weapons collector and historian with a vast collection that spans almost five decades — it’s no wonder he’s become the trusted, go-to expert for local, industry and national media outlets.

Regularly called on by radio, television and online news media for his commentary and expertise on breaking news Evan has appeared countless shows including Fox News – Judge Jeanine, CNN – Lou Dobbs, Court TV, Real Talk on WOR, It’s Your Call with Lyn Doyle, Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk, and Cam & Company/NRA News.

As a creative arts consultant, he also lends his weapons law and historical expertise to an elite, discerning cadre of movie and television producers and directors, and novelists.

He also provides expert testimony and consultations for defense attorneys across America.

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