Editor's Report

LSA Signs National Letter to Reform the NFA

The fight to restore our Second Amendment rights has reached a critical juncture, and your voice has been added through your membership in the LSA.

The Senate Finance Committee has adopted key provisions in the reconciliation bill, known as the "One, Big, Beautiful Bill," that align with our demands to reform the National Firearms Act (NFA). These include removing suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), and short-barreled shotguns (SBSs) from National Firearms Act (NFA) restrictions, eliminating the $200 tax stamp for most items, and ending decades of unconstitutional red tape.

This historic progress reflects the reforms outlined in two coalition letters from the National Coalition of Gun Rights Groups, available at: Letter 1 / Letter 2. The LSA appended its signatures to the letters on June 19, 2025.

These letters demanded the inclusion of the Hearing Protection Act (H.R. 404) with federal preemption of state suppressor bans, the SHORT Act (H.R. 2395) to deregulate SBRs and SBSs, and the elimination of NFA manufacturing and transfer taxes on small arms.

The Senate Finance Committee's legislative text, found at finance.senate.gov, incorporates these changes, marking a monumental victory for gun owners. However, the battle is not over. Senate leadership must ensure these provisions remain in the final reconciliation bill, and they need to hear from you this week.

The reconciliation process allows these reforms to bypass filibuster obstacles, but political pressures could weaken or remove them. We cannot allow decades of unconstitutional NFA restrictions to persist.

The Hearing Protection Act safeguards hearing health by making suppressors accessible, while the SHORT Act ends the arbitrary regulation of SBRs and SBSs. Eliminating NFA taxes removes financial barriers to exercising our constitutional rights. These measures, championed by millions of gun owners, are now within reach.

Contact Senate leadership today:

Majority Leader John Thune: Contact

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairperson Tim Scott: Contact

Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo: Contact

Urge them to keep the NFA reforms in the reconciliation bill as outlined in the Senate Finance Committee's text. Share the coalition letters to emphasize the broad support for these changes. Your contact this week could make the difference in securing these long-overdue victories.

The Second Amendment is non-negotiable, and our collective action has brought us closer to dismantling the NFA's unjust framework. Let's finish the fight.

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Stories from the Field

Leopard in the Kalahari Desert

What started as a conversation at the SCI convention in Nashville in 2022 between Glen Haldane and me, ended with exhilarating chaos, a swirling pack of baying hounds, a growling leopard, and my elevated heart rate in the Botswana veld in 2025.

Anyone who has hunted in southern Africa for any amount of time know the Haldane brothers. Mark and Glen are famous for many things including their outstanding conservation efforts particularly in Mozambique. Through a grant from Cabela's they have reintroduced lions into Zambezi River Delta. I previously hunted with the Haldanes at Zambezi Delta Safaris in Coutada 11 in 2017.

When I stopped by the ZDS booth in Nashville, Glen greeted me with a warm smile and a handshake. He took the time to ask me what my plans were for my next safari. Coming off the COVID lockdown, it had been some time since I had last set foot on the dark continent. I told Glen that I wanted to hunt leopard and asked him about hunting in Mozambique. He carefully explained to me that there are two options for hunting leopard: (1) over bait in a blind, or (2) hunting with hounds. He explained that hunting in a blind was much less expensive, but at best had a 20% chance of success. He said in his many years of hunting with hounds, only one client in all those years had failed to connect with a leopard. He also explained how exciting the hound hunt would be. With that information in hand, I asked for the next available hound hunt. He suggested that we hunt in Botswana and the first license that was available was for 2025.

The three years wait seemed unbearably long, but did have two advantages. First, I was able to pay for the hunt in three installments, reducing the damage to the bank account. Second, the wait allowed Glen and me to discuss the hunt in detail at both the 2023 and 2024 SCI conventions. By the time April 2025 arrived, Glen and I had a solid plan. I had previously taken essentially all the plains game that the Kalahari has to offer in that part of Botswana. So, the goal was to have the Bushmen work on finding a tom leopard while we hunted for a giant Southern Greater Kudu. I had taken a very nice Kudu in Limpopo, South Africa in 2014, but I knew that Botswana was known for its free-range giant Kudu.

I made the long trek from the US to South Africa on my favorite Atlanta to Johannesburg direct flight on Delta Airlines. The next day, Glen met me at OR Tambo International Airport and we boarded the flight to Maun, Botswana. We were met at the airport by Eben Van Heerden from Tholo Safaris who would be my PH for the next 10 days. Eben had a dark tan from years in the Kalahari sun. I liked him as soon as I met him. He explained that the Bushmen and a couple of PHs had only just set up camp in the Ghanzi region near the controlled hunting area GH/11. The plan was that they would search the dirt roads of GH/11 for leopard tracks and would follow up on any large tracks that looked fresh. He also said that it would likely take them several days to find a good leopard and that we would spend our days on the enormous cattle ranches in the area looking for free-range Kudu.

A beautiful rainbow was visible outside my sleeping quarters in a light, morning rain.

The first morning of the safari I awoke to the sound of rain. I thought, 'Well, there will be no urgency in today hunting.' Boy, was I wrong. After some strong black coffee and a hardy breakfast, Eben, Glen and I were standing in a small circle discussing plans for the day when Eben's cell phone rang. Although he was speaking Afrikaans, his inflection and eyes showed incredulous surprise. He hung up and turned to me. "Get your things. They're on a big leopard." 

As I had just arrived the evening before, my equipment was still mostly packed. So, I grabbed my binoculars (I wouldn’t need them), my hat, a rain jacket, my sunglasses, and my CZ550 in 9.3x62 and out the door I went. On the way to GH/11 we stopped by the main house and gathered the hounds and the hound master.

It was about a 3-hour drive from Tholo Safaris to GH/11. By the time we arrived, the Bushmen had tracked the leopard about 7 km through the veld. After a brief discussion, we headed into the bush. After only 200 meters, we experienced a rear flat tire on the land cruiser. In less than 15 minutes, the flat was replaced with one of the two spare tires carried on each truck, and we were back on the trail of the tracking Bushmen. Along the way, the second truck carrying the hounds started to sputter and it came to a complete stop. I was beginning to wonder if this expedition was cursed! But we quickly realized that in the haste to leave we had forgotten to put fuel in the vehicle. A quick can of spare petrol was added, and she was good as new.

Eben (in dark green) and Glen monitor the progress of the tire change while a Botswana game warden looks on.

The crew looks under the hood of the truck in the shade of some acacia trees. It turned out that the broken down truck was out of gas.

By the time we caught up with the Bushmen, they had tracked the leopard 10 km from the starting point on the two-track road. We knew we were close, because he had recently killed a porcupine. The hounds in the rear truck could smell him, and they began the bay at an exaggerated pace.

The leopard had only just killed this porcupine when we arrived. We knew he was close.

Eben handed me a Barretta 12-gauge shotgun and a box of 3 ½-inch 00-buck shotgun shells. “Load up. He may just be yards away.” Both Eben and Glen, on each side of me both held Barretta 12-gauge shotguns with 3-inch 00-buckshot shells. Our heads panned left and right with guns at the ready.

The hound master made the decision to put two hounds on leashes on the spoor. But after only 200 meters, he released the entire pack. Chaos ensued. Hounds were running all around us in a cacophony of noise. Time seemed to literally slow down. The PHs had prepared me for this. They told me that a lot would happen extremely quickly and to always be prepared for a charge. They had warned me against focusing all my attention on the dogs and explained that the leopard might charge from any direction. I was aware that I was breathing through my mouth. I forced myself to pan my eyes in an arc.

Suddenly, Glen said, "There he is." I followed his gaze forward about 10 yards and saw him for the first time in the long grass under some low acacia shrubs. He was surrounded by at least six big hounds. My gun came up and I put the bead on his left shoulder. He turned his head toward us and emitted a low, deep growl. The hair stood up on my neck.

I couldn't fire without hitting the dogs. Without warning, the pack backed off a few yards and I pressed the trigger. I saw the rib cage of the cat take the hit, but it didn't seem to cause him any real distress. At this distance, I knew the 00 pellets would have caused a major wound channel through his vitals, but he was still ready to fight. The hounds had closed the distance again preventing me from getting a second shot.

Eben said in my left ear, "Wait. Wait." The dogs gave me some distance and I shot the big tom a second time in the ribs. Again, he didn't budge. I had one shell remaining. A hound got too close, and the leopard pulled him down and bit him while rolling onto his back. I didn't realize at the time, but that was his last hooray. I was about to put a third shot into him when Eben said, "He's done."

A Bushman walked up to the pack and pulled the dogs off the dead leopard. The dog who was bit was fine. The leopard was just too weak to do any real damage. And, just like that, on the first day of a 10-day leopard hunt that I had waited three long years to fulfill, I had a big African leopard in the salt.

The Bushmen worked extremely hard for this leopard and I was proud to have them pose with me.

I did end up taking a big Kudu as well. I shot him on day 10 with less than 10 minutes of light left in the day. But, that’s a story for a different issue.

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Eyes on the Anti-Gunners

Efforts to Reform the 1934 National Firearms Act

A broad coalition of gun rights advocates and political leaders have joined forces in what has, so far, been a successful effort to reform the 1934 National Firearms Act by removing suppressors from NFA regulation as part of the budget reconciliation package.

In a letter to Congress members Jodey C. Arrington, chair of the House Budget Committee and Virginia Foxx, chair of the House Rules Committee, the coalition of nearly 100 Second Amendment leaders demanded inclusion of portions of the Hearing Protection Act (H.R. 404) in the budget reconciliation bill, known as the “Big, Beautiful Bill.” In a 215-214 vote early Thursday, May 22 the U.S. House of Representatives passed the package with HPA provisions intact.

The LSA strongly supports the removal of suppressors from NFA regulations. The Hearing Protection Act is a proposed piece of legislation aimed at removing suppressors from the federal regulations of the NFA and treating them as any other firearm accessory. It would simplify the purchasing process for suppressors, eliminating the need for a burdensome federal transfer process and replacing it with a standard NICS background check. This will make it easier for law-abiding citizens to access suppressors, which are important for protecting hearing during shooting sports and hunting.

An interesting fact is that suppressors were added to the NFA in 1934 at the height of the depression because game officials were worried that starving people who hunt food animals with a suppressor out of season and without regard to bag limits. Ninety-one years later, suppressors are needlessly still under NFA regulation. In many other countries with draconian gun laws suppressors can be bought over the counter with no regulation.

The democrats in Congress, who obviously gain all of their knowledge about suppressors from Hollywood movies are concerned that thousands will be murdered silently. Nonsense, we know, but democrats have never let facts get in the way of inflammatory statements.

The HPA will have an enormous uphill battle in the U.S. Senate where a filibusterer can be mounted by the minority. Our only hope is to pressure Senators into supporting the provisions in the House's version of the “Big, Beautiful Bill.”

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Legislative Update

A Wrap Up of the 2025 Louisiana Legislature

We delayed the June issue of the LSA Monthly to ensure that we could report on the 2025 Legislative session.

On June 12, the Louisiana legislature adjourned sine die from the 2025 legislative session. This year was extremely productive for the advancement of Second Amendment protections. LSA successfully worked with the NRA and other pro-Second Amendment entities to pass four critical bills and ensure that all anti-gun bills were defeated.

The LSA thanks Governor Jeff Landry, Senate President Cameron Henry, House Speaker Phillip DeVillier, all legislators who advanced critical legislation, and all LSA members and fellow Second Amendment advocates who engaged their legislators this session.

The Louisiana Senate and House passed the following key pro-gun measures:

SB 101, authored by Sen. Blake Miguez (R, New Iberia), ensures constitutional carriers and out-of-state concealed carry permit holders who have reciprocity with Louisiana can carry firearms in more areas across the state by eliminating some gun-free zones. This bill has been sent to Governor Landry for his signature.

HB 289, authored by Rep. Dewith Carrier (R, Oakdale), is a pro-Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) bill that further protects the firearm and ammunition industry from being held responsible for the third-party misuse of products they manufacture or sell. This legislation makes Louisiana a more attractive environment for firearm and ammunition-related businesses. This bill has been signed into law by Governor Landry.

HB 393, authored by Rep. Dennis Bamburg (R, Bossier City), clarifies the present law recognizing the rights of a bystander or spectator to carry a concealed handgun at a parade or demonstration. This bill has been sent to Governor Landry for his signature.

HB 407, authored by Rep. Lauren Ventrella (R, Greenwell Springs), allows non-residents to apply for and obtain a Louisiana Concealed Handgun Permit. This bill has been sent to Governor Landry for his signature.

In addition, the following anti-gun legislation was defeated:

HB 220, authored by Rep. Matthew Willard (D, New Orleans) would have penalized the parents of a child if that child obtained their firearm an either brought the firearm into a public area or fired it.

SB211, authored by Sen. Gary Carter (D, New Orleans) was this year's version of the perpetual "Red Flag" bill that would allow the government to take away your firearms if they suspect you might be a danger to yourself or others. The bill did not include adequate due process protections.

The LSA will be back in Baton Rouge in 2026 to keep fighting for the rights of law-abiding gun owners.

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News from the LSA

Introducing the M1 Garand by CMP: A New Chapter Begins!

Of the many benefits that come with being a member of the LSA, perhaps the most tangible is the ability to order firearms, ammunition, and accoutrements from the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) through the LSA’s CMP affiliation. Many LSA members have purchased surplus M1 Garand rifles from the CMP over many years. Occasionally, the CMP will also sell M1903, M1903A3, M1 Carbine, and M1917 rifles and M1911 pistols.

For many years, the CMP has funded its Congressionally mandated mission through the sale of surplus military arms and ammunition. The CMP is a national organization dedicated to training and educating U.S. citizens in responsible uses of firearms and air guns through gun safety training, marksmanship training and competitions. The CMP is a federally chartered 501(c)(3) corporation that places its highest priority on serving youth through gun safety and marksmanship activities that encourage personal growth and build life skills. The federal law was enacted in 1996 (Title 36 U. S. Code, 40701-40733) that created the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearms Safety, Inc. (CPRPFS, the formal legal name of the CMP). However, the history of the CMP goes back to late 19th century efforts by U.S. military and political leaders to strengthen our country’s national defense capabilities by improving the rifle marksmanship skills of members of the Armed Forces. The CMP traces its direct lineage to 1903 when Congress and President Theodore Roosevelt established the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice (NBPRP) and the National Matches.

However, the supply of government surplus rifles and pistols will not last forever. To this end, the CMP has announced the M1 Garand by CMP.

Why did CMP undertake this project?

As an organization that largely resources its many programs and competitions via the sale of these firearms, the CMP needed to develop new ways of supplementing the costs associated with their essential and expanding programs.  From a timing perspective, it also makes business sense to undertake this effort while the CMP still has sufficient on-hand quantities of Government surplus firearms. The CMP called upon decades of expertise in the assembly of the M1 Garand and is giving new life to its timeless design.

The CMP wanted to bring a new product to the marketplace that will be a great firearm for a variety of purposes (i.e., shooting, collecting, connecting with our nation’s history). They gathered thousands of hours of feedback from their supporters and carefully considered possibilities for the future that will be beneficial to collectors and competitors alike. Some suggested that M16 rifles or other higher capacity Army firearms might be next in the surplus pipeline for transfer to the CMP, but that does not seem likely to happen with the current political climate in Washington, D.C. Instead, for now, the CMP has chosen to stick to their roots with the production of CMP’s new M1 Garand.

Does this mean the inventory of GI M1 Garands is running out?

I hear our members asking, “Is the CMP out of surplus M1 Garand rifles?” Not yet. The CMP has a good supply on-hand and are working with the U.S. Government to repatriate others from foreign countries. U.S. M1s are still out there around the world in good numbers; however, getting them home is a complex, time-consuming, diplomatic effort, and certainly nothing is guaranteed. 

How much will it cost, and can I buy more than one?

The price of the .30-06 and .308 models will be $1,900 MSRP plus $40 shipping and handling. You may buy more than one rifle. Customers will receive a CMP custom fitted hard rifle case with each rifle purchase. Other future variants will have different pricing, as will the early serial numbers. Other than the early serial numbers that will be kept for posterity, the CMP expects to auction the first 100 serial numbers. Later, three-digit serial numbers may also have special pricing.

Will it be allowed in competitions?

Yes – anticipating this, the CMP adjusted previous additions of their rule books to account for this. See Rule 5.1.4 M1 Garand-Type Service Rifle in the CMP Highpower Rifle Competition Rules and Rule 5.2.2 As-Issued M1 Garand in the CMP Games Rifle and Pistol Competition Rules.

M1 Garand by CMP Rifle Specs

Ordering Information

Since it’s a commercial gun, it must be shipped to an FFL. The CMP has a link for an online pre-order. Please Note: No payment will be collected at this time. Once your order is ready to be processed, customers will receive an email with a link to the CMP eStore to provide payment information.

Also, the CMP now has FFLs in their stores at the Talladega Marksmanship Park and Camp Perry. CMP can also sell them directly out of those stores as well as by mail order.  For those of you traveling to Camp Perry for the National Matches this summer, they plan to have some available for sale.

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Garand Raffle for Junior Shooters

Get your 2025 M1 Garand Raffle Tickets!

Tickets for the 2025 M1 Garand Raffle to Support Junior Shooting programs in the State are now available. The drawing will be held October 18, 2025. Winner need not be present to win.

All donations stay here in Louisiana and are spent solely on Junior Shooting programs.

Buy Raffle Tickets

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Future Events

The LSA maintains a calendar of events that may be of interest to gun owners, shooting competitors, and friends of the Second Amendment. To see a list of events, visit our Meeting/Events Information page.

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Join, Renew, or Donate

As you are no doubt aware, the LSA has a new enterprise system for maintaining our membership files and records. If you are confused on how to join or renew, follow this simple checklist below.

If you would like to donate to the LSA, please click here.

If you would like to donate to the Junior Shooting Fund, please click here.

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