In last Friday’s feature we told you that customers of now-bankrupt Remington firearms had contacted us regarding guns they’d sent back for warrant and/or repair work. With Remington now closed down and parceled out to various buyers, it seemed no one- including the federal bankruptcy court in Huntsville, Alabama, had any idea what to do.

After the feature ran, we were contacted by several other owners. They told us the same story: can’t find anyone who knows what’s going on.

Industry leaders reached out to us, offering several suggestions to get in touch with various groups now affiliated with the company formerly known as Remington. Like the officials in federal bankruptcy court, we tried, and had the same result: nothing.

This, however, isn’t a story with another unhappy ending. Over the weekend, we received this note from one of the first Remington owners who reached out to us:

“I just wanted to follow up on this. I arrived home to a UPS box laying on my porch and to my surprise it was my handgun. Paper enclosed stated that they repaired it (although I doubt it), I'm just happy to get my handgun back. Seems like, at least in Huntsville, they still have some people working on repairs even though you can't get ahold of anyone. I want to thank you again for your willingness to help and wish you all the best.”

We’re always pleased when an unfortunate situation resolves itself. And it seems the good news is now beginning to spread among all Remington owners who found their guns stuck in an unfortunate limbo. On Tuesday, we received this message from a Remington shotgun owner who’d told us he was missing duck season:

“Jim,

My gun is in transit! It should be here by next Tuesday.”

Seems someone at Remington made arrangements to do the right thing for their former customers and put a system in place to make certain the warranty/repair guns were returned. I say that because we still haven’t been able to find out who’s doing the return work- or where. But as we promised, we’re keeping you posted.

Florida was described as a “battleground state” in the elections, but it seems Governor Ron DeSantis might be taking the “battleground” idea literally. He’s circulating what aides and staffers are calling an “anti-mob” bill. A draft I’ve read is written to significantly broaden Florida’s existing Stand Your Ground law to allow homeowners to give rioters and looters an armed response.

The proposal expands the “forcible felonies” list in the existing law to include those engaged in criminal activity resulting in “interruption or impairment” to a business. It would justify deadly force used against individuals engaged in looting businesses within 500 feet of a “violent or disorderly assembly.”

Today, Florida’s “forcible felonies” include murder, manslaughter, sexual battery, robbery, kidnapping, assault, battery, aggravated stalking, carjacking and “any other felony which involves the use of threat or physical force or violence against any individual.”

This draft, which has been widely circulated in Tallahassee to members of the legislature also gives immunity to motorists who “intentionally killed or injured protesters who blocked traffic.”

There’s already a considerable amount of heated discussion for a piece of legislation that has yet to be formally filed. Opponents to the Stand Your Ground law - unexpanded- accuse DeSantis of encouraging vigilantism. At the opposite end of the opinions being expressed -the idea that would-be “revolutionaries” would have a reason to consider the potential consequences of their actions - if the forcible felonies list were to be expanded.

There’s one other item creating consternation in municipalities that have already suggested or approved reducing their police forces. Gov. DeSantis’ proposal would withhold state funding from municipalities if they make “disproportionate funding reductions” to police budgets.

Lots of conversation for a bill that wasn’t included introduced in time for 2020’s legislative session, has no sponsors at this time, and wouldn’t be introduced until early 2021.

As always, we’re watching this one, and we’ll keep you posted.

—Jim Shepherd