As we get rolling closer to the “first official weekend of summer” - Memorial Day weekend- there are some stories worth mentioning:

First, regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s hearing the case that seeks to overturn the City of New York’s ridiculous law that forbids a gun owner to take their handgun outside their home is getting more and more support for the “over turn it” side of the argument. The latest group to file and amicus brief endorsing the argument that the law should be overturned is: the United States Department of Justice.

The DOJ points out the ridiculousness of the law by pointing out the fact the ban on transporting the firearm without a prior written permission not only violates the Second Amendment, it violates the dormant Commerce Clause and the right to interstate travel. What I like about the DOJ’s argument is that it points out the silliness of NYC’s arguments, such as the denial of permission to travel with a gun from one home to another isn’t unreasonable because (not making this up) because they could buy, rent or borrow new guns to use at those locations.”

As the Justice Department’s counter argument says, “The Second Amendment, however, protects a right to keep and bear arms, not just a right to rent or borrow them.”

All the arguing overlooks one important fact: neither the Cities of New York or Chicago nor the District of Columbia have shown the slightest hesitation to ignore the direction of the Supreme Court when it comes to Second Amendment issues. Years after the Heller and McDonald decisions overturned the anti-gun regulations in the District and Chicago, unreasonable rules and regulations still exist that make legally owning, much less carrying, firearms essentially impossible.

The Roberts Court, however, has shown a decided reluctance to hear Second Amendment cases. When it has, verdicts have been rendered in the most narrow interpretations possible- leaving wiggle room for anti-gun politicians to continue their discriminatory -and, technically, illegal actions with little fear or consequences.

In Washington, the furor over the trade war with China continues to cause companies to speak up.

Yesterday, 170 footwear retailers, including Nike, Under Armour and Adidas, called on the President to abandon plans to implement further tariffs on apparel manufactured in China.

They’re the latest companies to ask Trump to back off the plans to put 25 percent tariffs on about $300 billion in Chinese goods. The footwear industry has been trying to wean itself of the dependence on Chinese goods, but as they write in their letter to President Trump: “footwear is a very capital-intensive industry, with years of planning required to make sourcing decisions, and companies cannot simply move factories to adjust to these changes.”

“Any action taken to increase duties on Chinese footwear will have an immediate and long-lasting effect on American individuals and families. It will also threaten the very economic viability of many companies in our industry.”

The latest outcries against the proposed tariffs are even more evidence of the reliance of U.S. businesses -and consumers- having become accustomed to the lower prices made possible by the low wages and sometimes abhorrent working conditions both occasionally rail against.

Much closer to home. a bit of housekeeping here at the Wires.

If you want to "Win Jim's Gun" you have to make certain you've entered correctly.

First, regarding our announced “Win Jim’s Gun” contest. We have had many of you respond to our social media feeds to enter. Responding to our social media won’t get you entered. As we told you when we announced the contest, you need to visit Honor Defense’s Facebook page and tell them “I want to win Jim’s gun” - you can do that at: https://www.facebook.com/HonorDefense/ .

We neglected to tell you that the contest will end at midnight EST on Friday, May 31, 2019. We’ll announce the winner the following week.

And we’re rapidly approaching the Memorial Day weekend- meaning we will not be publishing wires on Monday, May 27.

If you have material that needs to be distributed prior to Memorial Day - it should be sent to our editors no later than 5p.m. EST Thursday, May 23, in order to be included in Friday’s editions. We will also not be producing a Weekend Edition podcast over the holiday.

We’ll resume normal schedules after what we hope is a great holiday weekend for everyone.