Kopel Columns, Magazine Articles, Op-eds 2007-2019

For the Kopel's newspaper and magazine articles from2020 to the present, click here. For 1986 to 2000, click here. For 2001-2006, click here..

2019

Supreme Court should address lower court nullification of the Second Amendment. Scotusblog. Nov. 20, 2019. With Randy Barnett.

Heller’s Precarious Situation. National Review. Sept. 12, 2019.

Amicus brief on lawsuits against gun manufacturers invokes NY Times v. Sullivan. Courts should stop abusive lawsuits against the First and Second Amendments. Reason, Volokh Conspiracy. Sept. 4, 2019.

Frank Brownell Museum of the Southwest A small and superb firearms museum in northern New Mexico. Reason, Volokh Conspiracy. Aug. 31, 2019.

In US History, the Right to Arms Is Associated With Liberty, Legal Equality; Gun Control Isn't. Epoch Times. Aug. 21, 2019.

Trump Must Not Break His Promises to Gun-Rights Supporters. He is following in the footsteps of George H. W. Bush, who paid the price for his betrayal. National Review Online. Aug. 16, 2019.

Daisy Airgun Museum. Wholesome Americana in northwest Arkansas. Reason, Volokh Conspiracy. July 23, 2019.

J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum. The world's largest public collection of firearms can be found in a Tulsa suburb. Reason, Volokh Conspiracy. June 20, 2019.

Some Topics and Learning Objectives for Second Amendment Courses. Second Thoughts (blog of the Firearms Law Center at Duke University). July 11, 2019.

The Kentucky Rifle. Epoch Times. July 4, 2019.

Knife Ban and Vagueness Case at Supreme Court Conference. New York City continues to prosecute people for ordinary folding knives. Reason, Volokh Conspiracy. June 10, 2019.

The Danger of a Communist Monopoly on the Media and Firearms. The story of the 1948 communist coup in Czechoslovakia. Epoch Times. June 9, 2019.

The Sovereignty of a Free and Radically Independent People: Colorado’s Enduring Constitutional Heritage. Constituting America. June 2019. Soundcloud audio.

Campus Scary. Suppression of pro-Second Amendment speech on campus. America's 1st Freedom. May 2019.

District Court Permanently Enjoins California Magazine Confiscation Law. Reason, Volokh Conspiracy. Mar. 29, 2019.

The Lessons of Purim Are Still Relevant Today. Epoch Times. Mar. 21, 2019.

Second Amendment Rights of Young People: Nineteenth Century Law and Twenty-first Century Cases. Reason, Volokh Conspiracy. Feb. 26, 2019.

Plenty of red flags in Colorado’s 'extreme risk' protection order bill. Complete Colorado. Feb. 19, 2019. With Joseph Greenlee.

The Racist Influence on Gun Control Laws. When Ida B. Wells urged blacks to use repeating rifles for defense against lynch mobs, gun control advocates invented a new type of gun licensing. Epoch Times. Feb. 5, 2019.

Mayhew, Liberty, and the Resistance to Tyranny. Epoch Times. Jan. 30, 2019.

Supreme Court's New Second Amendment Case: Opportunity to address nullification of the right to arms. Reason, Volokh Conspiracy. Jan. 22, 2019.

Textual analysis of HR8, bill to "To require a background check for every firearm sale." Bill about gun "sale" turns ordinary gun loans into felonies, bans handguns for young adults, and authorizes unlimited fees. Reason, Volokh Conspiracy. Jan. 9, 2019.

The Ever-Shifting Definition of "Assault Weapons." The phrase has been used to promote bans on almost every type of gun. Reason, Volokh Conspiracy. Jan. 2, 2019.

2018

Do Some Courts Underenforce the Second Amendment? Data show problems in several Circuits. Reason, Volokh Conspiracy. Dec. 27, 2018.

Supreme Court Should Clarify Second Amendment Test. Challenge to ban on interstate handgun sales would be a good vehicle. Reason, Volokh Conspiracy. Dec. 20, 2018.

The Story of Hanukkah. Epoch Times. Dec. 2, 2018.

Childress Says, "The Second Amendment Saved Our Lives." NASCAR great describes the armed invasion of his home last year. America's 1st Freedom. Dec. 2018.

The Moral Right to Self-Defense, and the Right to Bear Arms. Self-defense is a universal human right. Epoch Times. Sept. 27, 2018.

Sneak Attack on Washington State. America's 1st Freedom. Sept. 2018.

Britain’s Failed Weapons-Control Laws Show Why the Second Amendment Matters. National Review Online. August 28, 2018. With Vincent Harinam.

The 1986 Plastic Gun Panic. How the gun control lobbies nearly tricked Congress into banning millions of ordinary guns. Reason, Volokh Conspiracy. Aug. 7, 2018.

Colorado's early self-government and path to statehood. On the periphery of the periphery, Coloradans energetically exercised their inherent rights of sovereignty and self-government. Reason, Volokh Conspiracy. Aug. 1, 2018.

Ninth Circuit strikes Hawaii law that only security guards may get handgun carry permits. Reason, Volokh Conspiracy. July 23, 2018.

Ninth Circuit Upholds Preliminary Injunction Against Magazine Confiscation in California. The courts continue to block a California law to confiscate magazines over 10 rounds. Reason, Volokh Conspiracy. July 17, 2018.

US government drops prohibition on files for 3D printed arms. State and Defense Departments comply with revised regulations from May 2018. Volokh Conspiracy. July 10, 2018.

Judge Kavanaugh and the Second Amendment. The text, history, and tradition methodology applied to D.C.'s unusually restrictive gun laws. Reason, Volokh Conspiracy. July 9, 2018.

The Colorado Constitution and the eternal truths of the Declaration of Independence. The 1876 Colorado Constitution affirms and elucidates the principles of 1776. Reason, Volokh Conspiracy. July 4, 2018.

Excessive Fines Clause and corporations. Amicus brief says that 8th Amendment's ban on "excessive fines" does not have a corporate loophole. Reason, Volokh Conspiracy. July 3, 2018.

Presidential electors can vote with discretion. Amicus brief explains that States cannot compel presidential electors to vote a certain way. Reason, Volokh Conspiracy. July 2, 2018.

Deerfield, Illinois, gun confiscation law is blocked by state court. Reason, Volokh Conspiracy. June 13, 2018.

Gun Control Crowd Directs Vitriol at NRA. America's 1st Freedom. May 2018. The same tactics that have always been used by hate groups against civil rights organizations and religious or ethnic groups targeted for destruction: dehumanization, conspiracy theories, ostracism, silencing, and delegalization.

Gun Control Won't Stop Crime. America's 1st Freedom. May 2018. Why NRA is rightly opposes gun bans, the destruction of the civil rights of young adults, and universal gun registration.

In the wake of a gun ban, Venezuela sees rising homicide rate. Including murder of dissidents by government. The Hill. Apr. 19, 2018. with Vincent Harinam.

The Million Mom March: Mass Mobilization Against Guns. In 2000, the Million Mom March brought hundreds of thousands of people together to demonstrate against guns. Reason.com. Mar. 22, 2018.

Gun ban for young adults would be wholly unconstitutional. The Hill. Mar. 13, 2018. with Joseph Greenlee.

The First "Assault Weapon": Banning Guns Based on "Style" Rather than Function. Reason.com. Mar. 5, 2018.

The History of the 'Assault Weapon' Hoax. Part 1: The Crime that Started it All. A 1989 shooting at a Cal. schoolyard began the national "assault weapon" issue. It was a consequence of law enforcement failure. Reason.com. Mar. 2, 2018.

Arming teachers can protect kids. (N.Y.) Daily News. Feb. 28, 2018. with Laura Carno.

The Anglo-American Office of Sheriff. Americans' right to elect their Sheriffs comes from ancient English legal tradition. Reason. Feb. 13, 2018.

Can Governments Ban Gun Stores? Amicus Brief in Supreme Court Case. Reason. Feb. 9, 2018.

2017

The American Indian foundation of American gun culture. Washington Post. Nov. 21, 2017.

Mass shootings in gun-free nations. Washington Post. Nov. 9, 2017.

What if there were serious gun controls? The Hill. Nov. 8, 2017. With Joseph Greenlee.

Are There Really More Mass Shootings Than Days in the Year? Wall Street Journal. Oct. 8, 2017 (paywall).

We Need Judges Who Stand For Gun Rights. America's 1st Freedom. Oct. 2017. With Joseph Greenlee.

The Racist Origin of Gun Control Laws. The Hill. Aug. 22, 2017. With Joseph Greenlee.

D.C. Circuit upholds right to bear arms for D.C. residents. Washington Post. July 25, 2017.

Federal court enjoins California large-capacity magazine confiscation. Washington Post. June 30, 2017.

Bad police training may have killed Philando Castile. Washington Post. June 22, 2017.

The Hearing Protection Act and 'silencers'. Washington Post. June 20, 2017.

Want to stop mass shootings? Let's get more guns in the right hands. Especially, FASTER training for teachers. The Hill. June 18, 2017. With Joseph G.S. Greenlee.

2017 is shaping up to be another winning year for gun owners. The Hill. April 25, 2017. With Joseph Greenlee.

Firearms technology and the original meaning of the Second Amendment. Washington Post. April 3, 2017.

Why Judge Gorsuch Should Be Justice Gorsuch. America's 1st Freedom. April 2017.

El espectro del «Watergate II». La Razón (Spain). Mar. 21, 2017.

Second Amendment may be restored on Army Corps of Engineers land. Washington Post. Mar. 10, 2017.

Anti-gunners are savaging Gorsuch for vindicating an innocent man. The Hill. Mar. 7, 2017. With Joseph Greenlee.

La sombra de «Nixon II». La Razón (Spain). Feb. 25, 2017.

Tracing Judge Gorsuch's Paper Trail On The Second Amendment. America's 1st Freedom. Feb. 2, 2017.

Can a county ban all gun stores? 9th Circuit amicus brief suggests not. Washington Post. Feb. 1, 2017.

7th Circuit strikes ban on target practice by minors, and near-ban on firing ranges. Washington Post. Jan. 19, 2017.

The Martial Arts are Arts. Washington Post. Jan. 11, 2017.

2016

Nueva diplomacia. Gabinete de Trump. La Razón (Spain). Dec. 17, 2016.

Un Principio Basico Para China (Taiwan). La Razón (Spain). Dec. 13, 2016.

Incógnitas del voto oculto. La Razón (Spain). Nov. 4, 2016.

Why the anti-tyranny case for the 2nd Amendment shouldn't be dismissed so quickly. Vox. Aug. 22, 2016.

Algernon Sidney: A father of the Declaration of Independence. Washington Post. July 3, 2016.

Origins of the Declaration of Independence: Samuel Rutherford's ‘Lex, Rex.' Washington Post. July 2, 2016.

The history of LGBT gun-rights litigation. Washington Post. June 17, 2016.

Peruta v. San Diego, analyzed. Washington Post. June 11, 2016.

1972, Richard Nixon Defeats George McGovern: Watergate. Constituting America. June 9, 2016.

The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act: Facts and policy. Washington Post. May 24, 2016.

Good guys with guns: Former Interpol chief Ron Noble on the Westgate Mall mass shooting. Washington Post. May 16, 2016.

9th Circuit opinion on rights of gun stores applies standard, rigorous Second Amendment doctrines. Analysis of Teixeira v. County of Alameda. Washington Post. May 16, 2016.

The Federal Circuits' Second Amendment Doctrines. Washington Post. April 22, 2016.

Firearms Law Seminar. Washington Post. March 29, 2016.

The Virginia Compromise: Wins for gun rights and gun regulation. Washington Post. Feb. 10, 2016.

Kolbe v. Hogan: 4th Circuit requires strict scrutiny for Maryland ban on magazines and semiautomatics. Washington Post. Feb. 4, 2016.

Meyer v. Nebraska: As told by the lawyer who won it Washington Post. Feb. 4, 2016.

Freedom Fighters. Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass. America's 1st Freedom. Feb. 2016.

Obama's executive actions on guns: Legal analysis. Washington Post. Jan. 5, 2016.

2015

An implausible argument that evangelicals must oppose self-defense. Responding to an article by Rob Schenck, a pacifist minister. Washington Post. Dec. 30, 2015.

Trauma collectivo post San Bernardino. La Razón. Dec. 16, 2015.

Hickenlooper's shots at law-abiding gun owners don't help. Concealed carries licensees save lives; Jeanne Assam saved a hundred at the New Life Church in 2007. (Colorado Springs) Gazette. Dec. 10, 2015. With Ari Armstrong.

President Obama signs three constructive gun measures. Prohibiting ban on lead ammunition; first step to right-to-carry for military personnel; sell surplus military handguns to the public. Washington Post. Dec. 10, 2015.

The Maryland Minute Men of 1942: Armed citizens summoned to homeland defense. Washington Post. Dec. 7, 2015.

Planned Parenthood's Right to Bear Arms. Real Clear Policy. Dec. 3, 2015. With Adam Winkler.

Fact check: Obama claim that ‘I say this every time we've got one of these mass shootings; this just doesn't happen in other countries.' Washington Post. Dec. 1, 2015.

The costs and consequences of gun control. Washington Post. Dec. 1, 2015. Summary of new Cato study.

The Second Amendment versus anti-Catholicism. Washington Post. Nov. 20, 2015. James Madison expressly rejected anti-Catholic gun control laws; yet modern anti-gun advocates claim that these bigoted laws should be imposed on everyone.

Handgun bans for persons under 21: A hidden problem in Everytown's ‘universal background checks'. Washington Post. Nov. 5, 2015.

Sharing firearms for informal target shooting: Another legitimate activity outlawed by Everytown's ‘universal background checks'. Washington Post. Nov. 4, 2015.

Safe storage of firearms: The harms from Bloomberg's strange background check system. Washington Post. Nov. 3, 2015.

How Everytown's background check law impedes firearms safety training and self-defense. Washington Post. Nov. 2, 2015.

English legal history and the right to carry arms. Washington Post. Oct. 31, 2015. English law in the 17th and 18th centuries allowed the peaceable carry of arms, and forbade carry in a deliberately terrifying manner.

Armed and Educated. Allowing professors to carry licensed arms will enhance campus safety. Chronicle of Higher Education. Oct. 30, 2015.

The 2nd Circuit's second-class Second Amendment intermediate scrutiny. Washington Post. Oct. 23, 2015.

2nd Circuit upholds N.Y. and Conn. arms bans; contradicts Heller and McDonald. Washington Post. Oct. 21, 2015.

United Nations: Trouble in Paradise. Report on the 2015 meeting for implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty. America's 1st Freedom. Nov. 2015.

Alan Steinweis's bad history. NY Times op-ed denigrating Jewish resistance to the Nazis flubs history. Washington Post. Oct. 16, 2015.

Firearms Law textbook: 2015 supplement now available. Washington Post. Oct. 14, 2015.

Unarmed Jews defeat mass murder: Revolts at the extermination camps. Washington Post. Oct. 12, 2015.

The Warsaw ghetto uprising: Armed Jews vs. Nazis. Washington Post. Oct. 10, 2015.

Amicus brief on history of right to carry. In Wrenn v. DC. In D.C. Circuit case, legal historians' amicus brief explains that peaceable arms carrying was legal and common in Early America and in the 19th century. Washington Post. Oct. 9, 2015.

D.C. gun registration law ruled partly unconstitutional. Federal appeals court declares that much of D.C.'s gun registration law violates the Second Amendment. Washington Post. Sept. 18, 2015.

Sons of Heller. America's 1st Freedom. August 2015. Some of the lesser-known federal court decisions which have protected Second Amendment rights.

Why does Volokh Conspiracy rank low in searches for "cheap apartment for sale in brazil"? Washington Post. July 27, 2015.

A survey of legislation on Second Amendment issues in 2015. Washington Post. July 20, 2015. So far this year, 28 states have enacted legislation which expands protections of Second Amendment rights, and one state has enacted legislation to reduce those rights.

You may feel some pressure. America's 1st Freedom. July 2015. Why are doctors asking you if you any guns at home? What will happen if you tell them it's none of their business?

U.S. treaty obligations to defend Marshall Islands ships. Washington Post. May 1, 2015.

Guns on university campuses: The Colorado experience. Washington Post. April 20, 2015.

Waking to a Dangerous World. America's 1st Freedom. March 2015. Violence around the world is causing a change in firearm policies in many countries, and also a pro-gun shift in attitude here in the United States.

Facts about mental illness and crime. Washington Post. Feb. 20, 2015.

Argentina's free press is in grave danger. Book review of Tiempos Turbulentos. The Kirchner regime's war on the free press and civil society. Washington Post. Feb. 9, 2015.

2014

Christmas for everyone: The Graland Christmas Pageant. Here's a selection of great versions of Christmas carols. And the true story about how Christians, Jews, and atheists celebrated Christmas together, at Graland School in Denver in the 1960s and 1970s. Washington Post. Dec. 24, 2014.

Hillary Clinton's best campaign song: The Yellow Rose of Texas. Although the new pro-Hillary song is terrible, her 2008 campaign song "The Yellow Rose of Texas" shows her strengths. More than just a love song, "The Yellow Rose" tells us about our multiracial past and present. Washington Post. Dec. 9, 2014.

Watergate quiz. A quiz with 100 questions about the Watergate scandal. Washington Post. Oct. 29, 2014.

Bonidy v. United States: The Second Amendment at the post office. Analysis of challenge to gun ban in post offices and parking lots. Washington Post. Oct. 2, 2014.

Will D.C. Carry? America's 1st Freedom. Oct. 2014. Discussion of Palmer v. D.C.

New Anti-Gun Strategies. National Review Online. Sept. 16, 2014. "Assault weapon" bans have proved very unpopular -- but the anti-gun lobbies aren't giving up entirely.

Washing-Con. America's 1st Freedom. Sept. 2014. How Michael Bloomberg is twisting the gun control debate in the Evergreen State.

Not Watts She Seems. America's 1st Freedom. Sept. 2014. Shannon Watts and her "Moms Demand" group are dishonest.

Libertarian criticism of police militarization. David Kopel's arguments and research against the militarization of law enforcement. Washington Post. Aug. 14, 2014.

The dangerous and controversial speakers of 1900 at the University of Michigan Law School. Guest speakers at the University of Michigan in 1900 incited controversies--and a riot. Washington Post. Aug. 13, 2014.

Pro-gun Milwaukee Sheriff defeats challenge from Bloomberg. Bloomberg spending fails to unseat pro-gun Milwaukee Sheriff. Washington Post. Aug. 13, 2014.

Operation Choke Point: Choking Off Credit to the Gun Industry. America's 1st Freedom. Sept. 2014.

Licensed handgun carry now legal in District of Columbia: Palmer v. DC. Effects of federal court decision allowing licensed handgun carry in D.C. Washington Post. July 28, 2014.

The Scam Artist. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's newest gun-prohibition group, Everytown for Gun Safety, has gotten off to a rough start. America's 1st Freedom. July 2014.

Former Nixon speechwriter: Why the president had to resign, or be impeached. John K. Andrews's explanation for why the lawless president he once served had to be removed from office. Washington Post. July 7, 2014.

Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia. Movie review. "Gore Vidal: United States of Amnesia" is a fine film for everyone who is interested in American intellectual history. Washington Post. June 17, 2014.

The missing 18 1/2 minutes: Presidential destruction of incriminating evidence. How Richard Nixon got away with destroying 18 1/2 minutes of taped evidence against him. Washington Post. June 16, 2014.

Emmy nomination: 1973 time machine episode of Colorado Inside Out. "Time machine" episode of Colorado Public TV roundtable program goes back to 1973. Washington Post. June 1, 2014.

A Fault Line in California. One of the biggest Second Amendment court victories ever was recently won in California, and the National Rifle Association was there every step of the way. America's 1st Freedom. May 2014.

The history of magazines holding 11 or more rounds: Amicus brief in 9th Circuit. Magazines holding more than 10 rounds have been common in America for over 150 years. Washington Post. May 29, 2014.

Brady Center lawsuit to use "smart" gun mandate to trigger handgun ban in New Jersey. NJ lawsuit on "smart" guns report would ban handgun sales. Washington Post. May 22, 2014.

Vagueness challenge in Manhattan DA's use of gravity knives. New York District Attorney asserts that common folding knives are illegal "gravity knives." Washington Post. May 20, 2014.

The Ancient Laws of Cambria: Book review. "The Ancient Laws of Cambria" provides an engaging view of historical Welsh law and culture. Washington Post. May 20, 2014.

Sheriffs and the posse comitatus. Sheriffs today continue to use their common law posse comitatus power to summon armed citizens to the aid of law enforcement. Washington Post. May 15, 2014.

Smart Guns. "Smart guns" have almost no appeal to consumers, and New Jersey's smart gun mandate makes the problem worse. Washington Post. May 6, 2014.

Holocaust remembrance week: How armed Jews saved lives. During the "Days of Remembrance" for the Holocaust, remember the heroic armed Jewish partisans who fought the Nazis and saved lives. Washington Post. May 2, 2014.

The First Amendment Guide to the Second Amendment. First Amendment doctrines are often useful in resolving Second Amendment legal issues. Washington Post. Apr. 21, 2014.

National Firearms Law Seminar. Firearms law CLE program in Indianapolis on April 25. Washington Post. Apr. 18, 2014.

Avoid Gun Control That Goes Too Far. NY Times Room for Debate series. Apr. 18, 2014.

Mexico's gun control laws: A model for the United States? Claims about American guns smuggled into Mexico are greatly exaggerated. Washington Post. Apr. 16, 2014.

The Second Amendment right to firearms commerce. Why the Second Amendment protects the rights of gun stores and gun manufacturers. Washington Post. Apr. 14, 2014.

Covering the Screen in Blood. Movie mogul Harvey Weinstein attempts to square his anti-gun convictions with his bloody, gun-riddled movies. America's 1st Freedom. April 2014.

BATFE's Little Shop of Horrors. BATFE's reprehensible scam to ensnare unsuspecting people exposed. America's 1st Freedom. March 2014.

How can we enact meaningful gun control? The Repartee. Debate with Adam Winkler. Part 1: Background checks. Part 2: Reading the Constitution. Part 3: Natural rights. Fall 2013/Winter 2014.

San Diego Sheriff will not seek 9th Circuit en banc in Peruta right to carry case. San Diego foregos en banc petition in Peruta right to carry case. Right to carry coming to California, Hawaii, and Pacific Territories. Washington Post. Feb. 21, 2014.

Growth chart of right to carry. The chart shows how Shall Issue laws for the licensed carrying of firearms for self-defense have become the American norm. Washington Post. Feb. 17, 2014.

Stand Your Ground had nothing to do with the Dunn verdict in Florida. Stand Your Ground played zero role in the Michael Dunn "loud music" case. Washington Post. Feb. 17, 2014.

Ninth Circuit strikes California's restrictive rule against licensed carry of handguns. The Ninth Circuit's decision in Peruta v. San Diego affirms the right of law-abiding citizens to carry handguns for lawful protection in public. Washington Post. Feb. 13, 2014.

Meet the Barack Obama of the Volokh Conspiracy. Personality test results in Kopel most like President Obama. Washington Post. Feb. 7, 2014.

What a Life Can Be: One Therapist's Take on Schizo-Affective Disorder. Book Review: "What a Life Can Be: One Therapist's Take on Schizo-Affective Disorder," by Dr. Carolyn Dobbins. Washington Post. Jan. 27, 2014.

2013

Hollywood, 'Homefront' and the very real problems facing Interpol. Interpol is where lazy script-writers turn when they need foreign-sounding cops who are funnier than the KGB. FoxNews.com. With Theodore R. Bromund. Dec. 11, 2013.

The Battle for a Free California Rages On. America's 1st Freedom. Dec. 2013.

"Gun Control in The Third Reich." by Stephen Halbrook. Book review. Nov. 2013.

Tragedy's Playbook: Bloomberg's PR manual for exploiting crimes. America's 1st Freedom. Nov. 2013.

Deacons for Defense and Justice. America's 1st Freedom. October, 2013.

The Colorado Recalls Explained. Volokh.com. Sept. 11, 2013.

The Long Hard Road to Freedom. How a new "shall issue" law in Illinois illustrates the long hard road to freedom. America's 1st Freedom. September, 2013.

U.N.-Believable. By giving support to the negotiation and passage of a U.N. arms trade treaty, the Obama administration is allowing foreign government to remake the 2nd Amendment - and thus the United States - in their own image. America's 1st Freedom. June 2013.

Time For a Real Response. Now that the gun-control circus is over, we can actually address mass violence. National Review Online. Apr. 19, 2013.

The Problem Was With the Legislation. On the question, "If 90 percent of Americans support background checks but most senators don't, is the system broken?" New York Times Room for Debate. Apr. 18, 2013.

The Problems of Toomey-Manchin. National Review Online. Apr. 17, 2013.

The "Pro-Gun" Provisions of Manchin-Toomey are Actually a Bonanza of Gun Control. Volokh.com. Apr. 15, 2013.

Schumer-Toomey gun bill deserves a committee hearing. The Daily Caller. Apr. 11, 2013.

Turning Gun Owners into Felons. A new bill would make it a crime to "transfer" your gun to a spouse for more than seven days. National Review. Apr. 5, 2013.

Do You Really Think That Feinstein Will Stop At ARs? America's 1st Freedom. March 2013.

The Catastrophic Consequences of Gun Registration. America's 1st Freedom. March 2013.

Ronald Reagan's AR-15. Volokh.com. Jan. 15, 2013.

Guns in America: Arming the right people can save lives. Good guys with guns have managed to keep a list of shooters from carrying out the kinds of attacks that get far more publicity. LA Times. Jan. 15, 2013. Cited in Koons v. Platkin, 2023 WL 3478604, No. CV 22-7463 (D.N.J. May 16, 2023).

Activities for Gun Appreciation Day. Volokh.com. Jan. 14, 2013.

A Divide Widened by Misunderstanding. Kopel featured in the NY Times Room for Debate series on the question, "What is it about gun policy that makes it such an emotional topic?" New York Times. Jan. 6, 2013.

2012

Why Japan is so safe from guns. A society utterly different from our own. NY Daily News. Dec. 19, 2012.

Guns, Mental Illness and Newtown. Why random mass shootings have increased and what to do about it. Wall Street Journal. Dec. 17, 2012.

The N.R.A. Is Still Vital, Because the 2nd Amendment Is. Kopel in the NY Times Room for Debate series on the question, "Is the gun lobby invincible?" New York Times. Dec. 17, 2012.

Moore v. Madigan, key points. Volokh.com. Dec. 11, 2012. Kopel's The Second Amendment in the Nineteenth Century cited by the majority. Right to Arms in the Living Constitution cited by the dissent.

Does any government have the legitimate power to ban medical marijuana? Volokh.com. Dec. 10, 2012.

The U.S. is Right to be Skeptical. Kopel featured in the NY Times Room for Debate series on the question, "Have treaties gone out of style?" New York Times. Dec. 6, 2012.

We all do extol Thee, Thou leader in Battle. The origins of the Thanksgiving hymn "We Gather Together." Nov. 21, 2012.

First item of new post-election "flexibility": U.N. gun control. Volokh.com. Nov. 7, 2012.

Second Amendment results, final. Volokh.com. Nov. 7, 2012.

Second Amendment election results. Volokh.com. Nov. 6, 2012.

Failure: Why we need it. Volokh.com. Oct. 30, 2012.

Under the Gun. A Second Amendment look at the elections. National Review Online. Oct. 29, 2012.

Here's What Could Happen If You Don't Defeat Obama! Who knows what Obama has in store for America if he is elected to a second term, but if we take him at his word, it is not good for gun owners. America's 1st Freedom. Nov. 2012.

How Syria is Iran's Route to the Sea. Volokh.com. Oct. 24, 2012.

Louisiana amendment to strengthen right to arms, on November ballot. Volokh.com. Oct. 3, 2012.

Does the Supremacy Clause mean that the federal government always wins? Volokh.com. Oct. 2, 2012.

Before the Smoke Had Even Cleared. Mass murder at a Colorado movie theater became the rallying cry for more gun control. America's 1st Freedom. Oct. 2012.

China's Newest Exports. One of the biggest human rights violators on the planet publishes nonsense about our constitutional right to keep and bear arms. America's 1st Freedom. Sept. 2012.

Taking Aim. Adaptation of Kopel's speech at the 10th annual Independence Institute's Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Party. LibertyUnbound.com. August 30, 2012.

"Beer + Pizza = Success." The key formula for law students. Volokh.com. Aug. 19, 2012.

Should Congress revise our nation's gun laws? No. State gun laws do the job. Denver Post. July 29, 2012.

Colorado Consensus on Gun Laws. Broadly supported post-Columbine reforms balance gun rights and gun control. National Review Online. July 26, 2012.

Chief Justice Roberts and the window tax. Volokh.com. July 9, 2012.

The Bar Review version of NFIB v. Sebelius. Scotusblog. July 6, 2012.

Poof! Obama administration aims to gut the armed pilots program. America's 1st Freedom. July 2012.

$2 Billion They'll Never See Again. Canada repeals long gun registration. America's 1st Freedom. July 2012.

What's next for the opposition? Andrew Jackson shows what we need to do next. National Review Online, June 29, 2012.

Next step: Repeal the individual mandate because it is unconstitutional. Volokh.com. June 29, 2012.

Major limits on the Congress's powers, in an opinion worthy of John Marshall. Scotusblog. June 28, 2012.

OSHA Targets Shooting Range. Volokh.com. June 23, 2012.

Georgia-Pacific West v NEDC: a good case for certiorari. Misuse of the Clean Water Act to shut down logging roads. Volokh.com. June 20, 2012. (Note: Cert. was granted the next day.)

Gaylord-style corporate welfare is unconstitutional. Denver Post. June 16, 2012. With Fred Holden.

Public opinion about the National Rifle Association. Volokh.com. June 2, 2012.

Bloomberg's X-ray. NYC develops gun detectors to conduct secret warrantless searches. America's 1st Freedom. May 2012.

Calderon misfires on U.S. gun control. Mexican president scatters blame far and wide for 'Fast and Furious' mistakes. Washington Times. April 12, 2012.

Canada Abolishes Long Gun Registry. Volokh.com. Apr. 5, 2012.

President Obama versus the Constitution. Obama attacks judicial review, says that it would be "unprecedented" for Court to rule against a congressional statute. Volokh.com, Apr. 3, 2012.

Debunking the 'stand your ground' myth. Anti-gun advocates mislead on Trayvon case to erode right to self-defense. Washington Times, Apr. 2, 2012.

Nearing the end of the search for the non-existent limiting principles. If Obamacare is constitutional, the government can make you buy anything. Volokh.com. March 29, 2012.

Florida's Self-Defense Laws. Explains why the "Stand your ground" and "Castle Doctrine" laws are irrelevant to the Martin/Zimmerman case. Volokh Conspiracy. Mar. 27, 2012.

The AR-15 And The Second Amendment: No Respect. It's the best-selling type of rifle in America today, yet the gun prohibition lobbies want to make it a crime for you to own one. America's 1st Freedom. April 2012.

Who Rules Who? On what the Scottish people are really voting for. The Scottish independence referendum. Holyrood. Mar. 11, 2012.

Holder Must Go. Attorney General Eric Holder's lies and half-truths in the "Fast and Furious" aftermath are nothing new. A look at the past shows a long history of dishonesty and disdain for the truth and the law. America's 1st Freedom. Mar. 2012.

Hiding Behind State's Rights. Anti-gunners are hiding behind the false claim that right-to-carry reciprocity violates states' rights. America's 1st Freedom. Mar. 2012.

The Incidental Unconstitutionality of the Individual Mandate. Legal Workshop. Feb. 6, 2012. With Gary S. Lawson.

Against All Odds. The defeat of the handgun confiscation initiative in Massachusetts in 1976. America's 1st Freedom. Feb. 2012.

Scary Tales About Kids and Guns. Fatal firearms accidents among children are at an all-time low, even as the per-capita gun supply rises. America's 1st Freedom. Feb. 2012.

Why you should be furious about Fast & Furious. A detailed timeline of BATFE's program that supplied over 2,000 guns to Mexican cartels. America's 1st Freedom. Jan. 2012.

2011

Laws about gun ownership in early America. Volokh.com. Dec. 9, 2011.

The original meaning of the 14th Amendment regarding interracial marriage. Volokh.com. Dec. 5, 2011.

Supreme Court: "Obviously, direct control of medical practice in the states is beyond the power of the federal government." Volokh.com. Dec. 1, 2011.

Will gun owners get caught sleeping? Polling data from the past half-century show tremendous progress in public support for Second Amendment rights. But those gains could be reversed if Second Amendment supporters become apathetic. America's 1st Freedom. Dec. 2011.

Defense bill will allow President to indefinitely detain American citizens. Volokh.com. Nov. 30, 2011.

60s sitcom themes: The hidden alien. The strange family that doesn't know it is strange. Volokh.com. Nov. 23, 2011.

Why Yankee Doodle called it "macaroni". Volokh.com. Nov. 19, 2011.

Book review, "Election 2012: The Battle Begins." Volokh.com. Nov. 11, 2011.

Is Heller Hollow? Explains the court battle over 2d Amendment standard of review. America's 1st Freedom. Nov. 2011.

Mexico Comes Knocking. A seemingly ridiculous plan by the Mexican government to sue U.S. gunmakers for drug-cartel violence south of the border could spell doom for America's firearm industry. America's 1st Freedom. Oct. 2011.

President: "I do not believe in the Divinity of Christ." Volokh.com. Oct. 8, 2011.

What Should the Supreme Court do with the Obamacare Case? Scotusblog. Oct. 3, 2011.

Cooking up a Collective Right: How a mythical monster nearly swallowed the Second Amendment whole. America's 1st Freedom. Sept. 2011.

Who wants to provoke a constitutional crisis over abortion? Three of five Republican candidates at S.C. forum promise to defy the Supreme Court. Volokh Conspiracy. Sept. 5, 2011.

Could President Perry carry a gun? Definitely yes, since D.C.'s gun laws allowing carrying by any federal employee who is authorized to do so. Volokh Conspiracy. Aug 19, 2011.

Reagan's infamous speech in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Despite what the media told you, it was not a racist speech. Volokh Conspiracy. Aug. 16, 2011.

Rifle Golf: America's newest shooting sport. Volokh Conspiracy. Aug. 5, 2011.

Granting certiorari to an ACA challenge. Scotusblog. Aug. 2, 2011.

Comedy of Errors at Univ. of Colorado not very funny. Volokh Conspiracy. Aug. 2, 2011.

Cert. grant in Millender v. LA: Qualified immunity for an unconstitutional general warrant to seize firearms? Volokh Conspiracy. July 20, 2011.

Ezell's doctrinal rules for the Second Amendment. Volokh Conspiracy. July 8, 2011.

Suggestions for your periodical reading list. Volokh.com. June 29, 2011.

Brown v. EMA casts doubt on the "weapons effect" justification for gun control. Volokh.com. June 27, 2011.

Delta Airlines complicit in Saudi discrimination? Volokh.com. June 23, 2011.

Affordable Care Act pushes limits of constitutionality. Explains the four major Obamacare cases currently before the federal Circuit Courts of Appeal. Solutions (Colorado news site on health care issues). June 21, 2011.

Republican presidential candidates pledge to appoint judges to overturn the unconstitutional anti-abortion law they will sign. Candidates pledge to appoint judges who will adhere to the original meaning of the Constitution, but they promise to sign a federal law using the "interstate commerce" power to control what doctors tell abortion patients. Volokh Conspiracy. June 18, 2011.

Unraveling Heller. Though District of Columbia v. Heller is part of the fabric of our Constitution, some lower court judges are finding ways to pick it apart. America's 1st Freedom, June 2011.

Numbers from Nowhere. Conjuring facts to promote a global gun ban. The claim of 740,000 annual deaths from arms. America's 1st Freedom, May 2011.

Amendment II of the United States Constitution. Explains the key elements of the drafting, original meaning, and development of the right to arms. Constituting America, May 20, 2011.

Second Circuit reverses Judge Weinstein's order against firearms stores. Concurrence harshly rebukes him. Volokh.com. May 18, 2011.

Cert. Petition in Right to Carry Case. Volokh.com. April 22, 2011.

The Libyan intervention is not wholly legal. The Daily Caller. April 18, 2011.

Harold Volkmer, R.I.P. A tribute to the great Missouri Democrat who led the way to enactment of the Firearms Owner's Protection Acts, one of the most significant pieces of civil rights legislation in the history of Congress. The Volokh Conspiracy. April 18, 2011.

Federal activities allowed in case of a government shutdown. Volokh.com. April 8, 2011.

The "San Francisco Democrats" meme. Debunking the notion that Jeanne Kirkpatrick's 1984 foreign policy speech to the Republican National Convention was anti-gay. The Volokh Conspiracy. April 4, 2011.

Health insurance is not 'commerce'. A single erroneous Supreme Court precedent from 1944, South-Eastern Underwriters, should be overturned. National Law Journal. March 28, 2011. With Rob Natelson.

Ireland on the Brink. A decades-long battle for firearm freedom could soon end in the worst way possible for Irish gun owners. America's 1st Freedom. April 2011.

University of Colorado Opera's "Susannah." Volokh.com. March 18, 2011.

Tyrannical "governments" are not genuine governments. Volokh.com. March 18, 2011.

Why Obamacare mandate penalty can't be a tax. Orange County Register. March 4, 2011.

The Dark Secret of Jim Crow and the Racist Roots of Gun Control. How Jim Crow laws in the late 19th century created the foundation for modern anti-gun laws. America's 1st Freedom. March 2011.

Smearing Madison. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, in his zeal to reverse Heller and McDonald, misrepresents the Father of our Constitution. America's 1st Freedom. March 2011.

The Compact Clause vs. the Multistate Tobacco Cartel. Volokh.com. February 16, 2011.

Ronald Reagan's "Extremism" and the 1966 California Gubernatorial Election. Encyclopedia Britannica blog. Feb. 4, 2011.

The Plan to Get the Lead Out. Interest groups are now targeting lead ammunition through the federal court system. America's 1st Freedom. Feb. 2011.

A Chance to Fight Back. Does gun carrying thwart assassins and mass killers? Theodore & Eleanor Roosevelt thought so. New York Times, "Room for Debate." Jan. 11, 2011.

How to Pick a Fight. The NRA's strategy in Peruta v. California, challenging the San Diego sheriff's refusal to issue CCW permits. America's 1st Freedom. Jan. 2011.

2010

Barack Obama and Gun Control: Effective and Shrewd. Encyclopedia Britannica blog. Dec. 14, 2010.

Final score on 2d Amendment in the November elections. Volokh.com. December 10, 2010.

UNICEF harms children. Volokh.com. December 6, 2010.

It's Howdy Bloomy Time. Biased media coverage of a report about Mexican guns from Michael Bloomberg's gun control lobby. America's 1st Freedom. Dec. 2010.

Twisting the Truth. A study from the Lawyers' Committee Against Violence says that gun control works, but the study does not hold up under careful scrutiny. America's 1st Freedom. Nov. 2010.

The Second Amendment's Great Election night. Washington Examiner. Nov. 4, 2010.

"Ronald Reagan, Extremist Collaborator." Reagan's 1966 run for Governor of California, and how Democrats tried to label the first-time candidate as an "extremist." The New Ledger. Oct. 28, 2010.

Reefer Madness and the Prohibition of Marijuana in the United States. Encyclopædia Britannica blog. Oct. 26, 2010.

Media drove the Maes bike story, but parked for Hickenlooper. Media ignore mayor's desire to "wean" Coloradoans off automobiles. WhoSaidYouSaid.com, Oct. 25, 2010.

Gun Rights and the 2010 House Elections. The New Ledger. Oct. 22, 2010.

Obamacare's Destiny: The Supreme Court. Analysis of the federal district court decision refusing to dismiss the 20-state suit. The New Ledger. Oct. 20, 2010.

Advice for law students: Enjoy your University. Volokh.com. October 18, 2010.

Time.com corrects report on Betsy Markey's health-care vote. WhoSaidYouSaid.com, Oct. 18, 2010.

A small correction for Sandefur. On the substantive due process Supreme Court doctrine. Volokh.com. October 17, 2010.

Denver Post erred in covering reckless charges against U.S. Chamber. When partisans make felony accusations with no evidence, newspapers should not give the charges credence. WhoSaidYouSaid.com, Oct. 16, 2010.

The Obamacare mandate is unconstitutional. Discussing the granting of the motion to dismiss in Thomas More Law Center v. Obama (Fed. Dist. Ct., Michigan). The Daily Caller. Oct. 8, 2010.

NRA Supports Pro-Gun Democrats, and Many Democrats Support the Second Amendment. Volokh.com. October 8, 2010.

Ad targeting Buck misfires. Misleading claims about Buck's role in standing up against political persecution of a firearms dealer. WhoSaidYouSaid.com, Oct. 7, 2010.

Remember the imaginary "National Republican Association"? Volokh.com. October 6, 2010.

Bloomberg, Bennet and gun control. Bennet cosponsors the billionaire mayor's anti-gun law. WhoSaidYouSaid.com, Oct. 4, 2010.

Which pollsters are most accurate? When reporting on polls, media should consider 538's data about pollster accuracy. WhoSaidYouSaid.com, Oct. 2, 2010.

Stephen Halbrook: Securing Civil Rights. Kopel interviews Halbrook about Halbrook's career, and his new book on the 14th Amendment. America's 1st Freedom, Oct. 2010.

Feeling Blue. The Obama administration's support for gun control initiatives at U.N. conferences in the summer of 2010. America's 1st Freedom, Oct. 2010.

Gun Rights and the 2010 Senate Elections. The New Ledger. Sept. 27, 2010.

An alternative approach to footnote *. Volokh.com. September 7, 2010.

Obama is too a Christian. Volokh.com. September 1, 2010.

Some skepticism about "UnemployedJD". Volokh.com. August 24, 2010.

Stop Criticizing President Obama for Playing Golf. Volokh.com. August 23, 2010.

ACORN decision explained. Bill of Attainder doctrine. Volokh.com. August 13, 2010.

The Mark of "C". While Anti-Gunners in Congress Hail Him as the New Zorro, President Calderón Takes a Swipe at American Gun Rights. America's 1st Freedom. August 2010.

Human Events' ridiculous "Obama the Muslim" article. Volokh.com. July 29, 2010.

Understanding Inception. Volokh.com. July 27, 2010.

As the U.N.'s Arms Trade Treaty Process Begins, U.N.'s "Programme of Action" on Small Arms Shows Its Dangers. Heritage Foundation WebMemo #2969, July 20, 2010. With Theodore Bromund.

Will Gun Shows Become Extinct? Anti-gun billionaires Michael Bloomberg and George Soros aim to take a huge bite out of the Second Amendment. America's 1st Freedom. July 2010.

Federalist 46. "The Influence of the State and Federal Governments Compared," by James Madison. Kopel examines how well Madison's expectations turned out in practice, and Madison's praise for the American "advantage of being armed." Constituting America, June 30, 2010.

Written testimony on Elena Kagan nomination. Co-authored with Stephen Halbrook.

Sotomayor targets guns now. Justice's dissent contradicts confirmation testimony. Washington Times, June 29, 2010.

Does Kindle change everything? Volokh.com. June 24, 2010.

Trimming Citizens. Efforts to restrict the free speech rights which had been protected in the Citizens United case. America's 1st Freedom, June 2010.

Dave Kopel: Aiming for Liberty. Article about Kopel and his new book. America's 1st Freedom, June 2010.

NRA Convention report. Volokh.com. May 17, 2010.

Bringing a case against Arizona before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Volokh.com. May 27, 2010.

How President Obama is bringing real education reform to Colorado. Volokh.com. May 12, 2010.

NRA Makes its Case. The oral argument in McDonald v. Chicago. America's 1st Freedom, May 2010.

Bloomberg's aggressive stance against guns. Denver Post, April 24, 2010. The Bloomberg "gun show" bill is mostly about issues other than background checks at gun shows.

Big First Amendment win in United States v. Stevens. Volokh.com. April 20, 2010.

The Democratic Strategist misdescribes some legal issues. Volokh.com. April 13, 2010.

An Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen. No precedent for Obamacare. Volokh.com. April 2, 2010.

Destroying the Constitution's Structure is not Constitutional. Obamacare. Volokh.com. April 2, 2010.

Pretending that no law professors question Obamacare. Volokh.com. April 1, 2010.

Speech Freed! The Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United restores the free speech of civil rights groups, such as the NRA. America's 1st Freedom. April 2010.

Is the tax power infinite? Volokh.com. March 22, 2010.

Is the Slaughter Solution constitutional? Volokh.com. March 13, 2010.

South Africa's Deadly Disaster. The continuing saga of South Africa's dwindling gun owners provides a case study of what gun-banners want to do in the United States. America's 1st Freedom. March 2010.

The Next Supreme Decision: Showdown Over Chicago. The NRA's brief in McDonald v. Chicago. America's 1st Freedom. Feb. 2010.

Europe's Roe v. Wade? Volokh.com. February 22, 2010.

The story of the armed community organizers. The civil rights movement. Volokh.com. February 22, 2010.

"Birther" claim about Obama and the Bush National Guard hoax: Fruit of the same poisonous tree? Volokh.com. February 9, 2010.

Interpol Realism. Volokh.com. January 15, 2010.

How Your Tax Dollars Demonize Your Guns. Federal funding for a new study purporting to show that gun owners are more likely to be murdered. America's 1st Freedom. Jan. 2010.

2009

What's that Smell? Nearly everyone has heard of the corruption-plagued organization ACORN. Yet many gun owners are unaware of the organization's strong anti-gun activities and ties. America's 1st Freedom, Dec. 2009.

Commentary on the Talmud and self-defense. Sh'ma (magazine on Jewish ethics). Nov. 2009, page 16.

OSHEESH! How President Obama's latest anti-gun appointee--proposed OSHA Director David Michaels--could place sweeping restrictions on your Right to Keep and Bear Arms. America's 1st Freedom. November 2009.

Newsweek promotes Palin for President. Volokh.com. November 14, 2009.

From Bad To Worse. Book reviews of Lethal Logic: Exploding the Myths that Paralyze American Gun Policy by Dennis A. Henigan & Guns, Democracy, and the Insurrectionist Idea by Joshua Horwitz & Casey Anderson. America's 1st Freedom. October 2009.

Fat acceptance in NJ Governor Race. Volokh.com. October 29, 2009.

Too fat to be Governor? Volokh.com. October 13, 2009.

Some Legislators Do Read Every Bill before Voting. Volokh.com. September 23, 2009.

Will the Supreme Court Set Speech Free? The Supreme Court, censorship of political speech, and the case of Citizens United v. FEC. America's 1st Freedom. America's 1st Freedom. September 2009.

What's the Difference between a "Living Constitution" and a Dead Document? The "living Constitution" theory of interpretation should lead to strong protection for a vital Second Amendment. America's 1st Freedom. September 2009.

The OAS Treaty: Blueprint for Dismantling the Second Amendment. Administration support for a dangerous international treaty shows its disdain for the Constitution and America's law-abiding gun owners. America's 1st Freedom. August 2009.

What good is an individual right if your state won't enforce it? Analysis of the 7th Circuit's decision holding that the Second Amendment does not limit state or local governments. America's 1st Freedom. August 2009.

Two Gentlemen of Verona, at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Volokh.com. July 20, 2009.

The Guns of Sudan. Gun confiscation in South Sudan makes a bad situation for human rights even worse. The New Ledger. July 7, 2009. With Paul Gallant & Joanne D. Eisen.

The liberal argument for gun ownership. Boulder Weekly. July 2-8, 2009.

Bloody Pirates! How can a few thugs disrupt the entire shipping industry? It's simple when the good guys have water hoses and air horns for self-defense, and only the bad guys have guns. America's 1st Freedom. July 2009.

Koh, No! President Barack Obama continues to fill his administration with devout gun-ban advocates, this time appointing transnationalist Harold Koh as legal adviser to the Department of State. America's 1st Freedom. July 2009.

The State of Heller. Does the Second Amendment apply to state and local governments? Ongoing cases may soon give the Supreme Court an opportunity to issue a definitive decision on this very important question. Discussion of the 9th Circuit's new decision in Nordyke v. King, plus other cases involving incorporation. America's 1st Freedom. June 2009. PDF.

Guns in Parks: The Hoplophobes' Travel Guide to the United States. The New Ledger. May 29, 2009.

Respecting States' Wishes. Short essay on the new law allowing guns in National Parks. New York Times, "Room for Debate" on-line feature. May 22, 2009.

The Pieces Fall into Place. With Gil Kerlikowske, President Obama continues the trend of appointing gun-haters to important positions in his administration. America's 1st Freedom, May 2009.

Education at the Extremez. America's 1st Freedom, Apr. 2009. Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

Reason Magazine goes too far. Comparing Obama's 1st 100 days to Dippin' Dots ice cream. Volokh.com. April 29, 2009.

Gun Rights and the Constitution: Was Heller Insignificant? An examination of last week's New York Times article, which overlooked most of the Second Amendment victories which have flowed from Heller. The New Ledger. March 26, 2009.

The Whole World is Watching. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's potential effect on Second Amendment rights. America's 1st Freedom. March 2009.

We'll lose more than a paper. Farewell to the Rocky Mountain News. Final edition of the Rocky Mountain News. Feb. 27, 2009.

Stick to Your Guns, Senator. Giving in to the anti-gun lobby will not help Kirsten Gillibrand stay in office. National Review Online. Feb. 24, 2009.

La Voz best of the bunch. Examination of seven Spanish language newspapers published in the Denver are. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. Feb. 21, 2009.

Dying newspapers, vanishing coverage. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. Feb. 7, 2009.

Strike Two! Attorney General Eric Holder and the Second Amendment. America's 1st Freedom. Feb. 2009.

The Sword & the Tome. Some quotes about self-defense and the right to arms, from the ancient Hebrews up to the present. America's 1st Freedom. Feb. 2009.

Rocky, Post go all out for inaugural. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. Jan. 24, 2009.

ProPublica's shaky facts. Article on hydraulic fracturing in natural gas extraction is full of errors. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. Jan. 10, 2009. Follow-up: Kopel response to ProPublica's defense of its article.

Gun Control. Issue 24 of the Change in Command series, explaining how Americans view the impending inauguration of President Obama. January 2009.

Beware the Rahm. After pledging his support for the Second Amendment during the campaign, President-elect Barack Obama appoints devout gun-ban supporter Rahm Emanuel as his chief of staff. America's 1st Freedom. Jan. 2009.

2008

Opinion Pays its Own Way. Economic changes at newspaper may lead to more "news" articles which are really opinion pieces that are provided for free to the newspaper. The non-profit organization ProPublica is showing how to do this. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. Dec. 27, 2008.

Web, not bias, offing papers. Craigslist and declining literacy are why newspapers are in mortal peril. Ideological bias is a real problem, but not main threat to survival. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. Dec. 13, 2008.

Free Plaxico Burress. New York City's gun law is unconstitutional. Wall Street Journal. Dec. 4, 2008.

Poison Pill. When banning guns gets tough, finding ways to ban gun owners can accomplish the same end. Take Nassau County, N.Y., for example. America's 1st Freedom. Dec. 2008.

The media-violence link. New Dutch study suggests newspapers, TV wise to show discretion. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. Nov. 29, 2008.

Evaluating Rocky, Post pre-election polling. The papers were right on the President and Senate race, but wrong on almost all the ballot issues. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. Nov. 15, 2008.

Election chaos online. The Denver Post's online ballot tool is imperfect, but much than that of the News. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. Nov. 1, 2008.

Obama and McCain: Stark contrast on gun rights. Denver Post. Nov. 3, 2008.

Gunning for Victory. Second Amendment voter guide. National Review Online. October 30, 2008.

Columnist has his own paranoid style. Rocky Mountain News columnist (and University of Colorado law professor) Paul Campos used the famous essay, "The Paranoid Style in American Politics", by historian Richard Hofstadter as the template for a column criticizing Republicans. Kopel's column suggests that--at least based on the evidence within Campos's column--"the paranoid style" was more accurate as a description of Campos's own approach. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. Oct. 18, 2008.

CAIR's complaints about DVD hollow. Fringe group not worth notice media gives it. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. Oct. 4, 2008. The media should not have wasted space covering the Council on American-Islamic Relations' bogus complaints about the movie Obsession, which warns of the dangers of radical violent Islamists.

When Obama Wrestles with Heller. Barack Obama is a tremendous threat to the Heller decision. He has an extreme anti-gun record. The persons being named as his potential Supreme Court and Cabinet nominees have established records of anti-rights activism. America's 1st Freedom. October 2008.

FactCheck Flubs Obama Gun Fact Check. The NRA's claims about Obama's anti-gun views are supported by his voting record. The Volokh Conspiracy weblog. Sept. 23, 2008.

Post's bloggers beat Rocky's tweeters. Twitter's limitations a detriment to reporting. Also, the News Truth Patrol gets mixed up by the Bush doctrine, and RockyTalk Live overstates Palin's popularity. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. Sept. 20, 2008.

Is the Best Defense a Good Book? Part II. The Old Testament and Self-defense. America's 1st Freedom. Sept. 2008.

Media's hypocritical fixation on Palin a boon to McCain. Culture wars now a factor in campaign. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. Sept. 6, 2008.

The Calvinist Connection. Liberty. October 2008. The roots of liberty go deep. They reach to places where modern libertarians might never expect to find them.

Was MLK a Republican or not? Rocky Mountain News. Aug. 29, 2008. Also, the specialized press at the Democratic National Convention, and under-coverage of Obama's ground game advantage.

Text and Twitter your way to victory. Rocky Mountain News. Aug. 28, 2008. Obama's brilliant use of social networking.

Full Picture of Obama Emerging. Rocky Mountain News. Aug. 27, 2008. What the media hasn't told you about the socialist, racialist, Barack Obama Sr. Plus bogus claim from Time that older Jewish. voters who don't back Obama must be racist.

Interfaith Speakers Raise Questions. Rocky Mountain News. Aug. 26, 2008. Sister Helen Prejean and the head of the Islamic Society of North America.

Al-Jazeera analysis of Biden severely flawed. Rocky Mountain News. Aug. 25, 2008. Also covers "rum, Romanism, and rebellion."

In its obsession with Polis, Times misses other news. Newspaper blinded by gay candidate's success. Rocky Mountain News. August 23, 2008.

Political websites for the insatiable. A survey of some of Colorado's best political websites. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. August 9, 2008.

What Next for D.C.'s Gun Laws. Congress should intervene to protect the Second Amendment. Wall Street Journal. August 8, 2008. With Robert A. Levy.

Freedom Unbound! In striking down the D.C. gun ban, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that the Second Amendment protects an individual right of all Americans. America's 1st Freedom. Aug. 2008.

After Heller: The New American Debate on Guns. Weblog debate about the Heller case and its implications. Participants are Bob Levy of the Cato Institute, Kopel, Dennis Henigan of the Brady Campaign, and Erwin Chemerinsky. Kopel's entries are: "The Right to Bear Arms and 'Sensible' Gun Laws"; "Slope Still Slippery"; "More on 'The' and Pre-existing Rights"; "One Man's 'Sensible' is Another Man's 'Extreme'"; "What Did They Mean in Massachusetts?" "The NRA and the Supreme Court"; and "In Scalia's Defense". Cato Unbound. July 2008.

Papers mishandle Bruce allegations. Now, they should name his accuser. Also McCain's dog-whistle in TV ad appeals to anti-Tancredo voters. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. July 26, 2008.

McCain protester coverage limited. Obama campaign's restrictions overlooked. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. July 12, 2008.

Heller's Kitchen. How the Heller decision may affect New York City gun laws. New York Sun. June 30, 2008.

The First Dominoes Fall: Morton Grove and Wilmette Handgun Bans. The Volokh Conspiracy weblog. June 29, 2008.

Dailies' Haditha coverage admirable. More even-handed than national media. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. June 28, 2008.

Miller, Colt .45s and Natural Law. The Heller decision provides constitutional protection for what it recognizes as the natural right of self-defense. The decision also show DC's ban on all self-loading guns to be unconstitutional. Scotusblog, June 27, 2008.

Heller is just the beginning of expanding judicial protection of the right to arms. ReasonOnline, June 27, 2008.

Conservative Activists Key to DC Handgun Decision. Human Events. June 27, 2008.

Constitution is Big Winner in D.C. Gun Case. Kopel's analysis of the Heller decision. Pajamas Media. June 26, 2008.

Privacy concerns at Post. New database listing state employees names and salaries is a bad idea. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. June 14, 2008.

Ringside at the Supreme Court. Report on the Heller oral argument. America's 1st Freedom. June 2008. In PDF.

Dailies shrug off Libertarian confab. The American Spectator and The Colorado Independent provided the best coverage of the Libertarian Party presidential nominating convention in Denver. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. May 31, 2008.

At 'Westword,' the sh-- must go on. Substance too often makes way for scurrility. Plus, pets and the housing "crisis," credulous coverage over possible Denver-Tokyo non-stop flights. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. May 17, 2008.

Gun Owners for Hillary? Townhall.com, May 8, 2008.

Barr, Limbaugh go too far. Radio hosts talk of riots in Denver. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. May 3, 2008.

Regrettably, Rhodes returns to radio. Progressive shock jock less than thoughtful. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. April 19, 2008.

The Democrats and Gun Control. The Clinton and Obama records belie their claims to support the Second Amendment. Wall Street Journal. April 17, 2008.

Obama's Other Spiritual Mentor: Rev. Michael Pfleger. The man whom Obama described as one of his three spiritual mentors is a Farrakhan devotee who hates the Second Amendment. Volokh Conspiracy weblog. Apr. 8, 2008.

McCain preachers merit scrutiny, too. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post. April 5, 2008.

What are the anti's thinking? Analysis of the anti-Second Amendment amicus briefs in District of Columbia v. Heller. America's 1st Freedom. April 2008. PDF.

A Needed, but Inadequate, Critique of Antitrust and Reform Proposals. Book review of The Antitrust Religion by Edwin S. Rockefeller (Cato Institute, 2007). Info Tech & Telecom News (Heartland Institute). April 1, 2008.

Oral argument in DC v. Heller. The view from the counsel table. Volokh Conspiracy weblog. Mar. 31, 2008.

Do Rocky, Post give Dems a break? Analysis of two recent scandals says they do. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Mar. 22, 2008.

A (Really) Brief History of the Collective Right to Keep and Bear Arms. All of the Supreme Court's 19th century cases involving the Second Amendment recognize a broad right for all law-abiding citizens, not a "collective" or militia-only right. America's 1st Freedom. Mar. 2008. PDF.

Too often a crutch. Studies important enough to mention in a story should be cited. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Mar. 8, 2008. Analysis of Katy Human's flawed Denver Post article about what "studies have shown" about subsidized health insurance for children. And more general problems about use of "studies have shown" without citation to the studies.

Ready to shoot. The legal availability of handguns makes for a better-prepared police force and a safer citizenry. Baltimore Sun. Feb. 27, 2008. With Ed Nowicki.

Relying too heavily on press releases. Rocky failed to get the other side of issue. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Feb. 23, 2007. Miscoverage of the effect of man-made chemicals on human and animal reproduction. Also, another falsehood from Maureen Dowd, and Gannett's effort to take over the Colorado State University newspaper.

Polls have their place. Though sometimes off-base, they add spice to the political season. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Feb. 9, 2008.

RedBlueAmerica.com off to a promising start. Web site promotes understanding of both sides. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Jan. 26, 2008.

In Liberty's Two Arms. Both clauses of the Second Amendment protect gun rights. Legal Times, Jan. 14, 2008. Applying Justice Stephen Breyer's book "Active Liberty" to the Second Amendment. PDF. HTML.

Politics from the stump to the Web. A few tips for navigating the '08 campaign. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Jan. 12, 2008.

The Supreme Decision. Analysis of the D.C. v. Heller case. America's 1st Freedom. Jan. 2008. PDF.

We're from the Government, and We're Here to Help You. The Ugandan government perpetrates ethnocide against the Karamajong tribes, under the pretext of gun control. America's 1st Freedom. Jan. 2008.

2007

Let news figures comment further. Google News leads the way for local media. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Dec. 29, 2007.

Reducing the risk of copycat killers. How papers can avoid glorifying perpetrators. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Dec. 15, 2007.

Columnist's howl replaces reason. Virulent attack on Tancredo by Paul Campos unsupported. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Dec. 1, 2007. Note: this article briefly and favorably mentions a column about the Annapolis Conference; the author of that column was David Ignatius, not David Sirota.

UNRWA and Palestinian Suffering. The UN agency created in 1949 to help Palestinian refugees has deliberately prolonged their suffering. The Volokh Conspiracy. Nov. 29, 2007.

Court, capital and handgun. Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, TX). Nov. 19, 2007. A look at the DC handgun ban case, showing how unpopular handgun bans are in the U.S., from 1976 to the present.

Do endorsements by papers matter? Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Nov. 17, 2007.

Paltry Denver Access? For some Rockies fans, that's what PDA stood for during World Series. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Nov. 3, 2007. Also, increased CO2 emissions from inefficient E-85 fuel.

Tricked by UNICEF. Financing of Palestinian terrorism makes for one scary Halloween. National Review Online, Oct. 26, 2007.

Photo illustrating story clouds issue. Brown cloud not the result of CO2 emissions. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Oct. 6, 2007. Plus more global warming coverage, the Coors-Miller merger, the Udall-Schaffer race, and public opinion on the death penalty.

Genocide Resistance. The possession of arms saved many Armenians. National Review Online, Oct. 16, 2007. With Paul Gallant & Joanne D. Eisen.

The UN Needs another Member. Taiwan's application to join the UN. And the unfortunate silence of the U.S. State Department regarding the Secretary-General's illegal rejection of the application. Tech Central Station. Oct. 10, 2007. With Mike Krause.

Ron's Revolution: Could Dr. Paul really surprise us all? National Review Online, Oct. 9, 2007.

Stories about slain 'shield' lacking. Media miscoverage of Rachel Corrie and her terrorist-assisting International Solidarity Movement. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Oct. 6, 2007.

It's how you use the space you have. Longer stories offer better chance for depth. Plus, corporate welfare for movie companies, coverage of ex-gays, and the Duke rape hoax. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Sept. 22, 2007.

Giving Competition a Bad Name. Google vs. Microsoft, and how the European Commission claims to be promoting competition when it moves customers from companies with small market shares to the one that already has three-fifths of the market. Tech Central Station. Sept. 18, 2007.

Interviews with a Muslim. One year after the Pope's controversial Regensberg speech, this article explains and analyzes the 14th-century Christian/Muslim debate from which the Pope quoted. The Volokh Conspiracy. Sept. 12, 2007.

New Post Web site uses Internet well. Weblogs best part of PoliticsWest.com. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Sept. 8, 2007.

European Commission Buys Google's Dubious Antitrust Pitch. Info Tech & Telecom News. Sept. 1, 2007.

A Capital Crime. The District of Columbia's institutionalized history of incompetence, corruption and bigotry is the very reason for its prohibition of Second Amendment rights--and for its status as the murder capital of the United States. America's 1st Freedom. Sept. 2007. In PDF.

Surveillance tactic. Radio host Dan Caplis's plan to videotape patrons of a swingers club is a terrible idea. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Aug. 25, 2007.

A plus and a minus in the Post. Two stories about consequences of immigration reform hit and miss. Also, Kopel laments the continued shrinking of printed newspapers. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Aug. 11, 2007.

All's Well that Ends Well--Colorado Shakespeare Festival review. Aug. 7, 2007.

Ready to start learning Chinese? It's easier than you might think. Asian Avenue magazine, August 2007.

Case against flying not so airtight. Debunks the claim that long-haul air travel produces more CO2 than driving the same distance in a SUV. The column also criticizes newspapers which published pre-publication reviews of the new Harry Potter book. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, July 28, 2007.

The Threat From Sino-America. The dangers of China's growing, and anti-democratic influence in Latin America. Costa Rica's decision to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Tech Central Station. July 16, 2007. With Mike Krause.

Newshounds.us keeps tabs on Fox News. Similar watchdogs good idea for other networks. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, July 14, 2007. Plus, Colorado's most influential political blogs, and the Post's non-correction of a ridiculous statement wrongly attributed to Colin Powell.

DC's Gun Ban, Round 2. Analysis of the D.C. Circuit Court's denial of the city's petition for rehearing en banc. America's First Freedom. June 2007. In PDF.

Media reaching out. And here are a few tips for how you can take advantage of the trend. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, June 30, 2007.

A-Rod's indiscretion has no place on front page. Denver dailies wisely shun lurid tale. Plus: media ignores success of new Colorado anti-illegal immigration law; theatre critics underplays spy threat during the 1950s; new Issue Paper on O'Reilly, Caplis & Silverman falsehoods about Boulder High. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, June 16, 2007.

Talk-show hosts amok. If most parents aren't upset, why do Caplis, Silverman carry on so? Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, June 2, 2007. Falsehoods and misinformation in the campaign against Boulder High School by Bill O'Reilly and the Caplis & Silverman Show.

What is Montessori? The Volokh Conspiracy, May 25, 2007.

On the hustings. The good and the bad of Rocky's, Post's campaign trail coverage. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, May 19, 2007. Plus the lie that Timothy McVeigh was a Christian.

Are you planning on visiting Taiwan? 4 Rules to Follow. Asian Avenue magazine, May 15, 2007.

"France will not abandon the women who are condemned to the burqa." Nicolas Sarkozy's first address to the French people takes the first step in France's return to its glorious history and identity as a defender of human rights. The Volokh Conspiracy. May 9, 2007.

Echoes of abortion fraud. Were 1967's legislators, like 2007's Rocky, duped by false figure? Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, May 5, 2007.

Why Reveal Who's Concealed? What possible motive could some arrogant anti-gun newspapers have for publishing the names of Right-to-Carry permit holders? America's 1st Freedom, May 2007. by Paul Gallant, with David B. Kopel and Joanne D. Eisen.

Is Gun Control Back? Did it ever Go Away? On-line debate between Dave Kopel and Christopher Lockwood, the U.S. editor of The Economist. Los Angeles Times, April 21-25, 2007. April 23: the Virginia Tech murders. April 24: the politics of gun control. April 25: international issues. April 26: myths about guns. April 27: Gun solutions. How would you change America's gun laws?

Airing, publishing killer's photos, rants reckless. Publicity a fresh inducement to mass murderers. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, April 21, 2007.

"Gun-Free Zones." Wall Street Journal, April 18, 2007. The murders at Virginia Tech University.

Romney, a Second Amendment Killer? Bill Richardson for president!? National Review Online, April 11, 2007.

Hits and misses for dailies as Tancredo enters race. Announcement coverage merely adequate. Also Diana Carman's bigotry about talk radio fans; misleading summary of academic research on taxi deregulation; false legitimacy for "female circumcision". Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, April 7, 2007.

Anti-Gun & Angry, Too. Another furious gun-banner jumps on the book publishing bandwagon. And as usual, the truth takes a beating. Book Review of One Nation Under Guns by Arnold Grossman. America's First Freedom. April 2007. PDF.

The Dalai Lama's Army. A right to self-defense is recognized by the Dalai Lama -- indeed, his predecessor tried to recruit an army. National Review Online, April 5, 2007.

To Your Tents, O Israel! The history of ancient kingdom of Israel, and how the people created a strong central government for national security, but then found that their own liberties were endangered by that government. And the lessons that the American colonists and Founders drew from Israel's experience. Liberty, April 2007. PDF.

Internet humming with Nacchio trial coverage. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Mar. 24, 2007.

Rearming. In a symposium on the Parker case declaring the D.C. handgun and self-defense ban unconstitutional, Kopel examines the future consequences of the decision. National Review Online, March 12, 2006.

Coulter and Campos: Two sides of the same coin. One's right, one's left, but both often too shrill. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Mar. 10, 2007.

A service to homebuyers. Though flawed, Post's cautionary tale valuable. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Feb. 24, 2007.

Guns Don't Kill People, Gun Control Kills People. Uganda terrorizes its own citizens under the auspices of a UN gun control mandate. Reason Online. Feb. 23, 2007. With Joanne D. Eisen & Paul Gallant. Español.

Ten on the Second. Ten great books (plus some bonus recommendations) on the right to arms. America's 1st Freedom, March 2007. PDF.

Climate report too quickly embraced by journalists: Post columnist, others strangely unskeptical. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Feb. 10, 2007. criticizes the press for its overly credulous reporting of the latest output from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The column also looks at media coverage of a bill to mandate HPV vaccines for 6th grade girls; the factoid that only 2% of rape accusations are false; and the lingering influence of Michael Bellesiles on "The Mini Page."

Is the Best Defense a Good Book? Refutes the claim of pacifist-aggressives that the New Testament mandates pacifism. America's 1st Freedom, February 2007. PDF.

Big changes mean a smaller Rocky. City-side columnists see a major shift in location. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Jan. 27, 2007. Plus columnist Bill Johnson's libel of the Swift executives, and the unnoticed evidence that the legislature's crackdown on illegal aliens is causing them to leave Colorado.

Daily stubbornly refuses correction. Review of Owens governorship included mischaracterization of ex-Rep. Schaffer. Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, Jan. 13, 2007. Plus a survey of some of Colorado's best weblogs.

Cutting Through the Fog. The role that firearms, malaria, AIDS, and kleptocracy play in development failure. America's 1st Freedom, January 2007.