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HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A federal judge upheld Connecticut’s gun control law on Thursday, saying the sweeping measure is constitutional even as he acknowledged the Second Amendment rights of gun owners who sued to block it.

The law, which Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed last April after months of negotiations in the legislature, was not entirely written “with the utmost clarity,” U.S. District Judge Alfred Covello said in his 47-page decision. Still, several provisions are “not impermissibly vague in all of their applications and, therefore, the challenged portions of the legislation are not unconstitutionally vague.”

Lawmakers, responding to the shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School that killed 20 children and six educators on Dec. 14, 2012, banned the sale of large-capacity magazines and made more weapons illegal under the state’s assault weapons ban.

You may or may not have caught it, but sandwiched near the middle of his State of the Union speech Tuesday night President Obama once again vowed action on guns.

President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Jan. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

After being unable to push anti-gun legislation through Congress in 2013, Obama said he would act “with or without Congress.”

“Citizenship means standing up for the lives that gun violence steals from us each day,” he said. “I’ve seen the courage of parents, students, pastors, police officers all over this country who say ‘we are not afraid.’ And I intend to keep trying, with or without Congress, to help stop more tragedies from visiting innocent Americans in our movie theaters,

You may or may not have caught it, but sandwiched near the middle of his State of the Union speech Tuesday night President Obama once again vowed action on guns.

President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Jan. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

After being unable to push anti-gun legislation through Congress in 2013, Obama said he would act “with or without Congress.”

“Citizenship means standing up for the lives that gun violence steals from us each day,” he said. “I’ve seen the courage of parents, students, pastors, police officers all over this country who say ‘we are not afraid.’ And I intend to keep trying, with or without Congress, to help stop more tragedies from visiting innocent Americans in our movie theaters,

Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.), a candidate for U.S. Senate, is promising to give a semi-automatic AR-15 to one of his supporters.

“Barack Obama would like nothing more than to ban the AR-15 rifle,” the sweepstakes page on his campaign website says, “and that’s exactly why I’ve decided to give away a free AR-15 to one of my fellow 2nd amendment supporters.”

(Image source: Paul Broun 2014)

Individuals interested in entering simply have to provide Broun with a first and last name, email

Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.), a candidate for U.S. Senate, is promising to give a semi-automatic AR-15 to one of his supporters.

“Barack Obama would like nothing more than to ban the AR-15 rifle,” the sweepstakes page on his campaign website says, “and that’s exactly why I’ve decided to give away a free AR-15 to one of my fellow 2nd amendment supporters.”

(Image source: Paul Broun 2014)

Individuals interested in entering simply have to provide Broun with a first and last name, email

Oklahoma State Sen. Nathan Dahm is pushing for legislation that would further loosen the state’s gun laws. The bill is titled, the “Piers Morgan Constitutional Right to Keep and Bear Arms Without Infringement Act.”

Under Senate Bill 1473, citizens over the age of 18 would be able to open carry loaded or unloaded guns without a license for hunting and target shooting. Members of the military and law enforcement would also be covered under the bill; “for practice or performance for entertainment purposes; or for lawful self-defense purposes,” KOKH-TV reports.

Piers Morgan of the CNN show “Piers Morgan Live” arrives at the CNN Worldwide

Oklahoma State Sen. Nathan Dahm is pushing for legislation that would further loosen the state’s gun laws. The bill is titled, the “Piers Morgan Constitutional Right to Keep and Bear Arms Without Infringement Act.”

Under Senate Bill 1473, citizens over the age of 18 would be able to open carry loaded or unloaded guns without a license for hunting and target shooting. Members of the military and law enforcement would also be covered under the bill; “for practice or performance for entertainment purposes; or for lawful self-defense purposes,” KOKH-TV reports.

Piers Morgan of the CNN show “Piers Morgan Live” arrives at the CNN Worldwide

Anti-gun California State Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) is being mocked by gun rights advocates after he made a number of inaccurate statements while promoting a bill that would require individuals who manufacturer homemade firearms to undergo background checks.

“This is a ghost gun,” de Leon begins, holding an unloaded rifle in his hands. “This right here has the ability with a .30-caliber clip to disperse with 30 bullets within half a second. Thirty magazine clip in half a second.”

State Sen. Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, displays a homemade fully automatic rifle, confiscated by the Department of Justice, as he discuss his proposed legislation dealing with “ghost guns,” at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Jan. 13, 2014. Under de Leon’s m

Anti-gun California State Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) is being mocked by gun rights advocates after he made a number of inaccurate statements while promoting a bill that would require individuals who manufacturer homemade firearms to undergo background checks.

“This is a ghost gun,” de Leon begins, holding an unloaded rifle in his hands. “This right here has the ability with a .30-caliber clip to disperse with 30 bullets within half a second. Thirty magazine clip in half a second.”

State Sen. Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, displays a homemade fully automatic rifle, confiscated by the Department of Justice, as he discuss his proposed legislation dealing with “ghost guns,” at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Jan. 13, 2014. Under de Leon’s m

National Rifle Association (NRA) contributor Colion Noir invoked Martin Luther King Jr.’s application for a gun permit decades ago to deliver a passionate speech contending individuals should be allowed to own and use firearms for self defense.

“Dr. King was a non-violent man, but even he understood the realities of self-defense and protecting his home and his family in the face of life-threatening violence,” Noir said in the video.

National Rifle Association (NRA) contributor Colion Noir invoked Martin Luther King Jr.’s application for a gun permit decades ago to deliver a passionate speech contending individuals should be allowed to own and use firearms for self defense.

“Dr. King was a non-violent man, but even he understood the realities of self-defense and protecting his home and his family in the face of life-threatening violence,” Noir said in the video.

It’s being called the “Backpack Cannon” — and for good reason.

Last Monday, Smith & Wesson unveiled its new .460-caliber revolver at the annual SHOT show in Las Vegas.

Smith & Wesson unveiled the “Backpack Cannon” last week. (Image source: Smith & Wesson)

The five-shooter, which features a three-inch barrel, high-visibility sights and a synthetic stock with a shock absorber on the end of the handle, was touted by the major gun manufacturer as an ideal gun for placing in one’s backpack while embarking on outdoor adventures, according to KRMG.

It’s being called the “Backpack Cannon” — and for good reason.

Last Monday, Smith & Wesson unveiled its new .460-caliber revolver at the annual SHOT show in Las Vegas.

Smith & Wesson unveiled the “Backpack Cannon” last week. (Image source: Smith & Wesson)

The five-shooter, which features a three-inch barrel, high-visibility sights and a synthetic stock with a shock absorber on the end of the handle, was touted by the major gun manufacturer as an ideal gun for placing in one’s backpack while embarking on outdoor adventures, according to KRMG.

The office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.) in an open letter to the New York Post claimed he never said “conservatives should leave New York,” adding that his words were taken entirely out of context.

New York Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo speaks to supporters at the Sheraton New York on election night, Nov. 2, 2010 in New York City. Getty Images)

“The New York Post distorted Governor Cuomo’s words yesterday, saying that the Governor said ‘conservatives should leave New York,’” Cuomo’s office said in a statement. “The Governor did not say that, nor does he

The office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.) in an open letter to the New York Post claimed he never said “conservatives should leave New York,” adding that his words were taken entirely out of context.

New York Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo speaks to supporters at the Sheraton New York on election night, Nov. 2, 2010 in New York City. Getty Images)

“The New York Post distorted Governor Cuomo’s words yesterday, saying that the Governor said ‘conservatives should leave New York,’” Cuomo’s office said in a statement. “The Governor did not say that, nor does he

Screengrab via MLive.com video

TheBlaze posted a story earlier this week about a police officer who drew his weapon and ordered to the ground a man who was walking down a Grand Rapids, Mich. street with a gun in clear view.

Open Carry Is Legal in Michigan – That’s Why the Confrontation in This Video Has Sparked a Federal Lawsuit drew quite a few comments. Here’s what some readers of TheBlaze had to say about the incident:

Screengrab via MLive.com video

TheBlaze posted a story earlier this week about a police officer who drew his weapon and ordered to the ground a man who was walking down a Grand Rapids, Mich. street with a gun in clear view.

Open Carry Is Legal in Michigan – That’s Why the Confrontation in This Video Has Sparked a Federal Lawsuit drew quite a few comments. Here’s what some readers of TheBlaze had to say about the incident:

An armed man entered a Orrville, Ala., Dollar General on Thursday, waved his gun in the air and threatened to kill everyone, AL.com reports. Though motive is unclear, he never got the chance to hurt anyone because a customer carrying a concealed handgun neutralized him with a deadly shot.

Dallas County Sheriff Harris Huffman Jr. told WSFA-TV that the gunman held a cashier and customer at gunpoint, forcing them toward a break room area. It was at this point that the customer reportedly drew his firearm and shot the suspect one time in the chest. The entire incident took less than five minutes, police say.

The gunman was pronounced dead on the scene.

The sheriff said the customer is not currently facing any charges over the shooting death, however, investigators are working to confirm he had a valid concealed carry permit. Open carry is legal in Alabama, but a permit is required to carry a concealed handgun.

An armed man entered a Orrville, Ala., Dollar General on Thursday, waved his gun in the air and threatened to kill everyone, AL.com reports. Though motive is unclear, he never got the chance to hurt anyone because a customer carrying a concealed handgun neutralized him with a deadly shot.

Dallas County Sheriff Harris Huffman Jr. told WSFA-TV that the gunman held a cashier and customer at gunpoint, forcing them toward a break room area. It was at this point that the customer reportedly drew his firearm and shot the suspect one time in the chest. The entire incident took less than five minutes, police say.

The gunman was pronounced dead on the scene.

The sheriff said the customer is not currently facing any charges over the shooting death, however, investigators are working to confirm he had a valid concealed carry permit. Open carry is legal in Alabama, but a permit is required to carry a concealed handgun.

The ex-mayor of Marcus Hook, Penn., has been sentenced to up to 20 months in prison for discharging his firearm to intimidate a man he had invited to his home for a drink. James Schiliro is an outspoken gun control advocate and was a member of former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

Schiliro had a police cruiser bring his former neighbor, a 20-year-old man, who he was apparently attracted to, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. He reportedly made the man drink wine and refused to let him leave for more than three hours.

Marcus Hook Mayor James ‘Jay” Schiliro, seen here in March 2013, was found guilty last month of recklessly endan