Eye on the Target - TARGETHING - Talking Guns cover art

Eye on the Target - TARGETHING - Talking Guns

Eye on the Target - TARGETHING - Talking Guns

By: Radio@targething.com (Rob Campbell & Amanda Suffecool)
Listen for free

Live over the airwaves Salem Radio that is a Q&A related to personal protection, the 2nd amendment, guns, the shooting sports industry. Recorded live on SALEM at 5:00 pm est. Listen to the Podcasts, catch us live, or email in your questions to be covered on the next show. Radio@Targething.com. Our discussions include guns, pepper spray, defensive techniques, concealed carry, NRA, firearms, safety and a variety of others as the show is led by the originating topic and the questions asked by our listeners. Amanda Suffecool, Rob Campbell work to make the show lively and topical. Enjoy - Amanda2022
Episodes
  • 71226 hr2
    Jul 13 2026
    The program centers on an extended interview with attorney Alan Beck following his successful argument before the U.S. Supreme Court in the Wolford case, which challenged Hawaii's restrictive concealed-carry laws. Beck explains that after the Supreme Court's Bruen decision expanded concealed carry rights, Hawaii and several other states responded by enacting laws that effectively made permits useless by designating most public locations as off-limits. A major focus of the case was Hawaii's so-called "vampire rule," which required concealed carriers to obtain affirmative permission before entering any private business open to the public while armed. Beck describes how the rule created impossible situations, such as requiring permission before pulling into a gas station parking lot at night, and argues that businesses were unfairly forced into political debates by having to post signs either allowing or prohibiting firearms. Amanda and Beck compare the restriction to requiring permission to exercise other constitutional rights, emphasizing why the Supreme Court ultimately struck down the law. The discussion broadens into Hawaii's unique legal and historical background, with Beck explaining that the state's restrictive firearm policies partly stem from its history as an independent monarchy before statehood. He describes the Wolford victory as the culmination of fifteen years of litigation aimed at restoring Second Amendment rights in Hawaii, noting that the ruling gives concealed carry permits practical value while signaling to the state that future constitutional challenges can and will reach the Supreme Court if necessary. Looking ahead, Beck predicts that the Court is likely to strike down bans on AR-15 rifles in states such as Illinois and Connecticut, arguing that the justices accepted those cases because they believe lower courts have misapplied the Second Amendment. He also identifies the next major constitutional battleground as defining what qualifies as a legitimate "sensitive place" where firearms may be restricted. After the interview, hosts Amanda Suffecool and Rob Campbell shift to federal firearms regulation and discuss what they view as a changing relationship between the firearms community and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). They examine proposed revisions to the federal firearms license (FFL) transfer process, explaining that the agency withdrew a proposed rule not because it intended to become more restrictive, but because industry feedback suggested improvements to the language before implementation. The hosts describe this as an example of regulators working collaboratively with firearms dealers to modernize electronic recordkeeping and streamline lawful transfers, while acknowledging that firearm owners in more restrictive states continue to face far greater regulatory burdens than those in states like Ohio. The conversation then turns to state-level legal battles, including a Florida case involving firearm preemption laws. The hosts discuss a county fair that attempted to prohibit lawful firearm carry despite state law protecting it, noting that the courts sided with the citizens and required the county to pay legal costs. Amanda views the ruling as another victory for state preemption laws, while Rob argues that meaningful accountability is still lacking because the public ultimately pays for unsuccessful legal challenges rather than the officials responsible for pursuing them. Their differing perspectives highlight the tension between celebrating courtroom victories and seeking stronger consequences for government officials who knowingly enact policies that violate existing law. In the final segment, Amanda and Rob discuss how they believe gun-control advocacy organizations are changing their political strategy. Rather than focusing solely on outright firearm bans, they argue that many groups are increasingly framing proposals as public health or violence-prevention initiatives and embedding firearm-related provisions within larger budget bills to increase their chances of passage. They also discuss activist organizations that train members in skills such as de-escalation, emergency medical care, firearm safety, self-defense, and crowd management. Rob argues that understanding how organized groups coordinate and direct large crowds is an often-overlooked but valuable skill, while Amanda emphasizes that recognizing these organizational techniques can help people better understand public demonstrations and social movements. The episode concludes with encouragement for listeners to remain engaged, continue following legislative developments, and stay informed as legal and political debates surrounding the Second Amendment continue to evolve.
    Show More Show Less
    54 mins
  • 71226 hr1
    Jul 13 2026

    The episode opens with Amanda Suffecool and Rob Campbell discussing creative home design, prompted by a conversation about a friend receiving an antique artillery-model Luger pistol. That leads into an extended discussion about designing concealed gun rooms and secure storage areas within a home. They explore ideas such as hidden safe rooms behind Murphy doors or disguised entrances, the advantages and shortcomings of commercial vault doors, structural security beyond simply installing a heavy door, emergency exits, ventilation, and balancing accessibility with secrecy. They also compare how differently people perceive and remember house layouts, joking that while some people could never recognize a hidden room, others instinctively map every space they enter.

    The conversation then shifts to major Second Amendment litigation. Amanda previews an interview with attorney Alan Beck regarding the recent Supreme Court decision in the Wolford v. Lopez case involving Hawaii's "sensitive places" restrictions. The hosts discuss how states such as New Jersey and Chicago are already attempting to preserve their own gun-free zone laws despite the ruling, arguing that many states continue relying on historical laws from the late 1800s instead of the Founding Era history required under the Supreme Court's Bruen decision. They review the progression from Heller to McDonald to Bruen, arguing that Bruen finally forced lower courts to take the Second Amendment more seriously after years of resistance.

    From there, Rob and Amanda speculate about the future of National Firearms Act (NFA) regulations. They express optimism that restrictions on machine guns, suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and shotguns will continue to be challenged in court, discussing the possibility that future purchases could require only a standard background check rather than tax stamps or extensive paperwork. They also examine practical issues surrounding registered NFA firearms, including inheritance, lost registration records, and the complications owners face decades after purchasing regulated items.

    Another segment focuses on an unusual diplomatic story from the recent NATO summit in Turkey. The hosts describe how Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reportedly presented engraved .357 Magnum revolvers, complete with ammunition and cleaning kits, to attending world leaders as commemorative gifts. They discuss Turkey's growing firearms industry, the quality of Turkish-made firearms, and the diplomatic complications created by presenting handguns to leaders from countries where civilian handgun ownership is heavily restricted. They humorously review how various leaders handled the gifts, with some placing them in museums, some dealing with customs issues, and others having the firearms deactivated to comply with their domestic laws. The discussion expands into the long tradition of political figures and dignitaries exchanging commemorative firearms as gifts.

    The final portion of the program returns to current legal developments surrounding the Second Amendment. Amanda and Rob discuss California's new restrictions on Glock-style handguns, the Department of Justice's legal challenge to those laws, and their expectation that additional Supreme Court cases will continue expanding protections recognized under Bruen. They also touch on ongoing litigation involving AR-15s, age-based firearm restrictions, state efforts to resist recent court rulings, and the broader trend of increasing legal victories for gun-rights advocates. The episode concludes with broader reflections on firearm imports, inexpensive ammunition, historical rimfire cartridges, and the possibility that future legal challenges could eventually remove longstanding import restrictions and encourage innovation within the firearms industry.

    Show More Show Less
    54 mins
  • 70526 hr2
    Jul 6 2026

    This episode of Eye on the Target Radio focuses on several current issues affecting gun owners, firearms regulation, and Second Amendment advocacy. The hosts Amanda Suffecool and Rob Campbell begin by discussing a provision in New York's 2027 state budget that requires 3D printers and other computer-controlled manufacturing equipment to include technology capable of detecting and blocking files used to produce firearms or firearm components. They argue that the legislation extends far beyond hobbyist 3D printers, potentially affecting CNC machines, industrial manufacturing equipment, and countless businesses that rely on computer-controlled machining. The hosts question how such a system could realistically distinguish lawful manufacturing from prohibited activity, contend that the requirement raises constitutional concerns involving the First, Fourth, and Second Amendments, and suggest it could discourage manufacturing investment in New York while further accelerating business departures from the state.

    The discussion then shifts to legal and political developments surrounding firearms terminology and federal regulation. The hosts reference comments attributed to Justice Clarence Thomas regarding the historical emergence of the term "assault weapon," arguing that the phrase originated as a political rather than technical term. They discuss how language influences public opinion and compare it to other politically charged terminology. Attention then turns to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), where the hosts note what they view as a more favorable stance toward gun owners under the agency's current leadership. They criticize previous ATF enforcement practices against federally licensed firearms dealers over paperwork errors and discuss a newly proposed ATF rule concerning the National Firearms Act (NFA). Listeners are encouraged to participate in the public comment period, while the hosts speculate that suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns may eventually be removed from NFA regulation, though they acknowledge that certain highly destructive weapons may continue to warrant separate regulation.

    Later in the program, the hosts examine a report criticizing Everytown for Gun Safety, describing allegations that the organization reused older reports, relied heavily on self-referential citations, and selectively presented data to support its conclusions about so-called "assault weapons." They then discuss a recent case involving firearms stolen from checked airline luggage at Portland International Airport, where an Apple AirTag reportedly helped authorities locate a baggage handler accused of stealing multiple firearms. The hosts use the incident to encourage travelers to place tracking devices inside locked firearm cases when flying. The show concludes on a positive note by recognizing Sharnetta Sams, a firearms instructor, engineer, and leader within A Girl & A Gun, who was featured prominently in the Baltimore Sun for her work promoting firearms education and responsible gun ownership. Throughout the episode, the hosts intersperse sponsor messages and public service announcements promoting firearm safety, secure storage, self-defense training, and Second Amendment educational organizations.

    Show More Show Less
    54 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet