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Duncan v. Bonta at SCOTUS, CRPA CCW Training & Marlin Camp 45 Home Defense
Estimated reading time: 5 min
Rick from the California Rifle and Pistol Association joins the show with a significant update: Duncan v. Bonta is in SCOTUS conference, meaning a certiorari decision could come at any moment, and the CRPA legal team is on standby. Rick also confirms that CRPA training now qualifies for California CCW licensing through DOJ, and previews more than a half-dozen pro-gun bills headed into Sacramento in the new year. The segment closes with a practical listener question about using a Marlin Camp 45 carbine for apartment home defense.
Duncan v. Bonta: Waiting on the Supreme Court
The biggest news in California firearms law right now is sitting in conference at the United States Supreme Court. Duncan v. Bonta, the long-running magazine capacity case, is at the stage where the Court decides whether to take it up. If four justices vote to grant certiorari, the CRPA legal team goes into full sprint mode immediately. Rick was clear that they have been working around the clock in anticipation, because once the word comes down there is very little runway before filings are due.
The stakes are substantial. A Supreme Court ruling on Duncan v. Bonta would not merely settle the California magazine ban. It would set a national standard on magazine capacity restrictions under the Second Amendment, potentially rivaling the Bruen decision in its reach. Rick called it second only to Bruen in its potential impact, and that is not a small claim. For Californians who have been watching this case work its way through the Ninth Circuit for years, the moment of decision may finally be close.
CRPA CCW Training Now DOJ-Approved for California
One of the quieter but more consequential wins the CRPA secured this year is DOJ recognition of their training program for California CCW licensing. The California Department of Justice acknowledged that CRPA is the only organization offering California-specific instruction for CCW instructors. That distinction matters in court. If you ever have to use your firearm and end up in front of a judge, the training your instructor received will be questioned. Where did they train? What were they taught? How was it delivered?
The CRPA program is built to close off every angle the opposition might use against a lawful gun owner in that situation. Rick’s framing was direct: know your enemy’s tactics, and seal those loopholes before they can be exploited. Anyone pursuing a CCW in California should take a hard look at the CRPA training program for exactly this reason.
Pro-Gun Bills Heading to Sacramento in 2026
For the first time in a long time, the CRPA is going on offense in the California legislature. Rick confirmed that more than a half-dozen bills with authors attached are moving forward, though he cannot go fully public with specifics until DO numbers are assigned in the new year. What he did say is that the bills were written deliberately to carry no negative financial implication for the state, which removes one of Sacramento’s most reliable kill switches for pro-gun legislation.
He was also candid about the broader landscape. In thirty years of fighting these battles in the capital, he has never seen two-year bills fall because of money. The financial argument gets used as cover, but it has never actually been the cause. The current fiscal pressure in Sacramento is self-inflicted, and it may create more room to maneuver than gun owners have seen in years. Rick encouraged shooters and gun owners to stay engaged and, if they have ideas for new shooting sports, to bring them in. There is money to be made developing and running range programs, and growing the community is part of how you defend it.
Which Gun Rights Organization Should California Owners Join?
A listener called in with a practical question: if budget is limited and you can only support one organization fighting for California gun rights, which one? The answer on the show was unambiguous: CRPA. The organization has been in the fight for 125 years and has been a partner with the Gunslinger Syndicated Radio Network almost from the beginning. If you are in California and want your dues doing real work in the courts, the legislature, and in training programs, crpa.org is where to put that dollar.
Marlin Camp 45 Carbine for Apartment Home Defense
The same caller had a follow-up question about his home defense setup: he lives in an apartment and owns several carbines, including a Marlin Camp 45. He wanted to know how effective that platform would be in a defensive situation inside a multi-unit building.
The Marlin Camp 45 is a semi-automatic carbine chambered in .45 ACP that feeds from 1911-style magazines. It is a reliable, compact firearm, and the host confirmed having owned one himself without a single malfunction across comparable round counts. The Camp 45 has a reputation for being finicky with magazines, but proper magazines and quality ammunition appear to resolve most of those issues.
The concern raised on air was not the gun itself but the environment. A .45 ACP round will punch through standard interior walls. In an apartment building, a missed shot does not stop at your neighbor’s drywall. The host’s standing recommendation for apartment home defense is a pump-action shotgun with the right load, and he promised to expand on that argument after the break. The reasoning is ballistic: certain shotgun loads, particularly lighter target loads or reduced-recoil buckshot, shed energy more quickly through walls than a pistol-caliber round does, reducing the risk of injuring neighbors. Knowing your backdrop is not just a range rule. In a residential building, it is a legal and moral obligation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Duncan v. Bonta and why does it matter for gun owners?
Duncan v. Bonta is a Second Amendment challenge to California’s ban on firearm magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds. The case has worked through the federal courts for years and as of late 2025 was in conference at the United States Supreme Court, meaning the justices were deciding whether to hear it. A Supreme Court ruling in favor of the plaintiffs could strike down magazine capacity restrictions not just in California but nationwide, with potential impact second only to the Bruen decision.
Does CRPA training qualify for California CCW licensing?
Yes. As of 2025, the California Department of Justice recognizes CRPA training as qualifying instruction for California CCW licensing. DOJ acknowledged that CRPA is the only organization offering California-specific training for CCW instructors, which also means the training is structured to withstand legal scrutiny if a licensee ever has to defend a use-of-force decision in court. More information is available at crpa.org.
Is the Marlin Camp 45 a reliable carbine for home defense?
The Marlin Camp 45 is a semi-automatic carbine chambered in .45 ACP that feeds from standard 1911-pattern magazines. It has a reputation for feeding issues, but those problems are largely resolved with quality magazines and reliable ammunition. The host confirmed firing approximately 3,000 rounds through his own Camp 45 without a single malfunction. For apartment home defense specifically, the main concern is over-penetration: a .45 ACP round can pass through multiple interior walls, creating risk to neighbors in adjacent units.
What is the best home defense firearm for an apartment?
The host’s recommendation for apartment home defense is a pump-action shotgun loaded with an appropriate shell selection. The rationale is wall penetration: certain shotgun loads lose energy more rapidly through standard construction materials than pistol-caliber carbine rounds do, reducing the risk of a miss injuring someone in an adjacent unit. Ammunition selection matters significantly, and reduced-recoil or lighter loads are worth considering in high-density living situations. A firearm’s effectiveness in home defense is inseparable from knowing your backstop.
Which California gun rights organization is worth joining?
The California Rifle and Pistol Association (CRPA) is the organization recommended on the show for California gun owners, particularly when budget allows for only one membership. CRPA has operated for 125 years, holds DOJ-recognized CCW instructor training, and is actively litigating cases including Duncan v. Bonta at the Supreme Court level. Memberships, donations, and volunteer opportunities are available at crpa.org.
Sources, Credibility, and Continuing the Conversation
The recommendations and observations herein rest on decades of hands-on experience: legislative work, courtroom strategy, range instruction, and studio conversation. Practical advice leans best when tempered by cautious humility – verify current case status through official sources, consult qualified legal counsel for your specific situation, and keep learning from trusted experts in the field.