We Like Shooting Episode 638
This episode of We Like Shooting is brought to you by: Midwest Industries, Primary Arms, Night Fision, Die Free Co., Mitchell Defense, Rost Martin, and Swampfox Optics
Welcome to the We Like Shooting Show, episode 638! Our cast tonight is Jeremy Pozderac, Aaron Krieger, Nick Lynch, and me Shawn Herrin, welcome to the show!
Sponsor Black Friday Deals
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Gear Chat
- Shawn – Lights Out for Bright Lights
- The article presents the TitanX, a new inert training pistol designed for realistic dry fire training, incorporating features like a resetting trigger and laser for instant feedback. It aims to improve shooting skills through advanced training analysis via the MantisX app. The introduction of the TitanX may enhance training for gun owners across all skill levels, providing a cost-effective tool for skill development while maintaining a focus on familiarity with popular firearm models.
Bullet Points
- Shooters Global has launched two new shot timers, the budget-friendly SG Timer GO and the premium SG Timer 2, each designed for different types of shooters. Both come with advanced smart sensor technology and integrate with the Drills app for enhanced training features. The SG Timer GO is priced around $164.99, while the SG Timer 2 costs $329.99, reflecting their respective target markets. The article highlights a Black Friday sale for potential buyers. The introduction of these timers is likely to attract various shooters, offering more accessible options for improving training techniques.
- Walther Arms, Inc. has suspended production of its PPK, PPK/S, and PP handgun lines as part of a long-term modernization program, marking a pause in nearly a century of manufacturing. This break is intended to update the production processes while maintaining the traditional characteristics of the firearms. Existing stock will become the last available units for an extended period, potentially increasing interest and demand among collectors and users of the PP-series. No timeline for the release of updated models has been provided.
- Primary Arms is hosting a significant giveaway event from November 24 to December 1, 2025, offering customers a chance to win one of five premium LaRue rifle packages valued over $4,000 each with every purchase made. This promotion aims to enhance customer engagement during their Black Friday sales and may stimulate interest and participation within the gun community.
- Savage1r – Gideon Optics swag bag
Gun Fights
Step right up for “Gun Fights,” the high-octane segment hosted by Nick Lynch, where our cast members go head-to-head in a game show-style showdown! Each contestant tries to prove their gun knowledge dominance. It’s a wild ride of bids, bluffs, and banter—who will come out on top? Tune in to find out!
Agency Brief
Agency171.com
Dred Scott v. Sandford
“If Black people were citizens, they’d have the right to keep and carry arms wherever they went.”
That’s not me talking. That’s Chief Justice Roger Taney in 1857, explaining why the Supreme Court couldn’t let Black Americans be citizens.
Think about that. The Court admitted the Second Amendment was an individual right. They just didn’t want certain people exercising it. So they ruled an entire race had zero constitutional rights.
This is the story of how fear of an armed population led to the worst Supreme Court decision in history—and why it matters for every gun owner today.
What’s really on the line:
- Can the government decide who counts as “the people” with rights?
- If courts can strip rights from one group, who’s next?
- Will slavery expand nationwide, or can it be contained?
- Does the Second Amendment mean individuals can bear arms, or just militias?
- Hidden stake: Southern states terrified of armed free Black people
The entire future of constitutional rights—and the Union itself—hangs on one family’s lawsuit.
1846: Dred and Harriet Scott sue for freedom in St. Louis
- Their owner took them to free territory (Illinois + Wisconsin)
- Missouri law = “once free, always free”
- Their real motivation: Keep their daughters from being sold away
1850: They win at trial. Declared free.
1852: Missouri Supreme Court reverses—protecting slavery politics over precedent
1856: Case hits U.S. Supreme Court
- Nation boiling over slavery and states’ rights
- 7 of 9 justices appointed by pro-slavery presidents
- Initially planning narrow ruling—then they get greedy
THE CONSPIRACY:
- President-elect Buchanan secretly contacts Justice Catron: “When will you rule?”
- Catron leaks insider info back
- Buchanan pressures Justice Grier: “Join the Southern majority”
- Grier caves
- March 4, 1857: Buchanan’s inauguration—he promises the Court will “settle” everything
- He already knows the outcome
March 6, 1857—THE BOMBSHELL:
80-year-old Chief Justice Taney delivers a 200-page ruling designed to end the debate forever:
- Black people can never be citizens—not even free Black people in Northern states
- They have “no rights which the white man was bound to respect”
- Congress can’t restrict slavery anywhere—Missouri Compromise unconstitutional
- Here’s the 2A moment: Taney writes that if Black people were citizens, they’d have the right “to keep and carry arms wherever they went.” He uses this as proof they can’t be citizens—the idea of armed Black Americans was too dangerous.
What this reveals:
- The Court understood the 2A as an individual right, not just militia
- They feared an armed population—specifically armed Black Americans
- Gun control was a tool of racial oppression from day one
- They chose to strip citizenship rather than allow armed equality
THE EXPLOSION:
- North erupts in fury
- Republicans see it as proof of “slave power conspiracy” (they’re right)
- Abraham Lincoln rises: “What’s next—making free states into slave states?”
- Four years later: Civil War begins
- 600,000 dead
THE FIX:
- 13th Amendment (1865): Abolishes slavery
- 14th Amendment (1868): Overturns Dred Scott—declares all Americans are citizens
- This becomes the foundation for applying the Bill of Rights—including the 2A—to state governments
THE 2A CONNECTION
Why every gun rights advocate should know this case:
✓ SCOTUS explicitly tied citizenship to the right to bear arms—they admitted it was individual, not militia-based
✓ The Court’s fear of armed citizens drove their decision—they’d rather strip citizenship than allow armed Black Americans
✓ Gun control as racial control—disarming populations has always been about power, not safety
✓ The 14th Amendment’s purpose: Overturn Dred Scott and protect rights against state infringement
✓ McDonald v. Chicago (2010): Supreme Court incorporated 2A against states by citing the 14th Amendment’s reversal of Dred Scott and how Southern states disarmed free Black people
THE 14TH AMENDMENT –
Ratified July 9, 1868—specifically to overturn Dred Scott
Section 1 (the critical part):
“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
What this did:
- ✅ Overturned Dred Scott — Declared ALL people born in the U.S. are citizens
- ✅ Protected rights against state infringement — States can’t “abridge the privileges or immunities” of citizens
- ✅ Applied the Bill of Rights to states — Before this, only the federal government was bound by the Bill of Rights
- ✅ Made the 2A enforceable against states — This is why state gun bans can be challenged in federal court
The 14th Amendment’s Framers on the Right to Bear Arms:
During congressional debates over the 14th Amendment, Republicans repeatedly cited Southern states disarming free Black people as a reason the amendment was necessary:
- Senator Jacob Howard said the amendment would protect “the personal rights guarantied and secured by the first eight amendments of the Constitution; such as…the right to keep and to bear arms”
- Congressmen cited “Black Codes” that banned Black Americans from owning firearms
- The amendment was designed to prevent states from doing what Dred Scott enabled: stripping constitutional rights based on race
Modern Impact:
McDonald v. Chicago (2010) — Supreme Court incorporates the Second Amendment against state and local governments
Justice Alito’s majority opinion:
- Cited the 14th Amendment as overturning Dred Scott
- Discussed how Southern states used gun control to oppress freed slaves after the Civil War
- Concluded the right to bear arms is a “fundamental right” protected by the 14th Amendment’s guarantee that states can’t abridge the “privileges or immunities” of citizens
The direct line:
- Dred Scott says Black people aren’t citizens and can’t have rights (including arms)
- Civil War fought partly over this
- 14th Amendment passes to reverse Dred Scott and protect all citizens’ rights
- 150+ years later, that same amendment is used to strike down state gun bans
THE LESSON:
The Constitution protects “the people“—not “some people.”
When courts decide rights don’t apply to certain groups, nobody’s rights are secure.
Dred Scott proves the government will strip rights from anyone they fear being armed and free.
That’s why the Second Amendment matters. And why we can never let courts redefine who counts as “the people.”
DRED SCOTT’S FATE:
- Former enslavers quietly free him after the ruling (embarrassment)
- Works as hotel porter in St. Louis
- Dies of tuberculosis 16 months later, age ~59
- Never got to tell his story
Dred Scott (c. 1799-1858) — THE PLAINTIFF
Enslaved man who lived on free soil and sued for his family’s freedom. The Court ruled he had zero rights because letting him be a citizen would mean he could “keep and carry arms.” Freed after the ruling, died 16 months later.
Harriet Robinson Scott (c. 1815-1876) — THE CO-PLAINTIFF
Dred’s wife who pushed the lawsuit, fearing their daughters would be sold. Filed her own suit alongside Dred’s. Court said she had no rights either. Outlived Dred by 18 years.
Dr. John Emerson (d. 1843) — THE OWNER
Army surgeon whose military assignments took the Scotts to free territory, creating the legal basis for their freedom suit. His death triggered the lawsuit when his widow refused to free them.
Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney (1777-1864) — THE VILLAIN
Former slaveholder who freed his own slaves as a young man, calling slavery “a blot.” By 1857, wrote the decision saying Black people had “no rights which the white man was bound to respect.” Explicitly cited the right to “keep and carry arms” as proof Black people couldn’t be citizens. Worst decision in Supreme Court history.
President James Buchanan (1791-1868) — THE CONSPIRATOR
Secretly lobbied Supreme Court justices before the decision. Pressured Grier to join the majority, received leaked information from Catron. Announced the outcome at his inauguration before the Court ruled. Major corruption.
Justice Robert Cooper Grier (1794-1870) — THE SELL-OUT
Northern justice who caved to presidential pressure. Gave the pro-slavery majority bipartisan legitimacy. Leaked the decision to Buchanan early.
Justice John Catron (1786-1865) — THE LEAKER
Buchanan’s friend who violated judicial ethics by leaking Court deliberations to the president-elect. Advised Buchanan to pressure Grier.
The 7-Justice Pro-Slavery Majority — THE ENABLERS
Tried to nationalize slavery and prevent armed Black citizenship with one sweeping ruling. Instead, they accelerated the Civil War.
WLS is Lifestyle
- Two Texas men have been indicted for a conspiracy involving a violent plan to invade a Haitian island, commit mass murder, and exploit women and children. This case highlights grave criminal intentions and potentially raises concerns within the gun community regarding illegal arms and violence.
Aaron’s Alley
- The article critiques Protect Minnesota’s gun-death report, arguing that it prioritizes narrative over accurate data, potentially misleading the public. It highlights how such reports could negatively impact the gun community by fueling anti-gun rhetoric and policies that disregard the rights of responsible gun owners.
Going Ballistic
- https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/nyc-gun-permits-surge-escape-from-new-york/
- https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/florida-bill-restore-gun-rights-18-20-year-olds/
- https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/fbi-monitored-socialist-rifle-association-foia/
- https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/everytown-gun-myths-campaign-debunked/
- https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/trump-nominates-robert-cekada-atf-director/
- https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/police-unions-oppose-concealed-carry-reciprocity/
Reviews
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – from Dixie Normous – Best gun podcast out there for a reason. Jeremy is like the drunk uncle at Thanksgiving who says whatever comes to his mind and is factually correct, especially when he uses facial slurs. Savage is the pearl-clutching liberal who only cares about his own state. Nick doesn’t seem to care about much anything and just kinda exists, like the black sheep of the family who brings a six pack of craft beer nobody else will drink to the meal. Shawn is the mother hen who always has something to say and will prattle on for 25 minutes when three sentences will do while expecting praise and adoration for simply warming up the dinner rolls in the microwave. I would say something about Gay-A-Ron, but he’s a worthless piece of shit who isn’t worth mentioning besides warning people not to listen to him since he’s always wrong and will beat you over the head with his dumbass “logic” and “facts.” The real heroes of the show are the live listeners who chime in with clarity and jokes on the live chat that occasionally get mentioned. WLS is life, join the cult, and Aaron needs to test more handgun barrels for mouth feel.
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – from Jeremeze Acunt – Listening to you guys is like hanging out with all my friends. Except all these friends are cool. Aaron quit whining. Sean use a glp1. Savage grow a dick. Nick you’re just awesome. Jeremy eat some crayons the army is better.
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – from Malort D Vomit – Listening to We Like Shooting is like watching a Halloween movie marathon where everyone’s armed, drunk off malort, and ready to die on the hill of their own bad opinions. It’s scary, funny, and somehow educational.
• Jeremy is The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, pure chaos wrapped in muscle and rage. He’s the guy who’d bring a belt-fed to a pumpkin carving contest and still win. Terrifying, but you can’t stop watching.
• Aaron is Freddy vs. Jason, permanently stuck in an argument with literally everyone. Doesn’t matter what the topic is ammo, optics, or oxygen he has to debate it. You don’t know who wins, but somehow he always thinks it’s him.
• Nick is The Exorcist, calm on the outside, but inside there’s a demon fighting for control of his digestive system. It’s gross, hilarious, and oddly fitting.
• Savage1r is The Addams Family, quirky, darkly optimistic, and living in his own strange world of memes and economics. You never quite get it, but you respect the commitment.
• Shawn is Ghostbusters, the only guy trying to keep this haunted asylum under control. Surrounded by chaos, he’s the one with the gear, the notes, and the deep sigh of regret.
P.S…… I drank just as much Malort as Shawn a few episodes ago when you were raising money for Aaron’s car fund…. I hate you guys!!!
Before we let you go –
Tell your friends about the show and get backstage access by joining the Gun Cult at theguncult.com.
No matter how tough your battle is today, we want you here fight with us tomorrow. Don’t struggle in silence, you can contact the suicide prevention line by dialing 988 from your phone.
Remember – Always prefer Dangerous Freedom over peaceful slavery. We’ll see you next time!
