Eye on the Target - TARGETHING - Talking Guns
Hour 2 begins with host Amanda Suffolk welcoming Todd Vandermeer, a newly elected NRA Board of Directors member from Illinois and a longtime Second Amendment advocate. Todd explains his background as an “accidental lobbyist,” describing how his involvement began with the Illinois State Rifle Association and eventually led to more than two decades working as an NRA contract lobbyist. He later represented Illinois firearms dealers and manufacturers, helped establish lobbying presence at the state capitol, and now serves as president of the Aurora Sportsman’s Club, one of the largest gun...
info_outlineEye on the Target - TARGETHING - Talking Guns
The show opens in a relaxed, conversational tone with hosts Amanda Suffolk and Rob Campbell talking about the holiday season and firearm-related gifts. Rob shares that he received a collection of vintage firearms magazines from the late 1960s, while Amanda talks about buying ammunition and a shotgun for her husband so he can go trap shooting. This leads into lighthearted banter about gun-related gifts, the “shotgun fairy,” and Rob’s well-known habit of collecting unusual and historic ammunition rather than guns themselves. From there, the discussion turns into an in-depth and educational...
info_outlineEye on the Target - TARGETHING - Talking Guns
Eye on the Target Radio segment (Hour Two): The show covers several major Second Amendment–related topics. Hosts discuss the ATF’s 2024 firearms tracing report, arguing that data on privately manufactured firearms (“ghost guns”) is skewed due to selective over-tracing by states like California, Illinois, and Maryland. They contend that serial numbers, ballistic databases, and cartridge case registries have repeatedly failed to solve crimes, citing Canada’s experience and the abandonment of Maryland’s shell casing program. The conversation then shifts to restoration of gun...
info_outlineEye on the Target - TARGETHING - Talking Guns
Eye on the Target Radio (Rob & Amanda) Rob and Amanda open the show with light banter before diving into a detailed discussion about an estate cleanup involving a large and unusual ammunition collection. Rob describes examining historic and obscure cartridges dating from the Civil War through early 20th century, including rimfire, pinfire, centerfire, extra-short and extra-long rounds, experimental cartridges, and rare calibers such as Spencer, Henry, Stevens, and early Colt ammunition. They discuss the challenges of identifying, preserving, valuing, and disposing of collectible ammo,...
info_outlineEye on the Target - TARGETHING - Talking Guns
Hour two of Eye on the Target Radio dives deeply into federalism, firearms law, and current Second Amendment developments. Rob and Amanda begin with a discussion of interstate commerce and federal supremacy, focusing on South Dakota’s proposal to deregulate suppressors manufactured and kept within the state. They explain how similar efforts in Montana and Tennessee failed under federal court rulings, with judges relying on the idea that firearms could eventually enter interstate commerce. The hosts debate whether South Dakota’s approach could succeed, whether it might pressure federal...
info_outlineEye on the Target - TARGETHING - Talking Guns
This episode of Eye on the Target Radio opens with Rob Campbell and Amanda Suffolk exchanging lighthearted stories about winter shooting alternatives, including unconventional CO₂-powered dart guns, crossbow pistols, and basement-friendly training tools. While some of these devices are legally classified like pellet guns, the hosts stress they are not toys and require adult judgment and strict safety awareness. The conversation shifts to everyday gun ownership, touching on firearm maintenance habits, the historical reasons behind frequent cleaning, and practical holiday gift ideas for gun...
info_outlineEye on the Target - TARGETHING - Talking Guns
In hour two of Eye on the Target Radio, the hosts focused heavily on ongoing legal and regulatory battles affecting gun rights and drug laws. They started with the upcoming Supreme Court case, U.S. vs. Khomeini, which centers on marijuana use and firearm ownership. The discussion highlighted the conflict between state and federal law, pointing out the difficulty in regulating marijuana users the same way as prescription drug users or alcohol users because current testing can't determine real-time impairment from marijuana. This technological limitation complicates enforcement and raises...
info_outlineEye on the Target - TARGETHING - Talking Guns
Rob and Amanda open the show discussing their nomination for The Gundy Awards, a Second Amendment–focused popularity contest recognizing podcasters, writers, influencers, shooters, and industry innovators. They describe the award categories, major nominees (like Hickok45, Cam Edwards, Gabby Franco, and others), and note that voting is open at thegundys.com until December 15, with the ceremony during SHOT Show in January. They share humorous stories about appearance standards at the awards, costuming anecdotes from being on the set of White Boy Rick, and joke about clothing, kilts, and...
info_outlineEye on the Target - TARGETHING - Talking Guns
The radio hosts open hour two by discussing the importance of the Second Amendment and questioning why earlier generations didn’t resist gun-control laws more aggressively. They talk about U.S. gun-control history, including the buildup to the 1968 Gun Control Act, noting that the NRA had warned about it for years. The conversation shifts to how social attitudes and economic hardships from the early 1900s through the Depression shaped gun culture, ammunition availability, and firearm innovations. They share anecdotes about people improvising with ammunition during hard times and discuss...
info_outlineEye on the Target - TARGETHING - Talking Guns
The hosts, Amanda Suffolk and Rob Campbell, open Eye on the Target Radio with lighthearted banter about taking photos for upcoming trade shows, joking about selfies, bad angles, and their hobby of rehabbing old houses. They then shift into gun-rights news, focusing on several major legal developments involving the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Second Amendment. Key Topics Discussed 1. DOJ Involvement in Wolford v. Lopez (Hawaii “Sensitive Places” Case) The Trump-era DOJ has asked the Supreme Court to participate in oral arguments. The case challenges Hawaii’s rule...
info_outlineThe show opens in a relaxed, conversational tone with hosts Amanda Suffolk and Rob Campbell talking about the holiday season and firearm-related gifts. Rob shares that he received a collection of vintage firearms magazines from the late 1960s, while Amanda talks about buying ammunition and a shotgun for her husband so he can go trap shooting. This leads into lighthearted banter about gun-related gifts, the “shotgun fairy,” and Rob’s well-known habit of collecting unusual and historic ammunition rather than guns themselves.
From there, the discussion turns into an in-depth and educational conversation about antique ammunition. Rob explains that many old cartridges are rarer than the firearms that fired them, highlighting an extremely small 2.7mm Lilliput cartridge as a prized item. The hosts talk about how early bullets were often handmade, including hand-turned cases and tiny primers, and why preserving old ammunition is difficult due to corrosion, oxidation, and aging materials. They explain how lead bullets oxidize, how early priming compounds weakened brass over time, and why some historic bullets eventually crack, split, or disintegrate if not properly preserved.
The conversation expands into firearms history, covering how bullet and cartridge design evolved through the 1800s. They discuss early rimfire cartridges, including surprisingly large calibers, and why rimfire designs eventually gave way to centerfire due to safety and pressure limitations. Rob explains how early firearms development was dangerous, often costing inventors fingers, eyes, or worse, because there were no simulations or modern testing methods. The segment blends technical history with humor and accessibility, making complex firearm evolution understandable to everyday listeners.
After the first commercial break, the show shifts to current events, focusing on Florida’s newly reinstated bear hunting season. Amanda explains that Florida issued a limited number of bear hunting permits through a lottery due to a growing bear population and increased human-bear encounters, including vehicle collisions and fatal attacks. The controversy arises from anti-gun and anti-hunting groups reportedly purchasing large numbers of lottery entries in hopes of winning permits and then not using them, effectively blocking hunters from harvesting bears.
Amanda and Rob discuss whether this strategy will actually work long-term, noting that the state still benefits financially from the application fees and can simply issue more permits in future years if bear populations remain a problem. They talk about wildlife management realities, pointing out that issuing permits does not guarantee bears will be harvested, and that population control is often necessary for public safety. The discussion touches on the broader tension between conservation, public safety, and ideological opposition to hunting.
Later in the hour, Amanda welcomes guest John Petrolino, a well-known Second Amendment writer and commentator, who has been named a top-five finalist for the Gundy Awards. John discusses the significance of the awards as a “people’s choice” recognition within the Second Amendment community and explains the nomination and vetting process. He emphasizes that simply being nominated is an honor and highlights the competitive field of writers and advocates involved.
The conversation then becomes more legal and analytical as John explains ongoing Second Amendment court cases, particularly in New Jersey and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. He outlines how New Jersey has become a major testing ground for gun control challenges, including carry laws, so-called “sensitive places,” magazine limits, and assault weapon bans. John explains how en banc reviews and conflicting circuit court rulings could create the conditions necessary for the U.S. Supreme Court to step in and issue nationwide decisions.
Amanda and John discuss how these legal battles, while frustrating for residents of restrictive states, are strategically important because they increase the chances of Supreme Court review. The segment closes with discussion of upcoming court timelines, the unpredictability of Supreme Court decisions, and anticipation of major Second Amendment rulings in the near future, before teasing the continuation of the Gundy Awards discussion after the next break.