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The informant known as "Big Dan" took the witness stand for the third straight day Tuesday in the trial of four men alleged to have conspired to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020.

Attorney Julia Kelly continued her cross-examination of Dan, a truck driver for the postal service who became a vital informant for the FBI during its months-long investigation. Kelly is representing defendant Daniel Harris in the trial.

She focused on conversations Dan had with his FBI handler agents in the months between his initial contact with the FBI in March 2020 and the October 2020 arrest of the alleged conspirators.

Dan had initially joined the Wolverine Watchmen, a militia group, in March 2020. He joined the group for its Second Amendment rights enthusiasm, which he shared. But Dan reached out to police after hearing of potential threats against law enforcement. A week later, the FBI contacted him.

More: Informant: I tried to 'de-escalate' ringleader's plan to kidnap and kill Whitmer

Bombs. Boats. Binoculars: Whitmer kidnap trial heats up as key informant testifies

Kelly asked Dan about messages exchanged between himself and agents, particularly around alleged-ringleader Adam Fox. Dan told jurors he would call the handler agentsfrequently, especially after meeting with militia members and others involved.

Dan was given a goal by the FBI further communication between Fox and militia leadership. A text from FBI Special Agent Henrik Impola commended him for his efforts "look at you, bringing people together."

Kelly pressed the informant on what he was directed to do by the FBI and how he interacted with the group after.

"You're doing a lot of mediating between the groups," she asked.

"I'm trying to figure out what their motives were, yes." Dan responded.

He also raised concern with agents about being discovered as an informant. The FBI told Dan to blame another militia member who some in the group already suspected of being a federal agent. The man was referred to as "fed boy," due to infrequent attendance at field-training exercises.

During her cross-examination, Kelly asked the informant to review transcripts of conversations he had with Harris and other alleged conspirators.

She pointed out something Harris said in multiple conversations at different meetings he knew an individual through a friend who could make explosives for the group, if needed, or "if s--- hits the fan."

Kelly said "if s--- hits the fan" referred to the men actually pulling off kidnapping the governor, which she said was purely hypothetical.

"(Harris) didn't reach out to this person to kidnap the governor, correct?" Kelly asked.

Nils Kessler, a prosecutor arguing the case for the government, objected to Kelly's line of questioning, saying she was leading the witness to speculation. Circuit Judge Robert Jonker granted the objection.

During an Aug. 9, 2020, field training exercise in Munith, Dan and Fox discussed the "bug out plan," or meetingin northern Michigan at the residence of Ty Garbin, a previous defendant who has already plead guilty.

Dan told Kelly the plan was for if the governor was actually kidnapped. In a recording from the Munith event, taken by a concealed recording device worn by Dan, he's heard discussing what would happen "if s--- hits the fan."

"Are we talking if martial law is being implemented, mass rioting, stuff like that?" Dan is heard asking Fox.

Kelly was the second defense attorney to cross-examine Dan, who first took the stand for a direct examination from prosecutors Friday. Fox's attorney, Chris Gibbons, spent the majority of Monday's session conducting his cross-examination.

After dismissing the jury for a break Tuesday morning, Jonker implored the defense to be more concise in their cross-examinations, telling attorneys they could be overwhelming the jury with evidence.

"Sometimes, less is more," Jonker said.

Cross-examinations continue.

On trial are Fox, 38, of Potterville; Harris, 24, of Lake Orion; Brandon Caserta, 33, of Canton, and Barry Croft, 46, of Delaware. All face kidnapping conspiracy charges; three face weapons of mass destruction charges.

If convicted, each faces up to life in prison.

Two codefendants, Garbin and Kaleb Franks, have previously pleaded guilty and plan to testify against the others.

ContactArpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @arpanlobo.

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Defense presses key informant on texts with FBI in Whitmer kidnapping trial - Detroit Free Press

Increase in resources allocated to the liquidity contract with Natixis ODDO BHF

FNAC DARTY (ISIN FR0011476928) and Natixis ODDO BHF SCA signed, on March 22 2022 a second amendment to the liquidity contract signed on September 25th 2018. The first amendment was signed on March 22nd 2019, relating to ordinary shares admitted to trading on Euronext Paris, in accordance with AMF decision n 2021-01 of 22nd June 2021 establishing liquidity contracts on equity securities under accepted market practice.

Within the limit of the AMF decision n 2021-01 of 22nd June 2021, Fnac Darty decides to increase the resources of the liquidity contract by:

4,000,000.00 (four million euros) .

The position after contribution of these new resources on March 22nd, 2022 will be:

- 80,348 shares

- 6,414,743.63 (six million four hundred fourteen thousand seven hundred forty-three and sixty-three cents).

CONTACTS

+33 (0) 1 55 21 52 53

+33 (0)1 72 28 17 08

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Fnac Darty: Increase in resources allocated to the liquidity contract with Natixis ODDO BHF - GlobeNewswire

Next week, three separate policy committees will hear firearm-related bills as they move along the legislative process. Please use the Take Action buttons below to contact committee members and get involved in protecting our Second Amendment rights in California.

Assembly Public Safety Committeeat 9:00AM on March 22nd

Pro-gun Assembly Bill 2033, introduced by Assembly Member Thurston Smith (R-33), extends the duration that a California concealed firearm license is valid, from two years upto five years. This legislation helps ease the administrative burden on the issuing authorities while simultaneously easingthe financial strain on permit holders.

Please click this button to ask the Assembly Public Safety Committee to SUPPORT AB 2033.

Senate Public Safety Committeeat 1:30PM on March 22nd

Senate Bill 918, introduced by Senator Anthony Portantino (D-25),increases the fee on eligibility checks for precursor firearm parts and ammunition sales. While consumers who pay for basic eligibility checks on ammunition currently, and precursor parts beginning July 1st, won't notice a price hike, they should. This is because CA DOJ has been charging above the statutory maximum for more than two years as a result of their efforts to utilize creative legislative drafting to raise the cost of background checks on firearm transfers. While CA DOJ continues to overcharge consumers, they are utilizing this legislation to authorize the current, and unlawful,fee structure.

Please click this button to ask the Senate Public Safety Committee to OPPOSE SB 918.

Senate Education Committeeat 9:00AM on March 23rd

Senate Bill 906, introduced by Senator Anthony Portantino (D-25),makes it mandatory that parents of students disclose firearm ownership status to the schools their children attend, including how they are stored. It requires that these questions be placed on the forms used to register or enroll students, and these forms may be made available to law-enforcement under certain conditions. This is one more attack onthelaw-abiding citizens of California, amounting to a major invasion of privacy and potential harassment.

Please click this button to ask the Senate Education Committee to OPPOSE SB 906.

On March 15th,Assembly Bill 1869failed to pass the Assembly Public Safety Committee, but it has been granted reconsideration. AB 1869 increases penalties for violating Californias law on serializing home-built firearms and buying, disposing, possessing, etc., any firearm with the manufacturer name, model designation, or serial number altered or obliterated, from misdemeanorsto felonies. The existing California law already goes above and beyond federal law in regulating markings on firearms. These penalties are for mere possession, which can cause otherwise law-abiding citizens, without any criminal intent, to permanentlylose theirSecond Amendment rights.NRA will keep you updated on AB 1869.

Again, please click the buttons above to contact the committees and make your voice heard.

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California: Fee Hikes and Privacy Invasions to Be Heard in Committee Next Week - NRA ILA

Too often, Hollywood portrays firearms as objects imbued with some sort of scary aura, as if they are inherently violent in their nature. Worse than that, many of these actors and actresses routinely campaign against your Second Amendment rights while simultaneously enjoying the luxury of armed security.

How many times have you watched a movie or television show and thought to yourself, Thats just not even close to right, when a firearm is used? Likely, it has been a lot.

In reality, firearms are simply tools. When treated with respectin other words, handled safelyguns are nothing more than tools. Everyday Americans cant afford armed security; it is incumbent upon them to utilize their constitutional rights to protect themselves.

Hollywood, more often than not, fails to recognize this, but sometimes, it just so happens to get it right.

Those who watched the action-packed season four premiere of Yellowstone saw realistic firearms handling. Without giving away the plot, it was refreshing to see a show that actually treated firearms with reverence and didnt sensationalize their usage.

More than that, though, was how the big gunfight that ensued depicted a realistic portrayal of how things would go down. There were no bombastic explosions or Rambo-esque rampages; instead, there was disciplined firearm handling, including actual reloading.

Theres a lot of thought put into the gun fights. Theyre not just arbitrarily spraying blanks everywhere, said NRA Publications Editorial Director Mark Keefe.

Kayce Dutton (played by Luke Grimes), in particular--a former Navy SEAL whose training has been displayed throughout the shows seasons and in this exhilarating start to season four--had his proficiency on full display. Hes not an otherworldly John Wick sort of character who is incapable of missing a shot, but he is a trained marksman who skillfully and tactfully addresses situations presented.

The actor playing Kayce [Grimes] obviously has some confidence and competence. The scene where he comes out from underneath his desk with his Kimber [Custom II], thats one of the guns that, to me, represents the modern American west. And this is a 21st century cowboy show, said Keefe.

Beyond its realistic take on firearms, the show does take moments to imbue some lessons as well. Before going hunting in season two, John Dutton (Kevin Costner) imparts some wisdom upon his young grandson, Tate (Brecken Merrill), before the two depart.

That rifle has the power to take a life. Whatever you point it at. You know that, right? So if you know that, you also know you dont have the power to bring it back, do ya? Even if you wanted to, even it was a mistake. Its not a trick question, Tate. You just gotta be sure before you pull the trigger, because killings the one thing you cant undo, said the elder Dutton.

Of course, many anti-Second Amendment types like to claim the Second Amendment is only for hunting, something we know couldnt be further from the truth. Hunting, however, is one of the reasons that the Second Amendment is relevant in our culture, and Yellowstones respect for both our hunting and firearms culture is a breath of fresh air.

This also isnt series creator Taylor Sheridans only work that gets it right. Prior to creating Yellowstone, Sheridan wrote and directed the movie Wind River (2017), and one line in that film stuck out. Jeremy Renners character, Cory Lambert, tells his son, Casey (Teo Briones), that a guns always loaded, even it if aint, right? He was echoing one of the cardinal rules of safely handling any firearm.

This characterand, by extension, Sheridan in his workunderstands that firearms are not sentient, nor are they inherently destructive. Rather, they are tools that are meant to be handled with respect, safety, and care. It was refreshing to see this in such a prominent film.

If you saw Wind River, you knew Sheridan was going to do his best on the firearms in Yellowstone. The firearms chosen are believable, and these are very specific decisions that someone put a lot of thought and effort into, said Keefe before noting that Kayce Duttons use of the Heckler & Koch HK416D was noteworthy. Thats a pretty esoteric thing if youre not in the culture.

Sometimes you see some of these network shows, and you have these actors playing SWAT teams or cops, and they have no idea how to hold a carbine. You dont see them manipulating safeties or pulling charging handles, but you get that in Yellowstone, said Keefe.

This is not to say that Yellowstone is the only Hollywood production that treats firearms properly. There are certainly other movies and shows that do, too, but these are exceptions. Regardless, it turns out even Hollywoodor rather, Montana, where the show is set, and where much of it has been filmedcan get it right sometimes.

More here:
Sometimes, Even Hollywood Gets It Right | An Official Journal Of The NRA - America's 1st Freedom

Montpelier gun banners worked their way around the Governor's veto of S.30 and advanced a newgun bill, S.4,that incorporated the Governor's suggested change. This essentially put a band-aid on a catastrophe. S.4 is still a horrible bill, and underscores what anti-gun majoritiesin theVermont Statehouseview as theirpriority.

S.30originally began as a location restriction for hospitals but evolved into an Omnibus Gun Control Bill. One of the focal points of the legislation expanded NICS delayed background checks indefinitely. It also expanded the states red flag law. After the Governor vetoed the bill and called for the indefinite wait on NICS delayed checks to be amended to 7 days, the Legislature quickly responded withS.4. They took an existing bill on another subject and did a "strike all" to address the Governor'slonegrievance with the bill.The Senatealso voted to override the Governor's veto, but they did not have the votes for an override in the House. As a result, the House passed S.4 on Thursday on a 90-42 roll call vote that was largely along party lines. Having now passed both chambers, S.4 advances to Gov. Phil Scott for consideration.

Anti-gun legislators have proven they aremore interested in pushing their political agendasrather than working on any number of other serious, real-world problems. They have devoted an extraordinary amount of time this session to pushing gun control, and the agenda will not change until the lawmakers are changed. Elections have consequences, and gun owners need to remember this in November. Theirbrazen moves in an election year underscore that they will notbe deterred until they are sent a message at the ballot box. NRA will continue to fight against all infringements on the Second Amendment and stand up for Vermont gun owners.

Read more here:
Vermont: Gun Bill Redux Advances to the Governor - NRA ILA