IV – Know

2025 Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community

The 2025 Annual Threat Assessment is the US Intelligence Community’s official, coordinated evaluation of an array of threats to US citizens, the Homeland, and US interests in the world.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Terrorists Call for Attacks on Christians ]

A diverse set of foreign actors are targeting US health and safety, critical infrastructure, industries, wealth, and government.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, New Edition of Hostility Against Churches Report Shows a Doubling of Attacks ]

State adversaries and their proxies are also trying to weaken and displace US economic and military power in their regions and across the globe.

US Circuit Judge Video Records Expert Gun Tutorial Dissent to Anti-2nd Amendment Court Ruling

The San Fransisco-based US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled 7-4 March 20, 2025 to uphold California’s ban on standard-capacity ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 cartridges.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, 20 Reasons to Concealed Carry a Defensive Firearm ]

The case was a Second Amendment challenge to California’s 2016 law that bars possession of such magazines.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Senior US District Judge Declares Gun Magazine Capacity Limits Unconstitutional ]

The US Supreme Court in 2021 remanded the lawsuit back to the Ninth Circuit following the high court’s 2022 decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, US Supreme Court Affirms Right to Carry Arms in Public for Self-Defense ]

The Ninth Circuit’s latest ruling says California’s ban does not violate Second Amendment rights because such magazines are not “arms” within the US Constitution’s meaning, nor are they protected accessories.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Important Judicial Decisions Regarding Self-Defense Law ]

But US Circuit Judge Lawrence VanDyke demonstrated the logical reason for his dissent by video recording himself handling several personal handguns and explaining their mechanisms to educate viewers on why his judicial colleagues wrongly upheld the California law.

Organizing, Training & Running a House of Worship Armed Congregant Security Team

The Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network (ACLDN) is a membership organization that helps members in the legal fight after they justifiably use force in self-defense by paying for the services of attorneys, expert witnesses, private investigators, and more. It also educates members in the law governing use of force in self-defense and how armed citizens can protect against unmeritorious prosecution.

Attorney, court expert witness, and ACLDN Advisory Board member Emanuel Kapelsohn, president of The Peregrine Corporation, and author of the House of Worship Firearms Use of Force Policy Bundle (as a service to SemperVerus readers, Emanuel Kapelsohn is making this computer-fillable formatted policy bundle available at a $25 discount from the regular price. Order the bundle here. Then, on the checkout page, simply type in the discount promo code SEMPERVERUS25.), is interviewed in the ACLDN Journal on the subject of “Organizing, Training & Running a House of Worship Armed Congregant Security Team.” Below are the complete 2-part video interviews, links to the Journal print articles, and bullet points of salient information from the interview:

Self-Defense In Spiritual Warfare: Know Your Enemies

The resulting corollary of the 5 SemperVerus components is SELF-DEFENSE.

Practicing SELF-DEFENSE is the strategic, tactical, and intelligent ability to responsibly protect yourself from menacing spiritual and physical threats.

Notice the inclusion of the spiritual aspect that is often overlooked when considering self-defense. In the SemperVerus Brotherhood™, where we Stay True to what is right and Stay True to our aim, we are vigilant to be situationally aware (including spiritually aware) so that we’re prepared to ward off the enemies of our soul.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Situational Awareness: Spiritual Self-Defense ]

The pastor of Ada Bible Church, in Grand Rapids, MI, Aaron Buer, preached the 4-part sermon series titled Enemies of the Soul, which examines the reality and nature of spiritual warfare in our daily lives. He explores how attacks to our soul come from three directions: the devil, the world, and our own nature (the flesh). His final sermon explains that we defend ourselves from these threats by consciously and constantly putting on the armor of God. Watch each of the videos below to sharpen your everyday defenses and protect your soul.