As previously reported, H.R. 4089--the "Sportsmen's Heritage Act of 2012"--passed the U.S. House of Representatives in April by a bipartisan vote of 274 to 146. The bill will protect and enhance opportunities for recreational hunting, fishing and shooting. 

H.R. 4089 was a compilation of four different bills:  H.R. 1558, which amends the "Toxic Substances Control Act"; H.R. 3440, the "Recreational Shooting Protection Act";  H.R. 2834, the "Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act";  and H.R. 991, the "Polar Bear Conservation and Fairness Act of 2011."

We are pleased to announce that Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) will be introducing similar legislation in the U.S. Senate next week as an amendment to the Senate farm bill.  

The casting directors for "Dancing with the Stars" may wish to contact U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder for an audition because, clearly, Holder can dance.

During yet another hearing this week, Holder testified before the House Judiciary Committee about his personal role--and the roles of senior Justice Department officials--in the disastrous "Fast and Furious" gun-walking operation, which resulted in the murder of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry.

During testimony, Holder conceded that "inappropriate tactics" were used in "Fast and Furious," but continually evaded questions about who in the Justice Department approved the infamous operation.

According to a Daily Caller article, Holder dodged a direct question by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.), Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, about who was the highest‑ranking official in the administration with knowledge of the tactics being used in "Fast and Furious."

Oral arguments took place today in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Shepard v. Madigan.  The case involves lead plaintiff Mary Shepard, an Illinois resident and a trained gun owner with no criminal record, who is licensed to carry a concealed handgun in both Utah and Florida.  The National Rifle Association is funding this case.  The Illinois State Rifle and Pistol Association is a co-plaintiff in this case.

On September 28, 2009, while working as the treasurer of her church, Ms. Shepard and an 83-year-old co-worker were viciously attacked and beaten by a six-foot-three-inch, 245 pound man with a violent past and a criminal record.

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"Thanks to your votes and efforts, Scott Walker (R) has won the recall election for Governor in Wisconsin defeating rabidly anti-gun Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D).

"Scott Walker has proven his dedication to the Second Amendment by signing into law Right-to-Carry legislation, castle doctrine legislation, and the Hunting Heritage Act during his short tenure as Wisconsin's chief executive. 

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Over the past few months, there has been a flurry of reports from Alaska gun dealers that Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives inspectors had improperly requested that Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) allow their firearms transaction records to be removed from the business or copied.

U.S. Rep. (and NRA board member) Don Young (R-Alaska) sent a letter to BATFE, questioning this practice and challenging the agency to provide a written response on a number of key issues.

In response to that letter and after a follow-up meeting with the veteran congressman, BATFE has sent a letter to Rep. Young that all FFL holders should be aware of.

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We're not saying that things are going so well that Lady Luck is trying to tell us to run out and buy a lottery ticket. But there has been some good news lately.

Pro-Second Amendment Gov. Scott Walker's seven-percentage-point victory in the recent recall elections in Wisconsin--a great victory for gun owners in its own right--calls into question Mr. Obama's ability to win that state, which he carried by 13 percentage points in 2008. And a recent poll shows that Gov. Mitt Romney and the president are virtually tied in Michigan, a state President Barack Obama previously won by 16 percentage points. And nationally, Gov. Romney has narrowed the gap with Obama in recent polls.

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If you haven't already, be sure to "like" the NRA on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/National-Rifle-Association.  If you have already "liked" us, tell your friends to do the same! Online social networking has exploded in recent years, and websites such as Facebook and Twitter have attracted millions of users.  This online community fosters a connection between its users and allows distribution of pictures, profiles, music, videos, and text. 

ALABAMA: NRA-Backed Parking Lot Protection Bill Dies in 2012 Legislative Session

ALASKA: Important News from BATFE on Purchases by Rural Residents

ARIZONA: Range Grand Opening Save the Date: July 7th

CALIFORNIA: Support Needed for Continued Operation of Gun Club

FLORIDA: Task Force on "Castle Doctrine" to Allow Public Comment

MISSISSIPPI: Governor Signs More Pro-Gun Legislation into Law

MISSOURI: NRA-Backed Legislation Delivered to Governor Nixon

NEW JERSEY: Anti-Gun Legislation Passes in Assembly Committee

NEW YORK: Comment Period Open in Proposed Pro-Hunting Plans for Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

NORTH CAROLINA: Self-Defense in North Carolina Under Attack

NORTH CAROLINA: NRA-Backed Bills Move through State Legislature

PENNSYLVANIA: Bill to Strengthen Firearms Preemption Law Scheduled for House Consideration on Monday 

TEXAS: Young Texans Rise to the Challenge in Important Second Amendment Case

WISCONSIN: Please Attend Our Free Scott Walker Victory Party!