Please Make Plans to Attend This Important Hearing!
The Louisiana Legislature convened in late March for its 2008 Regular Session. Several anti-gun bills have been introduced and referred to the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee.
State Representative Cedric Richmond (D-New Orleans) has once again introduced a ban on semi-automatic firearms, this time it is House Bill 68. Although he has dubbed this bill the "Assault Weapons Protection Act", make no mistake - it "protects" nothing and bans guns, subjecting people who own banned guns to fines and imprisonment - with hard labor - for up to two years.
HB 68 would ban pump-actions as well as semi-automatics, and millions more firearms than the Clinton "assault weapons" ban of 1994-2004. His definition of "assault weapon" would include numerous autoloading and pump-action deer rifles, autoloading .22 rimfire rifles, some 19th century pistols, as well as many firearms with a "military-style appearance" used for self-defense, target shooting and hunting. He even preposterously makes the claim that these firearms are "equally as dangerous as machine guns and explosive devices." The bill goes on to ban firearm parts such as muzzle brakes, ported pistol barrels, and other commonplace firearm accessories, calling them "assault weapons conversion kits." Here is a list of just a few guns that his bill would ban:
Center Fire Rifles: Benelli R1; Browning BAR, Mark II Safari autoloaders, Browning Pump Rifle; Colt, Armalite, Les Baer, etc. Match Rifles; DSA Model SA58; Fabrique Nationale FAL; Harrington and Richardson Models 340, 360; H&K 770, 2000, SL6, SR9, 300, 630, 91, 93; Marlin Camp Carbine, Model 992; Mitchell Model LW-9; M-1 Carbine, all makes and models; Reising Model 60; Remington 7400, 740, 74, 4, 8 semi-autos; Remington Model 7600, 760 pump-actions; Ruger Deerfield, Mini-14, Ranch Rifle, Mini-30; Springfield M1A, Match, Super Match, SAR-48, SAR-4800, SAR-8; Valmet Hunter; Winchester Models 100, 1905, 1907, 1910; .22 Rimfire Rifles AMT Hunter; Anschutz Model 525 Deluxe; Armscorp Model 20C; AR-7 Explorer and Henry U.S.; Beretta Neos; Browning Buckmark; Charles Daly Field Grade, Superior Grade; CZ Model 511, 611; Daisy Models 2203, 2213; Harrington and Richardson Model 700; Ithaca X5-C, X15; Iver Johnson Trailblazer; Mauser Model 105; Mossberg Models 152, 350, 352; Reising Leatherneck; Remington Models 597, Nylon 77, 522; Ruger 10/22; Savage Models 64, 7, 1903, 1909; Marlin Models 522, 7000, 795, 795SS, 70; Thompson/Center Classic Benchmark; Weatherby Mark XXII; Winchester Models 77, 490.
Think this can't happen in Louisiana? Who would've believed that the New Orleans Police Department and other first responders to Hurricane Katrina would confiscate firearms from law-abiding citizens when they needed them the most? New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin (D) is on record, after a series of meetings with members of the New Orleans legislative delegation last week, as making this ban on so-called "assault weapons" - a ban on YOUR lawfully-owned firearms - a priority of his administration during this current legislative session. He has been quoted as saying he will work with the National Rifle Association to craft a "workable compromise." Rest assured, there will be NO compromise on your rights, whether you live in New Orleans or not.
Still think this can't happen in Louisiana? Mayor Nagin managed to get re-elected in spite of his and his cronies' flagrant disregard for hurricane victims' Second Amendment rights, not to mention his gross mismanagement of the disaster and subsequent bizarre comments over the past two years about the state of his own city. Stranger things could - and have - happened in the Sportsman's Paradise!
That's why we need you to take action immediately. HB 68 has been referred to the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee, and will likely be heard on Thursday, May 8. The committee meets at 9:30am in House Committee Room 6 at the Capitol.
Many of the committee members are newly elected because of term-limits, and they have not had the opportunity to become "worn out" by State Representative Richmond's repeatedly unsuccessful attempts to infringe upon your rights. Which is why it is crucial that you make your opposition heard!
Please make plans to attend this important hearing. If you are unable to attend please contact the members of the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee, listed below, and urge them to OPPOSE this egregious measure. Make your call TODAY and pass the word along to your family, friends and fellow gun owners!
Note: All State Representatives can be reached during the week in Baton Rouge at (225) 342-6945
House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee:
Chairman Ernest Wooton (R-Belle Chasse)
Vice-Chairman Damon Baldone (D-Houma)
State Representative Roy Burrell (D-Shreveport)
State Representative Don Cazayoux (D-New Roads)
State Representative Elbert Guillory (D-Opelousas)
State Representative Mickey Guillory (D-Eunice)
State Representative Chris Hazel (R-Pineville)
State Representative Frankie Howard (R-Many)
State Representative Joseph Lopinto (R-Metairie)
State Representative Nick Lorusso (R-New Orleans)
State Representative Barbara Norton (D-Baton Rouge)
State Representative John Schroder (R-Covington)
State Representative Gary Smith (D-Norco)
State Representative Ricky Templet (R-Gretna)
State Representative Bodi White (R)
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