Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

President`s Column: Grassroots Activism Is A Powerful Force

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Everyone now knows the danger the Obama-Biden White House poses to the rights of law-abiding gun owners. We watched as President Barack Obama assembled his team from among the most anti-gun zealots to ever hold public office. With Hillary Clinton, Tom Daschle and Eric Holder in the cabinet, and Rahm Emanuel as chief of staff, America’s gun owners know the dangers we face and that our friends in Congress will be mightily challenged in their defense of America’s beloved Second Amendment.

But do America’s gun owners know about the anti-gun legislative onslaught poised to strike their state capitals, or their own hometowns? Do they know that Obama and Biden aren’t alone in promising to “change” our lives?

It’s true. The gun-banners have proclaimed the Supreme Court’s historic Heller decision as an anti-gun victory that they will use to push gun-control schemes in cities and states from coast to coast--and NRA needs your help to stop them!

No issue is more mainstream than exercising and protecting the freedoms that make America unique in the history of the world.

In a paper outlining their legislative strategy, the gun-banning Brady Campaign wrote, “Unless and until the Court holds otherwise, the Second Amendment does not restrict state or local laws. As direct precedent, Heller could not be used to support the invalidation of any other gun law in America.”

“[T]he Heller decision could well mark a turning point,” they concluded. Already, anti-gun groups nationwide are preparing a state-level legislative blitzkrieg.

Example: A rich, San Francisco-based organization of lawyers calling itself The Legal Community Against Violence recently assisted anti-gun legislative efforts in at least 15 states, including Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina and Ohio.

Chicago’s Mayor Richard Daley, who brazenly defies the Supreme Court’s Heller decision, is hosting a “gun conference” for like-minded politicians around the country to plot their gun-ban strategy.

“I believe the court’s ruling presents us with an opportunity to continue our efforts,” Daley said.

These are historic times. The potential for profound and radical changes at the state, local and federal levels is greater today than ever before.

Consider these examples:

In Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh City Council--in open defiance of that state’s firearm preemption law--recently passed an ordinance to punish gun owners like you for failing to report immediately the loss or theft of a firearm.

In Oregon, the state’s firearm pre-emption law is under attack.

In Washington, the state govern-ment has been considering bans or restrictions on lead-based ammunition.

In New Jersey, the Trenton statehouse has been considering “one gun a month” restrictions and an outright ban on .50-caliber rifles.

In my home state of Delaware, the state police have usurped the power of the legislature in matters of fire-arm transactions.

As one who has served as a state-level legislative activist for many years, I cannot overemphasize the impact your personal involvement can have. Politicians respect the power of numbers and react to constituent communications.

If you doubt the power of grassroots activism by gun owners like you, please consider just two more examples.

Thanks to NRA-ILA lobbyists and activists like you, the Ohio state senate--in a middle-of-the-night vote just a week before Christmas--reversed its earlier decision to increase fees for Right-to-Carry permits.

In Tennessee, the Department of Safety instituted--and then retracted--a de-facto gun registration scheme because gun owners like you expressed their outrage.

Over the next few years, your personal political activism must play a larger role in protecting our children`s future and our nation’s heritage.

That’s why I am asking every NRA patriot to get informed and get involved now. Whether you choose to participate or not, our opponents will.

When your state crime sub-committee or fish and game com-mission solicits public comments, tell them exactly what you think. If you don’t, our enemies will win by default.

Call, write, e-mail or fax your state legislators, city officials, sheriff, governor and county leaders early and often. Tell them you care about freedom. Tell them you expect them to defend your Right to Keep and Bear Arms for hunting, self defense and every other lawful purpose.

Visit www.NRANews.com for timely intelligence about developments at home and around the country.

Call (800) 392-VOTE (8683) or visit www.NRAILA.org/ActionCenter to subscribe to customized e-mail alerts notifying you of late-breaking legislative and regulatory developments in your city or state.

Join other activists by contacting your NRA state association or by calling NRA-ILA Grassroots at (800) 392-8683.

NRA-ILA lobbyists and activists are working in every state legislature to protect your rights, but there is no substitute for your personal involvement--as taxpayers, constituents and freedom-first voters.

We must be vocal and we must be heard. United, we can do anything!

IN THIS ARTICLE
Politics
TRENDING NOW
Colorado: Mandatory Storage Bill Passes General Assembly and Semi-Auto Ban Temporarily Removed from Calendar

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Colorado: Mandatory Storage Bill Passes General Assembly and Semi-Auto Ban Temporarily Removed from Calendar

In a temporary reprieve for Colorado gun owners, the semi-auto ban HB24-1292 has been removed from the calendar. But we cannot let our guard down as gun control advocates can bring it up for a vote at ...

The U.S. Supreme Court Looks at Government “Blacklists”

News  

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

The U.S. Supreme Court Looks at Government “Blacklists”

Much of the attention this past week in the United States Supreme Court was the oral arguments in National Rifle Association of America v. Vullo, No. 22-842, a First Amendment case on whether government officials ...

Colorado: Semi-Auto Ban Passes Committee and Sensitive Places Bill Hearing Rescheduled for Today!

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Colorado: Semi-Auto Ban Passes Committee and Sensitive Places Bill Hearing Rescheduled for Today!

Yesterday the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on House Bill 24-1292, the semi-auto ban, that lasted over 12 hours where hundreds of patriotic Coloradans overloaded the committee with opposition testimony. The hearing concluded with an ...

NRA Files Amicus Brief Asking Supreme Court to Hear Antonyuk v. James

News  

Second Amendment  

Monday, March 25, 2024

NRA Files Amicus Brief Asking Supreme Court to Hear Antonyuk v. James

In response to the NRA’s victory in Bruen, which secured every American’s right to carry arms, NY passed the “Concealed Carry Improvement Act,” severely restricting carry throughout the state. The 2nd Circuit upheld many of ...

25 years and one PLCAA Later, Chicago is Still Harassing Gunmakers

News  

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

25 years and one PLCAA Later, Chicago is Still Harassing Gunmakers

On March 19, the city of Chicago filed suit against handgun manufacturer Glock. Seeking to shift responsibility for the city’s woeful governance, Chicago’s lawsuit blames the popular firearm manufacturer for the third-party criminal misuse of ...

Washington: Governor Signs Anti-Gun Legislation

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Washington: Governor Signs Anti-Gun Legislation

Today, Governor Inslee signed five anti-gun bills into law that were recently passed by the Washington State Legislature. The bills include:

Anti-gun Democrats Seek to Undermine Law Passed to Protect Veterans’ Rights

News  

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Anti-gun Democrats Seek to Undermine Law Passed to Protect Veterans’ Rights

Last week we reported on a major breakthrough on behalf of veterans who risked losing their Second Amendment rights because of a long-running scheme by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report certain beneficiaries ...

Colorado: Semi-Auto Ban Scheduled for Floor Vote Today!

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Colorado: Semi-Auto Ban Scheduled for Floor Vote Today!

Today, the House is scheduled to vote on HB24-1292, the ban on semi-automatic firearms. Please contact your legislators today by using the button below and urge them to OPPOSE HB24-1292!

Louisiana: Firearms Bills on the Move - Take Action Now!

Monday, March 25, 2024

Louisiana: Firearms Bills on the Move - Take Action Now!

A number of firearm-related bills, including enhanced preemption, are moving in the Louisiana Legislature. It's critical that NRA members and Second Amendment supporters get involved to keep the momentum going!

Pennsylvania: Senate Committee Passes Full Inclusion Sunday Hunting

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Pennsylvania: Senate Committee Passes Full Inclusion Sunday Hunting

On Wednesday, the Senate Game & Fisheries Committee voted 7-4 to pass Senate Bill 67 to the Senate floor for a vote. 

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.