2003 ELECTION ALERT
On Tuesday, November 4, voters in four states— Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia—will go to the polls to elect lawmakers to critically-important state offices. On Saturday, November 15, Louisiana will hold its General Election/run off. Known in political circles as "off-year" elections, this year`s contests are anything but. Beyond the direct implications these elections will have for the future of gun owners` rights in these five states, this year`s elections will serve as a bellwether for the crucial elections in 2004.
Politicians, the media elite, and, of course, the gun-ban lobby, will look at the results of this year`s elections and try to pick up any trends they may attempt to exploit in next year`s contests. If gun owners don`t actively work and vote for pro-gun candidates this year, our opponents will attempt to portray the 2003 elections as proof positive that candidates who support the Second Amendment can`t win. We have too much at stake to let this happen!
History has shown that candidates who stand up for freedom win elections. But their successes don`t happen by accident, and they don`t happen without hard work. For the better part of the last decade, gun owners have been the critical voting bloc that has determined the outcome of literally hundreds of races across our nation. And, as with any election, one thing will win this year`s contests for gun owners and propel us toward victory in 2004—votes on Election Day.
Not only must you vote, but it is up to you to ensure your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners vote on Election Day—Tuesday, November 4, 2003—as well. And don`t forget, in the remaining days leading up to Election Day, you and your fellow firearm owners must actively volunteer your time to candidates who need your help. Whether knocking on doors, making phone calls, putting up yard signs, putting a sticker on your vehicle, or working the polls on Election Day, no campaign can succeed without the active participation of gun-owning voters.
Please refer to the "Candidate Endorsements" guide you received in your NRA magazine (or in the mail) this month, and be sure to share this information with your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners. To find out how you can actively assist those candidates who support our gun rights, contact your NRA-ILA Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC). Your EVC is an NRA member—just like you—who spearheads our efforts to ensure that pro-gun campaigns will have sufficient volunteer support to carry them to victory on November 4. To contact your EVC, go to www.NRAILA.org, or call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683).
Working together, we can ensure victory for the Second Amendment this year and the momentum we will need for success in the 2004 elections. Thank you for all your hard work and support, and on to victory on November 4!
NEW "GUN SHOW" BILL: ALL TRICK, NO TREAT
Introduced, appropriately enough, on Halloween, the McCain-Reed-DeWine-Lieberman gun show bill masquerades as reform but imposes bureaucratic restrictions aimed at eliminating gun shows. The legislation is based on the McCain-Lieberman bill (S. 890) from the 107th Congress, and, similarly, not only fails to address gun owners` most significant concerns, but also fails to address any issues within the National Instant Check System (NICS).
McCain-Reed is not about closing a "gun show loophole"—there is no "gun show loophole." Existing laws apply at gun shows just the same as any other place guns are sold. McCain-Reed is, in fact, about eliminating gun shows. It would give any future Second Amendment-hating Attorney General the power to effectively shut down gun shows, invade the privacy rights of American citizens, and impose many other restrictions that have nothing to do with conducting background checks on firearms purchases.
The legislation also seeks to impose a whole host of additional restrictions and unnecessary requirements, including gun owner registration and limitless regulations! Perhaps most importantly, the legislation ignores the fact that multiple federal government studies prove gun shows are not a source of "crime guns." No matter how creative the packaging, this bill isn`t about controlling crime. The attack on gun shows makes no sense as a crime control measure. It is strictly driven by an anti-gun political agenda. Closing gun shows means shutting down one of the most important venues for Second Amendment activists to communicate with other gun owners. That`s their real goal.
SUPPORT S. 659 AS VOTE DRAWS NEAR
In recent months, we have frequently reported on one of NRA-ILA`s top legislative priorities in Congress, the passage of S. 659, the "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act." Dozens of national associations, unions, wildlife conservation groups, and shooting sports organizations— representing literally millions of dedicated members, workers, and sportsmen—have already expressed their unqualified support for this critically important legislation which seeks to protect America`s firearm manufacturers and dealers from malicious, predatory lawsuits.
It is likely that we will have a vote on this crucial legislation in the coming weeks. It is also quite likely that the gun-banners in Congress will do all they can to add anti-gun amendments to the bill in a last ditch attempt to dilute it. Therefore, as we await a vote on this crucial legislation, it is imperative that you continue to contact your U.S. Senators and urge them to fully support S. 659 without any anti-gun amendments! Ask them to do everything in their power to end these meritless lawsuits and ensure that this essential legislation is approved as written. Let your Senators know that it is imperative they cosponsor and fully support S. 659.
In addition, please contact your Senators and your U.S. Representative and urge them to cosponsor and support S. 1414 and H.R. 3193—the Senate and House versions of the District of Columbia Personal Protection Act. This important legislation seeks to restore the constitutionally-guaranteed Second Amendment rights of the residents of the District of Columbia. Finally, please continue to urge your U.S. Representative and your Senators to oppose current legislation seeking to expand the 1994 Clinton gun ban—H.R. 2038, S. 1431, and S. 1034. You can find contact information for your elected officials by using the "Write Your Representatives" tool at www.NRAILA.org, or you can call your U.S. Senators at (202) 224-3121 and your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121.
A LOOK AT THE STATES
INDIANA
On Wednesday, Oct. 29, the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee of the Indianapolis/Marion County City-County Council voted unanimously to table Proposal No. 487, which expressed opposition to federal legislation to limit reckless lawsuits against firearm manufacturers and federally licensed dealers. Criminals should be held accountable for their crimes, NOT taxpayers and law-abiding businesses. Please contact your City Council members and thank them for putting an end to the proposed wasting of taxpayer money to bankrupt law-abiding Indiana businesses. For contact information, please call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-8683.
MASSACHUSETTS
Today, Governor Mitt Romney (R) will sign into law a bill that restores the Inland Fish and Game Fund and the Wildlands Stamp Program. The bill also provides additional funds to keep open fish hatcheries that had been scheduled for closure. The bill, filed by State Representative William Greene (D-22), was passed by the legislature unanimously last week. Governor Romney will sign the bill at 4:00 p.m., today at the Field Headquarters of the Division of Fish & Wildlife in Westborough. A special thanks to the Gun Owners Action League and those of you who contacted your elected officials urging final passage of this legislation.
MICHIGAN
HB 5029, The Michigan Dove Hunting Bill, passed out of committee this week without a dissenting vote. We still encourage members to please make plans to join NRA President Kayne Robinson and Board Member Ted Nugent to rally in support of a Michigan dove season! The rally will be held on Tuesday, November 4, at 9:00 a.m., on the Capitol steps in Lansing. Do not let the anti-hunters decide what you can hunt! Michigan hunters may finally have the opportunity, as do hunters in 39 other states, for a dove hunting season. Please be sure to wear an orange hat to the rally to identify yourself as a sportsman. We hope to see you there!
NEVADA
On November 4, at 9:00 a.m., the Clark County Board of Commissioners will be voting on the final design report for the proposed Clark County Sport Shooting Range. It is imperative that NRA members, friends, and fellow sports enthusiasts contact the Commissioners and voice support for this much-anticipated project that promises to benefit gun owners within Nevada and throughout the country. For those who can attend the meeting, it will be held at 500 S. Grand Parkway, in Las Vegas. You may also e-mail your message of support to the Commissioners, care of Chairwoman Mary Kincaid-Chauncey, at [email protected] with a copy to Deputy County Manager Virginia Valentine at [email protected].
OHIO
Last week, the Legislature referred House Bill 12, sponsored by Representative Jim Aslanides (R-94), to Conference Committee. This legislation will allow law-abiding citizens, who have satisfied a criminal background check and taken a training course, to obtain a permit to carry a handgun concealed for personal protection. However, the Senate passed a different version of HB 12, which included a provision requiring all permit holders who are traveling in a car with passengers under the age of eighteen to secure their handguns in a locked box, making them inaccessible and unable to be used for self-defense. This provision, approved by the members of the Senate, is unacceptable and contradicts the underlying principles of a Right-to-Carry law. This Senate provision, in fact, could put law-abiding permit holders in great danger by creating an unnecessary victim zone. Because of the differences, HB 12 will now be debated in Conference Committee. The members of the Ohio Legislature need to hear from you. For the first time in 10 years, Right-to-Carry is on the brink of being a reality in Ohio. To assist you in this endeavor, NRA-ILA has created a special Ohio webpage that will provide you with: sample letters to the editor and to your legislators; tools to help you identify and contact your lawmakers; talking points on the legislation; and other important information. To access this special NRA-ILA Ohio webpage, please visit http://www.NRAILA.org/oh-getrighttocarry.asp. You can call your State Representative at 614-466-3357 and your State Senator at 614-466-4900.
WISCONSIN
On October 30, the Assembly Criminal Justice Committee passed the 2003 Personal Protection Act by a vote of 9 to 4. The bill is now scheduled for a final floor vote in the Assembly on November 5. Please contact your Assembly member and respectfully urge him to support AB 444, the 2003 Personal Protection Act. You can find contact information for your Assembly member by using the "Write your Representatives" feature at www.NRAILA.org or by calling NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-8683.
