2003 ELECTION RESULTS
As you know, on November 4, elections were held in four states—Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia to elect lawmakers to critically-important state offices. Your hard work leading up to the elections paid off as 82% of the 188 NRA-PVF-endorsed pro-gun candidates (both Democrats and Republicans) won their races.
Our sincere thanks go out to all of our hardworking members, supporters, and Election Volunteer Coordinators who contributed to this success.
Please remember that on Saturday, November 15, Louisiana will hold its General Election Runoff. As voter turnout may be low, every vote will make a difference. Please make sure you vote! Also, please ensure that your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners vote as well. And don`t forget, in the remaining days leading up to the election, 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.
NRA-ILA LAUNCHES IMPROVED WEBSITE
As pro-gun supporters, we are often called upon to defend our Second Amendment rights. In this defense, information is always an indispensable asset. In a continuing effort to ensure that NRA members have fast and easy access to the most timely and useful information possible, NRA-ILA recently completed a comprehensive redesign of our website--www.NRAILA.org.
The new format is designed to be easier to navigate, while providing up-to-date political and legislative information on the federal, state and local levels. The format and style changes, in large measure, reflect the results of a survey of site visitors conducted earlier this year.
Visitors to the NRA-ILA site will notice many new features, including an "Action Center" on every page, links to the "Gun Laws" section and the "Armed Citizen" archive from the home page, a special Hunting/Conservation area, and much more. New information and action items are posted on a regular basis, so to see what else is new on your website, please visit www.NRAILA.org today.
SUPPORT S. 659 AS VOTE DRAWS NEAR
As regular readers of the Grassroots Alert know, 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 near future. 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, which has once again reclaimed the title of "murder capital" of the United States.
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.
ANTIFREEZE MAKER FROSTS HUNTERS
A November 5, article in The Washington Times reported that a leading engine antifreeze producer, Old World Industries, Inc., recently ran a rebate promotion allowing consumers to donate their refunds to the anti-hunting animal rights organization American Humane Association (AHA). According to their web site, American Humane "opposes the hunting of any living creature for fun, trophy, or for simple sport. American Humane believes that sport hunting is a form of exploitation of animals for the entertainment of the hunter and is contrary to the values of compassion and respect for all life that inform American Humane`s mission." Further, the group "considers sport hunting a violation of the inherent integrity of animals and disruptive of the natural balance of the environment through human manipulation, and calls for positive action to be taken to prevent such cruelties."
Following a nationwide barrage of complaints from furious hunters, the makers of PEAK and SIERRA brand antifreeze decided to end their agreement with the anti-hunting AHA. In a letter to the U.S. Sportsmen`s Alliance, Old World Industries wrote, "[We] made a decision to sever our sponsorship with the American Humane Association (AHA)."
FOREST MANAGERS ASKING TO HEAR FROM SPORTSMEN
The U.S. Forest Service will be designating motorized travel routes and cross country travel routes in the Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest and Ogala National Grassland in Nebraska, and the Buffalo Gap National Grassland and Fort Pierre National Grassland in South Dakota. Decisions on travel routes will be made following a public process to revise land and resource management plans for those areas. Interested sportsmen can be added to a list of those receiving all documentation associated with this planning process, and receive notification of all meetings, by writing to: Nebraska National Forest, 125 North Main Street, Chadron, NE 69337-2118, Attn: Travel Management, or by calling Jerry Schumacher at (308) 432-0300.
A LOOK AT THE STATES
LOUISIANA
In advance of Louisiana`s General Election Runoff on Saturday, November 15, absentee ballots may be cast between Monday, November 3, and Saturday, November 8. While many sportsmen will be enjoying their time in the field this Fall, it is critically important that they also cast their votes for the pro-Second Amendment candidates running for office this year. For more information regarding the Second Amendment positions of the candidates on the ballot, please refer to the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) candidate ratings at http://www.nrapvf.org/lappc.html. You may contact your Parish Registrar or local elections office, or locate Absentee Voting information at http://www.elections.state.la.us/. Since voter turnout is likely to be very low, every vote will make a difference! Be sure to share this important election information with your family, friends, and fellow sportsmen.
MICHIGAN
On November 4, the House of Representatives voted 64 to 44 in favor of establishing the first dove hunting season in state history. HB 5029 adds the mourning dove to Michigan`s list of game species. HB 5029 now goes before the Senate for consideration. Please let your state Senators know that Michigan citizens deserve the opportunity to hunt doves, as hunters in 39 other states do. Be sure to tell them that state wildlife biologists, as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, support dove hunting. You can find contact information for your Representatives by using the "Write Your Representatives" feature at www.NRAILA.org
OHIO
On November 12, the Conference Committee will meet to vote a compromise version of HB 12. As currently written, House Bill 12 would restrict an individual`s ability to protect himself in a motor vehicle by requiring the firearm to be locked up when passengers under the age of 18 are present. This provision is unacceptable and contradicts the underlying principle of a Right-to-Carry law. In fact, it could put law-abiding permit holders at risk. For more information concerning Ohio Right-to-Carry, please visit our website at www.NRAILA.org/oh-getrighttocarry.asp. Ohio has recently become the first state to appropriate funds for schools to teach the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program. The state appropriated $40,000 to help schools purchase the NRA Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program which teaches children from pre-K to third grade gun accident prevention. For more information about the Eddie Eagle® program, please call the Eddie Eagle® Department at (800) 231-0752, or visit the website at www.nrahq.org/safety/eddie/.
TEXAS
This week, House Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland) released legislative interim study committee topics, which included a charge for Chairman Joe Driver (R-Garland) and the Law Enforcement Committee to examine the efficiency of Texas`s Right-to-Carry licensing process. NRA-ILA and the Texas State Rifle Association will work with the committee to explore ways to streamline Concealed Handgun License (CHL) application and issuance procedures and pass any cost savings onto licensees. This forum will give us the opportunity to identify possible CHL reforms for the 2005 regular session. We`ll keep you posted as to when the committee sets any hearing dates!
WISCONSIN
On November 6, the State Assembly amended and passed the Personal Protection Act by a margin of 65 to 34 votes. Governor Jim Doyle (D) will attempt to turn Democrats who voted for the bill, against it. Please continue to support you legislators that stand for our rights! The full Senate passed the PPA late last month by a strong, bipartisan vote of 24-8, two more votes than is required to override the Governor`s promised veto. It is critical that you continue to contact your senators who voted in support of the PPA to ensure that Governor Doyle does not convince them to play politics with your right to self-defense by changing their vote in order to uphold his veto. Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-27) promised during the final vote that enough Democrats would choose politics over good public policy to sustain the Governor`s veto of your right to self-defense. Only your action can ensure that he is proven wrong.
