LYING FOR DOLLARS
As Mark Twain once quipped, "A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." Apparently, this is the hope of the Brady Campaign as they launch another fundraiser built on deception. Faced with the prospect of the Clinton gun ban expiring September 13, the Brady bunch is once again engaging in a desperate and deceptive fundraising campaign. In their latest attempt to push their political agenda through blatant hype and deliberate misinformation, the Brady Campaign, in referring to "Uzis" and "AK-47s," states that, "unless the assault weapons ban is renewed this summer, these illegal weapons will be legal again." The truth is that AK-47s and Uzis were prohibited in 1989, under federal firearm importation law, five years prior to the enactment the Clinton ban! The expiration of the Clinton gun ban will not in any way affect this previous law. The Brady Campaign is lying.
In fact, the Clinton gun ban, and the "assault weapons" issue as a whole, have been propagated on a campaign of lies. Study after study—both before and after the ban—has found that the ban had no effect on the criminal misuse of firearms. But the enemies of freedom are not only arguing that the ban should be reenacted, but also enormously expanded in scope.
Make no mistake. Over the next few months, we`re in for a battle. And we need to be prepared. If you want to know the TRUTH about the Clinton gun ban, please visit NRA-ILA`s informative website, www.ClintonGunBan.com, and learn the facts about this debate, which has too long been driven and dominated by falsehoods and emotion. Please add this website to your bookmarks and forward it to others who need to know both the history and the truth about this issue. Then, please contact your U.S. Representative and Senators and urge them to oppose current legislation seeking to greatly expand the 1994 Clinton gun ban—H.R. 2038, H.R. 3831, S. 1431, and S. 1034. Together, we can expose and refute the Brady Campaign`s lies, and rightly relegate this cosmetic ban to the legislative graveyard where it belongs!
For additional contact information for your elected officials you can use 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.
ALERT US TO AND ATTEND TOWN HALL MEETINGS
Congress is currently on its Spring District Work Period until April 16. During this time, your Senators and Representative will be back home in their respective states and districts. Many lawmakers use this time to hold town hall meetings, where they can report on what they`ve been doing in Washington, and take questions from their constituents. These meetings afford you an opportunity to personally voice your strong support for the District of Columbia Personal Protection Act (bills S. 1414 and H.R. 3193)—legislation seeking to restore the constitutionally-guaranteed Second Amendment rights of the residents of the District of Columbia—and your staunch opposition to legislation that seeks to reenact or expand the 1994 Clinton gun ban (S. 1034, S. 1431, H.R. 2038, and H.R. 3831). Please contact your lawmakers` district offices and ask when they plan to hold their town hall meetings during the break. If you do not know the number for your lawmakers` district offices, you can use the "Write Your Representatives" tool at www.NRAILA.org, or call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-8683.
If you get a chance to meet with your lawmakers, we once again urge you to ask your Senators to cosponsor and support S. 1414, and to oppose S. 1034 and S. 1431. Also, please encourage your U.S. Representative to support H.R. 3193 and to oppose H.R. 2038.
In addition to attending town hall meetings and speaking out in support of our Right to Keep and Bear Arms, please forward the dates, times, and locations of any town hall meetings to your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners, and to the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division, so we may compile this information and share it with the pro-gun community. Please forward this information to the Grassroots Division by calling (800) 392-8683, by faxing to (703) 267-3918, or by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. Also, please take advantage of this recess to try and schedule personal meetings with your lawmakers and/or their staffs in their district offices to discuss these issues.
For a current list of these meetings, please visit www.NRAILA.org, choose "Get Involved Locally," and then click the "Event Calendar."
PLAN TO ATTEND FREE PITTSBURGH GRASSROOTS WORKSHOP !
The NRA-ILA Grassroots Division will host a FREE Grassroots Workshop in conjunction with NRA`s Annual Meetings in Pittsburgh. This Workshop has been a regular part of NRA`s Annual Meetings for a decade. At this event, you will hear from NRA officers, staff, and your fellow NRA members on what you can do in your own community to ensure victory for the Second Amendment in this year`s elections.
We will also discuss how you can work with your local Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC). Your EVC is a local NRA member who is working with the various pro-gun campaigns in his area to provide critically-needed volunteer support for a variety of activities, including: phone banks, precinct walks, literature drops, voter registration drives, Get Out The Vote & Election Day activities, etc. EVCs also promote NRA-ILA`s legislative agenda at the federal and state levels.
With the 2004 elections in full swing, it is critical that we start implementing our grassroots battle plan to ensure we are ready to meet these electoral challenges head on as Election Day 2004 approaches. Rest assured, the anti-gunners are already re-doubling their efforts to ensure the defeat of pro-Second Amendment candidates in critical elections across the country, so we must ensure we are prepared to defeat their efforts at every turn.
Workshop details are:
NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop-FREE!
Friday, April 16, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
(Registration & free continental breakfast - 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.)
Allegheny Ballroom II
Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh Hotel
1000 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
To reserve your seat, or for more information, please call NRA-ILA at (800) 392-8683. You may also register on-line at http://www.nraam.org/seminars/grassroots.asp. We hope to see you in Pittsburgh on Friday, April 16!
NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ELECTION WORKSHOPS
In preparation for the 2004 elections, NRA-ILA is hosting FREE Grassroots-Election Workshops across the country. These Workshops provide NRA members with training on what they can do locally to propel pro-gun candidates to victory in 2004. The meetings also provide a venue for lawmakers, candidates, and their staffs to reach out to NRA members and explain their positions on our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
Upcoming Workshops are slated for:
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — 4/16/04
(in conjunction with NRA`s Annual Meetings)
South Portland, Maine — 5/1/04
Allentown, Pennsylvania — 5/20/04
Reading, Pennsylvania — 5/22/04
NRA members who are interested in attending should contact the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) for details and to reserve their spots. NRA members who have access to the Internet can also go to www.nraila.org/workshops/ to reserve their spots on-line.
FRONTIERS OF FREEDOM INSTITUTE TO HOST JOHN LOTT
Frontiers of Freedom Institute, a Virginia-based conservative policy group, will host a Book Forum featuring acclaimed author and scholar John R. Lott, Jr., and will discuss his book "THE BIAS AGAINST GUNS: Why Almost everything You`ve Heard About Gun Control Is Wrong." This hard-hitting, fact-based book is a must-read for gun owners. In addition to Dr. Lott, Professor Lloyd Cohen, from the George Mason University Law School will attend. The event will be held on April 15, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., at 1539 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. (located on Independence Avenue across the street from the Capitol).
We strongly encourage you to attend this informative event. If you are unable to attend, please be sure to watch for the proceedings on C-SPAN2`s "Book TV" program. For additional information, please contact Amanda Telford, Frontiers of Freedom Institute, (703) 246-0110.
A LOOK AT THE STATES
ARIZONA
HB 2648, the bill making Arizona one of the more than thirty states to allow citizens to carry firearms for self-defense in restaurants that serve alcohol, has become SB 1210. This will be the last chance to overcome the emotional claims of the anti-gun zealots. If you believe it is important to be able to protect yourself and your family when you go out for a meal, your Representatives and Senator need to hear from you soon. You can find the contact information for your two state Representatives and state Senator by using the "Write Your Representatives" feature at www.NRAILA.org. Please tell them to support the "strike-everything" amendment to SB 1210, allowing for "restaurant carry."
FLORIDA
HB 155, introduced by Representative Lindsay Harrington (R-72), prohibits any form of gun registration in Florida. HB-155 had previously passed the House by a vote of 81-35 and passed the Senate by a vote of 29-9. The bill was sent back to the House for concurrence and was approved by a vote of 86-32. The bill now goes to the Governor`s desk. Please contact Governor Jeb Bush (R) at (850) 488-4441 and respectfully urge him to sign HB 155.
KANSAS
HB 2798, the "Personal and Family Protection Act," will provide law-abiding gun owners the ability to protect themselves and their loved ones. This bill passed the House and Senate and is now heading to the Governor`s office. Please contact Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D) at (785) 296-3232 and respectfully urge her to support HB 2798 and the right of law-abiding Kansans to defend themselves. Also, please contact your legislators at (785) 296-2391 and thank them for supporting HB 2798.
MISSISSIPPI
This week, the Senate Judiciary B Committee reported out HB 989, the NRA-backed Right-to-Carry reciprocity bill which requires Mississippi to recognize carry permits from any state that recognizes Mississippi permits. HB 989 now moves to the full Senate for final approval. Also, the House Ways & Means Committee reported out SB 2623, the NRA-supported measure creating a specialized NRA license plate and directing fees from such plates to the NRA Foundation State Account for Mississippi, and the House gave final approval to the bill later in the week. SB 2623 now moves to Governor Barbour (R) for his signature.
NEW YORK
In a maneuver aimed at creating a gun ban that may be more palatable to its current opponents, Assembly Democrats last week recalled A 7039, the .50 caliber gun ban that had already been approved by the Assembly and delivered to the Senate in mid-March. Facing opposition in the GOP-controlled Senate, A 7039 has gone back to the Assembly where lawmakers will consider an amendment that would create an exemption for muzzle-loading .50 caliber firearms commonly used by hunters. Law-abiding target shooters and collectors would still be forced to turn over their firearms to the state or face becoming criminals. Lawmakers could consider this amendment upon their return to Albany on April 14. Please contact your Assembly member and let him know that this is still a GUN BAN and urge him to OPPOSE any amendment. To get contact information for your Representatives please use the "Write your Representatives" feature located at www.NRAILA.org.
SOUTH CAROLINA
H. 3442, which seeks to repeal South Carolina`s law prohibiting law-abiding citizens from purchasing more than one handgun in any 30-day period, is currently awaiting action in the Senate. It is time for South Carolina to remove this unnecessary restriction on its law-abiding citizens` ability to exercise their right to keep and bear arms, a right protected by both the United States and South Carolina constitutions. Please call your state Senator at (803) 212-6200 and respectfully urge him to support H. 3442.
TENNESSEE
SB 3228/HB 3360, Shooting Range Protection legislation, must be heard in committee in the next few weeks in order to have a chance of passage this year. This legislation protects shooting ranges from frivolous lawsuits intended to close them down. Please call your state Representative and Senator and ask them to request that SB 3228/HB 3360 receive a committee hearing as soon as possible. You can find contact information for your Representatives and state Senator by using the "Write Your Representatives" feature at www.NRAILA.org.
