FREEDOM'S STEEL—THE REAL DEAL
If NRA's recently-concluded Annual Meetings are any indication of NRA members' resolve for the 2004 elections, we are on solid footing. However, it is now incumbent upon us to sustain that passion and momentum through Election Day 2004—November 2! Dubbed "Freedom's Steel," to recognize the unbending resolve of NRA members around the country, a record setting 61,319 champions of the Second Amendment gathered for the 2004 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Pittsburgh, Pa., April 16-18, shattering the previous record set in Charlotte in 2000 by almost 10,000!
On Friday, April 16, your NRA-ILA Grassroots Division kicked off its events with a Grassroots Workshop attended by 255 of your fellow NRA members. After greetings by NRA First Vice President Sandra Froman, NRA Second Vice President John Sigler, and NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris Cox, ILA's Grassroots staff got to work, discussing how we can expand our grassroots base of support, actively assist pro-gun candidates, register voters, and turn out our supporters on Election Day. As the election season progresses, keep your eyes open in future Grassroots Alerts for Workshops scheduled near you.
Later that day, ILA Grassroots staff met privately with 13 NRA-ILA Election Volunteer Coordinators (EVCs) to talk about the program and ensure that the leaders of our grassroots movement are well-equipped to meet the challenges that lay ahead. Joining the discussion was Chris Cox, who reinforced the importance of the EVCs and their volunteer networks to ILA's overall success. (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 and to promote NRA-ILA's legislative agenda. To identify and contact your EVC, visit www.NRAILA.org, and choose "Get Involved Locally." To learn more about the program, or to volunteer to serve as your district's EVC if there is a vacancy, contact your state's Grassroots Coordinator at (800) 392-8683.)
On Saturday, the thousands of members who poured into the convention center to attend the official business portion of the weekend—the Annual Meeting of Members—were treated to rousing speeches by NRA's officers, all of whom highlighted the many successes of NRA, and gave credit where credit is due—to NRA's four million members, the engine that drives our powerful machine.
ILA's Executive Director Chris Cox forcefully noted, "I will never, never sell out your rights for political compromise!" He then cautioned voters to beware of the "freedom BUTS"—those anti-gun politicians who profess to support the Second Amendment, BUT then cloak that support with a series of caveats and conditions on our freedom, e.g., "I believe in Second Amendment freedom, but we should ban semi-automatic firearms." And of course, Cox spared no ammunition in highlighting Senator Kerry's support for gun control and his close association with some of the elite members of the "gun hater's hall of shame"—Senators Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Cal.), and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), informing the body assembled that John Kerry "has voted against your gun rights more than 50 times." Cox then issued Senator Kerry this invitation, "stop dreaming about Hillary hunting ducks with a rifle and go back to Boston for you hair dye and Botox treatments, because...you will never be the candidate of the NRA!"
NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre predicted that the obituary for the Clinton gun ban would be written on September 14, noting, "...the sun will rise....It will be gone...and it will never again see the light of day." Noting the proven power of NRA members and gun owners as a voting bloc, Wayne continued, "Let every anti-gun U.S. Senator and candidate hear my voice; never go to bed unafraid of what this body can do to your career!"
NRA President Kayne Robinson clearly solidified NRA's position as the stalwart defender of America's hunting tradition. "[Hunting] is being erased from our country's culture. If we allow this assault to continue, we will lose 10 million hunters in America. This NRA will not stand idly by while ten million [law] abiding gun owners are driven out of our family! [NRA] must become the hunters' rights organization. [No other group can] preserve their rights."
First Vice President Froman highlighted the importance of this year's presidential election as it relates to Supreme Court appointments, stating, "The words of the Constitution are fixed. But the Supreme Court decides what those words mean....If John Kerry is elected President [we] might well see Charles Schumer or Hillary Clinton, or Janet Reno...wearing the black robes of the court."
Second Vice President Sigler invoked the anniversary of Paul Revere's famous ride in his remarks, urging NRA members to sound the alarm in the fight to protect freedom. "If Kerry and Kennedy had been around in 1775, America's Minuteman would have been forced to fight the Redcoats with rocks and sticks and pitchforks. When our friends are attacked for their pro-gun records, you must stand up and defend their votes because those votes are votes for freedom. [Every] race matters!"
That same evening, banquet attendees were treated to a speech by Vice President Dick Cheney, who opined to those assembled, "John Kerry's approach to the Second Amendment has been to regulate, regulate, and regulate some more." Cheney added, President Bush is the only one of the presidential candidates who "has shown you respect, earned your vote, and appreciates your support." Not surprisingly, Cheney's appearance was the most prominent in a series of events receiving media attention.
On Monday, NRA concluded its official business at its Board of Directors Meeting, where all of NRA's national officers were re-elected to their respective offices.
While the events in Pittsburgh were a tremendous start to election year 2004, they were only that—a start. We have much work in front of us this year, and much to accomplish. However, by laying a solid foundation for our endeavors at the Annual Meeting and Exhibits, we are clearly marching down the path to victory!
ARMED PILOTS UPDATE
Introduced by Senator Jim Bunning (R-Ky.), S. 2268, and its companion, H.R. 4126—the "Cockpit Security Technical Corrections and Improvements Act of 2004"—seek to reform the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program by removing many of the obstacles in the Transportation Safety Administration's (TSA) current program. The legislation requires that the TSA train airline pilots in a timely, efficient, and consistent manner.
The agency has continually come under fire for dragging its feet and refusing to properly implement the program. An April 2, CNSNews.com article found that the TSA has made the program cumbersome and discouraging for pilots, noting that less than one percent of the 40,000 pilots who signed up to participate have so far been trained.
Commenting on the current state of affairs, Senator Bunning said, "We're not interested in any excuses from here on out. This is too important to our national security. It's not up to them to like the legislation. It's up to them to implement the legislation that the Congress passed."
Please be sure to contact your Senators and your U.S. Representative and urge them to cosponsor and support S. 2268 and H.R. 4126—the Senate and House versions of the "Cockpit Security Technical Corrections and Improvements Act of 2004." 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 Representative at (202) 225-3121.
INTERSTATE SALES REFORM INTRODUCED
On March 25, Representative Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) introduced H.R. 4048—the "Firearms Commerce Modernization Act." This legislation would update current law to allow a federally licensed dealer to sell and/or transfer any handgun over the counter to an out-of-state dealer, so long as the sale complies with the laws of both states. Current laws only apply to long guns, such as shotguns and rifles. The legislation would also allow licensed dealers to sell firearms at gun shows in other states in the same manner as their place of business. These provisions would greatly reduce the risk of lost or stolen firearms, and would minimize out-of-state transfer fees and time consuming paper work.
Interstate sales were banned in 1968 in a supposed attempt to allow states to better enforce their own licensing or waiting period requirements. Those outdated systems have largely been superseded by modern technology now that all gun sales are subject to National Instant Check System (NICS) checks. As Representative Gingrey notes, "Technological progress allows us to make firearm sales easier and safer than in the past. This legislation lowers regulatory burdens without undercutting safeguards that keep guns out of the hands of criminals."
Please be sure to contact your U.S. Representative and urge him to cosponsor and support H.R. 4048—the "Firearms Commerce Modernization Act." You can find contact information for your elected officials by using the "Write Your Representatives" tool at www.NRAILA.org.
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES LIVE NEWS WEB SITE
Making good on his promise that "the NRA will not be silenced," on Friday, April 16, NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre unveiled NRANews.com an Internet news portal that features daily live broadcasts of Second Amendment-related news and opinion.
"NRANews.com is freedom's last channel, the only place you can get the information you need to preserve freedom in this year's elections—news and views now banned on TV and radio," said LaPierre. "The U.S. Supreme Court let Congress rewrite the First Amendment to muzzle our voice during the elections, but we maintain that no Congress, no Supreme Court, no law, no gag order, no force or fear will ever silence the legitimate political voice of this great association."
Hosted by veteran talk show personality Cam Edwards, NRANews.com is a free-speech roundtable of political conversation that includes interviews with NRA's leadership as well as other Second Amendment news makers, legislators, authors, journalists, litigators, and celebrities. Listeners will also be able to participate in live programming via an Instant Messaging feature on the site, or by calling 1-866-NRA-NEWS.
NRANews.com delivers live, broadcast-quality programming via streaming audio and video three hours every weekday, from 2-5 p.m. EST. The site also provides news briefs at 10 a.m. and noon, with a preview of the day's upcoming show at 1 p.m. It is currently available free of charge.
In addition to live news, NRANews.com will also feature regular appearances by NRA-ILA staff and updates on national political races, Grassroots Election Workshops, and other grassroots-related activities.
"By visiting NRANews.com every day, you can watch and hear live, late-breaking news about threats to your freedoms, who's behind them, and what you can do about it," said LaPierre. "You can also get what is increasingly being banned from American TV: the truth."
A LOOK AT THE STATES
FLORIDA
SB 1156, legislation to stop government lawsuits against shooting ranges, is headed to the Governor's desk. Florida Governor Jeb Bush (R) has stated that he will sign this bill into law. SB 1156 passed both houses by a better than 2 to 1 margin. SB 1156 prevents government lawsuits as long as ranges make a good faith effort to exercise sound environmental management practices. Government employees who proceed with such a lawsuit in violation of the act will now be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor. Please contact Governor Bush and respectfully urge him to sign SB 1156 into law. You can find contact information by using the "Write Your Representative" feature at www.NRAILA.org.
IOWA
HB 2393, by Representative Baudler (R-58) and Senator Brunkhorst (R-9), gives some additional protections to public shooting ranges from encroachment. The bill passed both Houses and is headed to the Governor's desk for his expected signature. Please call Governor Vilsack (D) at (515) 281-0561, and urge him to sign HB 2393.
LOUISIANA
The House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee will hold public hearings on HB 241 (Ballistic Imaging Database & Registry); HB 243 (Handgun Registration); HB 244 (Semi-Automatic Firearms Ban); and HB 245 (Gun Show Restrictions) on April 28, at 9:30 a.m. in Committee Room 6 of the State Capitol. We need a strong showing of opposition, so please plan to attend next Wednesday's hearings! Additionally, on April 26, NRA-ILA will be hosting a FREE informal workshop, at the Sheraton Hotel & Convention Center, East Baton Rouge Room, located at 102 Frances Street, in downtown Baton Rouge. The event will run from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., and on-site representatives can provide you with materials on these bills in addition to input on effective witness testimony. No RSVP is necessary and you can show up anytime between those hours. We hope to see you there!
MISSISSIPPI
The Senate gave final approval last week to HB 989, NRA-backed Right-to-Carry Reciprocity legislation requiring Mississippi to recognize carry permits from states that recognize Mississippi permits. The bill now goes to Governor Barbour (R) for his expected signature. Mississippi permit holders should ultimately be able to lawfully carry and protect themselves in roughly two dozen states as a result of this legislation. Thanks go out to House and Senate sponsors Representative Warner McBride (D), Senator Walter Michel (R) and to everyone who made calls and sent e-mails in support of HB 989 during the session!
MISSOURI
HB 1565, Representative Crawford (R-117) and Representative Barnitz's (D-150) bill to solve the Missouri Supreme Court's concerns about the funding mechanism for Sheriffs' issuance of Right-to-Carry permits, passed out of the Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee and could be considered on the House floor. However, Governor Bob Holden (D) has said publicly that he will veto this measure, or any other, unless it repeals Right-to-Carry or sends it back to a referendum vote. By stopping this legislation, Governor Holden is only putting Sheriffs at risk of being unnecessarily sued.
NORTH CAROLINA
This week, North Carolina and Texas formally agreed to recognize each other's Right-to-Carry (RTC) permits. Indiana was also added to North Carolina's recognition list recently, bringing to 23 the number of state-issued RTC permits North Carolina has agreed to recognize. Our thanks go out to Attorney General Roy Cooper (D) for ensuring his office continues to work to add more states to this list.
OHIO
State Representative Steve Buehrer (R-Delta) and State Senator Lynn Wachtmann (R-Napoleon) will host a series of educational forums on Ohio's new concealed carry law. The educational forums will be held April 29, in Defiance, May 5, in Findlay, and May 6, in Ottawa. All meetings will start at 7:00 p.m. and will run until approximately 8:30 p.m. There is no cost for attendance, and everyone is invited. Questions about the forums or location information can be directed to Representative Buehrer at (614) 644-5091 or Senator Wachtmann at (614) 466-0892.
OKLAHOMA
Senate Joint Resolution 54 has passed the House and is awaiting a concurrence vote in the Senate. SJR 54 instructs the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to work with an Oklahoma higher education institution offering gunsmith curriculum to develop strategies to encourage firearm manufacturers to locate in gun-friendly Oklahoma. Existing economic incentives are to be extended to the firearms industry as inducement to relocate existing plants.
TEXAS
It's official; Texas and North Carolina have finalized a Concealed Handgun License (CHL) reciprocal agreement! Special thanks to the bill's sponsors, Representative Jack Stick (R-Austin) and Senator Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls), as well as Attorney General Greg Abbott (R) and Governor Rick Perry (R) for negotiating and signing the agreement. For more information, please visit http://www.txdps.state.tx.us
