WILL YOU BE THAT ONE VOTE?
Not In Town On Election Day?
Want To Vote Early?
NRA Can Help!
History is replete with examples where a single vote, or a small percentage of votes, spelled the difference between victory and defeat in an election or on piece of legislation. Consider the following:
*In 1778, ONE VOTE gave America the English language instead of German;
*In 1845, ONE VOTE brought Texas into the Union;
*In 1878, ONE VOTE gave Rutherford B. Hayes the Presidency of the United States;
*In 1941, ONE VOTE saved Selective Service just weeks before Pearl Harbor was attacked;
*In 1994, a race for the U.S. House was originally decided by FOUR VOTES;
*In 1998, a U.S. Senate race was decided by 400 VOTES out of 400,000 cast;
*In 2002, an anti-gun candidate in a state primary race in Arizona won by FIVE VOTES;
*In February 2004, Wisconsin Governor Doyle`s (D) veto of Right-to-Carry was sustained by only ONE VOTE; And of course...
*In the 2000 presidential election, 537 VOTES in Florida ensured the election of George W. Bush over Al Gore!
These examples clearly prove that every vote matters. And once again, as this year`s elections are expected to be extremely close, it is critical that every NRA member and pro-Second Amendment supporter exercises his right to vote in order to protect our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
Even if you can`t vote in person on November 2, your voice can still be heard!
Most states allow voters to cast their ballot early (either in-person or by mail). And every state allows absentee voting if you plan to be away on Election Day--November 2. To make sure the vote of every Second Amendment supporter is counted this year, NRA is providing a free service that will make voting easier in the 2004 general election. Working with HelpingAmericansVote.Org™, a non-partisan service, we are providing you with information about early voting and absentee voting options that will make your participation easier.
In addition to the information you will need to vote early or via absentee ballot, you can also use this service to register to vote, or to update your voter registration to reflect a recent change in residence. To access this site, go to http://NRA.HelpingAmericansVote.org and select your state.
Please forward this link to your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners, and encourage them to take advantage of this service to ensure that the voices of America`s 65 million gun owners are heard loudly and clearly in this year`s critically-important elections!
With so many examples of elections and issues being decided by ONE VOTE, we can`t take even a single pro-gun vote for granted this year. Please visit http://NRA.HelpingAmericansVote.org and make sure your vote is cast to support your gun rights.
FEINSTEIN INTRODUCES "ASSAULT WEAPONS" REAUTHORIZATION BILL
Yesterday, vehemently anti-gun Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced S. 2498, legislation that would reauthorize the Clinton gun ban. The bill is being held on the Senate floor and could come up at any time.
This is the start of a sustained political battle we`ll be waging over the next few months. Our opponents will continue to work at every turn to try and accomplish their anti-gun goals, and we need to be prepared. 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. And please forward this website to others who need to know both the history and the truth about this issue. Then, please contact your Senators and urge them to oppose S. 2498 or any other legislation seeking to extend the so-called "assault weapons" ban. 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.
NOTORIOUS NINTH CIRCUIT AT IT AGAIN
Apparently, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is determined to maintain its paradigm of dispensing political activism under the guise of unbiased legal judgement.
Last fall, a three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based court reinstated a wrongful death lawsuit against the firearm industry that had been previously tossed out by a Los Angeles federal judge before it went to trial. The suit, Ileto v. Glock, seeks to blame Glock and others for the horrendous criminal actions of deranged white supremacist Buford Furrow. In 1999, Furrow shot and killed postal worker Joseph Ileto, and wounded three children at a Jewish Community Center in Grenada Hills, California, after illegally acquiring firearms. What is not often reported is that, while a Glock pistol was used in Furrow`s heinous crime, the gun was originally sold to a police department, which subsequently sold it to a licensed dealer, who in turn sold it to a collector, who finally sold it to Furrow. Glock is being targeted but did nothing illegal.
Following last fall`s decision, Glock asked that the full court reconsider the ruling. Last week, the full court voted to allow the suit to proceed. Significantly, eight of the judges dissented. In writing the dissent, Judge Consuelo Callahan said, "The potential impact of the panel`s decision is staggering. Any manufacturer of an arguably dangerous product that finds its way into California can be hauled into court in California to defend against a civil action brought by a victim of the criminal use of that product." Drawing an obvious conclusion, Judge Callahan went on to say, "Thus, General Motors would be sued by someone who was hit by a Corvette that had been stolen by a juvenile."
This case dramatically underscores the urgent need for passage of a comprehensive federal lawsuit protection bill. Allowing these types of suits to continue unabated will be disastrous for the American firearm industry, and for your right to lawfully own firearms. That is why NRA-ILA remains committed to enacting a federal lawsuit preemption law that does not in any way compromise our Second Amendment rights.
BALLISTIC "FINGERPRINTING" NOT EFFECTIVE
A June 3 AP article appearing on Newsday.com reported that New York state`s much-lauded ballistic "fingerprinting" database, designed to match handguns in New York to crime scene evidence, has not solved a single crime in the more than three years since its debut.
These results are consistent with the findings of several studies that have already determined that existing ballistic imaging systems are flawed and have not been effective law enforcement tools. Despite these findings, anti-gun extremists continue to promote these ballistic "fingerprinting" schemes--which are little more than an attempt to impose a nationwide registration system for all law-abiding gun owners.
A LOOK AT THE STATES
ILLINOIS
Last week, the Illinois Senate voted to concur with the House on SB 2165, which seeks to provide an affirmative defense for a gun owner if he uses a firearm prohibited by local ordinance in defense of himself or others. The bill`s fate is now in the hands of Governor Rod Blagojevich (D), who has threatened to veto this common sense measure. Also awaiting a threatened veto is another common sense bill, SB 2386, which seeks to prohibit civil suits against a gun owner who uses a firearm to defend himself or others. Both SB 2165 and SB 2386 passed with enough votes to override the governor`s threatened veto, but you should still call Governor Blagojevich at (217) 782-6830 and urge him to sign SB 2165 and SB 2386, and remind him that both passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. And while Illinois families spent this past Memorial Day Weekend honoring the ultimate sacrifice made by those who have served in our nation`s service to protect our rights, anti-gun extremists schemed to mount another assault on one of those very rights--our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Anti-gun State Senator John Cullerton (D-6) chose the traditional date for the observance of Memorial Day, May 30, to introduce SB 3383, a bill that seeks to establish a ban on certain semi-automatic firearms at the state level. This legislation could be taken up during the time it takes to resolve the current impasse over the budget, although it may not see any action until the veto session in November. We will keep you posted as to any developments on this front, but please be sure to keep in touch with your state lawmakers and urge them to oppose this gun ban if it is brought up for consideration. The Senate can be reached by calling (217) 782-4517, and the House can be reached at (217) 782-8223. For additional contact information, please use the "Write Your Representatives" tool at www.NRAILA.org.
KANSAS
Senator Stan Clark (R-40), passed away over Memorial weekend. As a strong Second Amendment supporter, Senator Clark carried HB 2798, the "Personal and Family Protection Act," on the Senate floor. His death is a great loss to all NRA members. Memorial contributions may be made in Clark`s name to The Gideons International.
NEW YORK
Although the State Senate has rejected Governor George Pataki`s plan for renewable pistol licenses and new state fees contained in budget bills S. 6056/A. 9556, the budget process won`t be over until it`s finally adopted by the Legislature. It is, important to encourage lawmakers to continue standing firm in opposing the Governor`s plan, as these bills will be considered soon. For contact information for your lawmakers, please use the "Write Your Representatives" feature located at www.NRAILA.org.
OKLAHOMA
HB 1185 and HB 1410, both containing Right-to-Carry (RTC) reforms, passed final concurrence votes. HB 1185, allows for commissioned law-enforcement officers (reserve or full-time), who have gone through the appropriate background checks and training prior to their employment, to be issued a concealed carry permit for their off-duty time without further requirements. The fee for active duty law-enforcement concealed carry permits will be $25, plus the cost of photographs, etc. HB 1410, requires that law-enforcement return legitimate RTC holder`s firearms, if taken, unless they have committed a disqualifying offense or are believed to be a danger. HB 1410 allows instructors licenses and permits to be automatically renewed without a fee. Permit holders will also be able to travel with loaded long guns in their vehicle without repercussions. And finally, those appealing denials will have 60 calendar days to do so. Both HB 1185 and HB 1410 are now headed to the Governor`s desk.
