CLINTON GUN BAN GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Although the Clinton gun ban expired on September 13, John Kerry and his anti-gun allies in the media are bent on continuing to use this issue as a political football, pillorying NRA and pro-gun lawmakers for supporting law-abiding citizens` Second Amendment rights. Rest assured that while this misguided law has been stricken from the books, this issue is not going to go away. In fact, just this week, anti-gun lawmakers in Washington, D.C. introduced new legislation to reinstate the ban. Not only will this issue be used as a political battering ram against pro-gun candidates, but many states are already gearing up to introduce state level versions of the expired federal ban.
As we reported last week, this misguided law, which had no effect on the actions of criminals, but penalized law-abiding citizens, was built on a campaign of lies. It was ended through a campaign of education, facts, and grassroots activism. The sunset of this ban was only made possible through the tireless efforts of millions of NRA members and tens of millions of American gun owners over the past 10 years.
This historical achievement by gun owners proved that by working together to elect lawmakers who support our rights, we can transform our electoral gains into legislative victories. Now, more than ever, we must sustain our electoral momentum through Election Day. And all the while, we must remain vigilant to defend our rights from further attacks in Congress, and work to pass proactive firearms legislation whenever the opportunity arises.
SUPPORT D.C.`S PERSONAL PROTECTION ACT
H.R. 3193, the "District of Columbia Personal Protection Act," introduced by Representatives Mark Souder (R-Ind.) and Mike Ross (D-Ark.), already has 228 cosponsors. It is the House companion to Senate bill S. 1414, introduced by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). These bills would restore the right of self-defense to law-abiding citizens of Washington, D.C.—a right enjoyed throughout the U.S., but currently denied under the D.C. Code—by allowing D.C. residents to once again own handguns and be able to keep long guns assembled in their homes. The legislation would also repeal D.C.`s repressive gun registration law.
"D.C.`s politicians have stripped law-abiding residents of their ability to defend themselves and their families," said NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris Cox. "Passage of the ‘District of Columbia Personal Protection Act` will remedy this senseless and dangerous injustice."
Please contact your Senators and your U.S. Representative and urge them to cosponsor and support this important legislation. 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.
GUN OWNER`S ROAD MAP TO A WINNING ELECTION STRATEGY
Every election year, the cry goes out that this year`s election is the most important in history. And while at times it may seem like crying wolf, every year this truly is the case. Think about it. Just as in the shooting sports, the most important shot is always the next one. Once your previous round has left the muzzle, there is nothing you can do to influence the outcome of that shot. All you can do is regroup, and prepare for your next shot. The same can be said of elections. Once an election has come and gone, it is part of history; we can influence its results no more. The only way we can change the course of history for the Second Amendment is by preparing to fight and influence the outcome of the next election. Well, that next election is now!
To help assure that you—as the tip of our grassroots arrow—have the tools you need to expand the pro-gun voting bloc for the upcoming election, we need you to take advantage of the following resources, that we hope will make your job a bit easier.
While every gun owner can`t be expected to do everything in the defense of our freedoms, we must work to ensure that every gun owner does at least something!
Register To Vote. Vote Early Or Via Absentee Ballot.
One of the simplest, yet most important, things gun owners can do this election season is ensure they are currently registered to vote. Our vote is our voice; if we don`t use it, we will lose it! We can`t afford to let others decide for us who will represent our interests in Washington or in the state legislature. Further, early voting (where one votes prior to Election Day (either in-person or by mail) is underway now, or will commence shortly, in the following states: AZ, DE, IA, MI, MS, MO, NJ, ND, SC, SD, VA, and WY. Further, every state allows absentee voting if you plan to be away on Election Day. NRA-ILA has a section on its website that will provide you with information about early voting and absentee voting options that will make your participation easier. You can also use this site to register to vote, or to update your voter registration to reflect a recent change in residence. To access this site, please go to www.NRAILA.org, and click on the NRA-ILA HelpingAmericansVote icon and select your state, or you can go directly to the site at http://NRA.HelpingAmericansVote.org.
Find Out Where Candidates In Your Area Stand On Gun Issues.
To help you truly learn which candidates support our Second Amendment rights, and which oppose them, visit www.NRAPVF.org, where you`ll find the NRA-Political Victory Fund`s (NRA-PVF) grades for candidates seeking office, political ads, and other important election-related information you will need to make an informed decision in November. Simply put, www.NRAPVF.org is your place for one-stop-shopping for all of your election needs!
Contact your NRA-ILA Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC).
NRA-ILA has designated an individual NRA member in nearly every congressional district to serve as an EVC. Your EVC works to provide pro-gun campaigns in your state and area with volunteers to help with phone banks, literature drops, voter registration drives, precinct walks, Get Out The Vote, Election Day activities, and other volunteer campaign activities. EVCs also work to assist ILA in pursuit of its legislative objectives. To locate your EVC so you can prepare to begin working on pro-freedom campaigns, please call ILA Grassroots at (800) 392-VOTE (8683), or log on to our website at www.NRAILA.org, and click on the "Get Involved Locally" section.
Attend A FREE Grassroots-Election Workshop.
These Workshops provide NRA members with training on what they can do locally to propel pro-gun candidates to victory on Election Day. To see if a Workshop is scheduled near you, or to register to attend, please call ILA Grassroots at (800) 392-VOTE (8683), or visit http://www.NRAILA.org/workshops/.
Purchase an NRA-ILA Campaign Sign.
It has been shown that well placed campaign signs can translate into four points on Election Day! To help raise gun owner awareness of the upcoming election and to market NRA-ILA`s campaign efforts, we have produced two campaign signs; one adorned with the "I`m the NRA & I Vote" verbiage, and the other promoting our "Vote Freedom First!" campaign. A portion of every sign purchase goes directly to NRA-ILA`s efforts to protect the Second Amendment! To order your sign, go to www.NRAILAsigns.org or call (800) 388-8755.
Monitor the Media and Write Letters to the Editor.
By monitoring your local media and responding when you see attacks on our Second Amendment rights, you can play a leading role in combating the media`s blatant bias, and educate vast numbers of citizens in your community about the facts surrounding this most important debate. For tips to aid you in communicating with local media outlets, go to www.NRAILA.org. For contact information for local and national media, select the "Write The Media" tool.
SPREAD THE WORD!!! MAGNIFY YOUR IMPACT!!!
Remember, you are our ambassadors in your community. We need to ensure that our message of freedom is spread far and wide to those who support the Second Amendment, but whom we may not be able to always reach. Be sure you inform your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners of the resources listed above, and encourage them to take advantage of them! We are looking to you to answer this call!
FIGHT ANTI-HUNTING INITIATIVES IN ALASKA AND MAINE!
Fanatical anti-hunting groups, including the Humane Society of the United States, Greenpeace and PETA, are once again seeking to force their agenda on the good citizens of Alaska and Maine.
An initiative in Alaska seeks to ban the use of bear management techniques commonly used by the Department of Fish and Game. This ballot measure would, in addition to restricting the methods used by hunters to attract bears, ban the intentional feeding of bears for the purpose of photography or viewing, and prohibit the Alaska Department of Fish and Game from live trapping and relocating problem bears. If found in violation of this proposed law, one could spend a year in jail and face a hefty $10,000 fine for each offense.
It`s time to say "NO" to a radical agenda that would prevent Alaska`s professional game biologists from utilizing one of the most effective game management tools available. It`s time to say "NO" to extremists who seek to punish law-abiding Alaskans for protecting their children and pets from predatory bears, and it`s time to say "NO," once and for all, to out-of-state interests that would deny local control or public involvement on an issue of this importance. Please be sure to encourage your family, friends, and fellow sportsmen to vote "NO" on BALLOT MEASURE 3 in the November 2 election!
In Maine, the anti-hunting groups have organized and funded a ballot initiative for the November 2 election that would ban the three traditional methods of bear hunting—baiting, hunting with dogs, and trapping. These groups routinely use ballot measures to curtail hunting throughout the country and have been successful in several states, including banning all trapping in nearby Massachusetts. Please be sure to encourage your family, friends, and fellow sportsmen to vote "NO" on QUESTION 2 on this initiative in the November 2 election!
A LOOK AT THE STATES
ARIZONA
Now is the time to make reservations for the "My Gun Saved My Life!" banquet celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Arizona CCW Law. The banquet will be held on Saturday, October 2, at the Shrine Auditorium in Phoenix. Doors will open at 3:00 p.m., and a prime rib dinner will begin at 7:00 p.m. NRA First Vice President Sandy Froman will be one of the gun-rights speakers featured at this event. Tickets are still available and can be reserved by calling: (800) 426-4302 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. PDT, M-F. Proceeds after expenses will be donated to benefit the Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association`s Junior Firearms Education Program. Please encourage your family members and friends to attend as well.
CALIFORNIA
On Monday, September 13, Governor Schwarzenegger (R) signed legislation banning the possession of single shot and bolt-action rifles chambered with the .50 caliber BMG cartridge, classifying them as "assault weapons." Two anti-gun bills are still sitting on the Governors desk. It is critical that you contact the Governor and urge him to veto SB 1152, the Ammo & Fingerprint Registration Bill and SB1140, the Negligent Storage Bill. Please contact him at State Capitol Building, Sacramento, CA, 95814, phone: (916) 445-2841, fax: (916) 445-4633.
HAWAII
The Hawaii Primary Election is Saturday, September 18. Please go to the polls and vote for those candidates who support our "Right to Keep and Bear Arms." And please be sure to encourage your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners to vote on September 18 as well. To find out more about the candidates running in these districts, NRA members can call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-8683.
MARYLAND
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced earlier this week that hunters wishing to participate in the first black bear hunt in 51 years this fall can now apply for the permit lottery. The hunt will take place October 25-30, and December 6-11, in Garrett County and those areas west of Evitts Creek in Allegany County. Bear hunting permits will be made available through a random drawing process. Applications will be accepted from September 7-21. Anyone wishing to apply for the drawing can do so by calling (888) 579-6768 or online at http://blackbear.dnr.state.md.us/ . To apply, each applicant must pay a $15 non-refundable application fee and may only enter once. Applicants must posses a valid Hunter Safety Certificate or have held a hunting license prior to July 1, 1977, or hunted on private property prior to July 1, 1977, to apply. The drawing will be held on September 22, and all applicants will be notified shortly thereafter. On Saturday, October 9, from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., the Baltimore County Game & Fish Protective Association, Inc. (BCGF), is hosting its first annual "NRA Day." This free event, also sponsored by numerous pro-gun organizations and companies, will be held rain or shine at the BCGF on Northwind Road in Parkville. Firearms training will be provided by NRA Certified Instructors, and shotgun, handgun, rifle, and air gun shooting will be offered. A free moon bounce will be offered for the kids, and numerous prizes will be awarded. Earlier that day, BCGF will be hosting an "NRA Day" Trap Tournament as well. For more information, please call(410) 668-2171.
