A SPECIAL DEBT OF GRATITUDE
One thing Election Day always reinforces is how lucky we are to live in a country where "we the people" can choose our elected leaders and have a voice in how we are governed.
While NRA members and gun owners were certainly integral in effectively shaping the future of our great nation through our participation in the election process, it must be noted that the fact that we are able to participate at all was guaranteed by the sacrifice of American servicemen and women—many of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice to preserve not only our freedom, but the freedom of people around the world whom they never met and whose names they didn`t know.
NRA, along with the rest of the nation, expresses our debt of gratitude as we remember and celebrate the actions of those who are veterans of our nation`s wars, and those who are currently in harm`s way protecting and promoting freedom.
Without their service, our service would be of little consequence.
HUMANE LYING IN ALASKA
As we frequently reported in the months and weeks leading up to the election, Alaska`s Ballot Measure 3 was a hotly debated anti-hunting measure that sought to ban the use of bear management techniques commonly used by the Department of Fish and Game. In addition to restricting the methods used by hunters to attract bears, the measure would have banned the intentional feeding of bears for the purposes of photography or viewing, and prohibited the Alaska Department of Fish and Game from live trapping and relocating problem bears. If found in violation of this proposed law, one could have spent a year in jail and faced a hefty $10,000 fine for each offense.
While the measure was soundly defeated, new allegations of pre-election political shenanigans have recently surfaced.
In a November 8 press release, the pro-hunting group Alaskans for Professional Wildlife Management (APWM) revealed that the radical animal "rights" extremist group, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), lied to Alaskans and the rest of the country`s hunters and sportsmen regarding its involvement with, and support of, Ballot Measure 3.
Apparently, the vehemently anti-hunting HSUS contributed $25,000 to the equally anti-hunting group Citizens United Against Bear Baiting (CUBB) just five days before the election. This date also happened to be two days after the seven-day public disclosure report was due. The disclosure report is intended to detail the individuals and organizations who contribute to a given organization.
As APWM Campaign Manager, Jerod Broadfoot points out, "On the same day that C.U.B.B. deposited the check from the Humane Society, its [the Humane Society`s] CEO, Wayne Pacelle, stated that they had not contributed" [emphasis added].
So, why did the HSUS lie about its support of Measure 3? According to the APWM release, the answer is simple. "The anti-hunting movement doesn`t want the public to know that they are actually behind the continuous attacks on hunting and wildlife management through the ballot box. Once the public learns that these ‘citizen initiatives` aren`t being proposed by ‘citizens,` but rather...animal rights and environmental extremists, they are quick to reject them just as they have done in Alaska and in Maine."
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!
Once again this year`s elections proved that good and accurate information is critical to success. But information can only be put to good use if it is received in a timely manner. Our campaign to ensure readers of the Grassroots Alert switch from receiving the newsletter by fax to e-mail is paying off! However, we still have thousands of Grassroots Alert recipients who receive the weekly Alert via fax. If you have an e-mail address, but you still receive the NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert every Friday via fax, we encourage you to switch over to our e-mail system. We can send e-mail instantly, at virtually no cost, while each fax incurs the cost of a long distance call, not to mention your cost in paper. E-mail also allows you more flexibility in relaying our information to others. If you would like to switch to e-mail delivery, just go to www.NRAILA.org, then follow the instructions through the link called "Sign Up For E-mail." Once you start receiving the Alert via e-mail, please call the Grassroots Division at (800) 392-8683, and let us know so we can take you off the fax system.
A LOOK AT THE STATES
ILLINOIS
On Tuesday, November 9, the Illinois State Senate voted 40-18 to override Governor Rod Blagojevich`s (D) veto of SB 2165 (36 votes needed to override a veto). If it becomes law, SB 2165 will provide an affirmative defense for a gun owner if he uses a firearm prohibited by local ordinance in defense of himself or others. This fight now moves to the House, which should take up this bill next week. Please be sure to contact your House member TODAY and urge him to vote to override the Governor`s veto of SB 2165 next week. There is also word that an effort to resurrect an attack on gun shows is under way, along with an attempt to promote a ban on semi-automatic firearms in Illinois. NRA members can help defeat these anti-gun efforts by contacting their State Representatives and Senators TODAY, and urging them to oppose any efforts to attack gun shows or ban semi-automatic firearms during the Fall Veto Session, which is scheduled to run for three more days: November 16, 17, and 18. Ask them for a firm commitment to support law-abiding gun owners and a promise to oppose this Chicago-based campaign. 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" feature located at www.NRAILA.org.
MICHIGAN
HB 6272 was heard in the House Natural Resources Committee on November 10. This bill clarifies that one of the primary duties of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is the promotion of hunting and hunting traditions. Passage of this legislation will make it more difficult for anti-hunting groups to silence the DNR scientists when the legislature considers game management issues.
OHIO
The 2003-2004 Regular Session of the Ohio Legislature is quickly coming to a close. House Bill 121, introduced by Representative Tim Schaffer (R-5), is still before the House Transportation Committee. This important piece of legislation would create a specialized motor vehicle license plate for supporters of the National Rifle Association. The specialized tags will cost $25, with $15 of that total being deposited into the NRA Foundation State Fund Account for Ohio. The fund will be used for Foundation-related projects such as youth hunter education, firearm safety training and shooting range development. All money raised from the purchase of these plates will stay in Ohio for activities and programs!. However, time is running out. This bill may be voted on before the end of the year, so it is important for you to contact your State Representatives and Senator urging support for HB 121. You can find contact information for your Legislator by using the "Write Your Representative" feature at www.NRAILA.org.
