NRA TROOPS RALLY IN HOUSTON
TO SAVE FIREARM INDUSTRY
This morning, a Texas-sized crowd convened at NRA-ILA's Grassroots Workshop in Houston, Tex., to further our efforts to pass S. 397/H.R. 800, as well as to advance NRA-ILA's overall legislative agenda.
The event was kicked off by NRA's national officers - Kayne Robinson (President), Sandra Froman (First Vice President), John Sigler (Second Vice President), Wayne LaPierre (Executive Vice President), and Chris Cox (NRA-ILA Executive Director). One after the other, NRA's officers thanked the volunteers for their dedication and hard work and implored them to continue their grassroots efforts to pass legislation to halt reckless lawsuits against the gun industry.
While most of those in attendance are already doing their fair share in support of ILA's legislative agenda, NRA-ILA's Grassroots staff provided additional information and training to bolster their existing efforts and to ensure they act as our ambassadors throughout the pro-gun community encouraging other Second Amendment supporters to actively engage themselves in these important battles. For additional information on the topics and strategies discussed at this Workshop, please go to: http://www.nraila.org/CurrentLegislation/ActionAlerts/Read.aspx?ID=274(Grassroots Alert, Vol. 12, No. 12).
It is imperative that you continue to contact your U.S. Senators and your U.S. Representative and ask them to cosponsor and support S.397 and H.R. 800 - without any anti-gun amendments - and put a halt to these reckless lawsuits once and for all. Again, please be sure to let them know that you consider any votes in support of anti-gun amendments to this legislation as votes against the bill itself.
(Editor's Note: Look for a complete report on
NRA's Annual Meetings in Houston in next week's Grassroots Alert.)
A LOOK AT THE STATES
(****For all of the action items below, you can find contact information for your legislators by using the "Write Your Representatives" tool at www.NRAILA.org****)
ARIZONA
SB 1363 passed the House by a vote of 36-22. This legislation would make Arizona one of more than 30 states that allow law-abiding citizens to carry self-defense firearms in restaurants and other establishments that serve alcohol. In addition to providing for self-defense, this legislation will prevent firearms from being stolen from vehicles where they must currently be stored when gun owners dine in restaurants that serve alcohol. The bill now moves to the Senate for final approval. Please contact your State Senator at 800-352-8404 and respectfully request that he or she support SB 1363.
CONNECTICUT
Members of the Judiciary Committee approved two gun control measures this week. Proposed Substitute Bill No. 6657 seeks to make criminals out of crime victims by making it a misdemeanor to fail to report a stolen firearm. The measure further erodes the ability of licensed firearm's dealers to hold gun shows while creating new restrictions on who may sell firearms by allowing cities to shut down legal gun stores. It now heads to the Public Safety Committee. SB 1133 would make it a felony for anyone who has been denied a pistol permit or certificate of eligibility (COE), one of which is necessary in Connecticut to purchase a handgun, to possess ANY firearm. The bill would require that those individuals who are denied a permit or COE be reported to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) as a "person prohibited" from purchasing and possessing firearms. Since "suitability" is a factor considered by the issuing authority in Connecticut, then a local police chief could arbitrarily deny an individual a pistol permit or COE without justification, causing the applicant to lose his or her gun rights forever. This bill now heads to the floor. Please contact members of the Public Safety Committee and urge them to oppose Proposed Substitute Bill 6659. To get contact information for members please call the NRA Grassroots Division at 800-392-8683 or visit our web site at www.nraila.org. Also, call your state lawmakers today and respectfully voice your strong opposition to SB 1133!
FLORIDA
The "Castle Doctrine bill," (SB-436/HB-249) passed the House Tuesday, April 5. The bill now goes to Governor Jeb Bush (R). He has the option of signing, vetoing, or letting it become law without signature. Please continue to contact Governor Bush and urge him to sign this bill. For contact information visit www.nraila.org.
MARYLAND
Monday, April 11 marked the last day of the 2005 Session of the Maryland General Assembly, and Maryland's hunters enjoyed a great victory in the passage of The Maryland Hunting Heritage Protection Act. House Bill 1086, which ensures that there is no net loss of state-managed hunting lands, passed out of the Senate and now goes to Governor Bob Ehrlich (R) for his signature. The passage of this bill is a result of the combined efforts of numerous sportsmen's groups, the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus, bill sponsor Delegate Mike Weir (D-6), Senator John Astle (D-30), and the hundreds of NRA members who called legislators to voice their support for the bill. Thanks to all who made this victory possible!
MONTANA
The Montana House Conference Committee is considering Budget Bill (HB 02). Currently, shooting range development funds that were cut out in the Senate Finance Committee are not included in HB 02. The Shooting Range Development Project uses hunter license fees, rather than taxes, for matching grants to local clubs to begin or improve shooting ranges. It is vital for the protection of Montana shooting sports that the full amount of funds remain in the program. Please contact the members of the committee and ask them to restore the shooting range development funding in House Bill 02. Committee members, Representatives Sinrud, Wells, Franklin, and Buzzas can be reached by calling the legislative message service at (406) 444-3064.
NEBRASKA
LB 454, also known as the "Concealed Handgun Permit Act," will be voted on the floor in the upcoming weeks. Please contact your Senator and urge him or her to support a cloture vote on this important legislation. Your phone call can help make Right-to-Carry a reality in the Cornhusker State! To contact your Senator, please call (402) 271-2271.
OKLAHOMA
Clearing one of its final legislative hurdles, NRA-backed HB 1243, was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. HB 1243, by state Representative Greg Piatt (R-48), provides employers legal protection if a gun is taken from an employee's vehicle and used to commit a crime. Legal protections will also be provided to an employee whose weapon is stolen from his or her vehicle and used to commit a crime. Oklahoma Legislators passed a law last year allowing workers to have guns in their vehicles at work sites, but several Oklahoma companies have objected and are contesting the law in court. HB 1243 is expected to be heard by the full Senate and voted on soon. NRA members are encouraged to contact their State Senators at (405) 524-0126 and ask them to pass this important piece of legislation.
OREGON
HB 2529, the NRA-backed "No Net Loss of Public Hunting Land" bill, was heard in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee this week. Please continue contacting committee members and urge them to support this important legislation. For a list of committee members and their contact information, please visit www.nraila.org. Two bills sponsored by gun control extremist Senator Ginny Burdick (D-Portland) may soon be on the move! SB 335 would allow local school districts to gut the state firearm's preemption law and ban the possession of all firearms by Concealed Handgun Licensees for any reason on school property, or where any school-sponsored event is taking place. SB 954 is a gun-tax bill which aims to make up shortfalls in parts of the state budget on the backs of law-abiding gun owners. It increases the fee for fingerprinting a Concealed Handgun License applicant (from $15 to $22) and for transferring a firearm under Oregon's instant check system (from $10 to $25). Please contact your State Senators and urge them to oppose SB 335 and SB 954. For Senate contact information, please visit www.leg.state.or.us/senate.
SOUTH CAROLINA
On Wednesday, April 13, a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee voted unanimously to pass H. 3110, the NRA-backed Right-to-Carry reciprocity bill. The next step is for the bill to be heard by the full Senate Judiciary Committee. Please call Senate Judiciary Committee members and urge them to support H. 3110. For contact information on the Senate Judiciary Committee members, visit www.scstatehouse.net/html-pages/senatecommlst.html#jud or call (803) 212-6200.
TENNESSEE
HB 2225 will be heard in the Constitutional Protections Subcommittee on Wednesday, April 20, at 11:30 a.m. This legislation would make Tennessee one of more than 30 states that allow law-abiding citizens to carry self-defense firearms in restaurants and other establishments that serve alcohol. In addition to providing for self-defense, this legislation will prevent firearms from being stolen from vehicles where they must currently be stored when gun owners dine in restaurants that serve alcohol. It is essential that supporters of HB 2225 attend the subcommittee meeting and contact their State Representatives to request that they support the bill. To contact your lawmakers to voice support for this bill, please call (615) 741-2901.
TEXAS
Next week, several NRA-backed bills will be considered in the Texas Legislature. On Tuesday, April 19, the Texas House will vote on HB 823 by Representative Terry Keel (R-Austin), which will take important steps toward clarifying that law-abiding Texans may carry a handgun in their vehicle for protection without a Concealed Handgun License (CHL). Please contact your State Representatives and urge them to support HB 823. For a list of House members and their contact information, visit www.house.state.tx.us/members/welcome.htm. On Wednesday, April 20, the Senate Veterans Affairs & Military Installations Committee will hold a public hearing on HB 322 and HB 685. HB 322 by Representative Suzanna Hupp (R-Lampasas) and Senator Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) lowers CHL fees and the minimum age requirement for a CHL from 21 to 18 for military personnel and veterans. Upon checking with various other state agencies, we've verified that this should not impact any existing or future CHL reciprocity agreements. HB 685 by Representative Patrick Rose (D-Dripping Springs) & Senator Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio) provides an exemption from the range instruction portion of the CHL course for military personnel with recent handgun training. Please contact committee members and urge them to support HB 322 & HB 685. For a list of committee members and their contact information, visit www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/Commit.htm. Lastly, Attorney General Greg Abbott (R) and Governor Rick Perry (R) signed a proclamation giving unilateral carry permit recognition to Iowa. This is part of an ongoing, good-faith effort on Texas' part to recognize licenses from states that do not have reciprocity provisions in their law, in hopes that it will encourage them to take steps to pass reciprocity legislation in the near future!
