YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED!
CONTACT YOUR LAWMAKERS IN SUPPORT OF S. 397 NOW!
As you know, one of NRA-ILA`s top legislative priorities in Congress continues to be passage of S. 397--the "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act"--the Senate version of legislation seeking to end reckless, predatory, and potentially bankrupting lawsuits against the gun industry.
Time is drawing short before your legislators adjourn for the "Summer District Work Period" (August 1-September 5), and it is becoming increasingly apparent that a Senate vote on S. 397 is likely to occur before the end of this month, and could happen as soon as next week! Therefore, we cannot over-emphasize the need for you to act now by contacting your Senators in support of S. 397! Once again, this is a critical time and your IMMEDIATE ACTION is needed!
In addition, we can expect the anti-gunners in the Senate to resort to their former tactics of trying to load the legislation with numerous "poison pill" anti-gun amendments, including "assault weapons" bans, .50 caliber bans, and the like. It is therefore imperative that you immediately contact your U.S. Senators and ask them to cosponsor and support this legislation--without any anti-gun amendments--and put a halt to these reckless lawsuits once and for all. 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.
We need your help to succeed! Gun owners must continue to take action if we are to pass this vitally-important bill. Please re-double your efforts and pull out all of the stops to encourage your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners to contact their Senators in support of S. 397--with NO "poison pill" anti-gun amendments.
To further assist you in this critically important effort, NRA-ILA has designed a special section of our website (www.NRAILA.org) that contains a host of useful information and resources, including additional background on the bill, a list of current cosponsors, and sample letters to your lawmakers and to the editors of your local papers. Please go to http://www.nraila.org/stoprecklesslawsuits.aspx or visit our site`s section titled Help Save America`s Firearms Industry to take advantage of this valuable resource.
In addition, you can call your U.S. Senators at (202) 224-3121, or you can use the "Write Your Representatives" tool at www.NRAILA.org to find contact information.
ALERT US TO AND ATTEND TOWN HALL MEETINGS!
As mentioned in the previous story, Congress` "Summer District Work Period" is scheduled for August 1-September 5. During this time, your Senators and Representative will be back home in their respective states and districts. Many lawmakers use this time to hold town hall meetings, where they can report on what they`ve been doing in Washington, and take questions from their constituents. These meetings offer a tremendous opportunity for you to personally voice your strong support for S. 1082 and H.R. 1288--the Senate and House versions of the "District of Columbia Personal Protection Act." Please contact your lawmakers` district offices and ask when they plan to hold their town hall meetings during the break. If you do not know the number for your lawmakers` district offices, you can use the "Write Your Representatives" tool at www.NRAILA.org, or call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-8683.
If you get a chance to meet with your lawmakers, be sure to: Urge Your Senators and Your Representative To Cosponsor And Support S. 1082/H.R. 1288.
In addition to attending meetings and speaking out in support of our Right to Keep and Bear Arms, please forward the dates, times, and locations of any town hall meetings to your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners, and to the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division, so we may compile this information and share it with the pro-gun community. Please forward this information to the Grassroots Division by calling (800) 392-8683, by faxing to (703) 267-3918, or by sending an e-mail to [email protected].
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. As always, thank you for your support.****)
CALIFORNIA
The California Legislature will adjourn for summer recess today, Friday, July 15 and will reconvene on Monday, August 15. Upon adjournment, anti-gun legislation, Senate Bill 357, was re-referred to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations. The amended version of this bill requires that all handgun ammunition carry a unique serial number engraved on both the bullet and the case and be registered to the purchaser. SB 357 bans the manufacture, transfer, and possession of non-serialized handgun ammunition after July 1, 2009, and possession of non-serialized ammunition would be a crime. SB 357 would also require ammunition vendors and manufacturers to register with the Department of Justice. SB 357 is expected to be heard on August 17. Please continue contacting members of the Committee and ask them to oppose SB 357. For a list of committee members and their contact information, please visit www.assembly.ca.gov/acs. Assembly Bill 352 was re-referred to the Senate Committee on Appropriations. It is expected to be considered on Monday, August 15. AB 352 expands the definition of "unsafe handguns" to include semi-automatic pistols that are not designed and equipped with an array of microscopic characters which identify the make, model, and serial number of the pistol by imprinting the characters on each cartridge case when the firearm is discharged. This legislation could essentially ban all semi-automatic pistols commonly used by California gun owners. Please contact members of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and ask them to oppose AB 352. For a list of committee members and their contact information, please visit www.sen.ca.gov.
MASSACHUSETTS
Mark your calendars and spread the word! MA-10 EVC Don Kusser is hosting a Constitutional Rally on Saturday, September 17, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The rally will take place at Faxon Field across from the Quincy Police Department in Quincy, MA. The event is free and open to the public. Look for more information in the Grassroots Alert as the date approaches, or feel free to contact Don Kusser at [email protected] or (781) 871-1115.
MICHIGAN
NRA-ILA Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC) Jerry Kraus (MI-9) would like to invite you to attend the "Michigan Friends of NRA Celebrity Shoot" with celebrities such as Dennis Hextal from the Detroit Red Wings, Mickey Lolitch from the Detroit Tigers, and others! Jerry has coordinated several events, and participated in several Celebrity Shoots in the past, and this year`s event promises to be a success. Please join your fellow shotgun shooters for a day of shooting while raising money for the Friends of the NRA! The event will be held on Friday, August 5, at 10:30 a.m. at the Detroit Gun Club, 2775 Oakley Park Road, Walled Lake, MI 48390. Admission prices vary. For ticket information and additional information, please contact Jerry Kraus at (248) 706-1513 or [email protected].
OHIO
Despite overwhelming opposition from NRA members, Peoples Rights Organization members, and other law-abiding gun owners in Columbus, the ban on so-called "assault weapons" passed unanimously 6-0 during Monday night`s Columbus City Council meeting. This legislation far exceeds the recently expired federal semi-automatic ban, making it the worst of its kind. Safety Committee Chair Mr. Mentel and other council members have taken it upon themselves to dismantle the rights of law-abiding citizens in Columbus by passing this vehemently anti-gun ordinance. Please contact the Mayor`s office and urge him to veto this unnecessary legislation. Also, please contact the city council office to let them know you oppose the measure. You can reach the Mayor at (614) 645-7671 and the city council office at (614) 645-7380.
VIRGINIA
David T. Hardy, coauthor of "Michael Moore Is A Big Fat Stupid White Man," will be having a booksigning in Williamsburg, at the University of William & Mary Bookstore, on Sunday, July 17, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Come meet Mr. Hardy and have him autograph your copy of this timely and telling book.
