FIREARMS LAW & SECOND AMENDMENT SYMPOSIUM:
Is The Second Amendment The First Among Equals?
To fulfill the promise of the Declaration of Independence, the authors of the U.S. Constitution and its Bill of Rights made it clear that individual rights were paramount. The Bill of Rights, wrote Madison, was "calculated to secure the personal rights of the people."
Yet when the U.S. Department of Justice issued its exhaustive 2004 memorandum on the Second Amendment, concluding without reservation that "the Second Amendment secures a personal right of individuals," the national media was apoplectic. So politicized had this right become that it had been clearly set apart and segregated as different from other rights guaranteed to the "people" as in the 1st, 4th, 5th, 9th, and 14th amendments.
To examine the Second Amendment in a scholarly and in-depth forum, prestigious constitutional scholars will convene at this symposium to explore issues past and present, pro and con, covering this controversial topic.
This event promises to present a thought-provoking and balanced discussion of this least understood, and arguably, the most factious freedom contained in the Bill of Rights.
This first ever "Firearms Law & the Second Amendment Symposium" will be hosted by Law Students for the Second Amendment, at George Mason University School of Law along with the NRA Foundation.
Each symposium registrant will receive a packet that contains the panelists' written materials on the subject--an excellent source for future reference. The event, including all materials, food and beverages is free, and is open to the public.
The symposium will be held:
Saturday, September 24, 2005,
George Mason University School of Law (Arlington, VA Campus),
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., (Registration from 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.),
3401 Fairfax Drive, "Original Building," Room 329, Arlington, VA
Don't miss this seminal event. To reserve your place, please visit www.nraila.org/workshops/Symposium.aspx?ID=GMUSL or call (800) 392-8683.
(NOTE: CLE Credit will be attained in the effort to serve new attorneys and general practitioners seeking advanced or specialized information concerning firearms law at the federal and state levels.)
CONTINUE TO ATTEND TOWN HALL MEETINGS--
URGE PASSAGE OF S. 397 IN U.S. HOUSE
As you know, the U.S. Senate recently passed S. 397--the "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act"--by a strong bipartisan vote of 65-31! This action represents a great victory and a vitally important first step toward ending the anti-gun lobby's shameless attempts to bankrupt the firearm industry through reckless, predatory lawsuits. It also represents a crucial step forward for law-abiding firearm manufacturers, retailers, and owners in this country.
As the battle now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives, it is critical that you once again contact your U.S. Representative and urge him/her to pass S. 397 as passed by the Senate!
With Congress out for its "Summer District Work Period" (through September 5), your U.S. Representative will be back home in his/her respective district. 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. Now is the time for you to personally voice to your U.S. Representative your strong support for S. 397 as passed by the Senate. Please contact your Representative's district offices and ask when he/she plans to hold their town hall meetings during the break. If you do not know the number for your Representative's 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 U.S. Representative to support S. 397 as passed by the Senate.
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].
We can and will achieve our mutual goal of finally enacting this common sense law, but only with your continued assistance. Please help us finish the job once and for all by contacting your U.S. Representative and urging him/her to support the "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act" as passed by the Senate, and send the bill to President Bush.
GUNSMITHS WIN TAX EXEMPTION
During the same week the Senate passed S. 397, NRA-ILA helped win an important but less-publicized victory for small custom gunsmiths. A massive highway construction bill (which President Bush promptly signed into law) contained an amendment that exempts manufacturers of fewer than 50 firearms from "manufacturing" excise taxes.
For nearly 30 years, under a baffling web of IRS regulations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms tried to collect these "manufacturing" taxes from gunsmiths (including years' worth of back taxes, in some cases), even if they were only modifying firearms that had been made in a regular gun factory.
NRA members should salute Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) who has championed this issue for many years, as well as Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), whose support was critical in ending this abuse of the tax system against America's many small gunsmiths.
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.****)
ARIZONA
HB 2325, NRA-backed legislation making much needed reforms to the Arizona concealed weapons law (CCW) is now in effect. The legislation makes a number of changes to the law first passed in 1994. Most importantly, the legislation reduces the number of training hours required of first-time CCW permit applicants from 16 to eight. Evidence from other Right-to-Carry states indicates that this change will dramatically increase the number of law-abiding firearm owners who obtain permits. The training required of permit renewal applicants is also reduced from four hours to two hours. Permit holders who apply for their second or subsequent permit renewal after August 12, 2005, will no longer be required to submit fingerprints with their applications, ensuring a more efficient and timely renewal process. Permits are now valid for five years, instead of four years. CCW permits possessed by military personnel deployed overseas will be valid for ninety days after the end of deployment. This will allow armed forces personnel to continue to carry concealed self-defense firearms after returning to Arizona if their permits expire during, or shortly after, their deployment. Finally, permit holders who fail to carry their permits with them while carrying a concealed firearm will not be convicted of the current class two misdemeanor offense if they are able to show the court that they possessed a valid permit at the time of the citation.
CALIFORNIA
Since reconvening, the California Legislature is still considering several anti-gun measures. Assembly Bill 352 was re-referred and expected to be considered by the Senate Committee on Appropriations. However, as of today, August 25, AB 352 has been placed on the inactive list. 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 continue to 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. Assembly Bill 996 has been voted off the Senate Floor, and now heads once more to the Assembly for a final vote. AB 996 would require all retailers to display and sell ammunition in a manner that is only accessible by an employee, not the purchaser. Any violation of this measure would result in a misdemeanor. Please contact members of the Assembly and ask them to oppose AB 996. Although news sources have reported anti-gun measure SB 357 as shelved by Senate sponsor, Joseph Dunn (D-34), similar legislation could still be attached to another bill. Despite postponement, it is imperative Assembly members continue to be contacted and asked to oppose SB 357 or any amendments with similar language. Postponement of SB 357 can be canceled at any time and hearings would continue on short notice. For Assembly and Senate members' contact information, please visit www.assembly.ca.gov or www.sen.ca.gov.
NEW YORK
The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association will host the first annual RPA-PAC fundraising dinner featuring NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, and NRA 1st Vice President John Sigler. Please plan to attend the dinner, which will start at 6:00 p.m., on Saturday, September 17, and will be held at the Holiday Inn, Fishkill, located at I-84, exit 13, at Route 9.
Advance tickets are available for $50 or you can purchase tickets at the door for $60. To purchase tickets, please visit www.nysrpa.org or call (518) 272-2654 or (800) 469-7772.
OHIO
Come out to the Lorain County Fair and meet your NRA-ILA Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC) at the NRA Volunteer Tent! OH-09 EVC Emory King is hosting the first ever NRA Volunteer Tent at the fair, which runs through this Sunday, August 28. The fair is located on Fairgrounds Road a half-mile west of the center of Wellington, Ohio, at Routes 58 & 18. Emory is an NRA member who, in his volunteer leadership capacity as EVC, works with and organizes volunteers to affect firearm-related legislation in Ohio and on Capitol Hill. He also assists pro-gun candidates with phone banks, literature drops, voter registration drives, precinct walks, and other campaign activities. For information, questions, or to help out at the tent, please contact EVC Emory King at (440) 647-4299 or via e-mail at [email protected]. (Fair details, such as hours and events, can be found at www.loraincountyfair.com.) Please be sure to stop by the NRA Volunteer Tent to meet your EVC and learn how you can make a difference in the gun control debate. Emory is also looking for volunteers to help out at the tent for a few hours, so please contact Emory and ask how you can help make the NRA Volunteer Tent a huge success!
VIRGINIA
On Tuesday, August 30, 2005, Republican Gubernatorial candidate Jerry Kilgore's campaign is hosting a "Sportsmen for Kilgore Kickoff" event in Vinton, Va. Please join your fellow NRA Members, sportsmen, hunters, and Second Amendment supporters at this exciting gathering. The kickoff will be held from 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., at Boxtree Lodge Vmcc, 2393 Hammond Drive, Vinton, VA 24197, (800) 426-6633. Refreshments will be provided. If you and your family plan on attending, please RSVP to Grant Hewitt at: [email protected] or Tiffany Watkins at: [email protected], or call (804) 249-9567.
Directions: I-81 to exit 143 (I-581). I-581 to exit 6 (Elm Avenue). Take Rt. 24 East through Vinton. Bear right onto Rt. 634 (Hardy Rd). After approximately 1 mile, drive under Blue Ridge Parkway stone bridge. Take first right on Hammond Drive. We hope to see you there and please be sure to pass this invitation along to your family, friends, and fellow sportsmen!
