HELP US HELP YOU
With the holidays now in our rearview mirrors, it is time to turn our thoughts and energies toward this year's all-important elections. In recent election cycles, gun owners have enjoyed tremendous successes. But none of our victories have happened by accident. It takes careful long-term advance planning to ensure victory for the Second Amendment on Election Day. In order for us to meet the inevitable challenges and opportunities we will face this year, our preparation must begin now.
As in every election year, two things will win this year's elections for gun owners--votes and shoe leather. And no pro-Second Amendment candidate can do without both. Be assured, the anti-gun crowd is hoping you don't turn out in support of, or volunteer for, our candidates.
If you are not currently registered to vote, or if you have recently moved, please make sure you register to vote at once. And please ensure every one of your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners are registered voters as well. For information on voter registration requirements, deadlines, and applications for your state, contact the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) or visit the "Voter Information" section at www.NRAILA.org.
The second part of our formula for electoral success is actively volunteering your time to the campaigns of candidates who support our rights. This is where your NRA-ILA Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC) becomes integral to our efforts. Your EVC is an NRA member--just like you--who spearheads our volunteer campaign activities in your congressional district. For more than a decade, EVCs have been acting as the liaisons between NRA members and gun owners in their districts and various pro-freedom campaigns. The main role of an EVC is to provide these campaigns with dedicated, educated volunteers to assist with phone banks, literature drops, precinct walks, voter registration drives, Election Day activities, and other volunteer campaign activities. Your EVC is also your local point of contact to assist with NRA-ILA's legislative agendas at the federal, state, and local levels.
Even if you can spare only a few hours here and there, your EVC needs to hear from you. To identify and contact your EVC, please visit www.NRAILA.org or call ILA Grassroots at (800) 392-VOTE (8683). PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE. CONTACT YOUR EVC TODAY!
While most congressional districts are currently covered by an EVC, there are still vacancies we are trying to fill. Please visit the "Get Involved Locally" section at www.NRAILA.org to review the EVC vacancies in your state and help us find replacements. Spread the word to your fellow activists in these districts, educate them on the EVC program, and either have them contact their state Grassroots Coordinator directly, or pass their information along to your state's Grassroots Coordinator, so he/she may follow up with these individuals to learn if they are interested and able to step into the breach and serve as an EVC. Remember, the more competent and active EVCs we have in districts across the country, the better prepared we all will be to achieve victory this year. If you are interested in serving as your district's EVC, or want to learn more about the program, please visit ILA's website or contact the NRA-ILA Grassroots at (800) 392-VOTE (8683), and ask to speak to your state's Grassroots Coordinator.
For us to succeed in this year's elections, our grassroots campaign battle plan needs to be in place NOW. There simply isn't any time to spare.
D.C. PERSONAL PROTECTION ACT-- A TOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY
As we continue to note, one of NRA-ILA's top legislative priorities in Congress continues to be the passage of S. 1082 and H.R. 1288--the Senate and House versions of the "District of Columbia Personal Protection Act." This legislation seeks to restore the constitutionally-guaranteed Second Amendment rights of the residents of the District of Columbia.
The need for this corrective legislation is obvious. Since 1977, the District has banned the possession of all handguns not acquired and registered before that year. D.C. law also prohibits keeping an assembled rifle or shotgun in the home, effectively outlawing the use of firearms for lawful self-defense. And despite these Draconian gun control laws, Washington, D.C., consistently has one of the highest homicide rates in the nation.
"D.C.'s politicians have stripped law-abiding residents of their ability to defend themselves and their families," said NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox. "Passage of the ‘District of Columbia Personal Protection Act' will remedy this senseless and dangerous injustice."
Please be sure to contact your U.S. Senators and Representative and ask them to cosponsor and support S. 1082 and H.R. 1288.
For a list of Senate cosponsors, please visit http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN01082:@@@P.
For a list of House cosponsors, please visit http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR01288:@@@P.
You can call your U.S. Senators at (202) 224-3121, or your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121.
HELP NRA-ILA FIGHT FOR FREEDOM IN THE COURTS!
With NRA engaged in various legal battles to protect our Second Amendment rights across the country, we are asking NRA members to contribute to NRA-ILA as we fight for freedom in the courts. Please encourage your friends, family, and other Second Amendment supporters to stand with NRA-ILA by making a financial contribution to help us fight for freedom. You may contribute by mail (please make checks payable to NRA-ILA, and send to: NRA-ILA, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030); by telephone at (800) 392-8683; or via our website at: https://secure.nraila.org/Contribute.aspx.
Thank you for your continued support in our efforts to further the cause of freedom.
[Contributions to NRA-ILA are not deductible as charitable contributions for Federal income tax purposes.]
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.****)
ILLINOIS
Anti-gun Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) and anti-gun Chicago Mayor Richard Daley (D) have mounted an assault on the Second Amendment. House Bill 2414, which seeks to ban certain semi-automatic rifles and shotguns, as well as .50 caliber rifles commonly used for hunting, is awaiting a vote on the House floor. This vote could take place at any time. After failing to be brought up for a vote last year, HB 2414 has gone through several revisions in an effort to attract lawmakers who have mixed voting records on our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Technical modifications have been made to give the appearance of "watering down" the bill, but the primary legislative goal of banning the future manufacture and transfer of current firearms remains unchanged. Please contact your State Representative immediately and ask him or her to oppose this latest version of HB 2414! HB 2414 will be voted on soon, so contact your Illinois lawmakers at (217) 782-8223.
MISSISSIPPI
Next week, the Senate Judiciary A Committee and the full Senate are expected to vote on SB 2426, NRA-backed self-defense reform legislation sponsored by State Senators Charlie Ross (R-20), Ralph Doxey (R-02), and 30 other Senate co-sponsors. SB 2426 is based on Florida's landmark "Castle Doctrine" law passed in 2005. HB 882, the House companion bill to SB 2426, sponsored by State Representative Stephen Holland (D-16) and supported by Representative Gary Chism (R-37), was approved by the House Judiciary A Committee and is expected to pass the full House before the end of the week. Several other lawmakers had introduced related measures to reform Mississippi's self-defense laws, including HB 241 (Rep. Bobby Moak (D-53)), HB 369 (Rep. Bill Denny (R-64)) and HB 380 (Rep. Sam Mims (R-97)). However, it appears at this point that SB 2426 and HB 882 will be the vehicles for passing this important legislation this session. You can view the text of these measures at www.ls.state.ms.us. We'll keep you posted on their progress as each bill moves to the opposite legislative chamber for approval!
NEBRASKA
On Thursday, January 12, LB 454 known as the "Concealed Handgun Permit Act," advanced from General to Select File, after a successful cloture vote of 34-7. LB 454 will continue to a second round of debate in the coming weeks. Thank you to all who called their State Senator and helped advance LB 454 through this important step. Please continue with phone calls to your State Senator requesting their further support of LB 454 and your Second Amendment Rights! The contact number for the Nebraska legislature is (402) 471-2271.
NEVADA
As of January 5, the BATFE agreed to allow Nevada's CCW permits to qualify as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). As we reported in 2005, the BATFE conducted an audit that found a handful of Nevada Sheriffs not in compliance with federal law in relation to their permit issuance process, which resulted in the suspension of the exemption. Thanks to your letters and phone calls, the Nevada Department of Public Safety and the Nevada Chiefs and Sheriffs Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding addressing the concerns raised by the BATFE in the audit, thereby allowing the Nevada CCW permits to be an acceptable alternative. Please take a moment to contact your local Sheriff to say thank you for their quick action! You can get a list of the current sheriffs by visiting www.NRAILA.org/CurrentLegislation/Read.aspx?ID=1850.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Senate Bill 348, introduced by Senator Peter Bragdon (R-11), would change state law to prohibit the confiscation of firearms and ammunition during a state of emergency. This proposal will help avoid what recently transpired in New Orleans, where law enforcement arbitrarily and illegally confiscated firearms from law-abiding gun owners. The Senate Public and Municipal Affairs committee has begun holding hearings on this legislation. Please contact your State Senator at (603) 271-2111 and ask him or her to support S.B. 348. The House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee will be holding a public hearing on HB 1369 and HB 1389. HB 1369, which bars posting of "no firearms" signs by government agencies or officials without legislative authorization, and HB 1389, which provides for storage of firearms in locked private vehicles, will be heard on Thursday, January 19, at 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively, in room 204 of the Legislative Office Building. If you are unable to attend, please call your State Legislator at (603) 271-2111 and ask him or her to support HB 1369 and HB 1389.
NEW YORK
As expected, the Democrat-led Assembly moved quickly Monday to pass Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's (D-64) anti-gun package, which included the following legislation: A 673A, creates new crimes of failure to store a firearm "safely" and for negligent storage; A 2302, prohibits the retail sale of a handgun that does not contain a "child proofing" or integrated safety device; A 4471, bans the sale, use and possession of .50 caliber firearms; A 2837, outlaws many types of ammunition commonly used on shooting ranges and for safety and training purposes; A 2466A, drastically expands the state's ban on so-called "assault weapons"; A 9280, imposes criminal penalties and legal liability on licensed firearm dealers for any criminal activity that occurs after the retailer has sold the firearm to a qualified buyer, further requires the retailer obtain exorbitant insurance policies to pay for the actions of criminals, and requires retailers place all firearms in fire-proof safes or vaults during non-business hours. These bills now move to the Senate. Please contact your State Senator at (518) 455-2800 and ask him or her to oppose the above listed bills. We will continue to keep you posted on any movement of these measures.
NORTH CAROLINA
Hunters in North Carolina cannot hunt on Sundays, but now they have a chance to speak out on the matter. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is holding public meetings to get input on the fate of Sunday hunting in the state. Only eight states have a complete prohibition on Sunday hunting. The states that allow Sunday hunting have healthy game populations and do not have higher rates of hunter accidents or landowner-hunter conflicts. To find out more about why Sunday hunting should be allowed, read our fact sheet on the issue at www.NRAILA.org/Issues/Factsheets/Read.aspx?ID=174. Please submit your comments about Sunday hunting online by visiting www.ncwildlife.org.
OHIO
The "Ohio NRA Foundation License Plate" bill has been signed into law. NRA members now have the unique opportunity to purchase a special NRA license plate for their vehicle. When purchasing a plate, $15 will automatically be donated to The NRA Foundation. These funds will be allocated directly to shooting sports activities in Ohio, which will benefit Boy Scouts, 4-H, public shooting ranges, and public hunting areas. For further information contact your local Bureau of Motor Vehicles or visit them online at www.oplates.com.
WISCONSIN
AB 586, legislation that lowers the minimum supervised hunting age from 12-to eight- years-old and establishes a mentored hunting program, passed the Senate Natural Resources Committee by a vote of 4-1. The bill is intended to remove many of the barriers that keep Wisconsin's youths from hunting and enjoying the outdoors. It allows parents, instead of the state, to determine when their children are mature enough to begin hunting under the close supervision and mentoring of an adult who meets the hunter safety education requirements. AB 586 also allows youth 12 and older, who have not yet completed the hunter education requirement, to hunt with a mentor who is within arm's reach. This is better known as the "try it before you buy it" provision and is allowed for up to two years for each individual. The mentoring program allows these people to get out and try hunting to see if they like it enough to complete the class so that they are eventually able to hunt on their own. AB 586 is critical to the preservation of Wisconsin's hunting heritage. Please contact your State Senator today at (608) 266-2517, or (800) 362-9472, and respectfully request that he or she support the Youth Hunting Bill, AB 586.
