States with updates this issue: Arizona, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, and West Virginia.
ONCE AGAIN, MAYOR NAGIN SHAMLESSLY
DISREGARDS GUN OWNERS’ RIGHTS
Law-abiding citizens of New Orleans who were forced to relinquish their legally owned firearms to the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) will have to wait, indefinitely, to regain their property. New Orleans officials revealed they have not returned any firearms, as Mayor Ray Nagin and the city have yet to set up a return process.
“Mayor Ray Nagin continues to deny freedom by denying lawful citizens their Second Amendment rights,” stated NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. “First, he confiscates law-abiding citizens’ firearms and lies about it. Then, he fails to comply with court orders. Now he refuses to return the legally owned firearms to their rightful owners by dragging his feet. It’s a disgrace.”
After denying the illegal confiscation for months, on March 15, 2006, Mayor Nagin and the NOPD conceded in federal court that they do have seized guns stored in locked steel containers. The city then agreed in court to a process by which law-abiding citizens may file a claim to receive their confiscated firearms.
However, a New Orleans official handling the gun confiscations stated that no guns have been returned because the NOPD requires background checks, and the city has not set up a process. The official acknowledged, “We've been told it was going to happen weeks ago…and still hasn't been done.”
NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox stated, “During a time of chaos and lawlessness, Ray Nagin took away the only means of protection law-abiding citizens had, and by delaying necessary and appropriate action to right this wrong, he blatantly continues to disrespect New Orleans citizens. The Mayor’s contempt of court, his contempt of the Second Amendment, and his disrespect of the law-abiding gun owners of New Orleans is shameful.”
NRA ANNOUNCES NEW ORLEANS TOWN HALL MEETING!
NRA will be holding a special Town Hall Meeting in New Orleans next week to spotlight and document the plight of the city’s law abiding residents, who were forced to surrender their legally owned firearms in the chaotic aftermath of hurricane Katrina.
Residents who were victims of this injustice are encouraged to attend the meeting and share their stories. This is an opportunity to tell NRA what the City of New Orleans did to trample your Second Amendment rights when you needed them most.
NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, and NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox will host the Town Hall Meeting. Be sure to come out and tell them your story.
The Meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 18, at 7:00 p.m., at the New Orleans Marriott Hotel, Salons D & E, 555 Canal Street, New Orleans. For more information please call (877) 292-3637. Parking and admission are free. We hope to see you there!
SUPPORT HR 5092--
“THE BATFE MODERNIZATION AND REFORM ACT OF 2006”
On April 5, the leaders of the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security--Representatives Howard Coble (R-N.C.), and Bobby Scott (D-Va.)--joined forces to introduce H.R. 5092, the “Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) Modernization and Reform Act of 2006.” This bipartisan bill is a critical first step toward finally reforming BATFE.
First and foremost, H.R. 5092 revises the system of administrative penalties for licensed dealers, manufacturers and importers of firearms. Today, for most violations, BATFE has two choices: give an FFL holder a warning, or totally revoke the license. This bill would allow fines or license suspensions for less serious violations, while allowing license revocation for the kind of serious violations that would block an investigation or put guns in the hands of criminals.
H.R. 5092 also clarifies the standard for violations, allowing penalties for intentional, purposeful violations of the law, but not for simple paperwork mistakes. Congress thought it had fixed this problem in 1986 when it passed the Firearms Owners’ Protection Act, but the government has ignored that law, and has even argued in court that the 1986 changes were “without practical significance.”
The bill also improves the process by which BATFE imposes these penalties, notably by allowing FFLs to appeal BATFE penalties to a neutral administrative law judge, rather than to an employee of BATFE itself.
H.R. 5092 would change BATFE’s enforcement operations in several ways, from requiring the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Justice to review BATFE gun show enforcement operations, to demanding that the Bureau establish clear investigative guidelines. Finally, the bill would focus BATFE’s efforts on violations of firearms, explosives, arson, alcohol and tobacco laws, rather than non-jurisdictional areas.
Please be sure to contact your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121, and urge him or her to cosponsor and support H.R. 5092, the “Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Modernization and Reform Act of 2006!”
SUPPORT H.R. 5005,
THE “FIREARMS CORRECTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS ACT”
Representative Lamar Smith (R-Tex.) recently introduced H.R. 5005, the “Firearms Corrections and Improvements Act,” which would make a variety of technical changes to federal firearm laws. The bill would roll back unnecessary restrictions, correct errors, and codify longstanding congressional policies in the arena of firearms laws.
Among its provisions, H.R. 5005 would: permanently ban taxes or “user fees” on background checks by the federal instant check system--fees that Congress has prohibited in annual appropriations riders since 1998; permanently ban the creation of a centralized electronic index of dealers’ records--a threat to gun owners’ privacy that Congress has barred through appropriations riders for a decade; codify limits on disclosure of trace records--which Congress has already limited through a series of appropriations riders over the past few years, out of concern for gun owners’ privacy and the confidentiality of law enforcement records; and repeal of obsolete language from the Brady Act’s “interim” waiting period provisions, that expired in 1998.
Please be sure to contact your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121, and urge him or her to cosponsor and support H.R. 5005, the “Firearms Corrections and Improvements Act!”
GET INVOLVED LOCALLY TO SUPPORT
YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS!
Are you currently a member of the NRA-ILA’s FrontLinesâ Volunteer Program? Do you have experience volunteering on campaigns? If so, the NRA-ILA needs YOU to become an Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC)!!!
EVCs are NRA members who volunteer their time to serve as liaisons in their congressional district between NRA members/gun owners in their community and the campaigns of pro-gun, NRA-PVF-endorsed candidates. EVCs help with literature drops, phone banks, rallies, election-day activities, and much more. EVCs assume a leadership role that does require a commitment of time, especially in election years. The program was implemented back in 1994, and runs on a year-round basis so that EVCs can also assist in the legislative arena at the state and federal levels.
If you would like more information about becoming an Election Volunteer Coordinator in your area, please contact the Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683), and ask to speak to the Grassroots Coordinator for your state.
If you would like to get more involved, and aren’t yet a member of the FREE NRA-ILA FrontLinesâ Volunteer Program, we encourage you to join today! Our FrontLines Volunteers represent the tip of our grassroots spear. The program is comprised only of the most dedicated and active volunteers who are willing to work vigorously with NRA-ILA and their EVC to defend our Second Amendment rights. Only those pro-freedom activists who pledge their regular assistance when called to action will be enrolled. All FrontLines members receive: up-to-the-minute legislative/election alerts and analyses; crime and safety studies and statistics; NRA-ILA’s monthly political newsletter, “Freedom’s Voice;” and direct access to ILA staff and our resources via our toll free Volunteer Hotline. To enroll in the FrontLines program, contact the ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) and request a Volunteer Information Form, or go to www.NRAILA.org to fill out the form on-line using the “Get Involved Locally” section, or go to https://secure.nraila.org/volunteer.aspx to fill out the form on-line.
Currently, EVCs and FrontLines members are writing their U.S. lawmakers in support of several legislative priorities and are actively preparing for Election Day 2006.
Whatever you do, do something in support of your Second Amendment rights today!!
PLAN TO ATTEND FREE MILWAUKEE GRASSROOTS WORKSHOP!
The NRA-ILA Grassroots Division will host its FREE Grassroots Workshop in conjunction with NRA’s Annual Meetings in Milwaukee. This Workshop has been a regular part of NRA’s Annual Meetings for a decade. At this event, you will hear from NRA officers, NRA staff, and your fellow NRA members on what you can do in your own community to ensure victory for the Second Amendment in this year’s elections.
We will also discuss how you can work with your local Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC). Your EVC is a local NRA member who is working with the various pro-gun campaigns in his area to provide critically-needed volunteer support for a variety of activities, including: phone banks, precinct walks, literature drops, voter registration drives, Get Out The Vote & Election Day activities, etc. EVCs also promote NRA-ILA’s legislative agenda at the federal and state levels.
With the 2006 campaign season in full swing, it is critical that we start implementing our grassroots battle plan to ensure we are ready to meet these electoral challenges head on as Election Day 2006 approaches. Rest assured, the anti-gunners are already doubling their efforts to ensure the defeat of pro-Second Amendment candidates in critical elections across the country, so we must ensure we are prepared to defeat their efforts at every turn.
Workshop details are:
NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop-FREE!
Friday, May 19, 2006, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
(Registration & free continental breakfast-8:00 - 9:00 a.m.)
Hilton Milwaukee City Center
Crystal Ballroom
509 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53203
To reserve your seat, or for more information, please call NRA-ILA at (800) 392-VOTE (8683). You may also register on-line at www.nraam.org/seminars/grassroots.asp. We hope to see you in Milwaukee on Friday, May 19!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN MILWAUKEE!
Once again NRA is seeking volunteers to help at the 2006 NRA Annual Meeting in Milwaukee, May 17-21. To a large degree, the success of each year’s NRA Annual Meeting is dependent on the contributions of our volunteers. And you can be a part of that successful effort this year!
A number of volunteers are needed to help with set-up on Wednesday and Thursday, May 17 and 18, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. During the actual exhibit and meetings--Friday through Sunday--volunteers will work in the NRA Store, at our Membership Services Booth, and at the Airgun Range. There are a number of additional volunteer opportunities as well.
To volunteer or for more information, visit any of NRA’s web sites or the Annual Meeting site (www.nraam.org), or contact NRA Field Representative, Scott Taetsch, at (262) 392-2716, or Dennis Eggers, Central Region Director, at (270) 522-0909. Their respective e-mail addresses are: [email protected] and [email protected].
NRA-ILA “MIX N’ MINGLES”
How often do you get the opportunity to mix n’ mingle with NRA-ILA Headquarters staff and fellow NRA members in your community, to earn FREE NRA items, and to assist with the efforts of candidates seeking office in your area? Well, in preparation for the 2006 elections, you will have the opportunity to do just that.
This election year, NRA-ILA will be hosting FREE NRA-ILA Mix N’ Mingles across the country. These events will provide NRA members with training on what they can do locally to propel candidates to victory this election season. The meetings also provide attendees the opportunity to meet and socialize with lawmakers, candidates and their staffs, NRA-ILA Headquarters staff, and fellow area NRA members--and to earn FREE NRA fraternal items such as hats, pocketknives, buttons, etc. Mix N’ Mingles, including materials, food, beverages, and NRA items, are FREE!
Mix N’ Mingle events are scheduled for:
- Eau Claire, WI -- 05/23/06
- Ashland, WI -- 05/24/06
NRA members who have access to the Internet can go to www.nraila.org/workshops/ to reserve their seats on-line. NRA members are encouraged to check this website address frequently to see if any upcoming “Mix N’ Mingles” are scheduled in their area. NRA members may also contact the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) for details and to reserve their seats.
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.***)
States with updates this issue: Arizona, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, and West Virginia.
ARIZONA
Two important bills were sent to Governor Janet Napolitano (D) for her signature this week. SB 1425, prohibits the government from restricting firearms possession or sale during states of emergency, and HB 2074, requires Arizona to recognize the concealed handgun permits from all other 46 states in the country that issue them. HB 2074 makes Arizona one of the vast majority of Right-to-Carry states that do not require a renewal training course to be completed when renewing a permit. Please contact the Governor Napolitano at (602) 542-1900 and ask her to sign SB 1425 and HB 2074.
CONNECTICUT
As we have been reporting, the anti-gun crowd has ratcheted up the pressure on lawmakers to pass last year’s doomed proposal to make it a crime to fail to report the loss or theft of a firearm within 72 hours from when you “knew or should have known” of the theft. This year’s version is extremely dangerous for law abiding gun owners and must be stopped! HB 5818 now includes language that would subject gun owners to criminal investigation and jeopardy of prosecution even if they report the theft because a court will now be given the ability to decide whether the firearm was stored in such a manner that provided “substantial and unjustifiable risk” that it would be stolen. Even worse, if the police recover the firearm before the gun owner has discovered it missing and made the report, it will be considered automatic evidence of guilt of violation of this proposed law, as well as guilt of an illegal transfer. Conviction of the “illegal transfer,” which is a felony, would permanently end your right to own a firearm! In response to the large number of phone calls coming in from gun owners, Connecticut Against Gun Violence has put out desperate pleas to the anti-gun crowd asking them to write, e-mail and call lawmakers in an effort to drown out your voice! This bill could be voted on by members of the Public Safety and Security Committee as early as Tuesday, April 18. If you have not contacted your legislators yet, we ask you to do it TODAY! Urge them to OPPOSE HB 5818. If you have already contacted your legislators, be sure to encourage fellow gun owners and sportsmen to do the same! The general phone number for the House of Representatives is (860) 240- 0400. Also, those whose lawmakers are members of the Public Safety and Security Committee must contact them to remind them that they must attend the Public Safety Committee meeting on Tuesday to vote “NO” on HB 5818! The Public Safety and Security Committee can be reached at (860) 240-0570. If you need help identifying your legislators and members of the committee please visit http://cga.ct.gov/.
INDIANA
The 2006 Primary elections are being held Tuesday, May 2. NRA members are encouraged to head to the polls and vote for those candidates who support our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Please be sure to encourage your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners to do the same. For information about voting in Indiana, please use the following link: www.in.gov/sos/elections/. For NRA-PVF endorsement information, NRA members are encouraged to call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683). Further information will be posted soon to the NRA-PVF website at www.NRAPVF.org. Be sure to “Vote Freedom First!” on Tuesday, May 2!
KENTUCKY
SB 38, “Castle Doctrine” legislation which removes the “duty to retreat” when a citizen is faced with attack in a place that he or she has a right to be, has received final approval from the Senate and has been sent to Governor Ernie Fletcher (R) for his expected signature.
LOUISIANA
On Tuesday, April 11, the State Senate unanimously passed NRA-backed SB 93, sponsored by Senator Joe McPherson (D-29), on a 39-0 vote. SB 93 amends the state’s emergency powers act to prohibit the seizure and confiscation of legally possessed firearms in the unfortunate event of another natural disaster in the State of Louisiana. Please contact your State Senators and thank them for passing this important measure. After canceling this past week’s meeting, the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee will hold hearings on Wednesday, April 19, on the following House versions of measures to end New Orleans-style gun confiscations during a state of emergency: HB 36 by Representative Pete Schneider (R-90), HB 136 by Representative Troy Hebert (D-49), HB 172 by Representative Danny Martiny (R-79), and HB 760 by Representative Steve Scalise (R-82). Please e-mail and call the members of the committee and ask them to support these measures. A list of House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee members can be found by visiting www.NRAILA.org. The committee will also consider HB 89, by Representative Eric LaFleur (D-38) and Representative Troy Hebert (D-49), NRA-supported legislation making important clarifications to Louisiana’s “no duty to retreat” self-defense law. HB 89 creates a presumption that if a criminal attempts to forcibly enter your occupied home, car or business, that he or she is there to cause death or serious bodily injury and you may meet force with force--including deadly force--to protect yourself and your family. To contact your state lawmakers, call the PULS line at (225) 342-2456 (from the Baton Rouge area) or (800) 256-3793 (outside the Baton Rouge area). To view copies of these important measures, visit www.legis.state.la.us.
MARYLAND
The 2006 General Assembly adjourned “Sine Die” on Monday night, April 10. Thanks to the efforts of Maryland’s NRA members, the gun control lobby was unable to advance any of the numerous anti-gun bills on their agenda. However, due to the partisan anti-gun efforts of House Environmental Matters Committee Chairwoman Maggie McIntosh (D-43), SB 907, the NRA-backed Range Protection bill, was amended into a harmful bill that would have weakened Maryland’s current range protection law. Unfortunately, the hostile anti-gun environment of the House Environmental Matter Committee led to a good bill’s demise. NRA-ILA will continue it’s efforts to pass strong range protection laws in Maryland and work to unseat those Delegates who voted with the gun-control zealots. NRA-ILA thanks all NRA members who called their legislators in support of SB 907.
MICHIGAN
The Michigan House Judiciary Committee will be hearing important self-defense legislation on Tuesday, April 18, at 10:30 a.m. Please contact Chairman William VanRegenmorter at (517) 373-8900, or at [email protected], along with fellow committee members, and ask them to pass HB 5143 and companion bills that are part of the “Castle Doctrine” package. Assignments to the House Judiciary Committee can be found online at house.michigan.gov/committeeinfo.asp?lstcommittees=Judiciary.
NORTH CAROLINA
Early voting starts April 13, and ends April 29, for the 2006 Primary elections to be held Tuesday, May 2. NRA members are encouraged to head to the polls and vote for those candidates who support our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Please be sure to encourage your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners to do the same. For a list of early voting locations in your area, please contact your county election official or use the “Additional one stop voting locations” feature found at www.sboe.state.nc.us/ for county election official contact information. For NRA-PVF endorsement information, NRA members are encouraged to call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683). Further information will be posted soon to the NRA-PVF website at www.NRAPVF.org. Be sure to “Vote Freedom First!” on Tuesday, May 2!
OHIO
The 2006 Primary elections are being held Tuesday, May 2. NRA members are encouraged to head to the polls and vote for those candidates who support our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Please be sure to encourage your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners to do the same. For information about voting in Ohio, please visit www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/ElectionsVoter/ohioElections.aspx/. For NRA-PVF endorsement information, NRA members are encouraged to call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683). Further information will be posted soon to the NRA-PVF website at www.NRAPVF.org. Be sure to “Vote Freedom First!” on Tuesday, May 2!
WEST VIRGINIA
Early in-person voting starts April 19, and ends May 6, for the 2006 Primary elections to be held Tuesday, May 9. NRA members are encouraged to head to the polls and vote for those candidates who support our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Please be sure to encourage your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners to do the same. Early in-person voting will be held in designated areas within your County Courthouse. For more information about early in-person voting please to go the following website www.wvsos.com/elections/voters/absenteemethods.htm. For NRA-PVF endorsement information, NRA members are encouraged to call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683). Further information will be posted soon to the NRA-PVF website at www.NRAPVF.org. Be sure to “Vote Freedom First!” on Tuesday, May 9!
