States with updates this issue: California, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia.
PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNS NRA-BACKED
“DISASTER RECOVERY PERSONAL PROTECTION”
MEASURE INTO LAW
President George W. Bush recently signed legislation that included language based on H.R. 5013, the “Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act,” to prohibit the confiscation of legal firearms from law-abiding citizens during states of emergency. Passage of this legislation became a top priority of NRA following confiscations of lawfully-owned firearms by local officials in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Prior to the President’s recent action, NRA led the charge in passing “emergency powers” laws in 10 states. This new law was part of the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill.
“I want to thank President George W. Bush for signing this vital measure into law,” declared NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox. “The chaos and civil disorder our country witnessed in New Orleans after the city effectively suspended the Second Amendment confirmed every law-abiding gun owner’s worst fear - that gun confiscations can happen right here in America. As promised, NRA set out to pass legislation at both the federal and state levels to protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding American citizens.”
The Homeland Security amendment was based on H.R. 5013, the “Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act,” which was introduced in the House by Congressman Bobby Jindal, R-La., and passed the House on July 25 with a broad bi-partisan margin of 322 to 99. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., introduced the Senate version of the bill. Sen. Vitter also championed the first Senate action on a different version of the appropriations amendment, which passed in July by an 84 to 16 vote, one the largest margins of victory ever for an NRA-backed measure.
“The essence of the ‘Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act’ was so compelling that it received strong, bipartisan support in Congress,” continued Cox. “When 911 is non-existent and law enforcement personnel are overwhelmed with search-and-rescue missions and other emergency duties, law-abiding Americans must have legal protection to defend their families and loved ones in times of emergency. The NRA is honored to have helped guarantee this fundamental freedom.”
“GIVE THEM BACK”
As you’ve read in previous Grassroots Alerts and in the article above, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, law-abiding citizens had their lawfully owned firearms confiscated by local officials. When citizens needed protection the most, they were stripped of their right to self-defense. As you also read above, President Bush recently signed NRA-backed legislation to ensure such travesties are never repeated.
NRA has launched a new web site-- www.givethemback.com --with shocking video coverage of New Orleans gun confiscations that you’ll never see on ABC, CBS, or NBC. This site gives gun owners a stark and brutal reminder of why we must defend our firearm freedoms with passion and vigilance, in Congress, in state legislatures, in the courts…AND ON ELECTION DAY.
This site makes it clear why gun owners can never, ever sit on the sidelines during an election. This site is a slap-in-the-face wake up call for every gun owner who thinks anti-gun politicians don’t have the nerve or the will to confiscate our guns. And why they must be defeated before they ever get their hands on power.
Please be sure to visit www.givethemback.com today, and forward the link to your friends, family and fellow gun owners. Remember what happened in New Orleans, and let your voice be heard on Election Day--Vote for Freedom on November 7! With your help, we’re going to make the first time in New Orleans the LAST time in America.
SECOND ANNUAL
“FIREARMS LAW & THE SECOND AMENDMENT”
SYMPOSIUM A SUCCESS
More than 140 attorneys, law students, and members of the public attended this year’s “Firearms Law & The Second Amendment” symposium, held Oct. 7, at George Mason University School of Law in Arlington, VA. The guests heard presentations from leading scholars on key issues affecting firearms ownership, including:
· Profs. Nelson Lund and Robert Cottrol on the text and history of the Second Amendment;
· Attorney David Hardy on recent claims that the Second Amendment protects gun control;
· Attorneys Lawrence G. Keane of the National Shooting Sports Foundation and firearms law specialist Richard Gardiner on current issues in firearms litigation;
· Prof. Joyce Lee Malcolm and Independence Institute Research Director David Kopel on gun ownership issues around the world, including U.N. gun control activities and the movement Kopel described as the “pacifist-aggressives”—those who refuse to defend themselves, and want to prevent others from doing so as well.
· Prof. Renee Lettow Lerner on the international movement to strengthen innocent citizens’ self-defense rights, and Prof. Brian Patrick on how pro-right-to-carry activists used their own communications networks to bypass media opposition to legislative reforms.
The NRA Foundation and the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund cosponsored the event with GMU’s Law Students for the Second Amendment. Video of the event will be available soon at www.nraila.org --watch this Alert for updates!
GRADES & ENDORSEMENTS NOW
AVAILABLE ON NRA-PVF SITE!
For up-to-the-minute campaign information, and to see what you can do to help elect pro-Second Amendment candidates, members are strongly encouraged to visit the NRA-Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) website, www.NRAPVF.org. This official NRA campaign site will serve as your one-stop campaign reference guide this election season. The site is loaded with all of the critical information you’ll need to make informed decisions on Election Day, November 7. Included on the site are news stories, articles from NRA’s magazines, NRA-PVF press releases, and a complete listing of NRA-PVF candidate grades and endorsements!
In addition to all of the late-breaking campaign news, candidate grades and endorsements, and firearm issue background information, you will also find our multimedia section-- www.nrapvf.org/Multimedia/Default.aspx -- that houses easy-to-access ads that are perfectly suited for distribution among your fellow NRA Members!
Early and absentee voting is currently underway in several states. If you are voting early or by absentee ballot, please be sure to visit www.NRAPVF.org before casting your ballot.
With so few days between now and Election Day, November 7, please be sure that you leave no stone unturned and, on November 7, join us on “Freedom’s Frontline” and “Vote Freedom First”!
NRA-ILA “MIX N’ MINGLES”
Much is at stake in this year’s elections. Voters will decide if we continue to move ahead on the path of pro-gun reform, or if we will revert to the dark Clinton-Gore years. In order to ensure continued success for the Second Amendment, we must elect pro-gun lawmakers this year.
To ensure victory for our pro-gun candidates, NRA-ILA will be hosting FREE NRA-ILA “Mix N’ Mingles” across the country. These events will provide NRA members with training on what you can do locally to propel candidates to victory. The meetings also provide attendees the opportunity to meet and socialize with lawmakers, candidates, and their staffs; NRA-ILA Headquarters staff, fellow 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:
- Columbus, OH 10/14/06
- Eagan, MN 10/14/06
- Scottsdale, AZ 10/14/06
- St. Cloud, MN 10/16/06
- New Hartford, NY 10/19/06 * (new date, please see details in section below)
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 “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 visiting www.NRAILA.org, clicking the “Take Action” icon, and then clicking the “Write Your Representatives” icon. For information on NRA-PVF candidate endorsements, NRA members are encouraged to call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683), or visit www.NRAPVF.org. As always, thank you for your support.***)
States with updates this issue: California, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia.
Please note: Early and absentee voting for the Tuesday, November 7 General Election is already underway in many states across the country. For more information on early/absentee voting, please contact your state’s Board of Elections office. Be sure to “Vote Freedom First” on Tuesday, November 7!
CALIFORNIA
On Tuesday, October 10, the City of Santa Clara withdrew its proposal to ban gun shows on city property. The City Council claimed it received a “huge volume” of e-mails from NRA Members across the State of California. A special thank you to all NRA members for your calls and e-mails against this threat to your Right to Keep and Bear Arms!
Also, on Saturday, October 21, at 9:00 a.m., the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), with assistance from PLINK, a cooperative program of the NRA Members Council, El Dorado Rod & Gun Club, and the USFS, will be cleaning up shot shells and targets from Tiger Creek Quarry. Volunteers are needed to preserve this valuable shooting sports resource. Volunteers will gather at the Firehouse Café in Diamond Springs at 7:30 a.m., for a complimentary breakfast prior to caravanning to the site. If you are unable to attend for breakfast, take Highway 88 about 18 miles east of Jackson to Buckorn, then turn south (right) on Tiger Creek Road. At the Reservoir, keep driving east above the PG&E houses on the one lane paved Salt Springs Road for a bit over one mile, then turn right 500 yards down into the quarry. To RSVP, please contact Steve Morgan at (530) 620-3946 or by e-mail at [email protected].
NEW HAMPSHIRE
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, are personally contacting every mayor in New Hampshire asking them to sign onto Mayor Bloomberg’s New York-style gun control agenda. Please call your Mayor and find out if he/she has received such a call, then, discourage your mayor from signing onto this outrageous attack on your Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Then, please call the Gun Owners of New Hampshire at (603) 225-4664, and let them know whether or not your Mayor received that call. The following online links will help you find the contact information for your Mayor: www.newhampshire.com/nh-towns/rochester.aspx, www.directorynh.com/NHCities-Towns/NHCities&Towns.html, and www.nh.gov/municipal/index.html. Citizens throughout New Hampshire are counting on you to contact your Mayor TODAY!
NEW JERSEY
On October 11, by a vote of 6 to 2, the Jersey City Council passed Ordinance #06-116. This was Jersey City’s latest attempt to rewrite its illegal “one-gun-a-month” law, which passed in June and is the subject of a pre-emption lawsuit commenced by the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs. The two votes against the rationing scheme came from Councilman Michael Sottolano (E-mail: [email protected]; Phone: (201) 547-5098), and Councilwoman Viola Richardson (E-mail: [email protected]; Phone: (201) 547-5338). Although Councilwoman Richardson originally supported the ordinance in June, she expressed doubts about its effectiveness at reducing crime and changed her vote at the October 11 Council meeting. Members are encouraged to contact Councilman Sottolano and Councilwoman Richardson and thank them for their courage and integrity. The new ordinance was apparently intended to correct technical defects in the original law, but failed to address the law’s fatal defect--the fact that it is pre-empted by New Jersey state law and violates equal protection. It continues to leave Jersey City residents unable to defend themselves if their firearm requires repair or is stolen within four weeks of purchase. The new ordinance goes even further than the original by adding a new provision making Jersey City residents criminals if they lawfully purchase, or even apply to purchase, more than one handgun within 30 days. It further targets Jersey City’s federal firearm licensees by imposing an impossible burden of trying to ascertain whether a purchaser has, in fact, purchased or made application to purchase a handgun within the previous 30 days. The Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs (NRA’s New Jersey State affiliate) will continue to challenge the illegal ordinance in Court. Jersey City continues to be defended for free by a private law firm whose services were secured by CeaseFire New Jersey.
Also, the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs’ annual meeting banquet will be held tomorrow, Saturday, October 14, 2006, at 6:00 p.m., at the Ramada Inn Somerset, 60 Cottontail Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873. The event is being combined with a Friends of NRA dinner and auction, and will feature remarks from New Jersey's leading Second Amendment activists. The auction portion of the event will feature unique collectible merchandise, and half the proceeds will be donated back to New Jersey shooters by the NRA Foundation. Tickets are $40 (please contact John Coakley at [email protected] or (908) 812-1664).
NEW YORK
Please note that, due to a scheduling conflict, the New Hartford “Mix N’ Mingle,” which was originally scheduled for October 5, has been rescheduled for Thursday, October 19, 2006! The location remains the same -- the Holiday Inn Utica, located at 1777 Burrstone Road, New Hartford, NY 13413. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you and hope you will still be able to attend. If you are no longer able to attend, please contact us ASAP at (800) 392-8683. If you still plan to attend, you do not need to do anything, and we’ll see you on October 19.
In addition, the Shooters’ Committee on Political Education (SCOPE) will be holding its 41st Annual “SCOPE Awards Banquet,” tomorrow, Saturday, October 14, 2006. Featured speakers will include NRA Second Vice President Ron Schmeits, and several local speakers. The Banquet will be held at the Diplomat Banquet Center, 1956 Lyell Avenue (same as 1 Diplomat Way), Rochester, NY 14606, from 5:30-11:00 p.m. For tickets, reservations, and more information, please visit http://www.scopeny.org/banquet.html, or contact Ken Mathison by phone at: (585) 663-8741, or by mail at: PO Box 12711, Rochester, NY 14612. Seating is limited, so get your tickets now!
VIRGINIA
The Loudoun County Friends of NRA Committee invites you to attend its annual banquet and auction. This event includes a live auction, silent auction, games, raffles, and prize drawings. Proceeds benefit The NRA Foundation and provide funding for shooting-sports-related grants. Come out and join your fellow NRA supporters for an evening of fun while raising money for Friends of NRA. The event is scheduled for Thursday, November 9, at the Leesburg Holiday Inn-Carradoc Hall, 1500 East Market Street, in Leesburg. Tickets are limited and are on sale now, $40 per person and $70 per couple. Sponsorships are also available. For additional information or to purchase tickets, please contact Brooke Berthelsen by phone at 703-267-1354 or by e-mail at [email protected].
Also, please join the Virginia Shooting Sports Association, and guest speaker, Cam Edwards, host of NRANews.com, for its Annual Meeting and Banquet at 6:00 p.m., tomorrow, October 14. This year’s Banquet is being held at Hunter Motel and Restaurant, 8100 Loisdale Road, Newington, VA. For more information, please visit www.myvssa.org/annualmeeting1006.htm.
Finally, the Virginia Shooting Sports Association presents: “Methods of Concealed Carry with Tom Marx.” Please join us on October 28, from 8:30 a.m., to 4:30 p.m., at the Izaak Walton League of America, 14708 Mount Olive Road, Centreville, VA, for the full-day version of the program Tom has done for several years at the NRA Annual Meeting. Space is limited, and advanced registration is recommended. The cost is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. For more information and to register, please call (703) 599-9399 or visit www.myvssa.org/methodsofconcealedcarry.pdf.
