States with updates this issue: Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN'S CAUCUS
LEADERSHIP NAMED FOR THE 110TH CONGRESS
Sportsmen's issues Will Continue To Transcend Party Lines
The 110th Congress, under Democratic leadership for the first time in 12 years, officially opened yesterday. On this same day, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus anointed new, bi-partisan leadership to serve as the stewards of sportsmen’s issues during the two-year session.
Serving as Co-Chairs in the Senate will be Senators Max Baucus (D-Mont.), and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). The House Co-Chairs will be Representatives Ron Kind (D-Wis.) and Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). The Caucus Vice-Chairs will be Senators Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), along with Representatives Dan Boren (D-Okla.) and Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) in the House.
“Sportsmen and the industries that serve them owe a debt of gratitude to the leaders of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus. They work overtime to make sure sportsmen and the issues that affect us are protected in the halls of Congress,” said Jeff Crane, President of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. “The Sportsmen’s Caucus has always been effective in working together--not as Republican and Democrat, but as sportsmen and women. As a result, they have had a tremendous impact on conservation policy.
The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation also acknowledges the success and dedication of the outgoing leadership from the 109th Congress. Under their direction, the sportsmen’s community witnessed several major victories. Most notable for NRA members, hunters, and other gun owners was passage of the landmark bill S.397, “The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act,” and a prohibition on confiscating lawfully-owned firearms during states of emergency.
FOREST SERVICE PLAN NEEDS CRUCIAL INPUT FROM SPORTSMEN
The Pike and San Isabel National Forests in Colorado are developing a management plan to shape the kinds of uses allowed on these Forests for the next 15 years. Seven public meetings are scheduled in January and February to give the public an opportunity to state how they want the Forests to be managed. The last time the management plan was updated was in 1984, so it is likely that the new plan will incorporate some significant changes. It is vital that sportsmen and women participate in the process to ensure access and opportunities for hunting and recreational shooting.
In its announcement, the Forest Service said that the principal issues will be recreation, ranching, oil and gas development, logging, forest thinning, and off-road vehicle use. The meetings will be from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m., in the following locations:
January 17 - Leadville, National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum, 120 West 9th Street
January 18 - Salida, Chaffee County Fairgrounds, 10165 County Road 120
January 30 - Denver, Clements Community Center, 1580 Yarrow Street
January 31 - Colorado Springs, La Foret Conference Center, 6145 Shoup Road
February 14 -Westcliffe, Ranchera's Roost Cafe & Bowling Alley, 25 Main Street
February 15 - Pueblo, El Pueblo Museum, 302 N. Santa Fe Avenue
February 21 - Fairplay, Fairplay Fairbarn, 880 Bogue Street
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. As always, thank you for your support.***)
States with updates this issue: Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
ILLINOIS
The 95th Illinois General Assembly begins session next week, and we can expect another busy year of defending our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. While last November's elections were an overall success, anti-gun Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) was reelected, along with many legislators who have long anti-gun records, so we anticipate a renewed assault on the Second Amendment in Springfield. On Wednesday, January 3, one of the most ardent supporters of the gun ban crusade in Illinois, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley (D), revealed his anti-gun fervor has not waned one iota in 17 years. Daley’s proposals this week include a ban on countless semi-automatic handguns, rifles, and shotguns, as well as .50 caliber rifles. In addition, the mayor, along with anti-gun state Representative Edward Acevedo (D-2) and state Senator John Cullerton (D-6), proposed new restrictions on the private transfer of handguns between law-abiding citizens; expanding the current mandatory storage law, thus making it more difficult for law-abiding gun owners to use a firearm for personal protection in the home; creating a new state-based licensing bureaucracy for firearm dealers, in addition to the current federal system; and limiting the number of handguns a law-abiding citizen may purchase. According to a recent Associated Press article, Sen. Cullerton claimed, “There’s been a change in attitudes down in Springfield,” apparently alluding to modest gains made by Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly in November. Cullerton seems to forget, however, that numerous lawmakers, including many from his own party, do not share his opposition to the Second Amendment. That said, the Illinois pro-Second Amendment community should be prepared for a more heated battle than we have seen in several years. With many new faces in the legislature, some of whom have been reluctant to elaborate on their views on firearms, it is critical that NRA members, gun owners, hunters, and sportsmen renew their efforts to contact their elected officials and urge them to oppose any attacks on our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Please take the time to contact your state senator and representative and urge him or her to stand up for your rights and protect the Second Amendment.
MICHIGAN
On Thursday, December 28, Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) signed the “Emergency Powers Protection Act.” Consisting of HB6363 and HB6364, the legislation sponsored by State Representative Scott Hummel (R-93) will establish new laws preventing local governments from confiscating lawfully-owned firearms during a declared state of emergency, as we witnessed in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. The bills passed overwhelmingly in the State Senate, 37-1, and unanimously in the State House, 105-0. Please contact Governor Granholm today by phone at (517) 373-3400, (517) 335-7858; by fax at (517) 335-6863; or e-mail at http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-21992_21995-65331--,00.html and thank her for protecting our Second Amendment rights by signing HB6363 and HB6364. A special thank you to all NRA members for your calls and e-mails in support of HB6363 and HB6364 during the legislative session!
MISSOURI
Representative Kenny Jones (R-117) has introduced House Bill 189, Missouri’s “Castle Doctrine.” This legislation will ensure that law-abiding Missourians will not have a duty to retreat from a violent attacker, and may stand their ground and meet force with force. As a former Sheriff, Representative Jones understands the critical importance of a citizen’s right to self-defense, and HB189 will be a major step forward in protecting that right. Please contact your State Representative at (573) 751-0940 and urge him or her to protect your right to self-defense by supporting HB189, Missouri’s “Castle Doctrine.”
PENNSYLVANIA & VIRGINIA
Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett (R) has announced that a reciprocal agreement was reached allowing valid Pennsylvania Right-to-Carry licensees to carry within Virginia and Pennsylvania. All license holders will be required to follow state laws, including age restrictions and type of handguns permitted. For a complete list of reciprocal states and state licenses that are honored by Pennsylvania, please visit: www.attorneygeneral.gov/crime.aspx?id=184.
