SENATE VERSION OF
D.C. PERSONAL PROTECTION ACT INTRODUCED!
This week, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.) introduced S. 1001, the Senate version of the “District of Columbia Personal Protection Act,” with 41 original cosponsors! Like its House counterpart --H.R. 1399, introduced on March 8, by U.S. Representatives Mike Ross (D-Ark.) and Mark Souder (R-Ind.)-- the Senate legislation seeks to restore the constitutionally-guaranteed Second Amendment rights of the residents of the District of Columbia by repealing the District’s onerous gun ban.
THE $500 MILLION MAN? The political rumor mill is buzzing with speculation that anti-gun New York City Michael Bloomberg could launch a self-financed, third party bid for the presidency, spending up to a half billion dollars from his personal fortune.
MORE THAN 200 REGISTERED -- WILL YOU BE THERE? The NRA-ILA Grassroots Division will host its FREEGrassroots Workshop on April 13, in conjunction with NRA’s Annual Meetings in St. Louis. (Please click title link above for more information or to register.)
SECOND GRASSROOTS EVENT PLANNED FOR ST. LOUIS: In addition to the FREEGrassroots Workshop being held in conjunction with NRA’s Annual Meetings in St. Louis, the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division is holding an additional FREE event in St. Louis.
UPDATE ON THE PROPOSED CLOSING OF PUBLIC LANDS TO SHOOTING AND HUNTING! Federal agencies have proposed closing hundreds of thousands of acres of public land to recreational shooting and hunting in Arizona, Florida, and Nevada! It is critical that gun owners and sportsmen attend any upcoming public meetings and let their voices be heard!
BLM PROPOSES BANNING RECREATIONAL SHOOTING ON ARIZONA PUBLIC LANDS -- IRONWOOD FOREST NATIONAL MONUMENT! The BLM will be holding a series of public meetings to discuss banning recreational shooting on the Ironwood Forest National Monument. It is critical that gun owners attend those meetings!
HUNTING PROGRAM ON FLORIDA REFUGE IN JEOPARDY! A draft Waterfowl Hunting Plan and Environmental Assessment for Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge (www.fws.gov/southeast/TenThousandIsland/) (NWR) in Collier County, Fla. would ban waterfowl hunting on the refuge. The plan describes two alternatives for hunting on the refuge: (1) the proposed action alternative would open a waterfowl-hunting program, and (2) the “no action” would close the refuge to waterfowl hunting. Currently, waterfowl hunting is allowed on the refuge.
SHOOTING CLOSURE EXPECTED ON BLM LANDS OUTSIDE LAS VEGAS! The Bureau of Land Management has announced its intent to close certain areas within Nye County, Nev., to recreational target shooting. BLM is citing rapid increases in population and growth of Pahrump, Nev., as the reason for closing the area to target shooting.
STATE ROUNDUP(please click to see any updates on states not listed below.)
ARIZONA: Nomination of Jennifer Martin to Arizona Game and Fish Commissioner Heads to State Senate On Wednesday, March 28, the Senate Natural Resources and Rural Affairs Committee voted 6-0 to send Jennifer Martin’s nomination to the full Senate. Please contact your State Senator and ask him or her to support Jennifer Martin’s nomination by either calling the Senate Info Desk at (602) 926-3559 or visit http://www.azleg.gov/ for a full Senate roster with direct contact information.
BLM Proposes Banning Recreational Shooting on Arizona Public Lands -- Ironwood Forest National Monument: The 128,000-acre Ironwood Forest National Monument is under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and is generally opened to dispersed recreational shooting. A management plan just released for public review and comment is likely to change that if BLM's preferred management alternative (Alternative C) is adopted. Alternative C would close the Monument to recreational shooting. Hunting would continue to be allowed for the time being. BLM has scheduled five public meetings to present its plan to the public and allow for comment and discussions. Please attend the public meetings or contact the BLM and make your voice heard.
COLORADO: Attack on Right-to-Carry Heads to Governors Desk! Senate Bill 34, sponsored by State Senator John Morse (D-11), passed the House and is on its way to the desk of Governor Bill Ritter (D). If enacted, out of state concealed carry permits will no longer be honored if the permit holder is not a resident of the state that issued the permit. For example, a Florida permit issued to a non-resident will not be recognized in Colorado. Please contact Governor Ritter TODAY at (303) 866-2471 or email [email protected]and respectfully urge him to veto SB34.
DELAWARE: Saturday, April 14 is Special Election Day in Delaware! A Special Election to fill the seat recently vacated by former House Majority Leader Wayne Smith (R-Brandywine Hundred North) has been set for Saturday, April 14, 2007. Smith had been Majority Leader since 1996, and a House member since 1990. This will be an important race for Delaware gun owners. Remember to vote “Freedom First”" on election day!
FLORIDA: The Florida Senate Criminal Justice Committee Passes Important Pro-Second Amendment Legislation! Senate Bill 2356, the “Individual Personal Private Property Protection Act of 2007,” passed the Senate Criminal Justice Committee by an overwhelming vote of 7 to 1 on Tuesday, March 27. SB 2356 would protect employees and customers from having their private vehicles searched, and protects against punitive action by anti-gun business owners who would deny your right to have a firearm in your car for protection, or other lawful purposes, when you park in a business parking lot. Please be sure to email or call members of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee and thank them for protecting your rights.
GEORGIA: STATEMENT FROM NRA CHIEF LOBBYIST CHRIS W. COX ON SB 43 “Georgia State Senate leaders opted not to give SB 43 a fair vote on Wednesday, March 28. The National Rifle Association is disappointed in their decision. The NRA believes we had sufficient bi-partisan support to pass this common sense, pro-employee and pro-self defense bill. The facts surrounding this legislation were polluted by half-truths and bold-faced lies by opponents during the 11th hour. The NRA was forced to engage in an assertive, fact based campaign to counter these falsehoods. While we are concerned that some referred to our effort to defend the merits of SB 43 as heavy handed, we are unrepentant as our objective was to counter a blatant campaign of misinformation.”
KENTUCKY: Kentucky Legislature Strengthens State Firearms Law! House Bill 469, sponsored by Representative Robert Damron (D-39), would clarify that Kentucky residents may purchase firearms in contiguous states or otherwise acquire firearms anywhere it is legal to do so under federal and state law; specify that out-of-state residents may purchase or otherwise acquire firearms in Kentucky if the purchase is legal under federal and state law; specify that persons who are legal residents of the United States may purchase or otherwise acquire firearms in Kentucky if the purchase is legal under federal and state law. The bill passed the State House by a vote of 93 to 3 and is now in its way to the desk of Governor Ernie Fletcher (R) for his consideration.
LOUISIANA: Join Sen. David Vitter, Rep. Bobby Jindal, NRA EVP Wayne LaPierre,and NRA-ILA Exec. Dir. Chris W. Cox in Louisiana to Discuss Landmark Legislation On Wednesday, April 4, 2007, please join NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox, Representative Bobby Jindal (LA-1) and U.S. Senator David Vitter (LA) for a series of press conference around the state to discuss the passage of landmark legislation protecting our Second Amendment rights.
NEVADA: Important Second Amendment Bills Moving Through Nevada Legislature! SB 237, introduced by Senators Warren Hardy (R-12) and John Lee (D-1) and AB 268, introduced by Assemblymembers James Settlemeyer (R-39) and Francis Allen (R-4) the companion CCW reciprocity bills, are still awaiting a vote in their respective Judiciary Committees. With an April 13 policy committee vote deadline, it is imperative that NRA members contact their legislators and ask that they support these important bills. You can find the text of these bills, as well as contact information for your legislators at http://www.leg.state.nv.us/.
NRA Comments Regarding Proposed Closure To Target Shooting In Nye County, Nevada In an effort to protect the Second Amendment rights of Nevada’s target shooters, NRA asked that a response letter be entered into the public comment record regarding the proposed closure to target shooting on certain lands in Nye County, Nevada as announced in the Federal Register dated March 2, 2007.
NORTH DAKOTA: North Dakota “Castle Doctrine” Self-Defense Bill Making Progress! House Bill 1319, critical “Castle Doctrine” self-defense legislation sponsored by State Representative Todd Porter (R-34), passed the State Senate on Friday, March 23 by a margin of 44-2 but still requires House approval. The "Castle Doctrine" self-defense bill simply states that if a criminal breaks into your home, your occupied vehicle or your place of business, you do not have a “duty to retreat.” The bill also provides protection from criminal prosecution and civil litigation to those who defend themselves from criminal attack. Please contact your State Representative at 1-888-NDLEGIS (635-3447) or 701-328-3373 (local) and respectfully urge them to support HB1319.
North Dakota Pro-Hunting Bill Moving Forward! House Bill 1149, authored by State Representative Donald Dietrich (R-42), is headed to the Senate. The House of Representatives passed the bill 80-9 with the age minimum on deer hunting set at 12. The Senate Natural Resources Committee amended the bill to raise the minimum age to 13. Please contact your State Senator at 1-888-NDLEGIS (635-3447) or 701-328-3373 (local) and respectfully urge them to support HB1149.
PENNSYLVANIA: Pennsylvania House Committee Schedules Statewide Hearings on “Gun Violence!” The House Judiciary Committee, Chaired by Tom Caltagirone (D-Berks) has scheduled statewide hearings on gun-related crime. This will be an opportunity for gun owners in Pennsylvania to express their concerns regarding the many recent anti-gun proposals introduced in the House of Representatives, including “one-gun-a-month” schemes and semi-automatic firearm bans. If you are unable to attend these hearings, please call your State Representative at (717) 787-2372 and urge him or her to oppose these attacks on your Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
Governor Rendell Pleads for Gun Control Measures at Pennsylvania Press Club Luncheon During his address at the Pennsylvania Press Club on Monday, March 26, Governor Ed Rendell (D) called for additional restrictions on our Second Amendment freedoms. Governor Rendell criticized lawmakers for supporting law-abiding gun owners’ Right to Keep and Bear Arms, claiming, "No one who is sane and rational would vote against one handgun a month.” Please contact the Governor at (717) 787-2500, your State Senator at (717) 787-5920, and your State Representative at (717) 787-2372 and respectfully urge them to oppose any gun control measures.
Pennsylvania Right to Keep and Bear Arms Press Conference Scheduled! Pennsylvania grassroots sportsmen's organizations have scheduled a Second Amendment Press Conference for Tuesday, April 24 in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg. This event will give Pennsylvania gun owners the opportunity to speak out against recently introduced anti-gun bills which include “one-gun-a-month” schemes and semi-auto bans.
TENNESSEE: Tennessee Emergency Powers Legislation Unanimously Passes out of the State Senate! On Wednesday, March 28, Senate Bill 1597, sponsored by State Senator Mark Norris (R-32), passed the Senate by a 32-0 vote. Its companion bill, House Bill 1285, sponsored by State Representative Chris Crider (R-79) is currently in the House Judiciary Criminal Practice and Procedure subcommittee and is scheduled for a vote Wednesday, April 4. Please contact your State Representative today at 1-800-449-8366 and ask him or her to protect our Second Amendments rights and vote “YES” on HB 1285.
TEXAS: Texas Governor Signs Critical Self-Defense Reform Bill! On Tuesday, March 27, Governor Rick Perry (R) signed Senate Bill 378, NRA-supported “Castle Doctrine” legislation. Governor Perry’s signature made Texas the first state to adopt “Castle Doctrine” legislation in 2007! SB 378 will protect individuals who use force to defend themselves in their home, car and place of business or employment from criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits. It also states that you have no “duty to retreat” from an attack if you are in a place where you have a legal right to be, if you did not provoke your attacker, and if you are not engaged in criminal activity yourself.
Update on Texas Workers Protection Legislation! Three NRA-supported bills are moving through the Texas legislature: House Bill 220, sponsored by State Representative Phil King (R-61), House Bill 992, sponsored by State Representative Patrick Rose (D-45) and Senate Bill 534 sponsored by State Senator Glenn Hegar (R-18). Both HB220 and HB992 are currently in the Calendars Committee. SB534 passed unanimously in the Senate on Thursday, March 29 and now heads to the House for consideration. All three bills would allow Concealed Handgun Licensees to transport and store handguns in their locked, private motor vehicles while parked on their employer’s property. HB992 and SB534 also provide employers with protection from civil liability for the unforeseeable acts of criminals. Unfortunately, some in the business community are opposing these bills. Please contact your State Representative and respectfully urge him or her to support HB220, HB992, and SB534. Contact information for your State Representative can be found at http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/welcome.php.
On Tuesday, April 3, ILA Grassroots Director Glen Caroline will debate Peter Hamm of the Brady Center on the issue of gun control. The debate starts at 7:00 p.m., and will be held in Hughes Trigg Theater (basement level of the Hughes Trigg Student Center), on the campus of SMU in Dallas. Admission is free. Please make plans to attend and encourage your family, friends, and firearm owners to do the same!
VERMONT: Vermont’s Bill to Ban Lead Ammunition Appears To Have Been “Hung On The Wall!” Due to the overwhelming and exceptional actions of Vermont’s gun owners and sportsmen, H. 352 appears to be dead for the 2007 legislative session. H. 352 is being disguised as a “help the children lead ban” bill to remove lead hazards from homes and businesses. Unfortunately, H. 352 is too broad and leaves interpretation open for municipalities to ban the manufacture, sale, and possession of lead ammunition.
