One thing we pride ourselves on in the Grassroots Division is constantly evaluating our programs and publications to ensure we are providing our volunteers with information that interests them and that they can use.
Because many of you also receive our monthly newsletter “Freedom’s Voice,” we have changed the format of that publication to provide readers with information they can put to use, that won’t be found in the Friday Grassroots Alert.
Register To Vote! With the 2007 Election season in full swing in five states (Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia), it is critical that gun owners and gun rights supporters are registered to vote in advance of respective deadlines. With the all-important 2008 campaign already well underway, you can bet the opponents of our freedom will be working this year to gain momentum. It is critical that we as gun owners are registered to vote and that we most assuredly vote on Election Day.
To assist you in registering to vote this year, NRA-ILA has a number of tools available. Please visit www.nraila.org/ActionCenter/GetInvolvedLocally/VoterInformation.aspx?st and choose your state to find out all the voter registration dates, deadlines, and requirements for this year’s elections. To print a voter registration application that you can complete and return by mail, please visit https://ssl.capwiz.com/nra/e4/nvra/?action=formhere. You may also obtain voter registration information by calling the ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683).
Let’s make sure that we in the pro-Second Amendment community do all we can in registering and voting this year.
Contribute To NRA-ILA and Receive Discounted Theme Park Tickets Thanks to the generosity of Anheuser-Busch, NRA-ILA has the opportunity to make available a limited number of single-day passes to one of the Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks in the United States. These passes are valid through April 2008, and are good for a one-day adult or child admission into SeaWorld Orlando, San Antonio or San Diego; Busch Gardens or Adventure Island in Tampa Bay; or Busch Gardens or Water Country USA in Williamsburg.
To make a contribution and get your tickets, please visit https://secure.nraila.org/buschgardens.aspx.
(Contributions to NRA-ILA are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for Federal Income tax purposes.)
STATE ROUNDUP (please click to see any updates on states not listed below.)
ARIZONA: Anti-Shooting Activists Meet in Opposition to Northern Arizona Shooting Facility A group of anti-shooting activists called Citizens to Preserve Munds Park Community Values will be meeting on Saturday, August 4 at 10:00 a.m. to coordinate opposition to the planned state-of-the-art Willard Springs Shooting Range in Northern Arizona. As you may know, the effort to build a shooting facility in Northern Arizona has been a long and difficult process that has spanned more than a decade. Please attend this meeting and have your voice heard! Tell the opposition that noise testing has been completed by the state and there is no shooting noise that will enter Munds Park. Tell them that recreational opportunities will be enhanced, not diminished, and that the shooting sports are synonymous with true Arizona "community values." The meeting will be held Saturday, August 4 at 10:00 a.m. at the Munds Park RV Resort Banquet Hall, 17550 Munds Ranch Road, Munds Park, AZ
CALIFORNIA: Update on Pending California Firearm Legislation The California legislature is on break until Monday, August 20. Please contact your State Senator and respectfully urge him or her to oppose AB1471, AB334, and AB821. Contact information for your State Senator can be found by clicking here.
COLORADO: Hunting and Recreational Shooting Restrictions Proposed on BLM Land! Once again, hunting and recreational shooting is being targeted by the Bureau of Land Management, now in south central Colorado near Salida. If you hunt, target shoot, use motorized vehicles, hike and/or camp on these public lands, the proposal will affect you. It is important that BLM hear from you. The management plan and information on how to submit comments can be found at: http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/rgfo/travel_mgmt/arkansas_river_travel0.html. The deadline to submit comments is Friday, August 3.
MICHIGAN: “No-Net-Loss” Legislation Could Be Headed to Senate Floor Anytime! House Bill 4597, “No-Net-Loss” legislation, is heading to the Senate floor for consideration. This bill will protect Michigan’s valuable hunting tradition by ensuring that today's total acreage of public hunting lands is not reduced. Please contact your State Senator at (517) 373-2400 and respectfully urge him or her to pass HB4597 to protect Michigan’s hunting heritage.
MISSISSIPPI: Tuesday, August 7 is Primary Election Day in Mississippi! If you have questions about candidates grades and endorsements, please call our Grassroots Division at 800-392-8683 or visit www.NRAPVF.org. Be sure to “Vote Freedom First” on Tuesday, August 7! For more information about voting in Mississippi, please visit: http://www.sos.state.ms.us/elections/2007/index.asp
MISSOURI: Missouri’s “Hunting Heritage Protection Act” Being Undermined! On July 3, 2007 Governor Blunt signed Senate Bill 225 into law. Now, NRA members are anxiously awaiting the enactment date on August 28. Since passage in the closing days of Missouri’s regular session, the Missouri Municipal League (MML) has undermined NRA members' hard work on SB 225, by urging all cities that do not currently have restrictions on hunting and the discharge of firearms to enact such an ordinance prior to the effective date of Senate Bill 225, the “Hunting Heritage Protection Areas Act.” Now, the MML is trying to influence your local Park District board to pass restrictions on SB 225! Please be sure to monitor your city government and Park District meeting and agenda announcements and alert NRA-ILA of any proposal that seeks to restrict hunting and sport shooting. Please forward any information to Kris Koenen at [email protected] or (703) 267-1209.
NEW JERSEY: Bill to Reorganize Fish & Game Council Heads to Assembly Floor! A3275, a bill that seeks to drastically change the membership of the Fish & Game Council from six sportsmen and three farmers who represent various geographical regions of the state to seven political appointees recommended by the Governor, is now heading to the full Assembly. The bill passed the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee by a 5-2 vote on Thursday, June 14. Animal “rights” extremists testifying in support of A3275 derided hunting as a “15th century” means to wildlife management and touted this legislation as a “21st century” tool for wildlife management. They also expressed their desire to rid the Fish & Game Council of anyone with a “hunter driven background.” Please contact your State Assembly member at (800) 792-8630 and respectfully urge him or her to vigorously oppose this anti-hunting legislation. To identify your Assembly member, please click here.
NORTH CAROLINA: Bill Allowing Judges to Carry Concealed Heads to Senate Floor! House Bill 573 would allow judges who have valid North Carolina concealed carry permits the ability to lawfully carry a firearm for personal protection in courthouses. HB573 passed the Senate Judiciary II Committee on Friday, July 27. It now heads to the full Senate for consideration. Please contact your State Senator today at (803) 212-6200 and respectfully urge him or her to support this legislation.
Anti-Gun Database Bill Still Alive! On Friday, July 27, the Senate Judiciary II Committee decided not to hear House Bill 1287. However, the bill is still alive as the Committee will still be in session through the weekend. This bill would create a new statewide database to which sheriffs would report all individuals who have been denied a permit to purchase a handgun. Please continue contacting the Senate Judiciary II Committee and respectfully urge them to oppose HB1287. Contact information for the Committee can be found by clicking here.
