NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE YOURSELF HEARD AT TOWN HALL MEETINGS!
Congress will start its Summer District Work Period next week, returning after Labor Day. During this time, your Senators and Representative will be back home in their states and districts.
Many lawmakers use this time to hold town hall meetings, and take questions from their constituents. These meetings offer a tremendous opportunity for you to personally voice your strong support for the Second Amendment.
Please contact your lawmakers’ district offices and ask when they plan to hold their town hall meetings during the break. If you do not know the number for your lawmakers’ district offices, you can use the “Write Your Representatives” tool at www.NRAILA.org, or call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-8683.
eBay Expands Its Anti-Gun Policy: Years ago, eBay banned the sale of all complete firearms on its online auction and shopping website. However, they did continue to allow the sale of parts and many accessories. This week, a spokesman for eBay announced that the company would ban the sale of all gun-and-ammunition-related parts and components.
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.
A very limited number of tickets remain available. To make a contribution and get your tickets, please call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-8683.
(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 this 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.
Governor Signs AB854 Into Law! Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (D) signed Assembly Bill 854 into law on Monday, July 30. AB854 will create a system that will allow temporary transfer of firearms to writers and consultants for the purpose of testing and evaluation. A special thanks to all NRA members who called and voiced their support in favor of this legislation.
MAINE: Session Ends With Two Pro-Gun Measures Enacted Into Law Governor John Baldacci (D) signed two important pro-gun bills into law. Championed by State Representative Rich Cebra (R-101), LD148 would direct the Commissioner of Public Safety to work in cooperation with the Attorney General to conduct a comprehensive review of other states’ concealed weapon laws for the purpose of identifying and seeking other states with which Maine may enter into a concealed weapon reciprocity agreement. Also sponsored by Representative Cebra, LD1156 will amend the Maine Criminal Code to protect individuals from civil prosecution if the degree of force was justified.
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 candidate’s 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 effective 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 ordinances prior to the effective date of Senate Bill 225, the “Hunting Heritage Protection Areas Act.” Now, the MML is also trying to influence your local Park District board to undermine 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: Public Hearing on Black Bear Situation The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will host a public hearing at the State Museum at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 8 to discuss the preservation and management goals for the black bear population in New Jersey. This will be the only opportunity to make it known that New Jersey hunters want the bear hunting season restored. Showing complete disregard for public safety and proven game management practices, Environmental Commissioner Lisa Jackson made the decision to block last year’s bear hunt, and she has already submitted her non-lethal management plan to the DEP to permanently end bear hunting in New Jersey. Please make plans to attend this public comment meeting hosted by the DEP to make your voice heard on bringing back bear hunting to the Garden State.
NORTH CAROLINA: Victory for North Carolina Gun Owners as Assembly Recesses The North Carolina General Assembly will close out the session this week and law-abiding gun owners won several key victories over the anti-gun community. House Bill 1287, while still alive, remains locked up in the Senate Judiciary II Committee. This bill seeks to create a new statewide database to which sheriffs would report all individuals who have been denied a permit to purchase a handgun. Also stopped was House Bill 1847, which would have required law-abiding gun owners to report the loss or theft of a firearm to police or face criminal prosecution. This bill was soundly defeated on the House floor. Finally, the North Carolina Senate passed HB 573 on Wednesday, August 1, by a 41-7 vote, and the bill is now in the hands of Governor Mike Easley (D). This bill would allow judges with a valid North Carolina concealed carry permit to lawfully carry a firearm for personal protection in courthouses. Our thanks to all who helped with these efforts by contacting their elected officials!
TEXAS: Renowned economist and author John Lott (More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun-Control Laws and The Bias Against Guns: Why Almost Everything You’ve Heard About Gun Control is Wrong) will be doing a book signing on Wednesday, August 8, from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m., at the Galleria Barnes and Noble in Houston. The store is located at 5000 Westheimer Road, Suite 100, in Houston. Be sure to bring your Second Amendment books to be autographed!
VIRGINIA: Goochland County Considering Restrictions on Recreational Shooting! The Goochland County Board of Supervisors will be holding a public hearing on Tuesday, August 7 at 7:00 p.m. to consider a change to the county’s zoning ordinance regarding areas designated Agricultural General A-1. The proposed change would directly and negatively impact recreational shooting ranges as every range would have to be approved as "Conditional Use," and thus require a "Special Permit." Please plan on attending Tuesday's public hearing and be sure to encourage the Board of Supervisors to protect your Second Amendment rights and recreational shooting activities by rejecting the proposed changes to the county zoning ordinance. Click here for contact information for the Board of Supervisors.
