PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ADDRESS NRA CELEBRATION OF AMERICAN VALUES
On September 21, the NRA held its first “Celebration of American Values” conference, providing NRA members the opportunity to hear some of our nation’s most important leaders address Second Amendment issues. Hundreds attended and the event was broadcast nationally by C-SPAN. The most anticipated speakers, however, were a number of 2008 Presidential candidates.
The two-day conference, held in downtown Washington, D.C., included speeches by leading Republican Presidential candidates: Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.), Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-Ark.), and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, a candidate for the Democrat nomination, provided videotaped remarks, as did GOP candidates Governor Mitt Romney (R-Mass.) and U.S. Representatives Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) and Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.).
Statement By NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox, Regarding American Airlines’ Decision To Ban Firearms On Flights To Europe And Asia: “The National Rifle Association has been working with American Airlines to change a recently implemented airline policy that would no longer allow the transportation of civilian firearms in checked luggage to Europe and Asia on all American Airlines flights. This policy was effective for tickets purchased on or after September 24, 2007.
Big Spenders--Hunters and Anglers Have Huge Impact On Economy:A recent report by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) found that the country’s 34 million hunters and anglers are among the largest contributors to the U.S. Economy. If America’s sportsmen and women were a company, they would rank in the top 20 of The Fortune 500. The report noted that with estimated annual spending in excess of $76 billion, America’s hunters and anglers spend more each year than the revenues of high-tech giants Microsoft, Google, eBay, and Yahoo combined! Also noted in the report was the fact that these sportsmen and women directly support 1.6 million jobs¾twice as many jobs as the combined civilian payrolls of the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps.
National Gathering Of Conservatives To Feature NRA Grassroots Seminar: Conservatives from around the country will convene in Reno, NV, October 11-13, for the 2007 "Conservative Leadership Conference" (CLC). In addition to the numerous training seminars and political discussions featuring some of the nation's most prominent political figures and movement leaders, NRA-ILA Grassroots Director Glen Caroline will be conducting a seminar titled: "Grassroots Lobbying: Turning Up The Heat." For more information on CLC '07 and to register, please visit http://www.clc07.com/.
Register To Vote For THIS YEAR'S Elections! 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 register to vote in advance of state deadlines.
To assist you in registering to vote this year, NRA-ILA has a number of tools available. Please click here: 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. Click here: https://ssl.capwiz.com/nra/e4/nvra/?action=formhere to print a voter registration application that you can complete and return by mail, please. 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 to vote and voting this year!
STATE ROUNDUP (please click to see any updates on states not listed below.)
CALIFORNIA: Lead Ammunition Ban Sent to Governor’s Desk! On Thursday, September 6, the Assembly passed Assembly Bill 821, which would ban the use of lead ammunition for hunting in areas occupied by California condors. The bill is now on its way to the desk of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) for his consideration. This ban would have disastrous repercussions for California’s rich hunting tradition. Please contact Governor Schwarzenegger and respectfully urge him to protect hunting across the Golden State by vetoing AB 821. Governor Schwarzenegger can be reached by phone at (916) 445-2841, fax at (916) 445-4633, or visit http://gov.ca.gov/interact#email to send him an e-mail.
Microstamping Legislation Heads to Governor’s Desk! The California Assembly voted 43-29 to pass Assembly Bill 1471 on Monday, September 10. The bill now moves to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R) desk for his consideration. This legislation requires that after a certain date, the make, model, and serial number of the firearm be microstamped onto the interior surface or internal working parts of all new handguns in such a manner that those identifiers are imprinted onto the cartridge case upon firing. Under AB1471, the manufacture, sale, and transfer of new handguns that do not include their identifying information would be a crime. Please contact the Governor and respectfully urge him to veto AB1471. Governor Schwarzenegger can be reached by phone at (916) 445-2841, fax at (916) 445-4633, or visit http://gov.ca.gov/interact#email to send him an e-mail.
Emergency Powers Bill Passes Senate, Heads to Governor! By a vote of 21-16, the California Senate passed Assembly Bill 1645 on Wednesday, September 5. AB1645 will protect law-abiding gun owners during a declared state of emergency from the seizure or confiscation of any lawfully carried or possessed firearm or ammunition. The bill is now on its way to the desk of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) for his consideration.
FLORIDA: Disney Readily Violates the Second Amendment In a travesty of monumental proportions, the Disney Company has not fired an employee recently arrested by the FBI on child pornography charges. However, they are more than willing to terminate law-abiding employees for exercising their Right to Keep and Bear Arms by legally having firearms unloaded, cased, and locked in their private motor vehicles while on publicly accessible company property. Earlier this year, we reported on the plight of a couple that were recently fired by Disney for possessing a firearm in their motor vehicle in a company parking lot. This is why NRA-ILA will continue to fight for worker protection laws across the country to protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans.
MARYLAND: Baltimore Mayor Considering Joining Bloomberg’s Anti-Freedom Lawsuit! According to a Wednesday, September 19 Baltimore Sun article, Baltimore’s Mayor Sheila Dixon (D) may join New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) in assaulting lawful firearm dealers. Mayor Dixon is ignoring the true source of crime in her city¾criminals¾and is instead focusing her attention on law abiding gun owners. Please contact Mayor Dixon’s office today at (410) 396-3835 or by email at [email protected] and respectfully urge her to enforce the laws on the books, prosecute criminals, and stop infringing on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.
NEW JERSEY: Future Of New Jersey Bear Hunting Season In Jeopardy On Thursday, September 27, a state Appeals court ruled against the 2005 bear management plan, which included opening a bear hunting season to help control overpopulation. The courts ruling puts the future of any bear management plan that includes hunting back into the hands of the DEP Commissioner, Lisa Jackson. Please call Commissioner Lisa Jackson and urge her to support bear hunting as a viable wildlife management tool. Contact information for Commissioner Lisa Jackson via phone: (609) 292-2885, via fax (609) 292-7695, and via mail: Lisa P. Jackson, Commissioner, 401 E. State Street, 7th Floor, East Wing, P. O. Box 402, Trenton, NJ 08625-0402.
Wildlife Heritage Festival to be Held Sunday, September 30! The 6th Annual Wildlife Heritage Festival will be held on Sunday, September 30, from 10:00 a.m., until 4:00 p.m., at the Pequest Trout Hatchery in Warren County. The event, hosted by the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife, is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the Garden State’s wildlife traditions by partaking in an exciting day of family fun. An online schedule of events can be found by visiting http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2007/wildlife_festival07-schedule.pdf. For more information, please visit http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/festival07.htm or call (908) 637-4125. For directions to the Pequest Hatchery, please visit http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/peqdirct.htm.
OHIO: Ohioans for Concealed Carry Holding Annual Party in the Park! Ohioans for Concealed Carry will be holding their annual Party in the Park family picnic on Saturday, September 29, in Liberty Park of Powell, Ohio. At 11:30 a.m., lunch will be served, with Governor Ted Strickland (D) slated to address the crowd between 12:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. Several other renowned guests will be speaking throughout the day. The event is free, but if you would like lunch and drinks, tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets are $14/person or $25/couple with up to two children eating free with each paid adult. Tickets can be purchased at the door until they run out of concessions. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.ohioccw.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3820.
PENNSYLVANIA: Hearing Scheduled for Discharge Ordinance in the Township of Upper Pottsgrove! The Board of Commissioners for the Township of Upper Pottsgrove held a vigorous debate at their Monday, September 17 meeting regarding the subject of a proposed firearms discharge ordinance. The proposed ordinance would prohibit a person from discharging a firearm within 500 feet of any dwelling and any other location the Commissioners deem appropriate. Please plan on attending the next Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday, October 1 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 1409 Farmington Ave., Pottstown, PA. If you are unable to attend, please contact the Board to respectfully urge them to oppose this threat on our Second Amendment rights. The Board of Commissioners can be reached by phone at (610) 323-8675.
Holmesburg Fish and Game Protective Association in Danger! Several months ago, the City of Philadelphia notified the Holmesburg Fish and Game Protective Association that its long time property lease would not be renewed, effective January 1, 2008. Even though a plea was made to City Councilmembers at the Association’s meeting this week, no changes have been made to approve the renewal of the property lease. Please contact Mayor John Street (D) and the members of the City Council to respectfully urge them to renew the contract of the 77-year old Holmesburg Fish and Game Protective Association. Mayor Street can be reached at (215) 686-2181. Contact information for the City Council can be found by clicking here.
WISCONSIN: Bill Seeks to Make Animal Abuse Equal to Domestic Abuse! Introduced by State Senators Fred Risser (D-26), Tim Carpenter (D-3), and Julie Lassa (D-24), Senate Bill 162 seeks to make “harm or threat of harm” to an animal a form of domestic abuse, potentially meaning the loss of one’s Second Amendment rights. SB 162 is outlandish because it not only equates animals to humans, but it does not include a definition of what “harm or threat of harm” is. Animal “rights” extremists could consider the training of hunting dogs or everyday treatment of dairy cattle to be "abuse." Please contact the members of the Senate Committee of Judiciary and Corrections and respectfully urge them to vote against SB 162 when the time comes. Contact information for the Committee can be found by clicking here.
Circuit Court Sides With Gun Owners! In a monumental step for the Right-to-Carry movement in the Badger State, the 31st Circuit Court of Milwaukee County ruled on Monday, September 24 that the Concealed Carry Weapons (CCW) statute was unconstitutional as applied to a particular defendant¾a pizza delivery driver who carried a concealed firearm after being repeatedly robbed and violently assaulted in a high crime area. This case is a perfect example of why Wisconsin needs to pass a shall-issue Right-to-Carry law.
