Rapid Fire Mis-Reporting: This week’s outrage comes from an Associated Press article (http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/14941809/detail.html), specifically a quote by Miami Police spokesman Will Moreno.
Legislation To Improve & Modernize BATFE Is Introduced: As we recently reported, two bills considered in the last Congress as H.R. 5005 & H.R. 5092 have been combined, improved, and re-introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives as H.R. 4900—the “Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2007.” H.R. 4900 is cosponsored by Representatives Steve King (R-Iowa) and Zack Space (D-Ohio).
STATE ROUNDUP (please click to see any updates on states not listed below.)
The 2008 legislative session has started and most states will be coming back into session any day. Please keep checking your e-mail and www.NRAILA.org for any updates.
COLORADO: BLM Plans to Close Canyons of the Ancients to Recreational Shooting: The Bureau of Land Management has released a draft management plan for the 164,000-acre Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in southwest Colorado. All four management alternatives would close the entire Monument to recreational shooting. The BLM cites vandalism of cultural and natural resources and visitor safety as the reasons for closure. For more information about the plan, please go to http://www.blm.gov/rmp/canm/. Comments from the public are being accepted until January 25, 2008. It is critical that gun owners and sportsmen take an active role in this process!
ILLINOIS: Gun Rights Under Assault in Cook County! Cook County is currently considering two anti-gun proposals that must be defeated! First, the Safe Streets/Weapons Registration Ordinance requires the registration of all firearms and firearm owners in the county. As written, it is an outright gun ban and prohibits the transport of a firearm in your vehicle unless the firearm is "broken down in a nonfunctioning state." The other proposed ordinance would amend the county's "Deadly Weapon Dealers Ordinance" to completely ban all gun shows within the county, and prohibits federally licensed dealers from operating within 10 miles one another. Please contact the Cook County Board of Commissioners today and respectfully urge them to oppose these ordinances. Contact information for the Board can be found by clicking here.
INDIANA: Several Pro-Gun Bills Proposed in Indiana Legislature! The Indiana General Assembly will reconvene on Tuesday, January 8. Several pro-gun measures have already been filed and sent to their respective committees. State Senator and NRA Board Member Johnny Nugent (R-43) has introduced Senate Bill 65 and Senate Bill 66. SB65 provides that any person possessing a valid Indiana concealed carry permit may not be prohibited from possessing a handgun on land or in buildings or structures owned or operated by the state of a political subdivision of the state. SB66 will ensure that law-abiding firearm owners may store lawfully possessed firearms in locked vehicles at their place of employment. In the House, State Representatives Eric Koch (R-65) and Dave Cheatham (D-69) have authored House Bill 1043, legislation that will ensure the protection of your Second Amendment freedoms during a state of emergency or disaster in the Hoosier State. Please contact your State Senator at (317) 232-9400 and your State Representative at (317) 232-9600 to respectfully urge them to vote for these important pieces of legislation.
NEW YORK: NRA-ILA to Push Pro-Hunting Package in Albany! Gun owners, hunters, and sportsmen can expect a big push from NRA and our state affiliate, the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, for a package of measures designed to increase opportunities for hunters and shooters and to protect our hunting heritage. Our efforts will include "No-Net-Loss" legislation, seeking to stem the loss of access to public hunting lands, as well as proposals to lower the age requirement for big game hunting and to create a hunting mentor program. It’s important that Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis hear from you. Despite a thirty-year record of opposing gun owners’ and hunters’ rights, Commissioner Pete Grannis has recently been representing himself as a friend to New York’s hunters and sportsmen. However, it remains to be seen whether Commissioner Grannis’ newfound “respect” for our Right to Keep and Bear Arms and hunting heritage is a legitimate change of heart. Please contact Commissioner Grannis at (518) 402-8545 and urge him to call on his former colleagues in the Democrat-led Assembly to pass this important package of reforms. Nothing short of full cooperation between Governor Eliot Spitzer (D), Commissioner Grannis, and Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-64) will allow the long-standing impasse on pro-hunting proposals to end. Help us ensure that Commissioner Grannis puts his words into action!
VIRGINIA: 2008 Virginia General Assembly Opens with Attacks on Preemption! When the 2008 Virginia General Assembly convenes on Wednesday, January 9, we expect numerous pro-gun bills to be considered. However, two bills have officially been filed that seek to dismantle Virginia’s firearms-preemption statutes establishing uniform laws throughout the Commonwealth. State Senator Mamie Locke (D-2) has sponsored Senate Bill 32 and Senate Bill 33. SB32 seeks to allow localities to ban the possession of firearms in libraries. SB33 would allow localities to ban the possession of firearms at outdoor theatres, fairs and carnivals at which 500 or more people are present. Not only will these bills gut preemption, but they also will take away your right to self-defense. Please be sure to contact your State Senator at (804) 698-7410 and your State Delegate at (804) 698-1500 to respectfully urge them to defend Virginia’s commonsense preemption statutes and your right to self-defense by opposing SB32 and SB33!
