Louisville Grassroots Workshop Tremendous Success!
NRA Members Ready To Take Action This Election Season
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This morning, 180 staunch, pro-gun patriots attended the NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop, held in conjunction with NRA's Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Louisville, Ky. Though most attendees were home state Kentuckians, NRA members represented states from across the country. Diversity in geography notwithstanding, all were united in the singular mission of learning what more they could do in their local communities to elect pro-gun lawmakers to office this year—and they weren't disappointed! Virtually all of NRA's national officers addressed the attendees, including: NRA EVP Wayne LaPierre; NRA President John Sigler; ILA Executive Director Chris Cox; First Vice President Ron Schmeits; and Second VP David Keene. |
Speak Up Now on Guns in Parks! As we've reported over the last two weeks, the U.S. Department of the Interior has issued a proposed rule to eliminate the prohibition on Right-to-Carry in national parks and wildlife refuges. The National Rifle Association led the effort to change this policy and we are very close to winning this important battle.
However, the new rules cannot take effect until after a period of public comment. Our opponents will take advantage of this time to try to convince the Secretary of the Interior to reverse his decision. NRA members must take action now so that the anti-gunners are not allowed to sway this process.
Outrage of the Week Update - School Reconsiders Shooting Competition Ban: A North Carolina school district is backing off a decision that prevented a group of young sportsmen and women from participating in the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Hunter Education Tournament.
STATE ROUNDUP (please click to see any updates on states not listed below.)
ALABAMA: "Handgun Permit Confidentiality" Passes House! House Bill 700, "Handgun Permit Confidentiality" legislation, has already passed the House and on Tuesday, April 29, it had its second reading in the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. HB700 would restrict public access to the records of concealed handgun permit holders and prohibit their publication. It is imperative that you contact your State Senator in support of HB700 today! Your State Senator can be reached at (334) 242-7800. To identify your State Senator, or for more contact information, please click here.
ARIZONA: Pro-Gun Bill Heads to Governor's Desk! Earlier this week, the House concurred on technical amendments made to House Bill 2629. HB2629, which would clarify how and when a firearm may be displayed for defensive purposes, now heads to Governor Janet Napolitano (D) for her consideration. Please contact Governor Napolitano TODAY and urge her to sign this important bill! You can call her at (602) 542-4331 or send an email by clicking here. Also this week, House Bill 2634, which would allow for a person whose civil rights have been restored to obtain a permit to carry a concealed firearm within certain restrictions, was voted out of the Senate Rules Committee. Thank you to all NRA members who contacted the members of the committee and pushed for this bill to receive a fair hearing - your calls and emails were very effective. Please also take a moment to contact the Senate Rules Committee Chairman, State Senator Jay Tibshraeny, and thank him for moving the bill before the deadline passed. His office number is (602) 926-4481 and his email address is: [email protected] .
ARKANSAS: Arkansas Primary Elections, Tuesday, May 20! Tuesday, May 20 is Primary Election Day in Arkansas. Please be sure to go to the polls and "Vote Freedom First." For candidate ratings and endorsements, please call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) or visit www.NRAPVF.org. For more information about voting in Arkansas, please click here. Remember to Vote Freedom First on Tuesday, May 20!
CONNECTICUT: Legislature Adjourns Without Passage of Gun Bills The Connecticut Legislature adjourned Wednesday, May 7 after an unusual legislative year. Despite the fact that lawmakers were expected to hear the largest number of anti-gun bills to be considered in years, no pro-gun or anti-gun legislation was passed. Please continue to check www.NRAILA.org for updates.
DELAWARE: "Landowner Liability Protection Act" Delayed by Trial Lawyers in Committee! Last week, a scheduled vote on House Bill 341, the "Landowner Liability Protection Act," in the House Housing & Community Affairs Committee was delayed because of opposition from the Delaware Trial Lawyers Association. HB341 would ensure that landowners who allow public hunting access incur no liability for property damage or personal injuries caused by hunters -- regardless of whether the damage occurs on or off the landowner's property. If HB341 is not enacted, landowners will continue to deny access to hunters for fear of being sued. Please contact the members of the House Housing & Community Affairs Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to support this crucial piece of legislation. To find contact information for the committee members, please click here.
GEORGIA: Governor Perdue Signs Monumental Right-to-Carry Reform Bill! On Wednesday, May 14, Governor Sonny Perdue (R) signed House Bill 89 into law. This NRA supported measure makes numerous improvements to Georgia's Right-to-Carry laws and represents the most comprehensive pro-gun reform measure to pass in nearly 20 years. Thank you to all of the NRA members who answered the call in support of HB89. Your action played a pivotal role in the enactment of this much-needed legislation. Please contact the Governor TODAY and thank him for protecting our right to self-defense by signing HB89. Governor Perdue can be reached by phone at (404) 656-1776 or via email by clicking here.
IDAHO: Idaho Primary Elections, Tuesday, May 27! Tuesday, May 27 is Primary Election Day in Idaho. Please be sure to go to the polls and "Vote Freedom First." For candidate ratings and endorsements, please call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) or visit www.NRAPVF.org. For more information about voting in Idaho, please click here. Remember to Vote Freedom First on Tuesday, May 27!
ILLINOIS: Anti-Gun Bill Heads to Full Senate! On Thursday May 1, the Illinois House of Representatives passed House Bill 5191. This dangerous bill would create a new path that the anti-gun community could take in order to revoke FOID cards from gun owners with children. Your FOID card could be revoked if a minor is able to gain access to your firearm on more then one occasion, if the government has decided (with little opportunity for a challenge) that your child has met the basic criteria for a severe or major mood disorder or severe conduct disorder. Much of this revocation process can be based on allegations that may not be supported by independent judicial findings, or "documented" cases where the FOID Card holder is unable to challenge or appeal the "documentation." HB5191 will now head to the State Senate and we must let our opposition be known. Please call your State Senator and urge him or her to defeat this outrageous bill. You can find the contact information for you State Senator by clicking here.
Magazine Ban Bill Up for Consideration! The House could take up Senate Bill 1007, which would ban the manufacture, possession, delivery, sale, and purchase of standard capacity ammunition magazines capable of holding more than ten (10) cartridges. This bill is worded so broadly that it would also ban certain firearms, such as some Henry rifles, which have attached tubular magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds of ammunition. This lever-action rifle, whose design dates back to the 1860s, could be prohibited under SB 1007, making this bill far more than a magazine ban. Please contact your State Representative and respectfully urge him or her to oppose SB 1007. Contact information can be found here.
KENTUCKY: National Rifle Association Specialized License Plates! NRA has begun collecting orders for specialized NRA license plate for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Kentucky Department of Motor Vehicles is charged with producing the plates but under state law, at least 900 applications for the special NRA License Plate must be received or the plate will not be produced. This is an ideal way to show your pride in NRA and the Second Amendment! For more information, or how to order, please click here.
Kentucky Primary Elections, Tuesday, May 20! Tuesday, May 20 is Primary Election Day in the Bluegrass State. Please be sure to go to the polls and "Vote Freedom First." For candidate ratings and endorsements, please call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) or visit www.NRAPVF.org. For more information about voting in Kentucky, please click here. Remember to Vote Freedom First on Tuesday, May 20!
LOUISIANA: Gun Rights at Stake! The rights of Louisiana's law-abiding gun-owning community are at stake as legislation is being brought back up for consideration in the State House and Senate. While the Senate has yet to reconsider Senate Bill 51 ("Motorists Protection Act"), which garnered 18 YES votes (two votes shy of the majority needed to pass) in the first vote, it could still be brought back up. Please keep contacting your State Senators in Baton Rouge at 225-342-2040 and urge them to support SB 51 if it is brought up for reconsideration. Also this week, House Bill 199 was brought back to the House Calendar and could be voted on in the coming weeks. HB 199 would allow Louisiana concealed carry permit holders to protect themselves on college and university campuses and remove the state restriction on "gun-free school zones" for permittees. Please contact your State Representative in Baton Rouge at 225-342-6945 and urge him or her to support this measure. And finally House Bill 68, the "assault weapon" ban that had been pulled from its assigned committee calendar has been brought back up and will be heard in the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee on Wednesday, May 21 at 9:30 am in Committee Room 6 of the State Capitol. It is imperative that you make plans to attend this important hearing. To contact the members of the committee and voice your opposition to this attack on your rights, please click here.
MICHIGAN: Registration Reform Bill Sent to Senate Judiciary Committee! House Bill 4490 sponsored by State Representative Paul Opsommer (R-93) and House Bill 4491 introduced by State Representative Joel Sheltrown (D-103) have passed the House and have been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. A hearing date has not been scheduled yet. The bills would repeal the required "safety inspection" for newly obtained handguns. Michigan law requires anyone who comes into possession of a pistol to take it to the police or sheriff's department for a safety inspection. The requirement of a safety inspection is a burdensome waste of time for law-abiding gun owners and the bills will end that inconvenience. Please contact members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and respectfully urge them to support these necessary pieces of legislation. For committee member contact information please click here.
MISSOURI: Major Firearms Reform Legislation Heads to Governor's Desk! Earlier this week, the Missouri House passed House Bill 2034. This bill makes a series of positive changes to various areas of Missouri's firearms statutes, including: sweeping and meaningful protections of shooting ranges and hunting preserves; liability protection for landowners allowing public hunting access; prohibiting the unlawful refusal to transfer a firearm by denying a sale to a person otherwise not prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law; eliminating the six-month residency requirement in order to apply for a license to carry a concealed firearms; sealing "permit to acquire" concealable firearm records; allowing for the lawful manufacture, purchase and possession of firearm suppressors; and makes necessary revisions to explosives and felony possession of firearms. HB 2034 now heads to Governor Matt Blunt (R) for his consideration. Please call and thank your State Senator and State Representative TODAY for supporting your Second Amendment rights, and Missouri's time-honored hunting and sport-shooting heritage by voting in favor on HB2034. You can find your State Legislators by clicking here.
NEW MEXICO: New Mexico Primary Elections, Tuesday, June 3! Tuesday, June 3 is Primary Election Day in New Mexico. Please be sure to vote Freedom First. For candidate ratings and endorsements, please call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) or visit www.NRAPVF.org. For more information about voting in New Mexico, please click here. Remember to Vote Freedom First on Tuesday, June 3!
OHIO: "Castle Doctrine" Legislation up for a Possible Vote! Ohio's "Castle Doctrine" legislation, Senate Bill 184, could be voted on in the House Criminal Justice Committee as early as next week. SB184 would help restore the fundamental right of self-defense. This legislation would restore the right of individuals to respond with force in defense of their lives and family, and immunize the victim from civil lawsuits by criminals or the criminal's family. Along with SB184, an amendment to this bill could be voted on as well. The amendment would prohibit firearm confiscation during a state of emergency. Please contact the members of the House Criminal Justice Committee TODAY and respectfully urge him or her to support this pro-gun package. For a list of committee members please click here.
OREGON: Oregon Primary Elections, Tuesday, May 20! Tuesday, May 20 is Primary Election Day in Oregon. Please be sure to vote Freedom First. For candidate ratings and endorsements, please call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) or visit www.NRAPVF.org. For more information about voting in Oregon, please click here. Remember to Vote Freedom First on Tuesday, May 20!
RHODE ISLAND: Anti-Gun ("Microstamping") Bills Head to Committee! After being pulled from the agenda of the House Judiciary Committee, House Bill 7834 has been referred to the House Finance Committee. HB7834, the "microstamping" proposal would ban the sale of semi-automatic handguns not equipped with so-called "microstamping" technology. HB7834's Senate companion bill, Senate Bill 2720, is being held up for further study in the Senate Committee on Judiciary. Please contact the members of the House Finance Committee as well as the members of the Senate Committee on Judiciary IMMEDIATELY and respectfully urge them to oppose H7834 and S2720! For committee member contact information please click here.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Right to Hunt Amendment Needs Your Support TODAY! NRA continues to work with key State Senators in Columbia to fix H 3202, the Right to Hunt and Fish Constitutional Amendment. Originally, this legislation would have allowed South Carolina voters to vote on an amendment to the South Carolina Constitution that would have recognized the Right to Hunt and Fish for future generations. This version included two of the most important protections--protecting the right to hunt species "traditionally pursued," and the right to use "traditional methods" for taking game. In the Senate, however, these critical points were removed through amendments. Negotiations have led to a new version, which does protect hunting wildlife "traditionally pursued," but still falls short of protecting "traditional methods." The only way to ensure hunting is fully protected in the Palmetto State is if H 3202 includes language that protects "traditional methods" used for taking game. It is urgent that you contact your State Senator TODAY and respectfully urge him or her to work with NRA to ensure H 3202 includes specific protections for hunting game "traditionally pursued," as well as for using "traditional methods" for taking game. To find your State Senator please clickhere.
TENNESSEE: Hunter Education Gets a Boost in House! House Bill 2453 has been rolled into an omnibus bill, House Bill 3004. Originally, HB2453, sponsored by State Representative Eric Swafford (R-25), would create a National Rifle Association license plate and would allocate 50% of the funds toward state hunter education. HB3004 is currently in the House Finance Committee. A floor vote is expected before session adjourns later this month. Please continue checking www.NRAILA.org and your email for updates.
