Brady Adds To Post-Heller Agenda
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Last week, when Brady Campaign’s president, Paul Helmke, told ABC News that the group expects the Supreme Court to issue a pro-Second Amendment ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller, he tried to put his best anti-gun spin on things, saying “this could be good from the standpoint of the political-legislative side.” |
Time Is Running Out To Protect Your Right To Self-Defense: One of the most basic rights we as lawful Americans enjoy is the right to defend our families and ourselves. The right to self-defense should not end simply because one crosses an invisible boundary line and enters a national park or wildlife refuge.
This is the current, dangerous situation that will continue to exist, however, if you don’t take action right now.
New “I’m a Bitter Gun Owner and I Vote!” Yard Signs Available Now: By now, you’ve all heard the Obama “bitter” quote: “And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.” And it probably struck a nerve with you. Well, we’ve created a new yard sign that will send a message from all of you “bitter” gun owners to Obama this election season: Our “I’m a Bitter Gun Owner and I Vote!” yard sign.
Proposal To Increase Hunting At Wildlife Refuges: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is planning to add one wildlife refuge to the list of refuges open to hunting and to increase hunting at six other refuges. Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota will be opened to migratory bird and big-game hunting. Hunting opportunities will be expanded to include migratory birds and upland game at the Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota and the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland. The Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin will be opened to big-game hunting. Hunting at the Bayou Cocodrie, Tensas River, and the Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuges will be enhanced with the addition of land to these Louisiana refuges. The Upper Ouachita will be opened to turkey hunting. The Stillwater Wildlife Management Area, Nevada will be closed to hunting because the land will revert back to management by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Service no longer has authority to manage Stillwater.
Comments are being accepted until July 10. The rule can be found at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-12193.pdf. Please support the Fish and Wildlife Service’s continued efforts to open and expand hunting programs on wildlife refuges by submitting comments on this rule.
Stop BATFE Abuses -- Urge Your Congressman To Cosponsor H.R. 4900:Continuing concern about the treatment of firearm dealers by BATFE has caused members of the U.S. House of Representatives--with NRA-ILA’s full support--to push for new and improved reform legislation. That push has taken the form of H.R. 4900-- the “Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act.”
Seeking Nominations For 2007 NRA-ILA Volunteer Awards: The “Jay M. Littlefield Memorial NRA-ILA Volunteer of the Year Award” is an annual honor that recognizes a NRA member who demonstrates exceptionally meritorious activism in defense of our Second Amendment rights. Similarly, the “NRA-ILA Volunteer Organization of the Year Award” is bestowed upon a group that has gone above and beyond the call of duty in defending our freedom over the past year. Nominations for the 2007 honors should be submitted to: NRA-ILA Volunteer Awards, c/o Katrina Ruminski, NRA-ILA Grassroots Division, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA, 22030. Nominations may also be faxed to Katrina at (703) 267-3918, or e-mailed to [email protected]. All nominations must be submitted by NRA members in good standing and be accompanied by a one-page description of why the nominee is deserving. Winners will be selected by NRA-ILA staff and will be acknowledged at this Fall’s NRA Board of Directors Meeting. The deadline for submissions is July 14, 2008.
Grassroots Minute Video: To view this week’s “Grassroots Minute” video, please click here: mms://media.streamtoyou.com/nra/2008/ilamin062008.wmv
STATE ROUNDUP (please click to see any updates on states not listed below.)
CALIFORNIA: Dangerous Anti-Gun Bills Moving Forward in Senate! Three anti-gun bills are making their way through the California Senate and it is imperative that you voice your opposition to them. Assembly Bill 2062 was passed by the Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, June 17. The bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee for its consideration. AB2062, among other things, would make it a crime to privately transfer more than 50 rounds of ammunition per month, even between family and friends, unless you are registered as a “handgun ammunition vendor” in the Department of Justice’s database. Assembly Bill 2235 has been assigned to the Senate Public Safety Committee and is scheduled to be heard next Tuesday, June 24. This legislation would prohibit the sale of handguns other than "owner-authorized” (or “smart”) handguns-- that is, handguns with a permanent, programmable biometric feature that renders the firearm useless unless activated by the authorized user. No proven, viable handgun of this type has ever been developed. Also scheduled to be heard in the Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday is Assembly Bill 2948, a dangerous bill that would ban the sale of firearms and ammunition on the property or inside the buildings that comprise the Cow Palace. Please contact the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Public Safety Committee TODAY and urge them to oppose these anti-freedom bills. Contact information for both committees can be found here.
The Six Rivers National Forest near Redwood, CA is hosting a public workshop on June 28th for a final review of the inventory maps of roads within its Trinity and Mad River Ranger Districts. This is part of the Forest Service’s process in developing travel management plans for off-highway vehicle (OHV) use within Six Rivers. The plan will designate what roads will be remain open to OHV use. Closure of certain roads could affect hunter access and game retrieval. It is important that all who use these roads attend this workshop. It will take place at the Six Rivers National Forest Headquarters, 1330 Bayshore Way, Eureka, CA, and will be open house style and informal. No formal presentations are scheduled. People are invited to come in any time during these 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. workshops. Forest employees will be present to meet with the public one-on-one to collect additional information and answer questions. Please refer to the information posted at http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sixrivers/projects/ohv/ or you may call Six Rivers National Forest at 707-442-1721.
KENTUCKY: Please Submit Your Application Today for a Kentucky NRA Specialized License Plate! The Kentucky specialized NRA license plate provides an ideal opportunity to showcase your pride as an NRA member and your steadfast dedication to preserving our cherished Second Amendment freedom. Your support of this program will help ensure hunting and shooting traditions in the Bluegrass State for generations to come. The Kentucky Department of Motor Vehicles will only produce the plates if it receives at least 900 applications for the NRA license plate. The initial application fee is $28.00. For information on where to send your payment and where to submit your application, please click here.
GEORGIA: The Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that it will prepare a management plan for the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex. The 56,000-acre Complex is comprised of a chain of refuges that together span a 100-mile coastline. Deer hunting is allowed on a number of the refuges that make up the Complex. The Service is asking for suggestions and information on the scope of the issues to consider in the planning process. Comments must be submitted by July 3. An open house will be held during the scoping phase. Questions and comments should be directed to Jane Griess, Project Leader, at 912-652-4415, or at [email protected]. If you hunt on any of the refuges within the Complex, it is important for you to participate in the planning process to secure hunting opportunities for the future.
LOUISIANA: The Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that it will prepare a management plan for the Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Ouachita Parish, LA. The 4,500-acre Refuge is three miles north of Monroe. Resident game and migratory game bird hunting occur on the refuge. The Service is asking for suggestions and information on the scope of the issues to consider in the planning process. Comments must be submitted by Monday, June 23. An open house will be held during the scoping phase. Questions and comments should be directed to Tina Chouinard, Natural Resource Planner, at 318-305-0643, or at [email protected]. If you hunt this Refuge, it is important for you to participate in the planning process to secure hunting opportunities for the future.
MASSACHUSETTS: Emergency Powers Legislation Stalled in Senate Committee! S.1401, "An Act Prohibiting the Confiscation of Lawfully Owned Firearms During a State of Emergency", sponsored by State Senator Richard T. Moore (Worcester and Norfolk), is being held up in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. S.1401 would protect our Second Amendment rights by prohibiting any government agency from confiscating or regulating the lawful sale, possession, transfer, transport and carry of firearms during a state of emergency, such as occurred in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. Please contact the members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee TODAY and urge them to support S.1401. Contact information can be found by clicking here.
MICHIGAN: Post-Purchase "Safety Inspection" Repeal Package Moving Closer to Law This week, the Michigan Senate unanimously approved Senate Bills 370 and 371. These important bills remove the cumbersome post-purchase “safety inspection” on handguns. The bills now move to the House for approval, but they have not yet been scheduled for a committee hearing. The House companion bills, House Bills 4490 and 4491 have already passed the House and are waiting a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Please continue checking your email and www.NRAILA.org for updates.
NEW JERSEY: One-Gun-A-Month Bill to be Heard in Assembly! On Monday, June 23 the New Jersey General Assembly is scheduled to vote on A339, a bill that will impact sportsmen and target shooters, restricting law-abiding citizens from purchasing more than one handgun per 30-day period. This gun-rationing scheme falsely assumes that criminals follow the law by submitting the proper paperwork and purchasing firearms from licensed dealers, and that those law-abiding citizens who purchase more than one-gun-a-month are gun traffickers! Please contact your Assembly members TODAY and respectfully urge them to oppose limiting your Second Amendment rights. Contact information for your Assemblymembers can be found by clicking here. Also, please contact Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-5) IMMEDIATELY and respectfully urge him to HOLD A339! Speaker Roberts can be reached by phone at (609) 292-7065, via fax at (856) 742-1831, or email [email protected].
Bow Hunting Bill Heads to Assembly Floor! A595, a pro-hunting bill that changes the perimeter for bow and arrow hunting around occupied buildings, was approved on Friday, June 13 by the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Sponsored by Assemblywoman Marcia Karrow (R-23) and Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose (R-24), A595 reduces the buffer around occupied buildings from 450 to 150 feet. The legislation also requires bow hunters to obtain explicit written consent from the owner of the property prior to hunting. The bill now heads to the General Assembly for a full vote. Please contact Assemblywoman Karrow at (973) 300-0200 or (973) 584-4670and Assemblywoman McHose at (908) 782-5127 and thank them for their work and staunch support in preserving New Jersey’s hunting heritage.
NEW YORK: Please Contact Your State Senator Today to Oppose the Governor’s Anti-Gun Package! In the closing days of the legislative session, negotiations are taking place between Democratic Governor David Patterson’s Administration and legislative leaders on numerous proposals, including the Governor's gun control package. This package targets law-abiding gun owners and licensed gun dealers. The NRA strongly opposes this measure. Two areas that we specifically oppose are those that would implement more requirements for pistol license applicants without making licenses more accessible to those who qualify. The plan would also require licenses for employees of gun stores and grant the State Police broad authority to impose regulations on licensed dealers and gunsmiths. To view a copy of the press release on Governor Paterson’s website, please click here. It is imperative that NRA members contact their State Senators TODAY and respectfully urge them to oppose this measure! Please contact your State Senator today through the Senate switchboard at (518) 455-2800. To find your State Senator, please click here.
NORTH CAROLINA: Important Bill Needs Your Attention Today! NRA has been working with legislators in Raleigh on Senate Bill 2081, a bill that would make critical changes to North Carolina law in order to get the Tar Heel State in compliance with the federal “NICS Improvement Act,” which was signed into law in January of this year. NRA is currently neutral on S 2081, but we have been working closely with State Senator Tony Rand’s (D-19) office, as well as other interested parties, to ensure the legislation is crafted appropriately. The bill has already been amended to address several areas of concern raised by NRA, and we will continue to work with Senator Rand and others to make sure S 2081 has no significant problems for law-abiding gun owners. Please contact your State Senator and urge him to work with NRA to make sure S 2081 does not adversely affect our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Please also take the time to contact your State Representative with the same message. Both can be reached by phone at 919-733-7928.
OHIO: Buckeye State Expands Right to Self-Defense! On Wednesday, June 11, Governor Ted Strickland (D) signed Senate Bill 184, NRA-backed “Castle Doctrine” legislation. Please be aware that this law will not take effect for ninety days. This bill protects the rights of innocent victims to defend themselves from criminal attack while expanding the rights of concealed-carry permit holders. Also included in SB 184 are several pro-gun provisions that make Ohio's concealed carry laws more “user friendly”. Among these revisions are important provisions allowing people without a Concealed Handgun License (CHL) to legally transport firearms in an automobile, and allowing license holders to pick up or drop off students in school safety zones. The bill also requires awards of legal fees to gun owners who get court orders to have firearms returned to them, decriminalizes concealed carry in privately owned parking garages, allows permit holders to carry a firearm in an unlocked glove compartment or center console and removes the written test requirement for renewal of a concealed handgun license.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Governor Vetoes Tax Holiday for Firearms! On Wednesday June 10, Governor Mark Sanford (R) vetoed S 1143, a bill that among other things would have allowed for a “tax holiday” from the sales for any firearm sold during a predetermined 48 hour window. S 1143 simply treats firearms the same as many other commercial products, while providing a needed commercial boost to legal gun dealers all across South Carolina. This bill will be heard in the House of Representatives sometime next week in an attempt to overturn the Governor’s veto. Please contact your State Representative and urge him or her to vote for this important piece of legislation. You can find contact information for your State Representative by clicking here.
UTAH: Utah Primary Elections, Tuesday, June 24! Tuesday, June 24 is Primary Election Day in Utah. 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 Utah, please click here. Remember to Vote Freedom First on Tuesday, June 24!
WASHINGTON: Montesano Mayor Stands-Up and Vetoes Attack on Concealed Carry! In a victory for Montesano’s law-abiding gun owners, Montesano Mayor Ron Schillinger vetoed an ordinance banning the carrying of concealed firearms in the city’s parks, even by licensed Right-to-Carry permit holders. Please contact Mayor Schillinger, TODAY and thank him for opposing this violation of state law and unjust and unwarranted attack on our right to self-defense and Second Amendment freedoms. Mayor Schillinger can be reached by phone at (360) 249-3021, ext. 102 or via email at [email protected].
Seattle Mayor Brazenly Attacks Right-to-Carry! In a knee-jerk reaction to a recent shooting, Mayor Greg Nickels signed an executive order on Monday, June 9 prohibiting firearms at Seattle Center, parks, community centers, and city-owned buildings. This ban, which includes Right-to-Carry permit holders, does not require review by the City Council and directs that a plan be drawn-up in 30 days to establish the prohibition. Mayor Nickels’ ban is a clear violation of Washington State’s preemption statutes, which say that only the State Legislature can enact laws pertaining to firearms. It is important that NRA members, Right-to-Carry permit holders, firearm owners, and anyone interested in the rule of law respectfully make their voice heard against this unlawful proposal. Please contact Mayor Nickels, write a letter to your local newspaper(s), call in to radio talk shows, and urge your legislators to speak out against this unwarranted attack on law-abiding gun owners. For contact information, please click here.
WEST VIRGINIA: Ranson City Considering Ban on Your Right-to-Carry! The Ranson City Council is considering an ordinance to ban the possession or carrying of concealed firearms on all “public property.” The City Council tabled the ordinance earlier this month during first reading, but it may come up again at the council’s next meeting on July 1. This move is in blatant violation of West Virginia’s preemption statutes. The next City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 1 at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located at 312 S. Mildred St. It is critical that the council members know that West Virginia’s law-abiding gun owners will not tolerate illegal and unjust attacks on our Second Amendment freedoms. Please make plans to attend this important meeting and make your voice heard during public comment time. If you are unable to attend, please contact Mayor David Hamill TODAY and respectfully urge him to oppose this violation of state law and this unjust and unwarranted attack on our right to self-defense and Second Amendment freedoms. Mayor Hamill can be reached by phone at (304) 725-1010. Please also contact the members of the City Council who originally voted for the ordinance and respectfully ask them to reconsider this illegal measure. Contact information can be found here.
