Post-Heller Congressional Action On
“Second Amendment Enforcement Act”
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As mentioned in last week’s edition of our Grassroots Alert, following the Supreme Court’s favorable Heller decision, city officials in Washington, D.C. have been planning to obstruct D.C. citizens from exercising their right to keep and bear arms, despite the Supreme Court’s clear statements. And some in Congress are planning to do something about it.
On Thursday, Representative Mark Souder (R-Ind.) introduced H. Res. 1331, a rule to govern House consideration of a modified version of H.R. 1399--the “District of Columbia Personal Protection Act.” |
Department Of The Interior Extends Deadline For Comments On Right-To-Carry In National Parks: For more than two months, we have been asking NRA members and gun owners to submit comments in support of allowing law-abiding citizens to carry their legally-owned firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges -- and tens of thousand of you have done so. The deadline to submit comments expired on June 30 -- or so we thought.
Outrage Of The Week: This week’s outrage comes to us courtesy of the fringe animal “rights” group known as the New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance (NJARA).
We’ve reported before on animal “rights” groups that try to push their agenda via “educational materials” that are foisted upon our school systems. The propaganda usually consists of the same, radical, scare tactics and lies we’ve seen time and again and come to expect. This time, however, the NJARA has served up a version that, even by current standards, is utterly ridiculous.
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.”
New “I’m a Bitter Gun Owner and I Vote!” Yard Signs Available Now: By now, you’ve all heard the Barack 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.” This offensive and misguided quote 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 with our own slogan: “I’m a Bitter Gun Owner and I Vote
New NRA T-Shirts Available NOW! As mentioned in the story above, we know that by now you’ve probably heard the Barack Obama “bitter” quote. Well, in addition to the new yard sign we designed, we’ve created a way for all of you “bitter” gun owners to wear your message to Obama and all of the other legislators seeking your vote this election season: A new "I'm a Bitter Gun Owner and I Vote!" T-shirt, and our re-designed “I’m the NRA and I Vote” T-shirt!
Grassroots Minute Video: To view the most recent “Grassroots Minute” video, please click here: mms://media.streamtoyou.com/nra/2008/ilamin071108.wmv
STATE ROUNDUP (please click to see any updates on states not listed below.)
ALABAMA and GEORGIA: Management Plan for Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge Released for Public Comment: A plan for the management of the Eufaula Refuge over the next 15 years is open for public comment until July 21. The Refuge spans two counties in Georgia and two in Alabama and currently offers hunting for deer, waterfowl, mourning dove, and small game. Two of the four management options would consider adding a youth wild turkey quota hunt and an alligator hunt in the next four years. The plan with the management options can be found at http://southeast.fws.gov/planning. Comments may be submitted to the Refuge at 367 Highway 165, Eufaula, AL 36027-8187 or electronically to [email protected]. For further information, you may call 334-687-4065. It is important that the Refuge receives support from the area's hunting community for its existing hunt programs and its proposal to increase hunting opportunities in the future.
ARIZONA: Governor Napolitano Vetoes Another Important Pro-Gun Reform Bill! Governor Janet Napolitano (D) vetoed House Bill 2389 earlier this week. Simply stated, under HB2389 you would have been allowed to carry a firearm by means of any transportation - other than public transportation - without a concealed carry permit. This is the fourth veto of a pro-gun bill by Governor Napolitano this legislative session on NRA-supported measures such as HB2629, the defensive display of a firearm clarification; HB2630, which would have lowered the penalty for carrying a firearm without a permit to a petty offense; and SB1106, the lifetime concealed carry permit bill. Thank you for the many calls and emails that you sent to the Governor, and please continue checking your emails and www.NRAILA.org for further updates.
CALIFORNIA: Anti-Freedom Bills Scheduled for Hearing on Monday, July 14! Assembly Bill 2948 and Assembly Bill 1634 are scheduled to be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday, July 14. AB2948, introduced by State Assembly Member Mark Leno (D-13), would ban the sale of firearms and ammunition on the property or inside the buildings that comprise the Cow Palace. AB1634 is being pushed by radical animal “rights” and anti-hunting organizations and is an affront to our hunting heritage and private property rights. This bill, in its amended form, would dramatically increase the fines imposed against dog owners when “intact” dogs are impounded by animal control officials. A third impoundment in a dog’s lifetime would result in a mandatory spay or neuter order with the cost of the procedure to be covered by the owner. Please contact each member of the Appropriations Committee and voice your opposition to the Cow Palace gun show ban and mandatory spay and neuter legislation. Contact information can be found here.
FLORIDA: Attorney General Taking Complaints of Rights Violations Under New Gun Law! A spokeswoman for Attorney General Bill McCollum has said that individuals can file complaints with the Attorney General’s office if their right to have a firearm, locked in their privately owned vehicle in a parking lot, for self-protection and other lawful purposes is being violated by a business. To file a complaint, please contact the Attorney General’s office by phone at 866-966-7226 or click here. Attorney General McCollum can be reached via email at [email protected]. To view a news article by WMBB in Panama City, please click here.
Discover Magazine Highlights Disney’s Anti-Gun Theatrics! The publication, Discover Magazine, recently highlighted Disney’s anti-gun theatrics in their blog. To view the blog, please visit http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/07/08/gun-controls-newest-champion-disney/.
GEORGIA: Georgia Primary Elections, Tuesday, July 15! Tuesday, July 15 is Primary Election Day in Georgia. 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 Georgia, please click here. Remember to Vote Freedom First on Tuesday, July 15!
ILLINOIS: Village of Morton Grove Considering Amending Handgun Ban! In response to the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down the Washington, D.C. ban on handguns, the Village of Morton Grove is considering amending its own ban on handguns. The Village has banned the possession of handguns since 1981, but according to its website, “Mayor Richard Krier has directed Corporation Counsel Teresa Hoffman Liston to prepare an ordinance for Village Board consideration amending the Village’s Municipal Code, Section 6-2-3 so it is compliant with the Supreme Court decision.” The ordinance is scheduled to be on the Village Board’s agenda on Monday, July 14. This meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and will be held in the Richard T. Flickinger Municipal Center, 6101 Capulina Avenue, Morton Grove.
LOUISIANA: Governor Signs Worker Protection Bill (SB51) Into Law! On July 2, 2008, Governor Bobby Jindal signed Senate Bill 51 into law. SB 51 allows all law-abiding employees, invitees, and customers to keep firearms locked in their vehicles while parked on publicly accessible parking lots, unless state or federal law already prohibits the possession of firearms on the premises, or the vehicle in question is company-owned or leased. While SB 51 primarily affects parking lots that are accessible to the general public, businesses which provide secure parking for its customers or employees (parking that is inaccessible to the general public) must also provide storage facilities, such as lockers, for their customers or employees to temporarily place their firearms, or provide alternative parking for customers or employees who wish to transport and store firearms in their private motor vehicles. That alternative parking area must be reasonably close to the secure parking area. SB 51, now ACT 684, is effective 8/15/2008. Please thank Governor Jindal for signing this critical bill into law. You may contact the governor by clicking here.
MASSACHUSETTS: Join in NRA and GOAL’s “Boston Tea Party 2008!” In 1998, former Massachusetts Governor Paul Cellucci (R) signed a law into effect that continues to violate our Second Amendment rights. Wednesday, July 23 will mark the ten-year anniversary of the signing of the Gun Control Act of 1998. Chapter 180 of the Acts was signed with the ill-conceived notion that crime and violence would be eradicated from the streets. Not only has this notion proven to be incorrect by the increase in criminal activity, but it’s also been in direct violation of our Second Amendment rights. As a result, July 23, 2008 will be known as the “Boston Tea Party 2008” and the National Rifle Association, in conjunction with the Gun Owners Action League (GOAL), are encouraging members to send a symbolic message to our elected officials that we want them to repeal Chapter 180. We are asking members to send this note, as well as a tea bag, to your elected officials to let them know, just as our forefathers did, that unfair treatment against lawful gun owners will not be tolerated. To find contact information for your State Legislators, please click here.
MICHIGAN: Governor Signs Important Pro-Gun Package! On Thursday July 10, Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) signed into law the Post-Purchase "Safety Inspection" Repeal Package. These important bills, Senate Bill 370 and House Bills 4490 and 4491, will remove the cumbersome post-purchase “safety inspection” on handguns and will go into immediate effect. The requirement of a safety inspection was a burdensome waste of time for law-abiding gun owners and these bills will address that inconvenience. Thank you to all NRA members who answered the call to help enact this legislation. Without you, this victory would not have been possible.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: On Saturday, July 19th, NRA-ILA Grassroots Director Glen Caroline will be conducting a presentation on grassroots activism during the "Historic Town Hall for New Hampshire Taxpayers.” This event, sponsored by Americans For Prosperity - NH, is free! Bagels and coffee will be served. This event will provide New Hampshire gun owners with the opportunity to learn how they can become even more effective at grassroots lobbying and mobilization. Please plan to attend this free event scheduled forSaturday, July 19th, in Manchester, NH, at the Center of NH (Radisson Hotel), from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. For additional information, please call Ted Maravelias at (603) 770-8072 or visit www.afphq.org
NEW YORK: Youth Hunting Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk! Assembly Bill 11033, is now en route to the desk of Governor David Paterson (D) for his consideration. AB11033 would allow 14 and 15 year olds, who already are permitted to hunt small game in New York, to also hunt deer and bear with a firearm under specified conditions and only while supervised. It also creates a trapper-mentoring program. Thirty states across the country currently have no age limit, allowing parents to decide when their children are old enough to hunt, and these thirty states have a better collective hunter safety record than the twenty states with minimum ages. Although it is disappointing that the state of New York did not join the majority of states in the country that have no age limit, this is a modest step in the right direction. Please continue to check www.NRAILA.org and your e-mail for updates throughout the year.
NORTH CAROLINA: SB2081 Heads to the House for Consideration! The North Carolina Senate amended Senate Bill 2081, the “NICS Reporting/Restoration Bill,” on Thursday, July 10. This legislation makes critical changes to North Carolina law in order to get the Tar Heel State in compliance with the federal “NICS Improvement Amendments Act,” which was signed into law in January of this year. Numerous improvements were made on Thursday to ensure that the bill does not adversely affect our Second Amendment rights. SB 2081 now moves to the House for consideration. Please contact your State Representative and respectfully urge him or her to support the Senate language as passed. For more information about SB2081 and how to take action, please click here.
TENNESSEE: Attention Tennessee Gun Owners: Please attend the Tennessee Friends of NRA State Conference & Shotgun Shoot in Nashville on Saturday, July 26, 2008! The event will be held at the Tennessee Clay Target Complex (www.tnclay.com), located at 1100 County Hospital Road, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Highlights will include door prizes, displays, food, and the first annual Tennessee Friends of NRA Shotgun Shoot. There will also be a special Grassroots election workshop to get you ready for the pivotal 2008 November elections! For more information, driving directions, lodging details, and a schedule of events, please visit http://www.friendsofnra.org/ (click on “Tennessee”), or contact Len Assante at 615-230-9199. Don't miss this great event!
WASHINGTON: Target Shooting Topic of BLM Advisory Council Meeting: The Eastern Washington Resource Advisory Council will meet July 16, 2008 at the Folsom Farm site in the Fishtrap Lake Recreation Area, which is managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management. Fishtrap Lake is about 30 miles southwest of Spokane, WA, near the town of Sprague. Target shooting safety will be the primary topic of discussion. The meeting will start at 1:00 p.m. and end at 3:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend the meeting. An opportunity for public comment to the Council is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The public is encouraged to submit written comments to the Council as well. The Council has 15 members who are appointed by the Secretary of the Interior to review planning and proposed activities on federal public land in eastern Washington and provides advice to the BLM and USDA Forest Service. For additional information about the meeting, please contact the Spokane BLM District Office, telephone (509) 536-1200.
