D.C. Refining of Gun Laws--Offensively Stupid
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Only a few weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the Heller case, which struck down D.C.’s ban on handguns and allowed having a firearm in operable condition at home, D.C. has passed “emergency” law and new police regulations intended to retain as much of the ban and storage requirement as possible. The law was crafted in consultation with the Brady Campaign, according to the Washington Post.
There are many objectionable features to the new D.C. law and regulations, but two stand out as particularly egregious. Though the Supreme Court ruled that D.C. could not ban handguns, the new rules would still ban all or most semi-automatic pistols. And in spite of the fact that the court ruled that D.C. cannot ban the use of guns for protection in the home, the District still prohibits having a gun loaded and ready unless an attack within your home is imminent or underway. |
Without Congress’ intervention, D.C. can violate the intent of the Heller decision indefinitely. That is because under “Home Rule,” D.C.’s emergency bills are not subject to review by Congress, and D.C. can reinstitute “emergency” laws every 90 days. The city’s officials are already thumbing their noses at the Supreme Court.
United Nations Threat Continues: Over the past 7 years, the United Nations (UN) has been working to reach agreement on an international treaty on the trade in small arms. A “Meeting of States” has occurred every two years on the topic, and is going on once again in New York City. The threat this poses to our Second Amendment rights is real. Thanks to the efforts of U.S. officials, its progress has been delayed, but, unfortunately, not stopped.
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 thousands of you have done so. The deadline to submit comments expired on June 30 -- or so we thought.
Evanston Votes To Amend Gun Ban—Tries To Avoid NRA Lawsuit: Unlike the debacle in Washington, D.C., in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Heller decision--and in an effort to avoid NRA’s lawsuit against their city--aldermen in the Chicago suburb of Evanston unanimously voted to amend the city’s 27-year-old handgun ban at a recent closed-door meeting.
Village Of Morton Grove To Repeal Gun Ban: Today the Village of Morton Grove also moved to avoid protracted legal action by amending its Village Code to remove the current handgun ban and incorporate sections of the Illinois Criminal Code, following the filing of NRA’s lawsuit against the city.
New Downloadable Toolbar Lets You Stay Connected And Help NRA-ILA Every Time You Search: We are excited to announce a new, revolutionary, yet simple tool that will allow you to stay connected to NRA-ILA and raise valuable contributions to defend our Second Amendment rights without spending a dime! You can make a difference by downloading and using the new NRA-ILA Toolbar.
ACLU Of Nevada Declares Support For Individual’s Right To Keep And Bear Arms: In a surprising break from the national office of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Nevada state office recently declared its support for an individual’s Right to Keep and Bear Arms, apparently making it the first state affiliate to break with the national ACLU’s position on the Second Amendment.
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.
“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/ilamin071808.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 MONDAY, 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.
CALIFORNIA: Update on Four Very Dangerous Anti-Gun Bills! Four bills that pose a very serious threat to our Second Amendment rights are in various stages of the legislative process. For more information about these dangers and how to take action to protect California’s Right to Keep and Bear Arms, please click here.
Join NRA Executive Vice-President Wayne LaPierre and NRA Board Members at the 2008 NRA Members’ Council Conference! Please join NRA Executive Vice-President Wayne LaPierre and NRA Board Members at the upcoming 2008 NRA Members' Council Conference, which will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2008 at the Anaheim Marriott Suites, located at 12015 Harbor Blvd., Garden Grove, CA. Sign-in and session selection begins at 8:00 a.m. The final session is expected to end around 4:00 p.m. Parking is free. There is no charge to attend the NRA Members' Council Conference. However, all attendees must be registered in advance to attend, and will be given Conference identification badges that must be worn at the Conference. A light breakfast (pastries, bagels, coffee, decaf, tea, and water) will be available for all attendees. NRA Executive Vice-President Wayne LaPierre, NRA Board Members Tom Gaines, Manny Fernandez, Joel Friedman, Don Saba, NRA-ILA California State Liaison Ed Worley, and Members’ Council Program Administrator H. Paul Payne will be there and you will have opportunities to interact with them. For more information, please click here.
MASSACHUSETTS: Governor Patrick’s Anti-Gun Bill Heads to Committee! On Tuesday, July 15, Governor Deval Patrick’s (D) bill was assigned a number (H.4971) and referred to the House Committee on Ways & Means. Sections 24 & 25 will increase state licensed firearm dealer's fees from $100 for three years to $250. In addition, licensed dealers will be charged a $100 inspection fee per year during each of the three years. This proposed bill would turn a $100 three-year dealer's license into a $450 three-year license. Section 26 would increase a resident License to Carry fee from $100 for six years to $200 for six years and Section 27 would increase a non-resident License to Carry fee from $100 for one year to $250 for one year. Please contact the members of the House Committee on Ways & Means TODAY and respectfully request that he or she oppose any attempt to increase firearm license fees in the Governor's Appropriations Bill. You can find contact information for the members of the committee by clicking here.
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.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: TOMORROW, 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 for tomorrow, Saturday, July 19th, in Manchester, NH, at the Center of NH (Radisson Hotel), from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For additional information, please call Ted Maravelias at (603) 770-8072 or visit http://www.afphq.org/
NORTH CAROLINA: Important Pro-Gun Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk! On Thursday, July 17, the North Carolina House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 2081 by a vote of 111 to 0. SB 2081 will now head to the desk of Governor Mike Easley (D) for his consideration. As passed, S 2081 now requires the reporting to NICS of all involuntary commitments to a mental health treatment program, provided such commitment carried with it a finding that the individual was “a danger to self or others.” This legislation also establishes a process, which includes a hearing that is “closed to the public,” for one affected by the commitment provision to petition to have his or her name removed from NICS, thus restoring the petitioner’s ability to legally purchase, possess, and transfer firearms. This legislation goes no further than the requirements under the “NICS Improvement Amendments Act,” and NRA is grateful to those legislators who worked to both improve the original version, as well as those who made sure no anti-gun amendments were added to it.
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 (http://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!
