No Surprises Here: Former President Clinton
Advocates New Gun And Magazine Ban
With President Barack Obama stating that his “urban agenda” includes reimposing the former federal ban on “assault weapons” and “large” magazines, it’s out-of-date to refer to that law as it was known at the time--the Clinton Gun Ban.
On second thought, maybe not just yet.
In January, speaking at a meeting of the anti-gun U.S. Conference of Mayors, former president Bill Clinton took credit for the old ban, praised the Brady Campaign for continuing to lobby Congress for a new ban, and suggested that the mood in Washington might be more favorable toward a ban now than it had been during the last eight years.
Rumor Control--Debunking the Latest Legends: Lately, the rumor mills have been running at full capacity. Among other things, we’ve heard phony tales circulating about such things as guns being banned for the elderly, ammunition with expiration dates, and a prohibition on gun and ammunition imports. This sort of scuttlebutt is nothing new, but let’s try to shed some light on these dark assertions.
Brady Campaign Flunks Math Again! On January 12, the FBI released preliminary crime date for calendar year 2008, indicating that the nation’s murder rate has fallen to a 43-year low, and the nation’s total violent crime rate has fallen to a 35-year low. The data suggest that since violent crime peaked in 1991, the nation’s murder rate has fallen 46 percent, and the nation’s total violent crime rate has fallen 41 percent. The FBI will publish final data for 2008 later this year.
San Francisco Pays NRA $380,000 for Successful Proposition H Lawsuits--Total Tab to City for Unsuccessful Defense of Illegal Gun Ban Approaches $800,000: The City of San Francisco has paid $380,000 to the NRA as reimbursement for legal fees incurred while striking down Proposition H, passed by San Francisco voters in November 2005.
Coalitions File Amicus Briefs in Seventh Circuit Court Of Appeals Supporting NRA Lawsuit In Illinois: Today, the Congress of Racial Equality, the Independence Institute on behalf of a coalition of law enforcement organizations, Institute for Justice, the Constitutional Accountability Center on behalf of constitutional law professors,and 70 state legislators from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin submitted amicus curiae briefs in support of NRA’s appeal of the City of Chicago and the Village of Oak Park’s unconstitutional bans on handguns.
Update On National Right-To-Carry Reciprocity Bills: This week, Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) introduced S. 371, the Senate companion bill to H.R. 197--the “National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2009.” H.R. 197 was introduced last month by U.S. Representatives Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) and Rick Boucher (D-Va.), and would provide national recognition for valid state Right-to-Carry licensees.
Rehberg Fights to Protect Veterans from Federal Prosecution: This week, U.S. Representative Denny Rehberg (R-MT) urged Congress to pass H.R. 442--the “Veterans’ Heritage Firearms Act” that he introduced in early January. The legislation would provide a limited amnesty period for veterans who served overseas before 1968. During the amnesty period, the veterans would be able to register war relic firearms without fear of prosecution. This amnesty would also extend to a veteran’s lawful heirs who inherit these firearms.
Big Brother’s New Target: Tracking Firearms (H.R. 45): As we previously reported, last month, U.S. Representative Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) sponsored H.R. 45, also known as “Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act.” The bill is, at its core and as its name implies, a licensing and registration scheme.
The measure calls for all handgun owners to submit to the federal government an application that shall include, among many other things: a photo; an address; a thumbprint; a completed, written firearm safety test; private mental health records; and a fee. And those are only some of the requirements to be licensed! To read more, please click here.
The Latest On The Second Amendment Book Bomb: On America’s Bill of Rights Day (December 15), the Second Amendment Book Bomb was launched by the Independent Institute to communicate the importance of the Bill of Rights’ Second Amendment for the protection of liberty. With your help, constitutional rights can continue to be pushed to the top of national book bestseller lists, making a loud and clear statement that the Second Amendment right to arms is unalienable!
Elk Management Plan for Theodore Roosevelt National Park Released for Public Comment! Until recently, the National Park Service has used park staff or contract sharpshooters to reduce populations of elk and deer within national parks to achieve herd levels that the habitat can support. As a result of NRA’s advocacy for the use of hunters to assist in such operations, the Service is now obligated to consider the use of “skilled volunteers” (e.g. hunters).
STATE ROUNDUP (please click to see any updates on states not listed below.)
ARIZONA: BLM Planning the Future of Target Shooting at Table Mesa! The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is developing a recreation plan for Table Mesa, a site north of Phoenix that receives heavy recreational use from target shooters and off-highway vehicle users. In recent months, NRA has sent emails to our Arizona members about this planning process and the importance of participating in it to ensure that the interests of shooters are addressed in the plan. A number of NRA members have participated in a clean up of Table Mesa and in preliminary meetings about the plan. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 17 from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Deer Valley Senior Center, located at 2001 W. Wahalla Lane in Phoenix. If you target shoot at Table Mesa or want to ensure that access to federal lands for target shooting is protected, please attend one of these public meetings and stay tuned for upcoming events at BLM's website for Table Mesa: www.TableMesaRecArea.com. Please look at the map on the web page showing areas proposed for closure and areas proposed for opening and be prepared at the meetings to discuss whether these alternatives work and if there are other alternatives that need to be addressed.
Thank You for Standing-Up to Protect Arizona’s Game Habitats As you may recall, NRA-ILA issued an alert to Arizona’s sportsmen that the legislature was considering cutting $145,000 from the wildlife restoration and enhancement fund, funds that are used to restore habitats for game species. Thank you to everyone who called their State Legislators in response to the alert. Because of your calls, NRA was able to work with the legislature to ensure that the program stays alive and completely re-funded by 2010. Like many states, Arizona is facing serious budget shortfalls, and the government of Arizona has been forced to make serious financial cuts to everything from childcare to law enforcement. Thank you for contacting your State Legislators and please continue to check www.NRAILA.org and your email for updates throughout the session.
Firearms Bills Pending Action in the Legislature Several bills, both pro-gun and anti-gun are currently awaiting action in the Arizona Legislature. Due to a budget crisis, these bills have not yet been assigned to committees, however, we encourage our members to get an early start and call their legislators. To learn more about these bills and how to take action, please click here.
ARKANSAS: Anti-Gun Bill Moving Through Legislature! On Monday, February 2, House Bill 1215 was passed by the Arkansas House by a 73-21 vote (with 5 not voting and 1 voting present). The bill has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee where it is pending action. HB1215, sponsored by State Representative Barry Hyde (D-40), would dramatically increase the potential penalties a municipality may levy for the “unsafe discharge of a firearm.” This legislation unfairly singles out violators of discharge ordinances to be potentially charged with an unclassified misdemeanor, potential fines up to $10,000 (20 times greater than the law allows for other ordinance violations, and equal to the federal fine for possessing an unregistered machine gun), and potential jail time for as long as 90 days. While there are certainly places where discharging a firearm may not be appropriate, this penalty treats discharge violations in a disproportionate manner. The potential penalty for all other purely municipal ordinance violations--no matter how dangerous the behavior might be--would remain $500 for a first offense. Please contact the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to oppose HB1215. A list of Committee members and contact information can be found here.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Seeking Public Comments to Expand Hunting Opportunities! The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is writing a new management plan for the White River National Wildlife Refuge, which lies in the floodplain of the White River near where it meets the Mississippi River and spans Desha, Monroe, Arkansas, and Phillips Counties. The plan will set the direction of the refuge for the next 15 years. The Service is asking for suggestions and information from the public on the scope of issues to consider in the planning process. The due date for comments is Monday, March 9. Comments can be emailed to Mike Dawson at [email protected]. He can be reached by phone at (601) 965-4903 and by fax at (601) 965-4010. Details about an open house meeting will be announced in the local media. Hunting is allowed in the refuge and it will be addressed in the new plan. To ensure that hunting has a solid future in this refuge, it is important for those who hunt in Arkansas and in this refuge to get engaged in this planning process.
Three Pro-Gun Bills Pending Action! Three important pro-gun bills are currently making their way through the Arkansas Legislature. To learn more about these bills and how to take action on their behalf, please click here.
CALIFORNIA: Statewide Ban on Lead Ammunition Could Be Around the Corner! The California Fish and Game Commission is considering a statewide ban on the use of lead ammunition for hunting. Two years ago, a bill was signed into law that imposed a ban on the use of lead ammunition for hunting in areas occupied by the California condor. Through its hunting regulations, the Commission extended the ban to include .22 rimfire ammunition and expanded the boundaries where the ban applies. Given this track record, the Commission is likely to be receptive to expanding the ban to the borders of the state. From the beginning, proponents of the current ban have wanted to ban lead ammunition statewide. The California condor was simply being used by the anti-hunters and anti-gunners to carry out this agenda. They have already achieved a partial ban. The next step is to take it statewide. If they are successful, they will push to ban the use of lead ammunition for everyone, not just hunters. There is no scientific evidence that lead ammunition is the source of lead affecting the health of condors released to the wild. There is no scientific evidence that lead ammunition is a risk to human health and the environment in California. What is evident is that there is a group of environmental extremists who have friends on the Commission who will not stop until the most affordable, available, and ballistically superior ammunition is banned in your state. They know the damage that such a ban will do to both hunting and shooting participation. Please contact the members of the Fish and Game Commission TODAY and respectfully request that they oppose all efforts to extend the ban on lead ammunition. The Commission can be contacted by phone at (916) 653-4899, by fax at (916) 653-5040, or email [email protected].
Please Stand-Up and Show Your Support at the Tuesday, February 10 San Diego School Board Meeting! On Tuesday, February 10, anti-gun zealots will be attending the San Diego School Board’s meeting to voice their opposition to the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program, including their firearm safety regimen and air rifle competitions. Please attend the Tuesday, February 10 meeting of the San Diego School Board to show your support, and if possible, speak in favor of, JROTC programs and our Second Amendment freedoms. The meeting will be held at 4:00 p.m. at the Eugene Brucker Education Center Auditorium located at 4100 Normal Street in San Diego. If you are unable to attend, please contact the members of the school board at (619) 725-5550 and respectfully voice your support. More contact information can be found here. To learn more about the extremist effort taking aim at JROTC in San Diego’s schools, please visit http://www.projectyano.org/educationnotarms/.
COLORADO: Pro-Gun Bill to be Heard in House Judiciary Committee Very Soon! At 1:30 p.m. on Monday, February 16, the House Judiciary Committee will hear House Bill 1180. HB 1180, sponsored by State Representative Steve King (R-54) will exempt Colorado concealed handgun permit holders from the background check requirement for the transfers of a firearm. Please contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee and urge them to support this important piece of legislation. Contact information can be found here.
Castle Doctrine Reform Bill Indefinitely Postponed Senate Bill 8 was indefinitely postponed in the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on Wednesday, January 28 by a vote of 3 to 1, with one person excused. Sponsored by State Senator Ted Harvey (R-30), SB8 would expand Colorado’s “Castle Doctrine” self-defense law. SB 8 would amend Colorado’s current version of Castle Doctrine to ensure that all citizens have a right to use force, including deadly force, against a violent attacker not only within their own dwellings, but their places of business as well. Thank you to all of the NRA members who called the Committee urging their support.
CONNECTICUT: All-Out Attack Waged on Shooting Ranges! The Connecticut Public Safety and Security Committee may soon consider proposed legislation that has the potential to shut down every shooting range in the state of Connecticut. The proposal would require range owners/operators to register with the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and allow the Commissioner to promulgate new range regulations at any time. Regardless of any new regulations, the Commissioner has the power to shut down a range without cause simply by deeming it “unsafe.” If the future implications of this proposal aren’t bad enough, it would also put almost every existing range out of business immediately for non-compliance under the standards set forth by this proposal. Make no mistake, the intent of this proposed legislation is to force the closure of existing ranges and to prevent any new ranges from opening. As you know, shooting ranges provide a valuable community service by providing law-abiding citizens with a safe place to shoot. Ranges used exclusively by law enforcement would be exempt from the regulations. If this is truly about safety, why should the range safety standards for law enforcement and civilians be any different? It is imperative that you contact your lawmakers today and respectfully ask them to oppose this proposed bill! As the Department of Public Safety serves at the pleasure of Governor Jodi Rell (R), it is also critical that you call her TODAY and urge her administration not to support this direct attack on law-abiding gun owners and recreational shooters. No bill number has been assigned yet, but we will keep you posted on any further action that is taken in the coming weeks. Please continue checking your email and www.NRAILA.org for updates. To contact Governor Jodi Rell call her at 860-566-4840 (Greater Hartford Area), 800-406-1527 or email [email protected]. For contact information for your State Representative, please click here. For contact information for your State Senator, please click here.
Package of Anti-Gun Bills Proposed This Week Governor Jodi Rell (R), State Senate Minority Leader John McKinney (R-28) and State House Minority Leader Larry Cafero (R-142), unveiled a package of proposals that will have an enormous negative impact on Connecticut’s hunters, sportsmen and law-abiding gun owners, both economically and otherwise. House Bill 6371 would double most hunting and fishing licenses and fees and eliminate the Conservation Fund, a fund spent on only wildlife conservation expenditures. Senate Bill 837, simply stated, would double pistols license fees. Finally, Senate Bill 839 would transfer operations of the currently independent Board of Firearm Permit Examiners to the Department of Public Safety. This action, if approved, would take away the autonomy of the Board and would mean that if an applicant were denied his license he would have to appeal to the very body, the Department of Public Safety, which rejected the application. Please call Governor Rell and your lawmakers TODAY and respectfully urge them to oppose these bills. Tell them that you feel it's unfair of them to balance the budget at the expense of your constitutional rights! For contact information for your State Representative, please click here. Please click here for contact information for your State Senator. Governor Rell can be reached by phone at 860-566-4840 (Greater Hartford Area), toll-free at 800-406-1527, or email [email protected].
ILLINOIS: Three Gun Bills Proposed in General Assembly With the removal from office of anti-gun Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) now complete, the Illinois General Assembly has begun focusing on other issues, including our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. We can anticipate many bills that will attack the Second Amendment, as well as some that will try to advance the rights of law-abiding gun owners. To learn about these bills and how to take action, please click here.
Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day! Please join your fellow Illinois gun owners for the annual Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day (IGOLD) on March 11, 2009, in Springfield! This is your opportunity to lobby your lawmakers directly and make a positive impact for all Illinois gun owners. Do not miss the largest gun rights rally and Second Amendment lobbying event in Illinois history! We need thousands of Illinois gun owners, hunters, sportsmen, and those who simply wish to defend their right to keep and bear arms to gather at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center. We will march down Capitol Avenue, rally on the Capitol steps, and then proceed inside to lobby legislators to make our presence known. There will be no mistaking that Illinois gun owners intend to stand up and speak out for our right to keep and bear arms in the state of Illinois! This will be one of the most important days of the year for Illinois gun owners!
For more information on IGOLD 2009, to sign-up online, or for more information on scheduled bus routes, please visit http://igold.isra.org/, or call the Illinois State Rifle Association at (815) 635-3198.
INDIANA: Worker Protection Bill to be Heard in Committee Next Week! At 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 11, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear Senate Bill 11, legislation guaranteeing a persons right to keep a firearm in their locked motor vehicle. SB 11, sponsored by State Senator Johnny Nugent (R-43), would prevent business’ and individuals from adopting or enforcing a policy or rule that prohibits an individual from legally possessing a firearm that is locked in the individual's vehicle while the vehicle is in or on the person's property. Please contact the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and respectfully urge them to support your Second Amendment Rights by passing SB 11. Contact information can be found here.
Campus Carry Bill Needs Your Help! Indiana's Senate Bill 12, sponsored by State Senator and NRA Board Member Johnny Nugent (R-43), is currently held up in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Without a committee hearing, Indiana's Campus Carry bill cannot move to the floor for a vote. SB 12 prohibits a state college or university from regulating in any manner the ownership, possession, carrying, or transportation of firearms or ammunition. This piece of legislation is necessary to guarantee the Second Amendment Rights of law-abiding gun owners in the Hoosier State. Please contact the Senate Judiciary Committee and respectfully indicate your desire to bring SB 12 for a committee hearing. Senator Johnny Nugent and Indiana's Campus Carry Bill are depending on you! Contact information for the Committee can be found here.
KENTUCKY: Greater Louisville Young Republicans to Host Second Amendment Panel Discussion This Monday, February 9, the Greater Louisville Young Republicans will host a Panel Discussion with local experts regarding the Second Amendment. Young Republicans hope that all of you can come, however, they tend to focus more on members between the ages of 18 and 40. JD Sparks, an NRA EVC, has helped arrange this event and hopes all NRA members will attend this open discussion on the Second Amendment and the future issues we may face in supporting our right to keep and bear arms. If you have any questions, please contact Christina Poole via email at [email protected]. The event will be held on Monday, February 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Louisville GOP Headquarters located at 232 W Muhammad Ali Blvd. in Louisville.
MARYLAND: Two Pro-Gun Bills Awaiting Action Before the House Judiciary Committee Two important pro-gun bills are awaiting consideration by the House Judiciary Committee. House Bill 332 would ensure that a person is not held criminally liable for damages or death of an individual who illegally enters the persons home or business to commit a crime. HB 322 will be heard on Thursday, February 12 at 1:00 p.m. Also, the Committee will consider House Bill 359 on Thursday, February 19 at 1:00 p.m. HB 359 would allow victims of spousal domestic abuse a temporary or final protective order to wear, carry or transport a concealed handgun and be issued a concealed carry permit by the Secretary of State Police. Please contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee today and respectfully urge them to support HB 332 and HB 359. Contact information can be found here.
MONTANA: Self-Defense Legislation to be Considered on Monday, February 9! The full House will consider House Bill 228 on Monday, February 9. It is critical that Montana NRA members and law-abiding gun owners contact their State Representatives to voice their support for the bill with no further amendments. House Bill 228, sponsored by State Representative Krayton Kerns (R-58), is a broad piece of legislation that provides a number of specific protections for law-abiding citizens. The provisions of HB 228 clarify and expand the fundamental right of self-defense and protect law abiding citizens from undue prosecution should they ever have to exercise the right. For more information on this bill and how to take action in support of it, please click here.
NEBRASKA: Two Pro-Gun Bills Awaiting Action in Lincoln As of Thursday, January 22, two NRA backed bills Legislative Bill 430 and Legislative Bill 490 have been introduced and assigned to committees. LB 430, sent to the Judiciary Committee, is an amendment made to the Concealed Handgun Permit Act, which would limit the power of cities and villages to regulate the ownership, possession, or transportation of firearms. This state law preempts any existing ordinances, permits or regulations regulating the ownership, possession or transportation of firearms. LB 430 would provide law-abiding citizens with more freedom and security to carry concealed firearms in the state of Nebraska. Assigned to the Natural Resources Committee, LB 490 would lower fees for hunting and fishing permits while extending the life on resident and non-resident permits. Please continue checking your email and www.NRAILA.org for updates on these bills.
NEW YORK: Anti-Freedom Bills Pending Action in Albany Two anti-gun bills are currently making their way through the New York Legislature. Introduced earlier this week was Senate Bill 1598, sponsored by State Senator Eric Schneiderman (D-31). This legislation targets law-abiding pistol license holders by requiring licenses be renewed every five years and would mandate that all applicants outside New York City complete training and a test before a license may be issued. Next week, the Senate Codes Committee will consider legislation (Senate Bill 1069) that will give the State Police broad authority to outlaw firearms based what they look like, how they are assembled, the materials they are made with and whether they are "readily" detectable by "standard security equipment." Please call your lawmakers TODAY and urge them to oppose S1589/A801 and S1069/AB4057. State Assembly Members can be reached by phone at (518) 455-4100. To find your Assembly Member, click here. Your State Senator can be contacted through the Senate switchboard at (518) 455-2800. To find your State Senator, please click here.
NEW MEXICO: House Committee Approves Restaurant Carry Bill! On Tuesday, February 3, the House Business & Industry Committee unanimously approved House Bill 105, NRA-backed legislation sponsored by State Representative John Heaton (D-Carlsbad). HB 105 would permit Concealed Handgun Licensees to protect themselves in establishments that are licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises IF the establishment derives more than 60% of their annual gross receipts from the sale of food. Thanks go out to the supporters of the measure who attended the hearing and provided clear, concise, and compelling testimony to the committee! Currently, concealed carry permit holders dining in restaurants that serve alcohol must leave their firearm at home or locked in their vehicle, where it is at risk of being stolen. Despite passing a background check and possessing a state issued permit to carry, law-abiding permit holders are forced to give up their right to self-defense when dining in establishments that serve alcohol. The need for this legislation is clear. HB 105 now moves to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration. NRA-ILA will keep you posted on the date, time and location of future hearings on the bill. The volume of phone calls and emails in support of HB 105 has been enormous. With the legislative session in full swing and many lawmakers working around the clock with little or no staff assistance, it’s time to target our message for optimum effectiveness! For more information about HB105 and how to take action on its behalf, please click here.
NORTH DAKOTA: Bill Permitting Right-to-Carry in State Parks to be Considered Next Week! On Thursday, February 12, the House Political Subdivisions Committee will hear House Bill 1389, legislation granting the Right-to-Carry in State Parks throughout North Dakota. On Friday, January 9 all those with valid conceal permits were granted the freedom to carry on national parks based on a ruling by the Department of the Interior. This ruling however did not grant these same people the ability to carry in their own State Parks. So while you are currently allowed to carry in National Parks in North Dakota, HB 1389, sponsored by State Representative Karen Karls (R-35), will grant those with valid conceal carry permits to carry in State Parks throughout North Dakota. Please contact the members of the House Political Subdivisions Committee listed and urge them to support HB 1389. Contact information can be found here.
Campus Carry Legislation to be Considered Next Week! North Dakota’s Campus Carry bill, House Bill 1348, sponsored by State Representative Duane DeKrey (R-14), remains in the House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee where it will be heard sometime next week. HB 1348, would prohibit a state college or university from regulating in any manner the ownership, possession, carrying, or transportation of firearms or ammunition. This piece of legislation is necessary to guarantee the Second Amendment Rights of law-abiding gun owners in North Dakota. Please contact the members of the House Government and Veterans Affairs committee and respectfully urge them to support this important piece of legislation. Contact information can be found here.
Elk Management Plan for Theodore Roosevelt National Park Released for Public Comment! Until recently, the National Park Service has used park staff or contract sharpshooters to reduce populations of elk and deer within national parks to achieve herd levels that the habitat can support. As a result of NRA's advocacy for the use of hunters to assist in such operations, the Service is now obligated to consider the use of skilled volunteers (e.g. hunters). The Elk Reduction Plan for Rocky Mountain National Park, CO is the first such plan to include skilled volunteers. The Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP) plan, which is open for public comment until Sunday, March 15, presents 6 action alternatives. Under Alternative B, skilled volunteers would become part of a pool of available personnel that could assist in the culling operations. Under Alternative E, the Service would look at ways to enhance elk hunting opportunities outside the park, in cooperation with the North Dakota Game & Fish Department, the U.S. Forest Service, and adjacent landowners. Public meetings will be held although specific dates and locations have not been announced. The draft plan is available at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/thro. You may submit your comments using the above website or mail your comments to Superintendent Valerie Naylor, TRNP, Box 7, Medora, ND 58645-0007. Hunters are considered the first conservationists and have been a valuable asset to wildlife managers in keeping wildlife in balance with its habitat and other natural resources. We encourage you to comment on the draft plan and support the use of hunters at TRNP, as well as supporting efforts by the Service and the state of North Dakota to enhance hunting opportunities outside the park.
SOUTH DAKOTA: Pro-Gun Bill Passes Senate, Moves to House On Tuesday, January 20, Senate Bill 70 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously. It was then sent to the full Senate on Wednesday, where it passed by a vote of 34-0. At this time though, it has yet to be scheduled for a reading in the House. Sponsored by State Senator Larry Rhoden (R-29), SB 70 will remove the mandatory post-purchase 48-hour waiting period that was previously in place for those who did not have a valid permit to carry a concealed pistol. We will continue to keep you updated on the progress of SB70. Please continue checking your email and www.NRAILA.org for updates. Thank you to all NRA members who contacted the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of SB 70.
TENNESSEE: City of Crossville Capitulating on Right-to-Carry Assault The city of Crossville has postponed a city ordinance that would ban concealed carry on city-owned property. Thanks to your phone calls to voice your concern, the city of Crossville has decided to reconsider this ordinance. Currently they have simply moved the final reading to a later date while they review the proposed legislation one more time. Please continue contacting the members of the City Council to voice your opposition. Contact information can be found here.
Show Your Pride With an NRA License Plate! The Tennessee 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 freedoms. Your support of this program will help ensure hunting and shooting traditions in the Volunteer State for generations to come. To learn how to get one of these special license plates, please click here.
TEXAS: Important Right-to-Carry Reform Bill Introduced! Last month, the Legislature convened for its 81st Regular Session and pro-Second Amendment legislation continues to be filed to benefit law-abiding gun owners in Texas. State Representative Carl Isett (R-Lubbock) has introduced House Bill 410, a measure repealing the requirement that Concealed Handgun Licensees display their carry license if they are in possession of a handgun and are stopped by a law enforcement officer who requests identification. Under current law, failure by CHLs to display their carry licenses in these situations could lead to licenses being suspended for 90 days. When HB 1815 by Representative Isett and State Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (D-McAllen) passed and was signed into law in 2007, it legalized the carrying of handguns in private motor vehicles by non-CHLs, and it contained no similar "notice" requirement. HB 410 would remove the double-standard "notice" requirement that remains imposed by law on CHLs. Please contact your State Representatives and respectfully urge them to sign on as co-authors to HB 410. Contact information for House members can be found at http://www.house.state.tx.us.
VIRGINIA: Gun Tax Hike Heads to Senate Floor! On Wednesday, February 4, the Senate Finance Committee approved Senate Bill 1166. SB1166 now heads to the full Senate for its consideration. Sponsored by State Senator John Watkins (R-10), this bill would increase the gun tax charged by the Virginia State Police to run the mandatory background check from $2 to $5, a 150% increase for Virginia residents. For non-state residents, the legislation mandates an increase of 60%, from $5 to $8. It is imperative that you contact your State Senator TODAY at their Richmond office at (800) 889-0229 or (804) 698-1990 and ask them to oppose Senate Bill 1166. More contact information for your State Senator can be found by clicking here.
Right-to-Carry Reform Measure Passes Virginia Senate, Moves to House! On Tuesday, February 3, the Virginia Senate passed Senate Bill 1035 by a 24-16 vote. The bill now heads to the House. Sponsored by Senator Emmett Hanger, Jr. (R-24), SB1035 would permit a Right-to-Carry permit holder to carry a concealed firearm into a restaurant, provided they notify a designated employee that they posses a concealed handgun and do not consume any alcohol. This bill is similar to last year’s bill that was passed and ultimately vetoed by Governor Tim Kaine (D). Currently, concealed carry permit holders dining in restaurants that serve alcohol must leave their firearm at home or locked in their vehicle, where it is at risk of being stolen. Despite passing a background check and possessing a state issued permit to carry, law-abiding permit holders are forced to give up their right to self-defense when dining in establishments that serve alcohol. The need for this legislation is clear. Please contact your State Representative TODAY in Richmond at (804) 698-1990 and respectfully urge them to support SB1035. More contact information can be found by clicking here.
Four Pro-Gun Bills Head to House Floor! The Virginia House Militia Police sub-committee passed four bills of importance to gun-owners on Thursday, February 5. House Bill 1655 would require a court to award attorney fees, expenses and court costs to any person or entity that prevails in a action challenging an ordinance or administrative action taken in bad faith that violates Virginia's firearm preemption law. This bill is similar to one that already passed in the Senate Courts of Justice Civil sub-committee. House Bill 1851 would exempt active duty members of the United States Armed Forces or Virginia National Guard from Virginia's “one-gun-a-month” law. House Bill 2144 protects those with concealed handgun permits from public disclosure. Information would still be available to law-enforcement agencies in course of investigation, and non-identifying statistical info is available to the public. House Bill 2528 would establish that no locality or entity may participate in a gun buy-back program where individuals are given a thing of value or money in exchange for surrendering a firearm to the locality unless the governing body passes an ordinance authorizing a gun buy back. The ordinance shall require that such firearms be sold by public auction or by a sealed bid to Federal Firearms Licensees. Please continue checking your email and www.NRAILA.org for updates on these bills.
Anti-Gun Show Bill Defeated For a Second Time in Virginia Senate On Wednesday, February 4, the Virginia State Senate voted down a bill for the second time in two days that would have imposed sweeping restrictions on Second Amendment rights at gun shows by an 19-21 vote. The National Rifle Association strongly opposed this bill. “This is a victory for law abiding gun owners in Virginia. This bill would have given gun ban advocates a platform to call for future bans on all private firearm sales,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA chief lobbyist. “Eradicating community gun shows has been a top priority for the gun control lobby and we are grateful that this scheme was rejected in Virginia.” Senate Bill 1257 would have required that all firearms transactions taking place at gun shows be subjected to background checks – even those occurring between family and friends. Any violations would have been considered a felony. Gun show promoters would have been mandated to register anyone selling a firearm at a gun show as a ‘vendor,’ including private citizens, and transmit that information to law enforcement who would maintain that public registry for four years. “Because of the grassroots efforts of NRA members in Virginia and the steadfast support by a bi-partisan majority of state senators, gun owners are victors today,” concluded Chris W. Cox, NRA chief lobbyist.
