Zero Tolerance, Zero Common Sense
Here we go again. In yet another case of over reactive, one-size-fits-all, “zero-tolerance,” zero-common sense enforcement, Marie Morrow, an honors student and drill-team commander in the Young Marines, was recently expelled from school. Her crime? She left three rifle-shaped drill team props in the back of her car at Cherokee Trail High School in Aurora, Colo. Colorado law mandates expulsion for any student found with a “dangerous weapon” on school grounds, which includes “a firearm facsimile that could reasonably be mistaken for an actual firearm.”
The non-operative rifle props are used during drill routines, where the facsimiles are spun and tossed. The props are made of wood and plastic, are heavily duct-taped and, of course, cannot function and were never intended to. Morrow had brought them to school because she was preparing for a competition at the Air Force Academy in April and planned to attend a practice right after school.
Outrage Of The Week: This week’s outrage comes from Beaver Dam, Wis., where Beaver Dam school officials placed middle school teacher Betsy Ramsdale on administrative leave, following the discovery of a photograph of the teacher with a firearm on the teacher’s personal “Facebook” page. A “concerned” staff member at the school where Ramsdale works brought the photo to the attention of school district officials.
Rumors and the Economic Stimulus Bill: We have been hearing many rumors, and receiving many inquiries, about “buried” provisions in the federal economic stimulus bill that would negatively affect our Second Amendment rights. People have claimed the bill would designate interstate highways as national parks, or impose ammunition encoding and new ammunition taxes. Fortunately, and contrary to what you may have heard, there are no provisions in this bill prohibiting firearms or ammunition anywhere, or for anyone.
Canadian Shooting Sports Association Lauds Bill To End Long Gun Registry: This week, the Canadian Shooting Sports Association (CSSA) pledged its support for a Private Members Bill that would bring to an end Canada’s much-maligned “Long Gun Registry.”
Volunteers Needed In Phoenix For 2009 NRA Annual Meetings: The 2009 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits will be an exciting weekend, as thousands of NRA members will come together May 15-17, 2009, in Phoenix, AZ. You can contribute to the success of our meeting by participating as an Annual Meeting Volunteer.
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 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 our Second Amendment right to arms is unalienable!
Grassroots Minute Video:
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.
Right-to-Carry Reform Bill Proposed! House Bill 2420 has been proposed in the Arizona Legislature, but due to a budget crisis, it has yet been assigned to a committee. HB2420 clarifies that a Right-to-Carry permit holder may carry a gun in a closed purse while traveling in a car, without putting passengers without permits in legal jeopardy. As the law now stands in Arizona, if a Right-to-Carry permit holder is carrying a firearm concealed in a purse in a vehicle, the passengers without permits could be in violation of the law. Please contact your State Representative and State Senator TODAY and respectfully urge them to support HB2420. Contact information for your State Representative can be found by clicking here. To find contact information for your State Senator, please click here.
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.
Does Your Employer Hinder Your Second Amendment Rights? Do you carry a firearm for self-defense, training, practice, competitive shooting, or hunting? If you answered, “YES” to any of the reasons listed above, then you may be at risk at losing your job or worse, your Constitutional Rights as an American citizen. Businesses, not only in Arizona, but around the nation are trying to stop law-abiding gun owners from keeping their legally owned firearm stored in their personal vehicles. NRA is looking for information from you to help protect your rights and the rights of others to keep a firearm in a personal vehicle. Please send us a copy of any memo, letter, email, policy manual or any other communication from your employer, which discriminates against you and other gun owners wishing to keep a firearm safely locked in a vehicle. House Bill 2474, sponsored by State Representatives John Kavanagh (R-8) and Frank Antenori (R-30), would protect your right to lawfully transport and store firearms in your privately- owned locked motor vehicle while parked in publicly accessible parking lots controlled by your employer or a business you frequent. If you are willing to testify in legislative hearings about this issue, please let us know. Please click here for more information.
ARKANSAS: House Passes Bill Permitting Right-to-Carry in Churches On Thursday February 11, House Bill 1237, authored by pro-gun State Representative Beverly Pyle (R-83), passed through the Arkansas House by a vote of 57 to 42 and was assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. HB 1237 would permit churches to decide for themselves whether they will allow Right-to-Carry permit holders to carry their firearms when attending church. Currently, state law singles out churches as the only private property where firearms are prohibited. Please contact the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and respectfully urge them to support this important piece of legislation. Committee members can be contacted through the email addresses listed here or via phone at (501) 682-2902.
Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment Continues Rolling Forward On Wednesday February 10, Senate Joint Resolution 3, introduced by pro-gun State Senator Steve Faris (D-27), was amended to include NRA-supported language and now has the support of both the NRA and the Arkansas Fish and Game Commission. SJR 3 would amend the Constitution of the State of Arkansas to recognize that the people have a right to hunt and fish. Passage of SJR 3 by the General Assembly would allow the voters of Arkansas to decide if hunting and fishing will be protected for future generations. This measure is critical, as anti-hunting groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) will one day turn their sights on Arkansas in their efforts to eliminate our nation’s long-standing traditions of hunting and fishing. Please contact your State Representative and State Senator and urge them to support SJR 3 and guarantee the future of Hunting and Fishing in the Razorback State. To find contact information for your State Legislators, please click here.
Anti-Gun Bill Stuck in Committee! House Bill 1215 remains in the tied up in the Senate Judiciary Committee, where a hearing date has yet to be set. Please continue to contact the members of the committee and urge them to oppose this divisive piece of legislation. 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. Committee members can be contacted through the email addresses listed here or via phone at (501) 682-2902.
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.
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].
San Diego School Board Dissolves JROTC Shooting Program! On Tuesday, February 10, the San Diego School Board voted to shutter the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) shooting program in schools. Please contact the members of the school board at (619) 725-5550 and respectfully voice your disapproval with their action. As we reported, anti-gun and anti-military zealots are spearheading this movement. To learn more about the extremist effort taking aim at JROTC in California’s schools, please visit http://www.projectyano.org/educationnotarms/. More contact information can be found here.
COLORADO: Pro-Gun Bill to be Heard in House Judiciary Committee Next Week! 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.
CONNECTICUT: “Micro-Stamping” Legislation Raised by the Joint Committee on Judiciary! On Monday, February 9, the Joint Committee on Judiciary met to consider the issue of “micro-stamping” technology and its potential use on firearms. After discussing the issue, the bill was “raised.” Micro-stamping is an unproven technology that would require identifying information (such as the make, model, and serial number) of a firearm to be etched into the firing pin and breech face in such a manner that those identifiers are imprinted on the cartridge case upon firing. The technology can easily be defeated with common household tools, has no public safety value, and adds substantially to the cost of the firearm. This is a “raised” bill, which means the concept was discussed and the committee voted in favor of drafting a bill for consideration. A bill number has not yet been designated. We will be sure to provide further details when drafting is complete and a hearing date is set. Please continue to check your e-mail and www.NRAILA.org for further updates.
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 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 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].
IDAHO: Pro-Gun Bill on the Move! On Thursday, February 12, House Bill 65 was unanimously passed out of the House State Affairs Committee. It now heads to the House floor for consideration. Sponsored by State Representative Joe Palmer (R-20A), this pro-gun bill would permit law-abiding Idahoans to purchase firearms in non-contiguous states. It would also permit non-residents to purchase long guns in Idaho. As the law currently stands, residents of Idaho can only purchase firearms from immediately surrounding states. With the passage of HB65 a resident of Idaho would now be allowed to purchase a firearm in any of the 49 other states. This bill affects only rifles and shotguns, as federal law prohibits interstate handgun sales. Handguns can only be purchased from a dealer in one’s state of residence. An additional benefit is that out-of-state visitors would be able to purchase long guns while in Idaho, which would increase sales tax revenue generated firearms purchases. We will keep you alerted as to when there is any further movement on HB65. Please continue to check www.NRAILA.org and your e-mail for updates throughout the legislative session.
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: Important Worker Protection Bill Heading to Senate Floor! Senate Bill 11, sponsored by NRA Board Member and State Senator, Johnny Nugent, passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee by a 6-2 vote. Thank you for contacting the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and requesting a hearing for Indiana's Parking Lot/Worker Protection Bill. SB 11 now heads to the full Senate for a floor vote next week. It is imperative that you call your State Senator TODAY and ask them to support this very important legislation. Despite claims that this legislation would violate Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines, a recent letter from the U.S. Department of Labor Acting Assistant Secretary proclaimed that Parking Lot bills, “do not on their face pose a conflict with the general duty clause or purpose of the OSH Act.” Please read the whole of the OSHA letter here: http://www.nraila.org/media/PDFs/OSHAParkingLotLtr01162009.pdf. Please contact your State Senator and urge him or her to support the important piece of legislation. Your can find their contact information by clicking 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.
MARYLAND: Numerous Pro-Gun and Pro-Hunting Bills to be Heard Soon! There are several pro-gun and pro-hunting bills making their way through the Maryland Legislature that will be considered in the coming days. Dates have yet to be scheduled. For more information about these bills and how to take action in support of them, 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 JERSEY: “One-Gun-A-Month” Rationing Bill Could Be Considered Next Week! Anti-gun advocates are working hard to have S1774 considered in the New Jersey Senate as early as next week. This bill would prohibit law-abiding citizens who have already undergone an extensive criminal background check from purchasing more than one handgun within a 30-day period. This anti-freedom bill places arbitrary limits on our Second Amendment rights and would set a dangerous precedent. If passed, this bill gives anti-gun extremists carte blanche to further hinder your right to purchase firearms. Next it could be one rifle or shotgun per 30-day period or even one handgun per six months or year. It is critical that this legislation be defeated. It is imperative that you stand-up and make your voice heard! Please contact your State Senator TODAY and respectfully urge them to oppose this unwarranted and unjustified attack on our Second Amendment freedoms. Contact information for your State Senator can be found by clicking here.
NEW MEXICO: House Committee Approves Restaurant Carry Bill! As we previously reported, 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 its 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.
NEW YORK: Anti-Gun Bill Held in Committee This week, Senate Bill 1069, introduced by State Senator Carl Kruger (D-27) was held in the Senate Codes Committee. S1069 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." The bill (as well as its companion, Assembly Bill 4057) does not provide a definition of "standard security equipment" and does not contain any testing procedures, thus allowing the Superintendent of the State Police the sole discretion to arbitrarily decide which guns should be banned. This could have major implications for the availability of all types of firearms in New York State. We will keep you posted if there is any further activity on S1069/A4057. We encourage our members to please call your lawmakers TODAY and urge them to oppose S1069/A4057. 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.
Anti-Freedom Bill Pending Action in Albany Introduced recently 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. Please call your lawmakers TODAY and urge them to oppose S1589/A801. 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.
NORTH CAROLINA: Show Your Pride With an NRA License Plate! In August of 2005, Governor Mike Easley (D) signed into law Senate Bill 464, which established a National Rifle Association license plate for North Carolina motor vehicles. Before the plates will become a reality, we need 300 North Carolinians to commit to purchasing them. While we currently have over 200 members signed up we still need more signatures. Don’t make your fellow members wait any longer, call the number listed below and find out how you too can get you own NRA license plate today. This is a great way for members to show their support for our Second Amendment rights and the NRA. Please contact the NRA Western North Carolina Field Representative, Doug Merrill, at (828) 628-0410, for more information on obtaining an NRA plate. You will need to submit a check for $10.00 for a standard plate, or $40.00 for a personalized plate, in addition to filling out an application.
NORTH DAKOTA: 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.
OKLAHOMA: Campus Carry Bill Stalled in Committee House Bill 1083, sponsored by State Representative Jason Murphey (R-31), is currently held up in the House Public Safety Committee. Without a committee hearing, Oklahoma's Campus Carry bill cannot move to the floor for a vote. Time is running out for a hearing on this bill! HB 1083 permits faculty members and Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) certified and Self Defense Act (SDA) license holders to carry concealed firearms on college and university campus property. This piece of legislation is an important expansion of Oklahoma’s Right-to-Carry freedoms. Please contact the House Public Safety Committee and respectfully indicate your desire to bring HB 1083 for a committee hearing. Representative Murphey and Oklahoma's Campus Carry Bill are depending on you! Contact information for the Committee can be found here.
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: Memphis News Site Publishes Tennessee Concealed Carry Permit Holder List A Memphis based online news website, CommercialAppeal.com, has posted Tennessee’s right to carry permit holder list online! CommercialAppeal.com apparently feels that the “public’s right to know” outweighs your right to privacy. Their irresponsible decision to publish this list has made it easier for criminals to target law-abiding gun owners. Shockingly when the list was first published, it even included permit holders home address! However, bowing to criticism, CommercialAppeal.com removed the address but still included a permit holder’s full name, birth date, city, zip code, and the issue and expiration date of their permit. Let’s keep the pressure on to have this list removed completely by contacting CommercialAppeal.com IMMEDIATELY, as well as its President and Publisher, Joseph Pepe. CommercialAppeal.com can be reached at (901) 529-2345 or 1-800-444-6397. Joseph Pepe, President and Publisher can be reached at (901) 529-2205 or via email by clicking here. Also, contact your State Legislators TODAY and respectfully urge them to support concealed carry permit holder confidentiality legislation. To find contact information for your State Legislators, please click here. To read NRA Chief Lobbyist and Tennessee native Chris Cox’s letter to the Commercial Appeal, please click here. Also, please vote in the WMCTV.com Memphis web poll located half way down the page at: http://www.wmctv.com/.
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.
VIRGINIA: Gun Tax Hike Passes Senate, Heads to House in the Old Dominion On Monday, February 9, the Virginia Senate passed Senate Bill 1166 by a 27-13 vote. SB1166 now heads to the House where it awaits a committee assignment. 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. Once SB1166 is assigned to a House committee, we will let you know where to direct your efforts in opposition. Please continue checking your email and www.NRAILA.org for updates on this bill.
Three Pro-Gun Bills Advancing in the Virginia General Assembly! Earlier this week, the Virginia House of Delegates passed House Bill 2528 and House Bill1655. Both bills now move to the Senate where they await a committee assignment. HB 2528, introduced by Delegate Mark Cole (R-88), would establish that no locality or entity may participate in a gun “buyback” 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 “buyback.” The legislation also requires that any locality holding gun "buybacks" sell the firearms to a federally licensed dealer. In many cases those firearms are destroyed. HB1655, authored by Delegate Charles Carrico (R-5), would require a court to award reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and court costs to any entity that prevails in an action challenging an ordinance, resolution, motion, or administrative action as being in conflict with a locality's authority to control firearms. This legislation will help protect Virginia’s preemption statute which reserves to the Commonwealth the right to regulate firearms. Also, passed this week was Senate Bill 1513, the companion to HB1655. This bill now heads to the House where it awaits a committee assignment. Thank you to the NRA members who answered the call and contacted their State Legislators in support of these bills. Once these bills are assigned to committees we will let you know where to direct your efforts in support. Until then, please keep checking your email and www.NRAILA.org for updates.
