Federal Court Sides With NRA and Workers
This week, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously in support of an Oklahoma law allowing employees to store legally owned firearms in locked, private motor vehicles while parked in employer parking lots. This decision upholds NRA-backed legislation passed in 2004.
“This is a victory for the millions of American workers who have been denied the right to protect themselves while commuting between their homes and their workplace,” said NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. “Their effort to overturn the law was aimed at skirting the will of the American people, and the intent of legislatures across this country while eviscerating Right-to-Carry laws. This ruling is a slap at the corporate elitists who have no regard for the constitutional rights of law abiding American workers.”
University Opens Off-Campus Range For Student Use: Kudos to Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, where it was recently announced that students will be allowed to use the university’s off-campus firearm ranges to shoot. The two ranges, used primarily to train the university’s police officers, will permit the use of rifles, shotguns, and handguns during designated shooting hours.
Rumors and the Economic Stimulus Bill: As we reported last week, we are still receiving many inquiries about supposed provisions in the federal economic stimulus bill that would negatively affect our Second Amendment rights. These include rumors that 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.
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.
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.
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.)
ALABAMA: Emergency Powers Legislation Passes House, Heads to Senate! Yesterday, House Bill 225, introduced by State Representative Marc Keahey (D-65), passed the House by a vote of 101-0. It now moves to the Senate where it awaits a committee assignment. HB 225 would protect our Second Amendment rights by prohibiting any government agency from confiscating or regulating the lawful sale, possession, transfer, transport and carry of firearms during a state of emergency, such as occurred in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Please contact your State Senator TODAY and respectfully urge them to vote for HB 225. Please click here to find contact information for your State Senator.
Several Pro-Gun, Pro-Hunting Measures Advancing in Alabama! Four pro-gun, pro-hunting bills are currently making their way through the Alabama Legislature. House Bill 362, sponsored by State Representative Craig Ford (D-28) is awaiting consideration by the House Commerce Committee. This pro-gun bill states that no person or employer may prohibit a law-abiding citizen from possessing a firearm in a locked motor vehicle while parked on private property. House Bill 225 was passed unanimously yesterday by the House, 101-0. It now moves to the Senate where it awaits a committee assignment. Introduced by State Representative Marc Keahey (D-65), HB 225 would protect our Second Amendment rights by prohibiting any government agency from confiscating or regulating the lawful sale, possession, transfer, transport and carry of firearms during a state of emergency, such as occurred in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Yesterday, House Bill 432 was passed by the House Judiciary Committee. It now heads to the House floor for a vote. This pro-gun bill, sponsored by State Representative Jack Page (D-29), would require that records relating to pistol permits would be kept from public disclosure and made available for law enforcement purposes only. House Bill 328 successfully passed out of the House Agriculture and Forestry Committee. The bill now moves to the House floor for consideration. HB 328, “no-net-loss” legislation, will ensure hunters in the state of Alabama that their vast hunting acreage will never decrease. This bill requires that the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources maintain the level of available public hunting land that currently exists. Simply stated, it requires that additional lands be opened to hunting if land that is currently open to hunting is closed. Please continue checking your email and www.NRAILA.orgfor updates on these bills. We will alert you when and if the need for action arises.
ALASKA: Anti-Hunting Ordinance Defeated in Gustavus, Alaska! On Thursday, February 12, the Gustavus City Council defeated a proposed ordinance to ban the discharge of centerfire rifles within 300 feet of any road. This ordinance was being pushed as a “safety” measure but it really was nothing more than an anti-hunting effort. As you will recall, the Council passed an illegal and unenforceable ordinance last July outlawing the taking of big game within 300 feet of a city-maintained road. Thank you to all of the NRA members who answered the call in opposition to this outrageous attack on our Second Amendment freedoms. Without you, this victory would not have been possible.
ARIZONA: 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.
Worker Protection Bill Pending Action House Bill 2474, sponsored by State Representatives John Kavanagh (R-8) and Frank Antenori (R-30), is currently pending in the Arizona State Legislature. HB 2474 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. On Wednesday, February 18, the Tenth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld an Oklahoma statute that protects the rights of employees to store firearms in locked vehicles in publicly accessible parking lots. The proposed Arizona bill is very similar to the Oklahoma law and should withstand any similar challenges that might be launched. Click here for the Oklahoma alert. Please call your State Legislator TODAY and help get HB 2474 signed into law by respectfully urging them to support HB 2474. Contact information for your State Representative can be found by clicking here. To find contact information for your State Senator, please click here.
Bill Proposed to Change Requirements to Become Fish & Game Commissioner House Bill 2235, sponsored by State Representatives Jerry Weiers (R-12), David Gowan (R-30), Steve Montenegro (R-12) and Daniel Patterson (D-29), is currently in the House of Representatives Natural Resources and Rural Affairs Committee. HB 2235 will change the requirements to become a fish and game commissioner to ensure that true hunters are being represented on the board. This bill would require that prospective appointees have possessed a hunting or fishing license for at least 5 of the last 7 years. This regulation ensures that hunters are making decisions for other hunters and appointees would have a true understanding of Arizona’s rich hunting heritage. HB 2235 will be heard in committee on Monday, February 23 and it needs the NRA’s support to pass. We have an opportunity to bolster hunting and we need your help. Please call the members of the House of Representatives Natural Resources and Rural Affairs Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to support HB 2235.
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 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 while 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 has been assigned to 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 and 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 and 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 and 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].
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 deadline for this bill to pass out of the committee is rapidly approaching. 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.
“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.
Package of Anti-Gun Legislation Could Be Heard Soon! Connecticut lawmakers could soon consider a package of proposals unveiled by Governor Jodi Rell (R), State Senate Minority Leader John McKinney (R-28) and State House Minority Leader Larry Cafero (R-142). These proposals will have an enormous negative impact on Connecticut's hunters, sportsmen and law-abiding gun owners, both economically and otherwise. House Bill 6371 is currently in the Joint Committee on Environment and 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 is in the Joint Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding and simply stated, would double pistols license fees. Senate Bill 839 is in the Joint Committee on Government Administration and Elections and 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 contact 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. 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.
Attack on Right-to-Carry Pending in Idaho! Senate Bill 1112 amends existing laws relating to daycare licenses in the state of Idaho and has a provision that infringes upon your Second Amendment Rights. If you are a parent and you value your right to protect yourself and your children, we need your help to defeat this bill! Originally, Senator Corder sought NRA’s advice on drafting legislation and was supplied with suitable language that would have protected the self-defense rights of law-abiding Idahoans. Senator Corder changed our recommended language and now the bill inhibits your rights to possess a firearm. SB1112 would make it illegal for a mother picking up her child to be carrying a handgun in her vehicle if it were determined the parking lot were part of “the premises,” even if she had a permit to carry. A spouse or family member of an in-home daycare facility who holds a Right-to-Carry permit would be prohibited from returning home during “normal operating hours” with their firearm. This would even apply to citizens who carry as a work requirement, such as a security guard. NRA strongly opposes SB1112 as the language stands now. Please contact the members of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to oppose SB1112. Contact information can be found here.
INDIANA: Indiana Parking Lot/Worker Protection Bill Passes Senate, Heads to House! Earlier this week, the Indiana Senate passed Senate Bill 11 by a 42-8 vote. The bill now heads to the House where it awaits a committee assignment. SB 11, sponsored by State Senator Johnny Nugent (R-43), would prevent businesses and individuals from adopting or enforcing a policy/rule that prohibits a law-abiding citizen from legally possessing a firearm locked in their motor vehicle while on private property. Please continue checking your email and www.NRAILA.org for updates on this bill.
MARYLAND: Anti-Gun Bill Pending Action in the Maryland Senate! Senate Bill 144 was introduced last month and now awaits action in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. Simply put, SB144 requires subjects of final and temporary protective orders to surrender their firearms to law enforcement until the order expires. Unlike the federal law that prohibits gun possession in these circumstances, this bill would allow seizure even after a hearing where the person being restrained had no opportunity to participate, and requires guns to be seized by police; federal law allows a person to find other places to dispose of his guns while an order is in effect. Information from the governor’s office, as reported by WBAL TV, states that there are in excess of 6,700 final protective orders and 382 temporary orders on file with the state. Only 75, barely over 1%, involve gun owners. Though domestic abuse is undeniably tragic, this legislation is an unnecessary overreaction. Under this bill, a victim of false allegations who had no opportunity to contest those charges in court cannot defend himself at home or simply possess his own guns for any other lawful purpose. Please continue checking your email and www.NRAILA.org for updates on this bill.
Two Important Maryland Pro-Gun Bills to be Heard on Tuesday! Two important pieces of pro-gun legislation will be heard on Tuesday, February 24 in the House Judiciary Committee. House Bill 470 would repeal the requirement that the Secretary of State Police find that a person has a good and substantial reason to wear, carry, or transport a handgun before issuing a handgun permit. HB 470 is a bi-partisan bill that will ensure Maryland citizens are afforded the right to self-defense enjoyed by citizens in 40 other states. House Bill 682 would require that the Secretary of State Police issue a permit to carry, wear, or transport a handgun within a reasonable time to a person who has successfully completed the Federal Flight Deck Officer Program of the Transportation Security Administration. Please contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to support HB 470 and HB 682. Contact information can be found here.
MISSISSIPPI: NRA-Backed Legislation Advancing! Two important pieces of NRA-backed legislation have passed the Senate and could be considered by the House Judiciary B Committee at any time. Senate Bill 2036 sponsored by State Senator Merle Flowers (R) would amend the state's emergency powers laws to create additional protections for law-abiding citizens against the confiscation of privately-owned firearms during a future state of emergency or natural disaster. Senate Bill 2306, also introduced by Flowers, repeals a prohibition in the state's Right-to-Carry law on permit holders possessing handguns in certain parks. The current statute makes no distinction between national, state or local parks. Unless this bill passes, permit holders in Mississippi and reciprocal states will not benefit from the recent rule change adopted by the Department of the Interior allowing them to carry in national parks located within the state's boundaries. Please contact members of the House Judiciary B Committee via email and urge them to support SB 2036 & SB 2306. Contact information can be found here.
NEW JERSEY: New Jersey Senate to Consider “One-Gun-A-Month” Bill The New Jersey Senate is scheduled to vote on S1774 next Monday, February 23.
Simply stated, this bill would prohibit an individual from purchasing more than one handgun within a 30-day period. The state already requires an individual to first obtain a permit to purchase – a process which includes an extensive criminal background check and a minimum of 30 days to complete. This bill, as proposed, is just another step that anti-gun legislators are trying to take to erode our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. 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 undermine 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: New Mexico Senate Files Restaurant Carry Legislation! State Senator George Munoz (D-4) has introduced Senate Bill 608, a measure that 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 a majority of its annual gross receipts from the sale of food. The measure is somewhat similar to House Bill 105, sponsored by State Representative John Heaton (D-55), which is currently in the House Judiciary Committee. SB 608 has been referred to the Senate Corporations & Transportation Committee. Please contact the committee members listed below at their capitol offices and urge them to support SB 608. Remind them that it is already unlawful to carry a firearm while under the influence of alcohol, and that Concealed Handgun Licensees should not be denied their right to self-defense just because other patrons of a dining establishment can legally choose to consume alcoholic beverages on the premises. Also, House Bill 105 has not yet been set for a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee. Please continue contacting the members of the House Judiciary Committee and respectfully urge them to support HB 105 and to ask the Chairman to set the bill for a hearing. Contact information for both committees can be found here.
NEW YORK: Legislature Considering Pistol License Bills! State Senator Eric Schneiderman (D-31), Chairman of the Codes Committee, has introduced Senate Bill 1598, legislation similar to Assembly Bill 801, that directly targets New York’s law-abiding pistol license holders by requiring licenses be renewed every five years. In addition, it would mandate that all applicants outside New York City complete training and a test before a license may be issued. Keep in mind that a license is required in New York State simply to possess a handgun and in many cases licensees are only allowed to keep a handgun in their homes or businesses or to travel to and from the range. This would mean that most qualified New Yorkers would be required to undergo training and a test still to be denied the right to carry a firearm for the purpose of self-defense. If this proposal is approved, gun owners can expect that a process that is already unfair in most parts of the state will become more so. Please call your lawmakers TODAY and urge them to oppose S1598/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: Pro-Gun Advancement Passes House! The North Dakota House of Representatives passed House Bill 1348, sponsored by State Representative Duane DeKrey, by a 48-46 vote Wednesday, February 18. The original legislation would have allowed concealed carry permit holders to carry on university campuses in North Dakota, removing such facilities from the prohibited list. However, the bill was amended significantly in House action. HB 1348 now addresses a different issue, instead focusing on a storage problem for students who were forced to check their firearms into security "storage lockers" which have become full. The bill allows students to store their guns in campus apartments and also permits the guns in those parking lots. The legislation does not deal with campus dorms or fraternities and sororities. HB 1348 now moves to the Senate, but it has not been assigned to a committee yet. Please continue to check your email and www.nraila.org for further updates.
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.
OREGON: Right-to-Carry Reform Bill to be Heard on Tuesday! On Tuesday, February 24, the Oregon House Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on House Bill 2463, NRA-backed Right-to-Carry Reciprocity legislation sponsored by State Representative Arnie Roblan (D-9) and State Representative Wayne Krieger (R-1). The committee will meet at 1:00 p.m. in Room 357 of the State Capitol in Salem. This important legislation will not only grant persons holding out-of-state permits the right to carry a concealed handgun in Oregon - it will also increase the number of states in which Oregon Concealed Handgun Licenses (CHL) are legally recognized. Please contact the House Judiciary Committee and urge them to support HB 2463. Let them know that 37 different states offer some form of reciprocity or recognition for out-of-state carry licenses and Oregon should join them! Contact information can be found here.
TENNESSEE: Memphis News Site Publishes Tennessee Concealed Carry Permit Holder List As we reported last week, 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 permit holders’ address but still included their 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/.
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 order one of these special license plates, please click here.
TEXAS: Attention Texas Gun Owners: Employee Protection/Parking Lot Companion Legislation Filed in House This Week! Last week we reported to you that State Senator Glenn Hegar (R-Katy) had introduced Senate Bill 730, NRA-backed legislation allowing employees to store legally-owned firearms in their locked, private motor vehicles while parked at work. This week, State Representative Stephen Frost (D- Atlanta) filed House Bill 1301, the House companion bill to SB 730! Like SB 730, HB 1301 would prevent employers from making you choose between your personal safety and keeping your job. Big business and industry representatives will pull out all the stops to defeat this measure. It's time to find out whether your State Representatives stand with corporate executives who make decisions about your personal safety from a boardroom, or whether your elected officials stand with hard-working Texans who simply wish to exercise their right to lawfully transport firearms in their cars and trucks -- a right recognized under state law that employers' "No Firearms" policies clearly conflict with. Please call your State Representative in their capitol office and respectfully urge them to co-author and support HB 1301. Be sure to let your State Representative know that the Oklahoma and Louisiana Legislatures have already passed similar laws; it's time that the Texas Legislature do the same. Contact information for House members can be found by clicking here. If you don't know who your State Representative is, you can use the "Find Your Legislator" tool at the same web address. Also, if you have a compelling story to tell your State Representative about your work situation -- a lengthy commute, odd-hour shifts, a potentially dangerous parking situation at work -- by all means, share it with them in an email; but try to keep the communication short and to the point, and be certain to put "Please Support HB 1301" in the subject line of your email so they immediately know what bill you're contacting them about.
VIRGINIA: Update on Two Pending Gun Bills in Richmond Today, the House Militia, Police, and Public Safety Committee passed Senate Bill 1035, sponsored by State Senator Emmett Hanger, Jr. (R-24). It now heads to the full House for consideration. SB1035 would permit a Right-to-Carry permit holder to carry a concealed firearm into a restaurant, provided that they do not consume any alcohol. Language requiring that a permit holder inform an authorized alcohol beverage control manager of the restaurant or club that they are carrying a concealed firearm was removed by 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. Senate Bill1166, sponsored by State Senator John Watkins (R-10), was defeated last night in the House Militia, Police and Public Safety. This bill would have increased 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 mandated an increase of 60%, from $5 to $8. Please contact your Delegate TODAY and respectfully urge them to support SB1035 when it comes before them for a vote. Contact information can be found here. Also, thank you to all of the NRA members who took action in opposition to SB1166. Without you, this victory would not have been possible.
HB1851 to be Considered on Monday! On Monday, February 23, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee will consider House Bill 1851, sponsored by Delegate L. Scott Lingamfelter (R-31). Simply stated, this NRA-backed bill will exempt active duty military personnel or Virginia National Guardsmen from Virginia’s “one gun a month” law on handgun purchases. It is important that you contact the members of the Senate Courts of Justice Committee and voice your support for this critical bill. Please contact the members of the committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to support SB1851. Contact information can be found here.
WYOMING: Attack on Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Suspended Due to an overwhelmingly negative response from gun owners both in and outside Wyoming, an attempt made earlier this week to drastically limit Wyoming’s Right-to-Carry Reciprocity statute has been suspended for the time being, once again restoring the original Right-to-Carry Reciprocity statute. This break will allow theNRA to review the current statute and develop a plan to bring a bill before the Wyoming State Legislature during the next legislative session to ensure that this never happens again to law-abiding citizens in Wyoming. Thank you for all of your calls and support!
