Feds Send Mixed Signals On Push For Gun Control
On Wednesday, just over five weeks after Inauguration Day, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the Obama Administration will seek to reinstate the expired federal “assault weapon” ban and impose additional restrictions.
“As President Obama indicated during the campaign, there are just a few gun-related changes that we would like to make, and among them would be to reinstitute the ban on the sale of assault weapons,” Holder said. Based on Holder’s testimony during his confirmation hearings before the Senate, those other “changes” presumably include prohibiting private transfers of firearms and banning most center-fire rifle ammunition as “armor-piercing.”
Holder said that new gun control laws are needed because in Mexico, a country with a history of corruption and disregard for individual rights, there’s a shooting war going on between drug gangs and government troops, and some of the gangsters’ guns have been illegally purchased in the United States.
Second Amendment Victory In Washington, D.C.! Yesterday, the United States Senate voted, with overwhelming bipartisan support, to adopt an amendment offered by Nevada Senator John Ensign (R), that seeks to protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens in the District of Columbia. The amendment, attached to S.160, the “D.C. Voting Rights Act”, will repeal restrictive gun control laws passed by the District of Columbia’s (D.C.) city council in defiance of the landmark D.C. v. Heller Supreme Court decision. The vote margin was 62-36.
Palin Supports New Rule On Guns In Parks: Last week, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R) once again demonstrated her steadfast commitment to America’s gun owners, as she urged U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to support recently adopted regulations that enable Right-to-Carry permit holders to carry concealed firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges in states that recognize their permits. The new rule applies only to law-abiding citizens who have met the requirements to acquire a carry permit, and who are legally allowed to carry in the state in which the park is located. Salazar has asked for a review of the new regulations, which were implemented by the Bush administration.
Swiss Face Pump-Action Ban: Radical anti-gun activists in this country have already called for pump-action firearms to be banned as “assault weapons.” Bills to that effect, based on draft legislation developed by the San Francisco-based Legal Community Against Violence, have been introduced at the state level, and Donna Dees-Thomases of the Brady Campaign-affiliated Million Mom March, a close friend of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has advocated a pump-action ban as well.
Fear Of Education: Showing that the depths of some individuals’ hoplophobia know no bounds, CBS11TV.com (Dallas-Fort Worth) recently ran a story on a mother whose knee-jerk reaction against firearms was so overwhelming that even pictures of firearms in NRA’s Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program’s coloring book, sent her into a tizzy. (http://cbs11tv.com/business/education/NRA.Coloring.Book.2.945486.html)
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.
What Should We Expect Now from the White House? Update for the Second Amendment Book Bomb: With Attorney General Eric Holder indicating his intent to reinstate the ban on the sale of “assault weapons,” Independent Institute Research Fellow Stephen P. Halbrook was recently interviewed by Lou Dobbs on CNN on the new threats of gun control.
Dr. Halbrook is author of the acclaimed book, The Founders’ Second Amendment: Origins of the Right to Bear Arms, which has formed the basis for the Second Amendment Book Bomb.
Grassroots Minute Video
STATE ROUNDUP (Please click to see any updates on states not listed below.)
ALABAMA: Right-to-Carry Confidentiality Legislation Moving Forward in Alabama! On Wednesday, February 25, the Alabama House unanimously passed House Bill 432. The bill now heads to the Senate where it awaits a committee assignment. Sponsored by State Representative Jack Page (D-29), HB432 would make all records pertaining to concealed handgun permits confidential. These records would only be available for law enforcement use. Any public disclosure of this information would be a Class A misdemeanor. Please contact your State Senator TODAY and respectfully urge them to vote in favor of HB432. Contact information can be found by clicking here.
Emergency Powers Legislation Passes House, Heads to Senate! Last week, 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.
ARIZONA: Important Pro-Gun Bill Scheduled to be Heard Next Week! House Bill 2474, sponsored by State Representatives John Kavanagh (R-8) and Frank Antenori (R-30), will be heard in the House Judiciary Committee next week. 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 the members of the House Judiciary Committee TODAY and urge them to support HB 2474. Contact information can be found here.
ARKANSAS: Right-to-Carry Confidentiality Bill Needs Your Help! On Monday, February 16, Arkansas Times blogger Max Brantley, jeopardized the privacy rights of every person with a concealed carry permit in Arkansas by publishing a complete list of permit holders in the Razorback State. The link to the list was later removed after some protest, but on Tuesday, February 24, an anonymous website was created that allows the visitor to search for any Right-to-Carry permit holder in the state. Both of these sources have been removed at the time of this posting, but this remains a threat for all gun owners in Arkansas. In response to this abuse, State Representative Randy Stewart (D-23) has introduced House Bill 1623, legislation that would prohibit outlets or individuals from publishing records in the future that possibly subject gun owners to identity theft and persecution for their Second Amendment rights. Currently, HB 1623 is in the House Judiciary Committee where a hearing has yet to be scheduled. Please contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to support this crucial piece of legislation. Their contact information can be found here.
Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment Needs Your Help 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 Still 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.
COLORADO: Bill Proposed in Response to “Outrage of the Week!” As a follow-up to an item we reported recently in our “Outrage of the Week” section, this week State Representative Kevin Lundberg (R-15) introduced Senate Bill 237 to bring common-sense to Colorado’s school expulsion statute. The bill would allow school administrators to use discretion, rather than requiring a mandatory expulsion, in cases such as what occurred to an Aurora, CO high school student who had replica rifles stored in her car. The student was in possession of the props as part of a drill routine competition for the Young Marines and in no way deserved expulsion. SB 237 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee this week and now moves to the Senate floor. Please contact the members of the Colorado Senate and respectfully urge them support SB 237. Their contact information can be found by clicking here.
CONNECTICUT: Update on Pending Gun Bills As the deadlines for committees to act on bills is approaching quickly, numerous pro-gun and anti-gun bills are awaiting action. For a list of these bills and information how to take action, please click here.
GEORGIA: Lifetime Concealed Carry Permit Bill Introduced! House Bill 155, sponsored by State Representative James Mills (R-25), would allow a person to apply for a permanent concealed handgun license. This legislation is a step in the right direction in helping to ease the burden placed on law-abiding permit holders. If passed, an approved applicant would only have to fill out paperwork and pay the fee once, instead of renewing and paying the fee several times during one’s lifetime. HB 155 has not yet been assigned to a committee. Please continue to check your email and www.NRAILA.org for updates on HB 155.
Ammunition Encoding Bill Introduced in the Senate! Senate Bill 12, introduced by State Senator Ronald Ramsey (D-43), would prohibit the manufacture, sale and possession of any handgun ammunition that does not contain a unique code. This legislation is a back door gun registration scheme and ammunition ban. SB 12 would prohibit the possession of any non-coded ammunition and require a unique identifier on the base of any new bullet. The bill will also require manufacturers and vendors of handgun ammunition to keep a record of all ammunition sales, which will be entered into a database maintained by the Department of Public Safety. The database would include the sale or transfer date, name of the purchaser, driver’s license number of the purchaser or other governmental issued identification and date of birth. SB 12 has not yet been assigned to a committee. Please continue to check your email and www.nraila.org for updates on SB 12.
IDAHO: “Idaho Sport Shooting Immunities Act (IDSIA)” Advancing in Legislature! On Thursday, February 26, House Bill 194, the “Idaho Sport Shooting Immunities Act (IDSIA),” passed out of the House State Affairs Committee. HB194 would protect existing ranges and increase opportunities for recreational shooters and hunters. HB194 would also protect government entities involved in creating and operating shooting ranges by limiting the liability of shooting range operators, firearms instructors and those involved in running matches and other events. HB194 headed to the House Floor for consideration. We will be sure to provide further details on any movement of HB194. Please continue to check your e-mail and www.NRAILA.org for further updates.
Pro-Gun Bill on the Move! 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. Please continue to check www.NRAILA.org and your e-mail for updates on this and other legislation.
ILLINOIS: Bill Banning the Private Sales of Firearms to be Considered Soon House Bill 48 is now on the House Floor and could be taken up at any time. This legislation is one of the top priorities of anti-gunners in Illinois, and poses a serious threat of passing the House. It is unclear when this bill will be called, so it is critical that you begin to contact your State Representative as early as Monday, March 2, and keep the pressure up until this bill is defeated. Please sure to encourage your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners to call their State Representatives as well. For more information on this bill and to take action against it, please click here.
Outrageous Anti-Gun Bill Proposed in the Land of Lincoln! State Representative Kenneth Dunkin (D-5) introduced House Bill 687, to amend Illinois’ Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) Act to require that anyone who owns a firearm in the state carry a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance to cover any potential damages resulting from negligent or willful acts involving the firearm’s use. While we strongly oppose this legislation, the bill has remained in the House Rules Committee without a scheduled hearing. This bill would make owning a gun in Illinois nearly impossible as it would put firearms ownership out of reach for many law-abiding Illinoisans, which, of course, is the point of Rep. Dunkin’s bill. We will become more vocal if a hearing should be scheduled on this bill, however, we have had no indications of that at this time. If this should change, we will not hesitate to further educate our members and take the appropriate action to derail its progress. Please continue checking your email and www.NRAILA.org for updates on this and other issues affecting our rights.
Make Your Voice Heard in Springfield on March 11! 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: Parking Lot Bill Needs Your Help! Senate Bill 11, authored by State Senator and NRA Board Member Johnny Nugent, 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. SB 11 recently passed the Senate by an overwhelming, bi-partisan majority of 42-8. Following the Senate vote, SB 11 was sent to Indiana’s House and assigned to the Committee on Courts and Criminal Code. Before the parking lot bill can be voted on by the House members, it must be scheduled for a committee hearing. Please contact the members of the Courts and Criminal Code Committee listed below, including Chairman Matt Pierce (D-61), and respectfully indicate your desire to bring SB 11 up for a committee hearing. Senator Johnny Nugent and SB 11, Indiana's Parking Lot bill, are depending on you! The committee members can be contacted by their email addresses listed here or by phone at (317) 232-9600.
KANSAS: Right-to-Carry Reform Bill Scheduled for a Hearing Next Week! House Bill 2308, introduced by State Representative Melanie Meier (D-40), has passed the House successfully and has moved to the Senate where it was assigned to the Federal and State Affairs Committee. This bill would make a non-resident member of the U.S. military who is stationed in Kansas eligible for a resident concealed carry permit. The bill is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday, March 4. Please contact your State Senator and respectfully encourage them to support this important legislation. Contact information can be found here.
KENTUCKY: Self-Defense While Hunting Legislation Heads To The House Floor! On Wednesday, February 25, House Bill 419 passed the State House Judiciary Committee by a vote of 12 to 2. HB 419, sponsored by State Representative Robert Damron (D-39), would permit citizens to carry firearms for self-defense while engaged in hunting, fishing, trapping, and other activities. The bill also clarifies that citizens may do what is necessary for self-defense in the case of a wild animal attack, without fear of unjustified prosecution. The NRA worked with Representative Damron to amend the bill in order to address concerns raised by the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. HB 419 now heads to the House floor for a vote. Please contact your State Representative TODAY and respectfully voice your support for HB 419. For contact information or help identifying your State Representative, please click here.
LOUISIANA: Hunting Deer with Dogs Threatened in Kisatchie National Forest Kitsatchie National Forest and the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries are considering closing the national forest to hunting deer with dogs. Kitsatchie is the only public land area in the state that has allowed hunting deer with dogs for decades. The news release issued by the Forest Service states that they receive numerous complaints about dogs leaving the national forest and entering private lands and private leases. They also point to the behavior of certain hunters involving reckless driving and shooting from and across roads. Changes may also be made to state regulations regarding free-ranging dogs when the hunting season is closed. The Forest Service is recommending limiting the number of days that dogs beyond voice-command can be trained. For additional information and to discuss the issue with the Forest Service, please call Jim Caldwell, the Public Affairs and Recreation Staff Officer, at 318-473-7160 or via email at [email protected].
MARYLAND: Ammunition Registration Introduced On Thursday, February 26, House Bill 1446, legislation requested by the Maryland State Police, was introduced in the House of Delegates. HB 1446 reaches new lows in a state that already treats law abiding gun owners as second class citizens. This bill would require that any person engaged in the business of selling ammunition to maintain records on the sale of ammunition, such as, date of sale, purchasers full name, address and date of birth, description of the form of ID used as well as the type and quantity of ammunition purchased. The bill also forces a business that sells ammunition to allow the inspection of the sales record by a law enforcement officer. HB 1446 is tantamount to firearm registration and will do nothing to stop crime and only increase the size and bureaucratic scope of the Maryland State Police. Currently, this bill is in the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee. NRA-ILA will keep you abreast of any movement of the bill but it is imperative that you contact your Delegate and respectfully urge them to oppose this HB 1446. Contact information can be found here.
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 if the subject of the order had no opportunity to participate in the hearing. Federal law allows a person to find other places to dispose of his guns while an order is in effect, while this bill would require police to seize the firearms. 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.
Caroline County Takes First Step To Banning Shooting Ranges! On February 10, the County Commissioners of Caroline County, Maryland approved an eight month long moratorium on shooting ranges in the county. Effective February 10, 2009, ordinance #2009-001 prohibits the county zoning administrator from accepting, reviewing or approving any applications for a new shooting range and prohibits any existing shooting ranges from upgrading or expanding in any R-1 area (which means one residential housing unit per lot). Shooting ranges have a long tradition of service to a wide variety of citizen groups in local communities. Due to population shifts from urban to suburban to rural areas, new groups of citizens have moved in closer proximity to existing ranges. In recent years, this has resulted in hundreds of lawsuits and complaints filed by newcomers against range owners or the passage of local ordinances aimed at closing ranges because of noise, times of operation and facility expansion to accommodate growing interest and shooting club membership levels. Please contact the County Commissioners and voice your opposition to this ordinance. For more information about this issue and how to contact the County Commissioners, please click here.
MICHIGAN: Mandatory Storage Bill Proposed! Senate Bill 268, introduced by State Senator Martha Scott (D-2), would undermine a citizen’s right to self-defense by imposing onerous storage requirements on Michigan gun owners, rendering firearms useless in self-defense situations. SB 268 requires households with children to store their guns in locked boxes with trigger locks installed. Violations would be punishable as a misdemeanor offense if a juvenile gains access to the firearm. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee but has not been scheduled for a hearing. Please contact the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and let them know this bill is not only unnecessary, it is dangerous. Contact information can be found here.
MINNESOTA: De Facto Gun Registration Scheme Introduced! On Wednesday, February 25, House File 953, introduced by State Representative Michael Paymar (DFL-64B), was referred to the House Crime Victims/Criminal Records Division Committee. This bill was designed to not only regulate the sale of firearms at gun shows, but to regulate the sale of firearms between law-abiding persons, all across Minnesota. As a whole, HF 953 will only affect law-abiding gun owners, and in no way keeps guns out of the hands of criminals. A particularly troublesome provision in HF 953 creates a de facto registration system by requiring records of all transfers to be maintained by the state. These records would be made available to all authorities, including for use in “civil” cases, which are often brought by anti-gun government officials and are designed to damage or interfere with lawful commerce in firearms. HF 953 is a direct attack on Minnesota’s gun rights. It also removes the carry permit holders’ exemption from the purchase permit requirement for all handgun or semi-automatic rifle purchases, not just those completed at gun shows, and increases the waiting period from five to seven days. Please contact the members of the Crime Victims/Criminal Records Division Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to protect your Second Amendment rights and oppose this bill. Contact information can be found here.
MISSISSIPPI: NRA-Backed Legislation Needs Your Help! 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.
NEBRASKA: Two Pro-Gun Bills Proposed in Lincoln! Two important pro-gun bills have been proposed in the Cornhusker State. Legislative Bill 430, introduced by State Senator Mark Christensen (44), is a comprehensive bill that deals with four aspects of firearm legislation. LB 430 would give the state the sole authority to regulate firearms, thus prohibiting cities and municipalities from enacting local anti-gun ordinances. In addition, this legislation would establish reciprocity agreements with states that meet equal or exceed Nebraska’s current training requirements for Right-to-Carry permits, and allow for armed security to be present in places of worship, including citizens licensed to carry concealed handguns. Finally, the bill would allow non-resident military personell that are stationed in Nebraska to apply for a resident permit to carry a concealed handgun. LB 430 has been referred to the Judiciary Committee. Legislative Bill 503 would provide much needed protection for shooting ranges in Nebraska. Ranges will be protected from local zoning and noise ordinances and discharge bans, which are sometimes passed by local municipalities to force range closures. Currently 46 states have passed some sort of range protection legislation. LB 503 has been assigned to the Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee. Please continue checking your email and www.NRAILA.org for any updates on these bills.
NEW JERSEY: Update on Pending “One-Gun-A-Month” Bill in New Jersey! Thanks to your efforts, S1774/A339 failed to gain the constitutionally required 21 votes to pass and was subsequently withdrawn by its sponsor. While this is a step in the right direction towards defeating a “one-gun-a-month” scheme in the Garden State, the bill is still alive and can be brought back for consideration during any full voting session. 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 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. Please continue checking your email and www.NRAILA.org for any updates on this threat to our Second Amendment freedoms.
NEW MEXICO: New Mexico Restaurant Carry Legislation Needs Your Help! 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: More Anti-Gun Bills Introduced in the Empire State Several anti-gun bills have been introduced this week in Albany. Assembly Bill 5884, sponsored by State Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat (D-72), makes firearms manufacturers liable to the state if their guns cause injury or death to a state employee acting within the course of his or her official duties. The bill would make exceptions for manufacturers who sign a so-called “code of conduct.” Among the many components of the “Code of Conduct” is a provision under which manufacturers must agree not to sell more than one gun per month to any individual. A5884 has been referred to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Also introduced were Assembly Bill 5844, sponsored by State Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg (D-20), which creates crimes of failure to store a weapon safely and negligent storage. A5844 has been referred to the Assembly Codes Committee. Senate Bill 2379, sponsored by State Senator Frank Padavan (R-11), would outlaw the possession of frangible ammunition. S2379 has been referred to the Senate Codes Committee. The companion bill is Assembly Bill 2881, sponsored by State Assemblyman David Koon (D-135). A2881 has been referred to the Assembly Codes Committee. Please call your lawmakers TODAY and urge them to oppose A5884, A5844 and S2378/A2881. 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: Several Pro-Gun, Pro-Hunting Bills Introduced! A number of pro-gun, pro-hunting measures have been introduced in the North Carolina legislature. To learn more about these bills and how to take action, please click here.
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: Numerous Right-to-Carry Reforms Marching Forward! Several pieces of legislation that will advance your self-defense rights are advancing in the North Dakota Legislature. To learn more about these bills, please click here.
Youth Hunting Bill Needs Your Help Today! House Bill 1227, championed by State Representative Craig Headland (R-29), was heard in the Senate Natural Resources Committee on Thursday, February 26 but no action occurred as the committee only considered public testimony. Please call or email members of the committee before the seven-member panel votes on the bill next week! This important piece of legislation would strengthen the future of North Dakota’s hunting heritage by fostering youth mentored and apprentice hunting. It would also create an online hunter education program for hunters over 16. The bill would allow a greater number of youths to participate in North Dakota’s deer hunting seasons by lowering the age from 14 to 12. Currently, North Dakota has one of the country’s most restrictive minimum ages at 14. It is important to consider that roughly 30 states allow parents to make responsible choices and either do not have a minimum age, or their age limitation is not viewed as a barrier to youth recruitment. Those 30 states have a safety record that is as good, if not slightly better, than the states with restrictive ages. The bill also creates a one-year apprentice program for older hunters in a “try before you buy” approach that gives them a one-year exemption from hunter safety. These apprentice hunters have to be accompanied by an adult hunter. Please contact Senate Natural Resources Committee members and respectfully ask them to support HB 1227, and ensure North Dakota strengthens its hunter retention efforts. 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.
OREGON: Right-to-Carry Reform Bill Needs Your Help! On Tuesday, February 24, the House Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2463, the NRA-backed Right-to-Carry reciprocity bill sponsored by State Representatives Arnie Roblan (D-9) and Wayne Krieger (R-1). Committee Chair Jeff Barker (D-28) and the Committee listened to supportive testimony from NRA-ILA, Second Amendment advocates, and the Oregon State Sheriff's Association, while no one voiced opposition to the bill. Several amendments of a technical nature are currently being drafted by the committee. We urge you to contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee as well as your State Representative and urge them to support this important bill. Contact information for the committee can be found here. To find contact information for your State Representative, please click here.
OKLAHOMA: Campus Carry Bill Does Not Advance Out of Committee Thursday, February 26 was the deadline for Oklahoma House bills to move out of committee if they were to be voted upon by the full House. As it did not receive a committee hearing or vote prior to deadline, Oklahoma's Campus Carry bill is dead for this session. NRA would like to express our gratitude to State Representative Jason Murphey (R-31) for his sponsorship and support of House Bill 1083. NRA would also like to thank our many members who contacted the House Public Safety Committee by phone and email to request a hearing for the bill.
SOUTH DAKOTA: Preemption Bill Passes House, Heads to Senate! House Bill 1278 authored by State Representative Don Kopp (R-35), would further strengthen South Dakota’s preemption law that prevents local governments from enacting firearm ordinances that are more restrictive than state law. The bill recently passed the South Dakota House by a 46-20 vote. The bill has been assigned to the Senate State Affairs Committee, but it has not been scheduled for a hearing. Please contact the members of the Senate State Affairs Committee and respectfully ask them to support HB 1287. Contact information can be found here.
TENNESSEE: Numerous Pro-Gun Bills Moving in Tennessee! Several important pro-Second Amendment bills are advancing in Nashville. To learn more about them and how to take action in support of them, please click 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 order one of these special license plates, please click here.
TEXAS: Campus Carry Bills Introduced in Austin! On Thursday, February 26, State Senator Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) introduced Senate Bill 1164, Texas’ Campus Carry Bill. On the House side, State Representative Joe Driver also filed an identical companion bill, House Bill 1893. SB 1164 and HB 1893 would grant persons licensed to carry a concealed handgun the right to do so on any college campus. These bills are an important expansion of Texas’ Right-to-Carry freedoms. SB 1164 and HB 1893 have yet to be assigned to a committee, so please continue to check your email and www.NRAILA.com for further updates. In the mean time please call your Senators and urge them to support SB 1164, and contact your Representatives and urge them to support HB 1893. Contact information can be found at http://www.senate.state.tx.us and www.house.state.tx.us
Attention Texas Gun Owners: Employee Protection/Parking Lot Companion Legislation Filed in House! We recently 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. Last 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: Numerous Virginia Pro-Gun Bills Need Your Help Today! Three pro-gun bills (HB1851, HB2144, and SB1035) were approved by the Virginia Senate on Wednesday and they are now on their way to the desk of Governor Tim Kaine (D) for his consideration. For more information about these bills, please click here. Please contact Governor Kaine TODAY and respectfully urge him to sign HB1851, HB 2144, and SB1035. The Governor can be reached by phone at(804) 786-2211, by fax at (804) 371-6351, or email [email protected]. There are also a few other pro-gun measures making their way through the legislative process. To learn more about them and how to take action on their behalf, please click here.
WISCONSIN: Second Amendment Update for the Badger State Two firearms-related bills are currently making their way through the Wisconsin Legislature in Madison. Castle Doctrine legislation has been reintroduced by State Senator Jim Holperin (D-12) in the Senate and in the House by State Representatives Chris Danou (D-91) and Ann Hraychuck (D-28). Castle Doctrine legislation would permit law-abiding citizens to use force, including deadly force, against an attacker in their homes. It is clearly stated that there is no “duty to retreat” from an attacker, enabling law-abiding citizens to stand their ground to protect themselves and their family. It also protects individuals from civil lawsuits by the attacker or the attacker’s family when force is used. The bill, which is awaiting a bill number, is currently being circulated for cosponsors. Please contact your legislators and respectfully ask them to support and cosponsor this important legislation. In a disturbing move aimed at making gun ownership more difficult and costly in the Badger State, Governor Jim Doyle’s (D) budget bill seeks to raise the fee on background checks from $8 to $30. Governor Doyle wants gun owners to pay over three times more for a background check, before they can exercise their Second Amendment rights. The money that is collected from this fee is going to a newly created “criminal justice support fund” to fund the various needs of law enforcement. Please contact your State Senator at (608) 266-2517 and your State Representative at (608) 266-1501 today and respectfully request that they support and cosponsor Wisconsin’s Castle Doctrine bill. Also, respectfully ask them to oppose Governor Doyle’s unfair and unjust gun tax. Your State Senator can be reached by phone at (608) 266-2517 and your State Representative at (608) 266-1501. To identify your legislators and to find more contact information, please click 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 last 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 decision will allow the NRA 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!
Governor Signs Two NRA-Backed Bills into Law! Earlier this week, Governor Dave Freudenthal (D) signed two important pro-gun bills into law. House Bill 106, sponsored by State Representative Thomas Lubnau (R-31), was signed by the Governor on Thursday, February 26. This bill states that any individual deserving of an expungement is required to file a request no sooner than five (5) years after conviction. The judge would exercise discretion on a case-by-case basis. HB106 will be in compliance with the ruling of the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals and interpretations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE). Under BATFE’s current view, expungements cannot be issued solely for the return of firearms rights; only a full expungement will work to restore gun ownership rights. There have been cases where individuals have pled guilty and permanently lost their gun rights simply because they did not know the law. With the passage of HB106 individuals will receive their penalty, but after five years could petition to possibly regain their Second Amendment rights.
Governor Freudenthal signed Senate File 70 into law on Tuesday, February 24. Introduced by State Senator Cale Case (R-25), SF70 will require courts to inform citizens that a guilty plea on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge will result in the loss of their constitutional right to bear arms. In the past, people have lost their gun rights simply due to lack of understanding of the law. SF70 will give citizens “full disclosure,” requiring the court to notify anyone on trial for a misdemeanor domestic abuse charge of the full consequences of a guilty plea, namely the loss of their firearms rights. Every citizen that has the possibility of losing Second Amendment rights should be given “full disclosure” about the possible effects of a conviction.
