If Knives Are Outlawed…
Customs And Border Protection
Proposal Could Ban Many Pocketknives
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a proposed rule change that directly targets the importation of “assisted opening” folding knives. (Read the proposed rule here.) The proposed regulations would designate all these knives as “switchblades” (despite the fact they do not fall under the federal definition of “switchblades”), and would make them illegal for import into the United States.
The proposed rule could affect all knives that can be opened with one hand, because it also includes changes in the interpretation of “gravity and inertia” opening knives in a way that could outlaw all knives that can be opened with a single hand. This means the new regulation could ban the importation of most of the pocketknives that are now in popular use.
23 State Attorneys General To Attorney General Holder: “No Semi-Auto Ban” On June 11, the top law enforcement officials of nearly half the states signed a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, expressing their opposition to reinstatement of the federal ban on semi-automatic firearms.
Pending Federal Legislation Needs Your Support: There are a number of pro-gun bills pending in Congress that require your attention and action. Please review these legislative initiatives and be sure to contact your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121, and your U.S. Senators at (202) 224-3121, and urge them to cosponsor and support these measures. Additional contact information can be found using the “Write Your Representatives” feature at www.NRAILA.org.
Update on TSA Reauthorization Bill: The House Homeland Security Committee marked up the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Reauthorization bill (H.R. 2200) on May 14. The Committee also adopted (by voice vote) the DeFazio-Dent amendment (sponsored by Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR), and Charles Dent (R-PA)).
Help Defend Your Gun Rights One Click At A Time: We now have a revolutionary yet simple tool that will allow you to stay connected to NRA-ILA and raise valuable contributions to defend our Second Amendment rights without spending a dime! It’s the NRA-ILA Toolbar, and you can make a difference by downloading and using it. 
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Grassroots Minute Video:
STATE ROUNDUP (Please note the only items listed below are those that have had recent action. For other updates on state legislation, please go to the state legislation section at www.NRAILA.org, and check each week’s issue of the Grassroots Alert.”)
ALABAMA: “Workplace Protection” Bill Comes Up Short Alabama’s “Workplace Protection” bill, House Bill 362, passed in the House without the railroad exemption but was defeated in the Senate. This bill would have protected your right to lawfully transport and store firearms in a privately-owned and locked motor vehicle while parked in publicly accessible parking lots controlled by your employer or a business you frequent. Please take the time to thank the State Representatives who voted in favor of this important bill. To find a list of those who voted for HB362 and how to contact them, please click here.
CONNECTICUT: Legislature Adjourns With Important Pro-Hunting Bill Heading to Governor’s Desk! On Wednesday, June 3, the Connecticut Legislature adjourned. However, before adjourning, the legislature passed House Bill 5875 and sent it to Governor Jodi Rell (R) for her consideration. HB 5875 contained a “no-net-loss” amendment requiring that for every acre of public hunting land that is closed for any reason, an acre must be opened. We are also proud to report that several anti-gun and anti-hunting bills were defeated in committee. To learn more about these bills, please click here. Please call Governor Jodi Rell and respectfully urge her to sign HB 5875 into law. The Governor can be reached by phone at 800-406-1527 or 860-566-4840 (Hartford) or email [email protected].
ILLINOIS: Anti-Gun Groups Launch Campaign Against Important Gun Reform In anticipation of House Bill 182 being transmitted to Governor Pat Quinn (D), anti-gun groups are mounting a campaign urging the Governor to veto this important pro-gun reform bill. HB182 would simply change the Unlawful Use of Weapons (UUW) law, adding “dwelling” and dwelling of another where a person has been invited with permission to posses a firearm, to the list of exemptions in which a law-abiding citizen is restricted from carrying a firearm. While “abode” is currently one of the exempted areas, under Illinois law, “abode” is strictly interpreted to mean only one’s actual home, and applies only to those who live there. By adding “dwelling,” the exemption is expanded to allow for situations such as visiting a family member’s home, going target shooting at a friend’s farm, or having a gun for personal protection within a hotel room. Please contact Governor Quinn TODAY and respectfully urge him to sign this critical reform. To contact the Governor, please call 312-814-2121 or click here to send email.
LOUISIANA: Management Plan Includes Hunting Opportunties for Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge The Fish and Wildlife Service has released a draft management plan for Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge located 5 miles west of Houma, Louisiana. The plan describes three separate management options that will guide decisions on the Refuge for the next 15 years. Hunting, fishing and other wildlife dependent activities are addressed. The plan can be reviewed online at: http://southeast.fws.gov/planning/. For additional information please contact Paul Yakupzack at 985-853-1078 or send your comments to him at [email protected]. If you hunt in Louisiana, please give your support to increased hunting opportunities on this Refuge.
MONTANA: Bureau of Land Management Plans Shooting Restriction Outside Helena The Bureau of Land Management is proposing to close 640 acres of public land to target shooting (but not hunting) in the North Hills recreation area located about 6 miles northeast of Helena. The remaining 4,000+ acres would remain open to target shooting. The BLM is hosting a meeting Tuesday, July 16 at 6:30pm at the conference room of the Montana Association of Counties building, 2715 Skyway Drive in Helena. The proposal to close these acres came from a working group established by BLM's Western Montana Resource Advisory Council based on complaints that target shooting was taking place too close to a road and without a safe line of fire. The environmental assessment that has been written on this proposed closure can be seen by clicking here. For all those who recreationally shoot on BLM lands, and especially those of you who shoot in the proposed closure area, your attendance to this meeting will be important in determining how BLM intends to secure the future of target shooting in the wake of increased development and competition with other recreational uses. So please plan on attending the meeting to make your opposition known.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Legislature Seeking 500% Hike of License to Carry Fees! The New Hampshire Legislature is currently considering the New Hampshire state budget (House Bill 2). The budget bill contains language that would increase the fees for non-resident licenses to carry from $20.00 to $100.00, a 500% increase in the fee. If legislators don’t hear from you on this, they may assume that an increase on resident Right-to-Carry fees is ok as well. Please contact your state legislators TODAY and respectfully urge them to insist that the Budget Conference Committee strip out this fee increase. Contact information for your state legislators can be found here.
NEW YORK: Chaos Leaves Status of Anti-Gun Bill Uncertain The chaos continued in Albany on Wednesday, June 10, as ousted State Senate Democrats took their arguments for keeping control of the chamber before a judge and the new "Coalition Majority" gaveled in to convene its first legislative session since Monday's changes. State Supreme Court Judge George Ceresia declined to grant an injunction preventing the "Coalition Majority" from moving forward with plans to return to business. Where all of this leaves law-abiding gun owners remains to be seen. Senate Bill 4397A (micro-stamping legislation) was placed on the Senate calendar before this chaos began, so it will remain on the calendar and has the potential to be acted upon by the Senate. The possibility still remains that the bill could be brought to the Senate floor. We will keep you updated as to any movement on S 4397A. Please continue checking your email and www.NRAILA.org for updates.
PENNSLYVANIA: Lancaster Passes Illegal Anti-Gun Ordinance On Tuesday, June 9, the Lancaster City Council unanimously passed a proposal introduced by Mayor Richard Gray (D) that would require gun owners to report a lost or stolen firearm within a 72-hour period or face fines and possible imprisonment. This law not only violates Pennsylvania’s state preemption laws, but it could make law-abiding victims into criminals for failing to report a lost or stolen firearm within 72 hours. Please contact the members of the City Council and Mayor Gray TODAY and respectfully voice your disapproval with their passage of this illegal and unwarranted attack on law-abiding gun owners. The City Council can be reached by phone at (717) 291-4785. Email addresses for the City Council can be found by clicking here. Mayor Gray can be contacted by phone at (717) 291-4701 or e-mail [email protected].
SOUTH DAKOTA: South Dakota Enters into Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Agreements with Maine and Virginia On Friday, June 5, South Dakota Secretary of State Chris Nelson announced Right-to-Carry reciprocity agreements with Maine and Virginia.
South Dakota will now recognize Right-to-Carry permits from these states. In turn, Virginia and Maine will recognize permits from South Dakota, although Virginia will only recognize permits issued to South Dakotans who are at least twenty-one years old. Permit holders must still comply with the laws that apply in whichever state they are traveling.
TENNESSEE: Less Than 17 Days to Get Your NRA License Plate! A special NRA license plate provides an ideal opportunity to showcase your pride as an NRA member and your steadfast dedication to preserving Second Amendment rights. Your support of this program will help ensure hunting and shooting traditions in the Volunteer State for generations to come. The NRA is collecting applications for NRA license plates in Tennessee, but the June 30 deadline to apply is fast approaching. For more information, please click here. Hurry, time is running out!
WASHINGTON: Hunting Will Be Topic of Management Plan for Columbia National Wildlife Refuge The Fish and Wildlife Service is beginning to write a management plan for the 30,000 acre Columbia National Wildlife Refuge located in the arid Columbia Basin of south-central Washington State in both Grant and Adams Counties. The Refuge is an important stopover and wintering ground for migratory birds and waterfowl. Hunting is allowed and the management plan will be considering if and how hunting opportunities will be expanded, developed or modified. The Service is inviting comments about what the plan should contain. In addition, a public open house will be held June 16 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the City of Othello's Municipal Building (City Hall), City Council Chambers located at 500 East Main Street, Othello, WA 99344. Written comments can be sent via email to [email protected] Additional information is available at http://www.fws.gov/mcriver or you may call 509-488-2668. If you hunt on this Refuge, it is especially important to be involved at the beginning of plan development to ensure that your interests are fully taken into consideration.
WISCONSIN: Youth Hunting Bill Passes Senate, Moves to Assembly Earlier this week, Senate Bill 167, legislation that would establish a mentored hunting program in the Badger State, passed the State Senate by a vote of 27 to 6. The bill now heads to the Assembly where it awaits committee assignment. No action is required at this time. Please continue checking your email and www.NRAILA.org for updates.
Milwaukee Mayor Calls for the Repeal of Statewide Preemption Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D) has again renewed his calls for repealing statewide preemption in Wisconsin so the city can enact stricter gun control laws. Wisconsin passed its preemption statute in 1995 to prevent local municipalities from passing gun control laws. The creation of new laws would do little, if anything, to prevent violent crime and would make it difficult to keep track of a multitude of different laws across the state. Please contact Mayor Barrett TODAY and respectfully let him know you oppose this attack on our Second Amendment rights. The Mayor can be reached by phone at (414) 286-2200 or email [email protected].
