Contact Your U.S. Senators TODAY And Urge Them To Support Your Right To Self-Defense
The U.S. Senate is now considering the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 1390). As a part of the consideration of that legislation, Senators John Thune (R-SD) and David Vitter (R-LA) will offer an amendment on Monday to provide for interstate recognition of Right-to-Carry permits. There is a very high likelihood of a Senate floor vote on this important and timely pro-gun reform on Monday or Tuesday.
While the right to possess firearms for self-defense within the home has long been respected under the law, for most of our nation’s history, state and local governments have prohibited ordinary citizens from possessing firearms for self-defense in many settings outside the home. Recently, however, most state legislatures have taken steps to reduce those restrictions. In the last twenty years, the number of states that respect the right to carry has risen from 10 to 40 -- an all-time high.
Joint Statement On Judge Sotomayor’s Nomination To The U.S. Supreme Court—By NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, and NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox: Other than declaring war, neither house of Congress has a more solemn responsibility than the Senate’s role in confirming justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. As the Senate considers the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor, Americans have been watching to see whether this nominee – if confirmed – would respect the Second Amendment or side with those who have declared war on the rights of America’s 80 million gun owners.
From the outset, the National Rifle Association has respected the confirmation process and hoped for mainstream answers to bedrock questions. Unfortunately, Judge Sotomayor’s judicial record and testimony clearly demonstrate a hostile view of the Second Amendment and the fundamental right of self-defense guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution.
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.
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.”)
ARIZONA: Governor Signs Five Key Pieces of Legislation for Gun Owners This week Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed into law five key pieces of legislation that will protect and strengthen the rights of law-abiding gun owners in her state and educate children about gun safety. Please click here to learn more about these pro-gun advances. Please contact Governor Brewer TODAY and thank her for signing these bills into law. The Governor can be reached by phone at (602) 542-4331, toll-free at 1-(800) 253-0883, or click here to send email.
CALIFORNIA: AB962 Scheduled to be Heard on Monday, July 20 The Senate Public Safety Committee is scheduled to consider AB962 on Monday, July 20. Simply stated, AB962 would place severe restrictions on the purchase and sale of ammunition in the Golden State. Please contact the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to oppose AB962. Also, please call your Senator and ask them to oppose AB962. Contact information can be found here.
Gun Show Ban Moves to Assembly Floor On Wednesday, the Assembly Appropriations Committee passed Senate Bill 585. The bill now heads to the Assembly floor. SB585 would prohibit the sale of firearms and ammunition on the property or inside the buildings that comprise the Cow Palace in Daly City. In short, SB585 is a stepping-stone to banning gun shows on all publicly-owned property in California. Please contact your Assemblymember TODAY and respectfully urge them to oppose SB585. Contact information for your Assemblymember can be found here.
Fish and Wildlife Service Management Plan Includes Hunting in the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a management plan for the 7000-acre Modoc National Wildlife Refuge, located southeast of Alturas, California. The draft plan evaluates four alternatives for managing the refuge over the next 15 years. Common to all the alternatives is the implementation of a hunting and fishing program. Comments on the plan are being accepted until Friday, July 30 and can be submitted by email to [email protected]. The plan can be viewed online at http://www.fws.gov/modoc. For additional information please call 530-233-3572. It is important for the Service to receive support for maintaining and enhancing hunting opportunities on national wildlife refuges, especially in light of continuing efforts by animal “rights” extremists to close refuges to hunting. Please take a few minutes to review the draft plan and submit comments.
FLORIDA: Future Use of 2000 Acres in Collier County at Stake in Public Meeting Collier County in South Florida acquired the 2000-acre Pepper Ranch near Lake Trafford and Immokalee. A public meeting will be held Monday, July 20th at 3:00 p.m., to further discuss what public uses will be provided for on this property. The meeting will be held by the Lands Evaluation and Management Subcommittee of the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee. The Committee was chartered by the Collier County Board of Commissioners to help in buying and managing conservation property bought by Collier County. The meeting will take place at the Collier County North Collier Regional Park, Administrative Conference Room A, 15000 Livingston Road in Naples. Hunters and shooters interested in access to this former ranch are encouraged to attend the meeting and voice their support.
GEORGIA: Management Option for Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Calls for Expanded Hunting Opportunities A draft management plan for the Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge has been released for public comment by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 7300-acre refuge is located in Bibb and Twiggs Counties. The plan offers three alternative approaches to managing the refuge for the next 15 years. All three alternatives would continue existing deer and hog hunting. Alternative C would add small game, wild turkey and waterfowl hunts and open the west side of the refuge to hunting once access is provided. The deadline for comments is July 22 and should be sent to Carolyn Johnson, Assistant Refuge Manager at [email protected] or by mail to 718 Juliette Road, Hillsboro, GA 31038. The plan can be viewed on line at http://southeast.fws.gov/planning. For further information, please call 478-986-5441. The Fish and Wildlife Service needs to receive encouragement and support from the hunting community in Georgia that increasing access to the refuge and providing additional hunting opportunities need to be components of the final plan. If you hunting in the refuge, it is imperative that you submit comments in support of Alternative C.
ILLINOIS: Anti-Gun Groups Campaign Against Important Gun Reform Anti-gun groups are urging the Governor to veto HB182. This important pro-gun reform bill, 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 possess a firearm, to the list of exemptions in which a law-abiding citizen is currently restricted from carrying a firearm. 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: Governor Vetoes Anti-Gun Bill in Louisiana! On Friday, July 10, House Bill 523 was vetoed by Governor Bobby Jindal (R). HB 523 posed an unacceptable risk to those who lawfully carry concealed firearms. NRA’s main concern was that the bill could be interpreted to create an outright prohibition on the carrying of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a permitted parade or demonstration, except as specifically authorized in the bill. While certain persons would have been exempt from this prohibition, holders of valid statewide concealed carry permits would not have been among them. Please contact Governor Jindal TODAY and thank him for vetoing HB 523. To contact Governor Jindal please click here.
Sales Tax Holiday on Firearms, Ammunition, and Hunting Supplies Signed into Law Governor Bobby Jindal (R) signed Senate Bill 52 into law on Thursday, July 9. SB 52 authorizes a “sales tax holiday” on firearms, hunting supplies, and ammunition purchased during the annual Second Amendment Holiday weekend. Please contact Governor Jindal and thank him for signing SB 52. To contact the Governor, please click here.
NEBRASKA: Omaha City Council Passes Ordinance Requiring Fingerprinting for Firearm Sales! Earlier this week, the Omaha City Council approved an ordinance that would require individuals who wish to sell firearms to "secondhand stores," such as Scheels, Guns Unlimited, and other places (which are not pawnbrokers), to be fingerprinted before the transaction can occur. The approved ordinance now heads to the desk of Mayor Jim Suttle (D) for his consideration. Please contact Mayor Suttle TODAY and respectfully urge him to veto this ordinance. The Mayor can be reached by phone at (402) 444-5000 or visit http://www.co.douglas.ne.us/omaha/mayor/contact-us to send email. Also, please contact the members of the City Council who voted for the ordinance and respectfully voice your disapproval with their passage of this attack on our Second Amendment freedoms. Contact information can be found here.
NEW JERSEY: Legislature Passes Gun Rationing Bill On Friday, June 26, Governor Jon Corzine (D) and his anti-gun cohorts in the New Jersey State Senate passed S1774, a bill that will arbitrarily ration the sale of handguns to one per month. Earlier this year, S1774 was pulled from the Senate floor when the sponsor was unable to garner the necessary 21 votes for passage. The bill has been sent to Governor Corzine for his consideration. Please contact Governor Corzine and respectfully urge him to veto this bill and remind him that you will remember his decision on Election Day. Contact information can be found here.
NEW YORK: Micro-Stamping Could Be Heard At Any Time as Balance of Power Changes Once Again The impasse in the New York Senate has ended with one of the original defectors returning to the Democratic caucus in exchange for the top leadership post – Senate Majority Leader. This change returns the balance of power back to the Democrats who surely will focus their efforts on passing Senate Bill 6005, (“micro-stamping” legislation). Even though S6005 contains an amendment removing the requirement that in-state manufacturers could only produce micro-stamp equipped semi-automatic handguns, the bill must be defeated at all costs. It is likely that a vote on S6005 could come at any time. Please continue contacting your State Senators and respectfully urge them to oppose S6005 when it comes before them for a vote. Contact information for your State Senator can be found by clicking here.
Sportsmen’s Association for Firearms Education Inc. (S.A.F.E.) presents the 2009 Firearm Civil Rights Conference: Please join the Sportsmen’s Association for Firearms Education Inc. (S.A.F.E.) for its “2009 Firearm Civil Rights Conference”
Sunday, September 13th,
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (doors open at 12:00 noon)
Sheraton Long Island Hotel
110 Vanderbilt Motor Parkway
Smithtown, NY 11788
(631) 231-1100
(on Motor Parkway on the North side of LIE between exits 53 & 55)
Special guests include Wayne LaPierre, NRA Executive Vice President; Ron Schmeits, NRA President; Dick Anthony Heller, plaintiff in the landmark Heller-v-Washington DC, case;Ginny Simone, NRA investigative reporter on firearms issues, and radio show host; and John L. Cushman, S.A.F.E. President and Founder, and NRA Board Member.
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn the latest information about firearm Civil Rights both nationally and locally, as well as meeting and networking with fellow sportsmen and women concerned about their civil rights and how to protect them. Valuable prizes in drawings will be awarded to attendees. Admission and parking are free, and the event is open to your family and friends.
NORTH CAROLINA: Anti-Hunting Extremists Pushing Dangerous Legislation Forward! Anti-hunting extremists at the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) are making progress with their radical agenda. They have convinced several senators who are normally very pro-hunting to support a very anti-hunting bill — Senate Bill 460. This bill is designed by HSUS as a means to help eliminate ALL commercial dog breeders. Once those breeders are gone, current hunters and future hunters will not be able to easily acquire the dogs they feel are best suited for their hunting needs. Those that they can find will be priced out of most people’s reach, due to their scarcity. Don’t let the anti-hunting radicals gain a foothold in North Carolina! NRA members and hunters must contact those State Senators to urge them to oppose the anti-hunting agenda of HSUS by opposing Senate Bill 460. Contact information can be found here.
“Castle Doctrine” Self-Defense Bill Still Stalled in Raleigh The “Castle Doctrine” self-defense bill, Senate Bill 928, remains stuck in the House Judiciary I Committee. That committee is chaired by anti-gun State Representative Deborah Ross (D-38), and she appears to be unwilling to set a date for a hearing. Please contact Representative Ross and urge her to allow this critical legislation—which received overwhelming, bi-partisan support in the Senate in May—to be heard. Representative Ross can be reached by phone at 919-733-5773 or e-mail [email protected]. Also, please contact the members of the House Democratic Leadership team, who have histories of supporting our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Contact information for them can be found here.
OREGON: Opportunity to Expand Hunting Programs in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that it will begin to draft a plan for the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge that will guide refuge management for the next 15 years. The 187,000-acre refuge located in Harney County is one of the largest freshwater marshes in the country. Waterfowl hunting is available on approximately half of Malheur Lake and upland bird hunting is available on approximately one quarter of the refuge. One of the issues that the Service will be addressing is the adequacy of access and facilities for all of the wildlife dependent uses, like hunting and fishing, and opportunities to expand these programs. The Service is inviting comments from the public to gather suggestions and information on the scope of the issues to consider during the planning process. Comments are due by October 15 and can be emailed to [email protected]. Include "Malheur CCP" in the subject line of the message. Public meetings will be held and announced on the refuge's website at http://www.fws.gov/malheur. For further information you may call 541-493-2612. It is important that those who hunt and fish in the refuge to become active participants in the planning process to ensure that sportsmen's interests are well represented in the plan that will be drafted.
TENNESSEE: Updated List of Localities Opting Out of Park Carry Several Tennessee counties and municipalities have started the process to opt out of the new park carry law before its effective date (Tuesday, September 1). We have compiled a list of cities and counties that are considering opting out or have scheduled hearings on the issue. Please make your voice heard on this issue. The best way to get your opinion through to your local officials is to contact them immediately. Please respectfully urge them to oppose any proposal or resolution that would prohibit law-abiding permit holders from protecting themselves in local parks. The list of municipalities and their contact information can be located here.
Restaurant Carry Law Goes into Effect Judge Claudia Bonnyman of the Davidson County Chancery Court denied plaintiffs' request to issue a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order which would have blocked the restaurant carry law from going into effect. While the law will be litigated over the next few months, permit holders may now carry a firearm for self-defense in establishments that serve alcohol, provided the establishment has not posted the premises to prohibit the carrying of firearms and permit holders are not consuming alcohol. Please continue to check your email and www.NRAILA.org for more information as updates become available.
NRA License Plate Comes to the Volunteer State! Thanks to your support, we were able to meet the 1000 applicant pre-order quota, the minimum requirement set forth by the Tennessee Department of Revenue, Vehicle Services, to manufacture the specialized NRA license plate. The Tennessee NRA specialized license plate will be made available within the next three to six months. For more information on this way to proudly show your support for NRA and the Second Amendment, please click here.
VIRGINIA: This November, Virginia's elections will be ground zero for the enemies of freedom to try and turn the tide against our gun rights in the Commonwealth, serving as a launching pad for their national gun ban crusade. Our opponents will be pulling out all the stops as a run-up to the 2010 elections. All eyes will be on us! To ensure we are prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities we will face this election season, NRA-ILA will be hosting a series of free volunteer kick-off meetings throughout the Commonwealth. At these meetings, we will lay out our plans for our grassroots election activities in your area and show you how you can help. You will also get to meet and begin working with your NRA-ILA Campaign Field Representative-- an NRA-ILA staff person who will be living in your area, coordinating our volunteer activities right through Election Day, Nov. 3! The meetings are absolutely free and beverages and light snacks will be served. These events will run only about 60-90 minutes.
Details for the next two scheduled meetings are as follows:
NRA-ILA will be hosting the next free volunteer kick-off meeting on Tuesday, July 28th, at 6:30p.m., at Bass Pro Shops, 11550 Lakeridge Parkway, Ashland, VA 23005.
To register for this free event, please click here, or call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683).
After the Ashland event, the next scheduled meeting will be the Fairfax County meeting. This event will hosted by ILA Grassroots Staff and is scheduled for Saturday, August 1st , at 10:00 a.m., at NRA Headquarters in Fairfax (11250 Waples Mill Rd. Fairfax, VA 22030)!
To register for this free event, please click here, or call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683).
Please make plans to attend these meetings and encourage fellow NRA members and Second Amendment supporters to attend as well.
WISCONSIN: Youth Hunting Bill Pending Governor’s Consideration! On Thursday, June 18, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 167 by a voice vote. SB167 is now on the desk of Governor Jim Doyle (D) for his consideration. SB167 would establish a mentored hunting program in the Badger State. Please contact Governor Doyle at 608-266-1212 or click here to send email and urge him to sign this important piece of legislation. Also, please contact your State Legislators and thank them for passing SB167. You can find your legislators contact information by clicking here.
