Gun Owners Tell Mayors The Truth
About "Mayors Against Illegal Guns"
When New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino--both virulently anti-gun mayors--formed a new anti-gun group a few years ago, they envisioned the creation of a powerful force to lobby for new gun control laws. But in assembling their coalition, they failed to take two important things into account: first, the response of gun owners to this new threat, and second, that many mayors would not take kindly to being misled regarding the real purpose of Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG.)
Over the past few years, even as they continue to claim they are only concerned with "illegal" guns, MAIG has worked to impose new restrictions on law-abiding gun owners by regulating guns shows, supporting reckless lawsuits against the firearm industry, and opposing the right of self-defense for law-abiding Americans with carry permits. Mayor Bloomberg, who sets the agenda for this radical group, is dedicated to the passage of highly restrictive gun laws. In an appearance on "Meet the Press," Bloomberg announced that he would raise money to counter the influence of the NRA.
But there is a growing glitch in Bloomberg's plan. More and more mayors are discovering the real purpose of MAIG, and are removing their names from the group's list. After hearing from their constituents, over 40 mayors have resigned from the group since it's inception.
Regarding Cass Sunstein… We have recently received many inquiries regarding the appointment by President Obama of Professor Cass Sunstein to head the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA).
For the record, NRA has long opposed the confirmation of Cass Sunstein. Early on, NRA expressed concerns about Sunstein's past anti-gun and anti-hunting statements.
Clearing Up the Rumors: The Truth About The "Gun Tax Bill" Over the past few months, NRA-ILA has received hundreds of e-mails warning us about "SB-2099," a bill that would supposedly require you to report all your guns on your income tax return every April 15.
2009 Firearms Law & The Second Amendment Symposium The 2009 "Firearms Law & The Second Amendment Symposium" will be held tomorrow, Saturday, September 12, at Northwestern University Law School, in Chicago, Illinois. This event will be sponsored by The NRA Foundation and the Northwestern University chapter of the Federalist Society.
Triggering The Vote! With each election, 
Americans go to the polls and make decisions that affect -- for better or worse -- the future of freedom in America.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 72 percent (142 million) of the eligible voting age citizen population (197 million) were registered to vote in 2004. This means that as many as 55 million people were eligible to vote, but unregistered—and therefore did not participate in the November 2004 elections. Far too many gun owners and hunters are among them.
2009 Gun Rights Policy Conference: This year's Gun Rights Policy Conference (GRPC) will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, on September 25, 26, & 27, at the beautiful Airport Renaissance hotel. The theme of this year's conference is "Challenges Ahead."
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.")
CALIFORNIA: Ammunition Sales Restrictions, Gun Show Ban Moving Forward Yesterday, the Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 585 by a 21 to 18 vote. SB585 now heads to the desk of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) for his consideration. SB585 is a stepping-stone to banning gun shows on all publicly-owned property in California. SB585 would prohibit the sale of firearms and ammunition on the property or inside the buildings that comprise the Cow Palace in Daly City, just outside of San Francisco. Please contact Governor Schwarzenegger TODAY and respectfully urge him to veto SB585. The Governor can be reached by phone at 916-445-2841 or via fax at 916-558-3160. To email Governor Schwarzenegger, please visit http://gov.ca.gov/interact.
The Senate also passed Assembly Bill 962 yesterday by a 21 to 18 vote. AB962 will now return to the Assembly for concurrence. As we reported earlier this week, AB962 was amended by the Senate in an effort to make the bill easier to pass. However, it remains a serious threat to our rights. AB962 would make it a crime to privately transfer more than 50 rounds of ammunition per month, even between family and friends, unless you are registered as a "handgun ammunition vendor" in the Department of Justice's database. Ammunition retailers would have to be licensed and store ammunition in such a manner that it would be inaccessible to purchasers. The bill would also require that purchasers submit to fingerprinting, which would be kept in dealers' records and subject to inspection by the Department of Justice. Lastly, mail order ammunition sales would be prohibited. Please contact your Assemblymember IMMEDIATELY and respectfully urge them to oppose AB962. Contact information for your Assemblymember can be found by clicking here.
MICHIGAN:Workplace Protection and Campus Carry Introduced in Michigan!
In an effort to strengthen worker's rights in Michigan, 
a number of pro-gun bills (HB5302, HB5303, SB792, and SB793) were introduced that would protect workers' rights to lawfully store firearms in their vehicles, while prohibiting an employer from retaliating against an employee who exercises his or her rights.
Also introduced this past week was Senate Bill 747. This legislation would permit holders who are at least 21 years old to carry a concealed firearm on college and university campuses by removing them from the "safe zone" list of prohibited places. At this time no action is required.
NEW YORK: Sportsmen's Association for Firearms Education Inc. (S.A.F.E.) 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. Special guests include Wayne LaPierre, NRA Executive Vice President; Ron Schmeits, NRA President; Chris Cox, Executive Director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action; Dick Anthony Heller of District of Columbia v. Heller; Ginny Simone, NRA News co-host; and John L. Cushman, S.A.F.E. President and Founder, and NRA Board Member. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about Second Amendment issues, both nationally and locally, as well as meet and network 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. The conference will be held Sunday, September 13, 2009, from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. (doors open at 12:00 noon) at the Sheraton Long Island Hotel, 110 Vanderbilt Motor Parkway, in Smithtown, NY
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 e-mailed 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 become active participants in the planning process to ensure that sportsmen's interests are well represented in the plan that will be drafted.
TENNESSEE: UT-Martin to open Constitution Discussion Week with Second Amendment Panel On Monday, September 14, at 7:00 p.m. in the Boling Center University Duncan Ballroom, the University of Tennessee at Martin will conduct the first of a series of weeklong events to discuss the Constitution, starting with a debate on the Second Amendment and gun control. NRA-ILA Grassroots Director Glen Caroline will be joined by fellow panelist Kevin Teets, to speak on behalf of NRA. Representing the opposition will be Paul Helmke from the Brady Campaign to prevent Gun Violence and Adam Dread. To read the official school announcement and for more information on the panelists, please click here, or contact Dr. Mike McCullough, American Democracy Project director, at 731-881-7325 or [email protected], or Dr. Heidi Huse, assistant professor of English, at 731-881-7280 or [email protected].
VIRGINIA: Another Volunteer Kick-Off Meeting Scheduled! 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, and serve 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 Virginia! To ensure we are prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities we will face this election season, NRA-ILA is hosting a free volunteer kick-off meeting in Leesburg, on Sept. 16th! At this meeting, 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! This meeting is absolutely free and beverages and light snacks will be served. The event will run only about 60-90 minutes. NRA-ILA Grassroots Director Glen Caroline will also be in attendance.
Here are the details for the Leesburg meeting on Sept. 16th:
Wednesday, September 16th
7:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn Leesburg at Carradoc Hall
1500 East Market Street
Leesburg, VA 20176
703-771-9200 http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/WASLE/transportation?start=1
To register for this free event, please click here, or call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683).
Please join your fellow Virginia freedom-lovers at "An American Event", to be held on Saturday, September 26, at Ritchie Lake Pavilion in Bealton. Gates open at 11:00 a.m., with events commencing at 1:00 p.m. The event will include activities for all age groups, including Colonial and World War II military encampments, vintage military air show, pony rides, moon bounce, monster trucks, live music, free food, surprise speakers and more. If you are interested in donating food, time or energy, please contact the organizers at 703-537-5445 or [email protected]. Monetary donations will be given to aid for wounded soldiers. With Virginia being one of only two states holding elections this year, your NRA-ILA Campaign Field Representative, Greg Mortensen, will be in attendance working NRA-ILA's voter registration kiosk and discussing how you can get more involved in our efforts to elect pro-gun candidates to office this year. Greg can be reached at: [email protected] or 571-292-4796.
Reloading Clinics: Are you looking for a way to beat the high prices of ammo or are you having trouble finding your favorite ammo in stock at your local gun shop? The Virginia Shooting Sports Association (VSSA), the Official State Affiliate Association of NRA, has the answer. VSSA will be hosting reloading clinics around the Commonwealth starting in September. There will be clinics for both metallic shell reloading and shotgun shell reloading. The courses are designed to enable shooters with little or no prior experience in reloading to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and ability to produce safe, consistent, and accurate reloaded ammunition. The clinics will be held at the Gander Mountain stores in Fredericksburg, Richmond, Roanoke, and Winchester. For more information on cost and dates, go to http://www.myvssa.org/reloading.htm, or e-mail Dave Myers at [email protected]. Class sizes are limited so register today!
