Time Again For Brady Campaign To Discredit Itself
Since its inception as the National Council to Control Handguns over 30 years ago, the Brady Campaign has premised its entire agenda on the notion that having more gun control laws and, therefore, fewer guns, means that crime must necessarily decrease.
History has not been kind to the group’s delusion, however. In recent decades, the severity of gun control laws has been diminished at the federal, state and local levels, the number of guns has increased by over four million a year on average, and today, the nation’s murder and total violent crime rates are at 45-year and 35-year lows, respectively.
If you’re a gun control group, this isn’t the kind of thing you want to put in your press releases to the Washington Post, of course. So, every year the Brady Campaign instead runs a little gimmick where it assigns arbitrary school-grade values to whatever gun control laws the group happens to be pushing at the moment. And since most states don’t have the laws Brady advocates, Brady gives most states very low grades. Naturally, gun control supporters plaster Brady’s school-grade nonsense on the pages of newspapers around the country, hoping people will take it seriously.
Statement By NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox Regarding Washington State Supreme Court Decision: “We are pleased with the Washington State Supreme Court’s decision in State v. Sieyes yesterday, which stated that the Second Amendment applies to the states via the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.”
PETA Critical Of King: Among other things, U.S. Representative Steve King (R-Iowa) is a responsible citizen, a family man, a firearm owner, and is staunchly pro-gun. He also has a Twitter account from which he “tweets” fairly regularly.
Bill O’Reilly On Law-Abiding Citizens Maintaining Their Second Amendment Rights During A Declared State Of Emergency: “That’s a pretty extreme position.” As we have often reported, in the wake of the illegal gun confiscations in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, NRA focused its attention on legislation to amend existing emergency-powers statutes to guarantee that local authorities never again attempt the confiscation of lawfully owned firearms during states of emergency.
Update On Bogus “Poll” Of NRA Members: On Dec. 11, 2009, we noted that a poll paid for by anti-gun politician-activist Michael Bloomberg, claiming to show that NRA members support gun control, was conducted by a pollster who has been reprimanded and censured by two professional polling organizations, and who (of course) doesn’t have access to NRA’s confidential member list.
New Rule On Guns In National Parks Takes Effect February 22: On February 22, a new law on guns in national parks takes effect. The law repeals a National Park Service rule that has long prohibited Americans from lawfully possessing firearms in national parks for self-defense.
Volunteers Needed For 2010 NRA Annual Meetings In Charlotte: The 2010 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits will be an exciting weekend, as thousands of NRA members will come together May 14-16, 2010, in Charlotte, NC. You can contribute to the success of our meeting by participating as an Annual Meeting Volunteer.
Get Your Copy of Stephen Halbrook’s Freedmen, the Fourteenth Amendment, and the Right to Bear Arms, 1866-1876: Does the Second Amendment apply to the states? The Supreme Court will soon decide that critical question. As that historic day approaches, there’s no better time for all Americans to learn more about this issue.
NRA Online Advisory Panel Hits 10,000 Registered Members: Last November, the NRA introduced a new service and community for our members, the NRA Online Advisory Panel. Inside this community, NRA members can vote and comment on Second Amendment issues, see how they compare to Congress, and track key legislation. We are proud to announce that, just this past weekend, the community added its 10,000th registered member! The opinions and feedback of the Online Advisory Panel are helping to guide the strategy and agenda of the NRA heading into a critical political cycle. If you’re not already a member of this growing community, you don’t know what you’re missing. We hope you will take a moment to join today by clicking HERE.
Help Defend Your Gun Rights One Click At A Time: We 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.
Second Amendment March On Washington Scheduled For April: There will be a Second Amendment March in Washington, D.C., on April 19, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Attendees will gather on the northeast corner of the Washington Monument grounds at 10:00 a.m., and the entire event will take place there (due to logistics, the event will be more of a “rally” than an actual march).
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: No-Net-Loss Legislation Passes House of Representatives On Tuesday, February 16, House Bill 330 passed the House of Representative 95 to 0. HB330 will now move to the Senate. HB330 would require that the state maintain at least the same amount of available public hunting land that currently exists. It requires that additional lands be opened to hunting if land that is currently open to hunting is closed. Please contact your State Senator TODAY at (334) 242-7800 and respectfully urge him or her to support these important pieces of legislation. Contact information for your Senator can be found here.
Legislation to Repeal Ban on Short-Barreled Rifles and Shotguns Advancing! House Bill 2 passed the Senate Industrial Development and Recruitment Committee on Wednesday, February 10 with a unanimous voice vote. The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration with in the coming weeks. Sponsored by State Representative Jeremy Oden (R-11), HB 2 would amend the Alabama statute that prohibits the possession, sale, receipt, or use of rifles with barrels less than 16 inches long and shotguns with barrels less than 18 inches long. These firearms are already legal under federal law when properly registered. Please contact your State Senator TODAY at (334) 242-7800 and respectfully urge them to support this common-sense legislation. Further contact information can be found by clicking here.
Important Pro-Gun Reform Still Pending Action House Bill 364, Alabama’s worker protection bill, is currently awaiting consideration by the House Commerce Committee and a vote is expected on Wednesday, February 24. To learn more about this vital piece of legislation, please click here.
ARIZONA: Right to Hunt and Fish Constitutional Amendment Introduced! Arizona’s Right to Hunt and Fish Constitutional Amendment needs your support. HCR 2008 was recently introduced in an effort to guarantee the future of hunting for generations to come. This measure is currently awaiting a committee hearing and, if passed and ultimately approved by the voters, would make Arizona one of nearly a dozen states with such a constitutional protection. It is critical that you contact your State Representative and respectfully urge him or her to support this important constitutional amendment. Contact information can be found by clicking here.
U.S. Forest Service Releases Plan Restricting the Use of Motor Vehicles in the Kaibab National Forest
The U.S. Forest Service released a Travel Management Project (TMP) for the Williams Ranger District within the Kaibab National Forest. The TMP will determine the future use of roads and trails for motorized access into the forest and can be viewed on-line at http://fs.usda.gov/goto/kaibab/projects.
Public comments are being accepted until Sunday, March 7 and can be emailed to: [email protected] or mailed to Martie Schramm, Williams District Ranger, 742 South Clover Road, Williams, AZ 86046.
The TMP will affect what is labeled as Motorized Big Game Retrieval (MBGR). The TMP states that motor vehicles could be allowed within a specified distance of certain designated routes and within specified time periods solely for the purposes of retrieving a downed big game animal by an individual who has legally taken that animal. However, motorized off-road travel for other hunting activities, such as scouting or accessing a favorite hunting site, would not be allowed. Any game retrieval that is not specifically allowed in the final TMP would require non-motorized methods.
Four management alternatives are described and all address MBGR. Alternative 1, the No Action Alternative, would allow big game retrieval to continue to be allowed across the Ranger District. Alternative 2, the alternative supported by the Forest Service, would allow MBGR with restrictions. Alternative 3 would increase the MBGR restrictions. Alternative 4 would prohibit the use of motor vehicles for MBGR off the designated road system. The TMP addresses the impacts of the alternatives on camping as well.
It is important for those sportsmen and women who depend upon the Kaibab National Forest, and particularly the Williams Ranger District, for big game hunting to review the TMP and comment on the four alternatives. The Forest Service needs to know how the alternatives would affect your ability to hunt on these forest lands and which of the alternatives, if any, you support.
The Forest Service will be hosting two meetings on the TMP. The first will be held on Wednesday, February 24 at the Williams Ranger Station from 6-8 p.m. and the second will be held at the Williams Recreation Center (301 W. Railroad Ave., Williams) on Saturday, March 6 from 1-3 p.m. For further information, please call 928-635-5614.
CALIFORNIA: Commerce City Council Postpones Vote on Range Closure in Response to NRA’s Request for Study Time On February 15, the City Council for the City of Commerce postponed a vote over the future of the James W. Bristow Marksmanship Range in Commerce’s Veterans Memorial Park. The Council had been poised to order the range shut down permanently, but instead postponed their decision in response to the National Rifle Association’s request for time to study the situation. This request was reiterated by several members of the public who spoke to oppose the closure of the range. Not one public speaker was in favor of the range’s closure.
COLORADO: Partisan Vote Kills State of Emergency Bill Late Wednesday, the Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee defeated Senate Bill 51 on a straight party-line 3-2 vote. Sponsored by State Senator Scott Renfroe (R-13), SB51 would have removed the governor’s ability to “suspend or limit the sale, dispensing, or transportation” of firearms during a declared state of emergency. Please contact Senator Renfroe and let him know that Colorado’s NRA members appreciate his efforts. He can be contacted via email at [email protected] or by phone at 303-866-4451.
Colorado State University Seeking to Outlaw Concealed Carry on Campus On January 20, Colorado State University (CSU) formally announced a draft proposal to prohibit firearms on all CSU campuses. Exempt from the ban would be firearms used by law enforcement and military personnel and by the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. This draft policy will be brought up for consideration at the CSU Board of Governors meeting on Tuesday, February 23. A copy of the draft can be found at www.safety.colostate.edu/files/weapons_policy_draft_01_15_10.pdf. It is important that Colorado’s NRA members tell CSU’s President that the policy must uphold Colorado law and allow permit holders to carry concealed handguns for self-defense. Please contact President Tony Frank TODAY by phone at 970-491-6211 or e-mail [email protected] and respectfully urge him to comply with Colorado law.
GEORGIA: Right-to-Carry Reform Bill Taking Steps Forward! This week, Senate Bill 291 was reported favorably out of the Senate Public Safety Committee. It is now en route to the Senate Rules committee where it will be placed on the calendar for a floor vote by the full Senate. SB291, sponsored by State Senator David Shafer (R-48), would allow a person lawfully licensed to carry a concealed firearm the right to carry while dropping off or picking up passengers at an airport or airport facility. Also included in the bill is a provision that would make the license renewal process much easier by basically creating an automatic renewal. Instead of the licensee having to remember to renew, the probate court will be required to send out renewals 90 days before expiration. No action is needed at this time, but please continue to check www.NRAILA.orgfor updates on this important legislation.
ILLINOIS: Anti-Gun Bill Could Be Voted on Any Day! Anti-gun extremists in Illinois have been increasingly frustrated with their inability to pass legislation attacking our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Faced with the possibility that they will be dealt a devastating defeat in the Supreme Court case of McDonald v. City of Chicago, efforts have been made to revive House Bill 180, which seeks to establish a state-based licensing scheme for all Federal Firearms License (FFL) holders (who are already licensed by the federal government) that sell handguns. That would cover the vast majority of FFL holders in Illinois, of course. Please contact your State Representative TODAY and urge them to oppose HB180. Contact information for your State Representative can be found by clicking here. HB180 could be voted on at any time so please make your voice heard soon.
KENTUCKY: Right-to-Carry Reform for Military Personnel Takes Another Step Forward Late last week, the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection Committee passed House Bill 19 and it is currently on its second read in the Senate Rules Committee. Sponsored by State Representative Fitz Steele (D-84) and State Representative Bob Damron (D-39), HB 19 would allow military personnel who are on active duty to renew their concealed carry licenses early and via mail. It also allows for those military personnel whose licenses expire while on active duty to renew licenses within 90 days after the end of their deployment, with no late fees or other penalties. Please contact your State Senator at (502) 564-8100 and respectfully urge them to support HB19.
Important Hunting Bill Introduced! Legislation that would overhaul the structure and operation of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources was introduced last week in Frankfort. House Bill 429 would, among other things, permit a person to carry a firearm for self-defense during bow hunting season. The bill would also create a “no-net-loss” hunting policy for public hunting lands, requiring that the Commonwealth maintain at least the same amount and quality of available public hunting land as currently exists. HB429 has been assigned to the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee. Please contact the members of the committee and respectfully urge them to support HB429. Contact information for the committee can be found here.
MARYLAND: Complex Permit to Purchase Bill Introduced in Maryland! Over the years, Maryland’s anti-gun politicians have shown their disdain for our Second Amendment rights by introducing numerous proposals to limit our freedoms. This year, Delegate Samuel Rosenberg (D-41) and State Senator Brian Frosh (D-16) have introduced legislation that would permanently alter the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners in Maryland. House Bill 820 and Senate Bill 645 propose to convert handgun ownership from a Constitutionally-protected right into a privilege, to be granted by the State Police only at their arbitrary discretion. To learn more, please click here.
"Assault Weapons" Ban WITHDRAWN by Sponsor Thanks to the massive opposition and outcry against Senate Bill 516, the sponsor has elected to withdraw the legislation. Senate Bill 516 sought to designate certain firearms as "assault weapons" and would prohibit the possession, transfer or receipt of these firearms by law-abiding Maryland residents. This is a well deserved victory for Maryland’s law-abiding gun owners but we still must remain vigilant to the threats posed by a multitude of anti-gun bills still making their way around the Maryland General Assembly.
MISSISSIPPI: Sweeping Reforms to Right-to-Carry Law Advance in Legislature On Wednesday, February 10, the Mississippi Senate voted 48 to 3 to pass Senate Bill 2153. Please click here to learn more about SB2153 and how you can take action in support of this much-needed reform.
Make Your Voice Heard Against "No Hunting Zones" in Rankin County Late last year, the Rankin County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance prohibiting the discharge of a firearm within 500 yards (more than a quarter mile) of a platted subdivision, or hunting with a bow within 100 yards of a platted subdivision. The ordinance was passed with little notice or opportunity for affected landowners and sportsmen to express their opposition. State law already makes it illegal to discharge a firearm into a dwelling. The effect of this far-reaching local ordinance has been to create large “No Hunting Zones” that extend far beyond subdivision property lines into neighboring tracts of land – without regard for the property rights of those landowners or for cases in which firearms could safely be discharged on those properties with absolutely no threat to neighbors. Please contact the Board Supervisors and urge them to repeal this misguided ordinance! Contact information can be found here.
NEW YORK: Anti-Gunners Have .50 Caliber Firearms in the Crosshairs in the Empire State! Last week, Assembly Bill 9904, a bill that would ban the sale, use or possession of .50 caliber or larger firearms, was referred to the Assembly Codes Committee in Albany. Please contact your lawmakers TODAY and respectfully urge them to oppose A9904. State Assembly Members can be reached by phone at (518) 455-4100. To find your Assembly Member, please click here.
NEW MEXICO: Legislature Adjourns Sine Die The Legislature adjourned sine die from its 30-day budget session on Thursday after having passed NRA-backed Senate Bill 40. Authored by State Senator George Munoz (D-4), SB40 would allow concealed handgun licensees to protect themselves in restaurants licensed to dispense beer and wine. Your phone calls and emails helped make the difference! SB40 now heads to the desk of Governor Bill Richardson (D), who was instrumental in the effort by granting the bill a "message" to make it germane to the normally fiscal-only session.
OKLAHOMA: Hunting Included in Management Plan for Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a draft plan with several options for managing the Tishomingo Wildlife Refuge for the next 15 years. Tishomingo is located in south central Oklahoma and consists of more than 16,000 acres. It was established over 70 years ago to preserve nesting grounds for migratory waterfowl. The draft plan describes three management alternatives, all of which include some level of hunting. Comments on the draft are due Tuesday, March 23 and can be emailed to [email protected]. Include "Tishomingo NWR Draft CCP and EA" in the subject line. Comments can also be faxed to Mr. Lujan at 505-248-6874. The plan can be viewed at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/Plan/planindex.html. For further information please call 505-248-7458. It will be extremely helpful in the planning process if hunters familiar with the refuge can comment on which of the alternatives best reflect the needs and desires of those who hunt on this refuge.
PENNSYLVANIA: Radnor Township to Consider “Lost or Stolen” Ordinance on Monday, February 22! On Monday, February 22, the Radnor Township Board of Commissioners will consider an ordinance that would require gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms within 72-hours or face a fine up to $1,000 and/or up to 90 days in jail. This proposal not only violates Pennsylvania’s state preemption laws, but also potentially turns law-abiding gun owners -- who have already been victimized by theft -- into criminals. To learn how you can take part in opposing this attack on our rights, please click here.
SOUTH CAROLINA: “Phase II” of Belfast Plantation Acquisition Put on Hold As we reported, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), along with the South Carolina Conservation Bank, The Conservation Fund, and the National Wild Turkey Federation, is working to acquire the Belfast Plantation, which will help to greatly expand hunting and shooting opportunities in South Carolina. NRA has been working closely with SCDNR on developing shooting ranges, including a range located in "Phase I" of the Belfast property, and we are very supportive of the efforts to complete the acquisition of the remainder of the land in "Phase II." The Belfast Plantation "Phase II" acquisition process has been put on hold until June. We will be sure to keep you updated on what you can do to assist with this important effort to expand hunting and shooting opportunities in South Carolina. In the meantime, we are happy to report that State Senator Ronnie Cromer (R-18) is now officially supporting this effort. Please take a moment to thank Senator Cromer for his support of South Carolina sportsmen by supporting the Belfast Plantation "Phase II" acquisition. The Senator can be reached by phone at (803) 212-6330.
TENNESSEE: NRA License Plates Now Available for Purchase! Thanks to your support, National Rifle Association specialty license plates can be purchased in Tennessee. For more details, please click here.
VIRGINIA: House Committee Votes to Repeal “One-Gun-A-Month” in Virginia! On Friday, February 12, the Virginia House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee stood up for the Constitutional rights of all Virginia citizens by voting 15-6 to pass House Bill 49. HB49, sponsored by Delegate L. Scott Lingamfelter (R-31), will repeal Virginia’s long standing gun rationing law, which was enacted in 1993 by former Governor Doug Wilder (D). Please thank the lawmakers who voted for HB49. Contact information can be found here.
Senate Courts Committee Defeats Concealed Carry Reform Bill On Monday, February 15, the Virginia Senate Courts of Justice Committee defeated Senate Bill 79 by a margin of 9 to 6. If passed, SB79 would have repealed the language that allows localities the option to fingerprint applicants for an initial concealed handgun permit.
WASHINGTON: Seattle Rule on Guns in Parks Struck Down In a clear victory for Washington state gun owners, the Superior Court of King County, Washington, on February 12 struck down a Seattle City Parks and Recreation rule banning firearms from city parks, including possession by right-to-carry permit holders. In her ruling, Judge Catherine Shaffer concluded that “the City of Seattle’s authority to regulate the possession of firearms in City parks and recreation facilities during public use of those facilities is preempted by state law, and therefore Seattle’s Department of Parks and Recreation’s Rule/Policy Number P 060-8.14 (‘Firearms Rule’) violates Washington law and, on that basis, is null and void.” The ruling is an important victory not only for gun owners, but also for the rule of law. The ruling upholds the state of Washington’s preemption statute, which was written specifically to prevent cities and counties from enacting their own patchwork of gun laws, as the City of Seattle attempted to do in this instance. Protecting state preemption statutes is an important goal of NRA-ILA, which has brought many lawsuits in many states challenging local gun restrictions.
WISCONSIN: Help Guarantee Your Right to Self-Defense in the Badger State! Since the Fall of 2009, Assembly Bill 193 has been idle in the Assembly Rules Committee waiting to be scheduled for floor time. Under this bill, if a person used defensive force that was intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm, the court must presume that the person reasonably believed that the force was necessary. With limited time for this important self-defense bill to remain alive during this session, it is important that the Assembly Leadership schedule this bill for time on the floor as soon as possible. AB 193 would help restore the basic right of self-defense to which all Americans are entitled. Please contact your State Representative today and respectfully urge him or her to schedule AB 193 for a vote. Contact information for your legislators can be found here.
Legislation to Prohibit More Gun Owners, Infringe Fifth Amendment -- Now Headed to House Floor! On Wednesday, February 10, the Assembly Committee on Corrections and the Courts passed Assembly Bill 558 and Assembly Bill 559 -- two bills that, if passed by the full Assembly, would have severe effects on gun owners in the state of Wisconsin. To learn more about these bills, please click here.
WYOMING: Constitutional Carry Passes Out of Committee! On Tuesday, February 16, the House Judiciary Committee passed House Bill 113. This bill would allow those who meet the requirements currently set forth in the concealed carry permit system to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense without a permit. If signed into law, this legislation would also keep the current permit system intact for residents concerned about carrying in other states with reciprocal agreements. Those who are currently prevented from legally carrying, be it open or concealed, will still face the same penalties should they decide to break the law. Please contact both your State Representative and State Senator today and respectfully urge them to support this important carry reform bill. Contact information can be found here.
