NRA Members Enhance Preparation For 2010 Elections
Nearly 200 pro-gun patriots rolled up their sleeves and went to work at today’s NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop, held in conjunction with NRA's Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Charlotte, N.C. Though most attendees were home state North Carolinians, NRA members represented states from across the country. Diversity in geography notwithstanding, all were united in a singular mission -- learning what MORE they could do to affect legislative change this year and prepare for the 2010 midterm elections!
As they do every year, many of NRA’s Officers stopped by the Workshop to pay tribute to the attendees who serve as the tips of our grassroots arrow. NRA President Ron Schmeits, NRA First Vice President David Keene, NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, and NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris Cox came to the podium and gave credit for NRA's successes to whom it rightly belongs -- our members and grassroots activists. Each stressed the need for attendees to re-double their efforts this campaign season and to recruit others to join them. Also in attendance were a number of NRA-ILA's Election Volunteer Coordinators (EVCs) -- who once again are prepared to lead the charge in recruiting and organizing pro-gun volunteers this election year.
Memberless VPC Decries Meeting of 70,000 of NRA’s Members in Charlotte: For quite a long time now, the three or four anti-gun radicals that make up the Violence Policy Center haven’t had much to show the Joyce Foundation for the hundreds of thousands of dollars the leftwing foundation wastefully pumps into the anti-gun group each year. As regular readers of the Alert well know, Second Amendment opponents’ defeats have outnumbered their temporary successes by a wide margin lately.
John Lott to Unveil New Book at NRA Annual Meeting: A decade ago, John Lott’s best-selling More Guns, Less Crime shattered conventional wisdom about gun control, and changed the academic debate among criminologists and economists from how much gun ownership caused crime to increase, to how much it caused crime to decrease.
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.
Grassroots News Minute Video: To view this week’s "Grassroots News Minute" video, please click here:
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.)
Tuesday, May 18, is primary election day for the following states: Arkansas, Kentucky, Oregon and Pennsylvania. Please go to www.NRAPVF.org to see a list of all endorsed candidates.
ARIZONA: Pro-Gun Legislation Signed into Law in Arizona On Tuesday, May 11, House Bill 2629 was signed into law by Governor Jan Brewer (R). The bill, as amended, was added after we learned that Mohave County was registering guns when someone would check their firearm at a government building. These government buildings were recording owner information and serial numbers of firearms. HB 2629 will make the current actions of Mohave County and any other violating county illegal. If Mohave County continues to illegally register guns, this new law will allow a private citizen to bring suit against the county for violating our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Please contact Governor Brewer and your legislators to thank them for their hard work and support for HB 2629. You can contact the Governor by phone, at (602) 542-4331; or you can click here to e-mail her. To contact your legislators, please click here.
CALIFORNIA: Attack on Open Carry Passes Committee, Heads to Floor for Vote Wednesday May 12, the Assembly Appropriations Committee passed Assembly Bill 1934. AB1934 now heads to the floor of the Assembly for consideration. AB1934 would outlaw the open carrying of a handgun for self-defense. This bill is a blatant attack on the self-defense rights of law-abiding Californians. Please contact your Assembly Member TODAY and respectfully urge him or her to oppose AB1934. Contact information for your Assembly Member can be found by clicking here.
Faced with NRA/CRPA Foundation Lawsuit, Berkley Repeals Ban on Possession of Certain Semi-Automatic Rifles In response to a pre-litigation demand letter sent by lawyers for the NRA and CRPA Foundation, on Tuesday, May 4, 2010, the Berkeley City Council voted unanimously to repeal that city's ban on the possession of certain semiautomatic rifles, which had remained on the books as Municipal Code Section 13.47, despite being obviously preempted by state law. The repeal confirms that, contrary to the gun ban lobby’s claims, there are limits to what restrictions cities can place on firearms. The repeal demand letter and staff report can be read at www.calgunlaws.com. The repeal efforts were funded by the NRA/CRPAF Legal Action Project (LAP). To contribute to the NRA/CRPAF Legal Action Project (LAP) and support Second Amendment cases that directly benefit California gun owners, visit www.crpafoundation.org.
CONNECTICUT: Hunting Reforms Pass in Connecticut! On May 4, before the legislature adjourned, the Connecticut State House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 207, as amended by the State Senate. This bill would establish a credit for those who purchased a hunting or fishing license, permit or tag between October 1, 2009, and April 14, 2010, at the unjustified price increase imposed this year. This credit would be applied to any such license, permit or tag purchased by an individual on or after October 1, 2010, and help provide restitution to the affected sportsmen. This bill also allows Connecticut residents, who hold a valid Connecticut permit-to-carry, to hunt deer on privately-owned land, using a handgun, specifically, revolvers or single shot pistols, from November 1 to December 31. SB 207 now heads to the desk of Governor Jodi Rell (R) for her consideration. Please call Governor Rell and urge her to support Senate Bill 207. Governor Rell can be reached at 860-566-4840 and [email protected]
GEORGIA: Two Pro-Gun Bills Awaiting the Governor’s Consideration!Two important pro-gun bills (Senate Bill 291 and Senate Bill 308) have both successfully passed and are now on Governor Sonny Perdue’s (R) desk for his consideration. SB291 would allow a person lawfully licensed to carry a firearm the right to carry in all non-secure areas of airports, as well as while dropping off or picking up passengers at an airport. Also included in the bill is a provision that would make the license renewal process much easier. Instead of the licensee having to remember to renew, the probate court will be required to send out renewal notices 90 days before expiration. SB308 would reform Georgia’s concealed carry laws so that the concealed carry license would enable the person to carry any handgun or knife, openly or concealed. SB 308 would also allow Georgia Firearm License holders to carry in more places by repealing the broad and vague “public gathering ban.” Please continue to contact Governor Perdue today by phone at (404) 656-1776 or via e-mail by clicking here and respectfully urge him to sign SB291 and SB308. Also, please e-mail State Senator David Shafer (R-48) at [email protected] and State Senator Mitch Seabaugh (R-28) at [email protected] and thank them for all their efforts with these important bills.
HAWAII: Governor Signs Two Pro-Gun Measures into Law in Hawaii! On Wednesday, May 12, Governor Linda Lingle (R) signed two bills into law that will protect the rights of Hawaii’s law-abiding gun owners. Senate Bill 358, brought forward by State Senator Sam Slom (R-8), will prevent the seizure of legally owned firearms or ammunition from any lawful possessor during an emergency or disaster. Senator Slom introduced SB358 in 2009 as a response to the widespread seizure of firearms that occurred in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The bill languished in the Legislature until the tsunami scare that occurred in Hawaii earlier this year, which propelled the measure through committees and onto the Governor’s desk at the close of the legislative session. Governor Lingle also signed Senate Bill 532. Also introduced by Senator Slom, this bill will provide protection from civil immunity to a homeowner or an owner of any real property who uses force, including deadly force, for self-defense. This is a very key provision under the “Castle Doctrine,” which is named after the long-held belief that an individual’s home is his or her castle and it can be defended from intrusion. Please contact Governor Lingle and thank her for signing SB358 and SB532 into law. The Governor can be reached by phone at (808) 586-0034 or click here to send e-mail.
ILLINOIS: Anti-Gun Attacks Continue in Springfield! While the Illinois General Assembly tries to complete its business this week, anti-gun extremists are putting on a desperate push to pass attacks on our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. As mentioned last week, House Bill 5849 and House Bill 5480, both sponsored by State Representative Harry Osterman (D-14), are expected to be debated on the floor, along with the amendments previously discussed. Another bill that is likely to be brought up is House Bill 5751, introduced by State Representative Edward Acevedo (D-2), which would ban countless semi-automatic handguns, rifles, and shotguns, and many parts for those guns, as well as .50 caliber rifles and ammunition. Time is rapidly running out for this year’s legislative session, and anti-gun extremists will stop at nothing to try to force through any attack on the Second Amendment that they can! Please continue to contact your State representative and urge him or her to oppose HB 5480, HB 5751, and HB 5849! Please click here for contact information.
KANSAS: Right-to-Carry Reform Moves to Governor’s Desk On Thursday, May 6, Senate Bill 306 successfully passed out of the House and Senate by votes of 103 to 15, and 37 to 2, respectively. The bill now heads to Governor Mark Parkinson’s (D) desk for his consideration. NRA has been working closely with the Kansas State Rifle Association (KSRA) and the Attorney General’s office to clean up and streamline the state’s concealed carry statute. As written, the bill would remove many redundant and burdensome provisions of the statute, allowing for a much smoother issuing and renewal process. SB306 would also lower the initial application and renewal fees. Please contact Governor Parkinson and respectfully urge him to sign SB 306. Governor Parkinson can be reached at 785-296-3232 or to send him an e-mail, please click here. Also, please thank your legislators for their hard work and support for this bill. To contact your legislator please click here.
Kansas State Rifle Association Annual Meeting to be Held June 12-13! On Saturday, June 12, and Sunday, June 13, the Kansas State Rifle Association (KSRA) will hold its annual meeting at the Grand Prairie Hotel and Convention Center in Hutchinson. Current KSRA members and Second Amendment supporters are all welcome to attend this two-day event in support of our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. The event will kick-off on Saturday morning at 9 a.m., and will include the election of officers and speeches from congressional candidates. In the evening, there will be a $25-per-plate KSRA PAC fundraiser dinner with additional speakers, including U.S. Representative Todd Tiahrt (R) and former NRA President John Sigler. Sunday’s activities will take place at the Central Kansas Gun Club of Reno County and include a Cowboy Action Shooting exhibition and high power rifle, pistol and shotgun open shoots. These are just a few of the festivities planned for the weekend. For a complete itinerary and registration form please click here. Special note: all those registered before May 15 will automatically be eligible for a prize drawing to be held Saturday morning.
LOUISIANA: Two Pro-Gun Bills Continue to Advance! Two bills that would exempt concealed carry permit holders from the ban on carrying within 1,000 foot “Gun Free School Zones” have passed their respective chambers. Senate Bill 81 will now be taken up by the House Criminal Justice Committee in the near future. While its companion bill, House Bill 556, will be considered by Senate Judiciary Committee B. These bills would not affect gun possession on school property; they would only allow permit holders to continue to exercise their right on public property not controlled directly by the school. Please contact the members of the House Criminal Justice and Senate Judiciary B Committees Today. Respectfully urge them to support SB81 and HB556. Contact information for the committee members is listed here.
MINNESOTA: Gun Shows Under Attack in Minnesota! With Minnesota’s 2010 legislative session coming to an end, anti-gun State Representative Michael Paymar (DFL-64B) intends to offer an amendment to a yet unknown bill, which would severely regulate the sale of firearms at gun shows in Minnesota. His proposed amendment would force all private sales conducted at gun shows across Minnesota to go through a background check. Gun prohibitionists, such as Representative Paymar, falsely claim that many criminals get their guns from gun shows, but the most recent federal study puts the figure at only 0.7 percent. This effort is a stepping stone by anti-gun advocates seeking to ban all private sales, even among family and friends. Please contact your State Representative immediately and urge them to oppose Representative Paymar’s “Gun Show” amendment should it come up. To find contact information for your State Representative, please click here.
Anti-Gun Legislators Trying to Remove Pro-Gun Amendment from Trauma Care Bill! When Senate File 2866 was originally introduced, it contained a potential backdoor registration scheme that would have empowered the Commissioner of Health or any trauma hospital to collect and store a patient’s firearm ownership and carry permit information, creating a de facto gun registration system. Coming to the aid of law-abiding gun owners, pro-gun State Representative Mary Holberg (R-36A) offered an amendment to Senate File 2866 which would prevent the Commissioner of Health or any trauma hospital from creating such a registry. On April 8, this amendment was adopted with broad bi-partisan support in the House by a vote of 92 to 38. But now, anti-gun legislators are attempting to remove Representative Holberg's amendment in conference committee. Please contact the conferees and leadership members and urge them to support State Representative Holberg's amendment and to OPPOSE the firearm registration scheme. For contact information, please click here.
NEVADA: Three States Added to Handgun Carry Recognition in Nevada! In a meeting of the Nevada Sheriff’s and Chief’s Association on Thursday, May 6, it was announced that three states (New Mexico, North Carolina, and Rhode Island) would be added to the list of states whose carry permits would be recognized by Nevada. These states now join Alaska, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia, bringing the number of state permits recognized to 13. Annually, the Nevada Department of Public Safety conducts a review of the permitting state’s policies regarding various issues on concealed carry permits and determines whether that state qualifies in accordance with the Nevada Revised Statutes. Holders of valid permits from these states are allowed to carry a concealed firearm while in the state of Nevada. The permit must be in the possession at all times while carrying a firearm.
NEW YORK: Legislation Advances that Could Ban All New Semiautomatic Handguns in New York! Assembly Bill 6468C, sponsored by State Assemblywomen Michelle Schimel (D-16), passed the Assembly, and the Senate version of the bill, Senate Bill 6005, sponsored by State Senator Eric Schneiderman (D-31), is currently pending in the Senate Codes Committee. Both bills would require that semi-automatic pistols manufactured or delivered to any licensed dealer in the state of New York be capable of micro-stamping, and establish fines for violations of this requirement. If allowed to become law, this bill will serve as a ban on all new semi-automatic handguns in New York State! It is imperative that you contact your lawmakers and ask their position on A6468C and S6005. Also, respectfully urge them to oppose these bills. State Assembly Members can be reached by phone at (518) 455-4100. To find your Assembly Member, please click here. Your State Senator can be contacted through the Senate switchboard at (518) 455-2800. To find your State Senator, please click here. Also, please e-mail NRA-ILA’s State & Local Affairs Division at [email protected] and let us know what response you are getting from your lawmakers concerning A6468C and S6005.
OREGON: Please Attend Meetings in Salem Next Week to Oppose Increase in Gun Tax! The Oregon State Police (OSP) is currently reviewing fees charged for services provided by the agency, including conducting background checks on firearm purchasers. State law currently mandates that the buyer must pay the $10 fee for this service, and OSP maintains records on individuals cleared for purchases. NRA-ILA strongly opposes any fee hike, as well as the continued registration of legal firearm purchasers. Please attend the meetings scheduled for Monday, May 17, and Tuesday, May 18, from 1:00p.m.-3:00p.m. at the Department of Public Safety Standards & Training offices, located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, in Salem, and voice your objections to increasing the tax or on, or continuing to register, lawful gun buyers. (Because this is a widespread review of all OSP services, fingerprint processing of Concealed Handgun License applicants may also be examined.) Please click on the following link for information about additional upcoming meeting dates, times and locations across the state in May and June: http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/ID/docs/Regional_Meeting_Schedule.pdf
SOUTH CAROLINA: Hunting Opportunities In Draft Management Plan for Cape Romain NWR The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a draft plan for Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge located in Charleston County, SC. Established in 1932 as a migratory bird refuge, Cape Romain encompasses 66,267 acres along a 22-mile segment of the southeast Atlantic coast. The draft plan will guide management of the refuge for the next 15 years. The plan presents the current management guidance, along with two management alternatives. All three approaches to refuge management provide for hunting and fishing opportunities. The plan can be found at http://www.fws.gov/southeast/planning/. Click on Draft CCP Documents and scroll down to 'Cape Romain'. Public comments are being invited until June 1, and can be e-mailed to [email protected]. For further information, please call 912-496-7366.
It is very important for the Service to receive public support for maintaining and enhancing hunting opportunities on Cape Romain. Anti-hunting interests regularly use the public process to demand that all wildlife refuges be closed to hunting.
TENNESSEE: Restaurant Carry Awaiting Action by Governor Bredesen On May 5, the Tennessee State House moved to adopt Senate Bill 3012 in replace of House Bill 3125, by a vote of 66 to 31. SB3012 is currently awaiting consideration by Governor Phil Bredesen (D). Sponsored by State Senator Doug Jackson (D-25) and by State Representative Curry Todd (R-95), SB3012 would enable a person who has a valid Right-to-Carry permit to carry a firearm for self-defense in restaurants where alcohol may be served, as long as the permit holder is not consuming alcohol or is not otherwise prohibited by posting provisions. Alcohol consumption would be prohibited and violation would result in the loss of a permit for three years. SB3012 also clearly defines posting provisions. This legislation was filed in response to a court ruling last November. The previously enacted law was held to be unconstitutionally vague because of a perceived ambiguity over the state’s definition of restaurants. SB3012 will fix any ambiguity. Governor Bredesen has until Monday, May 17 to take action on this legislation. Please contact Governor Bredesen and urge him to sign SB3012. He can be reached by phone at (615) 741-2001 or by e-mail at [email protected].
VERMONT: Mentored Hunting Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk! On April 30, the Vermont State House of Representatives voted to concur on House Bill 243. The bill now heads to the desk of Governor Jim Douglas (R) for his consideration. H. 243, introduced by State Representative Steve Adams (R-Windsor 4), would establish a mentored hunting license that would allow prospective hunters to try their hand at hunting before completing a hunter education course. Apprentice hunters would have to be directly supervised in the field by a mentor who is at least 21 years-old and who holds a valid hunting license. Experience in more than two-dozen other states with these laws shows that this kind of mentored hunting program is exceptionally safe and will bring many new hunters into the field. There is no reason to believe that the citizens of Vermont will prove to be the exception to this outstanding track record. Hunter recruitment is critical to the long-term preservation of our hunting heritage. Hunter numbers are declining and radical anti-hunting organizations like the Humane Society of the United States are doing everything they can to keep people from hunting. Please contact Governor Douglas and respectfully ask that he sign H. 243 into law. The Governor can be reached by phone at (802) 828-3333 and click here to send e-mail.
