Statement on Elena Kagan's Confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court
Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice President, National Rifle Association &
Chris W. Cox, Executive Director, National Rifle Association-Institute for Legislative Action
On Thursday, August 05, 2010, the U.S. Senate confirmed Elena Kagan to the highest Court in the land. To NRA members and gun owners nationwide, Ms. Kagan presents a clear and present danger to the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Her political record reveals that she does not believe the Second Amendment guarantees a fundamental right and, in her recent testimony, she refused to acknowledge respect for the God-given right of self-defense. That is why, more than a month ago, the NRA announced its strong opposition to Elena Kagan's confirmation to the Court. In that announcement, it was made very clear that this vote matters and will be considered in the NRA's candidate evaluations.
The U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed that the Second Amendment guarantees a fundamental, individual right that applies to all law-abiding Americans. Nonetheless, during the hearings Ms. Kagan refused to state her support for the Second Amendment, saying only that the matter was "settled law." When asked about the Heller decision, Justice Sonia Sotomayor used the phrase "settled law" repeatedly during her confirmation hearings to win support. Justice Sotomayor then worked to destroy the Second Amendment in the McDonald case. We have no doubt that Ms. Kagan shares the same view of the Second Amendment.
NRA-Backed Firearms Excise Tax Bill Passes U.S. Senate -- Bill Passed U.S. House 412-6: By unanimous consent, the U.S. Senate on Thursday passed H.R. 5552 -- the Firearms Excise Tax Improvement Act -- sponsored by Congressmen Ron Kind (D-WI) and Paul Ryan (R-WI). S. 632, its Senate companion, was sponsored by Senators Max Baucus (D-MT) and Mike Crapo (R-ID).
Shoe Leather & Votes: As was the case two years ago in the 2008 elections, in this year's contests, two things will deliver victory for us -- shoe leather and votes.
To ensure that our members and supporters are registered to vote, are active in the campaigns of pro-gun candidates, and prepared to vote in droves before or on Election Day, NRA-ILA's Grassroots Division has hired Campaign Field Representatives (CFRs) that have been dispatched to key states across the country.
"Don't Tread On My Gun Rights" Yard Signs Available Now: We've created a new yard sign that will send a strong message this election season to all who read it: "Don't Tread on my Gun Rights."
Another Way To Get Involved--Join NRA's Facebook And Twitter Groups: Internet social networking has exploded in recent years, and websites such as Facebook and Twitter attract millions of users. This on-line community fosters a connection between its users, and allows distribution of user-generated content (like pictures, profiles, music, video, and text).
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.)
CALIFORNIA: Long Gun Registration Bill Still Pending Consideration Earlier this week, Assembly Bill 1810 was placed in the suspense file by the Senate Appropriations Committee. However, AB1810 could be resurrected in a special hearing next week. AB1810 would establish a registration system, similar to the one currently in place for handguns, for all newly-acquired long guns. This legislation would require the make, model and serial number of the firearm as well as the identifying information of the purchaser to be recorded and kept on file by the California Attorney General's office. If AB1810 were enacted, violent criminals would continue doing what they do now – obtain firearms through illegal means. This bill would not decrease crime but will rather have disastrous effects on the already financially unstable Golden State. AB1810 would impose additional burdens on California's taxpayers to maintain the registration system as well as on the state's licensed firearms dealers, small businesses who already deal with extensive business requirements. One simply needs to look at Canada, a nation with draconian firearms registration, to see the results – billions in cumulative administrative costs, annual cost overruns, no clear substantiation of public safety benefits, unjust prosecution, and a bureaucratic complexity that daunts those willing to comply. Ironically, California is considering a new registration scheme as Canada is considering doing away with its system. Please call the members of Senate Appropriations Committee and urge them to OPPOSE AB1810. Contact information for the committee can be found here.
Open Carry Ban Advances to Senate FloorOn Wednesday, August 4, Assembly Bill 1934 advanced out of the Senate Appropriations Committee. AB1934 now heads to the floor of the Senate and next week. Simply put, 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. AB1934 is a knee-jerk reaction by anti-gun legislators to punish citizens for engaging in the legal act of openly carrying an unloaded handgun. In reality, the open carrying of firearms by law-abiding citizens is forced by California's unfair concealed carry law, which allows some citizens from some counties to receive a permit to carry, while their neighbors in the next county are denied that basic right for political, not public safety, reasons. Please contact your State Senator TODAY and respectfully urge them to oppose AB1934. Contact information for your State Senator can be found by clicking here.
Another Lawsuit Filed Challenging Ban on Shipping Ammunition into CaliforniaOn Thursday July 29, the National Rifle Association (NRA) joined the Calguns Foundation, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (the largest trucker's trade association), the Folsom Shooting Club, and two individual truckers in a lawsuit challenging California's soon-to-be-implemented law banning most shipments of handgun ammunition into California. The case is OOIDA v. Lindley. A copy of the Complaint is available at www.calgunlaws.com. Assembly Bill 962 was signed into law last year. Starting in February 2011, the law will criminalize the delivery and transfer of handgun ammunition not done in face-to-face transactions. The law provides only a few exceptions to this shipping ban, and requires shipping companies to bear the burden of determining whether the recipient of a package containing handgun ammunition is covered by one of the exceptions before delivering the package. This will make shipping ammunition to California much more difficult, complicated, and expensive. The new lawsuit, filed in Sacramento's United States District Court, Eastern District of California, alleges that the ammo shipment ban is similarly burdensome and preempted by the FAAAA. Plaintiffs will soon be seeking an injunction to block the shipping portions of the law from taking effect. This lawsuit follows a separate suit brought by Tehama County Sheriff Clay Parker and the California Rifle and Pistol Association (CRPA). For more information on this lawsuit please click here.
NEW YORK: Sportsmen's Association for Firearms Education Inc. (S.A.F.E.) 2010 Firearm Civil Rights Conference. Please join the Sportsmen's Association for Firearms Education Inc. (S.A.F.E.) for its 2010 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; 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. Attendees can win valuable prizes in exclusive drawings. Admission and parking are free, and the event is open to your family and friends. The conference will be held Sunday, October 3, 2010, from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. (doors open at 12:00 noon) at the International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers Hall, 370 Vanderbilt Motor Parkway, Hauppauge, NY 11788 (On North side of Motor Parkway between exits 53 & 55 of LIE).
S.A.F.E. and Women on Target (WOT) are sponsoring a Women's Only Clinic on Rifle Shooting on Long Island, on Saturday, October 2, 2010, from 8:45 a.m. to 12:00 noon or 12:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event will be held at the Nassau County Indoor Rifle & Pistol Range, located in Mitchell Park, across from the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Earl Ovington Blvd, Uniondale, NY (you can call 516-572-0421 for directions). If you have never shot a firearm before, this is a great opportunity to learn. Experienced instructors will be on hand. This clinic is free and open to all women, regardless of experience. You will learn safe gun handling skills, proper firearm storage techniques, and fundamentals of marksmanship. Admission is FREE. The program includes free coffee and Danish, a firearms safety class, all ammunition and targets, the use of .22 caliber rifles, all safety equipment and certified NRA Instructors. Pre-registration is required by September 26th, 2010 because space is limited. For more information, please call (631) 475-8125.
WISCONSIN:NRA-ILA Staff and Volunteers will be at the Wisconsin State Fair Beginning August 5 and running through the course of the fair on August 15, your NRA-ILA staff and volunteers will be manning booth #1306 in the Expo Center building. Staff will be providing free NRA-ILA materials, offering memberships, answering questions and signing up volunteers to assist with the upcoming elections. We will also have information available on current federal issues and election 
activity as well as state issues and legislative session summaries. The Wisconsin State Fair is a great opportunity for NRA to recruit new volunteers to aid our electoral and legislative efforts during this pivotal time for Wisconsin and the country. With the September 14 Primary almost a month away and the November 2 election following quickly behind, now is the time to get active and support pro-Second Amendment candidates. We are on the verge of a tremendous opportunity to elect the pro-gun legislators needed to help restore Wisconsin's rich firearm and hunting heritage. Please bring your friends, family and fellow firearm enthusiasts by the booth to learn more about our efforts. If you are unable to attend the fair but would like to learn how you can help with NRA-ILA's election efforts this November, please contact Wisconsin NRA-ILA Campaign Field Representative, Nate Nelson, at (920) 410-4004 or by e-mail at [email protected].
