Bloomberg Further Disgraces
Himself In Latest Anti-Gun Pitch
No one in this country knows better than New Yorkers what "devastation" looks like. On September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center buildings and their surrounding area were reduced to rubble, burying nearly 3,000 Americans. To this day, the images are difficult to comprehend; they show a concentration of man-made destruction unprecedented in the United States and perhaps anywhere on Earth.
New York's current murder rate pales in comparison to that of 2001, of course. But it also pales in comparison to what it was in other years gone by. Due in part to crime-fighting programs adopted under former mayor Rudolph Giuliani, New York City's murder rate is only a fifth of what it was 20 years ago.
Presumably, New Yorkers are well aware of the relative safety in which they live today. However, the current mayor, Michael Bloomberg, has a skewed perspective even though the September 11 anniversary is front and center in every news outlet today due to other controversies.
NRA Challenges Constitutionality Of Federal Handgun Ban For Law Abiding 18-20 Year-Olds: The NRA is challenging federal laws that prohibit law-abiding Americans 18-20 years of age from legally purchasing a handgun through a federally licensed firearm dealer. The case was filed Tuesday evening in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas Lubbock Division. James D'Cruz of Lubbock, TX is the plaintiff in this case. The case is D'Cruz v. BATFE.
Senate Judiciary Committee to Hold Hearing on S. 941 -- the "Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act": This Tuesday, September 14, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on reforming current regulation of commerce in firearms -- especially in the area of dealer licensing and oversight -- by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE).
NRA Freedom Action Foundation Launches 2010 Trigger The Vote Effort -- Honorary Chairman Chuck Norris Stars In New Ad Campaign: This week, NRA's Freedom Action Foundation (NRA-FAF) launched the 2010 "Trigger the Vote" campaign, featuring its Honorary Chairman Chuck Norris in a new series of advertisements. "Tough Like Chuck," the first in the new series of ads, can be viewed here: www.triggerthevote.org/landing
CFRs To Host Kick-Off Meetings: 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.
Our CFRs will be living in their respectively assigned districts, working daily with NRA members and supporters of the Second Amendment to make sure their communities are fully engaged in this year's critically-important elections. From registering pro-gun voters, to walking neighborhoods, to making phone calls, to distributing literature, stickers, and signs, to writing letters to the editor in support of our candidates, to visiting gun shows, shops, clubs, and ranges, to finally, turning out the pro-gun vote on Election Day, our CFRs will be working day and night in support of our Right to Keep and Bear Arms!
"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: Victory for Gun Owners in California! On Tuesday, August 31, lawmakers in the Golden State heard loud and clear the voices of pro-gun advocates when they defeated three dangerous pieces of anti-gun legislation.
Assembly Bill 1810 would have established a registration system, similar to the one currently in place for handguns, for all newly-acquired long guns. Under AB1810, the make, model and serial number of the firearm as well as the identifying information of the purchaser would have been recorded and kept on file by the California Attorney General's office. This bill would not have decreased crime but would have rather had disastrous effects on the already financially unstable Golden State.
The second bill, Assembly Bill 1934 was a blatant attack on the self-defense rights of law-abiding Californians. This legislation sought to outlaw the open carrying of a handgun for self-defense. AB1934 was a knee-jerk reaction by anti-gun legislators to punish citizens for engaging in the legal act of openly carrying an unloaded handgun.
And finally, Assembly Bill 2358 was intended to "clean-up" and address problems encountered with the passage of AB962 in 2009. AB2358 would have forced licensed state ammunition retailers to obtain a special local license to operate in municipalities. These retailers would also have been required to notify local law enforcement before conducting business within their jurisdiction. Moreover, this bill mandated that ammunition retailers submit sales records to local law enforcement agencies and allowed them to maintain those records indefinitely. It did not require the same privacy and destruction requirements mandated for state ammunition vendors.
Thank you to all of the NRA members who answered the call to oppose these bills. Without you, success in these battles would not have been possible. While this is certainly a momentous occasion for California's gun owners, anti-gun forces are sure to continue their offensive against our rights. Please be sure to check your email and www.NRAILA.org for updates on Second Amendment issues in California.
COLORADO: Forest Service Invites Public Comment on Proposed Shooting Range: Recreational shooting is increasing in popularity on the Pawnee National Grassland as the population on the Colorado Front Range grows. To be responsive to the needs of shooters looking for a safe place to shoot, the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests/Pawnee National Grassland is proposing to construct a shooting range on three acres of forestlands between Ault and Briggsdale, north of Colorado State Highway 14. The proposal is for a 100-yard range with eight to ten shooting positions. The site would be open to the public seven-days-a-week from dawn until dusk. The area would include an access road and parking lot, bermed shooting area, informational kiosk, benches, and shade cover, if constructed as proposed. Both the NRA and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources have made grant money available for the project.
The Forest Service is inviting the public to comment on the project. Please e-mail comments to District Ranger Lori Bell at [email protected]. To be fully considered in the project analysis and to keep the planning process on schedule, please respond by October 7, 2010. As information becomes available, it will be posted online at www.fs.usda.gov/arp. The NRA encourages all of its hunters and shooters in the state to take a few minutes to e-mail the District Ranger expressing support for this project. All too often, the response of land managers towards recreation shooting is negative. In this case, the land manager has become the driving force for establishing a shooting range and it is important that she receives a groundswell of support from sportsmen and women.
ILLINOIS:Republican State Senate Campaign Committee Annual Fall Classic Shoot!Wednesday, September 15 through Thursday, September 16, the Illinois Republican State Senate Campaign Committee will be hosting its 13th Annual Fall Classic at Rend Lake Resort in Whittington, Illinois. There will be several items on the agenda that may be of interest to NRA members who wish to attend. On September 15, from 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, fundraiser attendees will be able to take part in a 100-target Sporting Clays round, and one 25-target round each of trap and five-stand. There will also be opportunities during the day to play golf and go fishing, for those interested. Tickets start at $200 per person, and $500 if lodging is needed. On the evening of September 15, there will be an awards dinner, as well as a silent auction and raffle where attendees will have an opportunity to bid on or win several firearms and outdoor equipment. You will also have an opportunity to meet several pro-gun Republican State Senators and candidates at the Awards Dinner. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Roxanne at the campaign office at (217) 787-7550, or go to www.ilsenategop.com
KANSAS: Vote YES on 1 November 2nd! A 1905 ruling from the Kansas Supreme Court interpreted Section 4 of the Kansas Constitution to mean 
that the Right to Keep and Bear Arms only exists as a collective right for those in the militia or military and no individual right exists. For that reason, the NRA has worked with the Kansas State Rifle Association, Senator Mike Petersen and the legislature, to pass a Constitutional Amendment during the 2009 legislative session, which provides new language that clarifies Section 4 and guaranteesan individual Right to Keep and Bear Arms. The language reads: "A person has the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of self, family, home and state, for lawful hunting and recreational use, and for any other lawful purpose." Our elected officials have done law-abiding Kansans a tremendous service by passing this landmark Constitutional Amendment. Now it is up to YOU to do your part on November 2, 2010 and vote this provision into the Kansas Constitution.
Paid for by the National Rifle Association.
MAINE: Maine's Concealed Carry Rights in Jeopardy Again! On Tuesday, September 14, the City of Portland's Public Safety Committee will hold a public hearing to consider legislation prohibiting firearms in certain public facilities. After the hearing, the Committee will deliberate in public and decide whether to recommend that City Council take up a Resolution supporting such a measure.
This legislation would be the first step in an outright attack on your concealed carry rights and the measure also defies Maine's Constitution, which states, "Every citizen has a right to keep and bear arms and this right shall never be questioned."
Please attend and make your voice heard! The meeting will be held on September 14, at 5:30 P.M. in the City Council Chambers, located at 389 Congress Street in Portland. Respectfully urge council members to oppose any changes to state law which would create victim zones in Maine. Remember to tell them that crime does not stop at the front door of a public facility and the right to defend yourself and family shouldn't either. If you are unable to attend, please contact the members of the Public Safety Committee and voice your opposition to this proposal. Contact information can be found 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.
