Members of Congress to Clinton:
Revisit Decision on M1 Rifles and M1 Carbines
U.S. senators and representatives from both sides of the aisle are urging Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to revisit the State Department's March 2010 decision disallowing the importation of M1 rifles and M1 carbines from South Korea.
In a letter to Secretary Clinton, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) and 15 other senators state that the importation disapproval "amounts to no more than a backdoor gun ban that lacks any basis or justification under current Federal law and policy" and "violates law-abiding citizens' constitutional right, protected under the Second Amendment, to purchase these firearms for legitimate purposes such as target shooting, hunting, collecting, and self-protection."
The senators question the department's opinion that the rifles "could potentially be exploited by individuals seeking firearms for illicit purposes," and request from Secretary Clinton "an explanation of your reasons for blocking the importation and sale of American-made rifles from South Korea."
NRA-ILA Investigates Citibank Issue: This week, NRA-ILA and NRA's Publications Division learned of an issue regarding the disapproval of credit by Citibank South Dakota for a respected manufacturer of scope mounts for firearms. Upon investigation with Citibank, it appears that the initial disapproval was based on the type of business the company is engaged in. Citibank applies an industry code to every business that seeks credit and it appears that the company was assigned a code that Citibank does not lend to. However, we believe this code was misapplied in this case.
The How & Why Behind NRA-PVF's Endorsement Policies-Candidate Ratings And Endorsements Now Available: The 2010 elections are less than four weeks away, and NRA members will be deciding thousands of races. The NRA-Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF -- NRA's Political Action Committee) has redesigned its website, www.NRAPVF.org, to make it more user-friendly and to provide you with the critical information you'll need to make informed decisions on Election Day, November 2nd. New information on the site includes the 2010 candidate grades and endorsements. These ratings and endorsements will also appear in the November issue of your NRA magazine, which should arrive by mid-October.
2010 Firearms Law & The Second Amendment Symposium: The 2010 "Firearms Law & The Second Amendment Symposium" will be held on Saturday, November 13, 2010 at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois. This event will be sponsored by The NRA Foundation and the John Marshall Law School chapter of the Federalist Society.
"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.)
ARIZONA: Attend FREE Tucson Rally to Support Proposition 109, Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish: This year, the citizens of Arizona have an opportunity to affirm their long cherished right to hunt and fish in our state. Proposition 109 on the November Ballot will amend Arizona's constitution to establish a right to hunt and fish as a preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife. The use of traditional methods is protected and all laws and rules regulating hunting and fishing "shall have the purpose of wildlife conservation and management and the preservation of hunting and fishing." This ensures that science, not politics and emotion, dictates wildlife management in Arizona.
To generate support for Prop 109 and answer any questions you might have, Tucson NRA members and all sportsmen are invited to a rally on Wednesday, October 13th, at the Manning House, 450 West Paseo Redondo, Tucson Arizona, from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. The event is FREE to the public. Speakers include Sandy Froman, NRA Past President and Executive Board Member, Todd Rathner, NRA Board member and other special guests. NRA-PVF endorsed candidates are also invited to attend. Contact Judi White at [email protected] for more information.
CALIFORNIA: Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Important Pro-Hunting Bill On Wednesday, September 29, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed Senate Bill 1179 into law. SB1179, introduced by State Senator Dennis Hollingsworth (R-36), will require the Department of Fish and Game to establish two free hunting days per year where unlicensed hunters can hunt so long as they are accompanied by someone who is licensed. This legislation promises to help recruit the next generation of hunters by allowing novices to try their hand at hunting without being required to purchase a license. Thank you to all of the NRA members who answered the call in support of SB1179. Without you, this victory would not have been possible.
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.
PENNSLYVANIA: House Bill 40 Passes House, Advances to the Senate! On Tuesday, October 5, House Bill 40 passed the House by a vote of 159-36. The bill now advances to the Senate where it will be assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. HB40, sponsored by State Representative Scott Perry (R-92), is the "Castle Doctrine" bill that would permit law-abiding citizens to use force, including deadly force, against an attacker in their homes and any places outside of their home where they have a legal right to be. "Castle Doctrine" would also protect individuals from civil lawsuits by the attacker or the attacker's family when force is used. Please contact the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to vote for HB40. Pennsylvania lawmakers need to stop liberal judges from putting the rights of criminals before the rights of the law-abiding. A roster of the committee and contact information for its members can be found by clicking here.
