Tucson Tragedy Prompts Renewed Calls For Gun Control
This week, the NRA and countless Americans offered prayers and condolences for those killed and wounded during the senseless assassination attempt on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.).
Yet while those of us who defend the Second Amendment were respecting the heartache of the people of Tucson and waiting to learn the full facts of the case, anti-gun activists were renewing their push for more gun control laws. ("In the wake of these kind of incidents, the trick is to move quickly," the Violence Policy Center's Kristen Rand told MSNBC.)
Rand and other gun ban advocates were quick to push several schemes.
The most widely publicized is the proposal by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) to re-impose the 1994 ban on new manufacture of ammunition magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition, and to criminalize the transfer of existing magazines between law-abiding gun owners. These magazines are standard equipment for self-defense handguns and other firearms owned by tens of millions of Americans. Law-abiding private citizens choose them for many reasons, including the same reason police officers do: to improve their odds in defensive situations.
Also, Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) proposed to ban possession of firearms within 1,000 feet of the President, Vice President, Members of Congress or federal judges. Obviously, this proposal would be ignored by anyone who intends to harm a government official. But it would impose extraordinary burdens on honest gun owners, creating potentially hundreds of square miles of roving "gun free" areas throughout the United States.
There's no question that the debate over gun control will continue after the Tucson attack. Please rest assured that the NRA will, as always, stand front and center in defense of the rights of gun owners. And, as always, watch your NRA-ILA alerts for the latest news and calls to action on these critical issues.
Second Amendment Weekend At Cabela's: Join NRA-ILA staff on Saturday, February 5th, 2011, for a day of important grassroots education. With what will no doubt be a very busy 2011, we must redouble our efforts to ensure we're prepared to meet the opportunities and challenges we will face. Please make plans to attend NRA-ILA's FREE Grassroots Workshop and NRA University to learn what you can do to become a better activist in the fight to protect and promote the Second Amendment!
Registration For SCI's Fourth Annual Continuing Legal Education Course Is Now Open! Join Safari Club International for "Current Issues in Domestic and International Wildlife and Hunting Law" on Friday, January 28, 2011 from 2:00 P.M. – 5:15 P.M. at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, 3800 S. Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada.
The registration fee of $139.00 (same price as last year) includes seminar (3.0 hours of CLE credit – no Ethics), written materials, and single, same-day admission to the SCI Convention.
The CLE Course is open to SCI members and non-members.
To register, use the State Bar of Nevada's on-line registration, at: http://www.legalspan.com/nvbar/catalog.asp?ItemID=20101118-166130-124419
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: Show Your Support for the Northern Arizona Shooting Range!
On Tuesday, January 18, at 5:30 p.m., the Flagstaff City Council will host a discussion on the Northern Arizona Shooting Range. While the City Council has no direct authority over the range's development, the meeting will provide an opportunity for gun owners and shooters to publicly express their support for this essential, state-of-the-art shooting facility. Range opponents will be out in force and must be countered! Please tell your family, friends and fellow gun owners to come out on Tuesday, January 18, at 5:30 p.m., and show your support for the Northern Arizona Shooting Range. We need to ensure our voices are heard! For more information, meeting location and other ways you can help please click here.
Lake Havasu Travel Management Plan Will Affect Motorized Access for Hunters
The Bureau of Land Management is developing a Travel Management Plan (TMP) to designate the routes that will remain open to the use of motorized vehicles by the public. The Federal lands involved in the TMP are located below I-40 in Arizona and California, north, east, and south of Lake Havasu City, including parts of the California shoreline and south within 5-7 miles of the Bill Williams River. The public comment period on the TMP closes February 28th. Comments may be emailed to [email protected] or by filling out the comment form on BLM's Arizona State website at www.blm.gov/az. Click on Lake Havasu. For further information you may call Myron McCoy at 928-505-1216 or write to [email protected].
The TMP lays out four alternatives for motorized access:
Alternative A: No Action. Alternative A describes the current management of BLM-administered public lands in the planning area. The current management would continue to occur if no new decisions are made to alter them.
Alternative B: Protection. Alternative B emphasizes minimal human use and influence, and enhanced protection of remoteness and primitive recreation.
Alternative C: Proposed. Alternative C would provide an optimal balance between authorized resource use and the protection and long-term sustainability of sensitive resources within the planning area.
Alternative D: Access. Alternative D places an emphasis on maximum resource use and a more flexible, permissive resource management approach.
In addition to the effects the TMP will have on recreational access, the BLM does not intend to allow the use of vehicles for game retrieval off designated routes. If you hunt or enjoy other recreational activities on these lands, it is important that you review the maps and comment on how the alternatives will affect your access and ability to retrieve downed game.
NEVADA: State Parks Division to Hold Workshop on Guns in Parks
The Nevada Division of State Parks (NDSP) is proposing amending the regulations pertaining to Chapter 407 of the Nevada Administrative Code. The proposed amendments would remove the current prohibition on firearm possession in state parks, while also clarifying prohibitions on the discharge of firearms to specifically recognize your right to self-defense. In order to solicit feedback and comment from the public, NDSP is hosting a workshop on Thursday, January 20 in Carson City, at the Richard Bryan Building, 901 S. Stewart Street/2nd Floor, in the Tahoe Hearing Room, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.. The workshop will also provide a videoconference from the State Park's Southern Region office at 4747 Vegas Drive, in Las Vegas. Those wishing to comment on this proposed action may address their comments, data, or views in written form to Nevada Division of State Parks via mail at 901 S. Stewart St. Suite 5005, Carson, City, NV 89701 or email at [email protected] or fax (775) 684-2774. Written submissions must be received prior to the January 20 workshop. For any questions, contact Steve Silva, Senior Law Enforcement Specialist at (775) 684-2774 or via e-mail at [email protected]. Thank you for your action on this most important issue!
SOUTH CAROLINA: Right-to-Carry Reform Bill Introduced in Columbia! The 119th South Carolina General Assembly began its session this week, and on Wednesday, Jan. 12, State Representative Mike Pitts (R-14) introduced H. 3292, a comprehensive Right-to-Carry reform bill. Joining Rep. Pitts as cosponsors are Representatives Dan Cooper (R-10) and Greg Delleney, Jr. (R-43). H. 3292 seeks to reform current law to remove certain restrictions on where one may lawfully carry a concealed firearm, establish that property owners may not set policies or rules that would prohibit the transportation or storage of legally-possessed firearms or ammunition if it is locked, out of sight, within a privately-owned motor vehicle, and create a straight recognition standard for valid permits issued by other states. We will be giving a more detailed analysis of this legislation, as well as report on other firearm-related bills, in the near future. In the meantime, please take a moment to call your State Representative and urge him or her to cosponsor H. 3292. Their contact information can be found here.
SOUTH DAKOTA:ACLU Sues To Broaden Right-To-Carry Law
The ACLU of South Dakota has filed a suit on behalf of a British national and permanent legal immigrant who was denied a Right-to-Carry permit in South Dakota. According to a January 6 FoxNews.com story, the 30-year legal resident, and previous Right-to-Carry permit holder, was denied a permit due to a 2002 change in South Dakota's Right-to-Carry law that requires an applicant to be an American citizen. Citing the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause, the ACLU of South Dakota has filed the suit against the South Dakota Secretary of State and the Minnehaha County Sherriff's Office, and has also filed for an injunction to stop the enforcement of the citizenship requirement. The case is on strong legal ground, since the Supreme Court has long held that lawful permanent residents of the U.S. have the right to equal protection under the laws, and restrictions based on citizenship status must be strongly justified by the government. Under federal law and the law of most states, permanent legal residents are not prohibited from possessing firearms and their right to carry firearms for the purpose of self-defense should also be recognized. After all, a criminal attacking a law-abiding person doesn't care if the victim is a citizen or a "green card" holder. For more information, please click here.
VIRGINIA: Beginning of 2011 Legislative Session Brings Broad Range of Firearm Legislation Filed in Richmond
The Virginia General Assembly convened its 2011 session on Wednesday, January 12. As this session progresses, the National Rifle Association will update you with alerts and action items as to the status of both pro-gun and anti-gun legislation so you are better able to contact your elected state officials. With all 140 seats of the General Assembly up for election this year, it is more important than ever for your elected officials to hear your voice and vote to defend your Second Amendment rights. For an up to date list of current bills we are tracking please click here.
