Hearing Scheduled for H.R. 822,
the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011
For months we have been reporting on a critically important bill: H.R. 822—the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011. This vital NRA-backed legislation, introduced earlier this year by Congressmen Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) and Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) will enable millions of permit holders to exercise their right to self-defense while traveling outside their home states.
Thanks to much hard work and action taken by NRA and our members, H.R. 822 has now garnered 242 cosponsors in the U.S. House. On Tuesday, September 13, the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security will hold a hearing on the bill.
There is currently only one state (Illinois) that has no clear legal way for individuals to carry concealed firearms for self-defense. Forty states have permit systems that make it possible for any law-abiding person to obtain a permit, while most of the others have discretionary permit systems. (Vermont has never required a permit.)
House Committee Passes Veterans Act: On September 9, the U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee passed an amendment by U.S. Representative Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) as a part of a larger piece of veterans’ legislation. The Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act, which was added to H.R.2349 as an amendment, would provide individuals receiving veterans' benefits with added protection against loss of the right to possess firearms due to mental health decisions.
A Mexican City Takes a Stand Against Violence: You’ve seen the headlines describing the violence in Mexico; the beheadings, kidnappings, assassinations, torture, and mass graves. The long-running narco-terror war, the corruption within government, the rise of gangs, the poor economy; all have contributed to what are fast becoming virtual war-zones in many parts of the country.
Outrage of the Week: This week’s outrage comes to us from Buffalo, N.Y., where a group called “Fathers Armed Together to Help, Educate, Restore and Save” held a “gun” buyback program for kids. “FATHERS” offered pizza, dress shirts, notebooks and folders for kids who turned in Nerf guns and water pistols. Yes, toys. The group’s theory is simple: indoctrinate the kids into thinking that guns are bad and should be feared and avoided, and crime will surely drop.
NRA Fights to Secure Access to Federal Lands: NRA and several other groups (U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, Safari Club International, Congressional Sportsmen Foundation, and the American Sportfishing Association, among others) are supporting new legislation that is critical to securing the future of hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting on Federal public lands.
2011 Firearms Law & the Second Amendment Symposium: The 2011 “Firearms Law & the Second Amendment Symposium,” sponsored by The NRA Foundation, will be held on Saturday, October 15, 2011, at the University of San Diego Law School.
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).
NRA has been a part of this social technology for some time now, with a presence on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites. By actively participating in these new media, we are able to reach out to more potential members and supporters than ever before.
The current king of on-line social networking is Facebook. NRA’s Facebook page continues to be extremely popular. In fact, thanks to you, our page has grown from about 300,000 fans on July 28, 2010 to over 1,186,000 fans as of this week!
Grassroots News Minute Video: To view this week’s “Grassroots News Minute” video, please click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45Bvt4WKHqg
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.)
For additional information, please click on the links provided.
CALIFORNIA: California Legislature Sends Three Anti-Gun Bills to the Governor
On September 8, California gun owners and sportsmen received a huge blow to their Second Amendment rights when the state legislature passed two anti-gun bills and sent them to the Governor. A third anti-gun bill is already with the Governor. It is critical that you, your family, your friends and fellow gun owners in California continually CALL and E-MAIL Governor Brown to urge him to VETO SB 819, AB 809 and SB 427.
IDAHO: Attend a Free NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop at Cabela’s in Boise on September 21! Please join NRA-ILA staff on Wednesday, September 21st, for an evening of important grassroots education to learn what you can do to protect our Second Amendment rights in Idaho!
In order to ensure that gun owners are fully engaged to protect our Second Amendment rights, NRA-ILA Staff will discuss how you can take on an even more active role in your community to advance and protect our freedoms. NRA-ILA will provide you with the materials and strategies needed to educate, empower, and engage your fellow gun owners. That’s why we hope you will attend NRA-ILA's FREE Grassroots Workshop to learn what more you can do to become a better activist in the fight to protect and promote the Second Amendment! Please encourage your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners to attend as well.
NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS WORKSHOP (September 21st, 2011)
Cabela’s
8109 W Franklin Road
Boise, ID 83709
(208) 672-7900
6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Snacks and Registration
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop
To register, please click here, or call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at 800-392-VOTE (8683).
KENTUCKY: Sandhill Crane Hunting Season Approved by Feds
With approval by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, plans for Kentucky’s new sandhill crane hunting season now move toward the final hurdle, the General Assembly review process. A subcommittee of eight members has been formed and will meet on Tuesday, October 11, to discuss the proposed plans for this hunting season. Please contact members of the Administrative Regulations Review Subcommittee and respectfully urge them to SUPPORT the proposed plan for the Kentucky sandhill crane hunting season.
LOUISIANA: Louisiana and Ohio Agree to Right-to-Carry Permit Reciprocity
On September 8, Louisiana State Police Colonel Mike Edmonson and Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced an agreement allowing Right-to-Carry reciprocity between their two states. The NRA would like to thank Governor Bobby Jindal, Louisiana State Police Colonel Mike Edmonson and Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine for assisting us with this effort.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: State Senate Votes to Override Veto on Self-Defense Bill
On September 7, the state Senate voted to override the Governor’s veto of Senate Bill 88, “Castle Doctrine” legislation. SB 88 must now pass in the state House of Representatives by a two-thirds vote for this bill to become law. Please contact your state Representative(s) and urge him or her (them) to override the Governor’s veto on SB 88.
NEW YORK: Sportsmen’s Association for Firearms Education Firearm Civil Rights Conference
Please join the Sportsmen’s Association for Firearms Education (S.A.F.E.) for its 2011 Firearm Civil Rights Conference in Smithtown. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about Second Amendment issues, both nationally and locally, as well as meet and network with fellow sportsmen concerned about their civil rights and how to protect them.
OHIO: Ohio and Louisiana Agree to Right-to-Carry Permit Reciprocity
On September 8, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced an agreement with Louisiana State Police Colonel Mike Edmonson allowing Right-to-Carry reciprocity between their two states. The NRA would like to thank Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Governor Bobby Jindal and Louisiana State Police Colonel Mike Edmonson for assisting us with this effort.
PENNSYLVANIA: Hearing on Sunday Hunting Scheduled for September 15
This Thursday, the House Game and Fisheries Committee will hold its second public hearing to consider ending the prohibition on Sunday hunting. This hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m., at the East Allen Township Municipal Building, in Northampton. Please contact members of the House Game and Fisheries Committee and urge them to support Sunday hunting.
Attend PA Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs’ Fall Convention
You are invited to attend the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs’ (PFSC) Fall Convention on September 16-18, at the Radisson Harrisburg Hotel in Camp Hill. The PFSC was formed in 1932 to ensure proper protections of Pennsylvania’s wildlife resources, habitat, outdoor heritage and Second Amendment rights.
TENNESSEE: Alexandria Gun Ban Resolution Not on City Council Agenda
Due to the overwhelming response from NRA members, the proposed resolution to ban possession of firearms on the DeKalb County Fairgrounds in Alexandria is not expected to be on the agenda of the Alexandria City Council at itsSeptember 27 meeting. A special thanks goes out to our members who voiced their opposition to the Alexandria anti-gun resolution.
