U.S. House Committee Advances
National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act
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This week, the House Judiciary considered amendments to H.R. 822, the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Bill, and defeated all anti-gun amendments offered in an effort to weaken or gut the legislation.
The legislation is an important pro-gun reform that will provide for the recognition of carry permits in all states that issue permits. (For detailed information on the legislation, click here.)
The bill, as originally written, was successfully amended at the outset of the markup with a substitute that added a number of important protections. Foremost, it amended the language so that visitors to states that have laws requiring licenses just for possession of a handgun, do not need a possession license, which is often unavailable to nonresidents.
Holder Subpoenaed in “Fast and Furious” Scandal: This week, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) subpoenaed the Justice Department in the Fast and Furious scandal. The subpoena seeks documents and all communications between the office of Attorney General Eric Holder, his deputies, and the White House in connection with the now-infamous Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive’s failed operation.
Internet Rumors About Cerberus, Freedom Group Are Patently False: Recently, an old rumor regarding Cerberus--the private equity firm that owns Freedom group, a holding company that in turn owns a number of firearms manufacturers, including Remington, Marlin, Bushmaster, and DPMS--was in some way tied to George Soros.
Veteran’s Second Amendment Rights Bill Passes U.S. House, Senate Companion Bill Introduced: As we previously reported, 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, will provide individuals receiving veterans' benefits with added protection against loss of the right to possess firearms due to mental health decisions.
Firearms Interstate Commerce Reform Act Introduced In U.S. Senate: U.S. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Mark Begich (D-Alaska) have introduced the Senate companion bill to H.R. 58, the “Firearms Interstate Commerce Reform Act,” which was reintroduced in the U.S. House in January of 2011. This common sense reform to broaden lawful interstate sales of firearms has been an NRA priority for many years. Similar legislation has repeatedly been introduced in the Congress since 2004, when Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) introduced H. R. 4048, which was then titled the Firearm Commerce Modernization Act.
Michelle Obama’s Warning to Gun Owners: At a recent fundraiser for her husband’s re-election campaign, first lady Michelle Obama told her audience:
“We stand at a fundamental crossroads for our country. You’re here because you know that in just 13 months, we’re going to make a choice that will impact our lives for decades to come … let’s not forget what it meant when my husband appointed those two brilliant Supreme Court justices … let’s not forget the impact that their decisions will have on our lives for decades to come.”
This week, NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox wrote an excellent op-ed for the Daily Caller on the first lady’s chilling comments and what they could potentially mean for the future. To read the piece, please click here.
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 1,205,000 fans as of this week!
Grassroots News Minute Video:
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.
ARIZONA: BLM Proposes Closing One-Half Million Acres to Target Shooting
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released a plan for the future management of nearly 1.4 million acres located southwest of Phoenix in parts of Maricopa, Pinal, Pima, Gila and Yuma counties. Of that total, over 486,000 acres are within the Sonoran Desert National Monument which the BLM proposes to close to target shooters. The public comment period for this plan is open through November 25. Please attend one of the scheduled meetings to show support for keeping public lands open for all of the public, including target shooters, and to learn more about how this plan will affect your future enjoyment of these lands.
CALIFORNIA: Governor Jerry Brown Signs Three Anti-Gun Bills into Law
If they did not already know, California gun owners and sportsmen found out exactly where Governor Jerry Brown stands on the Second Amendment. Governor Brown made his opposition to this fundamental right, protected by the Second Amendment, clear when he recently signed into law three anti-gun bills. He did veto a fourth anti-gun bill, but only because there is a pending lawsuit. The anti-gun politicians who control the state government have made California a state where law-abiding citizens pay the price for the actions of criminals. Rather than focus their efforts to punish the violent criminals who prey on the innocent, they have chosen to attack the basic rights of the law-abiding. It is a strategy that will never work to eliminate crime, but it is clear that the anti-gun majorities in Sacramento, along with Gov. Brown, are dedicated to advance it.
COLORADO: Management Plan for Public Lands Will Affect Target Shooting
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released a resource management plan (RMP) for 500,000 acres managed by the agency’s Colorado River Valley Field Office located in Silt and responsible for the counties of Eagle, Garfield, Pitkin, Roult, Mesa, and Rio Blanco. The comment period is open until December 16 and BLM will announce in advance public meetings regarding the RMP. If you enjoy target shooting on these lands, it is extremely important that you review the plan to determine how it will affect your future access for target shooting. Please attend at least one of the public meetings and take time to e-mail comments to the BLM.
Additional BLM Management Plan for Public Lands in Will Also Affect Target Shooting
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released another resource management plan (RMP) and this one on approximately 378,000 acres managed by the agency’s Field Office in Kremmling. The public lands are within Grand, Jackson, Summit and parts of Larimer and Eagle Counties. The RMP can be viewed by clicking here. The public comment period is open until December 16 and BLM will announce in advance public hearings on the RMP. Please attend at least one of the public meetings and take the time to e-mail your comments to the BLM.
KENTUCKY: Proposed Sandhill Crane Hunting Season Approved in the Bluegrass State
On October 11, members of the Administrative Regulations Review Subcommittee voted unanimously, by a 7 to 0 vote, to approve a plan to allow sandhill crane hunting in the Bluegrass State. With this final approval, Kentucky will join thirteen other states in which sandhill cranes can be properly and scientifically managed through hunting.
NEVADA: Please Attend FREE NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop in Las Vegas on Nov. 19 To ensure we are prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities we will face in the coming months, and especially in the 2012 elections, NRA-ILA is hosting a free Grassroots Workshop on Saturday, November 19, at 1:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at Stoney’s Rockin Country, 9151 Las Vegas Boulevard S., #300, in Las Vegas (www.stoneysrockincountry.com)
At this meeting, NRA-ILA staff will lay out our plans for our grassroots legislative and election strategies in Nevada and discuss how you can become even more involved with our mutual efforts. We will also be introducing the new NRA state association--the Nevada Firearms Coalition (NFC)--that will be on hand to talk about their plans for the state. You will get the chance to meet the new state association board members and learn how NRA-ILA and the NFC will be working together to protect our Second Amendment rights!
This meeting is absolutely free and beverages and light snacks will be provided. The event will begin at 1:00 p.m., and end at 4:00 pm. Please make plans to attend and encourage your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners and NRA members to attend as well.
To register for this free event, please click here, or call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683).
NEW JERSEY: New Jersey State Association Banquet
Gun rights attorney and author Evan Nappen will be the keynote speaker at the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs (ANJRPC) combined Annual Meeting Banquet and Friends of NRA Dinner & Auction TOMORROW, October 15. The event will be held at the Gran Centurions in Clark. ANJRPC is the official NRA State Affiliate in New Jersey.
