H.R. 822 -- National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act --
Heading to House Floor; Contact your Representative Now!
As we've been reporting week in and week out, H.R. 822 -- the "National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011" is very good legislation for gun owners. The time is past due to dispel the alarmist rhetoric about the bill, and to set the record straight.
Most of the misguided, unfounded, and incorrect characterizations circulating lately regarding H.R. 822 have come from the anti-gun groups and media. However, a small number of vocal and supposedly "pro-gun" groups continue to report falsehoods, despite clear evidence to refute their assertions. Though they claim to be on the side of America's gun owners and the Second Amendment, their stance on this measure proves otherwise.
One group claimed H.R. 822 would include anti-gun amendments that would create "disastrous federally mandated infringements on our rights."
But, as we recently reported, the House Judiciary has already considered amendments to H.R. 822, and all anti-gun amendments offered that would weaken or gut the legislation were defeated.
Bloomberg…Take Care of Your Own Backyard: 
While Congress investigates the involvement of federal law enforcement agents in the "Fast and Furious" Mexican gun trafficking scandal, Business Week reports that five current and three retired New York City police officers, along with a former New Jersey corrections officer and three other individuals, have been charged with trafficking M16s, handguns and shotguns -- some with defaced serial numbers -- as part of a $1 million scheme.
Thank you, Justice Stevens and Mrs. Obama: In case any reader of our weekly Grassroots Alert has not decided how to vote in the 2012 presidential election, retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens and First Lady Michelle Obama have volunteered to help him make up his mind.
Poll Shows Record-Low Support for Handgun Ban: Results from a just-released Gallup poll (Gallup's annual Crime poll, conducted Oct. 6-9, 2011) show that a record-low 26 percent of Americans favor a ban on the possession of handguns in the United States. According to the poll, when Gallup first asked Americans this question in 1959, 60 percent favored banning handguns.
Order New "NRA University" Gear Today! One of NRA-ILA's most successful--and most requested--programs, "NRA University" is 
a two-hour training seminar for college students that provides a historical perspective of the Second Amendment and addresses the present-day debate surrounding gun rights and gun control. NRA U also provides students with the information and tools they need to help protect the Second Amendment, both on and off campus. In today's academic climate, there is a pressing need to bring the truth about the Second Amendment to college campuses nationwide, and to educate tomorrow's leaders in the fight to protect our freedom. NRA U is doing just that.
Be sure to show your NRA pride, both on and off-campus, by ordering NRA University's newest gear! Receive an official NRA U hat with your $15 donation to NRA-ILA. Click here to order now!
For more information about NRA University, or to schedule an NRA U event at your school, please visit www.NRAILA.org/NRAu.
NRA Files Protest Letter in Opposition to BLM's Resource Management Plan for Recreational Shooting Ban: NRA has filed a letter protesting the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) final resource management plan for Ironwood Forest National Monument that will close the entire monument to recreational shooting.
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.
This rumor is completely false and baseless.
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 1,213,000 fans as of this week!
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.)
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.
NRA Files Protest Letter in Opposition of BLM's Resource Management Plan for Recreational Shooting Ban
The National Rifle Association has filed a letter protesting the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) final resource management plan for Ironwood Forest National Monument that will close the entire monument to recreational shooting.
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.
FLORIDA:Bill Withdrawn That Would Have Allowed Pinellas County to Opt-Out of Florida's Firearms Preemption Law
On October 17, state Representative Rick Kriseman (D-St. Petersburg) withdrew Local Bill 06, which would have attempted to get legislative approval to allow voters of Pinellas County to decide whether or not the county should abide by the state's firearm preemption law. Thank you to all NRA members who contacted Pinellas County officials about this proposed infringement of your Second Amendment rights. Your voice truly made the difference!
NEBRASKA: Fight for Gun Rights in Omaha Continues
On October 25, the Omaha City Council voted 5 to 2 against adopting poorly written changes to current Omaha gun laws, but they will revisit these issues next month. This proposal would have increased handgun registration fees from $10 to $15 and failed to clearly define what constituted a "concealable firearm" and to mirror current state and federal language with regard to qualifications for possession and registration.
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).
WISCONSIN: Pro-Second Amendment Advancements in Madison!
As the 2011 legislative session progresses, legislators are once again continuing their efforts to guarantee a person's right to self-defense within the state. Following in the same vein as the Personal Protection Act, the state House and Senate versions of "Castle Doctrine" self-defense legislation are expected to receive a full vote in their respective chambers early next week. Also of note is the Department of Administration's recent efforts to establish a policy which would allow permit holder to carry in the state capital for self-defense.
