NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ALERT: Vol. 21, No. 13 03/28/2014

FBI Arrests Anti-Gun California Senator on Firearm Trafficking Charges

Being good Americans, we take the position that anyone who is arrested and charged with multiple crimes is innocent until proven guilty. That's more than California state senator Leland Yee (D) has done for gun owners in the past. In August 2012, Yee said "no one will convince me it's anything other than a joke to say that having multiple clips and semi-automatic weapons that can shoot 100 or more bullets at a time is necessary in this state or in this country, it's ridiculous."

Now, Yee has other things with which to concern himself, and none is a joking matter.

The San Jose Mercury-News reports that "Yee now is accused of consorting with notorious felons, accepting money for his cash-strapped political campaigns in exchange for favors and promising undercover FBI agents he could deliver connections to international gun runners." Additionally, he "is depicted in a startling, 137-page FBI affidavit of repeatedly offering to broker illegal firearms sales in exchange for campaign contributions," and he is "linked to a host of wrongdoing to pad his political war chest, charged with seven felonies in a case with two dozen defendants accused of everything from money laundering to murder-for-hire."

Watch the Latest NRA-ILA Grassroots News Minute

Chris W. Cox Goes On Air with Megyn Kelly: Click Here to Watch the Fox News Video

The White House backs away from Obama's anti-gun surgeon general nominee. NRA-ILA Chief Lobbyist, Chris W. Cox, goes on air to explain why the nomination is in jeopardy.

Click Here to Watch Former NRA President David Keene on Fox Business

Former NRA President David Keene on smart guns, gun control and the Surgeon General nominee.

"News" Magazines Pretend Murthy Confirmation is a Public Health Imperative

Defensive gun uses far outnumber suicides with guns and the availability of guns has no effect on suicide rates. Nevertheless, from time to time over the last 28 years, gun control supporters have tried to discourage people from owning guns by suggesting that gun suicides outnumber defensive gun uses.

Contact Your Senators to Stop Feinstein's Proposed Semi-Auto Firearm Importation Ban

As we reported last week, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), sponsor of the federal "assault weapon" and "large" magazine "ban" of 1994-2004, is asking President Barack Obama to direct the BATFE to reinterpret a provision of the Gun Control Act of 1968 to prohibit the importation of various semi-automatic firearms and their parts.

The Latest on the Obama Administration's Proposed Ban on the Domestic Sale of Ivory

In recent Grassroots Alerts, we addressed the Obama administration's proposal to ban the trade and sale of legally owned ivory within the United States (click here to see the initial alert). The NRA supports efforts to stop poaching and the illegal trade of ivory, but this proposed ban on legally owned ivory sold domestically will have no impact on poaching of elephants and the illegal ivory trade. On the contrary, this ban will only affect honest law-abiding Americans by making their possessions valueless. Please see this New York Times article highlighting the broad spectrum of people who will be harmed by the ban.

Outrage of the Week: RI State Senator tells Second Amendment Supporter to "Go Bleep Yourself"

This week's outrage comes to us by way of Rhode Island; from the Rhode Island State House, as a matter of fact. It was there, at the State House, that State Sen. Josh Miller (D-Cranston, Warwick) had one of those defining moments. Something along the lines of Michael Dukakis and the tank ad, or Howard Dean and the infamous scream. Only this was different, in that it was disgraceful--not only to Sen. Miller, but to his office and the people he serves. And, it offers insight into the kind of politician, and person, Miller is.

For Gun Controllers Honesty is NOT the Best Policy

Last Friday, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) expressed to the audience of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher that he hopes the Democratic Party come outs, not just in favor of more gun control, but against the Second Amendment itself. This is merely the latest episode of an elected official pulling back the curtain on the extreme contempt with which some politicians view the Second Amendment.

The exchange took place during a lengthy discussion on gun control between Maher and his three guests. After lamenting that the Democratic Party was not anti-gun enough, Maher asked Ellison, "Then why doesn't your party come out against the Second Amendment? It's the Problem." Ellison responded by stating, "I sure wish they would. I sure wish they would."

U.S. Supreme Court Gives Broad Reading to Federal Firearm Prohibition for "Domestic Violence"

Since 1996, the so-called "Lautenberg Amendment" (named for its sponsor, Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)), has banned the acquisition or possession of firearms by anyone convicted of a "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence." Applicable crimes are limited to those that have "as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon" and that are committed by persons with a specified relationship to the victim, such as a current or former spouse or a parent. The prohibition applies no matter when the offense occurred and can include convictions that predated the 1996 law.

CLICK HERE to Enter the Ruger NRA Giveaway!

Attend the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum in Indianapolis

Please join NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox, and our nation's top Second Amendment leaders in government, the media, and the entertainment industry, as we build our battle plan for defending freedom and defeating Barack Obama's gun control agenda at the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum. The Leadership Forum is one of NRA’s premier events of the year.

This year’s speakers include: Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana; Governor Mike Pence of Indiana; Senator Marco Rubio of Florida; Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky; Senator Dan Coats of Indiana; former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum; conservative talk radio host Mark Levin; Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri; Milwaukee County, WI Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr., and more.

The NRA-ILA Leadership Forum will take place on Friday, April 25, at 1:00 p.m., (doors open at 11:30 a.m.), at the Lucas Oil Stadium.

Don't miss this exciting event! Tickets are only >0 each (a real bargain!) and seats are still available. Please reserve your seats NOW, by clicking "Read More" below.

UPDATED: Special Guest to Appear at NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop In Indianapolis!

In recent weeks, we have been promoting your attendance at the annual NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop being held in conjunction with NRA’s Annual Meetings in Indianapolis. The Workshop, all materials, and continental breakfast prior to the Workshop are absolutely FREE!

The thrust of this Workshop will be to provide you with the tools and training to become an event more effective activist this election season.

We are extremely pleased to announce a special guest who will be speaking about his own, unique transformational journey from NRA-ILA grassroots activist to a leading Second Amendment State Senator in Indiana.

Sen. Jim Tomes (R-49) served as the NRA-ILA Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC) in IN-8 from 1994 until 2004. He was also an original founder and director of the “2nd Amendment Patriots”. In 2000, the “2nd Amendment Patriots” received the NRA-ILA Volunteer Organization of the Year Award.

Attend the NRA Firearms Law Seminar at NRA's Annual Meetings in Indianapolis!

The 17th Annual Firearms Law Seminar will be held on Friday, April 25, 2014, as part of the NRA Annual Meetings. The gold standard in firearms CLE classes, this day-long seminar provides legal instruction for practicing attorneys and all others having an interest in Second Amendment law.

Topics to be discussed include gun trusts, current law suits across the country, recent changes in Illinois law, Stand Your Ground and Castle Doctrine laws, federal and state firearms disqualifications and the restoration of rights, working with firearms ranges, and legal ethics.