NRA Begins Legal Assaults against Anti-Gun Municipalities

Hat Tip to Ed Morrissey at Hot Air.

With the passage of the United States Supreme Court's ruling on the Second Amendment to the Constitution, the National Rifle Association has taken their cue from Shakespeare; "Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war!"

As mentioned at the announcement of the landmark ruling by the Supreme Court, the NRA has set it's sights on the anti-handgun policies of Chicago.

But Chicago isn't the first stop for the NRA, nor the only stop, as they begin a campaign of legal battles to have restrictive anti-gun laws overturned and erased around the country. The city of San Fransisco finds itself "under the gun" by the NRA and others over their ban of handguns in public housing, on the basis that the ban is unconstitutional and relegates those who live in public housing to a separate class of citizenship than the rest of the citizens of the city. San Fransisco, and other cities that are suddenly finding themselves facing lawsuits, are digging in and preparing to fight, despite the Supreme Court ruling this week.

But officials here and in other cities where gun restrictions are now being challenged took a defiant stance. As the lawsuit was being filed, San Francisco officials held a news conference in the city’s hardscrabble Western Addition neighborhood to announce a series of antigun measures. Mayor Gavin Newsom said the timing was coincidental, but apt.

Mr. Newsom, who said he suspected that the rifle association might also sue to overturn a local ordinance requiring trigger-locks, challenged N.R.A. officials to come to his city and spend time in public housing developments, which he said were often overrun with weapons.

“We don’t happen to believe that it’s good public policy in public housing sites where guns and violence is the highest in our city and, for that matter, respectively, in cities across America, to say ‘Hey, come on in; let’s everybody get guns,’ ” said Mr. Newsom, a Democrat.

Obviously Mayor Newson has never heard of the town of Kennesaw, Georgia.

The San Fransisco suit, interestingly enough for a city with a reputation of ensuring the rights of it's gay citizenry, was filed by a gay man living in public housing after being denied a handgun permit for the purchase of a firearm to use in self defense from potential hate crimes. According to NRA chief executive Wayne LaPierre, denial of a certain population of the city based upon where they live, stating “It can’t be walled off by the political class. It would be the equivalent of saying you can have a right to free speech, but you can’t have a right to free speech in public housing.” The suit was filed against San Fransisco within hours of the release of the Supreme Court decision. San Fransisco virtually banned handguns within the city in 1982 when it passed ordinances in which no new handgun permits would be issued.

Officials in Chicago and New York City, two more cities that have restrictive gun laws, remain convinced that the high court ruling won't have any immediate effect on existing gun laws. Georgia's Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, on the other hand, has asked a Republican state senator to form an exploratory committee to determine which of Georgia's state statutes are in violation of the Supreme Court ruling. Cagle, a Republican as well, is a gun ownership advocate.

A city of about 725,000, San Francisco has 12,000 residents living in public housing, all of whom are required to sign a lease that forbids a broad variety of weapons, including pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, automatic rifles, BB guns, as well as nunchucks, brass knuckles and stun guns. This blanket ban was begun in 2006, and the penalty for violation of the lease is eviction.

In the case filed on Friday, an anonymous gay man said that stipulation had deprived him of “any effective means of self-defense.

In 2005, a city-wide ban was enacted, and overturned by the California State Supreme Court. Last year alone, there were 42 gun related deaths in San Fransisco, and residents of the city's public housing neighborhoods state that they hear gunshots on a daily basis, despite the ban on weapons in public housing.

When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.

Once and Always, an American Fighting Man

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NRA update

Outrage Of The Week

This week's outrage comes to us from Winchendon, Massachusetts where, in yet another case of "zero-tolerance" enforcement defying common sense, fourth-grader Bradley Geslak was suspended from Toy Town Elementary School for bringing a Memorial Day souvenir to school.

Click here to take this week's poll about Defensive Gun Use

Speak Up Now On Right-To-Carry In National Parks: As we've reported over the last few weeks, the U.S. Department of the Interior has issued a proposed rule to eliminate the prohibition on Right-to-Carry in national parks and wildlife refuges. The National Rifle Association led the effort to change this policy and we are very close to winning this important battle.

However, the new rules will not take effect until after a public comment period. Our opponents will take advantage of this time to try to convince the Secretary of the Interior to reverse his decision. NRA members must take action now so that the anti-gunners are not allowed to sway this process.

Stop BATFE Abuses -- Urge Your Congressman To Cosponsor H.R. 4900: Continuing concern about the treatment of firearm dealers by BATFE has caused members of the U.S. House of Representatives--with NRA-ILA's full support--to push for new and improved reform legislation. That push has taken the form of H.R. 4900-- the "Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act."

STATE ROUNDUP (please click to see any updates on states not listed below.)

ARIZONA: Governor Vetoes Pro-Gun Bills! On Tuesday, May 27, Governor Janet Napolitano (D) vetoed NRA-supported House Bill 2629, which would have allowed the defensive display of a firearm. The Governor also vetoed Senate Bill 1106 which would have created a lifetime concealed carry license for Arizona residents. Although the 2008 legislative session will be adjourning soon, NRA is not giving up on issues important to our members, and is still working to pass a bill to make the defensive display of a firearm legal. We will keep you updated on the progress of this effort.

CALIFORNIA: Anti-Gun Bills Head to Senate! Earlier this week the Assembly passed Assembly Bill 2948 by a vote of 41 to 25. AB2948 seeks to ban the sale of firearms and ammunition on the property or inside the buildings that comprise the Cow Palace. The bill now heads to the Senate for its consideration. Also headed to the Senate are Assembly Bills 2235 and 2062. AB 2235 would prohibit the sale of handguns other than "owner-authorized (or "smart") handguns". AB 2062 would make it a crime to privately transfer more than 50 rounds of ammunition per month, even between family and friends, unless you are registered as a "handgun ammunition vendor" in the Department of Justice's database. Please contact your State Senator and respectfully urge him or her to oppose AB2948, AB2235 and AB2062 when they come before them for a vote. Contact information for your State Senator can be found by clicking here.

Santa Clara Board of Supervisors Considering Mandatory Spay or Neuter Resolution! The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors will be considering a resolution in support of the California Healthy Pets Act, AB 1634 on Tuesday, June 3. This measure requires every dog older than four months to be spayed or neutered. Owners hoping to breed their dogs at some point during their lives would be required to apply annually to their local government for an "intact" permit. Except under very limited circumstances, the local government official has the power to deny issuance of an intact permit without cause. The cost of the annual permit is unspecified in the legislation and is to be determined by the local government. Penalty for non-compliance is a $500 fine imposed by the state and any additional fines imposed by the local government. Please contact each member of the Board of Supervisors and respectfully urge them to oppose any resolution in support of AB 1634. Please click here to find contact information for the Board of Supervisors.

DELAWARE: "Landowner Liability Protection Act" Delayed by Trial Lawyers in Committee! Earlier this month we reported that a scheduled vote on House Bill 341, the "Landowner Liability Protection Act," in the House Housing & Community Affairs Committee was delayed because of opposition from the Delaware Trial Lawyers Association. HB341 would ensure that landowners who allow public hunting access incur no liability for property damage or personal injuries caused by hunters -- regardless of whether the damage occurs on or off the landowner's property. If HB341 is not enacted, landowners will continue to deny access to hunters for fear of being sued. Please contact the members of the House Housing & Community Affairs Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to support this crucial piece of legislation. To find contact information for the committee members, please click here.

GEORGIA: The Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that it will prepare a management plan for the Savannah Coastal Refuges' Complex. The 56,000 acre Complex is comprised of a chain of refuges that together span a 100-mile coastline. Deer hunting is allowed on a number of the refuges that make up the Complex. The Service is asking for suggestions and information on the scope of the issues to consider in the planning process. Comments must be submitted by July 3. An open house will be held during the scoping phase. Questions and comments should be directed to Jane Griess, Project Leader, at 912-652-4415, or at savannahcoastalccp@fws.gov. If you hunt on any of the refuges within the Complex, it is important for you to participate in the planning process to secure hunting opportunities for the future.

ILLINOIS: Urgent Action Needed to Protect Our Rights! On Wednesday, May 28, the Illinois House of Representatives Executive Committee voted to amend House Bill 2760 to include a lost or stolen firearm clause. Under this new amendment, anyone with a valid Firearms Owner's Identification (FOID) Card who is either the victim of a crime where a lawfully owned firearm is stolen, or if they lose a firearm, must report the theft or loss to the authorities within 72 hours. The House could also take up Senate Bill 1007 at anytime, which would ban the manufacture, possession, delivery, sale, and purchase of standard capacity ammunition magazines capable of holding more than ten (10) cartridges. The 2008 Illinois legislative session is quickly coming to a close and it is critical that you make your voice heard. Please contact your State Representative IMMEDIATELY and respectfully urge him or her to oppose both HB2760 and SB1007. Contact information can be found by clicking here.

KENTUCKY: National Rifle Association Specialized License Plates! NRA is collecting applications for specialized NRA license plates for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Kentucky Department of Motor Vehicles will only produce the plates if it receives at least 900 applications for the NRA license plate. The initial application fee is $28.00. For information on where to send your payment and where to submit your application, please click here.

LOUISIANA: Your Self-Defense Rights are at Stake! Earlier this week, the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee passed NRA-backed Senate Bill 51. SB 51 would protect your right to lawfully transport and store firearms in your locked motor vehicle while parked in unsecured, public access parking lots controlled by your employer or a business you frequent. The bill now moves to the House floor for consideration. It's simple-if your employer or business can ban firearms from the parking lot, your right to self-defense during your drive to and from work or while running errands each day is gone. Your State Representative needs to hear from you TODAY! Please call your State Representative at 225-342-6945 or email him or her and urge them to support SB 51 when it comes before the full House for consideration in the coming weeks. You can find your State Representative and their contact information by clicking here.

Also, the Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that it will prepare a management plan for the Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Ouachita Parish, LA. The 4,500-acre Refuge is three miles north of Monroe. Resident game and migratory game bird hunting occur on the refuge. The Service is asking for suggestions and information on the scope of the issues to consider in the planning process. Comments must be submitted by June 23. An open house will be held during the scoping phase. Questions and comments should be directed to Tina Chouinard, Natural Resource Planner, at 318-305-0643, or at tina_chouinard@fws.gov. If you hunt this Refuge, it is important for you to participate in the planning process to secure hunting opportunities for the future.

MAINE: Maine Primary Elections, Tuesday, June 10! Tuesday, June 10 is Primary Election Day in Maine. Please be sure to vote Freedom First. For candidate ratings and endorsements, please call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683). For more information about voting in Maine, please click here. Remember to Vote Freedom First on Tuesday, June 10!

MICHIGAN/NEVADA: Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Agreement Reached! Michigan and Nevada have reached a reciprocity agreement. Michigan and Nevada will now recognize each other's Right-to-Carry permits. Permit holders must comply with the laws that apply to the specific state in which they are traveling. For a list of prohibited carry locations as well as states that Nevada recognizes, please click here. Please click here to view the states that acknowledge a Michigan Right-to-Carry permit.

Registration Reform Bill Sent to Senate Judiciary Committee! House Bill 4490 and House Bill 4491 have passed the House and have been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. A hearing date has not been scheduled yet. The bills would repeal the required "safety inspection" for newly obtained handguns. Michigan law requires anyone who comes into possession of a pistol to take it to the police or sheriff's department for a safety inspection. The requirement of a safety inspection is a burdensome waste of time for law-abiding gun owners and the bills will end that inconvenience. Please contact the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Wayne Kuipers (R-30), and respectfully urge him to give hearings to both HB4490 and HB4491 before the committee. You can contact Senator Kuipers by phone at (517) 373-6920 or by email at senwkuipers@senate.michigan.gov.

MONTANA: Montana Primary Elections, Tuesday, June 3! Tuesday, June 3 is Primary Election Day in Montana. Please be sure to go to the polls and "Vote Freedom First." For candidate ratings and endorsements, please call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) or visit www.NRAPVF.org. For more information about voting in Montana, please click here. Remember to Vote Freedom First on Tuesday, June 3!

BLM to Close Land to Recreational Shooting Outside Helena: The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on its proposal to close land within the 4,700-acre North Hills Recreation Area located northeast of Helena. BLM proposes to close the entirety of Section 34, Township 12 North, Range 3 West. This would close several user-created shooting areas that are located adjacent to the main access road to the Recreation Area. The area would not be closed to hunting during the big game season. All BLM lands outside of the closed area would remain open yearlong to recreational shooting. The deadline for comments is June 15th. Comments should be submitted to BLM Butte Field Office, 106 North Parkmont, Butte, MT 59701, or electronically to pzurcher@blm.gov. For additional information you may call 406-533-7638. It is critical that gun owners and sportsmen take an active role in this process!

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Governor John Lynch Signs Pro-Hunting Legislation into Law! Recently, Governor John Lynch (D) signed House Bill 1266 into law. HB 1266 allows hunters to use .50 caliber pistols to take deer and moose in areas of the state where pistols are permitted for hunting. Please continue checking www.NRAILA.org for further updates on pro-hunting issues in New Hampshire.

NEW MEXICO: New Mexico Primary Elections, Tuesday, June 3! Tuesday, June 3 is Primary Election Day in New Mexico. Please be sure to vote Freedom First. For candidate ratings and endorsements, please call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) or visit www.NRAPVF.org. For more information about voting in New Mexico, please click here. Remember to Vote Freedom First on Tuesday, June 3!

NEW YORK: Paterson's Anti-Gun Proposal Still an Issue On Monday, May 19, Governor David Paterson (D) outlined a proposal that he plans to introduce that targets law-abiding gun owners and licensed gun dealers. The NRA strongly opposes this measure. Two areas that we specifically oppose are those that would implement more requirements for pistol license applicants without making licenses more accessible to those who qualify, as well as a plan to require licenses for employees of gun stores and granting the State Police broad authority to impose regulations on licensed dealers and gunsmiths. To view a copy of the press release on Governor Paterson's website, click here. Please call your State Legislators today at (518) 455-4100 and respectfully urge them to oppose this measure. To find your Assembly Member, click here. To find your State Senator, click here.

OHIO: Senate Passes "Castle Doctrine" Legislation! On Thursday, May 29, Senate Bill 184, Ohio's "Castle Doctrine" legislation passed out of the State Senate by a vote of 25 to 7. This legislation now heads to the Governor for his signature. Governor Ted Strickland (D) has already voiced his support for SB 184 and is expected to sign this legislation into law within the next couple of weeks. SB 184, sponsored by State Senator Steve Buehrer (R-1), will restore the right of individuals to respond with force in defense of their lives and family, and immunize the victim from civil lawsuits by criminals or the criminal's family. Included in SB 184 are several pro-gun amendments, which remove restrictions on carrying an unloaded firearm in a vehicle, protect the ability to store a firearm in a locked vehicle in privately owned parking facility, and the protect law-abiding gun owners from government gun confiscation during a state of emergency. Please keep checking www.NRAILA.org for further updates on this issue.

OKLAHOMA: Tax Break for NRA Events in Budget Bill On Friday, May 23, with just a few hours remaining in the 2008 Legislative Session, the Oklahoma Legislature gave final approval to an omnibus budget bill (HB1387), which included an important amendment that will exempt purchases and sales at Friends of NRA events from state taxes. We all know the numerous benefits derived by the Friends of NRA program and this legislation will only enhance our efforts on this front. Special thanks to State Senator Anthony Sykes (R-24) and State Representative Randy Terrill (R-53) for their leadership on this effort, and to our allies in both chambers for their support of Friends of NRA! This budget measure has been sent to Governor Brad Henry (D) for his consideration.

RHODE ISLAND: Anti-Gun ("Microstamping") Bills Head to Committee! After being pulled from the agenda of the House Judiciary Committee, House Bill 7834 has been referred to the House Finance Committee. HB7834, the "microstamping" proposal, would ban the sale of semi-automatic handguns not equipped with so-called "microstamping" technology. HB7834's Senate companion bill, Senate Bill 2720, is being held up for further study in the Senate Committee on Judiciary. Please contact the members of the House Finance Committee as well as the members of the Senate Committee on Judiciary IMMEDIATELY and respectfully urge them to oppose H7834 and S2720! For committee member contact information, please click here.

SOUTH CAROLINA: South Carolina Primary Elections, Tuesday, June 10! Tuesday, June 10 is Primary Election Day in South Carolina. Please be sure to vote Freedom First. For candidate ratings and endorsements, please call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) or visit www.NRAPVF.org. For more information about voting in South Carolina, please click here. Remember to Vote Freedom First on Tuesday, June 10!

Right to Hunt and Fish Gets a Second Chance Earlier this week new life was breathed into H 3202, the Right to Hunt and Fish Constitutional Amendment, but the new language is not supported by NRA. Previously thought to be dead, H 3202 has been amended to exclude language previously agreed to by both the Department of Natural Resources and NRA language that would have protected the rights of hunters in the Palmetto State. The current version of this bill will not protect hunter's rights. Please contact your State Senator and respectfully urge him or her to oppose any version of this bill that does not include NRA approved language. You can find the contact information for your Senator by clicking here.

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Gun Rights Week

From Email:

Dear Fellow NRA Member,

In honor of NRA's upcoming annual meeting and his keynote address to our annual banquet on Saturday May 17, Glenn Beck is holding "Gun Rights Week" on both his radio and T.V. shows.

These shows will be broadcast on the Premiere Radio Network's 280 stations from 9 a.m. to noon, Eastern, and on CNN Headline News Network every night at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Each day, Glenn will feature a new gun rights segment on his shows. I'll be his guest on Tuesday, and NRA-ILA's Chris Cox will be the featured guest on Wednesday. And each day for the rest of the week, there will be another firearm freedom expert talking to Glenn and millions of his listeners.

The toll free call-in number for Glenn's radio show is 1-888-727-BECK. So if you have a question or comment about the elections, Right-to-Carry, crime, the Supreme Court Heller case, Castle Doctrine, or any Second Amendment issue, CALL!

For more information on broadcast times, stations and special guests, visit www.GlennBeck.com and click the "radio" or "T.V." banners. Glenn will also be providing transcripts and video links to all the interviews and segments in his free daily email newsletter, which you can sign up for on his site.

As one more favor to me, be sure to tell every gun owner you know about these important broadcasts. Please take a moment today, while you're sitting at your computer, to forward this e-mail to your contact list.

Also, be sure to keep your eyes on the national news this Friday between 12:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern, when NRA kicks off our weekend-long event with our Celebration of American Values Leadership Forum.

Confirmed speakers include Kentucky Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo, T.V. personality Ollie North, political strategist Karl Rove, former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Senator Mitch McConnell, Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell, Governor Mike Huckabee, Governor Mitt Romney, and John McCain.

Over 10,000 NRA members will attend, making this the largest political event in NRA's history.

All the major national news outlets will have cameras and reporters on hand to cover this event. Live, for over four hours on Friday afternoon-and in thousands of broadcast hours, and electronic and print pages to follow-NRA and our election-year defense of Second Amendment will dominate the news.

Thanks again for your support of NRA and thanks for helping spread the word about these important broadcast events!

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Assaults on the Second Ammendment - NRA update 2DEC07

From email:

OUTRAGE OF THE WEEK!

Brady's Shamelessness-Will They Ever Learn? This week's outrage comes, not surprisingly, from the Brady Center. You may recall back in May, we reported on the Brady Center prescribing its remedies for the horrific Virginia Tech slayings well before any of the facts were known. Not content to stop there, they even sent out an extremely distasteful fundraising solicitation seeking contributions in the amount of $32-one dollar for each of the Virginia Tech slayings.

You'd think the Brady Center would have learned its lesson after being pilloried for this stunt by Virginia Governor Tim Kaine (among others), who said, "People who want to take this (the Tech shootings) within 24 hours of the event and make it, you know, their political hobby horse to ride, I've got nothing but loathing for them. To those who want to, you know, try to make this into some little crusade, you know, I say take that elsewhere. Let this community deal with grieving individuals and be sensitive to those needs."

Once again, though, the Brady Bunch has proven it has no learning curve.



Boston Gun Search Policy Raises Concerns: Boston police may soon begin asking parents to allow searches of their homes and children's bedrooms for firearms-without notice or warrants.



STATE ROUNDUP (please click to see any updates on states not listed below.)

COLORADO: BLM Plans to Close Canyons of the Ancients to Recreational Shooting: The Bureau of Land Management has released a draft management plan for the 164,000-acre Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in southwest Colorado. All four management alternatives would close the entire Monument to recreational shooting. The BLM cites vandalism of cultural and natural resources and visitor safety as the reasons for closure. For more information about the plan, please go to http://www.blm.gov/rmp/canm/. Comments from the public are being accepted until January 25, 2008. It is critical that gun owners and sportsmen take an active role in this process!

BLM Plan Will Set Game Retrieval Restrictions: The Bureau of Land Management has released a draft management plan for travel routes on lands it administers within San Luis Valley, Colorado. The proposal will limit the retrieval of game off designated routes except to a perpendicular distance of 300 ft. from the edge of a route. Comments on the plan are being accepted until December 31. The document can be viewed at http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/slvplc/Travel_Management.html. For further information, please contact Mark Swinney, Project Lead, by phone at (719) 655-2547, or by e-mail at mswinney@co.blm.gov. Once again, it is critical that gun owners and sportsmen take an active role in this process!

ILLINOIS: Continue to Express Your Opposition to Proposed FOID Card Regulations! As we have previously reported, the Illinois State Police has proposed enacting an age limit to obtain an Illinois Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) card. This is apparently in response to an editorial by Daily Southtown columnist Howard Ludwig, who wrote an article about obtaining a FOID card for his ten-month-old son. Illinois law does not set an age requirement for issuance of a FOID card with a parent's consent, but imposing one could have disastrous effects on Illinois' rich hunting heritage and would endanger the lives of children. The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) will determine if this rule will be enacted, but you can still submit comments in opposition to the proposal. Please address your comments to: Mr. John M. Hosteny, Interim Chief Legal Counsel, Illinois State Police, 801 South 7th Street, Suite 1000-S, P.O. Box 19461, Springfield, IL 61794-9461. Please be sure to ask Mr. Hosteny to share your comments with the members of JCAR. You can also send your comments directly to the JCAR at 700 Stratton Office Building, Springfield, Illinois 62706 or email jcar@ilga.gov.

VIRGINIA: Hunting With Hounds Under Review: The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has launched a review of hound hunting in the Commonwealth. Virginia Tech is conducting focus group meetings around the state during November and December. Trespass complaints from property owners have sparked this review. The Department's goal is "To provide diverse opportunities for hunting with hounds in Virginia in a manner that is fair, sportsmanlike and consistent with the rights of property owners and other citizens." The process includes many avenues for hound hunters to participate, such as focus group meetings with individual stakeholder groups, a survey conducted through the Department's website, opportunity to review all developments, public meetings, and by letter or e-mail. About half of the focus groups will be comprised of bear, deer, fox, and raccoon hound hunters. The remainder of the focus groups will be populated by landowners, government representatives, other hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. If you are a hound hunter, make your views known during this public process. Go to www.dgif.state.va.us/hunting/hounds for more information about how you can participate.

WISCONSIN: Vote Scheduled for Critical Emergency Powers Legislation! Assembly Bill 581 is likely to be voted on Tuesday, December 4. Sponsored by Assemblyman Scott Gunderson (R-83), AB 681 would prevent the state of Wisconsin from restricting the possession, transfer, sale, transport, storage, display, or use of firearms or ammunition during a declared state of emergency. Please contact the members of the Assembly Committee on Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and respectfully urge them to pass this important legislation. Contact information for the Committee can be found by clicking here.

I ask again, what part of "...shall not be infringed" do these people NOT understand?

Once and Always, an American Fighting Man


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Don't worry about the dog, beware of the owner...

Who is ultimately responsible for the protection of the home, those who live in it, or the police? Who is responsible for personal safety and well being away from the home, the individual or the police? What role does the police force have in our lives? "To protect and serve" is the motto seen on so many patrol vehicles around the nation. But how often do they actually catch the bad guys in the middle of committing a crime? How often do they come onto the scene while someone is breaking into your home?

Very seldom.

The fact is, they aren't mind readers. They don't have psychic powers to know ahead of time when a crime is being committed and where. They aren't supermen and superwomen. They're humans. And the majority of the time they don't arrive until after the crime has been committed and try to collect as much information as they can so they can go out and catch the bad guys AFTER the crime is committed.

To whom does this give the advantage, the criminal, or the cops? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out.

So what do you do when you're home and someone breaks in? I know what I'm prepared to do. Do you?

I have long been and advocate of an armed citizenry being a responsible citizenry. NOT JUST armed, however; a citizenry that is armed should know how to use their firearms. And know when to use them.

'Shoot first' laws make it tougher for burglars in the United States

Burglars in the United States could once sue homeowners if they were shot, but now a growing number of states have made it legal to shoot to kill when somebody breaks into a house.

John Woodson, 46, found that out last week when he ambled into Dennis Baker's open garage in a Dallas suburb. A surveillance video showed the robber strolling inside, hands in his pockets.

From the shadows, Baker opened fire and killed Woodson.

"I just had to protect myself and that was it," Baker told reporters despite the fact Woodson had not tried to enter the bedroom near the garage where Baker had been sleeping.

The incident made national headlines since it was Baker's parrot that gave the alarm when it innocently squawked "good morning" at the intruder.

But Woodson's death seemed anecdotal compared to another Dallas resident who a few days earlier had killed his second robber in three weeks inside his home.

Police are investigating both cases, but it is unlikely charges will be filed. Texas recently passed a law branding anybody breaking into a home or car as a real threat of injury or death to its occupants.

In contrast with traditional self-defense laws, this measure does not require that a person who opens fire on a burglar be able to prove that he or she was physically threatened, that force was used only as a last resort and that the victim had first tried to hide.

Florida was the first state to adopt in 2005 a law that was dubbed "Stand your ground" or "Shoot first."

But now they have proliferated largely under pressure from the powerful National Rifle Association (NRA), the main weapons lobby in the United States.

Today 19 out of 50 US states, mostly in the south and the central regions of the country, have this kind of laws, and similar legislation is pending in about a dozen others.

"This law will bring common-sense self-defense protections to law-abiding citizens," said Rachel Parsons, a spokesperson for the NRA.

"If someone is breaking into your home, it's obvious that they are not there to have dinner with you," she continued. "You do have a right to protect your belongings, your family and yourself.

"The law needs to be put on the side of the victim, and not on the side of the criminal, who is attacking the victim."

Common sense in my mind.

There are, of course and as always, those who disagree. There always will be. To me, they do nothing more than create a situation in which the criminal has more rights under the law than those whom they prey on. Amazingly enough, if you look into it, some of the same groups who advocate self-defense classes for women also advocate gun control legislation.

But for the Freedom States Alliance that fights against the proliferation of firearms in the United States, these new laws attach more value to threatened belongings than to the life of the thief and only serve to increase the number of people killed by firearms each year, which currently is estimated to stand at nearly 30,000.

"It's that whole Wild West mentality that is leading the country down a very dangerous path," said Sally Slovenski, executive director of the alliance.

"In any other country, something like the castle doctrine or stand-your-ground laws look like just absolute lunacy," she continued.

"And yet in this country, somehow it's been justified, and people just sort of have come to live with this, and they just don't see the outrage in this."

It's up to you, America, to decide for yourselves, as individuals. But in deciding as individuals, LEAVE IT at the individual level whether you decide to be armed or not. Our founding fathers recognized the need for an armed citizenry and guaranteed that right be handed down through the generations in our nation. We as individuals have a right to defend ourselves, and a responsibility to do so.

Once and Always, an American Fighting Man


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NRA update 16

Not often I really rant about things that are posted in the updates I get from the NRA, but THIS update carries one that just absolutely is around the bend in my opinion. When you read down, you will see where New Jersey is considering legislation whereby it would be illegal to give toy guns to children under the age of 18. My mind wanders back to my own childhood, where, as my father is anti-gun, toy guns were VERBOTEN in my household. Did that stop us? Nope. I wonder if the State of New Jersey is going to include sticks SHAPED like guns, lego's, and (gasp) the forefinger and thumb pointed to PRETEND that it's a gun? Common sense has gone out the frigging window YET AGAIN, it would seem.

Here's a little reminder of what our founding fathers had to say about such as this. "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state,
the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

HCdL

Once and Always, an American Fighting Man


U.S. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

PRESERVES TIAHRT AMENDMENT!

On Thursday, July 12, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee voted to protect language commonly known as the "Tiahrt Amendment," rejecting two separate amendments designed to strike and gut the language, in the Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2008. This language maintains firearm trace information within the law enforcement community and out of the hands of politicians, trial lawyers and special interest groups.


THE FACTS ABOUT OSHA'S AMMUNITION PROPOSAL: A recent proposal for new "explosives safety" regulations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has rightly caused a flurry of concern among gun owners and those in the firearm business. OSHA had set out to make legitimate updates to workplace safety regulations pertaining to explosives; unfortunately, the proposed rule goes far beyond regulating true explosives. The proposed rules include restrictions that very few gun stores, sporting goods stores, shippers, or ammunition dealers could comply with.

Labor Department Announces It Will Revise
Overreaching OSHA Explosives Rule

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it will significantly revise a recent proposal for new “explosives safety” regulations that caused serious concern among gun owners. OSHA had originally set out to update workplace safety regulations, but the proposed rules included restrictions that very few gun shops, sporting goods stores, shippers, or ammunition dealers could comply with.

Gun owners had filed a blizzard of negative comments urged by the NRA, and just a week ago, OSHA had already issued one extension for its public comment period at the request of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. After continued publicity through NRA alerts and the outdoor media, and after dozens of Members of Congress expressed concern about its impact, OSHA has wisely decided to go back to the drawing board.

Working with the NRA, Congressman Denny Rehberg (R-MT) planned to offer a floor amendment to the Labor-HHS appropriations bill this Wednesday when the House considers this legislation. His amendment would have prohibited federal funds from being used to enforce this OSHA regulation.

Such an amendment is no longer necessary since Kristine A. Iverson, the Labor Department’s Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, sent Rep. Rehberg a letter, dated July 16, stating that it “was never the intention of OSHA to block the sale, transportation, or storage of small arms ammunition, and OSHA is taking prompt action to revise” this proposed rule to clarify the purpose of the regulation.

Also, working with the NRA, Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-CO) gathered signatures from 25 House colleagues for a letter, dated July 11, expressing concerns about this proposed OSHA rule. The letter calling the proposal “an undue burden on a single industry where facts do not support the need outlined by this proposed rule” and “not feasible, making it realistically impossible for companies to comply with its tenets.”

The OSHA proposal would have defined “explosives” to include “black powder, … small arms ammunition, small arms ammunition primers, [and] smokeless propellant,” and treated these items the same as the most volatile high explosives.

Under the proposed rule, a workplace that contained even a handful of small arms cartridges, for any reason, would have been considered a “facility containing explosives” and therefore subject to many impractical restrictions. For example, no one could carry “firearms, ammunition, or similar articles in facilities containing explosives … except as required for work duties.” Obviously, this rule would make it impossible to operate any kind of gun store, firing range, or gunsmith shop.

The public comment website for the proposed rule is no longer accessible. The Labor Department will publish a notice in the July 17 Federal Register announcing that a new rule proposal will soon be drafted for public comment. Needless to say, the NRA monitors proposed federal regulations to head off this kind of overreach, and will be alert for OSHA’s next draft.

We will post the letter to Congressman Rehberg shortly.


CONTRIBUTE TO NRA-ILA AND RECEIVE DISCOUNTED THEME PARK TICKETS!

Thanks to the generosity of Anheuser-Busch, NRA-ILA has the opportunity to make available a limited number of single-day passes to one of the Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks in the United States. These passes are valid through April 2008, and are good for a one-day adult or child admission into SeaWorld Orlando, San Antonio or San Diego; Busch Gardens or Adventure Island in Tampa Bay; or Busch Gardens or Water Country USA in Williamsburg.

To make a contribution and get your tickets, please visit https://secure.nraila.org/buschgardens.aspx.

(Contributions to NRA-ILA are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for Federal Income tax purposes.)

STATE ROUNDUP (please click to see any updates on states not listed below.)

ALABAMA: City of Huntsville Violating Our Second Amendment Rights! It has been reported that the City of Huntsville has posted several signs stating it is unlawful to "possess firearms" on most of the major greenways including, the Aldridge Creek Greenway and the Big Cove Creek Greenway. This is in direct violation of state law as the regulation of firearms is entirely reserved for the Alabama State Legislature. Please contact the members of the Huntsville City Council at (256) 427-5011 or by
e-mail and urge them to remove the signs containing language relating to firearms possession from all of the major greenways throughout the city. For further contact information, please click here.


CALIFORNIA: Golden State Ammo Registration Bill Gutted! On Tuesday, July 10, the California Senate Public Safety Committee gutted Assembly Bill 362, and it will now be re-worked to require the California Department of Justice to only study the regulation of ammunition sales. AB362 would have required identification to be presented for all mail order and face-to-face ammunition sales. Sellers of ammunition would have been forced to keep detailed and accurate sales records. No retail seller of ammunition would have been able to sell, offer for sale, or display for sale any ammunition in a manner that allowed ammunition to be accessible to a purchaser without the assistance of the retailer or authorized employee.

Lead Ammunition Ban Still Pending in California Senate! A bill that would ban the use of lead ammunition for hunting in various hunting zones around the state that incorporate condor range could be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee as early as Monday, July 16. Please contact the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee today and respectfully urge them to protect California's rich hunting tradition by opposing AB821. Contact information for committee members can be found by clicking here.

California Microstamping Legislation Scheduled for Committee Hearing! Assembly Bill 1471 is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday, July 16. AB1471 would require that after a certain date, the make, model, and serial number be microstamped onto the interior surface or internal working parts of all handguns in such a manner that those identifiers are imprinted onto the cartridge case upon firing. Under AB1471, the manufacture, sale, and transfer of handguns that do not include their identifying information would be a crime. Please contact the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee today and respectfully urge them to oppose AB1471. Contact information for committee members can be found by clicking here.

Mandatory Spay or Neuter Bill Held in Committee! Thanks to substantial opposition by NRA members and other sportsmen's groups, Assembly Bill 1364 failed to garner enough support to pass the Senate Local Government Committee and was pulled from committee. The bill will not be reconsidered again before January 2008. While this is a great win for sportsmen throughout the Golden State, the debate will continue in the future. Please continue to convey your opposition to this legislation to your legislators at every opportunity.

COLORADO: Hunting and Recreational Shooting Restrictions Proposed on BLM Land! Hunting and recreational shooting is being targeted by the Bureau of Land Management in south central Colorado near Salida. If you hunt, target shoot, use motorized vehicles, hike and/or camp on these public lands, the proposal will affect you. It is important that BLM hear from you. The management plan and information on how to submit comments can be found at: http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/rgfo/travel_mgmt/arkansas_river_travel0.html


ILLINOIS: Illinois Lawmakers Finally Turn Attention Away from Gun Control Governor Rod Blagokevich (D) tried to breath life into Senate Bill 1007 during a special session to resolve budget issues. SB 1007 would ban the manufacture, possession, delivery, sale, and purchase of standard capacity ammunition magazines capable of holding more than ten (10) cartridges. Refusing to be bullied by the governor, the bill's sponsor in the House, Representative Harry Osterman (D-Chicago) made it known that they did not have the supermajority of 71 votes needed to see the bill passed, so there was no need to delay a budget resolution with an off topic vote that would be overwhelmingly defeated.

KENTUCKY: New Kentucky Hunter Permit Available July 1! On Sunday, July 1, a new permit became available for people who are interested in trying hunting in Kentucky. This temporary "try before you buy" permit would allow a person to hunt for one year without first completing a hunter education course. The licensee must be accompanied by a person who is at least 18 years and who has met the hunter education requirement. The permit will be available online at http://www.fw.ky.gov/ for a $5 fee and is available to both Kentucky residents and nonresidents.

MICHIGAN: "No-Net-Loss" Legislation Heading to Senate Floor! House Bill 4597, "No-Net-Loss" legislation, is heading to the Senate floor for consideration. This bill will protect Michigan's valuable hunting tradition by ensuring that today's total acreage of public hunting lands is not reduced. Please contact your State Senator at (517) 373-2400 and respectfully urge him or her to pass HB4597 to protect Michigan's hunting heritage.

NEW JERSEY: Bill to Reorganize Fish & Game Council Heads to Assembly Floor! A3275, a bill that seeks to drastically change the membership of the Fish & Game Council from six sportsmen and three farmers who represent various geographical regions of the state to seven political appointees recommended by the Governor, is now heading to the full Assembly. The bill passed the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee by a 5-2 vote on Thursday, June 14. Animal "rights" extremists testifying in support of A3275 derided hunting as a "15th century" means to wildlife management and touted this legislation as a "21st century" tool for wildlife management. They also expressed their desire to rid the Fish & Game Council of anyone with a "hunter driven background." Please contact your State Assembly member at (800) 792-8630 and respectfully urge him or her to vigorously oppose this anti-hunting legislation. To identify your Assembly member, please click here.

New Jersey Attacking Imitation Firearms Senate Bill 2810 would make it a crime to sell or give an imitation firearm (toy gun) to anyone under the age of 18, defining an imitation firearm as an "object or device that is reasonably capable of being mistaken for a firearm." Please contact the members of the Senate Committee on Law and Public Safety and Veterans' Affairs and ask them to defeat this ridiculous bill that attacks legitimate retailers instead of focusing on the criminals that use firearms, real and imitation, to commit crimes in New Jersey. Please click here for contact information.

OHIO: "Castle Doctrine" Bill Needs Your Help! As previously reported, on June 13, legislation was introduced in Ohio that would restore the most basic of fundamental rights: self-defense. State Senator Steve Buehrer (R-1) and State Representative Lynn Wachtmann (R- 75) have introduced Senate Bill 184 and House Bill 264, a package that restores the right of individuals to respond in force in defense of their lives and family without fear of civil lawsuits by criminals injured or killed while attacking law-abiding victims. Please contact your State Senator at (614) 466-4900 and your State Representative at (614) 466-3357 and respectfully urge him or her to support SB 184 and HB 264.

OREGON: Oregon Emergency Powers Provision on Governor's Desk! House Bill 2370, a Homeland Security-related bill containing an amendment prohibiting any government agency from confiscating or regulating the lawful sale, possession, transfer, transport and carry of firearms during a state of emergency, passed the Oregon Legislature and is on the desk of Governor Ted Kulongoski (D) for his consideration.

PENNSYLVANIA: Pennsylvania Governor Still on Anti-Gun Rampage While speaking before the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, Governor Ed Rendell (D) tried to rally support for his anti-gun proposals for the next legislative session. He is urging law enforcement officials to sign-on to efforts limiting firearms purchases to one-gun-a-month as well as changing state preemption laws to allow local municipalities to pass their own laws. Please contact the Governor at (717) 787-2500, your State Senator at (717) 787-5920, and your State Representative at (717) 787-2372 and respectfully urge them to oppose any gun control measures.



Anti-Gun Philadelphia City Council Members Sue State Legislature to Implement Anti-Gun Ordinances! Philadelphia City Council Members Darrell L. Clarke and Donna Reed Miller have filed a suit against the Pennsylvania Legislature seeking to allow seven city gun-control measures to be implemented without approval from the legislature. Such implementation would be a clear violation of the preemption statutes currently in effect in Pennsylvania. Please contact your State Senator at (717) 787-5920 and your State Representative at (717) 787-2372 and respectfully urge them to continue to oppose any gun control measures that would make Philadelphia gun owners second-class citizens.


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NRA update 8MAY07

Personal note here before the update. The Tennessean newspaper today has on their website a link to a listing of all registered handgun owners in the state of Tennessee. I can't think of anything that invades the individual rights to privacy of those who are simply following their constitutionally guaranteed rights to own firearms by a liberal newspaper that has a history of being anti-gun.

I don't buy the Tennessean, I don't look on their website for their "news." This is a personal request by me to all my fellow Tennesseans out there reading this to pass this information along and if you subscribe to this leftist rag, drop your subscription and stop buying it.

This time the Tennessean newspaper has crossed the line. This time they have willingly endangered gun owners.

Once and Always, an American Fighting Man

UPDATE 9MAYo7

Seems the Tennessean was flooded with phone calls from people all over the state and removed the page from their site. No apologies, no explanations, no nothing, just removed it.

I personally think they need to print a full page apology to the entire state for any potential problems that come from this. Further, I believe, personally, that any crimes committed against anyone who was listed on their site, if it can be shown that there is a connection to the crime and the fact that the victims name was listed, that the Tennessean be held criminally responsible as well.

Just my thoughts. Media is supposed to be responsible, not biased.

HCdL

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREES WITH NRA-AGAIN!

Nation's Law Enforcement Opposes Release of Data on Gun Owners


For more than five years, cities suing the gun industry and anti-gun organizations have sought access to confidential law enforcement data on firearm traces¾records that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) compiles when it traces firearms in response to requests from law enforcement agencies. These efforts have been redoubled in recent years under the prodding of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R), who has funded a national television ad campaign that is so misleading that some television stations are refusing to run it because of its blatantly false statements!





NRA-ILA OPPOSES JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PROPOSAL: Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice sent a legislative proposal, along with a letter of support, to Congressional leaders. The legislative proposal would allow this¾or any future¾Attorney General to deny a firearm purchase to individuals on terrorist "watch lists" without due process of law. Anti-gun Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) has already introduced the legislation (S. 1237).





EXPLOITING TRAGEDY-AGAIN: Almost immediately following the horrific shootings on the campus of Virginia Tech, the anti-gun machine was revving into overdrive. Anti-gun politicians and gun control groups were having a field day jostling for an opportunity at any available microphone or in front of any camera.





STATE ROUNDUP (please click to see any updates on states not listed below.)


ALABAMA: Pro-Gun Bills Pending in Alabama Legislature! Senate Bill 62, House Bill 23, Senate Bill 370, and House Bill 598 need your support. Please contact members of the Senate at (334) 242-7800 and urge them to support SB 370 and members of the House at (334) 242-7600 and ask them to support HB 598.



ARIZONA (1): Help Improve the Southeast Regional Park Shooting Range! Please help continue improvements at the Southeast Regional Park Shooting Range. Written comments to the Chairman of the Committee can be submitted no later than Thursday, May 31, 2007. For more information as to where to mail your comments, please click here.



ARIZONA (2): Arizona Game & Fish Department to Host Meetings on BLM and Forest Service Plans! The Arizona Game and Fish Department will host a series of meetings across the state to provide an overview of the Forest Service and BLM planning processes and how you can become engaged. The plans could potentially include proposed alternatives that change the way you currently enjoy public lands, particularly with regard to recreational shooting, hunting, vehicular access and transportation, designation of open and closed roads, dispersed camping and/or recreation, and motorized retrieval of big game lawfully taken by hunters.



ARIZONA (3): Stop the Bureau of Land Management From Banning Recreational Shooting on Arizona Public Lands! The 128,000-acre Ironwood Forest National Monument is under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and is generally opened to dispersed recreational shooting. A management plan just released for public review and comment is likely to change that if BLM's preferred management alternative (Alternative C) is adopted. Alternative C would close the Monument to recreational shooting. Hunting would continue to be allowed for the time being. Let your voice be heard! Please send written comments to the BLM and let them know that recreational shooting is a legitimate use of public lands, and a legitimate and traditional recreational use in Ironwood Forest National Monument.



ARIZONA (4): Arizona Game & Fish Department Seeking Comment on Operational Plans! A series of eight public meetings will be held across the state to present a plan and to accept public comment regarding how the Arizona Game and Fish Commission will manage wildlife, outdoor recreational activities, and its own operations for the next two years. Your comments will play a major role in affecting the management of the AGFD. Help preserve Arizona's hunting and shooting heritage. Your participation is vital if we're to ensure the continuation of hunting and shooting sports for future generations.



ARIZONA (5): The Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Tucson Field Office will host a public meeting to answer questions and take comments on the Ironwood Forest National Monument Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement. The agency has previously hosted five meetings. The meeting is scheduled for May 19, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Pima Community College West Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Road, Tucson, in the Proscenium Theater, located on the east side of the campus. Sign in for speakers will begin at 9:30 a.m. The meeting will be a question-and-answer format with a panel of BLM specialists. Each person will be given up to two minutes to ask a question or provide a comment, which will be recorded by a note taker. Comments to the plan will be accepted through May 30. Comments may be submitted in writing to: Mark Lambert, IFNM Planner, BLM, 12661 East Broadway, Tucson AZ 85748 or may be submitted via e-mail at AZ_IFNM_RMP@blm.gov.



CALIFORNIA (1): Urgent: Anti-Gun Bills Headed to California Assembly Floor! Two pieces of legislation, Assembly Bill 821 and Assembly Bill 334, that are critical to the rights of California's gun owners, are making their way to the Assembly Floor in the Golden State. Please contact your Assembly Member and respectfully urge them to oppose Assembly Bill 821 as well as Assembly Bill 334. Contact information for your Assembly Member can be found by clicking here.



CALIFORNIA (2): California Pro-Gun Bill Passes Assembly, Heads to Senate Assembly Bill 854 heads to the California Senate. AB854 would repeal a California law that restricts the publication of information about firearms that are not permissible for sale in California. Please contact your State Senator today and respectfully urge him or her to support AB854. Contact information for your State Senator can be found by clicking here.



CALIFORNIA (3): Golden State Ammunition Sales Registration Bill Stalled! Thanks to your calls and support, Assembly Bill 362 has been placed in the "suspense file." This will likely delay the bill until early-June. Please continue contacting the Assembly Appropriations Committee and ask them to oppose AB362. The Appropriations Committee can be reached by calling (916) 319-2081.



CALIFORNIA (4): California to Require Spaying and Neutering of All Hunting Dogs! AB 1634, currently awaiting a hearing in the House Appropriations Committee, requires every dog older than four months to be spayed or neutered. Owners hoping to be able to breed their dogs at some point during their lives would be required to apply annually to their local government for an "intact" permit. It is critical that you contact your State Assembly Member and ask that they oppose this overreaching and discriminatory legislation. Please ask them to vote "no" on AB 1634. Contact information for your Assembly Member can be found by visiting http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset7text.htm.



COLORADO (1): Attack on Right-to-Carry Heads to Governor's Desk! Senate Bill 34 passed the House and is on its way to the desk of Governor Bill Ritter (D). If enacted, out-of-state carry permits would no longer be honored if the permit holder is not a resident of the state that issued the permit. Please contact Governor Ritter TODAY at (303) 866-2471 or email Governor.ritter@state.co.us and respectfully urge him to veto SB34.



COLORADO (2): Attention Colorado NRA Members: Please Urge Governor Ritter to Veto HB1174! If enacted, House Bill 1174 would permanently extend the database of concealed handgun permit licensees. Please contact Governor Ritter and respectfully urge him to veto HB1174. Governor Ritter can be reached at (303) 866-2471 or email Governor.ritter@state.co.us and respectfully urge him to veto SB34.



ILLINOIS (1): Many Anti-Gun Bills Still A Threat! There are still many anti-gun bills moving through both the State Senate and House. To view a list of all of these bills and how they work against our Right to Keep and Bear Arms, please click here: http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?id=2912. Please call your State Senator and State Representative today and urge them to vote "No" to all anti-Second Amendment legislation. The Illinois State Senate can be contacted at (217) 782-5715. The Illinois House of Representatives can be contacted at (217) 782-8223.



ILLINOIS (2): Illinois Anti-Gun Legislation Moving Swiftly! Senate Bill 1007 was hijacked and amended to include anti-gun legislation banning certain ammunition magazines. Any day, your State Senator could vote on legislation sponsored by former gun-ban lobbyist and current State Senator, Dan Kotowski (D-33). Please call your State Senator today at (217) 782-5715 and urge him or her to oppose Amendment 1 of Senate Bill 1007!



IOWA: Iowa: LeClaire City Council Meeting To Discuss Custom Gunsmith and Firearms Shop Moving Into The Area! Les Baer Custom, Inc. is no longer welcome in Illinois and has decided to move across the Mississippi to LeClaire, Iowa. Unfortunately, gun ban advocates are working against them in LeClaire too. Please call the Mayor and City Council and urge them to support Les Baer Custom Inc.'s move to LeClaire. For contact information for the Mayor and City Council, please click here.



LOUISIANA (1): Management Plan Underway for Mandalay and Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuges! The National Resource Planner is taking comments on how Mandalay and Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuges should be managed. Comments may be submitted until May 18th. Please address comments, questions, and requests for further information to: Charlotte Parker, National Resource Planner, Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 61389 Highway 434, Lacombe, LA 70445 or call 985-882-2000 or send comments and questions via email to Charlotte_Parker@fws.gov.



LOUISIANA (2): Legislation to Ban "Assault Weapons" Pending in Louisiana House! House Bill 869 would establish far-reaching restrictions on semi-automatic firearms (dubbing them "assault weapons") and large-capacity magazines. HB 869 affects every firearm modified to conform with the now-extinct federal gun ban plus other semi-automatic firearms that have no lineage to those rifles or any "military-style" orientation whatsoever. Please contact the members of the House Criminal Justice Committee and respectfully urge them to oppose HB 869.



LOUISIANA (3): Attention Louisiana Hunters: Help Protect the Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge! A conservation plan has been made available by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service addressing the uses of the Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge. To ensure that our nation's wildlife refuges remain open to hunting, it is important for the hunting community, particularly those who hunt on wildlife refuges, to submit comments for the public record. Comments will be accepted until May 21 and should be sent to: Central Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 401 Island Road, Marksville, LA 71351. A copy of the plan is available at: http://southeast.fws.gov/planning/ .



MAINE: Maine's Hunting Rights in Jeopardy! Anti-hunting legislation, Legislative Document 1635, "An Act To Prohibit Recreational Bear Trapping," has been referred to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. This bill would abolish the open season on trapping bears, a long-standing Maine tradition. Please contact the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee Members today and politely urge them to oppose LD 1635 and save a tradition of hunting that has been used by Maine hunters for decades. Senate members can be reached at (207) 287-1583, and House members can be contacted at (207) 287-4469.



MASSACHUSETTS: One-Gun-A-Month Bill Filed in Massachusetts! Governor Deval Patrick's (D) gun-rationing scheme has become a reality. House Bill 3991 is currently in the Judiciary Committee. This bill would limit law-abiding Massachusetts gun buyers from purchasing more than one firearm in a month's time. Please contact the Governor and the members of the Judiciary Committee and respectfully urge them to oppose this gun-rationing scheme.



MICHIGAN: "No-Net Loss" Bill Heading to House Floor in Michigan! House Bill 4597, "No-Net Loss" legislation that would ensure that today's total acreage of public lands open to public hunting would not be reduced, is heading to the Michigan House floor for a vote. Please contact your State Representative at (517) 373-6339 and respectfully ask him or her to support HB 4597.



MISSOURI (1): Missouri "Hunting Heritage Protection Areas Act" Heads to House! Senate Bill 225, a bill aimed at preserving Missouri's time-honored hunting and sporting heritage by protecting hunting areas and wildlife habitat within the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers' flood plain, is heading to the House. Please contact your State Representative at (573) 751-3824 and strongly encourage him or her to protect wildlife habitat and hunting by supporting and voting for SB225 without any amendments!



MISSOURI (2): Pro-Gun Bills Heading to the Missouri Senate! House Bill 845 and Senate Bill 62, aimed at strengthening the Second Amendment in Missouri, are headed to the State Senate. Please contact your State Senator at (573) 751-3824 and respectfully urge him or her to support and vote for both HB845 and SB62 in their current forms.



NEVADA: Three Pro-Gun Bills Pending in Nevada Legislature! State Senate and Assembly Committee members need to hear from you on three important pieces of pro-gun legislation. Senate Bill 237, the long-awaited Right-to-Carry reciprocity bill; Senate Bill 92, to eliminate the immediate handgun registration in Clarke County; and Assembly Bill 95, the "Emergency Powers Protection Act." The full text of SB 237, SB 92, and AB 95, as well as contact information for the members of the Senate and Assembly Government Affairs Committee and the Assembly Judiciary Committee, can be found online by visiting www.leg.state.nv.us.



NORTH CAROLINA: North Carolina Database Bill Heads to Senate! Legislation seeking to create a new statewide database to which sheriffs would report all individuals who have been denied a permit to purchase a pistol is going to the Senate. Please contact your State Senator and respectfully urge him or her to OPPOSE HB1287. Contact information can be found by clicking here



OREGON: Oregon "No-Net-Loss" Legislation Passes House, Moves to Senate! House Bill 3164, an NRA-supported bill that would require the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to replace any public lands it closes to hunting with an equal acreage of public lands that must be opened to hunting is moving to the Senate. Please contact your State Senator and urge him or her to SUPPORT HB 3164. For contact information or help identifying your State Senator, please click here.



PENNSYLVANIA (1): Gun Registration Legislation Introduced! Your State Legislators need to hear from you about House Bill 760! If enacted, HB 760 would require every firearm in Pennsylvania to be registered with the government! Please call your State Representative and State Senator today and ask them to oppose HB760! For contact information or help identifying your State Legislators, please click here.



PENNSYLVANIA (2): Philadelphia City Councilman Seeks to Usurp Preemption and Sue Commonwealth! Unable to pass an anti-gun agenda thanks to Pennsylvania's preemption statute, Philadelphia City Councilman Darrell Clarke (D-5) is now attempting to seek final passage on eight gun-control bills that have been sitting idle. Clarke even has claimed that the City Council is preparing a legal suit claiming the Legislature's inaction on gun-control measures. Please contact your City Council member and respectfully urge him or her to oppose any of these anti-gun measures that may come before the Council. To find contact information for your Philadelphia City Council Member please click here.



RHODE ISLAND: Rhode Island Legislation Targeting Semi-Automatics! Firearm microstamping legislation has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee. For contact informatation for the House Judiciary Committee, please click here.



TENNESSEE: Several Pro-Gun Bills Headed to Tennessee Governor Bredesen's Desk! House Bill 1285 and its companion bill, Senate Bill 1597, and House Bill 145, and its companion bill, Senate Bill 135, are heading to the Governor's desk. Please call Governor Bredesen's (D) office at (615) 741-2001 and urge him to sign HB 1285/SB 1597 and HB 145/SB 135.



TEXAS (1): Texas Governor Signs Emergency Powers Bill Into Law! To ensure that what occurred in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina will never happen in Texas, Governor Rick Perry (R) signed Senate Bill 112 into law on Friday, April 27. This NRA-backed legislation will prevent the confiscation of firearms and ammunition from law-abiding citizens during a future state of emergency or natural disaster.



TEXAS (2): Important Texas Right-to-Carry Confidentiality Bill Heads to Senate Floor! House Bill 991, NRA-supported Concealed Handgun License (CHL) confidentiality legislation, passed by a 6-2 vote on Monday, April 30. The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration. HB 991 would restrict access to the CHL database to law enforcement only. Media organizations have launched a full-scale assault on HB 991, so it is critical that you contact your State Senator today and urge him or her to support HB 991.

Start the bans NOW! STOP THE INSANITY! And could someone pass the Tobasco Sauce, please?

My friends, I have decided that I am going to jump on the bandwagon here, early, a few days ahead of what I had planned on in making any kind of commentary whatsoever after the Virginia Tech shootings.

I'm stepping up to the plate (think baseball here, not the dinner table) and joining in in promoting the beginnings of immediate bannings, thanks to the wise words of a commenter on our site who goes by the handle DigitalTraveler. Without his inspired wisdom I wouldn't have seen the light that should have been so clear to me all along. To those of you over at RadioActive Liberty, I'm sorry, guys, but we're going to have to start with the source of your battle cry; bacon has got to go. Bacon has killed so many, many people through the years, sitting there in the meat section of the local grocery store, so unassuming looking as you pass by and peruse the different brands and cures. It has caused untold heartache in it's silent but deadly overuse and abuse. Heart disease and high blood pressure, oh the sadness that this evil product causes.

In fact, let's ban all pork. That's the answer. We have to remove pork from the hands of Americans before it causes more harm, more pain, more grief.

But wait.

We don't eat pork by itself, do we? A LOT of pork is consumed at breakfast, and so are a lot of...EGGS! YES! EGGS are evil, TOO. Full of cholesterol, usually SALTED to improve their taste...wait, SALT? SALT?!? HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE! We've got to get rid of salt, too.

Wow, I'm starting to feel really GOOD now, knowing that I'm serving my fellow man and pointing out how we need to BAN the evil salt, bacon, and eggs in order to SAVE humanity.

But wait. What about the utensils? One doesn't NORMALLY eat eggs with their fingers, right?

OH MY GOD we have to ban forks. Yes, forks have GOT to go. We can no longer sit idly by and allow forks to murder us. Something has to be done. Congress MUST be made aware of the clear and present danger that forks present to us on a daily basis. I wonder how many people a DAY across this country are killed by random acts of eating involving the use of forks. Why did you know that they even make plastic forks that can't be detected by metal detectors? THIS HAS GOT TO BE STOPPED.

I KNOW! We can ask Rosie O'Donnell to be our poster-girl on why utensils MUST BE BANNED!! Every cause NEEDS a celebrity behind it, right? We can get Rosie to tell us ALL about how forks, knives, and spoons have turned her into the hate filled, fallacy speaking, drivelling idiot she is today.

We must be cautious, however; the other side is SURE to bring out heavy hitters like Emeril Legasi, Alton Brown, and, steady men, steady...Rachel Ray. She in particular would be a DEVESTATING distraction to the men in our movement...

AHEM.

I have a prediction to make at this point, regarding what I've said so far. In reading this, Conservatives are going to be laughing their asses off at the supreme ridiculousness of what I just said (um, other than that about Rachel Ray, insert wolf whistle here, and Rosie O'Donnell, insert gagging noise here), Liberals are going to be pissed as hell and think, rightfully, that they're being mocked for their lack of logic and thinking.

I'm going to save further comment on the gun side of the Virginia Tech story for now; I honestly hope that in reading this posting it will make EVERYONE stop for a moment and think how inappropriate it is to debate gun control YET AGAIN so soon after this tragedy. Those of you who follow our blogsite here know full and well that I'm a very firm Constitutionalist and a member of the NRA. Nuff said there. My hope is that people will see that there is a time and a place for every discussion and examination; right now is a time for trying to heal. We already know who is responsible, we're beginning to understand why. Guns aren't the why, mental stability is.

Remember the families of those who lost loved ones at Virginia Tech, keep them in your hearts, keep them in your prayers.

And to those of you over at RadioActive Liberty, all I have left to say to YOU, compadres, is BACON!

Once and Always, an American Fighting Man

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NRA update

From the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights,

Amendment II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

I am the NRA.

That's the slogan of many of us who are members of the National Rifle Association. In my mind, it's a good one. It keeps all of us in mind that the NRA is a member based and minded organization.

That being said.

From time to time, I'll be bringing you updates of things the NRA is involved in. The second ammendment is a very important piece of our legal system, and I cannot imagine a country called the United States without it, or any of the other parts of our Constitution.

City of New Orleans, Mayor Ray Nagin
Once Again Found in Contempt of Court
District Court Judge to City Attorney:
Conduct "wholly unprofessional"
Fairfax, VA-The National Rifle Association (NRA) and law abiding gun owners have won yet another victory this morning against New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and former police chief Warren Riley.

Judge Carl J. Barbier, presiding over the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, granted NRA's motion for contempt against New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Warren Riley for "failure to provide initial disclosures and to compel answers to discovery" during NRA's injunction against the City for their illegal gun confiscation of law abiding citizens following Hurricane Katrina in 2006.

"Once more, Mayor Ray Nagin and former police chief Warren Riley are held accountable for considering themselves above the law," said Chris W. Cox, NRA's chief lobbyist. "These men have had to be dragged, kicking and screaming, every step of the way in this process to return the lawfully owned firearms to their own citizens, and Judge Barbier rightly found them in contempt of court for their complete lack of respect for the rule of law."

Furthermore, Judge Barbier concluded the delaying tactics by the City's attorney, Joseph Vincent DiRosa, Jr, to be "wholly unprofessional and shall not be condoned". Mr. DiRosa admitted in Court that he had "no good reason" to explain his actions and has been ordered to pay partial legal fees to NRA's attorneys for their wasted time and money.

"Ray Nagin, Warren Riley and their attorney refused to provide vital information to the U.S. District Court for their unconstitutional acts in their city's time of great need," concluded Cox. "On behalf of the lawful gun owners of New Orleans, NRA is pleased with this outcome, we thank Judge Barbier for his swift decision and we will continue to press for the full return of all the city's confiscated firearms."


-NRA-


Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America's oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military.

Can I GET an AMEN?

Once and Always, an American Fighting Man

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