We Must Take Action on The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (S.659)!!!

[NY Patriot]

Hello all, this is my first post here at TheHighRoad.org, but not my last. Some of you may know me from AR15.com, Glocktalk, FALFiles, 1911Forum.com, etc..., and from the good old days over at Thefiringline.com (as I understand it, TheHighRoad.org is sort of refuge for former members of that late, great web site!)

I have been lurking around these parts a bit, & I appreciate these forums as a meeting place for like minded, freedom loving, American gun owners.

I like what I see, and I'm sticking around!


On to the business at hand...


If this topic has been posted already, I apologize, but it is very important & action needs to be taken ASAP.

I recieved the following E-Mail from Bushmaster Firearms and believe this is VERY important to the continued right to Keep and Bear Arms. Groups such as HCI have publicly stated that if they could not legislate guns away, they would litigate the companies that make them out of business.

From Bushmaster:

The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, S.659, is coming up for US Senate approval very soon and your support is urgently needed to help get it passed. The US House of Representatives passed it yesterday, but in the Senate we need you to contact your Senators to urge them to support this bill. There are several Democratic Senators, such as Senator Schumer (D-NY), that are threatening to kill the bill by filibuster, but this can be avoided by getting 60 votes. Currently there are 53 solidly supporting the bill.

These frivolous lawsuits against gun manufacturers for political purposes are a disgrace and abuse of our legal system. What some of these anti-gun groups have not been able to do through the voting booth, through lobbying, and through the media, they are now trying to accomplish by driving law-abiding gun manufacturers out of business through unfounded lawsuits and blackmail tactics.

The White House issued a statement strongly supporting this bill, saying it would "help prevent abuse of the legal system and help curb the growing problem of frivolous lawsuits."
Please call, email or write both your Senators today. Urge them to support the "common sense" legislation of The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, S.659

The following Senators are sponsors of this bill. Please be sure to thank them.

Sponsor:

Senator Larry E. Craig (R-ID)

Co-Sponsors:

Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)
Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO)
Senator George Allen (R-VA)
Senator Robert Bennett (R-UT)
Senator Christopher Bond (R-MO)
Senator John Breaux (D-LA)
Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS)
Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY)
Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT)
Senator Ben Campbell (R-CO)
Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)
Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS)
Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN)
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)
Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)
Senator Michael Crapo (R-ID)
Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC)
Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM)
Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND)
Senator John Ensign (R-NV)
Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY)
Senator Bill Frist (R-TN)
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH)
Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE)
Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Senator Kay Hutchinson (R-TX)
Senator James Inhofe (R-OK)
Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD)
Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)
Senator Trent Lott (R-MS)
Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Senator Zell Miller (D-GA)
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE)
Senator Don Nickles (R-OK)
Senator Harry Reid (D-NV)
Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS)
Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA)
Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL)
Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR)
Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Senator Arlen Spector (R-PA)
Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK)
Senator John Sununu (R-NH)
Senator James Talent (R-MO)
Senator Craig Thomas (R-WY)
Senator George Voinovich (R-OH)


The following Senators have not signed on to the bill and should be urged to support this legislation.

Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN)
Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE)
Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Senator Thomas Carper (D-DE)
Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)
Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY)
Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND)
Senator Jon Corzine (D-NJ)
Senator Thomas Daschle (D-SD)
Senator Mark Dayton (D-MN)
Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH)
Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT)
Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Senator John Edwards (D-NC)
Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI)
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Senator Peter Fitzgerald (R-IL)
Senator Bob Graham (D-FL)
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Senator Ernest Hollings (D-SC)
Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
Senator James Jeffords (I-VT)
Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
Senator John Kerry (D-MA)
Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI)
Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Senator Carl Levin (D-MI)
Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT)
Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN)
Senator John McCain (R-AZ)
Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)
Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL)
Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR)
Senator Jack Reed (D-RI)
Senator John Rockefeller (D-WV)
Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD)
Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY)
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Senator John Warner (R-VA)
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)

 

[NY Patriot]

This bill is really important, and here's why...

- The House of Reps. version of this bill was passed with broad bi-partisan support (over 100 Democrats voted for it.) In other words, it's a popular bill, who's time is now.

- Pres. Bush has publicly stated that he will sign this bill if it graces his desk. Two down, one to go!

- This legislation has much support in the Senate (53 Co-Sponsors / eight of which, are Democrats). In other words, it already has the votes to pass!!!
The only thing standing in the way of this much needed legislation becoming law is the threat of a filibuster by the radical left wing of the Democratic party!!!

Guys... the time is right for this bill to pass. The far lefties are becoming increasingly marginalized by their absurd accusations & opposition to a popular President.

We need to call them on their threats, and drive this issue home. A barrage of letters & faxes will tip the scales in our favor (don't E-mail...it is ignored &/or deleted unread). We have the momentum, and they are on the defensive. They are desperate. They are hanging on by their fingernails, and all we need to do is give them the final push off the cliff.

A major victory for our side is well within our grasp. All we need to do is reach out & grab it!

Write, write, & write again!!!

BTW... here is a quick & easy tool to find the contact info for your elected reps. www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/officials/

 

[.45Ruger]

The only thing standing in the way of this much needed legislation becoming law is the threat of a filibuster by the radical left wing of the Democratic party!!!

My GOOD Senator John Kyle has already signed on and my Reperesenative of the radical left wing Mcain in an idiot who hope to god we can defeat in the primaries next year.

 

[NY Patriot]

.45Ruger,you can still have a direct effect on this bill by writing to...

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist
461 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

&...

Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell
Office of Senator Mitch McConnell
361-A Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510


As Majority Leader & Whip, they control the Senate's agenda. They could call the Democrat's bluff tomorrow by bringing this bill to the floor for a full vote.

We all need to urge them to do just that!

 

[RangerHAAF]

I will be able to give a sigh of relief when this bill finally makes it's way to the Senate floor. I hope it will be passed before the summer is over but I've seen no indication on the Senate's website that they've even got a debate or hearing scheduled for next month. What gives?

I don't think that a filibuster threat will hold much credibility. There are between 54 and 55 Senators who have openly declared their support of S. 659, with at least 10 Democrats on board. The last time I checked there were about 3 or 4 undeclared Republicans and I believe if push comes to shove those guys will have to vote along party lines, but I might be wrong.

At least the two Senators from my state of Georgia are co-sponsors.

 

[NY Patriot]

RangerHAAF...

I hope it will be passed before the summer is over

You & me both!

BTW, anyone wanting to chart the progress of this bill can click on...

U.S. Senate Web Site , and enter S.659 in the bill search feature.

Introductory remarks were made on 3/20. This is the last activity on S.659

Let's kick start this bill by writing early & often!!!

 

[NY Patriot]

At first blush, this bill might not appear important enough for you to write.

Wrong! The passage of this bill will have a direct & indirect effect on if the "assault weapons" ban lives or dies come 04.

Here’s why...

- Regardless of any AW ban, there will be no new military style sport utility rifles made if all of the manufacturers are litigated out of existence, & new companies are deterred from even being created.

- Passage of this bill by lawmakers gets them acclimated to voting for pro-2nd. Amendment legislation, & it shows them that, in spite of what the hard core leftists threaten, there is no political fallout from standing up for the rights of gun owners.

In a sense, it emboldens our reps. to vote pro gun in the future.

- It provides us (2nd. Amendment activists) a real chance at a moral building victory, and gets us in the habit of taking a more proactive roll in the protection of our rights. Trust me... the more often you write, fax, & call your elected reps., the easier it becomes!

- The actual text of The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act contains language that further bolsters and supports the individual rights / guns are for defense, not hunting argument. This could prove beneficial in future legal challenges to gun control legislation.


So... are you going to write now???

 

[NY Patriot]

You can read the full text of The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act here... www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=6&t=183267&page=1

 

[NY Patriot]

A couple of excerpts from the text of the bill. These little nuggets of finding & purpose could prove beneficial in any future legal challenges, as they provide core issues that must be addressed by the courts.


SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSES.

(a) FINDINGS- The Congress finds the following:

(1) Citizens have a right, protected by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, to keep and bear arms.


PURPOSES- The purposes of this Act are as follows:

(2) To preserve a citizen's access to a supply of firearms and ammunition for all lawful purposes, including hunting, self-defense, collecting, and competitive or recreational shooting.

(3) To guarantee a citizen's rights, privileges, and immunities, as applied to the States, under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, pursuant to section 5 of that Amendment.


See... this is about much more than an end to frivolous law suits!!!

So... you gonna write now? Yea, that's right, I'm talking to you New Jersey, Maryland, New York, California, etc...

 

[NY Patriot]

Don't let this thread die on the vine guys! It is too important.

Let's see some examples of letters that you have sent to your Reps.

Give your fellow board members some different arguments and approaches to draw from for their letters!

 

[RangerHAAF]

I'm wondering what's taking the Senate so long to get this bill passed? I was looking at the timeline for the Brady Bill that was passed in 1993 and it took both the House and the Senate exactly 10 days between passage in one chamber to go on and be passed in the next one. I think Clinton signed it into law about a week after Congress passed it.

The only reason that I can think of is that our pro-gun allies want to squeeze some more money and campaign goodwill out of the NRA and the other pro-gun PAC's before they have to do the right thing; it will be passed but I hope before the real fireworks begin next year just before the AWB expires. Should be an interesting year.

 

[NY Patriot]

I realize that the AW ban renewal is receiving the lion's share of attention from 2nd. Amendment activists these days, but let's not forget that S.659 is on the table now, and that it has already been passed in Congress with broad bi-partisan support.

Pres. Bush is on record as saying that he will sign this bill into law if it graces his desk. Hell... The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act already has the votes to pass the Senate!

The only thing standing in the way of this bill becoming law is the threat of a Democrat filibuster, and we can change their minds if only we WRITE OUR SENATORS, & URGE THEM TO SUPPORT S.659!!!

To this end, I have made it exceedingly easy to let your opinion be heard, by compiling a thread of sample letters that other gun owners have written on S.659.

It can be found HERE

Feel free to mix & match, cut & paste, and generally adapt these letters as you see fit.

It really doesn't get any easier than this, so please help to get his much needed legislation passed!!!

 

[JeFF D]

Done.
I emailed Stabenow and Levin both were on the list.

thanks for bringing this to my attention

 

[Mark Tyson]

I got a letter from one of my congressmen(actually a woman) saying that the bill would prevent lawsuits against gun stores that broke regulations, such as the one in the Beltway killer's case. After asking around a little, I found out that this wasn't true. Stinkin liars . . .

 

[NY Patriot]

No thanks necessary JeFF D. I try to do my part in this struggle of ours, but my efforts are pointless unless others get involved.

One thing however… It's great that you want to get involved, but it’s a well known fact that elected reps. largely ignore E-mail or even delete it unread in many cases.

In the game of influencing politicians, typed, hand signed letters, faxes, and personal phone calls still reign supreme!!!

Congresscritters will take notice of your opinion because they understand that these modes of communication require time and effort on your part. They realize that if you are passionate enough about an issue to take the time away from your family and career to write, call, or fax them, you are damn sure going to show up on Election Day to help vote them out of office!

Take the extra time & expend the energy… It's worth it in the end!