wuchak
Member
I just received the following email from the GOA. It's good news for gun owners and I thought everyone could use some after the last week.
Vitter Amendment Becomes Law, McCarthy Gun Grab Is Dead
-- Thanks for all your hard work!
Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
http://www.gunowners.org
"Oh s---! We got a lot of postcards and e-mails from GOA members."
-- As stated by a Congressional office to GOA
Thursday, October 5, 2006
Thanks to your hard work, gun rights have taken two steps forward in
recent days.
The quote above shows the reaction from one Congressional office in
response to the number of postcards and e-mails that GOA members sent
in response to the McCarthy gun grab (HR 1415).
GOA members let their Representatives know they didn't want an
expansion of the Brady Law, and the activism paid off handsomely.
The bill is dead for now.
But first, there is the Vitter-Jindal Emergency Protection
legislation that we asked you to support in July.
EMERGENCY PROTECTION MEANS NO MORE GUN CONFISCATION
You will remember that in the wake of Hurricane Katrina last year,
federal and local police stole firearms from New Orleans residents in
the name of "keeping the people safe." To combat this, GOA has
worked this year in several states (including Louisiana) to
specifically outlaw this type of activity.
GOA also worked for the enactment of this legislation at the federal
level, and in July, the Emergency Protection language overwhelmingly
passed both houses of Congress.
After the Senate vote, one office told GOA: "They [the Senators]
obviously got your message loud and clear. It was the most lopsided
gun vote I have ever seen."
The vote was lopsided... and it was significant as well. The
Emergency Protection language makes it illegal for federal agents to
confiscate firearms during an emergency or major disaster.
Senator David Vitter (R-LA) thanked GOA for its efforts in pushing
his amendment. The GOA effort "was a huge help, and it was very
effective," Vitter said. "I look forward to working on many other
issues with GOA."
The Vitter-Jindal amendment is now on the President's desk -- as part
of the Homeland Security appropriations bill -- where it awaits his
almost certain signature.
BRADY EXPANSION IS DEAD
Then there was the defeat of the McCarthy gun grab. This was an
uphill task, as early on, the bill was expected to easily pass the
House of Representatives.
But GOA members and activists overwhelmingly responded to our
internet and postal alerts over the August recess, resulting in
untold thousands of postcards and e-mails being dumped on
legislators' desks.
The resulting tidal wave of grassroots opposition has buried this
bill as legislative offices on Capitol Hill have told GOA, "We've
heard your postcards and e-mails loud and clear!"
It's a good thing those postcards and e-mails were sent by you, too,
because GOA was the only Second Amendment group in Washington
opposing McCarthy's attack.
The House Judiciary Committee was scheduled to vote on HR 1415
earlier last month. At that time, the committee reported two
firearms-related bills to the floor of the House -- but they
specifically passed over the McCarthy bill (even though it was
scheduled to come up for a vote).
Gun Owners of America opposed the McCarthy bill, as it would spend
nearly $1 billion dollars to further prop up the unconstitutional
Brady Law. Of the 35 cosponsors, 34 are rated "F" on GOA's
scorecard... the remaining one is rated "D."
What has been surprising is how close this bill has come to being
passed under congressional leadership that claims to be pro-gun. It
already passed the House once, in October of 2002, but was killed in
the senate when GOA teamed up with former Sen. Bob Smith (R-NH) to
block the bill.
Thanks again for all your hard work. You have reminded the
Congressional leadership that they should leave the McCarthy gun ban
alone and that it's "good politics" to pass pro-gun amendments like
the Vitter-Jindal bill.
Thank you!
****************************
GOA IN THE MEDIA
GOA spokesmen have already started addressing the recent school
shootings in the media. GOA also encourages its members to write
letters to the editor making the following points:
1. No amount of gun control would have stopped Charles Carl Roberts
from acquiring guns to commit his atrocity. Roberts had a clean
record and would have passed any and every background check.
2. So-called "gun free zones" (such as school zones) never stop bad
guys from taking guns into a restricted area. In fact, statistics
show that the jurisdictions that ban guns tend to be the same areas
with the highest murder or crime rates (Washington, D.C., England,
etc.).
3. The only school shootings that have been stopped prematurely were
ended because law-abiding citizens had guns -- such as in Pearl
Mississippi (1997) and at the Appalachian School of Law (2002), where
faculty and students were able to bring their own defensive firearms
to bear. For this reason, 85% of the American public find it
appropriate for a principal or teacher to use "a gun at school to
defend the lives of students" to stop a school massacre (Research
2000 Poll).
****************************
If You're Not Yet A GOA Member, Is It Time You Became One?
The ability of GOA to continue putting pressure on politicians
depends on loyal activists like yourself. We want to keep sending you
these e-mails for free, but it does cost us to continue providing
them.
Are you unsure if you're a member? If you're not getting our
newsletter, The Gun Owners, then that's a good sign that you're not a
member.
Consider the benefits that paid-up GOA members get:
* A no-compromise voice in Washington, D.C.
* A Congressional rating -- mailed before the election -- listing the
grade of every major candidate for the U.S. Senate and House of
Representatives
* Pre-written letters and postcards to help you lobby your
Congressmen
* Experienced spokesmen to defend your rights in the media
* In-depth research and analysis
* Valuable discounts which are only presented to GOA members
So, please become a GOA member today! Join GOA today online at
http://www.gunowners.org/ordergoamem.htm or call 703-321-8585.
U.S. Representative Ron Paul of Texas says, "Your membership in Gun
Owners makes a difference on Capitol Hill every single day.... I know
that GOA will continue to be the 'no compromise' leader in defending
America's gun rights and personal freedoms."
When you join forces with GOA, you will become part of the toughest,
no-compromise group in the nation's capital. Just ask Rep. John
Hostettler, Republican Congressman from Indiana:
"Gun Owners of America is the pit bull of the Second Amendment. They
are relentless and never give any ground whatsoever to the gun
grabbers."
****************************
Vitter Amendment Becomes Law, McCarthy Gun Grab Is Dead
-- Thanks for all your hard work!
Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
http://www.gunowners.org
"Oh s---! We got a lot of postcards and e-mails from GOA members."
-- As stated by a Congressional office to GOA
Thursday, October 5, 2006
Thanks to your hard work, gun rights have taken two steps forward in
recent days.
The quote above shows the reaction from one Congressional office in
response to the number of postcards and e-mails that GOA members sent
in response to the McCarthy gun grab (HR 1415).
GOA members let their Representatives know they didn't want an
expansion of the Brady Law, and the activism paid off handsomely.
The bill is dead for now.
But first, there is the Vitter-Jindal Emergency Protection
legislation that we asked you to support in July.
EMERGENCY PROTECTION MEANS NO MORE GUN CONFISCATION
You will remember that in the wake of Hurricane Katrina last year,
federal and local police stole firearms from New Orleans residents in
the name of "keeping the people safe." To combat this, GOA has
worked this year in several states (including Louisiana) to
specifically outlaw this type of activity.
GOA also worked for the enactment of this legislation at the federal
level, and in July, the Emergency Protection language overwhelmingly
passed both houses of Congress.
After the Senate vote, one office told GOA: "They [the Senators]
obviously got your message loud and clear. It was the most lopsided
gun vote I have ever seen."
The vote was lopsided... and it was significant as well. The
Emergency Protection language makes it illegal for federal agents to
confiscate firearms during an emergency or major disaster.
Senator David Vitter (R-LA) thanked GOA for its efforts in pushing
his amendment. The GOA effort "was a huge help, and it was very
effective," Vitter said. "I look forward to working on many other
issues with GOA."
The Vitter-Jindal amendment is now on the President's desk -- as part
of the Homeland Security appropriations bill -- where it awaits his
almost certain signature.
BRADY EXPANSION IS DEAD
Then there was the defeat of the McCarthy gun grab. This was an
uphill task, as early on, the bill was expected to easily pass the
House of Representatives.
But GOA members and activists overwhelmingly responded to our
internet and postal alerts over the August recess, resulting in
untold thousands of postcards and e-mails being dumped on
legislators' desks.
The resulting tidal wave of grassroots opposition has buried this
bill as legislative offices on Capitol Hill have told GOA, "We've
heard your postcards and e-mails loud and clear!"
It's a good thing those postcards and e-mails were sent by you, too,
because GOA was the only Second Amendment group in Washington
opposing McCarthy's attack.
The House Judiciary Committee was scheduled to vote on HR 1415
earlier last month. At that time, the committee reported two
firearms-related bills to the floor of the House -- but they
specifically passed over the McCarthy bill (even though it was
scheduled to come up for a vote).
Gun Owners of America opposed the McCarthy bill, as it would spend
nearly $1 billion dollars to further prop up the unconstitutional
Brady Law. Of the 35 cosponsors, 34 are rated "F" on GOA's
scorecard... the remaining one is rated "D."
What has been surprising is how close this bill has come to being
passed under congressional leadership that claims to be pro-gun. It
already passed the House once, in October of 2002, but was killed in
the senate when GOA teamed up with former Sen. Bob Smith (R-NH) to
block the bill.
Thanks again for all your hard work. You have reminded the
Congressional leadership that they should leave the McCarthy gun ban
alone and that it's "good politics" to pass pro-gun amendments like
the Vitter-Jindal bill.
Thank you!
****************************
GOA IN THE MEDIA
GOA spokesmen have already started addressing the recent school
shootings in the media. GOA also encourages its members to write
letters to the editor making the following points:
1. No amount of gun control would have stopped Charles Carl Roberts
from acquiring guns to commit his atrocity. Roberts had a clean
record and would have passed any and every background check.
2. So-called "gun free zones" (such as school zones) never stop bad
guys from taking guns into a restricted area. In fact, statistics
show that the jurisdictions that ban guns tend to be the same areas
with the highest murder or crime rates (Washington, D.C., England,
etc.).
3. The only school shootings that have been stopped prematurely were
ended because law-abiding citizens had guns -- such as in Pearl
Mississippi (1997) and at the Appalachian School of Law (2002), where
faculty and students were able to bring their own defensive firearms
to bear. For this reason, 85% of the American public find it
appropriate for a principal or teacher to use "a gun at school to
defend the lives of students" to stop a school massacre (Research
2000 Poll).
****************************
If You're Not Yet A GOA Member, Is It Time You Became One?
The ability of GOA to continue putting pressure on politicians
depends on loyal activists like yourself. We want to keep sending you
these e-mails for free, but it does cost us to continue providing
them.
Are you unsure if you're a member? If you're not getting our
newsletter, The Gun Owners, then that's a good sign that you're not a
member.
Consider the benefits that paid-up GOA members get:
* A no-compromise voice in Washington, D.C.
* A Congressional rating -- mailed before the election -- listing the
grade of every major candidate for the U.S. Senate and House of
Representatives
* Pre-written letters and postcards to help you lobby your
Congressmen
* Experienced spokesmen to defend your rights in the media
* In-depth research and analysis
* Valuable discounts which are only presented to GOA members
So, please become a GOA member today! Join GOA today online at
http://www.gunowners.org/ordergoamem.htm or call 703-321-8585.
U.S. Representative Ron Paul of Texas says, "Your membership in Gun
Owners makes a difference on Capitol Hill every single day.... I know
that GOA will continue to be the 'no compromise' leader in defending
America's gun rights and personal freedoms."
When you join forces with GOA, you will become part of the toughest,
no-compromise group in the nation's capital. Just ask Rep. John
Hostettler, Republican Congressman from Indiana:
"Gun Owners of America is the pit bull of the Second Amendment. They
are relentless and never give any ground whatsoever to the gun
grabbers."
****************************
:banghead: 
