alan
Member
NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert Vol. 13, No. 28 0714/06
States with updates this issue: Alabama, California, Georgia, Kansas, and Michigan.
INTERNATIONAL GUN BANNERS DEALT BLOW--FOR NOW!
The "U.N. Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects" ended last Friday in deadlock with no formal conclusions or recommendations. In the final analysis, the complexity of the issue and the concerns of hunters, sport shooters and firearm owners worldwide prevailed. No recommendations on ammunition, civilian possession or future U.N. meetings, or for that matter, any other subjects, were adopted. The failure of this five-year program to impact the legitimate firearm industry, and the Second Amendment rights of U.S. citizens was total. Anti-gun Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and liberal governments served notice they would not give up and would present all of their issues to the U.N. General Assembly this fall.
Thanks should be given to NRA Board members Bob Barr, David Keene, and Jim Gilmore for their crucial participation in this significant victory.
U.S. SENATE VOTES TO PROTECT SECOND
AMENDMENT RIGHTS DURING EMERGENCIES
On July 13, the U. S. Senate overwhelmingly passed (84-16) an amendment to the Homeland Security appropriations bill (H.R. 5441). This amendment, offered by Senator David Vitter (R-La.), prohibits the use of funds appropriated under H.R. 5441 for the confiscation of lawfully possessed firearms during an emergency or major disaster.
Commenting on the passage of the amendment, NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox said, "After Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Police Superintendent issued orders to confiscate firearms from all citizens, allegedly under a state emergency powers law. With that one order, he stripped the one means of self-protection innocent citizens had during a time of widespread civil disorder. This legislation guarantees that will never happen again."
Various reports indicate that law enforcement agencies from the federal government and several states confiscated guns from law-abiding New Orleans residents. The Vitter Amendment prohibits the use of federal funds to seize firearms or restrict firearms possession, except in the circumstances allowed by current federal or state law. Convicted felons and other "prohibited persons" are not protected under this legislation and it does not affect law enforcement operations outside of disaster relief situations.
"In passing this legislation, the U.S. Senate acted to protect the self-defense rights of citizens when those rights are most vital. There was no 9-1-1 or police to rely on while looters and rapists and thugs ran rampant and honest citizens were left to their own devices to protect themselves, their families and their neighbors. I want to thank Senator Vitter for introducing this amendment and all the Senators who supported it," concluded Cox.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the resulting gun confiscations, NRA filed suit in federal court and won a temporary restraining order ending the illegal gun confiscations. After the City of New Orleans failed to comply with the court's ruling, NRA filed a motion of contempt that included an order that all seized firearms be returned to their rightful owners.
Due to NRA's efforts, emergency powers legislation prohibiting government officials from restricting the rights of law-abiding gun owners during declared states of emergency has passed this year in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, Alaska, Idaho, Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma.
While the passage of the Vitter Amendment in the U.S. Senate represents an important victory for America's law-abiding gun owners, the job is not yet finished. It is vital that this provision be included in the final version of the bill that emerges from the House and Senate Conference Committee later this year.
Please click here to make a secure, online contribution to help fund NRA's legislative efforts around the country. Your donation of $100, $50, or $25 will replenish our financial firepower to ensure that we have the resources to fight attempts to infringe on our Second Amendment rights across the country.
DI FI TAKES ONE ON THE CHIN
During a mark-up of the Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations Bill, the Senate Appropriations Committee rejected, on a voice vote, an amendment by notoriously anti-gun Senator Diane Feinstein (D-Cal.). Feinstein's amendment sought to gut the NRA-supported Tiahrt Amendment that protects the public disclosure of firearm trace data.
The Tiahrt Amendment prohibits the release of firearm trace data to any entity except a law enforcement agency conducting a bona fide criminal investigation involving the firearm. This language is critically important in ensuring politically motivated lawsuits (such as those being promoted by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg) don't misuse this data to try and bankrupt the lawful firearm industry through reckless litigation. Additionally, as NRA and numerous law enforcement officers and agencies have continuously pointed out, release of this information also jeopardizes ongoing criminal investigations and the lives of law enforcement personnel involved with them.
Had Senator Feinstein's amendment succeeded and ultimately passed into law, sensitive trace data could be abused by those who seek to erode our Second Amendment rights and undermine the efforts of the law enforcement community to arrest, prosecute, and punish criminals involved in illegal firearms activities.
GOVERNOR BUSH NOTES CORRELATION BETWEEN
ARMED, LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS AND FLORIDA'S LOWER CRIME RATE
When queried this week about his state's declining crime rate, Florida Governor Jeb Bush (R) told reporters from the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, "Law abiding citizens that have guns for protection actually probably are part of the reason we have a lower crime rate."
Florida is one of 40 states with Right-to-Carry statutes that allow their law-abiding citizens to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense. In addition, the state last year passed NRA-backed "Castle Doctrine" legislation that allows citizens to "stand their ground" and defend themselves against an attacker in a place where they have a legal right to be.
Florida's crime rate dropped for the 14th straight year and the crime rate is currently at its lowest level since 1971.
WASHINGTON, D.C., ONCE AGAIN
GRAPHICALLY ILLUSTRATES THE FAILURE OF GUN CONTROL
Washington, D.C.'s ban on handguns and on using guns for protection at home exists throughout the entire city. Now, so does the fear of violent crime. In the American city with the most restrictive "gun control" laws, a "crime emergency" has been declared, following 13 murders in only 11 days, as well as a spike in robberies and assaults. D.C.'s police chief, Charles Ramsey, issued the declaration on July 11, the third time he has done so in the last four years.
"It used to be almost 80 percent of criminals, if not higher, were arrested in areas near where they live," Chief Ramsey said. "Now we're starting to see a trend where more and more people are being arrested in places they do not live in." In a recent, highly publicized crime of this type, a British man had his throat cut and his woman companion was nearly raped in D.C.'s affluent, trendy, and usually peaceful Georgetown neighborhood. The main suspects in the murder, both from other neighborhoods, have criminal records, one for armed robbery and a drug charge, the other for drug offense and probation violation, and both are suspected of committing at least two robberies in Georgetown in recent weeks. Even the Washington Mall, a popular location for people touring the city's historic landmarks, has been plagued by crime recently. After a rash of robberies in May, a new string of robberies has begun around the Washington Monument.
D.C.'s delegate to Congress, Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D), has called for increased patrols in the Mall area. But we won't hold our breath waiting for her to join NRA in calling for repeal of the city's anti-gun, anti-self-defense laws. Holmes-Norton is one of the chief obstructionists to that long overdue reform.
Please be sure to contact your U.S. Senators and Representative and ask them to cosponsor and support S. 1082 and H.R. 1288-- the Senate and House versions of the "District of Columbia Personal Protection Act"-- and restore the constitutionally-guaranteed Second Amendment rights of the residents of the District of Columbia. You can call your U.S. Senators at (202) 224-3121, or your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121.
NRA-ILA "MIX N' MINGLES"
Much is at stake in this year's elections; we will decide if we continue to move ahead on the path of pro-gun reform, or, if we will revert to the dark Clinton-Gore years. In order to ensure continued success for the Second Amendment, we must elect pro-gun lawmakers to office this election season.
To ensure victory for our pro-gun candidates this election year, NRA-ILA will be hosting FREE NRA-ILA "Mix N' Mingles" across the country. These events will provide NRA members with training on what they can do locally to propel candidates to victory this election season. The meetings also provide attendees the opportunity to meet and socialize with lawmakers, candidates, and their staffs; NRA-ILA Headquarters staff, fellow NRA members--and to earn FREE NRA fraternal items such as hats, pocketknives, buttons, etc. "Mix N' Mingles," including materials, food, beverages, and NRA items, are FREE!
Mix N' Mingle events are scheduled for:
- Addison, IL 07/15/06
- Lakemoor, IL 07/18/06
- Reading, PA 08/12/06
- Libby, MT 08/15/06
- Great Falls, MT 08/17/06
- Billings, MT 08/19/06
- Seymour, IN 08/24/06
- South Bend, IN 08/26/06
- Aurora, CO 08/26/06
- Lincoln, NE 09/09/06
- Dublin, OH 10/14/06
- St. Cloud, MN 10/16/06
NRA members who have access to the Internet can go to www.nraila.org/workshops/ to reserve their seats on-line. NRA members are encouraged to check this website address frequently to see if any upcoming "Mix N' Mingles" are scheduled in their area. NRA members may also contact the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) for details and to reserve their seats.
A LOOK AT THE STATES
(***For all of the action items below, you can find contact information for your legislators by using the "Write Your Representatives" tool at www.NRAILA.org. For information on NRA-PVF candidate endorsements, NRA members are encouraged to call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683), or visit www.NRAPVF.org. If you go to the NRA-PVF site, you will have to provide your NRA member ID number to access the site. Your NRA member ID number can be found on the front of your NRA magazine or on your NRA membership card. Your ID number on the magazine's mailing label is the 10-digit number that follows the code: #07901. Examples of how to find your ID number can also be found at www.NRAPVF.org on the login page accessed by choosing your state. As always, thank you for your support.***)
States with updates this issue: Alabama, California, Georgia, Kansas, and Michigan.
ALABAMA
The 2006 Primary Run-Off elections are being held Tuesday, July 18! For further information about voting in Alabama, please go to www.sos.state.al.us/downloads/election/2006/2006-Voter-Guide.pdf. Be sure to "Vote Freedom First" on Tuesday, July 18!
CALIFORNIA
On July 12, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed Assembly Bill 2111 into law. AB 2111, sponsored by Assembly Member Ray Haynes (R-66), provides that if a purchaser begins a transfer of a handgun that is listed on the roster as "not unsafe", and, prior to the transfer's completion, the handgun is removed from the roster of "not unsafe" handguns due to nonpayment of the fee required to list the handgun on that register, the handgun can be delivered to the purchaser if he or she is not otherwise prohibited from purchasing or possessing the handgun. Please contact Governor Schwarzenegger at (916) 445-2841 or by e-mail at http://www.govmail.ca.gov/ to thank him for signing AB 2111. A special thank you to all NRA members for your calls and emails in support of AB 2111 during the legislative session!
GEORGIA
The 2006 Primary elections are being held Tuesday, July 18! For further information about voting in Georgia, please go to www.sos.state.ga.us/elections/elections/voter_information/. Be sure to "Vote Freedom First" on Tuesday, July 18!
KANSAS
The 2006 Primary elections are being held Tuesday, August 1! Advance voting started July 12 and ends July 31! For more information about advance voting please to go the following website: www.kssos.org/elections/elections_registration_voting.html or call 1-800-262-VOTE (8683). Be sure to "Vote Freedom First" on Tuesday, August 1!
MICHIGAN
On July 10, Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) signed two important pro-hunting bills aimed at increasing involvement in Michigan's hunting heritage. SB 1105, sponsored by Senator Michelle McManus (R-35), makes it easier for new participants to become involved in our hunting heritage by allowing them to hunt with a licensed adult for up to two years without taking lengthy hunter education courses. HB 5192, sponsored by Representative Scott Hummel (R-93), lowers the legal hunting age from 14 to 12, and 12 to 10, for big game and small game, respectively. Please contact Governor Granholm TODAY at (517) 373-3400 or (517) 335-7858, to thank her for signing SB 1105 and HB 5192, and to respectfully urge her to sign the "Castle Doctrine" legislation. A special thank you to all NRA members for your calls and e-mails in support of SB 1105 and HB 5192 during the legislative session!
States with updates this issue: Alabama, California, Georgia, Kansas, and Michigan.
INTERNATIONAL GUN BANNERS DEALT BLOW--FOR NOW!
The "U.N. Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects" ended last Friday in deadlock with no formal conclusions or recommendations. In the final analysis, the complexity of the issue and the concerns of hunters, sport shooters and firearm owners worldwide prevailed. No recommendations on ammunition, civilian possession or future U.N. meetings, or for that matter, any other subjects, were adopted. The failure of this five-year program to impact the legitimate firearm industry, and the Second Amendment rights of U.S. citizens was total. Anti-gun Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and liberal governments served notice they would not give up and would present all of their issues to the U.N. General Assembly this fall.
Thanks should be given to NRA Board members Bob Barr, David Keene, and Jim Gilmore for their crucial participation in this significant victory.
U.S. SENATE VOTES TO PROTECT SECOND
AMENDMENT RIGHTS DURING EMERGENCIES
On July 13, the U. S. Senate overwhelmingly passed (84-16) an amendment to the Homeland Security appropriations bill (H.R. 5441). This amendment, offered by Senator David Vitter (R-La.), prohibits the use of funds appropriated under H.R. 5441 for the confiscation of lawfully possessed firearms during an emergency or major disaster.
Commenting on the passage of the amendment, NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox said, "After Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Police Superintendent issued orders to confiscate firearms from all citizens, allegedly under a state emergency powers law. With that one order, he stripped the one means of self-protection innocent citizens had during a time of widespread civil disorder. This legislation guarantees that will never happen again."
Various reports indicate that law enforcement agencies from the federal government and several states confiscated guns from law-abiding New Orleans residents. The Vitter Amendment prohibits the use of federal funds to seize firearms or restrict firearms possession, except in the circumstances allowed by current federal or state law. Convicted felons and other "prohibited persons" are not protected under this legislation and it does not affect law enforcement operations outside of disaster relief situations.
"In passing this legislation, the U.S. Senate acted to protect the self-defense rights of citizens when those rights are most vital. There was no 9-1-1 or police to rely on while looters and rapists and thugs ran rampant and honest citizens were left to their own devices to protect themselves, their families and their neighbors. I want to thank Senator Vitter for introducing this amendment and all the Senators who supported it," concluded Cox.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the resulting gun confiscations, NRA filed suit in federal court and won a temporary restraining order ending the illegal gun confiscations. After the City of New Orleans failed to comply with the court's ruling, NRA filed a motion of contempt that included an order that all seized firearms be returned to their rightful owners.
Due to NRA's efforts, emergency powers legislation prohibiting government officials from restricting the rights of law-abiding gun owners during declared states of emergency has passed this year in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, Alaska, Idaho, Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma.
While the passage of the Vitter Amendment in the U.S. Senate represents an important victory for America's law-abiding gun owners, the job is not yet finished. It is vital that this provision be included in the final version of the bill that emerges from the House and Senate Conference Committee later this year.
Please click here to make a secure, online contribution to help fund NRA's legislative efforts around the country. Your donation of $100, $50, or $25 will replenish our financial firepower to ensure that we have the resources to fight attempts to infringe on our Second Amendment rights across the country.
DI FI TAKES ONE ON THE CHIN
During a mark-up of the Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations Bill, the Senate Appropriations Committee rejected, on a voice vote, an amendment by notoriously anti-gun Senator Diane Feinstein (D-Cal.). Feinstein's amendment sought to gut the NRA-supported Tiahrt Amendment that protects the public disclosure of firearm trace data.
The Tiahrt Amendment prohibits the release of firearm trace data to any entity except a law enforcement agency conducting a bona fide criminal investigation involving the firearm. This language is critically important in ensuring politically motivated lawsuits (such as those being promoted by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg) don't misuse this data to try and bankrupt the lawful firearm industry through reckless litigation. Additionally, as NRA and numerous law enforcement officers and agencies have continuously pointed out, release of this information also jeopardizes ongoing criminal investigations and the lives of law enforcement personnel involved with them.
Had Senator Feinstein's amendment succeeded and ultimately passed into law, sensitive trace data could be abused by those who seek to erode our Second Amendment rights and undermine the efforts of the law enforcement community to arrest, prosecute, and punish criminals involved in illegal firearms activities.
GOVERNOR BUSH NOTES CORRELATION BETWEEN
ARMED, LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS AND FLORIDA'S LOWER CRIME RATE
When queried this week about his state's declining crime rate, Florida Governor Jeb Bush (R) told reporters from the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, "Law abiding citizens that have guns for protection actually probably are part of the reason we have a lower crime rate."
Florida is one of 40 states with Right-to-Carry statutes that allow their law-abiding citizens to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense. In addition, the state last year passed NRA-backed "Castle Doctrine" legislation that allows citizens to "stand their ground" and defend themselves against an attacker in a place where they have a legal right to be.
Florida's crime rate dropped for the 14th straight year and the crime rate is currently at its lowest level since 1971.
WASHINGTON, D.C., ONCE AGAIN
GRAPHICALLY ILLUSTRATES THE FAILURE OF GUN CONTROL
Washington, D.C.'s ban on handguns and on using guns for protection at home exists throughout the entire city. Now, so does the fear of violent crime. In the American city with the most restrictive "gun control" laws, a "crime emergency" has been declared, following 13 murders in only 11 days, as well as a spike in robberies and assaults. D.C.'s police chief, Charles Ramsey, issued the declaration on July 11, the third time he has done so in the last four years.
"It used to be almost 80 percent of criminals, if not higher, were arrested in areas near where they live," Chief Ramsey said. "Now we're starting to see a trend where more and more people are being arrested in places they do not live in." In a recent, highly publicized crime of this type, a British man had his throat cut and his woman companion was nearly raped in D.C.'s affluent, trendy, and usually peaceful Georgetown neighborhood. The main suspects in the murder, both from other neighborhoods, have criminal records, one for armed robbery and a drug charge, the other for drug offense and probation violation, and both are suspected of committing at least two robberies in Georgetown in recent weeks. Even the Washington Mall, a popular location for people touring the city's historic landmarks, has been plagued by crime recently. After a rash of robberies in May, a new string of robberies has begun around the Washington Monument.
D.C.'s delegate to Congress, Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D), has called for increased patrols in the Mall area. But we won't hold our breath waiting for her to join NRA in calling for repeal of the city's anti-gun, anti-self-defense laws. Holmes-Norton is one of the chief obstructionists to that long overdue reform.
Please be sure to contact your U.S. Senators and Representative and ask them to cosponsor and support S. 1082 and H.R. 1288-- the Senate and House versions of the "District of Columbia Personal Protection Act"-- and restore the constitutionally-guaranteed Second Amendment rights of the residents of the District of Columbia. You can call your U.S. Senators at (202) 224-3121, or your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121.
NRA-ILA "MIX N' MINGLES"
Much is at stake in this year's elections; we will decide if we continue to move ahead on the path of pro-gun reform, or, if we will revert to the dark Clinton-Gore years. In order to ensure continued success for the Second Amendment, we must elect pro-gun lawmakers to office this election season.
To ensure victory for our pro-gun candidates this election year, NRA-ILA will be hosting FREE NRA-ILA "Mix N' Mingles" across the country. These events will provide NRA members with training on what they can do locally to propel candidates to victory this election season. The meetings also provide attendees the opportunity to meet and socialize with lawmakers, candidates, and their staffs; NRA-ILA Headquarters staff, fellow NRA members--and to earn FREE NRA fraternal items such as hats, pocketknives, buttons, etc. "Mix N' Mingles," including materials, food, beverages, and NRA items, are FREE!
Mix N' Mingle events are scheduled for:
- Addison, IL 07/15/06
- Lakemoor, IL 07/18/06
- Reading, PA 08/12/06
- Libby, MT 08/15/06
- Great Falls, MT 08/17/06
- Billings, MT 08/19/06
- Seymour, IN 08/24/06
- South Bend, IN 08/26/06
- Aurora, CO 08/26/06
- Lincoln, NE 09/09/06
- Dublin, OH 10/14/06
- St. Cloud, MN 10/16/06
NRA members who have access to the Internet can go to www.nraila.org/workshops/ to reserve their seats on-line. NRA members are encouraged to check this website address frequently to see if any upcoming "Mix N' Mingles" are scheduled in their area. NRA members may also contact the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) for details and to reserve their seats.
A LOOK AT THE STATES
(***For all of the action items below, you can find contact information for your legislators by using the "Write Your Representatives" tool at www.NRAILA.org. For information on NRA-PVF candidate endorsements, NRA members are encouraged to call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683), or visit www.NRAPVF.org. If you go to the NRA-PVF site, you will have to provide your NRA member ID number to access the site. Your NRA member ID number can be found on the front of your NRA magazine or on your NRA membership card. Your ID number on the magazine's mailing label is the 10-digit number that follows the code: #07901. Examples of how to find your ID number can also be found at www.NRAPVF.org on the login page accessed by choosing your state. As always, thank you for your support.***)
States with updates this issue: Alabama, California, Georgia, Kansas, and Michigan.
ALABAMA
The 2006 Primary Run-Off elections are being held Tuesday, July 18! For further information about voting in Alabama, please go to www.sos.state.al.us/downloads/election/2006/2006-Voter-Guide.pdf. Be sure to "Vote Freedom First" on Tuesday, July 18!
CALIFORNIA
On July 12, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed Assembly Bill 2111 into law. AB 2111, sponsored by Assembly Member Ray Haynes (R-66), provides that if a purchaser begins a transfer of a handgun that is listed on the roster as "not unsafe", and, prior to the transfer's completion, the handgun is removed from the roster of "not unsafe" handguns due to nonpayment of the fee required to list the handgun on that register, the handgun can be delivered to the purchaser if he or she is not otherwise prohibited from purchasing or possessing the handgun. Please contact Governor Schwarzenegger at (916) 445-2841 or by e-mail at http://www.govmail.ca.gov/ to thank him for signing AB 2111. A special thank you to all NRA members for your calls and emails in support of AB 2111 during the legislative session!
GEORGIA
The 2006 Primary elections are being held Tuesday, July 18! For further information about voting in Georgia, please go to www.sos.state.ga.us/elections/elections/voter_information/. Be sure to "Vote Freedom First" on Tuesday, July 18!
KANSAS
The 2006 Primary elections are being held Tuesday, August 1! Advance voting started July 12 and ends July 31! For more information about advance voting please to go the following website: www.kssos.org/elections/elections_registration_voting.html or call 1-800-262-VOTE (8683). Be sure to "Vote Freedom First" on Tuesday, August 1!
MICHIGAN
On July 10, Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) signed two important pro-hunting bills aimed at increasing involvement in Michigan's hunting heritage. SB 1105, sponsored by Senator Michelle McManus (R-35), makes it easier for new participants to become involved in our hunting heritage by allowing them to hunt with a licensed adult for up to two years without taking lengthy hunter education courses. HB 5192, sponsored by Representative Scott Hummel (R-93), lowers the legal hunting age from 14 to 12, and 12 to 10, for big game and small game, respectively. Please contact Governor Granholm TODAY at (517) 373-3400 or (517) 335-7858, to thank her for signing SB 1105 and HB 5192, and to respectfully urge her to sign the "Castle Doctrine" legislation. A special thank you to all NRA members for your calls and e-mails in support of SB 1105 and HB 5192 during the legislative session!