Oregon Firearms Federation
P.O. Box 556
Canby, OR
97013
Voice: (503) 263-5830
Fax: (503) 263-3708
<http://www.oregonfirearms.org>
Dear Friend of Freedom,
Oregon's budget nightmares have moved other issues, like gun rights, to
the back burners. So while the legislature is still in session and capable
of mischief, we believe it is unlikely that any gun bills, (good or bad)
will be acted on this session. We are, of course, monitoring the situation
daily and if anything happens we'll be there and you'll be informed.
This does not mean "all's quiet."
As you may know, Oregon Firearms Federation has joined other like minded
organizations around the country as we prepare to fight the
reauthorization of the illegitimate "assault weapons ban." We fully
expect this to be a major battle. There is no way the anti-gun nuts will
go quietly on this issue. It was certainly one of their "brass rings."
And so, we are deeply troubled by the following message which we are
forwarding.
It comes from our friends at Grass Roots North Carolina, an organization
with the same no compromise position as O.F.F.'s and concerns an attack
they are facing, not from the "usual suspect" anti-gun organizations or
even government actors, but from the National Rifle Association. We
believe it is important enough to share since no doubt many people on
this list are NRA members.
We hope you'll use your influence to convince the NRA that your dues money
should not be spent attacking fellow gun-rights activists.
Thank you.
Kevin Starrett
Director
Grass Roots North Carolina, P.O. Box 10684, Raleigh, NC 27605,
919-664-8565, www.grnc.org GRNC Alert Hotline: (919) 562-4137
GRNC Alert 08-05-03:
NRA Lawyer Sues Pro-Gun Activists
Are NRA lawyers trying to silence GRNC?
Is your group next?
[Analysis] Since 1994, state-level gun rights organization Grass Roots
North Carolina has overseen the passage of a "shall-issue" concealed
handgun law and a concealed handgun reciprocity bill. More importantly,
the organization has killed more than a dozen gun control bills-some
backed by national gun control groups-ranging from mandatory gun storage
laws to gun show restrictions.
NRA BACKS REGISTRATION & CONFISCATION SCHEME
Because GRNC refuses to compromise on principles, however, conflicts have
sometimes arisen between GRNC and the NRA when the NRA has endorsed
anti-gun legislation or politicians. (For a summary, go to
http://www.grnc.org/nra_sellout/nra_sellouts.htm ).
Most recently, NRA lobbyists signed off on SB 919, a North Carolina bill
which stands to register and confiscate guns under the guise of combating
"domestic violence." Worse, because the actions occur at "ex parte" or
emergency hearings-in which a defendant may not have an opportunity to
defend himself-the registration and confiscation schemes deny defendants
access to due process of law. According to the Raleigh "News & Observer,"
only GRNC stood tall in opposition to the bill.
GUN CONTROL MEASURES THE NRA APPROVED IN SB 919:
* A judge is required to "catalog" (register) a defendant's guns, even
if the complaint is dismissed as invalid.
* Under some circumstances, a judge may order a defendant's firearms
seized even if the defendant never had an opportunity to present his case.
* Sheriffs can even charge the gun owner unspecified fees for storing
seized firearms.
IS NRA DOING TO GRNC WHAT CITIES DID TO GUN MAKERS?
In the past four months alone, GRNC has twice exposed NRA sellouts to gun
owners: First, when NRA secretly gutted and rendered useless a concealed
handgun reciprocity bill drafted by GRNC activists. Just weeks after that,
GRNC opposed the "domestic violence" bill supported by the NRA. (For a
history of NRA support of anti-gun measures, go to
http://www.grnc.org/nra_sellout/nra_sellouts.htm ).
Given GRNC's nine year history of exposing NRA sellouts, the NRA has a
strong interest in silencing what it regards as a thorn in its side. So
imagine our surprise when, on July 16, NRA lawyer Dan Zavodil filed a
"defamation of character" lawsuit against Grass Roots North Carolina based
on alleged private comments about an NRA lobbyist (U.S. District Court,
Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, case #CA 03-906-A).
Even more telling, although the NRA lawyer issued an arbitrary July 18,
2003 "deadline" by which GRNC's president was supposed to comply with his
demands, he filed the lawsuit on July 16, BEFORE HIS OWN "DEADLINE" HAD
EXPIRED. Does this sound like someone interested in settling a lawsuit?
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED
* CONTACT THE NRA and let them know that you don't want your
membership dues used to sell out gun rights and silence legitimate pro-gun
activists. Regretfully, the only way to get the message across is to
convince them that their abuses will cost them money. GRNC has always
encouraged gun rights supporters to join the NRA and to keep memberships
even when the NRA has undermined the Second Amendment. This time, however,
the NRA is going to far. While GRNC does not advocate any particular
action, that means annual membersnot Life membersmay consider resigning
their memberships. Life members and others might consider letting the NRA
know that they will not contribute a dime to the organization for as long
as it compromises gun rights.
* CONTACT NRA BOARD MEMBERS listed below and let them know what the
organization they direct has been up to.
* FIGHT THE LAWSUIT by donating to the Rights Watch Activist Defense
Fund, care of Rights Watch International, PO. Box 10684, Raleigh, NC
27605. Because RWI is a chartered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, all
donations are tax deductible. Bear in mind that if GRNC and RWI don't have
enough money to fight the lawsuit, the fact that it is frivolous will be
moot. Moreover, it will encourage the NRA to use the same tactics against
other pro-gun activists who refuse to "toe the line." To donate using a
credit card, go to http://www.rightswatch.org/help_the_good_fighthtm
* USE GRNC's AUTOMATED E-MAIL: Go to http://www.grnc.org/nra_sellout/
and sign your name. In just a few minutes, you can send e-mails to the NRA
and many of its board members.
* Please distribute this alert to all pro-gun organizations and networks.
CONTACT THESE NRA REPRESENTATIVES
* NRA Institute for Legislative Action at: [email protected]
* NRA Board of Directors Members using the addresses GRNC's automated
e-mailer at http://www.grnc.org/nra_sellout/
________________________________________________________
Want to support the Oregon Firearms Federation while
simultaneously making a political and fashion statement?
Order an OFF tee shirt. You'll be helping OFF fight for
your rights and demonstrating your sartorial savvy. Go
to our secure site to order.
<http://oregonfirearms.org/store/index.html>
________________________________________________________
Did someone forward this to you? To receive the
most up to date information consider subscribing
directly to the Oregon Firearms Federation e-mail
list. The volume of mail usually is quite low.
To subscribe to, or to be removed from the OFF
E-mail Alert list please go to:
<http://oregonfirearms.org/adduser/>
P.O. Box 556
Canby, OR
97013
Voice: (503) 263-5830
Fax: (503) 263-3708
<http://www.oregonfirearms.org>
Dear Friend of Freedom,
Oregon's budget nightmares have moved other issues, like gun rights, to
the back burners. So while the legislature is still in session and capable
of mischief, we believe it is unlikely that any gun bills, (good or bad)
will be acted on this session. We are, of course, monitoring the situation
daily and if anything happens we'll be there and you'll be informed.
This does not mean "all's quiet."
As you may know, Oregon Firearms Federation has joined other like minded
organizations around the country as we prepare to fight the
reauthorization of the illegitimate "assault weapons ban." We fully
expect this to be a major battle. There is no way the anti-gun nuts will
go quietly on this issue. It was certainly one of their "brass rings."
And so, we are deeply troubled by the following message which we are
forwarding.
It comes from our friends at Grass Roots North Carolina, an organization
with the same no compromise position as O.F.F.'s and concerns an attack
they are facing, not from the "usual suspect" anti-gun organizations or
even government actors, but from the National Rifle Association. We
believe it is important enough to share since no doubt many people on
this list are NRA members.
We hope you'll use your influence to convince the NRA that your dues money
should not be spent attacking fellow gun-rights activists.
Thank you.
Kevin Starrett
Director
Grass Roots North Carolina, P.O. Box 10684, Raleigh, NC 27605,
919-664-8565, www.grnc.org GRNC Alert Hotline: (919) 562-4137
GRNC Alert 08-05-03:
NRA Lawyer Sues Pro-Gun Activists
Are NRA lawyers trying to silence GRNC?
Is your group next?
[Analysis] Since 1994, state-level gun rights organization Grass Roots
North Carolina has overseen the passage of a "shall-issue" concealed
handgun law and a concealed handgun reciprocity bill. More importantly,
the organization has killed more than a dozen gun control bills-some
backed by national gun control groups-ranging from mandatory gun storage
laws to gun show restrictions.
NRA BACKS REGISTRATION & CONFISCATION SCHEME
Because GRNC refuses to compromise on principles, however, conflicts have
sometimes arisen between GRNC and the NRA when the NRA has endorsed
anti-gun legislation or politicians. (For a summary, go to
http://www.grnc.org/nra_sellout/nra_sellouts.htm ).
Most recently, NRA lobbyists signed off on SB 919, a North Carolina bill
which stands to register and confiscate guns under the guise of combating
"domestic violence." Worse, because the actions occur at "ex parte" or
emergency hearings-in which a defendant may not have an opportunity to
defend himself-the registration and confiscation schemes deny defendants
access to due process of law. According to the Raleigh "News & Observer,"
only GRNC stood tall in opposition to the bill.
GUN CONTROL MEASURES THE NRA APPROVED IN SB 919:
* A judge is required to "catalog" (register) a defendant's guns, even
if the complaint is dismissed as invalid.
* Under some circumstances, a judge may order a defendant's firearms
seized even if the defendant never had an opportunity to present his case.
* Sheriffs can even charge the gun owner unspecified fees for storing
seized firearms.
IS NRA DOING TO GRNC WHAT CITIES DID TO GUN MAKERS?
In the past four months alone, GRNC has twice exposed NRA sellouts to gun
owners: First, when NRA secretly gutted and rendered useless a concealed
handgun reciprocity bill drafted by GRNC activists. Just weeks after that,
GRNC opposed the "domestic violence" bill supported by the NRA. (For a
history of NRA support of anti-gun measures, go to
http://www.grnc.org/nra_sellout/nra_sellouts.htm ).
Given GRNC's nine year history of exposing NRA sellouts, the NRA has a
strong interest in silencing what it regards as a thorn in its side. So
imagine our surprise when, on July 16, NRA lawyer Dan Zavodil filed a
"defamation of character" lawsuit against Grass Roots North Carolina based
on alleged private comments about an NRA lobbyist (U.S. District Court,
Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, case #CA 03-906-A).
Even more telling, although the NRA lawyer issued an arbitrary July 18,
2003 "deadline" by which GRNC's president was supposed to comply with his
demands, he filed the lawsuit on July 16, BEFORE HIS OWN "DEADLINE" HAD
EXPIRED. Does this sound like someone interested in settling a lawsuit?
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED
* CONTACT THE NRA and let them know that you don't want your
membership dues used to sell out gun rights and silence legitimate pro-gun
activists. Regretfully, the only way to get the message across is to
convince them that their abuses will cost them money. GRNC has always
encouraged gun rights supporters to join the NRA and to keep memberships
even when the NRA has undermined the Second Amendment. This time, however,
the NRA is going to far. While GRNC does not advocate any particular
action, that means annual membersnot Life membersmay consider resigning
their memberships. Life members and others might consider letting the NRA
know that they will not contribute a dime to the organization for as long
as it compromises gun rights.
* CONTACT NRA BOARD MEMBERS listed below and let them know what the
organization they direct has been up to.
* FIGHT THE LAWSUIT by donating to the Rights Watch Activist Defense
Fund, care of Rights Watch International, PO. Box 10684, Raleigh, NC
27605. Because RWI is a chartered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, all
donations are tax deductible. Bear in mind that if GRNC and RWI don't have
enough money to fight the lawsuit, the fact that it is frivolous will be
moot. Moreover, it will encourage the NRA to use the same tactics against
other pro-gun activists who refuse to "toe the line." To donate using a
credit card, go to http://www.rightswatch.org/help_the_good_fighthtm
* USE GRNC's AUTOMATED E-MAIL: Go to http://www.grnc.org/nra_sellout/
and sign your name. In just a few minutes, you can send e-mails to the NRA
and many of its board members.
* Please distribute this alert to all pro-gun organizations and networks.
CONTACT THESE NRA REPRESENTATIVES
* NRA Institute for Legislative Action at: [email protected]
* NRA Board of Directors Members using the addresses GRNC's automated
e-mailer at http://www.grnc.org/nra_sellout/
________________________________________________________
Want to support the Oregon Firearms Federation while
simultaneously making a political and fashion statement?
Order an OFF tee shirt. You'll be helping OFF fight for
your rights and demonstrating your sartorial savvy. Go
to our secure site to order.
<http://oregonfirearms.org/store/index.html>
________________________________________________________
Did someone forward this to you? To receive the
most up to date information consider subscribing
directly to the Oregon Firearms Federation e-mail
list. The volume of mail usually is quite low.
To subscribe to, or to be removed from the OFF
E-mail Alert list please go to:
<http://oregonfirearms.org/adduser/>
