Sat, 18 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT
As the state legislature’s veto session comes to a close, a vital pro-gun reform passed in the Kansas Senate yesterday by a 31 to 6 vote. House Bill 2162, which was recently amended to include the language in the NRA-supported Senate Bill 45, will now go to the state House of Representatives for a final vote which could be held as early as this Monday.
Grassroots Alert: Vol. 20, No. 20 05/17/2013
Fri, 17 May 2013 19:36:00 GMT
Missouri: Self-Defense Bill Passes State House, Goes to Governor for his Signature
Fri, 17 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT
New Jersey: Gun Control Package Advancing in Trenton
Fri, 17 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT
The state Senate approved several gun control measures on Monday, May 13, and the New Jersey Assembly has placed them on their calendar for consideration this Monday, May 20 at 1:00 pm. The Assembly floor agenda is subject to change. The remaining bills passed in the Senate on May 13 may require action in Assembly committees before they can be taken up on the Assembly floor. As of today, the Assembly is currently scheduled to consider the following bills, among others:
Maryland: Governor Signs Sweeping Gun Control Bill into Law
Fri, 17 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT
Yesterday, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley (D) signed into law sweeping gun control legislation, Senate Bill 281. Reported by NRA-ILA throughout the session here, S.B. 281 faced strong opposition by the people of Maryland throughout the legislative process. This sweeping anti-gun legislation will take effect on October 1, 2013.
Vermont: 2013 Legislative Session Adjourns
Fri, 17 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT
State lawmakers wrapped up their 2013 legislative session earlier this week in Montpelier with good results for Vermont NRA members. Several anti-gun bills were introduced in Vermont this year, but none of them advanced beyond committee. NRA members did a tremendous job of contacting their state legislators to express concerns about legislation that would attack the Second Amendment, and your telephone calls and e-mails made the difference.
Maine: Your Action is Needed to Halt Attacks on the Second Amendment
Fri, 17 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT
The Maine Joint Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee has been holding work sessions on numerous bills that, if passed and enacted into law, would severely restrict your Second Amendment rights. Three anti-gun bills are expected to be considered on the Senate floor as early as next week. We need you to contact your state Senator NOW in opposition to the following bills:
Colorado: Attend an Important Forum on Colorado’s Assault on the Second Amendment this Tuesday
Fri, 17 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT
This Tuesday, May 28, the Independence Institute is hosting a forum at the Freedom Financial Expo Center to discuss the assault that took place during the 2013 legislative session on your Second Amendment rights.
Five reasons the NRA won the recent gun control debate that have nothing to do with politics
Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
As an NRA leader who's worked there for over two decades told me, "I think our volunteers' passion and intensity cannot be matched. You can't pull a switch; your grassroots has to have sustainability and you have to train people. We might be happy with a recent legislative victory, but we examine why we won, we evaluate what we need to do better, and get our volunteers geared up for the next battle." But how do they foster that culture, that fervor?
Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
We have just gone through a period when scorn was heaped on the NRA for opposing new gun rules out of the very same logic that compels reporters to react so strongly against the AP subpoena. The NRA will not abide an infringement on anyone's legitimate right to bear arms, and it fears what could come of enhanced state power. Like the reporters, it casts a jaundiced eye on the reassurances of government. What they are to the First Amendment, it is to the Second.
Toomey is open to reviving plan to criminalize private transfers
Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) hasn't given up on his bill to expand background checks for gun purchases, he said Thursday, signaling more willingness to return to the plan than he had publicly shown before."If we could find a way to bring some more folks on board, then of course it would be worth bringing it up again," Toomey said in an interview.
Mike & Connecticut governor talk guns
Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy stopped by City Hall Wednesday and held a closed door strategy session on gun control with Mayor Bloomberg.Following the meeting, Malloy said three objectives should be pursued to reverse last month's setback, when the Senate voted down a bill to significantly expand background checks for gun purchases.
Concealed carry rules for Illinois emerge but face uncertain fate
Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
A measure spelling out who can carry concealed handguns and where they can carry them emerged Thursday after months of contentious negotiations, a system with one set of rules for violence plagued Chicago and another for the rest of Illinois.Though the attempt at a compromise cleared its first hurdle in the Senate, it faces considerable opposition from gun rights advocates who derided it as an effort to greatly restrict where guns could be carried for self defense and argued that it gave too much leeway to law enforcement in denying permits."You put lipstick on a pig, and it's still a pig. That's what this is," said Todd Vandermyde, the National Rifle Association's Illinois lobbyist.
Maryland: Governor signs gun control bill with fingerprint licensing
Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
Gov. Martin O'Malley signed a gun control measure on Thursday to give Maryland some of the nation's tightest gun laws and the National Rifle Association plans to challenge it in court.
California: Assembly advances bill to ban hunters using lead ammunition
Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
Legislation that would make California the first state to ban the use of lead ammunition in hunting has cleared the state Assembly.The bill from Democratic Assemblyman Anthony Rendon of Lakewood would require hunters to use non lead ammunition.
NRA Supports Lawsuit Against Gun Control in Colorado
Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
Fairfax, Va. – The National Rifle Association is proud to support a lawsuit filed today in federal court by 54 Colorado county sheriffs, the firearms industry trade association, several firearms retailers, individuals with disabilities and other parties which challenges the State of Colorado’s recently enacted gun control laws.
Obama Administration to Sign U.N. Arms Trade Treaty "In the Very Near Future"
Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
As we reported last month, on April 2, the United Nations General Assembly voted 153-4 to pass the Arms Trade Treaty, with the United States voting in favor and several countries abstaining. The vote in the General Assembly pushed the treaty process forward after negotiations twice failed to deliver on the goal of developing the treaty by consensus. The Obama Administration is expected to sign the treaty soon after it is opened for signature on June 3.
NRA Supports Lawsuit Against Gun Control in Colorado
Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
The NRA is proud to support a lawsuit filed today in federal court by 54 Colorado county sheriffs, the firearms industry trade association, several firearms retailers, individuals with disabilities and other parties, which challenges the State of Colorado's recently enacted gun control laws.
Confiscate! Confiscate! Confiscate!
Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
Hell hath no fury like an anti-gunner who doesn't get her way on gun control.
NRA Succeeds Because of its Human Resources
Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
Far too many ignorant and politically motivated observers wrongly attribute NRA's recent victories in Congress, as well as our past successes, to NRA's perceived financial might (which is dwarfed by that of billionaire anti-gun zealots like New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg). Of course, financial resources, when spent wisely, are certainly crucial to any organization's success. However, what makes NRA successful is our extraordinary grassroots efforts--and more specifically, those of our members and volunteers who typically make the difference between legislative success or failure through their continued activism.
Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
In March, we reported on the outrageous case of a seven-year-old Baltimore, Md. student who, according to a Daily Caller article, was suspended for two days for the "horrendous" act of shaping a breakfast pastry into what his teacher thought looked like a gun.
Country Star Kevin Fowler is an NRA Supporter
Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
Rising country music star Kevin Fowler was the opening act for the "NRA Country Jam" at this year's NRA Annual Meetings in Houston. Fowler is an unabashed supporter of NRA and the Second Amendment, and he'll gladly let you know that, graphically and in no uncertain terms. Fowler recently weighed in on the gun control debate during an exclusive interview with TheBlaze.
Missouri: Right to Carry Reform Legislation Passes State Senate, Goes to Governor for his Signature
Thu, 16 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT
Today, the Missouri Senate concurred on Senate Bill 75 by a 24-5 vote. This critical right-to-carry reform now heads to Governor Jay Nixon (D) for his consideration.
Nevada: Concealed Carry Improvement Passed in Committee Today
Thu, 16 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT
Today, Senate Bill 76, introduced by state Senator James Settelmeyer (R-17), passed unanimously in the Assembly Judiciary Committee. SB 76 will improve the concealed carry weapon (CCW) firearms application process by requiring qualification with a revolver or semi-automatic pistol if a CCW holder wishes to carry either.
Alabama: State House to Consider Critical Omnibus Firearms Bill This Monday
Thu, 16 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT
After the Alabama Senate and House of Representatives approved competing versions of Senate Bill 286, this critical pro-gun reform was sent to a conference committee to finalize its language. Last week, the state Senate approved the conference committee report for SB 286 by a 25-5 vote. This Monday, May 20, the state House will consider this conference committee report.
Delaware: State House Could Vote on Anti-Gun Legislation Today!
Thu, 16 May 2013 11:00:00 GMT
Today, the Delaware House of Representatives could vote on House Bill 67, which seeks to create a "gun-free zone" around ALL school property – including vehicles and property owned, used, or rented by any public or private school. This legislation will put firearm owners and concealed carry permittees at risk of arrest and felony prosecution by creating an un-navigable maze of legal technicalities and “gotcha” laws.
Delaware Update: NRA Withdraws Opposition to House Bill 88
Thu, 16 May 2013 11:00:00 GMT
NRA-ILA previously reported our opposition to House Bill 88. Negotiations resulted in our concerns being addressed in the state House and at this point the NRA has withdrawn our opposition.
Nebraska: Pro-Gun Candidate Defeats Bloomberg Mayor in Omaha
Thu, 16 May 2013 09:00:00 GMT
The NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) congratulates City Councilman Jean Stothert for winning the highly contested Omaha mayoral race on Tuesday.
Thu, 16 May 2013 09:00:00 GMT
Late last night, the Missouri House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 75 by a 123 to 29 vote. SB 75 seeks to reform Missouri’s existing concealed carry permit process. Currently, the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) is responsible for issuing concealed carry endorsements, but after recently betraying the trust of the people of Missouri, legislators have demanded the permitting process be transferred to county sheriffs.
California Lawyer, Chuck Michel, Honored with NRA Defender of Justice Award
Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) honored California attorney C.D. "Chuck" Michel with the 2013 NRA Defender of Justice Award. This award recognizes outstanding efforts by attorneys who defend the right to keep and bear arms, and particularly recognizes attorneys who make a significant contribution to those efforts pro bono. Chuck received the prestigious award at the NRA's 2013 annual meetings in Houston, Texas. It recognizes him for his extensive work, and particularly pro bono work, defending the right to keep and bear arms.
Personalized guns bill introduced
Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
The bill, the Personalized Handgun Safety Act of 2013, mandates within two years that newly manufactured handguns be equipped with the technology that allows the guns to only work in the hands of their owners or other authorized users. Manufacturers that do not meet the standards could be held liable. And individuals or businesses selling older handguns must have them retrofitted with personalization technology within three years after the bill is enacted, at the expense of the federal government.
D.C. considers mandatory $250K insurance policy for gun buyers
Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
The D.C. Council is considering requiring people to purchase liability insurance before they can get a license to own a gun.The bill would mandate that prospective gun owners maintain at least a $250,000 policy. The policy would cover damages from negligent acts or intentional acts that aren’t undertaken in self-defense.
N.C. House passes bill forbiding law enforcement from destroying operable guns
Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
State House lawmakers voted Wednesday to forbid law enforcement officers from destroying fully-operating firearms, even if they were used in a crime.House Bill 714, "Disposal of Abandoned Firearms," says that, if a firearm is fully functioning and still has a legible identification number, sheriffs and other law enforcement officers cannot destroy it, regardless of its background.
Missouri lawmakers pass privacy bill protecting carry permit holders
Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
Republican lawmakers began pushing for the measure after learning about the new license procedures early in the legislative session. The push accelerated in March after a Stoddard County man filed a lawsuit challenging the procedures. It said that scanning documents, such as birth certificates and concealed weapons permits, were an invasion of privacy.
Atlanta considers restrictions on gun ranges
Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
The Atlanta City Council is considering a proposal that would make it more difficult to open indoor shooting ranges.
Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
The family of a second-grader suspended from his school in Anne Arundel County for chewing his Pop-Tart-like pastry into the shape of a gun has lost a bid to have the episode expunged from the child’s record, according to the family’s attorney.
Kansas: State Legislature to Vote on Pro-Gun Reform As Early as Tomorrow
Wed, 15 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT
As the state legislature’s veto session nears its conclusion, one of the few pro-gun measures still awaiting final approval will be eligible for final action as early as tomorrow. In a procedural technicality, the language in the NRA-supported Senate Bill 45 has been added to House Bill 2162 by the Judiciary Conference Committee. This conference committee report will be eligible for approval by the state House and Senate as early as tomorrow.
North Carolina: Bill to Prohibit Destruction of Firearms Easily Passes State House
Wed, 15 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT
Today, NRA-supported House Bill 714 passed the North Carolina House of Representatives by an overwhelming 91-22 vote.
Wed, 15 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT
This week in Springfield, anti-gun state Senators will attempt to derail Right to Carry by forcing votes on severely flawed Right to Carry legislation and a bill to ban magazines commonly used in carry firearms. This faulty concealed carry legislation attempts to exempt Chicago and Cook County from any “shall-issue” mandate and allow individual towns to expand the list of places statewide that are off-limits to anyone concealed carrying. If such exemptions are adopted, 40% of Illinois’ population could be denied the ability to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense based on their residency and the confusing patchwork of laws will put ALL gun owners statewide at risk of felony prosecution. Call your state Senator TODAY: Tell him or her that any compromise and vote in favor of this type of legislation to abandon 40% of the Illinois population is a vote against Right to Carry.
Indiana: Governor Pence Signs Pro-Hunting and School Security Bills into Law
Wed, 15 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT
Last month, the Indiana General Assembly adjourned after passing two bills of importance to gun owners and sportsmen. The following bills were recently signed into law by Governor Mike Pence (R):
Indiana: Governor Pence Signs Pro-Hunting and School Security Bills into Law
Wed, 15 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT
Last month, the Indiana General Assembly adjourned after passing two bills of importance to gun owners and sportsmen. The following bills were recently signed into law by Governor Mike Pence (R):
Homeowner's son fights off home invaders, KHOU, Houston, Texas, 05/14/13
Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
A trio of home invaders entered a house in Houston, Texas, forced the homeowner’s son into a closet and ransacked the house. While the criminals were searching for valuables, the son left the closet, retrieved a gun and fired on the intruders, striking one in the leg and neck and causing all to flee. The wounded criminal only made it to a nearby home before collapsing, at which point neighbor Craig Gaddis discovered him and called the police. Following the incident, Gaddis showed support for the young man who was forced to defend himself, telling local media “The owner, thank God for rights, he shot one of ‘em.” Gaddis also addressed the criminal adding, “He got what he deserved… You want to come over here and rob houses? Those of us who carry guns in our houses, they are there for one reason – to keep you people out.”
Maine: Bill would criminalize traditional gun shows
Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
A gun-control bill calling for background checks at gun shows has been temporarily set aside.The bill scheduled for debate Tuesday was tabled and could be taken up again as soon as Wednesday. It would require that a national instant criminal background check be performed prior to the sale or transfer of a firearm at a gun show. The bill would require gun show operators to post signs at gun shows to notify exhibitors of the background check requirement. Failure to perform a background check could result in a $2,500 fine, not $10,000 as initially proposed.
Texas: Senate panel OKs campus Right-to-Carry bill
Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
The House passed House Bill 972 from Allen Fletcher, R-Tomball, which would allow concealed carry unless the university opts out every year after talking with students, faculty and staff. The bill then went to the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, where it passed 4-2.
Missouri: Self-Defense Bill Passes State Senate, Goes to State House for a Concurrence Vote
Tue, 14 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT
Today, an amended version of House Bill 533 passed in the Missouri Senate by a 26-7 vote. Sponsored by state Representative Jeanie Riddle (R-49) and state Senator Brian Munzlinger (R-18), HB 533 would protect the right of a state employee to store a firearm in his or her private vehicle on state property as long as the vehicle is locked and the firearm is not visible. HB 533 will now return to the state House for a concurrence vote. Please contact your state Representative TODAY and urge him or her to vote to concur with the Senate amendments to this critical pro-gun reform.
North Carolina: Bill to Prohibit Destruction of Firearms on House Floor Tomorrow
Tue, 14 May 2013 10:00:00 GMT
Yesterday, the House Judiciary Subcommittee B reported an amended version of House Bill 714. This NRA-supported legislation, sponsored by state Representative Jacqueline Schaffer (R-105), seeks to eliminate the option of destroying lawful firearms that are in safe working condition that have been seized or otherwise recovered by law enforcement.
New York resident charged for having 9 rounds in legally possessed handgun
Tue, 14 May 2013 00:01:00 GMT
State police have charged a 31-year-old Dutchess County driver with a misdemeanor after he was pulled over and found with two more bullets in his handgun magazine than allowed under New York's new gun control law. Gregory Dean Jr. of Hopewell Junction was stopped for an inadequate light on his license plate about 9:45 p.m. Sunday in New Lebanon, troopers said. Police said their investigation showed the semi-automatic on the passenger seat was a legally possessed, but its magazine contained nine rounds, not seven as required since April 15.
Deadline to keep N.Y. gun records private is Wednesday
Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
New York's pistol permit holders are facing a Wednesday deadline to submit opt-out forms that would keep their records confidential. Some county clerks said they would not have all of the forms processed by the deadline.
With new momentum, Right-to-Carry on campus bill gets Texas Senate hearing
Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
The Texas Senate is to hear legislation that would allow concealed handgun license holders to carry their weapons into college classrooms.The bill has failed in previous sessions but has gained new momentum since receiving state House passage two weeks ago. The Senate Criminal Justice Committee has scheduled a hearing for Tuesday afternoon that is likely to draw dozens of witnesses to testify.
North Carolina: Bill would prevent police from destroying confiscated guns
Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
Police departments and other law enforcement agencies would not be able to destroy confiscated guns that are still in good working order under a bill passed by the House Judiciary Subcommittee B. The measure, House Bill 714, says departments may sell or auction weapons, use them for training or otherwise re-purpose them, but may not destroy a gun if it is legal to own and in good working order.
Delaware: Contact Your State Representative Immediately in Opposition to House Bill 88
Mon, 13 May 2013 21:00:00 GMT
The Delaware House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on House Bill 88 tomorrow, and erroneous statements and reports in the media have led to the impression that the NRA has offered unqualified support for this bill. The NRA has sent a letter (which can be read here) to all Delaware legislators explaining the flaws in HB 88. Call your state Representative and ask him or her to oppose HB 88 until all of the current issues with the proposed legislation have been corrected.
Hawaii: City Council Committee to Consider Resolution Tomorrow to Ease Compliance
Mon, 13 May 2013 21:00:00 GMT
Tomorrow, May 14 at 9:00 am, the Honolulu City Council Committee on Public Safety and Economic Development will be hearing Resolution 13-74 requesting the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) to open the Kapolei and Kaneohe Police Stations to firearm permitting and registration in an effort to make the process less time-consuming and more convenient.
Colorado: 2013 Session Adjourns After Historic Assault on Your Constitutional Rights
Mon, 13 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT
Colorado’s 69th General Assembly adjourned last Wednesday after a historic legislative session. Unfortunately, the historic actions by majorities in both legislative chambers and Governor John Hickenlooper (D) will severely punish responsible gun owners and sportsmen in the Centennial State.
California: Update on Anti-Gun Activities in Sacramento
Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
The assault on our Second Amendment rights continues with anti-gun bills moving through the California Legislature. Unfortunately, there are several anti-gun bills that have been scheduled to be considered on the state Senate and Assembly floor with more anti-guns bills scheduled to be heard in their respective state Senate and Assembly committee. Please call and e-mail your state Senator and Assemblyman, along with members of the respective state Senate and Assembly committee urging them to OPPOSE the anti-gun measures below.
64% who favor more gun control incorrectly believe gun crime has gone up
Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
Most Americans recognize that there are more gun owners in the United States today than there were 20 years ago but don’t know that gun crime in the country has gone down in that same period of time.
Biden on guns: 'We're going right back at it'
Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
Vice President Biden, in a new interview with Rolling Stone magazine, says the White House is jumping "right back" into the debate over guns, despite the recent failure to pass background check legislation.
Pro-gun advocates angry over N.J. lawmakers' hot-mic comments
Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
As a committee hearing on new gun-control legislation began winding down Thursday, three state senators started chatting amongst themselves.What they didn't realize was the microphone was still on.A recording of the exchange — which appears to be between Democrats Loretta Weinberg, Sandra Cunningham and Linda Greenstein — ended up on YouTube, and gun supporters said today they were upset by the remarks.The recording opens with what sounds like a senator or staff member saying, "We needed a bill that was going to confiscate, confiscate, confiscate" — although it is not clear who is speaking or if this is what she is saying.
Children and guns: The fear and the reality
Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
The CDC reports that for 2010 (the latest year available), one single six-year old died from a gunshot. For all children younger than 10, there were 36 accidental gun deaths, and that is out of 41 million children. Perhaps most important, about two-thirds of these accidental gun deaths involving young children are not shots fired by other little kids but rather by adult males with criminal backgrounds. In other words, unless you send your child to play at a criminal’s home, she is exceedingly unlikely to get shot.Indeed, if you are going to worry about your child’s safety you should check into other, perhaps less obvious dangers lurking in the playmate’s house: swimming pools, bathtubs, water buckets, bicycles, and chemicals and medications that can cause fatal poisoning. Drownings alone claimed 609 deaths; fires, 262 lives; poisonings, 54 lives. And don’t forget to ask about the playmate’s parents’ car and their driving records if your child will ride with them: After all, motor-vehicle accidents killed 923 children younger than 10.
Some Pennsylvania state schools respect Right-to-Carry amid review
Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
At least five Pennsylvania state-owned universities are now allowing guns on campus after the state's lawyers concluded that an outright ban on weapons was likely unconstitutional.
California: Sen. Leland Yee proposes regulations on 3-D printers after gun test
Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
A state senator is concerned about the possibility of someone creating a gun from a 3-D printer. Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) wants regulations that would possibly track the printers and who has access to them, though he’s not sure how he wants the legislation to work.
California Lead Ammunition Ban (AB 711) Goes to Assembly Floor
Sat, 11 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
Earlier this week, the California Assembly Appropriations Committee voted 11 to 5 to approve a proposed statewide lead ammunition ban for all hunting, Assembly Bill 711. AB 711 would make California the first state in the nation to prohibit the use of all lead ammunition for hunting. This bill now goes to the state Assembly floor where it is expected to be brought up for a vote soon. The NRA urges all hunters, recreational shooters and gun owners to actively oppose AB 711. We strongly urge you to contact members of the state Assembly. Please forward this alert to your family, friends, fellow sportsmen and gun owners throughout California and urge them to do the same. Contact information for all state Assemblymen can be found here.
Grassroots Alert: Vol. 20, No. 19 05/10/2013
Fri, 10 May 2013 18:42:00 GMT
Delaware: State House to Vote on Anti-Gun Bill This Tuesday
Fri, 10 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT
Your immediate action is needed to defeat anti-gun legislation! The Delaware House of Representatives is expected to vote on Senate Bill 16 on Tuesday, May 14. Sponsored by state Senator Margaret Rose Henry (D-2), SB 16 would require a gun owner to notify law enforcement if a firearm was stolen or lost within an arbitrary time period, and carries severe penalties and fines for violations. Contact your state Representative NOW and urge him or her to oppose and vote against Senate Bill 16.
North Carolina: House Committee to Hear Bill to Prohibit Destruction of Firearms on Monday
Fri, 10 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT
This Monday, May 13, the North Carolina House Judiciary Subcommittee B will hear House Bill 714. Sponsored by state Representative Jacqueline Schaffer (R-105), H 714 seeks to eliminate the practice of destroying lawful, functioning firearms that have been found or received by law enforcement. H 714 would require the firearms be transferred to a law enforcement agency for official use, be sold at public auction to Federal Firearms License (FFL) holders, be maintained by the State Bureau of Investigation for training or experimental purposes, or be transferred to a museum or historical society.
Family defends itself from domestic abuser, The Daily Astorian, Astoria, Ore. 05/08/13
Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
A woman, her two teenage daughters and a 19-year-old man were at home in Warrenton, Ore. when the woman’s estranged husband, who has a criminal history of domestic violence, forced his way inside the home while carrying a weapon. The residents armed themselves and fled to a bedroom, locked themselves inside and called 911. Once arriving on scene, the police assumed tactical positions, but the husband, already inside, was unfazed and continued his attack by breaking through the bedroom door. After breaching the door, the intruder was met by defensive gunfire and killed.
New Government Report Undercuts Obama Anti-Gun Agenda
Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
Things haven't been very good for President Obama lately.
Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
On May 8, the U.S. Senate took up consideration of S. 601, the "Water Resources Development Act of 2013." During the debate, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) offered an amendment to extend the Right to Carry to lands administered by the Army Corps of Engineers.
Senators Targeted Because of Pro-Gun Votes Need to Hear From You--NOW!
Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
Last month, the Senate rejected the gun control agenda being pushed by President Obama and a host of anti-gun legislators, including Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.). These anti-gun legislators failed to pass a single anti-gun proposal, leading one political commentator to call the Senate votes the "biggest loss" of Obama's presidency.
New Jersey: Sweeney, gun-control advocates reach compromise as N.J. Senate panel approve 6 bills
Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
A state Senate committee today advanced six bills aimed at reducing gun violence — but not before Democrats made a flurry of changes to appease critics who claimed they didn’t go far enough.
Michigan lawmakers introduce legislation to further burden gun owners
Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
Reps. Jim Townsend of Royal Oak, Vicki Barnett of Farmington Hills and Andy Schor of Lansing announced the legislation Thursday.One of the measures would expand the current permit-to-purchase process for pistols to all guns. Townsend says his legislation would require residents buying any kind of gun to get a permit from local law enforcement and pass a background check. That process currently only applies to pistols.
Illinois swamped by surge in firearm owner applications
Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
Illinois State Police say they’re trying to deal with a huge backlog of applications for Firearms Owner Identification cards.The agency received more than 28,000 applications for cards during April alone.That’s on top of an existing backlog of nearly 76,000 applications. The state police say they are dealing with a record number of applications.
Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
This week's outrage falls under the category of, "here we go again." A couple of seven-year-old Suffolk, Va. boys were recently suspended from school for violating their school's "weapons policy." Their violation? Pretending their pencils were guns.
New Jersey: Gun Control Package Advancing in Trenton Despite Outcry from Gun Owners
Thu, 09 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT
Proposed anti-gun laws that have been debated and discussed for weeks in Trenton continue to move closer to approval in the state legislature. Many of these onerous legislative proposals, previously reported here by the NRA-ILA, have already passed in the Assembly and are now tentatively scheduled for floor action in the Senate on Monday, May 13. The state legislature has reached a critical point in its process, and New Jersey gun owners must continue to pressure state lawmakers to defeat these dangerous gun bills.
Illinois: Amendment to Ban Standard Capacity Magazines to be Considered
Thu, 09 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT
Today, an anti-gun amendment was offered to Senate Bill 1002, turning this bill into another vehicle for gun control. Sponsored by state Senator Antonio Munoz (D-1), this amendment seeks to ban the possession, purchase, manufacture, sale or delivery of all magazines in Illinois that can hold more than ten rounds of ammunition or that can be readily converted to do this.
North Carolina: State House Approves Right-to-Carry Reform Legislation
Thu, 09 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT
House Bill 937, a comprehensive Right-to-Carry reform bill, passed its second reading in the state House of Representatives on Monday by a partisan 76-38 vote. On Tuesday, the state House passed H 937 on its third reading by a 78-42 vote, with state Representative Paul Tine (D-6) as the sole Democrat to vote in favor of it. (Representative Tine was not on the floor for Monday’s vote, so he did not cast a vote on its second reading.) H 937 now moves to the state Senate for further consideration. Please contact your state Senator and urge her or him to support H 937 and to work to ensure that it is taken up for consideration as soon as possible.
Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
Manager Joe Cho was working in the office of Pepe’s Grocery and Deli in Dallas, Texas when two armed men wearing bandannas entered the store and demanded money from a cashier. Cho responded by retrieving a .38-caliber revolver and firing at the criminals, who returned fire and fled. None of Cho’s employees were hurt during the incident.Cho’s decision to provide for his and his employee’s defense proved to be a wise one. Following the attempted robbery, Cho notified the police, telling them, “Hey, we got robbed, I need police as soon as possible.” “As soon as possible” turned out to be about an hour and 20 minutes later.
Panel votes to limit submissions for gun checks on vets
Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
A House panel has approved legislation that would greatly curtail when veterans deemed mentally incompetent are reported to the FBI's background check system.
Delaware: Governor signs bill criminalizing many private transfers
Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
The legislation signed Wednesday is the first bill in a package of gun control measures proposed by Markell after the Connecticut school shooting in December to be enacted into law.
New Jersey: Senate panel to consider more gun control bills
Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
A New Jersey Senate committee is set to consider several gun control bills, but a limit on the number of bullets allowed in ammunition magazines is not among the measures due to be discussed.
Michigan: Governor Signs Pro-Hunting Reform into Law
Wed, 08 May 2013 19:00:00 GMT
Today, Governor Rick Snyder (R) signed into law an important hunting reform that will help preserve Michigan’s rich hunting heritage for generations to come. Senate Bill 288, introduced by state Senator Tom Casperson (R-38), passed in the state Senate by a 25 to 11 vote on April 25 and was approved in the state House by a 72 to 38 vote on May 2. SB 288, which took immediate effect, will improve the scientific management of wildlife and ensure that hunting rules and regulations are based on verifiable biological evidence – not a political agenda.
Kansas: Your State Legislators Need to Hear Your Support for an Essential Pro-Gun Reform
Wed, 08 May 2013 19:00:00 GMT
NRA members in Kansas spoke loudly during the 2013 legislative session and state legislators answered the call. However, your action is still needed to advance a critical pro-gun reform, Senate Bill 45. The state legislature’s veto session is currently underway and SB 45 is one of the few pro-gun measures still awaiting final approval.
Missouri: Your Action is Needed to Support Important Pro-Gun Bills
Wed, 08 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT
With a few days remaining in the 2013 legislative session, the Missouri General Assembly is taking critical steps to reform the state’s Right-to-Carry law and further protect your inherent right to self-defense.
Gun homicide rate down 49% since 1993 peak; Public unaware
Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
National rates of gun homicide and other violent gun crimes are strikingly lower now than during their peak in the mid-1990s, paralleling a general decline in violent crime, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of government data.
Sen. Coburn proposing gun amendments to water bill
Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
The debate over gun control is coming back to the Senate earlier than expected.Sen. Tom Coburn (R Okla.) intends to file a pair of firearms related amendments to the Water Resources Development Act that the Senate began considering on Tuesday afternoon.One amendment would repeal a gun prohibition on land under the jurisdiction of the Army Corps of Engineers. The other would require annual reports from federal agencies on ammunition and gun purchases as well as firearm thefts, excepting some national security arms of government.
Gun crime has plunged, but Americans think it's up, says study
Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
Gun crime has plunged in the United States since its peak in the middle of the 1990s, including gun killings, assaults, robberies and other crimes, two new studies of government data show.Yet few Americans are aware of the dramatic drop, and more than half believe gun crime has risen, according to a newly released survey by the Pew Research Center.
Gun control would address declining crime rates with irrelevant laws
Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
It's honestly a strange time for politicians to push ever tighter restrictions on gun controls. Even if you're the sort of person who thinks that everybody's personal liberty should be restricted if somebody, somewhere, misbehaves, a report released today by the Bureau of Justice Statistics makes it apparent that crimes committed with firearms continue their steady, two decade decline. In terms of specific policy, the recent focus on restricting "assault weapons" makes no sense in an environment in which the preferred weapon for committing those diminishing crimes is the handgun. And the recent obsession with extending background checks on people making legal gun purchases is a true head scratcher, since most criminals don't buy their guns legally, with fewer than one percent acquiring their weapons at much demonized gun shows.
Louisiana pulls trigger on more gun rights legislation
Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
Even as President Barack Obama works with legislators in Washington to revive efforts to enact stricter federal gun control legislation, local politicians have filed seven pro gun bills in an effort to pass even more permissive state gun laws.
Missouri: House panel advances gun rights amendment
Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
A Missouri House committee has advanced a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at protecting gun rights.The amendment approved on Tuesday would define the right to bear arms as "unalienable" and require the state to defend against any "infringement" of that right. It would also include defending one's "family" with a firearm as a guaranteed constitutional right.
Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney blocked four gun control bills from coming to the Senate floor to avoid what appeared to be a certain defeat for them.
The Gun Owners Action League of Massachusetts says membership is soaring
Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
The state's top gun advocacy group says membership has soared in recent months.The Gun Owners Action League of Massachusetts said that it has surpassed 16,000 members in the state. The group said it has added about 3,000 members since January.
Texas House Gives Final Approval to Impressive Number of Pro-Second Amendment Bills
Tue, 07 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT
Gun owners’ patience and persistence was rewarded on Saturday and yesterday, as the Texas House of Representatives led by Speaker Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) gave approval to a wide range of pro-gun legislation while the NRA Annual Meeting was underway in Houston. Most of these bills passed overwhelmingly, in spite of repeated attempts by anti-gun members of the minority party to kill some of these measures by raising parliamentary “points of order” against them for alleged violations of House rules. Many violations are procedural in nature, involving the committee process and committee reports. Thanks to the meticulous work of House Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee Chairman Joe Pickett (D-El Paso) and his staff, none of the points were sustained, and debate and votes on the bills were allowed to proceed on the House floor.
Colorado: Flawed Mental Health Bill Dies in Senate Committee
Tue, 07 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT
Yesterday, the Colorado Senate Committee on Business, Labor, & Technology voted 3-2 to postpone indefinitely, House Bill 1306.
South Carolina: Governor Approves Mental Health Reform Bill
Tue, 07 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT
Last Friday, Governor Nikki Haley (R) signed an important mental health reform, House Bill 3560, into law. This new law takes effect on August 1, 2013.
Illinois: Legislature Under Pressure to Compromise on Shall-Issue Right to Carry Legislation
Tue, 07 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT
Legislators in both the state Senate and House are under extreme pressure to exempt Chicago and Cook County from any “shall-issue” mandate in the concealed carry law that a federal court has ordered to be adopted by June 9. Any exemption for Chicago and Cook County could easily deny 40% of Illinois’ population “shall-issue” right to carry, and put gun owners state-wide at risk of felony prosecution if they happen to travel across Cook County or Chicago lines. Please contact your state Senator and Representative TODAY and urge them to support equal right to carry laws for ALL Illinois residents.
Tue, 07 May 2013 10:00:00 GMT
On Thursday, May 16 at 10:00 a.m., Bill 20-170, the “Firearm Insurance Amendment Act,” will be heard by the DC Council Committee on Business, Consumer, and Regulatory Affairs. Sponsored by Councilor Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), B20-170 would require D.C. residents to purchase liability insurance, of no less than $250,000, before they are allowed to purchase a firearm.
Jewelry store owner chases off robber, KOMO, Seattle, Wash. 05/04/13, KIRO, Seattle, Wash. 05/04/13
Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
An armed man wearing a hood entered Bonaci Fine Jewelers in Kent, Wash. and attempted to rob the store. The store’s owner responded to the attack by retrieving a gun and exchanging gunfire with the criminal, causing the robber to flee. In an interview with local media, Kent Police expressed their belief that the criminal was struck twice during the incident. Additionally, Sgt. Jarod Kasner made clear to reporters that “people have the right to protect themselves.”
Legislators still pushing criminalization of private transfers
Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
It's only been a few weeks since the Senate struck down a measure aimed at expanding background checks for gun buyers, but Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D Nev., says his party is already a "couple" votes closer to the support needed to approve the legislation.Reid, speaking in an interview with the Las Vegas Review Journal, was optimistic that the Senate would ultimately be able to pass the so called Manchin Toomey amendment, a bipartisan compromise that was hammered out after weeks of negotiations, and which fell five votes short of passage in last month's vote."Joe Manchin called me yesterday," Reid said, according to a video posted on the Huffington Post. "He thinks he has a couple more votes."
Manchin to make another effort to pass bill criminalizing private transfers
Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
One of the principal sponsors of defeated gun background check legislation says he isn't giving up on getting a bill passed.
North Carolina: House gives initial OK to carry measure
Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
The Republican led House on Monday night tentatively approved a bill that would expand where concealed weapon permit holders can carry or store their pistols, while lengthening penalties for crimes committed with a gun.
Texas: House approves bill that would respect Right-to-Carry on college campuses
Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT
The Texas House of Representatives on Monday gave final approval to a proposal to allow concealed handgun license holders to carry guns into buildings on college campuses.The proposal, which was approved on a vote of 102 41, would allow public colleges and universities to opt out of allowing guns in buildings after consulting with students, faculty and staff. Private colleges and universities could opt in.
Provided courtesy of: http://www.nraila.org
