NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ALERT
Vol. 19, No. 02 01/13/12
Federal
Court Upholds Obama/Holder Gun Registration Scheme; Congressional
Action Needed
Moments before this alert was to go out, a federal
district court in Washington, D.C. issued a ruling upholding an Obama
administration policy that requires federally licensed firearms
retailers in states bordering Mexico to report multiple sales of
semi-automatic rifles. The case was brought by two NRA-backed
firearms retailers and by the National Shooting Sports Foundation
acting on behalf of its affected members. Plaintiffs plan to
appeal immediately—but in the meantime, your help is urgently
needed in seeking congressional action to end this illegal policy.
Devised by Attorney General Eric Holder’s
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the plan
requires all of the 8,700 firearm dealers in California, Arizona, New
Mexico and Texas to report all sales of two or more semi-automatic
rifles within five consecutive business days, if the rifles are
larger than .22 caliber and use detachable magazines. (The
plaintiffs in the case pointed out that this was about 20 times more
dealers than had been subject to any similar “demand
letter” before, but in today's decision the court nonetheless
found the new requirement “limited in scope.”)
It is imperative that you contact your U.S. Senators and ask them to cosponsor
and support S. 570. You can find contact information for
your elected officials by using the "Write Your
Representatives" tool at www.NRAILA.org, or you can call your
U.S. senators at (202) 224-3121.
Gun
Control Activists Fire Squib Loads: On Monday,
Josh Horwitz of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence—previously
known as the National Coalition to Ban Handguns— penned an item
for the very left-leaning Huffington Post website, deriding media
reporters for writing articles that say gun sales are booming.
Second
Amendment Weekend at Cabela’s in Dundee, MI: Join
NRA-ILA Headquarters staff February 10-11th, 2012,
for a weekend of important grassroots education for gun owners. 2012
is undoubtedly the most critical election year ever for our Second
Amendment rights and we must redouble our efforts to guarantee
victory on Election Day. Please make plans to attend
NRA-ILA’s FREE Grassroots Workshop and NRA University to
learn what you can do to become a better activist in the fight to
protect and promote the Second Amendment!
GRASSROOTS NEWS MINUTE VIDEO: To view this week’s “Grassroots News
Minute” video, please click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIYkRmi2TjE
STATE
ROUNDUP (Please note the only items listed below are
those that have had recent action. For other updates on state
legislation, please go to the state legislation section at www.NRAILA.org, and check each
week’s issue of the Grassroots Alert.)
For additional information, please click on the links
provided.
CALIFORNIA: Update on Firearm-Related Bills Heard in Senate
Committee
On January 10, the state Senate Public Safety Committee was expected
to vote on two pro-gun bills, SB 313 and SB 404, and one anti-gun
resolution, SJR 10. SB 313 failed to be reported by committee
by a 2 to 4 vote and SB 404 was withdrawn by the author and was not
heard by the committee. Unfortunately, SJR 10 did pass in this
committee and is expected to be considered on the state Senate floor
soon.
COLORADO: Two Pro-Gun
Bills Introduced in the Legislature
On January 11, two pro-gun bills were introduced, House Bill 1064 and
House Bill 1048. HB 1064 would protect your Second Amendment
during a declared state of emergency. HB 1048 would eliminate
the duplicative state-run Colorado Bureau of Investigation InstaCheck
system for the purchase of firearms. Both NRA-backed bills were
assigned to the state House Judiciary Committee for further
consideration.
ILLINOIS: Oak Park
Considering Additional Firearm Regulations
The Village of Oak Park is holding a community forum on Tuesday,
January 24, to hear public comments relating to the imposition
of additional local restrictions on the sale and possession of
firearms. This forum will be hosted by the Board of Health, and
the views expressed will be communicated to the Village Board as it
considers enacting additional restrictions on where, how and to whom
firearms are sold, and how they are stored.
IOWA: The NRA Pursuing Continued Success in
Iowa’s 2012 Legislative Session!
On January 9, Iowa’s 84th General Assembly
convened and the NRA, with support from the Iowa Firearms
Coalition, Iowa Rifle and Pistol Association, Iowa Sportsman’s
Federation, and other pro-gun activists, will pursue continued
success with a pro-gun reform agenda to make Iowa a leading
pro-Second Amendment state. Some of the NRA’s
legislative goals include an Iowa Right to Keep and Bear Arms State
Constitutional Amendment, shall-issue reform, and firearms preemption
reform.
MARYLAND: 2012 Maryland
Legislative Session is Now Underway!
On January 11, the 430th legislative session of the Maryland General
Assembly convened. As always, the NRA goal in Annapolis is to
continue to fight any attack against your Second Amendment rights and
to help pass positive reforms. An example of one such pro-gun reform
is House Bill 45. This legislation would remove the burden of proof
and alter the law so that anyone who applies for a concealed carry
permit would automatically be presumed to have “good and
substantial reason.”
NEBRASKA: Concealed Carry Permit Bill to be Heard in
Committee on January 19
NRA-backed Legislative Bill 807 is scheduled to be heard in the
Judiciary Committee on Thursday, January 19. LB 807 would
clarify that only individuals who have been criminally convicted of a
drug- or firearm-related crime would be disqualified from receiving a
Nebraska concealed carry permit.
NEVADA: BATFE Denies Request Concerning NICS Exemption
On January 6, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives (BATFE) informed the Nevada Sheriffs’ and
Chiefs’ Association that they would not be grandfathering
concealed carry weapons (CCW) permit holders whose permits were
either granted or renewed on or before July 1, 2011, from
the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for
firearm purchases.
Sheriffs’ and Chiefs’ Association Hosting
Fourth Annual CCW Forum
The Nevada Sheriffs’ and Chiefs’ Association will be
hosting its annual Concealed Carry Weapons forum in Las Vegas on
Tuesday, January 17 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Grant Sawyer
Government Building (room 4401) located on 555 East Washington Avenue
in Las Vegas. Your participation is key to the continued
success of Nevada’s Right-to-Carry process, so please attend
this important forum.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Pro-Gun Legislation Passes in State House
Despite fierce opposition from Governor John Lynch, House Bill 334
and House Bill 536 passed in the state House of Representatives and
is now in the state Senate for its consideration. HB 334 would
strengthen current statewide firearms preemption by further
prohibiting local governments or state agencies from enacting
ordinances or regulations for the use of firearms. HB 536 would
repeal the existing law that requires a person to have a concealed
firearm license in order to carry concealed.
NEW MEXICO: Pro-Second Amendment Bills Pre-Filed for Short
Session!
The Legislature convenes on Tuesday, January 17, for its
thirty-day session. State Senator Bill Payne and State
Representative Bill Rehm have introduced, respectively, Senate Bill
26 and House Bill 32 -- bills repealing Section 30-7-9 of the
New Mexico Criminal Code that limits the purchase of rifles and
shotguns by New Mexico residents to their home state and contiguous
states. Repeal of this law would eliminate this restrictive
language and enable residents of New Mexico to purchase long guns in
non-contiguous states and residents of non-contiguous states to
purchase long guns in New Mexico.
VIRGINIA: 2012 General Assembly Session Convened on January 11!
On January 11, the Virginia General Assembly convened its 2012
legislative session and NRA members can expect an active session with
many bills relating to our Second Amendment rights. The range
of pro-gun/pro-hunting bills to be considered this year is quite
extensive, ranging from legislation to allow Sunday Hunting, to the
repeal of the one-gun-a-month/gun rationing statute.
WASHINGTON: Washington
Shooting Range Protection Bill Needs Your Help!
Yesterday, House Bill 1508, a vital shooting range protection
bill was heard in the House Judiciary Committee. Due to the
short legislative session, this bill needs to be voted on soon, if it
is going to pass this year. Please contact your state
Representative today and respectfully urge him or her to support
House Bill 1508. You can reach your state Representative at
the toll-free legislative hotline by dialing (800) 562-6000. To
determine who is your state Representative, please click here. If your state Representative
is a member of the House Judiciary Committee and his or her
“Yes” vote will be instrumental in ensuring the passage
of this bill. Please call AND e-mail your state Representative
TODAY and respectfully urge him or her to support HB 1508. You
can also leave your state Representative a short message on the
toll-free, legislative hotline, by dialing (800) 562-6000.
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