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Former Wisconsin Resident Supports CCW: A University of Wisconsin
graduate, now a police officer in South Dakota, has written an excellent
letter to a Wisconsin newspaper supporting licensed CCW in his home state.
http://badgerherald.com/oped/2005/12/09/concealed_carry_prov.php
---
No Civil-Rights Violation In Shooting Of Off-Duty Officer: A federal
jury has ruled against the mother of a black Providence RI police
sergeant who was shot fatally by two uniformed officers as he attempted
to intervene in a fight, while off duty. (This is a classic case of why
it's best not to have a gun in hand when responding officers arrive,
hence the value of a holster that permits one-handed re-holstering
without taking your eyes from the threat.)
http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2005/12/09/verdict_returned_in_civil_rights_lawsuit/
---
Toy Guns Don't Lead To Violent Behavior: A child psychologist in Ohio
emphasizes the folly of not allowing children to play with toy guns.
(Personally, I'd rather that children not learn bad safety habits with
toy guns and learn to properly handle real ones at an early age - I
guess that's part of the influence of Elmer Keith's writings.)
http://www.journal-news.com/featr/content/shared/living/stories/FAMILY_WISE_1205_COX.html
---
Bringing A Bible To A Gunfight: An American nun working in the Amazon
rain forest apparently chose the wrong words in an argument.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyid=2005-12-10T013701Z_01_KNE002142_RTRUKOC_0_US-BRAZIL-NUN-TRIAL.xml&rpc=22
---
American Constable In England Continues To Receive Attention: The first
American to become a police officer in England is facing showdown talks
with Thames Valley Police chiefs after he went public on a "let me carry
a gun or I quit" ultimatum. It will be interesting to see if he is able
to educate the chiefs in the forthcoming meetings,
http://icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/tm_objectid=16461944&method=full&siteid=50102&headline=chief-asks-us-cop-to-explain--give-me-a-gun--outburst-name_page.html
---
Australian Company Claims Recoilless Rifle: An unnamed Australian
company claims to have developed a system to eliminate recoil in
firearms, ranging from handguns to artillery pieces.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17509560%255E31477,00.html
---
How About A Canadian Ban On Criminals?: I'm not really familiar with
Canadian media and politics but was surprised to see this op-ed piece
published in Toronto.
http://torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Blizzard_Christina/2005/12/09/1345042.html
---
Canadian Looks At US Gun Bans: The Washington correspondent for a
Toronto paper does not seem to impressed with the effectiveness of
firearm bans in the US.
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Render&c=Article&cid=1134082212355&call_pageid=968332188774
---
From CCRKBA:
NEWS RELEASE
CCRKBA CALLS CANADIAN PM'S HANDGUN BAN IDEA A 'CHEAP POLITICAL SUBTERFUGE'
BELLEVUE, WA - Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, heading a Liberal
Party that has been scandalized by corruption and recently fell after a
"no confidence" vote in the House of Commons, is trying to deflect
attention from his abysmal failure as a national leader by calling for a
ban on handguns, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear
Arms (CCRKBA) said today.
"This is nothing less than a cheap political subterfuge," said CCRKBA
Executive Director Joe Waldron. "I'm not sure if they understand the
'smell test' north of the border, but Martin's attack on handgun owners
sure doesn't pass it. This is a smarmy attempt to shift public focus
away from his political troubles, and those of his party.
"A dozen years of Liberal rule in Canada has been nothing short of a
disaster," Waldron noted. "The Canadian gun registration scheme has been
a billion dollar boondoggle that even Canadian police have criticized.
Under Liberal rule, the country has endured not only that debacle, but
also the infamous sponsorship scandal. Most of the blame for that fiasco
fell on the shoulders of Martin's predecessor, Jean Chretien, but the
fact remains, Liberal rule has given Canadians one headache after another.
"Martin's proposed handgun ban is not only just another stupid attack on
law-abiding Canadian gun owners," Waldron stated, "it is clearly
designed to deflect public and media attention away from his
scandal-plagued government and the political trouncing Liberals took
last month. We're disappointed, but hardly surprised, that the Toronto
Star editorial writers were completely sucked in by this tawdry
political maneuver.
"As is typical of liberal politicians here in the United States,"
Waldron observed, "Martin has discovered that when your bankrupt
philosophy is under attack, and your party is politically shipwrecked,
there is only one thing to do: Attack gun owners. They're the only
people against whom it is still fashionable to practice social bigotry.
In Martin's case, it's like the cattle rustler stirring up a lynch mob
to hang the town outcast while he uses the distraction to make good his
own escape. How pitiful is that?"
---
From NRA-ILA:
NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert Vol. 12, No. 49 12/09/05
IGNORING THE LAW
On Wednesday, October 26, President George W. Bush signed into law the
NRA-backed "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act" (S.
397)--legislation to end politically motivated lawsuits designed to
bankrupt law-abiding American firearm manufacturers and retailers. S.
397 passed both chambers of Congress with broad bipartisan support; in
recent years, 33 states have passed similar legislation.
Having lost this extremely significant battle in Congress, the
anti-gunners have again taken their show to the courts--and activist
judges--in an attempt to circumvent and challenge the new law.
On December 2, anti-gun New York Federal Judge Jack B. Weinstein ruled
that New York City's lawsuit against law-abiding firearm manufacturers
and retailers could move forward.
"Judge Weinstein's decision was not only predictable, but intellectually
dishonest and blatantly biased, given his decade-long track record of
aiming to derail the firearms industry," said Lawrence G. Keane, senior
vice president and general counsel for the National Shooting Sports
Foundation (NSSF), the trade organization for the firearm industry.
"New York City's lawsuit is precisely the type of suit the 'Protection
of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act' was designed to prevent. During debate
in each chamber of Congress, Senator Larry Craig and Representative
Cliff Stearns--the sponsors of the bill--both referenced the city's case
as a quintessential example of a lawsuit the act would prevent."
Firearm manufacturers named in the suit include: Beretta U.S.A.
Corporation, the Browning Arms Company, Colt Manufacturing Company,
Inc., Glock, Inc., and the Smith & Wesson Corporation.
These industry defendants plan to immediately appeal the decision to the
Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
MAYOR BLOOMBERG EXPLOITS TRAGEDY--TARGETS NRA
A December 2, story in the New York Post detailed the rantings of New
York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) as he took advantage of a
grievous, heart-breaking tragedy and used it as an occasion to wrongly
blast NRA.
Referring to the recent slaying of a New York City police officer (by a
suspect accused of shooting another officer during a robbery attempt
some 10 days earlier), Mayor Bloomberg lashed out at NRA, telling
listeners to his weekly radio show that, "Fundamentally, if you want to
solve the problem [of gun violence] it's up to Congress, and Congress
keeps getting rolled by the NRA. This is plain and simple, the NRA
versus the lives of our children and our police officers."
In what amounts to a classic cop-out, Bloomberg prefers to point fingers
and deflect blame, rather than address the city's criminal justice
system (for which he is responsible and paid to enforce) and arrest and
prosecute criminals so that repeat offenders can't continue their mayhem.
Commenting on Bloomberg's diatribe, NRA-ILA Director of Public Affairs,
Andrew Arulanandam, said, "I think it's really despicable for the mayor
to try and inject politics into this very sad and tragic event. Our
membership rolls are full of active and retired law-enforcement and
military officers. It is not appropriate to talk about politics at this
time. At this point in time our thoughts and prayers are with the slain
police officer's family."
If you would like to contact Mayor Bloomberg to let him know what you
think about his comments, you can call his office at (212) 639-9675, fax
him at (212) 788-2460, or e-mail him at
http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html.
D.C. PERSONAL PROTECTION ACT--A TOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY
One of NRA-ILA's top legislative priorities in Congress continues to be
the passage of S. 1082 and H.R. 1288--the Senate and House versions of
the "District of Columbia Personal Protection Act." This legislation
seeks to restore the constitutionally-guaranteed Second Amendment rights
of the residents of the District of Columbia.
The need for this legislation is obvious. While effectively banning
handgun ownership for over a quarter-century, Washington, D.C.,
consistently has one of the highest homicide rates in the nation.
"D.C.'s politicians have stripped law-abiding residents of their ability
to defend themselves and their families," said NRA-ILA Executive
Director Chris W. Cox. "Passage of the 'District of Columbia Personal
Protection Act' will remedy this senseless and dangerous injustice."
Please be sure to contact your U.S. Senators and Representative and ask
them to cosponsor and support S. 1082 and H.R. 1288.
For a list of Senate cosponsors, please visit
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN01082:@@@P.
For a list of House cosponsors, please visit
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR01288:@@@P.
You can call your U.S. Senators at (202) 224-3121, or your U.S.
Representative at (202) 225-3121.
HELP NRA-ILA FIGHT FOR FREEDOM IN THE COURTS!
With NRA engaged in various legal battles to protect our Second
Amendment rights across the country, we are asking NRA members to
contribute to NRA-ILA as we fight for freedom in the courts. Please
encourage your friends, family, and other Second Amendment supporters to
stand with NRA-ILA by making a financial contribution to help us fight
for freedom. You may contribute by mail (please make checks payable to
NRA-ILA, and send to: NRA-ILA, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA
22030); by telephone at (800) 392-8683; or via our website at:
https://secure.nraila.org/Contribute.aspx.
Thank you for your continued support in our efforts to further the cause
of freedom.
[Contributions to NRA-ILA are not deductible as charitable contributions
for Federal income tax purposes.]
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. As always, thank you for your support.****)
DELAWARE
Mark your calendar for the "Concealed Carry Conference and Second
Amendment Rally" to be held January 8, 2006! The Conference, held in
conjunction with the Delaware State Sportsmen's Association Annual
Meeting of Members, will feature special guest speaker NRA-ILA Executive
Director Chris W. Cox, as well as NRA President Sandra Froman, NRA 1st
Vice President John Sigler, and NRA 2nd Vice President Ron Schmeits. The
conference will be held at Modern Maturity Center, 1121 Forest Ave. (Rt.
8), in Dover. Doors open at 1:00 p.m., and the meeting begins at 2:00
p.m. This event is open to everyone interested in preserving and
defending the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. See you there!
NEW YORK
The Suffolk County Legislature met earlier this week to discuss and vote
on two bills that will fund the necessary upgrading, renovation, and
reopening of the Suffolk County Trap & Skeet Range. Testimony was heard
from several supporters of the bills, IR-2216-5 and IR-2228-5. As a
result, a final vote of 14 to 1 was taken in favor of reopening the
Suffolk County Trap & Skeet Range. Thanks to all those who made phone
calls, sent e-mails, and attended the meetings. After four and a half
years of answering questions and overcoming obstacles, success was
achieved in getting these important bills passed. Please send a special
thank you to the Suffolk County Legislature for their diligence and
thoroughness on this issue. The Suffolk County Trap & Skeet Range looks
forward to reopening as early as Spring 2006.
NORTH CAROLINA
In August 2005, Governor Mike Easley (D) signed into law SB 464, which
established a National Rifle Association license plate for North
Carolina motor vehicles. Before the plates become a reality, however,
300 North Carolinians need to commit to purchasing them. We still need
many more members to sign up. This is a great way for members to show
their support for their Second Amendment Rights. Please contact the NRA
Western North Carolina Field Representative, Doug Merrill, at (828)
628-0410, for more information on obtaining an NRA plate. You will need
to submit a check for $10.00 for a standard plate, or $40.00 for a
personalized plate, in addition to filling out an application.
WASHINGTON
Your attendance at one of two upcoming public hearings to discuss the
future of shooting and hunting in Island County is critical! Ordinance
number C-136-05 has been proposed which would impose severe restrictions
on the discharge of firearms on Deer Lagoon and restrict hunting,
including archery and muzzleloading seasons, on the Kettles, Camano
Ridge and Goss Lake Woods Trail Properties. The public hearings are
scheduled for Monday, December 12, at the Coupeville Recreation Hall,
located at 901 NW Alexander Street in Coupeville, and also on Thursday,
December 15, at the Utsalady Elementary School, located at 608 Arrowhead
Road on Camano Island. It is absolutely critical that hunters voice
their concerns with these proposals by attending these meetings. Both
hearings are scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m. but NRA recommends you
arrive at 5:30 p.m. Please encourage your family, friends, and fellow
sportsmen to attend! Without a strong showing of local shootrs and
hunters, Ordinance number C-136-05 will pass and opportunities for
shooting and hunting in Island County will begin to disappear.
WISCONSIN
The Personal Protection Act (PPA), legislation making Wisconsin the 39th
Right-to-Carry state, passed the full Senate on a bi-partisan vote of
23-10. This veto-proof margin is significant in face of Governor Jim
Doyle's (D) promised veto of this life-saving legislation. The PPA will
now go to the State Assembly for a full floor vote on Tuesday, December
13. It is absolutely critical that you contact your State
Representative at (800) 362-9472 and respectfully ask him or her to
support the PPA. Self-defense supporters are closer than ever to
securing a veto-proof vote in the Assembly! As was the case with the
successful Senate vote, your activism is critical. Please make your
call as soon as possible. Also, please plan to attend the Assembly
Floor Session in Madison on Tuesday to personally show your support for
the PPA.
--
Stephen P. Wenger
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
