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Seattle Police Chief Should Control Own Gun: SAF's Alan Gottlieb exposes
the hypocrisy of Seattle's police chief, who recently lent his name to a
prohibitionist scheme to regulate private-party firearm transfers in
Washington.
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=58244
---
Republican Governor Blasts Democratic Legislators For Being Soft On
Guns: New York's Governor George Pataki berated the Democrat-controlled
Assembly last week for refusing to join in his crackdown on gun traffickers.
http://www.qgazette.com/news/2005/1214/features/011.html
---
What About Illegal Confiscations From Citizens?: New Orleans The
Times-Picayune reports that an estimated 600 firearms were looted from
businesses in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The article fails to
mention the fate of all the firearms illegally seized from citizens who
were violating no laws.
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/metro/index.ssf?/base/news-12/113463368531310.xml
---
Colorado Castle Law Questioned: A Colorado man has been acquitted in the
fatal shooting of a man who had assaulted him in his home. The
provisions of Colorado's castle law are being questioned as the man who
was shot was already back in his vehicle at the time.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/12/15/make.myday.ap/index.html
---
Rule One Reminder: After two years an Oklahoma landlord has been cleared
in the fatal shooting of a former tenant, whom he shot with a handgun he
thought was unloaded. He may still face a civil suit for wrongful death.
(Rule One: All firearms are always loaded. Rule Two: Don't let the
muzzle cross anything you're not prepared to shoot.)
http://www.channeloklahoma.com/news/5542161/detail.html
---
Risky Tactic: A Florida man was accosted by two armed robbers in the
parking lot of an Orlando motel. Licensed to carry, he drew and "fired
to scare them off." The two were arrested hiding in a motel room.
(Warning shots are still considered deadly force, end up somewhere and
may waste limited ammunition supply.)
http://www.wftv.com/news/5540748/detail.html
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-armedcitizen1505dec15,0,2982787.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-orange
---
Decision Nears On Northern Arizona Range: Five sites east, north and
south of Flagstaff are tentatively in the running to become home to an
expansive shooting range for law enforcement, archery, recreational
marksmen and competitive events.
http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=121202
---
South African Government Blinks: The deadline to apply for a renewal of
firearm licenses for people born between January 1 and March 31 has been
extended to March 31 2006, the Minister of Safety and Security said on
Thursday.
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=qw1134658621197B216
---
From GOA:
GOA's Gun Rights Report for 2005
-----------------------------------------------------
"Thanks for all your help in passing HCR 39 addressing the violation of
2nd Amendment rights of our citizens in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. I
really appreciate the work [that] Gun Owners of America did to spread
the word to your members so they could contact their legislators and
help pass the Resolution." -- Rep. Steve Scalise,
November 30, 2005
----------------------------------------------------
Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
http://www.gunowners.org
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Gun confiscation in New Orleans. That was the shocking news in 2005.
If you've visited the GOA website in the past couple of months, you have
probably viewed the actual video tape. American troops can be seen going
house-to-house, smashing through doors and confiscating firearms.
It's all documented on the GOA website, and that is where most people
first saw the gun thefts that occurred in the wake of Hurricane Katrina
this past September.
Even in Louisiana, it was the GOA website that provided legislators with
the evidence that gun confiscation had occurred.
"Thanks so much for sending me the link to the videos on your website,"
Rep. Steve Scalise said. "I showed the members of the [House] committee
the video of out-of-state police confiscating weapons in the state. They
watched it and couldn't believe it."
Rep. Scalise told GOA that the videos were quite instrumental in helping
push his "gun restoration" resolution. "It's one thing to hear about
these confiscations," he said. "It's quite another thing to see them for
yourself."
With the help of our Louisiana activists, GOA was able to achieve a
significant legislative victory in that embattled state. And thanks to
the help of members across the country, GOA has been able to post the
gun confiscation videos and keep them running on the GOA site.
But that's not all that GOA was able to accomplish this year. Because of
your help, GOA has been on the front lines, defending your gun rights
all across this nation.
Lest we forget, here's a quick review of the good news from this year.
JANUARY -- MARCH
** Shots ring out in several states, as thugs with guns make news all
over the country. GOA jumps into the fray to defend gun rights and point
out that banning guns will not keep bad guys from getting firearms (and
will only hurt the ability of good people to protect themselves). GOA
spokesmen are quoted in papers across the country
and appear on radio talk shows as well.
** GOA spokesmen also hit the TV airwaves in opposition to a ban on 50
calibers and denounce the legislation introduced by Rep. Jim Moran
(D-VA). This is the first salvo in a much larger battle that will be
waged on the floor of the U.S. House, just a few months down the line.
** GOA's Larry Pratt testifies on Capitol Hill in support of legislation
introduced by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD). The bill would exempt
organizations like GOA from the draconian restrictions on free speech
that were signed into law by President Bush in 2002. Should H.R. 689
become law, GOA would no longer be restricted from using TV or radio to
criticize public officials in the days leading up to an election.
** GOA asks its grassroots members to lobby their senators to support
John Bolton as our ambassador the United Nations. Yes, GOA supports
getting this country out of the anti-gun U.N. But until that happens,
GOA wants strong, pro-gun representation in the midst of all the
anti-gun tyrants that are trying to use that organization to disarm the
West. In 2001, as a key official in the State Department, Bolton was
single-handedly responsible for killing a proposed U.N. gun control treaty.
APRIL -- MAY
** GOA's foundation wins a key victory when the U.S. Supreme Court rules
that a foreign conviction in a foreign court does not ban an American
from owning a gun. The decision in Small v. United States will protect
gun owners from losing their rights due to convictions under oppressive
laws found in other countries.
This case is especially significant because, for years, Congress has
prohibited the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from
restoring the rights of persons who have been unreasonably or
illegitimately denied their rights.
** In the states, GOA hits the airwaves and began promoting Florida's
"stand your ground" law on radio talk shows all over the country. The
new law in the Sunshine State now gives citizens a greater presumption
of innocence if they shoot someone who is unlawfully in their home and
repeals the requirement that citizens first retreat when assaulted
outside of their home.
** In Arizona, a GOA member in the state senate introduces - and pushes
into law -- a bill to allow students to take gun safety and handling
classes. GOA member Senator Karen Johnson (R) sponsored the legislation
-- which was originally drafted by gun author Alan Korwin -- and
successfully guided it to Governor Janet Napolitano's desk. Gov.
Napolitano (D) signed the bill in April.
Another GOA member -- Ohio state representative Ron Hood (R) - is now
working with Gun Owners to bring this legislation to the Buckeye State.
** GOA asks its Ohio members to focus pressure on Rep. George Voinovich
(R), as his criticism of John Bolton threatens to sink his nomination in
committee and keep it from ever getting to the Senate floor. Voinovich,
a key vote in the committee, later backs down and refuses to oppose
Bolton in committee, thus allowing the nomination to proceed to the floor.
JUNE -- JULY
** Perhaps one of the most significant victories this year was making
sure that the ban on semi-automatic firearms was not reauthorized.
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) expressed her desire to offer the
semi-auto ban renewal as an amendment to the gun makers liability bill
(S. 397), which prompted GOA to ask Majority Leader Bill Frist
to use parliamentary procedures to block her amendment.
At first, Sen. Frist was reluctant. But after the Senator received
several thousand emails, faxes and phone calls from GOA members, Frist
changed his mind. He used the parliamentary procedure GOA had
recommended -- a strategy known as "treeing the bill" -- to block Sen.
Feinstein from offering her semi-auto gun ban to S. 397 in July.
Democrats were outraged. They protested on the floor of the Senate.
Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) complained about the GOA-induced
strategy, stating he was quite "surprised" that Frist had used this
tactic Sen. Reid may have been surprised, but GOA members and activists
were not.
** GOA increases the pressure on Senators, urging them to support the
nomination of John Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Democrats continue to block the Senate from voting on Bolton's nomination.
** On the House side, Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) gets set to offer his ban on
50 calibers. GOA combats Moran's efforts by sending an emergency
communication to the Hill warning representatives that a vote for gun
control would be unconstitutional. Moreover, the GOA communication
reminds legislators that recent elections have demonstrated the
difficulty in getting reelected after casting anti-gun votes. The
Moran gun ban failed by a vote of 278-149.
** GOA asks its members to send postcards and letters in favor of
legislation by Mark Souder (R-IN) to repeal the DC gun ban. The timing
could not be better, as these cards and letters begin flooding House
offices just as Rep. Souder offers the language in his bill as an
amendment to another piece of legislation. The DC gun ban repeal passes
by a vote of 259-161 before subsequently being stripped out in a
conference committee.
** A Supreme Court opening provides a tremendous opportunity - and
potential problems -- for gun owners. Hence, Gun Owners of America
organizes a campaign of intense opposition to the likely nomination of
Attorney General (and friend of the President) Alberto Gonzales. GOA
issued several alerts to the grassroots and was able to inform Senators
and their staffs of the abysmal gun record of Gonzales.
Later, GOA is pleased to see a subsequent Associated Press report which
stated that Gonzales was no longer a potential nominee to the Court.
According to the AP story, a Gonzales nomination was now unlikely since
it would "re-ignite the very opposition Bush is trying to dampen on the
Republican right, which doesn't think Gonzales is a reliable
conservative vote." Grassroots, a job well done!
AUGUST
** More good news for gun owners! President Bush bypasses the U.S.
Senate and appoints John Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations
during Congress' summer recess. Bolton, a long-time defender of the
Second Amendment, is now secure in his job until January 2007.
** Even though Congress is recess, Gun Owners directs its members to
flood congressional offices with opposition to very dangerous provisions
in the PATRIOT reauthorization bill. The bill would give the FBI
unlimited access to gun owner records -- the 4473 forms that are
retained at gun dealers' stores. GOA reminds congressional
offices that gun owner registration has often been followed by gun
confiscation.
SEPTEMBER -- OCTOBER
** Gun confiscation begins in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane
Katrina. In addition to using the Internet to educate the world on what
has happening behind the scenes in Louisiana, GOA began efforts to hold
the guilty parties accountable. GOA petitioned two attorney generals
(both the U.S. and Louisiana generals), as well as the
Inspector General in the U.S. Justice Department.
** Legislation, that would impose extreme penalties for some who use
guns in self-defense, stalled in the U.S. Senate after GOA directed
thousands of postcards and letters into Senate offices. Even though H.R.
1279 passed quickly and easily in the House, the outpouring of
opposition from GOA members put Senators on notice that there were
serious Second Amendment concerns in the bill.
** Harriet Miers withdraws her own nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.
GOA quickly springs into action and asks its activists urge President
Bush to nominate Judge Samuel Alito, Jr. to the open seat on the U.S.
Supreme Court.
Judge Alito, who has worked in the Third Circuit, has a strong record in
support of the Constitution. Gun Owners Foundation was involved in the
Rybar machine gun case in 1996 which we ultimately lost in the courts.
But Judge Alito offered a strong dissenting opinion to the majority
report and argued that Congress has no right to regulate the
private possession of machine guns.
The month of October ends with some great news, as President Bush
nominates Judge Alito to the high Court.
NOVEMBER -- DECEMBER
** In post-Katrina Louisiana, GOA assists Representative Steve Scalise
in successfully pushing a "gun restoration" resolution in the state. His
measure passes the House by an overwhelming margin of 78-1 and then is
later sent to Gov. Kathleen Blanco's desk.
Scalise's resolution documents that innocent civilians did, in fact,
have their guns confiscated in September and calls on the governor to
bring up legislation in the next session to repeal laws that were used
to justify the confiscation of firearms during the recent state emergency.
Scalise is now working on introducing binding legislation that he will
actively push in January of next year. This bill will amend the state
code to remove any language that could provide a pretext for the future
confiscation of guns in the state. The overwhelming vote on his first
resolution provides a good omen for the bill's chances
next year.
** Gun owners have attained significant victories in the battle to
remove anti-gun provisions from the PATRIOT reauthorization bill. The
provision allowing unfettered access to gun owners records is out of the
bill.
But other problems remain, as the act still gives enhanced powers to
federal agents to acquire gun owner records. GOA's grassroots bombards
legislative offices in late November, as GOA quickly sends a letter to
Hill offices in opposition to these dangerous provisions.
The reauthorization bill fails to garner enough votes to pass the
Senate, and thus, the bill is sent back to a House-Senate conference
committee over the Thanksgiving break. Minimal changes are made to the
bill, and on December 14, the House votes for the PATRIOT reauthorization.
Gun-related problems continue to infect the legislation, and so GOA has
not yet pulled its opposition. While the House may have approved the
bill, its fate in the Senate is still uncertain. Please stay tuned.
STAND WITH GOA IN 2006
We saw many good things happen this past year. And with your help, we
will continue to deliver a "no compromise" message to the Congress and
across the nation.
Next year's elections will be very important, and you can count on Gun
Owners of America to provide you with a Congressional scorecard before
the election so that you can hold your legislators accountable.
So please stand with us. With your help, GOA will continue to be here in
Washington, D.C., fighting for your right to keep and bear arms in 2006.
If you haven't already joined GOA, isn't it time you did? If you are
already a member, have you renewed for 2006 yet?
Our e-mail alerts and Legislative Action Center, which are provided free
in the interest of adding as many voices as possible to the pro-gun
movement, cost tens of thousands of dollars every year.
Please consider adding your financial support in the form of a new
membership, renewal, or donation today.
To join or renew online, please visit
http://www.gunowners.org/ordergoamem.htm for secure credit card
transactions.
Or, print out and mail the following form.
Thank you for your activism and support of GOA.
*****************************************************************
To:
Gun Owners of America
8001 Forbes Place Suite 102
Springfield VA 22151
__ I would like to join GOA to start getting full membership benefits
including the GOA newsletter, voter's guides,
legislative updates, and more. Please sign me up as a member with a
donation of:
____$20 ____$35 ____$50 ____$100 ____$250
__ Although not joining today, here's my contribution of $_______ to
help finance GOA's excellent:
____E-mail Alert Network ____Legislative Action Center
_________________________________________________________________
(name -- please print clearly)
_________________________________________________________________
(address)
_________________________________________________________________
(city / state / zip)
_________________________________________________________________
(phone number)
____ MC ____ Visa ____ AmEx ____ Discover ____ Check enclosed
_________________________________________________________________
(credit card number)
Expires: _____________________ Total amount: ____________________
Signature: ______________________________________________________
(required on credit card purchases)
*****************************************************************
--
Stephen P. Wenger
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
