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Nebraska CCW Bill Clears First Hurdle: My interpretation of this report
is that the first attempt to filibuster the bill to create licensed CCW
in Nebraska was defeated. Ernie Chambers seems to be on a one-man
crusade to maintain a large supply of defenseless victims in that state.
http://www.ketv.com/politics/6031752/detail.html
---
Ohio Senate Gets CCW Clean-Up Bill: Senator Joy Padgett has introduced a
companion bill to Rep. Jim Aslanides' comprehensive firearms law reform
legislation. Senate Bill 252, which mirrors HB347 to the letter, already
has 19 co-sponsors.
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/article2915.html
---
Georgia Bills Would Expand RKBA: Legislation pending in Georgia would
allow people to store firearms in vehicles parked on lots of businesses
that ban weapons and would remove a duty to retreat before resorting to
deadly force.
http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/13614374.htm
---
NY Politics - "I Hate Guns More Than You Do": Assembly Speaker Sheldon
Silver touched off a firefight over guns yesterday, alleging that Gov.
Pataki and other state Republicans were letting the National Rifle
Association call the shots on pending gun bills in Albany. (I would not
describe Governor Pataki as a friend of the RKBA.)
http://www.nydailynews.com/01-13-2006/news/regional/story/382336p-324600c.html
---
Deputy Loses Shotgun From Trunk: A deputy sheriff in North Carolina left
his cruiser unlocked overnight. A thief released the trunk latch and
stole a shotgun and other police gear. (Rule Five: Maintain control of
your firearm.)
http://www.nbc17.com/news/6057037/detail.html
---
Meanwhile, In The Cayman Islands: "Firearms permit holders are reminded
that they must ensure that firearms are stored in a safe and secure
place to prevent theft or interference."
http://www.gov.ky/servlet/page?_pageid=2121&_dad=portal30&_schema=PORTAL30&_mode=3&p_thi_id=138646&orgcode=18
---
Crime Spurs Handgun Purchases In Georgia: Article looks at popular
choices, legal requirements and recommendations for training.
http://www.wsav.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSAV/MGArticle/SAV_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128769306627&path=!frontpage
---
Full Auto In New Mexico? Acting on a tip, police were waiting for a
student at an Albuquerque high school who was allegedly packing an
automatic weapon. I think that it might be more accurate to say "packing
an allegedly automatic weapon."
http://www.kobtv.com/index.cfm?viewer=storyviewer&id=23748&cat=NMTOPSTORIES
---
Virginia Man Charged In Straw Purchase: A Virginia man could face up to
five years in prison for purchasing a pistol for a friend who had a
history of a commitment to a psychiatric hospital and was the object of
a protective order. The friend used the pistol to kill his estranged
girlfriend and himself.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128769287916
---
Police Impersonators: Article briefly discusses criminals who
impersonate police officers. This is a topic covered in any good CCW
course, during discussion of how to behave during a vehicle stop by
police. Crude impersonations of police officers are often used by those
who prey on illegal aliens. Try to be aware of the uniforms and vehicles
used by police in areas where you live, work and travel.
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-fakesideb08.html
---
400 Protest Proposed Canadian Handgun Ban: Although billed as a
non-partisan meeting, nearly 400 people in a city of 70,000, about 60
miles east of Vancouver BC, were quite explicit in their opposition to a
proposed ban on privately owned handguns.
http://www.theprogress.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=39&cat=23&id=572097&more=
---
No Magazine "Subscriptions" For Australia: An Australian man was
arrested after customs officers detected four pistol magazines and a
firing pin in a package sent to him from Switzerland. The penalty for
importing firearm magazines without a permit is a fine of up to $275,000
and/or 10 years in jail.
http://www.sundaytimes.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,17819570%255E421,00.html
---
From NRA-ILA:
NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert Vol. 13, No. 2 01/13/06
HELP US HELP YOU
With the holidays now in our rearview mirrors, it is time to turn our
thoughts and energies toward this year's all-important elections. In
recent election cycles, gun owners have enjoyed tremendous successes.
But none of our victories have happened by accident. It takes careful
long-term advance planning to ensure victory for the Second Amendment on
Election Day. In order for us to meet the inevitable challenges and
opportunities we will face this year, our preparation must begin now.
As in every election year, two things will win this year's elections for
gun owners--votes and shoe leather. And no pro-Second Amendment
candidate can do without both. Be assured, the anti-gun crowd is hoping
you don't turn out in support of, or volunteer for, our candidates.
If you are not currently registered to vote, or if you have recently
moved, please make sure you register to vote at once. And please ensure
every one of your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners are
registered voters as well. For information on voter registration
requirements, deadlines, and applications for your state, contact the
NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) or visit the "Voter
Information" section at www.NRAILA.org.
The second part of our formula for electoral success is actively
volunteering your time to the campaigns of candidates who support our
rights. This is where your NRA-ILA Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC)
becomes integral to our efforts. Your EVC is an NRA member--just like
you--who spearheads our volunteer campaign activities in your
congressional district. For more than a decade, EVCs have been acting
as the liaisons between NRA members and gun owners in their districts
and various pro-freedom campaigns. The main role of an EVC is to
provide these campaigns with dedicated, educated volunteers to assist
with phone banks, literature drops, precinct walks, voter registration
drives, Election Day activities, and other volunteer campaign
activities. Your EVC is also your local point of contact to assist with
NRA-ILA's legislative agendas at the federal, state, and local levels.
Even if you can spare only a few hours here and there, your EVC needs to
hear from you. To identify and contact your EVC, please visit
www.NRAILA.org or call ILA Grassroots at (800) 392-VOTE (8683). PLEASE
DO NOT HESITATE. CONTACT YOUR EVC TODAY!
While most congressional districts are currently covered by an EVC,
there are still vacancies we are trying to fill. Please visit the "Get
Involved Locally" section at www.NRAILA.org to review the EVC vacancies
in your state and help us find replacements. Spread the word to your
fellow activists in these districts, educate them on the EVC program,
and either have them contact their state Grassroots Coordinator
directly, or pass their information along to your state's Grassroots
Coordinator, so he/she may follow up with these individuals to learn if
they are interested and able to step into the breach and serve as an
EVC. Remember, the more competent and active EVCs we have in districts
across the country, the better prepared we all will be to achieve
victory this year. If you are interested in serving as your district's
EVC, or want to learn more about the program, please visit ILA's website
or contact the NRA-ILA Grassroots at (800) 392-VOTE (883), and ask to
speak to your state's Grassroots Coordinator.
For us to succeed in this year's elections, our grassroots campaign
battle plan needs to be in place NOW. There simply isn't any time to spare.
D.C. PERSONAL PROTECTION ACT-- A TOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY
As we continue to note, 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 corrective legislation is obvious. Since 1977, the
District has banned the possession of all handguns not acquired and
registered before that year. D.C. law also prohibits keeping an
assembled rifle or shotgun in the home, effectively outlawing the use of
firearms for lawful self-defense. And despite these Draconian gun
control laws, 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.****)
ILLINOIS
Anti-gun Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) and anti-gun Chicago Mayor Richard
Daley (D) have mounted an assault on the Second Amendment. House Bill
2414, which seeks to ban certain semi-automatic rifles and shotguns, as
well as .50 caliber rifles commonly used for hunting, is awaiting a vote
on the House floor. This vote could take place at any time. After
failing to be brought up for a vote last year, HB 2414 has gone through
several revisions in an effort to attract lawmakers who have mixed
voting records on our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Technical
modifications have been made to give the appearance of "watering down"
the bill, but the primary legislative goal of banning the future
manufacture and transfer of current firearms remains unchanged. Please
contact your State Representative immediately and ask him or her to
oppose this latest version of HB 2414! HB 2414 will be voted on soon,
so contact your Illinois lawmakers at (217) 782-8223
MISSISSIPPI
Next week, the Senate Judiciary A Committee and the full Senate are
expected to vote on SB 2426, NRA-backed self-defense reform legislation
sponsored by State Senators Charlie Ross (R-20), Ralph Doxey (R-02), and
30 other Senate co-sponsors. SB 2426 is based on Florida's landmark
"Castle Doctrine" law passed in 2005. HB 882, the House companion bill
to SB 2426, sponsored by State Representative Stephen Holland (D-16) and
supported by Representative Gary Chism (R-37), was approved by the House
Judiciary A Committee and is expected to pass the full House before the
end of the week. Several other lawmakers had introduced related
measures to reform Mississippi's self-defense laws, including HB 241
(Rep. Bobby Moak (D-53)), HB 369 (Rep. Bill Denny (R-64)) and HB 380
(Rep. Sam Mims (R-97)). However, it appears at this point that SB 2426
and HB 882 will be the vehicles for passing this important legislation
this session. You can view the tex of these measures at
www.ls.state.ms.us. We'll keep you posted on their progress as each
bill moves to the opposite legislative chamber for approval!
NEBRASKA
On Thursday, January 12, LB 454 known as the "Concealed Handgun Permit
Act," advanced from General to Select File, after a successful cloture
vote of 34-7. LB 454 will continue to a second round of debate in the
coming weeks. Thank you to all who called their State Senator and helped
advance LB 454 through this important step. Please continue with phone
calls to your State Senator requesting their further support of LB 454
and your Second Amendment Rights! The contact number for the Nebraska
legislature is (402) 471-2271.
NEVADA
As of January 5, the BATFE agreed to allow Nevada's CCW permits to
qualify as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background
Check System (NICS). As we reported in 2005, the BATFE conducted an
audit that found a handful of Nevada Sheriffs not in compliance with
federal law in relation to their permit issuance process, which resulted
in the suspension of the exemption. Thanks to your letters and phone
calls, the Nevada Department of Public Safety and the Nevada Chiefs and
Sheriffs Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding addressing the
concerns raised by the BATFE in the audit, thereby allowing the Nevada
CCW permits to be an acceptable alternative. Please take a moment to
contact your local Sheriff to say thank you for their quick action! You
can get a list of the current sheriffs by visiting
www.NRAILA.org/CurrentLegislation/Read.aspx?ID=1850.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Senate Bill 348, introduced by Senator Peter Bragdon (R-11), would
change state law to prohibit the confiscation of firearms and ammunition
during a state of emergency. This proposal will help avoid what
recently transpired in New Orleans, where law enforcement arbitrarily
and illegally confiscated firearms from law-abiding gun owners. The
Senate Public and Municipal Affairs committee has begun holding hearings
on this legislation. Please contact your State Senator at (603)
271-2111 and ask him or her to support S.B. 348. The House Criminal
Justice and Public Safety Committee will be holding a public hearing on
HB 1369 and HB 1389. HB 1369, which bars posting of "no firearms" signs
by government agencies or officials without legislative authorization,
and HB 1389, which provides for storage of firearms in locked private
vehicles, will be heard on Thursday, January 19, at 10:00 a.m. and 1:30
p.m., respectively, in room 204 of the Legslative Office Building. If
you are unable to attend, please call your State Legislator at (603)
271-2111 and ask him or her to support HB 1369 and HB 1389.
NEW YORK
As expected, the Democrat-led Assembly moved quickly Monday to pass
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's (D-64) anti-gun package, which
included the following legislation: A 673A, creates new crimes of
failure to store a firearm "safely" and for negligent storage; A 2302,
prohibits the retail sale of a handgun that does not contain a "child
proofing" or integrated safety device; A 4471, bans the sale, use and
possession of .50 caliber firearms; A 2837, outlaws many types of
ammunition commonly used on shooting ranges and for safety and training
purposes; A 2466A, drastically expands the state's ban on so-called
"assault weapons"; A 9280, imposes criminal penalties and legal
liability on licensed firearm dealers for any criminal activity that
occurs after the retailer has sold the firearm to a qualified buyer,
further requires the retailer obtain exorbitant insurance policies to
pay for the actions of criminals, and requires retailers place all
firearms in fire-prof safes or vaults during non-business hours. These
bills now move to the Senate. Please contact your State Senator at
(518) 455-2800 and ask him or her to oppose the above listed bills. We
will continue to keep you posted on any movement of these measures.
NORTH CAROLINA
Hunters in North Carolina cannot hunt on Sundays, but now they have a
chance to speak out on the matter. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission is holding public meetings to get input on the fate of Sunday
hunting in the state. Only eight states have a complete prohibition on
Sunday hunting. The states that allow Sunday hunting have healthy game
populations and do not have higher rates of hunter accidents or
landowner-hunter conflicts. To find out more about why Sunday hunting
should be allowed, read our fact sheet on the issue at
www.NRAILA.org/Issues/Factsheets/Read.aspx?ID=174. Please submit your
comments about Sunday hunting online by visiting www.ncwildlife.org.
OHIO
The "Ohio NRA Foundation License Plate" bill has been signed into law.
NRA members now have the unique opportunity to purchase a special NRA
license plate for their vehicle. When purchasing a plate, $15 will
automatically be donated to The NRA Foundation. These funds will be
allocated directly to shooting sports activities in Ohio, which will
benefit Boy Scouts, 4-H, public shooting ranges, and public hunting
areas. For further information contact your local Bureau of Motor
Vehicles or visit them online at www.oplates.com.
WISCONSIN
AB 586, legislation that lowers the minimum supervised hunting age from
12-to eight- years-old and establishes a mentored hunting program,
passed the Senate Natural Resources Committee by a vote of 4-1. The
bill is intended to remove many of the barriers that keep Wisconsin's
youths from hunting and enjoying the outdoors. It allows parents,
instead of the state, to determine when their children are mature enough
to begin hunting under the close supervision and mentoring of an adult
who meets the hunter safety education requirements. AB 586 also allows
youth 12 and older, who have not yet completed the hunter education
requirement, to hunt with a mentor who is within arm's reach. This is
better known as the "try it before you buy it" provision and is allowed
for up to two years for each individual. The mentoring program allows
these people to get out and try hunting to see if they like it enough to
complete the class so that they are eventuall able to hunt on their
own. AB 586 is critical to the preservation of Wisconsin's hunting
heritage. Please contact your State Senator today at (608) 266-2517, or
(800) 362-9472, and respectfully request that he or she support the
Youth Hunting Bill, AB 586.
--
Stephen P. Wenger
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
