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Kansas Senate Passes CCW Bill: Passage by a margin of 29-11 suggests
that a veto override is possible this year.
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/13834817.htm
---
Use-Of-Force Bill Stalls in Kansas House: A bill to protect self-defense
shooters from lawsuits has stalled in the House Federal and State
Affairs Committee.
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/state/13836665.htm
---
South Dakota Senate Passes Use-Of-Force Bill: The bill would make it
clear that people may repel attackers and protect property against theft
or damage.
http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/13842617.htm
---
Baltimore Mayor Wants To Ban Ugly Guns: Baltimore's mayor has called for
the Maryland General Assembly to ban cosmetically impaired firearms.
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/state/13836665.htm
---
Kentucky Bill Would Require School-Zone Warning: Bill would require
schools to post their property to reduce risk of people unintentionally
carrying firearms onto school grounds. (Wouldn't it be easier to remove
the ban for people with concealed-carry permits?)
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/13836348.htm
---
NYC Gun Suit May Succumb To Federal Law: In a brief order, Eastern
District of New York Judge Jack B. Weinstein ordered the city to explain
why its suit should not be dismissed in light of new legislation, which
bars the use of a federal database that tracks firearms as evidence in
civil litigation.
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1139479514476
---
Fake Guns, Real Crimes: Police in Washington DC see a rise in crimes
committed with replica firearms. Under current law, use of a replica
does not bring any sentencing enhancement. (If honest citizens could
carry real firearms in DC, more of these robberies might end with the
award of a lead Oscar.)
http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20060210-110721-4118r.htm
---
Oops, Wrong House: A mother relied on her handgun to deal with an
intruder in her home, while waiting for police to respond to her 911
call. (Note that the burglar was able to drop to the floor, avoiding the
two shots. This is one of the reasons that I teach aiming the first shot
to the pelvic area.)
http://www.themilwaukeechannel.com/stepsaway/6887900/detail.html
---
Northern Arizona May Finally Get Range: A site 15 miles south of
Flagstaff is reported to be the first choice for Arizona Game & Fish to
build a regional shooting range for northern Arizona.
http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=124820
---
Canadian Customs Officers Walk Off Job: After being alerted that an
armed kidnapping suspect might be headed their way, 12 unarmed customs
agents left work, citing unsafe working conditions.
http://compass.lssu.edu/content/view/151/29/
---
From AZ DPS CWPU:
This is a mass email.
Greetings all! Effective Feb 11, 2006, I will no longer be the
supervisor of the CCW Unit - Administrative Supervisor Rene Wilson will
be taking over and she is very excited to take the helm. I must say, I
have enjoyed my time as the boss but I have also been doing the job of
three people all the while. That said, we are also progressing with the
hiring of the two CCW program coordinators and I expect that QABs will
begin in late Feb. Once the coordinators are hired and working, I
believe that we will have a month or so train-up, maybe more, and then I
will move on to PI and Security Guard Licensing. I'm told that one of my
first assignments there will be to work on the armed guard qualification
course and the unit website - good times! I will also continue to advise
and assist the CCW unit on an as needed basis.
Legislation:
HB 2074 (eliminates renewal training) has been sent to the AZ Senate
Judiciary Committee so let them know how you feel about this bill -
either pro or con. My instincts tell me this bill just might make it to
the Governor's desk but I don't know how the Governor will react to it.
Regardless, it's good to be involved in the decisions your government
makes so contact your legislators and tell them what you think.
HB 2075 (eliminates the need for a permit) was gutted and rewritten. It
now specifies that under ARS 13-3102.F a holster is presumed to be
wholly or partially visible if worn outside of all layers of clothing
(this bill has been held in the AZ House Judiciary Committee).
Many of you have asked who is behind the new bills related to CCW. For
the legislators, go the AZ Legislature webpage, go to "Bills" then "Bill
Info". Once you have selected a bill, go to "Show Versions" and you can
see the names of the legislators behind the bill. Here's the website:
http://www.azleg.state.az.us/default.asp. You can see all bills linked
to firearms and CCW that I am tracking here:
http://www.azdps.gov/ccw/whatsnew.asp
The Arizona Citizen's Defense League has also been involved with many of
the new bills and proposed legislation. While some their views may
differ from those of the AZ DPS (in some cases radically), I know these
individuals to be honest and sincere people who are all very involved
with firearms and gun rights. Regardless of how you may feel about what
their views are, they do provide an excellent service by sending you
email updates on the progress of CCW and firearms legislation. If you
like, check out their website here:
http://www.azcdl.org/ As they also
receive emails from the CWPU, I appreciate that they have not yet showed
up at my office with a lynch mob, although I suspect one has been formed
(I heard recently there was a run on torches and rope at Walmart). Just
kidding guys.
Three other important bills related to self defense and juveniles will be
heard in the AZ Senate on Monday, Feb 13, 2006; SB 1145 and SCR 1001. Here
is a link to each bill:
http://www.azleg.state.az.us/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=SB1145
http://www.azleg.state.az.us/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=SCR1001
http://www.azleg.state.az.us/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=SB1339
Basically, SB 1145 and SCR 1001 change the presumption of justification
in favor of someone who has used or threatened to use physical or deadly
physical force. SB 1339 states that judges may not suspend the right to
carry or possess a firearm of juveniles adjudicated delinquent in
certain cases. Again, let your Senators know what you think.
That's all for now, have a great weekend.
Regards,
Detective Russ Hamilton
Supervisor
AZ DPS Concealed Weapon Permit Unit
(602) 256-6280
(602) 223-2708
(800) 256-6280 (In Arizona only)
(602) 223-2928 Fax
---
From NRA-ILA:
NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert Vol. 13, No. 6 02/10/06
States with updates this issue (click state to be routed directly to
story): Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas,
Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South
Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
BATFE ABUSE AT RICHMOND, VA GUN SHOWS
On February 15, the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime,
Terrorism and Homeland Security will hold an oversight hearing (the
first of three BATFE-related hearings) to investigate apparent
wrongdoing by BATFE at a Richmond, VA gun show last August.
In 2004-05, a troubling pattern emerged at a number of Richmond, VA-area
gun shows, where hundreds of BATFE agents and state and local police
staked out local shows. Immediately upon learning of these incidents,
NRA began investigating and working to ensure congressional oversight
hearings would be held to determine any wrongdoing and ensure BATFE was
not overstepping its bounds or violating the law.
BATFE agents copied lawful gun purchase transaction records and provided
this information to local police officers, who in turn conducted
"residency checks." Federal law prohibits the release of this
information except in the course of a bona fide criminal investigation.
The information provided to local police prompted multiple instances of
officers showing up at the homes of those who lawfully purchased
firearms from licensed dealers. When the lawful purchasers were not at
home, agents questioned family members (for example, inquiring of a wife
if she knew her husband was at a gun show and/or had purchased a
firearm) or their neighbors. In other cases, reports surfaced of lawful
gun owners and holders of valid carry permits having their firearms
confiscated.
Those interested in watching the hearing online may do so at
http://judiciary.house.gov/schedule.aspx. The hearing is scheduled to
begin at approximately 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 15.
NATIONAL RIGHT-TO-CARRY
BILL INTRODUCED
U.S. Representative Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) recently introduced H.R.
4547-a national Right-to-Carry (RTC) reciprocity bill that would provide
national reciprocity for state carry licensees. The bill would allow
any person with a valid carry permit or license issued by a state to
carry a concealed firearm in any other state if they meet certain
criteria. The bill would not create a federal licensing system; it
would simply require the states to recognize each other's carry permits,
just as they recognize drivers' licenses.
For more information on the bill, please visit
www.nraila.org/Issues/FactSheets/Read.aspx?ID=189.
Please be sure to contact your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121,
and urge him or her to cosponsor and support H.R. 4547!
SENATOR RICK SANTORUM INTRODUCES S. 2249�
THE SPORTSMEN'S PRIVACY PROTECTION ACT
On February 7, Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) introduced legislation to
eliminate the requirement in the 1996 Welfare Reform Bill that requires
hunters and fishermen to furnish their social security numbers when
getting a license.
"Across America, hunting and fishing is an age old heritage that is
passed on from one generation to the next. Our outdoor sportsmen should
not be required to surrender sensitive information and risk being
victims of identity theft to preserve this legacy. This is much needed
reform and the NRA would like to thank Senator Santorum for leading this
effort in the United States Senate," said NRA-ILA Executive Director
Chris W. Cox.
Senator Santorum's bill is a companion to H.R. 4144, introduced in the
House by Representative Phil English, also of Pennsylvania. The House
version of the bill has been referred to the Ways and Means Committee.
"This proposed law will help save 16 million hunters and another 34
million fishermen who buy licenses every year from falling victim to
identity theft," continued Cox. "On behalf of NRA members across the
country, I want to thank Senator Rick Santorum for his support of the
hunters and fishermen and his work to preserve our country's strong
outdoor traditions."
NRA-ILA "MIX N' MINGLES"
How often do you get the opportunity to mix n' mingle with NRA-ILA
Headquarters staff and fellow NRA members in your area, to earn FREE NRA
items, and to assist with the efforts of candidates seeking office in
your area? Well, in preparation for the 2006 elections, you will have
the opportunity to do just that.
This election year, NRA-ILA will be hosting FREE NRA-ILA Mix N' Mingles
across the country. These events will provide NRA members with training
on what they can do locally to propel candidates to victory this
election season. The meetings also provide attendees the opportunity to
meet and socialize with lawmakers, candidates, their staffs, NRA-ILA
Headquarters staff, and fellow area NRA members-and to earn FREE NRA
fraternal items like hats, pocketknives, buttons, etc. Mix N' Mingles,
including materials, food, beverages, and NRA items are FREE!
The first-ever Mix N' Mingle is scheduled for:
-San Antonio, TX-2/25/06
NRA members who have access to the Internet can go to
www.nraila.org/workshops/ to reserve their seats on-line. To forward
the Mix N' Mingle invitation to fellow NRA members, including a personal
message from you, please go to www.nraila.org/ecard/?ID=1. NRA members
are encouraged to check this website address frequently to see if any
upcoming Mix N' Mingles are scheduled in their area. NRA members may
also contact the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683)
for details and to reserve their seats.
DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO OWN A PIECE OF HISTORY
Now's your chance to own a piece of political history, straight from the
closely fought 2004 presidential campaign! The last of the "That Dog
Don't Hunt" banners is now available on E-Bay.
One of only 12 made, the banner�measuring 10 feet long and 5 feet
high�crisscrossed battleground states in the final frantic month of the
hotly contested 2004 presidential race and played an important role in
determining the outcome of the election. The banner was displayed at
NRA rallies and gun shows and was a major part of the National Rifle
Association's intense efforts to educate voters that, despite his
attempt to pander to sportsmen, Senator Kerry had a 20 year record of
hostility towards the Second Amendment. The NRA rallies were crucial in
turning out enough voters to give Bush victories in pivotal battleground
states such as Ohio and West Virginia.
NRA-ILA Executive Director and NRA Political Victory Fund chairman Chris
W. Cox has signed the banner.
The auction will run through February 17, with bidding closing at 2:15
p.m. that day. If you'd like to own this valuable piece of political
history, please visit
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7743149474 and place
your bid.
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.
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.
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.***)
States with updates this issue (click state to be routed directly to
story): Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas,
Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South
Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
ARIZONA: SB 1145, the "Castle Doctrine" sponsored by Senator Timothy
Bee (D-30), will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday,
February 13, at 1:30 p.m. The most significant component of this
legislation will come by way of amendment. The "Burden of Proof"
amendment addresses a truly grave situation facing any Arizonan who is
forced to act in self-defense. Because of a change to the self-defense
laws that was passed with little fanfare in 1997, citizens who act in
self-defense are currently presumed guilty until they prove their
innocence in court. This defies the age-old principle of "innocent until
proven guilty." This leaves good citizens vulnerable to wrongful
prosecution and conviction for simply defending themselves and their
loved ones from violence. Arizona is one of only two states in the
country that places the burden of proof in self-defense cases on the
citizen instead of the state. This is simply wrong and must be
corrected this year before more abuses occur! Please contact your
Senator and ask him or her to support SB 1145 with the "Burden of Proof"
Amendment. The full House passed HB 2075, legislation sponsored by
Representative Chuck Gray (R-19). The bill eliminates the two-hour
refresher-training course for concealed carry permit renewals. This will
end Arizona's status as one of only a handful of Right-to-Carry states
that have such a requirement. Please call your Senator and ask that he
or she support this legislation. Senators can be reached at (602)
926-3559, or toll free at (800) 352-8404.
FLORIDA: HB-265, the "Florida No-Net-Loss" bill sponsored by
Representative Don Brown (R-5), passed out of the "House Water & Natural
Resources Committee" on February 8, unanimously. Simply put,
"No-Net-Loss" requires that states maintain at least the level of
available public hunting land that currently exists. It requires that
additional lands be opened to hunting if land that is currently open to
hunting is closed. The end result is assurance to hunters that the
opportunities they now have will not diminish. Please visit
www.NRAILA.org for updates on this important piece of legislation.
HAWAII: A coalition of law enforcement groups has proposed the language
written in SB 2579-a ban on the sale and possession of .50 caliber
rifles and ammunition. As you know, these rifles are used for sporting
purposes, but have been demonized in the press and by anti-gun groups
looking for the next gun control scheme. SB 2579 is an outright ban
that, if signed, will take effect immediately. Owners of the affected
firearms would have to remove the firearm from the state, surrender it
to law enforcement, or have it destroyed. It is vital that NRA members
and friends in the pro-gun community call their state legislators at
(808) 587-0666 and ask them to oppose this proposed gun ban. Other
anti-gun legislation includes SB 2408/HB 2522, which would exempt
government entities from the definition of "owner" in state law that
imposes a strict liability on firearms owners for injury or damage
caused by that firearm.
SB 2531, the Right-to-Carry bill introduced by Senators Sam Slom (R-8)
and Gordon Trimble (R-12), may be heard in the "Senate Intergovernmental
Affairs Committee" as early as next Tuesday, February 14. Please
contact the Chair of the committee, Senator David Ige (D-16) and ask him
for a hearing on SB 2531. Also, respectfully ask for SB 2531 to be
passed out of committee. Senator Ige can be reached by calling (808)
586-6230, or by e-mail at
[email protected]. In addition,
please contact your legislator at (808) 587-0666 and urge him or her to
oppose SB 2408/HB 2522 and support SB 2531! To get involved with the
Hawaii Rifle Association, please contact Max Cooper at (808) 261-8988.
IDAHO: Your communication with elected officials is needed to help
build momentum for two NRA backed bills: RS 15636C4 is a
"Right-to-Carry" reform bill that would extend the term of concealed
carry permits from four to five years and, similar to driver's licenses,
would require that renewal notices be sent out prior to permit
expiration. Additionally, this proposed bill would repeal the
requirement for a person to obtain a concealed carry permit if he or she
only carries in a vehicle. RS 15712C1, "Emergency Powers" legislation,
would prevent the Governor or any government authority from limiting
your Right to Keep and Bear Arms during a declared state of emergency.
The "State Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee" will hear both bills on
the afternoon of Monday, February 13. Monday's hearing is a "print"
hearing at which the committee will vote on whether to print and number
the bills for introduction. It is the very first, but critical, step in
the legislative process. Please contact the members of the Senate
Judiciary & Rules Committee and urge them to support RS 15636C4 and RS
15712C1. Members of the committee can be found by visiting
http://legislature.idaho.gov/about/contactbycommittee.cfm. Please also
contact your State Senator at (800) 626-0471 and encourage him or her to
do the same.
ILLINOIS: Anti-gun legislation continues to pose a threat in the
General Assembly. Both HB 4693, a handgun dealer licensing bill, and HB
4694, a mandatory storage bill, passed out of the Human Services
Committee and are awaiting action by the full House of Representatives.
Anti-gun legislators continue their frantic attempts to build up support
for HB 2414, which seeks to ban certain semi-automatic rifles and
shotguns, as well as .50 cal. rifles. The latest attempt, Amendment 7,
indicates how poorly worded this bill is, as well as how confused
anti-gun lawmakers are when it comes to firearms. Proponents of HB 2414
felt this new language was necessary in order to exempt air rifles from
the scope of the bill. Please continue to contact representatives and
urge them to oppose HB 2414, HB 4693, and HB 4694. (For more details on
these bills, please refer to last week's Grassroots Alert). On the
pro-gun side, keep contacting representatives and urge them to support
HB 4529, sponsored by Representative John E. Bradley (D-117), which
would allow FOID card applicants to sue the Illinois State Police if
that agency fails to act on applications within the 30-day time period
mandated by state law. While there are other anti-gun and pro-gun bills
that have been introduced�including SB 2963, Senator Bill Brady's (R-44)
pro-gun reform that seeks to repeal the FOID card system�most remain
bogged down and relatively inactive.
INDIANA: House Bill 1176, sponsored by Representative Troy Woodruff
(R-64), a bill that allows for an option of a 4-year carry permit, or a
lifetime carry permit for a higher fee, has passed the House. This bill
will now be heard by the Senate Committee for Corrections, Criminal, and
Civil Matters, on Tuesday, February 14, at 9:00 a.m. Please contact
your State Senator at (317) 232-9400 and ask him or her to support HB 1176.
KANSAS: Senate Bill 418, "The Personal and Family Protection Act,"
sponsored by Senator Phil Journey (R-26), passed through the Senate by a
vote of 29-11. SB 418 will now advance to the House of
Representatives. House Bill 2577, the "Stand and Defend Act" sponsored
by Representative Richard Carlson (R-61) will be voted on by the House
Federal & State Affairs Committee this coming week. This important
legislation allows a person to use justifiable force when the fear of
bodily harm is present. Please continue contacting your State
Representative at (785) 296-1153 and ask him or her to support SB 418
and HB 2577.
KENTUCKY: Sponsored by Representative Carolyn Belcher (D-72), HB 290,
the "Gun Owner Protection Act," passed the House Judiciary Committee
with a unanimous vote and is now headed to the full House for a floor
vote. This critical legislation ensures the names of concealed firearm
license holders are not released to the public. It prohibits employers
from enacting or enforcing policies that keep employees from storing
lawfully-owned firearms in their vehicles while at work. HB 290 also
prohibits government officials from regulating lawful firearms ownership
during a state of emergency. An amendment will be proposed allowing
concealed firearm license holders to use their license to satisfy the
NICS requirement when purchasing firearms from a licensed dealer.
Please contact your Representative and ask that he or she support HB
290. Sponsored by Senator Katie Kratz Stine (R-24), SB 12 passed the
Senate Judiciary Committee with an 8-2 vote. It is now headed to the
full Senate. This bill prohibits the prosecution of gun owners who
unknowingly wander onto property owned by a public or private school if
it is not properly posted pursuant to current law. Current law requires
the posting of school property. However, if a school ignores this legal
requirement, gun owners may still be prosecuted for a felony offense
when possessing a firearm on the property. This is unacceptable and
must be rectified. Please contact your Senator and ask that he or she
support SB 12. All members of the Kentucky General Assembly can be
reached at (502) 564-8100. Also, when contacting your legislators,
please ask that they actively support the passage of the "Castle
Doctrine Legislation" that significantly bolster's the right to
self-defense in Kentucky. It is HB 236 in the House (Representative
J.R. Gray (D-6)), and SB 38 (Senator Dick Roeding (R-11)) and SB 52
(Senator Ed Worley (D-34)), in the Senate.
MISSISSIPPI: On Monday, February 6, the Mississippi House of
Representatives approved House Bill 1141, an NRA-backed measure
sponsored by Representative Warner McBride (D-10). HB 1141 will allow
the owner of a property that has been annexed by a county or
municipality to continue hunting on certain-sized tracts of land even if
the city has a ban on the discharge of firearms. HB 1141 also contains
a provision, which would prohibit New Orleans-style gun confiscations
from law-abiding citizens during a future state of emergency or natural
disaster. The House also approved a floor amendment, which contains
language from HB 1059, a bill that died in committee the previous week.
This amendment will allow employees to transport and store firearms in
locked personal vehicles while parked on property owned by their
employers. HB 1141 now moves to the Senate for consideration. Please
contact your State Senators at (601) 359-3770 and ask him or her to
support the NRA-backed HB 1141 with the employee parking lot amendment.
For additional contact information, please visit www.mississippi.gov.
NEBRASKA: On Thursday, February 9, Legislation Bill 454A (the
appropriations bill to LB454, also known as the "Concealed Handgun
Permit Act") sponsored by Representative Jeanne Combs (I-32), advanced
from General File to Select File. These two bills will now be rejoined
and will advance to the second round of debate in the coming weeks.
Please continue with phone calls to your State Senator requesting his or
her further support of LB 454 and your Second Amendment Rights! The
contact number for the Nebraska legislature is (402) 471-2271.
PENNSYLVANIA: A legislative study released Wednesday, February 8,
indicated Pennsylvania's system of instant background checks for gun
buyers could go into the red in about a year without funding changes.
Firearm dealers and county sheriffs lodged 529,000 calls in 2004 to
Pennsylvania's Instant Check System, which is run by the state police.
Those calls concerned the sale or transfer of 393,000 firearms and
107,000 license-to-carry permits. Fewer than 2 percent of background
checks result in a denial. The "Legislative Budget and Finance
Committee" report said a decision by the governor's budget office to
stop funding the checks with a general fund line-item means the system
may run out of money in about a year. Historically, about two-thirds of
the system's funding has come from the general fund. The system also
collects a $2 instant-check fee, and a $3 surcharge from the sale of
firearms. It costs about $4.2 million annually to fund the program, and
the "Firearms Record Check Fund" had a $4.4 million reserve as of June
2005. The report said that without general fund money, the $2
instant-check fee would have to be increased to at least $8.75. In
addition, an $8.75 fee would not pay for proposed computer upgrades.
Please write Governor Rendell and insist that the fee be kept reasonable
so that persons of limited means are not effectively deprived of the
constitutional right to "Keep and Bear Arms." Since the Commonwealth
requires persons to obtain a license to carry a concealed firearm, the
general fund should bear the majority of the financial cost of
supporting the licensing system. You can send correspondence to:
Governor Edward Rendell, RM. 225 Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg, PA
17120.
SOUTH CAROLINA: This week, the House of Representatives passed H 4301,
introduced by Representative G. Murrell Smith, Jr. (R-67), with
overwhelming bi-partisan support, and virtually no opposition. This
bill, modeled after Florida's "Castle Doctrine" law, would remove the
"duty to retreat" if a law-abiding citizen is attacked anywhere that
person may lawfully be. Please contact your senator at (803) 212-6200
and urge him or her to support H 4301.
SOUTH DAKOTA: House Bill 1134 ("A Citizens Right to Self-Defense"),
which is modeled after Florida's "Castle Doctrine," passed through the
Senate, 31 to 1. This important legislation will head back to the House
for concurrence as early as next week. Please contact your State
Representative at (605) 773-3851, and ask him or her to support HB 1134
with NRA-backed amendments.
WASHINGTON: Your phone calls and emails are urgently needed to stop a
bill prohibiting the discharge of firearms in Island County from
becoming law. Sponsored by Senator Mary Margaret Haugen (D-10), Senate
Bill 6598 would effectively ban shooting on all county-owned land in
Island County. SB 6598 is now before the State Legislature because
there is not enough support in Island County to restrict shooting. Only
a few residents are against shooting in Island County. Meetings and
hearings have been held in the county and discussions are still taking
place to determine an appropriate local action, if any is necessary.
Existing law already gives authority to cities and counties to restrict
the discharge of firearms. Representing Island County, Senator Haugen
is apparently frustrated by the lack of support for her anti-shooting
agenda within her own district. Her asking the State Legislature to
weigh in on a local issue is an attempt to make an end-run around the
Island County government process. Even if you do not live in Island
County, SB 6598 directly affects you because it is unnecessary,
inappropriate and would create a horrible precedent! It is an abuse of
the state legislative process and your county could be next! SB 6598 is
currently pending a vote in the Senate Rules Committee. It is vital
that you immediately call the members of the Senate Rules Committee.
Please respectfully ask them to oppose SB 6598! Be sure to contact your
State Senator as well! To reach members of the State Senate please
call (800) 562-6000. It is especially important if you live in Island
County to communicate with your State Senator, Mary Margaret Haugen, and
politely, but firmly, express your displeasure with her introduction of
this legislation! For more information please visit www.leg.wa.gov/Senate.
WISCONSIN: A recent study has found the future of hunting in Wisconsin
is in serious jeopardy. Assembly Bill 586 has been introduced to
provide parents more discretion with regard to deciding when their
children are mature enough to hunt as long as they are within arm's
reach of an adult mentor who meets the hunter education requirement and
there is only one firearm between the two. This is known as "mentored
hunting." Experience in other states shows that mentored hunting is the
safest form of hunting. Thirty states trust parents to decide when
their children are mature enough to hunt, including most of Wisconsin's
neighbors, and their hunter recruitment rates are far higher. Please
call your State Senator at (800) 362-9472 and respectfully ask him or
her to support AB 586, the Hunter Mentoring Bill.
WYOMING: The Wyoming Legislative Session begins Monday, February 13.
Several NRA-backed bills have been introduced in the State House and
Senate. HB 46, sponsored by Representative Steve Watt (R-17), is known
as the "No Duty to Retreat Act/Castle Doctrine." This bill specifies
that Wyoming citizens have no duty to try to escape before using deadly
force against an assailant, either in their home or in their vehicle.
HB 78, sponsored by Representative Becket Hinckley (R-41), would allow
law-abiding citizens to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. SB
79, sponsored by Senator Cale Case (R-25), would allow law-abiding
citizens to carry a firearm for self-protection during bow hunting
season. Please visit www.NRAILA.org for updates on these important
pieces of legislation.
--
Stephen P. Wenger
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
