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RKBA Forces Address UN Conference: The gun industry and shooting
enthusiasts fired back at the anti-gun lobby yesterday at an
international conference on illicit weapons. SAAMI has embraced marking
and tracing of weapons but is opposed to similar tracking for
ammunition, as is commonly proposed on the sidelines of the conference.
http://www.washtimes.com/world/20060630-100434-6273r.htm
---
Massachusetts Supremes - Homeowners Liable For Unlocked Guns: The
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled today in Jupin v. Kask that
homeowners must ensure that firearms in their homes are secured from
theft, or they may be held liable for shootings with stolen guns. This
is the first time that a court in Massachusetts has ruled that a
homeowner may be liable for a shooting with a gun stolen from a home.
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=68634
---
Ninth Circuit Upholds Machine-Gun Conviction: People can't legally make
their own machine guns and escape federal prosecution, the Ninth U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday. The "reasoning" of the court
appears to be that even though the guns had not crossed state lines,
they could do so eventually, hence the federal government has jurisdiction.
http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/136092
---
NYPD Commissioner Sued Over Gun Raid: It's not clear whose gun licenses
would be restored if the lawsuit is successful but the New York Post
appears to concede that the recent raids on a couple of NYC gun dealers
were, in fact, merely publicity stunts.
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/gun_suit_targets_commish_regionalnews_philip_messing.htm
---
Brady Bunch Bemoans Mississippi "Castle Law": Citizens interviewed
welcome the recent expansion of self-defense rights in Mississippi but
it appears that the newspaper had to go the the Brady Bunch to find
someone to articulate opposition to it.
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060630/NEWS/606300382/1001/news
---
As Kansas Prepares For CCW...: On Thursday, the State Rules and
Regulations Board approved temporary rules to implement the law. Among
the rules was a lesson plan for an eight-hour course on firearms safety
that applicants must take to get a license.
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/jun/30/concealed_gun_law_raises_interest_worry/
---
Howard Nemerov vs. Associated Press: Howard Nemerov unmasks the lies in
a recent AP story that blames the NRA for an increase in violent crime.
http://www.chronwatch.com/content/contentDisplay.asp?aid=22066&catcode=13
---
Oops, Wrong Store: A couple of burglars in Ohio confronted an employee
who sleeps in the store they targeted. One is dead and the other is
being charged with his murder, under the felony murder rule.
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/news-story.php?story=196162
---
Paradigm Shift In Los Angeles?: Both the verbiage of the reporter for
The Los Angeles Times and the quote from the LAPD spokesman refer to an
"assault-style rifle." What's up with that? Has someone actually looked
up the definition of "assault rifle"?
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-shooting1jul01,1,3057315.story?coll=la-headlines-california
---
What's Wrong With This Picture?: "The young mother, one of about 570
cadets in the Border Patrol's academy in Artesia, is an ideal applicant:
minority, female and former military...On the shooting range, Yuma
native Morales, 27, squeezed off five rounds, grazing the lower left and
right of the target and hitting once dead in the center."
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0701bpacademy.html
---
Teddy Jacobson On Mouse Guns: I don't favor them myself but Teddy argues
for the NAA revolver if you must use a sub-caliber handgun (Mini Rev.
vs. Small Semi Auto).
http://www.actionsbyt.typepad.com/
---
Rule Three Reminder (From Gun Week):
Kills Self Trying to Shoot Cop
Say a belated goodbye to Fabian Patillo of Chicago, IL, who was out of
prison only six weeks before he assaulted two women and then, in what
can only be considered Twilight Zone justice, he accidentally shot
himself in the head while trying to fire at a pursuing police officer.
According to accounts in The Chicago Sun Times and Chicago Tribune,
Patillo was running from an Oak Park police officer following the sexual
assault, and when he tried to shoot at the cop by aiming the 9mm pistol
backwards over his shoulder, the gun went off. Patillo died the next
morning at a local hospital from a single wound to the right side of his
head.
This probably is not an accidental shooting that will bring yet another
frivolous lawsuit from Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.
Patillo was on parole for felony firearm and drug convictions, the
newspapers reported. He did not spend a lot of time in the slammer,
though, as he was convicted only last year, drawing a two-year sentence
on the drug conviction, and three years on the weapons charge. If he
exhibited good behavior inside the walls, that evaporated fast.
On the evening of June 5, Patillo showed up at a private residence in
the River Forest suburb. There, he confronted five women and told them
he was robbing them. He ordered them to strip, then went through their
purses, and finished off the crime by reportedly raping two of the
women. When one woman fought back, he fled, but a quick 911 call brought
police to the scene.
Spotted by an Oak Park officer, and subsequently by an off-duty Oak Park
detective, Patillo was confronted and started to run. When he raised his
pistol to fire a shot, the 21-year-old thug was a little too quick on
the trigger.
This article is provided free by GunWeek.com. For more great gun news,
subscribe to our print edition.
(Rule Three: Keep your finger out of the trigger guard, up on the frame,
until your sights are on the target and you're prepared to fire.)
---
From NRA-ILA:
NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert Vol. 13, No. 26 06/30/06
States with updates this issue: Alaska, California, Delaware, Michigan,
New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
U.N. GUN BAN CONFERENCE UPDATE
With the "U.N. Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation
of the Programme of Action to Prevent and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in
Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects" having begun on Monday,
June 26, here are some of the "highlights" (and "lowlights) of the
week's events.
Day One, Monday, June 26: U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan claims the
Conference's purpose was not to ban "law abiding citizens right to bear
arms..." However, others in the anti-gun cabal obviously disagree, as
evidenced by this statement from Indonesia's representative: "We
believe that no armed group outside of the State should be allowed to
bear weapons. We also believe that regulating civilian possession of
Small Arms/Light Weapons will enhance our efforts to prevent its misuse.
In our view, the issue of ammunition should also be addressed in the
context of the ProgramME of Action because in the absence of ammunition,
small arms and light weapons pose no danger." Regardless of Annan's
statement, the topic of "regulation" of civilian possession is obviously
still alive.
Day Two, Tuesday, June 27: U.S. Under Secretary of State Robert Joseph.
Joseph politely but forcefully gave the U.S. "red lines" -- issues which
the U.S. strongly opposes and will not allow into any Conference report
or recommendations. These include interference with Americans' Right To
Bear Arms, a U.N. ban on transfer of arms to freedom fighters and
international regulation of ammunition. The U.S. also said it was not
ready to commit to any future conferences on small arms. As Joseph noted
later, "The U.S. Constitution guarantees the rights of our citizens to
keep and bear arms, and there will be no infringement of those
rights..The United States will not agree to any provisions restricting
civilian possession, use or legal trade of firearms inconsistent with
our laws and practices."
Day Three, Wednesday, June 28: A new draft of the U.N. "Small Arms"
Conference "final" report became public. Unfortunately, the draft
contained provisions on two issues the U.S. considers "red lines" and
will not accept -- a U.N. ban on transfer of arms to freedom fighters
and international regulation of ammunition. The proposed document also
calls for U.N. meetings on "small arms" up to and including additional
conferences in 2008, 2010, and 2012! The U.S. is opposed to these
constant meetings which seem to rehash the same issues.
Day Four, Thursday, June 29: The Swiss Small Arms Survey (an anti-gun
think tank) released its book supporting international regulation of
ammunition. Although the U.S. continues to strongly oppose the
inclusion of ammunition in any Conference report, several countries
insist on pushing the concept. In another development, the President of
the Conference appointed three "facilitators" to work on the text of the
final report. The so-called facilitators are from Switzerland, Columbia
and Japan.
America's gun owners must continue to be vigilant and to take action on
this front. For additional information on the U.N.'s attempt to impose
its anti-gun will on the U.S. and around the world, please visit
www.NRAILA.org, where daily postings tracking the U.N. Conference can be
found. Also, please visit www.stopUNgunban.org, or call (800)
672-0636. This site provides valuable information and an opportunity to
order Wayne LaPierre's new book The Global War On Your Guns. The book
spells out a chilling warning that gun owners in the United States and
abroad must heed, and exposes a far-reaching scheme to pass a global ban
on civilian ownership of arms--including YOURS! Help stop the U.N.'s
attempt to thwart our Freedom. Please visit the site or call the
toll-free number today!
NRA NOT ALONE IN ITS IRE AGAINST U.N.
As noted in the previous story, America's gun owners are no doubt most
focused on U.N. efforts to promote transnational anti-gun laws.
However, that is just the tip of the iceberg. In addition to recent oil
for food, sex, and corruption scandals at the world body, a story in
today's Washington Times notes that Members of the U.S. House of
Representatives are promoting legislation to withhold U.S. contributions
to the U.N. Among the reasons cited for these actions are: recent
remarks by a U.N. bureaucrat that the U.S. government needs to do more
to defend the U.N. to the American public; displeasure with the makeup
of the U.N.'s Human Rights Council that includes some of the world's
most notorious human rights abusers and sponsors of terrorism; and the
U.S. goal of implementing a proportional voting system on financial
matters, where member-nations' votes would be commensurate with the
percentage of dues they contribute.
NRA APPLAUDS CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS FOR INCLUDING
GUN OWNERSHIP RIGHTS IN THEIR "AMERICAN VALUES AGENDA"
The NRA is pleased by Tuesday's announcement by House Congressional
leaders to include gun ownership rights as part of their 2006 "American
Values Agenda".
"On behalf of our four million NRA members nationwide, we deeply
appreciate the House Republican leadership for recognizing the
fundamental importance of protecting law-abiding Americans' Second
Amendment rights," said Chris W. Cox, NRA's chief lobbyist. "We strongly
encourage and endorse these pro-gun bills as part of the their "American
Values Agenda.'"
"Family, faith, patriotism and hard work bind us together as Americans.
Our laws should reflect those priorities, and House Republicans are
committed to the American Values Agenda, policies that stress the core
values on which our nation was built," said House Majority Whip Roy
Blunt (R-Mo.).
House Republican leaders have put together a package of "pro-freedom"
bills slated for votes this summer and fall. Two of those measures are
H.R. 5092 and H.R. 5013, bills that are also among NRA's top legislative
priorities.
H.R. 5092 is the "Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
(BATFE) Modernization and Reform Act of 2006." This measure would make
critical changes in the way BATFE enforces federal firearm laws. H.R.
5092 was introduced after abuses were exposed in several BATFE oversight
hearings by the House Crime Subcommittee held this spring.
H.R. 5013, the "Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act", would
prohibit the confiscation of legal firearms from law-abiding citizens
during national emergencies, barring practices like those employed by
officials in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The NRA
recently passed a similar measure into state law in Alaska, Idaho,
Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina,
Virginia, and Louisiana.
"NRA members, gun owners and sportsmen across the country should contact
their congressmen, urging them to support these pro-gun bills. No
matter what the circumstances, lawful gun owners have the right to
possess their firearms in their homes. That's what this legislation
ensures," concluded Cox.
HOUSE OVERTURNS MANDATORY GUN LOCKS PROVISION
This week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to overturn the
federal requirement that federally licensed firearm dealers provide a
"secure gun storage or safety device" (e.g., trigger locks, cable locks,
gun safes, gun cases, lock boxes, etc.) with the sale and/or transfer of
every handgun. The amendment, offered to a larger appropriations bill,
was sponsored by U.S. Representative Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.), and
passed by a vote of 230-191. This legislation has yet to be considered
by the U.S. Senate.
SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR 2005 NRA-ILA VOLUNTEER AWARDS
The "Jay M. Littlefield Memorial NRA-ILA Volunteer of the Year Award" is
an annual honor that recognizes an NRA member who demonstrates
exceptionally meritorious activism in defense of our Second Amendment
rights. Similarly, the "NRA-ILA Volunteer Organization of the Year
Award" is bestowed upon a group that has gone above and beyond the call
of duty in defending our freedom over the past year. Nominations for
these honors for last year (2005) should be submitted to: NRA-ILA
Volunteer Awards, c/o Ryan Irsik, NRA-ILA Grassroots Division, 11250
Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA, 22030. Nominations may also be faxed to
Ryan at (703) 267-3918, or e-mailed to
[email protected]. All
nominations must be submitted by NRA members in good standing and be
accompanied by a one-page description of why the nominee is deserving.
Winners will be selected by NRA-ILA staff, and will be acknowledged at
this Fall's NRA Board of Directors Meeting. Thedeadline for submissions
is July 7, 2006.
NRA-ILA "MIX N' MINGLES"
Much is at stake in this year's elections; we will decide if we continue
to move ahead on the path of pro-gun reform, or, if we will descend to
the dark Clinton-Gore years. In order to ensure continued success for
the Second Amendment, we must elect pro-gun lawmakers to office this
election season.
To ensure victory for our pro-gun candidates 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, and their staffs; NRA-ILA Headquarters
staff; and fellow area NRA members-and to earn FREE NRA fraternal items
such as hats, pocketknives, buttons, etc. "Mix N' Mingles," including
materials, food, beverages, and NRA items, are FREE!
Mix N' Mingle events are scheduled for:
- Addison, IL 07/15/06
- Lakemoor, IL 07/18/06
- Reading, PA 08/12/06
- Libby, MT 08/15/06
- Great Falls, MT 08/17/06
- Billings, MT 08/19/06
- Seymour, IN 08/24/06
- South Bend, IN 08/26/06
- Aurora, CO 08/26/06
- Lincoln, NE 09/09/06
- Dublin, OH 10/14/06
- St. Cloud, MN 10/16/06
NRA members who have access to the Internet can go to
www.nraila.org/workshops/ to reserve their seats on-line. 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.
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. For information on NRA-PVF candidate endorsements, NRA
members are encouraged to call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800)
392-VOTE (8683), or visit www.NRAPVF.org. If you go to the NRA-PVF
site, you will have to provide your NRA member ID number to access the
site. Your NRA member ID number can be found on the front of your NRA
magazine or on your NRA membership card. Your ID number on the
magazine's mailing label is the 10-digit number that follows the code:
#07901. Examples of how to find your ID number can also be found at
www.NRAPVF.org on the login page accessed by choosing your state. As
always, thank you for your support.***)
States with updates this issue: Alaska, California, Delaware, Michigan,
New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
ALASKA
On June 20, Governor Frank Murkowski (R) signed SB 274, important
legislation pertaining to the disposal of forfeited, surplus, and/or
unclaimed firearms. Under existing law, the state must dispose of
forfeited, surplus, or recovered but unclaimed firearms and ammunition
by selling or trading them to a licensed dealer. Firearms and
ammunition that are not "serviceable," "safe," or "legal" shall be
destroyed. SB 274, sponsored by Senator Fred Dyson (District I-R),
extends the requirements to local municipalities as well as the state
and removes the very subjective reference to "serviceable" and "safe."
The bill requires firearms and ammunition that are sold, to be done so
at a public sale, not limited solely to dealers. SB 274 will allow
trade-ins for credit on new firearms as well as donations and transfers
between law enforcement agencies. However, it does not guarantee that
all firearms would be made available to the public. irearms disposed of
in any "non-sale" methods must be reported to the legislature annually
during budget review sessions in the interest of oversight. A special
thank you to all NRA members for your calls and e-mails in support of SB
274 during the legislative session!
CALIFORNIA
The State Senate is now on vacation until August 7, and AB 352,
sponsored by Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D-42), and AB 2714, sponsored by
Assemblyman Alberto Torrico (D-20), are on hold for a vote until the
Senate reconvenes. AB 352 would require that serial numbers, make, and
model numbers be micro-stamped into the interior surface or internal
working parts of all handguns produced after a certain date. AB 2714
would ban the sale of ammunition through the mail or internet. Please
continue to contact your Senator and urge him or her to protect
law-abiding gun owners by voting against AB 352 and AB 2714. For more
information on both of these bills, please visit www.calnra.com/.
DELAWARE
Earlier this year, Delaware's efforts to join the ranks of the vast
majority of states by becoming a "shall-issue" Right-to-Carry state,
through passage of HB 359, appeared to be on the fast track for
success. However, due to political games played by anti-gunners, the
result was the introduction of a number of "killer amendments" designed
to defeat the bill and further intrude upon the privacy of the lawful
citizens of the State of Delaware. In the end, the chances of one of
the truly onerous amendments being attached to the bill was too great a
risk to take on behalf the law-abiding citizens of Delaware. NRA-ILA
will be publishing "grades" for all of the major candidates for public
office this November, and rest assured, HB 359 will be high among the
issues considered when those grades are assigned.
MICHIGAN
Important legislation has been sent to Governor Jennifer Granholm's (D)
desk! On June 29, the "Castle Doctrine" package comprised of HB 5142,
by Representative Tom Casperson (R-108), HB 5143, by Representative Rick
Jones (R-71), HB 5153, by Representative Leslie Mortimer (R-65), HB
5548, by Representative Tim Moore (R-97), SB 1046, by Senator Alan
Cropsey (R-33), as well as SB 1185, by Senator Ron Jelinek (R-21),
overwhelmingly passed the State Legislature and is now en route to the
Governor. This legislative package will help the citizens of Michigan
by clarifying the rights and duties of self-defense and the defense of
others within one's home and/or occupied vehicle and provide immunity
from civil liability for self-defense actions. Along with the "Castle
Doctrince" package, Senate Bill 1105, sponsored by Senator Michelle
McManus (R-35), and House Bill 5192, sponsored by Representative Scott
Hummel (R-93) are also headed to the Governor. SB1105 makes it easier
for new participants to become involved in our hunting heritage by
allowing them to hunt with a licensed adult for up to two years without
taking lengthy hunter education courses. HB 5192 drops the hunting age
from 14 to 12 for big game and 12 to 10 for small game. Please contact
Governor Granholm TODAY at (517) 373-3400 or (517) 335-7858 and urge her
to support "Castle Doctrine" legislation, SB 1105, and HB 5192.
NEW JERSEY
By a vote of 7 to 1, the Jersey City Council passed its
"one-gun-a-month" handgun rationing scheme at its June 28 Council
meeting, but unanimously defeated its "junk gun" ban, which is being
re-drafted a second time and will be re-introduced at a future date.
After a heated debate between gun rights activists and anti-gun
extremists, City Council President Mariano Vega, Jr. admitted that the
gun rationing ordinance "is feel-good legislation that will probably not
reduce crime, but we have to start somewhere, so I am voting yes." The
lone vote against the rationing scheme came from Councilman Michael
Sottolano (
[email protected]) (201) 547-5098). Members are encouraged
to contact Councilman Sottolano and thank him for his courage and
integrity. Ordinance # 06-082 bans the purchase of more than one
handgun per month, and leaves Jersey City residents unable to defend
themselves if their firearm rquires repair or is stolen within four
weeks of purchase. The ordinance will become effective 20 days after
passage, upon signing by the Mayor. The ordinance violates New Jersey's
preemption law, which forbids municipalities from regulating where the
state has already spoken. The Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol
Clubs (NRA's New Jersey State affiliate) has vowed to challenge the
illegal ordinance in Court, and CeaseFire New Jersey executives
threatened at the hearing to organize a defense on behalf of Jersey City
using pro-bono services of a major New Jersey law firm.
NEW YORK
On June 13, introductory resolution IR-1738-2006 was introduced in the
Suffolk County Legislature by Legislator Kate Browning. It would stop
all ongoing actions and efforts to reopen the Suffolk County Trap &
Skeet Range. The range is scheduled to reopen on July 15, 2006, but if
this resolution passes out of the Parks & Recreation Committee and is
brought to the floor of the full County Legislature, it may not open at
all. At the last Parks & Recreation Committee meeting held on June 21,
the Committee decided to table IR-1738-2006 and bring it up for
discussion once again at the next Parks & Recreation Committee meeting.
The next meeting is scheduled for August 2, at 11:00 a.m., at the
Suffolk County Legislative Building, Veterans Memorial Highway,
Hauppauge, NY 11788, (631) 853-4000. Please plan to attend this
meeting, and please call your Legislator and urge the Committee members
to oppose IR-1738-2006. The Suffolk County Legislaure can be reached at
(631) 853-4074 or by visiting www.co.suffolk.ny.us/legis/. Ms. Browning
is not giving up her fight on her resolution and only large numbers of
people can and will influence the members of this committee, of which
Ms. Browning is a member. We can, and we must, persuade the committee
and/or the County legislature to do the right thing and reopen the
Suffolk County Trap & Skeet Range. If the County government wasn't
enough to deal with, a group called the Long Island Pine Barrens Society
claims it has jurisdiction over whether or not the Suffolk County Trap &
Skeet Range can reopen. The Pine Barrens Society has already decided to
sue if the Suffolk County Trap & Skeet Range is reopened. The next
meeting of the Pine Barrens Society is scheduled for Wednesday, July 19,
which is four days after the Suffolk Range is scheduled to open. Please
keep checking your e-mail and www.NRAILA.org for updates on this
important issue.
PENNSYLVANIA
This week, Philadelphia legislators filed five discharge resolutions in
an attempt to move anti-gun legislation out of the House Judiciary
Committee to the House floor for a possible vote. Among the resolutions
was legislation to create a one-gun-a-month statute in the City of
Philadelphia. This legislation would allow Philadelphia to usurp
Pennsylvania's preemption statute by limiting handgun purchases to one a
month. Representative Dwight Evans (D-203) who took the lead role,
along with 25 co-sponsors, submitted these resolutions in a misguided
attempt to address violence in Philadelphia. Instead of infringing upon
Second Amendment rights, legislators should be supporting additional
funding for Philadelphia's version of Project Exile. Please urge your
legislators to support additional funding for Philadelphia's version of
Project Exile, which puts anti-crime efforts into practice without
dissolving your Second Amendment rights.&nbs; The general phone number
for the General Assembly is (717) 787-2372.
--
Stephen P. Wenger
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
