Disgruntled Agents Sue BATFE: ...More than a dozen lawsuits,
administrative claims, grievances, ATF documents and letters to Congress
reviewed by The Arizona Republic accused administrators of betraying
their own field investigators and operatives out of arrogance or
incompetence.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0114atf1014.html
---
Mitt Romney Touts "Gun Rights": Conservative website newsmax.com
publicizes Mitt Romney's vote-seeking trip to the 2007 SHOT Show.
(Romney recently finished a term as governor of Massachusetts which, I
suppose, is a slightly more gun-friendly state than New Jersey. I can
recall no reports of Romney vetoing any further infringements of the
RKBA during his term.)
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2007/1/13/131410.shtml?s=ic
---
Athletes And Guns: Article that purports to show both sides of why many
professional athletes carry firearms features a baseball player who
stuffs his Glock into his back pocket or his waistband and an
athlete-turned-dealer who says he sells firearms over the internet.
(Glock's trigger system require a good holster to ensure that a stray
piece of clothing does not snag the trigger and advertising firearms on
the internet does not allow a dealer to bypass applicable laws affecting
their sale.)
http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=2792928&page=1
---
Rule Three Reminder: The Montgomery County (Ohio) Sheriff's Office is
trying to find out what happened when a deputy's firearm went off while
he was attempting to take a robbery suspect into custody late Tuesday.
(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.)
http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/01/10/ddn011007deputyweb.html
---
Rule Three Reminder, Part 2: One of two burglary suspects surprised
Tuesday night by a Norton Shores police officer attacked her, and the
officer's weapon fired in the ensuing struggle. (Since handguns are
designed to be operated with the finger inside the trigger guard, it's
difficult to keep it out during a struggle. This is part of the reason
that some of us teach protected-gun positions to help reduce attempts by
assailants to grab the defender's handgun.)
http://www.mlive.com/news/muchronicle/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1168451104290040.xml&coll=8
---
Disguised Revolver: Video shows a knife that incorporates a .22-caliber
revolver. (It's important be able to articulate why you may reasonably
feel threatened when people point objects at you as though they were
firearms. It's also part of the reason that some of us teach the generic
command "Drop that weapon!")
http://home.comcast.net/~mwilltn/Knife_-_Gun_Video.mpa
---
From NRA-ILA:
NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert Vol. 14, No. 2 01/12/07
States with updates this issue: Missouri, Nevada, Pennsylvania, South
Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
The 110th Congress has been sworn in and is now up and running. As
we've been reporting, with most of the congressional leadership firmly
in anti-gun hands, you can bet we are going to face a number of
challenges that threaten our Second Amendment rights. However, we are
also going to work to ensure that newly-elected lawmakers who ran on
pro-gun campaign promises, get an opportunity to make good on their
commitments, as we will take advantage of any and all opportunities to
advance our agenda.
With so many new faces in Congress, and both houses under new
management, it is important that your elected officials hear from you
NOW to learn of your support for the Second Amendment and your
opposition to new gun control laws. Remember, some of these legislators
have NEVER cast a gun-related vote. We never want to hear a lawmaker
claim he voted for restrictions on our rights because he never heard
anything to the contrary from his constituents. No lawmaker deserves a
free pass! And don't forget to contact your state officials as well.
Most state legislatures have also reconvened (or will soon), and we
anticipate that much of the action we face this year will be at the
state level.
NRA-ILA has a number of tools to make identifying and contacting your
representatives easy. Visit www.NRAILA.org, and click the "Take Action"
tab at the top of the page. Then, choose the "Write Your
Representatives" option. By entering your zip code, you will be
provided with contact information for your lawmakers in Washington.
Before you use this feature to send your lawmaker an e-mail, check out
the "Tips for Communicating With Your Lawmakers" link that can be found
atop the "Write Your Representatives" feature. Here you will find
guidelines for effectively communicating with your lawmakers.
As gun-related legislation is introduced and makes its way through the
110th Congress, we will fully report on these bills in future Alerts,
and remind you to take advantage of the aforementioned resources to make
your views known to your lawmakers. In the meantime, please contact your
lawmakers in Washington now to introduce yourself and to get "on the
record" in support of the Second Amendment, and encourage your family,
friends, and fellow firearm owners to do the same.
2007 YOUTH EDUCATION SUMMIT
The National Rifle Association's Youth Education Summit (YES) program is
gearing up to host another active week for students who want to learn
about the U.S. government. The YES program will host a group of
outstanding high school sophomores and juniors from across the United
States for a weeklong educational experience in Washington, D.C. This
year's program will take place July 9 - 15. The deadline for
applications is set for March 1, 2007.
The Youth Education Summit is a seven-day event designed to encourage
America's youth to become active and knowledgeable U.S. citizens. YES
is an intensive educational experience that allows students to learn the
significance of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, to develop an
understanding of the federal government, and see the importance of
active participation in civic affairs--all while in the nation's capital.
Activities on this year's schedule include:
* Informative tours, and independent time, at historic sites and
monuments in and around Washington, D.C.
* Traversing an obstacle course at the Marine Corps Base in
Quantico, Va.
* Guest speakers and research time at NRA Headquarters and the
National Firearms Museum.
* Competitive debates with other high school students from across
the nation.
In addition to the week in Washington, D.C., YES participants compete
for $30,000 in college scholarships. Since the program's inception in
1996, over $140,000 in scholarships have been awarded.
The March 1, deadline is quickly approaching. High school sophomores
and juniors interested in participating in the NRA's Youth Education
Summit program need to have their applications postmarked by the deadline.
For additional information, and to download an application for the 2007
Youth Education Summit, please visit www.nrafoundation.org/yes or call
(800) 672-3888, ext. 1353.
FOREST SERVICE PLAN NEEDS CRUCIAL INPUT FROM SPORTSMEN
The Pike and San Isabel National Forests in Colorado are developing a
management plan to shape the kinds of uses allowed in these Forests for
the next 15 years. Seven public meetings are scheduled in January and
February to give the public an opportunity to state how they want the
Forests to be managed. The last time the management plan was updated
was in 1984, so it is likely that the new plan will incorporate some
significant changes. It is vital that sportsmen and women participate
in the process to ensure access and opportunities for hunting and
recreational shooting.
In its announcement, the Forest Service said that the principal issues
will be recreation, ranching, oil and gas development, logging, forest
thinning, and off-road vehicle use. The meetings will be from 5:30 to
9:00 p.m., in the following locations:
January 17 - Leadville, National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum, 120
West 9th Street
January 18 - Salida, Chaffee County Fairgrounds, 10165 County Road 120
January 30 - Denver, Clements Community Center, 1580 Yarrow Street
January 31 - Colorado Springs, La Foret Conference Center, 6145 Shoup Road
February 14 -Westcliffe, Ranchera's Roost Cafe & Bowling Alley, 25 Main
Street
February 15 - Pueblo, El Pueblo Museum, 302 N. Santa Fe Avenue
February 21 - Fairplay, Fairplay Fairbarn, 880 Bogue Street
A LOOK AT THE STATES
(***For all of the action items below, you can find contact information
for your legislators by visiting www.NRAILA.org, clicking the "Take
Action" icon, and then clicking the "Write Your Representatives" icon.
As always, thank you for your support.***)
States with updates this issue: Missouri, Nevada, Pennsylvania, South
Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
MISSOURI
Representative Kenny Jones (R-117) has introduced House Bill 189,
Missouri Castle Doctrine. This legislation will ensure that law-abiding
Missourians will not have a duty to retreat from a violent attacker, and
may stand their ground and meet force with force. As a former Sheriff,
Representative Jones understands the critical importance of a citizen's
right to self-defense, and HB189 will be a major step forward in
protecting that right. Please contact your State Representative at (573)
751-0940 and urge him or her to protect your right to self-defense by
supporting HB189, Missouri's Castle Doctrine.
NEVADA
Currently, it's illegal to own or possess a handgun in Clark County,
Nevada, unless it's registered with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police
Department. This means that if you have a Nevada Right-to-Carry permit
from any other county outside of Clark County, your pistol must be
registered in Clark County if you are there more than one day. Even if
you come to Clark County to participate in a pistol-shooting event or
gun show that lasts more than one day, your pistol must be registered
with the sheriff of Clark County. The Nevada Revised Statutes (244.364)
establishes a uniform state law for all firearms in the state of
Nevada. However, when the law was passed in 1989, Clark County was
"grandfathered," which means that any and all local ordinances governing
firearms before the law went into effect were allowed to stand. State
Senator John Lee (D-Clark County), is introducing legislation in the
2007 Session (BDR S-45) that will eliminate this "grandfather clause"
from the State Firearms Preemption Law. This will remove the patchwork
of local gun laws and protect law-abiding Nevada gun owners from
inadvertently becoming criminals. It is vital that NRA members
communicate with their legislators prior to the session start date of
February 5, while they are still in the districts, and ask them to join
Senator Lee and co-author this very important piece of legislation. BDR
S-45 has yet to be assigned a bill number, but when it does go to print,
it would send a strong message of support to Senator Lee if it had your
legislator's name attached as a co-author. Thank you for your support!
Please keep checking your e-mail and www.NRAILA.org for future updates
on this threat to the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in the State of Nevada!
PENNSYLVANIA & VIRGINIA
Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett (R) has announced that a
reciprocal agreement was reached allowing valid Pennsylvania
Right-to-Carry licensees to carry within both Virginia and
Pennsylvania. All license holders will be required to follow state
laws, including age restrictions and type of handguns permitted. For a
complete list of reciprocal states and state licenses that are honored
by Pennsylvania, please visit: www.attorneygeneral.gov/crime.aspx?id=184.
SOUTH CAROLINA
The 117th South Carolina General Assembly convened this week, and
pro-gun State Representative Greg Delleney (R-43) has introduced
legislation to make South Carolina a straight recognition state for
Right-to-Carry (RTC) permits. H 3212 would remove from the South
Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) the authority to arbitrarily
determine which permits issued by other states will be recognized in
South Carolina. Instead, H 3212 would mandate that all valid RTC
permits be recognized in South Carolina. This legislation will not only
greatly increase the number of permits issued by other states that will
be honored in South Carolina, but will also increase the number of
states that will recognize a South Carolina permit. Please contact your
State Representative at (803) 734-2402 and urge him or her to cosponsor
this critical legislation. You may also want to take a moment to thank
Representative Delleney for his efforts to promote our Right to Keep and
Bear Arms and our right to personal protection.
TEXAS
The 80th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature convened this week.
Numerous pro-Second Amendment measures have already been filed and will
be considered by lawmakers this session: HB 284, by Rep. Joe Driver
(R-Garland), the NRA-backed Castle Doctrine/self-defense law reform
bill; SB 112, by Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas), and HB 258, by Rep. Frank
Corte (R-San Antonio), NRA-supported legislation to prohibit the
confiscation of firearms from law-abiding citizens during a state of
emergency or natural disaster; HB 220, by Rep. Phil King
(R-Weatherford), and HB 511, by Rep. David Farabee (D-Wichita Falls),
NRA-supported bills allowing Concealed Handgun Licensees to transport
and store handguns in locked vehicles parked on employer-controlled
property; and SB 112, by Sen. Bob Deuell (R-Greenville), the
NRA-supported CHL confidentiality bill. Please contact your State
Representatives and State Senators and urge them to sign on as
co-authors to these important measures! Contact information for your
elected officials, as well as the text of these bills, can be found at
the following websites:
http://www.house.state.tx.us and
http://www.senate.state.tx.us.
WASHINGTON
In a nod towards the wishes of Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, a handful of
anti-gun measures are slated to come before the 2007/2008 Washington
Legislature as the session kicks off this week. Perhaps the most
dangerous is House Bill 1026, a measure aimed directly at private
firearm sales, which would mandate that all firearms sold at gun shows
be transferred through a federally licensed dealer, thereby imposing
dealer restrictions on private individuals who are not dealers. House
Bill 1014 imposes strict penalties should an individual be found guilty
of "unsafe storage of a firearm" under the definition of "reckless
endangerment." This measure singles out the storage of firearms for
criminalization rather than directing attention towards educating
children on the issue of firearms safety. These bills have been
recycled from sessions past, and thanks to the support of NRA members in
Washington, have been consistently beaten back. However, this
legislative year they have a chance of passage due to the change in
political make-up of the Legislature from the 2006 election cycle. It
is vital that NRA members keep up the pressure and communicate with
their legislators in opposition to HB 1026 and HB 1014. For a full
listing of names and contact information, please log onto the
Legislative website at
http://www.wa.gov/, or call the toll free hotline
at (800) 562-6000. Thank you!
--
Stephen P. Wenger
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
