From NRA-ILA:
NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert Vol. 14, No. 8 02/23/07
States with updates this issue: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii,
Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New
York, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.
THE MOST SWEEPING GUN BAN EVER INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS;
McCarthy Bill Bans Millions More Guns Than The Clinton Gun Ban
On Feb. 14, 2007, Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) introduced
H.R. 1022, a bill with the stated purpose, "to reauthorize the assault
weapons ban, and for other purposes."
McCarthy's verbiage warrants explanation. Presumably, what she means by
"assault weapons ban" is the Clinton Gun Ban of 1994. Congress allowed
the ban to expire in 2004 for multiple reasons, including the fact that
federal, state and local law enforcement agency studies showed that guns
affected by the ban had been used in only a small percentage of crime,
before and after the ban was imposed.
With the nation's murder rate 43% lower than in 1991, and the
re-legalized guns still used in only a small percentage of crime,
reauthorizing the Clinton Gun Ban would be objectionable enough. But
McCarthy's "other purposes" would make matters even worse. H.R. 1022
would ban every gun banned by the Clinton ban, plus millions more guns,
including:
Every gun made to comply with the Clinton ban. (The Clinton ban
dictated the kinds of grips, stocks and attachments new guns could have.
Manufacturers modified new guns to the Clinton requirements. H.R. 1022
would ban the modified guns too.)
Guns exempted by the Clinton ban. (Ruger Mini-14s and -30s and Ranch
Rifles; .30 cal. carbines; and fixed-magazine, semi-automatic,
center-fire rifles that hold more than 10 rounds.)
All semi-automatic shotguns. (E.g., Remington, Winchester, Beretta and
Benelli, used for hunting, sport shooting, and self-defense. H.R. 1022
would ban them because they have "any characteristic that can function
as a grip," and would also ban their main component, called the "receiver.")
All detachable-magazine semi-automatic rifles-including, for example,
the ubiquitous Ruger 10/22 .22 rimfire-because they have "any
characteristic that can function as a grip."
Target shooting rifles. (E.g., the three centerfire rifles most
popular for marksmanship competitions: the Colt AR-15, the Springfield
M1A and the M1 "Garand.")
Any semi-automatic shotgun or rifle an Attorney General one day claims
isn't "sporting," even though the constitutions of the U.S. and 44
states, and the laws of all 50 states, recognize the right to use guns
for defense.
65 named guns (the Clinton law banned 19 by name); semi-auto
fixed-magazine pistols of over 10 rounds capacity; and frames, receivers
and parts used to repair or refurbish guns.
H.R. 1022 would also ban the importation of magazines exempted by the
Clinton ban, ban the sale of a legally-owned "assault weapon" with a
magazine of over 10 rounds capacity, and begin backdoor registration of
guns, by requiring private sales of banned guns, frames, receivers and
parts to be conducted through licensed dealers. Finally, whereas the
Clinton Gun Ban was imposed for a 10-year trial period, H.R. 1022 would
be a permanent ban.
Please be sure to contact your U.S. Representative and urge him or her
to oppose
H.R. 1022!
You can call your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121.
CPAC 2007
NRA Members are invited to attend CPAC 2007Cthe 34th Annual Conservative
Political Action Conference, March 1 - 3, 2007. The conference will be
held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., just a short trip
from the White House, the Washington Monument, the Smithsonian, National
Archives, and the hundreds of other monuments, memorials, and museums in
our nation's capital. CPAC is the nation's premier annual gathering of
conservative leaders, celebrities, elected officials, and grassroots
activists.
CPAC will offer an agenda packed with political headliners including
Vice President Dick Cheney, NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre,
Senator Mitch McConnell, Congressman Mike Pence, Newt Gingrich, Sean
Hannity, Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, David Horowitz, Phyllis Schlafly,
and many others as they discuss important issues of the day. CPAC is
co-sponsored by NRA and more than 60 leading conservative organizations.
For additional information, or to register for the conference, please
call (703) 836-8602, or visit CPAC online at www.cpac.org
SECOND GRASSROOTS EVENT PLANNED FOR ST. LOUIS
In addition to the FREE Grassroots Workshop being held in conjunction
with NRA's Annual Meetings in St. Louis that we reported on last week,
the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division is holding an additional FREE event in
St. Louis.
We hope you will also be able to join us Saturday, April 14 for the
inaugural session of "In Their Own Words." This first-of-its-kind panel
will afford NRA members the opportunity to hear directly from their
fellow NRA members on effective grassroots activism. The panel will
feature some of NRA-ILA's most active volunteers in the nation, who will
talk about their personal efforts to advance our mutual causes in their
local communities. The session will conclude with a question and answer
period to allow audience participation.
Don't miss this opportunity to hear these present-day patriots talk
about their personal experiences working in the pro-gun rights
grassroots movement, and learn effective means of protecting and
promoting the Second Amendment in your own community. There is no
registration required and, as with the Friday Workshop, admission is FREE
Here are the details for each event:
NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop-FREE!
Friday, April 13, 2007, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
(Registration and free continental breakfast from 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
in the Majestic Ballroom E )
Renaissance Grand Hotel St. Louis
Majestic Ballroom E (Level Two)
800 Washington Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63101
(314) 621-9600
To register on-line, pleas visit
www.nraam.org/seminars/grassroots.asp. You may also call NRA-ILA at
(800) 392-VOTE (8683).
"In Their Own Words"-FREE!
Saturday, April 14, 2007, 2:00 p.m.
Room 242, America's Center
701 Convention Plaza
St. Louis, MO 63101
(314) 342-5042
No registration required
We hope to see you in St. Louis!
FEDS CONSIDER REMOVING WOLVES FROM ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
The federal government is holding hearings to obtain public comments
regarding the delisting of Rocky Mountain wolves from the Endangered
Species Act (ESA). It is critical that sportsmen attend the hearings in
order to counter the emotional claims of anti-hunting forces, who seem
to believe that a species' listing should be permanent. Of course, the
success of the ESA comes when a species, like the wolf, is delisted
because its numbers recover after once being dangerously low.
Wolves have their place within the ecosystem. But, as with other
species, sportsmen must be allowed to appropriately manage their
numbers. Delisting will allow state game officials to provide for
regulated hunting and trapping. Without this, wolves will continue to
take an unacceptably high toll on elk, moose, and deer populations.
Six open house meetings in different states are scheduled on the
proposed delisting (all six public hearings will be held from 6:00 -
8:00 p.m.):
Cheyenne, WY: February 27, 2007, at Holiday Inn Cheyenne, 204 West Fox
Farm Road.
Salt Lake City, UT: February 28, 2007, at Plaza Hotel, 122 West South
Temple.
Helena, MT: March 1, 2007, at Jorgenson's Inn & Suites, 1714 11th Avenue.
Boise, ID: March 6, 2007, at Boise Convention Center on the Grove, 850
Front Street.
Pendleton, OR: March 7, 2007, at Pendleton Red Lion Inn, 304 S.E. Nye
Street.
Spokane Valley, WA: March 8, 2007, at Oxford Inns & Suites, 15015 East
Indiana Avenue.
Anyone wishing to make an oral statement for the record is encouraged to
provide a written copy of his or her statement and present it at the
hearing. In the event there is a large attendance, the time allotted
for oral statements may be limited. Speakers can only sign up at the
open houses and hearings. Oral and written statements receive equal
consideration. There are no limits on the length of written comments
submitted.
If you have any questions concerning the public hearings, please contact
Sharon Rose (303) 236-4580. Persons needing reasonable accommodations
in order to attend and participate in the public hearings in Boise, ID;
Pendleton, OR; or Spokane, WA, should contact Joan Jewett at (503)
231-6211; or, for hearings in Cheyenne, WY; Salt Lake City, UT; or
Helena, MT, Sharon Rose at (303) 236-4580. If needed, please call as
soon as possible in order to allow sufficient time to process requests.
Also, please call no later than one week before the hearing date.
Please attend the hearings in your area and let your voice be heard!
FUTURE OF RECREATIONAL SHOOTING ON THE ARAPAHOE AND ROOSEVELT NATIONAL
FORESTS UNDER REVIEW
The Boulder Ranger District of the Araphoe and Roosevelt National
Forests is conducting a planning process to determine how recreational
shooting, dispersed camping, and campfires will be managed in the
future. Issues concerning these activities have been developed based
upon public input through written comments or at one of the public
meetings held last May. The District Ranger has now scheduled three
public meetings to talk about solutions to the issues. The meetings are
as follows:
February 24 - Boulder; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.; New Vista High School,
700 20th Street
February 28 - Boulder; 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.; Platt Middle School; 6096
Baseline Road
March 3 - Longmont; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.; Longmont High School; 1040
Sunset Street
Comments may be sent to
[email protected]. For more information you may
call the District Ranger's office at (303) 541-2500, or go to the
website at: www.fs.fed.us/r2/arnf/projects/ea-projects/brd/ufc/index.shtml
PROPOSED LEAD BAN IN CALIFORNIA
When it meets on March 2, the California Fish and Game Commission will
consider amending the state's hunting regulations for 2007-2010 to ban
or limit the use of lead ammunition for hunting in the range of the
California condor. The Department of Fish and Game suggested three
alternatives to the Commission: ban the use of lead ammunition for big
game hunting; ban the use of lead ammunition statewide; or offer hunters
incentives to voluntarily use non-lead ammunition.
Comments can be sent to the Commission by mail at: 1416 Ninth Street,
P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090, or by contacting the
Commission through its website at www.fgc.ca.gov.
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: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii,
Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New
York, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.
ARIZONA
Both versions of the "Emergency Powers" bills, SB 1258 carried by State
Senator Jay Tibshraney (R-21), and HB 2458 by State Representative
Russell Pearce (R-18), are moving forward in their respective chambers
and are on the brink of an agreement between the NRA and Governor Janet
Napolitano. The Governor vetoed a similar measure last year after
voicing concerns about having the authority to move stored ammunition,
but those issues are being resolved to both authors' satisfaction.
Please continue to contact your legislators in support of SB 1258 and HB
2458 to ensure their passage by calling the Senate Info Desk at (602)
926-3559 or the House Info Desk at (602) 926-4221. Both measures can be
found at the Legislature's website at www.azleg.state.az.us.
Also, after months of negotiation and phone calls from NRA members, the
Apache Junction City Council voted to establish a policy for the sale or
trade of confiscated firearms not returned to their lawful owners. This
move follows an outcry from NRA members when the AJ Police Chief
destroyed over 1,200 firearms that could have been sold back to the
community or traded for much needed supplies. Thank you to all members
who voiced your support for the new policy.
ARKANSAS
Senate Joint Resolution 7 (SJR 7)-an NRA-backed Constitutional Amendment
sponsored by State Senator Steve Faris (D-27) that would recognize
hunting and fishing as constitutional rights--will soon be heard by the
Senate and House Committees on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs.
Due to some surprising opposition to this critical amendment, it is
vital that NRA members, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts contact members
of these committees and urge them to support SJR 7. Membership rosters
for the Senate committee can be found by visiting
http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/scripts/ablr/committees/arcommittee3afm.asp?ccode=500&user=M
and for the House at
http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/scripts/ablr/committees/arcommittee3afm.asp?ccode=900&user=M
Please contact the members of these committees and respectfully urge
them to co-sponsor SJR 7. Arkansas State Senators can be reached at
(501) 682-2902, and State Representatives at (501) 682-6211.
As mentioned, opposition to this pro-hunting amendment is coming from a
strange source-The Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission (AGFC).
According to recent articles in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, the very
agency tasked with regulating hunting and fishing is opposed to an
amendment that would protect hunting and fishing for future generations.
And while this is truly puzzling, some of the reasons stated in an
article published on February 18 are even more confounding.
Scott Henderson, director of the AGFC, is quoted in the article as
stating, "Arkansas is one of the few states where fish and wildlife
management is elevated to constitutional status." This reference to
Amendment 35, which established the AGFC, may be true, but fish and
wildlife management does not automatically include fishing and hunting
by sportsmen. Some anti-hunting groups feel that wildlife management can
be accomplished through the use of professional hunters hired by the
state, or even using contraception programs. Groups such as PETA and
HSUS are so opposed to hunting that they are likely scheming to come up
with any number of ways wildlife can be "managed" without involving
citizens who enjoy hunting. What SJR 7 seeks to do is establish that
hunting and fishing are preferred methods of management, and recognize
that citizens have a right to hunt and fish.
The article also attributes to Henderson the claim that SJR 7 would
prohibit AGFC from suspending the licenses of people who repeatedly
violate wildlife codes. According to the article, "This would
essentially void the wildlife code because the AGFC would then be unable
to enforce it." This is patently absurd, as no such catastrophic
collapse of wildlife management has been experienced in any of the other
states that currently recognize hunting and fishing as protected rights.
Furthermore, SJR 7 clearly states the right is "subject to reasonable
regulation prescribed by the General Assembly and the Arkansas State
Game and Fish Commission."
Other claims in the article are that SJR 7 may impact trespass laws,
landowner rights, certain established restrictions on hunting, and
eliminate seasons and bag limits. These claims are simply ridiculous.
Again, other states with similar amendments have not experienced these
problems and, again, the right is "subject to reasonable regulation." It
is hard to understand how anyone who supports hunting does not recognize
that assaults on hunting have been going on for decades, and extremist
groups like PETA and HSUS have multi-million dollar annual budgets to
promote their anti-hunting agendas.
In addition, there is nothing in Amendment 35 that states the AGFC must
be made up of people who respect the interests of hunters. The sole
requirement to be a Commissioner is that the individual must "have
knowledge of and interest in wildlife conservation." The leadership of
HSUS and PETA could certainly argue they meet such qualifications.
All Amendment 35 does, in reality, is guarantee the AGFC has the sole
role in determining what constitutes Arkansas policy regarding "[t]he
control, management, restoration, conservation and regulation of birds,
fish, game and wildlife resources of the State..." SJR 7, on the other
hand, will guarantee that hunting and fishing by the honest citizens of
Arkansas is the preferred method in that wildlife management process.
The opposition to SJR 7 is certainly not unanimous on the AGFC, so in
addition to contacting members of the Senate and House Committees on
State Agencies and Governmental Affairs, please contact the
Commissioners of the AGFC and urge them to support SJR 7. Contact
information for the Commissioners can be found at
http://www.agfc.com/commission/ .
Finally, contact Bryan Hendricks, the author of the article mentioned
above, and urge him to once again change his position on SJR 7. An
article of his published on February 11, fully supported this amendment,
but he has now come out in opposition to it, based, it would seem, on
the fallacious arguments promoted by the AGFC. You can send Hendricks
e-mail by going to
[email protected], or call him at (501)
378-3579.
COLORADO
House Bill 1174, sponsored by State Representative Al White (R-57), is
scheduled to be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee in the coming
days. House Bill 1174 would repeal the sunset review of the law
enforcement database of carry permit holders. Please contact the
members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and respectfully urge them to
oppose House Bill 1174. The members of the committee are: Chairman
Brandon Shaffer; Senator John Morse; Senator Bob Bacon; Senator Betty
Boyd; Senator Shawn Mitchell; Senator Scott Renfroe, Senator Steve
Ward. Please call the Colorado State Senate, at (303) 866-2316, and ask
to be put in touch with one of these Senators.
Senate Bill 34, sponsored by State Senator John Morse (D-11), passed the
State Senate on Friday, February 23 by a vote of 20-15. The bill now is
awaiting a House committee assignment. If enacted, non-resident
concealed carry permits will no longer be honored if the address on the
holder's identification is different than the state where the permit was
issued. For example, a Florida permit issued to a non-resident will not
be recognized in Colorado. No demonstrated need has been presented to
justify Senate Bill 34, legislation that will potentially threaten
reciprocity agreements. This bill will invalidate non-resident permit
holders and made second-class citizens out of Colorado residents. Don't
be fooled! This is simply a first step towards repealing your
right-to-carry! Please contact your State Representative today at (303)
866-2904, or if outside of Denver, at (800) 811-7647 and respectfully
urge that he or she oppose SB34.
HAWAII
Senate Bill 695, as introduced by Senator Norman Sakamoto (D-15), would
authorize the Game and Fish Department to create a 7-day non-resident
hunting license on a private or commercial shooting preserve. The
NRA-supported measure is currently awaiting a hearing before the Water,
Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs Committee. Please take the time
to contact your Senators and ask that they request a hearing on the
bill. Legislators are currently on a five-day break in their districts
before the March 2nd "decking" deadline, which is the 48-hour period
before the bills are to be out of policy committees. Please contact
your State Senator at 808-586-6720.
ILLINOIS
Please join your fellow Illinois gun owners for the annual Illinois Gun
Owners Lobby Day (IGOLD) on March 14, 2007, in Springfield! This is
your opportunity to lobby your lawmakers directly and make a positive
impact for all Illinois gun owners. Participants will meet in the
auditorium of the Howlett Building at 12:30 p.m., for registration and a
legislative briefing before proceeding to the Capitol Building. That
evening, a reception will be held at the Illinois State Library
Auditorium from 5:30-7:30 p.m., for both gun owners and state
lawmakers. IGOLD will have buses available to transport participants to
Springfield from various locations throughout Illinois. For more
information on IGOLD 2007, to sign-up online, or for more information on
scheduled bus routes, please visit
http://igold.isra.org.
KANSAS
HB 2528 was heard in the Federal and State Affairs Committee on
Wednesday, February 21 and is scheduled for a committee vote on Monday,
March 5. This important legislation removes language that was being
misinterpreted by cities in Kansas to ban concealed carry of handguns on
city owned property such as parks, greenways, and all city buildings.
The bill also strips cities of their ability to regulate firearms,
bringing back the original intent of the bill. Please contact your
State Representative at (800) 432-3924 and respectfully urge him or her
to support HB 2528.
Also, in a victory for gun owners in Kansas, a bill that would
significantly weaken Castle Doctrine legislation, SB268, was killed in
the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this week.
MARYLAND
Senate Bill 43, "Assault Weapon Ban of 2007," sponsored by Senator
Michael Lenett (D-19), will be heard by the Senate Judicial Proceedings
Committee on Tuesday, February 27, at 1:00 p.m. SB43 would designate
specified firearms, including many semi-automatics, as "assault
weapons;" prohibit persons from transporting possessing, selling,
offering to sell, transferring, or receiving a specified "assault
weapon(s)"; and require the Handgun Roster Board to compile and maintain
a roster of prohibited specified "assault weapons." Please mark your
calendar for Tuesday, February 27, at 1:00 p.m. The hearing will be
held in the Senate Judicial Proceeding Committee Room, which is located
on the second floor of the Miller Senate Office Building, 11 Bladen
Street, Annapolis. If you are unable to attend, please call all the
members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee TODAY and urge them
to OPPOSE Senate Bill 43. Please visit
www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?id=2622 for contact information for
the Judicial Proceedings Committee.
MISSOURI
To ensure that law-abiding Missourians won't ever suffer the same fate
as those in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, legislation is
currently moving through the General Assembly that would protect your
Second Amendment rights during a state of emergency. Companion bills,
HB669, sponsored by State Representative David Pearce (R-121), and
SB257, sponsored by State Senator Kevin Engler (R-3), have each passed
their respective chamber's committees, with SB257 being placed on the
Senate Consent Bills calendar for Monday, February 26. Additionally,
State Representative Bob Dixon (R-140) has introduced legislation
(HB845) to make voter registration information available to hunting
license and fishing permit applicants. Please contact your State Senator
at (573)-751-3824 and State Representative at (573)-751-3659 and urge
them to support and vote for these important bills.
NEBRASKA
Important range protection legislation, LB352, sponsored by State
Senator Chris Langemeier (I-23), will be heard in the Government,
Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday, February 28.
Please visit
http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/web/public/gmv for a roster
and contact information for the members of the committee and
respectfully urge them to support LB352.
NEVADA
Assembly Bill 21, an Assembly Judiciary Committee sponsored bill, was
granted a hearing on Monday, February 19th before the Committee. AB 21
would double the concealed carry permit fees from its current $60 to
$125, as well as increase the fee on renewals. The bill didn't receive
a vote, but it could come up at any time. Please continue to contact
the members of the Judiciary Committee, and urge them to oppose AB 21.
For contact information for the committee, please visit
http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?id=2592.
NEW MEXICO
This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved SB 39, NRA-backed
"Castle Doctrine" legislation by State Senator Shannon Robinson
(D-Albuquerque), which offers protection from criminal prosecution and
civil lawsuits to individuals who justifiably use force to protect
themselves and their families. The bill also contains language stating
that you have "no duty to retreat" from a violent attack. SB 39 now
moves to the full Senate for consideration, possibly over the weekend or
early next week. Please contact your State Senators at (505) 986-4714
and urge them to support SB 39.
Also, HB 588, by State Representative John Heaton (D-Carlsbad), and SB
111, by State Senator Stuart Ingle (R-Portales), NRA-supported bills
that would allow Concealed Handgun Licensees to protect themselves in
establishments selling alcohol for off-premises consumption, are both
currently in the House Business & Industry Committee, although no
hearing has been scheduled on either measure yet. Please continue to
contact members of the committee and urge them to support both HB 588 &
SB 111. For contact information for the committee, please visit
http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?id=2640.
NEW YORK
In a move that can only be called stunningly hypocritical, Governor
Eliot "Steamroller" Spitzer (D) has nominated Assemblyman Alexander
"Pete" Grannis as his candidate to head the state Department of
Environmental Conservation. Not only is Grannis well known for his
anti-gun, anti-hunting, and anti-sportsmen positions and votes, but he
is grossly under qualified to be charged with stewardship of New York
State's rich outdoor heritage. After a bruising battle with lawmakers
claiming that Assemblyman Tom DiNapoli lacked the qualifications to
replace disgraced former state comptroller Alan Hevesi, the Governor
puts forth a candidate who both lacks the background to be DEC
Commissioner and shows outright contempt and hatred for all outdoor
recreational activities. During his tenure in the Assembly, Grannis
sponsored and signed on to numerous anti-gun and anti-hunting bills, as
well as legislation to outlaw trapping. As DEC Commissioner, Grannis
would have the authority to make policy through regulatory means,
bypassing consideration by your elected officials. These decisions
could permanently impact hunters and sportsmen. If this nomination is
approved by the State Senate, Grannis will be in a position to institute
anti-hunting policies that he has supported in the past. Please call
your State Senator TODAY and ask him or her to oppose the confirmation
of Pete Grannis as DEC Commissioner and be sure to politely remind him
or her that a vote to approve Grannis is a vote against the Second
Amendment and our hunting heritage! Your Senator can be contacted at
518-455-2800.
NORTH DAKOTA
House Bill 1319, critical "Castle Doctrine" legislation sponsored by
State Representative Todd Porter (R-34), is moving toward the Senate
floor for a vote. This "Castle Doctrine" self-defense bill states that
if a criminal breaks into your home, your occupied vehicle, or your
place of business, you do not have a "duty to retreat." The bill also
provides protection from criminal prosecution and civil litigation for
those who defend themselves from criminal attack. Please contact your
State Senator at (888) NDLEGIS (635-3447), or (701) 328-3373 (local),
and respectfully urge him or her to support HB1319.
SOUTH CAROLINA
H 3212, introduced by State Representative Greg Delleney (R-43), would
change South Carolina's conditional reciprocity standard for recognizing
Right-to-Carry (RTC) permits. H 3212 passed out of the Judiciary
Committee on Wednesday, February 21, and is expected to be heard by the
full House of Representatives on Tuesday, February 27. This critical
legislation will require South Carolina to recognize all valid RTC
permits issued by other states. The South Carolina Law Enforcement
Division (SLED), which has been opposed to recognizing the permits
issued by many other states, is expected to lobby hard against this
pro-gun reform, so please call your State Representative at (803)
734-2010 and urge him or her to support H 3212.
In addition, H 3310, sponsored by Representative Mike Pitts (R-14),
clarifies that it is legal for a RTC permit holder to carry a concealed
firearm while driving a car, passed out of the House on Friday, February
23, and will now head over to the Senate for consideration. This
legislation was drafted in response to reports that RTC permit holders
were being charged with unlawful carrying of firearms while driving
their vehicles. Please call your Senator at (803) 212-6200 and urge him
or her to support this measure when it is brought up for consideration.
TEXAS
On Monday, February 26, the House Committee on Law Enforcement will
consider three NRA-backed measures which will allow Concealed Handgun
Licensees (CHLs) to transport and store handguns in their locked private
motor vehicles while parked on their employer's property: HB 220 by
State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford), HB 511 by State
Representative David Farabee (D-Wichita Falls) and HB 992 by State
Representative Patrick Rose (D-Dripping Springs). Many employers in
Texas have "No Firearms" policies that extend beyond the physical
workplace to include parking lots, garages, and other parking areas
under the employer's control. This effectively prohibits employees who
are CHLs from protecting themselves in their parking area at work - and
during their commute to and from work every day! The committee will
also consider HB 1037, by Representative Farabee, which extends the same
protections to all employees (not just CHLs) and all firearms locked in
private vehicles parked at work. Please contact members of the House
Law Enforcement Committee and urge them to support all four measures.
You can find contact information for committee members by visiting
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Committees/Membership.aspx.
On Tuesday, February 27, the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
will consider HB 284, by State Representative Joe Driver (R-Garland),
NRA-backed "Castle Doctrine" legislation that offers protection from
criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits to individuals who justifiably
use force to protect themselves and their families. The bill also
contains language stating that you have "no duty to retreat" from a
violent attack that occurs outside your home. Please contact members of
the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee and urge them to support HB
284. Contact information for committee members is available at
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Committees/Membership.aspx.
Finally, on Wednesday, February 28, the Senate Jurisprudence Committee
will consider SB 378, by State Senator Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio),
the Senate version of the NRA-backed "Castle Doctrine" bill. Please
contact Senate Jurisprudence Committee members and urge them to support
SB 378. Contact information for committee members is available at
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Committees/Membership.aspx.
UTAH
Senate Bill 78, by Senator Mark Madsen (R-13), would protect the
possession of firearms in your locked vehicle on any property designated
for motor vehicle parking. The measure passed the Senate today by a
vote of 19-8. Senate Bill 201, Emergency Powers legislation (also
introduced by Senator Mark Madsen), is waiting for a vote on the Senate
floor. It's imperative that NRA members call their Senators and ask for
their full support of these important measures. Messages for the
Senators can be left with the Message Center at (801) 538-1035. The
Legislature is set to adjourn on Wednesday, February 28, so time is of
the essence.
Also, anti-gun Senate Bill 251, introduced by Senator Greg Bell (R-22),
passed the Senate and is on its way to the House, although it hasn't
been set for a hearing date. SB 251 would restrict the possession and
carrying of concealed firearms on the property of institutions of higher
education in specified faculty and staff offices, as well as authorize
the institution to allow a dorm resident to have only roommates who are
not licensed to carry a concealed firearm. Please contact your House
member by calling the Message Center at (801) 538-1029, and ask for his
or her "NO" vote should it come before them for a vote.
VIRGINIA
As the 2007 General Assembly session heads to a close on Saturday, an
important pro-gun bill was halted in the Senate and precedent-setting
legislation to cease gun dealer entrapment schemes advanced through both
houses. First, just hours after officially announcing his retirement
from the Virginia Senate, State Senator Russ Potts (R-27), called upon
his now infamous and shameless theatrical skills in an attack on HB3109,
an NRA-backed bill that would have reduced the areas in which localities
could regulate hunting. Following a series of parliamentary maneuvers,
by a vote of 20-19, the Senate re-referred HB3109 to the Senate Courts
of Justice Committee -- a move that essentially kills the bill for this
session. Although Senator Potts' opening proclaimed that he was, yet
again, willing to "fall on his own sword" and oppose another pro-gun
bill, law-abiding Virginians shouldn't be fooled into thinking that this
plot was orchestrated by Potts alone. Rest assured, as the 2007 campaign
season begins to unfold in Virginia, we will provide you with accurate
information regarding those Senators who worked to derail critical
pro-Second Amendment legislation during the 2007 legislative session. On
the bright side, both legislative chambers have now approved HB2653, a
measure that will stop big city mayors from seeking to snare firearms
dealers in entrapment schemes aimed to intimidate gun owners and
law-abiding licensed gun dealers. This bill now heads to Governor Kaine
(D) for his approval. You may locate information on how your lawmakers
voted on these bills by visiting
http://legis.state.va.us.
WYOMING
Senate File 50, introduced by Senator Cale Case (R-25), has been sent
back to a Conference Committee to resolve differences between the Senate
and House versions of the bill. SF 50 would permit bow hunters to carry
a firearm during archery season for self-defense. In order to obtain
support from Game and Fish Department, the author agreed to an amendment
that would mandate a 3-year revocation of a hunting license should
someone be convicted of taking an animal with a firearm during bow
hunting. This NRA supported measure needs one more BIG push, so please
contact your State Representatives by calling (307) 777-7852, or by
e-mail at www.legisweb.state.wy.us, and ask for their continued backing.
--
Stephen P. Wenger
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
