Weekly Reminder: HR 45 has not even gained one co-sponsor in committee
and S 2099 died nine years ago. It is not necessary to forward the
hysterical mailings to me.
Friday, January 23, 2009
U.S. Representative Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) recently sponsored H.R. 45,
also known as "Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale
Act." The bill is, at its core and as its name implies, a licensing
and registration scheme. The measure calls for all handgun owners to
submit to the federal government an application that shall include,
among many other things: a photo; an address; a thumbprint; a
completed, written firearm safety test; private mental health
records; and a fee. And those are only some of the requirements to
be licensed!
The bill would further require the attorney general to establish a
database of every handgun sale, transfer, and owner's address in
America. Moreover, the bill would make it illegal to own or possess
a "qualifying firearm" -- defined as "any handgun; or any
semiautomatic firearm that can accept any detachable ammunition
feeding device..." without one of the proposed licenses.
Additionally, the bill would make it illegal to transfer ownership
of a "qualifying firearm" to anyone who is not a licensed gun dealer
or collector (with very few exceptions), and would require
"qualifying firearm" owners to report all transfers to the attorney
general's database. It would also be illegal for a licensed gun
owner to fail to record a gun loss or theft within 72 hours, or fail
to report a change of address within 60 days. Further, if a minor
obtains a firearm and injures someone with it, the owner of the
firearm may face a multiple-year jail sentence.
H.R. 45 is essentially a reintroduction of H.R. 2666, which Rush
introduced in 2007. H.R. 2666 contained much of the same language
as H.R. 45, and was co-sponsored by several well-known anti-gun
legislators--including Barack Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel.
H.R. 45 currently has no co-sponsors.
Rest assured that NRA-ILA will continue to monitor this bill
closely, and will keep you informed of any developments if they
materialize.
http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=4329
Friday, May 29, 2009
In the last few weeks, NRA-ILA has received hundreds of e-mails
warning us about "SB-2099," a bill that would supposedly require you
to report all your guns on your income tax return every April 15.
Like many rumors, there's just a grain of truth to this one.
Someone's recycling an old alert, which wasn't even very accurate
when it was new.
There actually was a U.S. Senate bill with that number that would
have taxed handguns - nine years ago. It was introduced by anti-gun
Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and it would have included handguns under
the National Firearms Act's tax and registration scheme. This has
nothing to do with anyone's Form 1040, of course.
Fortunately, S. 2099 disappeared without any action by the Senate,
back when Bill Clinton was still in the White House. We reported
about it back then, just as we report about new anti-gun bills every
week. Now, it's time for gun owners to drop this old distraction
and focus on the real threats at hand.
http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=4925
---
More UN Hypocrisy: Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe, selected as the new
American ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Council, wants
the UN to invade countries committing human rights violations.
Initially, this sounds like good policy, as the idea of saving people
from predatory governments is compelling. But sometimes, what starts out
as good intentions ends up with unintended consequences. Other times,
there is a hidden agenda, and what's promoted for good results in
tragedy... The United Nations believes you have no right of
self-defense: "Self-defence is a widely recognized, yet legally
proscribed, exception to the universal duty to respect the right to life
of others. Self-defence is a basis for exemption from criminal
responsibility that can be raised by any State agent or non-State actor.
Self-defence is sometimes designated as a 'right'. There is inadequate
legal support for such an interpretation. Self-defence is more properly
characterized as a means of protecting the right to life and, as such, a
basis for avoiding responsibility for violating the rights of another."
[emphasis added] ... (This is a complete fabrication. David Kopel
[
http://www.davekopel.com/] has produced an extensive body of scholarly
research that demonstrates that self-defense is endorsed by all of the
major religions of the world and has long been recognized in
international law.)
http://www.examiner.com/x-2879-Austin-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m11d27-Eileen-Chamberlain-Donahue-Second-Amendment-time-bomb
---
Stopping Mass Murderers: Early in the morning of December 5, 1999,
off-duty Las Vegas Metro police officer Dennis Devitte was one of the
customers at Mr. D's Sports Bar, at Rainbow Boulevard and Oakey Drive,
where he and some pals had gone to hear the band Pigs in a Blanket. A
little after 1 a.m., three armed robbers charged through the back door
with guns drawn and their faces covered with T-shirts or bandanas. "I'd
only been in the bar a short time and was talking to friends," Devitte
later told an interviewer for the International Association of Chiefs of
Police. Then, "I saw a ruckus at the end of the bar. ... "One of the
gunmen went right by me and shot a man in a wheelchair, hitting him in
the shoulder," Officer Devitte recalled. "I only had my small
25-caliber off-duty gun, which isn't very accurate, so I knew I had to
get really close before I could start shooting. Otherwise I might hit
someone else." The robbers might have taken a moment to consider the
name of the band, which was also made up of off-duty officers. Mr. D's
was often referred to as a "cop bar," though the IACP contends Officer
Devitte was, curiously enough, the only patron armed at the time...
(This is the first of three incidents reviewed by Mr. Suprynowicz,
culminating in the recent rampage at Fort Hood. Note, however, the
tactical and ballistic limitations of Officer Devitte having settled to
carry off duty what is generally referred to as a "mousegun.")
http://www.lewrockwell.com/suprynowicz/suprynowicz139.html
---
Fifty Years Ago...: We recently saw my efforts to demonstrate why police
are not the "only ones" who can be trusted with guns characterized by
the Brady Campaign as "denigrating law enforcement." It's funny, because
the anti-gun forces have been pretty tough on active and retired law
enforcement and military personnel who proclaim fidelity to the
Constitution. And they - and their media allies - have been positively
silent about giving Law Enforcement Alliance of America any notice
whatsoever for a recent warning that truly deserves public scrutiny...
Before anyone at DHS starts thinking about classifying Mr. Bellah as a
"Right Wing Extremist," and before Sen. Schumer puts his name on the "No
Guns/Terrorist List," I should point out this letter was published 50
years ago. The Nov. 1959 issue of GUNS Magazine has been posted online.
I could point out the many great articles, the classic period ads,
the...but why not just go discover them for yourself? Just make sure you
don't gloss over page 4's "Know Your Lawmakers" responses...
http://www.examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m11d27-Gun-grabbers-Who-are-these-people
---
Protecting the Oath Keepers: ...The Oath Keepers have vowed to risk
their careers, and perhaps their very freedom, in order to protect our
liberty. If they face attack from the Pentagon, it is only right that
we do what we can to protect them. "But what," you may ask, "can we do
to help them?" Glad you asked. There's something that the DoD fears
more than the growing Chinese military, the resurgent Russian military,
and a nuclear-armed Iran--combined: budget cuts. Get a few members of
Congress - particularly defense budget committee members - involved, and
the Pentagon becomes downright eager to please. There's recent precedent
for this. Back in the spring, the DoD suddenly changed its policy for
disposal of used cartridge brass, which had been sold to ammunition
makers for "remanufacture" into inexpensive ammunition. Under the
changed policy, the cartridge brass would be shredded, and useful only
as scrap. This would have exacerbated what at the time was a pretty
dire shortage of ammunition (particularly in popular calibers--which
also happen to be military calibers - like 9mm Parabellum and
5.56x45mm), adversely affecting both private citizens and police
departments - and wasting taxpayers' money...
http://www.examiner.com/x-2581-St-Louis-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m11d27-Turnabout-is-fair-playhelp-protect-the-Oath-Keepers
---
The Beat Goes On: As the annual gun deer season continues, Northeastern
Wisconsin hunters are finding that some types of ammunition are in short
supply. In Madison, meanwhile, background checks for handguns are
running nearly 36 percent above last year, suggesting a big increase in
gun sales. People on both sides of the gun control debate agree on this:
People have been stocking up on guns and ammunition since President
Barack Obama took office... So while gun control opponents may fear what
the Obama administration might do, gun control supporters are
disappointed with what the new president hasn't done. In the meantime,
Northeastern Wisconsin hunters are facing a different market for guns
and ammunition. Jim Brown of Appleton, who works at the Twin City Rod
and Gun Club, has been hunting for close to six decades, and said he has
never seen any shortages in ammunition like he's hearing about now.
People are telling him 30.06 shells are especially hard to find, and he
said prices for some other ammo have risen. He's heard rumors that
people stocked up after Obama was elected, fearing that guns and ammo
would be banned or heavily taxed...
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20091127/GPG0101/911270554/1207/GPG01
---
Most Minnesota Representatives Back McDonald: The U.S. Supreme Court's
decision to review an Illinois gun rights ruling has the backing of
nearly all the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, the Bemidji Pioneer
reported over Thanksgiving. "The court should take this opportunity to
make clear what we all already know, that the Second Amendment applies
to state and local governments too," Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn, told
the outstate Minnesota newspaper. "No state legislature can take away
the freedom to protect yourself." According to Brad Swenson of the
Pioneer, the only Minnesota representatives not to join in a
friend-of-the-court brief asking the high court to uphold Second
Amendment gun rights at the local level are Twin Cities Democrats Betty
McCollum and Keith Ellison. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, with family roots in the
Iron Range, has joined in the brief. Sen. Al Franken, with roots in St.
Louis Park, has not...
http://www.startribune.com/blogs/76302462.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUHK:uUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
---
Ohio AG Signs McDonald Brief: Based on his longstanding support for
Second Amendment rights, Attorney General Richard Cordray announced
today that his office has co-sponsored an amicus brief in the United
States Supreme Court, arguing that these rights should be protected from
undue restrictions imposed by state and local governments. The Supreme
Court is examining this issue in the case of McDonald v. Chicago, based
upon the court's landmark ruling last year in District of Columbia v.
Heller. That ruling recognized that, with respect to the federal
government, the Second Amendment affords individuals the right to keep
and bear arms. "We are proud to defend the Second Amendment rights of
Ohioans in this important Supreme Court case. We are joining with other
state attorneys general in arguing that the court should hold that the
people's constitutional right to keep and bear arms is fundamental and
cannot be denied by state and local governments," Cordray said...
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/7003
---
Ohio Group Seeks Volunteers for Facebook and Twitter: ...Success in any
political battle requires "spreading the word," aggressively and
relentlessly. This is especially true with gun rights. To win hearts and
minds, to get pro-gun candidates elected, and to assure good gun laws
are passed and bad gun laws are defeated, we must get our message out to
as many people as possible. Today, one the most powerful and efficient
means of spreading the word is sharing pro-gun stories on social sites
such as Facebook and Twitter... The Buckeye Social Strike Force is a
team of smart, dedicated pro-gun patriots who use the power of social
bookmarking to share stories that appear on our website with millions of
other citizens in Ohio and around the U.S. Here's how it works ...
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/social-strike-force
---
Seattle Man Files Suit over Local Gun Ban: A Kent man who chose to
"exercise his right to bear arms" by carrying a holstered Glock pistol
into a community center earlier this month has taken the mayor to
federal court. Robert C. Warden filed a complaint against the Seattle
Mayor Greg Nickels and the city itself in U.S. District Court, alleging
the city's gun ban defies his constitutional right to bear arms. The
complaint cites an executive order Nickels issued in June, directing all
departments to review then-present rules "to determine the extent to
which departments could prohibit firearms on city property." ...Warden's
complaint defines the gun ban as a "substantial and comprehensive
infringement of Second Amendment rights" - an opinion the state Attorney
General Rob McKenna shares, according to Warden. In a formal written
opinion, McKenna said cities in Washington state do not have the power
to regulate the possession of firearms on or in city property generally
open to the public. The complaint seeks an order permanently prohibiting
the city and Nickels from enforcing any law that "in any way regulates
any aspect of firearms unless specifically authorized by Washington Sate
statutory law." ...
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/76420282.html
http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/reader_feedback/public/display.php?thread=220166
---
New York Pair Build Own Muzzleloaders: Lee Bidwell is proud of his guns,
no matter how "ugly" they look. Others might have nicer-looking black
powder firearms, he said, but they didn't build them nearly from scratch
like Bidwell has done in his garage. He often uses odd materials and
leftover parts from other guns, not to mention wood for the stocks taken
from nearby trees. "I'll do everything but rifle the barrel," the
76-year-old Port Byron resident said, adding he usually buys the
barrels. Bidwell, a retired salt mine worker, takes pride in the fact
that his "ugly guns" fire just as well as any other traditional
muzzleloader at the Elbridge Rod and Gun Club, where he is a member and
regularly competes in muzzleloader shooting competitions. He first
started building guns in the 1970s, when his wife, Norma, bought him a
kit for a black powder rifle. All the metal parts were included and the
stock was already cut and shaped. Bidwell said he sanded and varnished
the stock and assembled all the pieces. Then, he decided to build his
own and has been hooked ever since. He said he's successfully made about
10 guns. Some he's given away. He devoted about 80 hours to each one...
(Curiously, in Colonial days, Americans made their own barrels but often
relied on imported lockwork for their rifles.)
http://blog.syracuse.com/outdoors/2009/11/port_byron_guys_build_their_ow.html
---
NRA-ILA Alerts: List members are encouraged to check the alerts for the
week, posted on the NRA-ILA website.
http://www.nraila.org/GrassrootsAlerts/read.aspx
---
Tangentially Related: ...The Mexican government is modernizing its ports
of entry along the border, including its biggest crossing in Tijuana.
The new infrastructure - which includes gates, cameras and vehicle
scales - is meant to help curtail the flow of drug money and weapons to
Mexican organized crime groups. But bolstered security means more
border-crossing logjams, and business and trade groups fear that the new
measures will deal another blow to a fragile regional economy. The
System of Supervision and Vehicular Control is still in the testing
phase ahead of its scheduled January rollout, but traffic jams already
occur regularly at peak crossing times in late afternoon. Cross-border
trips from San Diego that once took five minutes can take an hour or
more... (But what is Mexico doing about corruption of both its police
and military establishments, military desertions to the drug cartels and
the porosity of its military armories?)
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-border-crossing25-2009nov25,0,3756431.story
To eke out an election victory over the city's low-key comptroller,
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg spent $102 million of his own fortune - or
about $174 per vote - according to data released Friday, making his bid
for a third term the most expensive campaign in the city's history. Mr.
Bloomberg, the wealthiest man in New York City, shattered his own
records: He poured $85 million into his campaign in 2005 (or $112 per
vote) and $74 million into his first bid for office in 2001 ($99 per
vote). And the $102 million tab is likely to rise, because the mayor has
not yet doled out postelection bonuses to campaign workers, which have
routinely exceeded $100,000 a person in years past. That spending will
not be reported until after his inauguration in January. Mr. Bloomberg
has now spent at least $261 million of his own money in the pursuit of
public office, more than anyone else in the United States... But Mr.
Bloomberg's unpopular drive to overturn the city's term limits law
[emphasis added], his lavish campaign and a sputtering economy soured
thousands of New Yorkers on him, even though most admired his record in
office... (No mention is made of how much of his own fortune Bloomberg
has spent to prop up his Mayors Against Illegal Guns group.)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/28/nyregion/28spending.html?ref=nyregion
--
Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
The tactics and skills to use a firearm
in self-defense don't come naturally
with the right to keep and bear arms.
http://www.spw-duf.info
