Campaign Finance Update

Yesterday, we alerted you concerning the debate on so-called campaign finance "reform" -- H.R. 2356. Here’s how the debate turned out:

The NRA-supported Pickering Amendment, which would have protected the free speech of those wishing to communicate for or against issues pertaining to the Second Amendment by defending Second Amendment discussion from the free speech restrictions of H.R. 2356, failed on a 209-219 vote. Please go to http://clerkweb.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.exe?year=2002&rollnumber=24 to find out how your Representative voted on this NRA-backed amendment, and contact him to thank him if he supported the Pickering Amendment, or to note your displeasure, if not. To find your U.S. Representative’s contact information, use the "Write Your Reps" feature.

As for the overall "Shays-Meehan" bill itself (H.R. 2356), that bill passed by a vote of 240-189. To find out how your Representative voted on this anti-First Amendment bill, please go to http://clerkweb.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.exe?year=2002&rollnumber=34. And again, be sure to communicate your sentiments accordingly to your Representative based on his vote on this anti-freedom measure. NRA opposed H.R. 2356.

The House bill now moves back to the Senate, where the strategy to defeat this onerous proposal has yet to crystallize. Rest assured we are monitoring this situation closely, and will contact you if a need arises on how you can help defeat this proposal. In the meantime, please be sure to contact your U.S. Senators to express your opposition to this bill. The "Write Your Reps" feature will assist you in contacting your Senators.

While the final outcome of this legislation is unknown, NRA is committed to its defeat, and if need be, will fight this law all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.