NRA Opposed To Kagan Nomination To U.S. Supreme Court
Joint Statement By Wayne LaPierre, NRA Executive Vice President,
And Chris Cox, Executive Director Of NRA’s Institute For Legislative Action
There may be no vote a United States Senator casts that is more important than a vote to confirm a nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. Now that the Court has clearly stated that the Second Amendment protects a fundamental, individual right that applies to all law-abiding Americans, NRA members and gun owners expect a nominee to the Court to fully support, defend and preserve that freedom.
We have carefully examined the career, written documents and public statements of nominee Elena Kagan and have found nothing to indicate any support for the Second Amendment. On the contrary, the facts reveal a nominee who opposes Second Amendment rights and is clearly out of step with mainstream Americans.
Therefore, the NRA is strongly opposed to Kagan’s confirmation to the Court.
NRA Hails Historic Victory on Second Amendment Freedom in McDonald v. City of Chicago: This week, NRA praised the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic decision in another landmark Second Amendment case. In a 5-4 decision, the Court ruled that the Second Amendment applies not just to Washington, D.C. and other federal enclaves, but protects the rights of all Americans throughout the country. The opinion in McDonald v. City of Chicago brings an end to the nearly 30 year-long handgun ban that the city has imposed on its law-abiding citizens.
Daley Says "Stick It" To The Supreme Court: Having previously told a reporter that he would stick a rifle “up” his rear end for questioning the value of Chicago’s handgun ban, Chicago mayor Richard Daley has told the Supreme Court where to stick its ruling in McDonald v. Chicago.
VPC’s Self-Induced Plunge Into Irrelevancy Continues With Knee-Jerk Reaction To McDonald Decision: By now, most people know that on June 28, 2010, the Supreme Court of the United States, in McDonald v. City of Chicago—a case challenging handgun bans in Chicago and Oak Park, Illinois—ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual Right to Keep and Bear Arms for self-defense nationwide. The Court declared, “We have previously held that most of the provisions of the Bill of Rights apply with full force to both the Federal Government and the States. Applying the standard that is well established in our case law, we hold that the Second Amendment right is fully applicable to the States.” Also, by now, most people who are familiar with the Violence Policy Center (VPC) know that the Court's decision appears to doom the very thing for which the little anti-gun fringe group was formed—a total ban on handguns.
NRA-PVF Endorsement Policy: We are rapidly approaching the time when NRA’s Political Action Committee the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) will begin issuing endorsements in elections across the country.
As always in an election year, we receive many calls and e-mails inquiring about our endorsement policy in general, and specific races in particular. That trend has certainly held up this year, as we have received many inquiries about high profile races, such as the Nevada Senate race involving Senator Harry Reid. For the record, NRA-PVF has not yet announced any ratings or endorsements in this race.
NRA-Backed Excise Bill Overwhelmingly Passes U.S. House: On June 29, the NRA-backed Firearms Excise Tax Improvement Act (H.R. 5552) easily passed in the House by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 412-6.
Sponsored by Congressmen Ron Kind (D-WI) and Paul Ryan (R-WI), H.R. 5552 will change the excise tax payment schedule for firearm and ammunition manufacturers from biweekly to quarterly. H.R. 5552 complies with statutory “Pay-Go” rules and does not establish a new tax or add to the federal deficit.
Seeking Nominations For 2009 NRA-ILA Volunteer Awards: The NRA-ILA “Jay M. Littlefield Memorial 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 in defending and promoting our rights over the past year. Nominations for these honors for last year (2009) should be submitted to: NRA-ILA Volunteer Awards, c/o Krista Cupp, NRA-ILA Grassroots Division, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA, 22030. Nominations may also be faxed to Krista at (703) 267-3918, or e-mailed to kcupp@nrahq.org. 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. The deadline for submissions is July 2, 2010.
Get the Top Source on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in the States: Attorneys challenging Chicago’s handgun ban in McDonald v. City of Chicago relied on one key book to explain how the framers of the 14th Amendment intended to protect the right to keep and bear arms against state infringement. That book is Freedmen, the Fourteenth Amendment, and the Right to Bear Arms, 1866-1876, by Stephen P. Halbrook.
Grassroots News Minute Video: To view this week’s “Grassroots News Minute” video, please click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJDbezDxxDE
STATE ROUNDUP (Please note the only items listed below are those that have had recent action. For other updates on state legislation, please go to the state legislation section at www.NRAILA.org, and check each week’s issue of the Grassroots Alert.)
ARKANSAS: Comments Needed on Management Plan for the Felsenthal and Overflow National Refuges The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a plan to guide management of the Felsenthal and Overflow National Wildlife Refuges for the next 15 years. Felsenthal is a 65,000-acre refuge established as a result of a Corps of Engineers' Ouachita and Black Rivers Navigation Project. Overflow is a 13,000-acre refuge that was created to protect one of the remaining bottomland hardwood forests within the watershed of Overflow Creek along the Mississippi waterfowl flyway. Felsenthal offers quota hunts for white tailed deer and turkey, and offers waterfowl, squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, and opossum hunts. Management Alternative B proposes to create additional hunting opportunities for youth and hunters with disabilities where feasible. Overflow offers similar hunt programs and proposes making hunting opportunities more accessible for hunters with disabilities and opening the Oakwood unit to deer hunting. The plan can be viewed at http://southeast.fws.gov/planning under "Draft CCP Documents." The Service is accepting comments until July 7th, and comments may be e-mailed to bernie_peterson@fws.gov. For further information, you may call 601-965-4903. It is important to the future of hunting on these refuges that hunters comment on this draft plan. You can be assured that anti-hunters and animal rights extremists will file comments urging the Service to reduce or eliminate the hunt programs.
CALIFORNIA: Long Gun Registration Bill Moving Forward On Tuesday, June 29, two very dangerous anti-gun bills were up for consideration in Sacramento. Assembly Bill 1810 was passed by the Senate Public Safety Committee by a vote of 4-2. The bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration. AB1810 would establish a registration system, similar to the one currently in place for handguns, for all newly-acquired long guns. Under AB1810, the make, model and serial number of the firearm as well as the identifying information of the purchaser would be recorded and kept on file by the California Attorney General’s office. Please contact the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to oppose AB1810. Contact information for the committee can be found here. Also on Tuesday, Assembly Bill 2223 was defeated by a 3-3 vote in the Senate Natural Resources Committee. AB2223 would have outlawed the use of lead shot when shooting or hunting in state-run wildlife management areas. There is no scientific evidence justifying this proposed ban. It was intended only to discourage hunting in California and that is why the Humane Society of the United States was pushing for it. Thank you to all of the NRA members who answered the call and voiced their opposition to AB2223. Without you, this victory would not have been possible.
Open Carry Ban Moving Forward On Tuesday, June 22, Assembly Bill 1934 (Open Carry Ban) was passed by the Senate Public Safety Committee. The bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration. Please contact the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee and respectfully urge them to oppose AB1934. Contact information can be found here.
Important Pro-Hunting Bill Advances in Sacramento! On Tuesday, June 29, the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee passed Senate Bill 1179. The bill now heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for consideration. SB1179 would require that the Department of Fish and Game to establish two free hunting days per year where unlicensed hunters can hunt so long as they are accompanied by someone who is licensed. This legislation promises to help recruit the next generation of hunters by allowing novices to try their hand at hunting without being required to purchase a license. Please contact the members of the Assembly Appropriations Committee and respectfully urge them to support SB1179. Please click here for contact information.
DELAWARE: Right-to-Carry Permit Renewal Reform Signed into Law On Tuesday, June 29, Governor Jack Markell (D) signed House Bill 226 into law. Through a previously added amendment, this legislation will now provide an affirmative defense to any person who is charged with carrying a concealed deadly weapon and has filed for a renewal of their permit but is still waiting for the Superior Court to act. The House passed the bill in 2009 with the NRA supported amendment by a voice vote, but it was not taken up by the Senate and was only recently revived. The National Rifle Association and Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association sought to include this amendment because Delaware’s law-abiding permit holders have been delayed by the Court and or the Attorney General's office in renewing their licenses. Thank you to all those members who contacted their legislators during this process.
Housing Reform Bill Passes House with Anti-Gun Amendment On Tuesday, June 22, the Delaware House of Representatives passed House Substitute 1 for House Bill 357 by a vote of 31-9. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. HS1 for HB357, sponsored by State Representative John Atkins (D-41) and State Senator Joe Booth (R-19), would prohibit public housing authorities operating within Delaware from regulating, prohibiting or restricting a tenant from lawfully owning or possessing a firearm or ammunition. Unfortunately, on a 21 to 19 vote, the House also included an unfriendly amendment. House Amendment 3, offered by State Representative Melanie George (D-5), still gives public housing authorities the power to regulate possession in common areas. NRA is working to strip this amendment in the Senate. Please contact your State Senator TODAY and respectfully urge them to pass HS1 for HB357 WITHOUT House Amendment 3. Contact information for your State Senator can be found by clicking here.
INDIANA: Three New Gun Laws in Effect! Following on the heels of the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in McDonald v. Chicago and just before our nation celebrates Independence Day, Indiana gun owners have another reason to celebrate freedom: three new gun laws went into effect on Thursday, July 1, 2010. To learn more about these laws, please click here.
MICHIGAN: Senate Passes “Eddie Eagle” Legislation On Thursday, July 1, the Michigan Senate passed Senate Bill 1402 by a 34-4 vote. This legislation now moves to the State House for consideration. Authored by State Senator John Gleason (D-27), SB1402 would make gun safety programs available to school districts for inclusion in curriculums in Michigan. The purpose of NRA’s Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program isn’t to teach whether guns are good or bad, but rather to promote the protection and safety of children if they come across a firearm in an unsupervised situation. Please continue to check www.NRAILA.org for more information as this bill moves through the State House.
MISSOURI: One Gun Bill Signed Into Law, One Gun Bill Remains on Governor’s Desk! On the evening of Friday, June 25, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon (D) signed House Bill 2081 into law. House Bill 2081, sponsored by State Representative Jeanie Riddle (R-20), specifies that a pregnant woman may use deadly force if she reasonably believes that deadly force is necessary to protect her unborn child against death, serious physical injury, or any forcible felony. Under current Missouri law, a pregnant woman can be criminally charged if she uses deadly force to protect her unborn child when violently attacked. However, since being transmitted to him on May 25, House Bill 1692 remains on Governor Jay Nixon’s (D) desk, awaiting consideration. HB1692, introduced by State Representative Jason Smith (R-150), contains numerous pro-gun provisions, such as: expanding Missouri’s “Castle Doctrine” protections to any property boundaries one leases or owns; capping the sheriff’s fee at $10 for permit holders who change addresses; and clarifying the term “intoxicated with a firearm,” so that a person cannot be charged with a felony if he or she possesses firearms in the home while intoxicated. This provision also extends to self-defense. HB1692 would also allow a prosecutor with a Right-to-Carry permit to carry in a courthouse, and with the judge’s permission, in the courtroom as well. If signed, the bill would also bring Missouri’s gun laws into compliance with federal law exempting antique firearms from “unlawful possession” citations. It is important that important self-defense legislation like HB1692 be signed into law. Please contact Governor Nixon and respectfully urge him to sign HB 1692. The Governor can be reached by phone at (573) 751-3222 or visit http://governor.mo.gov/contact/ to send email.
NEW MEXICO: Restaurant Carry Law Effective in New Mexico! Thanks to the passage of Senate Bill 40 by State Senator George Munoz (D-Gallup), concealed handgun licensees will be able to lawfully protect themselves in eateries with a license to dispense beer and wine (also known as a "restaurant license"), beginning Thursday, July 1. Licensees may not consume alcohol while carrying and restaurant owners may post their premises off-limits to license holders. In order to determine what type of license has been issued to any particular restaurant, please visit: http://164.64.87.25/MyLicenseVerification/Search.aspx?facility=Y
NEW YORK: Please Thank Senators for their Opposition to Micro-stamping Bill Although the New York State Senate laid aside Senate Bill 6005, the micro-stamping bill, and expunged the vote previously taken this session, the possibility remains that lawmakers will come back into session after the holiday weekend, meaning that S6005could still be brought back up for a vote on the Senate floor. If you haven’t done so already, please contact the Senators who voted against S6005 and thank them for opposing the bill! A list of Senators and their contact information can be found by clicking here.
NORTH CAROLINA: HSUS Continues to Unfairly Target Breeders in North Carolina! The anti-hunting extremists at the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) have turned up the pressure on the North Carolina House Finance Committee in an effort to pass Senate Bill 460, or another bill to which they can attach its language. Time continues to run out on their ability to pass this attack on responsible dog breeders, including those that breed dogs for hunting. While some have tried to claim that hunting dogs will not be affected by this bill, the statement is completely false. All breeds of dogs will be affected. There are a handful of legislators on the Finance Committee who have not yet committed to NRA their position on this bill, and they need to be contacted AS SOON AS POSSIBLE and asked to oppose S 460, or any other bill that is designed to impose new, unnecessary restrictions on responsible dog breeders. For a list of those legislators and their contact information, please click here.
PENNSYLVANIA: Pennsylvania Court Blocks Challenges to Local Gun Laws; NRA Plans Appeal On June 25, a three-judge panel of Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court issued a ruling that makes it harder for gun owners to challenge local gun laws that were passed in violation of the state’s firearm preemption law. This was the second such ruling in just over a year. Pennsylvania’s preemption law, like the laws in 47 other states, is supposed to stop cities, counties and towns from passing a patchwork of inconsistent laws that might trip up gun owners who travel or relocate within the state. But an increasing number of local governments have recently pushed beyond its limits. The June 25 decision involved a Pittsburgh ordinance that makes it a crime not to report the loss or theft of a firearm to law enforcement officials. NRA opposed the ordinance, not just because it could allow the government to victimize a person who’s already suffered a serious crime, but also because the city had no authority to pass it in the first place. NRA plans to seek a review of this decision by the full Commonwealth Court. Beyond that, NRA will take whatever steps are necessary to change state preemption laws—either through the courts or through the legislature, in Pennsylvania and anywhere else—to protect gun owners’ rights from schemes by anti-gun local politicians.
TENNESSEE: Comments Needed on Management Plan for Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a plan to guide management of the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge for the next 15 years. The 51,000 acre Refuge is comprised of three separate units that run along 65 miles of the Tennessee River in Henry, Benton, Decatur, and Humphreys Counties. The Refuge offers limited hunting for deer, turkey, squirrel, raccoon, and resident Canada geese. The three management alternatives presented in the plan would continue to provide for hunting, in varying degrees. Alternative B, which has a public use emphasis, would increase hunting for deer and would consider new types of hunts. The plan can be viewed at http:southeast.fws.gov/planning under "Draft CCP Documents." Scroll down to Tennessee. The Service is accepting public comments until July 7th, and comments may be e-mailed to tina_chouinard@fws.gov. For further information you may call 731-432-0981. It is important to the future of hunting in the Refuge that hunters comment on this draft plan. You can be assured that anti-hunters and animal rights extremists will file comments urging the Service to reduce or eliminate hunting in the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge.
VIRGINIA: Pro-Gun Laws Go into Effect in Virginia! After another successful legislative session in Richmond, law-abiding Virginians will see many important advances in their Second Amendment rights. A number of pro-gun laws went into effect on Thursday, July 1. To learn more about these bills, please click here.
Please join your fellow Virginia freedom-lovers at “An American Event”, to be held TOMORROW, Saturday, July 3, 2010, from 2:00--9:00 p.m., at Ritchie Lake Pavilion in Bealeton. Gates open at 1:00 p.m., with the main event commencing at 7:00 p.m. The event will include activities for all age groups, including Colonial and World War II military encampments, air show, pony rides, moon bounce, monster trucks, live music, surprise speakers and more. If you are interested in donating time or energy, please contact the organizers at 703-537-5444 or info@AnAmericanEvent.org. Monetary donations will be given to the Salvation Army and Wounded Warriers. For more information, please visit www.AnAmericanEvent.org.
WASHINGTON: Volunteers Needed on July 10 in the Snoqualmie National Forest The U.S. Forest Service is asking for volunteers to assist in a clean-up of garbage and debris left at several shooting sites located in the Greenwater Area on the Snoqualmie Ranger District of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The areas are becoming filled with a variety of trash, household items, and shooting debris. In order to keep access opened, the areas need to be cleaned and maintained. The Service does not have sufficient staff to do this on its own and is asking for help. Please consider donating some time to this effort. It is one of the major ways that you can help keep Federal lands open to the public for informal target shooting. You are asked to bring trash bags and gloves. If you can join in this volunteer effort and/or have questions, please contact Officer Ian Canaan at 206-510-6496 or email him at icanaan@fs.fed.us.
Management Plan for Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Addresses Hunting The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a plan to guide management of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge for the next 15 years. The 5,200-acre refuge is situated along the lower Columbia River in Clark County. The draft plan offers 3 different management approaches to the present one, all of which address waterfowl hunting opportunities. The plan may be read online at http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ridgefield. Public comments will be accepted until July 16th and can be emailed to FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov. Please include "Ridgefield NWR DCCP/EA" in the subject line. Hunters can guide the Service in choosing the best management approach by commenting on the areas the Service proposes to keep open and the areas it proposes to close to hunting in the River "S" Unit of the refuge.
WEST VIRGINIA: Comments Needed on Management Plan for Canaan Valley National Refuge The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a plan to guide management of the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge for the next 15 years. The 16,000 acre Refuge is located in a high elevation valley in Tucker County and includes the largest wetland complex in the state. The Refuge offers hunting, but the new plan would open more hunter access into the interior of the Refuge and open more land to rifle hunting. All three management alternatives described in the plan would enhance hunting opportunities. The plan can be viewed at http://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning. Click on "Refuge CCP's" and scroll down to Canaan. The Service is accepting public comments until July 16th, and comments can be emailed to northeastplanning@fws.gov. Please put "Canaan Valley NWR CCP" in the subject line. For further information, you may call 304-866-3858. It is important to the future of hunting in Canaan that hunters comment on this draft plan. You can be assured that anti-hunters and animal rights extremists will file comments urging the Service to reduce or eliminate hunting in Canaan.
NRA will be closed Monday, July 5th, in observation of Independence Day.
Please have a safe and happy holiday weekend!