Anti-Gunners' Hate Machine in High Gear
Last week, NRA held its annual convention in St. Louis, Mo. More than a dozen of the nation's most prominent political leaders spoke at our Celebration of American Values Leadership Forum, including Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich. As if on cue, our opponents hit the internet with a degree of venom that surprised even those of us who have tracked their most outlandish comments over the years.
While 73,740 NRA members--an all-time record--gathered in St. Louis, the Brady Campaign's chairwoman, Sarah Brady, was busy on the Twitter social media service, attacking Republicans, NRA, and the self-defense laws NRA has worked for over the last quarter-century.
It's been a while, but we remember when Mrs. Brady used to portray her group's agenda as non-partisan, often reminding people that her husband served in the Reagan administration. And not long ago, the Brady Campaign continued the charade when it gave Democrat President Obama an "F" on gun control. Read more…
U.S. House of Representatives Passes Sportsmen's Heritage Act of 2012: This week, H.R. 4089, the Sportsmen's Heritage Act of 2012, passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 274 to 146. This bill will protect and enhance opportunities for recreational hunting, fishing and shooting. Read more…
Feinstein Tries to Thwart National Right to Carry: This week, anti-gun Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) did her part to thwart passage of national Right-to-Carry laws by putting a "hold" on the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2012, and the Respecting States' Rights and Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2012. Read more…
So Much for the Feinstein-Calderón "Spillover" Theory: Since the first few weeks of the Obama administration, America has been periodically told that the "lack" of U.S. gun control laws, particularly the now-defunct federal "assault weapon" ban of 1994-2004, is directly responsible for violence committed by Mexican drug cartels, and that the same violence will "spill over" into the United States. Read more…
This Year's Celebration of American Values Leadership Forum a Great Success! As mentioned above, last weekend, 73,740 NRA members--an all-time record--gathered in St. Louis to celebrate the Second Amendment and American values at NRA's 2012 Annual Meetings and Exhibits. Read more…
Grassroots News Minute Video: To view tonight's Grassroots News Minute, please click here:
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.)
For additional information, please click on the links provided.
ALASKA: Legislature Adjourns with Politics Getting in the Way of Freedom
The Alaska Legislature adjourned sine die just after midnight on Monday, April 16th. There were good strides made on important NRA-supported bills during this legislative session. However, political gridlock got in freedom's way. On a positive note, House Bill 19, an omnibus special request license plate bill which includes an NRA license plate, was passed and signed into law by Governor Parnell on March 17. The citizens of Alaska deserve to have a legislature that will take up the issues that are of importance to them and put public service over partisan politics.
CALIFORNIA: Legislature Moving on More Gun-Related Legislation
This Tuesday and Wednesday, four firearm-related bills have been scheduled to be heard in their respective state Senate and Assembly committees. Anti-gun Senate Bill 1315 will be heard in the state Senate Committee on Public Safety. Anti-gun Assembly Bill 2460 and pro-gun Assembly Bill 2615 will be heard in the state Assembly Committee on Public Safety. Anti-gun Assembly Bill 1527 will be heard in the state Assembly Committee on Appropriations.
COLORADO: Bill to End Duplicative State Background Check Passes in the House
On April 18, NRA-backed House Bill 1048, legislation to repeal the unnecessary state-run background check system, passed in the Colorado House with bipartisan support by a 37 to 28 vote. HB 1048 was sent to the historically anti-gun state Senate, led by Senate President Brandon Shaffer (D-17) where it was assigned to the Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee, which has come to be known as the designated "kill committee" for all pro-Second Amendment legislation.
KENTUCKY: Governor Signs Three NRA-Backed Bills into Law
On April 11, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear signed three NRA-backed bills into law: House Bill 484, concealed carry exemption; House Bill 500, strengthening current firearms preemption law; and House Bill 563, fraudulent firearms prevention. These new laws will take effect on July 11, 2012.
LOUISIANA: Governor Jindal Announces Support of Constitutional Amendment
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal addressed the NRA's annual meeting in St. Louis on April 13 and announced his support for Senate Bill 303, a strong "iron-clad" constitutional amendment that would fortify the right to keep and bear arms for all Louisianans. The state Senate passed SB 303 by a 31 to 6 vote on April 9 and sent it to the state House of Representatives where it was referred to the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee for further consideration.
MISSISSIPPI: Governor Bryant Signs Two NRA-Supported Bills into Law
This week, Governor Phil Bryant approved two NRA-backed bills important to firearms owners in Mississippi. House Bill 695, signed into law on April 17, is a universal recognition bill that will not only allow concealed weapons permit holders from other states to carry in Mississippi, but will also expand the number of states which acknowledge Mississippi permits. On April 18, Governor Bryant also signed House Bill 455 into law; legislation which removes the redundant state recordkeeping requirement for licensed firearm dealers. HB 695 will go into effect on July 1, while HB 455 is effective immediately.
MISSOURI: NRA-Backed Anti-Discrimination Bill Moves to the Senate
On April 17, House Bill 1621 was given a "do-pass" by the Senate General Laws Committee, and will now be sent to the Senate floor for a vote. Sponsored by state Representative Wanda Brown (R-116), HB 1621 would make it an unlawful employment practice to discriminate against an individual because he or she has a concealed carry endorsement or uses a firearm for a lawful purpose. This legislation was previously passed in the state House on March 8, by a 115 to 36 vote.
MONTANA: Hunting Included in Management Plan for Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is currently allowing the public to comment on a recent plan to manage the Lee Metcalf Refuge for the next fifteen years. Located south of Missoula, this 2,800-acre refuge is one of the smallest refuges in the country and is one of the few remaining undeveloped areas in the Bitterroot Valley. The Lee Metcalf Refuge is open to archery hunting for deer, which is one of the fish and wildlife related recreational opportunities available.
NEBRASKA: Governor Signs Two Pro-Second Amendment Bills into Law
On April 18, Legislative Bill 807, Concealed Handgun Permit reform legislation, passed during its final reading on the floor of the Legislature by an overwhelming 48 to 1 vote. LB 807 was then transmitted to Governor Dave Heineman who signed it into law that same day. Thanks to Judiciary Committee Amendment 1785, declaring an existing emergency, this law took effect immediately.
NEVADA: Management Plan will Dictate Future of Hunting and Shooting on Federal Public Lands
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior, has announced its intent to revise a management plan for lands under the jurisdiction of its Carson City District. The BLM is in the first stage, called the "Scoping Stage," of the process and is inviting the public to comment on what issues they believe should be addressed in the plan. The BLM is a multiple-use agency and among many activities, hunting and recreational shooting are allowed. However, in recent years, the agency has been systematically closing large areas of public lands to recreational shooting.
OKLAHOMA: Firearm Reform Bills Face Deadline Next Week
By next Thursday, April 26, all Senate bills must receive the approval of the Oklahoma House or they will no longer be eligible for consideration this session. Senate Bill 1760 received unanimous approval in the House Public Safety Committee, but has not yet been brought to the House floor for a vote. This "Emergency Powers" bill is necessary to fill the current gap in the language of the state riot control statute to prevent the banning of ownership, possession or transportation of firearms and ammunition during declared states of emergency. Senate Bill 1743 also awaits a vote on the House floor. Known as the "Landowner's Hunting Freedom Act," SB 1743 would allow Oklahoma landowners and their guests to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for hunting.
OREGON: Hunting to be Expanded in Plan for Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
A plan that will guide management of the 187,000-acre Malheur National Wildlife Refuge for the next fifteen years has been released to the public for comment. Located in Harney County, the Refuge was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 to protect colonial nesting bird populations and is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Refuge is currently open to hunting, but the USFWS intends to expand existing hunt opportunities. Under Alternative 2, the preferred action alternative, upland game hunting would open three weeks earlier than under the current program. Existing waterfowl hunt areas would be tremendously expanded by opening a portion of the south-central area of Malheur Lake, adding a new boat launch at headquarters, and by opening the Buena Vista Unit.
TENNESSEE: NRA-Backed Safe Commute and Employee Protection Bills Awaiting Floor Action in Last Days of Session
HB 3560/SB 3002, the NRA-initiated Safe Commute Act, and HB 3559/SB 2992, the Firearm Discrimination Prevention Act intended to bolster the ultimate implementation of HB 3560, have passed in their committees with overwhelming support and are ready for floor votes in the state House and Senate. Sadly, Republican legislative leaders in both chambers have signaled that they will do all they can to deny Tennesseans the chance to have this life-saving legislation debated and voted on by their 132 democratically-elected officials. In effect, left to their own devices, one senator and one representative will deny the other 130 from doing their duty. This is not how our cherished representative democracy was ever intended to work.
VIRGINIA: Planning Process Underway for James River National Wildlife Refuge
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is writing a new management plan for the James River National Wildlife Refuge which is located along the James River in Prince George County, eight miles southeast of Hopewell and thirty miles southeast of Richmond. The 4,325-acre refuge is open to deer hunting. The USFWS is inviting public comments to help shape management decisions on the refuge for the next fifteen years. Once a plan is drafted it will be made available for public review and comment. The Service has identified several preliminary issues, concerns, and opportunities, including the amount and distribution of public use. If you want to become involved in the planning process, you may submit comments to [email protected]. Please include "James River CCP" in the subject line. For further information you may call Meghan Carfioli, the Planning Team Leader, at 804-829-5413.
