NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ALERT: Vol. 20, No. 7 02/15/2013

Obama Justice Department Reveals Truth About State of the Union Claims

Despite long odds, on Tuesday night, Barack Obama managed to turn in a State of the Union performance that was filled with more theatrical pandering than the event is typically known for. Once again seeking to capitalize off tragedy by opting for emotional, rather than reasoned arguments, the President reiterated his support for increased background checks and bans on common semi-automatic firearms and their magazines, which he referred to as "weapons of war and massive ammunition magazines."

As usual, Obama's remarks were short on evidence that his gun control proposals would work. Of course, that evidence is sorely lacking--and who would know that better than the experts at his own Justice Department?

In a white paper dated January 4 and obtained by NRA-ILA, the deputy director of the National Institute for Justice--DOJ's research and evaluation agency--said that the proposals before Congress are unlikely to have an effect unless they are made even more draconian. For instance, the document makes clear that the effectiveness of "universal" background checks "depends on … requiring gun registration." On the topic of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition, NIJ writes, "In order to have an impact, large capacity magazine regulation needs to sharply curtail availability to include restrictions on importation, manufacture, sale, and possession." As for popular semi-automatic firearms, the NIJ notes, "Since assault weapons are not a major contributor to U.S. gun homicide and the existing stock of guns is large, an assault weapons ban is unlikely to have an impact on gun violence. If coupled with a gun buyback and no exemptions then it could be effective."

Senate Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Second Amendment

On Tuesday, February 12, career gun control advocate Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) held a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing inappropriately titled, "Protecting Our Communities While Respecting the Second Amendment." Much of the hearing featured a severe lack of respect for the Second Amendment, though, as the panel was stocked with several gun control supporters and was presumably aimed at invigorating the country's waning appetite for anti-gun legislation.

The attack on guns began at the outset of the hearing, with Sen. Durbin's opening remarks. In his statement, Sen. Durbin endorsed all manner of federal gun control proposals, including legislation criminalizing the private sales of firearms, a ban on popular semi-automatic rifles and shotguns, and a magazine capacity limit. Showing his disdain for gun ownership, the senator seemed to set gun owners apart from other Americans when he asked rhetorically, "Can we protect a person's right to own a firearm and still say to the rest of America, we also need to protect your right to life, to peace, to freedom from violence from those same firearms?"

Watch the Latest Grassroots News Minute

Watch the Video: Ask Obama's Experts

Wayne LaPierre Responds to State of the Union Address

Executive Vice President of the NRA, Wayne LaPierre, responded to President Obama's State of the Union Address from the 37th Annual Convention and Sport Show of the National Wild Turkey Federation in Nashville, Tennessee.

"They only care about their decades old agenda — ban every gun they can, tax every gun sold and register every gun owner."

Click "Read More" to watch the full video online.

Illinois Sheriffs' Association Opposes State's Proposed "Assault Weapons" Ban

The Illinois Sheriffs' Association has come out in opposition to the state's proposed "assault weapons" ban according to a recent WJBC.com article. McLean County Sheriff Mike Emery says the ISA instead wants the state to focus more on mental health issues, not on attacking the Second Amendment and banning semi-automatic firearms.

"The ban is not going after what we believe, in the Sheriffs' Association, is the primary issue," said Sheriff Emery. "The issue is we need mental health services upgrades. We need to do a better job."