NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ALERT: Vol. 20, No. 12 03/22/2013

Feinstein, Obama to Continue Push for Gun, Magazine Ban; Magpul Stands Firm with Gun Owners

On Monday, the Senate announced that Sen. Dianne Feinstein's (D-Calif.) gun and magazine ban legislation (S. 150) will not be a part of the Senate’s base gun control bill, but that Feinstein will be allowed to offer it as an amendment to the gun control bill, the primary element of which is a proposal by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) that would criminalize the private transfer of firearms between law-abiding Americans. The legislation is expected to be considered the week of April 8.

Feinstein’s legislation, which proposes to ban nearly every semi-automatic shotgun and detachable-magazine semi-automatic rifle, several other categories of firearms, and any ammunition magazine holding 11 or more rounds, will not be included in the Senate’s gun control bill at the outset, out of concern that it would decrease the chance of Schumer’s legislation being approved.

Also aimed at boosting Schumer’s effort, New York City Nanny-in-Chief Michael Bloomberg’s anti-gun group, MAIG, is running an ad showing a few law enforcement agency employees, who are supposed to impartially enforce laws adopted by legislatures, instead saying they “demand” that Congress pass the law that Schumer is proposing. As Bloomberg said today--not while ranting about guns, large soda pops, greasy hamburgers, or the retail display of cigarette packs, but commenting on the inevitability of drones in America’s skies--“everybody everybody demagogues on all these things.”

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UN Holds "Final" Conference on Arms Trade Treaty

On March 18, the UN convened the second “final” round of the UN Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty that is set to last until March 28. Using the draft treaty made available during the final days of the previous “final” conference in July as a starting point, delegates continue to ignore some of the major issues threatening the rights of civilian gun owners worldwide.

Only one day after the president’s reelection in November, the Obama administration announced its support for renewed negotiations. This was followed by a March 15 press release from newly minted Secretary of State and ardent gun control supporter, John Kerry, who reiterated the administration’s support, noting, “The United States is steadfast in its commitment to achieve a strong and effective Arms Trade Treaty.”

Outrage of the Week

This week's outrage comes to us from New Jersey, where a father's Facebook photo post of his son holding his birthday present--a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle--resulted in a visit and attempted home search by police and the New Jersey Department of Youth and Family Services.

As reported in a story on TheBlaze.com, the situation came to the attention of the media as a result of a posting by Shawn Moore on the "Delaware Open Carry” forum titled, “The fight has officially been brought to my front door.”

TheBlaze.com story notes that, on the evening of Friday, March 15, two representatives from the state’s social services office, and four local police officers, came to Shawn Moore's home and demanded to see the family’s firearms.

Recess is On in Congress: Contact Your Lawmakers during District Work Period and Tell Them to Oppose Anti-Gun Legislation

For the next two weeks, Congress will be out on a District Work Period. During this time, your U.S. senators and House members will be back home in their respective states and districts. The Senate announced this week that anti-gun legislation will be heard on the floor the week of April 8, so this is a great opportunity for you, as a constituent, to contact your lawmaker to personally voice your strong opposition to pending legislation that would ban popular semi-automatic firearms, standard capacity magazines, and private gun sales.

Please contact your lawmakers' district offices and set up a meeting with them. Remember, they work for you. Let your voice be heard. If you aren't able to personally visit, please be sure to call or write them. Whatever you do, please act now! And when your lawmakers return to Congress on April 8, please contact them at their D.C. offices and tell them to oppose any attacks on your Second Amendment rights.

Legal Action Filed against NY Gov. Cuomo- And More Outrageous Behavior by the Governor

This week, the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association--with the full support of the NRA--filed a complaint challenging the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Act in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York.

“The National Rifle Association is committed to defending the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding New Yorkers,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action. “Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature usurped the legislative and democratic process in passing these extreme anti-gun measures with no committee hearings and no public input. This obvious disrespect for New Yorkers and their Second Amendment rights will not be tolerated.”

Appeals Court Reverses Lower Court Decision, Upholds Maryland Carry Permit Criteria

Last March, in a victory for Maryland gun owners, a federal judge ruled in the case of Woollard v. Sheridan that a key provision of the state’s gun laws was unconstitutional. Judge Benson Everett Legg declared that Maryland's requirement for a "good and substantial reason" to obtain a concealed-carry permit violates the Second Amendment protection of the right to keep and bear arms.

"The Court finds that the right to bear arms is not limited to the home," Judge Legg wrote in his 23-page ruling. "In addition to self-defense, the right was also understood to allow for militia membership and hunting. To secure these rights, the Second Amendment’s protections must extend beyond the home: neither hunting nor militia training is a household activity, and 'self-defense has to take place wherever [a] person happens to be.'’'

Federally Licensed Firearms Retailers Overwhelmingly Oppose "Universal" Background Checks

According to an online survey of federally licensed firearms retailers conducted this week by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, those retailers overwhelmingly oppose so-called "universal" background checks.

As noted an NSSF press release, when asked whether they supported or opposed "universal background checks," 85.7 percent of the responding firearms retailers said that they opposed them. To the question of whether they believed that such legislation would prevent criminals from obtaining firearms, a nearly unanimous 95.7 percent said no.

Effectively Targeting Your Grassroots Activism

In recent weeks, NRA-ILA has been inundated with phone calls and emails from passionate supporters voicing their appreciation for our stalwart defense of the Second Amendment and passing along many productive observations and recommendations. Among them have been precisely the key points NRA has been making; namely that we need to steer Congress's efforts away from gun control and gun bans toward a more productive discussion on things like enhancing school security; improving our nation's mental health system; examining the consequences of a grotesque level of violence our children are exposed to by Hollywood and our pop culture, and enforcement of existing laws against criminals.

Show Your Neighbors you'll "Stand and Fight!"

NRA-ILA has been offering three yard signs for sale featuring our “Don't Tread on my Gun Rights”, “Vote Freedom First” and “I’m the NRA & I Vote” slogans. Sales of these signs have greatly aided our efforts to raise gun owner awareness, and to raise the funds we need to accomplish our goals this year.

Due to the popularity of these three signs, NRA-ILA has designed a fourth sign that is now available! Our newest yard sign highlights our newest slogan: “I Will Stand and Fight with NRA”. Made of the same high quality materials, the new “I Will Stand and Fight with NRA” sign is bold, durable, and easy to assemble. Everything needed to assemble the sign is contained in one compact package, and all components are made in the USA.

Everything Is Bigger In Texas- Including the NRA Annual Meeting Grassroots Workshop!

At no time in recent history has it been more important for NRA members and Second Amendment supporters to be effective activists in our campaign to protect and preserve our Second Amendment rights. Our freedom is under attack like never before, on multiple fronts!

As such, your attendance at this year's FREE NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop in Houston is a critical step toward ensuring the future of our gun rights. This Workshop has been a staple of NRA’s Annual Meetings for decades, and is one of the most popular seminars of the week, attended by hundreds of freedom-loving NRA members.

Attend the NRA Annual Meetings Firearms Law Seminar in Houston!

The 16th Annual Firearms Law Seminar will be held on Friday, May 3,, 2013, as part of NRA's Annual Meetings.

The gold standard in firearms CLE classes, this day-long seminar provides legal instruction for practicing attorneys who represent firearms owners and licensed dealers, attorneys wishing to expand their practice to such clients, and others having an interest in Second Amendment law.