NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ALERT: Vol. 20, No. 15 04/12/2013

Senate to Vote on Anti-Gun Measures Next Week

On April 11, by a vote of 68-31, the U.S. Senate voted to move forward with debate and votes on a variety of gun control proposals.

The underlying bill that will be considered by the Senate is S. 649, the so-called "Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013." A number of amendments will be offered to S. 649, including a ban on commonly and lawfully-owned firearms and magazines and language to criminalize the private transfer of firearms and force gun owners to get government permission to transfer guns to friends after "advertising" that might be as little as a Facebook post or a listing in a gun club newsletter. This language--a misguided "compromise" proposal drafted by Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)--would be proposed as an alternative to Sen. Schumer's background check provisions that are currently in the bill.

NRA's position on these proposals is unmistakably clear--we are unequivocally opposed to S. 649, the amendments mentioned above, and any other anti-gun amendments. As we have noted previously, expanding background checks at gun shows or elsewhere will not reduce violent crime or keep our kids safe in their schools. Given the importance of these issues, votes on all anti-gun amendments or proposals will be considered in NRA's future candidate evaluations.

Survey Finds Law Enforcement United Against Gun Control--99 Percent Believe "Assault Weapons" Ban is Not Most Important Measure to Stop Mass Shootings

This week, PoliceOne.com released the results of an extensive online survey of about 15,000 active and retired law enforcement officers of all ranks and from departments ranging in size from less than 25 to more than 1,000.

These results strongly show that law enforcement officers do not support President Obama's gun control agenda. They do, however, strongly support the Right to Carry for law-abiding Americans. The survey respondents are united in their desire for politicians to focus on keeping firearms out of the hands of the mentally ill and to reject unconstitutional gun control measures that infringe on Second Amendment rights.

Watch the Latest Grassroots News Minute

Sen. Murphy Shows Disdain for First and Second Amendments!

On Saturday night, millions of NASCAR fans will tune in to Fox to watch the NRA 500 NASCAR race. NASCAR fans are a natural audience to support NRA's message of safety, responsibility, and freedom and we are proud to sponsor this fantastic sporting event.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who has emerged as one of the most shrill and radical voices calling for gun control in the U.S. Senate, recently demonstrated that he holds the First Amendment in the same low regard as he does the Second.

In an April 11 letter to Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive officer of News Corporation, Sen. Murphy urged Fox not to broadcast the race.

Outrage of the Week

This week's outrage comes to us from the state of Connecticut--the "Constitution State"--where a father says his son's middle school curriculum is teaching that Americans don't have the right to bear arms.

According to a FoxNews.com story, Steven Boibeaux's son, a student a Northeast Middle School in Bristol, Conn., was given a social studies worksheet titled, "The Second Amendment Today." The worksheet, published by Instructional Fair, claims that, "The courts have consistently determined that the Second Amendment does not ensure each individual the right to bear arms," and that, "The courts have never found a law regulating the private ownership of weapons unconstitutional."

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.

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.

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.