NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ALERT: Vol. 21, No. 5 01/31/2014

President to Press his Anti-Gun Agenda "With or Without Congress"

Last year, in the wake of the shootings in Newtown, Conn., Barack Obama gave a State of the Union performance that was filled with theatrical pandering. Seeking to capitalize on that tragedy by exploiting the understandably intense emotions that followed in its wake, 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 to support the efficacy of his proposals. That's because evidence was (and still is) sorely lacking--and experts at Obama's own Justice Department acknowledged that fact, even if the President will not.

In April, the U.S. Senate soundly rejected Obama's gun control agenda, which prompted one political commentator to call the action the "biggest loss" of Obama's presidency.

This year, Obama's State of the Union gun control rhetoric was toned down substantially but was no less disturbing, with the president pledging that he will continue to promote his anti-gun agenda "with or without Congress."

Important Sportsmen's Legislation Needs Your Help Become a "Citizen Cosponsor" Today

H.R. 3590--the Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act--is an important bipartisan sportsmen's package that needs your support! Introduced by Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation Co-Chair, U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio), H.R. 3590 includes several important updates and changes that would positively impact American sportsmen. If enacted, this NRA-backed legislation would protect traditional lead based ammunition used by hunters. The legislation would also allow polar bear trophies legally harvested before the importation ban to be imported into the United States. Additionally, many provisions in this legislation would remove burdensome restrictions, such as opening additional land access for hunting and fishing and allowing for firearms to be legally carried on land managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. Similar legislation to H.R. 3590 passed the U.S. House of Representatives in the 112th Congress by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 274-146.

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Ruling Upholds Connecticut's Expansive Firearm and Magazine Bans Despite Findings that Banned Items are Commonly Used for Lawful Purposes

On January 30, 2014, a federal court judge upheld Connecticut's new gun control law as constitutional, notwithstanding its finding that "the act burdens the plaintiffs' Second Amendment rights …." The ruling comes from U.S. District Court Judge Alfred Covello in response to a lawsuit filed last May challenging the constitutionality of Connecticut's new gun control legislation. In April, the Connecticut legislature hastily passed wide-ranging restrictions on Connecticut gun owners that embody several long-term planks of the anti-gunners' agenda, including an expanded ban on so-called "assault weapons," restrictions on magazine capacity, expansion of an existing "eligibility certificate" requirement to all firearms and ammunition, an expanded ban of private transfers, and registration of all non-conforming firearms and magazines, the possession of which was grandfathered under the law.

New Book Contains Lessons from History on Civilian Disarmament

Author, attorney, and eminent Second Amendment scholar Stephen P. Halbrook has released an acclaimed new book that documents with painstaking detail perhaps the most diabolical gun control effort of the 20th Century. Dr. Halbrook is also a research fellow as the Independent Institute, which published this latest volume in his considerable body of work.

Based on newly-discovered, secret documents from German archives, diaries and newspapers of the time, Gun Control in the Third Reich presents the definitive, yet hidden history of how the Nazi regime made use of gun control to disarm and repress its enemies and consolidate power. While voluminous scholarship has documented the Third Reich and the Holocaust, this is the first thorough examination of the laws restricting firearm ownership that rendered Hitler's political opponents, as well as the Jews, defenseless. It also makes a compelling case that the National Socialist regime considered suppression of firearm ownership by disfavored groups a critical element of achieving its objectives.

No Surprise Here: NYC Mayor de Blasio Joins MAIG

Recently-sworn-in New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is wasting no time in shoring-up his anti-gun reputation. As reported this week by the Washington Times, de Blasio announced that he has joined "Mayors Against Illegal Guns" (MAIG)--the national gun ban group founded and funded by anti-gun extremist, and de Blasio's predecessor in the Mayoral Mansion, Michael Bloomberg. Unsurprisingly, Mr. de Blasio has chosen to follow in the footsteps of his anti-gun predecessor, pledging to "force this issue on the national stage."

Washington Senator: Guns Shock & Sicken Me

On Wednesday, January 29, the Washington Senate Law & Justice Committee held a hearing on Initiative-594, that would, among other things, impose a general prohibition on the private transfer of firearms. During the hearing, State Senator Jeannie Darneille of Tacoma frankly revealed what lies behind much of the support for I-594 and other gun control measures across the country. As captured by a video of the hearing, the senator told those assembled, "I am not a person who handles guns. I don't own guns. I don't…they shock me, quite frankly. We're an open carry state and when I see people open carrying their guns, while it may be perfectly legal, it creates a visceral, personal, physical reaction in me as it does in other people…."

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Two FREE NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshops to be held at the First Annual Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Pa!

On Thursday, February 6, at 3:30 p.m., and Friday, February 7, at 1:30 p.m., your NRA-ILA will be holding two FREE workshops at the first annual Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Pa. At these Workshops, we'll discuss the current issues we are facing at the federal and state levels and how you can become more involved in our mutual efforts to protect our Second Amendment rights. 2014 is gearing up to be critical time for Pro-Second Amendment supporters and there is no better way to "Stand and Fight" with NRA than to educate yourself to be a frontline activist in your community.

Volunteers needed for the Great American Outdoor Show!

The upcoming Great American Outdoor Show is a nine-day event celebrating hunting, fishing and outdoor traditions that are treasured by millions of Americans and their families. It will be held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, from February 1-9, 2014. The GAOS will feature over 1000 exhibitors and a multitude of products, ranging from shooting manufacturers to outfitters, fishing boats to RV's, archery to art, and covering 650,000 square feet of exhibit hall space. It will also feature a jam-packed schedule of events, including concerts, fundraising dinners, speaking events, archery competitions, celebrity appearances, seminars, demonstrations and much more!