NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ALERT: Vol. 21, No. 10 03/07/2014

Confusion Reigns as Gun Control Law Takes Effect in Connecticut; Meanwhile NRA Continues the Fight

On April 4, 2013, Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy (D) signed Senate Bill 1160 into law, unleashing one of the most draconian gun control laws in the nation on his constituents. Among other things, the 140-page law bans large classes of firearms and magazines that had been obtained lawfully by tens of thousands of Connecticut residents. Limited grandfather provisions apply to those who registered otherwise banned items before January 1, 2014. Others in possession could face felony penalties for violations. President Obama himself was in Connecticut four days after this bill became law, praising it as a model for the nation.

Throughout the Connecticut lawmakers' efforts to attack law-abiding gun owners, your NRA has been actively involved in fighting to vindicate the Second Amendment rights of Connecticut's citizens. Shortly before the bill was rammed through the state legislature with no opportunity for public debate or even for adequate committee review, the NRA helped organize a huge lobby day protest rally in conjunction with the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the Connecticut Citizens Defense League and the Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen. Thousands turned out peacefully to protest the proposed legislation and the incursions on their rights that would undoubtedly result from it.

Anti-Gun Groups Fail to Remove Second Amendment Content from Facebook

In recent months, anti-gun groups such as Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG), the Brady Campaign and others have been putting increasing pressure on Facebook (and its associated platform, Instagram) to prohibit any online content that references the private sale of firearms.

The demands to Facebook were based on the false premise that guns were being sold illegally through these forums simply because users posted information about a firearm they wished to sell.

As we have often noted, the idea that the Internet is a vast, unregulated marketplace for guns is a myth. Gun sales advertised on the Internet are subject to the same laws that apply to any other gun sales, including restrictions on shipping and interstate sales, background checks for dealer sales, and penalties for persons transferring guns to others they know or have reason to believe are prohibited from having them.

Watch the Latest NRA-ILA Grassroots News Minute

Watch the Sneak Peek of Sunday's NRA All Access Episode 10

Contact Your Senators and Ask Them To OPPOSE Confirmation of Anti-Gun Obama Nominee for U.S. Surgeon General

As we reported last week, the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee recently voted to confirm President Obama's anti-gun nominee--36-year-old Dr. Vivek Murthy--as United States Surgeon General, clearing the way for Murthy's consideration by the full Senate.

NRA strongly opposes Murthy's confirmation. In a letter to Senate leaders, NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox noted that the U.S. Surgeon General is charged with the important tasks of providing the American public with information to better inform decisions related to their health, and with directing much of the federal government's public health efforts. In order for these roles to be carried out effectively, the public must trust that the Surgeon General's actions and recommendations are based on empirical and scientific evidence, rather than political or ideological motives. Unfortunately, Murthy's record of political activism in support of radical gun control measures raises significant concerns about the likelihood he would use the office of Surgeon General to further his preexisting campaign against lawful gun ownership.

Gun Control Lobby Continues to Ignore the Facts About Background Checks

The Brady Campaign's recent report that the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) has "stopped more than 2.1 million would-be gun purchases" sure sounds impressive--but it isn't true.

The fact is, the vast majority of the 2.1 million people flagged by NICS are either legitimate purchasers who are snagged by mistake, or criminals who are then turned loose to obtain firearms elsewhere, rather than being prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

This week, NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox wrote an op-ed for the Daily Caller regarding the truth about the Brady "report." Click Read More to read the full article.

Update on Obama Administration's Proposed Ban on Domestic Sale of Ivory

In last week's Grassroots Alert we addressed the administration's proposal to ban the trade and sale of legally owned ivory within the United States. The NRA supports efforts to stop poaching and to stop the illegal trade of ivory, but this proposed ban on legally owned ivory sold domestically will have no impact on the poaching of elephants and the illegal ivory trade. On the contrary, this ban will only affect honest, law-abiding Americans by making their possessions valueless.

Please email and call the White House at 202-456-1111 and email and call the Fish and Wildlife Service at 1-800-344-9453, to let them know you oppose the ban on commercial sale and trade of firearms with ivory.

DOJ Budget Request Reveals Some Questionable Priorities but Isn't the Increase Some Feared

On Tuesday, March 4, the Obama administration released its budget proposal for fiscal year 2015, and one portion of the proposal immediately raised the ire of many gun owners. The Department of Justice released a fact sheet detailing the department's request for "gun safety" spending to the tune of an eye-popping $1.1 billion, some of which is touted as supporting Obama's "Now is the Time" gun control initiative.

Attend the Free Grassroots Workshop at NRA's Annual Meetings in Indianapolis!

With the critically important 2014 elections just around the corner, it has never been more important for NRA members and Second Amendment supporters to be effective activists in our efforts to protect and preserve our Second Amendment rights. Our freedom is under attack and we simply have no other option than to take action if we are to repel this attack. For our own sake, and for the freedom of future generations, we must fight. And to fight effectively, you've got to be trained.

As such, your attendance at this year's FREE NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop in Indianapolis 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 Firearms Law Seminar at NRA's Annual Meetings in Indianapolis!

The 17th Annual Firearms Law Seminar will be held on Friday, April 25, 2014, as part of the NRA Annual Meetings. The gold standard in firearms CLE classes, this day-long seminar provides legal instruction for practicing attorneys and all others having an interest in Second Amendment law. Topics to be discussed include gun trusts, current law suits across the country, recent changes in Illinois law, Stand Your Ground and Castle Doctrine laws, federal and state firearms disqualifications and the restoration of rights, working with firearms ranges, and legal ethics.