NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ALERT: Vol. 21, No. 14 04/04/2014

Bloomberg's Publicity Hounds Howl for Attention Following Ft. Hood Crime

The day after a soldier armed with a handgun murdered three, wounded 16, and killed himself on Ft. Hood, in central Texas, Michael Bloomberg’s two anti-gun groups--Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) and Moms Demand Action--issued a joint press release admitting, “we don’t know all the details.” This did not stop them, however, from offering “spokespeople available for comment and TV interviews (from NYC, DC and via satellite).” Knowledge of details—and facts--have never stood as an impediment for anti-gun groups to start prescribing their usual remedies.

If the anti-gunners appeared to be hungry for the media’s attention, it was for a reason. As detailed elsewhere in this Alert, polls conducted by Rasmussen Reports have found that support for gun control has decreased 22 percent since December 2012. Additionally, Bloomberg is no longer mayor of New York City and therefore can no longer use that office’s bully pulpit to lecture America on his tiresome views about gun control.

Watch Former NRA President David Keene on Fox Business

Obama Administration's Latest "Executive Action" Aims to Curb Ammo Imports

The NRA is aware of BATFE's recent actions to restrict importation of 5.45 x 39 ammunition. According to information BATFE provided to NRA, these actions are based on BATFE's determination that the availability of a handgun in this caliber triggers so-called “armor piercing” ammunition provisions of federal law, which generally prohibit manufacture and importation.

NRA strongly disagrees with BATFE’s view of this matter, and we have long sought clarity on BATFE's widely-varying approach to this issue. We have attended meetings with BATFE, submitted written comments, and issued FOIA requests, all in an attempt to better understand the process by which BATFE exercises its considerable discretion under this broadly-worded federal law. We have also worked with members of Congress to draft legislation to simplify the underlying federal statute and remove BATFE’s broad discretion in this area.

Contact Your Senators to Stop Feinstein's Proposed Semi-Auto Firearm Importation Ban

As we recently reported, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), sponsor of the federal "assault weapon" and "large" magazine "ban" of 1994-2004, is asking President Barack Obama to direct the BATFE to reinterpret a provision of the Gun Control Act of 1968 to prohibit the importation of various semi-automatic firearms and their parts.

In a letter to Obama, the text of which was included in an article published by the Daily Caller last Thursday, Feinstein said that, "at a minimum," the BATFE should:

prohibit importation of all semiautomatic rifles that can accept, or be readily converted to accept, a large capacity ammunition magazine of more than 10 rounds . . . . prohibit semiautomatic rifles with fixed magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds, prohibit the importation of the frame or receiver of any prohibited rifle . . . . prohibit the practice of importing assault rifles in parts …. prohibit the use of a "thumbhole" stock . . . . and prohibit the importation of assault pistols.

The Latest on the Obama Administration's Proposed Ban on the Domestic Sale of Ivory

In recent Grassroots Alerts, we addressed the Obama administration's proposal to ban the trade and sale of legally owned ivory within the United States (click here to see the initial alert). The NRA supports efforts to stop poaching and the illegal trade of ivory, but this proposed ban on legally owned ivory sold domestically will have no impact on 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 see this New York Times article highlighting the broad spectrum of people who will be harmed by the ban.

In Final Farewell Piers Morgan Calls For Total Gun Ban

After months of ranting and raving about “universal” checks, bans on semi-automatic rifles, and bans on standard-capacity ammunition magazines designed for defensive purposes, Piers Morgan ended his last TV show last Saturday by advocating an end to civilian ownership of all firearms. Lecturing Americans one last time, Morgan said “guns belong on a military battlefield. . . . Not in the hands of civilians.”

Rasmussen Polls: Important Findings for Both Sides in Gun Control Debate

Polls of likely voters, conducted by Rasmussen Reports over the last 15 months, have been trending significantly against gun control supporters, but also serve as a warning to those who believe the Second Amendment is safe from further erosion.

First, the bad news for gun control supporters. Since December 2012, support for stricter gun control has dropped by about 22% among likely voters.

Readers may recall the alarming situation in January 2013, when Vice-President Joe “Two Blasts” Biden was heading up a task force to rubber stamp the gun control schemes that President Obama wanted. Gun control supporters at that time believed they had the momentum necessary to achieve “universal checks,” as well as a new and more severe ban on “assault weapons” and “large” magazines.

Chris W. Cox Calls Anti-Gun Sportscaster's Bluff

Sportscaster Bob Costas, the armchair intellectual and wanna-be political commentator who was harshly criticized for injecting his personal opinions about gun control during a sports broadcast in 2012, has again tried to attract attention to himself at the expense of what he calls “the gun culture.”

On NBC Late Night, Costas said America is “a culture where people who are angry are more apt to weigh in, or people who have an extreme view are more apt to weigh in, and they have more ways to do it.”

Special Guest to Appear at the 2014 NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop In Indianapolis!

In recent weeks, we have been promoting your attendance at the annual NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop being held in conjunction with NRA’s Annual Meetings in Indianapolis. The Workshop, all materials, and continental breakfast prior to the Workshop are absolutely FREE!

The thrust of this Workshop will be to provide you with the tools and training to become an event more effective activist this election season.

We are extremely pleased to announce a special guest who will be speaking about his own, unique transformational journey from NRA-ILA grassroots activist to a leading Second Amendment State Senator in Indiana, Sen. Jim Tomes.

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.