NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ALERT: Vol. 21, No. 15 04/11/2014

Contact Your Senators and Representative to Stop Proposed Semi-Auto Firearm Importation Ban

We recently reported that 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, 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.

Holder Floats Taxpayer-Funded "Smart" Gun Research

This week, Attorney General Eric Holder testified on Capitol Hill that what America needs at this pivotal moment in its history is to spend $2 million for "smart" gun technology, as part of a $382 million expenditure on what the Obama administration calls "gun safety."

Translation: Federal "universal" background checks, "assault weapon," and "large" magazine legislation was defeated in the Senate and not voted upon in the House of Representatives last year, and gun control supporters need something else to talk about.

Watch the Latest NRA-ILA Grassroots News Minute

New York Officials Argue for Flexibility with Gun Law Violators… As Long as They're on the City's Payroll

Some of New York's most strident gun control advocates have rushed to the defense of an unwitting traveler who was arrested at an airport for a technical violation of a draconian gun law. Has a new era of sanity arrived in the Big Apple? Not really. This defendant happens to be an NYPD officer who is alleged to have violated India's strict firearm regulations.

NRA Opposes Administration's Plan to Broaden Reach of Mental Health-Related Gun Bans

On Monday, NRA filed formal comments in opposition to a plan by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) to expand the categories of persons prohibited under federal law from acquiring or possessing firearms because of having been "adjudicated as a mental defective" or "committed to a mental institution." The proposal is commonly referred to by its BATFE docket number, 51P.

Nervous About November: 82 Anti-Gun House Democrats Ask Obama to Expand Import Ban

On Wednesday, 82 members of the United States House of Representatives sent President Barack Obama a letter asking him to have the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) expand its ban on the importation of semi-automatic firearms and parts for such firearms.

Outrage of the Week: Zero-Tolerance Policies Now Exploited by Enterprising Bullies

There is a long history of school administrators behaving like bullies when enforcing the irrational zero-tolerance policies that have ensnared scores of students. A recent case out of Vernon, N.J., however, suggests that the hysterical enforcement of these policies in some schools has reached a level where an actual peer bully can exploit zero-tolerance to torment a victim.

Another Reason to be Concerned about Obama’s Surgeon General Nominee

On Thursday, the anti-gun American College of Physicians (ACP) came out for the entire gun control agenda being pushed at the national level, adding to the suspicion that Dr. Vivek Murthy, President Obama's nominee for Surgeon General, would do the same if confirmed to the post. To the many newspaper editors who have suggested medicine has nothing to do with gun control, and NRA has no place opining on who gets named as America's "Top Doc," we say: "We told you so."

The Latest on the Obama Administration's Proposed Ban on the Domestic Sale of Ivory and Importation of Elephant Trophies

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.

BATFE Publicly Confirms Administration's Ammunition Import Ban

On Monday, BATFE issued a "special advisory" indicating the agency's official position on 5.45x39 7N6 ammunition. The advisory states that "the ammunition is 'armor piercing' under [federal law] and is therefore not importable." We previously reported on our efforts to determine BATFE's official position on this issue.

With Congress in Recess, Please Contact Your Lawmakers and Tell Them to Oppose Import Bans

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. This is a great opportunity for you, as a constituent, to contact your lawmaker to personally voice your strong opposition to proposed bans on importing certain semi-automatic firearms and on the domestic sale of ivory and importation of elephant trophies.

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.

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.