NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ALERT: Vol. 21, No. 18 05/03/2014

MAIG Honcho Cuts His Losses, Quits Bloomberg Gun Control Cabal

Mark Glaze, the head of Michael Bloomberg's ever-morphing anti-gun empire, has announced his departure from Mayors Against Illegal Guns, the group he helped form and steer since 2011.

For the last three years, Glaze labored to build an organization off the wealth of a billionaire who, while mayor of New York City, also exploited public resources to pursue his own nationwide antigun agenda. Despite the assets at its disposal, the group has so far accomplished little of note, other than incessant press coverage of its wealthy benefactor. Indeed, Bloomberg's anti-gun effort has, in its short life, seen public embarrassments, high-profile defections, and repeated attempts at rebranding. It even stooped to bullying similar groups after the Newtown tragedy to assure its own prominence. Now, with the group poised to make its biggest, most-publicized push yet for relevance, its creator and chief architect leaves it to its own devices. What does that say about the movement Glaze was supposed to create? What does that say about the group he formed? We don't know, frankly, other than this latest development is entirely consistent with how things have gone for Bloomberg’s gun control efforts to date.

Watch David Clarke's Speech at the 2014 NRA Annual Meetings

Watch Mark Levin's Speech at the 2014 NRA Annual Meetings

Ask Your U.S. Representative to Cosponsor and Support H.R. 2959 – "The Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2013"

The "Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2013" (H.R. 2959)--introduced in the U.S. House by Reps. Richard Nugent (R-Fla.) and Jim Matheson (D-Utah)--would allow any person who is not prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm under federal law and who has a valid concealed firearm permit, to carry a concealed handgun in any state that issues its own residents permits to carry concealed firearms.

"Operation Choke Point" Raises Alarms

For the last several days, rumors have been circulating about the use of federal financial services regulators to harass and intimidate banks and financial service providers who maintain relationships with legal but so-called "high risk" merchants or businesses. These businesses are said to include, among others, payday lenders, escort services, producers of pornography, gaming interests, and purveyors of drug paraphernalia. By leaning on the banks, so the theory goes, the regulators will cause them to sever relationships with these businesses, thereby choking off their cash flow and forcing them out of the market. While the early phase of the operation has reportedly focused on payday lenders and pornography interests, eventual targets are said to include sellers of firearms and ammunition.

Antigun Journalist Admits Wife Wished for Gun When Criminal Struck

On Wednesday, gun control supporter and Fox News contributor Juan Williams appeared on the Lars Larson radio show and shared with listeners a personal incident that will hopefully have him questioning his long-held anti-gun positions. Williams told Larson, "My wife went to the gas station, and while she's trying to put the credit card in some guy rushes by her, gets in the car, and drives off with the damn car." Williams then noted that his wife's response to the situation was, "I wish I had a gun."

This reaction by his wife is a sharp contrast to Williams' own usual take on firearms. Following the shooting at Fort Hood in early April, Williams responded to a question by Fox News' Eric Bolling, regarding the efficacy of gun-free zones, by stating, "I think we need America to be a gun free zone." This isn't the first time Williams expressed anti-gun sentiments.

Citizens Prevail in Licensing Lawsuit Challenging Misdemeanor Firearm Disqualification

A recent court decision in Massachusetts upheld the right of state residents to keep and bear arms after minor, non-violent misdemeanor convictions.

Firearm laws in the Bay State require residents to obtain a Firearm Identification Card (FID) and a class A or class B license to possess, purchase, or carry a firearm, ammunition, and magazine (depending on the class or type of firearm). A permit to purchase a firearm (PTP) is also required to purchase, rent or lease a firearm. Carrying in a person's home is not exempt from these requirements. The PTPs and licenses are subject to the applicant demonstrating to the issuing authority that he or she is a "suitable person" and is not otherwise disqualified under state law. A "violation of any law regulating the use, possession or sale of controlled substances," disqualifies an applicant, and controlled substances include "marihuana."

Pennsylvania High Court Abandons Warrant Requirement for Automobile Searches

This past Tuesday, in a four to two decision, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania decided that police officers can search an automobile without a warrant as long as the officers have probable cause that they will find contraband or evidence of a crime. A lengthy majority opinion compared state and federal protections against unreasonable searches.

The case raised the issue of whether Pennsylvania's warrant requirement, contained in Article I, Section 8 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, provides more protection for automobile searches than the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

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.

Order Your NRA-ILA Yard Signs Today!

It has been estimated that well-placed campaign signs can account for four percentage points on Election Day. Think back to the 2000 presidential election, where 537 votes in Florida separated George W. Bush from Al Gore, and four percentage points seems like a landslide! While you are focused on the November 4 election, some gun owners may not be aware of what's at stake for the future of the Second Amendment on Election Day.