National Legislative Information

March 28, 2009

From NRA-ILA

Assault Weapons 2009

By Chris W. Cox, NRA-ILA

Executive Director

“Until we ban all of them, then we might as well ban none.” -- The late Sen. Howard Metzenbaum

A couple of years ago, I spent a great fall day hunting quail in Georgia. The birds were plentiful, the weather was good and the dogs were outstanding. But that day, I also spent hours debating one of my fellow hunters on a legislative issue. It’s one that may or may not surprise you.

The issue was the semi-automatic firearms that anti-gun groups call “assault weapons,” and my companion couldn’t see why NRA is against banning them. And he wasn’t just any hunter. In fact, he was a federal judge--an intelligent and educated man who, some day, might hold a gun owner’s fate in his hands. You might have had the same conversation with friends of yours, so I want to share a few thoughts that could help you show them why we have to fight these bans.

First and foremost, this issue is about commonly owned firearms that are used for lawful purposes by millions of Americans every day. Our opponents’ long-term goal, on the other hand, is to ensure that no American can legally own or use any firearm for any purpose.

They reveal that goal in their legislation. These bills aren’t just about “AK-47s and Uzis” anymore.

Full Article

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March 26, 2009

From NRA-ILA

H.R. 1074/S. 556 The Firearms Interstate Commerce Reform Act

H.R. 1074, introduced by Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) and S. 556, introduced by Senator David Vitter (R-La.), would remove several antiquated and unnecessary restrictions imposed on interstate firearms business since 1968:

• Virtually all interstate transfers directly between private citizens are banned; so are nearly all interstate handgun sales by licensed dealers.

• Firearms dealers may only do business at their licensed premises or (since 1986) at gun shows in their own state.

• Dealers may not even transfer firearms to one another face to face, away from their business premises.

These restrictions originated with the Gun Control Act of 1968, which only allowed licensed dealers to sell rifles and shotguns to residents of a different state under a lengthy series of conditions. First, the buyer’s state had to have a law allowing such transactions.1 Second, the transaction had to comply with the state law in both the buyer’s and seller’s states. Third, the dealer had to notify the chief law enforcement officer in the buyer’s state, and wait for evidence that the officer had received the notification. Finally, the dealer had to wait seven days after receiving the notice before completing the transfer.

Read full article here

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NRA Files Notice of Appeal in Federal District Court to Protect Right to Carry in National Parks

Friday, March 20, 2009

Fairfax, Va. – Today, the National Rifle Association filed a notice of appeal in Federal District Court to oppose a preliminary injunction preventing law-abiding citizens from defending themselves in national parks and wildlife refuges.

Chris W. Cox, NRA chief lobbyist, said, “NRA is moving aggressively to protect this common sense rule and that’s why we filed this notice of appeal today. Just as we did not give up the fight to change the old, outdated rule, we will not give up our fight in the courts to defend the rule change. We will pursue every legal avenue to defend the American people's right of self-defense.”

On Thursday, March 19, Federal District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly issued a preliminary injunction against the Department of Interior rule that took effect on January 9, 2009. The revised rule allowed individuals to carry concealed firearms for self-defense in national parks and national wildlife refuges located in states which allow the carrying of concealed firearms. It also maintained uniformity within each state, making it easier for law-abiding permit holders to follow the laws.

The Brady Campaign and the National Parks and Conservation Association

(NPCA) filed suit against the Interior Department rule. Judge Kollar-Kotelly granted NRA “Intervenor” status, allowing participation in the case independently from the Department of Interior.

http://www.nraila.org/News/Read/NewsReleases.aspx?ID=12260

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Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert

8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151

Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408

http://www.gunowners.org

Monday, February 23, 2009

An alert last week asked you to urge your representative to oppose a massive land bill that was scheduled to come before the full House at any time.

The good news is that opposition to the bill grew so loud that the leadership pulled it from the calendar so they would have more time to muster enough votes to pass it.

Well, that also gives you another chance to contact your own representative to tell him to OPPOSE the anti-Second Amendment Omnibus Land Act.  The bill, S. 22, is now scheduled to be voted on this week.

S.22 is a mammoth bill comprised of over 190 separate pieces of legislation and will come to the floor with a rule that will not allow pro-gun representatives to offer amendments.

There are serious Second Amendment concerns with this legislation.  S. 22 will greatly expand the amount of land controlled by the National Park Service (NPS).   Because the rights of lawful gun owners are restricted on NPS land, the bill will create even more "anti-Second Amendment" zones.

Full Article

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Big Brother's New Target: Tracking Firearms
NRA Institute for Legislative Actions

Monday, January 23, 2009

U.S. Representative Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) recently sponsored H.R. 45, also known as "Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act." The bill is, at its core and as its name implies, a licensing and registration scheme. 
The measure calls for all handgun owners to submit to the federal government an application that shall include, among many other things: a photo; an address; a thumbprint; a completed, written firearm safety test; private mental health records; and a fee. And those are only some of the requirements to be licensed! 
The bill would further require the attorney general to establish a database of every handgun sale, transfer, and owner's address in America. Moreover, the bill would make it illegal to own or possess a "qualifying firearm" -- defined as "any handgun; or any semiautomatic firearm that can accept any detachable ammunition feeding device…" [emphasis added] without one of the proposed licenses. 

Full Article

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NEW YORK – As the Obama administration attempts to push through Congress a nearly $1 trillion deficit spending plan that is weighted heavily toward advancing typically Democratic-supported social welfare programs, a rebellion against the growing dominance of federal control is beginning to spread at the state level.

So far, eight states have introduced resolutions declaring state sovereignty under the Ninth and Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, including Arizona, Hawaii, Montana, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Washington.

Analysts expect that in addition, another 20 states may see similar measures introduced this year, including Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Nevada, Maine and Pennsylvania.

"What we are trying to do is to get the U.S. Congress out of the state's " Oklahoma Republican state Sen. Randy Brogdon told WND.

Full Article