NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert Vol. 11, No. 5

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BETRAYAL IN WISCONSIN: FIGHT TO OVERRIDE VETO FAILS BY ONE VOTE

For the second consecutive year, a single lawmaker denied the law-abiding citizens of Wisconsin the same essential right to self-defense enjoyed by the citizens of 37 other states, including the neighboring states of Minnesota and Michigan. On Tuesday, February 3, the State Assembly, by a vote of 65-34, failed to override Governor Jim Doyle`s (D) veto of the 2003 Personal Protection Act (PPA). The vote was one short of the 66 required for an override. In January, the State Senate overrode the veto by a vote of 23-10. The shall issue Right-to-Carry bill would have allowed trained, law-abiding citizens who paid a fee, passed a background check, and obtained a permit from the county sheriff, to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense.

Last year it was then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Chvala (D-16) who ignored Senate Rules by single-handedly ending the legislative session two days early in order to block the PPA from receiving a final vote on the Senate floor. This desperate action was not surprising in light of the Senator`s belief that handgun possession should be a privilege reserved solely for government officials.

This year it was Representative Gary Sherman (D-74) who prevented the PPA from becoming law by changing his position at the last minute and voting to sustain the Governor`s veto. As one of only two Democrats who cosponsored the legislation, Sherman chose partisan politics over the right of citizens to defend themselves from violent criminals. He decided to back his misguided, anti-gun Governor rather than side with the good citizens of Wisconsin.

Here is what Representative Sherman said in a commentary in the November 6, 2003, edition of the Ashland Daily Press: "I have made no secret of my support for this proposal throughout the past six years. In my very first assembly campaign in 1998, I made my support for concealed carry clear and I have not changed my position.... People who are unconcerned about obeying the law are not deterred from carrying concealed weapons now.... As things stand now, only those of us who are determined to obey the law cannot carry concealed weapons. These permitting laws exist in 45 of our 50 states. Based upon this extensive experience, there is no evidence that issuing permits to properly trained people, who have been carefully checked to see if there is some reason why they should not be trusted with a firearm, will increase the risk of gun violence for the rest of us. In the absence of such evidence, there is no compelling reason why such people should be denied the privilege of doing so. In America, it is not necessary to prove the opposite, that there is a compelling reason for doing so. The mere absence of a compelling reason for limiting people`s liberty is enough."

Evidently, Representative Sherman`s blind devotion to his Governor became his "compelling reason for limiting people`s liberty." It is these lawful citizens who will suffer from the safer working environment afforded the violent criminals in Wisconsin.

One Wisconsin rape survivor who has been a powerful, articulate proponent of the PPA from the beginning asked after Sherman`s vote, "How can he do it? How can he change his vote? What`s going to happen if I`m attacked again and I can`t do anything about it?"

The fight, however, is far from over. NRA and other proponents of the Personal Protection Act will not stop until violent criminals are forced to think twice before deciding to attack their victims. In many respects, this year`s fight was a success. According to polls conducted by PPA opponents, the majority of Wisconsinites have been educated to the point of supporting Right-to-Carry. A full two-thirds of the 132 members of the State Legislature voted for the override of the Governor`s veto. The momentum behind the PPA will continue to build until Wisconsin joins the vast majority of states by enacting Right-to-Carry.

You need to be a part of this continuing effort by actively supporting those legislators who supported your rights by voting for the PPA. Become a volunteer on their campaigns and let them know the reason for your involvement. Conversely, you must spread the word regarding those elected officials who do not trust law-abiding citizens with the right to self-defense or, perhaps worse, those who betray their long-held belief in defending "people`s liberty."

Please visit www.NRAILA.com to find contact information for your NRA-ILA Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC) so you may contact him to begin working on the campaign of those who support Right-to-Carry. You can find contact information for your legislators by using the "Write Your Representatives" feature, also at www.NRAILA.org.

FIGHT THE PROPOSED MARYLAND "ASSAULT WEAPONS" BAN

On February 10, the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee will hold a public hearing on Senate Bill 288, which proposes to BAN the possession of "assault weapons" in Maryland.

This onerous bill defines an "assault weapon" as any semi-automatic firearm that possesses even ONE feature that is deemed unacceptable by the bill`s sponsors. The bill also bans "copycat guns"? anything the state thinks resembles an "assault weapon." In addition, the bill mandates registration of any such firearms that are already in private hands.

Several members of the Judicial Proceedings Committee who support the proposed ban need to hear from you. Please be sure to contact the Senators listed below and voice your strong opposition to Senate Bill 288, the Maryland "Assault Weapons" Ban. Please make the call today?the future of gun ownership in Maryland depends on it!

Chairman Brian Frosh (D-Montgomery):

(410) 841-3124

Vice Chairman Leo Green (D-Prince George`s):

(410) 841-3631

Senator John Giannetti (D-Prince George`s):

(410) 841-3141

Senator Jim Brochin (D-Baltimore):

(410) 841-3648

Senator Jennie Forehand (D-Montgomery):

(410) 841-3134

Senator Rob Garagiola (D-Montgomery):

(410) 841-3169

Senator Ralph Hughes (D-Baltimore City):

(410) 841-3656

In addition, please be sure to attend the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee hearing at 1:00 p.m., next Tuesday, February 10, in the Miller Senate Building, 11 Bladen St., Annapolis. Your presence is needed to show strong opposition to this restrictive bill. Now is the time to show your opposition to this Draconian legislation. The future of gun ownership in Maryland depends on it!

RENEW SUPPORT FOR S. 659/S. 1806

With the new year upon us, we must renew our aggressive support of S. 659/S. 1806, the "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act."

The House version of this bill? H.R. 1036?was passed last April by an overwhelming vote of 285-140, and has the support of the White House. Yet, despite assurances of a timely vote and broad bipartisan support, S. 659/S. 1806 became stalled in the Senate late last year. The good news is, we are now anticipating a Senate vote on the measure as soon as early March. Thanks to the dedicated grassroots efforts of millions of NRA members and gun owners across the country, S. 659/S. 1806 currently has 55 cosponsors, more than enough to pass the measure. However, we need 60 votes to derail the filibuster that the likes of Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) are almost certain to attempt. We can also expect these gun-banners to try and load the legislation with numerous anti-gun amendments, including S. 1034?the Clinton gun ban extension, and S. 1807?the so called Gun Show Loophole Closing Act of 2003. It is therefore imperative the you contact your Senators immediately and tell them it`s time to stop playing politics with the Second Amendment. Urge them to fully support S. 659/S. 1806 without any anti-gun amendments! Ask them to do everything in their power to end these meritless lawsuits and ensure that this essential legislation is approved as written. Tell them it`s time to pass S.659/S. 1806! Make no mistake?with your help, we will win this fight and see this critical legislation signed into law.

In addition, please continue to urge your U.S. Representative and Senators to oppose current legislation seeking to expand the 1994 Clinton gunban?H.R. 2038, S. 1431, and the aforementioned S. 1034. You can find contact information for your elected officials by using the "Write Your Representatives" feature at www.NRAILA.org, or you can call your U.S. Senators at (202) 224-3121 and your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121.

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A LOOK AT THE STATES

MARYLAND

Senate Bill 279, that would expand the prohibition against using or maintaining a leghold trap to include the entire state, will be considered by the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday, February 10. Please be sure to contact your State Senator and voice your opposition to this bill aimed at restricting the rights of sportsmen. You can find contact information for your Senator by using the "Write Your Representatives" feature at www.NRAILA.org.

MICHIGAN

Michigan sportsmen are confused by the cancellation of the Senate Committee hearing on House Bill 5029, that would establish a dove hunting season in Michigan. Evidently, Senate Chair Shirley Johnson (R-13), the leading opponent of the bill, cancelled the committee hearing without explanation. As of now, the hearing has not been rescheduled. Sportsmen are encouraged to call their Senator and respectfully urge them to support HB 5029 without amendment. You can find contact information for your Senator by using the "Write Your Representatives" feature at www.NRAILA.org.

NEVADA

This Saturday, February 7, the Nevada Wildlife Board of Commissioners will be meeting in Las Vegas to discuss a plan to restrict the carrying of rifles and shotguns on off-highway vehicles (OHV) during the hunting season. NRA opposes Regulation 319 on the grounds that it would prohibit recreational shooting with firearms other than handguns by those using OHV`s to access open areas. The proposed regulation would also deny hunters road-to-base camp access using such vehicles with their hunting firearms. Public comment on Regulation 319 will begin on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. The meeting will be held at the Clark County Commissioners Building, 500 Grand Central Parkway, in Las Vegas. Please encourage fellow hunters to attend.

NEW YORK

The State Legislature continues to consider the Executive Budget introduced last month by Governor George Pataki (R). Budget bills S. 6056/A. 9556 will require handgun licensees to pay a $100 "certification" fee to the state, institute a five-year expiration period for licenses (currently most jurisdictions issue lifetime licenses), and charge a fee of $25 for each handgun owned. Additionally, this proposal would remove the caps on local processing fees, which means fees can certainly be expected to climb, and in many jurisdictions could price gun owners, sportsmen, and collectors right out of the market. Instead of banning handguns, this proposal would simply make it too expensive to own them. Please call (518) 474-8390 or write to Governor George Pataki at Executive Chamber, State Capitol, Albany, NY 12224 to express your opposition to his latest attack on gun owners. It is also critical that you contact your lawmakers TODAY to tell them that they must oppose this unfair "TAX" on gun owners! To get contact information for your representatives please use the "Write Your Representatives" feature at www.NRAILA.org.

VIRGINIA

On February 4, the Virginia Senate Finance Committee reported out SB 48, which will place a $15 tax on any private transfer of a firearm at a gun show and force sellers to register with the Virginia State Police. SB 48 defines a gun show as any place where 25 or more guns are offered for sale. This would mean any collector`s home could become a "gun show." Please contact your State Senator and respectfully urge him to vote against SB 48. You can find contact information by using the "Write Your Representatives" feature at www.NRAILA.org.