NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert Vol. 10, No. 46 11/14/2003
ANTI-GUN SENATORS HOLDING S. 659 / S. 1806 HOSTAGE
As regular readers of the Grassroots Alert know, one of NRA-ILA`s top legislative priorities in Congress, is the passage of S. 659/S. 1806, the "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act."
The House version of this bill? H.R. 1036?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 has become stalled in the Senate. At present, the situation remains very fluid, and there`s still a possibility that the Senate could pass S. 659/S. 1806 before it goes into recess for the year. But the only remaining opportunity to pass the bill this year is through appropriations legislation, which funds government operations. If S. 659/S. 1806 is passed as part of a spending bill, it will represent a major pushback by pro-gun Senators against the obstructionist tactics of the dedicated corps of anti-gun Senators who blocked consideration of the bill in early November.
Thanks to the dedicated grassroots efforts of millions of NRA members and gun owners across the country, S. 659/S. 1806 is now widely acknowledged as having enough votes to overcome a filibuster by anti-gun Senators. But we can`t stop a filibuster until one starts, and the process can`t begin until the bill reaches the Senate floor for debate.
On November 6, pro-gun leaders in the Senate attempted to bring the bill to the floor with a proposed "consent agreement" to govern the length of debate and the number of amendments each side could order. Anti-gun Senators sent their representative to the floor to object. After much discussion, and failing to gain "consent," Senate leaders moved to other business, but vowed to bring S. 659/S. 1806 to a vote early next year, without regard to the objections from the anti-gun corps. That sets us up for a full-blown brawl in the New Year.
In the end, it all boils down to politics, but you can help break the logjam. In the coming weeks, your Senators will likely be traveling around your state, holding town hall meetings, where they can report on what they`ve been doing in Washington, and take questions from their constituents. These meetings offer a tremendous opportunity for you to personally voice your strong support for S. 659/S. 1806. Your Senators need to know that this bill is about saving jobs, and protecting our rights. If you can`t attend a meeting, send a letter or make a phone call to your Senator`s office. Tell them it`s time to stop playing politics with the Second Amendment. Urge them to fully support S. 659 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 contact your Senators and your U.S. Representative and urge them to cosponsor and support S. 1414 and H.R. 3193?the Senate and House versions of the District of Columbia Personal Protection Act. This important legislation seeks to restore the constitutionally-guaranteed Second Amendment rights of the residents of the District of Columbia, which has once again reclaimed the title of "murder capital" of the United States.
Finally, please continue to urge your U.S. Representative and your Senators to oppose current legislation seeking to expand the 1994 Clinton gun ban?H.R. 2038, S. 1431, and S. 1034. You can find contact information for your elected officials by using the "Write Your Representatives" tool 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.
ST. LOUIS LAWSUIT AGAINST GUN INDUSTRY DISMISSED ON ISSUES OF "LOGIC AND FAIRNESS"
On November 7, Judge Emmett O`Brien said he found no basis for the city of St. Louis` claim against the gun industry seeking reimbursement for costs associated with gun-related injuries. He dismissed the lawsuit against gun distributors and trade organizations a month after he had thrown out similar charges against gun manufacturers.
Judge O`Brien wrote in his opinion that "issues of both logic and fairness" favored dismissing the case, which was filed in April 1999. He also said that such lawsuits would open "a floodgate to additional litigation."
A LOOK AT THE STATES
FLORIDA
Representative Lindsay Harrington (R-Punta Gorda) has introduced House Bill 155, a bill to prohibit gun registration in Florida. NRA and Unified Sportsmen of Florida (USF) support this critical legislation which is scheduled to be heard by the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, November 19 at 8:00 a.m. It is extremely important that Florida NRA members e-mail the House Judiciary Committee IMMEDIATELY and urge its members to support HB 155, and put a stop to gun registration by government agencies, local governments, and law enforcement agencies. To locate e-mail addresses for House Judiciary Committee members, please visit www.NRAILA.org and access the "Write Your Representatives" tool. Additional background information on HB 155 can also be found at www.NRAILA.org, and please be sure to share this critical legislative alert with your family, friends, and fellow Second Amendment supporters.
LOUISIANA
Please remember that tomorrow, Saturday, November 15, Louisiana will hold its General Election Runoff. As voter turnout may be low, every vote will make a difference. Please make sure you vote! Also, please ensure that your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners vote as well.
MICHIGAN
Please contact your State Senators and respectfully urge them to support the passage of a Michigan Dove Season. Michigan hunters deserve the same opportunity to hunt doves that hunters in 39 other states presently have. You can find contact information for your Representatives by using the "Write Your Representatives" feature at www.NRAILA.org
NEW MEXICO
Once again, frustrated by their inability to stop its passage in the New Mexico Legislature, gun control advocates have filed a lawsuit against the state`s Right-to-Carry law signed this year by Governor Bill Richardson (D). The legal challenge, filed with the State Supreme Court, claims that the law violates Article II, Section 6, of the New Mexico Constitution and requests that the New Mexico Department of Public Safety be blocked from promulgating rules governing the Concealed Handgun Carry Act and implementing its provisions?including the processing of applications and issuance of licenses. The Court is expected to decide within the next month whether to hear the case and whether to grant an order blocking DPS from further action. We`ll keep you posted!
OHIO
On November 18, the Conference Committee will meet to vote on a compromise version of House Bill 12. The committee will meet at the State House, 3rd floor, House Finance Committee Room, at 1:30 p.m. As currently written, House Bill 12 would restrict an individual`s ability to protect himself in a motor vehicle by requiring the firearm to be locked up when passengers under the age of 18 are present. This provision is unacceptable and contradicts the underlying principle of a Right-to-Carry Law and, in fact, could put law-abiding permit holders at risk. For more information concerning Ohio Right-to-Carry, please visit our special Ohio Right-to-Carry website at http://www.NRAILA.org/oh-getrighttocarry.asp
WASHINGTON
NRA members who reside in Pierce County must contact their County Council Members on two issues. First, an existing ordinance (Chapter 9.32.020) has been discovered on the books that makes it unlawful to possess or dispose of firearms. Although such a law is both unconstitutional and contrary to state statutes, the County Council needs to address this issue by repealing the existing ordinance. The second issue involves no-shooting ordinances. The County Council has been adopting restrictions on the discharge of firearms in an arbitrary manner, closing areas that could appropriately be left open for hunting and recreational shooting. A local group of NRA members is struggling in an effort to convince the Council to adopt a consistent process for the creation of reasonable "no-shooting zones" in populated areas of the County. Please contact members of the County Council and urge them to REPEAL Chapter 9.32.020, the ban on firearm possession, and SUPPORT the adoption of an oversight process for the creation of "no-shooting zones." County Council members and their e-mails are as follows: Paul Bocchi pbocchi@co.pierce.wa.us Terry Lee
tlee1@co.pierce.wa.us
Barbara Gelman
bgelman@co.pierce.wa.us
Harold Moss hmoss@co.pierce.wa.us
Kevin Wimsett
kwimset@co.pierce.wa.us
Calvin Goings
cgoing1@co.pierce.wa.us
Shawn Bunney
sbunney@co.pierce.wa.us
If you would like to get more involved, contact NRA-ILA at nrasaccaoffice@mindspring.com mailto:nrasaccaoffice@mindspring.com
WISCONSIN
Governor Doyle (D) has promised to veto the 2003 Personal Protection Act (PPA) that was recently passed by the Assembly and Senate. It is critical that you contact Governor Doyle and respectfully urge him to sign the bill, and stand up for your right to protect yourself and your loved ones! The Governor can be contacted at (608) 266-1212. Also, it is critical that you contact your legislators and urge them to stand strong in defense of the PPA and not to change their vote to uphold the Governor`s veto! For more information or to contact your legislators use the "Write your Representatives" feature at www.NRAILA.org
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