NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert Vol. 11, No. 10

1-800-392-8683

www.nraila.org

PLAN TO ATTEND FREE PITTSBURGH GRASSROOTS WORKSHOP!

The NRA-ILA Grassroots Division will host a FREE Grassroots Workshop in conjunction with NRA`s Annual Meetings in Pittsburgh. This Workshop has been a regular part of NRA`s Annual Meetings for a decade. At this event, you will hear from NRA officers, staff, and your fellow NRA members on what you can do in your own community to ensure victory for the Second Amendment in this year`s elections.

We will also discuss how you can work with your local Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC). Your EVC is a local NRA member who is working with the various pro-gun campaigns in his area to provide critically-needed volunteer support for a variety of activities, including: phone banks, precinct walks, literature drops, voter registration drives, Get Out The Vote & Election Day activities, etc. EVCs also promote NRA-ILA`s legislative agenda at the federal and state levels.

With the 2004 elections in full swing, it is critical that we start implementing our grassroots battle plan to ensure we are ready to meet these electoral challenges head on as Election Day 2004 approaches. Rest assured the anti-gunners are already re-doubling their efforts to ensure the defeat of pro-Second Amendment candidates in critical elections across the country, so we must ensure we are prepared to defeat their efforts at every turn.

Workshop details are:

NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop-FREE!

Friday, April 16, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon

(Registration & free continental breakfast-8:00 - 9:00 a.m.)

Allegheny Ballroom II,Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh Hotel

1000 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222

To reserve your seat, or for more information, please call NRA-ILA at (800) 392-8683. You may also register on-line at http://www.nraam.org/seminars/grassroots.asp. We hope to see you in Pittsburgh on Friday, April 16!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR 133rd NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS & EXHIBITS!

The 2004 NRA Annual Members Meetings and Exhibits will be held in Pittsburgh, Pa., April 16-18, and your NRA is looking for dedicated members to volunteer and assist with various projects necessary to stage another successful Annual Meeting. The NRA Annual Meeting is the most exciting and satisfying NRA event of the year, and by joining our team of volunteers, you will play an integral role in putting the NRA`s best foot forward, while we are in the national spotlight.

There are several areas where you can volunteer: Membership Services, Fraternal Sales, Exhibitor Registration, Firearms Safety Inspection, and Airgun Range.

NRA staff, Annual Meeting Exhibitors, and the tens of thousands of your fellow NRA members attending the Annual Meeting will greatly appreciate any time or assistance you can lend. If you would like to volunteer your time, or would like more information, please contact: Brian Hyder, Eastern Region Director, NRA Field Operations Division, 144 Hailey Drive, Franklin, NC, 28734, Office: (828) 524-9480, e-mail: bhyder@nrahq.org.

SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR 2003 NRA-ILA VOLUNTEER AWARDS

The "Jay M. Littlefield Memorial NRA-ILA Volunteer of the Year Award" is an annual honor that recognizes an NRA member who demonstrates exceptionally meritorious activism in defense of our Second Amendment rights. Similarly, the "NRA-ILA Volunteer Organization of the Year Award" is bestowed upon a group that has gone above and beyond the call of duty in defending our freedom over the past year. Nominations for these honors for last year (2003) should be submitted to: NRA-ILA Volunteer Awards, c/o Suzie Roulette, NRA-ILA Grassroots Division, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA, 22030. They can also be faxed to Suzie at (703) 267-3918, or e-mailed to

sroulette@nrahq.org. All nominations must be submitted by NRA members in good standing and be accompanied by a one page description of why the nominated individual or organization is deserving. Winners will be selected by NRA-ILA staff, and will be acknowledged at this Fall`s NRA Board of Directors Meeting. The deadline for submissions is July 1, 2004.

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A LOOK AT THE STATES

ARIZONA

The Ben Avery Shooting Facility Preservation bill (BASF) passed the full House yesterday by a vote of 57-0. Please call your Representative and thank him for his support. You can find contact information for your Representative by using the "Write Your Representatives" feature at www.NRAILA.org.

INDIANA

On March 9, the House passed House Bill 1349 by a vote of 75-17. Under the bill, gun owners whose firearms have been stolen could not be sued for injuries or deaths resulting from misuse of those firearms. The bill will now be sent to Governor Joe Kernan (D) for his signature. Please contact Governor Kernan at (317) 232-4567 and ask him to sign House Bill 1349 when he receives it from the House.

MARYLAND

On March 16, the Maryland House Judiciary Committee will be considering a package of gun bills, both pro-gun and anti-gun. Please make plans to attend the hearings on March 16, at 1:00 p.m., in the Judiciary Committee Room, of the Lowe House Office Building, 84 College Avenue, in Annapolis. If you cannot attend the hearings, please be sure to contact your State Delegate and let your voice be heard. You can find contact information for your legislators by using the "Write Your Representatives" feature found at www.NRAILA.org or by calling the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-8683. Among the bills being considered are: HB 251 & HB 410, which would repeal the law requiring all handguns undergo "ballistic fingerprinting" before they could be sold; HB 414 & HB 652, which would repeal the prohibition against a dealer selling or transferring specified handguns unless the handguns are equipped with an integrated mechanical safety device, a law that has resulted in a de facto handgun ban; HB 859, the "Citizens` Protection Act of 2004, which would make considerable improvements to the state`s current discriminatory carry permit system?changes that would allow all trained law-abiding citizens to obtain a permit to carry a firearm concealed for personal protection; and HB 1298, the "Maryland Assault Weapons Ban of 2004," that proposes to BAN the possession of so-called "assault weapons" in Maryland. This onerous bill defines an "assault weapon" as any semi-automatic firearm that possesses even ONE cosmetic 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 already in private hands by a certain date. Please be sure to call your delegate today and let your voice be heard! You can find contact information for your delegate by using the "Write Your Representatives" feature at www.NRAILA.org.

MISSISSIPPI

HB 989, the NRA-backed Right-to-Carry Reciprocity reform bill, has been reported out of the House Judiciary B Committee and will be considered by the full House next week. Currently, Mississippi has negotiated reciprocal agreements with only five states. This bill will open the door for agreements to be negotiated with most other Right-to-Carry states. Please contact your State Representative and urge him to support HB 989. SB 2705, the Senate version of HB 989, has been reported out of the Senate Judiciary B Committee and is awaiting action by the full Senate next week as well. Please contact your State Senator and urge him to support SB 2705. Also, please encourage Senators to support SB 2623, legislation creating a specialized NRA license plate and directing fees collected from these plates to the NRA Foundation State Account for Mississippi.

NEW YORK

Several bills that would impact law-abiding gun owners, hunters, and sportsmen are currently pending in the Assembly. They include

A 3311, which would prohibit the sale of any pistol or revolver not containing a "child-proofing" device; and A 4615C, which legislates how gun owners must store their firearms and creates new crimes and penalties. Reported out of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee this week were A 7039 (same as S 4453), which bans the sale, use, and possession of .50-caliber firearms; and A 8542B, which would expand the current ballistic "identification" program to include rifles and shotguns. These measures now head to the Assembly floor for consideration. A 8456A, which would place many new onerous restrictions and requirements on firearm dealers, was also reported out of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee and was referred to the Assembly Rules Committee. Please contact your Assembly member and urge him to OPPOSE the proposals listed above. Also please keep in mind that, although the New York State Senate has rejected Governor George Pataki`s (R) plan for renewable pistol licenses and new state fees contained in budget bills S. 6056/A. 9556, the budget process won`t be over until it`s finally adopted by the Legislature, so it is important to encourage lawmakers to continue to stand firm in opposing the Governor`s plan. To get contact information for your Representatives please use the "Write Your Representatives" tool at www.NRAILA.org. A very important meeting concerning the re-opening of the Suffolk County Trap & Skeet Range will be held on Wednesday, March 17, at 11:00 a.m., at the William H. Rogers Legislative Building, 725 Veterans Memorial Highway, Smithtown (phone number (631) 853-4077). The Parks and Recreation Committee of the Suffolk County Legislature will discuss the noise abatement requirements of the range as well as reauthorization of the funds necessary to bring the range up to required specifications. These funds were approved last year, but not spent. A strong showing is critical if we are to succeed in getting the range re-opened!

OHIO

Attention Cincinnati Members! On Sunday, March 14, 2004, please make plans to attend "NRA Day" at Dick`s Sporting Goods in Cincinnati (5555 Glenway Avenue), from Noon-5:00 p.m. While there, you can meet your NRA-ILA Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC), Glenn Kestler. Glenn is an NRA member who works with and organizes volunteers to assist pro-gun candidates with phone banks, literature drops, voter registration drives, precinct walks, and other campaign activities. He also works with volunteers to affect firearm-related legislation in Ohio and in Washington, D.C. Please be sure to attend and meet your EVC and learn how you can make a difference in this year`s critical elections. Also, during "NRA Day," NRA Membership Recruiters will be available to sign up and renew NRA members, and provide information on upcoming Friends of NRA events, and NRA firearm training courses will be available. For information/questions regarding this event, please contact Pat Gliger of Dick`s Sporting Goods at (513) 347-7570.