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Anti-Gun Politicians In Senate Seek Rules Changes
Action would clear the way for semi-auto bans, guns show bans, gun licensing, and ammunition bans.

Make no mistake about it: Procedure is power.

Gun Owners of America

Washington, DC --(Ammoland.com)- The reason we are not stuck with bans on semi-autos, gun shows and ammunition is because the U.S. Senate is structured so that whatever party is in the minority still retains procedural power to protect the rights of the citizenry against the “tyranny of the majority.”

But on January 5, 2011, at the beginning of the new Congress, Senate Democrats are hatching a plan to decimate long-standing Senate rules in order to remove those protections.

The linchpin of the plan would be a ruling by Senate President Joe Biden that the Senate is not a “continuing body” and therefore has NO rules — other than whatever 53 Democrats and Independents might unilaterally adopt.

At the core of their efforts will be an attempt to abolish the “hold letter” – at least as it currently exists. Pro-gun senators have used “hold letters” in the past to kill proposed gun show bans, semi-auto bans, ammunition bans, gun licensing requirements, registration lists — any number of anti-freedom initiatives.

Basically, a hold letter allows a single Senator to slow down movement on unconstitutional legislation, so that it can’t be rammed through before the American people can voice their concerns.

Gun banners may also try to reduce the number of senators required to shut off filibusters of anti-gun measures. And they will do this in the expectation that the Second Amendment community has been preoccupied during the holidays and, thus, won’t mobilize in time to stop the plan.

Again, procedure is power. The rules that currently exist in the Senate have been designed to slow down unconstitutional legislation — and this is in keeping with our concept of checks and balances. Thus, not all rules changes are automatically bad, since anything that slows down the galloping herd of gun control is a good thing and should be supported.

To this end, Senator Jim DeMint may offer an amendment to the rules that would prohibit anti-gun legislation from being passed in the Senate, unless two-thirds of all senators vote to consider it.

Now that’s the kind of rules change that we can support!

ACTION: Contact your two senators, and tell them the following:

1. First, resist efforts by the anti-gun Left to abolish or amend the Senate rules on January 5 in order to make it more difficult to filibuster anti-gun measures.
2. Second, oppose any attempt to abolish “hold letters,” which have been used by pro-gun senators to kill a number of anti-freedom initiatives.
3. Third, support the amendment to the Senate rules by Senator Jim DeMint that would prohibit anti-gun legislation from being passed in the Senate, unless two-thirds of all senators vote to consider it.

There are two different pre-written letters for this alert — one for Republicans and one for Democrats.

If you go to GOA’s Legislative Action Center to contact your Senators, the correct pre-written letter will AUTOMATICALLY be chosen. If you choose to contact your Senators without going through the GOA website, then please make sure you choose the correct letter below for the correct Senator.

—– Pre-written letter to Republican Senators —–

Dear Senator:

The reason we are not stuck with bans on semi-autos, gun shows and ammunition is because the U.S. Senate is structured so that whatever party is in the minority still retains procedural power to protect the rights of the citizenry against the “tyranny of the majority.”

But on January 5, 2011, at the beginning of the new Congress, the Senate Democratic leadership is hatching a plan to decimate the Senate rules.

The linchpin of the plan would be a ruling by Senate President Joe Biden that the Senate is not a “continuing body” and therefore has NO rules — other than whatever 53 Democrats and Independents might unilaterally adopt.

At the core of these efforts will be an attempt to abolish the “hold letter” — at least as it currently exists. Pro-gun senators have used hold letters in the past to kill proposed gun show bans, semi-auto bans, ammunition bans, gun licensing requirements, registration lists — any number of anti-freedom initiatives.

Gun banners may also try to reduce the number of senators required to shut off filibusters of anti-gun measures. And they will do this in the expectation that the Second Amendment community has been preoccupied during the holidays and, thus, won’t mobilize in time to stop the plan.

I would ask you for the following:

First, resist efforts by the anti-gun Left to abolish or amend the Senate rules on January 5 in order to make it more difficult to filibuster anti-gun measures.

Second, oppose any attempt to abolish “hold letters,” which have been used by pro-gun senators to kill a number of anti-freedom initiatives.

Third, support the amendment to the Senate rules by Senator Jim DeMint that would prohibit anti-gun legislation from being passed in the Senate, unless two-thirds of all senators vote to consider it.

Sincerely,

—– Pre-written letter to Democrat Senators —–

Dear Senator:

On January 5, 2011, at the beginning of the new Congress, there are some in the Senate leadership who are hatching a plan to decimate the Senate rules.

The linchpin of the plan would be a ruling by Senate President Joe Biden that the Senate is not a “continuing body” and therefore has NO rules — other than whatever 53 Democrats and Independents might unilaterally adopt.

At the core of these efforts will be an attempt to abolish the “hold letter” — at least as it currently exists. And, they may also try to reduce the number of senators required to shut off filibusters.

Ironically, these are the same senators who were, a half-decade ago, screaming at the prospects of Republicans and Vice President Dick Cheney changing the rules in order to expedite judicial nominations.

Also ironic is the fact that the same Democrats who are so enthusiastic about squashing the rights of the minority might well be in the minority in the Senate after the next election.

I would ask you to resist efforts to abolish or amend any Senate rules that would make it more difficult to filibuster or place holds on legislation. These valuable tools have a history of protecting the rights of all Americans.

Sincerely,

About:
Gun Owners of America (GOA) is a non-profit lobbying organization formed in 1975 to preserve and defend the Second Amendment rights of gun owners. GOA sees firearms ownership as a freedom issue. `The only no comprise gun lobby in Washington’ – Ron Paul

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Victory In The House – Congress to Read the Constitution

Gun Owners of America

Washington, DC --(Ammoland.com)- You did it! Gun Owners of America asked you to get behind our effort to push Congress to read the Constitution on the floor of the House and Senate.

House Speaker Designate John Boehner announced that the clerk of the House of Representatives will read the Constitution aloud at the start of the new Congress.

“This is a great victory for all Americans who care about limited government, individual liberty and the Constitution,” said John Velleco, GOA’s Director of Federal Affairs. “Maybe Congress is finally getting the message that the oath they take to support and defend our most important founding document is still relevant in the 21st century. Reading it is a good first step, but now we must get Congress to abide by the real contract with America.”

At about 4,400 words, it is one of the shortest written Constitutions in the world and will only take about an hour to read. In contrast, the ObamaCare bill weighs in at around 180,000 words and was never read at all by those voting for its passage.

The overwhelming response to GOA’s petition, found at www.readtheusconstitution.org, shows that Americans want Congress to follow the Constitution.

“We will enjoy watching Nancy Pelosi’s face when the clerk reads the Constitution, since it may be the first time she’s ever heard it read. And hopefully the clerk will read it nice and slowly to let the words sink in,” said Velleco.

There is no word yet from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid if the Senate will follow the House’s lead, so GOA is still urging people to visit the website and sign the petition.

The current oath that all members of Congress take reads:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”

Please help keep the pressure on Congress to read – and abide by – the Constitution. If you’ve already signed the petition, thank you, and please urge all of your pro-gun family and friends to visit www.readtheusconstitution.org.

About:
Gun Owners of America (GOA) is a non-profit lobbying organization formed in 1975 to preserve and defend the Second Amendment rights of gun owners. GOA sees firearms ownership as a freedom issue. `The only no comprise gun lobby in Washington’ – Ron Paul

Filed under: Gun Rights News by Ammoland No Comments »