Wisconsin Carry

Wisconsin --(Ammoland.com)- On September 18, 2010 five law abiding Wisconsin residents were peacefully having dinner at a Culver’s Restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin.

These 5 individuals, who were legally openly carrying as provided by Wisconsin law had finished their dinner and were preparing to leave the restaurant when they were unlawfully detained by a mass of Madison police officers.

Despite the absence of reasonable suspicion or probable cause of any crime or violation, Madison police illegally demanded identification from the men under the threat of arrest if they did not comply.

2 individuals who chose not to comply with the illegal action of the Madison police were subsequently arrested and cited for obstruction. 2 days later those unlawfully issued citations were rescinded and all 5 men, even those who complied with the officers illegal demands were issued citations for disorderly conduct.

On May 5th of 2011, the frivolous disorderly conduct charges against all 5 men were dropped.

Wisconsin Carry, Inc. a non-profit corporation dedicated to protecting and advancing the right of Wisconsinites to carry in the manner of their choosing, open or concealed, filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Madison and the 5 Madison Police officers who participated in the unlawful detainment and treatment of these 5 individuals.

A copy of that lawsuit is available here: http://www.wisconsincarry.org/pdf/Madison5/lawsuit.pdf

Today a judgment of $10,000 against the City of Madison and 5 Madison police offers was agreed to by Wisconsin Carry, Inc. and our 5 co-plaintiffs. This judgment will be entered into the record of the Federal District Court, Western Wisconsin.

A copy of the judgment agreement can be viewed here: http://tiny.cc/dgt8r

About:
Wisconsin Carry, Inc. is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the preservation and reclamation of the rights of law-abiding Wisconsin residents to carry in the manner of their choosing. We believe that “open carry” and “concealed carry” are choices to be made by law-abiding citizens based on their situation and preference. Wisconsin Carry, like many gun-rights organizations in Wisconsin, is investing a great deal of resources to get Wisconsin law changed to allow concealed carry this next legislative session by proposing Constitutional Carry. Wisconsin Carry, Inc. will continue to use legal recourse to deter unlawful treatment of law-abiding Wisconsin residents who currently exercise their right to open carry, and soon will exercise their right to concealed carry in Wisconsin. Visit: www.wisconsincarry.org

Gun Rights Examiner David Codrea

USA --(Ammoland.com)- “Hollywood shootout: Gunman calmly targeted drivers, pedestrians,” LATimesblog reported yesterday.

“Video shows the gunman calmly pointing his handgun and opening fire on passing cars near Vine Street and Sunset Boulevard near the ArcLight Cinema.”

It was hardly a “shootout,” as there was no return fire—until nearby police fortunately arrived in minutes when seconds counted—but it is true the twisted monster was able to take his time until then—watch the video in the sidebar media player for yourself. He slowly walked down the middle of the street while shooting into passing cars. He did not feel the need to seek cover. And he had good reason to be confident, because the odds of encountering a peaceably armed citizen in any major metropolitan area in California favor those armed with criminal intent. That’s because California is a “may issue” state, where the urban police establishment is notorious for exercising the “may not” option—for the unconnected.

Continue reading on Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-national/hollywood-gunman-enabled-by-anti-defense-sentiments-and-laws

About David Codrea:
David Codrea is a long-time gun rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He is a field editor for GUNS Magazine, and a blogger at The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance. Read more at www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-national/david-codrea

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- KERNERSVILLE PARKS RESTRICTIONS
On Monday, GRNC reported that just before the election, the Kernersville Board of Aldermen snuck through a last minute gun ban in public parks which not only prohibits guns in the narrowly-defined “recreational facilities” within parks which may still be posted under the provisions of recently-passed House Bill 650, but also included walking and running trails - a clear violation of state law.

Gun rights supporters responded in force yesterday, electing at least two new pro-gun aldermen, removing anti-gun incumbent Bob Prescott, and prompting remaining incumbents Dana Jones and Tracy Shifflete to contact a GRNC representative to say they want to “fix” the problem. What they are willing to do remains to be seen, but suffice to say that your calls and e-mails delivered our message. We will keep you apprised of progress.

Please note, only 42 votes separated the 4 lowest vote getters in the Prescott race. More than likely YOUR votes made the difference.

EXPANDED CARRY ON STATE GAME LANDS
Yesterday, Gordon Meyers, Director of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, stated that restrictions on both open and concealed carry in game lands would be lifted in accordance with section 14 of HB 650, and that carry would be permitted not only in state parks, but also game lands managed by the state but owned by the US Forest Service and others.

Section 14 of HB 650 says: “…it shall be lawful for a person to carry any firearm openly, or to carry a concealed handgun with a concealed carry permit, at any State-owned rest area, at any State-owned rest stop along the highways, and at any State-owned hunting and fishing reservation.”

We are gratified to see NCWRC take an expansive stance on interpreting the new language.

IMPORTANT CAVEATS
A limited number of game lands are exempted from the new law. According to NCWRC: “These exempted game lands are not state-owned game lands, but are lands enrolled in the WRC game lands program and owned by corporate entities, federal agencies, or other entities which requested the exemptions.”

For a list of exempted game lands, as well as firearms law on game lands in general, go to: www.ncwildlife.org/Licensing/Regulations/FireArmsandConcealedCarry.aspx

FIREARMS DISCHARGE ON GAME LANDS IS STILL PROHIBITED: Beyond the taking of game, you may NOT discharge firearms in these areas, and one expert advises that rattlesnakes you may encounter are protected species and may not be shot or otherwise destroyed. GRNC has won the right to defend yourself in these areas, but YOU must keep it by using and carrying firearms responsibly.

For information on rules governing firearms on game lands and other areas, go to:

• http://www.ncwildlife.org/Licensing/Regulations.aspx
• http://www.ncwildlife.org/Hunting/LawsSafety.aspx
• http://www.ncwildlife.org/Boating/LawsSafety/BoatingRegulations.aspx

Next Steps

Thanks to your calls and e-mails, GRNC is busy expanding firearms carry throughout the state. The next step?

Restaurant carry! Keep the pressure on!

About:
Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education is a non-profit, all volunteer organization devoted to educating the public about trends which abridge the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and engaging in grass roots activism to preserve those freedoms. Formed in 1994 to conduct a highly successful rally for the Second Amendment, GRNC has gone on to conduct projects like “Remember in November: A Gun Owner’s Guide to Voting,” bringing concealed carry to North Carolina. Visit:www.grnc.org

Florida Carry

Florida - -(Ammoland.com)- On the second Saturday of each month, Florida Carry holds local meetings for our members and other second amendment advocates throughout the state.

These meetings are informal and hosted by local volunteers who work with local officials to insure that they are pleasant events for everyone. The public is invited!

Many participants Open Carry and fish during these events. Other participants carry concealed and may or may not fish at the meetings. These monthly events are a great way for local second amendment advocates to network, keep up-to-date on current legislation & litigation, and make new friends.

The newest location for these meeting is in the Miami Area at Miami-Dade’s Black Point Marina Park. We will enjoy a morning of Fishing and answer any questions about Florida Carry, the lawsuits pending or in progress, current legislation, and our other efforts to support Florida gun owners.

Florida Carry has identified and worked with over 300 cities, counties, and state agencies to remove unlawful gun control ordinances and signs. The vast majority of those jurisdictions have subsequently repealed their ordinances and pulled down their anti-gun signs. We are pleased to report that we have suspend filing lawsuits against Miami and Miami-Dade pending the planned repeal of their dangerous gun control ordinances this month. These kinds of laws have proven to only protect criminals while leaving the law abiding defenseless and we will be happy to see them gone.

Currently, Florida Carry’s “Second Amendment Saturday” events are held simultaneously in:

• Daytona Beach
  ( Port Orange Causeway Park )
• Orlando
  ( Lake Underhill Park )
• Tampa
  ( Sunshine Skyway North Pier ) *Board Member Present
• Jacksonville
  ( Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier ) *Board Member Present
• Melbourne
  ( Front Street Park )
• Ft. Lauderdale
  ( Everglades Holiday Park )
• Ft. Myers
  ( Centennial Park ) *Board Member Present
• Miami-Dade
  ( Black Point Marina Park ) *Board Member Present

You will need your fishing license to fish and you have to be fishing (or going to and from) to Carry Openly.
Concealed Carry requires a valid Concealed Carry License and fishing is not necessary unless you are carrying unconcealed.

If you are planning on bringing a firearm, please abide by these Three Simple Rules: Hands Off Guns – No Long Guns – Be Safe

• Keep All Hands Off Sidearms & Holsters!
• Do not unholster for any reason other than to save a life.
• Make sure your sidearm is secure in its holster. – Condition Yellow -
• Do not fidget or make adjustments to your handgun or holster in public.
• If you need to make an adjustment, take it to your vehicle.
• If anyone, including the media, asks to see your handgun, just turn your body so they can see or film it in the holster.
• Do not rest your hand on your gun or holster.
• No Long Guns!
• This event is about the carry of handguns and other defensive implements that can currently be carried under
• Florida law by CWFL licensees.
• The Carry of Long Guns creates some practical issues with physical handling in public venues and is more provocative.
• Always Follow The Basic Gun Safety Rules!
• All guns are always loaded.
• Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to shoot.
• Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
• Be sure of your target and what is beyond it

Our strength is in our grassroots. Our continued success is dependent on your membership. Please join us today.

About:
Florida Carry is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots organization dedicated to advancing the fundamental civil right of all Floridians to keep and bear arms for self defense as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I Section 8 of the Florida Constitution. Florida Carry, Inc. was organized by a group of Florida gun rights activists in order to better coordinate activities, effectively lobby the state legislature, and to provide a legal entity capable of filing suit to demand compliance with state and federal law. Florida Carry stands only to represent our members and the over 6 million gun owners of Florida. We are not beholden to any national organization’s agenda that may compromise that mission.

Florida Carry works tirelessly toward repealing and striking down ill-conceived gun control laws that have been proven to provide safe havens to criminals and be deadly to law abiding citizens.

Responsible Citizens of California

Sacramento, CA --(Ammoland.com)-  Join the Responsible Citizens of California in Southern California as we kick off the first Long Gun Unloaded Open Carry event in response to the passage of AB 144.

Responsible Citizens of California Long Guns Coming Out Meetup (SoCal)

Time: October 13, 2011 from 6pm to 7pm
Location: Pacific Beach
Organized By: Yih-Chau Chang

Event Description:
By banning the open carry of handguns effective January 1, 2012, Governor Jerry Brown wants us to carry long guns for the defense of ourselves and our community, and we are happy to oblige. Get your rifles and shotguns out of the closet and polished up, It’s Coming Out Day October 22, 2011! Southern California event will be at high noon, October 22, in Pacific Beach at the end of Felspar Street on the bluff above the beach.

Come and meet like minded individuals and then maybe grab lunch at a local business. Besides your weapon(s) bring along anyone who cares about freedom to celebrate Jerry Brown pushing us to do the right thing. But leave the camouflage at home, please. See www.responsiblecitizensofcalifornia.org for information on the northern California meetup on that same date, or search facebook for “Long Guns Coming Out Meetup”.

• For an introductory video on Long Gun Unloaded Open Carry, please click on this video above.
• See more details and RSVP on Responsible Citizens of California: http://tiny.cc/cuuas

About:
Responsible Citizens of California a non-profit organization that promotes, educates and advocates for the right to carry. We stand behind the fact that armed, common, law-abiding citizens are responsible, well-trained, and actively reduce the violent crime rate in society. RCC also seek to dispel the common myths and misconceptions that the non-gun-owning public may hold in regards to their concerns on the subject of a lawfully armed citizenry.

California Rifle and Pistol Association

Sacramento, CA --(Ammoland.com)-Thank you to all members and readers who took the time to write and/or call legislators and the Governor.

Here are the results on key bills. For a complete listing of bills tracked by CRPA please refer to the Bill Status Update on the CRPA website at www.crpa.org.

SIGNED: SB 610 – License to Carry a Concealed Handgun (CRPA Position: Support)
SB 610 requires that applicants for a license to carry a concealed handgun will not be required to pay for any training courses prior to a determination of good cause being made.

The bill will also provide that no applicant will be required to obtain liability insurance as a condition of the license. In addition, the licensing authority must notify the applicant if the request for a license was denied and shall state the reason from the department’s published policy as to why the license was denied.

VETOED: SB 427 – Ammunition Registration (CRPA Position: Oppose)
SB 427 would have required registration of handgun ammunition and some rifle cartridges, including .22 rimfire and would have stop online and mail order purchase for delivery to your home or business. For example, you would not have been able to purchase handgun ammunition and some rifle ammunition online or by mail from Midsouth or BassPro Shops for delivery to your home or business. It also would have required vendors to obtain a local license to sell ammunition.

SIGNED: AB 809 – Rifle and Shotgun Registration (CRPA Position: Oppose)
AB 809 was reintroduced this year by Assembly Member Feuer in an attempt to require registration of all rifles and shotguns purchased on or after January 1, 2014. This is another form of AB 1810 which you may recall was defeated last year.

SIGNED: SB 819 – Redirection of Dealer Record of Sales Fee (DROS) (CRPA Position: Oppose)
SB 819 will allow the state Department of Justice (DOJ) to raid the DROS and take “excess” money to pay for local enforcement of laws related to firearms possession. The primary purpose of the DROS fee paid by every firearms purchaser is to fund the purchaser background checks performed by the Department of Justice. DROS fund fees are a fee for service and should be used for their intended purpose: background checks. The concern is that the DROS fund will be depleted and soon require an increased DROS fee for all firearms purchase. Note: A lawsuit has been filed by CRPA and NRA challenging the illegal use of DROS by DOJ.

SIGNED: AB 144 – Ban on Open Carry of Unloaded Handguns (CRPA Position: Oppose)
AB 144 authored by Assembly Member Portantino is a remake of last year’s AB 1934. AB 1934 was introduced by Assembly Member Saldana and to the relief of firearms owners was defeated on the last night of the legislative session. AB 144 will prohibit the open carry of an unloaded handgun in most public places. It leaves no option for self-protection especially in counties where it is impossible to obtain a license to carry a concealed handgun.

About:
The California Rifle and Pistol Association “CRPA,” founded in 1875, is dedicated to defending the rights of law-abiding citizens to responsibly use firearms for self-defense and the defense of their loved ones, for sport, and for all other legal activities. CRPA is the official state association of the National Rifle Association. A California non-profit association, CRPA is independently directed by its own Board of Directors. CRPA’s members include law enforcement officers, prosecutors, professionals, firearm experts, the general public, and loving parents. CRPA has always worked to reduce the criminal misuse of firearms and firearms accidents, while actively promoting and organizing the competitive shooting sports and Olympic training programs in California. We are proud to say that many CRPA competitors are among the best in the world. Visit: www.crpa.org

OpenCarry.org

Sacramento, California --(Ammoland.com)-  OpenCarry.Org Predicts that result will be widespread open carry of long guns in California’s urban areas.

“It’s disappointing that Governor Brown has signed AB 144. The new law forces citizens to open carry long guns in urban public places where holstered handguns are now the norm in California and 42 other states.

AB 144 also adds even further complexity to California’s already convoluted gun laws that confuse citizens and law enforcement officers alike.

But on the bright side, banning handgun open carry undermines the constitutionality of California’s discretionary concealed handgun permit scheme.”

About:
OpenCarry.org was founded in 2004 by Virginia gun-rights activists John Pierce and Mike Stollenwerk and has served to ignite the “Open Carry Movement” that is sweeping the country. In addition to being an invaluable legal resource for gun owners, the site has quickly grown to be a social networking portal for thousands of American gun owners. Visit: www.OpenCarry.org

Airport Carry Is Legal In 44 States, But Florida Will Put You In Jail (PS: So will New Jersey)

Florida Carry

Florida - -(Ammoland.com)- 44 States allow lawful carry of firearms in the common terminal and baggage claim areas of airports.

There are federal laws that restrict firearms, knives, and other weapons in the “sterile area” beyond the security checkpoint but the unsecured areas of the terminal are subject to state law.

Florida, and only five other states, make the entire airport terminal off limits even to carry license holders while armed. The US Supreme Court made it clear in DC v. Heller (2008) that Americans have the right to “carry weapons in case of confrontation,” but this right can be restricted “in sensitive places”.

The Federal government has determined that the “sterile area” is the “sensitive place” at an airport but Florida has gone much farther and banned even licensed carry inside the entire terminal, on this topic Florida is one of the most restrictive places in the country.

This has lead to confusion in the past even outside the terminal. In one case a lawful concealed carry licensee had his firearm become accidentally exposed while helping to unload luggage for someone who he was dropping off at the airport. Airport police overreacted and he ended up cuffed on the sidewalk outside until the officers realized their mistake.

These incidents don’t happen in the states where the limit on carry is clearly defined as in the “sterile area”.

About:
Florida Carry is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots organization dedicated to advancing the fundamental civil right of all Floridians to keep and bear arms for self defense as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I Section 8 of the Florida Constitution. Florida Carry, Inc. was organized by a group of Florida gun rights activists in order to better coordinate activities, effectively lobby the state legislature, and to provide a legal entity capable of filing suit to demand compliance with state and federal law. Florida Carry stands only to represent our members and the over 6 million gun owners of Florida. We are not beholden to any national organization’s agenda that may compromise that mission. Florida Carry works tirelessly toward repealing and striking down ill-conceived gun control laws that have been proven to provide safe havens to criminals and be deadly to law abiding citizens.

Wisconsin Carry

Wisconsin --(Ammoland.com)- To Recap: On Saturday, September 18, 2010, five (5) members of WCI met for dinner at a Culvers Restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin.

Each of these individuals was openly carrying a handgun when they arrived at the restaurant, entered the restaurant and ordered and ate their meals.

At or about the time that the WCI members finished their meal and left the restaurant, a woman in her car observed them openly carrying handguns and called 911 to report it to the City of Madison Police Department.

The 911 caller informed the dispatcher that she didn’t know if it was an emergency, the men were doing nothing wrong and appeared totally relaxed, weren’t threatening anyone and the restaurant was full of people but they each had sidearms and she didn’t know if that was legal.

Upon being informed by the 911 dispatcher that open-carry is legal the woman stated “then there is no problem and its not an emergency”. The dispatcher then suggests that if the woman is concerned or disturbed then it becomes a problem and the woman says “no they weren’t threatening anybody or acting threatening”. When the dispatcher informs the caller they are sending officers she says “well I feel bad then because they weren’t doing anything wrong”

Listen to the 911 call here: www.wisconsincarry.org/video/Madison5-911.wav

As these WCI members left the restaurant, they were accosted by eight(8) City of Madison police officers, who demanded that they produce identification, and threatened that if they did not do so, they would be arrested. From the time that these WCI members arrived at the restaurant up to and including the time that the police officers confronted them and demanded that they produce identification or face arrest, none of the WCI members violated any law, nor were they involved in any violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud or otherwise disorderly conduct, nor did they through their conduct cause or provoke any disturbance.

Wisconsin law does not allow officers to arrest for merely refusing to provide ID. 2 days later, Madison Police admitted the error in arresting and charging our members with obstruction, rescinded those tickets and instead, despite there being no disturbance, and no laws broken, issued disorderly conduct charges to all 5 of our members.

Wisconsin Carry filed our first federal lawsuit against the Madison Police Department 10 days after the original incident to challenge the Madison Police Departments unconstitutional policy of arresting law-abiding open-carriers if a call/complaint comes in. That lawsuit remains in front of the Federal Court in Madison.

This second lawsuit is being filed as the disorderly conduct charges against the Madison 5 were dropped this past spring. In this lawsuit WCI seeks damages on behalf of the Madison 5 for the unlawful detainment/arrest of our members including legal costs associated with preparing for the defense of the unlawfully issued disorderly conduct citations.

A copy of this lawsuit can be viewed here:

http://www.wisconsincarry.org/pdf/Madison5/Doc_1_Complaint.pdf

Wisconsin Carry, a 100% volunteer non-profit corporation, will continue to use the federal court system to seek remedy for and deter instances where the rights of law-abiding Wisconsin residents who carry in the manner of their choosing, open or concealed (as of Nov. 1st when the new concealed carry law goes into effect)are violated.

Carry On,

About:
Wisconsin Carry, Inc. is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the preservation and reclamation of the rights of law-abiding Wisconsin residents to carry in the manner of their choosing. We believe that “open carry” and “concealed carry” are choices to be made by law-abiding citizens based on their situation and preference. Wisconsin Carry, like many gun-rights organizations in Wisconsin, is investing a great deal of resources to get Wisconsin law changed to allow concealed carry this next legislative session by proposing Constitutional Carry. Wisconsin Carry, Inc. will continue to use legal recourse to deter unlawful treatment of law-abiding Wisconsin residents who currently exercise their right to open carry, and soon will exercise their right to concealed carry in Wisconsin. Visit: www.wisconsincarry.org

Virginia Citizens Defense League

Covington VA --(Ammoland.com)- Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R) has just released an opinion requested by Senator Emmett Hanger which says that the University of Virginia’s campus gun ban **policy** isn’t worth the paper it is written on for CHP holders.

Cuccinelli said that they can restrict open carriers from certain buildings based on simple trespass law, but NOT CHP holders. He also said that a campus-wide ban is simply a non-starter, even for open carriers.

However, students, faculty and staff can still be controlled by the school’s policy, allowing them to be expelled or fired, respectively for breaking the policy.

This is exactly how VCDL’s Corporate Attorney, Richard Gardiner, had read the recent Supreme Court ruling when it was released on “DiGiacinto v. Rector and Visitors of George Mason University.”

For a school like UVA to be able to ban guns in their buildings like GMU does, they would need to go through the complete administrative process to get a regulation added to the Virginia Administration Code. That would require public hearings.

If such a thing is done by any university or college, VCDL needs to have its members show up en mass to indicate our opposition to any such regulation.

Thanks to VCDL EM Hal Macklin for finding the breaking story.

Here is a link to the opinion in PDF format:

AG Cuccinelli Opinion on UVA No-Guns Policy

• Here is a link to a story on the opinion: From Virginia Lawyers Weekly: http://tinyurl.com/3z9sh6x
• Some excellent analysis here by VCDL EM John Pierce, who is currently a law student: http://monachuslex.com/?p=100

About:
Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. (VCDL). VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The Right to Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right. Visit: www.vcdl.org

OpenCarry.org

Sacramento, California --(Ammoland.com)- The purported goal of AB144, introduced by Assemblymember Anthony J. Portantino (D- Pasadena), is to outlaw unloaded open carry across the state.

The bill was introduced in response to an increasing number of Californians who have been openly carrying unloaded handguns as the only legal means of self-defense in the face of arbitrary and discriminatory denials of concealed carry permits.

But instead of correcting the discriminatory may-issue permitting system, Portantino’s solution is to remove even this limited right from the law-abiding citizens of California. But AB144 is such a poorly drafted piece of legislation that it will have significant unintended consequences.

Interestingly enough, one of the consequences should AB144 become law will be a real possibility of the courts striking down California’s arbitrary, may-issue concealed carry issuance process. In two recent court cases, the court cited the availability of open carry as a reason to not strike down the concealed carry process.

In Peruta v. County of San Diego 1 , the court noted that:

Both Chandler and Nunn, the two cases relied upon by the Supreme Court, concerned prohibitions on carrying of concealed weapons where the affected individuals had alternate ways to exercise their Second Amendment rights—by openly carrying those weapons. And in Richards v. County of Yolo

2 , the court ruled substantially the same way, stating:

In determining whether government action “substantially burdens” a constitutionally- protected right, courts “typically ask whether the restriction leaves open sufficient alternative avenues” for exercising the right.

–

[E]ven if Plaintiffs are denied a concealed weapon license for self-defense purposes from Yolo County, they are still more than free to keep an unloaded weapon nearby their person, load it, and use it for self-defense in circumstances that may occur in a public setting.

In both cases, the availability of unloaded open carry allowed the court to determine that sufficient alternative avenues existed for citizens to exercise their right to self-defense. Once unloaded open carry is no longer available, future challenges will likely find that a may-issue permitting scheme cannot pass constitutional muster.

Another consequence of AB144 will be to force those citizens who wish to exercise their rights to do so by openly carrying long guns, which are not affected by the handgun ban in the bill. Portantino and those who support AB144 should expect to see shotguns and rifles carried on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica and in Starbucks from San Francisco to San Diego if AB 144 passes.

• http://tiny.cc/pvvaw
• http://tiny.cc/owqjs

Finally, AB144 is a lengthy complicated mishmash which contains several serious drafting errors, discriminates against off duty police who work as security guards, and creates a complex web of confusing bans and exceptions to handgun carry that neither law enforcement nor the public will be able to understand.

OpenCarry.org joins with other gun rights groups in California to call upon the California Legislature to reject this attack on the rights of law-abiding citizens and is collecting citizen signatures at www.petitiononline.com/CalOCPet/petition.html

About:
OpenCarry.org was founded in 2004 by Virginia gun-rights activists John Pierce and Mike Stollenwerk and has served to ignite the “Open Carry Movement” that is sweeping the country. In addition to being an invaluable legal resource for gun owners, the site has quickly grown to be a social networking portal for thousands of American gun owners. Visit: www.OpenCarry.org

National Rifle Association

FAIRFAX, Va. --(Ammoland.com)- Governor Rick Scott received SB 234 Concealed Weapons.

The bill Includes:

• ** Concealed Weapons & Firearms License Holders Open-Carry Protection
• ** Concealed Weapons & Firearms License Holders Guns-In-Vehicles Rights
• ** Purchase of Long Guns in other states

Senate Bill 234 by state Senator Greg Evers (R-2) and Representative Chris Dorworth (R-34)makes much needed changes to the “Right-to-Carry” law — also known as the Concealed Weapons Licensing law. It also makes changes to firearms purchase law to conform to federal law.

The bill basically does three (3) following things:

1. Provides protection for concealed weapons license holders to prevent license holders from being charged with the crime of violating the “Open Carry” law because a concealed firearm accidentally or inadvertently became visible.
2. Provides that concealed weapons license holders may store a firearm in private vehicle anywhere the vehicle is lawfully parked except those places that are exempted under s. 790.251(7) — the parking lot law.
3. Removes the obsolete firearms purchase in contiguous state law previously required by federal law for out of state purchases of long guns and replaces it with language to conform to current federal requirements that allows purchase of long guns in other states.

Please email Governor Scott right away and urge him to sign SB-234

IN THE SUBJECT LINE PUT: Protect Gun Rights – PLEASE SIGN SB-234
rick.scott@eog.myflorida.com

PLEASE EMAIL GOVERNOR SCOTT TODAY

BACKGROUND ON SB 234

OPEN CARRY:
# 1. The open carry provision addresses the problem of an accidental or unintentional exposure of a firearm being carried by a concealed weapons license holder. As silly as it may sound, if a license holder is carrying a concealed firearm and the wind blows a jacket or shirt open exposing the firearm, the person can be charged with a crime for violating the open carry law. Anytime a license holder accidentally or unintentionally exposes the firearm whether reaching for something on a top shelf or bending over to pick up something, he/she can be charged with a crime. This bill fixes that problem.

The cries of anti-gunners with predictions of horrible things resulting from “open carry” are pure nonsense. Adding the provision of open carry for concealed weapons license holders will NOT present problems. While some gun haters may not want to remove this needless restriction, there have been no problems in other states.

According to the anti-gun Brady Campaign, 46 states allow open carry. Of those, 34 states allow open carry without a permit or license while 12 states require a permit to carry openly. (FLORIDA TODAY 1/7/2011, Change Would Relax Handgun Law – Byline: Kaustuv Basu)

What the spokesperson (Brian Malte, State Legislative Director) for the Brady Campaign — the national gun ban group — said is that open carry COULD BE TROUBLESOME. He said “Open carrying of loaded guns is problematic for public safety and for law enforcement. It is frightening to see people carrying loaded weapons in urban and suburban environments.”

What the Brady Campaign fails to report is that open carry is not now, nor has it ever been a problem. Only four states, including Florida, prohibit open carry. It’s time to remove this unnecessary government restriction in Florida.

Adding “open carry” for concealed weapons license holders to the law to avoid the “open carry” glitch doesn’t mean they will carry openly.

FIREARMS CARRY IN A VEHICLE:
#2. This bill simply says that if a person has a concealed weapons license, nothing shall prohibit the carry or storage of a firearm in a vehicle — except the exemptions in the Florida parking lot law.

For example, many of you will remember the case last summer of a cemetery that arbitrarily banned guns on cemetery property.

And you’ll remember the distraught father, who had already buried his son (who had been killed in auto crash) in that cemetery. The father has a concealed weapons license and always carries a firearm in his truck and frequently visits his son’s grave.

Advised of the new gun ban by the cemetery, the father was given three choices: (1) stop carrying a firearm in his vehicle, (2) face arrest for trespassing with a firearm (a felony) or (3) move his son’s body to another cemetery (which might later ban guns as well). Those choices are outrageous. This bill fixes that outrageous denial of Second Amendment rights.

REPEAL OF CONTIGUOUS STATE LANGUAGE:
#3. This bill repeals the obsolete language in s. 790.28, which limits purchase of rifles and shotguns to contiguous states and replaces it with language that will make it possible for Florida residents to purchase rifles and shotguns in non-contiguous states.

In 1979, s. 790.28 was passed to conform to federal law. At the time, federal law required the contiguous state language to be passed in order for residents to be able to exercise their right to purchase long guns in adjoining states.

Federal law has since changed to allow the purchase of long guns in any state through a licensed federal firearms dealer. However, in order for Florida residents to be able to exercise those rights, s. 790.28 must be repealed and conforming language must be added to Florida’s statutes. This bill does that.

This alert is posted to www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=6886

About:
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation’s leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military. Visit: www.nra.org

Ohioans For Concealed Carry

Ohio --(Ammoland.com)- Ohioans For Concealed Carry’s eighth annual Party In The Park is scheduled for Saturday, July 30th, 2011 at Liberty Park in Powell, Ohio.

Once again, we will have great food, entertaining speakers, door prizes and even better companionship!

Scheduled speakers include Representative Danny Bubp, sponsor and primary mover of HB45, the Restaurant Carry Bill, and Kevin Coughlin, the declared candidate for the Republican primary in the Senate race against Sherrod Brown. We will also bring you up to date on pending legislation and actions which OFCC has taken and has planned.

Liberty Park is located centrally in the State in Powell, just northeast of Columbus on Home Road. The party starts at 11:30 with a catered lunch, followed by our speakers and then door prizes. Tickets are required if you plan to eat or want to participate in the door prizes. You may attend without a ticket if you wish to waive participation in lunch and prizes. The party will end around 4:00 pm.

Where: Liberty Park is in Powell, Ohio. Use this Google map to get directions.

Cost: $15ea for one ticket, $14ea for two or more tickets. E-Tickets may be ordered online through our webstore. – print the emailed receipt or write down your order number, it is your only ticket and proof of purchase.

Please note: In 2010 we saw an unusually high number of at-the-door purchasers who were unaware that lunch was not served throughout the day, or that we can run out of food. If you wish to eat you should pre-purchase a ticket and you should arrive ON TIME. Lunch is typically served at 11:30am and the caterer will begin cleaning up approximately 1 to 1.5 hours later.

Drinks: The chilled beverages (pop, tea, etc) are for lunch patrons only. If you attend without a lunch ticket please bring your own beverages as the volume of drinks we need to bring and keep chilled for those individuals having lunch is quite substantial.

Door Prizes: Every year a number of businesses and individuals ask to donate to our door prize table. For major items of substantial value from a business we’ll reward you with free advertising on the websites too! To contribute an item please use the Contact Us link and submit a “general question”.

Spread the word:
Download our flier and hang it any gun shop, gun range, club, or public area where its generally acceptable to hang this type of flier. (Maybe the local starbucks or Panera bread?). Help us get the word out and maybe someone who has never heard of OFCC will get involved and come to the picnic!

Get the flier by clicking here

About:
Ohioans for Concealed Carry, founded in 1999, is a grassroots political activist organization. When founded, the primary goal of OFCC was getting concealed carry passed into law in Ohio. With that accomplished, our mission became to refine the concealed carry law and to expand and preserve the rights of all gun owners in Ohio. Visit: Ohioccw.org

Virginia Citizens Defense League

Covington VA --(Ammoland.com)- On Thursday night I was out for a lengthy midnight walk. It was a nice, quiet night and I was open carrying.

While passing through a neighborhood I saw an automobile in front of me, which appeared to be waiting to turn left from a side street. Rather than walk in front of the car, I stopped walking so the car would proceed with the turn and I could continue my walk. No big deal, it happens from time to time.

The car did make the left turn (which put it heading toward me), BUT it was doing an overly tight turn, so I stepped up on the curb to make sure I was out of the car’s way. That was unusual behavior, so I was watching the car carefully.

The vehicle stopped and the driver rolled down his window and said something that I didn’t catch. I figured that perhaps the person was lost and asking for directions. I cautiously stepped toward the car to see if that’s what the driver wanted.

The next thing I know the door of the car is opening and the person is getting out of the vehicle! Remember, this is very late at night. Very unusual behavior to say the least. **I was now on full alert.** Who was this, what did they want, did they mean me any harm? I didn’t have an answer to any of those questions.

As the person was getting out of the vehicle, I briefly got a flash of a uniform. Ah, it is a police officer! I breathed a sigh of relief. (Of course a uniform is NOT a guarantee the person is an actual officer. If you are suspicious, ask to see their commission.)

However, now comes the next question – what could he possibly want with me?

He walked up to me and said there had been some vandalism and thefts in the area and he asked if I had seen anybody during my walk.

I said, “not a soul.”

He said that it was kind of late for someone to be walking. I said, “not for me.”

He asked where I lived and I gave him the name of the neighborhood.

He asked if I had any identification.

I said, “I’m simply out for a walk and I have no legal obligation to provide any ID.”

He said that he wanted to show he was at least doing due diligence by getting the names of anybody in the area of the vandalism.

His demeanor was professional and he was not trying to be intimidating in any way, so I said, “As a courtesy, I will let you see my ID.”

He thanked me and took my ID, jotted down my name and handed back my ID about 5 second later.

I told him I hoped he caught the vandals and that I would keep an eye out during my walks. I then went on my way.

Some thoughts on this encounter:

• On the plus side: The officer was professional, non-intimidating, and didn’t say a word about my openly carried gun. He did not disarm me nor did he run my ID for warrants. The whole interaction took no more than 2 minutes.
• On the neutral side, he asked for my ID. He’s free to do that, but couldn’t demand it, which he didn’t. I voluntarily provided the ID. In retrospect if I have another such interaction, I’m going to give the officer one of my VCDL business cards instead.
• On the negative side, he should have briefly flashed his blue lights on that unmarked car before driving towards me so that I would reasonably know that he was a police officer. That way I would have not been so apprehensive when he drove up next to me and started getting out of his vehicle.

Police often say that they have to be careful because they never know who they are interacting with during a traffic stop. That is true. However, when an officer is in an unmarked vehicle and drives up to a citizen, the shoe is on the other foot. The citizen has no idea who is in that car and doesn’t know if the driver means them harm.

The officer should be careful not to alarm a citizen unnecessarily by indicating in some manner his status as a police officer before doing anything that would under other circumstances be viewed as unusual or threatening behavior.

About:
Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. (VCDL). VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The Right to Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right. Visit: www.vcdl.org

Wisconsin Carry

Wisconsin --(Ammoland.com)- Last fall five Wisconsin Carry members were peacefully enjoying dinner at a Madison area Culvers restaurant.

Like thousands of Wisconsin residents, they carry a sidearm for self-defense as a daily practice in the only manner currently provided by Wisconsin law.

After a 911 caller inquired as to the legality of open-carry, Madison police arrived en masse and illegally demanded identification from all five.

Two members who politely declined to provide ID were wrongfully cited for obstruction of justice. (Wisconsin, a free state, does not require you produce identification when you have done nothing wrong.) Those citations were rescinded 2 days later and all 5 were mailed citations for disorderly conduct despite no evidence of a disturbance.

Details of that initial incident are available on Wisconsin Carry’s website www.wisconsincarry.org. Click on the “Sept. 23rd 2010″ blog heading for details including the audio of the 911 call.

Wisconsin Carry filed a federal civil lawsuit against the City of Madison and Police Chief Noble Wray on September 29, 2010. That lawsuit can be viewed here: www.wisconsincarry.org/pdf/Madison/MadisonComplaint.pdf

Wisconsin Carry also retained, on behalf of our members, notable defense attorney Chris Van Wagner, principal of the Madison law firm Van Wagner & Wood www.vanwagnerwood.com/ to contest the wrongfully issued disorderly conduct citations.

Today, Wisconsin Carry is pleased to announce that Attorney Van Wagner has informed us that all of the charges against the “Madison 5″ have been dismissed.

According to Attorney Van Wagner “The Madison City Attorney agreed after a full review of the police investigation and 911 call that there was absolutely no disturbance created by our members and that the disorderly conduct citations were inappropriate”. Van Wagner also added that “The ONLY disturbance created on that Saturday evening was by a mass of uniformed Madison police officers and squads arriving to investigate law-abiding citizens having dinner”

Questions about this incident and subsequent actions by Wisconsin Carry and our attorney may be directed to Wisconsin Carry or Attorney Chris Van Wagner. Wisconsin Carry will shortly be filing a second civil lawsuit against Madison Police Chief Noble Wray and the City of Madison to obtain damages on behalf of our members for their wrongful detainment and costs associated with disposing of the citations.

Carry On,

About:
Wisconsin Carry, Inc. is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the preservation and reclamation of the rights of law-abiding Wisconsin residents to carry in the manner of their choosing. We believe that “open carry” and “concealed carry” are choices to be made by law-abiding citizens based on their situation and preference. Wisconsin Carry, like many gun-rights organizations in Wisconsin, is investing a great deal of resources to get Wisconsin law changed to allow concealed carry this next legislative session by proposing Constitutional Carry. Wisconsin Carry, Inc. will continue to use legal recourse to deter unlawful treatment of law-abiding Wisconsin residents who currently exercise their right to open carry, and soon will exercise their right to concealed carry in Wisconsin. Visit: www.wisconsincarry.org

The following is in response to a blogger/website owner who is one of the overzealous “open carry” supporters whose behavior is far beyond arrogant and offensive — and who only cares about “open carry” and cares nothing about other gun owners and gun rights. He is attacking NRA & USF because SB-234 and HB-517 Relating to Firearms, was amended on the Senate floor. Those bills are our concealed weapons & firearms license reform/improvement bills that were filed for the purpose of protecting the rights of concealed weapons license holders. These response explains this issue and what the “open carry” faction has done in Florida — Marion Hammer

Letters to the AmmoLand Editor: Got something on your mind? Let us know and you can see it here.

Florida, USA --(Ammoland.com)-  Dear Sir:  First of all you don’t have a clue what you are talking about. Neither NRA nor USF sold out anybody — we are protecting the rights of all law-abiding gun owners.

Second you are as rude and offensive as you are wrong. It is you, and other open carry supporters like you, who are also rude and offensive, who are selling out all law-abiding gun owners.

There are currently over 800,000 CW License holders and 8 million law-abiding gun owners in Florida. These bills are about their rights — not the small number of open carry supporters who are trying to hijack and control the bills. A few hairs on the tip of the tail are trying to wag the dog.

SB-234 and HB-517 were filed on behalf of NRA and USF and they were NEVER about “open carry.” Neither OpenCarry.org or FloridaCarry.org had anything at all to do with the purpose, the drafting, or the filing of those bills.

(Note: FloridaCarry.org intended to file their own bill this year to provide for “full constitutional open carry.” When they couldn’t find sponsors for their bill, they decided to support NRA/USF bills. Subsequently, some of their members started attacking NRA/USF because our bills didn’t give them all they were demanding. — MPH)

These bills also contain other important protections for gun owners including clarification of where CW License holders may have firearms in their vehicles when they park and language to repeal the contiguous state law and thus allow Floridians to purchase rifles and shotguns in other states.

Go back to the very beginning when we started working to pass the bill and read the first USF and NRA ALERT on SB-234 (ALERT ROUND 4 on February 18, 2011)

The sections of those bills that deal with how you can carry a firearm – that added “openly” — were ALWAYS about protecting concealed weapons license holders from being arrested and charged with a crime for violating the “open carry” law, s. 790.053 (click here: s.790.053 ) or the improper exhibition law, s. 790.10 (click here s.790.10 ) when carrying a concealed firearm and the firearm accidentally or inadvertently or unintentionally becomes exposed.

Because the terms, accidentally or inadvertently or unintentionally are highly subjective, it is clear that the use of those terms in legislation would not deter the law enforcement officers who are predisposed to harassing and abusing their authority with law-abiding gun owners.

The only way to fully protect CW License holders is to decriminalize open carry for license holders. That’s why the language in the original bill would have allowed CW License holders to carry concealed or openly. Open carry supporters would have benefited from that provision but the central point is that CW License holders would not have to worry every time they are carrying concealed, that their guns might become exposed and they end up being charged with a crime.

Unfortunately, because of the behavior of some overzealous, rude, ill-mannered, open carry supporters calling legislative offices and bullying, demanding, and threatening, Senators and their staffs, the bill had to be amended to gain support for passage.

Bad behavior of a few open carry supporters, NOT law enforcement and NOT the business community caused this bill to be amended — because the idea of ill-mannered bullies carrying firearms openly scared the heck out of people.

Even the testimony of Pinellas County Sheriff Jim Coats, who threatened that law enforcement would abuse gun owners carrying openly if the bill passed, (See Video Below to view excerpt of testimony: FL Sheriff Jim Coats’ Threats ) couldn’t cause the bill to be amended — it only angered legislators, other law enforcement officers and gun owners alike. Open carry supporters did it to themselves and have no one else to blame.

The current language of the bill as amended is not what NRA or USF wanted (click here CS/CS/SB-234 ). But it is what you and other overzealous open carry supporters forced on all law-abiding gun owners.

It is not perfect and it is not assured to provide protection from the few anti-law-abiding-gun-owner law enforcement officers out there.

It may not protect:

• Folks like the New Smyrna Beach sportsmen (a CW License holder) who was unlawfully detained, abused, injured and jailed overnight because 1/4 inch of the tip of the barrel of his gun was exposed through a hole that had worn in his pocket (He sued and won, by the way — but who wants to go through that?);
• OR the South Florida business man, (a CW License holder) who had his suit coat blown open by the wind exposing his gun in a shoulder holster who was forced to lie spread-eagle on the sidewalk, searched and detained for over 45 minutes before being released and told to “keep your coat buttoned;”
• OR the elderly gentleman (a CW License holder) who withdrew some cash at the bank, and after the teller expressed concern for him walking around with cash, opened his shirt to show her his gun so she wouldn’t worry — and was subsequently arrested for “brandishing” a firearm.
• Or the lady, (a CW License holder) who put her purse on the counter to take out her wallet to pay for her purchase and the store clerk saw her gun and called police who stopped her outside the store, pushed her up against the wall, searched her and detained her for more than 30 minutes before telling her “we won’t arrest you this time, but if you show that gun again, you’re going to jail.”

If the abuse is not stopped by the amended version of this bill, we will be back again to try to fix it and we will not ask for nor want any “help” from you.

But lets be clear. Neither NRA nor USF are opposed to open carry, it is just not a priority right now and that is not what this bill is about. Over 800,000 CW License holders just had their rights jeopardized by the misconduct of a few shortsighted open carry supporters. Sleep with that if you can.

You are the one with no credence, and if you don’t want to renew your membership with USF, fine. We’ll miss you like we miss a migraine.

Now, let’s see if you post this on your blog like you did the last time I responded to one of your rude and obnoxious emails.

Marion Hammer

P.S. By the way, you seem to be a big fan of Jon Gutmacher. You support him financially by posting information about his books on your website. Why did I not find any criticism of his anti-open carry editorials recently published by anti-gun newspapers in Florida and published on his own website? Were you too busy attacking us to even notice the real opponents of open carry? Jon H. Gutmacher: The problem with ‘open carry’ laws | Gainesville.com

Montana Shooting Sports Association

Missoula, MT --(Ammoland.com)- MSSA’s permitless carry bill, HB 271, has passed the Senate with a vote of 30-20. More properly said, the Senate has concurred in the conference committee report on HB 271 by a vote of 30-20.

The conference committee version only affects concealed carry INSIDE the city limits of an incorporated city or town. Concealed carry outside city limits (99.4% of Montana) has not required a permit since 1991. Open carry inside city limits has never required a permit in Montana.

The CC version of HB 271 allows a person to carry concealed (“wholly or partially covered by clothing or wearing apparel”) inside city limits if that person is eligible to possess a handgun under state or federal law.

The Senate must still approve adoption of the CC report with a Third Reading vote, either later today or tomorrow (last day of the session). I expect the vote for HB 271 to hold for Third Reading, but there are no guarantees. You can bet opponents will be trying for a Hail Mary effort to turn five Senate votes against HB 271 on Third Reading.

Once the Senate approves HB 271 on Third Reading, it will go to the Governor for his signature. Governor Schweitzer has opined before that he likes the concept, but who knows if that attitude continues.

In the 30-20 vote, all Republicans voted for HB 271, plus Democrats Gillan and Hamlett. If you can send messages to the Senate, you should thank those senators who supported HB 271 and urge them to continue their support on Third Reading.

About Montana Shooting Sports Association:
MSSA is the primary political advocate for Montana gun owners. Visit: www.mtssa.org

Florida Carry

Florida - -(Ammoland.com)- We’re down to the wire. On Wednesday, the Senate will vote on SB 234. This bill includes open carry, vehicle carry, DOACS fingerprint authorization, and long gun/shotgun contiguous state purchase authorization.

Of course, the most contentious element is open carry. This is going to be a squeaker, folks. By now, the Senators should have already made up their minds. Nonetheless, Florida Carry is requesting one last push to deliver this baby.

We’ve shown the untruthful (and perhaps unlawful) tactics used by the various Sheriff’s offices and the Florida Sheriff’s Association that has spurred an official investigation by the State Attorney’s Office, FDLE, and OCSO internal affairs. Pinellas County Sheriff Coats told the committees his speculation on open carry, then admitted that he hadn’t researched how open carry works in any other state.

The deputies of the Hillsborough County Sherriff’s Office pulled over and detained a licensed concealed carrier just a few days ago for “printing” of his lawfully carried firearm despite their Sheriff’s testimony to the legislature that his officers would never do such a thing. The fact is that, not a single opposition speaker has ever addressed how so many other states could have open carry without the doom and gloom consequences that they espouse. Is it coincidence that the same predictions were made in 1987, by the same organizations, with regards to shall-issue concealed carry?

Please take a moment and fire up your e-mail clients one more time. Thank you for your continued support, and with any luck, we’ll be seeing you at an open carry picnic sometime in the near future!

Feel free to use the e-mail helper below, and thank you again for your solid support. We’re almost there, and we just need a final push to get this bill to the Governor’s desk for his promised signature.
E-mail Helper (feel free to cut, copy, paste, and edit to suit)

—————————————————————————-
TO:
alexander.jd.web@flsenate.gov; altman.thad.web@flsenate.gov; benacquisto.lizbeth.web@flsenate.gov; bennett.mike.web@flsenate.gov; bogdanoff.ellyn.web@flsenate.gov; bullard.larcenia.web@flsenate.gov; dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov; detert.nancy.web@flsenate.gov; portilla.miguel.web@flsenate.gov; dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov; evers.greg.web@flsenate.gov; fasano.mike.web@flsenate.gov; flores.anitere.web@flsenate.gov; gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov; garcia.rene.web@flsenate.gov; gardiner.andy.web@flsenate.gov; haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov; hays.alan.web@flsenate.gov; hill.tony.web@flsenate.gov; jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov; joyner.arthenia.web@flsenate.gov; latvala.jack.web@flsenate.gov; lynn.evelyn.web@flsenate.gov; margolis.gwen.web@flsenate.gov; montford.bill.web@flsenate.gov; negron.joe.web@flsenate.gov; norman.jim.web@flsenate.gov; oelrich.steve.web@flsenate.gov; rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov; richter.garrett.web@flsenate.gov; ring.jeremy.web@flsenate.gov; sachs.maria.web@flsenate.gov; simmons.david.web@flsenate.gov; siplin.gary.web@flsenate.gov; smith.chris.web@flsenate.gov; sobel.eleanor.web@flsenate.gov; storms.ronda.web@flsenate.gov; thrasher.john.web@flsenate.gov; wise.stephen.web@flsenate.gov

SUBJECT: Vote for Open Carry in SB 234

Dear Senator,

Senate Bill 234 deserves your support, as do the 801,219 active concealed carry licensees who have patiently waited for this bill for over 23 years. Governor Scott has already stated he will sign the bill as a 2nd Amendment supporter and open carry advocate. Florida is one of only seven states that do not permit some form of general open carry. The objections raised by law enforcement and retail associations make no mention that the practice of open carry is successful in 43 states, nor do they acknowledge their dire predictions are the same “blood in the streets” arguments of almost a quarter-century ago. Those predictions have been proven unfounded.

Please help support the law abiding carriers of Florida and vote in favor of SB 234.

Respectfully yours,

About
Florida Carry is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots organization dedicated to advancing the fundamental civil right of all Floridians to keep and bear arms for self defense as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I Section 8 of the Florida Constitution. Florida Carry, Inc. was organized by a group of Florida gun rights activists in order to better coordinate activities, effectively lobby the state legislature, and to provide a legal entity capable of filing suit to demand compliance with state and federal law. Florida Carry stands only to represent our members and the over 6 million gun owners of Florida. We are not beholden to any national organization’s agenda that may compromise that mission.

Florida Carry works tirelessly toward repealing and striking down ill-conceived gun control laws that have been proven to provide safe havens to criminals and be deadly to law abiding citizens.

Florida Open Carry

Florida --(Ammoland.com)- If you have been keeping track of SB 234, you’ll remember that Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff (R-Fort Lauderdale) introduced an amendment to the Senate Judiciary Committee that would have stripped out the open carry provision of the bill in favor of subjective language that would exempt inadvertent exposure of one’s firearm as punishable under law.

Realizing she didn’t have the votes necessary to get the amendment adopted, Sen. Bogdanoff withdrew the amendment.

On the eve of the floor vote of SB 234, Sen. Bogdanoff has again introduced the exact same language as a floor amendment.

The amendment only addresses inadvertent exposure, and does nothing to improve other situations in which general open carry is the only solution. For example, the amendment would not legalize open carry when hiking, when entering or exiting a vehicle, when on any private property other than one’s own residence or place of business. Most troubling is the fact that the determination of what is “inadvertent” would remain in the hands of law enforcement.

The Florida Sheriffs Association is walking the halls of the Senate, lobbying heavily against the bill, saying that they cannot find any prosecutions on the books concerning accidental exposure. This is a small consolation to those who have been detained for hours, disarmed, handcuffed, proned out, held at gunpoint, and booked, only to be released when the State Attorney or District Attorney found no crime with which to pursue prosecution.

In fact, just last week, an individual was “printing” in a Hillsborough county restaurant and a patron called in a “suspicious person” call. The individual was pulled over by four HCSO cruisers after leaving the restaurant, and was removed from the vehicle, disarmed, handcuffed, and detained while sitting on the curb AFTER PROVIDING HIS CWFL for over a half-hour.

During this time, he was subjected to leading questions like, “What war are you preparing for?” and “Why do you feel you need to carry a firearm?” He was told that the only reason he was being released rather than transported was because the caller incorrectly stated the firearm bulge was on his right side, and his firearm was on his left side.

This is exactly the type of situation open carry would eliminate. Imagine what would have happened had he had his children with him in the vehicle at the time?

Please take the time to contact the Senators below, and ask them to reject the amendment and vote on the bill based on its merits.

Feel free to use the e-mail helper below, and thank you again for your solid support.
E-mail Helper (feel free to cut, copy, paste, and edit to suit)

—————————————————————————-

TO:

alexander.jd.web@flsenate.gov; altman.thad.web@flsenate.gov; benacquisto.lizbeth.web@flsenate.gov; bennett.mike.web@flsenate.gov; bogdanoff.ellyn.web@flsenate.gov; bullard.larcenia.web@flsenate.gov; dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov; detert.nancy.web@flsenate.gov; portilla.miguel.web@flsenate.gov; dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov; evers.greg.web@flsenate.gov; fasano.mike.web@flsenate.gov; flores.anitere.web@flsenate.gov; gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov; garcia.rene.web@flsenate.gov; gardiner.andy.web@flsenate.gov; haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov; hays.alan.web@flsenate.gov; hill.tony.web@flsenate.gov; jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov; joyner.arthenia.web@flsenate.gov; latvala.jack.web@flsenate.gov; lynn.evelyn.web@flsenate.gov; margolis.gwen.web@flsenate.gov; montford.bill.web@flsenate.gov; negron.joe.web@flsenate.gov; norman.jim.web@flsenate.gov; oelrich.steve.web@flsenate.gov; rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov; richter.garrett.web@flsenate.gov; ring.jeremy.web@flsenate.gov; sachs.maria.web@flsenate.gov; simmons.david.web@flsenate.gov; siplin.gary.web@flsenate.gov; smith.chris.web@flsenate.gov; sobel.eleanor.web@flsenate.gov; storms.ronda.web@flsenate.gov; thrasher.john.web@flsenate.gov; wise.stephen.web@flsenate.gov

SUBJECT:

Reject Sen. Bogdanoff’s amendment on SB 234

Dear Senator,

Senator Bogdanoff has introduced a floor amendment to SB 234 that would cripple the bill’s multiple purpose. This amendment was originally proposed to the Judiciary Committee, and was subsequently withdrawn due to lack of support.

I urge you to reject Sen. Bogdanoff’s amendment as it does not address any rationale for open carry other than inadvertent exposure. A licensed carrier would still be prohibited from carrying openly while hiking, while entering or exiting a vehicle, while visiting a neighbor’s property despite their permission, and any other appropriate situation. Lacking a firm definition of what is “inadvertent”, it also places that subjective determination in the hands of law enforcement, whose administration is set against any expansion of 2nd Amendment rights.

Please vote favorably on the bill as it is written and resist the temptation to take the easy way out by watering down its effectiveness. Your response to this bill is without a doubt a direct reflection on your view of the 1.95 million past and present law-abiding and responsible licenseholders.

Respectfully yours,

About: Florida Open Carry is a grass roots movement of Florida residents who endeavor to raise awareness in the community of our second amendment civil rights. Our primary goal is to help educate others about their right to legally open carry and advocate for repeal of the general ban on open carry in Florida. Florida is one of only seven (7) states where open carry is generally prohibited.

Florida Open Carry
www.Open-Carry.org
Phone: 850-270-7486
Fax: 678-359-9816

Florida Open Carry

Florida --(Ammoland.com)- It appears that members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office may have violated the law in order to influence the Florida Senators.

During his testimony before committee, Captain Mike Fewless stated, “I actually stopped by every one of you guys’s office this morning (and) dropped off seven photographs of some biker outlaw gang guys that have carrying concealed firearm permits. Those are the ones we’re worried about carrying.”

Florida Statute 790.0601 expressly forbids the release of personally identifying information of a person who has applied for or who has received a license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm. The pictures were obtained from a secure law enforcement database that is illegal to access for anything other than investigation of crimes or license verification. The specific circumstances in which that information may be released are with the express written consent of the licensee, by a court order upon showing a good cause, or upon request of a law enforcement agency in connection with performance of lawful duties. There is no exemption for release of identifying information by anyone for the purposes of furthering a political agenda. Further, the bikers have NEVER been convicted of any felony yet the Sheriffs wish to deprive them of their rights without due process.

A complaint has been made to the Orange County State Attorney’s Office and they are investigating.

It is apparent that member agencies of the Florida Sheriffs Association may be willing to embellish circumstances, bend the law, and intentionally misrepresent facts in order to influence the committee and the legislature at large in order to maintain their virtual monopoly on open carry. Ironic since in 1987, when shall-issue concealed carry was being debated, the same association stated they preferred open carry over concealed carry so their deputies would not have to guess at who was armed.

About:
Florida Open-Carry.org is a grass roots organization of Florida residents who endeavor to raise awareness in the community of our second amendment rights. Our primary goal is to help educate others about their right to legally open carry and advocate for repeal of the general ban on open carry in Florida. Florida is one of only seven states where open carry is generally illegal. Visit: www.open-carry.com

Florida Open Carry

Florida --(Ammoland.com)- The main provision of Florida Senate Bill 234 would, for the first time since 1987, permit concealed weapon or firearm license holders to carry handguns openly.

On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony regarding the bill.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Major Ken Davis told of a recent traffic stop of six Tampa Bay Outlaw motorcycle gang members. “Although the six Outlaws were certified gang members, and had histories of criminal arrests, most were also concealed carry permit [sic] holders”, he related.

According to Florida Statute, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services must suspend the licenses of those persons arrested or formally charged with a crime that would disqualify an individual for a license until final disposition of the case, and a licensee who is under an injunction that restrains them from committing acts of domestic violence or acts of repeat violence. Finally, the agency must revoke the license of a licensee who have been found guilty of, had adjudication of guilt withheld for, or had imposition of sentence suspended for one or more crimes of violence within the preceding three years.

One must conclude that Major Davis was either embellishing the facts surrounding the criminal arrests of the certified gang members in order to sway the committee, or his department was derelict in not reporting the disqualifying arrests to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for suspension of the licenses of those involved.

In fact, it appears that members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office may have violated the law in order to influence the committee members.

During his testimony, Captain Mike Fewless stated, “I actually stopped by every one of you guys’s [sic] office this morning (and) dropped off seven photographs of some biker outlaw gang guys that have carrying concealed firearm permits [sic]. Those are the ones we’re worried about carrying.”

Florida Statute 790.0601 expressly forbids the release of personally identifying information of a person who has applied for or who has received a license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm. The specific circumstances in which that information may be released are with the express written consent of the licensee, by a court order upon showing a good cause, or upon request of a law enforcement agency in connection with performance of lawful duties.

There is no exemption for release of identifying information by anyone for the purposes of furthering a political agenda.

Outright misrepresentation of fact appears to be a tactic our sheriffs are willing to utilize to defeat SB 234. Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson testified that open carry would be evident in the stands at next year’s Daytona 500 auto race. Conveniently, Sheriff Johnson omitted the fact that carry at a professional athletic event is a violation of existing statute, and Daytona International Speedway is a privately owned facility and has the statutory right to have anyone trespassed from the property for any reason, including carry of open or concealed firearms.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly in these times of fiscal austerity, were any public funds utilized to oppose the expansion of Second Amendment rights on behalf of the Florida Sheriffs Association?

Although elected officials, like the sheriffs are exempt, statute forbids anyone else to be compensated for lobbying without being registered as a legislative branch lobbyist. This means that if any non-elected law enforcement officers were compensated for in any way, by any public or private entity, they very well may have been in violation of law. Were any publically owned vehicles used for travel? Did any of the officers use per diem allowance or stay overnight on the taxpayer dime? And how many were on the clock? But even if on their own dime, was it ethical to then wear their uniforms and, ironically, their firearms to the committee meeting?

It is apparent that member agencies of the Florida Sheriffs Association may be willing to embellish circumstances, bend the law, and intentionally misrepresent facts in order to influence the committee and the legislature at large in order to maintain their virtual monopoly on open carry. Ironic since in 1987, when shall-issue concealed carry was being debated, the same association stated they preferred open carry over concealed carry so their deputies would not have to guess at who was armed.

Join our Facebook group of over 2000 members at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=133834343298930
Follow us on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/FL_Open_Carry/
Sign the Petition at: http://www.petitiononline.com/FLOC2A/

About:
Florida Open-Carry.org is a grass roots organization of Florida residents who endeavor to raise awareness in the community of our second amendment rights. Our primary goal is to help educate others about their right to legally open carry and advocate for repeal of the general ban on open carry in Florida. Florida is one of only seven states where open carry is generally illegal. Visit: www.open-carry.com

OpenCarry.org

Sacramento, California --(Ammoland.com)- Like most states, California law allows law abiding adults to openly carry properly holstered handguns without any permit. California’s law is just stricter – it, alone among all other states, requires openly carried guns to be unloaded in incorporated areas.

California strictly bans the concealed carry of handguns, and concealed carry permits are rarely issued and when they are, it is on a “may issue” basis.

But now Assembly Member Anthony Portantino (D – Pasadena) wants to drive a stake through the heart of the Second Amendment in California by way of AB 144, a rambling, complicated, and convoluted 99 page, 8,601 word bill to, inter alia, ban the open carry of handguns generally in California.

Under Portantino’s scheme, citizens would essentially be required to open carry shotguns or rifles in public places like Ralph’s grocery stores, Starbucks, sidewalks, streets, and other public places. “I don’t know what Portantino is thinking,” says John Pierce, Co-founder of OpenCarry.org. “If Portantino wants guns out of sight, his bill is going to backfire,” adds Pierce.

“Places like Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade will look like a moving gun show when parents shoulder AR-15s and double-barreled shotguns while taking their kids out for ice cream.”

California gun rights groups like South Bay Open Carry and the Responsible Citizens of California (RCC) also oppose Portantino’s bill.3 RCC Spokesperson Yih-Chau Chang explains that

“We just think the Supreme Court made a lot of sense” when it held in District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) that the Second Amendment protects handgun carry because handguns can be carried in a holster and aimed “with one hand while the other hand dials the police.”

Pierce points out that the Florida legislature is on the verge of legalizing open carry and that as the open carry movement has expanded in California, rank and file law enforcement leaders acknowledge that open carriers haven’t caused a public safety problem. For example, Palo Alto Police Lt. Sandra Brown told the Mercury News on March 5, 2010 that “we don’t suggest that people panic, because there hasn’t been a problem with open-carry . . . in other cities.” And as San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Phelps explained to the San Bernadino Sun, on September 6, 2010, “gang members aren’t known to open carry.”4

Since 2010, thousands of Californians have signed online petitions5 opposing bills to ban open carry, and such bills have all failed over the last few years. On Saturday April 9, 2011, OpenCarry.org launches a radio campaign to turn up the heat on Portantino and his anti-gun rights agenda.

“In just a few days we will reach about 1 million listeners,” says Pierce, “and many will not like the fact that politicians in Sacramento are attacking their right to carry.”

About:
OpenCarry.org was founded in 2004 by Virginia gun-rights activists John Pierce and Mike Stollenwerk and has served to ignite the “Open Carry Movement” that is sweeping the country. In addition to being an invaluable legal resource for gun owners, the site has quickly grown to be a social networking portal for thousands of American gun owners. Visit: www.OpenCarry.org

FirearmsCoalition.org

Manassas, VA --(Ammoland.com)- According to the Oklahoma Rifle Association (ORA) and a good many state legislators from both sides of the aisle, people in Oklahoma are less responsible, less sensible, and less trustworthy than the people of Missouri, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, and 39 other states.

Or so it would seem based on the arguments they have been voicing against proposals that the state recognize citizens’ right to bear arms out in the open.

The primary proposal, SB129, carves out exceptions to Oklahoma’s firearms carry restrictions for persons carrying their firearms in plain view as long as they are holstered, sheathed, or slung. Like open carry laws in many states, the Oklahoma proposal would lift restrictions for anyone 18 or older and would not mandate a license or training class.

But, as seems to happen every time a state legislature begins entertaining legislation to broaden recognition of their citizens’ right to arms, the debate over open carry in Oklahoma has been conducted as though this is a new and untested idea. There has been much hype, speculation, and hypothetical anecdotal postulating from both sides of the issue. All of this non-evidence is presented as though the state is an isolated island nation with little or no contact with the rest of the world, much less the rest of the US.

In a letter mailed to every member of the Oklahoma House and Senate along with many media outlets, the ORA loudly declared their opposition to SB129.

In the letter they explained the reasons for their opposition as follows:

“First, The purchase of handguns by persons under the age of 21 is in violation of existing Federal Law.

Second, Allowing citizens, trained or untrained, to carry Rifles and Shotguns either in a scabbard or with a sling on city streets and into business establishments will create an atmosphere of hostility and distrust, not to mention create fear in those in our society who have an aversion to any type of firearm.

Third, The apprehension, created for the Law Enforcement Officers by the open carrying of long guns could create situations resulting in unnecessary use of deadly force.”

The first point is a distortion of the truth. While 18 to 21-year olds may not legally purchase handguns from federally licensed gun dealers, they have always been able to possess them and to legally acquire them through private purchase, inheritance, or as gifts from parents, relatives, or others.

The next two points distortions in logic; that carrying guns will scare people who are afraid of guns and that openly carried guns will excite police officers to the point that they will start shooting people they shouldn’t.

Even looked at this in a vacuum these arguments are nonsensical, but when put into the context of the experience of open carry in the US, they are simply idiotic.

There are 12 states which have virtually no restrictions on open carry and another 16 which recognize the right with few limitations. Another 13 require a license to exercise the right. One state, California, has very liberal open carry laws in rural areas, but restricts it in urban areas. The only states which completely forbid open carry are New York and Illinois – where the states are run by gun-hating big city politicians – and 5 Southern states, including Oklahoma, where the citizens’ rights to arms have never been restored since they were abrogated after the Civil War.

All of the speculation, hypothesizing, and hand wringing going on in Oklahoma, and the other states where citizens are actively trying to regain their lost rights, simply diverts attention from the facts. Open carry has been thoroughly tested and it has proven to generate none of the problems raised by the fear-mongers. There can be debate about whether such laws effectively reduce crime and the tactical wisdom of the practice, but these things are, again, just side issues. What really matters is that given the opportunity, people exercise their right to arms in a responsible manner. The record proves it and no amount of “what ifs” or “there was this one guys” can compete with clear irrefutable evidence from the states where rights are recognized.

We’re used to facing irrational emotionalism and arrogant elitism from the hoplophobes, but it is deeply troubling when the same irrational arguments are being put forward by the leaders of a state rifle association. Still, this mentality should not come as any great surprise as many gun club and association boards have exhibited similar narrow-mindedness in the past with bans on the use of Evil Black Rifles, military camouflage, and “humanoid” targets on their shooting ranges.

I don’t know whether the membership of ORA will rise up in outrage at these Directors and their decision, but I do know that ORA has lost all credibility within the rights community – and probably within the legislature.

To receive The Firearms Coalition’s bi-monthly newsletter, The Knox Hard Corps Report, write to PO Box 3313, Manassas, VA 20108.

Copyright © 2010 Neal Knox Associates – The most trusted name in the rights movement.

About:
The Firearms Coalition is a loose-knit coalition of individual Second Amendment activists, clubs and civil rights organizations. Founded by Neal Knox in 1984, the organization provides support to grassroots activists in the form of education, analysis of current issues, and with a historical perspective of the gun rights movement. The Firearms Coalition is a project of Neal Knox Associates, Manassas, VA. Visit: www.FirearmsCoalition.org

Florida Open Carry Bill Stalled in Committee

Florida Carry

Florida - -(Ammoland.com)- SB 234’s companion bill has expeditiously completed its journey through committee and is waiting to be heard on the House floor.

For some undisclosed reason, SB 234 has been stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee since March 16.

Normally, the chairperson of the committee is responsible for scheduling bills to be considered. Senator Anitere Flores (R-Miami/Dade) is the chairperson for this committee. Her staff maintains that the committee staff has not scheduled the bill, and the committee staff states it is the chairperson’s responsibility.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Evers, has sent multiple formal requests to get the bill scheduled. The next committee meeting is April 4, and SB 234 is still not on the agenda for this meeting.

It is critical that this bill get scheduled and heard, as it still has to pass both this committee and the Senate Rules Committee prior to the end of committee meetings for the session.

Florida Carry is urgently requesting your immediate action to get this bill on the agenda. We need everyone to fire off an e-mail to both Senator Flores and Senate President Mike Haridopolos. We are calling for a “mailbox meltdown”. Early on, Senator Bogdanoff waffled on this bill, and it was your enormous response that got her back on board. We need you to do this again, this time in trump.

Feel free to use the e-mail helper below, and thank you again for your solid support. We’re almost there, and we just need a final push to get this bill to the Governor’s desk for his promised signature.
E-mail Helper (feel free to cut, copy, paste, and edit to suit)

—————————————————————————-

TO:

flores.anitere.web@flsenate.gov; haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov

SUBJECT:

Get SB 234 moving again!

Dear Senators Haridopolos and Flores

Senate Bill 234 has been sitting at the Judiciary Committee since March 16. Its companion bill in the house has already completed committee hearings and awaits a vote on the house floor. It is imperative that SB 234 get scheduled for both the Judiciary and Rules Committees immediately, in order to make the April 26 cutoff date.

Senator Evers has made multiple requests for scheduling the bill, and has been ignored to date. Florida Carry, and other rights organizations, have worked too long and too hard to get this bill to this point, just to have it die in committee within sight of the finish line. Governor Scott has already indicated his intent to sign the bill. Concealed carry licensees have patiently waited for this bill for over 23 years. Florida is one of only seven states that do not permit some form of general open carry. The objections raised by law enforcement and retail associations make no mention that the practice of open carry is successful in 43 states, nor do they acknowledge their dire predictions are the same “blood in the streets” arguments of almost a quarter-century ago. Those predictions have been proven unfounded. There is no substantiated reason for this bill to be stalled at this point.

Please get this bill scheduled immediately for the remaining two committees.

Respectfully yours,

—————————————————————————-

About:
Florida Carry is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots organization dedicated to advancing the fundamental civil right of all Floridians to keep and bear arms for self defense as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I Section 8 of the Florida Constitution. Florida Carry, Inc. was organized by a group of Florida gun rights activists in order to better coordinate activities, effectively lobby the state legislature, and to provide a legal entity capable of filing suit to demand compliance with state and federal law. Florida Carry stands only to represent our members and the over 6 million gun owners of Florida. We are not beholden to any national organization’s agenda that may compromise that mission.

Florida Carry works tirelessly toward repealing and striking down ill-conceived gun control laws that have been proven to provide safe havens to criminals and be deadly to law abiding citizens.

Oklahoma Rifle Association

Yukon, OK --(Ammoland.com)- SB 129, sponsored by Senator Steven Russell R-Oklahoma City, would give anyone 18 years of age or older the right to openly carry a gun without a license or training.

The Oklahoma Rifle Association wrote a letter to state representatives opposing the open carry measure because it violates a federal age requirement of 21 to purchase guns.

Dear Representative:

On Saturday March 19th the Officers and Board Members of the Oklahoma Rifle Association held our Board Meeting in Shawnee OK. At this meeting pending firearms legislation at the Oklahoma Legislature was discussed.

It was the intent of the Oklahoma Rifle Association to remain in a position of neutrality on the “Open Carry” legislation as many of our members support some form of open carry. The Officers and Board Members of the ORA are in agreement with the “Open Carry” concept but, after much discussion, the majority of the Board Members and Officers, voted to oppose Senate Bill 129 by Senator Russell and Representative Osborne. This bill, in it’s present form, would allow those 18 years of age and older, to purchase and carry loaded Rifles, Shotguns and Handguns openly in a scabbard, with a sling, or a handgun in a holster, anywhere not in violation of Title 21, subsection A of Section 1277, without a back ground check and without training.

The Officers and Board Members are in opposition to SB 129 for these reasons:

First, The purchase of handguns by persons under the age of 21 is in violation of existing Federal Law. Second, Allowing citizens, trained or untrained, to carry Rifles and Shotguns either in a scabbard or with a sling on city streets and into business establishments will create an atmosphere of hostility and distrust, not to mention create fear in those in our society who have an aversion to any type of firearm. Third, The apprehension, created for the Law Enforcement Officers by the open carrying of long guns could create situations resulting in unnecessary use of deadly force. For these reasons we ask you to vote against SB 129 when it comes to the floor of the House of Representatives. Sincerely,

Don Scott, President, Oklahoma Rifle Association

Paul W. Abel,

Legislative Director, Oklahoma Rifle Association

Oklahoma Proposed Open Carry Bill SB 129

About Oklahoma Rifle Association:
The mission of the ORA is to protect and preserve the shooting sports at the state level. ORA will promote and improve the shooting sports by sponsoring marksmanship training and competitions throughout the state of Oklahoma.

ORA will work for the rights of the gun owner, shooter, collector, hunter, archer, black powder enthusiast. ORA will support the free exchange of ideas, information and education related to gun ownership, shooting, hunting, firearms and related topics. Visit: www.oklarifle.org

OpenCarry.org

Sacramento, California --(Ammoland.com)- Like most states, Kansas state law allows law-abiding adults to openly carry properly holstered handguns without any permit.

And now Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has issued an opinion clarifying that localities cannot ban “unloaded” open carry.

Op. Atty. Gen. No. 2011-006 (Kan., March 11, 2011)1 provides in relevant part that Kansas law allows “cities and counties to regulate only the open carry of loaded firearms, not unloaded firearms.”2 (underlined emphasis in original).

See www.ksag.washburnlaw.edu/opinions/2011/2011-006.pdf.

43 states allow open carry in public, and the only state besides Kansas which does not yet generally preempt localities from banning open carry is neighboring Missouri.

Though most Kansas localities do not regulate open carry at all, a few have enacted bans on open carry that would reach even “unloaded” open carry. General Schmidt’s confirmation that localities cannot regulate unloaded open lends urgency to the need for these localities to identify and repeal such unlawful ordinances.

“What needs to happen now,” says John Pierce, co-founder of OpenCarry.org, “is for localities to review their ordinances, regulations, and policies for compliance with Kansas law and ensure that any local open carry restrictions apply only to “loaded” open carry.”

But Pierce goes further and urges Kansas localities to “just repeal all open carry bans on the books because the police cannot constitutionally seize open carriers and inspect firearms unless they first have ‘reasonable suspicion’ that the gun is loaded or some other crime being committed.” Detaining open carriers to check them out “is a good way for cities and counties to get sued and taxpayers to pay judgments,” adds Pierce.3

Unfortunately General Schmidt’s opinion raises more questions than it answers as to whether localities may ban concealed handgun permit holders from carrying loaded guns openly. Opines Schmidt without any explanation:

“A city or county may regulate the manner of openly carrying a loaded firearm on the person of a concealed carry permit holder. . . . [But a] city or county may not regulate the manner of openly carrying a loaded firearm in the immediate control of a holder of a concealed carry permit when such holder is on public property.” (bolded emphasis added).

Without the aid of any court opinion yet construing these two apparently conflicting rules of law, it’s not completely clear what they mean. However, the term “on the person” would appear to either be a subset of, or synonymous with, the term “in the immediate control.” Either way, construed in this manner, the second rule of law provides a safe harbor from the regulation allowed by the first rule whenever the permit “holder is on public property” (presumably meaning property open to the public).

See www.forum.opencarry.org/forums/showthread.php?88117-Loveland-CO- pays-15-000-to-settle-open-carry-lawsuit.

To be honest, we at OpenCarry.org believe that the best construction of the statute is, especially under the rule of lenity,4 that the exception for permit holders on public property means what it says and largely swallows the general rule that localities may regulate loaded open carry by permit holders. We wish General Schmidt had opined as much, in which case OpenCarry.org could have adjusted our maps to categorize Kansas as a “Licensed Open Carry State.”5

But to be fair to General Schmidt, he explicitly states in his opinion to the requesting official, Representative Lana Gorden (R – Topka), that “the ambiguity in the [statutory] language itself does tend to render difficult the sort of ‘clear direction and precise clarification’ you requested.” Schmidt added, hint, hint, that “[s]hould you wish to proceed with legislative clarification through a further amendment to this statute, legal staff at my office would be at your service.” Hmmmmm.

So, the ball is now in the legislature’s court. Most states allow open carry without any license, and OpenCarry.org’s Kansas members now look to the Kansas Legislature to fully preempt localities on open carry. “89% of Kansas voters approved a state constitutional right to bear arms,6 notes Pierce,

• See www.duhaime.org/LegalDictionary/R/RuleofLenity.aspx.
• So for now, out of an abundance of caution, OpenCarry.org will continue to list Kansas as merely an “Open Carry Friendly State” at www.opencarry.org/opencarry.html (hold cursor over legend for definitions).
• See www.jurist.org/paperchase/2010/11/kansas-voters-approve-measure- clarifying-right-to-bear-arms.php.

About:
OpenCarry.org was founded in 2004 by Virginia gun-rights activists John Pierce and Mike Stollenwerk and has served to ignite the “Open Carry Movement” that is sweeping the country. In addition to being an invaluable legal resource for gun owners, the site has quickly grown to be a social networking portal for thousands of American gun owners. Visit: www.OpenCarry.org

Florida Carry

Florida - -(Ammoland.com)- HB 517 is on the agenda of the FL House Judiciary Committee on Thursday at 8:00am. Florida Carry, Inc urgently requests that you email via the members of the committee in support of House Bill 517.

This NRA authored bill comprises several separate initiatives.

These include the option for CWFL holders to carry openly; a the right to store a firearm in one’s vehicle wherever it may be lawfully parked; the authorization for the Department of Agriculture to take fingerprints; the repeal of Florida’s ban on long gun purchases in most other states. Quite simply put, this is the most comprehensive carry rights bill since shall-issue concealed carry was passed twenty-four years ago.

Florida is one of only seven states where open carry of firearms is generally forbidden, excepting under certain circumstances. Arguments against open carry generally consist of concerns regarding the fearful reactions of the general population. Some have suggested that an open carrier becomes an instant target, having his firearm snatched by a criminal in line at a convenience store. The facts simply do not support those allegations. In states where open carry is lawfully practiced, citizens have become accustomed to the understanding that a holstered weapon is a danger to no one.

There have been no wholesale attacks on open carriers, nor have open carriers been shot with their own weapons. Police officers are not fearful of open carriers as they know that a 5-year FBI crime study has shown that criminals do not open carry, nor do they carry in holsters. Criminals shun attention, something that the open carrying of a firearm invariably draws to some extent. Not a single state that has legalized open carry in recent years has repealed the right.

In 1987, open carry was outlawed primarily because of the predictions of wild west shootouts, blood in the streets, gun battles over parking spaces, and normally law abiding people indiscriminately becoming homicidal maniacs. The main opponent of open carry was Janet Reno, then assistant state attorney. She was able to rally support from a vocal group of police administrators with the doom and gloom scenarios. Amazingly enough, the exact same arguments were heard against “shall-issue” concealed carry. Twenty-four years later, and none of the rampant bloodshed predictions about concealed carry have come true.

Florida Carry supports HB 517, and encourages all gun owners/carriers to join us in contacting the senators on the Florida House Criminal Justice Committee. Please tell them 24 years is enough.
We urgently need you to email the committee members NOW!

Include “Support HB 517” in the Subject Line

E-mail Helper (feel free to cut, paste, and edit to suit)

—————————————————————————-
TO:
william.snyder@myfloridahouse.gov, charles.mcburney@myfloridahouse.gov,ari.porth@myfloridahouse.gov, dennis.baxley@myfloridahouse.gov,daphne.campbell@myfloridahouse.gov, eric.eisnaugle@myfloridahouse.gov,matt.gaetz@myfloridahouse.gov, tom.goodson@myfloridahouse.gov, bill.hager@myfloridahouse.gov,shawn.harrison@myfloridahouse.gov, john.julien@myfloridahouse.gov, larry.metz@myfloridahouse.gov,kathleen.passidomo@myfloridahouse.gov, ray.pilon@myfloridahouse.gov,elaine.schwartz@myfloridahouse.gov, darren.soto@myfloridahouse.gov,richard.steinberg@myfloridahouse.gov, greg.steube@myfloridahouse.gov,
SUBJECT:
Support HB 517 – Support the Second Amendment

Dear Representative,

This e-mail is to express my support for House Bill 517, Firearms. As a member of the Florida House Judiciary Committee, you will be hearing this bill on March 24th. I respectfully ask that you wholeheartedly support this bill.

The predictions of doom and gloom that preceded the adoption of “shall-issue” concealed carry have been proven to be fiction. For twenty-four years, Florida concealed weapons/firearms license holders have proven themselves to be responsible to the extreme. Since 1987, only 168 of nearly two-million licenses have been revoked due to misuse of firearms. It is time to recognize that responsibility by giving those licensees the option to carry their firearms in the manner that is most appropriate to their situation, openly or concealed. In the 43 states that permit some form of general open carry, not a single state has repealed that right.

Please support HB 517.
Respectfully yours,

—————————————————————————-

About:
Florida Carry is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots organization dedicated to advancing the fundamental civil right of all Floridians to keep and bear arms for self defense as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I Section 8 of the Florida Constitution. Florida Carry, Inc. was organized by a group of Florida gun rights activists in order to better coordinate activities, effectively lobby the state legislature, and to provide a legal entity capable of filing suit to demand compliance with state and federal law. Florida Carry stands only to represent our members and the over 6 million gun owners of Florida. We are not beholden to any national organization’s agenda that may compromise that mission.
Florida Carry works tirelessly toward repealing and striking down ill-conceived gun control laws that have been proven to provide safe havens to criminals and be deadly to law abiding citizens.

Constitutional Carry Moving Forward Across USA

National Association for Gun Rights

Colorado -–(Ammoland.com)- Constitutional Carry is advancing through state legislatures across the country. I’m proud to say that your activism has made this possible.

National Association for Gun Rights’ staff is actively working with grassroots gun rights groups across the country to secure passage of these important pieces of legislation.

As you know, Constitutional Carry is a simple, straight forward idea.

If passed, it simply permits anyone who is eligible to own a firearm to carry a firearm concealed without a permit.

This legislation would not get rid of the current permit system, but it would merely give gun owners another option for exercising their right to bear arms. For reciprocity between states, citizens might still want a permit, but that’s their choice under the Constitutional Carry system.

Constitutional Carry is currently law in Alaska, Arizona, Vermont and now Wyoming.

State Representative Chris Holbert – a Constitutional Carry bill sponsor from Colorado – says we’re simply abolishing the “coat tax.” In states where open carry is legal, you put your coat on, and you have to pay the permit “tax.”

Constitutional Carry would make that permit “tax” voluntary, since you could carry a concealed weapon without acquiring a permit.

Wyoming
In Wyoming, the Jennings-Jaggi Constitutional Carry Bill was signed into law by Governor Matt Mead on March 2. The law will take effect on July 1, 2011.

National Association for Gun Rights’ staff worked extensively with Wyoming Gun Owners to ensure passage of the bill, including killing several attempts to poison the bill with anti-gun amendments.

Montana
HB-271, Representative Kerns’ Constitutional Carry Bill passed the State House 54-41 in late February and is now in the Montana State Senate.

Kerns’ Constitutional Carry Bill will be heard in the Montana Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday March 16 at 8:00am in Room 303.

Colorado
HB-1205, the Holbert-Brophy Constitutional Carry Bill, passed out of the State House on a 40-25 vote. The measure garnered the support of 7 Democrats. It faces an uphill battle in the State Senate, which is controlled by anti-gun Democrats.

Both Representative Holbert and Senator Greg Brophy are long-time supporters of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners and the National Association for Gun Rights.

New Hampshire
The National Association for Gun Rights has been working with the New Hampshire Firearms Coalition and HB-536 has been introduced in the New Hampshire legislature and is awaiting a hearing.

South Carolina
In South Carolina, the National Association for Gun Rights and GrassRoots GunRights South Carolina have been fighting attempts by anti-gun Republican Thad Viers to poison H. 3292 (Comprehensive Concealed Carry Reform).

National Association for Gun Rights’ members in South Carolina have been instrumental in keeping the heat on South Carolina legislators to adopt H. 3292 with GrassRoots GunRights South Carolina amendments.

Iowa
House Republicans in Iowa have bowed to pressure from Iowa Gun Owners and National Association for Gun Rights’ members in Iowa and have pledged to pass the Sorenson-Pearson Constitutional Carry bill this session.

Iowa Gun Owners has worked with us to expose backroom deals to kill Constitutional Carry. You can rest assured, we will continue to keep the pressure on House Republicans to pass Iowa Gun Owners’ real Constitutional Carry Bill. A committee hearing on the bill is expected early next week.

It’s truly an exciting time for gun rights at the state level.

You can help us continue to fight for Constitutional Carry and true firearms freedom in state legislatures across the country by getting involved today.

For liberty,

About:
The National Association for Gun Rights was founded in 2001 to serve as a grassroots gun rights group focusing on building state-level gun rights groups and lobbying for pro-gun federal legislation. Brown has been a gun lobbyist for more than 17 years. Visit: www.nationalgunrights.org

Editorial Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed above do not necessarily reflect those of the staff, AmmoLand Shooting Sports News, or other sponsors and partners. See the Editorial-Review Process for more details.

Florida Carry

Florida - -(Ammoland.com)- Open Market Research, Inc. has released the results of two polls taken this month.

Although it’s no surprise to us, the polls clearly indicate exceptionally strong support of open carry in Florida and virtually no opposition. Across the board, male or female, young or old, Florida residents want open carry rights.

http://tiny.cc/yb4ro

It wasn’t even close; this was a landslide for open carry!

We’re against the clock. The Senate committee meets again on Monday. We need you to flood the e-mail boxes of the committee members and the Senate President. Please let them know about the poll results and tell them you expect them to follow the will of the people!

Thank you!

The Executive Directors and Board of Florida Carry, Inc.

We urgently need you to email the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice NOW!

Include “The People have spoken – Yes on SB 234” in the Subject Line

E-mail Helper (feel free to copy, cut, paste, and edit to suit)

—————————————————————————-
TO:
evers.greg.web@flsenate.gov, dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov, dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov, margolis.gwen.web@flsenate.gov, smith.chris.web@flsenate.gov, haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov

SUBJECT: The People have spoken – Yes on SB 234

Dear Senator,

Open Market Research, Inc., an independent marketing research firm, has released the results of two polls taken in northern Florida which show strong support for the open carry provision of SB 234. Taken on March 3 and 11, the polls show a wide margin (58% – 14%) favor legalization of open carry in district 3, and an even wider margin in districts 2 and 4 (62% – 12%).

Legislators: the nay-sayers are a vocal lot, but they do not represent the voice of the people. Support SB 234 over the special interest groups. Open carry is peacefully practiced on a daily basis in 43 other states without the need for ridiculous and unnecessary retention devices and training, and without the need for public display of private information.

For twenty-three years, the law-abiding citizens of Florida who hold concealed weapons/firearms licenses have proven themselves to be responsible and deserve, without hesitation, to be treated as such. Voting against SB 234 is tantamount to a slap in the face of licensees, the sting of which the voters will not soon forget.

Please support SB 234.

Respectfully yours,

—————————————————————————-

About:
Florida Carry is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots organization dedicated to advancing the fundamental civil right of all Floridians to keep and bear arms for self defense as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I Section 8 of the Florida Constitution. Florida Carry, Inc. was organized by a group of Florida gun rights activists in order to better coordinate activities, effectively lobby the state legislature, and to provide a legal entity capable of filing suit to demand compliance with state and federal law. Florida Carry stands only to represent our members and the over 6 million gun owners of Florida. We are not beholden to any national organization’s agenda that may compromise that mission.
Florida Carry works tirelessly toward repealing and striking down ill-conceived gun control laws that have been proven to provide safe havens to criminals and be deadly to law abiding citizens.

Australian anti-gunner Simon Chapman laid out his ghoulish recipe for advancing civilian disarmament in his 1998 hate book, over our dead bodies. It worked in Australia. Are we going to let his recipe work in America?

Dillon Precision

Scottsdale, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- Gun-prohibitionists know that the shock value of firearm-related mass murders can be used to their advantage.

According to anti-gun Australian public health professor, Simon Chapman, sensational mass murders committed with firearms, like the recent Arizona shootings, can be “critically important to possible advances in gun control policies….”

Chapman continued: “There is a great deal of advocacy that must take place before, immediately after and then well into the critical post-massacre period to ensure that community and political grief, outrage and anger translate into policy and law reform.”

In his 1998 book, Over Our Dead Bodies, Chapman laid out his ghoulish recipe for advancing civilian disarmament. And he was brazen enough to admit that we American gun-owners might view these exploitative attempts to capitalize on such events as a “vulture-like attitude to human tragedy, with advocates waiting patiently for…gun massacres so they might climb aboard community outrage and opportunistically capitalise on the misfortune of others.”

He was right; we believe that profiting from human tragedy by spreading fear and disinformation is evil and reprehensible.

Our Founding Fathers did not have to resort to advocacy to create a norm conducive to freedom: a gun culture. When they wrote the blueprint for our republic, they used their command of history, truth, and common sense. But in recent decades, lies were told, disguised as science, greatly damaging that culture.

Medical charlatans like Arthur Kellermann, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, produced a slew of junk-science studies which “proved” that people who live in households containing firearms were at great risk. Their friends and neighbors were in danger, as well. While these “scientific” papers were eventually refuted, the lies still stick, demonizing and marginalizing peaceable gun-owners.

Predictably, the Arizona massacre is deliberately being used to fuel the fear of firearms that has been built up over the years. That fear has shaped the state of our norm today — our norm now includes the raw fear and emotion dredged up by the Chapmans and the Kellermanns of the world.

Fear and suspicion is facilitated by the media, which keeps up a drumbeat of publicity. The Scientific American asked “How many massacres will it take for gutless politicians to stand up to gun nuts?” The NY Times asked “How Many Deaths Are Enough?” And the Kansas City Star demanded “Protect kids from gun owners and guns.”

We’ve let our American norm become so damaged that lies and uncommon sense prevail in any discussion after a mass public shooting. But we can we bring the focus back to the overwhelming benefits of our original American norm.

Prohibitionists will always have pictures of corpses and maimed victims to point to, when the discussion turns to the costs of private firearm possession. The recent statement by Dr. Gary Kleck, based on his and others’ research – “making guns unavailable for self-defense can…cost lives…” – is almost impossible to use to counter the images.

But just as repetition of photos of corpses can create fear, familiarity with weapons can create respect. One of the first steps that must be taken with the firearm-ignorant is to introduce them to firearms, up close, and often. People would begin to understand that a gun is a controllable tool.

In order to do that, we need to be comfortable with the knowledge that our philosophy can stand firm without lies! Many gun-owners have been infected by the lie that a gun in the home presents a danger to that family — they suspect, but they cannot articulate, that a gun in the home creates a safer environment for their families and neighbors. These people are ashamed to discuss the gun in their closet, and that needs to change.

We all know knowledgeable gun-owners who ask why anyone needs high-capacity magazines, or “assault-weapons.” We’ve even heard them denigrate open-carry advocates. Are these gun-owners willing to slide down the slippery slope of compromise simply in order to appear “reasonable”? Or are they, too, ashamed of our norm?

In 1989, Bill Ruger wrote to all members of Congress stating that we should “prohibit the possession of high capacity magazines.” This was recently repeated by Bob Brown, a former Montana secretary of state and state Senate president, in an article from the Great Falls (Montana) Tribune , Proud NRA member thinks there should be limits on guns.” It’s easy to understand why this only provides fodder to the media — how many rounds are just right? The global prohibitionists have stated that they would find it acceptable for us to possess a single-shot sporting weapon on the road to their gun-free society.

We have also recently heard other knowledgeable gun-owners parrot the media to express hysteria about the open-carry movement — our original norm. The media are referring to open-carry as foolish and dangerous, “a loophole that needs to be closed,” almost as if they know that constant visions of peaceable Americans carrying firearms is destructive to the prohibitionist agenda.

Are we embarrassed by proclaiming our sovereignty?

A tough job lies ahead of us. We need to conquer our weaknesses, even as we educate the public. The Founding Fathers understood one fact many have forgotten: a representative republic can only survive with an educated populace.

It is in the public’s best interest to be educated, not driven by raw emotion. We are the only ones able to do so.

About:
Dillon Precision is the only choice for all your reloading needs. Consider the quality and innovation behind each product, the lifetime “No BS” warranty, and the unparalleled reputation for post-sale service, and there simply isn’t any other option. Your only decision is which machine to buy. Dillon offers a machine for every budget or reloading need. From the “pistol only” Square Deal, the “workhorse” RL 550B, the fully progressive XL 650, to the commercial grade Super 1050. They even offer a progressive shotshell loader that blows away everything on the market. Visit: www.dillonprecision.com

Florida Open Carry

Florida - -(Ammoland.com)- Independent poll by Open Market Research, Inc. shows strong support for open carry bill, says WCTV-TV

WCTV-TV in Tallahassee is reporting results of two new independent polls show strong support for Florida Senate Bill 234.

The bill, would reverse the current general ban on the open carry of firearms, and would remove Florida from the list of only seven states in which the practice is prohibited.

Taken by marketing research, advertising, and public relations firm Open Market Research, Inc., the polls show broad support for the measure across a wide range of demographics, including sex, age, and political preference in Districts 2, 3, and 4 of Northern Florida.

Respondents were first asked whether or not they supported the issuing of concealed weapons permits. In all three districts, support was overwhelming, with a margin of over 7 to 1 among men and between 3 and 4 to 1 among women. The respondents were then asked if they favored removing criminal prosecution for concealed weapons license holders who expose a holstered weapon. Men approved by greater than a 4 to 1 margin with women also approving at greater than a 2.5 to 1 margin.

Senator Charlie Dean is widely viewed as the deciding vote as to whether or not the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice will give SB 234 a favorable report. A former Citrus County sheriff, Senator Dean is believed to be relying on the opinion of the Florida Sheriff’s Association who, despite having no published legislative agenda on their website with regards to SB 234, historically has been against the citizens’ right to keep and bear arms in self-defense. However, males age 18 – 29 in Senator Dean’s own home district overwhelmingly approve of the bill by a whopping 91% in favor to 9% against.

In 1987, the Florida Sheriff’s Association was vehemently opposed to shall-issue concealed carry, predicting shootouts over parking spaces and blood in the streets. A year later, after extensive efforts to document problems arising from shall-issue concealed carry, the head of the association was forced to admit the virtual absence of such problems. According to the Florida Department of Agriculture’s own statistics, only 168 licensees lost their licenses for gun related crimes in the over 23 years since.

Open Market Research, Inc. reports the margin of error on the poll to be +/- 3%.

About:
Florida Carry is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots organization dedicated to advancing the fundamental civil right of all Floridians to keep and bear arms for self defense as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I Section 8 of the Florida Constitution. Florida Carry, Inc. was organized by a group of Florida gun rights activists in order to better coordinate activities, effectively lobby the state legislature, and to provide a legal entity capable of filing suit to demand compliance with state and federal law. Florida Carry stands only to represent our members and the over 6 million gun owners of Florida. We are not beholden to any national organization’s agenda that may compromise that mission.
Florida Carry works tirelessly toward repealing and striking down ill-conceived gun control laws that have been proven to provide safe havens to criminals and be deadly to law abiding citizens.

Florida Carry

Florida - -(Ammoland.com)- As most of you know, SB 234’s two primary elements, open carry and campus carry, have been gutted by committee amendments.

These amendments were proposed, accepted, and integrated into the bill without public comment or discussion.

On February 22, 2011, the father of Ashley Cowie, the FSU student who was killed in an off-campus incident, presented an impassioned plea against the campus carry element of SB 234. Ashley was killed by a student who was too young to get a concealed weapons/firearms license (CWFL), allegedly was under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, negligently mishandled a rifle too large to carry concealed for self-defense purposes, at an off-campus frat house at which weapons were prohibited.

The campus carry initiative has nothing in common with this tragic event, and the current ban on lawfully carried firearms did not prevent it. In fact, there are 71 campuses in the U.S. where concealed carry is permitted, some of which have been doing so since 1995, and not a single gun-related event has occurred on any of those campuses.

But the amendment to kill campus carry was passed by the committee without them hearing these facts because not a single proponent of campus carry was permitted to address them prior to the amendment’s adoption. No debate, no discussion was permitted.

Ironically, after the amendment was adopted, a college law enforcement administrator wasted time allotted to public discussion to continue opposing the already dead element.

Likewise, the open carry element was saddled with an amendment that demanded impractical and unnecessary requirements that no other open carry state in the union, including California, requires. The requirements are for firearm retention training, a level-2 retention holster, and public display of one’s license in proximity to a firearm being openly carried.

The retention training requirement is not realistic for a number of reasons. First, no other open carry state has such a requirement since there is no evidence that there is any substantial threat to open carriers of being relieved of their firearms by criminals. It simply isn’t happening anywhere else. Law enforcement will maintain that their officers must undergo such training because of numerous incidents of fellow officers being killed by their own firearms. But they conveniently forget that these incidents result from the officer’s duty to initiate contact and apprehend nefarious types, often violent felons who have no desire to get sent to prison. No such duty exists with citizen open carriers, and there is little motivation for the felon to initiate contact with an armed citizen when so many unarmed potential targets exist.

The requirement for a statutorily undefined level-2 retention holster again stems from this unsubstantiated and purely speculative assumption that an armed citizen is a ripe target for a criminal. Again, no other open carry state requires this because there is no evidence to support a threat. Indeed, if there was ever a candidate for mandatory wearing of a retention holster of any type, it would be for a law enforcement officer. There is no state requirement that police use a level-2 retention holster.

Also, by requiring a citizen to only open carry in a retention holster does not address a very basic function of the open carry initiative; that being the ability switch from concealed carry to open carry at will depending on conditions. For example, a CWFL holder carrying in a standard in-waistband holster concealed under a light jacket would not be permitted to remove his jacket.

Furthermore, level-2 retention holsters are not available for many popular makes and models of side-arms. Many gun owners will not be able to open carry their side-arm because no manufacturer has marketed their holster as a “level-2″.
Finally, the requirement to display one’s CWFL in public would again, only exist in Florida. Law enforcement has universally discouraged CWFL holders from the use of badges, as this could cause the public to mistake them for officers. There is no reason to believe that the mandatory display of licenses would not be likewise mistaken for police identification.

The Supreme Court of Florida has ruled that the mere possession of a firearm does not suffice as reasonable suspicion for the purpose of detention, identification, and search of citizens, yet this requirement sidesteps the concept of reasonable suspicion/probable cause and in fact, authorizes police to question law-abiding citizens under the guise of “verifying” carry credentials.

Florida statutes do not require CWFL holders to identify themselves to law enforcement for this very reason. It is also quite ironic that in light of this committee’s passage of SB 604, the bill which permanently exempts CWFL licensee data from release under so-called “sunshine laws”, the public display of a licensee’s name, and on some licenses their home address, for all to see.

The true purpose behind this amendment is clear. Having no real substantiated reason to deny open carry, certain groups and individuals instead are attempting to make the practice so burdensome as to either discourage the vast majority of CWFL holders to participate in open carry, or to make the open carry initiative itself so unpalatable to proponents that it would soon die due to lack of interest.

And again, as with the arguments for campus carry, these facts were not permitted to be presented to the committee prior to adoption of the amendment requiring these unrealistic requirements. Through two entire sessions of the committee, the SB 234 supporters were afforded a single, 30-second time slot by a single individual, and this occurred AFTER the amendments were approved by the committee. This is intolerable and surely flies in the face of the concept of representing the people.

We ask members and non-members alike to e-mail, write, and call the Senate President Mike Haridopolos, and express your outrage over the actions of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee.

There is ample documented evidence to support SB 234, and nothing but unsubstantiated opinion against it. Procedurally, it is a travesty that amendments are adopted without public discourse, which has a direct bearing on said amendments.

We urgently need you to email Senator Haridopolos NOW!

Include “Please help us get SB 234 through committee” in the Subject Line

E-mail Helper (feel free to cut, paste, and edit to suit)

—————————————————————————-
TO:
haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov

SUBJECT:
Please help us get SB 234 through committee!

Dear Senator Haridopolos,

This e-mail is to express my outrage as to the procedural conduct of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee with regards to the gutting of Senate Bill 234 without the benefit of public discourse.

An ill-conceived amendment to the proposed open carry legalization was passed by the committee without a single word from the public prior to its adoption. Each and every element of the amendment can be factually argued, but no argument was permitted whatsoever.

Despite two committee meetings addressing the bill, which still has not yet been voted upon, the supporters of SB 234 have been permitted a single individual to speak for a total of 30 seconds. Florida Open Carry Movement members from across the state were gagged in the audience without the opportunity to speak. This is a travesty, and only supports the notion that the committee is not interested in hearing arguments in favor of the bill for which they have no rebuttal.

We request your assistance in getting a SB 234 through committee and to the Senate floor where both sides will have the opportunity to present verifiable and documented facts, without the procedural maneuvering that is clearly picking apart this good bill.

Respectfully yours,

—————————————————————————-

About:
Florida Carry is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots organization dedicated to advancing the fundamental civil right of all Floridians to keep and bear arms for self defense as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I Section 8 of the Florida Constitution. Florida Carry, Inc. was organized by a group of Florida gun rights activists in order to better coordinate activities, effectively lobby the state legislature, and to provide a legal entity capable of filing suit to demand compliance with state and federal law. Florida Carry stands only to represent our members and the over 6 million gun owners of Florida. We are not beholden to any national organization’s agenda that may compromise that mission.

Florida Carry works tirelessly toward repealing and striking down ill-conceived gun control laws that have been proven to provide safe havens to criminals and be deadly to law abiding citizens.

Tracking the Spread of Constitutional Carry by State Map

Wisconsin Carry

Wisconsin --(Ammoland.com)- Wyoming becomes the 2nd state in less than a year to allow concealed carry without a government permit or permit tax ormandatory training.

That makes Vermont, Arizona, Alaska, and Wyoming all “Constitutional Carry” states.

This is now the trend nationwide.

Similar bills are pending in states including West Virginia, Maine, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Tennessee, South Carolina and Utah.

A bill has been introduced in Kentucky but hasn’t advanced while another was introduced for discussion in Idaho.

A quick event reminders:

Open Carry Rally in Petosi, WI this weekend sponsored by the Grant County Republican Party:
www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=313371
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at the Holiday Gardens in Potosi.

Carry On!

About:
Wisconsin Carry, Inc. is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the preservation and reclamation of the rights of law-abiding Wisconsin residents to carry in the manner of their choosing. We believe that “open carry” and “concealed carry” are choices to be made by law-abiding citizens based on their situation and preference. Wisconsin Carry, like many gun-rights organizations in Wisconsin, is investing a great deal of resources to get Wisconsin law changed to allow concealed carry this next legislative session by proposing Constitutional Carry. Wisconsin Carry, Inc. will continue to use legal recourse to deter unlawful treatment of law-abiding Wisconsin residents who currently exercise their right to open carry, and soon will exercise their right to concealed carry in Wisconsin. Visit: www.wisconsincarry.org

Governor Signs Constitutional Carry In Wyoming

Wyoming Gun Owners

Wyoming --(Ammoland.com)- Wyoming is moving in the right direction, and it is because of men and women like you.

This afternoon, I watched as Governor Mead signed Constitutional Carry into law while saying his office had been clogged with emails and phone calls from people demanding he sign the Jennings-Jaggi Constitutional Carry bill.

Even though so called “political experts” say your activism doesn’t matter, today’s events show who has the real power in politics… You!

The anti-gun crowd fought this legislation every step of the way. The plain and simple truth is when push came to shove, it was your phone calls and emails that pushed this freedom-restoring bill through the legislature.

This legislation marks a fantastic first step toward restoring your right to self-defense in Wyoming. Now is the time for us to forge ahead and repeal the numerous criminal safe zones in Wyoming.

Even though the Jennings-Jaggi bill has made it possible to carry a firearm without going through a laborious permit process, we are still a long way from being done.

Wyomingites are still not allowed to defend themselves in their places of worship, where they teach their children, or even when out to eat with their family. That is simply wrong.

Our Constitution doesn’t come with a list of places where our rights no longer apply. That’s why Wyoming Gun Owners’ number one priority is eliminating these places where criminals are armed, but the law demands you to be unarmed.

I honestly want you to take a minute and think about the power your actions had in passing Constitutional Carry in Wyoming. It’s an unquestionably great achievement, and it is because men and women like you across Wyoming got involved. You deserve to feel good about that.

Wyoming now joins only a small handful of states that allow real Constitutional Carry.

Next I want you to think about how much work we still have to do, roll up your sleeves, and join me for this coming fight.

Wyoming Gun Owners is Wyoming’s premiere state level gun rights organization. There is simply no other grassroots organization taking action in the legislature at this level.

If restoring liberties in Wyoming is important to you, I guarantee you there is no better organization to be a part of. We’ve worked long and hard to pass Constitutional Carry in Wyoming, and repealing criminal safe zones isn’t going to be easy.

We had a great victory today, but our fight is far from over in Wyoming. Thank you for your help and support. Please join me in our next step toward freedom in Wyoming.

Sincerely,

About:
Wyoming Gun Owners mission is to advocate, protect and defend the God given and inalienable right to bear arms as in the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article 1 Section 24 of the Wyoming Constitution. Visit: www.wyominggunowners.org

Rocky Mountain Gun Owners

Colorado --(Ammoland.com)- We aren’t done, but I’ve got some good news for you.

The first phase of passing Constitutional Carry through the Colorado State House was accomplished this morning.

House members agreed to move this common-sense legislation forward by a vote of 40 to 25 (we’ll post this vote when it becomes available on our website).

Even though we’re definitely not done yet (and I know that I don’t have to tell you that anything can happen in politics) this is still great news.

Because of your emails and phone calls, these House members have moved our bill through the house with an overwhelming majority.

A special thanks to the able leadership of long-time RMGO member State Rep. Chris Holbert (left). Who now passes the baton to State Senator Greg Brophy (Right).

Our next step is the assignment of the bill to a Colorado State Senate Committee.

Naturally, I’ll keep you up to date on Colorado’s Constitutional Carry Bill moves along, but I wanted to keep you informed as we get closer to final passage.

Sincerely,

About:
Based in Colorado, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners is Colorado’s largest state-based gun lobby. It is a group solely dedicated to the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Our strategy is simple: don’t give an inch. Visit: www.rmgo.org

Constitutional Carry

Wyoming Gun Owners

Wyoming --(Ammoland.com)- We aren’t done, but I’ve got some good news for you.

The first phase of passing the Jaggi-Jennings Constitutional Carry through the Wyoming State House was accomplished this afternoon.

House members agreed to move this common-sense legislation forward by a vote of 48 to 8.

Even though we’re definitely not done yet, and I know that I don’t have to tell you that anything can happen in politics, this is still great news.

Because of your emails and phone calls, these House members have moved our bill past its first reading with an overwhelming majority.

Our next steps are the 2nd reading and final passage votes, which are expected later this week. While the results of the 1st reading vote are a great encouragement, we’re obviously not done yet.

Naturally, I’ll keep you up to date as Constitutional Carry nears its final passage in the House, but I wanted to keep you informed as we get closer to final passage.

Sincerely,

About:
Wyoming Gun Owners mission is to advocate, protect and defend the God given and inalienable right to bear arms as in the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article 1 Section 24 of the Wyoming Constitution. Visit: www.wyominggunowners.org

Rocky Mountain Gun Owners

Colorado --(Ammoland.com)- Next week the Constitutional Carry bill faces it’s first hurdle in the Colorado Legislature when it is heard in the House Judiciary Committee.

On Thursday, Feb. 24th at 1:30pm the House Judiciary Committee will hear HB1205 by Rep. Chris Holbert (R-Parker) and Sen. Greg Brophy (R-Wray).

This bill already has a huge number of co-sponsors, but to reach the House floor it needs to first pass through this committee.

If you have not already done so, please sign our petition for Constitutional Carry.

And then take the time to join Rocky Mountain Gun Owners and help us pass Constitutional Carry in Colorado.

This bill is designed to do one thing: allow citizens who are legally eligible to possess handguns to carry that handgun concealed, without obtaining a costly, burdensome and bureaucratic permit.

This bill doesn’t get rid of the existing permits. It just gives citizens another option for self defense.

That’s what I call real freedom.

One of the chief advantages this bill presents is that citizens are not put on any government tracking list merely for carrying the tools for self defense, nor do they have to pay fees for a permit.

I’ve heard a lot of people say “The Constitution is my permit”, but this actually gives teeth to that thought.

Citizens in Vermont, Alaska and Arizona currently enjoy that right, and Wyoming could be joining that list in the next few weeks.

Just as important as what HB1205 does are what it does not do:

• Does not repeal or otherwise change Colorado’s existing concealed carry permit law (CRS 18-12-201).
• Does not authorize the carrying of a concealed handgun by felons, the mentally ill, juveniles or anyone otherwise prohibited from possessing a handgun under state and federal law.
• Does not change where concealed handguns are allowed as defined by CRS 18-12-214.
• Does not affect reciprocity agreements with other states in any manner.
• Does not affect the ability of prosecutors to pursue charges for other crimes.

This bill is a major step for freedom, and is something every gun owner in Colorado should get behind.

Even if you already have a concealed carry permit, this bill is still a major advance for freedom, since it wouldn’t affect your permit.

Today, I need you to contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee to politely urge them to support this important legislation.

Note: Rep. Bob Gardner, the Committee Chairman, is the only Republican on this committee who has not yet co-sponsored this bill.

You can e-mail these State Representatives at the following addresses:

• Bob Gardner R - bob.gardner.house@state.co.us
• Mark Barker R - mark.barker.house@state.co.us
• Brian DelGrosso R - brian@briandelgrosso.com
• Crisanta Duran D - crisanta.duran.house@state.co.us
• Daniel Kagan D - repkagan@gmail.com
• Pete Lee D - pete.lee.house@state.co.us
• Claire Levy D - claire.levy.house@state.co.us
• B.J. Nikkel R - rep.nikkel@gmail.com
• Su Ryden D - su.ryden.house@state.co.us
• Jerry Sonnenberg R - jerry@repsonnenberg.com
• Mark Waller R - mark.waller.house@state.co.us

For Freedom,

Dudley Brown
Executive Director

P.S. Please contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee today to urge them to support House Bill 1205.

About:
Based in Colorado, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners is Colorado’s largest state-based gun lobby. It is a group solely dedicated to the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Our strategy is simple: don’t give an inch. Visit: www.rmgo.org

OpenCarry.org

Sacramento, California --(Ammoland.com)- Next week the Florida Senate Committee on Criminal Justice will hold a hearing on Senator Greg Evers’ SB 234 which would decriminalize the open carry of properly holstered handguns in Florida.

Unfortunately the bill merely allows open carry by those who possess a “Florida Concealed Weapon or Firearm License” or a similar state issued permit accepted by Florida.

“Our constitutional tradition does not tolerate licensing schemes to exercise fundamental rights,” says John Pierce, co-founder of OpenCarry.org, “so why should gun owners have to pay for and carry a license just to open carry?”

“Don’t get me wrong,” adds Pierce, “I think Senator Ever’s bill is a step in the right direction, but why go for half measures when Florida’s Governor Rick Scott ran for office in part on the open carry issue and stands ready to sign a full strength open carry rights restoration bill?”

Florida is one of only 7 states banning open carry, along with Illinois, New York, South Carolina, Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. Of the 43 states allowing open carry, 29 states allow open carry in public without any license and Oklahoma is widely expected to raise this number to at least 30 this year.

OpenCarry.org calls on the Florida Senate Committee on Criminal Justice to amend SB 234 to strip the license requirement from the open carry bill.

“Open carry is a right not a privilege,” emphasizes Mr. Pierce, “and our members who live in or visit Florida will be reminding the Committee of this important American value.”

“Besides,” continues Pierce, “an FBI study concluded that criminals rarely open carry,” and “police in Georgia recently confirmed an instance of open carriers deterring an armed robbery of a Wafflehouse just by open carrying while eating some chicken fried steak and short stacks.”

1. See www.opencarry.org/opencarry.html (count up all gold, orange, and olive colored states to get to the 29 states which allow unlicensed open carry).
2. See www.claremoreprogress.com/local/x465503311/Oklahoma-senator-wants- open-carry-firearms-on-campus (reporting on a 2011 bill “to allow any adult to openly carry a firearm” in Oklahoma).
3. See “Open carry deters armed robbery in Kennesaw” at www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-atlanta/open-carry-deters-armed-robbery- kennesaw (“Captain Jerry Quan, the Commander for Precinct One, where the Wafflehouse is located, confirmed Matt Brannan’s story as one in which the open display of a pistol deterred a well armed robbery crew”).

Unlicensed open carry was legal for most of the Sunshine state’s history, and it’s high time the right was fully restored. SB 234 must be amended to fully restore the **right** to open carry.

About:
OpenCarry.org was founded in 2004 by Virginia gun-rights activists John Pierce and Mike Stollenwerk and has served to ignite the “Open Carry Movement” that is sweeping the country. In addition to being an invaluable legal resource for gun owners, the site has quickly grown to be a social networking portal for thousands of American gun owners. Visit: www.OpenCarry.org

Florida Carry

Florida - -(Ammoland.com)- SB 234 is on the agenda of the FL Senate Committee on Criminal Justice on Tuesday, February 22nd at 9:00am. Florida Carry, Inc. urgently requests that you email via the members of the committee in support of Senate Bill 234.

This NRA authored bill comprises several separate initiatives. These include the option for CWFL holders to carry openly; a provision to authorize carry at career centers, colleges, and universities; the right to store a firearm in one’s vehicle wherever it may be lawfully parked; the authorization for the Department of Agriculture to take fingerprints; the repeal of Florida’s ban on long gun purchases in most other states. Quite simply put, this is the most comprehensive carry rights bill since shall-issue concealed carry was passed twenty-four years ago.

Florida is one of only seven states where open carry of firearms is generally forbidden, excepting under certain circumstances. Arguments against open carry generally consist of concerns regarding the fearful reactions of the general population. Some have suggested that an open carrier becomes an instant target, having his firearm snatched by a criminal in line at a convenience store. The facts simply do not support those allegations. In states where open carry is lawfully practiced, citizens have become accustomed to the understanding that a holstered weapon is a danger to no one. There have been no wholesale attacks on open carriers, nor have open carriers been shot with their own weapons. Police officers are not fearful of open carriers as they know that a 5-year FBI crime study has shown that criminals do not open carry, nor do they carry in holsters. Criminals shun attention, something that the open carrying of a firearm invariably draws to some extent. Not a single state that has legalized open carry in recent years has repealed the right.

In 1987, open carry was outlawed primarily because of the predictions of wild west shootouts, blood in the streets, gun battles over parking spaces, and normally law abiding people indiscriminately becoming homicidal maniacs. The main opponent of open carry was Janet Reno, then assistant state attorney. She was able to rally support from a vocal group of police administrators with the doom and gloom scenarios. Amazingly enough, the exact same arguments were heard against “shall-issue” concealed carry.

Twenty-four years later, and none of the rampant bloodshed predictions about concealed carry have come true.

With regard to carry on colleges and universities, it is not coincidence that most of the mass shootings in the U.S. occur on the campuses of educational institutions. To believe that a potential assailant would be dissuaded from committing mass murder simply because there is a law forbidding him to bring a firearm on campus is pure folly. Rape, robbery, assault, and murder have all occurred on campuses across the country.

College and university administrators continue to deny the reality that by prohibiting students, faculty, staff, and visitors from defending themselves promotes an unsafe environment. Often ignored by opponents is the fact that only concealed weapons/firearms license holders would be permitted to carry on campus, and the minimum age requirement to have a license is 21. Those students under 21 would not be permitted to carry on campus. Once again, the potential criminals do not care about minimum age or having a license. After all, there are no barriers to access on most campuses.

Florida Carry, Inc. supports SB 234, and encourages all gun owners/carriers to join us in contacting the senators on the Florida Senate Criminal Justice Committee. Please tell them 24 years is enough.

We urgently need you to email the committee members NOW!
Include “Support SB 234” in the Subject Line

E-mail Helper (feel free to cut, paste, and edit to suit)
—————————————————————————-
TO:
evers.greg.web@flsenate.gov
dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov
dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov
margolis.gwen.web@flsenate.gov
smith.chris.web@flsenate.gov

SUBJECT:
Support SB 234 – Support the Second Amendment

Dear Senator,

This e-mail is to express my support for Senate Bill 234, Firearms. As a member of the Florida Senate Committee on Criminal Justice, you will be hearing this bill on Tuesday, February 22nd. I respectfully ask that you wholeheartedly support this bill.

The predictions of doom and gloom that preceded the adoption of “shall-issue” concealed carry have been proven to be fiction. For twenty-four years, Florida concealed weapons/firearms license holders have proven themselves to be responsible to the extreme. Since 1987, only 168 of nearly two-million licenses have been revoked due to misuse of firearms. It is time to recognize that responsibility by giving those licensees the option to carry their firearms in the manor that is most appropriate to their situation, openly or concealed. In the 43 states that permit some form of general open carry, not a single state has repealed that right.

It is also time to recognize that criminals have discovered a target-rich environment at colleges and universities. Rapes, robberies, assaults, and other violent crimes continually occur at and near campuses on students, faculty, and staff alike. Concealed weapons/firearms license holders should not have to relinquish the ability to defend themselves because of a mistaken belief that criminals obey campus restrictions.

Please support SB 234.
Respectfully yours,

———————-

About:
Florida Carry is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots organization dedicated to advancing the fundamental civil right of all Floridians to keep and bear arms for self defense as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I Section 8 of the Florida Constitution. Florida Carry, Inc. was organized by a group of Florida gun rights activists in order to better coordinate activities, effectively lobby the state legislature, and to provide a legal entity capable of filing suit to demand compliance with state and federal law. Florida Carry stands only to represent our members and the over 6 million gun owners of Florida. We are not beholden to any national organization’s agenda that may compromise that mission.
Florida Carry works tirelessly toward repealing and striking down ill-conceived gun control laws that have been proven to provide safe havens to criminals and be deadly to law abiding citizens.

Wyoming Gun Owners

Wyoming --(Ammoland.com)- Nice work. Constitution Carry passed out of its committee this morning and moved toward the House Floor by a margin of 8 to 1 thanks to your calls and emails.

This is just one more great example of how effective your voice really is. One member of the committee who had been on the fence about this issue told the committee that he’d received a flood of emails this week urging him to support the bill.

Because of your calls and emails, the bill passed by the overwhelming margin of 8 to 1.

It’s been your work all along that has made the difference when we fought for passage in the Senate, this morning when we won committee passage in House, and it is still the only way we’ll be able to pass the House Floor.

Senator Everett Dirkson said “When I feel the heat, I see the light” and that is still the truth about how politicians operate. If you and I want Constitutional Carry in Wyoming, we must make politicians feel the heat with our phone calls and emails.

That’s why it is imperative that you take just a few minutes to do this simple two step process before Monday’s floor vote.

1. Click on this link to find out who your State Representative is if you don’t already know. Then use this page to find the best contact information.
2. Call and email your Representative.

• — Tell them you are working with Wyoming Gun Owners.
• — Tell them it is vital they support passing Constitutional Carry in Wyoming without further amendments.
• — And tell them you are watching their vote carefully and counting on their support.

Constitutional Carry in Wyoming depends on your involvement, join me in the final push to get our bill past the House.

Sincerely,

About:
Wyoming Gun Owners mission is to advocate, protect and defend the God given and inalienable right to bear arms as in the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article 1 Section 24 of the Wyoming Constitution. Visit: www.wyominggunowners.org