National Shooting Sports Foundation

NEWTOWN, Conn --(Ammoland.com)- The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) – the trade association for the firearms industry – is encouraging all sportsmen, gun owners and firearms enthusiasts to contact members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees today and urge them to vote to protect House-passed pro-gun provisions in an upcoming Conference Report on H.R. 2112.

This is the legislative vehicle for the annual Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) and Related Agencies Appropriations Act that funds the ATF.

Here’s the background:

The House-passed CJS Appropriations bill made permanent nine separate pro-gun, pro-industry protections, such as the “Tiahrt Amendment” — detailed below. Unfortunately, anti-gun politicians in the Senate successfully blocked a bipartisan amendment offered by Sen. Orin Hatch (R-Utah) that, like the House-passed bill, would have made these needed provisions permanent law. The Senate version makes these protections good for only one fiscal year, meaning anti-gun politicians can come back year after year and try to strip away these pro-gun provisions.

The fight now moves to conference where the House and Senate versions will be reconciled. This will happen today at 5 p.m..

Please contact both the Senate and House conferees TODAY (202-224-3121) and urge them to keep the House-passed firearms provisions in the upcoming Conference Report on H.R. 2112:

Senators:
Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) and Richard Shelby (R-Ala.).

Representatives: (Partial List)
Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.), Bill Young (R-Fla.), Frank Wolf (R-Va.), Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), Tom Latham (R-Iowa), Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.), John Culberson (R-Texas), John Carter (R-Texas), Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio) and Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.).

The House-passed CJS appropriations bill would make permanent the following vital pro-gun, pro-industry protections:

1. Firearms Trace Data Disclaimer. A requirement that any trace data released must include a disclaimer stating such trace data cannot be used to draw broad conclusion about firearms-related crime. This provision has been included since FY 2005.
2. Firearms Database Prohibition. A prohibition on the use of funds to create, maintain or administer a database of firearms owners or their firearms. This prohibition has been in place since FY 1979 and prevents the federal government from establishing a national gun registry.
3. Physical Inventory Prohibition. Prohibition on a requirement to allow a physical inventory of Federal Firearms Licensees. The Clinton Administration proposed a rule in 2000 to require an annual inventory by all licensees. While the Bush Administration eventually withdrew the proposal, Congress has still passed this preventive provision every year, beginning in FY 2007.
4. Firearms Parts Export to Canada. A prohibition on the use of funds to require an export license for small firearms parts valued at less than $500 for export to Canada. This provision removed an unnecessary and burdensome requirement on U.S. gun manufacturers that was imposed under the Clinton Administration. It has been included since FY 2006.
5. Business Activity. A prohibition on the use of funds to deny a Federal Firearms License (FFL) or renewal of an FFL on the basis of business activity. This provision prohibits ATF from denying federal firearms license applications or renewals based on a dealer’s low business volume alone. Congress added this general provision in FY 2005.
6. Information Retrieval Prohibition. A prohibition on the use of funds to electronically retrieve personally identifying information gathered by federal firearms licensees. This provision prohibits the creation of a gun registry from dealers’ records that are required by law to be surrendered to the federal government when a dealer goes out of business. This provision has been included since FY 1997.
7. Information Gathering Prohibition. A prohibition on the use of funds to maintain any information gathered as a part of an instant background check or to maintain information for more than 24 hours. This provision protects the privacy of law-abiding gun buyers by prohibiting information about legal gun purchases from being kept by government authorities. It has been included since FY 1999.
8. Curio and Relic Definition. A prohibition on the use of funds to change the definition of a “curio or relic.” This provision protects the status of collectible firearms for future generations of firearms collectors. This provision has been included since Fiscal Year 1997.
9. Importation of Curios and Relics. A prohibition on the use of funds to arbitrarily deny importation of qualifying curio and relic firearms. This provision insures that collectible firearms that meet all legal requirements for importation into the United States are not prevented from import by executive branch fiat. This provision has been included since FY 2006.

Visit NSSF’s Government Relations site at nssf.org/GovRel.

About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 6,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

National Shooting Sports Foundation

NEWTOWN, Conn --(Ammoland.com)- Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) is seeking to offer an amendment to the Commerce, Justice and Science appropriations bill now being debated on the Senate floor.

But anti-gun senators are blocking a vote on the amendment.

It is imperative that you contact your legislators tonight and urge them to vote YES on Hatch Amendment 770. Tomorrow morning is too late.

The Hatch amendment would permanently enshrine 10 different appropriations “riders” — essentially directions from Congress to the administration about how they must spend, or not spend, funds — into permanent law.

Traditionally, each “rider” had to be reauthorized on a year-by-year basis. Some of these riders go back 30 years.

Again, as you’re reading this, anti-gun senators are blocking the vote.

Call your senators immediately (202-224-3121) and urge them to become co-sponsors and support this amendment! Tomorrow morning is too late.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

The National Shooting Sports Foundation is encouraging all sportsmen, gun owners and firearms enthusiasts to contact both of their U.S. senators immediately and urge them to vote YES on Hatch Amendment 770 to the Commerce, Justice and Science appropriations bill now being debated on the Senate floor. Please ask your senators to co-sponsor this amendment that promotes and protects the firearms industry and our Second Amendment rights.

This will only take a minute of your time.

Provisions in the Hatch Amendment

• 1) Firearms Database Prohibition (CJS)
  A prohibition on the use of funds to create, maintain or administer a database of firearms owners or their firearms.
• 2) Curio and Relic Definition (CJS)
  A prohibition on the use of funds to change the definition of a “curio or relic.”
• 3) Transfer of BATFE Authority (CJS)
  A prohibition on the use of funds to transfer any duty or responsibility of the BATFE to any other agency or department.
• 4) Physical Inventory Prohibition (CJS)
  Prohibition on a requirement to allow a physical inventory of Federal Firearms Licensees.
• 5) Information Retrieval Prohibition (CJS)
  A prohibition on the use of funds to electronically retrieve personally identifying information gathered by Federal Firearms Licensees.
• 6) Business Activity (CJS)
  A prohibition on the use of funds to deny a Federal Firearms License or renewal of a Federal Firearms License on the basis of business activity.
• 7) Information Gathering Prohibition (CJS)
  A prohibition on the use of funds to maintain any information gathered as a part of an instant background check or to maintain information for more than 24 hours.
• Firearms Trace Data Disclaimer (CJS)
  A requirement that any trace data released must include a disclaimer stating such trace data cannot be used to draw broad conclusion about firearms-related crime.
• 9) Firearms Parts Export to Canada (CJS)
  A prohibition on the use of funds to require an export license for small firearms parts valued at less than $500 for export to Canada.
• 10) Importation of Curios and Relics (CJS)
  A prohibition on the use of funds to arbitrarily deny importation of qualifying curio and relic firearms.

About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 6,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

Oregon Firearms Federation

Oregon - -(AmmoLand.com)- The first hearing to reverse pro gun rights gains made in the 2009 session will be held on February 2nd at 8am.

(The pre-session hearing on this bill was scheduled for 8am. It was heard at 7.22 am before either Republican Senator had arrived.)

The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold an “informational” hearing on SB603.
(Invited testimony only, neither OFF nor NRA was “invited.”)

SB 603 was actually a bill from 2009 which you may recall corrected an error in Oregon law that allowed a person with a felony conviction to petition to have his rights restored to BUY a gun, but then was forbidden from owning it

Your efforts for months finally got this error fixed, but now at the urging of the Department of Justice, Senator Floyd Prozanski has introduced SB 1008 to reverse the corrections he himself made in SB 603.

What’s so odd about this is that 603, which Prozanski rewrote to correct the mistake mentioned above, passed out of his committee with no opposition, passed the full Senate with no opposition, passed the House Judiciary and the full House with no opposition and then was re-passed by the Senate with no opposition.

Now Prozanski is claiming that a five page bill that was largely his own work, was a “drafting mistake” and must be overturned.

This is an amazing assertion.

He claims he did not understand the changes he himself made and that every other legislator AND the Governor made the same “mistake.”

(We strongly suggest you read both 603 and 1008. See if you think the 43 page 1008 is easier to understand than the 5 page 603.)

(Please see this link for the “rebuttal” Senator Prozanski asked us to post.)

It’s essential that you contact the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and urge them not to rush to overturn this bill in a short “special” session. If they are, in fact, that confused, a rush to replace this simple bill with a 45 page “correction” would be a tremendous mistake.

Contact info for the Committee members and a sample message follow.

SENATE JUDICIARY.
Floyd Prozanski CHAIR
sen.floydprozanski@state.or.us
900 Court St. NE, S-417, Salem, OR, 97301
503-986 -1704

Brian Boquist Vice Chair
sen.brianboquist@state.or.us
900 Court St. NE., S-305, Salem, OR, 97301
503-986-1712

Susanne Bonamici
sen.suzannebonamici@state.or.us
900 Court St. NE., S-403, Salem, OR, 97301
503-986-1717

Jackie Dingfelder
sen.jackiedingfelder@state.or.us
900 Court St. NE., S-407, Salem, OR, 97301
503-986-1723

Doug Whitsett
sen.dougwhitsett@state.or.us
900 Court St. NE., S-303, Salem, OR, 97301
503-986-1728

Sample Letter: ____________________________________

Dear Senator,

SB 603 passed out of your committee with no opposition. It passed the Senate twice, with no opposition. Now it is being called a “drafting error.” SB 603 corrected a major error in Oregon law, and was thoroughly discussed and vetted. I strongly urge you not to reverse the gains made in this bill in the short time you have in the February “special session.”

In spite of what’s been said, SB 603 does NOT allow felons to walk out of prison and get firearms. In fact, there remain substantial hurdles to a restoration of firearms rights. Let’s give this law a chance to prove itself.

Sincerely,

_______________________

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFEF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

Michigan Coalition For Responsible Gun Owners

Lansing, MI --(AmmoLand.com)-The following Bills are not yet law. Each must be passed by both House and Senate then signed into law by the Governor.

House Bill 5302. Introduced Sep 2009. The bill would amend Public Act 372 of 1927 (and rename it the “Michigan Firearms Act”) to allow a person lawfully possessing a firearm or ammunition (1) to transport the firearm or ammunition in a privately-owned motor vehicle, and (2) to store it in a privately-owned motor vehicle parked and locked in the parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area of any business, commercial enterprise, employer, or state service agency if stored out of plain view in accordance with Michigan Penal Code requirements or as otherwise allowed by law … more

House Bill 5303. Introduced Sep 2009. Section 227 of the Michigan Penal Code makes it a felony crime to carry a concealed pistol. Section 231a of the Penal Code, however, contains a list of persons or situations to whom or which the ban on carrying a concealed pistol does not apply. Notably, subsections 231(1)(d) and (e) provide that the crime of carrying a concealed weapon does not apply to a person transporting a pistol for a lawful purpose, so long as the pistol is licensed by the owner or occupant of the motor vehicle in compliance with Section 2 of Public Act 372 of 1927, MCL 28.422, and the pistol is unloaded in a closed case designed for the storage of firearms in the trunk of the vehicle. In vehicles lacking trunks, the pistol must be unloaded in appropriate closed case placed so that it is not readily accessible to the vehicle’s occupants … more

House Bill 5472. Introduced Sep 2009. Generally speaking, unless a person holds a concealed pistol license or is exempt from licensure, he or she must obtain a license under Section 2 of Public Act 372 of 1927, known as “purchase license,” before purchasing or otherwise acquiring a pistol in Michigan (or bringing one into Michigan). People on leave from active duty in the United States armed forces or who have been discharged from active duty are given a more leeway – they have 30 days after arriving in Michigan with a pistol to obtain a license for it … more

House Bill 5474. Introduced Sep 2009. The bill would amend Public Act 319 of 1990 to remove the power of an institution of higher education (generally speaking, a college, junior college, community college, or university) to regulate the ownership, carrying, or possession of pistols or other firearms, ammunition, or components in any way except to regulate conduct that constituted a criminal offense under state law, to regulate the conduct of employees in the course of their employment, or as otherwise provided by state or federal law … more

House Bill 5470. Introduced Sep 2009. The bill would amend Section 5b of Public Law 372 of 1927. MCL 28.425b, concerning the requirements for obtaining a concealed pistol license (CPL), to clarify that the residency requirement of Section 5b does not impose a concealed pistol license requirement on a member of the U.S. armed forces who is otherwise exempt from needing one … more

House Bill 5471. Introduced Sep 2009. In recent years, additional categories of persons have been exempted from the requirements for obtaining a concealed pistol license (CPL) under Section 12a of Public Act 372 of 1927 (MCL 28.432a). Section 12a currently lists 11 different exemptions in subdivisions (1)(a) through (k). The bill would make technical corrections to the act relating to these expanded exemptions … more

House Bills 5473 and 5520. Introduced Sep-Oct 2009. House Bills 5473 and 5520 would expand pistol purchase license exemptions for authorized agents of licensed firearms manufacturers and firearms dealers … more

About:
The Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. Formed from just eight people in 1996, we now have thousands of members and numerous affiliated clubs across the state. We’re growing larger and more effective every day.

Our mission statement is: “Promoting safe use and ownership of firearms through education, litigation, and legislation” Visit: www.mcrgo.org

National Rifle Association

Washington, DC --(AmmoLand.com)- Back in June, we reported on a proposed U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rule change that would have expanded the Switchblade Knife Act of 1958 to include spring-assisted or one-handed-opening knives, and would have directly targeted the importation of “assisted opening” folding knives.

Assisted opening knives are frequently used by hunters, anglers, farmers, ranchers, firefighters, law enforcement and emergency personnel and anyone else who may need to open a knife with only one hand.

The proposed regulations would have designated all such knives as “switchblades” — despite the fact they do not fall under the federal definition of “switchblades” — and would have made them illegal for import into the United States.

Fortunately, in July, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed an amendment to the Federal Switchblade Act as part of the Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2010. This NRA-supported amendment then headed to a House-Senate conference committee.

Last week, the U.S. House passed the amendment. We are happy to report that this week, the U. S. Senate passed the measure as well.

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.

National Rifle Association of America

Gun Owners of America

Washington, DC --(AmmoLand.com)- An amendment to end the complete gun prohibition on Amtrak trains passed overwhelmingly Wednesday in the U.S. Senate by a vote of 68-30.

Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) offered the amendment to allow law-abiding gun owners to safely and legally transport firearms when they travel on Amtrak.

Current Amtrak regulations prohibit firearms in both checked and carry-on baggage. But Sen. Wicker’s amendment prohibits any federal taxpayer funding of Amtrak if it does not allow gun owners to transport firearms on trains in a manner similar to that of airlines.

Under this amendment, travelers would be able to transport a firearm from Amtrak stations that accept checked baggage as long as the firearm is declared and carried in a hard-sided, locked container.

The amendment was attached to the 2010 Transportation-Housing & Urban Development Appropriations bill and must now be reconciled with the House-passed bill, which does not contain the Wicker amendment.

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