Gun Rights Radio Network

South Bend, IN --(Ammoland.com)-  The Gun Rights Radio Network (GRRN) announced the release of its latest Bar Stool Discussion Podcast previously streamed live on January 25, 2012.

The podcast features a second interview by GRRN’s Mark Vanderberg and Doc Wesson with Paul M. Barrett, assistant managing editor of Bloomberg Businessweek and author of several books including his most recent–Glock: The Rise of America’s Gun.

Barrett continues the discussion of the success of his book and its broad acceptance from National Public Radio to G. Gordon Liddy.  He also relates his cancelled SHOT show credentials, allegedly the result of Glock’s displeasure over Barrett’s work. Undeterred, Paul gave Mark and Doc a sneak-peak at his recent Bloomberg Businessweek article, The Glock Family Feud, enlightening listeners and readers on the further adventures of the Glock family and the manufacturer bearing the Glock name.

Download the episode now and catch the next GRRN Bar Stool Discussion LIVE on February 8^th at 9:00 PM EST by clicking on Gun Rights Radio Live. Stay up-to-date with what’s going on with GRRN by signing up for the new e-mail newsletter.

Media Contact:
Mark Vanderberg
Gun Rights Radio Network
P.O. Box 966
South Bend, IN 46624
mark@gunrightsradio.com
(574) 387-2114

Gun Rights Radio Network

South Bend, IN - -(Ammoland.com)- The Gun Rights Radio Network (GRRN) announced the release of its latest Bar Stool Discussion Podcast previously streamed live on January 12, 2012.

The podcast features an interview by GRRN’s Doc Wesson and Mark Vanderberg with Paul M. Barrett, assistant managing editor of Bloomberg Businessweek and author of several books including his most recent –Glock: The Rise of America’s Gun.

Mr. Barrett’s book is a fascinating look into a changing America through the prism of the revolutionary handgun. He discusses the history, iconography, business, marketing and political facets of this complex relationship between Americans and Gaston Glock’s creation.

The interview also reveals the author’s exceptional research, including input and guidance from GRRN’s ProArms Podcasters Massad Ayoob and Gail Pepin. It is an exceptional interview and a highly recommended book.

Mr. Barrett is scheduled to return to the Bar Stool Discussion for Episode 36 live on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, at 9:00 PM Eastern Time to discuss his experience at the NSSF’s 2012 Shot Show and perhaps shed some light on what Glock thinks about his work.

The Podcast also features the new song by the band Madison Rising, a driving 2nd Amendment anthem entitled Right to Bear. Dave Bray, lead vocalist of the band, is also interviewed and tells of the song’s (and the band’s) pro-American, pro-Freedom, pro-gun, hard-rockin’ message.

http://gunrightsradio.com

Virginia Citizens Defense League

Covington VA --(Ammoland.com)- The Primaries and Convention are rapidly approaching.

One party nomination process is taking place tomorrow, Saturday, August 13 (a party-run Convention in House District 59). All the rest are taking place on Tuesday, August 23.

Not all candidates in the upcoming party nomination process have answered the VCDL 2011 Candidate Survey. For candidate contact info and to see who has answered the Survey, go to: http://tinyurl.com/3gqv9tr

Please contact *all* the candidates in *YOUR* District by BOTH email AND phone: — THANK the candidates who answered the VCDL Candidate survey for responding. Politely, but firmly, urge those candidates who have not answered to answer the VCDL Survey

Don’t accept vague generalizations such as “the candidate supports the 2nd Amendment”. Remember, anti-gun zealot Chuck Schumer says he supports the 2nd Amendment, but his view is that it does NOT apply to you.

Not sure what District you’re in? Your district may have changed due to redistricting. (Mine did!) You can find out at: http://tinyurl.com/bksx4 (Only your address info is required on this form.) Your current (old) district and the *new* one resulting from redistricting will also be displayed.

If any of the candidates are afraid to take a public stand on these issues now, before the election, then they are unlikely to be very responsive to your views after the election. There is absolutely NO reason why they should not answer this survey!

Failure to return a completed survey frequently indicates indifference, if not outright hostility, toward the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

Find out what their real positions are by politely and firmly insisting that they complete the VCDL survey and send it in immediately. If they have misplaced their survey, have them contact me at vp@vcdl.org and I’ll email them another copy.

Once the dust settles from the Primaries, I’ll put out another list of ALL the candidates in the November General Election with contact info and who has/has not answered the Survey.

Thanks for your help!

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

FirearmsCoalition.org

Manassas, VA --(Ammoland.com)- Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) has introduced a bill (HR-2613) to repeal the federal Gun Free School Zone Act.

While many in the general public and the gun prohibition community will balk and ask questions like, “What does anyone need with a gun at a school,” knowledgeable rights supporters are wondering why it has taken so long.

The Gun Free School Zone Act, or GFSZA for short, was originally passed by Congress back in 1990, but in 1995 the Supreme Court voided the law, ruling it (quite correctly) to be an unconstitutional overreach of federal power.

Congress quickly passed a revised version of the act which included the stipulation that the firearm had, “moved in or that otherwise affects interstate or foreign commerce.” With this addition Congress supposedly provided constitutional authority for their actions and, while the Supreme Court has not revisited the issue, several Appeals Courts have upheld convictions under the new language.

GFSZ’s Feel Good
The GFSZA is one of those feel-good laws that so often pass in the wake of a tragedy – the Stockton, California schoolyard shooting, in this case – which do nothing to address the problem, but which leave a wake of unintended consequences. The GFSZA did nothing to prevent the rash of school shootings that plagued the nation in the 1990s.

Does anyone honestly believe that the Columbine murderers were deterred in the slightest by the law against bringing guns within 1000 feet of a school? Could the police have somehow been magically aware of the illegal presence of the firearms and been able to interdict the weapons before the murderers had the opportunity to start their killing spree? Unlikely. But a gun owner pulled over for a traffic violation who is carrying a gun in the car in an otherwise lawful manner could be charged with a federal felony (5 years and $5,000) if he happens to be within the mythical Gun Free School Zone.

The federal law prohibits anyone from being in possession of a firearm within 1000 feet of any accredited school or daycare center. One thousand feet is almost 3 city blocks, and the zone begins at the edge of school property, not the door of the school. In metropolitan areas these zones often overlap to the extent that lawful travel while armed is completely impossible. While the law does make exceptions for residents within the zone and anyone licensed by the state to possess firearms, it makes no exception for states that do not require a license to possess a gun.

What’s more, the GFSZA does not recognize licenses issued in other states. Though I have legally carried a gun for over 25 years and am licensed to lawfully do so in 34 states, I do not have a permit issued by my home state of Arizona. Even though Arizona recognizes both my Utah and my Virginia permits and the state requires no permit at all for lawful carry, I could be committing a federal offense virtually every time I leave my home with a loaded firearm because there are schools along almost every route out of my neighborhood.

The GFSZA is simply bad law. It violates the limits on federal authority in the Constitution. It infringes on citizens’ Second Amendment rights. And it doesn’t do anything to reduce crime. It’s ridiculous that this bad law hasn’t been repealed long before now.

Outlook Grim
Unfortunately the odds are not very good that it will be repealed in this congress. While Ron Paul has long been one of the staunchest supporters of the Second Amendment in Congress, his legislative proposals rarely go anywhere because the proposals tend to be aggressive, and because Paul’s not in with the “in” crowd. He often deviates from the party line when he feels that Republicans are straying from the constitutional straight and narrow. That principled commitment has also put Paul at odds with the NRA on issues such as the Lawful Commerce in Arms Act which he felt was unconstitutional and voted against.

I fear Dr. Paul’s bill to repeal the GFSZA is running head-on into both of those problems. Politicians are terrified of any suggestion that they’re not “for the children,” and the Republicans and NRA are not inclined to work on something that makes Paul look good after he’s not supported them.

The only thing that can give this bill legs is a groundswell of grassroots support demanding that Representatives sign on as cosponsors and work for passage.

That means that, as usual, it’s up to you and me.
Tell Congress you want them to obey the Constitution, support HR-2613, and repeal the Gun Free School Zone Act.

Copyright © 2011 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

Human beings have an individual right to defend themselves and their families, regardless of what country they live in along with an obligation to defend others who are unable to defend themselves.

FirearmsCoalition.org

Manassas, VA --(Ammoland.com)- At last count, a full half of the US Senate had signed onto a July letter to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton declaring their opposition to any United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) which includes infringement on US citizens’ rights to possess firearms.

While I applaud this effort, I have to say that I’m disappointed in the senators’ narrow focus in the letter.

Protecting the Second Amendment and warning Obama and Clinton not to agree to any treaty which might infringe on the rights of Americans ignores what the UN is doing to citizens of other countries. The right to arms is not just an American right, it is a basic human right extrapolated from the right to self-defense. Human beings have an individual right to defend themselves and their families, and citizens – regardless of what country – have a moral obligation to also defend others who are unable to defend themselves.

If the UN were forwarding a plan to limit voting to males only or to institute broad government controls over the press, our senators would not stop at our constitution and our borders in their denunciation of the plans. Instead they would expound upon the importance of universal suffrage and the necessity of a free press – for all people everywhere. They would not just “strongly encourage” the administration to “uphold our country’s constitutional protections,” they would demand that the administration reject and actively oppose any treaty which could be in any way construed to support such restrictions on basic rights in any nation.

The right to arms is as much a component of that revolutionary and successful philosophy called free speech or the right to assembly.

The right to arms is just as important a concept as the right to vote, the right to express oneself freely and publicly, and the right to a fair trial before a jury of ones peers. It is part of the progressive, liberal heritage of our nation. (From a time before the words “progressive” and “liberal” were co-opted by communists and socialists to mean government controlled.) The constitutional right to arms has roots in English Common Law, but the philosophy runs much deeper and broader than the English could ever manage because they were tied to a monarch. When America broke away from the monarchy we also cut the restraints that system placed on our understanding of liberty. We became the cutting edge, and embodiment, of liberal (libertarian) philosophy and we reaped the rewards of that philosophy. It is part of what made America so exceptional for most of the past 200 years, and the right to arms is as much a component of that revolutionary and successful philosophy as free speech or the right to assembly. It was seen as even more important than the right to vote, as that right was originally limited to only White, male, property holders while the right to arms belonged to “the people.”

Freedom is a religion which demands evangelism. We don’t have to require that other nations meet all of our standards before we will do business with them, but we should encourage right and oppose wrong – and restrictions on the individual right to arms is clearly wrong.

Members of the US Senate should understand the philosophical significance of the right to arms and the importance of promoting US philosophy and principles of freedom. Their letter focusing on only the potential impact of the proposed UN Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) on US citizens is much too narrow and shortsighted. Unfortunately, it seems the senators are following the lead of the NRA, who should definitely know better.

The UN ATT has been a distant rumble for the past several years with little progress being made and little exposure to the public outside of over-hyped rhetoric in fundraising letters from rights groups. I have tended to downplay concern about the treaty because it wasn’t showing much life, but now the treaty is getting closer to reality and it’s time to start worrying about something actually being passed by the middle of next year. The best way to keep that from happening is to pressure your politicians to return to principled arguments and to demand that Obama and Clinton actively oppose any arms treaty which includes restrictions on any personal firearms, ammunition, or components – not just in the US, but anywhere in the world.

Ask your Senators if they signed the letter – if not, why not – if so, thank them and encourage them to move to a more principled position. While you’re at it, if you’re a member of the NRA you might drop them a line asking why they are focusing only on the potential impact of this treaty on US gun owners rather than espousing and defending the principles of freedom for all people everywhere.

Copyright © 2011 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

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Louisiana --(Ammoland.com)- Louisiana’s sales tax holiday provides a great opportunity to stock up and save on outdoor gear!

This weekend, the four percent state sales tax will be waved on the first $2,500 spent on individual items of tangible personal use.

The tax-free holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday, August 5 and ends at 11:59 p.m. Saturday, August 6. Only state tax is exempt and all other sales taxes, such as parish taxes still apply.

The time is now for outdoor enthusiasts to gear up and save money on the items they want. A tax-free holiday provides a savings opportunity for the hunter to be properly outfitted, birdwatchers to get the correct optics and anglers to update their tackle box. Whether it’s hunting, fishing or outdoor photography equipment, it is all available for less this weekend.

Not only are items bought this weekend included but also items put on layaway during the holiday are eligible for the exemption. Items that are already in layaway can also be purchased this weekend and receive the tax credit.

Taking time to step outside with family and friends is beneficial for the body and mind. Getting outside provides physical benefits, such as aerobic, cardiovascular and muscular fitness. Mentally, it helps prevent or reduce stress, gives an increased sense of exhilaration and provides an adventure from everyday routines.

For more information on the tax-fee weekend go to the Louisiana Department of Revenue at http://revenue.louisiana.gov/sections/general/hottopics/salestaxholiday.aspx .

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.

FirearmsCoalition.org

Manassas, VA --(Ammoland.com)- Representative Darrel Issa (R-CA) referred to the activities of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Operation Fast and Furious as “felony stupid.”

Others have suggested that the plan was intentionally designed and cleverly crafted to bolster statistics in support of stricter gun control laws. Whether the operation was just stupid or intentionally criminal, it was clearly bad behavior on the part of ATF and Justice Department (DOJ) and such bad behavior should not be rewarded.

Some members of Congress, Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Elijah Cummings (D-MD) in particular, want to reward ATF and DOJ’s criminal stupidity with increased funding and increased authority through tighter regulation of firearms dealers and lawful firearm purchasers.

ATF has introduced – and the Administration has now approved – and “emergency” regulatory change requiring firearms dealers in border states to report any purchaser who buys more than one semi-auto rifle greater than a .22 within a given week. The US House of Representatives promptly, and properly, rejected the new regulations by passing an appropriations rider prohibiting any funds from being used to enact or enforce the plan.

Proponents of the regulation argue that it gives ATF an important tool to help detect straw buyers and traffickers and that it poses little inconvenience to lawful gun buyers. Many on our side disagree , but usefulness and inconvenience aside, the fact is that Congress has looked at long gun reporting in the past and rejected the idea. For ATF and the Obama administration to now push forward, bypassing Congress, in order to do something Congress has previously refused to do is clearly overreaching and probably illegal. If Congress had passed a law setting auto mileage standards, but had specifically chosen to omit larger pickups from those standards, it would be outrageous for some bureaucracy to later enact regulations including trucks.

This case is no different except that it is questionable whether even Congress has the authority to regulate firearms sales. Unelected bureaucrats certainly don’t.

The regulation also creates a de facto registration system, something Congress has expressly forbidden on numerous occasions, and it puts additional burdens – and liabilities – on the gun dealers. ATF claims that the records will be destroyed after two years, but ATF and DOJ have long histories of reneging on such guarantees, even when they are spelled out in law.

Purchase of multiple firearms within a week is not particularly uncommon and doing so should not make a person a suspect, nor should it result in their personal information being stored in government systems. Also, if the regulation does go into effect, it will be no time at all until ATF will be demanding that the reporting requirement be expanded beyond the border states. It will become the “multiple sales non-reporting loophole” and they will insist that all states need to follow the reporting requirements.

Firearms dealers are stuck between a rock and a hard place. They want to honor and respect customers’ rights, but ATF controls their licenses and the laws and regulations hold dealers responsible for things they “should have known.” Dealers have to pass up business and/or alert ATF when they suspect possible criminal activity. Not doing so can have serious consequences. A New Mexico dealer is in jail today because the local police chief in the town of Columbus was allegedly trafficking guns to Mexico. The ATF says the dealer “should have known” so he is considered a co-conspirator. He could lose everything for selling guns to the Police Chief!

At the same time, gun owners can be very unforgiving of dealers who they perceive as “too cooperative” with ATF so dealers have to be careful about that too. Still, dealers don’t want to be selling guns to criminals as demonstrated during Operation Fast and Furious when dealers repeatedly expressed reservations about doing business with suspicious characters and ATF insisted that they go forward with sales. Mandatory multi-sale reporting increases dealers’ paperwork load, but relieves them of some judgment calls. It might make things generally easier on dealers in the short term, but it would probably make things worse for them in the long run.

Dogs, Children Or Bureaucrats Its A Mistake To Reward Bad Behavior

Perhaps the most important reason to deny ATF’s long-gun registration regulation is, as stated earlier, that whether you’re dealing with dogs, children, or bureaucrats, it is always a mistake to reward bad behavior. ATF and DOJ (including the US Attorney’s Office and possibly the FBI and DEA) behaved badly. They encouraged and forced sales of some 2000 firearms (that we know of) to known Mexican gun traffickers and then they turned their backs and allowed those guns to disappear into the black market and to crime scenes in Mexico and the US, including the murder scene of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.

They did this in violation of long-standing rules of operation and common sense as well as international law. They did not do this in response to weak US gun laws or a need for multi-gun reporting. These straw buyers were already known and under surveillance.

Politically motivated felony or just felony stupid, this was bad behavior any way you look at it and it should not be rewarded with increased authority, increased responsibility, and increased funding.

ATF, DOJ, the US Attorney’s Office, and any other agency involved in this fiasco need to be slapped down, not rewarded, and responsible individuals should be prosecuted.

Copyright © 2011 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

Virginia Citizens Defense League

Covington VA --(Ammoland.com)- The VCDL 2011 Candidate Survey was mailed to all the candidates for Virginia Senate and House of Delegates in the upcoming Party nominating processes (Primary, Mass Meeting, Convention, etc) to be held over the next month.

Please contact *all* the candidates in *YOUR* District by BOTH email AND phone:

THANK the candidates who answered the VCDL Candidate survey for responding (those with a double asterisk (**) before their name) – Politely, but firmly, urge those candidates who have not answered to answer the VCDL Survey

Don’t accept vague generalizations such as “the candidate supports the 2nd Amendment”. Remember, anti-gun zealot Chuck Schumer says he supports the 2nd Amendment, but his view is that it does NOT apply to you.

Not sure what District you’re in? Your district may have changed due to redistricting. (Mine did!) You can find out at: http://tinyurl.com/bksx4 (Only your address info is required on this form.)

If any of the candidates are afraid to take a public stand on these issues now, before the election, then they are unlikely to be very responsive to your views after the election. There is absolutely NO reason why they should not answer this survey!

Failure to return a completed survey frequently indicates indifference, if not outright hostility, toward the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

Find out what their real positions are by politely and firmly insisting that they complete the VCDL survey and send it in immediately. If they have misplaced their survey, have them contact me at vp@vcdl.org and I’ll email them another copy.

Thanks for your help!

Below is the contact information I have for the candidates. Those with a asterisk (**) before their name have already answered the VCDL candidate survey.

If you live in one of the districts below, please contact the campaigns of each candidate in your district by BOTH email AND phone. Urge those candidates who haven’t responded to answer the VCDL Candidate survey.

———————————-
CANDIDATES FOR THE VIRGINIA SENATE
———————————-

District
& Party Candidate Phone Email
—— ——————- ————- ——————————-
03-R ** Mark Frechette 804-684-1870 contactme@frechette4senate.com
03-R Tommy Norment 757-259-7810 info@senatornorment.com
13-R ** Dick Black 703-406-2951 delegateblack@comcast.net
13-R ** Bob FitzSimmonds 703-851-2990 jp@vote4bob.org
13-R ** John Stirrup 571-248-2666 votestirrup@comcast.net
21-R Tripp Godsey 540-397-1051 Mail@TrippGodseyforSenate.com
21-R Dave Nutter 540-382-7731 DelDNutter@house.virginia.gov
22-R Brian Bates 434-547-9670 brian@brianbates.us
22-R ** Tom Garrett 540-223-3295 garrettforsenate@gmail.com
22-R Mark Peake campaign@peakeforsenate.com
22-R Bryan Rhode 804-310-2086 info@rhodeforsenate.com
22-R Claudia Tucker 434-277-5059 claudia@claudiatucker.com
30-D Adam Ebbin 703-739-4330 info@ebbinforvirginia.com
30-D Elizabeth Garvey 571-312-7260 info@libbyforsenate.com
30-D Rob Krupicka 571-228-8314 jordan@krupicka.com
31-D Jaime Areizaga-Soto 571-306-1438 info@jaimeforsenate.com
31-D Barbara Favola favolaforsenate@gmail.com
36-R ** Jeff Frederick 571-210-2036 senate@votejeff.com
36-R Tito Muñoz 571-316-5565 tito@votetito.com
37-R ** Steve Hunt 703-502-0633 steve@stevehunt.org
37-R Jason Flanary 703-493-0484
39-R Miller Baker 571-455-3055 millerbaker@verizon.net
39-R ** Scott Martin 703-627-4719 scott@scottmartin4senate.com
39-R Andre Muange 571-318-1623 andre@andreforsenate.com

———————————————-
CANDIDATES FOR THE VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES
———————————————-

District
& Party Candidate Phone Email
—— —————- ———— ——————————-
10-R ** Randy Minchew 703-929-4857 randy@minchewfordelegate.com
10-R ** Cara Townsend 703-347-2611 ctconcepts@yahoo.com
10-R ** John Whitbeck 703-477-8476 john@johnwhitbeck.com
18-R ** Kevin Kelley 703-283-3548 kelley4delegate@gmail.com
18-R ** Michael Webert 703-906-4667 michaelwebertfordelegate@gmail.com
49-D Stephanie Clifford 703-920-2517 SDC@stephanieclifford.org
49-D Alfonso Lopez 571-241-5840 alfonsofordelegate@gmail.com
59-D Connie Brennan 434-263-4690 connie@cstone.net
59-D Jasper Hendricks 434-632-8683 campaign@hendricksforvirginia.com
59-R Matt Fariss 434-660-0606 Mattfariss1@Verizon.net
59-R Evans Thomas 434-610-3221 info@evansthomasfordelegate.com
64-R Richard Morris 757-291-0217 rickmorris@morrisfordelegate.com
64-R Joseph Waymack 804-720-1987 joseph@waymackfordelegate.com
87-R ** Jo-Ann Chase 571-258-7468 joachase@aol.com
87-R ** David Ramadan 703-945-1741 davidramadan@usa.net
90-D Algie Howell DelAHowell@house.virginia.gov
90-D Rick James
98-R Sherwood Bowditch 804-832-5860 info@sherwoodbowditch.com
98-R Ken Gibson 804-684-0760 GibsonForDelegate@gmail.com
98-R Keith Hodges 804-694-5815 information@votekeithhodges.com
98-R ** Catesby Jones 804-695-1314 x222 catesby@mindspring.com
99-R John Lampmann 804-366-4445 john@lampmannfordelegate.com
99-R Margaret Ransone 804-493-8484 margaret@margaretransone.com
99-R Dean Sumner http://deansumnerfordelegate.com/contactdean.html

———–

Party Designators: D = Democrat R = Republican

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

AmmoLand Gun News

Manasqaun, NJ --(Ammoland.com)- We are looking for help expanding our reach and bring positive gun news to all parts of the web.

If you are reading this you are just the pro-active, pro-gun readers we are looking for to help spread the word about our gun news widget. Please help us by getting the word out about this informative and easy to use tool.

If you have a blog please find room in your sidebar or template to run this self updating tool and bring positive pro gun news to your readers.  If you are are a forum user contact the forum administrator and ask him to embed the widget on their site for all the forum members to see. Do you have a favorite news or blog site, take some action in support your gun rights and tell them about this free pro gun news tool, tell them you want to see it on their website.

About the Gun New Widget
This is an easy to use tool that lets you host important breaking gun news on your website or blog and support gun rights.

Now you can publish constantly updated pro-gun news stories on your own website. This is a fast way to provide valuable information for your visitors and an easy way to support the pro-gun cause.

All you have to do is copy and paste a little snippet of code to your site and our news stories will be automatically fed to your page.

You just need to install the AmmoLand Gun News Widget on your blog, website and we do the rest to update the widget with all kinds of firearms news and events.

The AmmoLand Gun News Widget updates itself automatically every time we post Gun News on AmmoLand. Feed real time gun news to your readers and fans and help spread the word.

Here is the widget in action:

Here is the code you need:

<object id=”InsertWidget_4a7a3074-2ac3-45cc-89cc-27114eac8bf1″ classid=”clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000″ width=”170px” height=”423px” codebase=”http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0″><param name=”align” value=”middle” /><param name=”quality” value=”high” /><param name=”wmode” value=”transparent” /><param name=”menu” value=”false” /><param name=”flashvars” value=”r=2&appId=4a7a3074-2ac3-45cc-89cc-27114eac8bf1″ /><param name=”src” value=”http://widgetserver.com/syndication/flash/wrapper/InsertWidget.swf” /><param name=”name” value=”InsertWidget_4a7a3074-2ac3-45cc-89cc-27114eac8bf1″ /><embed id=”InsertWidget_4a7a3074-2ac3-45cc-89cc-27114eac8bf1″ type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” width=”170px” height=”423px” src=”http://widgetserver.com/syndication/flash/wrapper/InsertWidget.swf” name=”InsertWidget_4a7a3074-2ac3-45cc-89cc-27114eac8bf1″ flashvars=”r=2&appId=4a7a3074-2ac3-45cc-89cc-27114eac8bf1″ menu=”false” wmode=”transparent” quality=”high” align=”middle”></embed></object>

Tip:
You can click on the “Get Widget” Tab on the Bottom of the AmmoLand News Widget and add pictures or get custom code for your particular web hosting application like Blogger or Twitter.

Need Help:
Need help installing AmmoLand News Widget on your website or blog? Then give us a shout and we will be happy to help you spread news coverage of Guns and Gun Rights to your readers.

FirearmsCoalition.org

Manassas, VA --(Ammoland.com)- Dear Republicans: Could we please have a serious, pro-rights, pro-Constitution candidate for the office of President this time?

For the past several elections you have passed over good, pro-rights, pro-Constitution candidates – or never come up with any – in favor of wishy-washy “moderates” with poll-based values and elastic principles.

Make no mistake: the rights movement, and the wide array of activists concerned about constitutional liberty and restoration of the Republic, will not endorse, support, or actively work for any candidate who does not have a proven record of personal commitment to the Constitution and individual liberty.

Please do not be suckered into nominating another bland “moderate” based on the lie of “electability.” The question of a person’s electability can only be definitively answered in a flat-out run for office. Anything short of that is just speculation.

Granted, some would-be candidates are clearly unelectable from the start. Others are obviously long shots. But the only way to get a candidate’s true measure is to give your support to the candidate – or candidates – who best represent your values and vision for the nation and do your best to push that – or those – candidate(s) to the top of the list in the primaries, straw polls, and other preliminary popularity contests. Don’t let the pundits, the experts, pragmatists, “moderates,” or the mainstream media convince you that you should throw your support behind a candidate who doesn’t reflect your values and vision based on a wholly manufactured concept of electability.

Electability Hoax
To understand the Electability Hoax you need to understand the arguments about electability.

The assumption is that a hard right, or extremely conservative candidate is not electable in larger cities, statewide elections for Senate and Governor, and definitely unelectable for the office of President of the United States. Why? Because, the electability theory assumes that the voting public is neatly divided into three relatively equal segments: Republicans, Democrats, and independents/others and it is the independents/others who ultimately decide who the President (or Senator, or Governor) will be. Since this third voting bloc divides the Republicans and the Democrats, the pushers of “electability,” including most of the media, paint it as being in the middle philosophically and politically.

That is the central fallacy at the heart of the Electability Hoax: the myth of the independent, centrist voter.

The fact is that while more people have decided to officially disassociate themselves from formal party affiliation, most of those voters are just as ideologically driven as they ever were. Rather than reflecting some mythical middle-ground of political philosophy, they mirror the ratio of broad political opinions found in declared partisans.

A smaller, but nonetheless slice of independent voters make up the so-called third parties. None of those parties is called the Wishy-Washy Compromiser Party. Nor is there one called the Middle-of-the-Road-a-Little-Republican-and-a-Little-Democrat Party. These independent parties range from the Communist, Socialist, and Green parties on the “more government, less liberty” side to the Constitution, Natural Law, and Libertarian parties on the “less government, more liberty” side. The net effect is two core political philosophies, which are relatively evenly split with a slight advantage shifting from one side to the other.

The next fallacy within the Electability Hoax is the idea that whoever ends up being the Republican candidate will receive the same level of support – during the campaign and at the ballot box – from the Republican base its core interest groups. That is absolutely, utterly, and completely not true, and you Republicans should know better by now.

In a race between an anti-rights Democrat and a moderately pro-rights Republican, rights advocates will certainly trail along toward the side of the Republican, but they will not do it with gusto and a good many of them will simply walk away in disgust – as they did when Republicans offered George H. W. Bush, Bob Dole, and John McCain.

Certainly it is essential that a Republican presidential candidate be able to draw votes from Democrats, independents, and third parties, but the key to those votes does not lie in moving away from core Republican values and issues, and toward those of Democrats. Moving toward the “middle” might pick up a few votes, but those gains are more than offset by the loss of enthusiastic support from the Republican base and natural allies.

We in the rights community desperately want a different President, but we don’t want it bad enough to get excited about a wishy-washy, unprincipled compromiser. If that’s what you offer us, Republicans, you can expect wishy-washy support from the rights community. But if you’ll do your part, we’ll do ours.

Copyright © 2011 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

FirearmsCoalition.org

Manassas, VA --(Ammoland.com)- It’s 6 AM and a groggy Ken Wright is getting ready to start the day. Thinking about jumping in the shower, getting the coffee on, and wake the kids… Suddenly noise from outside draws his attention and he looks out the window.

He sees dozens of black-clad, armored men swarming on his lawn and now someone is pounding on the front door.

As he starts down the stairs in his boxer shorts the front door shatters and the heavily armed men charge into the house pointing guns and shouting orders.

They grab Wright, drag him from the home, throw him down in the front lawn and roughly handcuff him as the neighbors look on in horror. Wright is placed into a police cruiser and then sees the black-clad figures with their guns and body armor dragging his three children aged 3, 9, and 11 out of the house screaming and crying. They too are locked in the police cruiser where Wright can at least talk to them and try to calm them down. The search of the house goes on for six hours as Wright and the children sit helplessly in the hot police cruiser wondering what it’s all about.

Is it the FBI raiding a suspected terrorist cell? The DEA busting a major cocaine smuggling ring? A local SWAT team searching for a murdered wife? No, it’s a team of agents from the U.S. Department of Education Office of the Inspector General (EDOIG) looking for evidence of student loan fraud.

The Department of Education? With guns, armor, and battering rams?

This is not some far-fetched TV script or the delusional rantings of a kooky conspiracy theorist. These are the facts as reported by local Stockton, California media. Apparently the EDOIG agents were looking for evidence in an investigation of Wright’s estranged wife Michelle who does not currently reside in the home. It is not yet clear whether the EDOIG agents knew that Michelle Wright no longer lived there or that the children were in the home.

I have long been vocal in my strenuous objection to “No-Knock” and “Announce and Enter” search warrants. I believe they, and the paramilitary forces and tactics employed to serve them, are not only an affront to the Fourth Amendment, but are inherently dangerous to all concerned. Their use in certain types of cases dealing with drug gangs, kidnapping, murder, and terrorism might sometimes be justified, but their use in the vast majority of cases is simply unjustifiable. Military tactics employed in a case of student aid fraud – by an agency of federal bean-counters – goes well beyond unjustifiable and solidly into the realm of criminal.

I have previously raised concerns about the Department of Education, and various other bureaucratic agencies within the federal government, developing their own law enforcement agencies with full arrest powers and special assault forces. Over a year ago I raised an alarm after the EDOIG put out a request for bids to purchase 27 Remington 870, 12 gauge shotguns with 14 inch barrels and special, adjustable stocks. You can read that column by clicking here. The quote request included a brief statement explaining that such 14inch Remington 870s were the “only shotguns authorized for ED based on compatibility with ED existing shotgun inventory, certified armor and combat training and protocol, maintenance, and parts.”

That statement raised even more questions. Specifically, why did the Department of Education have an “existing shotgun inventory” and “certified armor,” and why on earth would they have “combat training and protocol”?

Exploring those questions led to the startling revelation that Inspectors General for over two dozen federal agencies – from the Environmental Protection Agency to the Department of Veteran’s Affairs to NASA – have been authorized by Congress to seek law enforcement powers from the Attorney General without having to demonstrate any proof of need or ability. At this point it is not totally clear just how many of those IGs have taken advantage of the opportunity, but even just one is way too many − as demonstrated by the outrageous raid on Ken Wright’s home.

What if Wright had not realized that the people breaking down his front door were law enforcement? What if he had grabbed a gun to protect his home from the violent invaders? As I have previously reported, exactly that scenario played out in Tucson last month when Pima County Sherriff deputies raided the home of José Guerena. Guerena was shot some 60 times and died at the scene. The debacle is still under investigation. Similar tragedies are all too common with innocent victims, non-violent offenders, and officers paying with their lives.

How could anyone possibly justify placing Wright and his children’s lives – not to mention the lives of the EDOIG agents – in such jeopardy over allegations of fraudulent student loans?

The federal agent who swore out the warrant against Wrights home, the agents who executed it, and the judge who signed it should all face serious disciplinary action as should any agency or judge executing or issuing such warrants in such a cavalier and clearly reckless manner. Meanwhile, Congress needs to repeal the law authorizing law enforcement powers for bureaucracies.

Federal thugs – as these agents proved themselves to be – have no business coming into our communities and crashing into people’s homes – regardless of the validity of the allegations.

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

AmmoLand Gun News

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AmmoLand Gun News

Austin, Texas –-(Ammoland.com)- Today, State Senator Glenn Hegar (R, of Katy) announced that both the Texas Senate and House of Representatives have passed the conference committee report for Senate Bill 321, which strengthens and protects the Second Amendment Rights of hard-working Texas.

The legislation is now on its way to the desk of Texas Governor Rick Perry, where his signature will effect its final passage.

The legislation, once signed into law, will prevent employers from adopting policies that deny Second Amendment protections to their employees who wish to store legally owned firearms in their locked vehicles while at work. Hegar’s bill was filed in response to a number of instances across the state where employees have been denied the right to protect themselves while traveling to and from work because their employers have adopted overly restrictive policies. This was the third legislative session Hegar has worked to pass the measure.

“I want to thank my legislative colleagues both in the Senate and the Texas House for supporting this important legislation,” said Senator Hegar. “I especially want to thank State Representative Tim Kleinschmidt (R, Lexington), who sponsored the bill in the Texas House of Representatives and who worked tirelessly to help ensure that it received the strong support of House members.”

“Senator Hegar has once again demonstrated why he’s the Texas State Rifle Association’s (TSRA) Doc Brown Legislator of the Year award winner,” said Alice Tripp, Legislative Director of the Texas State Rifle Association, the National Rifle Association’s state affiliate. “After seven long years, the bill has finally crossed the finished line! Senate Bill 321 is clear and finally passed. Thanks to Senator Hegar, Texas commuters will be protected on their way to and from the workplace,” Tripp added.

“This law will help Texans regain their constitutional right to protect themselves as they travel to and from work,” said Hegar. “When an employer bars firearms on company property, even those hidden in locked vehicles, they rob their employees of their Second Amendment Rights and, even more importantly, of their right to safety,” said Senator Hegar.

Hegar said that millions of Texans spend hours each week in their cars and trucks as they commute to and from work. These commutes may be comfortable and safe for many, but others are not so lucky, as their daily drives take them through dangerous neighborhoods. Unfortunately, many Texans have been forced to make the choice between adhering to their employer’s policy prohibiting storage of their legally owned firearm in their locked vehicle on company property, non-adherence to which is oftentimes grounds for termination, or protecting themselves by having their legal firearm available to them as they make their daily commute.

“The National Rifle Association (NRA) strongly supported Senate Bill 321, legislation similar to that passed in Oklahoma, Louisiana, and eleven other states to prevent employers from enforcing policies that restrict employees’ ability to transport and store firearms in their locked, privately-owned vehicles while parked at work,” said Tara Mica Reilly, Legislative Liaison for Texas for the National Rifle Association.

“We applaud Senator Hegar’s efforts in getting this measure passed by the Texas Legislature and thank him for helping prevent hard-working Texans from having to choose between their jobs and their right to personal protection during their commutes, and to take part in lawful hunting and recreational activities before and after work,” Reilly added.

Hegar said that Senate Bill 321 is common-sense legislation that balances the rights of both employer and employee. Under the new law, employees will regain their express right to store legally owned firearm(s) and ammunition at their place of work, and with it, the ability to protect themselves as they travel to and from their jobs. Employers will be protected from any lawsuit resulting from the use of a firearm stored on their property, and they can still forbid an employee from carrying a firearm in company owned vehicles. Under his new law, employers will also retain the right to prohibit firearms in their offices.

“Responsible and law-abiding gun owners should not be forced to choose between personal protection and protecting their jobs,” said Hegar. “Once Governor Perry signs Senate Bill 321 into law, no hard-working Texan will again face that difficult and unfair choice,” he concluded.

Senator Hegar served two terms in the Texas House of Representatives and now represents Senate District 18 in the Texas Senate. He isa sixth generation Texan, and earns a living farming rice and corn on land that has been in his family since the mid 1800′s. He currently resides in Katy, Texas with his wife Dara, and their three children, Claire, Julia, and Jonah.

AmmoLand Gun News

Barry University, FL --(Ammoland.com)- Announcing the opening of Sommer Wood’s MFA Photography Exhibition entitled Shooter.

This body of work is both a documentary exploration of competitive shooting and a self-portrait of the artist.

In the artist’s words: “Shooter combines two of my passions, competitive shooting and photography. It is my perspective of the word shooter. This work may at first be defined as a documentary analysis of competitive shooting, but it equally needs to be regarded as a self-portrait. Every image represents me as much as it does the sport and the individuals in the photographs.

I photographed my friends and colleagues, representing every level of participants in Air Rifle and Smallbore competition from high school to the U.S. National Team. Collectively we are shooters, and this is the common thread that ties us together. A bond built on countless hours spent on the range, fueled by quiet determination to achieve perfection on every shot. Perhaps not so unlike the numerous hours spent in the darkroom creating this series of images.”

Sommer Wood's MFA Photography Exhibition entitled Shooter

Wood works for the Civilian Marksmanship Program, where coordinates camps and clinics geared for high school age athletes.

She first became involved in competitive shooting as an undergraduate at Clemson University, and has been heavily involved with the sport for ten years. Wood completed her BFA in Photography at Clemson University in 2003, and will complete her MFA in Photography at Barry University in 2011. Her work has been including in several juried exhibitions and group shows.

She currently resides in Fort Lauderdale, FL. A complete exhibition history, bio and images from Shooter can be found at www.sommerwoodphoto.com.

MEDIUM: The Shooter exhibition includes 29 silver gelatin prints ranging from as large as 40inx28in to as small as 14inx14in.

IMPORTANT DATES: Shooter can be seen 18 Feburary-22 April 2011 at the Andy Gato Gallery at Barry University. The opening reception will be held 23 February from 4-7pm.

ARTIST: Sommer Wood
www.sommerwoodphoto.com
sommer.wood@mymail.barry.edu

Grass Roots North Carolina for Firearms Education

North Carolina --(Ammoland.com)- What Castle Doctrine Does, What Makes Hb 74 Better?
ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS OF HB 74

INTRODUCTION
HB 74: “Castle Doctrine” was filed by Representative Mark Hilton, Shirley Randleman, George Cleveland, and Rayne Brown today in the North Carolina General Assembly.

One of three such Castle Doctrine bills thus far offered in what may become the most pro-gun legislative session in NC history, Hilton’s bill offers significantly greater protection for those forced to use deadly force in self-defense.

WHAT CASTLE DOCTRINE DOES
In general terms, Castle Doctrine laws offer some or all of the following protections:

• “Stand your ground”: No duty to retreat if faced with a reasonable threat of imminent death or great bodily injury;
• A presumption of reasonable fear of death or great bodily injury if the victim’s home or motor vehicle is forcibly entered by an attacker;
• Protection against kidnapping;
• Protection against malicious prosecution (think “Mike Nifong”); and
• Protection against civil suits
• filed by the attacker, his survivors or others.

WHAT MAKES HB 74 BETTER?
Last Friday, the NRA issued an alert backing SB 34, sponsored by Senators Andrew Brock, Doug Berger and Kathy Harrington. While the pro-gun sponsors have the best of intentions, SB 34 and its companion bill, HB 52, (Reps. Tim Spear, Bill Owens and Jim Crawford) are dangerously flawed.

SB 34 and HB 52 are substantially similar to SB 928, which passed the Senate in the last session but was killed in the House when Rep. Deborah Ross and former Rep. Hugh Holliman (who was defeated by GRNC in the last election) denied it a committee hearing.

The problem is that SB 928 passed the gun-hostile Senate in a greatly weakened fashion: Although the original Edition 1 offered victims protection both inside and outside the home, particularly in motor vehicles, the amended Edition 2 offered protection ONLY WITHIN THE HOME, meaning it offered little beyond present law.

By contrast, HB 74 is the result of longstanding collaboration between Rep. Hilton and GRNC. Drafted by GRNC in 2005, it was substantially improved by Hilton and legislative staff in the 2009-2010 session, when it was introduced as HB 1131.

The bottom line is that while SB 928 might have been the best bill attainable in the last, gun-hostile session of the legislature, you have worked hard to produce a pro-gun majority this year in both chambers, and you deserve better.

ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS OF HB 74:

* Better definitions, including defense against “forcible felonies;”
* Presumption of reasonable fear to victims of carjackings;
* “Stand your ground” protection: No duty to retreat when attacked outside the home; and
* Better protection against lawsuits: If attackers or survivors file malicious lawsuits which are thrown out of court, they would bear the full cost of litigation, freeing crime victims of tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees.

Look for a detailed analysis of pending Castle Doctrine legislation this weekend by GRNC president and Charlotte Gun Rights Examiner Paul Valone.

OTHER PRO-GUN BILLS
INTRODUCED AT GRNC BEHEST HB 63: “Firearm in Locked Motor Vehicle/Parking Lot.”

Sponsored by Reps. Phil Shephard, Mark Hilton, George Cleveland, and Jeff Barnhart, HB 63 would prohibit employers and commercial enterprises from barring guns in locked vehicles, removing a substantial obstacle facing concealed handgun permit-holders.

Look for more bills on GRNC’s legislative agenda to be introduced in coming days.

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

National Rifle Association

Charlotte, NC --(Ammoland.com)- The 2011 Legislative Session is gearing up to be an eventful one for Hoosier gun owners in the Indiana General Assembly.

Your NRA has worked with several pro-gun state Senators and Representatives on the following bills:

Parking Lot Protection, 2.0: As NRA Members well know, the Indiana General Assembly passed and Governor Mitch Daniels (R) signed into law Parking Lot firearm protections last year. However, since the law went into effect, numerous Indiana employers, both large and small, have falsely declared themselves exempt and warned their employees of termination if they lock personal firearms in their private vehicles on company property. Some companies have created onerous requirements on their employees, displaying a willful disrespect of the intent and spirit of the law passed by the Indiana General Assembly.

Some companies are going so far as to require employees to provide a detailed description —including serial numbers— of all firearms and ammunition to be kept in the employees’ vehicle, permit the employers to inspect any and all firearms and ammunition, submit to random vehicle searches by the employer and other regulations requiring documentation and written permission for the owning and carrying of firearms. Clean-up legislation is therefore required to put a stop to these abusive practices by Indiana employers.

• Senate Bill 411, the Parking Lot 2.0 bill, was introduced by NRA Board Member and state Senator Johnny Nugent (R-43). SB 411 has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Corrections, Criminal, and Civil Matters and is currently scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday, January 25.

Firearm Preemption: Indiana’s current preemption statutes currently leave in place grandfathered local gun restrictions, as well as loopholes wide open for abuse by municipalities governed by anti-gun city officials. Legislation introduced this session would remove all grandfathered municipalities and strengthen the current law to ensure Hoosier gun owners can enjoy the same level of statewide firearm freedoms, regardless of where they reside in Indiana. The law would also protect travelers throughout the state from running afoul of a patchwork of different gun laws when they cross municipal boundaries.

• Senate Bill 292, filed by state Senator Jim Tomes (S-49), has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Corrections, Criminal and Civil Matters and is currently scheduled to be heard on Tuesday, January 25.

Firearm Transport Permits: Indiana is one of the few states that prohibits firearm owners from transporting a firearm in their vehicle without a state issued permit in their possession. If a gun owner does not have a concealed carry permit or a hunting license, they must have a “transport permit” anytime they transport a firearm in their vehicle – unless they are transporting their firearm from the place of purchase to their home or fixed place of business, or to take a firearm in for repair. This means law-abiding gun owners cannot legally drive their firearm to a shooting range or to private property (a family farm or privately owned field, for instance) to practice target shooting with their gun in the trunk without a permit. If they do transport said firearm, they become open to confiscation of their firearm and a Class B misdemeanor.

Indiana’s transport permit requirement is out of step with the vast majority of pro-gun states around the country. States that require the owner to have the license present when transporting are Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and the District of Columbia. These restrictive states make up a group with which Hoosiers should not want to be associated.

To correct this problem state Senator Jim Tomes (SD-49) introduced Indiana permit revision legislation, Senate Bill 506. If passed, SB 506 would remove this onerous permit requirement from lawful Hoosier gun owners and travelers within Indiana. The Senate Committee on Corrections, Criminal, and Civil Matters will hear SB 506 on Tuesday, January 25.

Please contact the members of the Senate Committee on Courts and Criminal and Civil Matters and respectfully ask them to SUPPORT SB 411, SB 292, and SB 506. Contact information for members of the Senate Committee on Corrections, Criminal and Civil Matters can be found below.

Your NRA will keep you up-to-date on these bills as they progress through the Indiana General Assembly.

Senate Committee on Corrections, Criminal, and Civil Matters:

Senator Brent Steele (R-44), Chair
(317)-232-9400
S44@in.gov

Senator Richard D. Bray (R-37)
(317)-232-9400
S37@in.gov

Senator Susan C. Glick (R-13)
(317)-232-9400
S13@in.gov

Senator Lindel O. Hume (D-48)
(317)-232-9400
S48@in.gov

Senator Greg Taylor (D-33)
(317)-232-940
S33@in.gov

Senator Jim Tomes (R-49)
(317)-232-9400
S49@in.gov

Senator John W. Waterman (R-39)
(317)-232-9400
S39@in.gov

Senator R. Michael Young (R-35)
(317)-232-9400
S35@in.gov

Senator Richard D. Young, Jr. (D-47)
(317)-232-9400
S47@in.gov

Senator Joseph C. Zakas (R-11)
(317)-232-9400
S11@in.gov

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

National Rifle Association

Charlotte, NC --(Ammoland.com)- Before the summer recess, the Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 239 and Senate Bill 247.

These bills now are now are before the House of Representatives for consideration. However, because the November election which resulted in the change of party power, the Democratic controlled House of Representatives recently announced the possible cancellation of the November lame-duck voting schedule thus killing both pro-gun initiatives.

SB239, sponsored by State Senators Shannon Jones (R-7) and Tim Shaffer (R-31), would eliminate the current confusing standards of carrying a firearm in a motor vehicle. In addition, the proposal would also allow permit holders to carry a firearm for self-defense in a restaurant that serves alcohol, provided they are not consuming, thus eliminating another “victim zone” in Ohio.

As reported earlier, Ohio has overly burdensome stipulations regarding how a concealed firearm must be carried in a motor vehicle.

Current law specifies that a firearm must be either be:

1. In a holster secured on the person.
2. In a closed case, bag, box, or other container that is in plain sight and that has a lid, a cover, or a closing mechanism with a zipper, snap, or buckle, which must be opened for a person to gain access to the handgun.
3. The loaded handgun is securely encased by being stored in a closed glove compartment or center console, or in a case that is locked. A locked case does not need to be in plain sight (an unlocked case does).

• SB239 is a critical step forward to help assure that Ohio permit holders or permit holders of other states are not arrested for accidentally carrying their firearm in a prohibited manner.
• SB247, introduced by State Senator Jason Wilson (D-30), would clarify and bring Ohio’s statutes for the restoration of firearm rights in line with Federal law.

Please contact your State Representative TODAY and respectfully urge your legislator to demand that Democratic Leadership reconvene the House of Representatives and return to the ‘people’s business.” Contact information for your State Representative can be found by clicking here

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

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AmmoLand Gun News

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AmmoLand Gun News

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Firearms industry message torn down and billboard Ads Removed Without Notice.

Gunlaws.com

Scottsdale, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- The city of Phoenix, in an apparently arbitrary move and without formal legal process, has forced CBS Outdoors to tear down 50 illuminated bus-shelter billboards under contract to promote gun safety training for children and their parents.

The posters were placed by TrainMeAZ.com, a commercial joint-educational effort of the firearms industry in Arizona, and had been up all over the Phoenix metro area for a little over one week before the city acted.

“The Phoenix attorney’s office claimed these were public service announcements, and those are banned,” said Alan Korwin, manager of the TrainMeAZ campaign and the Publisher at Bloomfield Press, a sponsor of the program.

“It’s a bogus excuse — and they know full well we’re an LLC and not a non-profit. The commercial sponsors, shooting ranges and trainers on the website expect to attract customers. The ads are aimed at parents, so they can teach gun safety and the values of marksmanship to their kids,” he said.

“We’re promoting a culture of marksmanship, where everyone learns to shoot and understands gun safety.”

Assistant Phoenix city attorney Ted Mariscal claimed in a conference call with Mr. Korwin and CBS Outdoor that the billboards weren’t commercial enough, the message was too vague, and then demanded the message be changed to his satisfaction.

When pressed for a definition of what is either sufficiently commercial or what defines a public service ad, he declined to respond, referring instead to a 12-year-old 9th Circuit court case concerning a religious group (Children of the Rosary) and abortion ads. CBS is designing new art to please the city, but without guidelines of what’s acceptable, there’s no way to predict the result, and the TrainMeAZ campaign isn’t exactly keen on this approach.

Mariscal offered to provide the case he says matters, and the lease agreement he says allows the city to remove the ads. The case is now under review. No lease agreement has been provided, and the city apparently has no definitions in place, apparently leaving Mr. Mariscal to act on his own unfettered accord. Nothing in the city’s advertising guidelines, provided by Mr. Mariscal, appear to justify the censored ads.

In the meanwhile, TrainMeAZ is losing more than 800,000 impressions per day it had been receiving through this Phase One of the campaign. A bulletin billboard with a similar message and goal remains up on Interstate 17, through another company. It gets about 135,000 eyes driving by daily (facing southbound traffic near Peoria exit). Several outdoor advertisers have contacted TrainMeAZ in an effort to pick up the lost business for themselves. CBS has offered a slate of city billboards to replace the messages the city has banned.

“Mariscal has offered to approve some other advertisements to replace the ones we designed at great expense and want,” Korwin said.

“We’ll be reasonable and look, but we don’t exactly want the city of Phoenix writing our advertisements for us. If anything is absolutely an affront to free speech and the First Amendment, there it is on a platter. Who do these people think they are?”

Government should stay out of the way of businesses trying to make it in these tough economic times, or in any times. Instead, government has become one of the biggest obstacles we face, Korwin noted. It’s bad enough Phoenix has attacked our free speech, but now they’re messing with our Second Amendment rights, and right before an election too. People who support this ought to be removed from office and punished for such malfeasance.

Legislators aware of the problem have expressed outrage at the censorship effort by the city, and are preparing a plan of action. More news will follow soon.

The program is an outgrowth of the Constitutional Carry law, effective in July this year, that frees all law abiding adults in Arizona to discreetly carry firearms. With the audience expanding from 2% of the public willing to apply and pay for a government permission slip to carry, to 50% of the public that possesses firearms, private industry figured this 25-fold increase in potential market was worth attracting.

Mr. Korwin will be at the Crossroads of the West Gun Show this weekend at the University of Phoenix stadium in Glendale, where he will autograph books and answer questions.

Click “Billboards” here to see the message banned by city of Phoenix.

TrainMeAZ CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS include (thus far):

• Arizona Citizens Defense League

  http://www.azcdl.org

• Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association

  http://www.asrpa.com

• Caswells

  http://www.caswells.com

• Crossroads of the West Gun Shows

  http://www.crossroadsgunshows.com

• Front Sight

  http://www.frontsight.com

• GalleryOfGuns.com

  http://www.galleryofguns.com

• GunLaws.com

  http://www.gunlaws.com

• Gunsite

  http://www.gunsite.com

• Second Amendment Sisters

  http://www.2asisters.net

• Wide World of Maps

  http://www.maps4u.com

Law Abiding Open Carry Citizens

OpenCarry.org

Sacramento, California --(Ammoland.com)- OpenCarry.org is pleased to announce that both parties’ candidate for Governor of South Carolina say they would sign a bill legalizing the unconcealed or “open carry” of holstered handguns in South Carolina.

South Carolina is one of only 7 states to generally ban open carry (see map at http://www.opencarry.org/opencarry.html). Here is the exact question posed to each candidate:

“Would you sign a bill legalizing open carry if it came across your desk as Governor?”

Speaking for Republican Nikki Haley, campaign spokesman Josh Baker, after checking personally with Ms. Haley, enthusiastically told OpenCarry.org earlier this year that Nikki Haley would sign an open carry bill.

And just last week an exuberant Tim Schock, campaign director for Democratic candidate Vincent Sheheen emailed OpenCarry.org to confirm that

“Vincent Sheheen would sign an open carry law if it were passed by the legislature and came across his desk as governor.”

The open carry question posed to the candidates for governor of the Palmetto state makes no mention of whether the bill would require a license to open carry; but in most states, e.g., North Carolina, no license is required to open carry at age 18.

And in 2009, South Carolina State Representative Dan Cooper (R – Anderson County) sponsored a bill endorsed by 36 other legislators to allow anyone who legally owns a handgun to carry it openly – no license required.

OpenCarry.org urges the legislature to follow the lead of their future governor and send legislation legalizing open carry to his or her desk after the November election.

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

Take Me Hunting, Take Me Shooting Campaign Launched

National Shooting Sports Foundation

NEWTOWN, Conn --(Ammoland.com)- Task Force 20-20, the committee formed at the NSSF Shooting Sports Summit to evaluate opportunities to grow hunting and the shooting sports, will begin testing its first initiative—a coordinated marketing effort in selected states designed to reactivate lapsed hunters and shooters.

The Task Force 20-20 steering committee has approved piloting the “Take Me Hunting/Take Me Shooting” campaign this fall. The National Shooting Sports Foundation, trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry, will fund the effort out of a $500,000 overall commitment to support several Task Force 20-20 plans to aggressively promote hunting and shooting.

The Take Me Hunting/Take Me Shooting campaign will prompt inactive hunters and shooters to rediscover the fun and excitement of these great pastimes and to answer a higher calling—to mentor a new generation of sportsmen and women. In this way, veteran sportsmen and women can mold their legacy by developing new ambassadors for the shooting sports, new conservationists and new supporters of the Second Amendment.

The pilot states are South Carolina, Alabama and New Jersey.

“Together NSSF and state agencies will make a strong appeal to formerly active hunters and shooters and remind them how important it is to share their passion for the outdoors with a newcomer or a novice,” said Chris Dolnack, senior vice president of NSSF.

“The choices in recreational activities today are abundant. A personal invitation from someone well qualified to be a mentor is one sure way to provide a safe and fun introduction to what could become a lifetime activity.”

Through the use of print ads, direct mail and a hub website, www.takemehuntingandshooting.com, the Take Me Hunting/Take Me Shooting campaign will promote the winning message that mentors are sorely needed, that mentors’ hunting and shooting skills makes them well suited to provide an introduction to these activities, and that hunting and shooting can be enjoyed with families and friends.

This strategy to build participation in hunting and shooting relies on the powerful ability of state agencies to communicate with sportsmen and women who once purchased hunting licenses but have not done so in the last several years. The approach was one of the priority actions recommended in the “Future of Hunting and the Shooting Sports—Research-based Retention and Recruitment Strategies,” a report presented at the Shooting Sports Summit in 2008. It’s also an approach that has been used by the fishing community with success.

“I want to commend the National Shooting Sports Foundation for taking the lead in bringing together the states, industry and NGOs to address recruitment and retention of hunters and recreational shooters,” said John Frampton, director of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

“The funding provided through the excise taxes on hunting and shooting firearms and ammunition is the lifeblood of state fish and wildlife agencies. The future of hunting and shooting may well rest on our ability to work together to ensure that hunters and shooters remain engaged in our sports.”

The campaign will be evaluated during the winter months to determine how effective its messages were in motivating shooters and hunters to go afield or to the range again.

The steering committee of Task Force 20-20 also plans to launch a Models of Success program focusing on states that have programs proven to deliver an increase in participation. Such programs can be enhanced, expanded and promoted through a marketing campaign funded by NSSF.

The results of these and other Task Force 20-20 initiatives will be discussed at the next NSSF Shooting Sports Summit, which is scheduled for June 2011.

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 5,500 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

National Rifle Association

Charlotte, NC --(Ammoland.com)- The National Rifle Association of America today praised the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic decision in another landmark Second Amendment case.

In a 5-4 decision, the Court ruled that the Second Amendment applies not just to Washington, D.C. and other federal enclaves, but protects the rights of all Americans throughout the country. The opinion in McDonald v. City of Chicago brings an end to the nearly 30 year-long handgun ban that the city has imposed on its law-abiding citizens.

“This is a landmark decision,” said NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. “The Second Amendment — as every citizen’s constitutional right — is now a real part of American constitutional law. The NRA will work to ensure this constitutional victory is not transformed into a practical defeat by activist judges defiant city councils or cynical politicians who seek to pervert, reverse or nullify the Supreme Court’s McDonald decision through Byzantine labyrinths of restrictions and regulations that render the Second Amendment inaccessible, unaffordable or otherwise impossible to experience in a practical, reasonable way.”

As a party to the case, the NRA participated in oral arguments before the Court in March. The NRA persuasively argued that the Second Amendment applies to state and local governments through the Fourteenth Amendment and that handgun bans, like those in the City of Chicago and the Village of Oak Park, are unconstitutional under any standard of judicial review. This same view was shared in friend of the court briefs by a bipartisan group of 309 members of Congress from both chambers, 38 state attorneys general, and hundreds of state legislators. Public opinion polls show that it is also shared by the overwhelming majority of the American people.

“This decision makes absolutely clear that the Second Amendment protects the God-given right of self-defense for all law-abiding Americans, period,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA chief lobbyist.

“Ironically, while crime in Chicago runs rampant and lawmakers there call on the National Guard for help, Mayor Daley has insisted on leaving the residents of his city defenseless. Today’s opinion puts the law back on the side of the law-abiding. We will be watching closely to make sure that Chicago abides by both the letter and the spirit of the Supreme Court’s decision.”

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.

Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore

Maryland --(AmmoLand.com)- The 2010 Session of the Maryland General is almost over. We lost nothing, and depending on the outcome of the conference committee on SB 411 Defense of Dwelling or Place of Business – Civil Immunity, we stand to gain a little. As amended, SB 411 is nothing to cheer about but at least we made a little progress.

Bob Ehrlich has finally declared his candidacy for Governor in the 2010 Gubernatorial Election. It remains to be seen whether or not Mr. Ehrlich will embrace the gun rights community. It was our experience with the Ellen Sauerbrey’s first and second campaigns that she did better with us than without us. In the second campaign, Ellen’s campaign managers apparently believed that if she kept a low profile on gun rights that Glendenning’s campaign would not bring up guns as a campaign issue. They were wrong.

Click here for the Bob Ehrlich for Maryland website.

The next event in our immediate future is the 2nd Amendment Rally in Washington, D.C. on Monday, April 19, 2010 which is Patriots’ Day. This date commemorates the battles of Lexington & Concord.

The AGC has contracted for 2 buses with multiple pick-up locations to make it easy to attend the rally. You won’t have the opportunity to shoot any Redcoats but you will have a good time.

We still have seats available. We need your participation and support to make this event a success. Click here to reserve your seat on an AGC rally bus.

The 2010 Election is our best chance in decades to take back our country from the liberal left that seems bent on destroying our economy, mortgaging our future, making our health care decisions, and in general pushing us ever closer to socialism.

About:
Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore, Inc. (AGC), located in Marriottsville, Maryland. The Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore, Inc. was formed on July 1, 1944 when a number of World War II veterans in the Baltimore, Maryland area began looking for a place for recreational and competitive shooting. They organized with several other Baltimore area shooting clubs to form the “AGC” Visit: www.associatedgunclubs.org

Iowa Gun Owners

Iowa --(AmmoLand.com)- As the dust settles on the 2010 legislative session it is clear that Iowa Gun Owners has had a major impact on the 2nd Amendment debate at the Capitol and across the state.

There is a saying in politics that the extremes dictate the middle. That’s exactly what took place in Iowa in the 2010 session.

Fifteen months ago when Iowa Gun Owners formed there was practically no momentum here in Iowa in the fight to restore the 2nd Amendment to law abiding Iowans. There was almost no one calling for any changes at all to the arbitrary concealed carry laws Iowans were suffering under.

Iowa was considered a ‘fairly administered’ may issue state where the sheriff may issue you a permit and he may not. Sheriffs had complete control over who carried a weapon for self-defense, and many sheriffs were making it very, very hard to obtain permits. Some issued no permits at all and many of you experienced some combination of this.

Enter Iowa Gun Owners in January of 2009. With your support we began to advocate for the REAL Right-to-Carry bill that would allow all law abiding Iowans the option to carry a weapon for self-defense WITHOUT needing to first obtain government permission. REAL Right-to-Carry allows for you to obtain a permit for reciprocity and it also allows you to openly carry as most other states do. This is not a new concept and is the law currently in Vermont, Alaska, most of Montana, and will likely soon be law in Wyoming and Arizona.

Many people at the Capitol and across the state immediately said that Iowa Gun Owners, and you by default, were crazy and that this ‘extremist’ view of the 2nd Amendment would never work here in Iowa. Even some pro-gun people said that this was too much for Iowa’s political climate and that we’d never get anywhere. We were told to compromise and make deals – which usually means deciding to take gun rights away from a certain age group or people with certain types of mere misdemeanors or the like.

But the board of Iowa Gun Owners does not accept this line of thinking.

You see, when you adopt the principle that you are going to lose, and you merely try to limit how much of your rights you will lose, you still lose.

Iowa Gun Owners went to work building a grassroots army across the state comprised of people just like you to inform the political class in Des Moines that we want our freedoms back – not in 10 years, but now.

At the conclusion of the 2009 legislative session we were able to walk away with a 49-49 procedural vote on REAL Right-to-Carry in the Iowa House. This meant that 49 members of the House were voting to use procedural rules to support REAL Right-to-Carry and this was a huge first step.

Despite what some say, procedural votes certainly count. The first step towards passing a law is to get all the politicians on the record for or against your legislation and that tie vote accomplished that.

During the rest of 2009 Iowa Gun Owners spent our time continuing to grow our base by conducting many direct mail campaigns, going to gun shows from Council Bluffs to Cedar Rapids, speaking at public forums, and mobilizing more and more people. This was easy to do as people naturally gravitate towards freedom and our bill is the clearest expression of freedom available to Iowans regarding the 2nd Amendment.

As the 2010 session approached, Iowa Gun Owners, with the help of nearly 100 volunteers over a multi-day time frame, mailed out ten’s of thousands of pieces of direct mail to gun rights activists all over the state. This mail contained post cards to be mailed into the Capitol urging law makers to pass a REAL Right-to-Carry bill. People responded in waves and this set the stage for what took place during the session.

It is also vital to grasp the political backdrop at work here. With the anti-incumbency wave sweeping the state many anti-gun politicians were desperate to be able to claim that they too are pro-gun. In that context Iowa Gun Owners began seeing drafts, already last November, of the new carry bill that establishment gun groups were going to try to pass in Iowa. You see, even a gun grabber can support a gun bill if it’s so watered down that it’s largely meaningless.

The drafts were terrible and continued to be so as late as two weeks ago. We saw language that would allow you to lose your carry rights if you were ever arrested for an assault – not convicted, just arrested. Another draft would have struck down Iowa’s pre-emption law and would allow individual cities all over the state to pass their own gun laws. That would have been a disaster. Still other drafts allowed the government to deny you your rights if you’d ever been part of proceedings that may result in convictions – think social services at your door because you spanked your child in the park.

The list goes on. Iowa Gun Owners mounted intense battles against all of these provisions and we were successful at eliminating all of this language from the final watered down product.

Despite wanting to appear to be pro-gun, the leadership of the committees where Iowa Gun Owners’ bill resided refused to move them out of their committees. They wanted to appear to be pro-gun – but to heavily regulate that right and make sure that they could still control this right. And so our bills died in committee.

However, we kept working and the politicians in Des Moines continued to get your emails and calls. One time, while I was talking to a Representative, his phone chirped twice in just a few minutes. After reading the emails that he received on his phone, he looked at me and said, “I get these IGO email’s all the time.”

So the message was getting out and it was clear – Iowans want their 2nd Amendment rights back – not something less that is designed to throw us off course and buy political cover for anti-gunners.

In the final hours, literally, of the 2010 session a watered down gun bill was brought forth in both the House and Senate. Let me be clear, this bill was a step forward over current law because it is ‘shall issue.’ But this came at a terrible price.

I will briefly summarize the problems with this bill in order of importance:

This bill allows the government to deny you a permit if they think that you may do something unlawful or negligent IN THE FUTURE with a firearm. This is ridiculous on its face and you can imagine the implications to this. This bill requires you to be retrained every five years when you renew your permit. This was not the case prior to this bill being passed. That’s right, you need to pay $100, give or take, every five years. It is hard enough to find a class as it is, imagine what it will be like now!

We predict that firearms instruction will be a new growth industry in Iowa and it’s sad that gun rights organizations are supporting this bill when they stand to financially gain.

A quick review of the numbers: Currently there are about 30,000 permit holders in Iowa. That number will jump with shall issue, let’s assume that it climbs to 100,000 in a few years. You are retrained every five, so 100,000 permit holders divided by 5 equals 20,000 permit holders being trained every year. 20,000 times approximately $100 per class equals roughly $2,000,000 every year in fees associated with your right to defend yourself! $2 million, every year – no wonder some, even in the gun rights movement are so crazy about this bill, think of the money!

This bill incorporates federal disqualifiers into Iowa code when it comes to carrying weapons. This was not the case prior to this bill being passed. Now, if you ever commit a domestic violence misdemeanor, which does not require any physical contact, your gun rights are gone for life. This is a dangerous precedent to set. What other misdemeanors will be grounds for refusal next?

Obviously IGO doesn’t want spousal abusers carrying weapons, but this issue is very dynamic and often convictions are handed out like candy and, especially in light of the fact that convictions can occur without physical contact, this is a dangerous precedent.

This bill allows you to now be denied your gun rights if a mental health staffer thinks you are not stable. This was not the case prior to this bill being passed. While on the surface this sounds fine, consider that according to Gun Owners of America, approximately 200,000 veterans have lost their gun rights because they spoke to a counselor upon returning from military service and that counselor decided that the vet is not fully stable. It would be one thing if their due process rights were ensured – but this bill allows a mental health staffer, a commission, a panel or a judge to declare you unstable without any promise that you can confront witnesses, challenge the facts, or prepare a defense. This is dangerous, and unconstitutional. This bill raises the age on applicants for carry permits from 18 to 21. This was not the case prior to this bill being passed. Yes, we know that not many 18 year olds carry – but some do. Yes, we know that federal law prohibits anyone under 21 from buying a gun. But Iowa code allowed 18 year olds to carry under supervision. What a place to learn how to carry a gun responsibly – carrying Dad’s gun under Dad’s watchful eye. No longer.

This is the bill that did pass the House and Senate last week. The fact that this bill is shall issue means it is a step forward – but only in the current paradigm. You see, REAL Right-to-Carry, Freedom Carry, Constitutional Carry or whatever you call it is catching on all over the country. Vermont and Alaska already have it. Montana has it in all rural areas. Arizona and Wyoming are close to passing this into law as well.

With the anti-gun politicians in Des Moines nervous about re-election, gun rights groups could have banded together and passed REAL Right-to-Carry but some were told by the political bosses that that would never happen. And so it didn’t. The paradigm needs to be changed.

The excellent news however is that Iowa Gun Owners is working on doing just that. With your support we are closer than ever to passing REAL Right-to-Carry here in Iowa. This year, in the final hours of the session our bill came to the Floor in the Senate for a vote. The result was 20 for with 28 against. While we lost, realize that we are only 6 votes short in the Senate (with a vast anti-gun majority) from passing this bill and we had bi-partisan support.

In the House we are short only 5 votes as the bill failed on a close vote last week. (For those who check this online, we were short by 6 votes but that was only because one Republican representative was absent for a while and she would have voted in favor of this.)

Understand what that means. While being told that this was too extreme, that Iowans would never support this measure, and that it was a waste of time to try, Iowa Gun Owners has, with your faithful support, come to within a handful of votes of passing the best pro-gun bill ever in Iowa in a mere 15 months of operation!!!

This is thanks to the constant pressure that our members continue to place upon their elected officials. It is due to your trips to the Capitol. It is due to the unyielding philosophy of the board of Iowa Gun Owners.

But here is the best part: you and I now know who truly supports your 2nd Amendment rights and who is just posturing for political bonus points. If your Representative or Senator was truly pro-gun then he/she should have voted for the REAL Right-to-Carry bill. If they voted for the watered down carry bill but not REAL Right-to-Carry then you know that your elected official is merely paying lip service but will not support the real deal.

November is right around the corner. Between now and then Iowa Gun Owners will be informing thousands and thousands of fellow gun rights activists across the state about the true colors of their elected officials. It will be important that you help out as well.

After the election, when your voices are heard, we can roll into the 2011 session with everyone at the Capitol knowing one thing: we were not satisfied with the 2010 gun bill, we are not going to be bought off so easily, and we want real change.

Folks, we have made tremendous progress in the first 15 months of operation and many politicians in Des Moines have told us this. You will be hearing from some of them in the near future. Thank you for your help in this important fight. Your effort and your asking for what you really wanted is what got us the ‘shall issue’ bill that was passed this year. That’s a start – but we are not done.

About:
Iowa Gun Owners (IGO) was formed in January of 2009 to combat the oppressive gun laws in the State of Iowa. IGO does not believe that you, as a law abiding citizen, should have to beg permission from the government to be able to defend yourself and your family. That’s why we are working so hard to get a Vermont/Alaska style carry law passed in Iowa. In these states, unless you are a convicted felon or otherwise barred from possessing weapons, you don’t need a permit to carry a gun for self-defense! Join us now! Visit: www.iowagunowners.org

Ms. Marion P. Hammer

Tallahassee, Florida --(AmmoLand.com)- Marion P. Hammer has an outstanding history of service to the NRA and of protecting Second Amendment rights. Ms. Hammer is up for re-election to the NRA Board.

Marion Hammer is a Past President of the National Rifle Association. In 1995, she became the first woman President in the Association’s 125 year history. She lead NRA through some of it’s darkest days — protecting the NRA from those who would tear it down from within and helping hold the line against anti-gun US President Bill Clinton.

Among her many awards, she received the National Safety Council’s “Outstanding Community Service Award for 1993″ for creating NRA’s Eddie Eagle gun safety program for children. The program has now been taught to 22 million children.

She was also a key developer and promoter of other programs to include the NRA’s Youth Hunter Education Challenge, Youth Education Summit and the Refuse to be a Victim.

She was the key in the funding raising and was the motivation behind the construction of the National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Virginia to preserve America’s heritage for future generation. At her insistence, construction of the museum began when she became president and she cut the ribbon opening the museum before she left office.

Today, she is a legislative lobbyist who is responsible for Florida’s pro-gun lobbying effort. Marion is a staunch defender/protector of the right to keep and bear arms. She is a legendary pro-gun leader who is also an author, community volunteer, public speaker, safety instructor, and media spokesperson for the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Americans.

Her accomplishments are many. Under Marion Hammer’s leadership, Florida has been on the front line leading the fight to protect the rights of target shooters, recreational shooters, hunters, collectors and citizens who own firearms for home and self-defense.

Her legislative accomplishments include killing restrictive anti-gun measures and passing pro-gun legislation including:

• Right to Carry National Model Legislation;
• Firearms Preemption;
• Concealed Carry Reciprocity;
• Hunter Protection;
• Shooting Range Closure Protection;
• Gun Manufacturer Lawsuit Protection;
• Gun Registration Prohibition;
• Shooting Range Environmental Lawsuit Protection,;
• “Castle Doctrine” National Model legislation;
• No-Net-Loss of Hunting Lands;
• Hunter Voter Registration;
• Right to Carry in National Forests;
• No Confiscation of firearms during a state of emergency;
• Privacy for Concealed Weapons license holders;
• Guns In Vehicles in Parking Lots Protection and more

She was inducted into Florida’s Women’s Hall of Fame in 2005. Her awards and accomplishments are many and she continues to serve gun owners with dedication and passion.

Consider voting for Marion P. Hammer for the NRA Board of Directors.

Anchorage Second Amendment Task Force

Juneau, AK --(AmmoLand.com)- Currently 33 states that have passed or are considering similar legislation.

HB 186 has just been moved out of the Senate judiciary committee and Now needs to be ”read across the floor” and officially referred to the Senate finance committee, which will hopefully be done tomorrow, we will update you as soon as we get more info.

Multiple states including Montana and Tennessee have passed this legislation. Utah passed it last week and Wyoming and Virginia are on the verge of doing so.

The Firearms Freedom Act has a simple concept. HB 69 states that if a gun was made in Alaska, and then stays in Alaska, the federal government may not regulate it under the Interstate Commerce Clause.

Please contact the finance committee members and urge passage of HB 186 as soon as possible.

Senate Finance Committee Members:

• Chair Email : Senator_Lyman_Hoffman@legis.state.ak.us
  907-465-4453
• Vice Chair Email : Senator_Bert_Stedman@legis.state.ak.us
  907-465-3873
• Email : Senator_Dennis_Egan@legis.state.ak.us
  907-465-4947
• Email : Senator_Johnny_Ellis@legis.state.ak.us
  907-465-3704
• Email : Senator_Charlie_Huggins@legis.state.ak.us
  907-465-3878
• Email : Senator_Donald_Olson@legis.state.ak.us
  907-465-3707
• Email : Senator_Joe_Thomas@legis.state.ak.us
  907-465-2327

About:
The mission of The Anchorage Second Amendment Task Force is to provide Alaskans with the knowledge of the meaning and true purpose of the second amendment to the U.S. Constitution, with which they may conduct themselves as responsible citizens of our republic. Visit: www.anchorage2atf.com

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

Tallahassee, Florida --(AmmoLand.com)- The NRA Board of Directors ballot for the election of NRA Board members is in the March 2010 issue of NRA’s The American Rifleman, The American Hunter and America’s First Freedom.

If you are an NRA Life Member or have been an NRA annual member for 5 or more continuous years, you are entitled to vote and a ballot will be in your magazine.

My name is on that ballot and I am running for re-election.

I am asking for your vote.

I want to continue serving the NRA and law-abiding firearms owners in protecting our Second Amendment rights — the bedrock of freedom in America.

There are 31 names on the ballot. You may vote for up to 25, no more. You are not required to vote for more than one — you do not have to vote for people you don’t know. You may vote for any number up to 25.

Re-Elect Marion Hammer To The NRA Board

I hope that you will take the time to find your ballot and vote for me so that I may continue to serve you. Below is my bio as it appears in the ballot issues of the magazines. I have served you for many years and am looking forward to continuing to serve you in the cause of freedom and the Second Amendment.

Thank you for your consideration and your vote. Please feel free to forward a link to this article to friends, co-workers and family who are NRA members

About:
Ms. Marion P. Hammer
Tallahassee, Florida
NRA Past President. First woman president in NRA’s history. Current Board member. Nominating Committee nominee. NRA Benefactor Member. Legislative Consultant/Lobbyist. Strong supporter NRA/ILA. Media Spokesperson/debater. Responsible for Florida’s pro-gun lobbying/defeating anti-gun legislation. Author, Public Speaker, Instructor, works with/promotes Junior programs. Unified Sportsmen of Florida’s Executive Director/31 years. National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association: former Director, Secretary. Former competitive shooter: rifle, pistol. Hunter. MAJOR AWARDS: NRA/ILA Legislative Achievement-1992; NRA/ILA Awards 1987, 1985, 1984, 1978; CCRKBA’s Lifetime Achievement Award-1996; Florida’s Outstanding Woman Achievement Award-1997; Florida Women’s Hall of Fame, Inducted 2005; Sybil Ludington Freedom Award-1995; Roy Rogers 1985 “Man of the Year” Award (only woman ever to receive Award), American Handgunner Top Ten, 1989; National Safety Council’s 1993 “OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD” for creating NRA’s “Eddie Eagle” gun safety program for children.

Staunch defender & protector or your right to keep and bear arms.

Virginia Citizens Defense League

Virginia - -(AmmoLand.com)- Turnout was low last night from our side in the Militia, Police, and Public Safety subcommittee #3 (Death Star), creating a pretty much even match between pro and anti-gun citizens for the first time in a long time.

Being heard were two bills: HB 32, Delegate Bob Marshall’s bill to allow professors to carry at universities, and HB 72, Delegate Carrico’s bill to reduced the charge for someone inadvertently carrying a firearm on K-12 school property from a Class 6 felony to a Class 1 misdemeanor.

I had predicted that both bills would most likely die by a vote of 2 to 3, along party lines.

And, sadly, I was 100% correct. In fact I had my twitter message already typed up and ready to go before the votes were taken. I only had to hit “send” after each vote.

Democratic Delegates Paula Miller and Roslyn Tyler both proclaimed to the audience that contrary to what VCDL alerts were saying, they were “pro-gun.” They then proved it to everyone by voting against both bills.

Gee, I’m sure glad they’re “pro-gun,” aren’t you?

Of course Democratic Delegate Jim Scott also voted against both bills, but he doesn’t even pretend to be pro-gun.

Two members did understand the importance of self-defense: Republican Delegates Bill Carrico and Donald Merricks voted in support of both bills.

On our way out, who should step in the elevator, but Speaker Bill Howell! (The Speaker, among other things, creates and populates all committees and subcommittees in the House and determines which bills the committees and subcommittees hear.)

He casually asked “how things were going.”

Bad timing on his part.

I said, “Well, subcommittee #3 of Militia, Police, and Public Safety did their assigned job and killed two excellent pro-gun bills.”

An awkward silence followed for a few seconds, before someone changed the subject.

Channel 8 in Richmond (ABC) covered the hearing and interviewed me. Coverage should be on at 11 PM and possibly Tuesday morning.

About:
Virginia Gun Owners Coalition is Virginia’s only no-compromise, non-partisan gun lobby patterned after Gun Owners of America on Capitol Hill. VGOC is a non-profit tax-exempt organization under 501(c)(4) of the IRS code. Because we lobby politicians to protect and defend the 2nd Amendment, contributions are not tax deductible for IRS purposes. Visit: www.vgoc.org

AmmoLand Gun Rights News

Manasqaun, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)- Nothing supports the fight for expanded gun rights like spreading the news and educating people about gun rights.

Keeping up with breaking gun rights news, new laws, media lies and the good work of gun rights organizations around the USA is easy to do with the AmmoLand Gun News Widget.

AmmoLand has deployed this free and easy to use tool just for webmaster and bloggers.

Now you can publish constantly updated pro-gun news stories on your own website. This is a fast way to provide valuable information for your visitors and an easy way to support the pro-gun cause.

All you have to do is copy and paste a little snippet of code to your site and our news stories will be automatically fed to your page.

You just need to install the AmmoLand Gun News Widget on your blog, website and we do the rest to update the widget with all kinds of firearms news and events.

The AmmoLand Gun News Widget updates itself automatically every time we post Gun News on AmmoLand.

Feed real time gun news to your readers readers and fans and help spread the word.

Here is the widget in action:

Here is the code you need:

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Tip:
You can click on the “Get Widget” Tab on the Bottom of the AmmoLand Gun News Widget and add pictures or get custom code for your particular web hosting application like Blogger or Twitter.

Need Help:
Need help installing AmmoLand Gun News Widget on your website or blog? Then give us a shout and we will be happy to help you spread news coverage of Guns and Gun Rights to your readers.

National Rifle Association

Colorado – -(AmmoLand.com)- With session in full swing in Colorado, more pro-gun bills are beginning to move in the State Legislature.

Two important pro-gun bills, Senate Bill 51 and House Bill 1094, have been introduced and referred to the appropriate committees, where they currently await action.

Sponsored by State Senator Scott Renfroe (R-13), SB 51 would remove the Governor’s ability to “suspend or limit the sale, dispensing, or transportation” of firearms during a declared state of emergency. After Hurricane Katrina, law-abiding gun owners were left defenseless against looters, arsonists and other criminals after the New Orleans police superintendent ordered the confiscation of firearms. We must guarantee law-abiding citizens the ability to defend themselves and their families. Currently, SB 51 has been referred to but has not been scheduled for a hearing in the Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee.

On Thursday, February 11, the House Judiciary Committee will hear HB 1094. Sponsored by State Representative Cory Gardner (R-63), HB 1094, would extend Colorado’s self-defense law to apply in places of business. If passed, this legislation would permit all employees to defend themselves by any means of force, including deadly force, if they have reasonable belief that an intruder has committed, or intends to commit a crime, during unlawful entry. The exclusion of businesses in the current self-defense law has been a noticeable omission, which this bill seeks to rectify.

It is important that you contact the members of the Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee and urge them to protect the rights of lawful gun owners during states of emergency by setting a hearing date for Senate Bill 51. Also, please contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee and respectfully urge them to support HB 1094. Contact information for both committees can be found below.

State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee:

State Senator Rollie Heath (D-18) – Chair
303-866-4872
E-mail: rollie.heath.senate@state.co.us

State Senator Bacon (D-14) – Vice-Chair
303-866-4841
E-mail: bob.bacon.senate@state.co.us

State Senator David Schultheis (R-9)
303-866-4835
E-mail: senatorschultheis@gmail.com

State Senator Bill Cadman (R-10)
303-866-2737
E-mail: bill.cadman.senate@state.co.us

State Senator Betty Boyd (D-21)
303-866-4857
E-mail: betty.boyd.senate@state.co.us

House Judiciary Committee:

Representative Claire Levy (D-13) – Chair
303-866-2578
E-mail: claire.levy.house@state.co.us

Representative Elizabeth McCann (D-8) – Vice-Chair
303-866-2959
E-mail: beth.mccann.house@state.co.us

Representative Daniel Kagan (D-3)
303-866-2921
E-mail: repkagan@gmail.com

Representative Lois Court (D-6)
303-866-2967
E-mail: loiscourt@msn.com

Representative Joe Miklosi (D-9)
303-866-2910
E-mail: joe@joemiklosi.com

Representative Mark Waller (R-15)
303-866-5525
E-mail: mark.waller.house@state.co.us

Representative Bob Gardner (R-21)
303-866-2191
E-mail: bob.gardner.house@state.co.us

Representative Su Ryden (D-36)
303-866-2942
E-mail: su.ryden.house@state.co.us

Representative Sal Pace (D-46)
303-866-2968
E-mail: sal.pace.house@state.co.us

Representative B.J. Nikkel (R-49)
303-866-2907
E-mail: rep.nikkel@gmail.com

Representative Steve King (R-54)
303-866-3068
E-mail: steve.king.house@state.co.us

About:
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group. Four million members strong, NRA continues to uphold the Second Amendment and advocates 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 armed services. Visit www.nra.org

Illinois Citizens Turn Out in Force to Support Right to Carry

IllinoisCarry.com

Illinois --(AmmoLand.com)- Pundits say the issue of carrying a firearm for personal protection is a geographical issue – a downstate issue. Some upstate legislators deny right to carry is a statewide issue and argue lllinois citizens north of I-80 have no interest in the right to carry a firearm for self-defense.

Without a doubt, they were proven wrong this past week when a standing room only crowd of 500+ citizens from all over McHenry County turned out in support of Right to Carry in Illinois!

Women and men crowded into the packed Lakemoor Banquet Hall, in Lakemoor, IL to show their support for the right to carry and to learn what they can do to push the Illinois legislators to pass a right carry law in Illinois. Those in attendance voiced their displeasure with being denied the same rights that law-abiding citizens have in 49 other states. 48 states have some form of concealed carry law and open carry is recognized in the state of Wisconsin, leaving Illinois as the last and only state with no provision at all for the carrying of a defensive firearm and considers it a felony to do so.

The hugely successful town hall meeting was the kick off event for the newly formed McHenry County Right to Carry Association. The MCR2CA is a non-partisan group dedicated to advancing the right to carry for citizens of Illinois. To learn more about this group and to add your support go to MCR2CA.com.

The group partnered with IllinoisCarry.com to bring the issue of Right to Carry to the people of McHenry County. Speakers for the event included Pres. of the new organization, Lou Rofrano; Lee Lexow, Vice-President McHenry County Sportsman Association; Valinda Rowe, IllinoisCarry.com spokesperson; Mike Weisman, First Vice President Illinois State Rifle Association; Julie Chiabe, President McHenry IPSIC Sport Shooters; Nick Provenzano, candidate for McHenry County Board Dist. 3; Joe Walsh, candidate for U.S. Congress 8th District; and McHernry County Sheriff Keith Nygren.

The idea for the town hall meeting began when one man decided to get involved – Lou Rofrano contacted Valinda Rowe of IllinoisCarry and asked what he could do to advance Right to Carry in Illinois. Having conducted many successful Right to Carry town hall meetings, IllinoisCarry worked with the group throughout the planning process.

If you would like to help organize a Right to Carry town hall meeting in your community contact Valinda Rowe at IllinoisCarry.

About:
The IllinoisCarry forum was started in April 2004. The idea was that Illinois needed a central location to communicate ideas and information regarding 2nd Amendment issues in Illinois. There are many organizations in Illinois working to protect our 2nd Amendment Rights. Working with these groups IllinoisCarry has become the central location for information and Action Alerts. IllinoisCarry will not endorse political candidates. We simply provide information so voters can make informed decisions. Our goal is to join the other 48 states that allow their citizens to carry concealed firearms. We encourage you to register on our forum and join the fight for your 2nd Amendment Rights in Illinois. Visit www.IllinoisCarry.com

Virginia Citizens Defense League

Virginia – -(AmmoLand.com)- The Virginia Citizens Defense League thanks the following member- activists who generously gave of their time to advance and help defend the rights of their fellow gun owners by working our recruiting and information booths at gun shows around the state.

Richmond, January 9-10 Paul Henick, George Lawson, Jim Dacey, Alan Konkle, Ingo Haas, Carl Shuler, Dianne Franklin, Chuck Williamson, David Crosby, Brian and Debra Weidman, Bob Sadtler, and Audrey Muehleisen

Dale City, January 16-17 Tom Pietras, Dorian Smith, Ken Laughman, Russel Krull, Clairia Jackson, Terrell Prude’, Sam Work, Brent Meyer, Dr. Jerry Coffey, Dexter Guptill, Kieth & Tori Dingwall, and Sam Childress

We also thank the following Executive and Regular Members who came forward to lead our lobby teams at the General Assembly on Jan. 18th. These men and women played a critical role in making sure ALL legislators were made aware of our position on gun bills:

Jay Forehand, John Pierce, Andrew Amerine, Brandy Polanowski, Albert Shanks, David Hicks, Charles, Richard, and Michael DeKeyser, Jan Walter, Deb McCurren, Joe Ligon, Mark Matthews, Esq., Ron Lilly, Collin O’Neil, William Taylor, Ric Bergstrom, J. Allen Hollar, Tim Rarick, Leonard Harris, Max Padon, Chip Fetrow, Lindsay Trittipoe, Robert Herron, and Jeff Hamlin

Finally, we thank the many hundreds of you who came out on lobby day to help with many tasks and make up our teams. You made our presence felt among the delegates and senators, and we couldn’t do anything without YOU.

As an all volunteer organization, VCDL depends on YOU to volunteer your time at our area events, where we recruit new activists and keep gun owners informed. No experience necessary; if it’s your first time we’ll pair you with a veteran volunteer. To find out more about helping at our gun show tables, go to:

http://www2.vcdl.org/cgi-bin/wspd_cgi.sh/vcdl/gs.html

and click on any of the blue links, or contact the coordinator for the show/event listed below with which you are interested in helping.

Here are the upcoming  gun show events with which we need YOUR help:

• FISHERSVILLE http://www.showmasters.us, January 30-31
  Saturday, January 30 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday, January 31 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  Please contact Bob Schmidt at Shenandoahgunshows@vcdl.org to help in Fishersville.
• RICHMOND http://www.showmasters.us, February 6-7
  Saturday, February 6 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday, February 7 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  Contact our coordinator at CentralVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help at the Richmond Raceway Complex.
• CHANTILLY http://www.cegunshows.com, February 12-14
  Friday, February 12 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Saturday, February 13 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday, February 14 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  Please contact Danny Paulson at NOVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help in Chantilly.
• NORFOLK http://www.showmasters.us, February 20-21
  Saturday, February 20 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday, February 21 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  Please contact Ed Burton at Norfolkgunshows@vcdl.org to help at the Norfolk Scope.
• FREDERICKSBURG http://www.guns-knives.com, February 20-21
  Saturday, February 20 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday, February 21 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  Contact Robert Herron at Fredericksburggunshows@vcdl.org to help in Fredericksburg.
• RICHMOND http://www.guns-knives.com, February 27-28
  Saturday, February 27 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday, February 28 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  Please contact our coordinator at CentralVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help at the Meadow Event Park.
• HARRISONBURG http://www.showmasters.us, February 27-28
  Saturday, February 27 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday, February 28 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  Please contact Bob Schmidt at Shenandoahgunshows@vcdl.org to help in Harrisonburg.
• RICHMOND http://www.cegunshows.com, March 6-7
  Saturday, March 6 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday, March 7 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  Contact Audrey Muehleisen at CentralVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help at the Showplace in Mechanicsville.
• DALE CITY http://www.olddominionshows.com, March 13-14
  Saturday, March 13 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday, March 14 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  Please contact Sam Childress at NOVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help in Dale City.
• j. ROANOKE http://www.showmasters.us, March 20-21
  Saturday, March 20 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday, March 21 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  Please contact Al Steed, Jr. at SWVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help in Roanoke.
• HAMPTON http://www.guns-knives.com, March 20-21
  Saturday, March 20 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday, March 21 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  Please contact Ron Lilly at HamptonRoadsgunshows@vcdl.org to help in Hampton.

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

Virginia Citizens Defense League

Virginia – -(AmmoLand.com)- There is a meeting of the House Courts of Justice Criminal Subcommittee this afternoon 1/2 hour after the session adjourns today.

So, it could be anytime from 1:30 PM onward.

The following gun bills are scheduled to be heard:

• HB 251, Delegate Merricks, prevents a person who has to use justifiable deadly force to protect innocent life, from being sued civilly. Such lawsuits can financially destroy the life of someone who has done nothing wrong. STRONGLY SUPPORT.
• HB 681, Delegate J.H. Miller, allows police officers to arrest someone for a Class 1 or 2 misdemeanor at will. Current law has reasonable criteria that allows for arrest under certain circumstances, giving the police sufficient power to do their job. OPPOSE.
• HB 854, Delegate Morefield, Castle Doctrine bill that protects a citizen who has to use force, including deadly force, either inside his residence or anywhere he can legally be, from a civil lawsuit. Because of the bill’s wording requiring “proportionate force,” which puts too much “Monday morning quarterbacking” into the equation, this bill is supported, instead of strongly supported. SUPPORT.

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

Maryland Open Holster Rally A Success

Maryland Shall Issue.org

Maryland --(AmmoLand.com)- Our first rally during the General Assembly session was a success thanks to the 100 Maryland gun owners who took time out of their day to take our message directly to the legislature.

While we’d obviously have liked to seen 1,000 people there, we realize that every initiative must start somewhere and we look forward to seeing the rest of you there next year.

The speeches delivered by Delegate Smigiel, Delegate Dwyer and Larry Pratt were very inspiring and covered a great deal of ground as it pertains to our rights. We thank them for taking time out of their day and urge you to do so as well. Delegate Eric Bromwell (D – District 8, Baltimore County) and Delegate Wendell Beitzel (R – District 1A, Garrett and Allegheny Counties) also stopped by to visit with members.

Thanks go to all of our Executive Members who had a part in making the day a success, but especially Dan Miller for taking care of the details of the permits and working with the officials in the legislative complex. Executive Member Ron Dominiecki also did an outstanding job preparing our visit to the legislative office buildings where a smaller group of members received an orientation of the locations of the various delegations’ offices so that we can work with them effectively throughout the session.

The blue shirts were an unqualified success and EM Kyle Hopson hit a grand slam on these. We’ve received numerous reports of members eating lunch in town or walking on the sidewalk and having people stop and question what we were doing. So far, all reports seem to indicate a positive response, thus illustrating our longstanding belief that the majority of Maryland citizens believe in our mission.

I can speak to this first hand as a group of EMs were enjoying lunch at Galway Bay between the rally and the tour of the buildings. A lady came up to us and questioned us about our shirts and I wondered at first where this was leading. After our guys explained what we were about, the lady remarked that she thought that we already could get permits with no problem. She will soon be joining MSI.

About:
Maryland Shall Issue is an all volunteer, non-partisan effort dedicated to the preservation and advancement of all gunowners’ rights in Maryland, with a primary goal of CCW reform to allow all law-abiding citizens the right to carry a concealed weapon; and to the education of the community to the awareness that ’shall issue’ laws have, in all cases, resulted in decreased rates of violent crime.”

Arizona Citizens Defense League

Glendale, AZ --(AmmoLand.com)- Bills are already starting to move! The Senate Judiciary Committee has the 5 following pro-rights bills scheduled for a hearing on Monday, January 25, 2010 (http://tinyurl.com/SJUD20100125):

• SB 1021 – Incorporates defensive display into the justification for deadly force statutes.
  (Bill text: http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1021p.pdf ).
• SB 1098 – Arizona’s version of the “Firearms Freedom Act.” If passed and signed into law, any firearm manufactured in Arizona and that remains in the state, “is not subject to Federal law or Federal regulation, including registration, under the authority of Congress to regulate interstate commerce and it not considered to have traveled in interstate commerce.”
  (Bill text: http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1098p.pdf ).
• SB 1101 – Allows certain detention officers and retired law enforcement to possess a concealed firearm without a CCW permit.
  (Bill text: http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1101p.pdf ).
• SB 1102 – The AzCDL-requested Constitutional Carry bill that eliminates the prohibition and penalties for adults carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.
  (Bill text: http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1102p.pdf ).
• SB 1153 – A knife preemption law being championed by the national Knife Rights organization (http://www.kniferights.org).
  (Bill text: http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1153p.pdf ).

It’s time to remind the committee members that you are keenly interested in what they are doing, and that you want these bills to favorably pass out of the Senate Judiciary committee.

We urge everyone to contact the Senate Judiciary Committee members and politely ask them to support SB 1021, 1098, 1101, 1102 and 1153 when they meet on Monday, January 25, 2010. The following is a sample letter you can use. Following the sample are the email addresses of committee members.

Please be sure to include your name, address, and phone number in all correspondence.

If you are a subscriber to the RTS (Request To Speak) system at the Capitol, log on and express your support to the committee. If you want more information about how to set up an account on RTS, send an email to President@AzCDL.org.

Sample Letter —————————–

Subject: Support Senate Bills 1021, 1098, 1101, 1102, and 1153

Dear Senator,

The Arizona Citizens Defense League (AzCDL) has informed me that SB 1021, 1098, 1101, 1102, and 1153 are being considered in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, January 25, 2010. The passage of these bills is very important to me, and I urge you to vote them all out of committee with a recommendation for passage by the full Senate.

Sincerely,
Your Name
Street Address
City, AZ zip-code
telephone number

Sample Letter —————————–

When addressing multiple members of the Legislature, we recommend using the BCC (blind copy) feature of your email software. Each recipient will only see their email address.

The following are email lists of the committee members in both semi-colon and comma separated formats. Use the one that is compatible with your email software.

Committee members list with semi-colon separation:

jpaton@azleg.gov; jhuppenthal@azleg.gov; mburtoncahill@azleg.gov; kcheuvront@azleg.gov; cgray@azleg.gov; rmiranda@azleg.gov; rpearce@azleg.gov

Committee members list with comma separation:

jpaton@azleg.gov, jhuppenthal@azleg.gov, mburtoncahill@azleg.gov, kcheuvront@azleg.gov, cgray@azleg.gov, rmiranda@azleg.gov, rpearce@azleg.gov

Individual listing of committee members’ email addresses:

jpaton@azleg.gov
jhuppenthal@azleg.gov
mburtoncahill@azleg.gov
kcheuvront@azleg.gov
cgray@azleg.gov
rmiranda@azleg.gov
rpearce@azleg.gov

About:
AzCDL believes that the emphasis of gun laws should be on criminal misuse and that law-abiding citizens should be able to own and carry firearms unaffected by unnecessary laws or regulations. AzCDL was founded by a group of local activists who recognized that a sustained, coordinated, statewide effort was critical to protecting and expanding the rights of law-abiding gun owners. As a like-minded coalition of activists, the AzCDL founders were instrumental in the successful passage of the first major improvement to Arizona’s CCW (concealed carry) laws since they were instituted in 1994. Visit: www.azcdl.org

Armed American Radio

Jackson, WI --(AmmoLand.com)- What a week folks, what a week! The SHOT floor is jam packed with more fun stuff than I could ever talk about.

What an opportunity to meet with the biggest names in the industry here in Vegas and bring some great info to you “right from the belly of the beast” so to speak. More to come on that, I promise.

Last weeks broadcast was one of the best yet on AAR. Two titans of the training world in the same room together? YOU BET. I was joined by Rob Pincus and Gabe Suarez for what went down as one of the best hours of AAR to date. By all means if you have not heard it, go get it.

Coming up this week on 1-24-2010 I’ll be joined by National Shooting Sports Foundation Director of Communications, Mr. Bill Brassard. Also, from Iowa gun owners, Mr. Aaron Dorr will be here. In addition the roundtable will be chock full of info from this years SHOT show and we’ll give you as much as the hour allows.

For up to the minute pics from the Vegas show floor, please visit us on FACEBOOK and become a fan. There are some great pics being posted up in REAL time.

Also please visitwww.armedamericanradio.org for up to the minute info on AAR happenings. Well, back to the meetings here in Las Vegas soooooo,

About:
Armed American Radio is the most free-thinking, politically incorrect radio station in the U.S.A. We discuss liberty, self-defense, weapons, family, friends, and life. Visit: www.Armedamericanradio.org

New York State currently holds the title for introducing the most oppressive & civil rights violating anti gun rights bills so far this year…AmmoLand

National Rifle Association

Albany, New York --(AmmoLand.com)- The following anti-gun bills have been referred to various committees in the New York State Senate and Assembly and are awaiting action.

Please take the time to contact your lawmakers and urge them to oppose the following list of anti-gun bills:

• Assembly Bill 801A and its Senate companion, S 1598A, would require five-year renewals on pistol licenses.
• Assembly Bill 1093 and its Senate companion, S 1715, would create liability for legal firearm retailers when criminals misuse firearms.
• Assembly Bill 1275 and its Senate companion, S 1712, would outlaw the private sale and transfer of long guns.
• Assembly Bill 1326 and its Senate companion, S 5228, would outlaw all handguns sold in the state not equipped with so-called “child-proofing” measures.
• Assembly Bill 2881 and its Senate companion, S 2379, would ban the sale of common self-defense and hunting ammunition.
• Assembly Bill 2884 would prohibit gun shows on public property.
• Assembly Bill 2885 and Assembly Bill 2910 would establish standards for guns sold in the state and would allow the state police to prevent ANY firearm they deem unsafe from being transferred into the state.
• Assembly Bill 3200 and its Senate companion, S 2953, would require ammunition coding or bullet serialization.
• Assembly Bill 3346 would outlaw affordable handguns commonly used for self-defense.
• Assembly Bill 3477 and its Senate companion, S 1188, would expand the failed 10-year-old, ballistic imaging program to include even more firearms.
• Assembly Bill 4441 and its Senate companion, S 4338, would prohibit the manufacture, sale or transfer of handguns not equipped with so-called “smart gun” technology.
• Assembly Bill 5844 and its Senate companion, S 3098, would prohibit keeping firearms available for self-defense in the home.
• Assembly Bill 6157 and Assembly Bill 6294 and their Senate companion, S 4084, would drastically expand the state’s ban on so-called “assault weapons” to include virtually all semi-automatic rifles and pistols that can accept detachable magazines.
• Assembly Bill 6468B and its Senate companion, S 6005, would outlaw the sale of all semi-automatic handguns not equipped with so-called “microstamping” technology.
• Senate Bill 4752 would ban certain firearms based upon bore diameter.

On a positive note, during one of the state’s worst fiscal crises, the NRA would like to highlight worthwhile legislation.  Assembly Bill 5427 and Assembly Bill 6388 and their Senate companion, S 1152, seek to eliminate the state’s ballistic imaging database (COBIS).  New York taxpayers should be outraged that over the last decade nearly 50 million dollars have been spent on this supposed crime-fighting tool that has resulted in ZERO prosecutions.

Call your lawmakers and urge them to support A 5427, A 6388 and S 1152 and do away with this wasteful program TODAY.  Also, politely remind them that many of the NRA-opposed bills listed above will cost millions of taxpayer dollars, and like COBIS, without reducing crimes.

State Assembly Members can be reached by phone at (518) 455-4100.  To find your Assembly Member, please click here.  Your State Senator can be contacted through the Senate switchboard at (518) 455-2800. To find your State Senator, please click here.

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

National Rifle Association

FAIRFAX, Va.--(AmmoLand.com)- Pierce Bullet Seal Target Systems has pledged one million dollars to benefit the National Rifle Association (NRA).

The announcement was made by Dennis Pierce, President of Pierce Bullet Seal Target Systems on January 20, 2010 in during the 2010 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Pierce Bullet Seal Target Systems is a long-time supporter and sponsor of the NRA’s Competitive Shooting programs and is now expanding it’s involvement by securing the future of the Association.

“I have been very blessed with a prosperous business and now the time has come to redouble our efforts to strengthen the Second Amendment and the shooting sports. There has never been a more important time to support the work of the NRA and I hope others will come forward and join us in investing in the future of Freedom,” said Pierce.

Pierce Bullet Seal Target Systems manufactures, sells, and installs state-of-the-art shooting targets, target backers (frames), uprights, number boards, repair kits, and ammunition/utility boxes. Pierce target systems are all-weather proof, withstanding temperatures over 150 degrees and below zero. The frames can be shot on in the rain and heat, and responds very well to high winds.

The company’s reach is worldwide with a diverse client-base that includes militaries, private shooting ranges, and law enforcement agencies.

“We are grateful for Pierce Bullet Seal Target System’s distinguished philanthropic leadership,” commented Wayne LaPierre, NRA Executive Vice President. “Dennis Pierce’s innovative vision for his company and his generous spirit will benefit all Americans now and for years to come.”

To learn more about making a gift to benefit NRA programs, contact Nicole Capossela, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, NRA Office of Advancement, (703) 267-1122 or visit www.nragive.com.

National Rifle Association

FAIRFAX, Va.--(AmmoLand.com)- The National Rifle Association is currently accepting applications from qualified high school sophomores and juniors to participate in the National Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) from July 12-18, 2010.

Over 40 outstanding students from across the United States are chosen each year to travel to the nation’s capital, where they participate in the weeklong, educational opportunity.

The summit encourages young adults to become active and knowledgeable U.S. citizens by learning about the Constitution and Bill of Rights, the federal government, and the importance of being active in civic affairs.

Activities on this year’s schedule include:

• Guest speakers at NRA Headquarters and the National Firearms Museum
• Competitive debates with other high school students from across the nation
• Informative tours at historic sites and monuments in and around Washington, D.C.

“It was the best week of my life. I learned a lot about our government and how it’s run. I learned a lot more about the NRA and different programs they offer. It was a trip of a lifetime and I would not have missed it for anything,” said 2009 Y.E.S. participant Holly Stewart from Nashville, Tenn.

In addition to the week in Washington D.C., Y.E.S. participants compete for $30,000 in college scholarships. The first round of awards totals $10,000 and is given at the conclusion of the Y.E.S. program. A second round of scholarships, called grand scholarships, is comprised of $20,000 and involves a second application, available to the participants after they go through the Y.E.S. program. Since the program’s inception in 1996, more than $200,000 in scholarships has been awarded.

Entry into the program requires submission of a completed application form, high school transcript, three-page essay on the Second Amendment, one-page personal statement, and three letters of recommendation. Interested students should have their application completed no later than March 1.

For additional information on the 2010 Youth Education Summit and how to apply, please visit www.friendsofnra.org/yes, or call 1-800-672-3888, ext. 1342.