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This is an email that we received the other day from the NRA – Hunters Against PETA
As we reported last week, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security recently held a hearing on H.R. 822, the “National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011.”
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This critically important bill, introduced earlier this year by Congressmen Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) and Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) and cosponsored by more than 240 of their colleagues, would enable millions of permit holders to exercise their right to self-defense while traveling outside their home states.
There is currently only one remaining state (Illinois) that has no clear legal way for individuals to carry concealed firearms for self-defense. Forty states have permit systems that make it possible for any law-abiding person to obtain a permit, while most of the others have discretionary permit systems. (Vermont has never required a permit.)
“THE RECREATIONAL LANDS SELF-DEFENSE ACT” INTRODUCED IN THE SENATE: Urge Your Senators To Cosponsor And Support This Important Legislation — On September 21, Senators Jim Webb (D-Va.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) introduced S. 1588 — “The Recreational Land Self –Defense Act.” S. 1588 is the Senate companion bill to H.R. 1865, and is designed to protect the rights of gun owners on lands owned or managed by the Army Corps of Engineers.
OBAMA CAMPAIGN ORGANIZING AGAINST GUN OWNERS: We reported last week on the Obama administration gearing up its “misinformation machine” in the form of a new website they launched called: AttackWatch.com.
The purpose of the site is to give Obama supporters a way to report “attacks” on the president, implying that any criticism is based on lies or misinformation. In our article, we noted that when it comes to firearms issues, it’s this site that is misrepresenting President Obama’s record on guns.
This week, NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox wrote a comprehensive op-ed for the Daily Caller entitled “Obama Campaign Organizing Against Gun Owners.” The op-ed digs deeper into the Obama administration’s motives behind AttackWatch.com, particularly as they relate to NRA and Obama’s stance on gun rights.
To read the piece, please click here.
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (BLM) PROPOSES CLOSING ONE-HALF MILLION ACRES OF PUBLIC LAND TO TARGET SHOOTING: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released a plan for the future management of nearly 1.4 million acres located southwest of Phoenix in parts of Maricopa, Pinal, Pima, Gila and Yuma Counties. Of that total, over 486,000 acres are within the Sonoran Desert National Monument (SDMN), which the BLM proposes to close to target shooters. Presently, some 63 sites in the national monument are used by shooters for their recreational activity. The planning area outside of the SDNM will remain open to target shooting.
The public comment period is open through November 25. Please take the time to attend one of the scheduled meetings to show support for keeping public lands open for all the public, including target shooters, and to learn more about how this plan will affect your future enjoyment of these lands.
2011 FIREARMS LAW & THE SECOND AMENDMENT SYMPOSIUM: The 2011 “Firearms Law & the Second Amendment Symposium,” sponsored by The NRA Foundation, will be held on Saturday, October 15, 2011, at the University of San Diego Law School.
ANOTHER WAY TO GET INVOLVED–JOIN NRA’S FACEBOOK AND TWITTER GROUPS: Internet social networking has exploded in recent years, and websites such as Facebook and Twitter attract millions of users. This on-line community fosters a connection between its users, and allows distribution of user-generated content (like pictures, profiles, music, video, and text).
NRA has been a part of this social technology for some time now, with a presence on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites. By actively participating in these new media, we are able to reach out to more potential members and supporters than ever before.
The current king of on-line social networking is Facebook. NRA’s Facebook page continues to be extremely popular. In fact, thanks to you, our page has grown from about 300,000 fans on July 28, 2010 to over 1,196,000 fans as of this week!
STATE ROUNDUP (Please note the only items listed below are those that have had recent action. For other updates on state legislation, please go to the state legislation section at www.NRAILA.org, and check each week’s issue of the Grassroots Alert.)
For additional information, please click on the links provided.
ARIZONA: Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Proposes Closing One-Half Million Acres of Public land to Target Shooting.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released a plan for the future management of nearly 1.4 million acres located southwest of Phoenix in parts of Maricopa, Pinal, Pima, Gila and Yuma Counties. Of that total, over 486,000 acres are within the Sonoran Desert National Monument (SDMN) which the BLM proposes to close to target shooters. Presently, some 63 sites in the national monument are used by shooters for their recreational activity. The planning area outside of the SDNM will remain open to target shooting.
The public comment period is open through November 25. Please take the time to attend one of the scheduled meetings to show support for keeping public lands open for all the public, including target shooters, and to learn more about how this plan will affect your future enjoyment of these lands.
CALIFORNIA: Four Anti-Gun Bills Passed and with the Governor
Four anti-gun bills passed the state legislature and are now being considered by Governor Jerry Brown (D). Assembly Bill 144 would ban open carry, Assembly Bill 809 would require state registration of newly-purchased long guns, Senate Bill 427 would allow law enforcement to collect sales records from ammunition retailers among other things, and Senate Bill 819 would allow the DOJ to use the Dealer Record of Sales funds. Please contact Governor Brown today and urge him to VETO AB 114, AB 809, SB 427 and SB 819.
KENTUCKY: Sandhill Crane Hunting Season Approved by Feds
With approval by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, plans for Kentucky’s new sandhill crane hunting season now move toward the final hurdle, the General Assembly review process. A subcommittee of eight members will meet on October 11 to discuss the proposed plans for this hunting season. Please contact members of the Administrative Regulations Review Subcommittee and urge them to support the proposed plan for the sandhill crane hunting season.
MISSISSIPPI: Implementation of House Bill 506
During the 2011 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature, House Bill 506, legislation relating to prosecutors carrying weapons, passed with an NRA-supported amendment designed to allow concealed pistol permit holders who complete certain training requirements to protect themselves in locations previously prohibited by law. This law took effect on July 1.
MONTANA: Three Pro-Gun Bills to Take Effect on October 1
During the 2011 legislative session, three pro-gun bills were signed into law and will go into effect on October 1. House Bill 159 will restrict the authority of the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission to regulate firearms and ammunition. Senate Bill 124 includes a clarification of the suppressor statute that now legalizes the use of suppressors in the field except for hunting. Senate Bill 279 will allow Capitol Security to carry concealed weapons in the state Capitol.
NEVADA: Public Meeting to be Held Regarding Guns in State Parks
The Nevada Division of State Parks will hold a public hearing on the Nevada Administrative Code’s change of regulation to allow for the carrying of firearms in state parks, due to the 2011 statutory changes mandated in Assembly Bill 282. This public hearing will be held on October 12 in Carson City. If you cannot attend the hearing, please submit written comments to the Nevada State Parks Division by October 12.
PENNSYLVANIA: Sunday Hunting Needs Your Support
The state House Game and Fisheries Committee is considering legislation to end the prohibition on Sunday hunting. Please contact members of this committee and urge them to support Sunday hunting.
WASHINGTON: The NRA Goes to Bat for Hunters
On September 19, attorneys for the NRA submitted a letter to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) requesting that they repeal the traditional (lead) ammunition ban. The WDFW has imposed a ban on the use of traditional ammunition for all upland bird hunting on all pheasant release sites statewide. This restriction was adopted by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission two years ago but its implementation was delayed until this hunting season.
We make sure that we receive and read every email from the NRA. We fully support the NRA. Thanks for everything that you’re doing to protect our Second Amendment Rights! – Hunters Against PETA
For Immediate Release
Big Game Forever Announces Court Action to Defend Wolf Delisting
Missoula, Montana – Big Game Forever (BGF) announced it has filed a motion in federal court to defend the recent Congressional Action to remove wolves from the Endangered Species List. The joint motion filed by attorneys for Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Mule Deer Foundation, Wild Sheep Foundation, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW), Montana SFW, Idaho SFW, Arizona SFW and Big Game Forever is in response to challenges to the constitutionality of the recent congressional action to allow for wolf management in Idaho and Montana.
With recovery of wolf populations, procedural impediments have been consistently applied in an attempt to prevent state management of wolves. “It is time for state wildlife agencies to be able to manage wolves, along with other species, in balance and with responsibility,” explains Roger Blackner of Idaho SFW. “Montanans strongly feel that a return to common sense conservation is the best way to protect the future of all wildlife species,” indicates Bill Merrill of Montana SFW. “Unmanaged wolves behave differently from managed wolves,” suggests Byron Bateman of Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife. Bateman continues, “recent attacks on horses, dogs and other livestock on people’s property show how important it is to begin to address the unnecessary damage to wildlife and livestock resources by unmanaged wolf populations.”
The two most recent lawsuits filed by several anti-delisting organizations challenge the constitutionality of recent congressional delisting decisions. “Overruling the clear intent of Congress places the courts in an untenable position that can only be remedied by more comprehensive Congressional action,” explains Ryan Benson from Big Game Forever. Benson continues, “repeated lawsuits to indefinitely prevent needed management of a recovered species creates unintended consequences that ultimately are not good for species that remain endangered.” While Congress continues to explore additional delisting actions, Big Game Forever will continue to work with the other partner groups to support the right of states to take the primary role in managing and protecting increasingly problematic wolf populations in the states of the West and Midwest.
Ryan Benson
Big Game Forever