U.S. House
of Representatives Adopts Right-to-Carry
Reciprocity—
All
Anti-Gun Amendments Defeated!

Click here to vote in this week’s poll.

On Wednesday, Nov. 16, the ongoing effort to fully vindicate the fundamental,
individual right to carry a concealed handgun for self-defense took a major step
forward with House passage of H.R. 822, the
“National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011.” The bill, sponsored by
Reps. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) and Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), which has 245
cosponsors, was approved by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 272-154.

Senate
Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing on Schumer Registration and Rights Denial
Bill : On Tuesday November 16,
the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism held a
hearing on Sen. Charles Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) S. 436. Dubbed by
anti-gunners the “Fix Gun Checks Act,” rather than “fix” the current National
Instant Criminal Background Check System, the legislation would eliminate
private sales and gun shows as we know them and expand the range of persons
prohibited from owning firearms.

Twelve
Big Wins for Gun Owners: The
final conference report on the combined Fiscal Year 2012 Agriculture,
Commerce/Justice/Science (CJS) and Transportation/Housing/Urban Development
(THUD) Appropriations bills—also known as the “Mini-Bus,” was passed by both the
U.S. House and the U.S. Senate, and has been signed into
law.

NRA to
Fight Proposed Obama Administration Ban on Recreational Shooting on Public
Lands : NRA will fight the proposal by the Obama
administration and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to drastically restrict
recreational shooting opportunities on public lands. NRA is particularly
concerned about the stated motive of this action. A spokesman for the BLM told
U.S. News and World Report that the proposed ban was being enacted in response
to “urbanites” who “freak out” when they hear shooting on public lands. The
spokesman also acknowledged that the impetus for this restriction was not rooted
in safety, rather it was introduced to reduce “social conflict.”

Internet
Rumors About Cerberus, Freedom Group Are Patently
False: Recently, an old rumor
regarding Cerberus–the private equity firm that owns Freedom group, a holding
company that in turn owns a number of firearms manufacturers, including
Remington, Marlin, Bushmaster, and DPMS–was in some way tied to George
Soros.

This rumor is completely false and baseless.

Most of the misguided, unfounded, and incorrect characterizations circulating lately regarding H.R. 822 have come from the anti-gun groups and media.  However, a small number of vocal and supposedly “pro-gun” groups continue to report falsehoods, despite clear evidence to refute their assertions.  Though they claim to be on the side of America’s gun owners and the Second Amendment, their stance on this measure proves otherwise. 

One group claimed H.R. 822 would include anti-gun amendments that would create “disastrous federally mandated infringements on our rights.” 

But, as we recently reported, the House Judiciary has already considered amendments to H.R. 822, and all anti-gun amendments offered that would weaken or gut the legislation were defeated. 

The same group warns of “a ‘study’ to control firearm sales over the internet,” and decries a “review” process that they claim will provide “a perfect opportunity for more changes.”  In reality, there was no amendment to study firearm sales over the internet.  Period.  And the “review” they speak of has nothing to do with adding new anti-gun provisions.  The amendment referred to only requires a study of the law’s effects, and that study would take place after the law is in effect.

Another group is trying to insinuate that anti-gunners in Congress will support the bill in order to limit our gun rights.  In evaluating this ludicrous accusation, please consider that H.R. 822 has not just 245 cosponsors, but 245 pro-gun cosponsors.  And — just as telling — none of the stalwart anti-gun representatives have signed on.  In addition, well known anti-gun groups, including the Brady Campaign and Mayors Against Illegal Guns, have made killing H.R. 822 their top legislative priority.  There is no hidden anti-gun counter-plot going on here.

Opponents of the legislation also claim that it tramples on each “states’ rights.”  But states don’t have rights, only powers.  And while many anti-gun lawmakers who’ve long pushed national gun bans, national bans on private gun sales, national waiting periods and other federal restrictions have suddenly become born-again advocates of “states’ rights” to oppose this bill, several provisions of the Constitution give Congress the authority to enact interstate carry.  Congress also has the power to protect the rights of citizens, nationwide, under the 14^th Amendment (please see related article from a recent Grassroots Alert).

Again, and for the record:

H.R. 822 is a GOOD bill and is GOOD for gun owners.  The bill ENHANCES Americans’ right to self-defense by enabling 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 outside the home.  H.R. 822 would require states to recognize each others’ lawfully-issued carry permits, just as they recognize driver’s licenses and carry permits held by armored car guards.

H.R. 822 DOES NOT:

• Create a federal licensing or registration system;
• Establish a minimum federal standard for the carry permit;
• Involve the federal bureaucracy in setting standards for carry permit;
• Destroy permitless carry systems such as those in Arizona, Alaska, Vermont and Wyoming.

H.R. 822 is headed to the House floor.  Please IMMEDIATELY contact your member of Congress and urge him or her to support the earliest possible consideration of H.R. 822.

You can find contact information for your U.S. Representative by using the “Write Your Representatives” tool at www.NRAILA.org.  You may also contact your Representative by phone at (202) 225-3121.  Additionally, you may CLICK HERE TO EMAIL YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

Again, H.R. 822 is a good bill for gun owners.  Don’t listen to false claims.  Read the bill yourself and READ OUR FACT SHEET to get more facts. 

To listen to an NRANews interview about H.R. 822 with the bill’s sponsor Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), please click here. 

To listen to an NRANews interview about H.R. 822 with NRA-ILA Director of Research and Information John Frazer, please click here.

To read an op-ed piece about H.R. 822 by NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox, please click here. ]]> http://idahosrpa.org/archives/705/feed 0 http://idahosrpa.org/archives/683 http://idahosrpa.org/archives/683#comments Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:33:30 +0000 308master http://idahosrpa.org/?p=683 Continue reading →]]> Dear Members,

A new link has been made at the top of the website. This link will take you to a page in which you can join the NRA.

When you click on the “Join the NRA” graphic, you will be taken to the NRA’s membership page where you will receive $10 off your membership, where when you join you will be helping over 4 million other members in the fight to ensure our 2nd Amendment rights as well as helping the Idaho State Rifle and Pistol Association bring quality shooting programs to our Idaho youth and to our clubs.

Thanks!

Earlier this year, Congressmen Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) and Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) introduced vital legislation that will enable millions of permit holders to exercise their right to self-defense while traveling outside their home states.

There is now only one 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.) 

H.R. 822 would make a major step forward for gun owners’ rights by significantly expanding where those permits are recognized.

There are now only two states that have no clear legal way for individuals to carry concealed firearms for self-defense.  Thirty-nine states have shall-issue permit systems that make it possible for any law-abiding person to obtain a permit, while most of the others have discretionary permit systems. 

H.R. 822 would make a major step forward for gun owners’ rights by significantly expanding where those permits are recognized.

No News Here-Daley, Emanuel Oppose Right-to-Carry:  In an unsurprising move, two of Chicago’s most prominent, and most anti-gun, politicians joined forces with a coalition of gun ban groups to oppose Right-to-Carry in Illinois.  Illinois is one of only two remaining states that deny citizens the ability to carry firearms for self-defense.

Deadline Nears On BATFE Shotgun Ban Comments:  As we reported on Jan. 28, May 1 is the deadline for public comments concerning a shotgun importation ban that has been proposed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. A working group within the BATFE has recommended that any shotgun (semi-automatic, pump-action or any other) that has any one of 10 specific features should be banned from importation, on the grounds that such shotguns are not “generally recognized as particularly suitable for a readily adaptable to sporting purposes.” 

Government Shutdown And The Instant Check System:  With the budget battle between the White House and congressional leaders threatening to shut down many federal government operations, the NRA has received many questions about whether a government shutdown would close access to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. 

The answer, according to NICS staff, is no.  NICS is part of the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division, which is considered an essential law enforcement operation and will therefore continue to operate, although with a limited staff, during any shutdown. 

More Evidence That Mexican Drug Cartel Guns Are Coming From Central America:  As we reported last week, evidence is mounting that many of the illegal firearms finding their way to Mexican drug cartels are originating not in the U.S., but rather from surplus military sources in Central America. 

Plan To Attend Free Grassroots Workshop At NRA’s Upcoming Annual Meetings In Pittsburgh, PA!  In anticipation of a hectic legislative session at both the federal and state levels, and in order to lay the foundation for a successful campaign season in 2012, NRA-ILA will be hosting a FREE Grassroots Workshop on Friday, April 29, in conjunction with NRA’s Annual Meetings in Pittsburgh. 

Panelists Announced For Special ILA Seminar!   In addition to the FREE Grassroots Workshop being held in conjunction with this year’s Annual Meetings in Pittsburgh, the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division will be holding a special seminar. 

ILA Dinner and Auction At Annual Meetings:  The Institute for Legislative Action will hold its Fifth Annual Dinner and Auction in conjunction with the NRA Annual Meetings in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Friday evening, April 29^th.   

The Fifth Annual NRA-ILA Dinner and Auction will allow you to show your continued support for NRA-ILA, and enjoy a great evening filled with good food, friends, and an excellent live and silent auction. 

This year, the auction will be held at Heinz Field. Don’t miss your opportunity to bid on one-of-a-kind firearms, original artwork, knives, hunts and wines.  This is also a great chance to meet NRA officers and ILA staff. 

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact John Commerford, 703-267-1141 or visit www.nraila.org/ilaauction.

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).

April 7 update – from Idaho Sportmens connection.
 

There has been a lot of activity at the capital this morning, with the House and Senate working through additional appropriation bills. The Senate finished there business, and adjourned sine die at about 12:30pm and are officially done for the 2011 legislative session. The House took recess just after the noon hour, and will return back to hear a few more appropriation bills looking to sine die early afternoon.

Important: There has also been an interesting turn of events regarding Domestic Cervidae at the capital. If you remember, the negotiated rules that were before the House were rejected, and then recently the Senate concurred with the rejected portions of the rule from the House. HCR024 was that concurrent resolution that rejected the negotiated rule, and has been sitting in the Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee since March 18th. Now that the Senate has adjourned sine die, and this concurrent resolution was not presented to the full Senate, therefore not passed by the Senate, the rules that ISCAC had worked on for so long over the summer months and negotiated go into effect!

Important: Additionally, SB1085 was pushed down to the bottom of the third reading calendar over the past few days and the House adjourned sine die with the bill sitting on the third reading calendar. This means that SB1085 is dead, and cannot move forward nor can it carry over to the next legislative session.

Now that both houses have adjourned sine die, this will be the final post for the 2011 Legislative Session.

April 6, 2011
Posted @ 3:15PM

This morning the House of Representatives met to work through a second and third reading calendar, both of which were growing smaller as both houses approach sine die for the 2011 legislative session. At the top of the third reading calendar in the afternoon meeting of the House was SB1085 dealing with Domestic Cervidae. As of 3:00pm, the bill was still in waiting as the House suspended rules to hear other pieces of legislation from the second reading calendar.

This afternoon the Senate Resources and Environment Committee met to hear HB343 which is a Declaration of emergency, issuance of executive orders and proclamations relating to wolves, as stated on the listed agenda for the committee. This bill has already passed the House of Representatives as mentioned yesterday, and continues to move quickly through the process as both houses look to sine die tomorrow. Representative Phil Hart presented this bill to the committee with a number of individuals in attendance. Chairman Pearce mentioned that they were under a time constraint, as the Senate was to reconvene on the floor at 3:00pm. The committee went through the signup sheet for public testimony, and attempted to hear from those both for and against the bill. Chairman Pearce stated that of those individuals that signed up to testify on the bill, only 6 of the 60 were opposed to the proposed legislation. HB343 passed the Senate Resources and Environment Committee following public testimony, and will be sent to the full Senate with a do pass recommendation (7-2) followed by applause from a number of individuals in the audience.

This Friday, March 25, the Senate State Affairs Committee is scheduled to consider House Bill 222. Last week, with strong support from pro-gun members, the Idaho House passed HB 222 by a 41 to 28 vote, with one vote absent.  There has been a lot of vocal opposition to this self-defense bill so it is critical that our voices are heard and committee members know how important this legislation is to all Idahoans.

This important self-defense legislation would allow for the lawful carry of a firearm on a college or university campus for self-defense, as long as the individual is not restricted from legally carrying a firearm by any state or federal law.  While this bill would also grant authority to a college and university to restrict firearms in undergraduate housing, opposition continues to argue that law-abiding permit holders cannot be trusted to carry a firearm on campus. 
Even with the concession to allow universities to restrict firearm possession in undergraduate housing, Governor Butch Otter (R) continues to publicly express concerns with this bill. It is important that you contact him today and express the importance of this legislation and respectfully request his support.  Should this legislation reach Governor Otter’s desk, it is important that Idahoans have made it clear that this legislation is too important and should not be vetoed.

Please contact Governor Butch Otter and the members of the Senate State Affairs Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to support HB 222 and Idahoans right to self-defense.

Governor Butch Otter

E-mail

(208) 334-2100

Senate State Affairs Committee:

Senator Curt McKenzie (R-12), Chairman

CMcKenzie@senate.idaho.gov

(208) 332-1326

Senator Russell Fulcher (R-21), Vice Chairman

RFulcher@senate.idaho.gov

(208) 332-1340

Senator Bart Davis (R-23)

BDavis@senate.idaho.gov

(208) 332-1305

Senator Brent Hill (R-34)

BHill@senate.idaho.gov

(208) 332-1300

Senator John McGee (R-10)

JMcGee@senate.idaho.gov

(208) 332-1304

Senator Patti Anne Lodge (R-13)

PALodge@senate.idaho.gov

(208) 332-1319

Senator Chuck Winder (R-14)

CWinder@senate.idaho.gov

(208) 332-1354

Senator Michelle Stennett (D-25)

MStennett@senate.idaho.gov

(208) 332-1353

Senator Edgar Malepeai (D-30)

EMalepeai@senate.idaho.gov

(208) 332-1406