MIAMI Scott Hidnert was driving out of his office parking lot at 720 NW 102nd St. on Thursday evening when he claims a would-be robber pulled the trigger of his weapon, but the gun jammed.
No words were exchanged. Hidnert snapped open his glove compartment, grabbed his handgun, opened the driver's side-door and fired ''several shots,'' according to Jonathan Bennett, office manager of the Traffic Ticket Office, founded by Hidnert.
Another robber, lurking beyond the gate of the parking lot, disappeared into the night.
''I'm lucky to be alive,'' the lawyer said. Hidnert has been called the ''granddaddy'' of ticket defenders. He founded a firm called Ticket Busters in 1992, one of the first to focus on misdemeanors such as speeding and running red lights. The firm's name changed to Traffic Ticket Office three years later.
Last year, a new Florida law was enacted that loosened the standard for self-defense, allowing threatened citizens to shoot first even if attackers don't show a gun. ''I don't expect any charges. He had a gun and was aiming at me,'' Hidnert said. ``If his gun didn't jam, he would have shot me.''
Miami-Dade police spokesman detective Roy Rutland declined to discuss charges. ``The entire case is still under investigation.'' Said Miami-Dade State Attorney's spokesman Ed Griffith: ``As part of the normal procedure, we always review all of the details.''
Miami-Dade's homicide bureau didn't release the name of the slain robber
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Guns in homes
We need right to defend ourselves, not run
Re: "Bills would arm owners with right to use deadly force – Legislature: Residents would not have to try to flee first," Wednesday news story.
Marsha McCartney says people defending themselves are not going to jail – "That's just not the case," she says – but that's just not true.
Many Texans who have defended themselves from criminals bent on violent actions found themselves held up to scrutiny as suspects and had to expend funds to defend themselves. Ms. McCartney conveniently forgets that they exist.
Gordon Hale III was arrested for his self-defense shooting of Kenny Tavai and had to wait for a grand jury to no-bill him. Four other Texans were acquitted at jury trial, people who would not have had to go through what they did if this "castle" law were in effect.
The Rev. Peter Johnson says, "The solution to violence is not more violence," and he may be right, but the only response to a violent attacker is adequate self-defense, not retreat.
Texans need the right to defend ourselves, not the obligation to run away.
Jim Longley, Allen
Many law enforcement officials don't support it
Your article failed to mention the numerous district attorneys, police chiefs and other law enforcement officials who oppose this "castle" bill.
You also failed to mention all the Texans who know that you don't fix something that isn't broke. No one is in jail for acting in what a jury decided is legitimate self-defense. This law represents a dangerous step backward in public policy. It encourages the use of deadly force and empoweres potentially dangerous people.
It creates a loophole that allows a shooter to use deadly force as a first resort, rather than a last resort
Lori Jefferson Foster, Dallas
'Shoot-first' characterization is a scare tactic
Marsha McCartney of the North Texas Brady Campaign relies on scare tactics by referring to this bill as a "shoot-first bill." She paints a picture of homeowners basically firing at will at anyone coming on their property.
Regardless of what she wants us to believe, House Bill 284 does not change any of the required legal justifications for using deadly force in self-defense. The legal justification must be met, or that person would be subject to prosecution.
Similar scare tactics were used against the current concealed handgun license bill. Opponents offered images of carnage in the streets; none of those dire predictions came true.
Phillip Herbst, Rockwall
Re: "Bills would arm owners with right to use deadly force – Legislature: Residents would not have to try to flee first," Wednesday news story.
Marsha McCartney says people defending themselves are not going to jail – "That's just not the case," she says – but that's just not true.
Many Texans who have defended themselves from criminals bent on violent actions found themselves held up to scrutiny as suspects and had to expend funds to defend themselves. Ms. McCartney conveniently forgets that they exist.
Gordon Hale III was arrested for his self-defense shooting of Kenny Tavai and had to wait for a grand jury to no-bill him. Four other Texans were acquitted at jury trial, people who would not have had to go through what they did if this "castle" law were in effect.
The Rev. Peter Johnson says, "The solution to violence is not more violence," and he may be right, but the only response to a violent attacker is adequate self-defense, not retreat.
Texans need the right to defend ourselves, not the obligation to run away.
Jim Longley, Allen
Many law enforcement officials don't support it
Your article failed to mention the numerous district attorneys, police chiefs and other law enforcement officials who oppose this "castle" bill.
You also failed to mention all the Texans who know that you don't fix something that isn't broke. No one is in jail for acting in what a jury decided is legitimate self-defense. This law represents a dangerous step backward in public policy. It encourages the use of deadly force and empoweres potentially dangerous people.
It creates a loophole that allows a shooter to use deadly force as a first resort, rather than a last resort
Lori Jefferson Foster, Dallas
'Shoot-first' characterization is a scare tactic
Marsha McCartney of the North Texas Brady Campaign relies on scare tactics by referring to this bill as a "shoot-first bill." She paints a picture of homeowners basically firing at will at anyone coming on their property.
Regardless of what she wants us to believe, House Bill 284 does not change any of the required legal justifications for using deadly force in self-defense. The legal justification must be met, or that person would be subject to prosecution.
Similar scare tactics were used against the current concealed handgun license bill. Opponents offered images of carnage in the streets; none of those dire predictions came true.
Phillip Herbst, Rockwall
‘Worried’ farmer to lose guns
This is in Australia where there is strict gun control, confiscation and licensing. See how easily a citizen becomes a criminal - USA next?
A FIFTH generation Table Top farmer has lost firearms estimated to be worth $20,000 after failing to safely store them.
Terence Robert Wright pleaded guilty in Albury Local Court yesterday to charges of failing to safely keep a prohibited weapon and failing to safely keep a non-prohibited weapon.
Twelve other charges were withdrawn by police prosecutor Sgt Bob Hanzic.
Wright was placed on a 12-month bond without conviction on the two charges.
Magistrate Tony Murray was told Wright, 56, of “Dundooga”, had seven firearms dismantled and secreted in the roof of his house in an attempt to hide them from his son.
Wright left some gun parts in his gun safe and put other parts elsewhere.
Wright was concerned about his son or his son’s de facto having access to the guns because there was an ongoing dispute between them.
But Mr Murray said it was a poor judgement call by Wright to adopt the approach he did.
“The penalties provided by the legislation are quite severe,” Mr Murray said.
Under the legislation the firearms had to be forfeited and that was a severe penalty in itself.
Barrister Guy Newton told the court Wright had tried to protect his son and his son’s partner and the circumstances of the case were “somewhat exceptional”.
He said Wright has been using firearms from a young age and they were essential in his occupation as a farmer.
The loss of a firearms licence would be a significant penalty.
Kangaroos were causing problems and cockatoos recently attacked a grain storage bunker causing $50,000 to $60,000 damage.
Wright has a 1200ha property running sheep and cattle.
Mr Newton said Wright had no previous convictions.
Wright was suspended from possessing and using a firearm when the guns had been seized on March 20 last year.
One of the guns seized, a .22 rifle with a scope, was given to him on his 12th birthday.
Mr Murray said it was his opinion that the NSW Police Commissioner should not take any action on Wright’s firearms licence and he should retain it.
Guns, a million rounds and a tunnel in Norco
NORCO - Neighbors who lived alongside him for years say they never saw Thomas McKiernan roll up the garage door of his Norco home.
Now they know why.
On Friday, authorities found more than 125 rifles and handguns, about a million rounds of ammunition and 60 pounds of gunpowder stockpiled in McKiernan's home on the 1800 block of Pali Drive -- enough to level several houses in the quiet Norco neighborhood under the wrong circumstances. They also discovered a tunnel beneath the garage.
The cache was found after a fire Thursday.
As Riverside County sheriff's investigators uncovered the arsenal, along with reserves of food and water, they began to develop a profile of the 62-year-old retired machinist, who was identified as the home's owner by neighbors and property records.
"We're possibly dealing with a survivalist," said Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez, a Riverside County Sheriff's Department spokesman.
McKiernan, who, officials said, punched and kicked rescue workers to get into the burning house, is being held for a mental evaluation, Gutierrez said. McKiernan has not been arrested.
Police evacuated the entire neighborhood Thursday as firefighters worked to put out the blaze amid bursting rounds of live ammunition.
Fire crews discovered an eight-foot deep tunnel 30 feet from the middle of the garage to a spot beneath the main house. Local and federal officers pulled three barrels out of the tunnel using hooks and poles, said Norco Fire Department Battalion Chief Frank deBoer. They contained rice, water and cooking oil.
Investigators worked into the evening Friday to locate and remove weapons found in the kitchen, living room and bedrooms. Two locked safes, reinforced with chains, had yet to be opened, he said.
It will take days for deputies and agents with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to catalog or destroy the guns and ammunition, Gutierrez said. It could be days before officials decide whether to charge McKiernan.
The only illegal items investigators have identified so far are five assault rifles, several high-capacity magazines and the 60 pounds of gunpowder. It is illegal to possess more than one pound of gunpowder, Gutierrez said.
The cause of the fire is still unknown. Authorities condemned the house because of the tunnel.
On Friday, two-thirds of the driveway leading to McKiernan's modest, shingle-roofed home was filled with ordnance. Cardboard boxes and green metal, military-style containers of ammunition were stacked next to canisters and cookie tins packed with gunpowder.
The ammunition ranged from .22 caliber bullets for small arms to .30 caliber rounds used in high-powered military rifles.
It's not uncommon for collectors to have dozens of guns, but storing that much ammunition is hazardous, said Mike Raahauge, who owns a shooting range in Corona. (Probably left over from the feared infamous Y2K scare)
"You can shoot 500 rounds of shotgun shells in a normal day of hunting or shooting," he said. "But a million rounds - holy Toledo! No normal person would have a million rounds of ammo in their house."
Neighborhood Reaction
Residents -- many of them retirees -- of the quiet neighborhood said they were thankful the damage wasn't worse.
Gary Eppler spotted the smoke and flames coming from McTiernan's roof. While his wife called 911, Eppler banged on his neighbor's door, but got no response.
The screen door was unlocked and he entered. McTiernan was lying on a couch in the living room, seemingly passed out, Eppler said. A small fire extinguisher was within reach.
Eppler helped a staggering McKiernan outside.
"But he went around back and said, 'I've got to save my house.' I don't know what he was doing around there."
According to police and neighbors, it took three deputies to restrain McKiernan, who rambled anxiously after his struggle with firefighters.
Neighbors describe McKiernan as a quiet, soft-spoken man who has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years with no trouble. They said he is a military veteran who sometimes went to a nearby shooting range for target practice with his son, who they said is in the military.
Pali Drive resident Sylvia Madruga described McKiernan as a nice, friendly man with a passion for discussing politics.
"He wasn't radical or anything like that," she said. "He had the same feelings that everyone had, he was tired of the liars in the government, and a government that doesn't listen to its people."
According to Madruga, raised his five children at the home. One of his sons was serving with the Marines in Afghanistan, Madruga said.
Madruga said McKiernan was a voracious reader of politically-themed novels and once borrowed a copy of a book based on the life of FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover.
"He was very well read," she said. "He felt that the government was not doing enough to protect and secure our borders."
Profile of a Survivalist
On the surface, McKiernan fits the profile of a survivalist, said James Houston, a criminologist and professor of criminology at Grand Valley State University in Michigan.
"Neighbors always describe them as quiet and helpful," said Houston. "It has to do with their strong sense of isolation."
They are working-class individuals who tend to share a distrust of the government and lean politically to the right, Houston said. Survivalists struggle to understand the cultural and technological changes happening today.
The idea that the government is not doing enough to protect them from crime or waves of illegal immigration is often why they stockpile weapons and supplies, he said.
Many survivalists are susceptible to the idea of "culture wars" played up in the media, Houston said.
"Some people to take it to heart, and they have guns to prepare themselves for when the time comes," Houston said.
Reach Sarah Gordon at 951-893-2114 or sgordon@PE.com.
By GREGOR McGAVIN, SARAH GORDON, LAURA RICO and PAIGE AUSTIN
The Press-Enterprise
Now they know why.
On Friday, authorities found more than 125 rifles and handguns, about a million rounds of ammunition and 60 pounds of gunpowder stockpiled in McKiernan's home on the 1800 block of Pali Drive -- enough to level several houses in the quiet Norco neighborhood under the wrong circumstances. They also discovered a tunnel beneath the garage.
The cache was found after a fire Thursday.
As Riverside County sheriff's investigators uncovered the arsenal, along with reserves of food and water, they began to develop a profile of the 62-year-old retired machinist, who was identified as the home's owner by neighbors and property records.
"We're possibly dealing with a survivalist," said Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez, a Riverside County Sheriff's Department spokesman.
McKiernan, who, officials said, punched and kicked rescue workers to get into the burning house, is being held for a mental evaluation, Gutierrez said. McKiernan has not been arrested.
Police evacuated the entire neighborhood Thursday as firefighters worked to put out the blaze amid bursting rounds of live ammunition.
Fire crews discovered an eight-foot deep tunnel 30 feet from the middle of the garage to a spot beneath the main house. Local and federal officers pulled three barrels out of the tunnel using hooks and poles, said Norco Fire Department Battalion Chief Frank deBoer. They contained rice, water and cooking oil.
Investigators worked into the evening Friday to locate and remove weapons found in the kitchen, living room and bedrooms. Two locked safes, reinforced with chains, had yet to be opened, he said.
It will take days for deputies and agents with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to catalog or destroy the guns and ammunition, Gutierrez said. It could be days before officials decide whether to charge McKiernan.
The only illegal items investigators have identified so far are five assault rifles, several high-capacity magazines and the 60 pounds of gunpowder. It is illegal to possess more than one pound of gunpowder, Gutierrez said.
The cause of the fire is still unknown. Authorities condemned the house because of the tunnel.
On Friday, two-thirds of the driveway leading to McKiernan's modest, shingle-roofed home was filled with ordnance. Cardboard boxes and green metal, military-style containers of ammunition were stacked next to canisters and cookie tins packed with gunpowder.
The ammunition ranged from .22 caliber bullets for small arms to .30 caliber rounds used in high-powered military rifles.
It's not uncommon for collectors to have dozens of guns, but storing that much ammunition is hazardous, said Mike Raahauge, who owns a shooting range in Corona. (Probably left over from the feared infamous Y2K scare)
"You can shoot 500 rounds of shotgun shells in a normal day of hunting or shooting," he said. "But a million rounds - holy Toledo! No normal person would have a million rounds of ammo in their house."
Neighborhood Reaction
Residents -- many of them retirees -- of the quiet neighborhood said they were thankful the damage wasn't worse.
Gary Eppler spotted the smoke and flames coming from McTiernan's roof. While his wife called 911, Eppler banged on his neighbor's door, but got no response.
The screen door was unlocked and he entered. McTiernan was lying on a couch in the living room, seemingly passed out, Eppler said. A small fire extinguisher was within reach.
Eppler helped a staggering McKiernan outside.
"But he went around back and said, 'I've got to save my house.' I don't know what he was doing around there."
According to police and neighbors, it took three deputies to restrain McKiernan, who rambled anxiously after his struggle with firefighters.
Neighbors describe McKiernan as a quiet, soft-spoken man who has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years with no trouble. They said he is a military veteran who sometimes went to a nearby shooting range for target practice with his son, who they said is in the military.
Pali Drive resident Sylvia Madruga described McKiernan as a nice, friendly man with a passion for discussing politics.
"He wasn't radical or anything like that," she said. "He had the same feelings that everyone had, he was tired of the liars in the government, and a government that doesn't listen to its people."
According to Madruga, raised his five children at the home. One of his sons was serving with the Marines in Afghanistan, Madruga said.
Madruga said McKiernan was a voracious reader of politically-themed novels and once borrowed a copy of a book based on the life of FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover.
"He was very well read," she said. "He felt that the government was not doing enough to protect and secure our borders."
Profile of a Survivalist
On the surface, McKiernan fits the profile of a survivalist, said James Houston, a criminologist and professor of criminology at Grand Valley State University in Michigan.
"Neighbors always describe them as quiet and helpful," said Houston. "It has to do with their strong sense of isolation."
They are working-class individuals who tend to share a distrust of the government and lean politically to the right, Houston said. Survivalists struggle to understand the cultural and technological changes happening today.
The idea that the government is not doing enough to protect them from crime or waves of illegal immigration is often why they stockpile weapons and supplies, he said.
Many survivalists are susceptible to the idea of "culture wars" played up in the media, Houston said.
"Some people to take it to heart, and they have guns to prepare themselves for when the time comes," Houston said.
Reach Sarah Gordon at 951-893-2114 or sgordon@PE.com.
By GREGOR McGAVIN, SARAH GORDON, LAURA RICO and PAIGE AUSTIN
The Press-Enterprise
NEWLY REVAMPED NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ALERT
Striving to Better Meet Your Needs
2007 marks the 14th year of the Friday NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert. Those of you who have been receiving the Alert since its inception, probably remember when the weekly Alert was transmitted exclusively via fax!
We've certainly come a long way from where we began in 1993, and we have always tried to improve both the content and design of our weekly update to better serve gun owners.
With this issue of the NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert you will notice our latest improvements.
First and foremost, you'll notice a different layout that is much more user-friendly. To ensure the weekly Alert is easier on the eye, we will provide you with briefer story summaries, along with the option to click the story title if you wish to read the entire piece. This will translate into a much shorter Alert that will allow you flexibility in determining which stories are of most interest to you.
Also, we have made a major modification to the "A Look At The States" section, where we report on state and local activities. Now entitled "State Roundup," this new section will allow you to view alerts from as many states as you wish. By clicking the section title, you will be brought to a map of the United States; clicking any state will bring up corresponding alerts. As for breaking news, each week, we will list specific states that have updated alerts posted, along with a brief description of the issues at hand. By clicking on the specific description you will be able to read the full story associated with that particular alert.
Of course, we will continuously strive to further improve this product. In the meantime, we ask that you work to ensure that your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners are receiving the Friday Grassroots Alert so they, too, may stay on top of developments pertaining to our firearm freedoms, take the corresponding action, and share with their pro-Second Amendment networks. To sign up to receive this Alert, and ILA's other legislative and political updates, click here (link to e-mail sign up) and provide your e-mail address.
We hope that the reformatted Grassroots Alert will better fit your needs as a grassroots activist. Of course, if you have additional suggestions on how we may improve this weekly update, feel free to contact the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-8683 or via e-mail at ila-contact@nrahq.org.
Thank you for your continued support and readership!
NRA PRESIDENT TO CO-HOST RADIO SHOW: Please mark your calendar and listen to NRA President Sandra S. Froman, as she co-hosts Jim Soloman's radio show Xplor the Southwest, this Sunday March 4, from 7:00-9:00 a.m. You can listen on "The Fan," AM 1060 Sports Radio Phoenix, broadcasting from the new Cabela's store in Glendale (store opens at 9:00 a.m.), or worldwide via streaming video at www.Xplorsw.com. Following the broadcast, President Froman will be discussing NRA and the Second Amendment in the Seminar Room, beginning at 10:00 a.m. If you're in the area, please be sure to stop by on Saturday morning to meet President Froman and hear her speak. If you're not in the area, please be sure to tune in!
CPAC 2007 NRA Members are invited to attend CPAC 2007, the 34th Annual Conservative Political Action Conference, still going on today and tomorrow (March 2 - 3, 2007). For additional information, or to register for the conference, please call (703) 836-8602, or visit CPAC online at www.cpac.org
PLAN TO ATTEND FREE ST. LOUIS GRASSROOTS WORKSHOP! The NRA-ILA Grassroots Division will host its FREE Grassroots Workshop on April 13, in conjunction with NRA's Annual Meetings in St. Louis. (Please click title link above for more information or to register.)
SECOND GRASSROOTS EVENT PLANNED FOR ST. LOUIS In addition to the FREE Grassroots Workshop being held in conjunction with NRA's Annual Meetings in St. Louis, the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division is holding an additional FREE event in St. Louis.
FEDS CONSIDER REMOVING WOLVES FROM ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT The federal government is holding open house public hearings in different states to obtain public comments regarding the delisting of Rocky Mountain wolves from the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Please attend the hearings in your area and let your voice be heard!
FUTURE OF RECREATIONAL SHOOTING ON THE ARAPAHOE AND ROOSEVELT NATIONAL FORESTS UNDER REVIEW The Boulder Ranger District of the Araphoe and Roosevelt National Forests is conducting a planning process to determine how recreational shooting, dispersed camping, and campfires will be managed in the future. Issues concerning these activities have been developed based upon public input through written comments or at one of the public meetings held last May. The final public meeting to discuss solutions to the issues will be held March 3, in Longmont, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., at the Longmont High School, 1040 Sunset Street. Comments may be sent to cluna@fs.fed.us. For more information you may call the District Ranger's office at (303) 541-2500, or go to the website at: www.fs.fed.us/r2/arnf/projects/ea-projects/brd/ufc/index.shtml.
STATE ROUNDUP (please click to see any updates on states not listed below.)
ARIZONA:
Major Self-Defense Bill on Its Way to the Governor! Senate Bill 1302, a much-needed fix to Arizona self-defense statutes, is on its way to Governor Janet Napolitano (D) for her consideration. Please contact Governor Napolitano today toll-free at (800) 253-0883 and urge her to sign this very important measure.
"Emergency Powers" Legislation Clears House, Heads to Senate! "Emergency Powers" legislation, cleared the House this week with amendments approved by the author and Governor Napolitano (D). Please contact your Senator today at (602) 542-3559 and respectfully urge him or her to support this important bill.
Right-to-Carry Legislation Reform Slated to be Heard in Committee! House Bill 2469 is slated to be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, March 5. Please contact members of the Judiciary Committee and urge them to support this legislation. A roster of committee members and contact information can be found by visiting http://azleg.gov/CommitteeInfo.asp?Committee_ID=10.
ARKANSAS:
Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Reform Heads To Governor! The Arkansas Senate passed SB 268, the NRA-backed Right-to-Carry reciprocity clean-up bill. This bill now heads to Governor Mike Beebe (D).
Help Protect Arkansas' Hunting Heritage! Please continue contacting members of the Senate and House Committees on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs, and urging them to cosponsor Senate Joint Resolution 7 (SJR 7). Arkansas State Senators can be reached at (501) 682-2902, and State Representatives at (501) 682-6211.
CONNECTICUT:
One-Gun-A-Month Initiative Still Awaiting Committee Vote! We are continuing to watch over Senate Bill 938 (one-gun-a-month legislation) for the committee vote which could be as late as Thursday, March 8. A vote must be made by that date, as it is the bill-reporting deadline for the Public Safety Committee. Please visit www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=2625 for a list of committee members.
HAWAII:
Two Important Pro-Gun Bills Heading to Senate Floor! Senate Bill 702 and Senate Bill 1617, passed out of their policy committees with amendments. Please contact your State Senator today at (808) 586-6720 and respectfully urge him or her to support these bills when they reach the floor.
ILLINOIS:
Attention Gun Owners: Please Attend IGOLD on March 14! Pro-gun margins are razor-thin in the Illinois State General Assembly, so NRA is encouraging all law-abiding gun owners to take part in IGOLD 2007 - the Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day, on Wednesday, March 14. For more details, including information regarding busses scheduled to transport activists from across the Land of Lincoln, please contact the ISRA at (815) 635-3198, or go to http://igold.isra.org/.
KENTUCKY:
Five Pro-Gun Bills Need Your Help! Please contact your State Representative and your State Senator at (502) 564-8100 and respectfully urge him or her to support the Second Amendment by supporting House Bill 354, House Bill 375, House Bill 469, Senate Bill 8, and Senate Bill 48.
MAINE:
Legislature Considering Making Right-to-Carry More Difficult! Recently introduced legislation, LD778, would require all new applicants and renewing holders of a concealed firearms permit to show documentation they have completed a firearms safety course that includes at least "6 hours" of course work! Please call your state legislator today and urge him or her to oppose this legislation. Your legislator can be reached at the following toll-free numbers: Maine House of Representatives 1-800-423-2900 and the Maine Senate 1-800-423-6900.
MARYLAND:
Senate Committee to Consider "Castle Doctrine" Next Week! Next Thursday, March 7, the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee will hold a public hearing on SB 518. Please contact the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee members at (410) 841-3623 Annapolis/Balitmore area or (301) 858-3623 Washington, D.C. area and voice your support for SB 518.
MISSOURI:
"Castle Doctrine" Bill Set for Final Passage Soon! Castle Doctrine legislation, Senate Bill 62, could be on the Senate floor for final passage as early as Monday, March 5. Please contact your State Senator at (573)-751-3824 and strongly encourage him or her to protect your right to self-defense by supporting and voting for Senate Bill 62.
NEW HAMPSHIRE:
Anti-Gun Legislation Looms in the Senate! Senate Bill 44, seeks to change the concealed carry licensing statute to make it easier for the issuing authority to deny a license. Please contact your State Senator today at (603) 271-2111 and urge him or her to oppose SB44.
NEW YORK:
Nomination of Anti-Hunting, Anti-Gunner Advocate Put on Hold! The New York State Senate this week put "on hold" the nomination of Alexander "Pete" Grannis for Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner as it explores the mounting opposition to his confirmation. Please continue contacting your State Senator at (518) 455-2800 and respectfully urge him or her to oppose Grannis' nomination as DEC Comissioner.
NORTH DAKOTA:
"Castle Doctrine" Legislation Heads to State Senate! House Bill 1319 has passed the North Dakota House of Representatives. Please contact the members of the Senate Natural Resources Committee and respectfully urge them to pass HB 1319.
PENNSYLVANIA:
House Committee Schedules Statewide Hearings on "Gun Violence"! The House Judiciary Committee, Chaired by Tom Caltagirone (Berks -D) has scheduled statewide hearings on gun-related crime. This will be an opportunity for gun owners in Pennsylvania to express their concerns regarding the many recent anti-gun proposals introduced in the House of Representatives. If you are interested in presenting testimony or need further information on any of the informational meetings please contact John Ryan or Bill Andring at 717-787-3525.
SOUTH CAROLINA:
Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Reform Prevails in the House! In spite of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division's efforts, which nearly led to the bill being sent back to the Judiciary Committee for reconsideration, our Right to Keep and Bear Arms prevailed, and HB 3212 passed second reading on the House floor on Thursday, March 1, with an overwhelming 100-2 vote. Please, contact your State Senator at (803) 212-6200 and urge him or her to support HB 3212 in its current form.
VERMONT:
Legislation Takes Aim at Ammunition! The controversial anti-gun "Get the Lead Out of Vermont" report released last month by the Vermont Attorney General and State Department of Health has spawned a far-reaching bill that could allow Vermont municipalities to outlaw shooting ranges and even the mere possession of lead ammunition. Please call your legislator today at 802-828-2228 and ask him or her to oppose H352!
VIRGINIA:
Four Pro-Gun Bills Heads to Governor! With the legislative session now completed, several pro-gun measures are now headed to Governor Tim Kaine (D) for his consideration. Please contact the Governor's office at (804)-786-2211 and strongly encourage him to sign those bills in their current form
WASHINGTON:
Bill Attacking Gun Shows Heads to Senate Floor! SB5197, a measure that would mandate that all firearms sold at gun shows be transferred through a federally licensed dealer, passed out of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on Tuesday, February 27. Please contact your State Senator today toll-free at (800) 562-6000 and respectfully ask that he or she oppose this bill.
WEST VIRGINIA:
West Virginia House Passes Two Important Right-to-Carry Bills! Legislation that would amend Right-to-Carry reciprocity requirements, authorize the Attorney General to execute reciprocity agreements, and restrict public access to the records of carry permit holders passed the West Virginia State House on Tuesday, February 27. Please contact your State Delegate today at (304) 340-3200 and thank him or her for their support and votes for HB3074 and HB2223!
WYOMING:
Wyoming Pro-Gun, Pro-Hunting Bill Heads to Governor's Desk! A measure that would allow for the carrying of firearms during bow hunting season, is on its way to Governor Dave Freudenthal (D) for his consideration. Please contact the Governor at (307) 777-7434 and respectfully urge him to sign this critical piece of legislation.
2007 marks the 14th year of the Friday NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert. Those of you who have been receiving the Alert since its inception, probably remember when the weekly Alert was transmitted exclusively via fax!
We've certainly come a long way from where we began in 1993, and we have always tried to improve both the content and design of our weekly update to better serve gun owners.
With this issue of the NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert you will notice our latest improvements.
First and foremost, you'll notice a different layout that is much more user-friendly. To ensure the weekly Alert is easier on the eye, we will provide you with briefer story summaries, along with the option to click the story title if you wish to read the entire piece. This will translate into a much shorter Alert that will allow you flexibility in determining which stories are of most interest to you.
Also, we have made a major modification to the "A Look At The States" section, where we report on state and local activities. Now entitled "State Roundup," this new section will allow you to view alerts from as many states as you wish. By clicking the section title, you will be brought to a map of the United States; clicking any state will bring up corresponding alerts. As for breaking news, each week, we will list specific states that have updated alerts posted, along with a brief description of the issues at hand. By clicking on the specific description you will be able to read the full story associated with that particular alert.
Of course, we will continuously strive to further improve this product. In the meantime, we ask that you work to ensure that your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners are receiving the Friday Grassroots Alert so they, too, may stay on top of developments pertaining to our firearm freedoms, take the corresponding action, and share with their pro-Second Amendment networks. To sign up to receive this Alert, and ILA's other legislative and political updates, click here (link to e-mail sign up) and provide your e-mail address.
We hope that the reformatted Grassroots Alert will better fit your needs as a grassroots activist. Of course, if you have additional suggestions on how we may improve this weekly update, feel free to contact the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-8683 or via e-mail at ila-contact@nrahq.org.
Thank you for your continued support and readership!
NRA PRESIDENT TO CO-HOST RADIO SHOW: Please mark your calendar and listen to NRA President Sandra S. Froman, as she co-hosts Jim Soloman's radio show Xplor the Southwest, this Sunday March 4, from 7:00-9:00 a.m. You can listen on "The Fan," AM 1060 Sports Radio Phoenix, broadcasting from the new Cabela's store in Glendale (store opens at 9:00 a.m.), or worldwide via streaming video at www.Xplorsw.com. Following the broadcast, President Froman will be discussing NRA and the Second Amendment in the Seminar Room, beginning at 10:00 a.m. If you're in the area, please be sure to stop by on Saturday morning to meet President Froman and hear her speak. If you're not in the area, please be sure to tune in!
CPAC 2007 NRA Members are invited to attend CPAC 2007, the 34th Annual Conservative Political Action Conference, still going on today and tomorrow (March 2 - 3, 2007). For additional information, or to register for the conference, please call (703) 836-8602, or visit CPAC online at www.cpac.org
PLAN TO ATTEND FREE ST. LOUIS GRASSROOTS WORKSHOP! The NRA-ILA Grassroots Division will host its FREE Grassroots Workshop on April 13, in conjunction with NRA's Annual Meetings in St. Louis. (Please click title link above for more information or to register.)
SECOND GRASSROOTS EVENT PLANNED FOR ST. LOUIS In addition to the FREE Grassroots Workshop being held in conjunction with NRA's Annual Meetings in St. Louis, the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division is holding an additional FREE event in St. Louis.
FEDS CONSIDER REMOVING WOLVES FROM ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT The federal government is holding open house public hearings in different states to obtain public comments regarding the delisting of Rocky Mountain wolves from the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Please attend the hearings in your area and let your voice be heard!
FUTURE OF RECREATIONAL SHOOTING ON THE ARAPAHOE AND ROOSEVELT NATIONAL FORESTS UNDER REVIEW The Boulder Ranger District of the Araphoe and Roosevelt National Forests is conducting a planning process to determine how recreational shooting, dispersed camping, and campfires will be managed in the future. Issues concerning these activities have been developed based upon public input through written comments or at one of the public meetings held last May. The final public meeting to discuss solutions to the issues will be held March 3, in Longmont, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., at the Longmont High School, 1040 Sunset Street. Comments may be sent to cluna@fs.fed.us. For more information you may call the District Ranger's office at (303) 541-2500, or go to the website at: www.fs.fed.us/r2/arnf/projects/ea-projects/brd/ufc/index.shtml.
STATE ROUNDUP (please click to see any updates on states not listed below.)
ARIZONA:
Major Self-Defense Bill on Its Way to the Governor! Senate Bill 1302, a much-needed fix to Arizona self-defense statutes, is on its way to Governor Janet Napolitano (D) for her consideration. Please contact Governor Napolitano today toll-free at (800) 253-0883 and urge her to sign this very important measure.
"Emergency Powers" Legislation Clears House, Heads to Senate! "Emergency Powers" legislation, cleared the House this week with amendments approved by the author and Governor Napolitano (D). Please contact your Senator today at (602) 542-3559 and respectfully urge him or her to support this important bill.
Right-to-Carry Legislation Reform Slated to be Heard in Committee! House Bill 2469 is slated to be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, March 5. Please contact members of the Judiciary Committee and urge them to support this legislation. A roster of committee members and contact information can be found by visiting http://azleg.gov/CommitteeInfo.asp?Committee_ID=10.
ARKANSAS:
Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Reform Heads To Governor! The Arkansas Senate passed SB 268, the NRA-backed Right-to-Carry reciprocity clean-up bill. This bill now heads to Governor Mike Beebe (D).
Help Protect Arkansas' Hunting Heritage! Please continue contacting members of the Senate and House Committees on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs, and urging them to cosponsor Senate Joint Resolution 7 (SJR 7). Arkansas State Senators can be reached at (501) 682-2902, and State Representatives at (501) 682-6211.
CONNECTICUT:
One-Gun-A-Month Initiative Still Awaiting Committee Vote! We are continuing to watch over Senate Bill 938 (one-gun-a-month legislation) for the committee vote which could be as late as Thursday, March 8. A vote must be made by that date, as it is the bill-reporting deadline for the Public Safety Committee. Please visit www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=2625 for a list of committee members.
HAWAII:
Two Important Pro-Gun Bills Heading to Senate Floor! Senate Bill 702 and Senate Bill 1617, passed out of their policy committees with amendments. Please contact your State Senator today at (808) 586-6720 and respectfully urge him or her to support these bills when they reach the floor.
ILLINOIS:
Attention Gun Owners: Please Attend IGOLD on March 14! Pro-gun margins are razor-thin in the Illinois State General Assembly, so NRA is encouraging all law-abiding gun owners to take part in IGOLD 2007 - the Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day, on Wednesday, March 14. For more details, including information regarding busses scheduled to transport activists from across the Land of Lincoln, please contact the ISRA at (815) 635-3198, or go to http://igold.isra.org/.
KENTUCKY:
Five Pro-Gun Bills Need Your Help! Please contact your State Representative and your State Senator at (502) 564-8100 and respectfully urge him or her to support the Second Amendment by supporting House Bill 354, House Bill 375, House Bill 469, Senate Bill 8, and Senate Bill 48.
MAINE:
Legislature Considering Making Right-to-Carry More Difficult! Recently introduced legislation, LD778, would require all new applicants and renewing holders of a concealed firearms permit to show documentation they have completed a firearms safety course that includes at least "6 hours" of course work! Please call your state legislator today and urge him or her to oppose this legislation. Your legislator can be reached at the following toll-free numbers: Maine House of Representatives 1-800-423-2900 and the Maine Senate 1-800-423-6900.
MARYLAND:
Senate Committee to Consider "Castle Doctrine" Next Week! Next Thursday, March 7, the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee will hold a public hearing on SB 518. Please contact the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee members at (410) 841-3623 Annapolis/Balitmore area or (301) 858-3623 Washington, D.C. area and voice your support for SB 518.
MISSOURI:
"Castle Doctrine" Bill Set for Final Passage Soon! Castle Doctrine legislation, Senate Bill 62, could be on the Senate floor for final passage as early as Monday, March 5. Please contact your State Senator at (573)-751-3824 and strongly encourage him or her to protect your right to self-defense by supporting and voting for Senate Bill 62.
NEW HAMPSHIRE:
Anti-Gun Legislation Looms in the Senate! Senate Bill 44, seeks to change the concealed carry licensing statute to make it easier for the issuing authority to deny a license. Please contact your State Senator today at (603) 271-2111 and urge him or her to oppose SB44.
NEW YORK:
Nomination of Anti-Hunting, Anti-Gunner Advocate Put on Hold! The New York State Senate this week put "on hold" the nomination of Alexander "Pete" Grannis for Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner as it explores the mounting opposition to his confirmation. Please continue contacting your State Senator at (518) 455-2800 and respectfully urge him or her to oppose Grannis' nomination as DEC Comissioner.
NORTH DAKOTA:
"Castle Doctrine" Legislation Heads to State Senate! House Bill 1319 has passed the North Dakota House of Representatives. Please contact the members of the Senate Natural Resources Committee and respectfully urge them to pass HB 1319.
PENNSYLVANIA:
House Committee Schedules Statewide Hearings on "Gun Violence"! The House Judiciary Committee, Chaired by Tom Caltagirone (Berks -D) has scheduled statewide hearings on gun-related crime. This will be an opportunity for gun owners in Pennsylvania to express their concerns regarding the many recent anti-gun proposals introduced in the House of Representatives. If you are interested in presenting testimony or need further information on any of the informational meetings please contact John Ryan or Bill Andring at 717-787-3525.
SOUTH CAROLINA:
Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Reform Prevails in the House! In spite of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division's efforts, which nearly led to the bill being sent back to the Judiciary Committee for reconsideration, our Right to Keep and Bear Arms prevailed, and HB 3212 passed second reading on the House floor on Thursday, March 1, with an overwhelming 100-2 vote. Please, contact your State Senator at (803) 212-6200 and urge him or her to support HB 3212 in its current form.
VERMONT:
Legislation Takes Aim at Ammunition! The controversial anti-gun "Get the Lead Out of Vermont" report released last month by the Vermont Attorney General and State Department of Health has spawned a far-reaching bill that could allow Vermont municipalities to outlaw shooting ranges and even the mere possession of lead ammunition. Please call your legislator today at 802-828-2228 and ask him or her to oppose H352!
VIRGINIA:
Four Pro-Gun Bills Heads to Governor! With the legislative session now completed, several pro-gun measures are now headed to Governor Tim Kaine (D) for his consideration. Please contact the Governor's office at (804)-786-2211 and strongly encourage him to sign those bills in their current form
WASHINGTON:
Bill Attacking Gun Shows Heads to Senate Floor! SB5197, a measure that would mandate that all firearms sold at gun shows be transferred through a federally licensed dealer, passed out of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on Tuesday, February 27. Please contact your State Senator today toll-free at (800) 562-6000 and respectfully ask that he or she oppose this bill.
WEST VIRGINIA:
West Virginia House Passes Two Important Right-to-Carry Bills! Legislation that would amend Right-to-Carry reciprocity requirements, authorize the Attorney General to execute reciprocity agreements, and restrict public access to the records of carry permit holders passed the West Virginia State House on Tuesday, February 27. Please contact your State Delegate today at (304) 340-3200 and thank him or her for their support and votes for HB3074 and HB2223!
WYOMING:
Wyoming Pro-Gun, Pro-Hunting Bill Heads to Governor's Desk! A measure that would allow for the carrying of firearms during bow hunting season, is on its way to Governor Dave Freudenthal (D) for his consideration. Please contact the Governor at (307) 777-7434 and respectfully urge him to sign this critical piece of legislation.
Friday, March 2, 2007
Upgrading varmint shell worthwhile
I have no idea how many 22.250 Remington heavy barrel varmint rifles are in this area. I am sure that it's a substantial number.
After I served 3 1/2 years in the military, I took up woodchuck shooting. Truth is, I was a dedicated groundhog hunter long before the military called. I served a long apprenticeship, from digging out dens to trapping them. Anything to get rid of those garden pests.
During those years, heavy-barrel varmint rigs were not in vogue. The relatively few varmint hunters who used heavy-barrel outfits had them custom made. As late as 1946, varmint shooters didn't have access to factory heavy-barrel varmint rigs. After Remington's 222 varmint shell won wide acclaim, the picture began to change.
The factory 222 round offered top accuracy even in sporter-type hunting rifles. It was soon learned the 222 offered critical accuracy when fired in heavy barrel rifles. In fact, many benchrest competitors switched to the 222.
By Don Lewis
Outdoors Columnist
After I served 3 1/2 years in the military, I took up woodchuck shooting. Truth is, I was a dedicated groundhog hunter long before the military called. I served a long apprenticeship, from digging out dens to trapping them. Anything to get rid of those garden pests.
During those years, heavy-barrel varmint rigs were not in vogue. The relatively few varmint hunters who used heavy-barrel outfits had them custom made. As late as 1946, varmint shooters didn't have access to factory heavy-barrel varmint rigs. After Remington's 222 varmint shell won wide acclaim, the picture began to change.
The factory 222 round offered top accuracy even in sporter-type hunting rifles. It was soon learned the 222 offered critical accuracy when fired in heavy barrel rifles. In fact, many benchrest competitors switched to the 222.
By Don Lewis
Outdoors Columnist
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Two cats shot with air rifle
A Shropshire woman today called for a change in the law governing the use of air rifles after her two pet cats were shot.
ALERT!! ALERT!!
Two mosquitoes killed with fly swatter!
Of course the cat owner is not responsible for keeping the law by keeping her cats only on her property and not wandering over unto neighbor's yards to leave their shit and kill squirrels and wild birds eating at the bird station while the children observe nature. But the roaming cats also like to KILL these birds and squirrels! So what's her bitch? Keep the cats at your place and all will be fine! People don't come to her place looking for them - do they - of course not!
ALERT!! ALERT!!
Two mosquitoes killed with fly swatter!
Of course the cat owner is not responsible for keeping the law by keeping her cats only on her property and not wandering over unto neighbor's yards to leave their shit and kill squirrels and wild birds eating at the bird station while the children observe nature. But the roaming cats also like to KILL these birds and squirrels! So what's her bitch? Keep the cats at your place and all will be fine! People don't come to her place looking for them - do they - of course not!
Unrestricted Tanaka M700 rifle to be released for export
Graham from Ironfoot has been in touch with exciting information about a new, unrestricted export-edition of the Tanaka M700 to be released soon:
As many of you may know Tanaka had dropped their adjustable bolt system on the M700 range of rifles following the new below 1 joule Japanese limit, and the latest rifles were coming without an adjuster and the appropriate parts missing and blanked.
We are please to say that after asking our Japanese agent to lobby Tanaka they have reported to us today that “After hard negotiation with Tanaka and public safety commission about “exporting” the original gun called “Export Version” an unrestricted Gas rifles which non-relating to a new Japanese toy gun regulation “1-joule restriction” it will be ended soon so that we can offer you an original powerful gas gun as before pretty soon I hope.
(Tanaka gas rifles for only “export version” will have power adjustment but no collar in the nozzle for 1-joule restriction as well said Tanaka.)
If Tanaka do hold to this, its great news, it would have been a great shame to have lost the adjustable bolt, as we think its one of the main sales point of the Tanaka, and an extremely useful option for countries with variable maximum powers on Sniper Rifles often from one Game site to another.
Published by Marlowe February 28th, 2007 in Manufacturer News and Retailer News.
Tags: Manufacturer News, Retailer News.
As many of you may know Tanaka had dropped their adjustable bolt system on the M700 range of rifles following the new below 1 joule Japanese limit, and the latest rifles were coming without an adjuster and the appropriate parts missing and blanked.
We are please to say that after asking our Japanese agent to lobby Tanaka they have reported to us today that “After hard negotiation with Tanaka and public safety commission about “exporting” the original gun called “Export Version” an unrestricted Gas rifles which non-relating to a new Japanese toy gun regulation “1-joule restriction” it will be ended soon so that we can offer you an original powerful gas gun as before pretty soon I hope.
(Tanaka gas rifles for only “export version” will have power adjustment but no collar in the nozzle for 1-joule restriction as well said Tanaka.)
If Tanaka do hold to this, its great news, it would have been a great shame to have lost the adjustable bolt, as we think its one of the main sales point of the Tanaka, and an extremely useful option for countries with variable maximum powers on Sniper Rifles often from one Game site to another.
Published by Marlowe February 28th, 2007 in Manufacturer News and Retailer News.
Tags: Manufacturer News, Retailer News.
Tips for Choosing between Paintball Guns
Paintball guns, commonly called markers, are crucial to the sport of paintball. Markers are used to fire the paintballs and come in all shapes, sizes and prices. You’ll find markers ranging from as little as $100 to as much as $1000 or more. For someone who’s just starting out with the sport, choosing the right marker can be confusing. Keep reading to learn more about the various types of markers available these days and their benefits and drawbacks.
Pump style markers are some of the most affordable on the market today. These are different from other types of markers such as semi-automatic or automatic because the paintballs must be manually pumped into the firing chamber. Pump markers are thought to be accurate as well as cost-efficient for beginners and advanced players alike.
For all articles: Tips for Choosing between Paintball Guns
Pump style markers are some of the most affordable on the market today. These are different from other types of markers such as semi-automatic or automatic because the paintballs must be manually pumped into the firing chamber. Pump markers are thought to be accurate as well as cost-efficient for beginners and advanced players alike.
For all articles: Tips for Choosing between Paintball Guns
House OKs new version of weapons bill
PHOENIX Acting on an issue that drew a veto last year, the House on Wednesday unanimously approved a bill to generally prohibit Arizona governors from having residents' weapons and ammunition seized during an emergency.
The House vote sent the bill to the Senate which has already passed similar legislation.
The bill is similar to measures adopted in other states and was proposed after New Orleans police confiscated guns from residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The National Rifle Association successfully sued to have the weapons returned, and Louisiana last year prohibited confiscations.
Napolitano vetoed a version of the Arizona bill last year, saying it would bar the government from removing stores of ammunition from harm's way, such as the path of a forest fire.
This year's version was amended under a change negotiated by lawmakers, Napolitano's office and the N-R-A to allow ammunition to be moved if exposed to "dangerous conditions."
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The House vote sent the bill to the Senate which has already passed similar legislation.
The bill is similar to measures adopted in other states and was proposed after New Orleans police confiscated guns from residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The National Rifle Association successfully sued to have the weapons returned, and Louisiana last year prohibited confiscations.
Napolitano vetoed a version of the Arizona bill last year, saying it would bar the government from removing stores of ammunition from harm's way, such as the path of a forest fire.
This year's version was amended under a change negotiated by lawmakers, Napolitano's office and the N-R-A to allow ammunition to be moved if exposed to "dangerous conditions."
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Guns Don't Kill People, Gun Control Kills People
Taking guns at gunpoint / Uganda terrorizes its own citizens under the auspices of UN gun-control mandate
Illegal firearms have replaced bows and arrows as the weapons of choice for the pastoral people on the borders of Kenya and Uganda. The recent escalation of tension between these governments and cattle raiders not only poses a threat to political stability in the region, but has also led to widescale human rights abuses.
North-east Uganda’s Karamojong and their neighbours in Kenya, the Turkana and Pokot, have been engaged in cross-border conflict for centuries, often resulting in death and destruction of property.
Violence in notoriously lawless Karamoja has long been fuelled by inexpensive, semi-automatic firearms smuggled from Somalia and other countries in the Horn of Africa. The border tribes regularly engage in cattle raiding against their northern neighbours, the Toposa of Sudan.
The Ugandan government has encouraged voluntary disarmament of the rustlers in past years, but the Karamojong say [that] they need guns to protect their way of life: they have to guard themselves against other cattle rustlers, as well as hostile government soldiers. Meanwhile, the dry region remains the least-developed in Uganda, lacking infrastructure and basic services.
Kenya and Uganda agreed in June to cooperatively confiscate all arms from their borderlands. It is estimated that the pastoralists possess up to 200 000 guns in Kenya and up to 150 000 in Uganda. Both governments claim that their gun confiscation programmes are in accordance with the Nairobi Protocol, a treaty banning unlicensed gun possession. A government programme to rid the region of firearms recovered 4 500 guns in “cordon-and-search” operations between January and October, along with thousands of looted cattle and goats.
But local Karamajong leaders have accused the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) of numerous human rights abuses in the course of the disarmament programme, a claim [that] the government has denied. In mid-2006, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) halted its own disarmament programmes in Karamoja, in protest against UPDF abuses during the gun-recovery process, which they said were worse than the violence committed during cattle raids.
The UNDP has recently lifted its suspension of activities in the area. Last November, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour released a report that found that the soldiers used “indiscriminate and excessive” force, killing 55 civilians, including women and children between late October and mid-November 2006. She called on the UPDF to halt a six-month disarmament campaign, until it could guarantee civilian safety in the Karamoja region.
The Kenyan government says [that] a strong hand is necessary to ensure the peaceful handover of guns by the Pokot and Turkana pastoralists. Last March, the Kenyan Internal Security Minister, John Michuki, issued a shoot-to-kill directive to the police.
Allegations of murder, rape and torture by state forces in West Pokot have been reported and thousands of people have fled to Uganda, leaving behind ghost towns.
Despite the professed collaboration between the two governments, there is still frequent movement across the porous border. And the countries’ solution to the armed conflict so far appears to have primarily left thousands of refugees, burned villages and destroyed livelihoods.
From "Reason" (by three members of the Independence Institute)...
The country of Uganda plans to send about 1,500 troops to Somalia as part of an African Union peace-keeping force. The goal is to stabilize the weak government of Somalia, with the hope that the warlords will voluntarily disarm. Hopefully, Ugandan troops will be more successful in Somalia than they have in their own country.
For months now, Ugandan army troops have been garrisoned in the northeast part of the country under orders to disarm the local populace—pastoral, cattle-herding tribes known as the Karamojong. The army is attempting, and failing, to quash an uprising which was caused by a prior attempt to disarm the same tribes.
But in its effort to "disarm," the Ugandan army, supported by tanks and helicopter gunships, is burning down villages, sexually torturing men, raping women, and plundering what few possessions the tribespeople own. Tens of thousands of victims have been turned into refugees. Human rights scholar Ben Knighton has used the term “ethnocide” to describe the army's campaign.
This is not the first time the central government in Kampala [...] has persecuted the Karamojong. During the Idi Amin regime, the Karamojong were selected as special targets for genocide. Against Amin's armies, their traditional bows and arrows were futile. So it's understandable why they'd be reluctant to voluntarily lay down their weapons.
This time, the pretext for the "disarmament" of the Karamojong is United Nations gun control. The Ugandan military is trying to round up every last firearm in Karamoja, supposedly for the Karamojong's own good.
The procedure is euphemistically called “forcible disarmament.” It works something like this: The misnamed Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) will torture and rape Karamajong, after which some Karamojong might then disclose the location of some hidden guns. Or the army will burn down a village, after which it might find some guns in the ash left behind.
If the pastoral tribespeople's bloody history with Amin weren't enough, they don't much have reason to trust the current government of Uganda, either. The current government has repeatedly broken its promises of goods, services, and personal protection for tribespeople who voluntarily disarmed.
According to David Pulkol, the former Director of External Security Organisation (part of the Ugandan government’s intelligence agency), the disarmament process is a tactic to facilitate robbing the Karamojong of their resources. The Daily Monitor newspaper, for example, reports that the Ugandan government has announced plans to confiscate “about 1,903 sq km out of the total area of 2,304 sq km of the Pian Upe game reserve” for private investment purposes.
This government predation has naturally sparked resistance. More and more Karamojong are wearing traditional ethnic garb—not only as a symbol of solidarity, but also because the loose clothing makes it so easy to conceal weapons. The tribes are also uniting and improving their tactical skills. The weapons that had been taken by the government have been replaced by better ones from the ubiquitous black market. The helicopters that have been bombing the populace and burning their villages are now at risk from high-powered rifles. The Karamojong women aren't remaining passive while their families suffer, starve, and die, either. Some Karamojong widows have taken their husband’s firearms and are actively defending themselves, their families, and their cattle.
Last summer, the Ugandan army's atrocities led the United Nations Development Programme to cut off its disarmament aid to Uganda. But the outrage didn't last long. This year, the aid was restored. Although the United Nations does not fund the Ugandan army, the UN does provide a public relations sanction for the disarmament. In November, Louise Arbour, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated: “The actions of the UPDF do not comply with international human rights law and domestic law.” But, she also stipulated, “the decision of the Government to undertake renewed efforts to eradicate illegal weapons in Karamoja is essential….” Never mind that the disarmament campaign also eradicates people.
If the Karamojong didn’t have to worry about the central government targeting them for genocide, or stealing their land, one could possibly make an argument that they would be better off without guns. The various tribes have a long tradition of inter-tribal cattle rustling, and the cattle-raiding would undoubtedly be less dangerous if perpetrated with stone-age weapons instead of AK-47s. But as a practical matter, there have been numerous instances of civilians who have voluntarily disarmed, and were then—despite government promises of protection—robbed by the competing tribes who remained armed. And the loss of even a small number of cattle can place a subsistence level family at risk of starvation. Of course, cattle-rustling never led to the deliberate destruction of entire villages, turning thousands of people into refugees. Nor has it ever paved the way for government theft of the land the tribespeople need to survive.
The number of illegally possessed firearms prior to the disarmament campaign had been estimated at between 50,000 and 150,000. On November 10, New Vision reported that “since this year began, they have recovered 4,500 guns.” So the Ugandan government is wiping out the very people the government ostensibly claims to protect, and that "protection" amounts to just 3-9 percent of unauthorized weapons. And all the while, the Ugandan government is using its own guns to destroy Karamoja, burn villages, slaughter the defenseless, and perpetrate ethnocide.
Seems like the kind of "protection" the Karamojong could live without.
David Kopel is research director for the Independence Institute. Paul Gallant and Joanne D. Eisen are senior fellows at the Independence Institute.
Illegal firearms have replaced bows and arrows as the weapons of choice for the pastoral people on the borders of Kenya and Uganda. The recent escalation of tension between these governments and cattle raiders not only poses a threat to political stability in the region, but has also led to widescale human rights abuses.
North-east Uganda’s Karamojong and their neighbours in Kenya, the Turkana and Pokot, have been engaged in cross-border conflict for centuries, often resulting in death and destruction of property.
Violence in notoriously lawless Karamoja has long been fuelled by inexpensive, semi-automatic firearms smuggled from Somalia and other countries in the Horn of Africa. The border tribes regularly engage in cattle raiding against their northern neighbours, the Toposa of Sudan.
The Ugandan government has encouraged voluntary disarmament of the rustlers in past years, but the Karamojong say [that] they need guns to protect their way of life: they have to guard themselves against other cattle rustlers, as well as hostile government soldiers. Meanwhile, the dry region remains the least-developed in Uganda, lacking infrastructure and basic services.
Kenya and Uganda agreed in June to cooperatively confiscate all arms from their borderlands. It is estimated that the pastoralists possess up to 200 000 guns in Kenya and up to 150 000 in Uganda. Both governments claim that their gun confiscation programmes are in accordance with the Nairobi Protocol, a treaty banning unlicensed gun possession. A government programme to rid the region of firearms recovered 4 500 guns in “cordon-and-search” operations between January and October, along with thousands of looted cattle and goats.
But local Karamajong leaders have accused the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) of numerous human rights abuses in the course of the disarmament programme, a claim [that] the government has denied. In mid-2006, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) halted its own disarmament programmes in Karamoja, in protest against UPDF abuses during the gun-recovery process, which they said were worse than the violence committed during cattle raids.
The UNDP has recently lifted its suspension of activities in the area. Last November, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour released a report that found that the soldiers used “indiscriminate and excessive” force, killing 55 civilians, including women and children between late October and mid-November 2006. She called on the UPDF to halt a six-month disarmament campaign, until it could guarantee civilian safety in the Karamoja region.
The Kenyan government says [that] a strong hand is necessary to ensure the peaceful handover of guns by the Pokot and Turkana pastoralists. Last March, the Kenyan Internal Security Minister, John Michuki, issued a shoot-to-kill directive to the police.
Allegations of murder, rape and torture by state forces in West Pokot have been reported and thousands of people have fled to Uganda, leaving behind ghost towns.
Despite the professed collaboration between the two governments, there is still frequent movement across the porous border. And the countries’ solution to the armed conflict so far appears to have primarily left thousands of refugees, burned villages and destroyed livelihoods.
From "Reason" (by three members of the Independence Institute)...
The country of Uganda plans to send about 1,500 troops to Somalia as part of an African Union peace-keeping force. The goal is to stabilize the weak government of Somalia, with the hope that the warlords will voluntarily disarm. Hopefully, Ugandan troops will be more successful in Somalia than they have in their own country.
For months now, Ugandan army troops have been garrisoned in the northeast part of the country under orders to disarm the local populace—pastoral, cattle-herding tribes known as the Karamojong. The army is attempting, and failing, to quash an uprising which was caused by a prior attempt to disarm the same tribes.
But in its effort to "disarm," the Ugandan army, supported by tanks and helicopter gunships, is burning down villages, sexually torturing men, raping women, and plundering what few possessions the tribespeople own. Tens of thousands of victims have been turned into refugees. Human rights scholar Ben Knighton has used the term “ethnocide” to describe the army's campaign.
This is not the first time the central government in Kampala [...] has persecuted the Karamojong. During the Idi Amin regime, the Karamojong were selected as special targets for genocide. Against Amin's armies, their traditional bows and arrows were futile. So it's understandable why they'd be reluctant to voluntarily lay down their weapons.
This time, the pretext for the "disarmament" of the Karamojong is United Nations gun control. The Ugandan military is trying to round up every last firearm in Karamoja, supposedly for the Karamojong's own good.
The procedure is euphemistically called “forcible disarmament.” It works something like this: The misnamed Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) will torture and rape Karamajong, after which some Karamojong might then disclose the location of some hidden guns. Or the army will burn down a village, after which it might find some guns in the ash left behind.
If the pastoral tribespeople's bloody history with Amin weren't enough, they don't much have reason to trust the current government of Uganda, either. The current government has repeatedly broken its promises of goods, services, and personal protection for tribespeople who voluntarily disarmed.
According to David Pulkol, the former Director of External Security Organisation (part of the Ugandan government’s intelligence agency), the disarmament process is a tactic to facilitate robbing the Karamojong of their resources. The Daily Monitor newspaper, for example, reports that the Ugandan government has announced plans to confiscate “about 1,903 sq km out of the total area of 2,304 sq km of the Pian Upe game reserve” for private investment purposes.
This government predation has naturally sparked resistance. More and more Karamojong are wearing traditional ethnic garb—not only as a symbol of solidarity, but also because the loose clothing makes it so easy to conceal weapons. The tribes are also uniting and improving their tactical skills. The weapons that had been taken by the government have been replaced by better ones from the ubiquitous black market. The helicopters that have been bombing the populace and burning their villages are now at risk from high-powered rifles. The Karamojong women aren't remaining passive while their families suffer, starve, and die, either. Some Karamojong widows have taken their husband’s firearms and are actively defending themselves, their families, and their cattle.
Last summer, the Ugandan army's atrocities led the United Nations Development Programme to cut off its disarmament aid to Uganda. But the outrage didn't last long. This year, the aid was restored. Although the United Nations does not fund the Ugandan army, the UN does provide a public relations sanction for the disarmament. In November, Louise Arbour, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated: “The actions of the UPDF do not comply with international human rights law and domestic law.” But, she also stipulated, “the decision of the Government to undertake renewed efforts to eradicate illegal weapons in Karamoja is essential….” Never mind that the disarmament campaign also eradicates people.
If the Karamojong didn’t have to worry about the central government targeting them for genocide, or stealing their land, one could possibly make an argument that they would be better off without guns. The various tribes have a long tradition of inter-tribal cattle rustling, and the cattle-raiding would undoubtedly be less dangerous if perpetrated with stone-age weapons instead of AK-47s. But as a practical matter, there have been numerous instances of civilians who have voluntarily disarmed, and were then—despite government promises of protection—robbed by the competing tribes who remained armed. And the loss of even a small number of cattle can place a subsistence level family at risk of starvation. Of course, cattle-rustling never led to the deliberate destruction of entire villages, turning thousands of people into refugees. Nor has it ever paved the way for government theft of the land the tribespeople need to survive.
The number of illegally possessed firearms prior to the disarmament campaign had been estimated at between 50,000 and 150,000. On November 10, New Vision reported that “since this year began, they have recovered 4,500 guns.” So the Ugandan government is wiping out the very people the government ostensibly claims to protect, and that "protection" amounts to just 3-9 percent of unauthorized weapons. And all the while, the Ugandan government is using its own guns to destroy Karamoja, burn villages, slaughter the defenseless, and perpetrate ethnocide.
Seems like the kind of "protection" the Karamojong could live without.
David Kopel is research director for the Independence Institute. Paul Gallant and Joanne D. Eisen are senior fellows at the Independence Institute.
Keeping Guns Off City Streets
(plushy news like this makes me want to vomit! It is all political. Guns do NOT commit crime - people do whether they have a gun - illegal or not - or a baseball bat!)
The Macon Police Department says more patrols and a new program have increased the number of guns they've taken off the streets.
Last year alone 354 guns were either turned in or confiscated.
Guns that officials say criminals could have used (BUT did not use!) to increase the violence in our community.
Mayor C. Jack Ellis - Macon
"It's bad that we have that many weapons, illegal weapons in our town. That's bad. The good news is they're no longer on in the hands of criminals."
The Police department also says pay raises, new equipment and boosted morale increased the number of confiscations. The weapons will be destroyed. This year 40 have already been turned-in or taken this year.
Submitted by Aundrea Cline-Thomas on Wed, 02/28/2007 - 7:39pm. News Local
Mobile ice cream vendors in San Diego would be barred from selling toy guns
(lets see now - ban assault weapons because they are never used in crime and ban toy guns because someone might use it to commit a crime - BUT never able to shoot it unless it was a water gun and then . . ad et nosiam!)
SAN DIEGO – Mobile ice cream vendors in San Diego would be barred from selling toy guns that resemble the real things under a proposed ordinance that was unanimously approved by a City Council committee Wednesday.
The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee voted 3-0 to amend an existing law to specifically forbid mobile street vendors from selling anything but food or candy.
The guns “look so realistic” that if someone stuck one in their waistband and flashed a jacket open, the average citizen couldn't tell whether it was a real firearm, Maienschein said.
At a City Hall news conference Tuesday to promote the changes, city and law enforcement officials displayed samples of the toy guns, which could easily be mistaken by police officers as the real thing.
According to the chief of the San Diego Unified School District Police Department, 37 of the fake weapons have been seized from students over the past year, most of them coming from ice cream trucks.
“We are very fortunate that we have not had a tragedy as a result of these,” SDUSD police Chief Don Braun said.
San Diego Police Department Chief William Lansdowne said the replica guns, which cost between $10 and $100, not only pose a “huge problem” in the city of San Diego, but also around the country.
“It's young kids using these types of look-alike guns that are committing street robberies, who are taking them to school,” he said yesterday.
Maienschein said fake guns are available through other sources, but ice cream vendors are the primary source for children.
The amended law will be considered by the full city council in about 30 days, Maienschein said.
The councilman said notices have already been sent to vendors notifying them of the proposed law. If the ordinance changes are approved, the SDPD's Vice Unit would begin random inspections of ice cream trucks. Violation would be a misdemeanor.
State law already prohibits the sale of imitation firearms, with exceptions for theatrical productions, military ceremonies, out-of-state sales, sporting events and school anti-gun displays.
SAN DIEGO – Mobile ice cream vendors in San Diego would be barred from selling toy guns that resemble the real things under a proposed ordinance that was unanimously approved by a City Council committee Wednesday.
The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee voted 3-0 to amend an existing law to specifically forbid mobile street vendors from selling anything but food or candy.
The guns “look so realistic” that if someone stuck one in their waistband and flashed a jacket open, the average citizen couldn't tell whether it was a real firearm, Maienschein said.
At a City Hall news conference Tuesday to promote the changes, city and law enforcement officials displayed samples of the toy guns, which could easily be mistaken by police officers as the real thing.
According to the chief of the San Diego Unified School District Police Department, 37 of the fake weapons have been seized from students over the past year, most of them coming from ice cream trucks.
“We are very fortunate that we have not had a tragedy as a result of these,” SDUSD police Chief Don Braun said.
San Diego Police Department Chief William Lansdowne said the replica guns, which cost between $10 and $100, not only pose a “huge problem” in the city of San Diego, but also around the country.
“It's young kids using these types of look-alike guns that are committing street robberies, who are taking them to school,” he said yesterday.
Maienschein said fake guns are available through other sources, but ice cream vendors are the primary source for children.
The amended law will be considered by the full city council in about 30 days, Maienschein said.
The councilman said notices have already been sent to vendors notifying them of the proposed law. If the ordinance changes are approved, the SDPD's Vice Unit would begin random inspections of ice cream trucks. Violation would be a misdemeanor.
State law already prohibits the sale of imitation firearms, with exceptions for theatrical productions, military ceremonies, out-of-state sales, sporting events and school anti-gun displays.
St. Paul approves ban on display of real-looking replica guns
(So kids just see guns and they become criminals! Good idea - ban TV and Hollywood too! - How stupid can politicians get? - Unlimited stupidity?)
ST. PAUL - The City Council on Wednesday approved a ban on the public display of real-looking replica guns.
Council member Lee Helgen proposed the ban because of a recent increase in juveniles carrying airsoft guns. A public hearing was held on the ordinance last week, but nobody testified against it. Breaking the ban is a misdemeanor.
A representative of the gun industry said it was "common sense" not to display fake guns that look real.
The guns must now be painted a bright color to make it easier for police and others to identify them.
ST. PAUL - The City Council on Wednesday approved a ban on the public display of real-looking replica guns.
Council member Lee Helgen proposed the ban because of a recent increase in juveniles carrying airsoft guns. A public hearing was held on the ordinance last week, but nobody testified against it. Breaking the ban is a misdemeanor.
A representative of the gun industry said it was "common sense" not to display fake guns that look real.
The guns must now be painted a bright color to make it easier for police and others to identify them.
Take a Shot at These Gun Stocks
There are only two major gun and firearms manufacturers in the United States, one of which is Sturm, Ruger & Co. Inc. (RGR), which trades on the New York Stock Exchange.
This Connecticut based company has been manufacturing rifles, shotguns, pistols, and revolvers since 1948. Some of the positives on this stock:
Although the trailing P/E is 140, the forward P/E is 29.
The stock has a reasonable Price/Sales ratio of 1.45
Quarterly revenue growth year over year is 18.6%
The company has no long term debt
Last month, the company announced a buyback of $20 million of its shares
The company anticipates cutting its payroll by about $3 million this year from its buyouts of approximately 150 employees
The other American gun manufacturer that you can take a shot at is the NASDAQ traded Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (SWHC), a famous name in firearms which has been around since 1856. The company was founded by Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson, after selling out their first company, Volcanic Repeating Arms Company, to Oliver Winchester. The company manufactures and sells revolvers, pistols, rifles, handcuffs, and clothing, and also owns law enforcement training facilities. A few of the positives on this stock:
Although the trailing P/E is 44, the forward P/E is 21.
Quarterly revenue growth year over year is 42.7%
Quarterly earnings growth year over year is 312%
The company recently purchased the Thompson/Center Arms company, which will give it expansion into the hunting rifle and black powder markets
The stock has a Price Earnings Growth Ratio of .72
Disclosure: Author owns RGR.
Posted on Mar 1st, 2007 with stocks: RGR, SWHC
Stockerblog submits:
This Connecticut based company has been manufacturing rifles, shotguns, pistols, and revolvers since 1948. Some of the positives on this stock:
Although the trailing P/E is 140, the forward P/E is 29.
The stock has a reasonable Price/Sales ratio of 1.45
Quarterly revenue growth year over year is 18.6%
The company has no long term debt
Last month, the company announced a buyback of $20 million of its shares
The company anticipates cutting its payroll by about $3 million this year from its buyouts of approximately 150 employees
The other American gun manufacturer that you can take a shot at is the NASDAQ traded Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (SWHC), a famous name in firearms which has been around since 1856. The company was founded by Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson, after selling out their first company, Volcanic Repeating Arms Company, to Oliver Winchester. The company manufactures and sells revolvers, pistols, rifles, handcuffs, and clothing, and also owns law enforcement training facilities. A few of the positives on this stock:
Although the trailing P/E is 44, the forward P/E is 21.
Quarterly revenue growth year over year is 42.7%
Quarterly earnings growth year over year is 312%
The company recently purchased the Thompson/Center Arms company, which will give it expansion into the hunting rifle and black powder markets
The stock has a Price Earnings Growth Ratio of .72
Disclosure: Author owns RGR.
Posted on Mar 1st, 2007 with stocks: RGR, SWHC
Stockerblog submits:
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Goldsboro Rifles subject of speaker
Local historian Stacey Jones will discuss the Goldsboro Rifles militia in the aftermath of the Civil War on Thursday night at a meeting of Camp 760 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Seven Springs Restaurant.
The military unit created in the first half of the 19th century was re-established in 1875 and in 1898 was called to active duty with the U.S. Army in the Spanish-American War.
The public is invited.
The military unit created in the first half of the 19th century was re-established in 1875 and in 1898 was called to active duty with the U.S. Army in the Spanish-American War.
The public is invited.
Ammo permit measure weighed
"It's the bullets that are hurting us," he said.
How STUPID are people who say or believe this? Bullets hurt people like matches cause fires? Or is it people who use bullets and PEOPLE hurt people with bullets, matches and any thing that they can get their filthy hands on to hurt someone else. It's people - stupid - not clubs, knives, bullets, guns or matches! Hello! Wake up America!
DURHAM - Gun owners looking to reload would have to show a permit every time they buy ammunition, if a bill backed by Durham officials gains state approval.
The proposal championed by the Rev. Melvin Whitley, a local community activist, will face opposition from gun-rights groups.
Whitley told state lawmakers and Durham City Council members Monday that anyone over 18 can buy ammunition without being subject to any background check. That means felons, who aren't allowed to own guns or ammo, can buy bullets unfettered.
Requiring a permit to buy bullets, just as the state does for firearms, is a "no-brainer," he said.
"It's a wonder we have not identified this loophole in the past," Whitley told council members.
But Paul Valone, president of Grass Roots North Carolina, a gun-rights lobbying group, called the idea "ludicrous."
Felons with the means and determination to obtain a gun illegally wouldn't have any trouble finding a way around the bullet-permit law, Valone said.
"The only people this would restrict is law-abiding gun owners," Valone said.
"We will be happy to defeat this bill and any legislator who supports it."
Rep. Mickey Michaux, a Durham Democrat, expects such stiff opposition. The bill hasn't been introduced, but Michaux said it would be soon in one or both chambers of the General Assembly.
Michaux supports the idea.
But he said the bill has "about the same chance as getting a ban on handguns in this state. We've been outnumbered over the years by the strong arm of the [National Rifle Association]."
Illinois has a similar law, enacted in 1968. It requires people to apply for a Firearm Owner's Identification Card that must be displayed when buying a firearm or ammunition.
It costs $5 and is valid for five years.
There are about 1.2 million card holders in the state, according to the Illinois State Police Web site.
Even supporters have questions about logistics.
Ron Hodge, deputy chief of the Durham Police Department, said it wouldn't be hard to issue a bullet card with a handgun permit. The trouble would come with people who already have obtained their handgun permit having to go through another permitting process, Hodge said.
That would be cumbersome for the agency distributing the permits -- likely county sheriffs -- and for legal gun owners, he said.
Whitley said any inconveniences are trumped by the need to add another hurdle in the path of violent criminals.
"It's the bullets that are hurting us," he said.
Staff writer Matt Dees can be reached at 956-2433 or matt.dees@newsobserver.com.Matt Dees, Staff Writer
How STUPID are people who say or believe this? Bullets hurt people like matches cause fires? Or is it people who use bullets and PEOPLE hurt people with bullets, matches and any thing that they can get their filthy hands on to hurt someone else. It's people - stupid - not clubs, knives, bullets, guns or matches! Hello! Wake up America!
DURHAM - Gun owners looking to reload would have to show a permit every time they buy ammunition, if a bill backed by Durham officials gains state approval.
The proposal championed by the Rev. Melvin Whitley, a local community activist, will face opposition from gun-rights groups.
Whitley told state lawmakers and Durham City Council members Monday that anyone over 18 can buy ammunition without being subject to any background check. That means felons, who aren't allowed to own guns or ammo, can buy bullets unfettered.
Requiring a permit to buy bullets, just as the state does for firearms, is a "no-brainer," he said.
"It's a wonder we have not identified this loophole in the past," Whitley told council members.
But Paul Valone, president of Grass Roots North Carolina, a gun-rights lobbying group, called the idea "ludicrous."
Felons with the means and determination to obtain a gun illegally wouldn't have any trouble finding a way around the bullet-permit law, Valone said.
"The only people this would restrict is law-abiding gun owners," Valone said.
"We will be happy to defeat this bill and any legislator who supports it."
Rep. Mickey Michaux, a Durham Democrat, expects such stiff opposition. The bill hasn't been introduced, but Michaux said it would be soon in one or both chambers of the General Assembly.
Michaux supports the idea.
But he said the bill has "about the same chance as getting a ban on handguns in this state. We've been outnumbered over the years by the strong arm of the [National Rifle Association]."
Illinois has a similar law, enacted in 1968. It requires people to apply for a Firearm Owner's Identification Card that must be displayed when buying a firearm or ammunition.
It costs $5 and is valid for five years.
There are about 1.2 million card holders in the state, according to the Illinois State Police Web site.
Even supporters have questions about logistics.
Ron Hodge, deputy chief of the Durham Police Department, said it wouldn't be hard to issue a bullet card with a handgun permit. The trouble would come with people who already have obtained their handgun permit having to go through another permitting process, Hodge said.
That would be cumbersome for the agency distributing the permits -- likely county sheriffs -- and for legal gun owners, he said.
Whitley said any inconveniences are trumped by the need to add another hurdle in the path of violent criminals.
"It's the bullets that are hurting us," he said.
Staff writer Matt Dees can be reached at 956-2433 or matt.dees@newsobserver.com.Matt Dees, Staff Writer
Bill Allowing Judges To Carry Guns Passes State Senate
District Judge Greg Zigler of the Oklahoma Panhandle, known as "No Man's Land" in the late 1800s, is among those supporting a bill to allow judges to carry guns into the courtroom.
But Zigler said he does not want to be portrayed as having a shoot-em-up mentality like Judge Roy Bean of the Old West in nearby Texas.
While he supports Sen. Brian Crain's bill to let local judges to tote guns, he says it should require jurists to get law enforcement training.
"If you've got a judge and a deputy on opposite ends of the courtroom and something goes down, you could literally have people shooting at each other," Zigler said. "Would you want to be in the well of the courtroom when that happened?
"Unless you've got people who are adequately trained, it could be a difficult situation."
Crain's bill, approved on a 39-9 vote in the Senate on Monday, does not require law enforcement training for judges, but they would be required to get a concealed weapons permit.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, said the legislation is long overdue.
Laughlin said judges in the sparsely populated Panhandle do not have security like they do in metropolitan areas such as Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
"We've got a real problem because we have a violent society," Laughlin said. "Judges are out there, at least in my district, are scared to death of the people who come into their courtroom."
He quoted Zigler as saying it was a matter of time before there was a violent episode.
There is no security in Zigler's courtroom in Guymon, with both the police department and the sheriff's office located more than a mile away.
Crain, R-Tulsa, said his bill on judges carrying guns was sparked by a courtroom incident in Tulsa when a judge went to get a gun during an apparent disturbance in the courtroom.
No violence erupted in that case, but Crain said a few years ago a defendant overpowered a deputy in Georgia and killed three people, including a judge.
Sen. Jeff Rabon, D-Hugo, expressed concern about Crain's bill leading to others being able to carry guns, such as prosecutors and defense attorneys. He said he did not want a situation "where we have the OK Corral going on."
Sen. Charles Laster, D-Shawnee, said the law could conflict with the Oklahoma Supreme Court's authority to supervise district courts, while Sen. Richard Lerblance, D-Hartshorne, said the Legislature should step up and provide funding for adequate courtroom security.
Zigler said a law that took effect last July 1 requires a $10 fee to be assessed so that sheriffs' departments can provide courthouse security.
"If we all lived in Mayberry RFD and it was 1968, this kind of legislation would not be on the radar screen anywhere," said.
So far, however, the new law has not raised enough money to pay for a full-time deputy in Zigler's courtroom or at other courtrooms in rural areas.
Ray McNair of the Oklahoma Sheriff's Association said the 2006 law does not define "courthouse security" and rural counties do not have a big enough caseload to pay for a full-time deputy.
Courthouse security, he said, "could be as little as a panic button at the judge's desk hooked up to the sheriff's office."
But Zigler said he does not want to be portrayed as having a shoot-em-up mentality like Judge Roy Bean of the Old West in nearby Texas.
While he supports Sen. Brian Crain's bill to let local judges to tote guns, he says it should require jurists to get law enforcement training.
"If you've got a judge and a deputy on opposite ends of the courtroom and something goes down, you could literally have people shooting at each other," Zigler said. "Would you want to be in the well of the courtroom when that happened?
"Unless you've got people who are adequately trained, it could be a difficult situation."
Crain's bill, approved on a 39-9 vote in the Senate on Monday, does not require law enforcement training for judges, but they would be required to get a concealed weapons permit.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, said the legislation is long overdue.
Laughlin said judges in the sparsely populated Panhandle do not have security like they do in metropolitan areas such as Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
"We've got a real problem because we have a violent society," Laughlin said. "Judges are out there, at least in my district, are scared to death of the people who come into their courtroom."
He quoted Zigler as saying it was a matter of time before there was a violent episode.
There is no security in Zigler's courtroom in Guymon, with both the police department and the sheriff's office located more than a mile away.
Crain, R-Tulsa, said his bill on judges carrying guns was sparked by a courtroom incident in Tulsa when a judge went to get a gun during an apparent disturbance in the courtroom.
No violence erupted in that case, but Crain said a few years ago a defendant overpowered a deputy in Georgia and killed three people, including a judge.
Sen. Jeff Rabon, D-Hugo, expressed concern about Crain's bill leading to others being able to carry guns, such as prosecutors and defense attorneys. He said he did not want a situation "where we have the OK Corral going on."
Sen. Charles Laster, D-Shawnee, said the law could conflict with the Oklahoma Supreme Court's authority to supervise district courts, while Sen. Richard Lerblance, D-Hartshorne, said the Legislature should step up and provide funding for adequate courtroom security.
Zigler said a law that took effect last July 1 requires a $10 fee to be assessed so that sheriffs' departments can provide courthouse security.
"If we all lived in Mayberry RFD and it was 1968, this kind of legislation would not be on the radar screen anywhere," said.
So far, however, the new law has not raised enough money to pay for a full-time deputy in Zigler's courtroom or at other courtrooms in rural areas.
Ray McNair of the Oklahoma Sheriff's Association said the 2006 law does not define "courthouse security" and rural counties do not have a big enough caseload to pay for a full-time deputy.
Courthouse security, he said, "could be as little as a panic button at the judge's desk hooked up to the sheriff's office."
You've got to regulate, consistent with the Second Amendment.
Typical of the liberal mind set -
A reader alerts me to a recent interview of Rudy Giuliani by Sean Hannity, in which the gun rights issue came up. The whole interview is here.
Relevant section of the interview:
HANNITY: ...Do you support the right of people to carry handguns?
GIULIANI: I understand the Second Amendment. I support it. People have the right to bear arms. When I was mayor of New York, I took over at a very, very difficult time. We were averaging about 2,000 murders a year, 10,000...
HANNITY: You inherited those laws, the gun laws in New York?
GIULIANI: Yes, and I used them. I used them to help bring down homicide. We reduced homicide, I think, by 65-70 percent. And some of it was by taking guns out of the streets of New York City.
So if you're talking about a city like New York, a densely populated area like New York, I think it's appropriate. You might have different laws other places, and maybe a lot of this gets resolved based on different states, different communities making decisions. After all, we do have a federal system of government in which you have the ability to accomplish that.
HANNITY: So you would support the state's rights to choose on specific gun laws?
GIULIANI: Yes, I mean, a place like New York that is densely populated, or maybe a place that is experiencing a serious crime problem, like a few cities are now, kind of coming back, thank goodness not New York, but some other cities, maybe you have one solution there and in another place, more rural, more suburban, other issues, you have a different set of rules.
HANNITY: But generally speaking, do you think it's acceptable if citizens have the right to carry a handgun?
GIULIANI: It's not only — I mean, it's part of the Constitution. People have the right to bear arms. Then the restrictions of it have to be reasonable and sensible. You can't just remove that right. You've got to regulate, consistent with the Second Amendment.
Rudy Talks Guns [John Derbyshire]
You've got to regulate, consistent with the Second Amendment.
A reader alerts me to a recent interview of Rudy Giuliani by Sean Hannity, in which the gun rights issue came up. The whole interview is here.
Relevant section of the interview:
HANNITY: ...Do you support the right of people to carry handguns?
GIULIANI: I understand the Second Amendment. I support it. People have the right to bear arms. When I was mayor of New York, I took over at a very, very difficult time. We were averaging about 2,000 murders a year, 10,000...
HANNITY: You inherited those laws, the gun laws in New York?
GIULIANI: Yes, and I used them. I used them to help bring down homicide. We reduced homicide, I think, by 65-70 percent. And some of it was by taking guns out of the streets of New York City.
So if you're talking about a city like New York, a densely populated area like New York, I think it's appropriate. You might have different laws other places, and maybe a lot of this gets resolved based on different states, different communities making decisions. After all, we do have a federal system of government in which you have the ability to accomplish that.
HANNITY: So you would support the state's rights to choose on specific gun laws?
GIULIANI: Yes, I mean, a place like New York that is densely populated, or maybe a place that is experiencing a serious crime problem, like a few cities are now, kind of coming back, thank goodness not New York, but some other cities, maybe you have one solution there and in another place, more rural, more suburban, other issues, you have a different set of rules.
HANNITY: But generally speaking, do you think it's acceptable if citizens have the right to carry a handgun?
GIULIANI: It's not only — I mean, it's part of the Constitution. People have the right to bear arms. Then the restrictions of it have to be reasonable and sensible. You can't just remove that right. You've got to regulate, consistent with the Second Amendment.
Rudy Talks Guns [John Derbyshire]
FTC OKs General Dynamics stake sale
The Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday it approved General Dynamics Corp.'s plan to divest its stake in a military ammunition company, a sale the government required before the defense contractor could buy a Canadian ammunition firm.
The FTC said in December that it would require Falls Church, Va.-based General Dynamics to sell its 50 percent stake in Kansas-based American Ordnance LLC before it could proceed with its $275 million acquisition of Canadian ammunition supplier SNC Technologies Inc.
The company in January agreed to do so.
General Dynamics plans to sell its share of American Ordnance to Philadelphia-based government outsourcing contractor Day & Zimmerman Inc., which owns the other half of American Ordnance.
Shares of General Dynamics fell $2.24, or 2.9 percent, to $75.85 in midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock has ranged from $61.20 to $81.28 over the past year.
BW Exclusives
Stocks' Great Wall of Worry
New Conditions May Ease XM-Sirius Merger
Housing Worries Linger Despite Jump
HP's New Soft Spot for Software
Ranking the States for the New Economy
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WASHINGTON
The FTC said in December that it would require Falls Church, Va.-based General Dynamics to sell its 50 percent stake in Kansas-based American Ordnance LLC before it could proceed with its $275 million acquisition of Canadian ammunition supplier SNC Technologies Inc.
The company in January agreed to do so.
General Dynamics plans to sell its share of American Ordnance to Philadelphia-based government outsourcing contractor Day & Zimmerman Inc., which owns the other half of American Ordnance.
Shares of General Dynamics fell $2.24, or 2.9 percent, to $75.85 in midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock has ranged from $61.20 to $81.28 over the past year.
BW Exclusives
Stocks' Great Wall of Worry
New Conditions May Ease XM-Sirius Merger
Housing Worries Linger Despite Jump
HP's New Soft Spot for Software
Ranking the States for the New Economy
Story Tools
order a reprint
digg this
save to del.icio.us
WASHINGTON
Bill May Allow Judges To Carry Guns
A new bill that allows judges to carry guns into the courtroom was approved by the Oklahoma Senate.
On Monday, state members passed the bill by a vote of 39 to nine.
The bill authored by Senator Brian Crain does not require law enforcement training, however does require a weapons permit.
Several state senators believe the bill will add more security to the courtroom. A few Oklahoma senators are concerned the bill will lead to others being able to carry guns in the courtroom.
The measure will move to the House to be considered.
On Monday, state members passed the bill by a vote of 39 to nine.
The bill authored by Senator Brian Crain does not require law enforcement training, however does require a weapons permit.
Several state senators believe the bill will add more security to the courtroom. A few Oklahoma senators are concerned the bill will lead to others being able to carry guns in the courtroom.
The measure will move to the House to be considered.
Bill would protect right to keep weapons during an emergency
Measure inspired by confiscations after Katrina
The governor of Arizona could not take over residents' weapons during a war emergency, according to a bill that advanced easily in the House Tuesday.
Lawmakers made an exception for large caches of ammunition, an allowance that should ensure that the gun bill wins Gov. Janet Napolitano's signature.
Designed to prevent the kind of gun confiscation that happened in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, House Bill 2458 would prevent the governor from commandeering firearms and weapons during a state of war emergency. advertisement
A similar measure passed last year, only to die under a Napolitano veto. She complained that the bill was too broad, and would bar the government from removing stores of ammunition from harm's way, such as the path of a forest fire.
But an amendment negotiated by lawmakers, the Governor's Office and the National Rifle Association allows the government to intervene if stores of ammunition are found to be exposed to "dangerous conditions."
The bill's sponsor, Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, called the amendment a good idea.
His colleagues in the House agreed, approving the bill and its amendment on a voice vote.
"For the first time in House history, I rise in support of a Russell Pearce floor amendment," said Rep. Steve Gallardo, a Phoenix Democrat.
Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix, echoed that support.
"This is not a trick, Mr. Speaker," she said as lawmakers had a brief discussion of the bill.
An almost-identical bill sponsored by Sen. Jay Tibshraeny, R-Chandler, was approved 22-8 by the Senate last week. Tibshraeny helped negotiate the amendment with the Governor's Office, but the agreement came too late for Senate action. He said the amendment will be included when the two bills are merged.
The New Orleans police chief confiscated residents' weapons in the wake of Katrina, citing public safety. The NRA successfully sued to have the weapons returned, and the Louisiana Legislature changed the law last year to bar such confiscations.
Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com or at (602) 444-8963.
Mary Jo Pitzl
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 27, 2007 08:39 PM
The governor of Arizona could not take over residents' weapons during a war emergency, according to a bill that advanced easily in the House Tuesday.
Lawmakers made an exception for large caches of ammunition, an allowance that should ensure that the gun bill wins Gov. Janet Napolitano's signature.
Designed to prevent the kind of gun confiscation that happened in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, House Bill 2458 would prevent the governor from commandeering firearms and weapons during a state of war emergency. advertisement
A similar measure passed last year, only to die under a Napolitano veto. She complained that the bill was too broad, and would bar the government from removing stores of ammunition from harm's way, such as the path of a forest fire.
But an amendment negotiated by lawmakers, the Governor's Office and the National Rifle Association allows the government to intervene if stores of ammunition are found to be exposed to "dangerous conditions."
The bill's sponsor, Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, called the amendment a good idea.
His colleagues in the House agreed, approving the bill and its amendment on a voice vote.
"For the first time in House history, I rise in support of a Russell Pearce floor amendment," said Rep. Steve Gallardo, a Phoenix Democrat.
Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix, echoed that support.
"This is not a trick, Mr. Speaker," she said as lawmakers had a brief discussion of the bill.
An almost-identical bill sponsored by Sen. Jay Tibshraeny, R-Chandler, was approved 22-8 by the Senate last week. Tibshraeny helped negotiate the amendment with the Governor's Office, but the agreement came too late for Senate action. He said the amendment will be included when the two bills are merged.
The New Orleans police chief confiscated residents' weapons in the wake of Katrina, citing public safety. The NRA successfully sued to have the weapons returned, and the Louisiana Legislature changed the law last year to bar such confiscations.
Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com or at (602) 444-8963.
Mary Jo Pitzl
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 27, 2007 08:39 PM
Measure focusing on banning assault rifles draws big turnout
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - A bill that would ban 45 assault weapons in Maryland, focusing on rifles, drew a big turnout Tuesday, with supporters calling it a commonsense measure to protect residents and police, and with opponents saying it would fail to keep them out of criminals' hands.
The bill, which was heard in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, has the backing of Gov. Martin O'Malley, a Democrat who has testified in favor of such bans in the past.
"I'm in favor of this one and would sign it if they can get it to me," O'Malley said in a brief interview with The Associated Press while he was walking toward the governor's mansion. advertisement
The bill would prohibit a person from transporting, selling or buying one of the 45 weapons in Maryland. It designates "assault long guns" and "copycat weapons" as guns that would be affected. The General Assembly has come up short in passing such a ban for four straight years.
Sen. Mike Lenett, D-Montgomery, described the weapons as ones "built to be fired from the hip rather than aimed from the shoulder, allowing the user to spray a large quantity of ammunition from high capacity magazines over a wide area at close range as quickly as possible."
"These weapons are particularly ill-suited to hunting or target-shooting, but remarkably well-suited to killing a lot of people in a hurry," said Lenett, who is the bill's chief sponsor and mentioned the sniper slayings in 2002 that left seven Maryland residents dead as one reason why such a law is needed.
But some lawmakers had a lot of questions about whether the bill would keep the guns away from criminals. Others questioned how often these types of guns were used in crimes.
Sen. Nancy Jacobs, a Republican who represents parts of Harford and Cecil counties, questioned how the bill would prevent gang members from acquiring and using the weapons.
"I've never known them to obey the law," she said, evoking applause from opponents of the bill and causing Sen. Brian Frosh, the committee chair, to call for order and remind the audience that the hearing "was not a basketball game."
About 130 people signed up to testify on Senate Bill 43. Opponents, many wearing at least one sticker or button with a red line through "SB 43," followed testimony from outside the committee hearing room, because all the seats inside were taken.
One of them, Leonard Hubbard of Tracy's Landing in Anne Arundel County, said the bill used "too broad a brush."
"They're trying to cover too many weapons at one time, and still infringing on our Second Amendment rights."
But the bill also drew many supporters from the law enforcement community and a young woman who lost her father, an FBI agent, to a killer with an assault weapon.
Dale Miller, 20, testified tearfully about how her father Michael Miller was killed in November 1994 along with Washington D.C. police Sgt. Henry Daley and FBI agent Martha Martinez by Bennie Lee Lawson. Lawson had walked into D.C. police headquarters with a fully automatic MAC-11 and opened fire.
Dale Miller, who lives in Calvert County, told lawmakers that the crime "ripped my father from my life when I was just eight years old."
She asked them: "How many more innocent people have to be murdered by these assault weapons before it becomes a problem that is important enough to be realistically addressed by lawmakers?"
The measure, as proposed, would include a grandfather clause, allowing a licensed firearms dealer to keep selling the weapons, if the dealer lawfully had them before October 1, 2007. A person who lawfully possessed any of the guns before that date and who registered the gun with the Secretary of State Police before Dec. 1 could keep it.
In 1994, Maryland banned the sale and possession of assault pistols, which were defined as 15 semiautomatic pistols.
A federal assault weapons ban on 19 guns took effect in September 1994. However, the federal ban ended 10 years later.
Critics of the proposed Maryland ban cite the lapse of the federal ban as a reason not to support it. Sen. James Brochin, D-Baltimore County, focused on how the new Democratic-controlled Congress hasn't included bring it back as a top priority
BRIAN WITTE
Associated Press
Feb. 27, 2007 04:18 PM
The bill, which was heard in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, has the backing of Gov. Martin O'Malley, a Democrat who has testified in favor of such bans in the past.
"I'm in favor of this one and would sign it if they can get it to me," O'Malley said in a brief interview with The Associated Press while he was walking toward the governor's mansion. advertisement
The bill would prohibit a person from transporting, selling or buying one of the 45 weapons in Maryland. It designates "assault long guns" and "copycat weapons" as guns that would be affected. The General Assembly has come up short in passing such a ban for four straight years.
Sen. Mike Lenett, D-Montgomery, described the weapons as ones "built to be fired from the hip rather than aimed from the shoulder, allowing the user to spray a large quantity of ammunition from high capacity magazines over a wide area at close range as quickly as possible."
"These weapons are particularly ill-suited to hunting or target-shooting, but remarkably well-suited to killing a lot of people in a hurry," said Lenett, who is the bill's chief sponsor and mentioned the sniper slayings in 2002 that left seven Maryland residents dead as one reason why such a law is needed.
But some lawmakers had a lot of questions about whether the bill would keep the guns away from criminals. Others questioned how often these types of guns were used in crimes.
Sen. Nancy Jacobs, a Republican who represents parts of Harford and Cecil counties, questioned how the bill would prevent gang members from acquiring and using the weapons.
"I've never known them to obey the law," she said, evoking applause from opponents of the bill and causing Sen. Brian Frosh, the committee chair, to call for order and remind the audience that the hearing "was not a basketball game."
About 130 people signed up to testify on Senate Bill 43. Opponents, many wearing at least one sticker or button with a red line through "SB 43," followed testimony from outside the committee hearing room, because all the seats inside were taken.
One of them, Leonard Hubbard of Tracy's Landing in Anne Arundel County, said the bill used "too broad a brush."
"They're trying to cover too many weapons at one time, and still infringing on our Second Amendment rights."
But the bill also drew many supporters from the law enforcement community and a young woman who lost her father, an FBI agent, to a killer with an assault weapon.
Dale Miller, 20, testified tearfully about how her father Michael Miller was killed in November 1994 along with Washington D.C. police Sgt. Henry Daley and FBI agent Martha Martinez by Bennie Lee Lawson. Lawson had walked into D.C. police headquarters with a fully automatic MAC-11 and opened fire.
Dale Miller, who lives in Calvert County, told lawmakers that the crime "ripped my father from my life when I was just eight years old."
She asked them: "How many more innocent people have to be murdered by these assault weapons before it becomes a problem that is important enough to be realistically addressed by lawmakers?"
The measure, as proposed, would include a grandfather clause, allowing a licensed firearms dealer to keep selling the weapons, if the dealer lawfully had them before October 1, 2007. A person who lawfully possessed any of the guns before that date and who registered the gun with the Secretary of State Police before Dec. 1 could keep it.
In 1994, Maryland banned the sale and possession of assault pistols, which were defined as 15 semiautomatic pistols.
A federal assault weapons ban on 19 guns took effect in September 1994. However, the federal ban ended 10 years later.
Critics of the proposed Maryland ban cite the lapse of the federal ban as a reason not to support it. Sen. James Brochin, D-Baltimore County, focused on how the new Democratic-controlled Congress hasn't included bring it back as a top priority
BRIAN WITTE
Associated Press
Feb. 27, 2007 04:18 PM
MUSEUM LANDS RARE PISTOL
Fredericksburg Area Museum acquires rare pistol made in Falmouth for Revolutionary War
As the 13 colonies prepared to go to war for independence from Britain, craftsmen and laborers at James Hunter's Rappahannock Forge in Falmouth were turning out weapons and other gear to supply George Washington's Continental Army.
Two-hundred and thirty years later, officials from the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center discovered that one of the flintlock pistols made at that forge was going on public auction in San Francisco on Feb. 5.
To put things in perspective, only 15 of these pistols, marked with the "Rap a. Forge" stamp, are known to still exist, and according to Mary Helen Dellinger, the museum's senior vice president for collections and exhibitions, it had been 40 years since the last one came up for sale publicly.
This particular gun came with documents that trace its history back through 1908, when it was bought by an "H. Mercer" at a public farm sale in Pennsylvania for $1.25.
Over the years, it had six different owners, one of whom took it to California after buying it in 1967.
An anonymous "friend" of the museum stepped in to front the $170,250 it took to buy the gun at the San Francisco auction, and it returned to Fredericksburg earlier this month in a Federal Express truck.
The museum will be soliciting donations to pay the money back, but Executive Director Edwin Watson said, "I couldn't fathom the idea of letting this thing go."
"In terms of the things we have always wanted for our collection, this is at the top of the list," Dellinger said.
The pistol will be on public display at the museum for a few weeks in April. Then it will go back into storage, and will reappear as part of the "Fredericksburg at War" exhibit in the former bank building the museum is renovating at William and Princess Anne streets.
"Fredericksburg at War" aims to tell stories about what life was like not just on the battlefields, but for everyday residents of the Fredericksburg area during times of war.
That can be hard to do for the Revolutionary period, Watson said, because there are no photos and far fewer written personal accounts from that time than from the Civil War and more modern conflicts.
With the pistol, Watson said the museum can better tell people about the role the Fredericksburg area played in supplying the army that freed America from colonial rule.
The museum also has on exhibit in its existing building two muskets that were made in the area--one from Hunter's iron works that dates to 1780, and is on loan from local gun collector Charles McDaniel, and another from Fielding Lewis and Charles Dick's Fredericksburg Manufactory of Arms, dating to 1776.
Emily Battle: 540/374-5413
Email: ebattle@freelancestar.com
As the 13 colonies prepared to go to war for independence from Britain, craftsmen and laborers at James Hunter's Rappahannock Forge in Falmouth were turning out weapons and other gear to supply George Washington's Continental Army.
Two-hundred and thirty years later, officials from the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center discovered that one of the flintlock pistols made at that forge was going on public auction in San Francisco on Feb. 5.
To put things in perspective, only 15 of these pistols, marked with the "Rap a. Forge" stamp, are known to still exist, and according to Mary Helen Dellinger, the museum's senior vice president for collections and exhibitions, it had been 40 years since the last one came up for sale publicly.
This particular gun came with documents that trace its history back through 1908, when it was bought by an "H. Mercer" at a public farm sale in Pennsylvania for $1.25.
Over the years, it had six different owners, one of whom took it to California after buying it in 1967.
An anonymous "friend" of the museum stepped in to front the $170,250 it took to buy the gun at the San Francisco auction, and it returned to Fredericksburg earlier this month in a Federal Express truck.
The museum will be soliciting donations to pay the money back, but Executive Director Edwin Watson said, "I couldn't fathom the idea of letting this thing go."
"In terms of the things we have always wanted for our collection, this is at the top of the list," Dellinger said.
The pistol will be on public display at the museum for a few weeks in April. Then it will go back into storage, and will reappear as part of the "Fredericksburg at War" exhibit in the former bank building the museum is renovating at William and Princess Anne streets.
"Fredericksburg at War" aims to tell stories about what life was like not just on the battlefields, but for everyday residents of the Fredericksburg area during times of war.
That can be hard to do for the Revolutionary period, Watson said, because there are no photos and far fewer written personal accounts from that time than from the Civil War and more modern conflicts.
With the pistol, Watson said the museum can better tell people about the role the Fredericksburg area played in supplying the army that freed America from colonial rule.
The museum also has on exhibit in its existing building two muskets that were made in the area--one from Hunter's iron works that dates to 1780, and is on loan from local gun collector Charles McDaniel, and another from Fielding Lewis and Charles Dick's Fredericksburg Manufactory of Arms, dating to 1776.
Emily Battle: 540/374-5413
Email: ebattle@freelancestar.com
Right-Sizing For Concealed Carry
From pocket popguns to large-bore powerhouses, there are a number of factors to consider.
By Duane Thomas
When considering handguns to be carried concealed, I tend to separate them into degrees of protection offered. The five levels I've come up with are pocket guns, subcompacts, compacts, middleweights and service guns. This article does not pretend to be a comprehensive list of every gun in each class of weapon, only those I consider to be standout designs.
The definitive pocket guns would probably be the North American Arms mini-revolvers. Shown is the .22 Long Rifle model with optional holster-grip and the .22 Magnum version (bottom).
POCKET GUNS
Pocket guns are so called because they're so small and light, they don't even require a holster to carry--just drop them into a pocket, and they disappear. Contemporary pocket guns include the .22 mini-revolvers from North American Arms, tiny .25 autos, the Seecamps and North American Arms Guardian. In this class we might also put two-shot derringers.
When we say "pocket guns," everyone instantly thinks of the exquisitely crafted .22 mini-revolvers from North American Arms. NAA's .22 Short mini-revolver is the smallest repeating handgun on earth. This gun, and the slightly larger .22 Long Rifle version, are so small, they're actually difficult to manipulate without the optional holster-grip, a polymer device into which the gun folds, equipped with a clip to affix to a waistband or pants pocket. Open up the holster-grip and it acts as a handle, making thumbcocking easy. Many NAA buyers prefer the .22 Magnum mini since it offers a bit more power in a gun that's still pocketable. I prefer it because it's just enough larger that it's easy to manipulate without a holster-grip.
Among .25 autos, Beretta's double-action Model 21A Bobcat is on the large side for pocket carry but is still manageable, given a fairly large pocket. It is available in both .25 ACP and .22 Long Rifle. The former cartridge is the superior choice due to its centerfire method of ignition vs. the .22's rimfire system, which is prone to misfires.
The Seecamp LWS-32 and LWS-380, being as they are the size of a smallish .25, are extremely popular among serious gun carriers (though among the cognoscenti such small pieces are almost invariably used as backup to a larger weapon rather than the only gun carried).
From left to right, all shown with a Glock 17 magazine for purposes of size comparison, are Beretta's Model 21A nine-shot .25 ACP, North American Arms' Guardian in .32 ACP, and Kel-Tec's small, flat, inexpensive, polymer-framed sucompact P32.
Seecamps have always had problems with availability. They're made by a small factory, thus production is limited and guns are continuously back-ordered. Many readers have complained about writers recommending a gun "no one else can get." Thus the North American Arms Guardian, readily available and but marginally larger than the Seecamp, has become quite popular. North American Arms actually offers four versions of its small auto. The "small frame" Guardian is chambered in .32 ACP and .25 NAA (a .32 necked down to .25). The "large frame" Guardian is a quarter-inch taller and longer and may be had in .380 ACP and .32 NAA (a .380 necked down to .32).
As a class, pocket guns lack very much power. Only the derringers offer truly serious cartridges if you're willing to put up with a fairly bulky gun, but that comes at the expense of a mere two-shot capacity.
Capacity is limited in all of these guns, and handling qualities are not the greatest. Derringers and the NAA minis with their tiny bird's-head grips are particularly bad in this regard. Mini-revolvers and derringers have a geriatric rate of fire since they require a slow--and fumble-prone under stress--thumbcocking of the hammer for every shot. The .25 autos are comparatively fast and easy to fire. Sights on pocket guns range from microscopic in the case of .25 autos and the NAA .22s and Guardian to totally absent on Seecamps.
By Duane Thomas
When considering handguns to be carried concealed, I tend to separate them into degrees of protection offered. The five levels I've come up with are pocket guns, subcompacts, compacts, middleweights and service guns. This article does not pretend to be a comprehensive list of every gun in each class of weapon, only those I consider to be standout designs.
The definitive pocket guns would probably be the North American Arms mini-revolvers. Shown is the .22 Long Rifle model with optional holster-grip and the .22 Magnum version (bottom).
POCKET GUNS
Pocket guns are so called because they're so small and light, they don't even require a holster to carry--just drop them into a pocket, and they disappear. Contemporary pocket guns include the .22 mini-revolvers from North American Arms, tiny .25 autos, the Seecamps and North American Arms Guardian. In this class we might also put two-shot derringers.
When we say "pocket guns," everyone instantly thinks of the exquisitely crafted .22 mini-revolvers from North American Arms. NAA's .22 Short mini-revolver is the smallest repeating handgun on earth. This gun, and the slightly larger .22 Long Rifle version, are so small, they're actually difficult to manipulate without the optional holster-grip, a polymer device into which the gun folds, equipped with a clip to affix to a waistband or pants pocket. Open up the holster-grip and it acts as a handle, making thumbcocking easy. Many NAA buyers prefer the .22 Magnum mini since it offers a bit more power in a gun that's still pocketable. I prefer it because it's just enough larger that it's easy to manipulate without a holster-grip.
Among .25 autos, Beretta's double-action Model 21A Bobcat is on the large side for pocket carry but is still manageable, given a fairly large pocket. It is available in both .25 ACP and .22 Long Rifle. The former cartridge is the superior choice due to its centerfire method of ignition vs. the .22's rimfire system, which is prone to misfires.
The Seecamp LWS-32 and LWS-380, being as they are the size of a smallish .25, are extremely popular among serious gun carriers (though among the cognoscenti such small pieces are almost invariably used as backup to a larger weapon rather than the only gun carried).
From left to right, all shown with a Glock 17 magazine for purposes of size comparison, are Beretta's Model 21A nine-shot .25 ACP, North American Arms' Guardian in .32 ACP, and Kel-Tec's small, flat, inexpensive, polymer-framed sucompact P32.
Seecamps have always had problems with availability. They're made by a small factory, thus production is limited and guns are continuously back-ordered. Many readers have complained about writers recommending a gun "no one else can get." Thus the North American Arms Guardian, readily available and but marginally larger than the Seecamp, has become quite popular. North American Arms actually offers four versions of its small auto. The "small frame" Guardian is chambered in .32 ACP and .25 NAA (a .32 necked down to .25). The "large frame" Guardian is a quarter-inch taller and longer and may be had in .380 ACP and .32 NAA (a .380 necked down to .32).
As a class, pocket guns lack very much power. Only the derringers offer truly serious cartridges if you're willing to put up with a fairly bulky gun, but that comes at the expense of a mere two-shot capacity.
Capacity is limited in all of these guns, and handling qualities are not the greatest. Derringers and the NAA minis with their tiny bird's-head grips are particularly bad in this regard. Mini-revolvers and derringers have a geriatric rate of fire since they require a slow--and fumble-prone under stress--thumbcocking of the hammer for every shot. The .25 autos are comparatively fast and easy to fire. Sights on pocket guns range from microscopic in the case of .25 autos and the NAA .22s and Guardian to totally absent on Seecamps.
Sporting ARs
Stoner's brilliant battle design is following tradition by heading into the woods.
By Dick Metcalf
("The following article was prepared for press prior to the current controversy concerning AR rifles used in hunting, and will appear in the May/June issue of Petersen's Hunting.")
Virtually every type of centerfire sporting rifle in existence started off as a military weapon. The classic lever-action deer gun, long the most popular type of hunting rifle in America, began as the Henry Rifle of the Civil War era, designed to bring rapid fire against the enemy. The lever-action was succeeded in universal popularity by the bolt-action--the standard hunting rifle of today--which we owe to Paul Mauser's classic battle-rifle design.
Sporterized military guns have always found their way into the hunting fields--and always with resistance from traditionalists.
Now another rifle of military origin is moving rapidly into prominence in the hunting and sport shooting world: the AR15 .223 and AR10 .308. And, like its predecessors, the AR platform is meeting resistance, even outright opposition, from many hunters who are personally wedded to earlier gun designs. No surprise there; when the lever action was first used for hunting, traditionalists, whose idea of a "real" hunting gun was a single-shot muzzleloader, distained the need for a repeat-fire tool.
First-generation bolt-action military surplus rifles were also disparaged by many sportsmen as "inappropriate" for hunting. But the AR design's proven capability has already made it the rifle of choice for top-level civilian high-power rifle competition. It is also increasingly the rifle of choice for serious long-range varmint and predator shooters, and it's appearing in increasing numbers in the big-game hunting arena, as well.
It should. ARs are not all just .223 caliber. In fact, most people are probably not aware that the AR design originated as a .308 (7.62mm), not as a .223 (5.56mm).
To get your AR to match the accuracy of the best hunting rifles, swap out its barrel for a match-grade version.
Technically speaking, it makes all the sense in the world that proven military rifle designs should be inherently appropriate for hunting use. All successful military rifles are specifically designed for rugged, reliable function and durability under extreme conditions, which translates automatically into use under even the most extreme field-hunting use. They're also designed for reasonable weight, portability and ease of fast handling by people who may be carrying other heavy gear and wearing bulky clothing. They have an inherent capability for follow-up shots, and they must be deadly accurate against targets of the same basic dimensions and at the same distances typically encountered by hunters.
The AR in particular is a superb hunting design, due primarily to its lightweight synthetic and corrosion-resistant alloy construction. And, it's surprisingly accurate, due primarily to the fact it's an "assembled" gun rather than a "fitted" gun. Its major components essentially snap together. Unlike a traditional bolt-action rifle, which generally requires close-tolerance, hand-work receiver/barrel mating and precise bedding into the stock for maximum accuracy and consistency, a hunting-grade (or even competition-grade) AR can readily be assembled from modular components literally on a kitchen table, by anybody with a modicum of ability to use relatively simple hand tools. Likewise, a service-grade "standard" AR15 can readily be brought up to minute-of-angle performance by selective replacement of key modular elements with match-grade parts. And, once tuned, an AR stays that way, due to the fact that its entirely nonorganic components (nonwood) are not susceptible to environmental distortion (warpage or swelling). All an AR really needs is a quality barrel to shoot as well as the best hunting rifle you can buy.
Hunting versions of the AR design, in a wide variety of chamberings, are currently offered by several manufacturers. One of the early leaders in AR hunting rifle and sport configurations has been ArmaLite, which offers both lightweight and heavy-barrel configurations in .223 (M-12A series) for long-range varmint and predator hunting, .308-chambered versions (AR-10 series) for deer hunting and competition and even a super-accurate .300 Remington Short-Action Ultra Mag (AR-10T Ultra), which is as good an elk, moose or general heavy game chambering as you can get.
Other manufacturers offer complete AR rifles and AR upper receivers chambered for such excellent hunting cartridges as the 6.8mm Remington SPC, up to big-bore dangerous-game chamberings such as the .458 SOCOM or .500 Beowulf.
MIX & MATCH
Because of its modular design, an AR is very easy to "sporterize" at your home workbench. The range of available quick-install AR accessories is nearly infinite, including a wide variety of precision-adjustable metallic sights, a diversity of optical sight-mount options, many different designs of adjustable or fixed buttstocks and forends (handguards), and attachments for varied styles of carrying and/or shooting slings and bipods for long-range precision shooting. A growing number of AR users are also taking advantage of the basic design to have different upper receivers in different chamberings and/or barrel lengths/weights made to attach to the same lower receiver (legally the serial-numbered actual "firearm"), making an AR nearly as versatile as a T/C Encore.
ARs are legal for hunting anywhere any other semiauto centerfire hunting rifle (such as a Browning BAR or Remington 742 or 7400) is legal--except in states that may have passed laws banning specific models and configurations of semiautomatics by calling them "assault rifles."
As for the "black rifle" issue...well, I like wood as much as the next guy, but the most popular hunting rifles in America these days, of any type, all have black or gray synthetic stocks, dull matte surface treatments or camo finishes, anyway. Black or camo bolt-action rifles, or black or camo ARs--what's the difference? If hunting with a "black gun" bothers you, don't. If you oppose others using a hunting tool simply because it doesn't "look right," you're standing on the same political platform as the California state legislature. Hunters should not do the antigun, antihunter groups' work for them.
The AR platform is a hunting rifle, and anyone who says differently simply doesn't know history.
By Dick Metcalf
("The following article was prepared for press prior to the current controversy concerning AR rifles used in hunting, and will appear in the May/June issue of Petersen's Hunting.")
Virtually every type of centerfire sporting rifle in existence started off as a military weapon. The classic lever-action deer gun, long the most popular type of hunting rifle in America, began as the Henry Rifle of the Civil War era, designed to bring rapid fire against the enemy. The lever-action was succeeded in universal popularity by the bolt-action--the standard hunting rifle of today--which we owe to Paul Mauser's classic battle-rifle design.
Sporterized military guns have always found their way into the hunting fields--and always with resistance from traditionalists.
Now another rifle of military origin is moving rapidly into prominence in the hunting and sport shooting world: the AR15 .223 and AR10 .308. And, like its predecessors, the AR platform is meeting resistance, even outright opposition, from many hunters who are personally wedded to earlier gun designs. No surprise there; when the lever action was first used for hunting, traditionalists, whose idea of a "real" hunting gun was a single-shot muzzleloader, distained the need for a repeat-fire tool.
First-generation bolt-action military surplus rifles were also disparaged by many sportsmen as "inappropriate" for hunting. But the AR design's proven capability has already made it the rifle of choice for top-level civilian high-power rifle competition. It is also increasingly the rifle of choice for serious long-range varmint and predator shooters, and it's appearing in increasing numbers in the big-game hunting arena, as well.
It should. ARs are not all just .223 caliber. In fact, most people are probably not aware that the AR design originated as a .308 (7.62mm), not as a .223 (5.56mm).
To get your AR to match the accuracy of the best hunting rifles, swap out its barrel for a match-grade version.
Technically speaking, it makes all the sense in the world that proven military rifle designs should be inherently appropriate for hunting use. All successful military rifles are specifically designed for rugged, reliable function and durability under extreme conditions, which translates automatically into use under even the most extreme field-hunting use. They're also designed for reasonable weight, portability and ease of fast handling by people who may be carrying other heavy gear and wearing bulky clothing. They have an inherent capability for follow-up shots, and they must be deadly accurate against targets of the same basic dimensions and at the same distances typically encountered by hunters.
The AR in particular is a superb hunting design, due primarily to its lightweight synthetic and corrosion-resistant alloy construction. And, it's surprisingly accurate, due primarily to the fact it's an "assembled" gun rather than a "fitted" gun. Its major components essentially snap together. Unlike a traditional bolt-action rifle, which generally requires close-tolerance, hand-work receiver/barrel mating and precise bedding into the stock for maximum accuracy and consistency, a hunting-grade (or even competition-grade) AR can readily be assembled from modular components literally on a kitchen table, by anybody with a modicum of ability to use relatively simple hand tools. Likewise, a service-grade "standard" AR15 can readily be brought up to minute-of-angle performance by selective replacement of key modular elements with match-grade parts. And, once tuned, an AR stays that way, due to the fact that its entirely nonorganic components (nonwood) are not susceptible to environmental distortion (warpage or swelling). All an AR really needs is a quality barrel to shoot as well as the best hunting rifle you can buy.
Hunting versions of the AR design, in a wide variety of chamberings, are currently offered by several manufacturers. One of the early leaders in AR hunting rifle and sport configurations has been ArmaLite, which offers both lightweight and heavy-barrel configurations in .223 (M-12A series) for long-range varmint and predator hunting, .308-chambered versions (AR-10 series) for deer hunting and competition and even a super-accurate .300 Remington Short-Action Ultra Mag (AR-10T Ultra), which is as good an elk, moose or general heavy game chambering as you can get.
Other manufacturers offer complete AR rifles and AR upper receivers chambered for such excellent hunting cartridges as the 6.8mm Remington SPC, up to big-bore dangerous-game chamberings such as the .458 SOCOM or .500 Beowulf.
MIX & MATCH
Because of its modular design, an AR is very easy to "sporterize" at your home workbench. The range of available quick-install AR accessories is nearly infinite, including a wide variety of precision-adjustable metallic sights, a diversity of optical sight-mount options, many different designs of adjustable or fixed buttstocks and forends (handguards), and attachments for varied styles of carrying and/or shooting slings and bipods for long-range precision shooting. A growing number of AR users are also taking advantage of the basic design to have different upper receivers in different chamberings and/or barrel lengths/weights made to attach to the same lower receiver (legally the serial-numbered actual "firearm"), making an AR nearly as versatile as a T/C Encore.
ARs are legal for hunting anywhere any other semiauto centerfire hunting rifle (such as a Browning BAR or Remington 742 or 7400) is legal--except in states that may have passed laws banning specific models and configurations of semiautomatics by calling them "assault rifles."
As for the "black rifle" issue...well, I like wood as much as the next guy, but the most popular hunting rifles in America these days, of any type, all have black or gray synthetic stocks, dull matte surface treatments or camo finishes, anyway. Black or camo bolt-action rifles, or black or camo ARs--what's the difference? If hunting with a "black gun" bothers you, don't. If you oppose others using a hunting tool simply because it doesn't "look right," you're standing on the same political platform as the California state legislature. Hunters should not do the antigun, antihunter groups' work for them.
The AR platform is a hunting rifle, and anyone who says differently simply doesn't know history.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Blogger Shot Down for Calling Rifles 'Terrorist' Weapons
A sportsmanship and outdoor living magazine has ended a regular column by one of its online bloggers after a posting in which the writer said he considers high-powered AK and AR rifles "terrorist" weapons that "have no place in hunting."
The controversy erupted earlier this month, when Jim Zumbo ran a piece entitled "Assault Rifles for Hunters?" in his "Hunting With Zumbo" column on the website of Outdoor Life magazine, a publication that calls itself "the Source for Hunting and Fishing Adventure."
"As I write this, I'm hunting coyotes in southeastern Wyoming," Zumbo wrote. "The guides on our hunt tell me that the use of AR and AK rifles have a rapidly growing following among hunters, especially prairie dog hunters. I had no clue.
"I call them 'assault' rifles, which may upset some people," he stated. "I'll go so far as to call them 'terrorist' rifles.
"In my humble opinion, these things have no place in hunting," Zumbo argued. "We don't need to be lumped into the group of people who terrorize the world with them, which is an obvious concern.
"As hunters, we don't need the image of walking around the woods carrying one of these weapons," he added. "To most of the public, an assault rifle is a terrifying thing. Let's divorce ourselves from them."
Soon after, Zumbo posted a follow-up message entitled "I Was Wrong, BIG TIME."
"Someone once said that to err is human. I just erred, and made without question, the biggest blunder in my 42 years of writing hunting articles," he stated. "Obviously, when I wrote that blog, I activated my mouth before engaging my brain.
"Believe it or not, I'm your best friend if you're a hunter or shooter, though it might not seem that way," he noted. "I'm sorry for inserting my foot in my mouth."
On his website, Zumbo is described as "one of the country's most well-known and respected outdoorsmen. He has dedicated his life to hunting, the pursuit and enjoyment of the outdoors, and writing about his experiences for his readers."
The site also notes that Zumbo sold his first article to Outdoor Life in 1962 and has had over 1,500 articles published in all the major outdoor magazines.
Over the several days following the posting, Outdoor Life and other companies with which Zumbo had long-term relationships received thousands of emails and telephone calls responding to the column.
Last week, Outdoor Life pulled Zumbo's blog, replacing it with a statement that read: "Due to the controversy surrounding Jim Zumbo's recent postings, Outdoor Life has decided to discontinue the 'Hunting With Zumbo' blog for the time being.
"Outdoor Life has always been, and will always be, a steadfast supporter of our Second Amendment rights, which do not make distinctions based on the looks of the firearms we choose to own, shoot and take hunting," the statement added.
Todd Smith, editor-in-chief of the monthly magazine, subsequently posted a statement of his own, entitled "Outdoor Life and Jim Zumbo Part Ways."
"In light of comments made by Jim Zumbo in his February 16, 2007, blog posting on the magazine's website, Mr. Zumbo has offered to terminate his association with Outdoor Life, and the magazine has accepted his offer," Smith said.
"Accordingly, he will no longer be contributing to the magazine in print or online," the editor-in-chief wrote.
"We respect Mr. Zumbo's First Amendment right to free speech, and we acknowledge his subsequent apology and admission of error," Smith added. "We regret this turn of events, as Mr. Zumbo has been a good friend to this magazine and lifelong advocate for hunters and hunting rights."
Remington Arms Company, Inc., made a similar statement on its website.
"As a result of comments made by Mr. Jim Zumbo in recent postings on his blog site," Remington "has severed all sponsorship ties with Mr. Zumbo, effective immediately," the news release noted.
Other sponsors cutting their ties with Zumbo include Cabela's Outfitters, Gerber Legendary Blades, High Mountain Seasonings, the National Rifle Association and Haas Outdoors, Inc., the home of Mossy Oak Brand Camouflage. "Jim Zumbo Outdoors," a cable TV series on the Outdoor Channel, was also cancelled.
Several telephone calls seeking response from Zumbo were not returned by press time. However, the outdoorsman commented on the events in a posting on a blog hosted by fellow hunter Ted Nugent.
"Looking back, I can't believe I said the words 'ban' and 'terrorist' in the context that I did," Zumbo said. His said his biggest regret was "that I inadvertently struck a spear into the hearts of the people I love most ... America's gun owners. And, even though this huge cadre of dedicated people has succeeded in stripping me of my career, I hold no grudges."
"I will continue to stand as firm on pro hunting as I've ever done," he wrote. "What's different now is that I'll do all I can to educate others who are, or were, as ignorant as I was about 'black' rifles and the controversy that surrounds them."
"My promise to you is that I'll learn all I can about these firearms," Zumbo added, and "I'll do all I can to spread the word." As a result, "maybe in a roundabout way, we can bring something good out of this."
Make media inquiries or request an interview with Randy Hall. E-mail a comment or news tip to Randy Hall.
Randy Hall
Staff Writer/Editor
(CNSNews.com) -
The controversy erupted earlier this month, when Jim Zumbo ran a piece entitled "Assault Rifles for Hunters?" in his "Hunting With Zumbo" column on the website of Outdoor Life magazine, a publication that calls itself "the Source for Hunting and Fishing Adventure."
"As I write this, I'm hunting coyotes in southeastern Wyoming," Zumbo wrote. "The guides on our hunt tell me that the use of AR and AK rifles have a rapidly growing following among hunters, especially prairie dog hunters. I had no clue.
"I call them 'assault' rifles, which may upset some people," he stated. "I'll go so far as to call them 'terrorist' rifles.
"In my humble opinion, these things have no place in hunting," Zumbo argued. "We don't need to be lumped into the group of people who terrorize the world with them, which is an obvious concern.
"As hunters, we don't need the image of walking around the woods carrying one of these weapons," he added. "To most of the public, an assault rifle is a terrifying thing. Let's divorce ourselves from them."
Soon after, Zumbo posted a follow-up message entitled "I Was Wrong, BIG TIME."
"Someone once said that to err is human. I just erred, and made without question, the biggest blunder in my 42 years of writing hunting articles," he stated. "Obviously, when I wrote that blog, I activated my mouth before engaging my brain.
"Believe it or not, I'm your best friend if you're a hunter or shooter, though it might not seem that way," he noted. "I'm sorry for inserting my foot in my mouth."
On his website, Zumbo is described as "one of the country's most well-known and respected outdoorsmen. He has dedicated his life to hunting, the pursuit and enjoyment of the outdoors, and writing about his experiences for his readers."
The site also notes that Zumbo sold his first article to Outdoor Life in 1962 and has had over 1,500 articles published in all the major outdoor magazines.
Over the several days following the posting, Outdoor Life and other companies with which Zumbo had long-term relationships received thousands of emails and telephone calls responding to the column.
Last week, Outdoor Life pulled Zumbo's blog, replacing it with a statement that read: "Due to the controversy surrounding Jim Zumbo's recent postings, Outdoor Life has decided to discontinue the 'Hunting With Zumbo' blog for the time being.
"Outdoor Life has always been, and will always be, a steadfast supporter of our Second Amendment rights, which do not make distinctions based on the looks of the firearms we choose to own, shoot and take hunting," the statement added.
Todd Smith, editor-in-chief of the monthly magazine, subsequently posted a statement of his own, entitled "Outdoor Life and Jim Zumbo Part Ways."
"In light of comments made by Jim Zumbo in his February 16, 2007, blog posting on the magazine's website, Mr. Zumbo has offered to terminate his association with Outdoor Life, and the magazine has accepted his offer," Smith said.
"Accordingly, he will no longer be contributing to the magazine in print or online," the editor-in-chief wrote.
"We respect Mr. Zumbo's First Amendment right to free speech, and we acknowledge his subsequent apology and admission of error," Smith added. "We regret this turn of events, as Mr. Zumbo has been a good friend to this magazine and lifelong advocate for hunters and hunting rights."
Remington Arms Company, Inc., made a similar statement on its website.
"As a result of comments made by Mr. Jim Zumbo in recent postings on his blog site," Remington "has severed all sponsorship ties with Mr. Zumbo, effective immediately," the news release noted.
Other sponsors cutting their ties with Zumbo include Cabela's Outfitters, Gerber Legendary Blades, High Mountain Seasonings, the National Rifle Association and Haas Outdoors, Inc., the home of Mossy Oak Brand Camouflage. "Jim Zumbo Outdoors," a cable TV series on the Outdoor Channel, was also cancelled.
Several telephone calls seeking response from Zumbo were not returned by press time. However, the outdoorsman commented on the events in a posting on a blog hosted by fellow hunter Ted Nugent.
"Looking back, I can't believe I said the words 'ban' and 'terrorist' in the context that I did," Zumbo said. His said his biggest regret was "that I inadvertently struck a spear into the hearts of the people I love most ... America's gun owners. And, even though this huge cadre of dedicated people has succeeded in stripping me of my career, I hold no grudges."
"I will continue to stand as firm on pro hunting as I've ever done," he wrote. "What's different now is that I'll do all I can to educate others who are, or were, as ignorant as I was about 'black' rifles and the controversy that surrounds them."
"My promise to you is that I'll learn all I can about these firearms," Zumbo added, and "I'll do all I can to spread the word." As a result, "maybe in a roundabout way, we can bring something good out of this."
Make media inquiries or request an interview with Randy Hall. E-mail a comment or news tip to Randy Hall.
Randy Hall
Staff Writer/Editor
(CNSNews.com) -
Firearms instructor shows a SigArms 9mm semi-automatic weapon.
Edward W. Pokornicki, Firearms Instructor
Age: 56 Family: Married; three children Native of: Boston Current residence: Uxbridge Time in current job: 29 years
What do you do?
“I am a firearms instructor for police officers, for hunter safety and I am a National Rifle Association instructor for civilians who want a firearm for home protection. I teach firearm safety for the home and on the range. They all include instruction shooting a shotgun, a rifle and a handgun. I teach how to load guns safely, how to clean them and sight them in.”
How did you get into this field?
“I just like guns, and I like helping people. Jim Malo of the NRA Worcester range told me I would be a good candidate. I took the course and started giving classes. I’ve taught kids as young as 8 years old.”
Do you find that people have diverse reasons for wanting to learn to shoot or to carry a gun?
“I find that now there’s a lot more conscientious people. Some people are ticked off that they have to take the course. Down South and in Texas you can buy a gun and don’t have to take a firearms course. When they take the course, a lot say they’re glad, that they learned something. There are organizations out there that are anti-gun. It’s a good sport. But it’s like driving a car; if you’re not careful someone will get hurt or killed. A lot of people who take the course want to know if they can protect themselves in their house.
There are people who want to know if they can use a gun. I try to give them an answer they will understand. You can’t shoot someone who’s running out the door with your TV. Only if bodily harm or death is going to occur. If you can call the police, call the police. Some people say I’m too hard. I have no problem with that. It shows that I’m doing my job.
In the last three years I’ve had five people call my house and offer me up to $500 for a card, but they didn’t want to take the course. I turned them all down. I would never do that.”
Are people using different types of guns now than several years ago?
“More people are using semiautomatic handguns than revolvers. They can carry a larger capacity. A lot of people use them to shoot longer for accuracy.
They can sight in the gun, and they can get more time to get a feel for the firearm.”
Do many girls or women enroll in your classes?
“Adults, yeah. I average one or two women for every five men in class. I also see more women in the woods, hunting. It’s good to see them taking up an active sport.”
What’s the best part of your job?
“Meeting different people. Keeping kids off the street. I really enjoy instructing kids. I like to see them in the woods, hunting, not hanging out on the street. I like to see a father and son in class together. There’s a lot of paperwork, but it’s good work. We’ll have 25 Boy Scouts this year. Nobody has said anything against it. I let the parents see what they’ve learned. Kids do it to earn merit badges. The course is very strict. It has to be, because you want them to learn. They’re taught ethics and respect of firearms and other people and their surroundings. I teach them to be sportsmen, not Rambo.”
What’s the worst part?
“Picking up the newspaper and seeing someone from my class did something stupid. (Addressing the issue of) domestic violence is taught in class. You don’t show your firearm to your neighbor if you’re in a dispute. That’s assault.”
What have you learned from this job?
“There are people out there who are willing to be safe with firearms and enjoy them. Target practice, being good sportsmen. I don’t believe there are many people who take my course who want to get a gun to be macho.”
Compiled by: Business reporter Martin Luttrell
To have or suggest a job profile, send information to Andi Esposito, business editor, Telegram & Gazette, Box 15012, Worcester, MA, 01615-0012, or send an e-mail to aesposito@telegram.com.
Edward W. Pokornicki of Uxbridge (T&G Staff/MARK C. IDE)
Age: 56 Family: Married; three children Native of: Boston Current residence: Uxbridge Time in current job: 29 years
What do you do?
“I am a firearms instructor for police officers, for hunter safety and I am a National Rifle Association instructor for civilians who want a firearm for home protection. I teach firearm safety for the home and on the range. They all include instruction shooting a shotgun, a rifle and a handgun. I teach how to load guns safely, how to clean them and sight them in.”
How did you get into this field?
“I just like guns, and I like helping people. Jim Malo of the NRA Worcester range told me I would be a good candidate. I took the course and started giving classes. I’ve taught kids as young as 8 years old.”
Do you find that people have diverse reasons for wanting to learn to shoot or to carry a gun?
“I find that now there’s a lot more conscientious people. Some people are ticked off that they have to take the course. Down South and in Texas you can buy a gun and don’t have to take a firearms course. When they take the course, a lot say they’re glad, that they learned something. There are organizations out there that are anti-gun. It’s a good sport. But it’s like driving a car; if you’re not careful someone will get hurt or killed. A lot of people who take the course want to know if they can protect themselves in their house.
There are people who want to know if they can use a gun. I try to give them an answer they will understand. You can’t shoot someone who’s running out the door with your TV. Only if bodily harm or death is going to occur. If you can call the police, call the police. Some people say I’m too hard. I have no problem with that. It shows that I’m doing my job.
In the last three years I’ve had five people call my house and offer me up to $500 for a card, but they didn’t want to take the course. I turned them all down. I would never do that.”
Are people using different types of guns now than several years ago?
“More people are using semiautomatic handguns than revolvers. They can carry a larger capacity. A lot of people use them to shoot longer for accuracy.
They can sight in the gun, and they can get more time to get a feel for the firearm.”
Do many girls or women enroll in your classes?
“Adults, yeah. I average one or two women for every five men in class. I also see more women in the woods, hunting. It’s good to see them taking up an active sport.”
What’s the best part of your job?
“Meeting different people. Keeping kids off the street. I really enjoy instructing kids. I like to see them in the woods, hunting, not hanging out on the street. I like to see a father and son in class together. There’s a lot of paperwork, but it’s good work. We’ll have 25 Boy Scouts this year. Nobody has said anything against it. I let the parents see what they’ve learned. Kids do it to earn merit badges. The course is very strict. It has to be, because you want them to learn. They’re taught ethics and respect of firearms and other people and their surroundings. I teach them to be sportsmen, not Rambo.”
What’s the worst part?
“Picking up the newspaper and seeing someone from my class did something stupid. (Addressing the issue of) domestic violence is taught in class. You don’t show your firearm to your neighbor if you’re in a dispute. That’s assault.”
What have you learned from this job?
“There are people out there who are willing to be safe with firearms and enjoy them. Target practice, being good sportsmen. I don’t believe there are many people who take my course who want to get a gun to be macho.”
Compiled by: Business reporter Martin Luttrell
To have or suggest a job profile, send information to Andi Esposito, business editor, Telegram & Gazette, Box 15012, Worcester, MA, 01615-0012, or send an e-mail to aesposito@telegram.com.
Edward W. Pokornicki of Uxbridge (T&G Staff/MARK C. IDE)
BAE to make ammunition in Walker County
Defense and aerospace manufacturer BAE Systems will lease a plant in Cordova to fabricate and deliver ammunition magazines.
The ammunition will be used for BAE Systems' Advanced Gun System and missile launcher assemblies for their Mk57 Vertical Launching System. Both of these systems will be used as weaponry on the U.S. Navy's new DDG 1000 Zumwalt class of surface ships.
BAE Systems, based in Rockville, Md., will lease the Warrior River Steel LLC site in current operation as a metal manufacturing and welding facility. BAE Systems expects to hire 30 to 40 employees and occupy the full facility in the fall of 2007.
"BAE Systems welcomes the great manufacturing capabilities and people of Alabama to our DDG 1000 family," Jim Schoppenhorst, vice president of the DDG 1000 program at BAE Systems, said.
Birmingham Business Journal - 1:39 PM CST Monday, February 26, 2007
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The ammunition will be used for BAE Systems' Advanced Gun System and missile launcher assemblies for their Mk57 Vertical Launching System. Both of these systems will be used as weaponry on the U.S. Navy's new DDG 1000 Zumwalt class of surface ships.
BAE Systems, based in Rockville, Md., will lease the Warrior River Steel LLC site in current operation as a metal manufacturing and welding facility. BAE Systems expects to hire 30 to 40 employees and occupy the full facility in the fall of 2007.
"BAE Systems welcomes the great manufacturing capabilities and people of Alabama to our DDG 1000 family," Jim Schoppenhorst, vice president of the DDG 1000 program at BAE Systems, said.
Birmingham Business Journal - 1:39 PM CST Monday, February 26, 2007
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Sunday, February 25, 2007
Right out of the old west
BIDDEFORD (Feb 24, 2007): Cowboys are known for hard riding and good shooting and those skills are still valued today by horse and gun enthusiasts who compete in mounted shooting events all over the country.
Bill Ledoux, of Biddeford, got hooked on the sport of cowboy mounted shooting five years ago, and now his whole family participates. Ledoux’s daughter, Sheri Robicheau, and his grandson both compete in shooting events, while his wife, Patty, often scores the events.
“I’ve always loved horses and guns. When I was a little boy it was great fun to play cowboys and Indians. I guess I just haven’t grown up yet,” Ledoux said of his enthusiasm for mounted shooting.
Bob Ledoux of Biddeford sits atop his horse Wamps Illini Teddy, which he rides in cowboy mounted shooting events. (Image courtesy of Patty Ledoux)
In cowboy mounted shooting, riders go through a variety of 50 possible course patterns while using single-action .45 revolvers or rifles to break balloons tied to cones. No live ammunition is allowed. The riders all use black powder cartridges, which can pop a balloon from about 15 feet away.
Ledoux and his daughter are members of the New Hampshire Mounted Cowboy Shooters club, but Ledoux also wants to start a Maine-based club.
During a shooting match, the riders are given 60 seconds to do the run and to shoot as many balloons as possible. Ledoux said the better riders are able to get through the course in 15 to 30 seconds.
In addition to the strict rules regarding the guns used, all riders must adhere to a dress code. Clothing must be authentic to the 1800s, which means no zippers on pants, no collars on shirts and all leather tack and holsters.
Women can wear pants, but are encouraged to wear skirts and tailored shirts with either petticoats or bloomers underneath.
Mounted shooting is open to men, women and children. There are separate divisions for men and women. Kids are broken up into divisions based on age. There is also a senior division for adults.
Ledoux heard about cowboy mounted shooting when he read an article in a cowboy magazine. He did some research on the sport and knew it was something he would enjoy doing.
Ledoux went to a shoot hosted by a New Hampshire club and was hooked. He then told his daughter, “You’ve gotta try this.”
To generate interest in the sport, and to attract members to the Maine club, the Ledouxes are hosting two clinics in March to introduce people to cowboy mounted shooting.
The first clinic will be held on Sunday, March 11, in Brownfield. The focus of the day will be getting familiarized with the guns used in cowboy mounted shooting events. “It’s all about safety,” Patty Ledoux said.
The second clinic will be held on March 25. That day will be devoted to running horses through some of the course patterns used in cowboy mounted shooting events. The riding clinic will help riders determine whether the sport is something their horse can be trained to do.
Each clinic is $40. Call Bill Ledoux at 282-2821 or 205-4929, for more information. Also go online to www.mainecowboymountedshooters.com to learn more about cowboy mounted shooting.
“I think I was born 100 years too late,” Ledoux said of his love for the sport. “I grew up watching Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and John Wayne. I wanted to be just like them.”
Based in Saco, Staff Writer Kate Irish Collins can be reached at 207-283-1878 or by e-mail at kcollins@keepmecurrent.com.
By Kate Irish Collins
Staff Writer
Bill Ledoux, of Biddeford, got hooked on the sport of cowboy mounted shooting five years ago, and now his whole family participates. Ledoux’s daughter, Sheri Robicheau, and his grandson both compete in shooting events, while his wife, Patty, often scores the events.
“I’ve always loved horses and guns. When I was a little boy it was great fun to play cowboys and Indians. I guess I just haven’t grown up yet,” Ledoux said of his enthusiasm for mounted shooting.
Bob Ledoux of Biddeford sits atop his horse Wamps Illini Teddy, which he rides in cowboy mounted shooting events. (Image courtesy of Patty Ledoux)
In cowboy mounted shooting, riders go through a variety of 50 possible course patterns while using single-action .45 revolvers or rifles to break balloons tied to cones. No live ammunition is allowed. The riders all use black powder cartridges, which can pop a balloon from about 15 feet away.
Ledoux and his daughter are members of the New Hampshire Mounted Cowboy Shooters club, but Ledoux also wants to start a Maine-based club.
During a shooting match, the riders are given 60 seconds to do the run and to shoot as many balloons as possible. Ledoux said the better riders are able to get through the course in 15 to 30 seconds.
In addition to the strict rules regarding the guns used, all riders must adhere to a dress code. Clothing must be authentic to the 1800s, which means no zippers on pants, no collars on shirts and all leather tack and holsters.
Women can wear pants, but are encouraged to wear skirts and tailored shirts with either petticoats or bloomers underneath.
Mounted shooting is open to men, women and children. There are separate divisions for men and women. Kids are broken up into divisions based on age. There is also a senior division for adults.
Ledoux heard about cowboy mounted shooting when he read an article in a cowboy magazine. He did some research on the sport and knew it was something he would enjoy doing.
Ledoux went to a shoot hosted by a New Hampshire club and was hooked. He then told his daughter, “You’ve gotta try this.”
To generate interest in the sport, and to attract members to the Maine club, the Ledouxes are hosting two clinics in March to introduce people to cowboy mounted shooting.
The first clinic will be held on Sunday, March 11, in Brownfield. The focus of the day will be getting familiarized with the guns used in cowboy mounted shooting events. “It’s all about safety,” Patty Ledoux said.
The second clinic will be held on March 25. That day will be devoted to running horses through some of the course patterns used in cowboy mounted shooting events. The riding clinic will help riders determine whether the sport is something their horse can be trained to do.
Each clinic is $40. Call Bill Ledoux at 282-2821 or 205-4929, for more information. Also go online to www.mainecowboymountedshooters.com to learn more about cowboy mounted shooting.
“I think I was born 100 years too late,” Ledoux said of his love for the sport. “I grew up watching Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and John Wayne. I wanted to be just like them.”
Based in Saco, Staff Writer Kate Irish Collins can be reached at 207-283-1878 or by e-mail at kcollins@keepmecurrent.com.
By Kate Irish Collins
Staff Writer
Guns for pleasure, anyone?
A ban on importing firearms has killed off the hobby industry, leaving only a few dealers to sell guns and revolvers to, mostly, professionals only.
On a recent visit to Munger, a small town in Bihar, my cabbie, speaking in a thick Bihari accent, decided to play guide, “Munger has one of the biggest gun factories in India, and guns are easily available here,” he pointed out matter-of-factly.
But forget Munger, what about the rest of the country? If one has to buy a licensed firearm, what are the choices and what are the prices? While a majority of arms dealers are tightlipped about the subject, there are a few who are more willing to divulge information.
Shyam Sodhi, owner of Delhi Arms and Armoury, feels, “It is a floundering business which has suffered a lot in the last 10 years or so.”
Sixty-year-old Sodhi, who has been running his shop since 1966, admits that there are months when he doesn’t sell a single weapon and other times when he sells four-five of them. “The most popular weapons these days are revolvers and shotguns.”
But since import of weapons was stopped almost two decades back, the guns in his shops keep doing the rounds. “We have old guns and sometimes people even leave weapons with us, after the owner has died, for safe custody,” he says.
Sodhi’s shop houses everything from the weapon world including revolvers like Beretta, Walther and Smith, Browning (these are imported), to rifles and shot guns. The business, however, faces a massive lull.
Shabbir Bandookwala, proprietor of India Arms in Mumbai’s Crawford Market, feels that most people who buy guns these days, buy them for reasons of security.
He bemoans the strict rules and regulations that govern the procurement of weapons. “There was a time when we used to have frequent visitors looking for hunting rifles, but these days we only manage to sell shotguns and revolvers.” The import of guns, he informs, was prohibited by the Indian government almost two decades back, in 1986.
But still, these imported weapons cost quite a bit so although people are left with a choice of only old weapons, the supply is scarce. An imported Beretta .32 revolver, for instance, will cost around Rs 3 lakh and a Browning .32 would be Rs 2.8 lakh.
On the other hand, the ones available from the Indian Ordinance Factory (IOF) will come for Rs 70,000 or so.
Similarly, a pump action shot gun would cost Rs 30,000 from the IOF and if you want an imported one, then it would cost Rs 2 lakh. A .315 rifle from the IOF will cost around Rs 40,000 while an imported one can be yours to shoot at around Rs 2.5 lakh.
Among imported revolvers and pistols, Smith and Wesson, Walthers and Brownings are still the preferred choice for most. Apart from revolvers, there are pistols available too, but most people don’t usually opt for them. A .22 Beretta pistol, which Sodhi terms a “ladies’ weapon”, costs around Rs 1.5 lakh.
It is not only in big cities like Delhi or Mumbai where dealers are finding it tough to sustain business. Smaller cities like Bhopal, which was once considered a hunting ground for licenced firearms, has seen business dwindle steadily over the years.
“The nawabs and those from royal families who required guns for hunting purposes would purchase their guns here. But now we don’t manage to sell guns for months together,” says a licensed arms dealer in Bhopal.
For the record, it’s the same story in towns like Kanpur and Meerut, once considered favourite spots for buying arms and ammunition.
The only way gun shop dealers can now deal in imported weapons is to wait for professional shooters to sell their guns. That makes sense because renowned shooters are still permitted to import guns and ammunition from abroad. Sodhi says that one of the biggest global markets in this sphere is Italy.
It is not guns alone, because getting ammo is as difficult a task. The cartridges are available at IOF but that, say experts, can prove an arduous task. A bullet for a pump action shot gun costs around Rs 40.
But where is the market for arms and ammunition, given that hunting is banned?
Experts say that guns, rifles and shotguns are usually procured by banks and security agencies for their professional duties.
And even as Indian guns of reasonable quality are being manufactured in places like Munger, Jammu, Kanrut district in Assam, Kolkata, Kanpur, and Jabalpur, it is imported firearms that people still desire. So who says a gun can’t be for keeps?
GETTING A LICENCE
Getting a gun licence is a big task. In Delhi, an application for a license has to be submitted to the DCP/Licencing with the required forms, photographs, other relevant documents and the approval of the local SHO.
The SHO or the local police station has to give the person a clean chit after checking (in negative) for any criminal history.
After that there is a verification process and if one gets through that then a licence can be issued to the person.
Aabhas Sharma / New Delhi February 24, 2007
On a recent visit to Munger, a small town in Bihar, my cabbie, speaking in a thick Bihari accent, decided to play guide, “Munger has one of the biggest gun factories in India, and guns are easily available here,” he pointed out matter-of-factly.
But forget Munger, what about the rest of the country? If one has to buy a licensed firearm, what are the choices and what are the prices? While a majority of arms dealers are tightlipped about the subject, there are a few who are more willing to divulge information.
Shyam Sodhi, owner of Delhi Arms and Armoury, feels, “It is a floundering business which has suffered a lot in the last 10 years or so.”
Sixty-year-old Sodhi, who has been running his shop since 1966, admits that there are months when he doesn’t sell a single weapon and other times when he sells four-five of them. “The most popular weapons these days are revolvers and shotguns.”
But since import of weapons was stopped almost two decades back, the guns in his shops keep doing the rounds. “We have old guns and sometimes people even leave weapons with us, after the owner has died, for safe custody,” he says.
Sodhi’s shop houses everything from the weapon world including revolvers like Beretta, Walther and Smith, Browning (these are imported), to rifles and shot guns. The business, however, faces a massive lull.
Shabbir Bandookwala, proprietor of India Arms in Mumbai’s Crawford Market, feels that most people who buy guns these days, buy them for reasons of security.
He bemoans the strict rules and regulations that govern the procurement of weapons. “There was a time when we used to have frequent visitors looking for hunting rifles, but these days we only manage to sell shotguns and revolvers.” The import of guns, he informs, was prohibited by the Indian government almost two decades back, in 1986.
But still, these imported weapons cost quite a bit so although people are left with a choice of only old weapons, the supply is scarce. An imported Beretta .32 revolver, for instance, will cost around Rs 3 lakh and a Browning .32 would be Rs 2.8 lakh.
On the other hand, the ones available from the Indian Ordinance Factory (IOF) will come for Rs 70,000 or so.
Similarly, a pump action shot gun would cost Rs 30,000 from the IOF and if you want an imported one, then it would cost Rs 2 lakh. A .315 rifle from the IOF will cost around Rs 40,000 while an imported one can be yours to shoot at around Rs 2.5 lakh.
Among imported revolvers and pistols, Smith and Wesson, Walthers and Brownings are still the preferred choice for most. Apart from revolvers, there are pistols available too, but most people don’t usually opt for them. A .22 Beretta pistol, which Sodhi terms a “ladies’ weapon”, costs around Rs 1.5 lakh.
It is not only in big cities like Delhi or Mumbai where dealers are finding it tough to sustain business. Smaller cities like Bhopal, which was once considered a hunting ground for licenced firearms, has seen business dwindle steadily over the years.
“The nawabs and those from royal families who required guns for hunting purposes would purchase their guns here. But now we don’t manage to sell guns for months together,” says a licensed arms dealer in Bhopal.
For the record, it’s the same story in towns like Kanpur and Meerut, once considered favourite spots for buying arms and ammunition.
The only way gun shop dealers can now deal in imported weapons is to wait for professional shooters to sell their guns. That makes sense because renowned shooters are still permitted to import guns and ammunition from abroad. Sodhi says that one of the biggest global markets in this sphere is Italy.
It is not guns alone, because getting ammo is as difficult a task. The cartridges are available at IOF but that, say experts, can prove an arduous task. A bullet for a pump action shot gun costs around Rs 40.
But where is the market for arms and ammunition, given that hunting is banned?
Experts say that guns, rifles and shotguns are usually procured by banks and security agencies for their professional duties.
And even as Indian guns of reasonable quality are being manufactured in places like Munger, Jammu, Kanrut district in Assam, Kolkata, Kanpur, and Jabalpur, it is imported firearms that people still desire. So who says a gun can’t be for keeps?
GETTING A LICENCE
Getting a gun licence is a big task. In Delhi, an application for a license has to be submitted to the DCP/Licencing with the required forms, photographs, other relevant documents and the approval of the local SHO.
The SHO or the local police station has to give the person a clean chit after checking (in negative) for any criminal history.
After that there is a verification process and if one gets through that then a licence can be issued to the person.
Aabhas Sharma / New Delhi February 24, 2007
McCarthy Bill Bans Millions More Guns Than The Clinton Gun Ban
THE MOST SWEEPING GUN BAN EVER INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS;
On Feb. 14, 2007, Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) introduced H.R. 1022, a bill with the stated purpose, "to reauthorize the assault weapons ban, and for other purposes."
McCarthy's verbiage warrants explanation. Presumably, what she means by "assault weapons ban" is the Clinton Gun Ban of 1994. Congress allowed the ban to expire in 2004 for multiple reasons, including the fact that federal, state and local law enforcement agency studies showed that guns affected by the ban had been used in only a small percentage of crime, before and after the ban was imposed.
With the nation's murder rate 43% lower than in 1991, and the re-legalized guns still used in only a small percentage of crime, reauthorizing the Clinton Gun Ban would be objectionable enough. But McCarthy's "other purposes" would make matters even worse. H.R. 1022 would ban every gun banned by the Clinton ban, plus millions more guns, including:
. Every gun made to comply with the Clinton ban. (The Clinton ban dictated the kinds of grips, stocks and attachments new guns could have. Manufacturers modified new guns to the Clinton requirements. H.R. 1022 would ban the modified guns too.)
. Guns exempted by the Clinton ban. (Ruger Mini-14s and -30s and Ranch Rifles; .30 cal. carbines; and fixed-magazine, semi-automatic, center-fire rifles that hold more than 10 rounds.)
. All semi-automatic shotguns. (E.g., Remington, Winchester, Beretta and Benelli, used for hunting, sport shooting, and self-defense. H.R. 1022 would ban them because they have "any characteristic that can function as a grip," and would also ban their main component, called the "receiver.")
. All detachable-magazine semi-automatic rifles-including, for example, the ubiquitous Ruger 10/22 .22 rimfire-because they have "any characteristic that can function as a grip."
. Target shooting rifles. (E.g., the three centerfire rifles most popular for marksmanship competitions: the Colt AR-15, the Springfield M1A and the M1 "Garand.")
. Any semi-automatic shotgun or rifle an Attorney General one day claims isn't "sporting," even though the constitutions of the U.S. and 44 states, and the laws of all 50 states, recognize the right to use guns for defense.
. 65 named guns (the Clinton law banned 19 by name); semi-auto fixed-magazine pistols of over 10 rounds capacity; and frames, receivers and parts used to repair or refurbish guns.
H.R. 1022 would also ban the importation of magazines exempted by the Clinton ban, ban the sale of a legally-owned "assault weapon" with a magazine of over 10 rounds capacity, and begin backdoor registration of guns, by requiring private sales of banned guns, frames, receivers and parts to be conducted through licensed dealers. Finally, whereas the Clinton Gun Ban was imposed for a 10-year trial period, H.R. 1022 would be a permanent ban.
Please be sure to contact your U.S. Representative and urge him or her to oppose
H.R. 1022!
You can call your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121.
CPAC 2007
NRA Members are invited to attend CPAC 2007Cthe 34th Annual Conservative Political Action Conference, March 1 - 3, 2007. The conference will be held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., just a short trip from the White House, the Washington Monument, the Smithsonian, National Archives, and the hundreds of other monuments, memorials, and museums in our nation's capital. CPAC is the nation's premier annual gathering of conservative leaders, celebrities, elected officials, and grassroots activists.
CPAC will offer an agenda packed with political headliners including Vice President Dick Cheney, NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, Senator Mitch McConnell, Congressman Mike Pence, Newt Gingrich, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, David Horowitz, Phyllis Schlafly, and many others as they discuss important issues of the day. CPAC is co-sponsored by NRA and more than 60 leading conservative organizations.
For additional information, or to register for the conference, please call (703) 836-8602, or visit CPAC online at www.cpac.org
SECOND GRASSROOTS EVENT PLANNED FOR ST. LOUIS
In addition to the FREE Grassroots Workshop being held in conjunction with NRA's Annual Meetings in St. Louis that we reported on last week, the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division is holding an additional FREE event in St. Louis.
We hope you will also be able to join us Saturday, April 14 for the inaugural session of "In Their Own Words." This first-of-its-kind panel will afford NRA members the opportunity to hear directly from their fellow NRA members on effective grassroots activism. The panel will feature some of NRA-ILA's most active volunteers in the nation, who will talk about their personal efforts to advance our mutual causes in their local communities. The session will conclude with a question and answer period to allow audience participation.
Don't miss this opportunity to hear these present-day patriots talk about their personal experiences working in the pro-gun rights grassroots movement, and learn effective means of protecting and promoting the Second Amendment in your own community. There is no registration required and, as with the Friday Workshop, admission is FREE
Here are the details for each event:
NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop-FREE!
Friday, April 13, 2007, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
(Registration and free continental breakfast from 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
in the Majestic Ballroom E )
Renaissance Grand Hotel St. Louis
Majestic Ballroom E (Level Two)
800 Washington Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63101
(314) 621-9600
To register on-line, pleas visit www.nraam.org/seminars/grassroots.asp. You may also call NRA-ILA at (800) 392-VOTE (8683).
"In Their Own Words"-FREE!
Saturday, April 14, 2007, 2:00 p.m.
Room 242, America's Center
701 Convention Plaza
St. Louis, MO 63101
(314) 342-5042
No registration required
We hope to see you in St. Louis!
FEDS CONSIDER REMOVING WOLVES
FROM ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
The federal government is holding hearings to obtain public comments regarding the delisting of Rocky Mountain wolves from the Endangered Species Act (ESA). It is critical that sportsmen attend the hearings in order to counter the emotional claims of anti-hunting forces, who seem to believe that a species' listing should be permanent. Of course, the success of the ESA comes when a species, like the wolf, is delisted because its numbers recover after once being dangerously low.
Wolves have their place within the ecosystem. But, as with other species, sportsmen must be allowed to appropriately manage their numbers. Delisting will allow state game officials to provide for regulated hunting and trapping. Without this, wolves will continue to take an unacceptably high toll on elk, moose, and deer populations.
Six open house meetings in different states are scheduled on the proposed delisting (all six public hearings will be held from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.):
Cheyenne, WY: February 27, 2007, at Holiday Inn Cheyenne, 204 West Fox Farm Road.
Salt Lake City, UT: February 28, 2007, at Plaza Hotel, 122 West South Temple.
Helena, MT: March 1, 2007, at Jorgenson's Inn & Suites, 1714 11th Avenue.
Boise, ID: March 6, 2007, at Boise Convention Center on the Grove, 850 Front Street.
Pendleton, OR: March 7, 2007, at Pendleton Red Lion Inn, 304 S.E. Nye Street.
Spokane Valley, WA: March 8, 2007, at Oxford Inns & Suites, 15015 East Indiana Avenue.
Anyone wishing to make an oral statement for the record is encouraged to provide a written copy of his or her statement and present it at the hearing. In the event there is a large attendance, the time allotted for oral statements may be limited. Speakers can only sign up at the open houses and hearings. Oral and written statements receive equal consideration. There are no limits on the length of written comments submitted.
If you have any questions concerning the public hearings, please contact Sharon Rose (303) 236-4580. Persons needing reasonable accommodations in order to attend and participate in the public hearings in Boise, ID; Pendleton, OR; or Spokane, WA, should contact Joan Jewett at (503) 231-6211; or, for hearings in Cheyenne, WY; Salt Lake City, UT; or Helena, MT, Sharon Rose at (303) 236-4580. If needed, please call as soon as possible in order to allow sufficient time to process requests. Also, please call no later than one week before the hearing date.
Please attend the hearings in your area and let your voice be heard!
FUTURE OF RECREATIONAL SHOOTING ON THE
ARAPAHOE AND ROOSEVELT NATIONAL FORESTS UNDER REVIEW
The Boulder Ranger District of the Araphoe and Roosevelt National Forests is conducting a planning process to determine how recreational shooting, dispersed camping, and campfires will be managed in the future. Issues concerning these activities have been developed based upon public input through written comments or at one of the public meetings held last May. The District Ranger has now scheduled three public meetings to talk about solutions to the issues. The meetings are as follows:
February 24 - Boulder; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.; New Vista High School, 700 20th Street
February 28 - Boulder; 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.; Platt Middle School; 6096 Baseline Road
March 3 - Longmont; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.; Longmont High School; 1040 Sunset Street
Comments may be sent to cluna@fs.fed.us. For more information you may call the District Ranger's office at (303) 541-2500, or go to the website at: www.fs.fed.us/r2/arnf/projects/ea-projects/brd/ufc/index.shtml
PROPOSED LEAD BAN IN CALIFORNIA
When it meets on March 2, the California Fish and Game Commission will consider amending the state's hunting regulations for 2007-2010 to ban or limit the use of lead ammunition for hunting in the range of the California condor. The Department of Fish and Game suggested three alternatives to the Commission: ban the use of lead ammunition for big game hunting; ban the use of lead ammunition statewide; or offer hunters incentives to voluntarily use non-lead ammunition.
Comments can be sent to the Commission by mail at: 1416 Ninth Street, P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090, or by contacting the Commission through its website at www.fgc.ca.gov.
A LOOK AT THE STATES
(***For all of the action items below, you can find contact information for your legislators by visiting www.NRAILA.org, clicking the "Take Action" icon, and then clicking the "Write Your Representatives" icon. As always, thank you for your support.***)
States with updates this issue: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.
ARIZONA
Both versions of the "Emergency Powers" bills, SB 1258 carried by State Senator Jay Tibshraney (R-21), and HB 2458 by State Representative Russell Pearce (R-18), are moving forward in their respective chambers and are on the brink of an agreement between the NRA and Governor Janet Napolitano. The Governor vetoed a similar measure last year after voicing concerns about having the authority to move stored ammunition, but those issues are being resolved to both authors' satisfaction. Please continue to contact your legislators in support of SB 1258 and HB 2458 to ensure their passage by calling the Senate Info Desk at (602) 926-3559 or the House Info Desk at (602) 926-4221. Both measures can be found at the Legislature's website at www.azleg.state.az.us.
Also, after months of negotiation and phone calls from NRA members, the Apache Junction City Council voted to establish a policy for the sale or trade of confiscated firearms not returned to their lawful owners. This move follows an outcry from NRA members when the AJ Police Chief destroyed over 1,200 firearms that could have been sold back to the community or traded for much needed supplies. Thank you to all members who voiced your support for the new policy.
ARKANSAS
Senate Joint Resolution 7 (SJR 7)-an NRA-backed Constitutional Amendment sponsored by State Senator Steve Faris (D-27) that would recognize hunting and fishing as constitutional rights--will soon be heard by the Senate and House Committees on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs. Due to some surprising opposition to this critical amendment, it is vital that NRA members, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts contact members of these committees and urge them to support SJR 7. Membership rosters for the Senate committee can be found by visiting http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/scripts/ablr/committees/arcommittee3afm.asp?ccode=500&user=M
and for the House at http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/scripts/ablr/committees/arcommittee3afm.asp?ccode=900&user=M Please contact the members of these committees and respectfully urge them to co-sponsor SJR 7. Arkansas State Senators can be reached at (501) 682-2902, and State Representatives at (501) 682-6211.
As mentioned, opposition to this pro-hunting amendment is coming from a strange source-The Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). According to recent articles in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, the very agency tasked with regulating hunting and fishing is opposed to an amendment that would protect hunting and fishing for future generations. And while this is truly puzzling, some of the reasons stated in an article published on February 18 are even more confounding.
Scott Henderson, director of the AGFC, is quoted in the article as stating, "Arkansas is one of the few states where fish and wildlife management is elevated to constitutional status." This reference to Amendment 35, which established the AGFC, may be true, but fish and wildlife management does not automatically include fishing and hunting by sportsmen. Some anti-hunting groups feel that wildlife management can be accomplished through the use of professional hunters hired by the state, or even using contraception programs. Groups such as PETA and HSUS are so opposed to hunting that they are likely scheming to come up with any number of ways wildlife can be "managed" without involving citizens who enjoy hunting. What SJR 7 seeks to do is establish that hunting and fishing are preferred methods of management, and recognize that citizens have a right to hunt and fish.
The article also attributes to Henderson the claim that SJR 7 would prohibit AGFC from suspending the licenses of people who repeatedly violate wildlife codes. According to the article, "This would essentially void the wildlife code because the AGFC would then be unable to enforce it." This is patently absurd, as no such catastrophic collapse of wildlife management has been experienced in any of the other states that currently recognize hunting and fishing as protected rights. Furthermore, SJR 7 clearly states the right is "subject to reasonable regulation prescribed by the General Assembly and the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission."
Other claims in the article are that SJR 7 may impact trespass laws, landowner rights, certain established restrictions on hunting, and eliminate seasons and bag limits. These claims are simply ridiculous. Again, other states with similar amendments have not experienced these problems and, again, the right is "subject to reasonable regulation." It is hard to understand how anyone who supports hunting does not recognize that assaults on hunting have been going on for decades, and extremist groups like PETA and HSUS have multi-million dollar annual budgets to promote their anti-hunting agendas.
In addition, there is nothing in Amendment 35 that states the AGFC must be made up of people who respect the interests of hunters. The sole requirement to be a Commissioner is that the individual must "have knowledge of and interest in wildlife conservation." The leadership of HSUS and PETA could certainly argue they meet such qualifications.
All Amendment 35 does, in reality, is guarantee the AGFC has the sole role in determining what constitutes Arkansas policy regarding "[t]he control, management, restoration, conservation and regulation of birds, fish, game and wildlife resources of the State..." SJR 7, on the other hand, will guarantee that hunting and fishing by the honest citizens of Arkansas is the preferred method in that wildlife management process.
The opposition to SJR 7 is certainly not unanimous on the AGFC, so in addition to contacting members of the Senate and House Committees on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs, please contact the Commissioners of the AGFC and urge them to support SJR 7. Contact information for the Commissioners can be found at http://www.agfc.com/commission/ .
Finally, contact Bryan Hendricks, the author of the article mentioned above, and urge him to once again change his position on SJR 7. An article of his published on February 11, fully supported this amendment, but he has now come out in opposition to it, based, it would seem, on the fallacious arguments promoted by the AGFC. You can send Hendricks e-mail by going to bhendricks@arkansasonline.com, or call him at (501) 378-3579.
COLORADO
House Bill 1174, sponsored by State Representative Al White (R-57), is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee in the coming days. House Bill 1174 would repeal the sunset review of the law enforcement database of carry permit holders. Please contact the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and respectfully urge them to oppose House Bill 1174. The members of the committee are: Chairman Brandon Shaffer; Senator John Morse; Senator Bob Bacon; Senator Betty Boyd; Senator Shawn Mitchell; Senator Scott Renfroe, Senator Steve Ward. Please call the Colorado State Senate, at (303) 866-2316, and ask to be put in touch with one of these Senators.
Senate Bill 34, sponsored by State Senator John Morse (D-11), passed the State Senate on Friday, February 23 by a vote of 20-15. The bill now is awaiting a House committee assignment. If enacted, non-resident concealed carry permits will no longer be honored if the address on the holder's identification is different than the state where the permit was issued. For example, a Florida permit issued to a non-resident will not be recognized in Colorado. No demonstrated need has been presented to justify Senate Bill 34, legislation that will potentially threaten reciprocity agreements. This bill will invalidate non-resident permit holders and made second-class citizens out of Colorado residents. Don't be fooled! This is simply a first step towards repealing your right-to-carry! Please contact your State Representative today at (303) 866-2904, or if outside of Denver, at (800) 811-7647 and respectfully urge that he or she oppose SB34.
HAWAII
Senate Bill 695, as introduced by Senator Norman Sakamoto (D-15), would authorize the Game and Fish Department to create a 7-day non-resident hunting license on a private or commercial shooting preserve. The NRA-supported measure is currently awaiting a hearing before the Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs Committee. Please take the time to contact your Senators and ask that they request a hearing on the bill. Legislators are currently on a five-day break in their districts before the March 2nd "decking" deadline, which is the 48-hour period before the bills are to be out of policy committees. Please contact your State Senator at 808-586-6720.
ILLINOIS
Please join your fellow Illinois gun owners for the annual Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day (IGOLD) on March 14, 2007, in Springfield! This is your opportunity to lobby your lawmakers directly and make a positive impact for all Illinois gun owners. Participants will meet in the auditorium of the Howlett Building at 12:30 p.m., for registration and a legislative briefing before proceeding to the Capitol Building. That evening, a reception will be held at the Illinois State Library Auditorium from 5:30-7:30 p.m., for both gun owners and state lawmakers. IGOLD will have buses available to transport participants to Springfield from various locations throughout Illinois. For more information on IGOLD 2007, to sign-up online, or for more information on scheduled bus routes, please visit http://igold.isra.org.
KANSAS
HB 2528 was heard in the Federal and State Affairs Committee on Wednesday, February 21 and is scheduled for a committee vote on Monday, March 5. This important legislation removes language that was being misinterpreted by cities in Kansas to ban concealed carry of handguns on city owned property such as parks, greenways, and all city buildings. The bill also strips cities of their ability to regulate firearms, bringing back the original intent of the bill. Please contact your State Representative at (800) 432-3924 and respectfully urge him or her to support HB 2528.
Also, in a victory for gun owners in Kansas, a bill that would significantly weaken Castle Doctrine legislation, SB268, was killed in the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this week.
MARYLAND
Senate Bill 43, "Assault Weapon Ban of 2007," sponsored by Senator Michael Lenett (D-19), will be heard by the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Tuesday, February 27, at 1:00 p.m. SB43 would designate specified firearms, including many semi-automatics, as "assault weapons;" prohibit persons from transporting possessing, selling, offering to sell, transferring, or receiving a specified "assault weapon(s)"; and require the Handgun Roster Board to compile and maintain a roster of prohibited specified "assault weapons." Please mark your calendar for Tuesday, February 27, at 1:00 p.m. The hearing will be held in the Senate Judicial Proceeding Committee Room, which is located on the second floor of the Miller Senate Office Building, 11 Bladen Street, Annapolis. If you are unable to attend, please call all the members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee TODAY and urge them to OPPOSE Senate Bill 43. Please visit www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?id=2622 for contact information for the Judicial Proceedings Committee.
MISSOURI
To ensure that law-abiding Missourians won't ever suffer the same fate as those in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, legislation is currently moving through the General Assembly that would protect your Second Amendment rights during a state of emergency. Companion bills, HB669, sponsored by State Representative David Pearce (R-121), and SB257, sponsored by State Senator Kevin Engler (R-3), have each passed their respective chamber's committees, with SB257 being placed on the Senate Consent Bills calendar for Monday, February 26. Additionally, State Representative Bob Dixon (R-140) has introduced legislation (HB845) to make voter registration information available to hunting license and fishing permit applicants. Please contact your State Senator at (573)-751-3824 and State Representative at (573)-751-3659 and urge them to support and vote for these important bills.
NEBRASKA
Important range protection legislation, LB352, sponsored by State Senator Chris Langemeier (I-23), will be heard in the Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday, February 28. Please visit http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/web/public/gmv for a roster and contact information for the members of the committee and respectfully urge them to support LB352.
NEVADA
Assembly Bill 21, an Assembly Judiciary Committee sponsored bill, was granted a hearing on Monday, February 19th before the Committee. AB 21 would double the concealed carry permit fees from its current $60 to $125, as well as increase the fee on renewals. The bill didn't receive a vote, but it could come up at any time. Please continue to contact the members of the Judiciary Committee, and urge them to oppose AB 21. For contact information for the committee, please visit http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?id=2592.
NEW MEXICO
This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved SB 39, NRA-backed "Castle Doctrine" legislation by State Senator Shannon Robinson (D-Albuquerque), which offers protection from criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits to individuals who justifiably use force to protect themselves and their families. The bill also contains language stating that you have "no duty to retreat" from a violent attack. SB 39 now moves to the full Senate for consideration, possibly over the weekend or early next week. Please contact your State Senators at (505) 986-4714 and urge them to support SB 39.
Also, HB 588, by State Representative John Heaton (D-Carlsbad), and SB 111, by State Senator Stuart Ingle (R-Portales), NRA-supported bills that would allow Concealed Handgun Licensees to protect themselves in establishments selling alcohol for off-premises consumption, are both currently in the House Business & Industry Committee, although no hearing has been scheduled on either measure yet. Please continue to contact members of the committee and urge them to support both HB 588 & SB 111. For contact information for the committee, please visit http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?id=2640.
NEW YORK
In a move that can only be called stunningly hypocritical, Governor Eliot "Steamroller" Spitzer (D) has nominated Assemblyman Alexander "Pete" Grannis as his candidate to head the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Not only is Grannis well known for his anti-gun, anti-hunting, and anti-sportsmen positions and votes, but he is grossly under qualified to be charged with stewardship of New York State's rich outdoor heritage. After a bruising battle with lawmakers claiming that Assemblyman Tom DiNapoli lacked the qualifications to replace disgraced former state comptroller Alan Hevesi, the Governor puts forth a candidate who both lacks the background to be DEC Commissioner and shows outright contempt and hatred for all outdoor recreational activities. During his tenure in the Assembly, Grannis sponsored and signed on to numerous anti-gun and anti-hunting bills, as well as legislation to outlaw trapping. As DEC Commissioner, Grannis would have the authority to make policy through regulatory means, bypassing consideration by your elected officials. These decisions could permanently impact hunters and sportsmen. If this nomination is approved by the State Senate, Grannis will be in a position to institute anti-hunting policies that he has supported in the past. Please call your State Senator TODAY and ask him or her to oppose the confirmation of Pete Grannis as DEC Commissioner and be sure to politely remind him or her that a vote to approve Grannis is a vote against the Second Amendment and our hunting heritage! Your Senator can be contacted at 518-455-2800.
NORTH DAKOTA
House Bill 1319, critical "Castle Doctrine" legislation sponsored by State Representative Todd Porter (R-34), is moving toward the Senate floor for a vote. This "Castle Doctrine" self-defense bill states that if a criminal breaks into your home, your occupied vehicle, or your place of business, you do not have a "duty to retreat." The bill also provides protection from criminal prosecution and civil litigation for those who defend themselves from criminal attack. Please contact your State Senator at (888) NDLEGIS (635-3447), or (701) 328-3373 (local), and respectfully urge him or her to support HB1319.
SOUTH CAROLINA
H 3212, introduced by State Representative Greg Delleney (R-43), would change South Carolina's conditional reciprocity standard for recognizing Right-to-Carry (RTC) permits. H 3212 passed out of the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, February 21, and is expected to be heard by the full House of Representatives on Tuesday, February 27. This critical legislation will require South Carolina to recognize all valid RTC permits issued by other states. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), which has been opposed to recognizing the permits issued by many other states, is expected to lobby hard against this pro-gun reform, so please call your State Representative at (803) 734-2010 and urge him or her to support H 3212.
In addition, H 3310, sponsored by Representative Mike Pitts (R-14), clarifies that it is legal for a RTC permit holder to carry a concealed firearm while driving a car, passed out of the House on Friday, February 23, and will now head over to the Senate for consideration. This legislation was drafted in response to reports that RTC permit holders were being charged with unlawful carrying of firearms while driving their vehicles. Please call your Senator at (803) 212-6200 and urge him or her to support this measure when it is brought up for consideration.
TEXAS
On Monday, February 26, the House Committee on Law Enforcement will consider three NRA-backed measures which will allow Concealed Handgun Licensees (CHLs) to transport and store handguns in their locked private motor vehicles while parked on their employer's property: HB 220 by State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford), HB 511 by State Representative David Farabee (D-Wichita Falls) and HB 992 by State Representative Patrick Rose (D-Dripping Springs). Many employers in Texas have "No Firearms" policies that extend beyond the physical workplace to include parking lots, garages, and other parking areas under the employer's control. This effectively prohibits employees who are CHLs from protecting themselves in their parking area at work - and during their commute to and from work every day! The committee will also consider HB 1037, by Representative Farabee, which extends the same protections to all employees (not just CHLs) and all firearms locked in private vehicles parked at work. Please contact members of the House Law Enforcement Committee and urge them to support all four measures. You can find contact information for committee members by visiting http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Committees/Membership.aspx.
On Tuesday, February 27, the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence will consider HB 284, by State Representative Joe Driver (R-Garland), NRA-backed "Castle Doctrine" legislation that offers protection from criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits to individuals who justifiably use force to protect themselves and their families. The bill also contains language stating that you have "no duty to retreat" from a violent attack that occurs outside your home. Please contact members of the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee and urge them to support HB 284. Contact information for committee members is available at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Committees/Membership.aspx.
Finally, on Wednesday, February 28, the Senate Jurisprudence Committee will consider SB 378, by State Senator Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio), the Senate version of the NRA-backed "Castle Doctrine" bill. Please contact Senate Jurisprudence Committee members and urge them to support SB 378. Contact information for committee members is available at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Committees/Membership.aspx.
UTAH
Senate Bill 78, by Senator Mark Madsen (R-13), would protect the possession of firearms in your locked vehicle on any property designated for motor vehicle parking. The measure passed the Senate today by a vote of 19-8. Senate Bill 201, Emergency Powers legislation (also introduced by Senator Mark Madsen), is waiting for a vote on the Senate floor. It's imperative that NRA members call their Senators and ask for their full support of these important measures. Messages for the Senators can be left with the Message Center at (801) 538-1035. The Legislature is set to adjourn on Wednesday, February 28, so time is of the essence.
Also, anti-gun Senate Bill 251, introduced by Senator Greg Bell (R-22), passed the Senate and is on its way to the House, although it hasn't been set for a hearing date. SB 251 would restrict the possession and carrying of concealed firearms on the property of institutions of higher education in specified faculty and staff offices, as well as authorize the institution to allow a dorm resident to have only roommates who are not licensed to carry a concealed firearm. Please contact your House member by calling the Message Center at (801) 538-1029, and ask for his or her "NO" vote should it come before them for a vote.
VIRGINIA
As the 2007 General Assembly session heads to a close on Saturday, an important pro-gun bill was halted in the Senate and precedent-setting legislation to cease gun dealer entrapment schemes advanced through both houses. First, just hours after officially announcing his retirement from the Virginia Senate, State Senator Russ Potts (R-27), called upon his now infamous and shameless theatrical skills in an attack on HB3109, an NRA-backed bill that would have reduced the areas in which localities could regulate hunting. Following a series of parliamentary maneuvers, by a vote of 20-19, the Senate re-referred HB3109 to the Senate Courts of Justice Committee -- a move that essentially kills the bill for this session. Although Senator Potts' opening proclaimed that he was, yet again, willing to "fall on his own sword" and oppose another pro-gun bill, law-abiding Virginians shouldn't be fooled into thinking that this plot was orchestrated by Potts alone. Rest assured, as the 2007 campaign season begins to unfold in Virginia, we will provide you with accurate information regarding those Senators who worked to derail critical pro-Second Amendment legislation during the 2007 legislative session. On the bright side, both legislative chambers have now approved HB2653, a measure that will stop big city mayors from seeking to snare firearms dealers in entrapment schemes aimed to intimidate gun owners and law-abiding licensed gun dealers. This bill now heads to Governor Kaine (D) for his approval. You may locate information on how your lawmakers voted on these bills by visiting http://legis.state.va.us.
WYOMING
Senate File 50, introduced by Senator Cale Case (R-25), has been sent back to a Conference Committee to resolve differences between the Senate and House versions of the bill. SF 50 would permit bow hunters to carry a firearm during archery season for self-defense. In order to obtain support from Game and Fish Department, the author agreed to an amendment that would mandate a 3-year revocation of a hunting license should someone be convicted of taking an animal with a firearm during bow hunting. This NRA supported measure needs one more BIG push, so please contact your State Representatives by calling (307) 777-7852, or by e-mail at www.legisweb.state.wy.us, and ask for their continued backing
On Feb. 14, 2007, Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) introduced H.R. 1022, a bill with the stated purpose, "to reauthorize the assault weapons ban, and for other purposes."
McCarthy's verbiage warrants explanation. Presumably, what she means by "assault weapons ban" is the Clinton Gun Ban of 1994. Congress allowed the ban to expire in 2004 for multiple reasons, including the fact that federal, state and local law enforcement agency studies showed that guns affected by the ban had been used in only a small percentage of crime, before and after the ban was imposed.
With the nation's murder rate 43% lower than in 1991, and the re-legalized guns still used in only a small percentage of crime, reauthorizing the Clinton Gun Ban would be objectionable enough. But McCarthy's "other purposes" would make matters even worse. H.R. 1022 would ban every gun banned by the Clinton ban, plus millions more guns, including:
. Every gun made to comply with the Clinton ban. (The Clinton ban dictated the kinds of grips, stocks and attachments new guns could have. Manufacturers modified new guns to the Clinton requirements. H.R. 1022 would ban the modified guns too.)
. Guns exempted by the Clinton ban. (Ruger Mini-14s and -30s and Ranch Rifles; .30 cal. carbines; and fixed-magazine, semi-automatic, center-fire rifles that hold more than 10 rounds.)
. All semi-automatic shotguns. (E.g., Remington, Winchester, Beretta and Benelli, used for hunting, sport shooting, and self-defense. H.R. 1022 would ban them because they have "any characteristic that can function as a grip," and would also ban their main component, called the "receiver.")
. All detachable-magazine semi-automatic rifles-including, for example, the ubiquitous Ruger 10/22 .22 rimfire-because they have "any characteristic that can function as a grip."
. Target shooting rifles. (E.g., the three centerfire rifles most popular for marksmanship competitions: the Colt AR-15, the Springfield M1A and the M1 "Garand.")
. Any semi-automatic shotgun or rifle an Attorney General one day claims isn't "sporting," even though the constitutions of the U.S. and 44 states, and the laws of all 50 states, recognize the right to use guns for defense.
. 65 named guns (the Clinton law banned 19 by name); semi-auto fixed-magazine pistols of over 10 rounds capacity; and frames, receivers and parts used to repair or refurbish guns.
H.R. 1022 would also ban the importation of magazines exempted by the Clinton ban, ban the sale of a legally-owned "assault weapon" with a magazine of over 10 rounds capacity, and begin backdoor registration of guns, by requiring private sales of banned guns, frames, receivers and parts to be conducted through licensed dealers. Finally, whereas the Clinton Gun Ban was imposed for a 10-year trial period, H.R. 1022 would be a permanent ban.
Please be sure to contact your U.S. Representative and urge him or her to oppose
H.R. 1022!
You can call your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121.
CPAC 2007
NRA Members are invited to attend CPAC 2007Cthe 34th Annual Conservative Political Action Conference, March 1 - 3, 2007. The conference will be held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., just a short trip from the White House, the Washington Monument, the Smithsonian, National Archives, and the hundreds of other monuments, memorials, and museums in our nation's capital. CPAC is the nation's premier annual gathering of conservative leaders, celebrities, elected officials, and grassroots activists.
CPAC will offer an agenda packed with political headliners including Vice President Dick Cheney, NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, Senator Mitch McConnell, Congressman Mike Pence, Newt Gingrich, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, David Horowitz, Phyllis Schlafly, and many others as they discuss important issues of the day. CPAC is co-sponsored by NRA and more than 60 leading conservative organizations.
For additional information, or to register for the conference, please call (703) 836-8602, or visit CPAC online at www.cpac.org
SECOND GRASSROOTS EVENT PLANNED FOR ST. LOUIS
In addition to the FREE Grassroots Workshop being held in conjunction with NRA's Annual Meetings in St. Louis that we reported on last week, the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division is holding an additional FREE event in St. Louis.
We hope you will also be able to join us Saturday, April 14 for the inaugural session of "In Their Own Words." This first-of-its-kind panel will afford NRA members the opportunity to hear directly from their fellow NRA members on effective grassroots activism. The panel will feature some of NRA-ILA's most active volunteers in the nation, who will talk about their personal efforts to advance our mutual causes in their local communities. The session will conclude with a question and answer period to allow audience participation.
Don't miss this opportunity to hear these present-day patriots talk about their personal experiences working in the pro-gun rights grassroots movement, and learn effective means of protecting and promoting the Second Amendment in your own community. There is no registration required and, as with the Friday Workshop, admission is FREE
Here are the details for each event:
NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop-FREE!
Friday, April 13, 2007, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
(Registration and free continental breakfast from 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
in the Majestic Ballroom E )
Renaissance Grand Hotel St. Louis
Majestic Ballroom E (Level Two)
800 Washington Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63101
(314) 621-9600
To register on-line, pleas visit www.nraam.org/seminars/grassroots.asp. You may also call NRA-ILA at (800) 392-VOTE (8683).
"In Their Own Words"-FREE!
Saturday, April 14, 2007, 2:00 p.m.
Room 242, America's Center
701 Convention Plaza
St. Louis, MO 63101
(314) 342-5042
No registration required
We hope to see you in St. Louis!
FEDS CONSIDER REMOVING WOLVES
FROM ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
The federal government is holding hearings to obtain public comments regarding the delisting of Rocky Mountain wolves from the Endangered Species Act (ESA). It is critical that sportsmen attend the hearings in order to counter the emotional claims of anti-hunting forces, who seem to believe that a species' listing should be permanent. Of course, the success of the ESA comes when a species, like the wolf, is delisted because its numbers recover after once being dangerously low.
Wolves have their place within the ecosystem. But, as with other species, sportsmen must be allowed to appropriately manage their numbers. Delisting will allow state game officials to provide for regulated hunting and trapping. Without this, wolves will continue to take an unacceptably high toll on elk, moose, and deer populations.
Six open house meetings in different states are scheduled on the proposed delisting (all six public hearings will be held from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.):
Cheyenne, WY: February 27, 2007, at Holiday Inn Cheyenne, 204 West Fox Farm Road.
Salt Lake City, UT: February 28, 2007, at Plaza Hotel, 122 West South Temple.
Helena, MT: March 1, 2007, at Jorgenson's Inn & Suites, 1714 11th Avenue.
Boise, ID: March 6, 2007, at Boise Convention Center on the Grove, 850 Front Street.
Pendleton, OR: March 7, 2007, at Pendleton Red Lion Inn, 304 S.E. Nye Street.
Spokane Valley, WA: March 8, 2007, at Oxford Inns & Suites, 15015 East Indiana Avenue.
Anyone wishing to make an oral statement for the record is encouraged to provide a written copy of his or her statement and present it at the hearing. In the event there is a large attendance, the time allotted for oral statements may be limited. Speakers can only sign up at the open houses and hearings. Oral and written statements receive equal consideration. There are no limits on the length of written comments submitted.
If you have any questions concerning the public hearings, please contact Sharon Rose (303) 236-4580. Persons needing reasonable accommodations in order to attend and participate in the public hearings in Boise, ID; Pendleton, OR; or Spokane, WA, should contact Joan Jewett at (503) 231-6211; or, for hearings in Cheyenne, WY; Salt Lake City, UT; or Helena, MT, Sharon Rose at (303) 236-4580. If needed, please call as soon as possible in order to allow sufficient time to process requests. Also, please call no later than one week before the hearing date.
Please attend the hearings in your area and let your voice be heard!
FUTURE OF RECREATIONAL SHOOTING ON THE
ARAPAHOE AND ROOSEVELT NATIONAL FORESTS UNDER REVIEW
The Boulder Ranger District of the Araphoe and Roosevelt National Forests is conducting a planning process to determine how recreational shooting, dispersed camping, and campfires will be managed in the future. Issues concerning these activities have been developed based upon public input through written comments or at one of the public meetings held last May. The District Ranger has now scheduled three public meetings to talk about solutions to the issues. The meetings are as follows:
February 24 - Boulder; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.; New Vista High School, 700 20th Street
February 28 - Boulder; 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.; Platt Middle School; 6096 Baseline Road
March 3 - Longmont; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.; Longmont High School; 1040 Sunset Street
Comments may be sent to cluna@fs.fed.us. For more information you may call the District Ranger's office at (303) 541-2500, or go to the website at: www.fs.fed.us/r2/arnf/projects/ea-projects/brd/ufc/index.shtml
PROPOSED LEAD BAN IN CALIFORNIA
When it meets on March 2, the California Fish and Game Commission will consider amending the state's hunting regulations for 2007-2010 to ban or limit the use of lead ammunition for hunting in the range of the California condor. The Department of Fish and Game suggested three alternatives to the Commission: ban the use of lead ammunition for big game hunting; ban the use of lead ammunition statewide; or offer hunters incentives to voluntarily use non-lead ammunition.
Comments can be sent to the Commission by mail at: 1416 Ninth Street, P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090, or by contacting the Commission through its website at www.fgc.ca.gov.
A LOOK AT THE STATES
(***For all of the action items below, you can find contact information for your legislators by visiting www.NRAILA.org, clicking the "Take Action" icon, and then clicking the "Write Your Representatives" icon. As always, thank you for your support.***)
States with updates this issue: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.
ARIZONA
Both versions of the "Emergency Powers" bills, SB 1258 carried by State Senator Jay Tibshraney (R-21), and HB 2458 by State Representative Russell Pearce (R-18), are moving forward in their respective chambers and are on the brink of an agreement between the NRA and Governor Janet Napolitano. The Governor vetoed a similar measure last year after voicing concerns about having the authority to move stored ammunition, but those issues are being resolved to both authors' satisfaction. Please continue to contact your legislators in support of SB 1258 and HB 2458 to ensure their passage by calling the Senate Info Desk at (602) 926-3559 or the House Info Desk at (602) 926-4221. Both measures can be found at the Legislature's website at www.azleg.state.az.us.
Also, after months of negotiation and phone calls from NRA members, the Apache Junction City Council voted to establish a policy for the sale or trade of confiscated firearms not returned to their lawful owners. This move follows an outcry from NRA members when the AJ Police Chief destroyed over 1,200 firearms that could have been sold back to the community or traded for much needed supplies. Thank you to all members who voiced your support for the new policy.
ARKANSAS
Senate Joint Resolution 7 (SJR 7)-an NRA-backed Constitutional Amendment sponsored by State Senator Steve Faris (D-27) that would recognize hunting and fishing as constitutional rights--will soon be heard by the Senate and House Committees on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs. Due to some surprising opposition to this critical amendment, it is vital that NRA members, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts contact members of these committees and urge them to support SJR 7. Membership rosters for the Senate committee can be found by visiting http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/scripts/ablr/committees/arcommittee3afm.asp?ccode=500&user=M
and for the House at http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/scripts/ablr/committees/arcommittee3afm.asp?ccode=900&user=M Please contact the members of these committees and respectfully urge them to co-sponsor SJR 7. Arkansas State Senators can be reached at (501) 682-2902, and State Representatives at (501) 682-6211.
As mentioned, opposition to this pro-hunting amendment is coming from a strange source-The Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). According to recent articles in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, the very agency tasked with regulating hunting and fishing is opposed to an amendment that would protect hunting and fishing for future generations. And while this is truly puzzling, some of the reasons stated in an article published on February 18 are even more confounding.
Scott Henderson, director of the AGFC, is quoted in the article as stating, "Arkansas is one of the few states where fish and wildlife management is elevated to constitutional status." This reference to Amendment 35, which established the AGFC, may be true, but fish and wildlife management does not automatically include fishing and hunting by sportsmen. Some anti-hunting groups feel that wildlife management can be accomplished through the use of professional hunters hired by the state, or even using contraception programs. Groups such as PETA and HSUS are so opposed to hunting that they are likely scheming to come up with any number of ways wildlife can be "managed" without involving citizens who enjoy hunting. What SJR 7 seeks to do is establish that hunting and fishing are preferred methods of management, and recognize that citizens have a right to hunt and fish.
The article also attributes to Henderson the claim that SJR 7 would prohibit AGFC from suspending the licenses of people who repeatedly violate wildlife codes. According to the article, "This would essentially void the wildlife code because the AGFC would then be unable to enforce it." This is patently absurd, as no such catastrophic collapse of wildlife management has been experienced in any of the other states that currently recognize hunting and fishing as protected rights. Furthermore, SJR 7 clearly states the right is "subject to reasonable regulation prescribed by the General Assembly and the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission."
Other claims in the article are that SJR 7 may impact trespass laws, landowner rights, certain established restrictions on hunting, and eliminate seasons and bag limits. These claims are simply ridiculous. Again, other states with similar amendments have not experienced these problems and, again, the right is "subject to reasonable regulation." It is hard to understand how anyone who supports hunting does not recognize that assaults on hunting have been going on for decades, and extremist groups like PETA and HSUS have multi-million dollar annual budgets to promote their anti-hunting agendas.
In addition, there is nothing in Amendment 35 that states the AGFC must be made up of people who respect the interests of hunters. The sole requirement to be a Commissioner is that the individual must "have knowledge of and interest in wildlife conservation." The leadership of HSUS and PETA could certainly argue they meet such qualifications.
All Amendment 35 does, in reality, is guarantee the AGFC has the sole role in determining what constitutes Arkansas policy regarding "[t]he control, management, restoration, conservation and regulation of birds, fish, game and wildlife resources of the State..." SJR 7, on the other hand, will guarantee that hunting and fishing by the honest citizens of Arkansas is the preferred method in that wildlife management process.
The opposition to SJR 7 is certainly not unanimous on the AGFC, so in addition to contacting members of the Senate and House Committees on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs, please contact the Commissioners of the AGFC and urge them to support SJR 7. Contact information for the Commissioners can be found at http://www.agfc.com/commission/ .
Finally, contact Bryan Hendricks, the author of the article mentioned above, and urge him to once again change his position on SJR 7. An article of his published on February 11, fully supported this amendment, but he has now come out in opposition to it, based, it would seem, on the fallacious arguments promoted by the AGFC. You can send Hendricks e-mail by going to bhendricks@arkansasonline.com, or call him at (501) 378-3579.
COLORADO
House Bill 1174, sponsored by State Representative Al White (R-57), is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee in the coming days. House Bill 1174 would repeal the sunset review of the law enforcement database of carry permit holders. Please contact the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and respectfully urge them to oppose House Bill 1174. The members of the committee are: Chairman Brandon Shaffer; Senator John Morse; Senator Bob Bacon; Senator Betty Boyd; Senator Shawn Mitchell; Senator Scott Renfroe, Senator Steve Ward. Please call the Colorado State Senate, at (303) 866-2316, and ask to be put in touch with one of these Senators.
Senate Bill 34, sponsored by State Senator John Morse (D-11), passed the State Senate on Friday, February 23 by a vote of 20-15. The bill now is awaiting a House committee assignment. If enacted, non-resident concealed carry permits will no longer be honored if the address on the holder's identification is different than the state where the permit was issued. For example, a Florida permit issued to a non-resident will not be recognized in Colorado. No demonstrated need has been presented to justify Senate Bill 34, legislation that will potentially threaten reciprocity agreements. This bill will invalidate non-resident permit holders and made second-class citizens out of Colorado residents. Don't be fooled! This is simply a first step towards repealing your right-to-carry! Please contact your State Representative today at (303) 866-2904, or if outside of Denver, at (800) 811-7647 and respectfully urge that he or she oppose SB34.
HAWAII
Senate Bill 695, as introduced by Senator Norman Sakamoto (D-15), would authorize the Game and Fish Department to create a 7-day non-resident hunting license on a private or commercial shooting preserve. The NRA-supported measure is currently awaiting a hearing before the Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs Committee. Please take the time to contact your Senators and ask that they request a hearing on the bill. Legislators are currently on a five-day break in their districts before the March 2nd "decking" deadline, which is the 48-hour period before the bills are to be out of policy committees. Please contact your State Senator at 808-586-6720.
ILLINOIS
Please join your fellow Illinois gun owners for the annual Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day (IGOLD) on March 14, 2007, in Springfield! This is your opportunity to lobby your lawmakers directly and make a positive impact for all Illinois gun owners. Participants will meet in the auditorium of the Howlett Building at 12:30 p.m., for registration and a legislative briefing before proceeding to the Capitol Building. That evening, a reception will be held at the Illinois State Library Auditorium from 5:30-7:30 p.m., for both gun owners and state lawmakers. IGOLD will have buses available to transport participants to Springfield from various locations throughout Illinois. For more information on IGOLD 2007, to sign-up online, or for more information on scheduled bus routes, please visit http://igold.isra.org.
KANSAS
HB 2528 was heard in the Federal and State Affairs Committee on Wednesday, February 21 and is scheduled for a committee vote on Monday, March 5. This important legislation removes language that was being misinterpreted by cities in Kansas to ban concealed carry of handguns on city owned property such as parks, greenways, and all city buildings. The bill also strips cities of their ability to regulate firearms, bringing back the original intent of the bill. Please contact your State Representative at (800) 432-3924 and respectfully urge him or her to support HB 2528.
Also, in a victory for gun owners in Kansas, a bill that would significantly weaken Castle Doctrine legislation, SB268, was killed in the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this week.
MARYLAND
Senate Bill 43, "Assault Weapon Ban of 2007," sponsored by Senator Michael Lenett (D-19), will be heard by the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Tuesday, February 27, at 1:00 p.m. SB43 would designate specified firearms, including many semi-automatics, as "assault weapons;" prohibit persons from transporting possessing, selling, offering to sell, transferring, or receiving a specified "assault weapon(s)"; and require the Handgun Roster Board to compile and maintain a roster of prohibited specified "assault weapons." Please mark your calendar for Tuesday, February 27, at 1:00 p.m. The hearing will be held in the Senate Judicial Proceeding Committee Room, which is located on the second floor of the Miller Senate Office Building, 11 Bladen Street, Annapolis. If you are unable to attend, please call all the members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee TODAY and urge them to OPPOSE Senate Bill 43. Please visit www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?id=2622 for contact information for the Judicial Proceedings Committee.
MISSOURI
To ensure that law-abiding Missourians won't ever suffer the same fate as those in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, legislation is currently moving through the General Assembly that would protect your Second Amendment rights during a state of emergency. Companion bills, HB669, sponsored by State Representative David Pearce (R-121), and SB257, sponsored by State Senator Kevin Engler (R-3), have each passed their respective chamber's committees, with SB257 being placed on the Senate Consent Bills calendar for Monday, February 26. Additionally, State Representative Bob Dixon (R-140) has introduced legislation (HB845) to make voter registration information available to hunting license and fishing permit applicants. Please contact your State Senator at (573)-751-3824 and State Representative at (573)-751-3659 and urge them to support and vote for these important bills.
NEBRASKA
Important range protection legislation, LB352, sponsored by State Senator Chris Langemeier (I-23), will be heard in the Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday, February 28. Please visit http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/web/public/gmv for a roster and contact information for the members of the committee and respectfully urge them to support LB352.
NEVADA
Assembly Bill 21, an Assembly Judiciary Committee sponsored bill, was granted a hearing on Monday, February 19th before the Committee. AB 21 would double the concealed carry permit fees from its current $60 to $125, as well as increase the fee on renewals. The bill didn't receive a vote, but it could come up at any time. Please continue to contact the members of the Judiciary Committee, and urge them to oppose AB 21. For contact information for the committee, please visit http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?id=2592.
NEW MEXICO
This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved SB 39, NRA-backed "Castle Doctrine" legislation by State Senator Shannon Robinson (D-Albuquerque), which offers protection from criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits to individuals who justifiably use force to protect themselves and their families. The bill also contains language stating that you have "no duty to retreat" from a violent attack. SB 39 now moves to the full Senate for consideration, possibly over the weekend or early next week. Please contact your State Senators at (505) 986-4714 and urge them to support SB 39.
Also, HB 588, by State Representative John Heaton (D-Carlsbad), and SB 111, by State Senator Stuart Ingle (R-Portales), NRA-supported bills that would allow Concealed Handgun Licensees to protect themselves in establishments selling alcohol for off-premises consumption, are both currently in the House Business & Industry Committee, although no hearing has been scheduled on either measure yet. Please continue to contact members of the committee and urge them to support both HB 588 & SB 111. For contact information for the committee, please visit http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?id=2640.
NEW YORK
In a move that can only be called stunningly hypocritical, Governor Eliot "Steamroller" Spitzer (D) has nominated Assemblyman Alexander "Pete" Grannis as his candidate to head the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Not only is Grannis well known for his anti-gun, anti-hunting, and anti-sportsmen positions and votes, but he is grossly under qualified to be charged with stewardship of New York State's rich outdoor heritage. After a bruising battle with lawmakers claiming that Assemblyman Tom DiNapoli lacked the qualifications to replace disgraced former state comptroller Alan Hevesi, the Governor puts forth a candidate who both lacks the background to be DEC Commissioner and shows outright contempt and hatred for all outdoor recreational activities. During his tenure in the Assembly, Grannis sponsored and signed on to numerous anti-gun and anti-hunting bills, as well as legislation to outlaw trapping. As DEC Commissioner, Grannis would have the authority to make policy through regulatory means, bypassing consideration by your elected officials. These decisions could permanently impact hunters and sportsmen. If this nomination is approved by the State Senate, Grannis will be in a position to institute anti-hunting policies that he has supported in the past. Please call your State Senator TODAY and ask him or her to oppose the confirmation of Pete Grannis as DEC Commissioner and be sure to politely remind him or her that a vote to approve Grannis is a vote against the Second Amendment and our hunting heritage! Your Senator can be contacted at 518-455-2800.
NORTH DAKOTA
House Bill 1319, critical "Castle Doctrine" legislation sponsored by State Representative Todd Porter (R-34), is moving toward the Senate floor for a vote. This "Castle Doctrine" self-defense bill states that if a criminal breaks into your home, your occupied vehicle, or your place of business, you do not have a "duty to retreat." The bill also provides protection from criminal prosecution and civil litigation for those who defend themselves from criminal attack. Please contact your State Senator at (888) NDLEGIS (635-3447), or (701) 328-3373 (local), and respectfully urge him or her to support HB1319.
SOUTH CAROLINA
H 3212, introduced by State Representative Greg Delleney (R-43), would change South Carolina's conditional reciprocity standard for recognizing Right-to-Carry (RTC) permits. H 3212 passed out of the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, February 21, and is expected to be heard by the full House of Representatives on Tuesday, February 27. This critical legislation will require South Carolina to recognize all valid RTC permits issued by other states. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), which has been opposed to recognizing the permits issued by many other states, is expected to lobby hard against this pro-gun reform, so please call your State Representative at (803) 734-2010 and urge him or her to support H 3212.
In addition, H 3310, sponsored by Representative Mike Pitts (R-14), clarifies that it is legal for a RTC permit holder to carry a concealed firearm while driving a car, passed out of the House on Friday, February 23, and will now head over to the Senate for consideration. This legislation was drafted in response to reports that RTC permit holders were being charged with unlawful carrying of firearms while driving their vehicles. Please call your Senator at (803) 212-6200 and urge him or her to support this measure when it is brought up for consideration.
TEXAS
On Monday, February 26, the House Committee on Law Enforcement will consider three NRA-backed measures which will allow Concealed Handgun Licensees (CHLs) to transport and store handguns in their locked private motor vehicles while parked on their employer's property: HB 220 by State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford), HB 511 by State Representative David Farabee (D-Wichita Falls) and HB 992 by State Representative Patrick Rose (D-Dripping Springs). Many employers in Texas have "No Firearms" policies that extend beyond the physical workplace to include parking lots, garages, and other parking areas under the employer's control. This effectively prohibits employees who are CHLs from protecting themselves in their parking area at work - and during their commute to and from work every day! The committee will also consider HB 1037, by Representative Farabee, which extends the same protections to all employees (not just CHLs) and all firearms locked in private vehicles parked at work. Please contact members of the House Law Enforcement Committee and urge them to support all four measures. You can find contact information for committee members by visiting http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Committees/Membership.aspx.
On Tuesday, February 27, the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence will consider HB 284, by State Representative Joe Driver (R-Garland), NRA-backed "Castle Doctrine" legislation that offers protection from criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits to individuals who justifiably use force to protect themselves and their families. The bill also contains language stating that you have "no duty to retreat" from a violent attack that occurs outside your home. Please contact members of the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee and urge them to support HB 284. Contact information for committee members is available at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Committees/Membership.aspx.
Finally, on Wednesday, February 28, the Senate Jurisprudence Committee will consider SB 378, by State Senator Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio), the Senate version of the NRA-backed "Castle Doctrine" bill. Please contact Senate Jurisprudence Committee members and urge them to support SB 378. Contact information for committee members is available at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Committees/Membership.aspx.
UTAH
Senate Bill 78, by Senator Mark Madsen (R-13), would protect the possession of firearms in your locked vehicle on any property designated for motor vehicle parking. The measure passed the Senate today by a vote of 19-8. Senate Bill 201, Emergency Powers legislation (also introduced by Senator Mark Madsen), is waiting for a vote on the Senate floor. It's imperative that NRA members call their Senators and ask for their full support of these important measures. Messages for the Senators can be left with the Message Center at (801) 538-1035. The Legislature is set to adjourn on Wednesday, February 28, so time is of the essence.
Also, anti-gun Senate Bill 251, introduced by Senator Greg Bell (R-22), passed the Senate and is on its way to the House, although it hasn't been set for a hearing date. SB 251 would restrict the possession and carrying of concealed firearms on the property of institutions of higher education in specified faculty and staff offices, as well as authorize the institution to allow a dorm resident to have only roommates who are not licensed to carry a concealed firearm. Please contact your House member by calling the Message Center at (801) 538-1029, and ask for his or her "NO" vote should it come before them for a vote.
VIRGINIA
As the 2007 General Assembly session heads to a close on Saturday, an important pro-gun bill was halted in the Senate and precedent-setting legislation to cease gun dealer entrapment schemes advanced through both houses. First, just hours after officially announcing his retirement from the Virginia Senate, State Senator Russ Potts (R-27), called upon his now infamous and shameless theatrical skills in an attack on HB3109, an NRA-backed bill that would have reduced the areas in which localities could regulate hunting. Following a series of parliamentary maneuvers, by a vote of 20-19, the Senate re-referred HB3109 to the Senate Courts of Justice Committee -- a move that essentially kills the bill for this session. Although Senator Potts' opening proclaimed that he was, yet again, willing to "fall on his own sword" and oppose another pro-gun bill, law-abiding Virginians shouldn't be fooled into thinking that this plot was orchestrated by Potts alone. Rest assured, as the 2007 campaign season begins to unfold in Virginia, we will provide you with accurate information regarding those Senators who worked to derail critical pro-Second Amendment legislation during the 2007 legislative session. On the bright side, both legislative chambers have now approved HB2653, a measure that will stop big city mayors from seeking to snare firearms dealers in entrapment schemes aimed to intimidate gun owners and law-abiding licensed gun dealers. This bill now heads to Governor Kaine (D) for his approval. You may locate information on how your lawmakers voted on these bills by visiting http://legis.state.va.us.
WYOMING
Senate File 50, introduced by Senator Cale Case (R-25), has been sent back to a Conference Committee to resolve differences between the Senate and House versions of the bill. SF 50 would permit bow hunters to carry a firearm during archery season for self-defense. In order to obtain support from Game and Fish Department, the author agreed to an amendment that would mandate a 3-year revocation of a hunting license should someone be convicted of taking an animal with a firearm during bow hunting. This NRA supported measure needs one more BIG push, so please contact your State Representatives by calling (307) 777-7852, or by e-mail at www.legisweb.state.wy.us, and ask for their continued backing
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