NRA Grass Rots Alert might interest some readers
NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert Vol. 13, No. 26 06/30/06
States with updates this issue: Alaska, California, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
U.N. GUN BAN CONFERENCE UPDATE
With the "U.N. Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects" having begun on Monday, June 26, here are some of the "highlights" (and "lowlights) of the week's events.
Day One, Monday, June 26: U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan claims the Conference's purpose was not to ban "law abiding citizens right to bear arms..." However, others in the anti-gun cabal obviously disagree, as evidenced by this statement from Indonesia's representative: "We believe that no armed group outside of the State should be allowed to bear weapons. We also believe that regulating civilian possession of Small Arms/Light Weapons will enhance our efforts to prevent its misuse. In our view, the issue of ammunition should also be addressed in the context of the ProgramME of Action because in the absence of ammunition, small arms and light weapons pose no danger." Regardless of Annan's statement, the topic of "regulation" of civilian possession is obviously still alive.
Day Two, Tuesday, June 27: U.S. Under Secretary of State Robert Joseph. Joseph politely but forcefully gave the U.S. "red lines" -- issues which the U.S. strongly opposes and will not allow into any Conference report or recommendations. These include interference with Americans' Right To Bear Arms, a U.N. ban on transfer of arms to freedom fighters and international regulation of ammunition. The U.S. also said it was not ready to commit to any future conferences on small arms. As Joseph noted later, "The U.S. Constitution guarantees the rights of our citizens to keep and bear arms, and there will be no infringement of those rights..The United States will not agree to any provisions restricting civilian possession, use or legal trade of firearms inconsistent with our laws and practices."
Day Three, Wednesday, June 28: A new draft of the U.N. "Small Arms" Conference "final" report became public. Unfortunately, the draft contained provisions on two issues the U.S. considers "red lines" and will not accept -- a U.N. ban on transfer of arms to freedom fighters and international regulation of ammunition. The proposed document also calls for U.N. meetings on "small arms" up to and including additional conferences in 2008, 2010, and 2012! The U.S. is opposed to these constant meetings which seem to rehash the same issues.
Day Four, Thursday, June 29: The Swiss Small Arms Survey (an anti-gun think tank) released its book supporting international regulation of ammunition. Although the U.S. continues to strongly oppose the inclusion of ammunition in any Conference report, several countries insist on pushing the concept. In another development, the President of the Conference appointed three "facilitators" to work on the text of the final report. The so-called facilitators are from Switzerland, Columbia and Japan.
America's gun owners must continue to be vigilant and to take action on this front. For additional information on the U.N.'s attempt to impose its anti-gun will on the U.S. and around the world, please visit www.NRAILA.org, where daily postings tracking the U.N. Conference can be found. Also, please visit www.stopUNgunban.org, or call (800) 672-0636. This site provides valuable information and an opportunity to order Wayne LaPierre's new book The Global War On Your Guns. The book spells out a chilling warning that gun owners in the United States and abroad must heed, and exposes a far-reaching scheme to pass a global ban on civilian ownership of arms--including YOURS! Help stop the U.N.'s attempt to thwart our Freedom. Please visit the site or call the toll-free number today!
NRA NOT ALONE IN ITS IRE AGAINST U.N.
As noted in the previous story, America's gun owners are no doubt most focused on U.N. efforts to promote transnational anti-gun laws. However, that is just the tip of the iceberg. In addition to recent oil for food, sex, and corruption scandals at the world body, a story in today's Washington Times notes that Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are promoting legislation to withhold U.S. contributions to the U.N. Among the reasons cited for these actions are: recent remarks by a U.N. bureaucrat that the U.S. government needs to do more to defend the U.N. to the American public; displeasure with the makeup of the U.N.'s Human Rights Council that includes some of the world's most notorious human rights abusers and sponsors of terrorism; and the U.S. goal of implementing a proportional voting system on financial matters, where member-nations' votes would be commensurate with the percentage of dues they contribute.
NRA APPLAUDS CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS FOR INCLUDING
GUN OWNERSHIP RIGHTS IN THEIR "AMERICAN VALUES AGENDA"
The NRA is pleased by Tuesday's announcement by House Congressional leaders to include gun ownership rights as part of their 2006 "American Values Agenda".
"On behalf of our four million NRA members nationwide, we deeply appreciate the House Republican leadership for recognizing the fundamental importance of protecting law-abiding Americans' Second Amendment rights," said Chris W. Cox, NRA's chief lobbyist. "We strongly encourage and endorse these pro-gun bills as part of the their "American Values Agenda.'"
"Family, faith, patriotism and hard work bind us together as Americans. Our laws should reflect those priorities, and House Republicans are committed to the American Values Agenda, policies that stress the core values on which our nation was built," said House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.).
House Republican leaders have put together a package of "pro-freedom" bills slated for votes this summer and fall. Two of those measures are H.R. 5092 and H.R. 5013, bills that are also among NRA's top legislative priorities.
H.R. 5092 is the "Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) Modernization and Reform Act of 2006." This measure would make critical changes in the way BATFE enforces federal firearm laws. H.R. 5092 was introduced after abuses were exposed in several BATFE oversight hearings by the House Crime Subcommittee held this spring.
H.R. 5013, the "Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act", would prohibit the confiscation of legal firearms from law-abiding citizens during national emergencies, barring practices like those employed by officials in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The NRA recently passed a similar measure into state law in Alaska, Idaho, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, and Louisiana.
"NRA members, gun owners and sportsmen across the country should contact their congressmen, urging them to support these pro-gun bills. No matter what the circumstances, lawful gun owners have the right to possess their firearms in their homes. That's what this legislation ensures," concluded Cox.
HOUSE OVERTURNS MANDATORY GUN LOCKS PROVISION
This week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to overturn the federal requirement that federally licensed firearm dealers provide a "secure gun storage or safety device" (e.g., trigger locks, cable locks, gun safes, gun cases, lock boxes, etc.) with the sale and/or transfer of every handgun. The amendment, offered to a larger appropriations bill, was sponsored by U.S. Representative Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.), and passed by a vote of 230-191. This legislation has yet to be considered by the U.S. Senate.
SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR 2005 NRA-ILA VOLUNTEER AWARDS
The "Jay M. Littlefield Memorial NRA-ILA Volunteer of the Year Award" is an annual honor that recognizes an NRA member who demonstrates exceptionally meritorious activism in defense of our Second Amendment rights. Similarly, the "NRA-ILA Volunteer Organization of the Year Award" is bestowed upon a group that has gone above and beyond the call of duty in defending our freedom over the past year. Nominations for these honors for last year (2005) should be submitted to: NRA-ILA Volunteer Awards, c/o Ryan Irsik, NRA-ILA Grassroots Division, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA, 22030. Nominations may also be faxed to Ryan at (703) 267-3918, or e-mailed to rirsik@nrahq.org. All nominations must be submitted by NRA members in good standing and be accompanied by a one-page description of why the nominee is deserving. Winners will be selected by NRA-ILA staff, and will be acknowledged at this Fall's NRA Board of Directors Meeting. The deadline for submissions is July 7, 2006.
NRA-ILA "MIX N' MINGLES"
Much is at stake in this year's elections; we will decide if we continue to move ahead on the path of pro-gun reform, or, if we will descend to the dark Clinton-Gore years. In order to ensure continued success for the Second Amendment, we must elect pro-gun lawmakers to office this election season.
To ensure victory for our pro-gun candidates this election year, NRA-ILA will be hosting FREE NRA-ILA "Mix N' Mingles" across the country. These events will provide NRA members with training on what they can do locally to propel candidates to victory this election season. The meetings also provide attendees the opportunity to meet and socialize with lawmakers, candidates, and their staffs; NRA-ILA Headquarters staff; and fellow area NRA members-and to earn FREE NRA fraternal items such as hats, pocketknives, buttons, etc. "Mix N' Mingles," including materials, food, beverages, and NRA items, are FREE!
See Part 2
NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert Vol. 13, No. 26 06/30/06
States with updates this issue: Alaska, California, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
U.N. GUN BAN CONFERENCE UPDATE
With the "U.N. Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects" having begun on Monday, June 26, here are some of the "highlights" (and "lowlights) of the week's events.
Day One, Monday, June 26: U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan claims the Conference's purpose was not to ban "law abiding citizens right to bear arms..." However, others in the anti-gun cabal obviously disagree, as evidenced by this statement from Indonesia's representative: "We believe that no armed group outside of the State should be allowed to bear weapons. We also believe that regulating civilian possession of Small Arms/Light Weapons will enhance our efforts to prevent its misuse. In our view, the issue of ammunition should also be addressed in the context of the ProgramME of Action because in the absence of ammunition, small arms and light weapons pose no danger." Regardless of Annan's statement, the topic of "regulation" of civilian possession is obviously still alive.
Day Two, Tuesday, June 27: U.S. Under Secretary of State Robert Joseph. Joseph politely but forcefully gave the U.S. "red lines" -- issues which the U.S. strongly opposes and will not allow into any Conference report or recommendations. These include interference with Americans' Right To Bear Arms, a U.N. ban on transfer of arms to freedom fighters and international regulation of ammunition. The U.S. also said it was not ready to commit to any future conferences on small arms. As Joseph noted later, "The U.S. Constitution guarantees the rights of our citizens to keep and bear arms, and there will be no infringement of those rights..The United States will not agree to any provisions restricting civilian possession, use or legal trade of firearms inconsistent with our laws and practices."
Day Three, Wednesday, June 28: A new draft of the U.N. "Small Arms" Conference "final" report became public. Unfortunately, the draft contained provisions on two issues the U.S. considers "red lines" and will not accept -- a U.N. ban on transfer of arms to freedom fighters and international regulation of ammunition. The proposed document also calls for U.N. meetings on "small arms" up to and including additional conferences in 2008, 2010, and 2012! The U.S. is opposed to these constant meetings which seem to rehash the same issues.
Day Four, Thursday, June 29: The Swiss Small Arms Survey (an anti-gun think tank) released its book supporting international regulation of ammunition. Although the U.S. continues to strongly oppose the inclusion of ammunition in any Conference report, several countries insist on pushing the concept. In another development, the President of the Conference appointed three "facilitators" to work on the text of the final report. The so-called facilitators are from Switzerland, Columbia and Japan.
America's gun owners must continue to be vigilant and to take action on this front. For additional information on the U.N.'s attempt to impose its anti-gun will on the U.S. and around the world, please visit www.NRAILA.org, where daily postings tracking the U.N. Conference can be found. Also, please visit www.stopUNgunban.org, or call (800) 672-0636. This site provides valuable information and an opportunity to order Wayne LaPierre's new book The Global War On Your Guns. The book spells out a chilling warning that gun owners in the United States and abroad must heed, and exposes a far-reaching scheme to pass a global ban on civilian ownership of arms--including YOURS! Help stop the U.N.'s attempt to thwart our Freedom. Please visit the site or call the toll-free number today!
NRA NOT ALONE IN ITS IRE AGAINST U.N.
As noted in the previous story, America's gun owners are no doubt most focused on U.N. efforts to promote transnational anti-gun laws. However, that is just the tip of the iceberg. In addition to recent oil for food, sex, and corruption scandals at the world body, a story in today's Washington Times notes that Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are promoting legislation to withhold U.S. contributions to the U.N. Among the reasons cited for these actions are: recent remarks by a U.N. bureaucrat that the U.S. government needs to do more to defend the U.N. to the American public; displeasure with the makeup of the U.N.'s Human Rights Council that includes some of the world's most notorious human rights abusers and sponsors of terrorism; and the U.S. goal of implementing a proportional voting system on financial matters, where member-nations' votes would be commensurate with the percentage of dues they contribute.
NRA APPLAUDS CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS FOR INCLUDING
GUN OWNERSHIP RIGHTS IN THEIR "AMERICAN VALUES AGENDA"
The NRA is pleased by Tuesday's announcement by House Congressional leaders to include gun ownership rights as part of their 2006 "American Values Agenda".
"On behalf of our four million NRA members nationwide, we deeply appreciate the House Republican leadership for recognizing the fundamental importance of protecting law-abiding Americans' Second Amendment rights," said Chris W. Cox, NRA's chief lobbyist. "We strongly encourage and endorse these pro-gun bills as part of the their "American Values Agenda.'"
"Family, faith, patriotism and hard work bind us together as Americans. Our laws should reflect those priorities, and House Republicans are committed to the American Values Agenda, policies that stress the core values on which our nation was built," said House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.).
House Republican leaders have put together a package of "pro-freedom" bills slated for votes this summer and fall. Two of those measures are H.R. 5092 and H.R. 5013, bills that are also among NRA's top legislative priorities.
H.R. 5092 is the "Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) Modernization and Reform Act of 2006." This measure would make critical changes in the way BATFE enforces federal firearm laws. H.R. 5092 was introduced after abuses were exposed in several BATFE oversight hearings by the House Crime Subcommittee held this spring.
H.R. 5013, the "Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act", would prohibit the confiscation of legal firearms from law-abiding citizens during national emergencies, barring practices like those employed by officials in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The NRA recently passed a similar measure into state law in Alaska, Idaho, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, and Louisiana.
"NRA members, gun owners and sportsmen across the country should contact their congressmen, urging them to support these pro-gun bills. No matter what the circumstances, lawful gun owners have the right to possess their firearms in their homes. That's what this legislation ensures," concluded Cox.
HOUSE OVERTURNS MANDATORY GUN LOCKS PROVISION
This week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to overturn the federal requirement that federally licensed firearm dealers provide a "secure gun storage or safety device" (e.g., trigger locks, cable locks, gun safes, gun cases, lock boxes, etc.) with the sale and/or transfer of every handgun. The amendment, offered to a larger appropriations bill, was sponsored by U.S. Representative Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.), and passed by a vote of 230-191. This legislation has yet to be considered by the U.S. Senate.
SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR 2005 NRA-ILA VOLUNTEER AWARDS
The "Jay M. Littlefield Memorial NRA-ILA Volunteer of the Year Award" is an annual honor that recognizes an NRA member who demonstrates exceptionally meritorious activism in defense of our Second Amendment rights. Similarly, the "NRA-ILA Volunteer Organization of the Year Award" is bestowed upon a group that has gone above and beyond the call of duty in defending our freedom over the past year. Nominations for these honors for last year (2005) should be submitted to: NRA-ILA Volunteer Awards, c/o Ryan Irsik, NRA-ILA Grassroots Division, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA, 22030. Nominations may also be faxed to Ryan at (703) 267-3918, or e-mailed to rirsik@nrahq.org. All nominations must be submitted by NRA members in good standing and be accompanied by a one-page description of why the nominee is deserving. Winners will be selected by NRA-ILA staff, and will be acknowledged at this Fall's NRA Board of Directors Meeting. The deadline for submissions is July 7, 2006.
NRA-ILA "MIX N' MINGLES"
Much is at stake in this year's elections; we will decide if we continue to move ahead on the path of pro-gun reform, or, if we will descend to the dark Clinton-Gore years. In order to ensure continued success for the Second Amendment, we must elect pro-gun lawmakers to office this election season.
To ensure victory for our pro-gun candidates this election year, NRA-ILA will be hosting FREE NRA-ILA "Mix N' Mingles" across the country. These events will provide NRA members with training on what they can do locally to propel candidates to victory this election season. The meetings also provide attendees the opportunity to meet and socialize with lawmakers, candidates, and their staffs; NRA-ILA Headquarters staff; and fellow area NRA members-and to earn FREE NRA fraternal items such as hats, pocketknives, buttons, etc. "Mix N' Mingles," including materials, food, beverages, and NRA items, are FREE!
See Part 2
