Contact Your Senators And Urge Them To
OPPOSE Elena Kagan's Confirmation to U.S. Supreme Court

 As we reported in last week's Grassroots Alert, on July 1, NRA announced its strong opposition to the confirmation of Elena Kagan for the U.S. Supreme Court in a letter to the U.S. Senate.

Both her political career in the Clinton Administration and her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee make it clear that Kagan is a serious opponent of our Second Amendment Rights.

Last year, Sonia Sotomayor deliberately misled the American people by claiming she believed it was "settled law" that the Second Amendment protected an individual right to keep and bear arms.  This year, she proved she never really believed that by ruling against the Second Amendment in McDonald v. City of Chicago.  

The "Blame and Punish Gun Owners Act" -- Anti-gun politicians have often looked for ways to penalize law-abiding gun owners rather than go after violent criminals.  Now, through "lost or stolen" laws, they increasingly want to punish gun owners who are crime victims.

"OMG, More Handguns!" -- In 1979, the group now known as the Brady Campaign said "over 50 million handguns flood the houses and streets of our nation. . . . If we continue at this pace, we will have equipped ourselves with more than 100 million handguns by the turn of the century. One hundred million handguns. Will we be safer then?" 

Missouri Governor Signs Important Pro-Gun Measures Into Law:  This week, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon (D) signed into law HB 1692, a bill that includes several important pro-gun measures for the Show-Me State.

Help Defend Your Gun Rights One Click At A Time:  We have a revolutionary yet simple tool that will allow you to stay connected to NRA-ILA and raise valuable contributions to defend our Second Amendment rights without spending a dime!  It's the NRA-ILA Toolbar, and you can make a difference by downloading and using it.

Grassroots News Minute Video:  To view this week's "Grassroots News Minute" video, please click here:

STATE ROUNDUP  (Please note the only items listed below are those that have had recent action.  For other updates on state legislation, please go to the state legislation section at www.NRAILA.org, and check each week's issue of the Grassroots Alert.)

CALIFORNIA:  Long Gun Registration and Open Carry Ban Pending Consideration  Assembly Bill 1810 and Assembly Bill 1934 are awaiting action in the Senate Appropriations Committee.  AB1810 would establish a registration system, similar to the one currently in place for handguns, for all newly-acquired long guns.  Under AB1810, the make, model and serial number of the firearm as well as the identifying information of the purchaser would be recorded and kept on file by the California Attorney General's office.  AB1934 would outlaw the open carrying of a handgun for self-defense.  Please contact the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to oppose AB1810 and AB1934.  Contact information for the committee can be found here.

Important Pro-Hunting Bill Advances in Sacramento!  On June 29, the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee passed Senate Bill 1179.  The bill now heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for consideration.  SB1179 would require that the Department of Fish and Game establish two free hunting days per year where unlicensed hunters can hunt so long as they are accompanied by someone who is licensed.  This legislation promises to help recruit the next generation of hunters by allowing novices to try their hand at hunting without being required to purchase a license.  Please contact the members of the Assembly Appropriations Committee and respectfully urge them to support SB1179.  Please click here for contact information.

NRA/CRPA Foundation Legal Action Project Sues to Stop AB962  The NRA-CRPA Foundation Legal Action Project ("LAP") has filed a lawsuit challenging AB 962 and the newly adopted statutes that regulate "handgun ammunition." The suit challenges the requirement that handgun ammunition be stored out of the reach of customers, the ammunition sales registration and fingerprinting requirements, and the bill's prohibition on mail order and internet sales. The lawsuit alleges that the mandates of AB 962 are incomprehensible, and that the law's definition of "handgun ammunition" is unconstitutionally vague.  The NRA/CRPA Foundation lawsuit has been in the works ever since AB 962 passed. A request for an injunction will be filed shortly, in an effort to stop the bill's ammunition sales registration requirement and the ban on mail order ammunition purchases before those provisions take effect on February 1, 2011.  Please click here to learn more.

IOWA:  West Burlington's Mayor Refers to Gun Owners in Iowa as "Nut Jobs"  This past week, in response to an NRA letter opposing the City of West Burlington's "firearm ban" ordinance, Mayor Trousil said: "That's too bad. they need to sit in our chairs and worry about these nut jobs that go around with guns."  Why does Mayor Trousil think that Iowans, who decide to exercise their rights and lawfully carry or possess a firearm to defend themselves and their family, are "nut jobs?"  Let Mayor Hans Trousil know that you want him to defend your Second Amendment rights by obeying the state preemption law and overturn the "firearm ban" ordinance.  Please click here to view the letter NRA sent to the City of West Burlington on July 7.  Please contact Mayor Trousil and the West Burlington City Council today and urge them to oppose this firearm ban.  To contact the Mayor and City Council please call (319) 752- 5451.  Email addresses are listed here.

MASSACHUSETTS:  Governor Patrick's Anti-Gun Bill Could be Voted on Soon!  Governor Deval Patrick's (D) anti-gun bill is currently awaiting consideration in the House Ways and Means Committee and it could be voted on as early as next week.  Among other things, House Bill 4102 would limit lawful firearm purchases to one per 30-day period and require the private transfer of all firearms, even those between family and friends, to be conducted through a federally licensed firearms dealer. If enacted, H.4102 would have disastrous effects on the Second Amendment rights of Massachusetts' law-abiding gun owners.  Please contact the members of the House Ways and Means Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to oppose House Bill 4102.  A roster of the committee members and their contact information can be found here.

MISSOURI:  Governor Signs Important Pro-Gun Measures into Law  On Monday, July 12, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon (D) signed into law HB 1692, a bill that includes several important pro-gun measures for the Show-Me State.  "The signing of this bill by Gov. Nixon is a victory and important advancement for gun rights in Missouri," said Chris Cox, NRA's chief lobbyist. "We applaud this effort to clarify and expand the fundamental right of self-defense for law-abiding gun owners in the state."  HB 1692, sponsored by State Representative Jason Smith (R-150) and State Senator Jane Cunningham (R-7), expands Missouri's "Castle Doctrine" protections to any property boundaries one leases or owns and caps the sheriff fee at $10 for Missouri right-to-carry permit holders who change addresses. The bill will also allow a prosecutor with a right-to-carry permit to carry in a courthouse and, with the judge's permission, in the courtroom as well. This legislation will also bring Missouri's gun laws into compliance with federal law, exempting antique firearms from "unlawful possession" citations.

NORTH CAROLINA:  New Management Plan for the Uwharrie National Forest  The US Forest Service is planning to revise the current management plan for the Uwharrie National Forest.  The new plan will guide the Forest's management for the next 15 years.  This process is of critical importance to sportsmen because hunting and recreational shooting must be included in the plan in order to safeguard these activities for the future.  Recently, the Flintlock Valley Shooting Range, a public shooting range on the Uwharrie, was closed pending a review of safety concerns.  Unless the Forest makes management of hunting and shooting a priority, we risk loss of these opportunities to competing recreational interests.  One of the plan revision themes is "Providing Outstanding and Environmentally Friendly Outdoor Recreation Opportunities, with Excellent Trails and Facilities."  The Uwharrie will be hosting an open house on Tuesday, August 3rd at the North Carolina Zoo, Stedman Education Building in Asheboro, NC from 6:00pm to 8:30pm. This is an opportunity for the public to talk with Forest Service staff about the new management plan.  Further information about the planning process and the open house can be found at http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/uwharrie_plan.  You may also contact Ruth Berner, Forest Planner, at 828-257-4862.  It is vitally important that hunters and shooters take the time to attend this open house and become engaged in the management planning process to ensure that you have places to hunt and shoot in the Uwharrie.

VIRGINIA:  Support Needed for Elk Restoration in the Commonwealth  A draft plan for elk restoration and management has been prepared by Virginia's Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.  The plan is open for public comment until August 1.  The Plan and its several restoration options, along with background information, can be found at http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/elk/management-plan.  There is a link at the bottom of the page to submit comments.  Elk were once a native species of Virginia, but disappeared by the early 1800s.  Efforts to restore elk during the last century failed, but with lessons learned the Department is making a renewed effort to return elk to the Commonwealth.  The plan is to establish a population of 1,200 elk in the Coalfield counties of Buchanan, Dickenson and Wise by releasing 200 elk over a 3-year period in one suitable 'Elk Release Site'.  Based on the experience of elk restoration projects in other states, elk reintroduction has not disrupted white-tailed deer behavior or habitat use patterns, nor has it disrupted white-tailed deer hunting.  The Department will proceed with a restoration plan as long as there is strong public support for it.  Please take a few minutes of your time to review the plan and send your comments to the Department.