MISSOURI GOVERNOR MATT BLUNT SIGNS EMERGENCY POWERS PROTECTION INTO LAW AT NRA ANNUAL MEETING
Today, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt signed into law a fundamental protection against gun confiscation during declared states of emergencies. The bill signing ceremony took place at NRA's Opening Celebration this afternoon at the America's Center in St. Louis.
ST. LOUIS WORKSHOP TREMENDOUS SUCCESS! Earlier today, nearly 200 pro-gun patriots attended the NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop, held in conjunction with NRA's Annual Meetings & Exhibits in St. Louis, Mo. Though most attendees were home state Missourians, NRA members represented states from across the country. Diversity in geography notwithstanding, all were united in the singular mission of learning what more they could do in their local communities to preserve and protect the Second Amendment-and they weren't disappointed!
Please keep an eye out on next week's Alert for additional information on NRA-ILA's grassroots activities in St. Louis, as well as on NRA's Annual Meetings!
STATE ROUNDUP (please click to see any updates on states not listed below.)
ARIZONA: Arizona Game & Fish Department to Host Meetings on BLM and Forest Service Plans! The Arizona Game and Fish Department will host a series of meetings across the state to provide an overview of the Forest Service and BLM planning processes and how you can become engaged. The plans could potentially include proposed alternatives that change the way you currently enjoy public lands, particularly with regard to recreational shooting, hunting, vehicular access and transportation, designation of open and closed roads, dispersed camping and/or recreation, and motorized retrieval of lawfully taken big game by hunters.
CALIFORNIA: California Legislative Update! Four bills critical to gun owners in the Golden State will be heard in the Assembly Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, April 17. Assembly Bill 1471 would require that after a certain date, the make, model, and serial number be microstamped onto the interior surface or internal working parts of all handguns in such a manner that those identifiers are imprinted onto the cartridge case upon firing. Also, Assembly Bill 362 would require identification be presented for all mail order and face-to-face ammunition sales. However, not all is bad in the Golden State. Assembly Bill 1645 will protect the Second Amendment rights of Californians to keep and bear arms from executive authority during a state of emergency in California. Also, Assembly Bill 1105 would require the Department of Justice to complete a study identifying what actions would be required to reduce the waiting period for firearms transfers in California. Please contact the members of the Assembly Committee on Public Safety at (916) 319-3744 and respectfully urge them to oppose AB1471 and AB362, and to support AB1645 and AB1145.
FLORIDA (1): The House Environment & Natural Resource Council Needs To Hear Our Support of HB 1417! House Bill 1417 will prohibit employers from prohibiting employees from possessing a firearm in their locked vehicle on their employer's property. For contact information on the House Environment & Natural Resource Council please click here.
FLORIDA (2): What Do Rosie O'Donnell and the Florida Chamber of Commerce In Common? To find the answer, please click here.
ILLINOIS: Gun Ban Still A Threat! Senate Bill 1471, which seeks to ban .50 caliber rifles, represents the most pressing, threat for all Illinois gun owners. If passed, the anti-gun movement would be embolden to push even harder in Illinois. Please contact your State Senator at (217) 782-5715 today and strongly urge him or her to OPPOSE Senate Bill 1471.
INDIANA: Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council Seeking Discharge Ban! On April 17 at 5:30 p.m., public testimony will be heard on Proposal 174, a proposal which will essentially ban lawful discharge of firearms within consolidated Indianapolis-Marion County. Be sure that your voice is heard by attending the Rules and Public Policy Committee hearing, and alert your family members, friends, and fellow Second Amendment supporters to this critically important hearing! If you cannot attend please contact the Rules and Public Policy Committee by clicking here.
IOWA: Please Attend the Iowa Sportsmen's Federation Annual Meeting! The Iowa Sportsmen's Federation Annual Meeting is being held Saturday, April 21 with special guests: Senator Larry Craig of Idaho and former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore. Both are staunch NRA supporters and NRA Board members! Purchase 1 ticket for $20.00 or 2 for $30.00. For tickets, please call (515) 422-0581 or visit http://www.iowasportsmen.com/!
KANSAS (1): Right-To-Carry Reform Legislation Heading to Governor's Desk! House Bill 2528 will prevent local municipalities from establishing city regulations and ordinances inconsistent with state law. Please call Governor Sebelius today and respectfully urge her to sign HB 2528 into law. Governor Sebelius can be reached at 1-877-579-6757 or visit http://www.governor.ks.gov/comments/comment.htm to send an email.
KANSAS (2): Youth Mentor Hunting Legislation Heading To Governor's Desk! Senate Bill 189 will create a mentored-hunting program to be implemented by the Department of Natural Resources. Please call Governor Sebelius today and respectfully urge her to sign SB 189 into law. Governor Sebelius can be reached at 1-877-579-6757 or visit www.governor.ks.gov/comments/comment.htm to send an email.
LOUISIANA: Management Plan Underway for Mandalay and Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuges! The National Resource Planner is taking comments on how Mandalay and Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuges should be managed. Comments maybe submitted until May 18th. Please address comments, questions, and requests for further information to: Charlotte Parker, National Resource Planner, Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 61389 Highway 434, Lacombe, LA 70445 or call 985-882-2000 or send comments and questions via email to Charlotte_Parker@fws.gov.
MASSACHUSETTS: Public Comments Sought on Management Alternatives for Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge! The refuge is currently open to hunting, so it is important that the refuge receive comments in support of this use. The closing date for comments is April 17th. Please send comments to Carl Melberg, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Regional Office, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035 or via email to northeastplanning@fws.gov. The plan is on view at http://library.fws.gov/ccps.htm. For information call 413-253-8521.
MISSOURI: Two Important Missouri Pro-Gun Bills Need Your Help! Please contact your State Senator at (573)-751-3824 and strongly encourage him or her to support and vote for House Bill 462, which repeals Missouri's outdated and redundant statute that requires a "permit to obtain" a handgun. Also, please contact your State Representative at (573)-751-3659 and urge him or her to support and vote for Senate Bill 62, establishes that law-abiding Missourians do not have a duty to retreat from a criminal attack and may stand their ground while defending themselves and their loved ones!
NEVADA (1): Washoe County Seeks to Expand No-Shooting Areas! On April 17th, the Washoe County Commission will be hearing a proposal to expand the areas where the discharge of firearms for hunting and recreational shooting will be prohibited. Please take the time to attend the April 17th hearing at 2:00 p.m. at the County Commission Chambers at 1001 E. Ninth Street, Building A in Reno. If you are unable to attend, please contact the Washoe County Commissioners at (775) 328-2005 or visit www.co.washoe.nv.us and ask that they suspend a vote on the proposal until a proper evaluation of all potential impacts on the shooting and hunting community can be made.
For a look at what is being proposed by the Friends of Hungry Valley, log onto www.friendsofhungryvalley.com/news.htm.
NEVADA (2): Nye County Recreational Shooting Areas Are In Danger Of Being Closed! Federal agencies like the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have been systematically closing vast acreage of our public hunting land to recreational shooting. The public comment period has been extended to May 1. It is critical that BLM hears from you. Please send comments to stop this tragedy from happening to BLM's Las Vegas Field Office, 4701 North Torrey Pines, Las Vegas, NV 89130. NRA's comments to the BLM can be reached by clicking here. Comments should be sent to BLM's Las Vegas Field Office, 4701 North Torrey Pines, Las Vegas, NV 89130.
NORTH DAKOTA: North Dakota Castle Doctrine Self-Defense Bills Heads to Governor's Desk! Please contact Governor John Hoeven (R) and respectfully urge him to sign House Bill 1319, critical Castle Doctrine self-defense legislation. This legislation allows use of deadly force in self-defense, removes the duty to retreat, and provides the individual acting in self-defense immunity from criminal and civil prosecution.
PENNSYLVANIA: Gun Registration Legislation Introduced! Your State Legislators need to hear from you about House Bill 760! If enacted, HB 760 would require every firearm in Pennsylvania to be registered with the State! Please call your State Representative and State Senator today and ask them to oppose HB760! For contact information or help identifying your State Legislators, please click here.
TENNESSEE: "Emergency Powers" Legislation Moving Forward! House Bill 1285 would protect our Second Amendment rights during a state of emergency by prohibiting any government agency from regulating the lawful sale, possession, transfer, transport and carry of firearms. Please contact members of the House Judiciary by calling (615) 741-1351 or 1-800-449-8366 and ask him or her to protect our Second Amendments rights and vote "YES" on HB 1285.
TEXAS: Texas Legislative Update! This week, the House gave final approval to Senate Bill 112, NRA-backed legislation preventing the confiscation of firearms from law-abiding citizens during a future state of emergency or natural disaster. The bill now moves to Governor Rick Perry (R) for his expected signature. Another important NRA-supported bill, House Bill 1037, remains in the House Calendars Committee and has not yet been set for a vote by the full House. Please contact the members of the Calendars Committee and politely urge them to set HB 1037 for consideration. Contact information for committee members can be found at www.house.state.tx.us/committees/050.htm.
WISCONSIN (1): State Legislature Moves To Ban Private Firearm Sales! Senate Bill 104, also known as LRB 0861/2, would create a "patchwork" of local laws throughout the state and could turn law-abiding citizens into criminals. Please contact members of the Senate Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs committee today by clicking here and urge them to oppose this anti-freedom bill!
WISCONSIN (2): Wisconsin Seeking to Make Gun Ownership More Difficult and Costly! In a disturbing move aimed at making gun ownership more difficult and costly in the Badger State, Governor Jim Doyle's budget bill seeks to raise the fee on background checks from $8 to $30. Please contact your State Senator at (608) 266-2517 and your State Representative at (608) 266-1501 today and respectfully request that he or she oppose Governor Doyle's unfair gun tax.
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