Congress and our state legislatures are moving rapidly with the introduction of many gun bills, that if passed into law, will drastically alter the 2nd Amendment rights of all Americans. Here is a short (but hardly inclusive) list of upcoming state and national legislation.
According to the NRA the Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act (H.R. 45) is nothing more than a “licensing and registration scheme.”
Big Brother’s New Target: Tracking Firearms (H.R. 45): As we previously reported, last month, U.S. Representative Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) sponsored H.R. 45, also known as “Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act.” The bill is, at its core and as its name implies, a licensing and registration scheme.
The measure calls for all handgun owners to submit to the federal government an application that shall include, among many other things: a photo; an address; a thumbprint; a completed, written firearm safety test; private mental health records; and a fee. And those are only some of the requirements to be licensed! To read more, please click here.
Read an update on the insidious Blair Holt Bill (H.R. 45) from Jane Q Republican who says, “Does anyone, including Rep. Rush, actually believe that gun control laws will prevent Chicago gang members from having and using guns?”
These are the members of the Congressional subcommittee currently considering the bill. Contact them and let them know that they are making a choice. Either they defend the Constitution, or they defy it. Their votes will not be forgotten.
Robert Scott, Chairman, Virginia
Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico
Jerrold Nadler, New York
Zoe Lofgren, California
Sheila Jackson Lee, Texas (tx18@mail.house.gov)
Maxine Waters, California
Steve Cohen, Tennessee
Anthony Weiner, New York
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Florida
Louie Gohmert, Ranking Member, Texas
Ted Poe, Texas
Bob Goodlatte, Virginia
Dan Lungren, California
Randy Forbes, Virginia
Tom Rooney, Florida
For more background read A bill to register and confiscate your firearms! (Also see the side bar for detail on H.R. 45.)
What about Open Carry 4 Texas?
The following is from Texas Fred
If you are a Texan, if you are a gun owner, even if you're NOT a Texan, you need to read this. I think it may be shaping up to be a good fight and I think you ALL know where I stand on this issue!
If you have any comments PLEASE make em on the blog so Rep. Driver can see them... If you have ANY advice, PLEASE make it on the blog too, I want this guy to see it ALL!!
Rep. Joe Driver (R-113) and the Open Carry Issue
Rep. Joe Driver (R-113) and the Open Carry IssueLast week I sent an email message to my Texas State representative, Joe Driver (R-113), requesting that he get on board with the *open carry* campaign that is really gaining strength here in Texas.
Today I got a response from Rep. Driver, he said NO. He believes that open carry is a dangerous thing and could/would present more problems than it would solve.
See also the OpenCarry.org Forum
The following updates are from the National Rifle Association
Alabama: House OKs bill banning seizure of guns during emergencies
A bill to prevent state or local government from seizing lawfully owned guns during emergencies sailed through the Alabama House on Thursday and now heads to the Senate, where it was approved last year.
Palin supports concealed carry
Gov. Sarah Palin has encouraged U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to support recently adopted regulations that allow concealed weapons in national parks and wildlife refuges.
Tennessee: Gun laws get push in House committee
The legislature began fast-tracking bills Thursday to let people with carry permits take guns into state and local parks and establishments serving alcohol -- all places where they are currently banned. The House handgun study committee also recommended making secret the list of Tennessee's 219,236 gun-carry permit holders and to penalize any publication of their identities.
Virginia: Cole's gun turn-in bill advances in the Senate
A Senate committee yesterday narrowly approved Del. Mark Cole's bill that would require localities running gun turn-in programs to sell any valuable guns to firearms dealers.
Anti-Gun Land Bill On the Move from Gun Owners of America
Send this letter to your congressional representatives:
Dear Representative:
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><!--[endif]-->I urge you to oppose S. 22, a bill that will greatly expand the amount of land controlled by the National Park Service (NPS).
NPS land is currently subject to a gun ban. While President Bush took steps in the waning days of his presidency to reverse the ban, the new regulations apply to persons who carry a concealed firearm with a permit. Non-permit holders and open carry are not explicitly addressed. Which is why S. 22 raises so many concerns:
* It authorizes the federal government to buy private land adjacent to national parks and trails. Such land would be controlled by the NPS, and thus be subject to the gun ban.
* The bill federalizes the Washington-Rochambeau Route, a 650 mile trail, and places it under the NPS gun ban.
* S. 22 will codify the National Landscape Conservation System, which raises concerns for hunters and sportsmen. Much of this land is consolidated from the BLM and the Forest Service, which have always allowed hunting and recreational shooting. It is unclear what rules will be promulgated by the new agency and if gun owners’ rights will be protected.
* S. 22 also strips out small concessions which were won in the House last year that would allow state and local law to govern firearms possession and hunting on certain land. But the anti-gun House leadership is preventing any amendments to fully repeal the NPS gun ban.
If these concerns are not corrected in S. 22, I would strongly urge you to vote against it.
Thank you.
Sincerely,