NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ALERT: Vol. 21, No. 14 04/04/2014
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The day after a soldier armed with a handgun murdered three, wounded 16, and killed himself on Ft. Hood, in central Texas, Michael Bloomberg’s two anti-gun groups–Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) and Moms Demand Action–issued a joint press release admitting, “we don’t know all the details.” This did not stop them, however, from offering “spokespeople available for comment and TV interviews (from NYC, DC and via satellite).” Knowledge of details—and facts–have never stood as an impediment for anti-gun groups to start prescribing their usual remedies.
If the anti-gunners appeared to be hungry for the media’s attention, it was for a reason. As detailed elsewhere in this Alert, polls conducted by Rasmussen Reports have found that support for gun control has decreased 22 percent since December 2012. Additionally, Bloomberg is no longer mayor of New York City and therefore can no longer use that office’s bully pulpit to lecture America on his tiresome views about gun control.
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The NRA is aware of BATFE’s recent actions to restrict importation of 5.45 x 39 ammunition. According to information BATFE provided to NRA, these actions are based on BATFE’s determination that the availability of a handgun in this caliber triggers so-called “armor piercing” ammunition provisions of federal law, which generally prohibit manufacture and importation.
NRA strongly disagrees with BATFE’s view of this matter, and we have long sought clarity on BATFE’s widely-varying approach to this issue. We have attended meetings with BATFE, submitted written comments, and issued FOIA requests, all in an attempt to better understand the process by which BATFE exercises its considerable discretion under this broadly-worded federal law. We have also worked with members of Congress to draft legislation to simplify the underlying federal statute and remove BATFE’s broad discretion in this area.
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As we recently reported, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), sponsor of the federal “assault weapon” and “large” magazine “ban” of 1994-2004, is asking President Barack Obama to direct the BATFE to reinterpret a provision of the Gun Control Act of 1968 to prohibit the importation of various semi-automatic firearms and their parts.
In a letter to Obama, the text of which was included in an article published by the Daily Caller last Thursday, Feinstein said that, “at a minimum,” the BATFE should:
prohibit importation of all semiautomatic rifles that can accept, or be readily converted to accept, a large capacity ammunition magazine of more than 10 rounds . . . . prohibit semiautomatic rifles with fixed magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds, prohibit the importation of the frame or receiver of any prohibited rifle . . . . prohibit the practice of importing assault rifles in parts …. prohibit the use of a “thumbhole” stock . . . . and prohibit the importation of assault pistols.
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In recent Grassroots Alerts, we addressed the Obama administration’s proposal to ban the trade and sale of legally owned ivory within the United States (click here to see the initial alert). The NRA supports efforts to stop poaching and the illegal trade of ivory, but this proposed ban on legally owned ivory sold domestically will have no impact on poaching of elephants and the illegal ivory trade. On the contrary, this ban will only affect honest law-abiding Americans by making their possessions valueless. Please see this New York Times article highlighting the broad spectrum of people who will be harmed by the ban.
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After months of ranting and raving about “universal” checks, bans on semi-automatic rifles, and bans on standard-capacity ammunition magazines designed for defensive purposes, Piers Morgan ended his last TV show last Saturday by advocating an end to civilian ownership of all firearms. Lecturing Americans one last time, Morgan said “guns belong on a military battlefield. . . . Not in the hands of civilians.”
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Polls of likely voters, conducted by Rasmussen Reports over the last 15 months, have been trending significantly against gun control supporters, but also serve as a warning to those who believe the Second Amendment is safe from further erosion.
First, the bad news for gun control supporters. Since December 2012, support for stricter gun control has dropped by about 22% among likely voters.
Readers may recall the alarming situation in January 2013, when Vice-President Joe “Two Blasts” Biden was heading up a task force to rubber stamp the gun control schemes that President Obama wanted. Gun control supporters at that time believed they had the momentum necessary to achieve “universal checks,” as well as a new and more severe ban on “assault weapons” and “large” magazines.
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Sportscaster Bob Costas, the armchair intellectual and wanna-be political commentator who was harshly criticized for injecting his personal opinions about gun control during a sports broadcast in 2012, has again tried to attract attention to himself at the expense of what he calls “the gun culture.”
On NBC Late Night, Costas said America is “a culture where people who are angry are more apt to weigh in, or people who have an extreme view are more apt to weigh in, and they have more ways to do it.”
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Special Guest to Appear at the 2014 NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop In Indianapolis!
In recent weeks, we have been promoting your attendance at the annual NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop being held in conjunction with NRA’s Annual Meetings in Indianapolis. The Workshop, all materials, and continental breakfast prior to the Workshop are absolutely FREE!
The thrust of this Workshop will be to provide you with the tools and training to become an event more effective activist this election season.
We are extremely pleased to announce a special guest who will be speaking about his own, unique transformational journey from NRA-ILA grassroots activist to a leading Second Amendment State Senator in Indiana, Sen. Jim Tomes.
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The 17th Annual Firearms Law Seminar will be held on Friday, April 25, 2014, as part of the NRA Annual Meetings. The gold standard in firearms CLE classes, this day-long seminar provides legal instruction for practicing attorneys and all others having an interest in Second Amendment law.
Topics to be discussed include gun trusts, current law suits across the country, recent changes in Illinois law, Stand Your Ground and Castle Doctrine laws, federal and state firearms disqualifications and the restoration of rights, working with firearms ranges, and legal ethics.
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Please join NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox, and our nation’s top Second Amendment leaders in government, the media, and the entertainment industry, as we build our battle plan for defending freedom and defeating Barack Obama’s gun control agenda at the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum. The Leadership Forum is one of NRA’s premier events of the year.
This year’s speakers include: Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana; Governor Mike Pence of Indiana; Senator Marco Rubio of Florida; Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky; Senator Dan Coats of Indiana; former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum; conservative talk radio host Mark Levin; Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri; Milwaukee County, WI Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr., and more.
The NRA-ILA Leadership Forum will take place on Friday, April 25, at 1:00 p.m., (doors open at 11:30 a.m.), at the Lucas Oil Stadium.
Don’t miss this exciting event! Tickets are only >0 each (a real bargain!) and seats are still available. Please reserve your seats NOW, by clicking “Read More” below.
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COLORADO: Bill to Repeal Restrictions on Rifle and Shotgun Purchases Passes House and Heads to Governor
CONNECTICUT: Attention Connecticut Gun Owners and Sportsmen – Next Round of Anti-Gun Law Provisions Take Effect on April 1
CONNECTICUT: Important Gun Rally at the Capitol This Saturday
FLORIDA: Report on Legislative Committee Action Monday 3/10/14 through Thursday 3/14/14
GEORGIA: Historic Victory for the Second Amendment
INDIANA: Governor Signs Pro-Gun Legislation into Law
IOWA: Encourage Senate to Consider and Pass Pro-Firearms Legislation
KANSAS: Legislature to Consider Comprehensive Pro-Gun Bill
KANSAS: Senate to Consider Comprehensive Pro-Gun Bill Tomorrow
KENTUCKY: Comprehensive Pro-Gun Reform Legislation Goes to Governor
LOUISIANA: Gearing Up for 2014 Elections
MAINE: “Constitutional Carry” Dies in Senate
MICHIGAN: Bill to Repeal State Ban on Short-Barreled Rifles and Shotguns Signed into Law by Governor Snyder
MINNESOTA: Your Immediate Action Needed to Stop Suppression of Political Speech, Anti-Gun Language to Now be Considered in Finance Bills
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MINNESOTA: Suppression of Political Speech Legislation a Major Threat to Minnesotans
MONTANA: Gearing Up for 2014 Elections
NEBRASKA: Governor Signs Pro-Gun Bill into Law
NEBRASKA: Critical Emergency Powers Legislation Passes General File in Senate
NORTH CAROLINA: Gearing Up for 2014 Elections
OHIO: Suppressor Bill Passes House, Goes to Senate
OKLAHOMA: Two Important Pro-Gun Bills Pass Senate Committee, Sent to Senate Floor
OKLAHOMA: Senate Committee Passes Right to Keep and Bear Arms Provision
PENNSYLVANIA: Firearms Preemption Bill Stalled in House
TENNESSEE: House Committee Passes Pro-Gun Bills
VIRGINIA : Two More Positive Bills Signed into Law
WASHINGTON: Gearing Up for 2014 Elections
WEST VIRGINIA: Two Remaining NRA-Backed Bills Signed by Governor
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