quote:

Now, when an NRA member gets a solicitation in the mail, don't blame the corps of the NRA. Blame the high cost of lobbying politicians throughout the nation that want to disarm us. The cost of ammunition is high and getting higher. So, to those that want a free organization, you are dreaming. You get what you pay for, and our four million members are holding us up. Let's remember what Charleton Heston said, "from my cold, dead hands."

You mean politicians have to be bribed at a high price so we can keep our rights?? Or that paid lobbyists have to extort high salaries from us or we can't have a voice that will speak for our rights??

If that is the case, time to get rid of BOTH!!

Vote 2nd Amendment backers come Tuesday!!

--> --> NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ALERT Vol. 16, No. 44 11/06/09

NRA-PVF Celebrates Landslide Victories In 2009 Elections


The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund's (NRA-PVF) endorsed candidates for statewide office in Virginia -- Bob McDonnell (R) for governor, Ken Cuccinelli (R) for attorney general, and Bill Bolling (R) for lieutenant governor -- won handily in Tuesday's general election. The statewide candidates prevailed with 59 percent, 57 percent, and 58 percent of the vote, respectively. Additionally, 98 percent (58 out of 59) of NRA-PVF-endorsed candidates for the Virginia House of Delegates won their respective races.

"Candidates who support the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners and sportsmen prevailed in up and down ballot races yesterday," said Chris W. Cox, Chairman of NRA-PVF. "These exceptional numbers are an indication of the solid support and influence of the Second Amendment and the NRA on voters."

Veterans Day: Next Wednesday, November 11, is Veterans Day. For some, Veterans Day represents a day off from work. For others, it's not even a holiday.it's just another Wednesday. And for others, the day recalls a passing awareness of significance, but not much beyond that.

But for the true American patriots among us, the day evokes a very deep and personal reverence. It combines elements of pride and sadness, and - always -- respect. It is a sacred day, set aside to remember service, honor, bravery, duty, and sacrifice for the greater good. It is a day to remember those who served and are serving, so that we may enjoy the life and the freedom we have today.

Clearing Up the Rumors: The Truth About The "Gun Tax Bill" Over the past few months, NRA-ILA has received hundreds of e-mails warning us about "SB-2099," a bill that would supposedly require you to report all your guns on your income tax return every April 15.

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.

Show your support, stay connected to your NRA-ILA, and raise valuable contributions for our defense of the Second Amendment by downloading and using this free toolbar!

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.")

ARIZONA/CALIFORNIA: NRA Moves to Protect Hunters From Arizona Lawsuit Threatening Lead Ammunition Ban As part of NRA's continuing efforts to protect hunters from special interest groups seeking to eliminate the use of lead projectiles, attorneys for NRA filed paperwork in the United States District Court in Arizona on October 14, 2009, asking the Court to allow NRA to join in the lawsuit Center for Biological Diversity v. United States Bureau of Land Management. The court could rule on NRA's intervention request as early as the end of this month. To learn more, please click here.

CALIFORNIA: Amicus Brief Filed in Millender v. County of Los Angeles On October 22, 2009, the NRA and the California Rifle and Pistol Association (CRPA) filed a friend of the court brief in the case of Millender v. County of Los Angeles. The case is awaiting review by a 12-judge panel in the Ninth Circuit United States Court of Appeals. The NRA/CRPA amicus brief challenges the ability of law enforcement to write overly-broad search warrants which allow police to seize any and all firearms an individual may possess, even when police only have probable cause to search for a particular firearm. Far too often police seize legal firearms collections even when most of those firearms are not alleged to be part of a criminal offense. This deprivation of property often results in damage to the firearms and inevitably causes the owner to incur significant expense and legal fees in retrieving the firearms. The purpose of the NRA/CRPA brief is to convince the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to prevent these search and seizure abuses in the future.

LOUISIANA: Mandatory Spay or Neuter Ordinance Withdrawn in New Orleans! A proposed ordinance in New Orleans that would have required every dog older than six months to be spayed or neutered has been withdrawn. This legislation would have threatened to keep hunters and other dog owners from making decisions based upon their own personal circumstances. It would have prevented hunters from continuing the tradition of occasionally breeding their favorite dogs in order to provide other hunters with good dogs, while defraying some of the costs associated with caring for their animals. Thank you to all of the NRA members who answered the call in opposition to this proposal. Without you, this victory would not have been possible. Please take the time to thank the members of the New Orleans City Council for withdrawing this proposed ordinance. Contact information can be here.

MICHIGAN: Parking Lot Legislation Headed to the House Floor! On Tuesday, October 27, the House Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources Committee approved House Bill 5302 and House Bill 5303 by a 9 to 1 vote. HB5302, introduced by State Representative Paul Opsommer (R-93), and HB5303, introduced by State Representative Joel Sheltrown (D-103), would prohibit employers from firing employees who safely and lawfully store their firearms in locked vehicles while at work. The bill now moves to the full Michigan House of Representatives where a vote may be taken any day. Please contact your Representative TODAY and respectfully ask them to support this important Second Amendment legislation. To find your representative and contact information please click here.

TENNESSEE: Carroll County to Consider Opting Out of State Park Carry Law! On Monday, November 9, the Carroll County Commission will consider a resolution that would ban the possession of firearms in county parks, even by those possessing Right-to-Carry permits. The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m, in the County Office Building located at 625 High St., Suite 101 in Huntingdon. The meeting will be open to the public and to public comment; however, you must arrive early if you would like to speak. It is imperative that you attend the meeting to voice your opposition to this resolution in an effort to protect your right to self-defense. If you are unable to attend, please contact Carroll County Mayor Kenny McBride and the Carroll County Commission at 731-986-1936, by e-mail at kmcbride@carroll.tn.org, or by fax at 731-986-1935.

Clay County to Allow Permit Holders to Carry in County Parks On Monday, November 2, the Clay County Commission voted 8 to 1 to repeal an earlier resolution that had outlawed the possession of all firearms in County parks, even for valid Right-to-Carry permit holders. We would like to thank all NRA members, sportsmen, and firearm owners who took the time to contact the Clay County Commission in support of this much needed repeal.

TEXAS: Attention NRA Members in Wharton, Waller and parts of Harris and Fort Bend Counties! Please make plans to attend an upcoming town hall meeting for State Representatives, Bill Callegari (R-132) & John Zerwas (R-28). Your Representatives are strong Second Amendment supporters and they need to hear from you. The event is being hosted by the Texas Conservative Coalition -- the conservative caucus of the Texas Legislature. The meeting will take place on Monday, November 9, at 7:00 p.m. in the Powerhouse Christian Center, located at 1818 Katyland Drive in Katy. Two key NRA-backed bills did not pass during the 2009 legislative session: a proposal by area State Senator Glenn Hegar (R-18) prohibiting employers from enforcing policies against hard-working Texans who store their lawfully-owned firearms in their locked motor vehicles while parked at work, and a measure allowing concealed handgun licensees to protect themselves on college and university campuses. Representative Zerwas co-sponsored both bills, while Representative Callegari co-authored the "Campus Personal Protection Act", but House leaders failed to set either bill for a timely vote by the full House. This is your chance to thank Representatives Zerwas & Callegari for their support and to urge them to push House leaders for a floor vote on both issues next session! To find out if you live in HD 132 or HD 28, visit http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/welcome.php and click on "Find Your Representative."

WISCONSIN: Pro-Second Amendment Resolution Passes Unanimously in the Wisconsin Assembly On Tuesday, November 3, the Wisconsin State House unanimously passed Assembly Resolution 15. This resolution requests the participation of the Attorney General in the "friend of the court" brief in the U.S. Supreme Court case, McDonald v. Chicago. The case will address the application of the Second Amendment to the states through either the Due Process clause or the Privileges or Immunities clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The case has major implications for the legality of restrictive gun laws not only in Chicago, but also in other cities across the United States.

Full support by the Wisconsin Assembly and other states will only strengthen the stance of the Second Amendment's true meaning in the eyes of the court. A special thank you goes out to the sponsors and co-sponsors.

An article of opinion by me...

My fear is what will happen to this nation if the gun haters take away citizens owning firearms. I do not wish to be redundant, but on this topic there is little choice. The 1988 TV series Amerika by ABC gave a vivid preview, of just what would happen to an unarmed citizenery. The politicians are so blinded by party platforms and the hype on gun laws, they cannot see the forest because the trees are in the way.

NRA may not be for everyone, for one reason or another. They however do the job on protecting our Second Amendment rights, here is a little copy and paste from the NRA: "...America's foremost defender of Second Amendment rights, the NRA has, since its inception, been the premier firearms education organization in the world. But our successes would not be possible without the tireless efforts and countless hours of service our nearly four million members have given to champion Second Amendment rights and support NRA programs. As former Clinton spokesman George Stephanopoulos said, "Let me make one small vote for the NRA. They're good citizens. They call their Congressmen. They write. They vote. They contribute. And they get what they want over time."

I see several of the veterans on this topic who are not affectionato's of the NRA. All of us have the right to our opinion, I am not the NRA's biggest fan either. I dropped out for over a decade, until I saw plainly the threat against the Second Amemndment becoming so strong. So I have rejoined the NRA. You may ask why? So I will answer why. I see no other group who are lobbying for our rights to own and bear arms. I see many groups lobbying to prevent the average citizen from owning hand guns, or as I call them pistols. In my language a gun is mounted on a ship, tank, or an artillery piece, also a shotgun included as a gun. The others are rifles, or pistols.

I have no desire to own anything other than a rifle, shotgun and a pistol. However what right do I have to tell someone else that is all they are allowed to own? Answer is none. Do I want my neighbor to own an atomic bomb? No I do not. That is why common sense needs to be used in "gun collecting" and some restictions need to be in place to protect the masses. We currently have enough laws on the books to prevent terrorists from purchasing weapons if they were only enforced.

Everytime I have purchased a weapon in the past several years, a form was required to be completed and approved before the transaction was completed. My wife's identity was stolen three years ago and we signed up on an ID protection. My last two firearm purchases made me wait 3 days. I am so glad!

Disagree with me and I will still hold respect for your right to disagree. That is in the First Amendment, which also under fire.

How many of the Bill of rights must come under attack before we wake up? Is the Fourth Amendment next, or the Fifth? Before any posters mention terrorist rights, those foreign terrorists are not covered by the Amendments, they are self proclaimed enemies of the United States and are at war with us.

My personal 2c

THEY GET SOME OF MY MONEY...IT'S A BARGAIN

FIREARMS REFRESHER COURSE

01. "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." ~Thomas Jefferson

02. Those who trade liberty for security have neither. ~John Adams

03. Free men do not ask permission to bear arms.

04. An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.

05. Only a government that is afraid of its citizens tries to control them.

06. Gun control is not about guns; it's about control.

07. You only have the rights you are willing to fight for.

08. Know guns, know peace, know safety. No guns, no peace, no safety.

09. You don't shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.

10. Assault is a behavior, not a device.

11. 64,999,987 firearms owners killed no one yesterday.

12. The United States Constitution (c) 1791. All Rights Reserved.

13. The Second Amendment is in place in case the politicians ignore the others.

14. What part of 'shall not be infringed' do you NOT understand?

15. Guns have only two enemies; rust and politicians.

16. When you remove the people's right to bear arms, you create slaves.

17. The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control.

and just for a chuckle. . .

That was really good MissU2!

--> NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ALERT Vol. 16, No. 45 11/13/09
Urgent Alert: Ask Your U.S. Senators And Representative To Sign Amicus Brief Supporting Second Amendment Rights In The States!

As a critical Second Amendment case goes before the United States Supreme Court, U.S. Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Jon Tester (D-MT), and Congressmen Mike Ross (D-AR) and Mark Souder (R-IN) are gathering signatures for an amicus curiae ("friend of the court") brief by Members of Congress. And we need your support for this important effort next week.

The case is McDonald v. City of Chicago, and it will answer the question of whether the Second Amendment applies to the states-as the Congress clearly intended in the 1860s, when it adopted the Fourteenth Amendment to protect constitutional rights against abuse by state and local governments. This brief is an opportunity for today's Congress to show just as clearly that it respects the Second Amendment's importance to all Americans-not just residents of the District of Columbia and other federal territories.

Your Help Is Needed In Support of BATFE Reform Bills S. 941 And H.R. 2296: As we've been reporting for months, Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) have introduced S. 941, the "Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2009" in the U.S. Senate. Representatives Steve King (R-Iowa) and Zack Space (D-Ohio) have introduced a companion bill-H.R. 2296-in the U.S. House. The bills would roll back unnecessary restrictions, correct errors, and codify longstanding congressional policies in the firearms arena. These bipartisan bills are a vital step to modernize and improve BATFE operations.

Another Way To Get Involved: Online Social Networking: Internet social networking has exploded in recent years. Websites such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter attract millions of users. These on-line communities foster a connection between their users, and allow distribution of user-generated content (like pictures, profiles, music, video, and text).

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 Minute Video: To view the most recent "Grassroots Minute" video, please click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDU5xH1MQKY

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 NRAILA.org and check each week's issue of the Grassroots Alert.")

PENNSYLVANIA: "Castle Doctrine" Self-Defense Bill to be Considered Next Week! On Thursday, November 19, the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee will consider House Bill 40. HB40, sponsored by State Representative Scott Perry (R-92), would permit law-abiding citizens to use force, including deadly force, against an attacker in their homes and any places outside of their home where they have a legal right to be. It is clearly stated that there would be no "duty to retreat" from an attacker, allowing law-abiding citizens to stand their ground to protect themselves and their family. HB40 would also protect individuals from civil lawsuits by the attacker or the attacker's family when force is used. If you would like to testify, please contact the House Judiciary Committee at (717) 787-3525. Please contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to support HB40. Contact information can be found here.


TENNESSEE: Carroll County Tables Anti-Gun Ordinance! The Carroll County Commission was scheduled to hear an ordinance on Monday, November 9 that would have banned the possession of firearms on county properties, even by those possessing Right-to-Carry permits. Because of overwhelming opposition by NRA members and gun owners, the ordinance was tabled. We would like to thank those NRA members and firearm owners who took the time to make their voices heard! Please continue to visit NRAILA.org for up-to-date legislative alerts.


NRAILA.org
Write Your Representative - Write The Media - Get Involved Locally - Register To Vote - Contribute


To contact NRA-ILA call 800-392-8683.
Address: 11250 Waples Mill Road Fairfax, Virginia 22030

"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/16/richard-burr-would-allow-_n_358841.htm" __________Richard Burr (R) NC Would Allow "Mentally Incapacitated" Vets to Buy Guns ___________"Mother Jones:

Major Nidal Hasan, accused of killing 13 people at Fort Hood Army base, has been described by former colleagues as "psychotic." As more details emerge about Hasan's troubled state, gun safety advocates are launching fresh attacks on a Senate bill they say would make it easier for mentally unstable veterans to buy firearms.

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) says his "Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act" will protect veterans' gun rights. But the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence calls it a "dangerous" proposal that could allow "over 100,000 mentally incapacitated or incompetent persons" to buy guns--people who would previously have been barred from doing so by the Veterans Administration (VA).

Read the whole story: Mother Jones"

Tuesday, November 17th is the 138th birthday of the National Rifle Association. Happy birthday NRA!

That's cool - - have been considering a rejoin - -

--> NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ALERT Vol. 16, No. 46 11/20/09

McDonald v. City of Chicago

On November 16, the NRA filed its brief with the U.S. Supreme Court as Respondent in Support of Petitioner in McDonald v. City of Chicago. The NRA brief asks the U.S. Supreme Court to hold that the Second Amendment applies to state and local governments through the Fourteenth Amendment.

The McDonald case is one of several that were filed immediately after last year's decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, in which the Court upheld the Second Amendment as an individual right and struck down Washington, D.C.'s ban on handgun possession, as well as the capital city's ban on keeping loaded, operable firearms for self-defense in the home.

The follow-up cases were filed by NRA and other organizations against Chicago and several of its suburbs. Each of these suits was aimed at the same goal: establishing that the Second Amendment applies to state and local governments as well as the federal government.

Arming Ships and Repelling Pirates: It was widely reported this week that the Maersk Alabama -- the American-flagged ship that was captured by pirates last April -- came under attack for the second time in seven months as Somali pirates once again tried to hijack the ship early Wednesday morning off the Somalia coast.

The NRA Online Advisory Panel: A few weeks ago, we launched a brand new service -- the NRA Online Advisory Panel -- a community of our most active and loyal supporters.

Another Way To Get Involved: Online Social Networking: Internet social networking has exploded in recent years. Websites such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter attract millions of users. These on-line communities foster a connection between their users, and allow distribution of user-generated content (like pictures, profiles, music, video, and text).

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.

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.")

INDIANA: Brookville Bans Firearms on all City Property! In a startling move, the Brookville town council passed Ordinance No. 6-2009 banning firearms on all property owned or leased by the town. NRA contacted the town attorney, who informed us that the ordinance could be repealed if residents spoke out against it. Please contact members of the town council at 765-647-3322 and let them know you want a town meeting to revisit and repeal this ordinance!

MISSOURI: City of St. Robert Passes Discharge Ban! The Board of Aldermen of the City of St. Robert recently passed an ordinance banning the discharge of any "projectile device" within the city limits. Unfortunately, this ordinance makes no exemption for the use of a firearm in self-defense, even in one's own home. Please contact your city aldermen and let them know you want the act of self-defense within the city limits to be protected and exempted in this ordinance! For more information on the scope of this ordinance ways to contact your City Aldermen, please click here.

SOUTH CAROLINA: "Second Amendment Weekend" to be Held November 27 and 28! South Carolinians will celebrate more than just Thanksgiving next week. The Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving this year, November 27 and 28, will be the second annual "tax holiday" on firearm purchases in the Palmetto State. Dubbed the "Second Amendment Weekend," this concept was the brainchild of State Representative Mike Pitts (R-14). Last year's inaugural "tax holiday" saw a tremendous surge in firearm purchases, and this year could be just as successful. The original "tax holiday" law was passed as part of a larger bill, but when that law was struck down by the state Supreme Court, this year's "Second Amendment Weekend" was restored within the state budget. This restoration was only for this year, so next year, NRA will work with Representative Pitts to make the "Second Amendment Weekend" a permanent annual event.

TENNESSEE: City of Oakland Removes Anti-Gun Resolution from Agenda!
Thanks to your efforts, Resolution 11.09.01, which would have banned the possession of firearms (even by those possessing Right-to-Carry permits) in city and historical parks, was removed from the City of Oakland's agenda on Thursday. This anti-gun resolution received overwhelming opposition by NRA members, sportsmen and gun owners. We would like to thank those who made their voices heard!

Clearing Up the Rumors: The Truth About "SB-2099," The "Gun Tax Bill"
In the last few weeks, NRA-ILA has received hundreds of e-mails warning us about “SB-2099,” a bill that would supposedly require you to report all your guns on your income tax return every April 15. Like many rumors, there’s just a grain of truth to this one. Someone’s recycling an old alert, which wasn’t even very accurate when it was new.


Your Help Is Needed In Support of BATFE Reform Bills S. 941 And H.R. 2296
The bills would roll back unnecessary restrictions, correct errors, and codify longstanding congressional policies in the firearms arena.