Thank You and Recognition

I want to take this opportunity to welcome Katie to the Virginia Rifle-Pistol Club. She joined February 13, 2010 and is the first Official Follower of the blog. Thank you, Katie. I hope we can see you at the Club Range doing all manner of events.
Don't forget the lock combination was changed this year.
Again, thank you and welcome.
Jim

Obama Anti-gun Directives

CCRKBA Is Fighting Obama The Greatest Threat To Gun Ownership.

Law-abiding gun owners cannot believe Obama and must take action to stop his agenda or risk becoming criminals if they own sport-utility rifles, semiautomatic shotguns, handguns and any other firearm that Obama and his anti-gun attorney general don't like. Just look at some of what is already happening.

• Obama directed Attorney General Holder to aggressively detail the Obama anti-gun agenda in Holder's public statements before the Senate Judiciary Committee
• Obama Supports a UN Treaty to invalidate the Second Amendment and put the UN in charge of US gun control
• Obama wants Holder to enact a national, permanent gun registration system.
• Obama wants Holder to enact a new federal authority to prohibit any person on the federal watch list (reported to be 400,000 names) from buying guns and supports confiscating guns from those on the list who possess them.
• Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder are renewing the push for the Senate to ratify CIFTA, an international treaty that would create a national registry of American gun owners and make that registry available to other signatory countries. As an added bonus, American citizens in the database accused of wrongdoing in other countries would be eligible for extradition.

The latest Rasmussen poll shows waning support for stricter gun laws.

Among Americans polled, 75% said the Constitution guaranteed the right to own a gun. The percentage of "yes" answers was higher among Republicans (92%) and lower among Democrats (64%). Among others, 71% answered yes. And, 57% of those polled cited fear of increased government restrictions as the reason for a spike in gun sales.

Americans like you who understand what our Founding Fathers envisioned for our nation...and who are willing to fight to defend our Constitution and for what it stands.

So please, help the Citizens Committee and me defeat those who wish to gut and trash the United States Constitution.
Take the CCRKBA survey and make a donation: https://secure.conservativedonations.com/ccrkba_survey2/?a=3629

Shy III

Heller -Vs-D.C. dismissed

Today, District Judge Ricardo M. Urbina, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, dismissed Heller v. District of Columbia, NRA's case challenging D.C.'s prohibitive firearm registration requirements, and its bans on "assault weapons" and "large capacity ammunition feeding devices." Mr. Heller was, of course, lead plaintiff in District of Columbia v. Heller, decided by the Supreme Court in 2008.

Judge Urbina rejected Heller's assertion that D.C.'s registration and gun and magazine bans should be subject to a "strict scrutiny" standard of review, under which they could survive only if they are justified by a compelling government interest, are narrowly tailored to achieve that interest, and are the least restrictive means of achieving that interest.

In support of that rejection, Urbina opined that in District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) the Supreme Court "did not explicitly hold that the Second Amendment right is a fundamental right," and he adopted the argument of dissenting Justices in that case, that the Court's upholding of a law prohibiting possession of firearms by felons implied that the Court did not consider that laws infringing the right of law-abiding Americans to keep and bear arms should be subject to a strict scrutiny standard of review.

Brady campaign/NRA newsletter

Brady Campaign Continues Slide Into Irrelevancy
Click here to vote in this week's poll.
The notion that lemmings deliberately hasten their demise by rushing into the sea may be a myth, but the anti-Second Amendment group and its spokesmen really are scurrying through a series of blunders that may hasten their steady march to irrelevancy.
In 2008, in District of Columbia v. Heller, the group's two theories about the Second Amendment were rejected by the Supreme Court, one of them by five justices and the other by all nine. In 2009, they tried, with no success, to frighten America about tourists carrying guns for protection in national parks.
This year, they've insulted their most powerful ally, President Obama, for not setting aside the economy, the war, and his social agenda to push for gun control legislation Congress does not support. They've given the states their worst "Brady grades" ever, even though violent crime continues to decrease. And, they've badgered the Starbucks coffee company for allowing customers to legally carry firearms in its stores.
Plan To Attend Free Grassroots Workshop At NRA's Upcoming Annual Meetings In Charlotte, NC! With the 2010 elections rapidly approaching there will be no better time than during NRA's Annual Meeting to ensure we are prepared to register pro-gun voters, mobilize them for action, and turn them out to vote on ELECTION DAY!
Indiana Governor Signs Legislation Protecting Workers' Right to Self-Defense: This week, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels (R) signed NRA-backed legislation allowing employees to store legally-owned firearms in locked, private motor vehicles while parked in employer parking lots.
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" 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.
Get Your Copy of Stephen Halbrook's Freedmen, the Fourteenth Amendment, and the Right to Bear Arms, 1866-1876: Does the Second Amendment apply to the states? The Supreme Court will soon decide that critical question. As that historic day approaches, there's no better time for all Americans to learn more about this issue.
Join The NRA Online Advisory Panel: Last November, the NRA introduced a new service and community for our members, the NRA Online Advisory Panel. Inside this community, NRA members can vote and comment on Second Amendment issues, see how they compare to Congress, and track key legislation. The panel now has more than 10,000 members. The opinions and feedback of the Online Advisory Panel are helping to guide the strategy and agenda of the NRA heading into a critical political cycle. If you're not already a member of this growing community, you don't know what you're missing. We hope you will take a moment to join today by clicking HERE.
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).
Second Amendment March On Washington Scheduled For April: There will be a Second Amendment March in Washington, D.C., on April 19, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Attendees will gather on the northeast corner of the Washington Monument grounds at 10:00 a.m., and the entire event will take place there (due to logistics, the event will be more of a "rally" than an actual march).

Heller/McDonald/Starbucks-v-Brady

On Tuesday, March 2, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of McDonald v. City of Chicago. The case may well decide the scope and nature of gun laws in the United States for decades to come. The final decision will be handed down in a few months, most likely in June.

As we've reported in past alerts, McDonald is one of two challenges to the Chicago handgun ban that were filed immediately after gun owners' landmark 2008 victory in District of Columbia v. Heller. After the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled-wrongly-that 19th century cases denied any right to Second Amendment protection against state and local laws, both McDonald and the companion case, NRA v. City of Chicago, were appealed.

The Court agreed to hear the McDonald case, but since that decision would affect the NRA case equally, the NRA was also a party to the McDonald case, and the Court granted us a share of the oral argument time.

Brady push on Starbucks continues. As reported in February, the Brady Campaign has been plumbing the depths of desperation lately. In an attempt at maintaining its relevance, the beleaguered group has attacked Starbucks for allowing the lawful carry of firearms in its stores as provided for by state law.

As we've pointed out, the Brady Campaign has been quick to fabricate a "right" to feel free from fear, while angrily scoffing at the right to self-protection. To that end, last month the group encouraged its minions to sign a petition demanding that Starbucks establish a gun policy more restrictive than state law. "I demand that Starbucks stand up for the safety of its customers and prohibit guns in your [sic] retail establishments," the petition read.

Thank you, Callers!

Minnesota: Gun Show Bill Temporarily Stalls in Committee
Because of your calls and emails to members of the Crime Victims/Criminal Records Subcommittee, NRA gained a temporary victory over House File 2960. The bill was tabled due to the lack of support, but anti-gun State Representative Michael Paymar (DFL-64B), despite strong opposition from NRA members and pro-firearm advocates across Minnesota, has pledged to push on with this dangerous legislation and will seek to add it as an amendment to another piece of legislation on the House floor.
HF 2960 would force private sales at gun shows to go through background checks. Gun prohibitionists, like Representative Paymar, falsely claim that a large number of criminals get their guns from gun shows; however, the most recent federal study on gun shows put the figure at only 0.7 percent. This effort is a stepping stone for gun control advocates seeking to ban all private sales, even among family and friends.

(Note: I notice the NRA is taking credit for this "victory", but it isn't the NRA who won: It's We, the People, who have won this skirmish in the war to keep our guns. So please, give yourself a big pat on the back and an "atta boy". )

Paymar at it again!

Anti-Gun Bill to be Heard in Committee on Friday! Please Contact the Members of the Crime Victims/Criminal Records Sub-Committee!

Anti-gun State Representative Michael Paymar (DFL-64B) has once again introduced legislation that would severely regulate the sale of firearms at gun shows. House File 2960 would force private sales at gun shows to go through background checks. Gun prohibitionists, like Representative Paymar, falsely claim that a large number of criminals get their guns from gun shows; however, the most recent federal study on gun shows put the figure at only 0.7 percent. This effort is a stepping stone for gun control advocates seeking to ban all private sales, even among family and friends.

HF2960 has been assigned to the Crime Victims/Criminal Records Sub-Committee. The Sub-Committee will meet Friday, March 5 at 8:30 a.m. to consider the bill.

Please contact the members of the Crime Victims/Criminal Records Sub-Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to oppose HF2960. Contact the following members listed below.

Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL-60A)
651-296-0171
rep.margaret.kelliher@house.mn

Majority Leader Tony Sertich (DFL-5B)
651-296-0172
rep.tony.sertich@house.mn
Sub-Committee on Crime Victims/Criminal Records

State Representative Debra Hilstrom (DFL-46B)
651-296-3709
rep.debra.hilstrom@house.mn

State Representative Kory Kath (DFL-26A)
651-296-5368
rep.kory.kath@house.mn

State Representative Paul Kohls (R-34A)
651-296-4282
rep.paul.kohls@house.mn

State Representative John Lesch (DFL-66A)
651-296-4224
rep.john.lesch@house.mn

State Representative Dave Olin (DFL-1A)
651-296-9635
rep.dave.olin@house.mn

State Representative Ron Shimanski (R-18A)
651-296-1534
rep.ron.shimanski@house.mn

State Representative Jenifer Loon (R-42B)
651-296-7449
rep.jenifer.loon@house.mn

Anti Second Amendment Bill in MN House 3-2-10

Minnesota: Anti-Second Amendment Bill To Be Heard in Committee Tomorrow, March 3!
On Wednesday, March 3, the House Civil Justice Committee will hold a hearing on House File 1396. This bill includes a provision that would allow a court that issues a domestic abuse protective order to prohibit the respondent from having any contact with a PET OR COMPANION ANIMAL OWNED, POSSESSED, OR KEPT by a party protected in the order. This new provision could have serious consequences for Minnesotans who exercise their right to keep and bear arms.
Under Minnesota law, a person who is convicted of violating an order of protection may not possess a pistol for three years from the date of conviction. However, if the court finds the person "used" a firearm in any way during the commission of the violation, the court may prohibit the person from possessing any firearm for ANY period longer than three years or for the remainder of the person’s life. In the latter case, the court shall also order that the firearm be summarily forfeited. Because this bill would allow a court to order the respondent to have no contact with the pet or companion animal, such an order could be violated merely by inadvertent contact with a "protected" pet. Thus, depending on the circumstances of the contact, a person could be subject to these firearms prohibitions for contacting the pet or companion animal, whether or not the contact resulted in injury or trauma to the animal.
Any number of relatively innocent or unintentional scenarios could easily be imagined for such contact. Even intentional contact with a pet that is the subject of a protective order is clearly too low a threshold for a person to lose the ability to exercise a fundamental constitutional right. The same considerations simply do not apply to contact with animals as apply to contact with people. While this bill was originally designed to protect animals, it would also provide unintended and unjustified deprivation of people’s Second Amendment Rights.
Please contact the members of the Civil Justice Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to oppose HF 1396. Contact information is listed below.
State Representative Joe Mullery (Committee Chair) (58A- DFL)651-296-4262rep.joe.mullery@house.mn
State Representative Gail Kulick Jackson (Vice Committee Chair) (16A- DFL)651-296-6746rep.gailkulick.jackson@house.mn
State Representative Steve Drazkowski (28B- R)651-296-2273rep.steve.drazkowski@house.mn
State Representative Bobby Joe Champion (58B- DFL)651-296-8659rep.bobby.champion@house.mn
State Representative Debra Hilstrom (46B- DFL)651-296-3709rep.debra.hilstrom@house.mn
State Representative Mary Liz Holberg (36A- R)651-296-6926rep.maryliz.holberg@house.mn
State Representative Sheldon Johnson (67B- DFL) 651-296-4201rep.sheldon.johnson@house.mn
State Representative Tim Kelly (28A- R)651-296-8635rep.tim.kelly@house.mn
State Representative Tim Mahoney (67A- DFL)651-296-4277rep.tim.mahoney@house.mn State Representative Dave Olin (1A- DFL)651-296-9635rep.dave.olin@house.mn
State Representative Michael Paymar (64B- DFL)651-296-4199rep.michael.paymar@house.mn
State Representative Peggy Scott (49A- R)651-296-4231rep.peggy.scott@house.mn
State Representative Torrey Westrom (11A- R)651-296-4929rep.torrey.westrom@house.mn