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As this unusual campaign season has unfolded, we’ve seen the candidates ratcheting up their politically expedient rhetoric in an attempt to distinguish themselves as the “candidate of choice” for every constituency, while testing the far reaches of credibility in the process. We’ve heard blatantly anti-gun politicians claim to be supportive of the Second Amendment. We’ve seen hypocrisy, and we’ve heard double-speak and insults to our intelligence. When it comes to campaign rhetoric on the Second Amendment, we’ve seen a change in the way many anti-gun politicians campaign. Rather than talk openly about their desire to ban guns, register gun owners, and regulate firearms sales, anti-gun politicians talk about their “support” for sportsmen. Rather than admit they oppose the individual right protected by the Second Amendment, they claim they “support firearm ownership for hunting.” This is all an effort to mislead and divide the gun owning community and to dilute gun owners’ political impact. To achieve their goals new organizations have been formed, with names designed to confuse gun owners and hide their real agenda. The American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA) is one of those groups. As we’ve reported in the past, AHSA was created to provide political cover for anti-gun politicians by allowing them to claim support from a “sportsmen’s” group. In truth, the anti-gun credentials of AHSA’s leadership is well documented. For instance, AHSA president Ray Schoenke has a long history of giving political donations to some of the nations most anti-gun politicians, including Al Gore, John Kerry, Barbara Boxer, Bill Clinton, Dianne Feinstein, and Ted Kennedy. In 2000, Schoenke donated $5,000 to Handgun Control, Inc. (now the Brady Campaign) and the Ray and Holly Schoenke Foundation also made donations to the Brady Campaign. AHSA Board member John Rosenthal remains the leader of Stop Handgun Violence, a Massachusetts anti-gun group. And one of the leading organizers of AHSA is Bob Ricker, who has served as a paid expert witness against gun manufacturers in a number of reckless lawsuits. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In keeping with their “pro-gun” stance, this week, AHSA did the last thing one would expect of a pro-gun group—they endorsed Democratic hopeful Barack Obama for President! In a statement on the AHSA website titled “Obama: He ‘gets it,’” Schoenke announced the endorsement, saying that Senator Obama’s voting record has clearly demonstrated his commitment to the Second Amendment! Are you kidding? Obama’s hostility toward the Second Amendment is so well known and well documented that in the 2004 elections, NRA’s Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) issued Obama a well-deserved “F” grade. Obama is anti-gun. Period. And no amount of sugar coating or spin by AHSA will change that fact. The AHSA statement closes with the line, “Senator Obama will be a strong and authentic voice for America’s hunters and shooters and it is with great pleasure that we endorse his candidacy.” While typical of the rhetoric coming out of AHSA, that line is nothing less than ridiculous. Anti-Gun Amendment Voted Down in Pennsylvania! On Tuesday, April 1, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives defeated an amendment to House Bill 1845, by anti-gun State Representative David Levdansky (D-39) that would have required gun owners to report the loss or theft of a firearm to law enforcement or face criminal prosecution. By a vote of 128 to 75, the amendment was voted down! On The Campaign Trail, With the Democratic Presidential nomination process turning into what would have been an unthinkably close race only a few months ago, we continue to see the political contenders pulling out all of the rhetorical stops to distinguish themselves as the "candidate of choice" for their constituency. We also continue to see the candidates test the limits of credibility in the process. Update on D.C.'s "Voluntary" Gun Search Program: On March 14, we reported on Washington, D.C.'s so-called "Safe Homes Initiative"--an ill-advised proposal aimed at reducing the District's high rate of gun crime. Under the controversial plan, officers would show up at a residence and ask parents and guardians to allow "voluntary" searches of their homes and childrens' (or other relatives') bedrooms, to look for firearms. These searches would be done without notice or warrants. In the weeks since it was announced, there has been much public outcry over the program's proposed methods. More Proof That Americans Need more confirmation that a majority of Americans support the Right to Keep and Bear Arms? Look no further than the results of a Gallup poll, which were reported in a March 27, Gallup.com article. The poll found that an overwhelming majority of the United States public-- 73% -- believes that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of Americans to own firearms. Controversial Gun Program Back In The News: Last November, we reported on a contentious program proposed by the Boston police department, whereby police officers would seek "voluntary" permission to enter and search people's homes (and specifically, children's bedrooms) for drugs and firearms-without notice or warrants. Stop BATFE Abuses -- Urge Your Congressman To Cosponsor H.R. 4900: Continuing concern about the treatment of firearm dealers by BATFE has caused members of the U.S. House of Representatives--with NRA-ILA's full support--to push for new and improved reform legislation. That push has taken the form of H.R. 4900 -- the "Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act." Plan To Attend Free Louisville Grassroots Workshop! The NRA-ILA Grassroots Division will host its FREE Grassroots Workshop in conjunction with NRA's Annual Meetings in Louisville. This Workshop has been a regular part of NRA's Annual Meetings for more than a decade. At this event, you will hear from NRA officers, NRA staff, and your fellow NRA members on what you can do in your own community to ensure victory for the Second Amendment in this year's elections. Additional Grassroots Event Planned For Louisville! In addition to the FREE Grassroots Workshop being held in conjunction with NRA's Annual Meetings in Louisville, the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division is holding an additional FREE Special Session in Louisville. Volunteers Needed for 2008 NRA Annual Meetings: The 2008 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits will be an exciting weekend as thousands of NRA members will come together May 16-18, 2008, in Louisville, KY. You can contribute to the success of our meeting by participating as an Annual Meeting Volunteer. Grassroots Minute Video: To view this week's "Grassroots Minute" video, please click here: mms://media.streamtoyou.com/nra/2008/ilamin032808.wmv. Landmark Gun Ban Case Heard By Supreme Court
Most in the Supreme Court chamber seemed to agree that the Second Amendment protects an individual right. The issues that were most in contention included the meaning of the words "keep" and "bear," and whether the amendment protects the possession of arms only during militia service or also for self-defense; whether a total ban on handguns is a "reasonable" regulation of firearms; whether restrictions on the right to arms should be subject to "strict scrutiny," or legislatures or courts should be able to decide what is "reasonable;" and what kinds of regulations would be "reasonable" under the Second Amendment. Stop BATFE Abuses -- Urge Your Congressman To Cosponsor H.R. 4900: Continuing concern about the treatment of firearm dealers by BATFE has caused members of the U.S. House of Representatives--with NRA-ILA's full support--to push for new and improved reform legislation. That push has taken the form of H.R. 4900 -- the "Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act." Voting Reminder!!This is a reminder that the last day to register to vote for the upcoming April 22nd Presidential primary election is March 24, 2008. If you are not already registered to vote, you may download, complete, and mail the voter registration application at http://www.dos.state.pa.us/voting/lib/ Completed applications must be postmarked no later than March 24, 2008. For additional information on the 2008 elections, please contact the Pennsylvania State Board of Elections at (717) 787-5280 or go to http://www.votespa.com/ Be sure to encourage your fellow NRA members, gun owners, and pro-Second Amendment community to protect their rights by registering and exercising their right to vote on Tuesday, April 22nd ! NRA-ILA Mark your calendars Now: April 7, 2008
Gunowners Help Needed To Stop Throughout the Rendell administration gun owners have been the misdirected focus of efforts to control and stop crime. With the willing help of the Now we ask your help again as it is ONCE AGAIN TIME for gun owners to step up and let your voices be heard in the halls of power in the On Monday, April 7, 2008 the Second Amendment-Second to None Rally in Harrisburg starts at 10AM in the rotunda (plan on being there at 9:00am) to celebrate our constitutional right to bear arms and to advance our mutual interests in freedom and legislation we have asked to be introduced that would achieve those goals. We cannot get there without your help! Up until now we've managed to show an increasing interest in the direct involvement of gun owners with each prior rally building upon the last. What we are looking for this time is a dramatic example of the desire of citizens to protect the freedoms that are an inseparable part of our heritage. We would like to see thousands of gun owners devote one day of their time in an election year to coming to This is an opportunity for all of us to be able to say to those in In the end it is all up to you as to whether or not you believe this right is important enough to turn off the TV or push away from the keyboard and learn how to really fix politics because at this rally each one of you will have the opportunity to join in the team that goes around and personally makes a political statement to each legislative office in the capital. This is a grassroots rally! It is meant to be your presence that is important and that is why we are going to show you how Right now we have a slim majority in the legislature who will act appropriately when gun control is brought before them and the key leaders within this majority have worked tirelessly to set up this rally and to advance and promote legislation that will achieve those goals. This is a pivotal moment in Please join with us on April 7 and we look forward to working with all of you! **Here is how the events will unfold on April 7th: 9:00AM Sign up, get your second amendment badges, and organize into groups under team leadership. Getting gun owners organized is a lot like herding cats or stacking marbles on a moving ship in the ocean. 10:00AM Press Conference with legislators and second amendment leaders (lasting approximately about 1 hour). 11:00AM After the press conference everyone will break up into smaller groups under team leadership. Your team leader will take you to specifically assigned state reps so that all 203 of them will hear from gun owners all across the state. Once these assigned legislators are visited then each team will float to other Representatives in the Senate and House including the personal representative of each attendee. The biggest issue is that ALL 203 Reps and 50 Senators hear from gun owners, especially the anti-gun legislators that introduce these bills intended to strip your rights away. Your team leader will break around lunch time, after lunch meet up with your team leader to finish up. We plan these legislative lobbying events to run between 9am and 3pm. You can help even further by doing the following: Download the flier, print lots of copies, take it to your gun clubs and post it, take it your local gun stores have them post it as well, email all of your gun owning friends and relatives, let the word go far and wide across PA -- shout it loudly so that everyone knows the Second Amendment Is Second to None. Also visit the ACSL & PFSC websites and view the list of proposed firearm laws pending in Harrisburg. Stop By Wholesale Shooter Supplies in Lititz To Pick Up Your Activist Materials! The NRA-ILA Grassroots Division has launched a campaign to identify Second Amendment Activist Centers-area businesses that are assisting us in distributing legislative- and election-related materials to NRA members and gun owners. In your area, Wholesale Shooter Supplies in Lititz has graciously agreed to serve in this capacity. Please stop by Wholesale Shooter Supplies, Wednesday-Friday, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., to retrieve your activist materials, which will include:
These materials are for your personal use and for distribution throughout the pro-Second Amendment community. If you know of any additional area businesses you think could potentially serve as Second Amendment Activist Centers, please call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-8683, and ask to speak with your state's Grassroots Coordinator. Or, you can simply encourage someone at the potential Center to do so. When stopping by Wholesale Shooter Supplies, please be sure to thank them for serving as a Second Amendment Activist Center! Finally, please take a moment to visit NRA-ILA's Action Center at http://www.nraila.org/ActionCenter/. There you will find information about NRA-ILA volunteer activities, voter registration, contacting your representatives, etc. Get active today! Thank you! Wholesale Shooter Supplies Pennsylvania: Emergency Powers Bill Passes Senate Floor Today, Senate Bill 1172, Pennsylvania’s “Emergency Powers” legislation, sponsored by State Senator Robert Robbins (R-50), was passed unanimously by the State Senate. The bill now heads to the State House of Representatives for consideration.
Click this link to contact your Pennsylvania state or federal representatives: STATE / FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES eBay Update: As we reported last week, a spokesman for eBay has announced that the company will be banning the sale of all gun-and-ammunition-related parts and components on its online auction and shopping website. With this action, eBay sends the clear message that they don't want or appreciate law-abiding gun owners' business. By banning these legal products, eBay is adopting the anti-gun movement's opposition to all legal gun ownership. Fortunately - as we also mentioned last week - gun owners and sportsmen have alternatives. In addition to the companies we previously mentioned who operate websites designed for the buying and selling of firearms and related products, we include www.GunsInternational.com.
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On March 18, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in District of Columbia v. Heller, a case the Court has stated is "limited to the following question: Whether Washington, D.C.'s bans [on handguns, on having guns in operable condition in the home and on carrying guns within the home] violate the Second Amendment rights of individuals who are not affiliated with any state-regulated militia, but who wish to keep handguns and other firearms for private use in their homes."