No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.1/313 - Release Date: 4/15/2006 From Valhalla Training Center: Rob Pincus discusses lateral movement and the shortcomings of the traditional concept of creating distance. (In fact, some of us have been thinking more along the lines of a "J," with movement back into the assailant after the initial lateral movement.) http://www.imakenews.com/valhalla/e_article000550214.cfm?x=b7cV4fw,b3mc6Ctb --- From John Farnam: 10 Apr 06 Pistol Bullet Performance: The last time we did a bullet performance test was during a course in PA early last year. At that time, friend and colleague, Mike Shovel from Cor-Bon brought out huge blocks of ballistic gelatin, and we shot them with a variety of commercially-available, high-performance pistol ammunition. We required each bullet to first penetrate four layers of denim before entering the gelatin. At that time, we discovered that denim retarded and frustrated the expansion of a number of conventional, hollow-point bullets. In bare gelatin, most expanded just fine, but the denim barrier presented a problem for all but a few. Last weekend, again in PA, Mike joined us once more for an Advanced Defensive Pistol Course, The gelatin tests continued: Many commented last time that they wondered what effect a heavy, leather jacket would have on pistol-bullet performance and penetration. So, this time we required each bullet to penetrate a leather jacket AND four layers of denim before entering the gelatin. Each student subjected his own, carry ammunition to the test. Here is what we found: The combination of leather and denim frustrated most conventional, hollow-points. Most traversed the gelatin with badly-compromised expansion. Some did not expand at all. Even Cor-Bon's vaunted PowerBall (45ACP, out of my Detonics) did not do well in this test. I was surprised, as few rounds will out-expand PowerBall, but the layers of clothing, combined with the Detonics' short barrel, conspired to thwart performance. The one round that expanded consistently and completely, despite the leather and denim barrier, in all calibers, was Cor-Bon's DPX! DPX, in 40S&W, 45ACP, 357SIG, 38Super, and 45AutoRim, were all unimpressed by the leather and denim. Even 380Auto DPX, out of my little Kel-Tec, was immune. It expanded symmetrically and completely, penetrating nine inches of gelatin, after penetrating the clothing. I am more persuaded than ever that DPX provides superior performance in the widest spectrum of circumstances, consistently outperforming any other bullet of which I am aware. /John (See my comment below the second DPX report.) 11 Apr 06 Safe Direction Safe Direction's Ballistic Containment System was put to the real test several weeks ago! A local police officer placed his Safe Direction pad on a glass table and then pointed his pistol at it as he attempted to unload. Not sure of all the details, but he had an ND. The single bullet struck the Safe Direction right in the center. Good news: As designed, the Safe Direction pad safely contained the errant bullet. It went no further than the pad. Unfortunately, the impact broke the glass table! Of course, had the Safe Direction not been there, the glass table would still have been broken. In addition, the bullet would probably have continued on, penetrating the floor and proceeding into the room below. So, the product performed as advertised. The lesson here is this: When (as I strongly recommend) using your Safe Direction pad in the normal course of handling your pistol for the administrative purposes of loading, unloading, and performing a chamber check, the best spot to place it is on (1) a bed or (2) a padded chair. Thus positioned, an ND will not only be contained, but there will probably be no ancillary property damage at all! I've made it a personal habit! /John 13 Apr 06 Cor-Bon DPX on auto glass: "John, we're fresh form attending a two-day AVOPS (Armed Vehicle Operations) course in IN. During the final afternoon we were able to conduct testing on the windshield of a 1991 Lincoln sedan. We had been advised that, when shooting from inside a vehicle out, or outside a vehicle in, the windshield will cause the bullet to deviate up to six inches from the point of aim. This general rule held true with every high-performance pistol round we tried. All but one, that is. Cor-Bon DPX stayed directly on target even after penetrating laminated, angled, windshield glass. There was NO deflection at all. There was also no disintegration of the bullet, as it passed through from either direction. Point of aim was point of impact, both ways! Two calibers were tested: DPX 45ACP from a Glock 30, and the DPX 40S&W from a Beretta 96. We have yet to find a downside to DPX!" Comment: DPX is a stellar performer in a wide spectrum of circumstances. Hard to beat! /John (I am more concerned about shooting out of a vehicle, such as through a side window at an armed carjacker, than into a vehicle. This report has me thinking. Cor-Bon produces at .38 Special DPX load, a +P 110 gr. loading. It is notoriously difficult to locate. Cor-Bon's website lists it a $22.21 per 20-round box and I don't believe that includes shipping. The .38 load is currently back-ordered.) 14 Apr 06 Knife Penetration: Last weekend, as we cheerfully shot various handgun bullets into Mike Shovel's gelatin blocks, some of us decided to also experiment with knife-blade penetration and cutting ability, especially when heavy clothing and leather jackets are involved. I'm still far from persuaded that gelatin is particularly useful for any purpose, nor am I convinced that penetration results from shooting such a unrealistically homogenous medium mirror reality to any specific degree. Conversely, I'm not sure we currently have anything better that is readily available, is as easy to use, and is as transparent so as to generate effective, visual results. We can probably describe ballistic gelatin as:"the best of the worst." I "stabbed" the gelatin with two of my Cold Steel blades, aTi-Lite and a Vaquero Grande. In bare gelatin (the "Nudist-Colony Test")both, of course, penetrated easily, requiring only a few pounds of insertive pressure in order to slide in to the hilt. When the same test was done where the blade had to first penetrate the leather jacket and then four layers of denim before reaching the gelatin, results were largely the same! Both knives effortlessly penetrated to the hilt. Even leather and heavy clothing provided scant shielding. However, when we did the same test with differently-shaped blades, results changed radically. On student had a folder with a "bulb" point. The knife was reasonably sharp, but, when he stabbed the clothed gelatin, even with a great deal of strength, the blade refused to penetrate leather. He enthusiastically attempted several times, all with the same result. "Tanto" blades faired slightly better, but still not nearly as well as the stabbing point found on the Ti-Lite. When we slashed the gelatin, we learned that "reasonably sharp' produces poor results! Leather effectively shielded the gelatin from even enthusiastic slashes from several utility blades, including the bulb-pointed one. Once again, however, both the Ti-Lite and the Vaquero sliced through leather and denim handily, delivering deep cuts to the gelatin beneath. The serrated Vaquero was particularly effective, slashing through both leather and fabric with ease. My conclusions: Heavy leather is an underrated form of armor, frustrating both pistol bullet performance and knife attacks alike! Not long ago, it actually was used as armor. Even today, some folks routinely wear leather gauntlets around their wrists. I often see my good friend, Mas Ayoob, in a substantial, leather jacket. I now know why! To be effective fighting tools, knives need to be (1) strong, (2) appropriately shaped, and (3) razor sharp! Weak, flimsy knives (of which there are too many) lack the strength and structural integrity to get one through a fight. In order to "cut strongly," one needs a strong knife, not an anaemic toy that will break the first time it is put to heavy use! I have become persuaded that the shape of a knife blade is important. Blades designed for skinning and utility cutting are poor for fighting. In order to stab deeply, the knife tip must be able to penetrate, and the blade behind it must be appropriately shaped so that you'll be able to cut ruinously as the knife is withdrawn. Otherwise, as we discovered, the entire knife is little more than an impact weapon! Dull knives are basically impact weapons too! I've always marveled at the extreme degree of sharpness with which every Cold Steel knife comes from the factory. Now, I see why! In a fight, you're going to desperately need every bit of that sharpness in order to cut through clothing and penetrate deeply into flesh. Don't carry a dull knife and naively think you'll be able to use it as an effective weapon! Finally, I'm going to follow Mas' lead and get a leather jacket! /John 14 Apr 06 Feedback on Blackhawk's Gladius flashlight, from a friend and student: "Can A Flashlight be worth $200.00? I just returned from Amsterdam, and I have pertinent thoughts on this subject. Like you, I carry my Gladius when traveling by air. TSA has no problem with it, nor does their equivalent in foreign countries. It stays with me on the aircraft. I experienced two episodes in which my Gladius came in handy: The first was at JFK in NYC. As I was proceeding to my gate, all power in the terminal went down! Of course, emergency lighting came right on, but it was marginal. I found myself walking in what amounted to a darkened cavern, among hundreds of confused grasseaters. I retrieved my Gladius, turned it on, and continued forward, trying to find my gate. I quickly discovered, in a dark airport, possession of a flashlight is seen by many as a symbol of authority! People started coming up to me and asking what was going on. I disengaged with, 'I'm just trying to find my gate, Bud.' I was looking for Gate Five. A couple indicated they were looking for Gate Six, so we set off together. Before long, I looked like the Pied Piper! In this environment, having the ability the dial down the intensity of the light turned out to be an extremely valuable feature. I was able to 'reduce the volume' and subsequently divest myself of some unwanted attention. Truly a versatile tool! While in Amsterdam, I stayed in a hotel two blocks from their famous Red-Light District, and I had to walk through part of it every day in order to get to the train station. I was approached numerous times by young men with their hands in their pockets. It quickly became obvious that they were selling drugs. When they closed to within four meters, I learned to hold up a hand and shake my head. It almost always worked. They would disengage and abruptly veer off, looking for more promising pickings. However, one afternoon things took a sinister turn. I was approached by a disheveled man in his forties. I performed my now-customary disengagement routine, but it didn't work. He kept coming toward me, saying (in English) that he was trying to find the train station. I replied that I couldn't help and tried to flank him. He again stepped in my path, this time saying that he needed money and that he was really a 'good guy,' to my mind, confirming the opposite! I already had my Gladius in my hand. I set it to 'strobe,'and aimed it directly at his face. The results were instant and startling! He immediately became disoriented and started teetering in place. He then covered his face and rapidly turned away, immediately walking right into a all, knocking himself backward. He fell to the ground, flailing, altogether befogged. I quickly walked around him and continued on my way. I never saw him again. So, to return to the question, can a flashlight be worth $200.00? It surely was that day!" Comment: Like my friend, I carry a Gladius also. The strobe feature makes it an effective, non-lethal weapon, a weapon you can take with you on commercial aircraft! Blackhawk has confirmed that some early Gladius flashlights were produced with defective endcaps. Current production is fine. If you suspect you have a defective unit, get hold of them, and they will fix it promptly. Blackhawk's customer service is excellent. /John (Circa early 2002 I purchased some gear from Blackhawk and was somewhat disappointed in one piece and thoroughly disgusted with the other. I am favorably impressed with their Serpa holsters and intrigued by the Gladius flashlight. I truly hope that John is correct and that their customer service is better than it was when I had problems with their products.) From NRA-ILA: NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert Vol. 13, No. 15 04/14/06 States with updates this issue: Arizona, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, and West Virginia. ONCE AGAIN, MAYOR NAGIN SHAMLESSLY DISREGARDS GUN OWNERS' RIGHTS Law-abiding citizens of New Orleans who were forced to relinquish their legally owned firearms to the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) will have to wait, indefinitely, to regain their property. New Orleans officials revealed they have not returned any firearms, as Mayor Ray Nagin and the city have yet to set up a return process. "Mayor Ray Nagin continues to deny freedom by denying lawful citizens their Second Amendment rights," stated NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. "First, he confiscates law-abiding citizens' firearms and lies about it. Then, he fails to comply with court orders. Now he refuses to return the legally owned firearms to their rightful owners by dragging his feet. It's a disgrace." After denying the illegal confiscation for months, on March 15, 2006, Mayor Nagin and the NOPD conceded in federal court that they do have seized guns stored in locked steel containers. The city then agreed in court to a process by which law-abiding citizens may file a claim to receive their confiscated firearms. However, a New Orleans official handling the gun confiscations stated that no guns have been returned because the NOPD requires background checks, and the city has not set up a process. The official acknowledged, "We've been told it was going to happen weeks ago.and still hasn't been done." NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox stated, "During a time of chaos and lawlessness, Ray Nagin took away the only means of protection law-abiding citizens had, and by delaying necessary and appropriate action to right this wrong, he blatantly continues to disrespect New Orleans citizens. The Mayor's contempt of court, his contempt of the Second Amendment, and his disrespect of the law-abiding gun owners of New Orleans is shameful." NRA ANNOUNCES NEW ORLEANS TOWN HALL MEETING! NRA will be holding a special Town Hall Meeting in New Orleans next week to spotlight and document the plight of the city's law abiding residents, who were forced to surrender their legally owned firearms in the chaotic aftermath of hurricane Katrina. Residents who were victims of this injustice are encouraged to attend the meeting and share their stories. This is an opportunity to tell NRA what the City of New Orleans did to trample your Second Amendment rights when you needed them most. NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, and NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox will host the Town Hall Meeting. Be sure to come out and tell them your story. The Meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 18, at 7:00 p.m., at the New Orleans Marriott Hotel, Salons D & E, 555 Canal Street, New Orleans. For more information please call (877) 292-3637. Parking and admission are free. We hope to see you there! SUPPORT HR 5092-- "THE BATFE MODERNIZATION AND REFORM ACT OF 2006" On April 5, the leaders of the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security--Representatives Howard Coble (R-N.C.), and Bobby Scott (D-Va.)--joined forces to introduce H.R. 5092, the "Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) Modernization and Reform Act of 2006." This bipartisan bill is a critical first step toward finally reforming BATFE. First and foremost, H.R. 5092 revises the system of administrative penalties for licensed dealers, manufacturers and importers of firearms. Today, for most violations, BATFE has two choices: give an FFL holder a warning, or totally revoke the license. This bill would allow fines or license suspensions for less serious violations, while allowing license revocation for the kind of serious violations that would block an investigation or put guns in the hands of criminals. H.R. 5092 also clarifies the standard for violations, allowing penalties for intentional, purposeful violations of the law, but not for simple paperwork mistakes. Congress thought it had fixed this problem in 1986 when it passed the Firearms Owners' Protection Act, but the government has ignored that law, and has even argued in court that the 1986 changes were "without practical significance." The bill also improves the process by which BATFE imposes these penalties, notably by allowing FFLs to appeal BATFE penalties to a neutral administrative law judge, rather than to an employee of BATFE itself. H.R. 5092 would change BATFE's enforcement operations in several ways, from requiring the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Justice to review BATFE gun show enforcement operations, to demanding that the Bureau establish clear investigative guidelines. Finally, the bill would focus BATFE's efforts on violations of firearms, explosives, arson, alcohol and tobacco laws, rather than non-jurisdictional areas. Please be sure to contact your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121, and urge him or her to cosponsor and support H.R. 5092, the "Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Modernization and Reform Act of 2006!" SUPPORT H.R. 5005, THE "FIREARMS CORRECTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS ACT" Representative Lamar Smith (R-Tex.) recently introduced H.R. 5005, the "Firearms Corrections and Improvements Act," which would make a variety of technical changes to federal firearm laws. The bill would roll back unnecessary restrictions, correct errors, and codify longstanding congressional policies in the arena of firearms laws. Among its provisions, H.R. 5005 would: permanently ban taxes or "user fees" on background checks by the federal instant check system--fees that Congress has prohibited in annual appropriations riders since 1998; permanently ban the creation of a centralized electronic index of dealers' records--a threat to gun owners' privacy that Congress has barred through appropriations riders for a decade; codify limits on disclosure of trace records--which Congress has already limited through a series of appropriations riders over the past few years, out of concern for gun owners' privacy and the confidentiality of law enforcement records; and repeal of obsolete language from the Brady Act's "interim" waiting period provisions, that expired in 1998. Please be sure to contact your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121, and urge him or her to cosponsor and support H.R. 5005, the "Firearms Corrections and Improvements Act!" GET INVOLVED LOCALLY TO SUPPORT YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS! Are you currently a member of the NRA-ILA's FrontLinesâ Volunteer Program? Do you have experience volunteering on campaigns? If so, the NRA-ILA needs YOU to become an Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC)!!! EVCs are NRA members who volunteer their time to serve as liaisons in their congressional district between NRA members/gun owners in their community and the campaigns of pro-gun, NRA-PVF-endorsed candidates. EVCs help with literature drops, phone banks, rallies, election-day activities, and much more. EVCs assume a leadership role that does require a commitment of time, especially in election years. The program was implemented back in 1994, and runs on a year-round basis so that EVCs can also assist in the legislative arena at the state and federal levels. If you would like more information about becoming an Election Volunteer Coordinator in your area, please contact the Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683), and ask to speak to the Grassroots Coordinator for your state. If you would like to get more involved, and aren't yet a member of the FREE NRA-ILA FrontLinesâ Volunteer Program, we encourage you to join today! Our FrontLines Volunteers represent the tip of our grassroots spear. The program is comprised only of the most dedicated and active volunteers who are willing to work vigorously with NRA-ILA and their EVC to defend our Second Amendment rights. Only those pro-freedom activists who pledge their regular assistance when called to action will be enrolled. All FrontLines members receive: up-to-the-minute legislative/election alerts and analyses; crime and safety studies and statistics; NRA-ILA's monthly political newsletter, "Freedom's Voice;" and direct access to ILA staff and our resources via our toll free Volunteer Hotline. To enroll in the FrontLines program, contact the ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) and request a Volunteer Information Form, or go to www.NRAILA.org to fill out the fom on-line using the "Get Involved Locally" section, or go to https://secure.nraila.org/volunteer.aspx to fill out the form on-line. Currently, EVCs and FrontLines members are writing their U.S. lawmakers in support of several legislative priorities and are actively preparing for Election Day 2006. Whatever you do, do something in support of your Second Amendment rights today!! PLAN TO ATTEND FREE MILWAUKEE GRASSROOTS WORKSHOP! The NRA-ILA Grassroots Division will host its FREE Grassroots Workshop in conjunction with NRA's Annual Meetings in Milwaukee. This Workshop has been a regular part of NRA's Annual Meetings for 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. We will also discuss how you can work with your local Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC). Your EVC is a local NRA member who is working with the various pro-gun campaigns in his area to provide critically-needed volunteer support for a variety of activities, including: phone banks, precinct walks, literature drops, voter registration drives, Get Out The Vote & Election Day activities, etc. EVCs also promote NRA-ILA's legislative agenda at the federal and state levels. With the 2006 campaign season in full swing, it is critical that we start implementing our grassroots battle plan to ensure we are ready to meet these electoral challenges head on as Election Day 2006 approaches. Rest assured, the anti-gunners are already doubling their efforts to ensure the defeat of pro-Second Amendment candidates in critical elections across the country, so we must ensure we are prepared to defeat their efforts at every turn. Workshop details are: NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop-FREE! Friday, May 19, 2006, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon (Registration & free continental breakfast-8:00 - 9:00 a.m.) Hilton Milwaukee City Center Crystal Ballroom 509 W. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53203 To reserve your seat, or for more information, please call NRA-ILA at (800) 392-VOTE (8683). You may also register on-line at www.nraam.org/seminars/grassroots.asp. We hope to see you in Milwaukee on Friday, May 19! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN MILWAUKEE! Once again NRA is seeking volunteers to help at the 2006 NRA Annual Meeting in Milwaukee, May 17-21. To a large degree, the success of each year's NRA Annual Meeting is dependent on the contributions of our volunteers. And you can be a part of that successful effort this year! A number of volunteers are needed to help with set-up on Wednesday and Thursday, May 17 and 18, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. During the actual exhibit and meetings--Friday through Sunday--volunteers will work in the NRA Store, at our Membership Services Booth, and at the Airgun Range. There are a number of additional volunteer opportunities as well. To volunteer or for more information, visit any of NRA's web sites or the Annual Meeting site (www.nraam.org), or contact NRA Field Representative, Scott Taetsch, at (262) 392-2716, or Dennis Eggers, Central Region Director, at (270) 522-0909. Their respective e-mail addresses are: STaetsch@nrahq.org and DEggers@nrahq.org. NRA-ILA "MIX N' MINGLES" How often do you get the opportunity to mix n' mingle with NRA-ILA Headquarters staff and fellow NRA members in your community, to earn FREE NRA items, and to assist with the efforts of candidates seeking office in your area? Well, in preparation for the 2006 elections, you will have the opportunity to do just that. This election year, NRA-ILA will be hosting FREE NRA-ILA Mix N' Mingles across the country. These events will provide NRA members with training on what they can do locally to propel candidates to victory this election season. The meetings also provide attendees the opportunity to meet and socialize with lawmakers, candidates and their staffs, NRA-ILA Headquarters staff, and fellow area NRA members--and to earn FREE NRA fraternal items such as hats, pocketknives, buttons, etc. Mix N' Mingles, including materials, food, beverages, and NRA items, are FREE! Mix N' Mingle events are scheduled for: - Eau Claire, WI -- 05/23/06 - Ashland, WI -- 05/24/06 NRA members who have access to the Internet can go to www.nraila.org/workshops/ to reserve their seats on-line. NRA members are encouraged to check this website address frequently to see if any upcoming "Mix N' Mingles" are scheduled in their area. NRA members may also contact the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) for details and to reserve their seats. A LOOK AT THE STATES (***For all of the action items below, you can find contact information for your legislators by using the "Write Your Representatives" tool at www.NRAILA.org. As always, thank you for your support.***) States with updates this issue: Arizona, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, and West Virginia. ARIZONA Two important bills were sent to Governor Janet Napolitano (D) for her signature this week. SB 1425, prohibits the government from restricting firearms possession or sale during states of emergency, and HB 2074, requires Arizona to recognize the concealed handgun permits from all other 46 states in the country that issue them. HB 2074 makes Arizona one of the vast majority of Right-to-Carry states that do not require a renewal training course to be completed when renewing a permit. Please contact the Governor Napolitano at (602) 542-1900 and ask her to sign SB 1425 and HB 2074. CONNECTICUT As we have been reporting, the anti-gun crowd has ratcheted up the pressure on lawmakers to pass last year's doomed proposal to make it a crime to fail to report the loss or theft of a firearm within 72 hours from when you "knew or should have known" of the theft. This year's version is extremely dangerous for law abiding gun owners and must be stopped! HB 5818 now includes language that would subject gun owners to criminal investigation and jeopardy of prosecution even if they report the theft because a court will now be given the ability to decide whether the firearm was stored in such a manner that provided "substantial and unjustifiable risk" that it would be stolen. Even worse, if the police recover the firearm before the gun owner has discovered it missing and made the report, it will be considered automatic evidence of guilt of violation of this proposed law, as well as guilt of an illegal transfer. Conviction of the "illegal transfer," which is a felny, would permanently end your right to own a firearm! In response to the large number of phone calls coming in from gun owners, Connecticut Against Gun Violence has put out desperate pleas to the anti-gun crowd asking them to write, e-mail and call lawmakers in an effort to drown out your voice! This bill could be voted on by members of the Public Safety and Security Committee as early as Tuesday, April 18. If you have not contacted your legislators yet, we ask you to do it TODAY! Urge them to OPPOSE HB 5818. If you have already contacted your legislators, be sure to encourage fellow gun owners and sportsmen to do the same! The general phone number for the House of Representatives is (860) 240- 0400. Also, those whose lawmakers are members of the Public Safety and Security Committee must contact them to remind them that they must attend the Public Safety Committee meeting on Tuesday to vote "NO" on HB 5818! The Public Safety and Security Committee can be reace d at (860) 240-0570. If you need help identifying your legislators and members of the committee please visit http://cga.ct.gov/. INDIANA The 2006 Primary elections are being held Tuesday, May 2. NRA members are encouraged to head to the polls and vote for those candidates who support our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Please be sure to encourage your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners to do the same. For information about voting in Indiana, please use the following link: www.in.gov/sos/elections/. For NRA-PVF endorsement information, NRA members are encouraged to call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683). Further information will be posted soon to the NRA-PVF website at www.NRAPVF.org. Be sure to "Vote Freedom First!" on Tuesday, May 2! KENTUCKY SB 38, "Castle Doctrine" legislation which removes the "duty to retreat" when a citizen is faced with attack in a place that he or she has a right to be, has received final approval from the Senate and has been sent to Governor Ernie Fletcher (R) for his expected signature. LOUISIANA On Tuesday, April 11, the State Senate unanimously passed NRA-backed SB 93, sponsored by Senator Joe McPherson (D-29), on a 39-0 vote. SB 93 amends the state's emergency powers act to prohibit the seizure and confiscation of legally possessed firearms in the unfortunate event of another natural disaster in the State of Louisiana. Please contact your State Senators and thank them for passing this important measure. After canceling this past week's meeting, the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee will hold hearings on Wednesday, April 19, on the following House versions of measures to end New Orleans-style gun confiscations during a state of emergency: HB 36 by Representative Pete Schneider (R-90), HB 136 by Representative Troy Hebert (D-49), HB 172 by Representative Danny Martiny (R-79), and HB 760 by Representative Steve Scalise (R-82). Please e-mail and call the members of the committee and ask them to support these measures.&bsp; A list of House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee members can be found by visiting www.NRAILA.org. The committee will also consider HB 89, by Representative Eric LaFleur (D-38) and Representative Troy Hebert (D-49), NRA-supported legislation making important clarifications to Louisiana's "no duty to retreat" self-defense law. HB 89 creates a presumption that if a criminal attempts to forcibly enter your occupied home, car or business, that he or she is there to cause death or serious bodily injury and you may meet force with force--including deadly force--to protect yourself and your family. To contact your state lawmakers, call the PULS line at (225) 342-2456 (from the Baton Rouge area) or (800) 256-3793 (outside the Baton Rouge area). To view copies of these important measures, visit www.legis.state.la.us. MARYLAND The 2006 General Assembly adjourned "Sine Die" on Monday night, April 10. Thanks to the efforts of Maryland's NRA members, the gun control lobby was unable to advance any of the numerous anti-gun bills on their agenda. However, due to the partisan anti-gun efforts of House Environmental Matters Committee Chairwoman Maggie McIntosh (D-43), SB 907, the NRA-backed Range Protection bill, was amended into a harmful bill that would have weakened Maryland's current range protection law. Unfortunately, the hostile anti-gun environment of the House Environmental Matter Committee led to a good bill's demise. NRA-ILA will continue it's efforts to pass strong range protection laws in Maryland and work to unseat those Delegates who voted with the gun-control zealots. NRA-ILA thanks all NRA members who called their legislators in support of SB 907. MICHIGAN The Michigan House Judiciary Committee will be hearing important self-defense legislation on Tuesday, April 18, at 10:30 a.m. Please contact Chairman William VanRegenmorter at (517) 373-8900, or at wmvanreg@house.mi.gov, along with fellow committee members, and ask them to pass HB 5143 and companion bills that are part of the "Castle Doctrine" package. Assignments to the House Judiciary Committee can be found online at house.michigan.gov/committeeinfo.asp?lstcommittees=Judiciary. NORTH CAROLINA Early voting starts April 13, and ends April 29, for the 2006 Primary elections to be held Tuesday, May 2. NRA members are encouraged to head to the polls and vote for those candidates who support our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Please be sure to encourage your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners to do the same. For a list of early voting locations in your area, please contact your county election official or use the "Additional one stop voting locations" feature found at www.sboe.state.nc.us/ for county election official contact information. For NRA-PVF endorsement information, NRA members are encouraged to call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683). Further information will be posted soon to the NRA-PVF website at www.RAPVF.org. Be sure to "Vote Freedom First!" on Tuesday, May 2! OHIO The 2006 Primary elections are being held Tuesday, May 2. NRA members are encouraged to head to the polls and vote for those candidates who support our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Please be sure to encourage your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners to do the same. For information about voting in Ohio, please visit www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/ElectionsVoter/ohioElections.aspx/. For NRA-PVF endorsement information, NRA members are encouraged to call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683). Further information will be posted soon to the NRA-PVF website at www.NRAPVF.org. Be sure to "Vote Freedom First!" on Tuesday, May 2! WEST VIRGINIA Early in-person voting starts April 19, and ends May 6, for the 2006 Primary elections to be held Tuesday, May 9. NRA members are encouraged to head to the polls and vote for those candidates who support our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Please be sure to encourage your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners to do the same. Early in-person voting will be held in designated areas within your County Courthouse. For more information about early in-person voting please to go the following website www.wvsos.com/elections/voters/absenteemethods.htm. For NRA-PVF endorsement information, NRA members are encouraged to call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683). Further information will be posted soon to the NRA-PVF website at wwwNRAPVF.org. Be sure to "Vote Freedom First!" on Tuesday, May 9! -- Stephen P. Wenger Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .