Don't Let Trojan-Horse Groups Fool You: With the 2008 presidential election looming larger on the horizon, it is important for those who believe in the constitutional right to bear arms to keep close watch on groups who profess to support your Second Amendment rights, and those who are front groups for destroying those rights one step at a time. It has been a trend in the last few years for anti-gun organizations to change their names so as to seem less threatening to firearms rights. One such example is Sarah Brady's Handgun Control to the present Brady Campaign. Another is the Coalition To Stop Gun Violence, run by long-time anti-gunner Josh Horwitz. The signature logo of CSGV is a handgun with a red slash across it (www.csgv.org). Now, on the scene is the American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA), and its executive director Bob Ricker. The board of directors of this group is staffed with dedicated Second Amendment haters such as John Rosenthal from Massachusetts, who chairs an anti-gun group called Stop Handgun Violence... http://www.dailynews-record.com/opinion_details.php?LID=6441 --- Anti-Gun Gun Owners: ...While gun owners who believe in the right to bear arms for self-defense accept the right of hunters and other factions of gun owners to hold their beliefs, the opposite isn't always the case. A visit to a recent hunting trade show exposed many of the hunting gun owners for being as agreeable to the confiscation of handguns, or ban on their ownership, as anyone from the anti-gun Brady gang....Now it's time to unify completely as we stand on the cusp of what will hopefully be the beginning of our golden age. When (if) the Heller decision reaffirms the Second Amendment as an individual right and strikes down the Washington D.C. gun ban, we can hopefully build on that and find ways to defeat a similar ban in my hometown of Chicago, get the San Francisco bans repealed and return the right of self-defense to millions of Americans. We must do so together; otherwise, the anti-gun forces will exploit the breach. http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/5548 --- Microstamping Bill Stalls in Connecticut Legislature: Several pieces of legislation fell by the wayside yesterday as the Judiciary Committee scrambled to pass more than 100 bills and resolutions before a 5 p.m. deadline. But two high-profile proposals involving gun control and civil unions received the ax over the weekend when committee members met to craft yesterday's agenda...Often particularly controversial ideas are set aside in favor of bills that can be passed with little debate. Such was the case with a proposal requiring any new semiautomatic pistols sold in Connecticut after Jan. 1, 2010, to employ a fledgling technology that would brand an alphanumeric code on bullet cartridges when fired... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-bills3mar25,0,3121636.story --- Ronnie Barrett to Honolulu PD: ...The act of a governmental entity banning commercial sales of legal firearms, such as my .50 caliber rifle, not only violates the basic principles of the United States Constitution, but also puts national security at risk by ending the delicate balance between the government and the private sector. Furthermore, it sets a precedent that endangers the future of other vital defense contractors. How important is this particular rifle? In 2004, the United States Army named the Barrett M107 Rifle as one of the Top 10 Greatest Inventions for helping our brave service men and women do their jobs. The free enterprise system allowed me, a civilian sportsman and manufacturer, to perfect that rifle and get it into the hands of those who use it to defend freedom... http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?702a0eeb-6b8b-4f7a-964b-b58930a4cbd3 --- More on National-Park Carry: In the coming weeks, the U.S. Department of the Interior will announce proposed changes to the rules that bar the carrying and transporting of firearms in national parks. This comes after nearly five years of efforts by NRA-ILA and others to get rid of the rules that prevent law-abiding Right-to-Carry holders and gun owners from having to disarm and store their firearms in an inaccessible part of their vehicle. Some opponents of the change say that you don't need access to a firearm in a national park. But these people ignore the fact that park rangers are wearing protective vests and carry semi-automatic rifles for self-defense from predators of the two- and four-legged variety. Heck, back in 2003 the media quoted David Barma, the chief spokesman for the National Park System, as saying, "The most [visitors] used to worry about is running into a grizzly bear. Now there is the specter of violence by a masked alien toting an AK-47." (My recollection is that it was VCDL that got the ball rolling on this one.) http://www.nranews.com/blogarticle.aspx?blogPostId=375 --- Nevada Sheriff to Clarify Rules with Re-Enactors: Ordinances regulating activities of gunfighters and other costumed characters in Virginia City are going to get a second look by the sheriff's office as it tries to balance conflicting rules. Storey County Sheriff's Lt. Chris Parsons said because the rules aren't uniform for all types of characters in period costume and their activities, and because there are also state laws governing the use of firearms, the department is getting together with all involved parties to find a workable solution. "Obviously we have to observe both state law and county ordinance," he said. "I can't bend the rules because I don't like what one or the other says." (As pointed out in the prior discussion of this topic, Nevada is an open-carry state.) http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20080325/NEWS01/656581047/-1/NEWS --- Rule Three Reminder: The pilot of a US Airways plane may have been mishandling a firearm when it went off in flight, piercing the cockpit wall before the jet landed safely, a federal air marshal said Tuesday...All people eligible to carry guns in the cockpit carry the same weapon, the .40-caliber semiautomatic H&K USP..."It's a top-of-the-line model," Scott said. "They're accurate and highly reliable. This is not something that you would just walk into a gun store and buy. And it's also not something that goes off by itself. ... Someone would have to squeeze the trigger." (No mention is made of the mandated holster, which is designed for insertion of a lock through the holster and trigger guard. There are some who believe that the lock can be inserted so that its staple is forward of the trigger. Rule Three: Keep your finger [and other objects] out of the trigger guard, up on the frame, until your sights are on the target and you're prepared to fire.) http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-gun-on-plane,0,7440534.story --- Rule Four Reminder: Officials are trying to determine whether to file charges against a man who fatally shot his wife while trying to install a satellite television system in their home. Patsy D. Long, 34, of Deepwater, was pronounced dead early Saturday evening after being shot in the chest with a .22-caliber handgun. Her husband, Ronald Long, fired the shot from the inside of their home after several unsuccessful efforts to punch a hole through the exterior wall using other means. The woman, who was outside the house, was hit by the second of two shots fired by Ronald Long, the Henry County Sheriff's Department said. (Rule Four: Always be sure of your target and what's beyond it.) http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/545396.html --- Canadian Registration Resisters Sentenced: The sentencing hearing of Bruce and Donna Montague, the firearm-control resisters, was held on Monday and Tuesday in Kenora, Ontario, following their criminal trial of late last year. Mr. Montague was condemned to 18 months in jail, the forfeiture of his firearms, one-year probation, and a lifetime firearms prohibition. His wife Donna received six months of probation. Although the verdict will be appealed, Bruce was immediately imprisoned. The Ontario government also wants to seize the family home under the Remedies for Organized Crime and Other Unlawful Activities Act of 2001... http://westernstandard.ca/website/article.php?id=2757 --- From AzCDL: Information on these bills and other legislation that AzCDL is tracking can be found at: http://www.azcdl.org/html/legislation.html . A number of pro-rights bills have made it half way through the legislature, passed over to the other chamber, and are assigned to new committees. HB 2389, an AzCDL requested bill decriminalizing carrying weapons in vehicles without a CCW permit, was transmitted to the Senate on March 11, 2008 and assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee, but has not yet been scheduled for a hearing. HB 2629, an AzCDL requested bill that clarifies when a defensive display of a firearm is justified, was transmitted to the Senate on March 20, 2008 and assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee, but has not yet been scheduled for a hearing. HB 2630, an AzCDL requested bill, was transmitted to the Senate on March 4, 2008. It was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on the March 24, 2008 and passed by a partisan 4-3 vote. If you are not committing, or attempting to commit, a serious or violent crime, HB 2630 reclassifies carrying a concealed weapon without a permit as a petty offense. HB 2634, an AzCDL requested bill that clarifies that a person with an expunged or set-aside felony conviction, or one who has had their rights restored, may obtain a concealed weapons permit, was transmitted to the Senate on March 20, 2008 and assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee, but has not yet been scheduled for a hearing. SB 1070, an AzCDL requested bill, was transmitted to the House on March 20, 2008. It has been assigned to both the House Natural Resources and Public Safety Committee and House Judiciary Committee. It is on the House Natural Resources and Public Safety Committee agenda for Wednesday, March 26, 2008. SB 1070 proposes changes to ARS 13-3112 regarding the process for obtaining a concealed weapons (CCW) permit. The proposed legislation makes it easier for lawful gun owners who have satisfactorily completed training to obtain a permit, or renew an expired one. It also assists those wishing to obtain a permit by removing the statutory barrier requiring instructors to create a training organization, and expands the pool of available instructors to automatically include certain NRA certified instructors passing the required background investigation. SB 1106, Senator Chuck Gray's bill that provides for an optional lifetime CCW permit, was transmitted to the House on March 12, 2008 and assigned to both the House Homeland Security and Property Rights Committee and House Judiciary Committee. It has scheduled for a hearing in House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, March 27, 2008. Contact the committee members and urge them to vote SB 1106 out of committee with a recommendation for passage by the full House: http://www.azleg.gov/CommitteeInfo.asp?Committee_ID=54 SB 1214, an AzCDL requested bill that would allow adults with Concealed Weapons (CCW) permits to carry concealed firearms on public college and university property, won't be scheduled for debate in the Senate COW until the sponsor, Senator Karen Johnson, knows that the votes are in place. At this point, the votes aren't there. As we mentioned in a prior Alert, some Republican Senators appear to have aligned themselves with the Democrats in the Senate, who are more concerned about the media and certain special interest groups than they are about the safety of students. If you have not already done so, we strongly encourage you to contact the Senators listed below, along with your own Senator, and let them know you expect them to vote for SB 1214 in the Senate COW and during Third Read. The Senate mailing address is 1700 W. Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85007. You can find your Senator here: http://www.azleg.gov/alisStaticPages/HowToContactMember.asp . Senator Carolyn Allen callen@azleg.gov Room 303 602-926-4480 (phone) 602-417-3155 (Fax) Senator John Huppenthal (Majority Whip) jhuppenthal@azleg.gov Room 212 602-926-5261 (phone) 602-417-3157 (Fax) Senator Tom O'Halleran tohalleran@azleg.gov Room 303A 602-926-5584 (phone) 602-417-3101 (Fax) Stay tuned! As relevant legislation progresses, we will keep you up to date via these Alerts: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AZCDL_Alerts/ . These alerts are a project of the Arizona Citizens Defense League (AzCDL), an all volunteer, non-profit, non-partisan grassroots organization. Join today! AzCDL - Protecting Your Freedom http://www.azcdl.org/html/join_us_.html Copyright © 2008 Arizona Citizens Defense League, Inc., all rights reserved. --- From Alan Korwin: To my Arizona friends/fans/customers/contacts: Bob Levy, who personally developed and funded the D.C. v. Heller gun-ban case at the U.S. Supreme Court, will be in Phoenix for a Federalist Society debate on the issue. Since competent opposition could not be found, I will play the foil. If you have questions you'd like asked, send them to me. Seating is limited, so expect a sell-out crowd. RSVP ASAP if you want a chance of getting in. Please don't wear rags. -------- FROM THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY, PHOENIX LAWYERS CHAPTER: The Supreme Court Sets Its Sights on the Second Amendment: District of Columbia v. Heller When: Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 11:30am-1pm Registration and Buffet will open at 11am, the program will begin promptly at 11:30am Up to 1.5 hours Arizona CLE credit may be available Where: Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Midtown, 4000 North Central (at Indian School) Who: Robert Levy, Senior Fellow Constitutional Studies Cato Institute Alan Korwin, Bloomfield Press Details: $5 registration fee, includes hot buffet lunch $5 additional fee for CLE credit and materials RSVP to Kasey Higgins (khiggins@ij.org or 480-558-8300) The registration deadline is Friday, April 11; your courtesy in contacting Ms. Higgins before April 11 is greatly appreciated. Jennifer M. Perkins, President Federalist Society Phoenix Lawyers Chapter 480-557-8316 jperkins@ij.org PART TWO: Robert A. Levy is a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute and serves as co-counsel to Mr. Heller. Mr. Levy will be at the Goldwater Institute on April 17 to discuss his new book, "The Dirty Dozen: How Twelve Supreme Court Cases Radically Expanded Government and Eroded Freedom." When: Thursday April 17, 2008, 5:30-7:00 p.m. Where: Goldwater Institute, 500 E. Coronado Rd., Phoenix, AZ. RSVP below or contact Lori Logan at llogan@goldwaterinstitute.org or (602) 462-5000 ext. 223 with any questions. Media inquiries call (602) 462-5000 ext. 223. PART THREE: I'll be speaking at The Arizona Breakfast Club about the Heller case and my trip to D.C.; if you haven't been to this monthly gig, it's pretty cool, relaxed and informal, all the bacon and eggs you can eat (with good fixings and beverages), for about $12 as I recall. No RSVP needed, just show up. http://lists.serverhost.net/link.php?M=680885&N=2532&L=3300 WHEN: Always the 1st Saturday of the month, 4/5/08 for this one. WHERE: Coco's, just S. of Paradise Valley Mall (N. side of Cactus, ¼ mile W. of Tatum Blvd.) WHEN: Doors open 7:30 a.m., wrapup by 10 a.m. NOTE: First D.C. v. Heller Photo Gallery now up, along with directory of eyewitness reports: http://lists.serverhost.net/link.php?M=680885&N=2532&L=2035 -- Alan Korwin Bloomfield Press "We publish the gun laws." 4848 E. Cactus, #505-440 Scottsdale, AZ 85254 602-996-4020 Phone 602-494-0679 Fax 1-800-707-4020 Orders http://lists.serverhost.net/link.php?M=680885&N=2532&L=1385 alan@gunlaws.com Call, write, fax or click for free full-color catalog (This is our address and info as of Jan. 1, 2007) If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you're reading this in English, thank a veteran. "No one could make a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little." --Edmund Burke -- Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .