Weekly Reminder: HR 45 has not even gained one co-sponsor in committee and S 2099 died nine years ago. It is not necessary to forward the hysterical mailings to me. Friday, January 23, 2009 U.S. Representative Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) recently sponsored H.R. 45, also known as "Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act." The bill is, at its core and as its name implies, a licensing and registration scheme. The measure calls for all handgun owners to submit to the federal government an application that shall include, among many other things: a photo; an address; a thumbprint; a completed, written firearm safety test; private mental health records; and a fee. And those are only some of the requirements to be licensed! The bill would further require the attorney general to establish a database of every handgun sale, transfer, and owner's address in America. Moreover, the bill would make it illegal to own or possess a "qualifying firearm" -- defined as "any handgun; or any semiautomatic firearm that can accept any detachable ammunition feeding device..." without one of the proposed licenses. Additionally, the bill would make it illegal to transfer ownership of a "qualifying firearm" to anyone who is not a licensed gun dealer or collector (with very few exceptions), and would require "qualifying firearm" owners to report all transfers to the attorney general's database. It would also be illegal for a licensed gun owner to fail to record a gun loss or theft within 72 hours, or fail to report a change of address within 60 days. Further, if a minor obtains a firearm and injures someone with it, the owner of the firearm may face a multiple-year jail sentence. H.R. 45 is essentially a reintroduction of H.R. 2666, which Rush introduced in 2007. H.R. 2666 contained much of the same language as H.R. 45, and was co-sponsored by several well-known anti-gun legislators--including Barack Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel. H.R. 45 currently has no co-sponsors. Rest assured that NRA-ILA will continue to monitor this bill closely, and will keep you informed of any developments if they materialize. http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=4329 Friday, May 29, 2009 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. There actually was a U.S. Senate bill with that number that would have taxed handguns - nine years ago. It was introduced by anti-gun Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and it would have included handguns under the National Firearms Act's tax and registration scheme. This has nothing to do with anyone's Form 1040, of course. Fortunately, S. 2099 disappeared without any action by the Senate, back when Bill Clinton was still in the White House. We reported about it back then, just as we report about new anti-gun bills every week. Now, it's time for gun owners to drop this old distraction and focus on the real threats at hand. http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=4925 --- Blame the Guns: Did you hear about the two handguns that inexplicably shot and killed 14 people (one unborn) and wounded 30 at Fort Hood on Nov. 4? To hear some people tell it, radical Muslim and Army psychiatrist Nidal Malik Hasan did not kill people - his guns alone did... By this twist of logic, America's love of airplanes led to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The solution to stopping the 9/11 Islamic terrorists, you see, was fewer people in fewer airplanes in fewer places. As for Fort Hood, the Brady Campaign got it exactly backwards. Generally, thanks to a 1993 Clinton-imposed order, Army posts are an anti-gun advocate's dream, a microcosm of a "gun-free" society: Only the police are allowed to carry weapons, service weapons are signed out only for training or maintenance, and any personal weapons must be kept locked and registered with the base provost marshal. Strangely, the same soldiers whom we trust with automatic weapons in Afghanistan and Iraq are not allowed to carry weapons on an American post or base. And yet all such "gun-control," which the Brady Campaign-types support, did nothing to stop Hasan from sneaking in two personal handguns. Killers with no regard for others' lives are hardly going to blink at anti-gun rules. Gun control only controls the law-abiding... http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=115985 --- Safety versus the RKBA: As the Supreme Court prepares to hear McDonald v. Chicago, challenging Chicago's handgun ban, anti-self-defense proponents have tried to shift the focus onto public safety issues. But even when viewed from their perspective, homicide data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides no support for the idea that fewer guns makes society safer... A previous article examined Violence Policy Center (VPC) data and found that according to their data sets and criteria, what they consider "weak" gun laws correlate with lower violent crime rates. New data from the CDC reinforces the earlier conclusions. The three latest years of CDC homicide data indicate that VPC's idea of gun safety has no basis in fact. States where law-abiding citizens publicly carry concealed handguns (aka right-to-carry or RTC, one of VPC's "weak" gun laws) average lower levels of firearms homicides, and generally have the lowest levels of non-firearms homicides, too... http://www.examiner.com/x-2879-Austin-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m11d13-The-most-effective-measure-to-prevent-murder --- Guns or Butter: Some 15,000 Americans died last year because they didn't have it. As many as five million more experienced a significant reduction in their quality of life, including mental and emotional trauma as well as diminished health, without it. Although large majorities of those Americans fortunate enough to have it are satisfied with what they have, many of the poor who need it most desperately simply cannot afford it. The government already exercises a great deal of control over it. Lives could be saved if we made its purchase mandatory, and subsidized those of limited means, to make ownership universal. No, not health care. Guns... http://hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2009/11/13/guns-or-butter/ --- Emergency Gun Rights Survey: Please answer the questions below by clicking the appropriate answer... Even if you don't wish to contribute, please complete the survey. Your answers will be tabulated with others. Your name will be kept confidential in the tabulation... (While this survey is obviously a fundraising tool, you do have the option of submitting your responses without contributing. CCRKBA is a sister organization to the Second Amendment Foundation, formed to get around the restrictions on the latter, due to its 501(c)(3) status, and is worthy of support.) https://secure.conservativedonations.com/ccrkba_survey/?a=3140 --- National-Park-Carry Coming Soon: ... Several recent news reports note surprise by some observers that the Coburn Amendment permits both concealed and open carry of firearms, including long guns, on National Park property. However the National Park Service seems to be taking things in stride. According to National Park Spokesperson Phil Selleck, the Park Service is not going to go through any formal rulemaking process for each park. Instead said Selleck, the Service is going to work to "educate the public" and park employees on the gun carry rights in each park. Selleck said that federal law at 18 U.S.C. 930 continues to ban gun carry in "federal facilities," but advised that the Park Service does not consider unattended structures such as "outhouses" to be federal facilities because "employees are not regularly present there to perform official duties." Gun rights organizers are not really surprised that the National Park Service is proactively moving forward to implement the new gun carry policy. They point to the fact that the Coburn Amendment simply implements the same policy which has long been in effect for National Forests and lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management... (Outhouses are okay, museums and lecture venues are probably not. What about privately operated concessions, such as restaurants, gift stores and hotels? They would not appear to have "[federal] employees... regularly present there to perform official duties.") http://www.examiner.com/x-2782-DC-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m11d13-National-Park-Service-to-educate-public-on-gun-rights --- Ohio Appellate Court Ignores Preemption Law: The 8th Ohio District Court of Appeals has sided with Cleveland in the city's fight to enforce its illegal local gun control ordinances. A three judge panel has declared that Ohio R.C 9.68 - which became law in 2007 with passage of HB347 to preempt local gun control and ensure statewide uniformity of gun laws - is unconstitutional. Judges Colleen Conway-Cooney, Ann Dyke (both Democrats facing re-election in 2010), and Melody Stewart (a Democrat facing re-election in 2012) reversed a lower court's decision to uphold the law... Ironically, in a footnote to their ruling that the law is unconstitutional, the appellate court admitted the state Supreme Court has already, by implication, ruled that the law is constitutional... http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/6985 http://www.ohioccw.org/200911134686/cleveland-wins-appeal-regarding-statewide-preemption.html http://www.examiner.com/x-2206-Cleveland-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m11d13-Ohio-Court-rules-statewide-preemtion-unconstitutional --- New Jersey to Re-Evaluate One-Gun-a-Month Blunder: A series of proposed changes to the state's "one handgun a month" law will be considered during the lame duck session, lawmakers said today. The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, will restrict residents to purchasing only one handgun every 30 days. A task force created to review the law issued a report today detailing several recommendations, including altering legal language to ensure gun stores can purchase multiple guns from suppliers. The law currently exempts sales between licensed gun dealers, but not purchases from distributors or manufacturers, which are classified differently under New Jersey law... http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/nj_lawmakers_to_consider_propo.html A N.J. gun law needs exceptions for various groups - including retailers who will only be able to buy one handgun a month from suppliers - members of a task force reviewing the legislation said today. The law, intended to restrict the flow of weapons to criminals, has riled gun advocates who say it penalizes law-abiding citizens like target shooters and collectors. The task force's central proposal would make it easier for gun store owners to stock their shelves while still limiting customers to buying one handgun every 30 days... http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/task_force_chief_says_new_nj_g.html --- Guns in Maine: ... "I have come to a strong belief that firearms and Maine are inseparable," Wheaton said. Polls show a lot of Mainers share Wheaton's belief. A nationwide survey conducted by the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this decade concluded that 40.5 percent of Maine households contained at least one gun, ranking the state 24th nationally. There are 696,000 households in Maine, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. An online survey conducted this month by the Bangor Daily News, which serves a largely rural area, showed 76.6 percent of more than 1,600 respondents owned at least one gun... In Maine, a rural state with a long tradition of gun ownership, the debate might appear moot. In 1987 the state's voters approved a constitutional amendment stating: "Every citizen has a right to keep and bear arms and this right shall never be questioned." But ask Mainers today and you'll hear gun owners say despite tradition and constitutional protection they are nervous about the future. Police and advocacy groups say they are concerned about gun violence, even as Maine's overall crime rate remains among the lowest in the nation. Police in southern New England states and in Canada complain that more crimes in their locales are being committed with guns bought in Maine, the firearms sometimes purchased by girlfriends or wives for felons who can't buy them... http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/129496.html --- While in North Dakota...: ... More people are getting permits to carry weapons, they're buying guns, and stocking up on ammunition... And as Donnell Preskey reports it has to do with more than just the hunting season... Rick Jorgenson believes in the right to carry a gun so much that he's training to help others get their concealed weapons permits... He also does a lot of hunting and sport shooting. With the concealed weapon permit he doesn't have to worry where he stores his firearm in his vehicle... Jorgenson believes passionately in his second amendment right... And the numbers show so do thousands of other North Dakotans... 13,347 people hold North Dakota concealed weapon permits. That number has doubled from five years ago. And has made a substantial jump from last year... A lot of it is the perception that the current administration is not neccessary to the ownership and they're concerned the ownership of weapons may be restricted further and they want to get the permit now so they have it. I think some of that has to do with it... It may be the same reason gun sales have also spiked... http://www.kxnet.com/getArticle.asp?ArticleId=469616 --- RKBA Group Forms in New Mexico: The newly formed Alamogordo Second Amendment Task Force is looking to educate people about firearms and their Constitutional freedoms. Member Dan Woodruff said there is a need nationwide for the public to be educated about firearms. Woodruff said when people surf the Internet, watch the news on television or read the newspapers, they see reports about illegal guns. "What constitutes an illegal gun," he said. "The group wants to educate people on what's an illegal gun, and what is not an illegal gun. We want to educate people on what their freedoms or rights are." ... It is legal to carry a firearm openly in New Mexico by anyone over the age of 19. A person can openly carry in most places, except in a bank, bar, jail or prison, a school and other places. ASATF president Justin Cummings said he believes most people don't know it's legal to open carry a holstered firearm... (New Mexico currently charges $100 for the initial application for a four-year CHL and appears to have relaxed the originally unreasonable "qualification" standard.) http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_13776585 --- Seattle Man to Challenge City Gun Ban: A Seattle man said he plans to carry a gun into a Seattle community center today to protest Mayor Greg Nickels' ban on carrying guns into city parks. "As a courtesy, this is advance notice that at noon tomorrow, Saturday, November 14, I plan to exercise my legal right to bear arms in Seattle's Southwest Community Center, 2801 SW Thistle Street." said Bob Warden in a letter to the Seattle Parks Department. "I will be safely and securely carrying my holstered Glock pistol. I have a current valid state of Washington license to carry concealed." ... Four gun-rights groups and five individuals said last month they are suing the city of Seattle and Nickels over the new ban on guns in city parks. But Warden said Friday he believes the plaintiffs may not have standing because they haven't been denied admission to a city park, and parks officials confirmed Friday the issue has not arisen at any facility. "I expect their suit may be dismissed," he said, adding that he intends to file his own lawsuit if denied admission to the community center. "I will do so promptly, and I will have legal standing," said Warden, 44, a graduate of the University of Washington law school. "I don't think public officials should get away with ignoring the law." He said he will use McKenna's opinion in his suit... http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010270121_webgun13m.html --- Tennessee Church Offer Safety Course: The issue this week at a Chattanooga church isn't just sanctification, but safety - gun safety. Pastor Fred Smith at the East Chattanooga Church of God says about 40 people have been taking a safety course on firearms. "We're not a pistol-packing church, by any means," he said, "but many outdoorsmen have an interest, and we want to get them trained properly." Smith told the Chattanooga Times Free Press there's a dual advantage. Besides improving safety for people in the congregation, Smith notes about one-fourth of the class is made up of people who aren't church members. Taking the course could encourage them to worship there... http://www.newschief.com/article/20091113/APA/911133002 --- Rule One, Two, Three Reminders: Michael DeBari, a Weehawken [NY] police officer of 12 years, shot himself in the hand by accident on Tuesday morning. DeBari was at police headquarters when the incident occurred. "The bullet went through his hand and did some damage and there are some bone fractures," said Director of Public Safety Jeff Welz. "He has surgery last night and is in stable condition. We're hopeful he's going to make a full recovery." Reports say Debari was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center. An investigation will be made by Weehawken police. http://hudsonreporter.com/pages/full_stories_home/push?article--Officer+shot+himself+in+the+hand+by+accident-%20&id=4422543--Officer+shot+himself+in+the+hand+by+accident-&instance=up_to_the_minute_lead_story_left_column The wife of a Roseau County (Minn.) deputy was expected to return home Wednesday evening after being treated in Grand Forks for an accidental gunshot wound, Chief Deputy Terry Bandemer said. Bandemer said a bullet from a hunting rifle struck Michelle Cossentine, 27, on the top of her thigh as she sat in the passenger seat of a Chevrolet Suburban shortly before 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Her 29-year-old husband, Deputy Nathan Cossentine, was checking to see if the gun was loaded when his pinky or part of his clothing hit the trigger, the chief deputy said. "He had it laying across his lap, and it discharged," Bandemer said. "The bullet went across his wife's lap, right across her thigh." Bandemer said the couple had just returned to their home south of Roseau when the gun went off. They had been deer hunting earlier, he said... (I'm not familiar with Minnesota law but in many states it is illegal to have a loaded rifle or shotgun inside a motor vehicle. Such laws are generally motivated by the intent to keep people from shooting from vehicles and to avoid incidents of this sort.) http://www.wctrib.com/event/article/id/59825/publisher_ID/22/ The Rules: http://www.spw-duf.info/safety.html --- Deaths, Injuries in South Korean Range Fire: A fire tore though an indoor shooting range in southern South Korea on Saturday, killing 10 people, including at least two Japanese tourists, and injuring six, police said. Some people were on fire as they ran out of the building, Yonhap news agency quoted a witness as saying. An official at the National Emergency Management Agency said authorities were struggling to identify the dead due to their burns, but a police official said at least two Japanese were confirmed killed and three other Japanese were presumed to have perished. Nine Japanese tourists and their South Korean guide were inside the facility in the southeastern port city of Busan when the fire broke out on the second floor of a five-story building, police official Han Jong-seok said. He said it was not known how many other people were in the building at the time... (Fires at indoor ranges are often started when accumulated unburned powder granules ignite and worsen when they spread to plastic foam used for sound insulation. Note the presence of Japanese tourists, who take advantage of the opportunity to shoot when they travel to countries that permit them to do so.) http://www.bellinghamherald.com/347/story/1158706.html --- Ironic Commemorative?: From the beaches of Normandy, the snowfall of Korea and the jungles of Vietnam to the sands of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan, America's servicemen and servicewomen have led the charge in the fight to preserve freedom around the world. To honor those heroic marines, soldiers, sailors and airmen who sacrificed their lives in service to our country and to show our appreciation to all who answer the call of duty to preserve our liberty, we are proud to offer this commemorative Henry Golden Boy "Military Service" Tribute Edition of our legendary Golden Boy rifle. Since the Civil War it has been an enduring American tradition to present ornately engraved Henry rifles to servicemen as a token of gratitude for their sacrifices. The Henry Golden Boy "Military Service" Tribute Edition is ideal for continuing that time-honored practice. Proudly crafted in America, this heirloom-quality rifle has a polished nickel-plated receiver adorned with deeply etched, patriotically themed scrollwork. The right side features intricate scrollwork and the American bald eagle as well as a shield bearing the inscription "In Recognition of Military Service to Our Great Country." ... (No lever-action rifle has ever been adopted for standard issue by the US Armed Forces although some privately owned ones saw duty in the War between the States. This is the first I've heard of a tradition of presentation versions of Henry rifles for veterans; if true, I can't imagine it would have extended past the War between the States as the original Henry rifle was pretty much obsoleted shortly afterward by more powerful centerfire offerings from other manufacturers. Equally ironic, Alex Rose's American Rifle: A Biography, a history of US service rifles and the stories behind them, has a cover photo of an engraved Winchester lever-action.) http://www.ammoland.com/2009/11/13/henry-golden-boy-military-service-tribute-edition/ --- NRA-ILA Alerts: List members are encouraged to check the alerts for the week, posted on the NRA-ILA website. http://www.nraila.org/GrassrootsAlerts/read.aspx --- Note to my CWP Course Graduates: I have just added an article on cover and concealment to the CWP course syllabus. This document was copied from a law-enforcement website. Since much of that website is restricted, I suspect that a link would not be of value for most list members. Those who have taken my Arizona CWP course may request a digital copy of the MS Word document, to update the course handout. -- Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. The tactics and skills to use a firearm in self-defense don't come naturally with the right to keep and bear arms. http://www.spw-duf.info .