From GOA: Time To Hit Your Senators One Last Time - And "chew" on those squishy Senators who seem too willing to compromise with Obama Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert 8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151 Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408 http://www.gunowners.org "I have many serious questions about Mr. Holder's nomination [and] at the top of the list are his anti-2nd amendment right positions." - U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) Thursday, January 29, 2009 It was a disappointing result, to be sure. The Senate Judiciary Committee passed the nomination of Eric Holder yesterday by a 17-2 vote. Only Senators Tom Coburn (R-OK) and John Cornyn (R-TX) voted against the anti-gun nominee for Attorney General. One of the things that gravely hurt us in committee was Senator Orrin Hatch's support for Holder. Even though Hatch holds a lukewarm "C" rating with GOA, he is generally viewed as "pro-gun" on the Hill. His support for Holder certainly pulled a lot of Senators with him from his side of the aisle. Thankfully, there are some Senators who are lining up against Holder: * Wyoming Senator John Barrasso (R-WY): "Given Holder's career of attacks on the Second Amendment, his nomination continues to be of great concern to me.... Our nation's highest law enforcement officer must be committed to protecting and defending our individual rights to keep and bear arms. I intend to vote no on the nomination of Eric Holder." * Senator David Vitter (R-LA): "[Holder has] clearly advocated near universal licensing and registration, and he joined and filed an amicus brief in the District of Columbia v. Heller U.S. Supreme Court case arguing that the 2nd amendment was NOT an individual right. That's deeply disturbing." Unfortunately, there are very few Senators right now who are willing to stand up to Obama's anti-gun nomination. Another conservative firebrand who opposes the Holder nomination is Senator James DeMint (R-SC). In addition to Vitter and Barrasso, DeMint is one of the few voices crying out in the wilderness of a "country club" Senate. "Club friendships [have become] more important," DeMint says, than "where we're going as a country." Sen. DeMint is simply standing firm on conservative, constitutional principles. Politico.com noted on Tuesday that DeMint is "less willing to compromise with Democrats than many in his party." Translation: A lot of other Republicans would rather compromise than stand up to Obama, and that spells bad news for our gun rights. So what can we do? The Politico article notes an important lesson that DeMint has learned over the years. He has tried pushing good policy, being persuasive and being nice. He's tried it all, he says. But finally, he realized that lawmakers in both parties "only respond to pain." That's the key... dishing out political pain! And that's why your grassroots involvement is so critical. It is imperative that we keep banging on the Senate. Pressure from gun owners has already helped to slow down the momentum to confirm Eric Holder. But if confirmed, he will be in a position where he will be able to use the force of government to discourage or outlaw gun ownership in America. ACTION: Please contact your two Senators, even if you have done so already, and strongly urge them to vote AGAINST Eric Holder for Attorney General. You can use the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send your Senators a pre-written e-mail message. NOTE: The pre-written letter will differ according to whether your Senator is a Republican or Democrat. (Click the link in the GOA Alert box, at the upper left section of the page.) --- From The Firearms Coalition: Holder Vote Monday! Immediate Action Required! The vote on confirmation of anti-rights extremist Eric Holder to be Attorney General of the United States is scheduled for Monday, 2/2 in the U.S. Senate. The Attorney General has broad powers regarding firearms regulations and enforcement of federal firearms laws. Having an anti-gun activist like Holder in such a critical position would be very bad for gunowners. I am urging everyone to write and call their Senators to ask that they vote against confirmation of Holder and that if there is a filibuster, that they support the filibuster. Eric Holder has many problems from his days as Janet Reno's deputy, but his biggest problem should be his unconstitutional position on gun ownership. Anyone seeking more information about Holder's activities against the Second Amendment can find it at our web site: www.FirearmsCoalition.org Activists can reach Senators by going to the Senate web site at: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm The vote is scheduled for Monday so immediate action is needed! Call and send web-messages and ask all of your family and friends to do the same. Please forward this e-mail Alert to everyone you know and post on forums and bulletin boards. If you had this Alert forwarded to you, please sign up for The Firearms Coalition Alerts by going to: http://www.firearmscoalition.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=40 Yours for the Second Amendment Jeff Knox Director, The Firearms Coalition --- 2008 Elections, Nemerov Crunches the Numbers: ... Brady was proud of the fact that over 90% of their endorsed House candidates won. Indeed, Brady-endorsed candidates had a 91.3% winning percentage, besting the 86.6% for NRA-endorsed candidates. On the face of it, Brady appears to have won handily, but how the results were produced provides an interesting story. One way to improve a winning percentage is to reduce risk. Overall, Brady endorsed House candidates in 34 states; the NRA endorsed candidates in 45 states (32.3% more). Moreover, Brady endorsed 172 candidates, compared to the NRA's 254 (47.7% more). By taking fewer risks, Brady improved their chances of posting wins in all the states where they endorsed candidates. Nevertheless, this is a mixed outcome, because the NRA won in more states: NRA-endorsed candidates posted wins in 42 of 45 states; Brady won in 34 of 34... http://www.examiner.com/x-2879-Austin-Gun-RIghts-Examiner --- The Beat Goes On: Permits to carry concealed weapons are up as much as 90 percent in some Western North Carolina counties amid worry the Obama administration would restrict gun ownership. That fear, along with concern a depressed economy will increase crime, also is fueling firearm sales, law enforcement and gun dealers say. The spike started around the time of the election. Nationally, the FBI reported completing more than 1.5 million background checks for gun purchases in November, a 41.6 percent increase over November 2007, when the agency performed just more than 1 million background checks. That's meant brisk sales for gun dealers. But the increase has left even those in the gun business a little baffled. "I don't know," said Bill Sherrill, who teaches a class for those seeking concealed weapons permits. "The people are scared." http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200990129087 --- Chicago-Area Gun-Ban Cases Consolidated: Today we filed our opening brief in the Court of Appeals. The basic arguments may be familiar to those who have followed the proceedings below, but we had somewhat more room to work with at this stage, not to mention the decision below required a response. All three remaining Chicago-area cases, ours and the two brought by the NRA against Chicago and Oak Park, have been consolidated on appeal. That means that they will be heard and decided together by the same panel, and the parties on both sides are to minimize the degree of overlapping arguments among them. We'll post the other briefs on this website (the NRA's, the Cities', and amicis') as they come in. In a week, we expect the amici supporting us to file their briefs. Chicago and Oak Park turn in their efforts in thirty days, followed by their amici in a week. We then get a reply two weeks later. The case will most likely be argued, and perhaps even decided by the Court of Appeals, sometime this year. Stay tuned... http://www.chicagoguncase.com/2009/01/28/opening-appellate-brief-filed/ --- Lawsuit Tests Florida Parking-Lot-Storage Law: Packing heat got Steven Collazo sacked. The Boca Raton man now is suing his former employer, the Florida subsidiary of a national funeral-home company, claiming his firing last month violated a new state law that allows people with concealed-weapons permits to have their firearms locked in their cars on workplace property. The case is believed to be the first in South Florida since the law took effect July 1. In Orlando, a security guard sued Walt Disney World in July after he was terminated for having a weapon in his car at work. He later dropped the suit because it was too costly to pursue, his lawyer said in an interview. Collazo, 36, is seeking unspecified financial damages over his firing by SCI Funeral Services of Florida, in a lawsuit filed in Broward Circuit Court. His primary job was removing and delivering human remains... http://www.miamiherald.com/business/story/877258.html --- Campus Carry Bill in North Dakota: A bill being heard Friday by a legislative committee would allow people with concealed weapons permits to bring guns to North Dakota college campuses. About 65 students have joined a group called the University of North Dakota Students for Concealed Carry on Campus in support of House Bill 1348, said the group's president, Greg Plautz... The bill would allow people licensed to carry firearms to bring guns to public gatherings, sporting events, political rallies and other functions. It exempts public and private K-12 schools, but not universities. Representatives from the North Dakota State University Police and Safety Office plan to testify against the bill... http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/229378/ --- Meanwhile, in South Dakota...: The South Dakota Board of Regents should continue to regulate firearms on public university campuses, a legislative committee said. The Senate State Affairs Committee voted 5-4 against SB82, a bill that would have made it illegal for a campus to restrict a student's right to have a firearm. The bill would have barred campus officials from expelling or disciplining a student who had a firearm. The committee vote Wednesday came on a recommendation that the bill not pass. Under legislative rules, a bill tagged with that recommendation must receive 18 votes from the full Senate to be placed on the calendar for floor debate. A call for that vote could come later this week... http://www.aberdeennews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090129/NEWS01/901290360 --- Stray Bullets May Produce Shooting Ban: When a township resident says they felt a "bullet whizzing by their head" during deer hunting season, the police department takes note. Such complaints from people who live in a narrow band of Duluth Township [MI] - between Highway 61 and the lakeshore - are prompting officials to take a close look at the township's firearms laws. They will hold a public meeting tonight to begin discussing whether the township should ban the use of firearms between Highway 61 and the lakeshore. The township can't ban hunting in the area, but it can restrict gun use if residents decide that would be the best way to address the issue, said Supervisor Dave Mount... http://www.dglobe.com/articles/index.cfm?id=18621 --- Saul Alinsky and Firearm Prohibition: Advocates of victim disarmament in today's American politics owe their tactics and techniques to a man whose name is becoming more and more familiar: Saul Alinsky. Hillary Clinton actually sat at his feet. Barack Hussein Obama was spoon fed his teachings. Bill Clinton was Saul's ideological son. And you can bet that freshman Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (Dem. NY) has been well versed in Alinskyism by her own mentor ... Madam Hillary... (Know thy enemy.) http://www.jpfo.org/kirby/kirby-hidden-weapon.htm --- Prohibitionists Gather Steam: Despite Americans across the country voting with their wallets and causing one of the largest spikes in gun sales in recent memory as a silent protest against the threat of new anti-gun measures by the Obama administration, the assault on those gun freedoms is gathering momentum. With groups like the Brady Campaign calling for new gun control laws, such as renewing the "Assault Weapons Ban" and making it permanent, some liberal lawmakers are testing the limits to see what they can get away with under the new administration. One such measure is an attempt to circumvent a gun ban by making ammunition inaccessible. Ineffective microstamping will not solve a single crime, but will serve to drive manufacturers out of business and price ammunition out of the reach of most Americans... http://www.examiner.com/x-2206-Cleveland-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m1d29-Antigun-movement-gathering-steam --- Why Ammunition Bans Won't Affect Criminals, Terrorists: ...And manufacturing ammunition isn't that hard. Just ask the Israelis about the Ayalon Institute. That's the name of the illicit factory in which Israeli guerrillas manufactured 40,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition per day to feed the submachine guns they made in another facility for their fight against British authorities. Under threat of the death penalty, the facility was built underground, with a functioning laundry overhead to conceal the operation. Emulating the Ayalon Institute, the clever folks who currently build meth labs and submarines to smuggle cocaine could certainly knock off enough rounds to feed the black market appetite for ammunition. Especially in a country where making ammunition at home is considered a hobby and reloading equipment is already widely available. Illegal manufacture would be simple. That is, assuming enough couldn't be stolen from military and law-enforcement channels to satisfy demand... http://www.examiner.com/x-536-Civil-Liberties-Examiner~y2009m1d29-Ammunition-bans-promise-to-be-as-ineffective-as-most-gun-control-laws --- Oops, Wrong Jewelry Store, the Video: Police in Phoenix, Ariz. have released dramatic surveillance video of a jewelry store owner taking down two suspected robbers. The men spray the owner with mace, but he then grabs a gun and starts firing. (It's useful to know how long it may take for gunshots to take effect.) http://videos.azstarnet.com/p/video?id=2984217 --- Rule Five Reminder: What should you do when your toilet dies in the line of "doody"? Have a funeral, of course. On Friday at 10 a.m., the Carl's Jr. restaurant in Centerville will have a "moment of silence" for the potty that was destroyed last week when a patron's handgun fell out of the holster and fired as he was hitching up his pants. The bullet shattered the toilet and sent sharp shards into the man's arm. The 26-year-old, who had a concealed-weapons permit, was treated at the scene for minor injuries... (Rule Five: Maintain control of your firearm.) http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_11574397 --- Olympian Recovers Stolen Shotgun: ... The thieves didn't take her four Olympic medals (two golds and a bronze in double trap shooting, and a silver in skeet shooting from the Beijing Games) that she'd taken from safekeeping to film a public service announcement. Nor did the thieves take money or tools from her truck. They took only her Perazzi shotgun, a highly customized instrument she had relied on since her first Olympic triumph at Atlanta in 1996... Thanks to the efforts of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, an ecstatic Rhode was reunited with her shotgun on Wednesday. It had been recovered in Perris, still in its case. The lock had been broken but the gun wasn't damaged, to her surprise and gratitude... http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/01/kim-rhodes-a-su.html --- Expanded Gun Ownership Nixed in Jamaica: Chairman of the Firearms Licensing Authority Errol Strong has rejected calls from gun rights lobbyists and members of the public who have been clamouring for Government to relax legislation to allow all law-abiding citizens easier access to owning firearms. According to Strong, with Jamaica's high propensity for violence, the move could backfire with devastating results. "In the context of the Jamaican experience, the right for everybody to own a gun could have profound consequences. Quite often attacks on licensed firearm holders and the police are to get the guns," Strong told the Observer... http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20090128T220000-0500_145417_OBS_NO_GUNS_FOR_YOU_.asp -- Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .