NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert Vol. 16, No. 11 3/20/09
Concealed Carry in National Parks Suspended
NRA Files Motion To Appeal
On Thursday, March 19, a federal district court in Washington, D.C. granted anti-gun plaintiffs a preliminary injunction against implementation of the new rule allowing law-abiding citizens to defend themselves by carrying a concealed firearm in national parks and wildlife refuges.
In Thursday's ruling, Federal District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly issued the preliminary injunction against the Department of the Interior rule that took effect on January 9, 2009. The revised rule allowed individuals to carry concealed firearms for self-defense in national parks and national wildlife refuges located in states that allow the carrying of concealed firearms.
Today, NRA filed a notice of appeal in Federal District Court to oppose the preliminary injunction.
Congressmen Send Attorney General Letter Opposing Reinstatement Of Failed 1994 Gun and Magazine Ban: On Wednesday, in a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, 65 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Congressman Mike Ross (D-Ark.), expressed their opposition to the reinstatement of the failed 1994 ban on semi-automatic firearms and ammunition magazines. These congressmen cited numerous studies that proved the 1994 ban was ineffective, and they strongly urged Attorney General Holder to stop his effort and instead focus on the enforcement of existing gun laws.
The Ongoing Mexico Crisis -- Blaming American Gun Owners: Congress has jumped in with both feet when it comes to the crisis of violence in Mexico, and the usual suspects are once again blaming American gun owners and American gun laws. This week there were two more hearings, one in the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Drugs and Crime, and the other in the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Western Hemisphere. In both cases, anti-gun politicians such as Senators Dick Durbin and Dianne Feinstein, and Congressman Eliot Engel, blamed American gun laws for the crisis. Fortunately, in both hearings, gun rights supporters in Congress stood up for American gun owners.
Click here to take this week's poll about administration threats and sporting goods purchases.
Wayne LaPierre on Fox News with Glenn Beck: NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre was a guest on the Glenn Beck program on Fox News, Wednesday, March 18, 2009. Wayne and Glenn discussed Attorney General Holder's recent announcement that he wants to resurrect the failed semi-automatic firearm and magazine bans. They also talked about the preposterous claim being made by gun control congressmen and senators that our Second Amendment, and not the corruption within the Mexican government, is the cause for the violent crime caused by Mexican drug lords.
Click here to view Wayne LaPierre's interview on the Glenn Beck Program.
Wesley Clark Blames American Gun owners for Crisis in Mexico: Joining in the chorus of other anti-gun politicians blaming gun owners for Mexican violence, former Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark said, "The real problem here, and the Mexican government, the people I've talked to in the Mexican government, recently say the problem Mexico has is we're sending weapons into Mexico . . ."
Military Surplus Cartridge Case Issue Resolved:
This week, the Department of Defense (DoD) informed NRA-ILA that fired military small arms cartridge cases are once again eligible for sale, following a temporary suspension in such sales instituted last week. NRA-ILA began discussions with DoD shortly after the suspension took effect, and we were assured from the beginning that efforts were underway to resolve the issue favorably.
Illinois Supreme Court Dismisses Lawsuit: This week, the Illinois Supreme Court dismissed yet another reckless lawsuit aimed at putting firearms manufacturers out of business. Adames v. Beretta was dismissed under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act of 2005 (PLCAA). The court's order affirmed the original trial court judgment in the case.
This is the second judicial decision in 2009 upholding a dismissal under the PLCAA. Ten days ago, the U.S. Supreme Court denied appeals in the cases of New York v. Beretta and District of Columbia v. Beretta.
HSUS Tries To Slip One Past Country Fans: The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the most radical animal "rights" and anti-hunting organization in the country, has been quietly trying to get Carrie Underwood voted Entertainer of the Year via the Academy of Country Music. The problem is, a large percentage of country music fans are also gun owners and hunters who do not like Carrie Underwood's active support for HSUS. And HSUS knows it.
Volunteers Needed In Phoenix For 2009 NRA Annual Meetings: The 2009 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits will be an exciting weekend, as thousands of NRA members will come together May 15-17, 2009, in Phoenix, AZ. You can contribute to the success of our meeting by participating as an Annual Meeting Volunteer.
Insurance Mandates for Gun Owners Are Against Second Amendment -- Update on the Second Amendment Book Bomb: With the Obama White House and others pushing for new forms of gun controls, Independent Institute Research Fellow Stephen P. Halbrook was recently interviewed by Glenn Beck on Fox News Channel on the new efforts to force gun owners to purchase a $1 million insurance policy in order "to qualify" for their Second Amendment rights.
>
