Napolitano once again says GET A PERMIT!

Hot off the press, from AZCDL:

HB 2630, an AzCDL requested bill that reduces the penalty for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit to a petty offense, was vetoed by the Governor on April 29, 2008. You can read her veto letter here: http://www.azleg.gov/govlettr/48leg/2R/HB2630.pdf

HB 2630 would have reclassified carrying a concealed weapon without a permit as a petty offense, unless the violation occurred in the commission of, or attempted commission of, a "serious offense or violent crime", in which case the CCW offense would have been a class 6 felony, or any other felony offense, in which case it would have remained a class 1 misdemeanor. In a nutshell, if you're a bad guy carrying a concealed weapon, penalties would have been stiffened. If you're a law-abiding citizen, it would have become a petty offense.

Under current law, if you have not been issued a concealed weapons (CCW) permit, it is a class 1 misdemeanor to carry a concealed weapon. Everyone is treated like a criminal. Sadly, because of a couple of 1994 Appellate Court decisions, there is no clear, objective standard in statute that you can rely on to determine if you are violating the law.

In her veto letter on HB 2630, Governor Napolitano says "obtain the required permit." She then says that "people who fail to do so are, by definition, lawbreakers…." She goes on to say that "serious criminals, especially gang members, often carry concealed weapons without permits." Per the Governor, there is no distinction between gang members intentionally breaking the law, and a law-abiding person's attempt to comply with a law clouded by head-scratching court decisions. If your openly carried firearm can't be seen because of the angle that the police officer is looking at you, and you don't have a CCW permit – you are the same as a gang member. If you have a CCW permit, and are sitting near someone in a vehicle that may have access to your firearm – they are the same as gang members. If a newspaper falls over the gun that is sitting on the seat of your vehicle, and you don't have a CCW permit – you are the same as a gang member.

Governor Napolitano says that "…law enforcement officers must have the full array of enforcement options to use against these violators…" In other words, arrest everyone and let the courts sort it out. That sure beats separating the bad guys from the good guys.

Over 98% of Arizona citizens do not have concealed weapons permits, largely because the Arizona Constitution supposedly protects the right to "open carry." Per Governor Napolitano, that's not relevant – you better get a permit if your weapon might ever be considered concealed, or else you're a lawbreaker!

Information on this and other bills can be found at the AzCDL website: http://www.azcdl.org/html/legislation.html

As legislation progresses, we will keep you up to date via these Alerts and at our website.

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.

Napolitano had the option in past years (2007 SB 1301) to sign legislation in AZ that would have clarified AZ open carry laws. Clarification that could prevent the current issues of Officers booking people for concealed carry when they were in fact open carrying (ie Officer approached from opposite side & did not see the gun, or open carry while seated in a car) & she vetoed those bills as well with the same snide remark if you want to carry a gun, "get a permit."

Perhaps she has not yet read Article 2, Section 26 of the Arizona Constitution which protects our preexisting right to bear arms: "The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself or the State shall not be impaired . . ." Not to mention the 2nd Amendment in our US Bill of Rights which clearly states that our right to keep & bear arms shall not be infringed: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

If she has the nerve to run for any future forms of public office let's all get together & send her a clear message - her vote against our right to bear arms will lead to our vote for her political opponent. She has said many times that she supports gun owners, but her actions speak much louder than her words. As I heard Wayne LaPierre say at the 2007 CPAC about anti gun politicians:

"The NRA has a permanent cure . . . it's a big bitter pill called loosing the next election, and it may be tough to swallow, but take two & don't bother calling us in the morning"

Bloomberg given the BOOT

Excellent news - anti-gun New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's illegal frivolous lawsuit against the firearms industry has been tossed out of court:

The 2-1 opinion, written by U.S. Appeals Court Judge Robert J. Miner, affirms the constitutionality of the 2005 Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. It overturns a lower court ruling by activist federal judge Jack B. Weinstein, explaining that he should have dismissed the case instead of allowing it to go forward.

“Today’s ruling is clearly a defeat for Michael Bloomberg,” said SAF founder Alan M. Gottlieb. “The law trumps a billionaire’s arrogance and a federal judge’s long standing anti-gun activism. It is time for Bloomberg to grow up, and for Weinstein to step down.

More here.

Update 1: David Hardy provided the link to the full opinion in pdf format:

For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the District Court denying the Firearms Suppliers’ motion to dismiss based on the claim restricting provisions of the PLCAA is REVERSED. The judgment of the District Court with respect to the constitutionality of the PLCAA is AFFIRMED. The case is remanded to the District Court with instructions to enter judgment dismissing the case as barred by the PLCAA.

Update 2: NRA Press Release and NSSF Press Release

"We think Congress clearly intended to protect from vicarious liability members of the firearms industry who engage in the 'lawful design, manufacture, marketing, distribution, importation, or sale' of firearms," noted Judge Robert J. Miner, writing for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Buy a gun with your stimulus check

Many people will be getting their Economic stimulus check this week. Support the gun industry & use your own money that your government kindly let you have back, by using it to go buy a gun or any shooting sports accessory on your wish list. Not that you need an excuse to go buy the next gun on your wish list, but any excuse to go buy a gun is a good excuse in my book. :)

Comment on removal of carry ban in National Parks

For anyone who has not yet taken the time to comment on the proposed National Parks Regulations Changes RIN 1024-AD70 to remove the existing ban on possession of loaded firearms in National Parks be sure to do so before the June 30th expiration of the public comment period. Simply click on the "Add Comments" link which will present you with a comment form.

Open letter to Obama

Cam Edwards has posted an open letter to Obama. H/T to Sebastian.

Not so bitter after all . . .

Contrary to the opinion of Obama that gun owners "cling to their guns" because they are bitter, it turns out that gun owners are happier in general than those who don't own guns. The NRA has the details.

Charles Heller of Liberty Watch Radio has made the following audio available on his recent audio page, definitely worth a listen:

Last Wednesday Robert Levy, lead counsul on the D.C. gun case (http://www.dcguncase.com/) gave an excellent presentation with author Alan Korwin, to a Federalist Society luncheon. Great information right from the source, and excellent Q & A. 85 minutes.

Those against carrying guns should not carry them

Interesting article by Mike S Adams about a Professor against allowing CCW permit holders to carry on campus who lost control of himself while discussing the issue. With tongue in cheek Mike Adams proposed the following, but you need to read his entire article to see how he got there:

. . . I reflected on all the childish name-calling by the professor. It was then I realized that a partial gun ban is necessary. Specifically, I concluded that liberals cannot be allowed to own guns, much less carry them on our college campuses. If they cannot control their emotions enough to engage in rational debate, they cannot be expected to handle a firearm responsibly. Handguns were not made for people with shaking hands and raised voices. They were made for those with self-control . . .

H/T to UA SCCC

AZ: AZCDL Alert - Contact Governor in support of HB 2630

I just received the following e-mail alert form AZCDL:

HB 2630, an AzCDL requested bill that reduces the penalty for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit to a petty offense, passed the Senate Final Read on April 23, 2008, by a vote of 17-10 with 3 Senators not voting. It was transmitted to the Governor on April 24, 2008. HB 2630 passed the House on March 8, 2008 by a vote of 36-24.

HB 2630 reclassifies carrying a concealed weapon without a permit as a petty offense, unless the violation occurs in the commission or attempted commission of:

1. A "serious offense or violent crime" in which case the CCW offense is a class 6 felony, or

2. Any other felony, in which case it's a class 1 misdemeanor.

In a nutshell, if you're a bad guy carrying a concealed weapon, penalties have been stiffened. If you're a law-abiding citizen, it's a petty offense.

Under current law, if you have not been issued a concealed weapons (CCW) permit, it is a class 1 misdemeanor for anyone to carry a concealed weapon. Everyone is treated like a hardened criminal. Sadly, because of a couple of 1994 Appellate Court decisions:

There is no clear, objective standard in statute that you can rely on to determine if you are violating the law.

If a casual observer cannot easily see your firearm, you are carrying concealed and could be arrested.

Wearing a gun in a vehicle = concealed carry. Without a permit you are subject to arrest.

Having a CCW permit and wearing a gun in a vehicle puts your non-CCW permit passengers at risk for being arrested for carrying concealed without a permit.

HB 2630 separates the innocent mistake by law-abiding citizens from the actions of hardcore criminals. HB 2630 even adds the "attempted commission of a serious offense" language to the law, to assist law enforcement in arresting the bad guys.
It is VERY important to contact the Governor and urge her to sign HB 2630 into law. You can use your own message, or you can use the cut-and-paste message below. Her email address is azgov@az.gov. You can also call her at 602-542-4331 or 800-253-0883, or fax a letter to her at 602-542-1381.

You can also go to the Governor's website, http://azgovernor.gov/Contact.asp, where you will find a fill-in-the-blanks form to register your opinion. For "subject", scroll down and select "Legislation." For "topic", fill in "HB 2630."

Or you can mail it to her at the following address:

The Honorable Janet Napolitano
Governor of Arizona
1700 West Washington
Phoenix, Arizona 85007

There you have it folks. Governor Napolitano normally veto's legislation like this with snide remarks to the effect of "If you want to carry a gun, get a permit" - it is time we let her know exactly what we think about that.

As for me, I've called, sent an e-mail, used her online form, faxed a letter, and placed a letter in the mail. There is absolutely no way that she will not know exactly how I feel about this legislation. If she once again turns on law abiding gun owners by giving this bill a Veto along with a snide remark, I'll once again vote to turn her out of office come next election, & I'll make sure that every single gun owner in Arizona that I can reach out to will know exactly how she puts into place her so-called "support of gun owners" that she pledged both times she has run for the office.

Senate vote details are here. House vote details are here. Check to see how your representative represented you. If they voted in favor of this bill, be sure to thank them. If they voted against it or chose to not vote at all, let them know what you think of that as well.

Obama prefers dead victims over armed homeowners

As a Chicago State Senator Obama voted twice against a bill that would have "allowed" homeowners to use handguns in defense of their own home & family even in cities that banned handguns, without fear of prosecution for possessing a banned handgun. He voted against it first when it passed the State Senate, then again during the veto override. I guess Obama prefers dead victims over armed homeowners. Obama is no friend of the 2nd Amendment no matter how many statements he makes to the contrary. Wayne LaPierre has the details.

US Soldier charged in Mexico

As I mentioned in a previous post, Mexico doesn't like civilians owning guns. As an update, Spc. Richard Raymond Medina Torres has now been officially charged:

Spc. Richard Raymond Medina Torres was charged by Mexican authorities with smuggling (punishable by five to 30 years in prison); weapons importation (punishable by three to 10 years in prison); and possession of ammunition reserved for the military (punishable by two to six years in prison), said Angel Torres, spokesman for the Mexican Attorney General.

Medina Torres was transferred to the Cereso prison around noon Wednesday.

Torres said Medina Torres' case is now in the hands of a federal judge who has 72 hours to decide whether to free him or sentence him to prison time.

The Mexico Cereso Federal Prison is a dangerous place well known to have rival gangs, drug trafficking, and hidden weapons (see here & here). All he wanted to do was park in the US & walk over to Mexico to have some breakfast, but ended up in the wrong lane:

Medina Torres has said he was trying to park in the United States and walk into Mexico to eat breakfast when he got lost and found himself at the Bridge of the Americas checkpoint on the Mexican side.

Mexican federal police stopped Medina Torres as he was trying to make a U-turn to re-enter the United States and asked him whether he was carrying weapons. The soldier said he turned over his semiautomatic AR-15 rifle, a .45-caliber handgun, ammunition for both weapons and some knives.

Unbelievable.

Tom Crowley, a spokesman with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Dallas division, said agents were able to speak with Medina Torres and photograph the weapons.

"We traced the firearms, and there's no indication of fire arms trafficking," Crowley said.

The weapons were purchased by Medina Torres years ago, and no evidence of recent multiple weapons purchases was found, Crowley said.

More here. Also see video.

Update 1: To read updates on this visit the ReleaseRichard.com site.

Chicago - proposing a placebo to reduce murder

Excellent write up by Steve Chapman describing a proposed sugar pill placebo that won't even have a placebo effect on the Chicago murder rate. Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis wants to ban a type of gun (semi-automatic so-called "assault weapons") which have only used for one of the of the 87 known Chicago homicides so far this year as of the end of March. Jody Weis must have forgotten that criminals are not allowed to own any type of gun, so adding yet another gun ban would have absolutely zero impact on criminals. Once again the law abiding citizens would be the only group impacted by such a ban. To reduce crime Chicago should focus on keeping criminals behind bars rather than punishing the law abiding citizens. Punish the criminal, not the gun, and not the law abiding gun owner.

Not unlike Canada, Mexico doesn't want you to bear arms

One thing Mexico & Canada have in common - they don't want anyone visiting to be bearing arms for their own self defense. Even if you only entered the country by mistake (US Soldier Spc. Richard Raymond Medina Torres now in Mexico Jail). How dare you be prepared to defend yourself or your family from any threat that could present itself.

The US allows Canadian Residents to enter our country bearing arms (with a non-resident CCW permit, such as those issued by Utah), but if we go visit Canada we can only bring long rifles or shotguns that are unloaded & locked up. You can apply for a permit to bring a pistol into Canada, but you have to fill out paperwork & get approval ahead of time. If approved, you still have to keep it unloaded & locked up. Useful for hunting, but not so useful for self defense (Excuse me Mr. Criminal, please allow me a few minutes to uncase & load my gun). In Mexico, no guns allowed at all. The only folks in Mexico with guns are the Police, Military, Criminals, and Drug traffickers, although at times it can be difficult to differentiate who is who.

Another good reason to buy a black rifle

There are many excellent reasons to own a semi-auto AR-15 or other black rifle such as a semi-auto version of the AK-47. Most importantly is the fact that they are fun to shoot. Another is that both Hillary & Obama want to place bans on either manufacturing or selling them (reintroduction of so-called assault weapons ban). Additionally they are excellent for home defense.

Last night we were all given one additional reason to go buy a black rifle if you don't already own one. Ability to fend off large numbers of alien invaders, in the unlikely event that they were to invade. If green aliens landed in your back yard would you rather fend them off with your 7 to 10 round .45 handgun with a few spare mags, or your 30 round AR-15 with a few spare mags? 4*7=28 rounds, 4*30=120 rounds.

Would you rather be able to fend off 28 green aliens before your spare mags are empty, or 120? I'm not saying I think little green aliens are coming, but if they were to come, I'd want to have a good defensive weapon in my possession, as there would not be time to go buy one after they break down the back door.

SCCC Empty Holster Protest this week

This week you may notice some students walking around Colleges & Universities in Arizona and other States wearing an empty holster in protest of so-called "Gun Free Zones" which prohibit adults 21 & older who have gone through the process of obtaining a CCW permit from being able to carry a gun for their own self defense while in those so-called "Gun Free Zones". I say so-called because it has been proven time & time again that only the innocent victims are disarmed by such disgusting unconstitutional policies that force law abiding citizens to be disarmed & defenseless while inside of them. The rapists, criminals, & mentally unstable are not disarmed by "Gun Free Zone" policies, but they do take advantage of them when deciding where they can best find large numbers of defenseless victims. As of today, there are over 28,000 members of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) across the United States, and the number of members is growing daily.

Below is an ABC story on a group of SCCC members who are attending Virginia Tech that does at least present the unaltered viewpoints of the SCCC members, even though the the story does manage to throw in quite a few anti gun buzz phrases such as "Gun Violence" (rather than "Criminal Violence"), and "Armed to the Teeth," rather than "Armed with 2 guns."

Definitely worth watching:


I have not yet seen any stories in the mainstream media about the empty holster protest taking place this week in Arizona, but below are just a few of the stories about the Empty Holster Protest going on in other States:

• North Carolina & here
  
• Virginia
• Kansas
• Nebraska
• Illinois & here
  
• Texas
• Idaho
• New Hampshire & Keene
  
• Pennsylvania (H/T to Sebastian)
• Ohio
• Arizona
• Colorado

Update 1: The UA SCCC Campus Leader Interview by Nicole Santa Cruz of the Daily Wildcat was released today, discussing this weeks Empty Holster Protest & Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC). H/T to The Arizona Rifleman who tipped me off that the article would be coming out today.

Don't honk at an illegal alien

The press has been reporting on 3 so-called "road rage" shooting incidents that all took place within a 1 block radius of the McDowell & 43rd Ave intersection in Phoenix over this past weekend. What they are not reporting is the fact that they have not yet captured any of the shooters, 3 of which are listed as being a "Hispanic male." Also not reported was the fact that the events happened in a high crime area known to have gang activity, and the shooters were likely criminals, even before they committed these illegal shootings.

Since we don't yet know who they are, I can't say for certain that any of the shooters are illegal aliens, but I can say that it is nearly certain that they are criminals & that they are involved in gangs (based on the fact that they opened fire at another vehicle while they were not in fear of their lives - only criminals do that). Long story short, don't honk your horn or engage in "road rage" activity with illegal aliens, especially if they happen to be gang members. Of course it's a good idea to avoid road rage in any case, but this is just an extra reason for caution. Here are the details from the 3 incidents:

1st) This shooting happened on Saturday night (4/19). Police say the shooters car is white and was driven by a black female. Another black female was in the passengers seat. The shooter, a hispanic male, was in the backseat.

2nd) This shooting happened early Sunday morning (4/20). The suspect's vehicle is a late 90's black GMC Yukon or Chevy Tahoe. Police say both suspects are Hispanic men.

3rd) This shooting happened on Sunday afternoon (4/20). Police say the suspect's vehicle is a gold Chevy Silverado with vanity or specialty plates. (No description of Suspect given)

Update 1: Just for clarification, please don't take this post to mean that I think all Hispanics are illegal aliens. I am 100% in favor of legal immigration & lawful Hispanic citizens who are wonderful people. I'm only against illegal immigration by any race, and I'm against criminals & gang members of any race. I only posted this because I felt the media did all lawful gun owners a disservice by playing these three so-called "road rage" shootings as being between law abiding citizens who lost control of their tempers and started shooting at each other, when in fact the shooters were likely criminals long before they shot at their intended victims this past weekend.

Obama endorsed by anti-gun AHSA

What better proof can you get that Obama is the most anti-gun candidate on the Democrat side of the equation than for the most anti-gun organization out there (other than perhaps the Brady Campaign or Violence Policy Center) to give him an endorsement over Clinton? The so-called American Hunters & Shooters Association (AHSA), a fake front group run by strong anti-gun folks to endorse anti-gun candidates who want to pretend that they are pro-hunting while being against guns (I guess they only like the bow & arrow?), has given Obama their endorsement. The NRA has the details:

"Pro-Gun" Group Endorses Most Anti-Gun Candidate
Friday, April 18, 2008

As this unusual campaign season has unfolded, we’ve seen the candidates ratcheting up their politically expedient rhetoric in an attempt to distinguish themselves as the “candidate of choice” for every constituency, while testing the far reaches of credibility in the process. We’ve heard blatantly anti-gun politicians claim to be supportive of the Second Amendment. We’ve seen hypocrisy, and we’ve heard double-speak and insults to our intelligence.

When it comes to campaign rhetoric on the Second Amendment, we’ve seen a change in the way many anti-gun politicians campaign. Rather than talk openly about their desire to ban guns, register gun owners, and regulate firearms sales, anti-gun politicians talk about their “support” for sportsmen. Rather than admit they oppose the individual right protected by the Second Amendment, they claim they “support firearm ownership for hunting.”

This is all an effort to mislead and divide the gun owning community and to dilute gun owners’ political impact. To achieve their goals new organizations have been formed, with names designed to confuse gun owners and hide their real agenda. The American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA) is one of those groups.

As we’ve reported in the past, AHSA was created to provide political cover for anti-gun politicians by allowing them to claim support from a “sportsmen’s” group. In truth, the anti-gun credentials of AHSA’s leadership is well documented. For instance, AHSA president Ray Schoenke has a long history of giving political donations to some of the nations most anti-gun politicians, including Al Gore, John Kerry, Barbara Boxer, Bill Clinton, Dianne Feinstein, and Ted Kennedy. In 2000, Schoenke donated $5,000 to Handgun Control, Inc. (now the Brady Campaign) and the Ray and Holly Schoenke Foundation also made donations to the Brady Campaign. AHSA Board member John Rosenthal remains the leader of Stop Handgun Violence, a Massachusetts anti-gun group. And one of the leading organizers of AHSA is Bob Ricker, who has served as a paid expert witness against gun manufacturers in a number of reckless lawsuits. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

In keeping with their “pro-gun” stance, this week, AHSA did the last thing one would expect of a pro-gun group—they endorsed Democratic hopeful Barack Obama for President!

In a statement on the AHSA website titled “Obama: He ‘gets it,’” Schoenke announced the endorsement, saying that Senator Obama’s voting record has clearly demonstrated his commitment to the Second Amendment! Are you kidding? Obama’s hostility toward the Second Amendment is so well known and well documented that in the 2004 elections, NRA’s Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) issued Obama a well-deserved “F” grade. Obama is anti-gun. Period. And no amount of sugar coating or spin by AHSA will change that fact.

The AHSA statement closes with the line, “Senator Obama will be a strong and authentic voice for America’s hunters and shooters and it is with great pleasure that we endorse his candidacy.” While typical of the rhetoric coming out of AHSA, that line is nothing less than ridiculous.
AHSA would be more correctly called the “American Association for the Protection of Anti-Gun Politicians.” No gun owner or sportsman should take the group seriously or fall prey to its carefully crafted lies and deceptions, as clearly demonstrated by their endorsement of Barack Obama.

Copyright 2008, National Rifle Association of America, Institute for Legislative Action.
This may be reproduced. It may not be reproduced for commercial purposes.
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Sebastian has more.

Philadelphia: Mayor Nutter is Nutty

Pennsylvania has a State preemption law that mandates that only the State can regulate guns. In spite of that, and against the recommendation of his own DA (Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham), the nutty Mayor Nutter ignored her counsel & signed into law 5 illegal gun laws that his own DA is now refusing to enforce.

"If there are wholesale arrests which turn out to be illegal, this city is going to get its pants sued off them," Abraham said.

The NRA has is working with gun rights groups in Pennsylvania to begin a court battle over this issue. They are currently in process of filing a restraining order against the city to prevent them from enforcing the new illegal laws until the legal battle is over.

Sebastian explains why Nuttty Nutter is not yet in Jail.

Update 1: NRA motion for Injunction has been granted. H/T to Sebastian. Here is the NRA press release revealing same:

“. . . On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of NRA members in Pennsylvania who are frustrated by Philadelphia’s mayor and city council, we are pleased with today’s ruling,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA’s chief lobbyist. “Philadelphia’s politicians have made it clear they care nothing for the rule of law or the state's constitution. They are going to have to learn, one way or another, that state law applies to them, too.”

A hearing on the permanent injunction is scheduled for April 28th.

Alan Korwin Eyewitness Report on Gun-Control Symposium

This is a must read eyewitness report on Alan Korwin's valiant attempt to voice the other side of the issue while heavily outnumbered by anti gun folks.

CSPAN has the archive video, but you'll want to skip most of the other speeches so that your head doesn't explode from all the irrational emotional based arguments drawing invalid conclusions by the anti rights speakers. Alan's introduction begins at the 56 minute, 50 second mark of the 2nd clip labeled 200525-1-0-0-1. If you prefer you can also just listen to the mp3 audio of the Alan Korwin speech.

HR 5782 - National Concealed Carry Reciprocity SAFE

HR 5782 Secure Access to Firearms Enhancement (SAFE) Act of 2008 was introduced Monday April 14th by US Representative John Boozman with the following cosponsors:

Mr. MCCOTTER, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. MARCHANT, Mr. HUNTER, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida, Mrs. CUBIN, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. HAYES, Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey, Mr. CANNON, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. WAMP, Mr. HALL of Texas, Mr. HENSARLING, Mr. DEAL of Georgia, Mr. GINGREY, Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky, Mr. ROGERS of Alabama, Mr. KELLER of Florida, Mr. ADERHOLT, Mr. MCINTYRE, Mr. SOUDER, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. CAMP of Michigan, Mr. REHBERG, Mrs. MILLER of Michigan, Mr. MOLLOHAN, and Mr. SALI)

I noticed Representative Trent Franks is a cosponsor which I am personally happy about & plan to send him a note of thanks. If passed & signed into law it would take us one step closer to removing unconstitutional restrictions on the 2nd Amendment protected right to bear arms. Currently California does not recognize Concealed Carry permits from any other States, and does not even permit non residents to apply. If passed this bill would force States like California (and others like it) to recognize permits issued by all other States. I would finally be able to drive through California & still be "allowed" to protect my family & myself from the criminals who love to prey on unarmed tourists.

I personally believe that the natural right to bear arms should not even require a concealed carry permit anywhere (the 2nd Amendment IS my permit - it says "the right of the PEOPLE to keep & BEAR arms shall not be infringed" after all), but this will at least be a step towards removing existing unconstitutional State & Local restrictions on bearing arms. I don't think we yet have enough support in our Legislature to pass an Act that simply points out that concealed carry is lawful in all States and no permit is required - all laws that infringe concealed carry are unconstitutional. We might eventually get that ruling out of our Court system but that will take time if it happens at all. I urge everyone to contact your US House Representative & ask them to support HR 5782.

Full text of proposed bill HR 5782:

A BILL

To amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to provide for reciprocity in regard to the manner in which nonresidents of a State may carry certain concealed firearms in that State.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Secure Access to Firearms Enhancement (SAFE) Act of 2008'.

SEC. 2. RECIPROCITY FOR THE CARRYING OF CERTAIN CONCEALED FIREARMS.

(a) In General- Chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 926C the following:

`Sec. 926D. Reciprocity for the carrying of certain concealed firearms

`Notwithstanding any provision of the law of any State or political subdivision thereof:

`(1) A person who is not prohibited by Federal law from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm, and is carrying a valid license or permit which is issued pursuant to the law of any State and which permits the person to carry a concealed firearm, may carry in any State a concealed firearm in accordance with the terms of the license or permit, subject to the laws of the State in which the firearm is carried concerning specific types of locations in which firearms may not be carried.

`(2) A person who is not prohibited by Federal law from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm, and is otherwise than as described in paragraph (1) entitled to carry a concealed firearm in and pursuant to the law of the State in which the person resides, may carry in any State a concealed firearm in accordance with the laws of the State in which the person resides, subject to the laws of the State in which the firearm is carried concerning specific types of locations in which firearms may not be carried.'.

(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections for chapter 44 of title 18 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 926C the following:

`926D. Reciprocity for the carrying of certain concealed firearms.'.

SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

The amendments made by this Act shall take effect 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

There is also a news article about this Bill with the headline "Bill Forces States to Accept Concealed Gun Permits"

Update 1: The Media loves to call legal concealed carry "Packing Heat." I don't know about you, but my gun only gets hot when I shoot it, and even then, it's only the barrel & slide that get hot, so I'm not sure why they like to call carrying a weapon for self defense "Packing Heat." Perhaps it is part of an effort to make concealed permit holders sound more dangerous since it is a slang term primarily used by criminals & gang members. Last I checked not many criminals bother to get a CCW permit to make it legal for them to carry their stolen gun, but maybe it's just me.

Update 2: Thune Vitter Amendment - only missed National Reciprocity by a margin of 2 votes!

NRA has additional details of Obama's Anti Gun views

The NRA has issued a press release about Obama and his anti gun stance:

Obama: Change For The Sake Of Expediency
Friday, April 11, 2008

When it comes to the Second Amendment, it's somehow appropriate that Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama is running on a platform of "change." Because when it comes to his rhetoric on the issue of gun rights, "change" is an apt description.

Last month, we reported on Obama's hypocrisy. We detailed his advocacy of a law to forbid federally licensed gun dealers from legally selling constitutionally-protected products (firearms) in huge geographical areas, without holding purveyors of pornography to the same standard.

Last week, we reported on Obama's attempt at reassuring pro-gun voters by telling them, "I have no intention of taking away folks' guns," then telling the Pittsburgh Tribune "I am not in favor of concealed weapons," and that he favors "…reasonable, thoughtful gun control measure[s]…."

Obama is savvy, and he's a quick study. His politically expedient stance on the gun issues has morphed from "a ban on all handguns" to his now frequent use of phrases like "protecting sportsmen."

Lately, in an effort to curry votes from America's gun owners, he's even claiming to believe in the Second Amendment. A recent campaign "fact sheet" touting Obama's support for sportsmen claims that Obama "greatly respects the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms" (note the failure to say "keep" and bear arms). But read further--to the "fine print" at the end of the statement--and you'll see his political safety net…an easily down-played but highly significant "qualifier" that he almost always includes in some form. It reads, "He also believes that the right is subject to reasonable and commonsense regulation." In other words, "I support your gun rights, so long as that includes "reasonable" restrictions (wink, wink)." Very slick.

The next time you hear Obama talking about "protecting sportsmen's rights," remember that, among other things, he endorses the D.C. gun ban--which outlaws armed self-defense in the home--declaring that the ban doesn't violate the Second Amendment. And that in a "1998 National Political Awareness Test," he pledged to support a "Ban [on] the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic weapons." That includes most handguns and many rifles and shotguns.

Obama's alleged support of the Second Amendment is utterly cynical and false. Barack Obama is not for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms; he's out to destroy it.
For more information on Barack Obama's gun control record, please click here.

Copyright 2008, National Rifle Association of America, Institute for Legislative Action.
This may be reproduced. It may not be reproduced for commercial purposes.

Update 1: Obama thinks the real reason we own guns & believe in God is because we're bitter.

". . . it's not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them . . ."

‘LIE-INS’ are for Liars

The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep & Bear Arms (CCRKBA) has issued a press release explaining that LIE-INS are for Liars:

NEWS RELEASE

Citizens Committee for the
Right to Keep and Bear Arms
12500 N.E. Tenth Place
Bellevue, WA 98005
CCRKBA SAYS APRIL 16 ‘LIE-INS’ ARE FOR LYIN’ ANTI-GUNNERS

For Immediate Release: April 15, 2008

BELLEVUE, WA – On Wednesday, when America marks the April 16 anniversary of the Virginia Tech tragedy, the anti-gun-rights lobby will stage so-called “Lie-Ins” for the purpose of “lyin’ to the American public about how to prevent such crimes,” the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said today.

Seung Hui Cho murdered 32 students and teachers who could not defend themselves because Virginia Tech and hundreds of other college and university campuses are “gun-free zones” where law-abiding students and faculty have been legislatively or administratively disarmed and deliberately left defenseless.

“Gun control fanatics will use this event to lobby for gun show legislation, waiting periods and whatever else they think the public wants to hear,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb, “when in fact, Virginia Tech is the text book example of how stringent gun laws utterly fail to prevent such shootings, and exacerbate them by making it impossible for the victims to fight back and defend themselves.

“Gun grabbers suggest that closing a mythical ‘gun show loophole’ will prevent such crimes,” he noted, “but Cho didn’t purchase his guns at a gun show. He bought both pistols at gunshops, after passing background checks and waiting the mandatory 30 days between purchases. Steven Kazmierczak, the Northern Illinois University shooter, bought all of his guns at one gun shop. He passed background checks and had a required Firearms Owners Identification Card. These killers obeyed every applicable law – laws pushed by the gun ban lobby – yet they now tell us that these laws weren’t enough. Their laws failed. Their entire philosophy has been a monumental failure. It is time for America to turn its back on this dangerously deceptive ideology.

“The real tragedy,” said Gottlieb, co-author of America Fights Back: Armed Self-Defense in a Violent Age, “is that some people believe the fairy tale that gun-free zones and restrictive gun laws will keep them safe when past events prove otherwise. Anti-gunners tell America that more gun laws, in a nation where citizens already are drowning in local, state and federal gun laws, will somehow discourage determined, suicidal killers.

“Ultimately,” he concluded, “these people think the Second Amendment is a ‘loophole.’ They exploit tragedies like Virginia Tech to push for unilateral victim disarmament. Yes, we should remember Virginia Tech, and take sensible steps to prevent such crimes in the future. We must make it possible for people to fight back.”

With more than 650,000 members and supporters nationwide, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is one of the nation’s premier gun rights organizations. As a non-profit organization, the Citizens Committee is dedicated to preserving firearms freedoms through active lobbying of elected officials and facilitating grass-roots organization of gun rights activists in local communities throughout the United States. The Citizens Committee can be reached by phone at (425) 454-4911, on the Internet at www.ccrkba.org or by email to InformationRequest@ccrkba.org.

Smart Guns - what a DUMB idea!

My Apple ipod is smart, but it does crash from time to time & needs to reboot. Ever get the Blue Screen of Death on your PC? If I had a dollar for every PC crash I've experienced I wouldn't be as rich as Bill Gates but I'd have a lot of cash. I wouldn't want to bet my life on any piece of software running on any type of operating system, whether that be running on my computer or on my gun. If certain Politicians in California get their way they could start requiring so-called "smart" guns that utilize a fingerprint reader combined with software & programming to recognize an authorized user or a group of authorized users before allowing the gun to operate.

What happens to you if the thumb print reader is only on one side of the grip & you need to shoot with your opposite hand? What would an instructor do if he wants to let students practice with his gun?

What do you do if your battery dies or you get the blue screen of death when you need your gun right this very second? I could just see it now - "Mr. Criminal, please wait a moment while my gun reboots so that I can shoot you"

I doubt many criminals will be dumb enough to use smart guns - they'll stick with something more reliable even if they become illegal. Yet another gun law that if enacted would do nothing but punish the law abiding.

Ride Fast has more info about the story.

H/T to Sebastian.

ATF: Monster without a Master

We really need to reign in the ATF (also known as the BATFE - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives). Overall the ATF has become a monster that no longer answers to the American people and appears to be on a witch hunt. They're harassing Red's Trading post over having some forms with the y/n instead of yes/no. They recently raided a gun manufacturer here in my home State of Arizona (Cavalry Arms) taking their entire inventory & all of their computers & have yet to tell them what they are looking for, what they will be charged with, if anything, or when they'll get their confiscated stuff back.

The ATF prosecuted & won a Felony conviction of a highly respected honorably discharged Army Veteran & Army Reserves serviceman (David Olofson) for having a semi auto rifle that malfunctioned while on a gun range & slam fired (malfunction that causes rifle to shoot twice & jam instead of the normal one shot per trigger pull). He has already been convicted of a federal firearms felony in Federal Court back in March but he is still awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for May 15th. The standard sentence is prescribed to be from 18 months to 6 years in Federal Prison & a fine of up to $250,000.00. He is a law abiding citizen with absolutely no criminal record & is a Father to 3 children. It is reprehensible that the ATF would throw an American Citizen in Federal Prison just because his gun malfunctioned. This is an OUTRAGE! The full story is here on CNN: Part 1 and Part 2.

Also check out this preview of the ATF documentary "The Gang" by Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership:



Please write your Senators, President Bush, & Senator McCain (anyone running for President should take a stand on this issue, and I doubt Clinton or Obama would be of much help). Ask them to grant either a congressional or presidential pardon, and to find a way to regain control of the ATF monster that our Congress has created & allowed to run loose on the American people for so many years. The ATF has grown into an overgrown excessively powerful tyrannical monster that is in the midst of throwing a temper tantrum, and the lives of innocent American Citizens are being destroyed as a direct result.

Doesn't the ATF have some illegal alcohol, tobacco, explosives, or firearm traffickers that they can go after instead of harassing innocent American Citizens over a y on a form or for owning a malfunctioning weapon? If the ATF can't be reigned in, then simply dismantle it & create some other way to monitor tobacco & alcohol sales. Put the Boy Scouts in charge, they are much more respectable & trustworthy. The ATF was created during the great Alcohol prohibition & it should have been dismantled when we got rid of that stupid prohibition. Instead congress kept them around like an overgrown pet bulldog & gave it new jobs to do. These BATFE atrocities have gone on way too long, it is well past time that they come to an end.

The ATF will probably come raid my home now because I'm openly calling for their dismantlement. Go ahead, come take my guns. Just make sure you knock on my door first because if you simply break down my door & rush in during the middle of the night I could mistake you for a common criminal & I will protect my family. After you confiscate all of my stuff maybe you can figure out a way to force one of my guns to malfunction so you can mislabel it a machine gun & throw me in jail too. Perhaps I'll get a cell next to Olofson. While you're here, please take all my paperwork too so that I won't have to file my taxes this year. April 15th is coming up soon & I hate paying the government every single year.

Is it just me or does anyone else feel we're all paying more than our fair share? I mean taxes & regulation cause about 50% of the cost of the products we buy during the production, transportation, storage, and manufacturing processes. They tax my income, then they tax the capital gains that I get by investing what little income I had left over after they taxed it. Then they tax the products I buy with sales tax. Then they tax the property I buy every single year just for the privilege of owning it. If all that wasn't enough, when I die they'll tax whatever I have left again in the form of the DEATH tax. Can't they let well enough alone? Can't I even go to my own grave without being taxed in death after already having been taxed to death my entire life?

Don't TREAD ON ME, and STOP TREADING ON MY FELLOW CITIZENS! It PISSES gun owning Americans off, and you should not forget that we are armed & maintain the same spirit of resistance to tyranny that we inherited from our forefathers who fought & died to build this great Nation. Keep your dance of tyranny up & eventually you'll step on enough of us to awaken the sleeping dragon that is the American People.

If I lived in Cuba I would not be able to write this & live to see a new day. Luckily the 1st Amendment protects my freedom of speech, and the 2nd Amendment protects my right to bear arms. Between the two I should live through the weekend. If I don't, please send some nice flowers to my funeral, I like the Water Lillie best.

Update 1: Speaking of the Devil - saysuncle has info about the ATF raiding the wrong house - breaking down doors & using tear gas. No wonder the ATF is affectionately called a group of Jack Booted Thugs by those in the know. Don't they know where the freaking doorbell is? I can understand them not knowing that a Y stands for Yes, but come on, even my 3 year old can find the doorbell.

Join online debate - Guns on Campus

There is a new online debate titled "Critical Mass Journalism Project: Guns on Campus." Currently the anti gun folks are the majority of entries, all spewing the same predictable rhetoric with absolutely no basis in fact. I encourage everyone to join in on the discussion, because we can only share the truth if we open our mouth. Just click "add something new" to make your own contribution. You can also make comments on items already there.

Below is an example of the types of video opinion pieces already there stating opinion with no reference to facts:

Having guns on campus to me is somewhat of a slippery slope . . . in all honesty, If there weren’t any guns, there would be no need for protection, or no outright need for protection . . .it's a learning environment, we need pencils, not, you know, weapons . . .

H/T to Michael Fancher & Joanne Shen of SCCC.

Proof that Obama is Anti Gun

John R. Lott Jr. has gathered overwhelming evidence that although Obama is now trying to win over gun owners by making claims that he supports the Second Amendment, Obama is as anti gun as any Politician out there that I'm aware of, if he doesn't set the Standard himself. Despite Obama's current rhetoric, the fact is that his past actions say otherwise. Among other things he has supported outright handgun bans, National gun registration, bans on so-called "assault weapons" & even bans on all semi automatic weapons. In his article John Lott also revealed the following:

. . . I knew Obama during the mid-1990s, and his answers to IVI’s question on guns fit well with the Obama that I knew. Indeed, the first time I introduced myself to him he said “Oh, you are the gun guy.”

I responded “Yes, I guess so.” He simply responded that “I don’t believe that people should be able to own guns.”

When I said it might be fun to talk about the question sometime and about his support of the city of Chicago’s lawsuit against the gun makers, he simply grimaced and turned away, ending the conversation.

John Lott's article was published on the Fox News website.

Arizona Legislation Update from AZCDL

Below is an update from AZCDL relating to Arizona Bills. If interested you can watch the archived video from the Senate Judiciary committee where these bills were discussed:

On Monday, April 7, 2008, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard and passed the following important pro-rights bills that originated in the House:

HB 2389, an AzCDL requested bill that clarifies that it is permissible to carry a weapon, without a CCW permit, visibly or concealed, anywhere within a means of transportation, excluding public transit. HB 2389 passed by a 4-2 vote with one member not voting.

HB 2629, an AzCDL requested bill that clarifies when a defensive display of a firearm is justified. HB 2629 passed by a 3-1 vote with 3 members not voting.

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. HB 2634 passed by a 4-1 vote with 2 members not voting.

HB 2660, a bill that AzCDL opposes, failed in the same committee by a 2-4 vote with 1 member not voting. Despite the undoubtedly good intentions of its sponsor, the bill is essentially a trial lawyer's welfare act that allows victims of crimes to reach into the deep pockets of third parties that may have "contributed" to their assailant's behavior. The examples the bill's proponents use are "how to" videos for abduction and rape. However, the same standard could be applied to a firearms training course, video, book, "blog", etc.

Also in the Senate, HB 2630, another AzCDL requested bill, has passed through the various Senate committees and the majority and minority caucuses. From there it will go to COW and Third Read, and unless changes are made, head to the Governor's desk. 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. We will alert you when the bill is scheduled for debate on the Senate floor.

Unfortunately, not all the news coming from the Senate is good. SB 1214, AzCDL's requested "Campus Carry" bill, was not put on the agenda for the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW) before this session's deadline. That means SB 1214 is dead this year. However, Campus Carry is getting national attention, and is gaining momentum and support in other states. The issue is not going away in Arizona simply because it stalled in this session. It will be back, and we will be there to push it!

Charlton Heston

Charlton Heston passed away Saturday Night at age 84 (1923-2008). He was a great patriot and a strong defender of American Freedoms. He will be greatly missed. Below is a tribute to him as well as a great speech of his from the 1989 NRA Annual Meeting.











Also check out the "General Videos" section of nranews.com to see other great videos featuring Charlton Heston.

AZ SB 1214 Update CCW on Campus

There were not enough votes to pass SB 1214 in the Senate without making an amendment to the bill that essentially adds a requirement to pass a couple of additional shooting skills tests before you can receive a special "School Safety Endorsement" on your CCW permit that would allow 21 & older adults with the endorsement to go into College & University Buildings while carrying their concealed weapon. Without the special endorsement CCW permit holders would still be allowed to go onto College & University Grounds, but not into the buildings.

The two shooting skills tests are the same tests created by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board that all Arizona Police Officers have to pass to renew their Arizona Peace Officer Certification, but the same instructors that teach the CCW class will have the option to give the optional shooting skills tests. The primary text of the amendment that describes the two optional shooting skills tests is on page 7 of the amendment:

1. A FIFTY SHOT DAYTIME QUALIFICATION COURSE THAT MEASURES FIREARMS COMPETENCE AT LEAST AS ACCURATELY AS THE COURSE OF FIRE THAT IS REQUIRED FOR CERTIFICATION RETENTION BY THE ARIZONA PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING BOARD AND THAT IS IN EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, 2008.
2. A FIREARMS TARGET IDENTIFICATION AND JUDGMENT COURSE THAT MEASURES TARGET IDENTIFICATION AND JUDGMENT AT LEAST AS ACCURATELY AS THE COURSES THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR CERTIFICATION RETENTION BY THE ARIZONA PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING BOARD AND THAT ARE IN EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, 2008.

In hopes of gaining enough votes to pass SB 1214 with the proposed amendment earlier this week, the plan had been to schedule the bill for Senate COW (Committee of the Whole) Floor Debate yesterday, but it was too late to schedule it for Thursday so the plan is now to schedule it for Debate & the 3rd read Vote on Monday April 7th in order to pass the Bill in the Senate & send it over to the Arizona House of Representatives by the Thursday April 10th Deadline. If it does not make it to the House by that deadline it will become a dead bill.

This of course is not the optimal bill it had been before the required amendment but it is better than what we have now because it does allow all 21 & older CCW permit holders to go onto College grounds with their concealed weapon which will allow them to at least travel to & from school with their weapon & lock it in a safe in their car on a School parking lot before entering a building, which currently they are not allowed to do. It also gives CCW permit holders the option to pursue the optional School Safety Endorsement so that they can also carry in the buildings, an option that currently does not even exist.

If you are an Arizona resident be sure to call your Representative & let them know that you support SB 1214.

Update 1: I just received an E-mail alert from AZCDL (Arizona Citizens Defense League) that it is actually Monday that the bill will need to be heard on the floor rather than Tuesday. They also listed out the key Senators that need to hear from us with our request for their support on SB 1214. Below is the update:

We were expecting 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, to be debated in the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW) on Thursday, April 3, 2008. However, the Senate Republican leadership kept the bill off the calendar because the votes weren't there to ensure passage, even with the amendment that added storage requirements and an additional skills test for campus carry permit holders.

Our last opportunity to get SB 1214 heard in the Senate COW will be Monday, April 7, 2008. If it doesn't get heard then, it is dead for this session. AzCDL's full-time, volunteer lobbyists, Dave Kopp (President) and John Wentling (Vice-President), are haunting the Senate hallways, meeting with every Senator they can find, and counting votes. They found some Democrat Senators who may be willing to vote for SB 1214, along with a couple of their colleagues that could use a little prodding. But, sadly, the key hold-outs are a handful of Republicans. It's time to let them know that we're not going to let them hide when it comes to the safety of students.

The following Senators especially need to hear from you:

Senator Carolyn Allen
callen@azleg.gov
Room 303
602-926-4480 (phone)
602-417-3155 (Fax)
Senator Allen has indicated her opposition to SB 1214 from the beginning.

Senator Jake Flake
jflake@azleg.gov
Room 307
602-626-5219 (phone)
602-417-3224 (Fax)
We're learning that Senator Flake doesn't want to support SB 1214.

Senator John Huppenthal
jhuppenthal@azleg.gov
Room 212
602-926-5261 (phone)
602-417-3157 (Fax)
Senator Huppenthal has indicated that he will not support SB 1214.

Senator Tom O'Halleran
tohalleran@azleg.gov
Room 303A
602-926-5584 (phone)
602-417-3101 (Fax)
The amendment was crafted to appease Senator O'Halleran. He now has his amendment, but should still be reminded to vote for SB 1214.

Senator Rebecca Rios
rrios@azleg.gov
Room 310
602-926-5685 (phone)
602-417-3167 (Fax)
A typically pro-gun Democrat, who, unlike many of her colleagues, might actually be persuaded to vote for SB 1214.

Senator Victor Soltero
vsoltero@azleg.gov
Room 312
602-926-5342 (phone)
602-417-3169 (Fax)
Another Democrat who could be nudged with the right approach.

Senator Jay Tibshraeny
jtibshraeny@azleg.gov
Room 306
602-926-4481 (phone)
602-417-3252 (Fax)
We're hearing that Senator Tibshraeny won't support SB 1214.

We strongly encourage you to contact these Senators and let them know you expect them to vote for SB 1214 in the Senate COW and during Third Read. If they represent your district, be sure to remind them how their abandonment of SB 1214 will affect your vote when they are up for reelection.

Update 2: SB 1214 is officially dead for this year as it did not Pass in the Senate in time to move it to the House before todays 48 hr deadline (all Senate bills were required to be scheduled in a House hearing by this Thursday at the latest, and there is a 48 hr deadline to revise the hearing schedules). Even with the amendment there were not enough votes to pass the bill in the Senate so it was never moved to the floor for COW or 3rd read for a vote. I have requested confirmation of the names of the Senators who refused to vote in favor of this important move toward freedom, and once I have them I'll post them here. I would not be surprised to see many of the same names listed in Update 1 above as being among them.

SCCC & CR Gun Ownership Symposium in Virginia

This is an excellent idea. Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) & The College Republicans have put together a Gun Ownership Symposium to be held at George Mason University in Northern Virginia.

The College Republicans and Students for Concealed Carry will hold a symposium about gun ownership, personal safety and the rules for guns on campus.

I think it would be a good idea to model similar events at Universities around the Country. Education is key in our efforts to dispel myth & folklore about gun ownership. We have the facts on our side, we simply need to good ways to share them.

An Armed Society is a Polite Society

Another excellent article written by Gerard Valentino has been posted on the Buckeye Firearms site explaining why An Armed Society is a Polite Society.

Anti gun folks already calling Hunting Rifles Sniper Rifles

Just as I predicted, the anti gun folks are already saying that Hunting Rifles are similar to Sniper Rifles:

Louie Garcia, assistant special agent in charge, said the sniper rifle - similar to those used by hunters - was taken by agents from a car stopped southeast of Tucson over the weekend.

Update 1: Save $10-$50 by Joining the NRA TODAY to help fight this and other evil efforts against our freedoms!

Revolving Doors of Justice - Convicted Murderer Kills Again

There is something wrong with a Society that says a mentally unstable convicted murderer should be allowed to walk the streets, so long as it is illegal for him to buy a gun legally, (not to mention being illegal to walk around stabbing people). If such a person is too dangerous to buy a legal gun, such a person is too dangerous to let back on the streets after serving a small 6 year sentence for Murder. After serving his 6 years & being let back on our streets by our Revolving Doors of Justice, he stabbed a victim four times in the middle of a Macy's Store in the Mesa Arizona Fiesta Mall on Sunday, and walked out of the store without opposition. Then on Monday he attacked another victim in the SAME MALL, this time fatally.

He was apprehended by Police on his way out of the Mall after the stabbing Monday only because he was openly carrying his bloody knife, otherwise he would probably still be on the Streets looking for his next victim. The alleged attacker bought his knife in the same Mall where he made the attacks. Perhaps the Brady folks will soon demand knife serialization, background checks, & BATFE regulation (renamed to BATFEK: Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, & Knives - I think an agency with such a name should be a convenience store rather than a government agency).

If those in favor of adding more gun controls or gun bans could pull their heads out of the Sand long enough to breath & examine the facts they could look at ways to actually reduce crime rather than legal gun ownership. How about taking a Stab at our Revolving Doors of Justice & attempting to keep murderers where they belong - behind bars. Letting them back out on our Streets after 6 years of learning from fellow inmate Felons new methods of doing Evil is obviously not working, and neither are any of the existing gun control laws, which the CDC looked at & found DO NOT reduce crime.

It is time to close the Revolving Doors of Justice for murderers. 1st Degree Murder should be a one way ticket into life in Prison. Murderers do not make good neighbors, and we certainly do not want them in our Malls or Schools. Public places should be Murderer Free Zones, yet I see no Murderer Free Zone signs up at our Schools or Malls (not that such signs would do any good in any case). It is time that we decide to punish the criminals, not the law abiding citizens.