DONT RE-ELECT ANY POLITICIAN

THE MOST SWEEPING GUN BAN EVER INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS;
McCarthy Bill Bans Millions More Guns Than The Clinton Gun Ban

On Feb. 14, 2007, Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) introduced H.R. 1022, a bill with the stated purpose, "to reauthorize the assault weapons ban, and for other purposes."

McCarthy's verbiage warrants explanation. Presumably, what she means by "assault weapons ban" is the Clinton Gun Ban of 1994.  Congress allowed the ban to expire in 2004 for multiple reasons, including the fact that federal, state and local law enforcement agency studies showed that guns affected by the ban had been used in only a small percentage of crime, before and after the ban was imposed.

With the nation's murder rate 43% lower than in 1991, and the re-legalized guns still used in only a small percentage of crime, reauthorizing the Clinton Gun Ban would be objectionable enough. But McCarthy's "other purposes" would make matters even worse.  H.R. 1022 would ban every gun banned by the Clinton ban, plus millions more guns, including:

. Every gun made to comply with the Clinton ban. (The Clinton ban dictated the kinds of grips, stocks and attachments new guns could have. Manufacturers modified new guns to the Clinton requirements. H.R. 1022 would ban the modified guns too.)

. Guns exempted by the Clinton ban. (Ruger Mini-14s and -30s and Ranch Rifles; .30 cal. carbines; and fixed-magazine, semi-automatic, center-fire rifles that hold more than 10 rounds.)

. All semi-automatic shotguns. (E.g., Remington, Winchester, Beretta and Benelli, used for hunting, sport shooting, and self-defense.  H.R. 1022 would ban them because they have "any characteristic that can function as a grip," and would also ban their main component, called the "receiver.")

. All detachable-magazine semi-automatic rifles-including, for example, the ubiquitous Ruger 10/22 .22 rimfire-because they have "any characteristic that can function as a grip."

. Target shooting rifles. (E.g., the three centerfire rifles most popular for marksmanship competitions: the Colt AR-15, the Springfield M1A and the M1 "Garand.")

. Any semi-automatic shotgun or rifle an Attorney General one day claims isn't "sporting," even though the constitutions of the U.S. and 44 states, and the laws of all 50 states, recognize the right to use guns for defense.

. 65 named guns (the Clinton law banned 19 by name); semi-auto fixed-magazine pistols of over 10 rounds capacity; and frames, receivers and parts used to repair or refurbish guns.

H.R. 1022 would also ban the importation of magazines exempted by the Clinton ban, ban the sale of a legally-owned "assault weapon" with a magazine of over 10 rounds capacity, and begin backdoor registration of guns, by requiring private sales of banned guns, frames, receivers and parts to be conducted through licensed dealers.  Finally, whereas the Clinton Gun Ban was imposed for a 10-year trial period, H.R. 1022 would be a permanent ban.

Please be sure to contact your U.S. Representative and urge him or her to oppose
H.R. 1022! 

You can call your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121.

CPAC 2007

NRA Members are invited to attend CPAC 2007Cthe 34th Annual Conservative Political Action Conference, March 1 - 3, 2007.  The conference will be held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., just a short trip from the White House, the Washington Monument, the Smithsonian, National Archives, and the hundreds of other monuments, memorials, and museums in our nation's capital.  CPAC is the nation's premier annual gathering of conservative leaders, celebrities, elected officials, and grassroots activists. 

CPAC will offer an agenda packed with political headliners including Vice President Dick Cheney, NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, Senator Mitch McConnell, Congressman Mike Pence, Newt Gingrich, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, David Horowitz, Phyllis Schlafly, and many others as they discuss important issues of the day.  CPAC is co-sponsored by NRA and more than 60 leading conservative organizations. 

For additional information, or to register for the conference, please call (703) 836-8602, or visit CPAC online at www.cpac.org

SECOND GRASSROOTS EVENT PLANNED FOR ST. LOUIS

In addition to the FREE Grassroots Workshop being held in conjunction with NRA's Annual Meetings in St. Louis that we reported on last week, the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division is holding an additional FREE event in St. Louis.

We hope you will also be able to join us Saturday, April 14 for the inaugural session of "In Their Own Words."  This first-of-its-kind panel will afford NRA members the opportunity to hear directly from their fellow NRA members on effective grassroots activism.  The panel will feature some of NRA-ILA's most active volunteers in the nation, who will talk about their personal efforts to advance our mutual causes in their local communities.  The session will conclude with a question and answer period to allow audience participation.

Don't miss this opportunity to hear these present-day patriots talk about their personal experiences working in the pro-gun rights grassroots movement, and learn effective means of protecting and promoting the Second Amendment in your own community.  There is no registration required and, as with the Friday Workshop, admission is FREE

Here are the details for each event:

NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop-FREE!
Friday, April 13, 2007, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
(Registration and free continental breakfast from 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
in the Majestic Ballroom E )
Renaissance Grand Hotel St. Louis
Majestic Ballroom E (Level Two)
800 Washington Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63101
(314) 621-9600

To register on-line, pleas visit www.nraam.org/seminars/grassroots.asp.   You may also call NRA-ILA at  (800) 392-VOTE (8683). 

"In Their Own Words"-FREE!
Saturday, April 14, 2007, 2:00 p.m.
Room 242, America's Center
701 Convention Plaza
St. Louis, MO 63101
(314) 342-5042
No registration required