NRA Members Must Oppose Sotomayor
by Sandy Froman

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Barack Obama’s first nominee to the
U.S. Supreme Court, has a narrow view of the Second Amendment that
contradicts the Court’s landmark decision in District of Columbia v.
Heller. A heated debate has started in the U.S. Senate over her
opposition to the right to keep and bear arms. This issue, which has
decided the fate of presidential elections, could also decide her
nomination. Gun owners, and especially the members of the National Rifle
Association, must aggressively oppose Judge Sotomayor’s confirmation to
the Supreme Court.

On June 24, senators began speaking on the floor of the Senate
expressing grave concerns over Judge Sotomayor’s Second Amendment
record. Senator Jeff Sessions R-AL, the Ranking Member of the Senate
Judiciary Committee, pointed out that although her record on the issue
is “fairly scant,” she has twice stated that the Second
Amendment is not
a fundamental right. Senator Sessions also noted that in Second
Amendment and other constitutional cases, Sotomayor’s analysis of
important constitutional issues has been lacking suggesting “a troubling
tendency to avoid or casually dismiss difficult Constitutional issues of
exceptional importance.” Sotomayor’s view on the Second Amendment
clearly reflects an extreme anti-gun philosophy, and some Democrat
senators from pro-gun states are justifiably nervous.

Last year, the Supreme Court held in Heller that the Second Amendment
guarantees the right of individual Americans to keep and bear firearms.
But that ruling was a fiercely-contested, 5-4 split decision. Justice
Kennedy joined the four conservatives on the Court to make the majority,
with the four liberal justices writing passionate dissents about how the
Second Amendment does not apply to private citizens.

Bluntly speaking, the Second Amendment survived by a single vote. Had
one justice voted differently, the Second Amendment would have been
erased from the Bill of Rights forever. Today in the Supreme Court, the
right to bear arms hangs by a single vote.

The next question the Supreme Court will decide is whether the Second
Amendment is a “fundamental right” that applies to cities and
states,
thus preventing them from restricting gun rights. Even the liberal
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held earlier this year in Nordyke v. King
that the Second Amendment is a fundamental right, yet Judge Sotomayor
disagrees.

When Barack Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, it
belied his flowery rhetoric about respecting our constitutional gun
rights. Out of almost 200 federal appeals judges in this country, Judge
Sotomayor is one of only six to weigh in (after the Heller case) to hold
that the Second Amendment only limits federal actions. If your state or
city chooses to ban all guns or take away the ones that you already have
in your home for hunting and self-defense, Sonia Sotomayor says the
Constitution can’t help you.

This position becomes all the more radical when it’s revealed how she
reached this conclusion. Only six judges have denied gun rights against
the states. Of these, three did so in a recent Seventh Circuit case, NRA
v. Chicago, writing a detailed opinion that the Second Amendment doesn’t
apply to the states because they thought an old 1800s Supreme Court case
tied their hands on the issue, and they commended the case up to the
Supreme Court after long and scholarly consideration. Judge Sotomayor
and two of her liberal colleagues, however, wrote only a single
paragraph on the whole issue when deciding their own New York case,
Maloney v. Cuomo. In one paragraph, she said the Second Amendment gives
people no rights at all when it comes to state or city laws. She gave no
explanation, and made no call for Supreme Court action.

Then we find that this has been a consistent belief for Sotomayor. In a
case before her in 2004, she and her colleagues concluded that there is
no fundamental right in the Second Amendment but provided no substantive
analysis to justify this conclusion. Throughout her career, Judge
Sotomayor’s record is one of consistent opposition to the private
ownership of firearms.

America has almost 90 million gun owners who value their rights. And of
these, no one does more to protect the Second Amendment than the four
million members of the National Rifle Association.

I served as an officer of the NRA for nine years, including a two-year
term as president. I saw NRA members turn the tide on Election Day 2000
to defeat Al Gore. We fought again to help defeat John Kerry in 2004. We
can do the same with Sonia Sotomayor, if we call our U.S. Senators and
tell them to vote against this anti-gun judge. No fewer than fourteen
Democrat senators have solid records on the Second Amendment, and we
must urge them to oppose this nominee.

Next year, the Supreme Court is likely to take up NRA v. Chicago, which
will decide whether the Second Amendment applies to states and cities
like it does the federal government. This case is as important as
Heller, and will massively impact gun rights forever.

We already know where Judge Sotomayor stands. It’s time to tell the
Senate, “Vote No! on Sonia Sotomayor.”

Ammo Update!

NSSF has received numerous calls regarding shortages of ammunition. Many of these callers have expressed concern that the supply of ammunition is not able to keep up with the current demand.

In order to provide the best information possible on the issue of ammunition availability, NSSF interviewed ammunition manufacturers across the United States.  Here’s what we have learned:

Is there truly a shortage of ammunition?

The shortage of ammunition is real and is caused by several factors including:

• A significant spike in consumer demand
• Law Enforcement demand for training and readiness
• Department of Defense demand for training and readiness
• Higher prices from commodities

What calibers are in the highest demand?

The high demand for ammunition extends across caliber lines. The increase can be seen in most handgun, rifle and rimfire ammunition and on certain shot shell products such as buckshot.

What are manufacturers doing to keep up with demand?

In order to help keep up with demand for ammunition, manufacturers are working at full capacity (24/7).  It is believed that any ammunition shortage is likely a temporary issue; however, it will take time for supply to catch up with demand.

How long will it take for supply to catch up with demand?

While it is believed that supply will be increasing, the great unknown is what demand will be later in the year. Since there is no way for manufacturers to predict how long consumer demand will be sustained at its current, unprecedented level, it is impossible for manufacturers to forecast the timeline for when the current backlog will begin to improve.

Hunters Helping Hunters, Inc. currently has an opening on the Board of Directors
for the Vice President of Fundraising. The candidate must be able to dedicate at
least 20 hours per month towards fundraising activities and commit to a 3-year
term. Hunters Helping Hunters, Inc is a not-for-profit, 501c3 organization and
all Board of Directors are made up of people who volunteer their time and energy
to fund this charity.  Board members of HHH do not receive salaries or any other
compensation for their work. If interested, please send request for copy of the
Job Description and questionnaire to kzeringue@tx.rr.com.

Incase you have not heard since last weeks ammo attack…… DoD changed their mind all of a sudden. I wonder why? Seems like the Georgia Arms folks got everybody fired up and calling their folks in Washington. Heres the brush off email to Georgia Arms.

(This was pertaining to an outstanding bid on a lot of brass that we won prior to the mutilation order. DOD sent us a bill for the brass after we had refused it due to the mutilation requirements. DOD on Monday sent us a bill for the brass and when we responded that we had already refused it due to the mutilation clause, we received this reply via email.)

I am sorry you hadn’t been informed –

Word came down that all shells 50 caliber or smaller CAN still be purchased without the mutilation requirement as long as kept in the US.

(As it was in limbo, I did not sent your EUC to Battle Creek until today, also why I have not contacted you for payment until today.)

Thanks!

Arana K. Wolin

Document Verification Supervisor

Government Liquidation, LLC

DOD Surplus, LLC

15051 N Kierland Blvd. #300

Scottsdale, AZ 85254

If that got your attention….we go now to the point.

Jim Shepherd wrote a feature article in todays edition of The Shooting Wire.  Please read it because it may just open you eyes to the way this country is heading.  We, as free law abiding gun owners, are about to come face to face with our worse nightmares……

No Longer Just Paranoia

Read the rest of this entry »

Semi-Automatic Rifle Ban

 
Would Reduce Jobs, Not Crime

Firearms Industry Reminds Congress
to Respect Second Amendment Rights

NEWTOWN, Conn. — Responding to Attorney General Eric Holder’s comment yesterday that the Obama Administration will attempt to reinstate a ban against semi-automatic rifles, the National Shooting Sports Foundation reminded Congress and all Americans that such a ban would cause jobs to be lost in a difficult economy, have no effect on reducing crime and would deprive millions of law-abiding sportsmen and gun owners of their Constitutional right to own the firearm of their choice.

Holder made his comments in connection with criminals supplying illegal guns from the United States to drug dealers in Mexico.

“The problem of criminals breaking the law to acquire firearms and illegally smuggling them across the border is not remedied by legislation that would violate the rights of Americans to own semi-automatic firearms,” said Steve Sanetti, president of NSSF, the trade association of the firearms industry.

“These types of firearms, which are erroneously called ‘assault weapons,’ are used by millions of Americans for hunting, sporting and personal defense purposes,” Sanetti added. “We can only conclude that certain officials are waiting for any politically advantageous excuse to announce the intention to seek a new ban on sporting rifles, a ban that would break the president’s campaign promise to gun owners that ‘I’m not going to take away your guns.’”

The industry and firearms owners were understandably outraged by Holder’s comments yesterday, and today even House Speaker Nancy Pelosi backed away from the idea of a new gun ban. “On that score, I think we need to enforce the laws we have right now,” said Pelosi, surprisingly taking the position of pro-gun advocates.

Holder’s use of the inaccurate term “assault weapons” is one that is deliberately used by gun-ban advocates to create confusion between legally sold, semi-automatic rifles and look-a-like, fully automatic military versions. While the civilian version of these rifles may resemble their military counterparts, the civilian rifle fires only one round with each pull of the trigger. Additionally, these rifles fire ammunition calibers no more powerful than traditional-looking sporting arms. Civilian access to fully automatic machine guns has been severely restricted since 1934.

Studies show that the ban against sporting firearms, known as the Assault Weapons Ban, that was in place from 1994 to 2004 did not reduce crime. Furthermore, there has been no increase in crime involving these types of firearms since Congress allowed the ban to expire.

A ban on sporting firearms also would have a severe effect on jobs and the economy. Sales of semi-automatic rifles have been strong over the last several months — overall sales of firearms have increased as much as 42 percent — and have allowed companies in the firearms industry to withstand, to some extent, the downturn in the economy.

“These semi-automatic rifles are the most popular rifle in America today and they are largely behind the recent increase in firearms sales,” said Sanetti. “This is a bright spot in our economy and has helped save jobs in our industry.”

Since the election last November gun owners have feared the Obama Administration would seek legislation that would infringe on their Second Amendment rights. “It appears gun owners’ fears were well-founded given Attorney General Holder’s comment that the Obama Administration will seek new restrictions on gun owners. A new gun ban would fly in the face of last year’s Supreme Court decision in the Heller case that reaffirmed the Second Amendment right of all Americans to keep and bear arms,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel.

For more information, visit:
http://nssf.org/media/FactSheets/Semi-Auto_Background.cfm

Last season was another blessed one for our program, no doubt.  Streamlight rescued us as our banner sponsor and will do so again for the upcoming season.  But as many of you probably noticed, the availability of disabled hunts and hunter scholarships was down from previous years.  With the state of the nation and the economy, 2009 seems like it will be offering even more challenges for us.  But our Lord is larger than all of these obstacles.  By banding together we can make a difference and reverse this trend for the 2009-2010 season.

Little can be accomplished without funding.  I am asking all sportsmen to please consider what they might be able to do to raise money this year.  We would like to acquire the help of individuals connected with Bass Fishing Clubs and Trails in order to establish fishing tournaments benefiting BADF Life Hunts and Disabled Hunts.  Other activities like turkey shoots, archery competitions, raffles and eBay auctions are also other ways that we can fund additional services.  Please contact me if you feel that you can help in any of the above listed ways, or if you have other ideas.

This year we plan to auction on eBay two hunting slots to the Buckmasters Life Hunt in mid January 2010.  We have a bear hunt donated by Bear Paw Outfitters to auction, some other hunts, fishing trips, and Florida vacations.  If you can acquire or offer anything of value to auction it would be a great help!  Please note that if you are an eBayer, you can select BADF Life Hunts as a charity and designate a percentage of your auction price to come directly to the program.

I know there were many from last season that didn’t get to participate in events.  We need the ability to establish more events to serve more people.  Children with critical or terminal illnesses are the first priority of order with the funds that we have.  Last season we had 50 qualified requests from such children and we granted all of these hunting wishes, in addition to several for ill adults.  Second priority is providing mechanical gun mounts for folks who can’t afford one, and who can’t get out and otherwise.  Last season we purchased eleven of these devices.  As you know they can be expensive and cost upwards of $2000 each.

If you can help please contact me at dsullivan@buckmasters.com or call me 205-366-8415.   The address for donation is BADF Disabled Services/Life Hunts, 10540 Daystar Drive, Tuscaloosa, AL  35405.

Thanks, and my God bless you all,

David Sullivan

Director BADF Disabled Services/Life Hunts

In recognition of the unprece­dented demand for firearms by nervous consumers, The Outdoor Wire has named President-elect Barack Obama its “Gun Salesman of the Year”. For me, it was a simple fact of recognizing that without President-elect Obama’s frightening consumers into action, the firearms industry might be suffering the same sort of business slumps that have befallen the automotive and housing industries.

It’s credit where credit is due. Mr. Obama has consistently voted against individual rights to firearms, appointed a re-tread Clinton administration full of gun banners, and made it plain to anti-gun groups that despite what he might say to the contrary, he’s on their side That history, along with the unquestioned support of anti-gun organizations has spooked consumers into a buying frenzy for firearms that could be outlawed in another Assault Weapons Ban.

Manufacturers are months behind on orders for semi-automatic pistols, AR-style rifles, and anything with so-called ‘high-capacity magazines, buyers we’ve surveyed across the country seem to have a single explanation for their rush to purchase firearms – Obama.

The buying panic is not limited to people you might be described as aficionados or even ‘gun nuts’. Recently, I was in a gun store when a gentleman came and said he’d never wanted to own a gun before, but wanted to get one while he still could.”

Since the November Presidential election, firearms sales have been at unprecedented levels. For December 2008 the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) recorded a twenty-four percent increase in background checks for 2008 (1,523,426) over December 2007 (1,230,525).

This follows a forty-two percent (42%) increase in November 2008, the highest number of NICS checks in the system’s history. Those FBI background checks are required under federal law for all individuals purchasing firearms from federally licensed firearms retailers. In other words, gun sales have never been better.

Sales are so good that on Tuesday, January 6, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) issued a notice to all federal firearms licensees that “an unprecedented increase in demand for ATF Form 4473 had run supplies low enough that dealers were temporarily given permission to photocopy the form until supplies caught up with demand. Completion of a form 4473 is required whenever a federal firearms licensee sells a fire­arm.

As a journalist with more than two decades of national newsgathering experience, I’ve never seen anything approaching what he calls the “Obama effect”. In fact, gun and ammunition sales are at such frantic levels that they have surpassed the panic-buying of Y2K or anything during the Clinton years when the first Assault Weapons Ban was passed. This time, he says, concerned consumers are buying guns and ammunition in anticipation of Obama Administration actions to prohibit certain types of firearms.

In 1999, the fear was that computers would shut down, crippling the world. Those fears were unfounded. I don’t think the fears of an Obama administration banning guns are unfounded. His record speaks for itself. He’s never failed to support an anti-gun measure, despite saying he supports the Second Amendment.

Moves to prohibit firearms sales would drastically impact a billion-dollar industry that is not only healthy, but pours more than one hundred fifty million dollars annually into conservation programs through an eleven percent tax collected on guns and ammo.

The Pittman-Robertson Act provides the vast majority of funding for wildlife agencies at the federal, state and local levels and that money comes directly from the tax levied against gun owners. Damaging the firearms industry won’t just put workers in the gun business out of work, it will severely impact wildlife and conservation efforts nationally. That damage could take decades to repair – if it can be undone.”

Choosing President-elect Obama as the Gun Salesman of the Year is a lot like a good-news, bad-news joke.His election has driven gun sales into the stratosphere, but his opposition to guns and gun ownership may be the biggest threat the industry has ever faced. If he puts scoring political points with anti-gun groups ahead of economic realities, he will be deliberately putting thousands of people out of work. I don’t see that as an economic stimulus plan with much of a future.”

“Today, the facts are indisputable. Barack Obama has spurred gun sales in a time when the entire economy seems to be tanking. If that doesn’t make him the gun salesman of the year – if not the decade – I don’t know what would.

- Jim Shepherd

Legislation Diverts Hunting Fees to Roads, Could Cost Millions in Federal Dollars
1/13/09

The USSA is asking sportsmen in South Dakota to contact their state legislators and urge them to oppose a new bill recently introduced that could gut the state’s ability to manage its wildlife. 

House Bill 1002, sponsored by Representative Kent Juhnke (R- Vivian), proposes that $1 for every hunting license sold by the Department of Game, Fish, and Parks be sent to a new fund in the state treasury to be used by counties for road repair. If passed as drafted, HB 1002 could raise $600,000 annually for roads. The wildlife department Secretary, Jeff Vonk, has indicated that his agency is not supportive of the bill.   

There are several reasons for the opposition. Most importantly, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued an opinion that HB 1002 would be considered a “diversion” of license fees. That would be a violation of federal law, risking the loss of $10 million in federal dollars that went to the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks in 2008. The loss of that federal money would devastate South Dakota’s ability to manage its wildlife.

Additionally, in news reports, Vonk was quoted saying that sportsmen already pay for road repairs through fuel taxes at the pump and that the bill “seems like a double hit.” 

 “Secretary Vonk is on target when he calls this a double hit for sportsmen,” said Rick Story, Executive Vice President of the USSA. Story continued, “In some ways it could be seen as a triple hit. Sportsmen pay fuel taxes like everyone else and expect their hunting fees to pay for helping wildlife. They don’t expect those fees to go to asphalt while getting gypped out of millions in federal funds at the same time.”

South Dakota sportsmen should contact their local legislators and tell them that the state can’t afford to lose $10 million for conservation and that it is unfair for sportsmen to take a hit for repairing roads when they already pay fuel taxes. To find your legislators, go to the USSA Legislative Action Center by Clicking Here.