Democrats thought the Schumer amendment was something that would not stir up people on the outside. But all of a sudden, lots of faxes and e-mails from GOA activists started pouring into their offices, and the idea was shelved. Great work! We’ll let you know if Schumer makes another attempt in the future.

Hostettler To Expand Gun Rights

As you know, it is illegal to own a handgun at all in the nation’s capital, as well as to possess any firearm for self-defense. But Rep. John Hostettler (R-IN) is trying to change all that. When the DC Appropriations bill comes to the floor — probably Tuesday — Hostettler plans to offer an amendment that will prevent the DC government from enforcing the gun ban.

Passing the Hostettler amendment would help gun owners nationwide by sending a strong message to gun grabbers all around the country. Once DC residents can own firearms — and the resulting drop in the DC murder rate becomes news — gun owners will have yet another strong talking point for repealing gun control across the country. Please ask your Representative to support the Hostettler amendment to the DC Appropriations bill (which is still unnumbered).

NOTE: Rep. Hostettler must get permission to offer his amendment Tuesday. If he is not allowed to offer it, you will know that the House leadership — a.k.a. Speaker Denny Hastert (R-IL) — has vetoed the idea.

Demil Gun Grab Is Back

Remember the demilitarization gun grab that was tucked into the Department of Defense bill last year? Well, it’s back. Buried deep within the DoD authorization bill (S. 1438) is a provision that would allow the DoD to collect and destroy certain privately owned militaria — including your M1 Carbine, 1903 Springfield, Colt SAA, uniforms, ammo, scopes, and more.

Last year, GOA put out e-mail and fax alerts asking our members to contact their congressmen and demand removal of this incredible gun grab. The bill had already passed both houses of Congress by huge margins — nobody reads the bills — and was in a conference committee to iron out the differences.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of GOA members and activists, Congress felt the heat. The Pearl Harbor attack on the Second Amendment was averted by the flood of calls and e-mail directed to Congress. Now, one year later, it’s time to do it again. Please ask your Senator to demand the demil gun grab provision be removed from the DoD bill.

ACTION: Please use the pre-written messages below to help direct your comments to your Representative and Senators. You can call them at 202-225-3121. To identify your Representative and Senators, as well as to send a message via e-mail supporting the Hostettler amendment, see the Legislative Action Center at http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm on the GOA website.

—– Pre-written messages —–

Dear Representative:

When the House takes up the DC Appropriations bill, Rep. John Hostettler (R-IN) plans to offer an amendment that will effectively allow DC residents to protect their homes and businesses with a firearm.

The amendment would take money away for enforcing the DC gun ban — a ban which has been completely ineffective in curbing crime. In the twenty years after passing one of the most restrictive gun laws in the country, Washington, DC saw its murder rate skyrocket, while the national rate plummeted.

In those twenty years (1976-1996), the FBI Crime Reports show that DC’s murder rate ROSE 172% while the national rate DECREASED 15%. This just goes to show that disarming victims is not the way to curb crime.

I urge you to support the Second Amendment and to vote for the Hostettler amendment.

Sincerely,

—————

Dear Senator:

I hope you will NOT support the authorization bill for the Department of Defense (S. 1438), as long as Section 1062 of the bill remains in its current form.

This section would allow the Department of Defense to confiscate militaria that is lawfully owned by private citizens and could require the destruction of guns in honest citizens’ hands — guns such as the M1 Carbine, 1903 Springfield, Colt SAA, and more. Please make sure this gun grab is fixed before you vote on it.

Guns in private hands are not a threat to the security of this nation. At a time when we are declaring a war on terrorism, we should not also wage war against veterans and gun owners who live peacefully within our borders. The government should be working with its citizens, not against them, to meet this terrorist threat. I would note that the only plane which did not reach its intended target on September 11 was United Airlines’ Flight 93, where private citizens (not the government) intervened.

Please do not vote against the veterans and gun owners of this country. Please do not support S. 1438 with Section 1062 in its current form. Thank you.

Sincerely,