National Alerts

Senate Victory Over Foes Of Free Speech

Written by Gun Owners of America Published: 19 January 2007

Friday, January 19, 2007 Congratulations! You have, once again, whupped the anti-gun zealots! As Constitution-hating senators like California’s Dianne Feinstein whined and complained, the Senate — by a narrow largely-party-line vote of 55-43 — struck language which would have required GOA to monitor and report on its communications with its members and friends (like you).

GOA has heard reports that there was an outpouring of calls against this anti-speech language on Capitol Hill, and that it made a huge difference.

In addition to the massive wave of grassroots opposition, GOA was also working in concert with key Hill players (many of them trained by GOA) to hammer out a legislative strategy that would either result in the death of the entire bill or, at a minimum, kill the dangerous Section 220.

The good news came late on Thursday night when the Bennett amendment — which deleted this unconstitutional “grassroots lobbying” reporting language contained in S. 1 — was adopted by the narrow margin mentioned above.

The war is not over. The House has yet to produce its bill in this area – and no one is betting that the House will “do the right thing.” But we have won what perhaps will be the most important battle.

The 43 Senators who voted to take us down the road of more government regulation and more restrictions on the right of free speech — a road that would eventually make it harder for all of us to petition our government servants — are listed below:

Akaka (D-HI)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Dodd (D-CT)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kohl (D-WI)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Obama (D-IL)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Webb (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

****************************

If You’re Not Yet A GOA Member, Is It Time You Became One?
The ability of GOA to continue putting pressure on politicians depends on loyal activists like yourself. We want to keep sending you these e-mails for free, but it does cost us to continue providing them.
Are you unsure if you’re a member? If you’re not getting our newsletter, The Gun Owners, then that’s a good sign that you’re not a member.
Consider the benefits that paid-up GOA members get:

  • A no-compromise voice in Washington, D.C.
  • A Congressional rating — mailed before the election — listing the grade of every major candidate for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives
  • Pre-written letters and postcards to help you lobby your Congressmen
  • Experienced spokesmen to defend your rights in the media
  • In-depth research and analysis
  • Valuable discounts which are only presented to GOA members

So, please become a GOA member today! Join GOA today online at http://www.gunowners.org/ordergoamem.htm or call 703-321-8585.

U.S. Representative Ron Paul of Texas says, “Your membership in Gun Owners makes a difference on Capitol Hill every single day…. I know that GOA will continue to be the ‘no compromise’ leader in defending America’s gun rights and personal freedoms.”

When you join forces with GOA, you will become part of the toughest, no-compromise group in the nation’s capital.