GOA thanks activists for sending thousands of e-mails to the Senate prior to vote

July 30, 2008

Gun owners won an important vote in the U.S. Senate this week, when more than three dozen senators stood with Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma in his battle against Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

Reid fell eight votes short on Monday of stopping Coburn, who has been using parliamentary maneuvers to keep anti-gun legislation (and pork) from coming to the Senate floor for votes.

Sen. Coburn has placed a “hold” on more than 80 bills since January of last year — including the bill which recently extended the National Parks gun ban to the Washington-Rochambeau trail.

Under the rules, one senator may block the progress of an objectionable bill by issuing a “hold” — a maneuver which prevents a bill from speedily moving through the legislative process.

The frustrated dictator of the Senate (a.k.a. Reid) combined 36 of the bills which have come under Coburn’s ire into a big omnibus bill and added all kinds of pork to entice senators into supporting the measure. Nevertheless, Reid still fell eight votes short of what was needed to defeat Coburn’s holds.

GOA wants to thank all of you who took the time during the last week to urge your senators to stand with Coburn!

VETERANS DISARMAMENT UPDATE

In other Senate news, Richard Burr’s bill to repeal large parts of the Veterans Disarmament Act is gaining steam. The Republican senator from North Carolina introduced the Veterans Protection Act (S. 3167) after President Bush signed a gun ban into law this year — a law which, among other things, disarms military veterans who have been diagnosed with PTSD. The Burr bill, which now has 18 cosponsors, would protect the rights of military veterans and make it more difficult for the Veterans Affairs to deny them their Second Amendment rights.

GOA members should have received their latest newsletter by now. This issue contains a key update on the Veterans Protection Act in the House (introduced by Rep. Virgil Goode) and answers frequently asked questions by gun owners such as: what should I do when I’m denied by the Brady Check and can I run a NICS check on myself?

If you’re not receiving the GOA newsletter, please go to http://www.gunowners.org/ordergoamem.htm to get your members-only subscription today!

ACTION:

1. Continue asking your two senators to stand with Sen. Coburn in defying the strong-arm tactics of Majority Leader Reid. Further to that, urge them to cosponsor Coburn’s bill (S. 2807) repealing the gun ban in the National Parks. You can visit the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center to send your Senators the pre-written e-mail message below.

2. Make sure you check out the latest GOA newsletter and mail the enclosed postcards in support of the Veterans Protection Act if you have not already done so. Thank you!

—– Pre-written letter —–

Dear Senator:

I was very happy to hear that the Senate stood with Tom Coburn and refused to vote for Harry Reid’s pork-laden omnibus bill on Monday, July 28.

I applaud Senator Coburn’s efforts to return our government to a constitutional basis, and I hope that the Senate will act on his bill to repeal the National Park Service gun ban (S. 2807).

Please stand with Sen. Coburn against the strong-arm tactics of Sen. Reid and support the repeal of the NPS gun ban.

Sincerely,