Victory in the House! -- But the land bill battle will continue Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert 8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151 Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408 http://www.gunowners.org Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Thanks to you, a bill expanding gun control on federal land was narrowly defeated Wednesday morning, March 11. The Omnibus Public Lands Act of 2009, S. 22, would have drastically increased the amount of land controlled by the National Park Service, thus subjecting such land to the anti-gun regulations of the agency. The bill was brought to the floor of the U.S. House on what is known as the "suspension calendar." This calendar is normally reserved for non-controversial bills. As such, any bill being passed under the suspension calendar requires a two-thirds majority of those voting. In this case, the pro-gun position prevailed by a mere two votes -- meaning S. 22 is far from being non-controversial. Although suspension bills are not normally amended, one change was allowed in a secret backroom deal between a few members. The amendment, offered by Rep. Jason Altmire (D-PA), was intended to alleviate the concerns of gun owners. The Altmire amendment sought to protect hunting and recreational shooting on federal land, but those steps are completely inadequate to address the concerns of millions of gun owners. The Second Amendment protects, as the Supreme Court affirmed in D.C. v. Heller, an individual right to keep and bear arms. That right was never intended to protect only the shooting sports. Under current regulations, firearms possessed for the sole purpose of self-defense on land controlled by the National Park Service is prohibited unless the person holds a concealed carry permit. While millions of law-biding Americans hold CCW permits, many more do not. It is these citizens' rights that are going unprotected. NPS land covers the gamut from busy thoroughfares to remote wilderness areas. These gun free zones are dangerous, in addition to creating a patchwork of inconsistent regulations between federal and state land. Although we won today, unfortunately the battle is not over. The anti-gun leadership will attempt to bring this bill back to the floor in a way that requires a simple majority, rather than the two-thirds vote they needed Wednesday. Several pro-gun congressmen will try to offer an amendment in committee to simply allow state and local law to govern firearms possession on NPS land. This type of amendment would put more control at the local level and protect the gun rights of all law-abiding Americans. What is expected is that the leadership will propose a new "rule" that blocks any such pro-gun amendments. If that happens, the vote on the rule becomes the gun vote. House leaders have not indicated when they will attempt to bring the bill back to the floor, but it could come up at any time. Therefore, your Representative needs to hear from you once again, for two reasons. First, the entire House needs to be urged to reject any parliamentary trick that excludes language to protect Second Amendment rights on federal land. Next, those who voted against your rights need to know of your dissatisfaction, while those who stood up for your rights should be thanked. ACTION: Please use the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at http://gunowners.org/activism.htm to send your Rep. a pre-written letter. Note: the LAC will automatically load the correct text for individual Representatives, based upon their vote Wednesday. Because the list has to be divided in this way, the pre-written letters are not editable by the sender. ----- Pre-written letter for those who voted pro-gun ----- Dear Representative: Thank you for standing up for the Second Amendment by voting against S. 22, the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009. This bill would greatly expand land controlled by the National Park Service, and thus spread the agency's gun restrictions to even more areas. The NPS gun ban should be repealed, not expanded. Although the pro-gun side won today, the battle is not over. The anti-gun leadership will try to bring the bill to the floor again, this time with a rule intended to exclude a pro-gun amendment to repeal the NPS anti-gun regulations. If that is the case, I urge you to once again stand up for the Second Amendment and vote against the rule. Sincerely, ----- Pre-written letter for those who voted anti-gun ----- Dear Representative, I am extremely disappointed that you did not stand up for the Second Amendment on the issue of S. 22, the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009. This bill would greatly expand land controlled by the National Park Service, and thus spread the agency's gun restrictions to even more areas. The NPS gun ban should be repealed, not expanded. Although the pro-gun side won today, the battle is not over. The anti-gun leadership will try to bring the bill to the floor again, this time with a rule intended to exclude a pro-gun amendment to repeal the NPS anti-gun regulations. If that is the case, I urge you to protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans and vote against the rule. Sincerely,
We won, for now…
March 12, 2009EMERGENCY ALERT: GOA!
March 10, 2009Why do I smell a Lautenberg..?
Emergency Alert!
— Compromise on massive land bill does not protect Second Amendment
rights
Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
Tuesday evening, March 10, 2009
Gun Owners of America does not sound the “Emergency alarm”
often — and
when we do, we mean it.
Remember the massive land bill, S. 22, that passed out of the Senate
last month?
It was expected to pass quickly in the House, but your opposition to an
expansion of gun control contained in the bill forced it to be pulled
from the floor.
GOA has just learned that after some backroom deals, the bill is headed
to the floor WEDNESDAY MORNING, without any amendments to truly protect
your Second Amendment rights on National Park Service (NPS) land.
You have fought the battle over the NPS gun ban for a long time.
Unlike U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land,
which allow for state and local law to govern firearms possession, NPS
land is subject to a complete gun ban for any citizen who does not hold
a concealed carry permit.
The bill coming to the floor March 11 greatly expands NPS land, thus
spreading the agency’s anti-gun regulations into more areas.
S. 22 is actually a compilation of over 190 bills, many of which were
never even debated on their own merits.
Here are just a few examples of land expansions in the bill:
* Section 5204 of the bill establishes the Washington-Rochambeau Route
as a Historic Trail. This dual trail begins in Rhode Island and travels
650 miles to Yorktown, Virginia. The trail includes parts of major
thoroughfares on the east coast such as Interstate 95 and US Route 1,
meaning the gun ban could effect hundreds of thousands of unsuspecting
gun owners each day.
* Section 5301 authorizes the federal government to buy private land
adjacent to national parks and trails. Such land would be controlled by
the NPS, and thus be subject to the agency’s anti-gun regulations.
* Section 7002 makes the birthplace of William Jefferson Clinton a
National Historic Site. Perhaps it’s fitting that the legacy of former
President Clinton, who was responsible for so many anti-Second Amendment
laws, will include yet another “gun free” zone.
In all, the bill designates over 2 million acres of wilderness,
establishes three new national parks, a new national monument, three new
national conservation areas, and four new national trails.
In an effort to persuade pro-gun Congressmen to vote for the bill, the
leadership apparently agreed to one backroom change — an amendment to
protect hunting and recreational shooting.
The compromise measure misses the point. The founding fathers did not,
in their struggle to secure essential freedoms, craft the Second
Amendment with the idea that it would protect hunting and recreational
shooting.
It is seemingly simple to understand, yet we have to continually remind
the Congress that the Second Amendment is not about hunting!
If we have any chance of stopping this bill, you must contact your
Representative right away.
The bill is scheduled to come to the floor before noon, Wednesday, March
11.
Please don’t let Congress sneak this expansion of gun control through
the House under the guise that compromise language protects your Second
Amendment rights. It doesn’t.
ACTION: Right now, please use the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center
at http://gunowners.org/activism.htm to send your Representative the
pre-written letter below.
—– Pre-written letter —–
Dear Representative,
On March 11, the House intends to take up S. 22, a massive bill
containing nearly 200 separate pieces of legislation.
This bill will greatly expand land controlled by the Nation Park
Service, thereby expanding the agency’s anti-gun regulations.
There is compromise language being offered to supposedly protect hunting
and sport shooting. That is insufficient, as the Second Amendment is
NOT about hunting and recreational shooting!
And while there may be some parts of this bill that you support for our
state or our district, please do not give such parochial issues priority
over my Second Amendment rights.
I urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to vote against this 1,294
page bill until the leadership allows an amendment that will truly
protect the right to keep and bear arms.
Gun Owners of America will rate a vote for this bill as an anti-gun
vote, and will inform me of your position.
Sincerely,
****************************
Please do not reply directly to this message, as your reply will
bounce back as undeliverable.
To subscribe to free, low-volume GOA alerts, go to
http://www.gunowners.org/ean.htm on the web. Change of e-mail
address may also be made at that location.
Civil Liberties versus Civil Rights
March 10, 2009Civil Liberties versus Civil Rights. Over the past weekend my mailbox was inundated with questions having to do with the subject. I got tired of responding individually and decided to write a short essay about it. Basically, a comparison contrast piece.
First, some definitions;
Civil Liberties
civil liberties n. rights or freedoms given to the people by the First Amendment to the Constitution, by common law, or legislation, allowing the individual to be free to speak, think, assemble, organize, worship, or petition without government (or even private) interference or restraints. These liberties are protective in nature, while civil rights form a broader concept and include positive elements such as the right to use facilities, the right to an equal education, or the right to participate in government. (See: civil, civil rights)
Civil Rights
Personal liberties that belong to an individual, owing to his or her status as a citizen or resident of a particular country or community.
The most common legal application of the term civil rights involves the rights guaranteed to U.S. citizens and residents by legislation and by the Constitution. Civil rights protected by the Constitution include Freedom of Speech and freedom from certain types of discrimination.
Leave it to Lawyers to muck things up beyond belief! They are nearly as bad as Economist’s when it comes to turning something, anything, from the profoundly simple to that which only confuses.
Both Liberties and Rights have much in common, or at least they appear to. So then, how are they differentiated one from the other? One must step away from politics and enter the metaphysical world of ethics.
In the realm of ethics, as applied in this context, there are the Natural and Unalienable Rights. These are rights that you, as a person are in fact born with, and can never be taken from you.
There are also Inalienable Civil Liberties or Rights. Those are rights that are granted via society or government. Those rights can be surrendered or forfeited based upon behavior. (The link above addresses both.)
The simplified version then, is that a “Natural” right cannot be taken or surrendered. But, again this is very simplified, a Civil Right or Liberty can be taken from you. Most often by surrendering a right for the perceived greater good. A good example would be surrendering your right to self defense via gun control. You will always have a right to self defense, in an ethical context, but you can choose to impose self restrictions upon yourself.
Further, society can in point of fact take your Unalienable Rights from you should it deem it necessary for the good of society. That being execution for true felonies.
Confusing even in a simplified version? Yes, admittedly it can be. A Civil Right is a Natural or God given Right. A Civil Liberty is granted by society or government.
These are the crux of such diverse issues as California’s Proposition Eight, as well as Gun Control, and the list just goes on from there.
Tin foil hat time..?
March 9, 2009Just about a year ago I was chatting on IM with a friend, and as might be expected we were discussing the election. The Democrat race was anything but sewn up at that point. Both of us being conservatives with a markedly Libertarian bent were anything but happy with the choices available in the race for the Presidency.
How though, could the country be turned on it’s head? He believed that the nation would continue on without much, if any serious change irrespective of who ended up in the oval office. My position was different, as regular readers might expect. I said that our entire way of life could be destroyed. How so? By destroying the economy, or even by making it appear to be the situation. Who would be able to pull that off. The usual suspects of course. George Soros, Chuck Schumer, and so on. My friend suggested that I needed to adjust my tin foil hat for better reception. We both had a good laugh and went on to other things of interest.
Today my RSS feeder lit up with something that caught my attention. Read about it at papundits.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN SHEEP
March 8, 2009DOW VIDEO: ‘ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN SHEEP’ THE NEXT BEST THING TO BEING THERE
DENVER, Colo.– Few animals epitomize Colorado’s rugged and unforgiving mountains like the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Yet the vertical terrain that keeps sheep safe from predators also limits opportunities for Coloradans to view and appreciate this majestic animal.
That’s why the Colorado Division of Wildlife dispatched their video production team to scale the steep ledges and rock cliffs along I-70 near Georgetown and capture the drama of bighorn sheep during the “rut” or mating season. Filmed in high-definition video and recorded in digital audio, “Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep” takes viewers on an intimate journey into the world of Colorado’s state mammal. It’s now available online as part of the Division’s “a.m. Colorado” video library.
Bighorn rams are famous for their aggressive mating jousts; violent collisions that reverberate across the mountains and determine dominance within the herd. Although the head-to-head combat is an annual rite, capturing this spectacle in high-definition format proved to be a challenge for Division of Wildlife videographers.
“We put in some really long hours on this project,” said Dennis McKinney, DOW video producer and videographer. “Filming was physically more difficult than we had anticipated and it seemed like we were always in the wrong location or our view was impeded. We spent nearly two months in the field before we were finally able to get the footage we wanted of two rams butting heads.”
“Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep” is the latest instalment of the Division’s “a.m. Colorado,” an ongoing series of short, online documentaries that capture the early-morning sights and sounds of some of Colorado’s most unique landscapes and wildlife species. Filmed in high-definition video and recorded in digital audio, these mini-documentaries provide stunning visuals and sound, and incorporate informative captions that both educate and entertain. In addition to bighorn sheep, current episodes feature the intricate mating dance of the greater prairie chicken, the spectacular breeding displays of the sage-grouse, the springtime gobble of the Rio Grande turkey and unique underwater footage of spawning whitefish, brown trout and kokanee salmon.
“The project was certainly time- and labor- intensive, but it was definitely worth all the hard work,” said Nick Clement, DOW video editor. “The bighorn sheep are amazing and a great addition to the ‘a.m. Colorado’ series. We are really happy with the final result.”
Since debuting last year, the “a.m. Colorado” videos have been viewed nearly 15,000 times, and continue to receive rave reviews. Denver Westword said, “. . . the videos look fantastic and capture some of this state’s most unique early-morning wildlife displays. . . here’s hoping DOW keeps ’em coming.”
The high-definition videos are linked to the Division’s Web site from an outside provider, resulting in faster loading times and outstanding picture quality. To play the videos, viewers need a high-speed Internet connection and the latest version of Adobe Flash installed on their computer.
“‘a.m. Colorado’ is the next best thing to being there,” said McKinney. “We view the series as the ideal format to showcase Colorado’s amazing wildlife on computer screens around the world.”
In addition to the “a.m. Colorado” series, the Division’s video department produces a wide variety of wildlife educational DVDs and Web-based videos, which are distributed to hunters, anglers and wildlife viewing enthusiasts. This department is also responsible for producing internal training and public-service content for the Division’s constituents and employees.
The “a.m. Colorado” series and other DOW online videos may be accessed directly by visiting the following link: http://wildlife.state.co.us/NewsMedia/Videos/
For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.
LAND PROTECTION AGREEMENT OPENS ACCESS IN LAKE COUNTY
March 8, 2009This is just awesome news! This area has been “out of bounds” for nearly all people for as long as I can remember. It’s diverse attractions for outdoor recreation are hard to list. Or imagine as far as that goes. Great work Division of Wildlife!
LEADVILLE, Colo. – A four-way partnership between the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW), Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas, and private landowners has resulted in a perpetual conservation easement on 3,200 acres of important wildlife habitat and scenic open space in Lake County.
Owners of the Moyer Ranch entered the agreement to keep the land as a working ranch and preserve its vital wildlife habitat. In addition, about a third of the ranch will be open to seasonal access to hunters and anglers.
A conservation easement is a legal property interest that compensates a landowner for relinquishing certain development rights as a way to ensure the long-term protection of the land. The Moyer family received approximately $4.8 million in return for conceding future development rights on the property. The Division of Wildlife and GOCO each contributed $2.4 million. The Moyer family donated additional considerations including previous conservation considerations reached with the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas in 2007.
“We are very pleased we were able to be a part of the cooperative effort to protect this important wildlife habitat,” said DOW Area Manager Jim Aragon. “The Moyer family’s desire to protect the land, the wildlife resource, and to continue with their land stewardship and ranching heritage was key to getting this project done.”
“This has been such a great project,” said Bruce Goforth of the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas. “It will preserve the agriculture, wildlife habitat and water resources on the last, large, working ranch in Lake County. And the water preserved will continue to flow down the Arkansas River, ensuring water quantity, quality, and good fish habitat for many miles.”
The Moyer Ranch has diverse wildlife populations including bighorn sheep, deer, elk, mountain lions, black bears, and an abundant variety of birds, small mammals, and other non-game wildlife. The property also features several pristine feeder streams that connect to the Arkansas River.
According to Tom Martin, the local wildlife officer, the DOW’s conservation easement consists of multiple parcels. Most of the tracts are contiguous but some overlap others, and many are irregular shapes located on the steep hillsides.
Approximately 1,350 acres will be open for hunting and fishing. Hunting access will be limited to rifle season deer, elk, and bear; and limited archery and rifle hunting for bighorn sheep. Public fishing access will be allowed on portions of Iowa and Empire Gulches.
In addition, the Moyer Family and Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas have agreed to allow fishing access on a stretch of Arkansas River upstream from the Hwy. 24 overpass at Hayden Meadows for nine-tenths of a mile to the Crystal Lake State Trust property. Access points, parking areas, and signs still need to be posted, but the DOW hopes to have that done in the next few months. The result will be that the public will have fishing access to a contiguous stretch of the Upper Arkansas River that is over seven miles long.
COLORADO’S WILDLIFE HABITAT PROTECTION PROGRAM
Habitat loss is a primary cause for the decline of many wildlife species in Colorado. As highly desirable lands are altered or converted to other uses, wildlife habitat can become degraded, destroyed, and fragmented. Habitat conversion and loss can also reduce opportunities for hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation.
The primary use of funds from the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Protection Program is to address the loss of critical big game winter range and migration corridors, but also to preserve other wildlife habitat as well. Wetlands and riparian corridors along with important habitat for threatened and endangered species, and species of special concern are also a priority for acquisition.
By combining funding sources, including Habitat Stamp funds, GOCO funds, Game Cash funds, Wetlands Program funds, Federal funds and others, the DOW is able to bring together an array of species protection and land conservation tools and incentives not otherwise available. The preferred strategy uses perpetual conservation easements that provide incentives to private landowners that protects wildlife habitat and for beneficial wildlife management practices.
Conservation easements are used to guarantee that landscapes remain intact and to provide fundamental wildlife benefits on a long-term basis. All conservation easements must have an accompanying management plan that is approved by the landowner and the DOW.
Since 2006, sales of Habitat Stamps have been instrumental in protecting more than 60,000 acres of wildlife habitat in the state. The DOW used some funds to purchase land, but most land is preserved through permanent conservation easements held by the DOW and various non-profit partnerships.
The primary focus is protecting important winter range and migration corridors for deer and elk, but acquisitions and easements have also protected critical habitats for sage grouse, opened up fishing access for anglers, and provided hunting access.
A nine-member citizen’s committee appointed by the Governor oversees the habitat stamp program. The committee has reviewed dozens of proposals to protect critical wildlife habitat. Proposals are reviewed and ranked according to wildlife benefits, public access, and cost. Final approval comes from the Colorado Wildlife Commission.
Public access is not required, but projects that provide hunting and fishing access and those with matching funds from partners get additional consideration.
For more information, call (303) 291-7217. Additional information on the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Program timeline for the 2009 enrollment period and a copy of the application is available at http://wildlife.state.co.us/LandWater/PrivateLandProgram/WildlifeHabitatProtectionProgram/
– end –
For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.
Just say no to higher taxes!
March 8, 2009Just say no to higher oppressive taxation! And tip a cool Guinness with with a sip of Knappogue while doing so!
As someone who enjoys great brands such as Smirnoff, Crown Royal, Captain Morgan, Johnnie Walker, Ketel One, Jose Cuervo, Tanqueray, Guinness, Beaulieu Vineyard or Sterling Vineyards wines, you are a member of the Diageo family. As a member of our family, you need to be aware that in the coming months, lawmakers will be proposing tax increases that will put jobs in your community at risk and raise the cost of your favorite drink.
There’s a real price to pay when elected officials misguidedly try to replenish state budgets with regressive taxes that will hit us at a time when we are already being hit hard enough economically. These taxes will cause people like bartenders, waiters, waitresses and other folks who work hard every day in our community restaurants and hotels to lose their jobs. In fact, the last time they raised taxes on alcohol, $1.3 billion in wages were lost, while 98,000 people found themselves out of work.
Hardly sounds fair, does it?
It’s time to SAY NO to higher taxes that will put jobs at risk and raise prices on the people who can afford it the least. CLICK HERE to join the fight against irresponsible and regressive taxes.
Together, we can protect our jobs, our livelihoods, and the right to responsibly enjoy a drink.
Cheers!
Guy L. Smith
Executive Vice President
Diageo North America
Objective Analysis May Lead To Real Reform
March 8, 2009From time to time, elected officials actually do research an issue, learn the facts, and take the appropriate action. Such is the case with efforts to scrap Canada’s multi-billion, ineffective gun registry.
On February 9, 2009, Garry Breitkreuz, a member of the Canadian House of Commons for the Conservative Party of Canada, introduced Bill C-301–an act to amend the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act (registration of firearms). This Private Members Bill would bring to an end Canada’s much-maligned “Long Gun Registry.”
According to a recent article in Canada’s NationalPost.com, when the national long-gun registry was introduced some 14 years ago, Mr. Breitkreuz actually believed the onerous gun registry would help make Canada safer. Now he knows better.
“After many years of research, consultation and more than 600 access-to-information requests as a Member of Parliament, I now know that nothing could be further from the truth,” said Breitkreuz. “The gun registry has not saved one life in Canada, and it has been a financial sinkhole, estimated to have cost some $2-billion. Imagine how many more police we could have on the streets if we had invested more wisely. We need to dismantle the wasteful, futile registry and abandon the notion that this political pacifier is working. But most importantly, we need to stop placing onerous regulations on duck hunters and sport shooters who are not part of Canada’s criminal element.”
To read more about this important story, please click here.
When this law was put into effect we watched to see if indeed the people of Canada would submit to such nonsense foisted upon them. Well? The people not only spoke, they refused to comply. Good show people of Canada!
Wyoming takes a step forward
March 8, 2009Wyoming took a giant step forward by changing the effects of a law that was passed without a vote, in the dark of the night by the forces of mysandry and political correctness. Just this past week the cowards of the Supreme Court failed to address the immoral as well as blatantly un-Constitutional ex post facto Lautenberg Domestic Violence Act.
CHEYENNE — Wyoming residents accused or convicted of domestic violence may find it easier to regain their federal gun rights thanks to recent action by the state Legislature.
~snip~
Freudenthal said he’s comfortable that judges will be able to review people’s conduct for five years after a conviction before considering their expungement requests. “I think that gives you a pretty good chance to look at it, and evaluate their conduct,” he said Thursday.
Conservative Libertarian Outpost 