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Yesterday, NRA-supported Senate Bill 286 was debated on the Senate floor for a few hours.  After consideration and votes on multiple amendments, this omnibus pro-gun legislation passed with overwhelming support by a 28 to 5 vote.  This pro-gun legislation will now go to the state House of Representatives where it may face some challenges.  Now is the time to contact your state Representative and urge him or her to support this important legislation. 

82-year-old Jim Brazel and his wife were asleep at home in Linn County, Ore. when they were awakened by suspicious noises coming from Brazel’s workshop. After retrieving a .410 shotgun, Brazel went to investigate and discovered a burglar. Brazel said to the man, “You take one more step and this gun goes off in the middle of your chest. Do what you want.”  The criminal chose to stay put until police could arrive, 20 minutes later. Following the incident, Brazel spoke of the burglar to local media, stating, “He’s making a mistake to try country people… Because 99 percent of us are all the same. We’re not afraid to shoot.”

Universal background checks for gun purchases are an attempt to address a legitimate problem: It really is easy for criminals to get guns, and it really is hard to prosecute those who sell guns to criminals. While licensed gun dealers are required to perform background checks and maintain records, private citizens may sell their guns without so much as asking a question. To prosecute a citizen for an illegal sale, the government must prove that the citizen knowingly gave a gun to a criminal or bought a gun for the sole purpose of transferring it to another party. In surveys, a large percentage of criminals report procuring guns through friends, family, and other private sources, yet these suppliers rarely face charges.But the fact that the problem is real does not mean this proposed solution would be helpful. Universal checks might be an inherently unworkable idea. And a universal-check policy capable of passing the current Congress will certainly not do much good. It is time for legislators to direct their efforts elsewhere.

A sizable number of Americans think the federal government is coming after their guns. Forty four percent (44%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is at least somewhat likely that the government will try to confiscate all privately owned guns over the next generation or so, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Rarely has the political class whipped itself into a lather that has abated so quickly. After the Newtown, Conn., massacre, so many invested so much hope in President Barack Obama’s pledge to “use whatever power this office holds” to pass new gun control laws.The president has certainly done his part. He has held rallies. He has used children as props. He has held events with parents of the little victims of Newtown. He has shamed the nation for its alleged forgetfulness over the terrible events of that day and urged members of Congress to “join me in finishing the job — for our communities and, most importantly, for our kids.”Yet the needle of public opinion is moving the wrong way. CBS News found that support for stricter guns laws dropped from 57 percent to 47 percent, and CNN from 52 percent to 43 percent.

The Maryland Senate gave final approval to Gov. Martin O'Malley's sweeping gun control bill Thursday night, sending the legislation to the governor for his promised signature.

Measures that would let judges, private investigators and public bus passengers carry guns sailed through an Oklahoma Senate committee Thursday.The Senate Public Safety Committee approved six gun related bills Thursday and sent them to the full Senate. All have already passed the House, but one would have to go back to the lower chamber for concurrence in an amendment.

The Alabama Senate has passed legislation to ease some of the state's gun restrictions.The Senate voted 27-5 Thursday for the bill by Republican Sen. Scott Beason of Gardendale. It now goes to the House for consideration.It would allow workers to keep guns locked in their vehicles while at their jobs, and it would allow people to get a lifetime permit to keep guns in their vehicles all the time.

Colorado legislators are not finished devouring your constitutional rights.  Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse in Denver, state Representative Beth McCann (D-8) will be submitting legislation tomorrow that will nullify the right to due process for gun owners throughout Colorado.  

Tomorrow, April 5 at 8:30 a.m., several anti-gun bills will be heard by the Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee in Hearing Room 50 at the state Capitol.  These bills attempt to provide a “solution” to a non-existent problem and instead create a new class of criminals amongst otherwise law-abiding citizens.

Today, Governor Dan Malloy (D) disregarded the constitutional rights of the residents in Connecticut and signed Senate Bill 1160 into law, the most sweeping and radical “gun control” bill in our nation’s history.  This measure was approved in the state Senate by a 26-10 vote and in the state House by a 105-44 vote, only hours after both chambers received the bill language.

On March 22, Governor Gary Herbert (R) vetoed House Bill 76.   Your help is needed immediately to save this important right to carry bill that received the overwhelming approval of the state legislature this session.  Contact your state Senator and Representative now, and urge the state Legislature to reconvene for a veto session by May 13 and to vote to override the Governor’s veto of HB 76.  An override session can only take place with consent from two-thirds of both state legislative chambers, so each call AND e-mail to your state lawmakers will make the difference!

The Bureau of Land Management’s Grand Junction Field Office (GJFO) has released a draft management plan for public comment.  The planning area consists of more than 1 million surface acres, of which the majority is in Mesa and Garfield Counties, with small amounts in Montrose and Rio Blanco Counties.

Yesterday, the House Civil Justice Committee considered House Bill 6, the School Security Act of 2013, and by a voice vote, passed HB 6 in committee.  Sponsored by state Representative Eric Watson (R-22), HB 6 was amended to allow a person employed or assigned to a Local Education Agency to possess and carry a firearm on the grounds of that school if they are current or former law enforcement.  

The Bureau of Land Management has released a plan for the management of 2.4 million surface acres of public land and 4.2 million acres of federal minerals in North Central Montana.  These lands and minerals are managed by three BLM Field Offices in Havre, Malta, and Glasgow, along with the Great Falls Oil and Gas Field Office.  The draft plan addresses planning issues concerning the BLM’s management of natural and cultural resources, many of which have been discussed in newsletters available on its website.

The Bureau of Land Management has released a plan for the management of 2.4 million surface acres of public land and 4.2 million acres of federal minerals in North Central Montana.  These lands and minerals are managed by three BLM Field Offices in Havre, Malta, and Glasgow, along with the Great Falls Oil and Gas Field Office.  The draft plan addresses planning issues concerning the BLM’s management of natural and cultural resources, many of which have been discussed in newsletters available on its website.

Yesterday, the Virginia General Assembly reconvened to consider a pro-gun amendment to Senate Bill 1378 submitted by Governor Bob McDonnell (R).  This amendment passed in the state Senate by a 40-0 vote and passed in the House of Delegates by an 87-7 vote.

Unfortunately, on Tuesday, all Democrats voted for three egregious anti-gun bills in the state Assembly Public Safety Committee ensuring that each bill received and was reported by a 5 to 2 vote.  These three anti-gun bills will now be re-referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.  A hearing date has not been set, but we will keep you posted.

On April 1, 2012, the National Rifle Association (NRA) through their attorneys at Michel & Associates, weighed in on the state firearms preemption case of Calguns Foundation, Inc. v. County of San Mateo.  This case is now before the California Court of Appeal.  If the appellate court upholds the trial court’s ruling against the plaintiffs, this case could set bad precedent for future cases challenging local regulation of firearm possession on legal preemption grounds.

Fairfax, Va. – The National Rifle Association, with 30 other prominent hunting and wildlife preservation organizations which represent tens of millions of Americans, sent a letter to the leadership in the United States Senate. This letter lays out a 5-point plan to make our communities safer. The organizations strongly oppose unnecessary restrictions which would not reduce crime or prevent tragedy, such as universal background checks. Read the full letter here.