Today is the day, where we undergo a coordinated attack across many states by the anti-gun forces of Mike Bloomberg and the Obama Administration. I wish good luck to our fellow fighters in New Jersey, where a vote on the 20 or so gun control measures will be taken at the Capitol in Trenton. Trenton isn’t the whole story though. There are also votes happening in other states, so be sure to keep a close eye on your own state legislatures. But the best defense is often a good offense, and we are on the move in the following states:
This is well and good, and don’t see any reason we shouldn’t continue to push positive legislation while our opponents are spread thin and getting tired. Remember that as much as we might feel spread thin and tired, they are far less numerous than we are, and they are being given quite an education on that. The more delusional among them still believe they are fighting some nefarious “gun industry” or “gun lobby,” but as we show up in more and more places, it gets harder and harder to deny this is a movement of citizens, not of faceless corporations and lobbyists.
Lol, your list of pro-gun states misses Montana. The most pro-gun state in the union with these bills going through right now:
HB 205 – Remove suppressor prohibition for hunting
HB 240 – Campus carry – deny Board of Regents power to suspend rights
HB 302 – Ban enforcement new fed gun control
HB 303 – Sheriffs First (we lost one R vote – don’t know who yet)
HB 304 – Permitless carry (inside cities)
HB 358 – Remove prohibited places for CWP-holders
HB 384 – Clarify student (non)expulsion for firearm locked in vehicle
HB 446 – Revising the crime of Disorderly Conduct (to NOT include “firing firearms”)
HB 223, to exempt non-profit shooting ranges from property tax is still in the House Taxation Committee awaiting executive action.
HB 468, to encourage the production of smokeless powder, primers and brass in Montana, is scheduled for public hearing before the House Taxation Committee for next Thursday, 2/21 (NOTE: This may be MSSA’s bill with the most far-reaching import for this session. Plan to be there if you can.)
HB 459, to prohibit refusal of medical treatment to a person who declines to provide firearm information, is scheduled for a public hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on next Tuesday, 4/19.
SB 145, to make CWP info private, has passed the Senate and has been sent to the House
There is no greater definition of winning than these bills at this time.
“don’t see any reason we shouldn’t continue to push positive legislation while our opponents are spread thin and getting tired. . .”
Great minds must think alike, because last night I was thinking that if we are fortunate enough to turn back most or all of the current offensive against us, we should be prepared to counter-attack, and not waste time patting ourselves on the back and resting on laurels. To continue the military analogy, we should assume the enemy has left little in reserve, and look to those places (as listed above) where we can make maximum progress with a counter-attack.
Of course, other than mailing checks, most of us can’t do much except in our home state’s, but the same strategy can be applied almost everywhere.
“it gets harder and harder to deny this is a movement of citizens, not of faceless corporations and lobbyists.”
I think we need to think in terms of making that one of the grassroots’ goals — to show we are not just astroturf outfits, or puppets.
This is easy for me to say, because I’ve made no secret of my distrust for the NRA based on past, personal experience, and I often have trouble keeping my mouth shut about it. But, perhaps it’s time to think about putting away our “I’m the NRA” hats and decals, and if we want to advertize our position in public, think in terms of expressing sentiments that are simply pro-gun, and not pro- any particular organizations. That is not to suggest anyone cease memberships or financial support of those organizations they personally believe in, but, that appearing as an individual citizen and not a stereotyped puppet of something characterized as a monolith may serve us better in the future.
Speaking of Jersey, what’s the BIG man at the top who wants to be president saying about his VETO power useage on anti-firearm / freedom bills. Not that I trust him but he can’t win without us.