DRAWING A BEAD

Brady Campaign “Giddy” About Election

Richard A. Pearson
Executive Director, ISRA

As I predicted, John Bolton, a fierce defender of the Second Amendment, was among the first casualties of the Democratic landslide victory in Congress. Bolton, who fought the United Nations’ (UN) anti-gun movement to a standstill, is gone. As a result, the international anti-gun movement is energized – and why shouldn’t they be? With the change in power in Congress, not only have votes of individual congressmen shifted to the left, but also so has the control of the all important Congressional Committees. Anti-gun legislators Charles Schumer, Dick Durbin, Edward Kennedy, Diane Feinstein, Hillary Clinton, and Barbara Boxer will soon be in leadership positions. That means every anti-gun bill ever conceived will have smooth sailing into the committee structure. We will see anti-gun proposals at the national, state, and local levels. Anti-gun force will probe for every weakness at every level.

The following are the Brady Campaign’s agenda for the 2007 – 2008 legislative session:

1. Re-enact assault weapons ban

2. Federalize private gunshow sales

3. Criminalize gunshow activity

4. * Strengthen the Brady law

5. * Curb illegal gun sales

6. * Pass life saving gun laws

7. Repeal the Lawful Commerce in Firearms Act (the frivolous lawsuit ban)

8. Limit the number of firearms a person can buy
   
   * No definitions of what these goals mean.
   
   They also plan to continue their successful operations that include:
    

9. Block national concealed carry

10. Maintain the Washington D.C. gun ban

11. Continue gun-lock sales requirements

12. Fight anything the “sleezy” (their word) NRA proposes

13. Limit the available “military-style firearms”

14. Restrict “fast firing, bigger clips” guns

On November 14, 2006, a week after the election, the Cook County Board recalled a proposed “assault weapons ban” from the table and passed it. This ban, which was not on the agenda because it was a tabled motion, bans even pump and semi-automatic shotguns. It is easy to see where the anti-gunners are heading with this. In the past, some hunters have thought these proposed bans would never apply to them – well, here is your answer. Hunters are directly in the line of fire.

Can gun owners stop these attacks? Yes, but only if we get organized and stay organized. I urge all of you to join the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) today! You can join by going to our Web site at www.isra.org or by calling our office at 815/635-3198.

On March 14th, 2007 the ISRA will host a Gun Owner’s Lobby Day and Rally in Springfield. Lobby Day activities will begin at 12:30 pm in the Howlett Building Auditorium. At 1:00 pm there will be a legislative briefing and Lobby Day materials will be distributed. At approximately 2:00 pm we will begin lobbying legislators. The legislative reception and rally will take place between 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm. This is open to all gun owners. Please plan to attend.
 

Richard A. Pearson
Executive Director, ISRA
 

Webmaster's note: Up-to-the-minute IGOLD info, including bus routes and bus reservation information, is located at igold.isra.org, and is updated frequently.
 

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