No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.3.4/299 - Release Date: 3/31/2006 Common Sense In Seattle: The mother of one of the survivors of the mass killing at a rave party throws some cold water of logic on the liberal ranting. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2002898210_capitolhill30.html --- On The Other Hand...: An Iowa firearms company is producing an AR-15 receiver stamped with "safe," "fire" and "auto" selector positions even though the receiver is not built to handle full-auto components. (In light of stringent regulation of full-auto firearms, this seems like a silly vanity issue for purchasers.) http://www.thegunzone.com/mall-ninja.html --- From John Farnam: 30 Mar 06 Everything but Guns! Comments from a friend in Washington DC: "While out eating lunch yesterday at an upscale, hotel restaurant, I observed a group of US Secret Service agents march in and sit down at the table next to me. All, of course, were wearing 911 trousers and stylish, polo shirts with the Secret Service badge and logo emblazoned on the left side, clearly marked 'US Secret Service.' Apparently, they're not very 'secret' any more! Here is the point: out of the half-dozen agents, not one was armed! Needless to say, all had multiple cell phones, dangling from numerous attachment points, along with pagers, notebooks, Blackberries, laptops, ad nauseam. However, there were no belt holsters, ankle holsters, concealment holsters of any kind. Maybe they had weapons in their cars, but none was wearing one. It occurred to me that, when terrorists suddenly brake in, I will be the only one shooting, at least until someone calls the real police!" Comment: In this "Age of Terrorism," here is a sad and curious reminder that "image" has ascended to a higher lever of consciousness within the federal system than has duty and personal victory. It appears that, so long as federal agents look good while dying, all is well! "Learned helplessness" is not confined to college campuses. /John 1 Apr 06 Comment on unarmed federal agents: "Please inform Mr Farnam that it is federal policy that agents keep pistols concealed while in public. Also, it is possible these SS guys were trainees." My response: My friend whom I quoted originally is a seasoned police officer, and he is pretty sure all the agents he saw were unarmed. None even had a concealed weapon, unless it escaped my friend's sharp eye. It is my firm position that, in this day and age, putting unarmed men and women in public, in readily-identifiable police uniforms, is criminal. "Unarmed police" and "unarmed federal agents" are both ridiculous contradictions of terms. As such, they are little more than sacrificial lambs! /John (For those who don't wear or carry badges, there is a similar lesson - don't wear apparel or gear that will attract undue attention, particularly of the sort that would lead terrorists or other criminals to believe that you are armed. This is as valid a recommendation if you are or are not armed.) --- From Force Science Research Center: Force Science News #41 March 31, 2006 ======================================= The Force Science News is provided by The Force Science Research Center, a non-profit institution based at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Subscriptions are free and sent via e-mail. To register for your free, direct-delivery subscription, please visit www.forcesciencenews.com and click on the registration button. For reprint clearance, please e-mail: info@forcesciencenews.com. ======================================= HOW TO ASSURE "FAIR, NEUTRAL & FACT-FINDING" OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING INVESTIGATIONS Part 1 of a 2-part series Amid the myriad pressures that inevitably arise after an officer-involved shooting, how does a law enforcement agency assure that its investigation of the event is fair, neutral and fact-finding in nature? One protocol for reaching that goal was offered recently by a well-known National Advisory Board member of the Force Science Research Center, Dr. Alexis Artwohl, a retired clinical and police psychologist who was an independent provider of services to the Portland (OR) Police Bureau and other LE agencies in the Pacific Northwest. Artwohl, now a trainer/consultant living in Tucson, distributed a checklist of considerations for investigating officer-involved shootings at the first annual seminar on Lethal and Less-Lethal Force, sponsored by Americans for Effective Law Enforcement last month [2/06] in Las Vegas. In her list, she purposely steers clear of administrative and legal components of an investigation, which can vary by jurisdiction. Essential as those are, she believes that certain procedures that have their foundation in human psychology are more likely to be overlooked or under-appreciated and thus need explanation and reinforcement before investigators embark on their difficult job. "Investigative techniques and psychological issues are inevitably intertwined and cannot be separated," Artwohl states. "Unless a reasonable and reliable investigative process that takes psychological factors into account has been carefully negotiated and set up ahead of time, officers may be subjected to unnecessary additional stress and may understandably be suspicious of having their legal rights violated by what ensues after the shooting is over." Dr. Bill Lewinski, executive director of the FSRC at Minnesota State University-Mankato, agrees. "Officer-involved shooting investigations are always challenging, generally complex and must answer the needs of many interests. But if they fail to be protective of the mental health of the involved officer or officers or fail to adequately mine the memories of those most intimately involved, then they fail to meet the standard of excellence these investigations deserve." In this 2-part series, Force Science News explores the procedures Artwohl recommends, with some steps supplemented by the observations of other professionals experienced in OIS investigation and/or human dynamics. This protocol, when combined with proper legal and administrative considerations, will "maximize the swiftness, accuracy, and thoroughness" of an investigation, "minimize traumatization of officers, their families, and other personnel," and offer the "best hope possible of recovering accurate memories" of what happened during the deadly force encounter, Artwohl believes. We start with procedures for investigators at the scene: 1. When you arrive at the shooting scene as an investigator, first introduce yourself to the shooter(s) and any witness officers and give them your card so they know how to contact you. "This will help get your investigation off on the right foot with your most important witnesses," Artwohl explains. "You can safely assume they are experiencing high levels of anxiety and they will appreciate this basic courtesy." Also get phone numbers for the officers and their attorneys to facilitate future contact. 2. The involved officer(s) can give you certain immediate information without compromising personal legal protection. Jeff Chudwin, chief of Olympia Fields (IL) PD and a former prosecutor, says an involved officer should communicate these essentials: the status and location of the offender(s), if known; evidence that needs to be protected; witnesses who need to be isolated and questioned; and any injuries requiring immediate medical intervention. "Everyone at the scene should be carefully checked to see if they need medical care," Artwohl cautions. "In their heightened state of arousal they may not notice personal injuries." In the absence of other reliable eye witnesses who can explain what happened, the involved officer should privately give his supervisor a "very brief, barebones description" of the event--the least amount of information needed to convey the nature of what happened, Lewinski says. According to John Hoag, a National Advisory Board member of the Force Science Research Center who has responded to more than 40 shootings as a police union attorney, this information can be as sparse as: "He pulled a gun while I was patting him down, I thought he was going to kill me, so I shot him to defend myself." It's important also, Hoag says, that the involved officer(s) delineate the scope of the scene. If a chase preceded the shooting, for example, the "scene" might technically extend over a considerable distance. "All this information should be given orally and should not be detailed-just enough to get the investigation pointed in the right direction," Lewinski says. "Officers who may have been peripherally present at the shooting or arrived soon after can provide what they know in more detail, assuming they are not so emotionally affected that their memories may be impaired." However, the shooter(s) should not discuss details of the shooting with you or anyone else until they've had an opportunity to discuss it with their association attorney and/or their personal defense attorney. "In many agencies it has now become routine for officers to have their own personal defense attorney to represent their interests after any deadly force encounter," Artwohl says. 3. During your introductory contact, tell the officers what will be happening from that point on. A prepared handout of the basic post-shooting procedures that they can share with their family can be helpful. Keep them informed and updated throughout the process. "Not knowing what to expect can provoke unnecessary anxiety," Artwohl says. Lewinski notes that being uninformed about procedures they'll be facing "can compound the sense of lacking control that officers often feel regarding a shooting, and this can aggravate or even initiate a traumatic reaction. Officers should not be given the 'mushroom' treatment, where they're kept in the dark with manure shoveled on them." 4. The weapons of ALL officers at the scene should be examined whether or not they think they fired rounds. Because of the effect of stress on cognitive perceptions, "it's possible for an officer to discharge a weapon during a critical incident and not be aware of it," Artwohl explains. 5. Do not confiscate officers' weapons at the scene unless absolutely necessary and/or required by agency policy. "If this must be done, make sure they get an exact replacement immediately, if possible," Artwohl advises. "If an officer winds up without his or her weapon or a replacement, an uninvolved armed officer whom the involved officer feels comfortable with should be assigned as a 'personal bodyguard' until the officer arrives at home. It is never a good idea to have an officer unarmed on the street at any time." "What protects an officer on the street," Lewinski points out, "is the police brotherhood and his sidearm. If he is stripped of both after he has just come face to face with the possibility of his own death, the negative emotional consequence of feeling left 'all alone' can be profound." 6. Facilitate contacting the officers' families and/or close friends as well as officer and family peer-support teams if that has not been done. "Support teams and chaplains can be helpful to you at the scene, handling tasks such as checking for injuries, meeting the personal needs of officers and families, transportation, running errands and so forth," Artwohl says. 7. Involved officers should not be isolated. Each should have a peer-support person or friend of their choice who was not involved in the shooting available to them, beginning as quickly as possible after the incident. "If this person is another officer, he or she should not be given any duties beyond providing companionship and support," Artwohl recommends. "Since peer-support conversations may not be legally privileged, details of the shooting should not be discussed. In fact, involved officers should be ordered not to discuss details of the event with other involved officers, peers or support personnel until after they have given their official statements." Remember that non-shooter officers involved in the incident may be just as emotionally affected as the shooters. Supervisors and command staff who might have been present during the shooting are not necessarily immune either. "Be prepared for a wide range of emotional reactions in on-scene personnel," Artwohl warns. "All should be observed for signs of emotional distress and given assistance as needed." And don't forget dispatchers involved in communications related to the shooting, Lewinski adds. "They can sometimes be the most traumatized because of their inability to affect what they knew was happening. "In general, most officers and other involved personnel survive well, but we need to be sensitive to the minority who, for whatever reason, are more vulnerable." 8. Consider double-taping the shooting scene as a means of controlling the large number of non-involved but concerned personnel who are likely to show up and who may unintentionally interfere with scene preservation and evidence collection. An inner-perimeter tape can enclose the actual shooting scene that only detectives, criminalists and those under their direction are allowed into. An outer-perimeter tape can delineate a staging area just outside the actual scene where non-involved personnel can be accommodated. 9. Involved officers should have a private "quiet area" they can retreat to if necessary to gain respite from the general commotion and from the media and onlookers. "The sheer number of people converging on the scene may be overwhelming to some involved officers," Artwohl notes. "Their reactions should be sensitively monitored and they should be granted reasonable leeway as to whom they want to have access to them at any point." 10. The involved officers' basic needs should be met. Artwohl explains: "These might include access to a bathroom, beverages, shelter from inclement weather, food, change of clothing, access to showers and exercise. The longer officers are kept at the scene, the more important these become." 11. The officers should not have to drive themselves to their next destination when they leave the scene. "They're probably be in a poor condition to attend to the demands of driving," Lewinski says, "as their minds will likely be racing with thoughts of what's happened what's going to happen and what the impact on their lives will be. These distractions are likely to so preoccupy them that they could be a hazard on the road." A driver should be provided to transport them and family members, too, if they need assistance. Chudwin, like some other LE professionals experienced in officer-involved shootings, recommends that the involved officer(s) be promptly transported from the scene to a hospital after giving the basic on-scene information. "This provides a safe refuge in the immediate aftermath and ensures they will get a checkup before going home or giving a statement. It may also help detect unnoticed injuries or other health problems caused by stress, such as perilously high blood pressure," Artwohl says. "The extreme rise and continued presence of high blood pressure is very real in OIS situations," says Chudwin. "It takes only seconds to increase blood pressure but many hours to decompress. I've assisted officers at the hospital over 90 minutes after a shooting who still registered 60 points above normal. "No statement that an officer's life and career rests upon should be made in an impaired state, and I believe very high blood pressure along with the residual adrenaline reaction creates such a condition." If the officer consents to a blood draw, this can be done at the hospital. "In about half the shootings I respond to these days, agencies require that the officer's clothing be seized, so that signs of a fight, powder burns, and other indicators of the event can be preserved as evidence," Hoag says. When this is done, the officer can get dressed in civilian clothes at the hospital, too. 12. In most circumstances, it is best for the officers to go home, get some quality sleep, and wait for 24-48 hours after the shooting to give a statement. "You will not be doing yourself, the DA, the community, your agency or the involved officer any favors by insisting on interviewing the officer right away if he or she is too physically wound up, fatigued or upset to provide a coherent, thorough and accurate statement," Artwohl says. "If you have already spent stressful hours at the scene as an investigator, you yourself may need a break before starting extended interviews. These interviews are demanding and difficult. You can work only so many straight hours and do so many back-to-back interviews before you will start to malfunction from sheer fatigue." Ideally, the involved officer should be free to choose whether to give a statement soon after the incident and after conferring with legal counsel or to wait until he feels more fully settled. If he decides to wait, he should be formally ordered not to discuss the incident with any other officers in the interim. [The length of time that's appropriate to wait before formally interviewing the involved officer(s) is a current controversy in the LE community. Some agencies and outside observers believe delay only encourages illicit collusion and memory confusion, while other authorities argue that a reasonable passage of time will enhance a shooting survivor's accurate recall. For more details on these points of view, see FSN Transmission #36, "Are Controversial Recommendations About Officers in Shootings Really Valid?", sent 1/20/06.] NEXT: In Part 2, Dr. Artwohl's OIS protocol continues, with guidelines for pre-interview "walk throughs," the best interview techniques, maximizing memory, gathering supplemental statements, protecting investigators themselves emotionally, and more. ================ (c) 2006: Force Science Research Center, www.forcescience.org. Reprints allowed by request. For reprint clearance, please e-mail: info@forcesciencenews.com. FORCE SCIENCE is a registered trademark of The Force Science Research Center, a non-profit organization based at Minnesota State University, Mankato. ================ --- From NRA-ILA: NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert Vol. 13, No. 13 03/31/06 States with updates this issue: Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia. NEBRASKA APPROVES "SHALL-ISSUE" RIGHT-TO-CARRY; GOVERNOR HEINEMAN PLEDGES SIGNATURE On March 30, the Nebraska legislature gave final approval to a measure granting law-abiding Nebraska citizens the right to carry a firearm for personal protection. Legislative Bill 454 now heads to Governor Dave Heineman's (R) desk, where he is expected to sign it into law. Last week, legislators in Kansas overrode Governor Sebelius' veto of the Right-to-Carry measure in that state. "NRA has worked patiently and diligently with the state legislature for more than a decade to bring Right-to-Carry to Nebraska, and I want to thank Governor Heineman and the bill's chief sponsor, Senator Jeanne Combs (R-32-Milligan), for their steadfast support. Their involvement was instrumental in the passage of this pro-Second Amendment legislation for all law-abiding citizens in their great state," NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox declared. LB 454 met with overwhelming, bi-partisan support as Nebraska senators voted 33-12 in favor of the measure. The bill allows law-abiding Nebraskans who undergo a background check to apply for a permit to carry a concealed firearm for self-protection. When the Nebraska legislation becomes law, Wisconsin and Illinois will be the only states to categorically deny citizens the Right-to-Carry a concealed firearm for personal protection! "On behalf of all NRA members in Nebraska, I want to thank all the legislators who voted for LB 454," concluded Cox. "And as always, we appreciate the commitment and participation of our members in Nebraska for encouraging their legislators to pass Right-to-Carry." GOVERNOR BARBOUR SIGNS CASTLE DOCTRINE, OTHER NRA-BACKED GUN PROVISIONS INTO LAW! This week, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour (R) signed two NRA-backed, high-priority bills into law. SB 2426, a "Castle Doctrine" self-defense bill, and HB 1141, a bill containing two pro-gun, and one pro-hunting provision, for law-abiding gun owners and hunters in the state. "I'd like to thank Governor Barbour for signing these bills and making them the law of the land in Mississippi," said ILA's Executive Director Chris W. Cox. "Both are important pieces of legislation that will help preserve our fundamental right to self-defense, as well as the gun rights and hunting heritage of Mississippians for generations to come." SB 2426 states that if a criminal breaks into your home, your occupied vehicle, or your place of business, you may presume he is there to do bodily harm and may therefore use such force as necessary against him. Mississippi courts have consistently recognized the "stand your ground" principle--both inside and outside the home--since the late 1800s. SB 2426 codifies such court precedent. Furthermore, the "Castle Doctrine" law provides protection from criminal prosecution and civil litigation for those who defend themselves from criminal attack. HB 1141 enables hunters to continue hunting on certain-sized land tracts annexed by a city or county, even if that locality bans the discharge of firearms within its limits. It also prohibits the seizure and confiscation of firearms by local officials in the unfortunate event of a future natural disaster in Mississippi, and permits employees to transport and store firearms in their locked, private vehicles while parked on their employer's property if the employer does not provide secure parking separate from the public. "On behalf of all NRA members in Mississippi, I want to thank HB 1141's author, Representative Warner McBride (D-Courtland), and Senator Charlie Ross (R-Brandon), for their efforts in guiding this measure from concept to law," said Cox. "I'd also like to thank Senator Ross and Senator Ralph Doxey (R-Holly Springs) for sponsoring the 'Castle Doctrine' bill, as well as the leadership in the Mississippi House of Representatives for keeping both bills on track for passage." To view the full text of HB 1141, please visit www.mississippi.gov. CONGRESSMAN JINDAL INTRODUCES THE "DISASTER RECOVERY PERSONAL PROTECTION ACT OF 2006" On March 28, U.S. Congressman Bobby Jindal (R-La.) introduced H.R. 5013, the "Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006." This NRA-supported bill would amend federal emergency statute laws to prohibit local authorities from confiscating lawfully owned firearms during times of disaster. Representative Jindal stated: "The Second Amendment is a cornerstone of our country's freedom and independence. Particularly during emergencies like those surrounding Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, when incidences of looting, violence and lawlessness were broadcast around the country, we must ensure that law-abiding gun owners are not deprived of their Constitutionally protected right to bear arms. I am proud to offer this legislation to protect law-abiding citizens' Constitutional right to bear arms and to defend their lives, families and property against lawless criminals." ILA's Executive Director Chris W. Cox said, "Hurricane Katrina taught us that lawful citizens need the Second Amendment most during disaster and crisis. New Orleans residents legally armed themselves to protect their lives and property from civil disorder." Thirty three states have "emergency powers" laws that give the government permission to suspend or limit gun sales, and to prohibit or restrict citizens from transporting or carrying firearms--something NRA-ILA is working to change. In some states, authorities can seize guns outright from citizens who have committed no crime--and who would then be defenseless against disorder. Cox added, "This bill to amend the federal disaster laws is vital for the future of America. Legislative bodies can, and should, act to protect the self-defense rights of citizens at the times when those rights are most important. "We would like to thank Representative Jindal for introducing this bill, and we look forward to the time when the government will never have the power to confiscate firearms from law-abiding citizens," he concluded. Please be sure to contact your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121, and urge him or her to cosponsor and support H.R. 5013, the "Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006!" HEARINGS PUT SPOTLIGHT ON NEED FOR BATFE REFORM At back-to-back hearings on Tuesday, March 28, the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, continued to focus on enforcement abuses at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), and also aired opinions about a new bill to correct several issues in federal firearms law. First, the subcommittee heard testimony from people with first-hand experience dealing with BATFE. Virginia lawyer Richard Gardiner, who has represented many gun owners and dealers, focused on the way BATFE handles cases against federally licensed firearms dealers (FFLs)--often seeking to revoke FFLs for "trivial, immaterial violations" based on "undefined legal standards." Gardiner described one case where a dealer lost his license even though BATFE itself agreed his records were 99.96% accurate, and the few errors posed no threat to public safety. Next, Lt. Michael Lara of the Tucson Police Department recounted his personal horror story at the hands of BATFE. After buying a gun as a gift for a friend, Lt. Lara found himself facing federal felony charges as a "straw purchaser." Lt. Lara lost his job, and didn't get it back before a three-month legal nightmare cost him more than $200,000 in legal fees, lost pay and other costs. BATFE never even interviewed him during its investigation, and the jury acquitted him in less than an hour. At the second hearing, the subcommittee focused on H.R. 5005, Rep. Lamar Smith's (R-TX) bill to make various technical changes and corrections in federal firearms law. Anti-gun advocates have gone through the roof over one provision of H.R. 5005: a section that prohibits disclosure of firearms trace data outside of law enforcement investigations. That language simply makes permanent a policy that Congress has enacted through annual appropriations riders for the past several years. Yet at this hearing, anti-gun New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) hysterically denounced it as a "God-awful" bill that would "facilitate the shooting deaths of thousands of innocent Americans every year." Of course, Bloomberg's real goal--besides publicity in the Big Apple media--is to use this confidential law enforcement information in the city's suit against the firearms industry. Attorney Gardiner took the opportunity to point out that "what the Mayor is saying about this bill simply is nt true," because the trace system is designed to help solve crimes, not to do statistical research. Subcommittee Chairman Howard Coble (R-NC) and ranking member Bobby Scott (D-VA) agreed on the need to focus BATFE's efforts on enforcing current laws against serious criminals, while not pursuing petty violations or undermining civil liberties. To that end, the "Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Modernization and Reform Act of 2006" will soon be introduced. This bipartisan bill will update the legal standards for disciplining violations by FFLs. It also calls for a review of BATFE's enforcement practices, and clarifies BATFE's responsibilities to keep the Bureau focused on its core mission. "THE GLOBAL WAR ON YOUR GUNS" NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre has aptly defined "gun control" as making the innocent pay the price for the guilty when the guilty go unpunished. It is a clear and simple truth that no matter what element of "gun control" is applied--registration, licensing, gun rationing--there is always a next step, and another, leading to the final step: government agents forcibly taking the private, personal property of law-abiding citizens. LaPierre believes that on any scale, gun control never prevents anything but freedom. That is a core theme of a new book by LaPierre titled The Global War On Your Guns. Its subtitle, "Inside the U.N. Plan to Destroy the Bill of Rights," spells out a chilling warning that gun owners in the United States and abroad must heed. The book exposes a far-reaching scheme to pass a global ban on civilian ownership of arms--including YOURS! To learn how you can fight the U.N.'s Global Gun Ban and save your Right to Keep and Bear Arms, order Wayne LaPierre's new book The Global War On Your Guns. Just make a donation of $20.00 or more to NRA at www.stopUNgunban.org or call (800) 672-0636 to charge your donation today. (Contributions, gifts or membership dues made or paid to the NRA are not refundable or transferable, and are not deductible as charitable contributions for Federal income tax purposes.) NRA EMPLOYEE NAMED TO SPORTMEN'S COUNCIL A national "Sporting Conservation Council" has been created to advise the Secretary of the Interior on resource conservation issues of importance to the hunting community. Among the topics that will be addressed is access to hunting on federal lands. The twelve-member Council was announced during the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Columbus, Ohio. Susan Recce, NRA's Director of Conservation, Wildlife and Natural Resources, was tapped to serve on the Council for a two-year term. In addition to access, the Council is expected to advise the Interior Secretary about wildlife conservation initiatives that benefit hunting and wildlife. In making the announcement about the Council, outgoing Secretary Gale Norton said that a "careful appraisal determined that no other entities exist that adequately represent the views of the hunting and conservation communities and she therefore deemed it worthwhile to create the Council under the provisions ofthe Federal Advisory Committee Act." PLAN TO ATTEND FREE MILWAUKEE GRASSROOTS WORKSHOP! The NRA-ILA Grassroots Division will host its FREE Grassroots Workshop in conjunction with NRA's Annual Meetings in Milwaukee. This Workshop has been a regular part of NRA's Annual Meetings for a decade. At this event, you will hear from NRA officers, NRA staff, and your fellow NRA members on what you can do in your own community to ensure victory for the Second Amendment in this year's elections. We will also discuss how you can work with your local Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC). Your EVC is a local NRA member who is working with the various pro-gun campaigns in his area to provide critically-needed volunteer support for a variety of activities, including: phone banks, precinct walks, literature drops, voter registration drives, Get Out The Vote & Election Day activities, etc. EVCs also promote NRA-ILA's legislative agenda at the federal and state levels. With the 2006 campaign season in full swing, it is critical that we start implementing our grassroots battle plan to ensure we are ready to meet these electoral challenges head on as Election Day 2006 approaches. Rest assured, the anti-gunners are already doubling their efforts to ensure the defeat of pro-Second Amendment candidates in critical elections across the country, so we must ensure we are prepared to defeat their efforts at every turn. Workshop details are: NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop-FREE! Friday, May 19, 2006, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon (Registration & free continental breakfast-8:00 - 9:00 a.m.) Hilton Milwaukee City Center Crystal Ballroom 509 W. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53203 To reserve your seat, or for more information, please call NRA-ILA at (800) 392-VOTE (8683). You may also register on-line at www.nraam.org/seminars/grassroots.asp. We hope to see you in Milwaukee on Friday, May 19! NRA-ILA "MIX N' MINGLES" How often do you get the opportunity to mix n' mingle with NRA-ILA Headquarters staff and fellow NRA members in your community, to earn FREE NRA items, and to assist with the efforts of candidates seeking office in your area? Well, in preparation for the 2006 elections, you will have the opportunity to do just that. This election year, NRA-ILA will be hosting FREE NRA-ILA Mix N' Mingles across the country. These events will provide NRA members with training on what they can do locally to propel candidates to victory this election season. The meetings also provide attendees the opportunity to meet and socialize with lawmakers, candidates and their staffs, NRA-ILA Headquarters staff, and fellow area NRA members--and to earn FREE NRA fraternal items such as hats, pocketknives, buttons, etc. Mix N' Mingles, including materials, food, beverages, and NRA items, are FREE! Mix N' Mingle events are scheduled for: - Lorain, OH -- 04/08/06 - Eau Claire, WI -- 05/23/06 - Ashland, WI -- 05/24/06 NRA members who have access to the Internet can go to www.nraila.org/workshops/ to reserve their seats on-line. NRA members are encouraged to check this website address frequently to see if any upcoming "Mix N' Mingles" are scheduled in their area. NRA members may also contact the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) for details and to reserve their seats. A LOOK AT THE STATES (***For all of the action items below, you can find contact information for your legislators by using the "Write Your Representatives" tool at www.NRAILA.org. As always, thank you for your support.***) States with updates this issue: Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia. ALABAMA Senate Bill 283, the "Castle Doctrine" bill, which removes the duty to retreat in the face of attack, passed the House by a vote of 82 to 9. SB 283, sponsored by Senator Larry Means (D-10), is now awaiting Governor Riley's (R) signature. Please take a moment to call your State Representative and thank him or her for protecting Alabama's right to self-defense. The general phone number for the House of Representatives is (334) 242-7600. Also, please call your State Senator to thank him or her for passing SB 283 out of the State Senate on an overwhelming vote of 30 to 2. The general phone number for the State Senate is (334) 242-7800. To view the history and see the vote count on this important piece of legislation, please use the "Bills" and "Status" feature for SB 283 found at the following link, http://alisdb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/AASLogin.asp. CONNECTICUT Right now in Hartford, lawmakers are considering legislation that will have gun owners shaking in their shoes! The anti-gun crowd has redoubled their efforts to pass last year's proposal to make it a crime to fail to report the loss or theft of a firearm within 72 hours from when you "knew or should have known" of the theft. This year's version is outrageous! HB 5818 now includes language that would subject gun owners to criminal investigation and jeopardy of prosecution even if they report the theft, because a court will now be given the authority to decide whether the firearm was stored in such a manner that provided "substantial and unjustifiable risk" that it would be stolen. Even worse, if the police recover the firearm before the gun owner has discovered it missing and made a report, it will be considered automatic evidence of guilt of violation of this proposed law, as well as guilt of an illegal transfer. Conviction of the "ilegal transfer," which is a felony, would permanently end your right to own a firearm! If all of that isn't bad enough, this proposal actually helps the real bad guy -- the gun trafficker! Supporters of HB 5818 claim they need this to become law because it would stop "straw purchasers," or people with clean records that purchase firearms and hand them over to people who are prohibited from possessing a firearm, from falsely claiming the guns were stolen after they are detected and tracked down by police. Under HB 5818, a "straw purchaser" would simply buy guns and call police to report them stolen within 72 hours of handing them over to the trafficker. The "straw purchaser," who has probably made a nice buck for his trouble, has complied with this proposed law, indemnified himself against felony charges, and left the police with nowhere to go! HB 5818 must be stopped! Call your lawmakers TODAY and strongly urge them to OPPOSE HB 5818! The phone number to the Con ecticut General Assembly is (860) 240-0100. Also contact Governor Jodi Rell (R) at (860) 566-4840 to voice your strong opposition to this bill. Governor Rell, who supports this legislation, should consider saving all the money the state would spend investigating and prosecuting law-abiding gun owners and use it to fund the state's now defunct Anti-Trafficking Task Force, which was dedicated to catching real criminals. It's just further proof that Rell, her Department of Public Safety and the anti-gun crowd aren't serious about crime-fighting at all -- they just want to attack legal gun ownership. GEORGIA The General Assembly adjourned Thursday, March 30. Georgia's NRA members achieved a great victory this session with the passage of SB 396, the "Castle Doctrine" bill. SB 396 has been sent to Governor Sonny Perdue (R) for his signature. Please be sure to thank your State Senator and State Representative for their support of this important piece of legislation. The general phone number for the Legislature is (404) 656-5000. ILLINOIS Thanks to the efforts of those who contacted their State Senators, HB 4853 was amended in the Senate to exclude ammunition. As originally passed by the House, HB 4853 could have been used to target ammunition manufacturers, distributors, users, and owners of property where firearms are lawfully discharged. This legislation now moves back to the House, so please contact your State Representative and urge him to support the Senate amendment that removes ammunition from the scope of HB 4853. The general phone number for the Illinois House of Representatives is (217) 782-8223. MARYLAND On March 25, the Senate approved SB 907, the NRA-backed Range Protection bill, by a vote of 34 to 11. Senate Bill 907, sponsored by Senator John Astle (D-30) and Senator E.J. Pipkin (R-36), now advances to the House of Delegates for consideration. SB 907, the NRA-backed range protection bill would protect Maryland's well-established shooting ranges from frivolous noise lawsuits aimed at shutting them down. Be sure to check www.NRAILA.org frequently for updates on this important bill and to see what you can do to help ensure its passage. The future of Maryland's shooting ranges depends on it! Lastly, a special thank you to all Maryland NRA members who called their Senators to voice their support of SB 907. The calls worked, and Maryland's shooting ranges are another step closer to being protected! MISSISSIPPI This week, Governor Haley Barbour (R) signed SB 2426, the NRA-backed "Castle Doctrine" and self-defense reform law sponsored by Senator Charlie Ross (R-20) and Senator Ralph Doxey (R-2). This important measure creates a presumption that if someone is breaking into your home, occupied vehicle, or place of business, they are there to cause you serious bodily harm or death, and you may use any manner of force to protect yourself and your family. The bill also codifies that you have no "duty to retreat" from a violent criminal attack if you are not the initial aggressor and you're in a place where you have a right to be. Lastly, it contains certain safeguards from criminal prosecution for victims who justifiably use deadly force to protect themselves and provides immunity from civil liability in those cases. This new law takes effect July 1. Thank you for your calls and e-mails in support of SB 2426 during the legislative session! Tanks also go out to Representative Steve Holland (D-16) and Representative Gary Chism (R-37) for sponsoring the House versions of this measure, and to House leadership for keeping the issue on track for passage this year. Also this week, the House and Senate adopted the conference committee report on SB 2075 by Senator Lynn Posey (D-36), NRA-supported "No-Net-Loss of Hunting Lands" legislation. This bill requires the opening of compensatory hunting land if an area is closed to the sport and addresses one of the greatest challenges facing sportsmen today--adequate access to public hunting lands. SB 2075 is awaiting Governor Barbour's signature. NEBRASKA On March 30, the Legislature gave final approval to a measure granting law-abiding Nebraska citizens the right to carry a firearm for personal protection. Legislative Bill 454, sponsored by Senator Jeanne Combs (I-32), now heads to Governor Dave Heineman's desk, where he is expected to sign it into law. Congratulations Nebraska! SOUTH CAROLINA H 4681, introduced by Representative Mike Pitts (R-14), is scheduled to be heard next Thursday, April 6, in the House Judiciary Committee's Constitutional Laws Subcommittee. This legislation would remove the ability of local governments to restrict the use, sale, or transportation of firearms during a state of emergency, and would also prohibit South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) from releasing the personal information of Right-to-Carry (RTC) permit holders unless the request for the information is part of an investigation by law enforcement. H 4681 would prevent outrageous abuses of power such as that took place in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, when local authorities decided they should disarm law-abiding citizens, leaving countless people helpless to defend themselves against violent criminals during a time of virtual anarchy. It would also prevent anti-gun newspapers from harassing law-abiding RTC permit holders b publishing their personal information. In addition, H 4837, introduced by Representative Jeff Duncan (R-15), is also scheduled to be heard. This legislation would prohibit employers from imposing regulations that restrict employees from transporting and storing firearms in their locked, private vehicles while parked on their employer's property. Please contact the members of the Constitutional Laws Subcommittee and urge them to support H 4681 and H 4837. A list of the members of the Constitutional Laws Subcommittee can be found by going to www.scstatehouse.net/html-pages/housecommlst.html#jud, then clicking the "Subcommittee Assignments" link. The general phone number for the South Carolina House of Representatives is (803) 734-2010. TEXAS Primary runoff elections will be held on Tuesday, April 11 in the statewide race for Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 8, and in certain State House races listed on www.nrapvf.org. Please check to see whether a runoff election is being held in your area and to see how the candidates measure up on issues of importance to gun owners and sportsmen. Early voting for this election will run from Monday, April 3, through Friday, April 7. Please visit www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/votregduties.shtml to find your county elections office's contact information, where you can learn about early voting locations. Spread the word to your family, friends, and co-workers about the primary runoff elections, because every vote counts! WEST VIRGINIA On March 30, Governor Manchin (D) signed HB 3119, the NRA-supported "No-Net-Loss of Hunting Lands" legislation. HB 3119, sponsored by Delegate Speaker Robert Kiss (D-27), requires the opening of compensatory hunting land if an area is closed to the sport and addresses one of the greatest challenges facing sportsmen today--adequate access to public hunting lands. Thank you to Speaker Kiss for sponsoring, and Governor Manchin for signing, this important legislation that will ensure West Virginia's strong hunting heritage to continue for generations to come. -- Stephen P. Wenger Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .