Police Fatalities for ’08 Prove CCW Laws no Threat to Cops, Says CCRKBA

NEWS RELEASE

POLICE FATALITIES FOR 08 PROVE CCW LAWS NO THREAT TO COPS, SAYS CCRKBA

BELLEVUE, WA Another bogus argument of gun control extremists that sensible concealed carry laws create an increased threat to police officers has been refuted by statistics from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and published by USA Today.

The number of officer fatalities due to gunfire is the lowest in 50 years, noted Alan Gottlieb, chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. A report out Monday said that this year, 41 officers have died from gunshot wounds, down 40 percent from the 68 who died by gunfire in 2007. Yet the number of concealed carry permits issued by the states has risen, dramatically in some areas, in the past 12 months.

Better training and equipment have contributed to this decline, Gottlieb stated, but it must be noted for the record that growing numbers of legally-armed citizens have not resulted in more police slayings. That has been one of the many lame arguments offered by gun control fanatics over the past few years when they fought against expanded concealed carry rights.

The death of one police officer is a tragedy, he continued, but common sense right-to-carry statutes have no relation to the criminal slayings of police officers, and anti-gun rights extremists know it.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund reports that more officers have died in traffic-related incidents than in shootings, same as last year, Gottlieb noted.

There are, today, more legally-armed citizens than ever before, he commented, and more privately-owned firearms than ten or even five years ago. More Americans own semiautomatic sport-utility rifles, growing numbers of women own guns for personal protection and more citizens are involved in shooting sports.

None of these law-abiding citizens pose any threat to public safety, and especially to the safety of our local police, Gottlieb concluded. We expect the new Congress, and state legislatures around the country, to keep this in perspective as the gun ban lobby mounts new attacks on firearm civil rights in 2009.



These Dogs Don't Hunt: The Democrats' War on Guns

This book is a must read for every gun owner concerned about the election results.
Buy now at a discount
from www.amazon.com

---

< Please e-mail, distribute, and circulate to friends and family >

Copyright © 2008 Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, All Rights Reserved.
Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
James Madison Building
12500 N.E. Tenth Place
Bellevue, WA 98005Voice: 425-454-4911
Toll Free: 800-426-4302
FAX: 425-451-3959
email: InformationRequest@ccrkba.org

---

National Geographic TV Takes Aim At Your Guns

National Geographic TV Takes Aim At Your Guns

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, December 17, 2008

National Geographic Channel ran a show last night entitled, "Gun In
America." According to the program, there are millions of misguided
gun owners across the nation. Why? Because your guns are supposedly
more likely to harm you than to help you in an emergency.

"As a society, we're totally out of control with weapons," said one
Philadelphia cop who was interviewed during the show. "You need to
limit access that people have to these type of firearms."

That was the basic thrust of the program. National Geographic
recited the usual worn-out factoids that are peddled by the Brady
Campaign. It only cited anti-gun cops. And for every person who was
filmed stating he or she believed in a right to own firearms for
self-defense, the program would cite "facts" to prove that such a
hope was misplaced.

Gun owners should let the President and CEO of National Geographic
know that the channel should stick to showing pictures of kangaroos
and foliage -- images that we normally attribute to National
Geographic's magazine -- and keep his personal, anti-gun views to his
private conversations around the Christmas dinner table.

The National Geographic Channel presents itself as an educational,
unbiased alternative. But "Guns in America" was hardly unbiased, as
can be seen by the following agenda items that were pushed during the
program:

1. "Guns in America" would have you believe that the guns in your
home are 22 times more likely to kill a family member than to protect
you. This statistic can (surprise, surprise!) be found on the Brady
Campaign website, but its source has been highly discredited. The
factoid originates with Arthur Kellerman, who has generated multiple
studies claiming that guns are a net liability.(1) But Kellerman has
been found guilty of fudging his data, and even the National Academy
of Sciences has stated that his "conclusions do not seem to follow"
from his data.(2)

The truth of the matter is actually quite encouraging for gun owners.
Anti-gun researchers for the Clinton Justice Department found that
guns are used 1.5 million times annually for self-defense, which
means that each year, firearms are used more than 50 times more often
to protect the lives of honest citizens than to take lives.(3)

Isn't that strange? You would think anti-gunners wouldn't mind
citing a study that was commissioned by the Clinton Justice
Department! Apparently, the results of the study didn't fit their
agenda.

2. "Guns in America" overstates the number of children who die by
unintentional gunfire. The program would have viewers believe that a
child dies by accidental gunfire, once every two days. But you can
only reach that figure if you count violent-prone teens as
"children."

In fact, when you look at the statistics involving younger children
(ages 0-14), you see that kids have a greater chance of dying from
choking on things like the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that
you feed them.(4) Hmm, why doesn't National Geographic want to
report on those killer peanuts?

3. "Guns in America" portrays twelve times as many negative uses of
guns as positive uses -- even though in the real world, the truth is
quite the opposite (as guns are used at least 50 times more often to
save life than take life). The program does start with a
dramatization of a legitimate self-defense story with an actual 911
call playing in the background. But after that, every dramatization
is about drive-by-shootings or cops being shot or gang-related
warfare.

The lesson for the viewer is: Guns are bad.

4. "Guns in America" only quotes anti-gun "authorities," thus leaving
the impression that all law-enforcement support gun control. Never
mind the fact that when one looks at polls of the police community,
they overwhelmingly hold pro-gun attitudes:

* Should any law-abiding citizen be able to purchase a firearm for
sport or self defense? -- 93% of law-enforcement said yes.(5)

* Do you believe law-abiding citizens should be limited to the
purchase of no more than one firearm per month? -- 70.1% of
law-enforcement said no.(6)

* Do you agree that a national concealed handgun permit would reduce
rates of violent crime as recent studies in some states have already
reflected? -- 68.2% of law-enforcement said yes.(7)

It's bad enough that a liberal teacher's union controls the education
of our kids in the public schools, and that many of them are being
brainwashed with politically correct thinking. We don't need
supposedly neutral programs like National Geographic peddling the
Brady Campaign's favorite factoids to an unsuspecting public.

ACTION: Please contact Tim T. Kelly, the President and CEO of
National Geographic Ventures (which includes their television
division), and urge him to steer the NatGeo channel away from
politics. If the National Geographic Channel can't run a balanced
program -- where they use real statistics -- then they just need to
stick to filming those cute little animals that helped make their
magazine so famous.

You can go to http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/contact
to cut-and-paste the sample letter below into their webform. Since
you will need to select a Topic, please choose "I have a complaint."
And for "Department," we would suggest selecting "Factual Questions"
or "General."

---- Pre-written letter ----

Dear Mr. Kelly:

I will think twice before ordering the National Geographic magazine,
because I don't want to help you fund any more anti-gun propaganda.
Your Explorer show entitled "Guns In America" -- which has run
several times this month -- was heavily slanted to the gun control
position. The show used fallacious statistics without rebutting
them, all in an effort to demonize firearms.

For example, "Guns in America" falsely claimed that guns in the home
are 22 times more likely to kill a family member than to serve as
protection. That is simply not true. The author of this study,
Arthur Kellerman, has been discredited many times (by groups such as
the National Academy of Sciences), so it's shameful that your channel
would even cite his work.

Second, "Guns in America" overstates the number of children who die
by unintentional gunfire. In fact, when you look at the statistics
involving younger children (ages 0-14), you see that kids have a
greater chance of dying from choking on things like the peanut butter
and jelly sandwiches that you feed them. Can I expect to see a show
in the near future highlighting the danger of feeding children?

Third, "Guns in America" portrays twelve times as many negative uses
of guns as positive uses -- even though in the real world, the truth
is quite the opposite. According to statistics from the Clinton
Justice Department in 2007, guns are used at least 50 times more
often to save life than take life.

Finally, "Guns in America" only quotes anti-gun "authorities," thus
leaving the impression that all law-enforcement support gun control.
Never mind the fact that when one looks at polls of the police
community, they overwhelmingly hold pro-gun attitudes. (Please see
the poll results on the website for the National Association of
Chiefs of Police.) Why were none of these authorities ever cited?

The National Geographic Society's purpose is "to increase and diffuse
geographic knowledge while promoting the conservation of the world's
cultural, historical, and natural resources." I would submit to you
that pushing gun control is far afield from your stated purpose.

Sincerely,

--------------------------------

ENDNOTES:

(1) Arthur Kellerman has generated multiple studies that claim gun
owners are more likely to be injured by their guns than to use those
guns in self-defense. His results range from 3 to 22 to 43 times
more likely to be injured by a gun in the home. His methodology has
been debunked, however, many times over. (See endnote 2.)

(2) See http://www.gunowners.org/sk0701.htm . Also, see Charles F.
Wellford, John Pepper, Carol Petrie, Firearms and Violence: A
Critical Review (National Research Council of the National Academies,
2004), p. 118.

(3) See http://www.gunowners.org/sk0802.htm

(4) See "Children Accidental Death Rates (Ages 0-14)," Gun Control
Fact Sheet (2004) at http://www.gunowners.org/fs0404.htm

(5) National Association of Chiefs of Police, 20th Annual Survey
Results (Survey questions sent to Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs in
the United States: 2008).

(6) National Association of Chiefs of Police, 15th Annual Survey
Results (Survey questions sent to Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs in
the United States).

(7) Ibid.

****************************

Defend The 2nd Amendment Through Creative Giving...

As we confront the challenges of the future, we know that the
generosity of those who assist us will make all the difference in our
success. That's why GOA seeks your long-term support.

Please call 703-321-8585 during regular business hours or e-mail
goamail@gunowners.org to request information on how to keep control
of your assets and make a gift at the same time through:

* a bequest
* a retirement plan
* a will, living trust, or insurance policy

Requests for information are confidential and do not represent an
obligation.

****************************

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
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address may also be made at that location.

To unsubscribe send a message to
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Problems, questions or comments? The main GOA e-mail address
goamail@gunowners.org is at your disposal. Please do not add that
address to distribution lists sending more than ten messages per
week or lists associated with issues other than gun rights.

---

I joined the resistance

I am not going to sit by silently as Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi
and Harry Reid re-make our nation in their liberal image.

That's why I just joined a grassroots conservative effort to
RESIST Obama's liberal agenda. Please go here to join with me:

http://www.grassfire.org/111/petition.asp?PID=18648429&NID=1

Thanks!


Scott

---

[Fcalerts-list] Take Action Now!

========================================================
Please reply to feedback [at] FirearmsCoalition.org
using appropriate email format. 
========================================================

1. All is Not Hopeless: There are actions you can be taking now to build up the levy and stem the flood.
2. Oppose Confirmation of Eric Holder to Attorney General!
3. Celebrate Bill of Rights Day - Support the Second Amendment Book Bomb!
4. Help the Firearms Coalition by educating yourself and others.
5. Latest "Knox Report" newsletter is in the Mail.

1. All is Not Hopeless!
  The record gun and ammo sales statistics since the election and the chatter on the various internet forums I monitor tell me that people are worried and want to take some action, but there doesn't appear to be much that they can do except prepare for the worst.  Even though the political landscape has shifted dramatically and the politicians are making stupid moves which are going to do more long-term harm to our economy and do threaten our future, the good news is that the worst is yet to come. If we can see ti coming, we can take action to prevent it.  There are things that you can be doing right now to ensure a brighter future.  Preparing for the worst is prudent, but it is not prudent to sit in the boat waiting for the flood when you could be busy reinforcing the levy to avoid the flood altogether.
  The Brady Bunch and their pals are doing their best to convince the politicians and the public that "the gun lobby is dead." The most important thing we can do right now is let the politicians and the rest of the nation know that the news of our demise has been greatly exaggerated. Just because there was no candidate for President that Gun Voters could rally to doesn't mean that Americans no longer care about our rights.  We need to let Washington know that in no uncertain terms. How do we do that?  Read on.

2. Oppose Confirmation of Eric Holder to Attorney General!
  The best way to prove we're not dead is to take on a fight in Congress and win - or at least make a good showing.  The fight that is currently available - and it is a fight worth fighting - is the nomination of Eric Holder to the position of Attorney General.  Holder is a radical opponent of the Second Amendment and should be rejected for the incredibly powerful office of the AG. 
  The Firearms Coalition is calling on all supporters of the Second Amendment to declare their opposition to, and actively oppose Holder's confirmation.  Clubs and grassroots organizations are being invited to sign on to a letter of opposition to Holder as a first step.
  Learn more about Holder and efforts to block his confirmation at www.FirearmsCoalition.org.

3. Celebrate Bill of Rights Day - Support the Second Amendment Book Bomb!
  Gun buyers have been sending a message with the record purchases of guns and ammunition since the election, now we have the opportunity to expand on that message by pushing Steve Halbrook's new book, "The Founders™ Second Amendment: Origins of the Right to Bear Arms" to the top of the best sellers lists.  It is important that activists be well versed in the fundamentals of the Second Amendment and Steve's new book is a great way to establish a firm foundation. 
  The concept of a "Book Bomb" is to spread the word among supporters who are likely to want to purchase the book to all make their purchases at about the same time.  This sales spike pushes the book to the tops of the charts where it is seen by a wider audience perpetuating more sales and maintaining the book high on the best seller lists.
  To learn more about this effort, go to http://www.secondamendmentbook.com and be sure to read about the related special offer from The Firearms Coalition below.

4. Help the Firearms Coalition by Educating Yourself and Others.
  Since "Knowledge is Power," The Firearms Coalition wants to help all of our friends become as knowledgeable and powerful as possible.  That's why we are offering two great books and one great video DVD as premiums for donations to our efforts.  We are doing our part to support the "Book Bomb" program described above by purchasing a number of copies of Steve Halbrook's book, "The Founders™ Second Amendment: Origins of the Right to Bear Arms" and offering them to our supporters.  We are also offering copies of David Hardy's excellent documentary film, In Search of the Second Amendment and the comprehensive book, "The Heller Case; Gun Rights Affirmed" by Alan Korwin and Dave Kopel.
  Contributors of $50 or more may select any one of these great titles and for a contribution of $100 or more, we'll send you all three.  And as an added bonus, if you are not a current subscriber to our bi-monthly newsletter, we'll throw in a year's subscription for free.
  Of course you can acquire these great resources for less money elsewhere, but by getting them from The Firearms Coalition you are also helping to support our efforts to protect your rights.
  To take advantage of this offer, send your contribution of $50 or more to:
The Firearms Coalition
Po Box 3313
Manassas, VA  20108

Be sure to indicate your preference of either
"The Founders™ Second Amendment: Origins of the Right to Bear Arms" by Stephen Halbrook
"The Heller Case; Gun Rights Affirmed" by Alan Korwin and Dave Kopel
the video DVD, In Search of the Second Amendment by David Hardy
or all three for a donation of $100 or more!

You can also contribute via the "Donate" button at www.FirearmsCoalition.org or by calling our Virginia offices at 703-753-0424 during business hours and using a credit card.

5. Latest "Knox Report" newsletter is in the Mail.
  We've just mailed our latest Knox Report newsletter.  If you are not yet a subscriber, we encourage you to do so to keep up with the latest information and analysis of gun rights news.

We'd also like to take this opportunity to wish you all Happy Holy Days!
Merry Christmas!
Happy Hanukkah!
Best wishes for a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year.

Yours for the Second Amendment,

Jeff Knox
Director, The Firearms Coalition
Neal Knox Associates
_______________________________________________

========================================================
This is a message from The Firearms Coalition Alerts list.  It is never
sent without a subscription and confirmation. 

If you have issues or questions about this or any message originating from the FirearmsCoalition.org domain, please forward it with all message headers to abuse[at]firearmscoalition.org.

To unsubscribe, follow the link below.  To change your address, unsubscribe
your existing address and resubscribe from the new one.
 
http://mailapp.modwest.com/mailman/listinfo/fcalerts-list

========================================================

---

Prophetic statements by one of our founding fathers:

Got this from one of the neighborhood activists.


Prophetic statements by one of our founding fathers:

1. When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe . ~ Thomas Jefferson

2. The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work, and give to those who would not. ~ Thomas Jefferson

3. It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on, would save one-half the wars of the world. ~ Thomas Jefferson

4. I predict future happiness for Americans if they can
prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. ~ Thomas Jefferson

5. My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government. ~ Thomas Jefferson

6. No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. ~ Thomas Jefferson

7. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. ~ Thomas Jefferson

8. The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. ~ Thomas Jefferson

9. To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical. ~ Thomas Jefferson

10. In light of the present financial crisis, it's now very interesting to read what Thomas Jefferson said in 1802: "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."

Tom, old boy, you must be spinning around in your grave!

---

Spitting Out the Gag

David Martin, Executive Vice President
Media Research Center

Every day when we read the news, we are reminded of what we
conservatives are up against...

           an emboldened media not the least bit interested in
           reporting the truth, but rather poised to push their
           slanted liberal views and radical agendas further
           down the throats of the American people.

           a liberal leadership in Congress eager to
           sweep conservative ideology to the far corners of
           Capitol Hill.

The liberal agenda cannot succeed if scrutinized by conservative talk
radio--and they know that. That's why we believe there is every
intention of reinstating the Fairness Doctrine, better known as
the "Censorship Doctrine"... and gagging conservative talk.

Of course the liberal mouthpieces are saying otherwise--and
frankly we would expect nothing less. They don't want you or
me or anyone else in America to be on-guard when this
"Censorship Doctrine" re-appears.

Because the only way for liberals to truly succeed is if we do
nothing--falling on our swords and refusing to fight.

+ + Now is the time to stand up and be ready to rumble!

We are ready, Scott, and going into the Christmas Season
we want to send a message that says as much and more... But we
need your help.

++ 50,000 Petitions Needed By December 31

Since launching the Free Speech Alliance and petition to stop the
Fairness Doctrine, more than 34 organizations have joined the
coalition to protect our Free Speech Rights.

         In fact, we've added 12 organizations since our last
         update just two weeks ago!

Momentum is building, but we want to make certain it continues to
build throughout the Christmas holidays, so we're turning to our
fearless MRC Action team and specifically you, Scott,
to make that happen.

         Please forward this message to 30-35 friends, and explain
         what will happen if we don't fight to preserve our freedom.
         Let them know what will happen if our conservative speech
         is indeed gagged, and encourage them to stand with us by
         clicking here:

http://www.mrcaction.org/r.asp?u=14303&PID=19037437

With your commitment over these next several weeks, we're hopeful
that we will rally and mobilize an additional 50,000 citizens who
are "on-guard" against the reinstatement of the "Censorship Doctrine".

Help me send a message to the liberal media and liberal leaders in
Congress that we will not be silenced!

As always, thank you for standing with the Media Research Center.

David Martin

P.S: Help us send a message to the liberal media that we won't be
silenced. Please forward this message to 30-35 friends today.
Urge them to join with you by clicking here:

http://www.mrcaction.org/r.asp?u=14303&PID=19037437


+   +  +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +  +  +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
(Note: Please do not reply directly to this e-mail message. This
e-mail address is not designed to receive your personal messages.
To contact the Media Research Center with comments, questions or
to change your status, see the link at the end of this e-mail.)
+   +  +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +  +  +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +

+ + Comments? Questions?

http://www.mrcaction.org/r.asp?U=14302&RID=19037437

+ + + + +

The Media Research Center is a research and education organization
operating under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Contributions are tax-deductible for income tax purposes.

---

End of the Year Report

GOA Members Win Key Battles in 2008
-- While gun rights advanced this year, the prospects for next year
look very tough

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/ordergoamem.htm


----------------------------------------------
"The best Second Amendment defense organization in the country is Gun
Owners of America." -- Joseph Farrah, founder and CEO of
WorldNetDaily.com, September 2008
----------------------------------------------


Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Change.

That's what the next four years are going to bring. More government
regulations... more government spending... and more battles over gun
control.

Once Barack Obama takes his oath of office in January, he will
become, without a doubt, the most anti-gun President this nation has
ever seen.

How are gun owners responding to the oncoming Obama presidency? By
the tens of thousands, they are pouring into gun stores all across
the country and stocking up on guns and ammo, fearing the worst.
Many buyers include first-time gun owners.

And while that is not a bad idea, it's a short term solution to a
long-term problem that does nothing to defend our Second Amendment
rights from being eliminated by a Congress controlled by people like
Ted Kennedy, Chuck Schumer, Carolyn McCarthy and other notorious gun
grabbers.

That's why we need you to stand with Gun Owners of America next year.
If you have never become a GOA member -- or you've let your
membership lapse -- we need you on board so that we have the
ammunition necessary to fight every gun control bill that comes our
way.

It takes less than five minutes to go to
http://www.gunowners.org/ordergoamem.htm and sign up. By doing so,
you will be joining -- in the words of WorldNetDaily's founder -- the
"best Second Amendment defense organization in the country."

We need you now more than ever, as we are surely in for the fight of
our lives!

Even so, despite all the hurdles that we see ahead, one should not
forget that 2008 was a real improvement for gun rights in many
respects. Gun Owners of America experienced victories in the
courts... in the Congress... over federal bureaucracies... and in the
states.

The following victories are just a few of the accomplishments that
GOA was able to achieve this year with YOUR HELP. So let's take a
look at our work together, month by month.

January - February

* As the new year dawns, President Bush signs the Veterans
Disarmament Act (a.k.a. the NICS Improvement Amendments Act). This
legislation codifies illegitimate procedures that, over the past
decade, had already resulted in almost 150,000 veterans being denied
the right to buy guns because battle-related stress has supposedly
rendered them unable to manage their own financial affairs.

GOA was able to win some significant concession in the bill, even as
we were trying to kill it outright. Unfortunately, the bill passed
both houses of Congress last year without a vote. Republican Senator
Jim DeMint of South Carolina later complained that the Democrat
controlled Senate had passed 94 percent of its bills this year
without a recorded vote.

* An Associate Director in the U.S. Interior Department defends the
National Park Service ban claiming that "parks are safe places" and
that right to carry laws "do not reduce crime" or protect people
against dangerous wildlife. GOA responds by generating thousands
upon thousands of postcards into the Oval Office, asking President
Bush to put the squeeze on Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to get
the NPS ban reversed -- a reversal that will come about in May.

* The U.S. Solicitor General files a brief with the U.S. Supreme
Court in the D.C. v. Heller case arguing that categorical gun bans of
virtually all self-defense firearms are constitutional if a court
determines they are "reasonable" -- the lowest standard of
constitutional review. This view could justify a national ban on all
firearms, including a ban on all hunting rifles.

GOA works with Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA) and helps him to quickly get
57 additional congressmen to oppose the Solicitor General's opinion.

* Because of generous contributions from its members, GOA is able to
submit a very unique amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court in
defense of Dick Anthony Heller, who was denied the right to own a gun
in the nation�s capital as a result of the draconian gun ban which
exists there.

In this hard-hitting brief, GOA takes aim at the weak arguments put
forth by both the DC government and the Bush Administration. But
more than that, GOA examines the favorable text and context of the
Second Amendment in great detail, while also documenting the pro-gun
history that formed the backdrop of its inclusion into the Bill of
Rights.

March - May

* After looking at all the briefs which have been submitted in the
Heller case, the editors at USA Today decide to use GOA for the
opposing voice on March 19. The paper's editors tell our attorneys
that GOA had an argument that was clearly distinctive, as we were the
only ones to argue that the words "shall not be infringed"
invalidated all federal gun control laws.

* In the states, GOA helped Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming to pass
Emergency Protection bills throughout the country. These bills
repeal laws that allow police to confiscate firearms during a
declared emergency, such as what occurred in New Orleans after
Hurricane Katrina decimated the city in 2005.

The sponsor of the Utah legislation, Senator Mark Madsen (R), thanked
GOA in March for the help we offered in helping pass the legislation
in his state.

"GOA supplied me with video that documented the plight of decent gun
owners in New Orleans who had their guns stolen by police after
Hurricane Katrina," Madsen said. "The DVD was very helpful in
educating other members of the Utah legislature, and my bill to
protect Utah gun owners from gun confiscation, SB 157, passed by
overwhelming margins."

Sen. Madsen's new law is one of the best in the country. If someone
were to have his gun illegitimately confiscated, that person could
not only sue for damages, but could hold the offending officer and
his superior personally liable.

* GOA's attorneys uncover a proposal in April to keep gun owners from
shipping replica or inert munitions through the mail. GOA
immediately submitted a blistering critique to the U.S. Post Office
and contacted thousands of grassroots activists so they could submit
their own comments as well. To date, the agency has backed off of
its original gun control proposal.

* The Bush administration, after more than seven years, has finally
issued regulations permitting the carrying of firearms in national
parks! Beginning in 2009, gun owners will be able to carry firearms
according to the laws of the state in which the park is located.

* GOA learns about Pastor Phillip Miles of South Carolina, who was
sentenced to three years in a Russian prison for carrying a single
box of hunting ammo in his luggage, intended as a gift. GOA urges
President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice to intervene on
Miles' behalf, as the sentence definitely did not fit the "crime."
Russian authorities succumb to the outcry shortly thereafter... Miles
is released in June and returns to the United States.


June - August

* The Supreme Court strikes down the DC gun ban! While not perfect,
the Court's decision recognizes that the Second Amendment protects an
"individual right" and states that the decades-old ban in the
nation's capital is unconstitutional.

GOA's brief had countered both the DC government and the Bush
Administration -- as the latter had asked the Court to use the DC
case as a justification for all sorts of gun control. GOA is pleased
that the Justices heeded our admonition to limit the Court's holding
to the case before it, thus shooting down both the DC government and
the Bush Administration in their quest to validate other firearms
restrictions.

* GOA Executive Director Larry Pratt escorts David Olofson to a
federal prison in Minnesota. Olofson was convicted in federal court
of transferring a malfunctioning semi-automatic firearm which the ATF
claimed was machine gun -- a determination that should concern every
gun owner who owns a semi-auto.

Gun Owners of America becomes the lead gun organization fighting
against the ATF's persecution of Olofson. In taking on this case,
GOA is also defending the rights of gun owners who could be
prosecuted for owning a malfunctioning firearm. For the ATF, a gun
that misfires is an excellent opportunity to rack up an easy
conviction on an illegal machine gun charge.

In Olofson's defense, GOA submits an appeal challenging his
conviction at the district court level, and sets up a relief fund to
help pay for his family's mortgage and car payments.

September - November

* David Olofson's wife, Candy, thanks GOA and its members for helping
their family. Candy tells GOA Executive Director Larry Pratt that
because of the financial help that GOA members have given, she has
not had to get a second job, so she is able to spend time being a
Mom.

* GOA's Larry Pratt travels to the Big Easy to award a brand new
handgun to Patricia Konie -- the New Orleans resident who was tackled
and disarmed by police in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Konie was
forced to evacuate her home in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005,
and until recently, had remained disarmed. To this day, she has
never gotten back her stolen gun.

* GOA tells its email activists how the ATF was trying to prevent the
distribution of an electronic 4473 Form. This software has been
developed by a private firm, Coloseum Software Corporation, and is
intended to protect dealers against the "mistakes" that have allowed
the ATF to prosecute or harass them into giving up their licenses.

GOA issued a grassroots alert in mid-October explaining how the ATF
had been dragging its collective feet for months -- keeping Coloseum
from distributing its software, even while the ATF was developing its
own competing software (and possibly, violating the copyright which
belonged to Coloseum).

After GOA asked gun owners to contact the Bush Administration, the
owner of Coloseum contacted us shortly thereafter to tell us that our
alert had been a tremendous success: "After the GOA alert put the
spotlight on criminal activity by the BATFE, they quickly provided us
[Coloseum Software Corp] with the required documentation for the new
Form 4473 which we had been asking for months."

Sign up with GOA... the battle lines are now drawn!

GOA is on the front lines, fighting to defend your rights. Even if
you have already renewed your membership in GOA, we hope you will
consider making an additional contribution.

With your extra support in 2009, we will fight off every new attack
on our gun rights. And we will remind the Democratic Congress what
happened to their majority the last time they followed an anti-gun
President down this path.

This next year is going to be our most difficult year in a long, long
time. Already, President-elect Obama is surrounding himself with
virulent anti-gunners:

* His pick for Attorney General went to a committed gun grabber in
Eric Holder. Holder signed on to an amicus brief in the Heller case
which SUPPORTED the DC ban on handguns and the ban on using any
firearm for self-defense in a person�s home. Holder's brief also
argued that the Second Amendment protects a "collective" right, not
an individual right (as the Supreme Court eventually ruled).

* And based on his pick for Chief of Staff, you can be sure that the
Obama administration will use any "crisis" it can to push its gun
control agenda. Obama's Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, told the Wall
Street Journal recently that, "You never want a serious crisis to go
to waste.... [A] crisis provides the opportunity for us to do things
that you could not do before."

Get it? Every time a crackpot goes on a shooting spree, the Obama
administration is going to use that "crisis" to come after your guns!

So please make the decision to stay with us in the upcoming year, as
it will be critical for America's gun rights. Whether you can help
us out with your gift of $35 or $3500, your contribution will be put
immediately into the fight to preserve and restore all of our gun
rights.

Please go to http://www.gunowners.org/ordergoamem.htm and stay with
us in 2009!


****************************

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.


Problems, questions or comments? The main GOA e-mail address
goamail@gunowners.org is at your disposal. Please do not add that
address to distribution lists sending more than ten messages per
week or lists associated with issues other than gun rights.

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FW: AUSTRALIAN GUN LAW UPDATE

The only way you can take a citizen's rights is to steal them like a thief in the night.

Australian Gun Law Update

Here's a thought to warm some of your hearts . . ..

From:   Ed Chenel, A police officer in Australia

Hi Yanks, I thought you all would like to see the now available data from Down Under.

It has now been one year (12 months) since gun owners in Australia were forced by a new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by our own government, a program costing Australia  taxpayers more than $500 million dollars.

The first year results are now available:

Australia-wide, homicides are up 6.2 percent;

Australia-wide, assaults are up 9.6 percent;

Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent);

In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms are now up 300 percent as compared with the last one year period when private ownership of a firearm was legal.

(NB: the law-abiding citizens did turn in their personal firearms, the criminal element did not and thus criminals in Australia still possess their guns.)

While data for the 25 years preceding the confiscation of privately owned guns showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically upward in the past 12 months as criminals now are assured their victims will be unarmed.

There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the elderly, while the resident is at home.

Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental effort and expense was expended in 'successfully ridding Australian society of guns.'

This story of well intentioned government intervention in the rights of lawful individuals to own and possess firearms won't be seen in the mainstream US media or on the American evening news.     Senator Obama who advocates a similar confiscation in the US will not be reporting any of this to you.

But, the Australian experience speaks for itself.     Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws affect only the law-abiding citizens.


Americans may want to take note before it's too late!

FORWARD TO EVERYONE ON YOUR EMAIL LIST.

DON'T BE A MEMBER OF THE SILENT MAJORITY.

BE A PARTICIPANT IN THE VOCAL MINORITY WHO DOESN'T WANT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN AUSTRALIA HAPPEN IN THE US !

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Post election gun ban alert

**** Alert *** Alert *** Alert ****

Dear Fellow NRA Member,

      

 Barack Obama's campaign promise
not to take away our guns is a lie.

         He's not even in office, yet he's fired the opening salvos in a war against the future of the Second Amendment, our hunting and shooting traditions, and YOU.

         Obama's FIRST attack on YOU: Appointing Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel to be White House Chief of Staff. In Congress, Emanuel earned an "F" rating from NRA, and while working in the Clinton Administration, he was known as the "point man on gun control." He is an avowed enemy of the Second Amendment and will wield enormous power in the battle for the future of our firearm freedoms.

         Obama's SECOND attack on YOU: If Hillary Clinton is confirmed as Secretary of State, she'll rip the Second Amendment right out of the Bill of Rights. She'll be our nation's top diplomat with the power to determine whether the United Nations will pass, and Obama will sign, a global gun ban treaty that will surrender our Second Amendment rights and our national sovereignty.

         Obama's THIRD attack on YOU: Nominating ex-Senator and former Majority Leader Tom Daschle-an avowed enemy of NRA-to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. NRA was responsible for defeating Daschle when he ran in South Dakota for re-election to the Senate. If Daschle is confirmed, he could hold the ultimate power to declare guns a "public health menace" and regulate away our essential liberties.

         Obama's FOURTH attack on YOU: Nominating Eric Holder to be Attorney General. As former Assistant Attorney General, Holder was a key architect and vocal advocate for the Clinton era's sweeping gun ban agenda. He supported national handgun licensing, mandatory trigger locks, and ending gun shows as we know them.

         Just recently, Holder opposed the District of Columbia's Heller decision that declared the Second Amendment an individual right. Holder also called for reviving the Clinton gun bans and, as Attorney General, would fight in court to prevent the landmark Heller decision from being made applicable to state and local governments.

         Worst of all, if Holder is confirmed as the nation's top law-enforcement officer, he would control BATFE and wield enormous power to harass gun owners and sue America's arms makers out of existence.

         Obama's FIFTH attack on YOU: In the job application for the Obama Administration, he made it clear that gun owners are second-class citizens and told 80 million gun owners not to even bother applying for a job. In the "White House Personnel Data Questionnaire" he asked:

       "Do you or any members of your immediate family own a gun? If so, provide complete ownership and registration information. Has the registration ever lapsed? Please also describe how and by whom it is used and whether it has been the cause of any personal injuries or property damage."

         This chilling notice to gun owners-that they are not welcome to serve in his Administration-shows the deep hostility for Americans' Second Amendment Freedoms that Obama and his Administration have in their hearts.

         On its face, that question endorses gun registration-a mandate in only five states in our nation-and buys into the anti-gun premise that firearms are inherently dangerous and gun owners are prone to misusing them.

         That's an outrageous mindset, especially for the President-elect whose sworn duty will be to uphold the U.S. Constitution, including our right to keep and bear arms.

         Obama CLEARLY wants to make gun registration the law of the land.

         First for employees under his control...AND THEN FOR YOU.

         Working with a Congress dominated by gun haters like Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, John Conyers, Henry Waxman, and Charles Schumer!!!

         Rubbing salt in gun owner wounds is the Brady Campaign, which just issued a completely bogus poll claiming that two-thirds of the Americans-including 60% of all gun owners-favor gun registration, licensing of firearm owners, and other sweeping restrictions on our firearm freedoms!

Add it all up and you have the potential
for a Second Amendment disaster that's unlike
any other NRA members have ever battled.

         That's why we need the strongest possible commitment from EVERY NRA member, starting today. That's why I'm hoping you'll validate your new NRA membership card the moment you receive it.

         Because our greatest strength is you.

         Only by working with you can NRA hold the line against these threats from every quarter. We are the one force that has the strength to keep Americans free and our rights intact for future generations. With you at our side, we will fight and we will prevail against all odds.

         Thank you for your loyalty to NRA and the cause of Freedom.

Forward this E-Mail to Friends
and Urge Them to Join NRA Today!

----------------------------------
National Rifle Association * 11250 Waples Mill Road * Fairfax, VA 22030

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