When the ATAC Guy’s Tom Clarke and Lenny Bolton tell most people they should under load their magazines, they wonder why? If the magazine holds 15, why on earth would you short yourself a round or two by not filling it up? There are a few valid reasons to avoid topping off that magazine.

There is just so much room inside the magazine body and if loaded to capacity, once the last cartridge loaded under the feed lips, the spring, follower and cartridges are tight with little room to move around inside the body. Insert this magazine into a firearm with its bolt closed and the top cartridge will hit the bottom of the bolt. If the cartridge can not move down slightly into the body, there is a strong possibility that you will not get the magazine seated correctly into the magazine well. Guess what? You will induce a malfunction, or worse, the magazine will fall out and you will end up with an empty firearm.

Another good reason to under load your magazines depends on the type and quality of the spring inside the body. Fully loaded, the spring is compressed to its limit in the bottom of the body. If left in this condition, depending on the type of spring, it could rapidly lose its flexibility and create malfunctions. A better technique is to leave some room for the spring to retain its shape, and allowing the follower and cartridges to move inside the magazine when loaded into a mag well against a bolt, will give you the best of both worlds. Reliable magazines and the ability to load into your firearm without thought of the condition or readiness of the firearm. For more details on this subject, watch the video program linked below so Tom and Lenny can explain in more detail.

Watch Video: Why Under load my Magazines?

Ask Firearms Questions and Get the Answers on ATAC TV Firearms Channel

Start with unloading your handgun and to remove all ammo from the magazine and your pockets, we are going to do this dry. Even performing this without ammo, you must follow all the safety rules. Starting from your holster. These are the basic steps of the Presentation. If you need to SEE the steps, go to ATAC Firearms channel and view the 1911 or GLOCK Presentation, Grip and Stance, and / or Sequence of Shooting Programs. Doesn’t matter which handgun; the steps are basic to all.

(DRY PRACTICE DRILLS SHOULD BE AT ¼ TO ½ YOUR NORMAL PRESENTATION SPEED!)

• STEP 1 Eyes on TARGET, establish a firing grip on the handgun while in the holster, at the same time move support hand up to mid-line tight to your body as you focus on your target.

• STEP 2 Handgun is drawn straight up, trigger finger is straight along the frame, (not on the trigger) as elbow drops down, rotating the muzzle toward target, anchor the butt of the handgun in a rib near your pectoral muscle, support hand in mid line of chest tight to your body. Bring the gun as high as you can and is still comfortable for you. Eyes are still on target. (This could be a shooting position, if needed, more on this in the advanced programs)

• STEP 3 As Handgun is raised up toward your line of sight, support hand mates with firing hand, safety goes off if you have one, Handgun is raised higher into your line of sight, and pushing out toward target, trigger finger (firing hand index finger, if you haven’t figured this out yet?) starts to enter the trigger guard and the center of the first pad your index finger is placed in the center of the trigger and pulls the slack (free play of trigger) out. Now shift your focus from the target to the top of the front sight post AS the sights are brought on target.. This is one of the biggest faults many shooters do not practice and their ability can only go so high. Most often you cannot diagnose what is going wrong. You MUST practice shifting the focus from the target to the top of the front sight post. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! Shift your focus to the front sight and STAY on the front sight post! DO NOT SHIFT BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TARGET AND FRONT SIGHT!

• STEP 4 HANDGUN COMES TO REST AT FULL EXTENSION, Focus has moved from the target to your sights, front sight level with the rear sight with equal light passing on the right and left sides of the front sight post, (aligning your sights and eye focus SHOULD be happening between Step 3 and 4) closing your non-dominate eye and establish 100% focus on that front sight post. You are ready to shoot!

At this stage, start your trigger press until the trigger “breaks”. (It should surprise you) With 100% focus on the FS post, it should NOT move when trigger breaks! Trap the trigger to the rear, simulating a “reset” while focusing on the front sight (follow-through) trigger finger goes straight along the frame, lower the handgun to about 45* as if following your target to the ground, and perform appropriate After-Action-Responses.
Handgun is in the ready position (In both hands, pointed low, about 45* angle) RESET your trigger by racking the slide and releasing it.
Return to holster in the reverse order, from the ready position, move through STEP 3 to STEP 2, and PAUSE. Look around to make sure you are ready to re-holster. The muzzle should be point straight out, down range towards your target.
Move from STEP 2 to STEP 1 (re-holster carefully)
DO AS MANY REPETITIONS THAT YOU CAN WHILE REMAINING 100% FOCUSED ON WHAT YOU ARE DOING. IF NOT, STOP! Dry Practice only when you can focus 100% on the exercise and stop when interrupted or tired. Do not ingrain bad habits by getting SLOPPY. Do it perfectly on each reputation to ingrain it into muscle memory. It will PAY huge dividends in your skill level.

Next is adding movement, see you after a few thousand dry presentations. and a thousand live rounds for validation. Example, dry practice 30 presentations 5 days week, the shoot 50 rounds. Immediately after the 30-5o rounds end it with 30 more dry presentations. Rest 7th day. Start all over the next week. After 5 months of this, then move onto the advanced programs. If you want to learn faster do more sooner. Do two- a days, 30 in the am and 30 in the pm and 60-100 rounds on the 6th day. The in 2.5 months you will be ready to move on.

* REMEMBER, it is OK to cheat in a fight, we actually applaud you for it. But NEVER cheat yourself in training or practice. DRY PRACTICE IS THE SKILL BUILDER!

ATAC TV FIREARMS, FOUNDER TOM CLARKE, LENNY BOLTON, GLENN JUSTICE, JEFF HALL, JIM FULLER, MARK FLINN, VENOM TACTICAL, FORCE OPTIONS

Knowing and understanding what an acceptable anchor is and the different types of anchors, is a good start to setting up a safe and reliable rappel system.  Glenn Justice talks about Anchors used in Rappelling. Using 3 different types of anchor systems, BFT, BFR, and Structural.

• BFT are those trees that are 6inches in diameter, green and growing with no erosion at the roots.
• BFR are those rocks that are the size of a small car.
• Structural are the man made buildings that are large and non movable.

When looking at all these types of anchors, one other thing to keep in mind would be that your life and the lives of others may depend on your choice, so choose an anchor point that is considered bomb proof.  Meaning that it would take a bomb to move it or have it fail.

Watch Free Video on ATAC TV Survival & Outdoor Channel or click on the link provided: Introduction to Anchors for Rappelling Program

One of the most egregious is the deletion of a provision first added for FY 2012 that prohibits any future “Fast & Furious” style operations. In an official summary, the administration says the restriction is “not necessary.” (Read more.)

Did Other Federal Agencies Know About “Fast And Furious?” It has been said that if you tell a lie often enough, and convincingly enough, people will start to believe it is true. Perhaps that’s the tack U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is taking regarding his, and the Department of Justice’s, role in the now-infamous “Fast and Furious” gunrunning operation that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ran out of its Phoenix office. (Read more.)

NR A at U.N. Arms Trade Meeting: As we have done in the past, NRA attended a United Nations Arms Trade Treaty meeting in New York City this week. (Re ad more.)

Justice Ginsburg Reminds Us What is at Stake in November: We re ported last week on liberal U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s dim view of the Constitution, noting that Ginsburg was recently quoted as saying, “I would not look to the United States Constitution if I were drafting a constitution in the year 2012.”

This week, NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox wrote an excellent column on Townhall.com that is must-reading if you want clear insight into what is at stake in this year’s critical presidential election. To read the column, please click here.

Watch “Gunny” Take Charge! Too many Americans have, for one reason or another, chosen to sit on the sidelines by not registering to vote. Unfortunately, this includes too many American gun owners. (Read more.)

Defeat the Holder/Obama Gun Registration Scheme: U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and the Obama administration have devised and implemented a plan that amounts to a gun registration scheme. (Read more.)

Plan to Attend Free Grassroots Workshop at NRA’s Upcoming Annual Meetings in St. Louis, MO! With so much at stake in the 2012 elections, this Grassroots Workshop will provide tips and strategies on how gun owners can work more effectively to elect a pro-gun President, Members of Congress, and state legislatures who will preserve our rights. In addition to hearing from NRA Officers and NRA-ILA staff, for the first time ever, a panel of your fellow NRA members, giving firsthand accounts of their grassroots strategies and successes, will be integrated into the program. (Read more.)

Firearms Law Seminar: The 15^th Annual Firearms Law Seminar will be held on Friday, April 13, 2012, as part of the NRA Annual Meeting. The gold standard in firearms CLE classes, this day-long seminar provides legal instruction for practicing attorneys who represent firearms owners, licensed dealers and gunsmiths, as well as for attorneys wishing to expand their practice to such clients, and others having an interest in Second Amendment law. (Read more.)

Grassroots News Minute Video: To view this week’s “Grassroots News Minute” video, please click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqXZWsV2xK0

STATE ROUNDUP (Please note the only items listed below are those that have had recent action. For other updates on state legislation, please go to the state legislation section at www.NRAILA.org, and check each week’s issue of the Grassroots Alert.)

For additional information, please click on the links provided.

ARIZONA: Legislation to Strengthen the Second Amendment Rights of Individuals on Public Property Advances for House Floor Vote
On February 15, House Bill 2729 was given a “do pass” recommendation in the House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee by a 6 to 2 vote. HB 2729, among other things, amends various sections of the Arizona Revised Statutes to remove the current prohibition on entering a public establishment or attending any public event while carrying a deadly weapon on one’s person, and instead provides for regulation of firearms and ammunition on public property only if specific criteria are met.

Pro-Hunting Legislation Passes in Committee and is Sent to House floor!
On February 8, the Arizona House Committee on Military Affairs and Public Safety passed House Bill 2728. This NRA-backed pro-hunting legislation could now be voted on by the state House as early as next week. Enactment of HB 2728 would allow hunters in Arizona to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for hunting. This bill needs your support!

Senate Judiciary Committee Passes Campus Personal Protection Bill!
On February 7, the Arizona Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 1474. This bill would enable law-abiding citizens to defend themselves while on the grounds of higher education campuses. SB 1474 will now be sent to the Senate floor for a vote. Please call AND e-mail your state Senator and encourage him or her to support this important personal protection legislation!

COLORADO: Vital NRA-Backed Bills Pass House Committee
On February 9, after extensive testimony in support of NRA-drafted bills, House Bill 1048 and House Bill 1064 passed in the state House Judiciary Committee. HB 1048 would eliminate the duplicative and broadly disqualifying state-run Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) InstaCheck system for the purchase of firearms and solely utilize the existing National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). HB 1064 would prohibit the state or any government agency, during a declared state of emergency, from prohibiting or restricting your Second Amendment rights.

GEORGIA: Firearms Destruction Prevention Legislation Passes Senate Committee Unanimously
On February 9, Senate Bill 350 passed unanimously in the state Senate Judiciary Committee, along with an amendment that would require law enforcement agencies to begin the process of returning seized firearms within thirty days of a court’s final judgment. SB 350 would mandate municipal, county and state police authorities return all seized firearms, not currently being held as evidence in a criminal investigation, to the lawful owner if able. If the lawful owner is not found or unable to take possession of the firearm, SB 350 would require these agencies to sell these firearms at a public auction to a licensed firearms dealer.

ILLINOIS: Statewide Handgun Registry and Ammunition Tax Bills Filed in the House
Two bills assaulting your Second Amendment rights have been filed in Springfield this past week. Introduced on February 17 by state Representative Kelly Cassidy (D-14), House Bill 5167 seeks to impose a punitive tax on firearm ammunition purchases. House Bill 5631, sponsored by Representative William Davis (D-30), would force law-abiding handgun owners to comply with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s (D) proposed statewide handgun registry scheme.

INDIANA: House Takes Up NRA-Backed Pro-Hunting Legislation!
After passing in the Indiana Senate with overwhelming bi-partisan support, NRA-backed Senate Bill 243 now awaits its hearing in the House Public Policy Committee. A hearing could be set as early as Wednesday, February 22. SB 243 would allow Hoosiers to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for hunting. Currently, Indiana law permits use of suppressors for all shooting activities except for the taking of game.

Charity Gaming Bill Benefitting Friends of NRA Banquets Passes House Committee!
On February 15, the Indiana House Public Policy Committee voted 8 to 0 to pass Senate Bill 315, authored by state Senator Randy Head (R-18) and sponsored by Representative Mark Messmer (R-63). This bill will now be sent to the House floor for its second reading vote as early as Monday, February 20. SB 315 would streamline the licensing and reporting process for charity gaming events, such as Friends of NRA Banquets.

IOWA: Fight Over Ammunition Ban for Dove Hunting Reaches Critical Point!
The battle over a potential lead shot ban for dove hunting continues to rage in Des Moines. This issue is far bigger than many Second Amendment supporters in the Hawkeye state realize. This is not an attack on just the newly-established dove season, but a direct attack on both hunters and shooters. House Joint Resolution 2001, legislation that would prevent Iowa from being the first state to impose such an unfounded and comprehensive ban on lead ammunition, has already passed in the state House of Representatives by an overwhelming bipartisan 73 to 27 vote. It now faces its biggest hurdle in the state Senate. House members showed the courage of their convictions and now it’s time that we make sure the state Senate does the same!

MAINE: Employee Protection Bill Moves to the House Floor
On February 13, LD 1603 was voted “ought to pass” as amended vote by the Maine Joint Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee by an 8 to 5. LD 1603 will now go to the House floor for consideration. Legislative Document 1603 would prohibit the state from banning a state employee, who has a valid permit to carry a concealed firearm, from keeping a firearm in his or her vehicle on state property as long as the vehicle is locked and the firearm is not visible.

MICHIGAN: Heading in the Right Direction with Youth Mentored Hunting Program
On February 10, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission approved an NRA-backed program that encourages youth participation in hunting, trapping and fishing. Although this program contains unnecessary and vague language requiring mentored hunters to “stay at arm’s length” of an adult mentor, Michigan’s Mentored Youth Hunting Program is a significant step in the right direction. As has been proven in other states, mentored hunting programs are an essential tool for recruiting the next generation of hunters.

MINNESOTA: Gun Rights Bill Under Attack!
The state Senate Finance Committee recently passed House File 1467, one of the NRA’s top legislative priorities, by a 10 to 5 vote. This important legislation, sponsored by state Senator Gretchen Hoffman (R-10) and state Representative Tony Cornish (R-24B), is expected to be considered by the full Senate next week. Because a Senate vote is likely next week, opponents and anti-gun forces are using every means possible - including major news conferences at the Capitol - to keep HF 1467 from passing and becoming law, so it is imperative that you contact your state Senator today and urge him or her to support HF 1467.

NEBRASKA: Employee Protection Legislation to be Heard in Committee
Legislative Bill 785 has been scheduled to be heard in the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, February 22, at 1:30 p.m. in Room 1113 of the Nebraska Capitol.
LB 785 would allow the transportation and storage of firearms in locked personal vehicles while on publicly-accessible parking lots.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: NRA-Backed Pro-Gun Bill Still Alive in state Senate after Three Pro-Gun Bills get Sent to Interim Study
On February 8, the New Hampshire Senate sent three pro-gun bills, House Bill 194, House Bill 330 and House Bill 334 to interim study. Therefore New Hampshire gun owners now need to focus on NRA-backed House Bill 536. HB 536 is currently pending consideration in the state Senate. This Right-to-Carry legislation would repeal the existing law that requires a person to have a concealed firearm license in order to carry concealed.

NEW MEXICO: Senate Bill 26 Passes House and is Sent to Governor Martinez!
Senate Bill 26, sponsored by state Senator Bill Payne (R-ABQ) and carried in the House during the last few critical days of session by state Representative Bill Rehm (R-ABQ), passed in the state House by an overwhelming 61 to 6 vote the night before the Legislature adjourned sine die on February 16. This bill is now on its way to Governor Susana Martinez for her signature.

OREGON: CHL Confidentiality Bill Needs Your Immediate Help!
On February 15, NRA-supported House Bill 4045 passed in the state House of Representatives by a 44 to 14 vote. HB 4045 has been forwarded to the Oregon Senate, but has not yet been assigned to a committee. HB 4045 would provide for the confidentiality of Concealed Handgun License holders’ personal information. It is extremely important that NRA members contact Senate President Peter Courtney (D-11) as soon as possible and ask that he assign HB 4045 to a committee and order a hearing with no amendments attached so this bill can move to the Senate floor immediately.

PENNSYLVANIA: House Action on Firearms Preemption Enhancement Bill Postponed until March
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has again postponed its second consideration of the NRA-backed House Bill 1523 - this time until the week of March 12. House Bill 1523, sponsored by state Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-12), would strengthen Pennsylvania’s firearms preemption law to further ensure firearm and ammunition laws are uniform throughout the state.

TEXAS: Parks and Wildlife Commission Opens Public Comment Period for Allowing Suppressor Use While Hunting
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission is seeking public comment on a proposed rule change allowing the use of suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for the hunting of game species. Currently, Texas law permits the use of lawfully-possessed suppressors for all other shooting activities, including the taking of nuisance species. Enactment of this rule change would ensure that hunting is treated the same way as other shooting activities with respect to the use of suppressors, and allow all hunters to reap the many benefits suppressor use provides.

VIRGINIA: House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee Sends Four Pro-Gun Bills to the House Floor
On February 17, the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee passed four pro-gun bills, sending them to the House of Delegates for consideration next week. During its meeting, the committee passed legislation to strengthen your Second Amendment rights during a declared state of emergency as well as two bills that would streamline the concealed carry permit process. The fourth bill passed in committee was the Senate companion of House Bill 940, one-gun-a-month repeal, which was recently passed in the Senate and sent to Governor Bob McDonnell. However, one NRA-supported bill, Senate Bill 429, was carried over until next year.

Sunday Hunting Tabled for Remainder of 2012 Legislative Session
On February 15, the state House Natural Resources Subcommittee tabled Senate Bill 464 for the rest of this current legislative session. SB 464, sponsored by state Senator Ralph Northam (D-6), would have allowed hunting on private land and public waterways on Sundays. Repealing the prohibition on Sunday hunting in Virginia will continue to be a top legislative priority for the NRA.

Planning Process Underway for James River National Wildlife Refuge
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is writing a new management plan for the James River National Wildlife Refuge which is located along the James River in Prince George County, eight miles southeast of Hopewell and thirty miles southeast of Richmond. The 4,325-acre refuge is open to deer hunting. The USFWS is inviting public comments to help shape management decisions on the refuge for the next fifteen years. Once a plan is drafted it will be made available for public review and comment. The Service has identified several preliminary issues, concerns, and opportunities, including the amount and distribution of public use. If you want to become involved in the planning process, you may submit comments to fw5rw_evrnwr@fws.gov. Please include “James River CCP” in the subject line. For further information you may call Meghan Carfioli, the Planning Team Leader, at 804-829-5413.

WASHINGTON: Three Firearm-Related Measures Move Forward
On February 13, House Bill 1508, legislation relating to shooting ranges, was amended and passed in the state House by a 93 to 5 vote. On February 14, House Bill 2471, a background check reform bill, passed in the state House by a 96 to 2 vote. Additionally, Senate Bill 6123, an NRA special license plate bill, passed in the state Senate by a 36 to 13 vote. At this time no action is needed on your part.

Lead Shot Ban on Pheasant Release Sites
Last September, we informed you about the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission’s overly broad ban on the use of traditional ammunition (lead ammunition) for all upland game hunting on all of the state’s pheasant release sites. Unfortunately, the WDFW has ignored the NRA’s and your requests to repeal the ban. The proposed rules for the 2012-2014 seasons can be found here. Citizens have until Tuesday, February 21, to submit public comment regarding these proposed rules.

WEST VIRGINIA: NICS Exemption Bill Passes Senate Committee Unanimously
On February 15, the state Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 353 unanimously by a voice vote. SB 353, introduced by state Senate Majority Leader John Unger (D-16) and Senate President Jeff Kessler (D-2), would expedite the process of purchasing a firearm for valid concealed carry permit holders by making West Virginia eligible for an exemption from the FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

Too many Americans have, for one reason or another, have chosen to sit on the sidelines by not registering to vote. Unfortunately, this includes too many American gun owners. It’s part of my job to do something about that.

That’s why the NRA Freedom Action Foundation is wasting no time this year to launch our massive “Trigger the Vote” voter registration drive. Protecting our freedoms requires an informed electorate that’s motivated to go to the polls. We know that when gun owners vote, freedom wins!

But in virtually every state, you have to be registered before you can vote. That’s why the NRA Freedom Action Foundation sponsors the important “Trigger the Vote” voter registration campaign, featuring film legend Chuck Norris as our Honorary Chairman.

This year, Chuck is getting an assist from another action hero - R. Lee “Gunny” Ermey, retired Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant, and member of the NRA Board of Directors. We are proud that Gunny volunteered his time to film a new voter registration PSA, and we wanted to give NRA Members the first look. Here’s what Gunny had to say about the ad:

“Listen up and hear me well! This is a critical time for our nation, and too many people are sitting back to let others do the hard work. So it’s time for all of us to put some gas in it and persuade all eligible gun owners to register. That’s why I volunteered my time to film the ad shown here. Now it’s your turn and I want to see results! Start now by sending this message to everyone you know who supports the Second Amendment. I expect 110% right now from everyone who values our freedoms! NO EXCUSES. And remember — pain is just weakness leaving the body!”

- R. Lee “Gunny” Ermey, NRA Board of Directors

Sounds like he’s serious! Watch the ad here and send it to your friends, family, and fellow gun owners.

Sincerely,

Chris W. Cox
Executive Director
NRA Institute for Legislative Action

ATAC TV, FIREARMS, NRA, MARK FLINN, TOM CLARKE, LENNY BOLTON, JIM FULLER, GLENN JUSTICE, JEFF HALL, VENOM TACTICAL, FORCE OPTIONS, HANDGUN, RIFLE, EXPOSED FROM COVER, GI JOE,

All the guides are available individually or a a combo pack on the ATAC Store, here is the link.

Recently, a federal district court in Washington, D.C. issued a ruling upholding an Obama administration policy that requires federally licensed firearms retailers in states bordering Mexico to report multiple sales of semi-automatic rifles. The case was brought by two NRA-backed firearm retailers and by the National Shooting Sports Foundation acting on behalf of its affected members. Plaintiffs have already filed an appeal—but while we await the outcome, your help is urgently needed in seeking congressional action to end this illegal policy.

Devised by Attorney General Eric Holder’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the plan requires all of the 8,700 firearm dealers in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas to report all sales of two or more semi-automatic rifles within five consecutive business days, if the rifles are larger than .22 caliber and use detachable magazines.

“A Significant Indictment” of DOJ’s “Integrity”: In a move that stunned members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, the chief of the criminal division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona has cited his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination and refused to testify.

Outrage of the Week: Politician Attacks Sheriff’s Support of Self-Defense: During an Oct. 31 press conference following the attempted rape of a woman walking her dog by a convicted felon, Spartanburg County, S.C., Sheriff Chuck Wright didn’t mince words. “It’s too bad someone with a concealed weapons permit didn’t walk by. That would fix it,” Wright said. Wright then repeatedly told his constituents “I want you to get a concealed weapons permit.” To hammer the point home he held up a fanny pack, saying, “They make this right here where you can conceal a small pistol in them.”

Second Amendment Weekend at Cabela’s in Dundee, MI: Join NRA-ILA Headquarters staff February 10-11^th, 2012, for a weekend of important grassroots education for gun owners. 2012 is undoubtedly the most critical election year ever for our Second Amendment rights and we must redouble our efforts to guarantee victory on Election Day. Please make plans to attend NRA-ILA’s FREE Grassroots Workshop and NRA University to learn what you can do to become a better activist in the fight to protect and promote the Second Amendment!

Grassroots News Minute Video: To view this week’s “Grassroots News Minute” video, please click here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIYkRmi2TjE

STATE ROUNDUP (Please note the only items listed below are those that have had recent action. For other updates on state legislation, please go to the state legislation section at www.NRAILA.org, and check each week’s issue of the Grassroots Alert.)

For additional information, please click on the links provided.

GEORGIA: Pro-Hunting Bill Passes Unanimously in Senate Committee!
On January 25, NRA-backed Senate Bill 301 passed unanimously in the state Senate Natural Resources & the Environment Committee! This bill now goes to the Senate floor. SB 301 would allow Georgians to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for hunting. Currently, Georgia law permits the use of suppressors for all shooting activities except for the taking of game.

State Senator Introduces NRA-Backed Legislation to Prohibit Destruction of Firearms
On January 27, state Senator Don Balfour (R-9) introduced NRA-backed legislation, Senate Bill 350. This bill would require local and state police authorities to return seized firearms, not currently being held as evidence in a criminal investigation, to the lawful owner if able. If the lawful owner is not found or unable to take possession of the firearm, SB 350 would require these agencies to sell these firearms at a public auction or to a licensed firearms dealer. SB 350 has been assigned to the state Senate Judiciary Committee, but a hearing date has not yet been scheduled.

IOWA: Traditional Ammunition Protections Move Forward in Des Moines
On January 26, the state House Natural Resources Committee passed House Joint Resolution 2001 by a 17 to 4 vote. HJR 2001, which is the House companion of Senate Joint Resolution 2001, is now headed to the House floor for consideration. SJR 2001 and HJR 2001 would rescind the Iowa Natural Resources Commission’s unjustified and dangerous regulation banning the use of traditional ammunition for dove hunting. SJR 2001, which has passed in the state Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee, is currently awaiting Senate floor action.

ILLINOIS: Pending House Votes on Three Anti-Gun Bills in Illinois
Three anti-gun bills passed on January 24 in the state House Rules Committee and could be voted on at anytime when the House convenes on January 31. House Bill 1294 seeks to ban countless semi-automatic handguns, rifles, and shotguns, many parts for them, as well as .50 caliber rifles and ammunition. House Bill 1599 would classify countless semi-automatic handguns, rifles, and shotguns as “semi-automatic assault weapons,” and would classify as “high capacity ammunition” any “ammunition of .50 or more caliber.” House Bill 1855 would create penalties for individuals who have had their firearms stolen if they fail to report the theft in an arbitrarily determined time-frame. Please contact your state Representative TODAY and urge him or her to protect your Second Amendment rights and oppose HB 1294, HB 1599, and HB 1855!

INDIANA: Senate Public Policy Committee Passes Charity Gaming Legislation Crucial to Friends of NRA Events!
On January 25, the Senate Public Policy Committee passed Senate Bill 315 by a 9 to 1 vote. This bill will come up for a vote in the Senate as early as Monday. SB 315 will streamline the licensing and reporting process for charity gaming events, such as Friends of NRA banquets. These policy changes would greatly improve the ability of Friends of NRA committees to comply with Indiana charitable gaming laws in a timely and less cumbersome fashion, while protecting the personal information of Friends of NRA volunteers.

NRA-Backed Pro-Hunting Legislation Passes Committee and Goes to the Senate Floor!
Today, NRA-backed Senate Bill 243 passed in the Senate Judiciary Committee by a 7 to 1 vote! This bill will now go to the full Senate for a floor vote. SB 243 would allow Hoosiers to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for hunting. Currently, Indiana law permits use of suppressors for all shooting activities except for the taking of game. Enactment of SB 243 would ensure that hunting is treated the same way as other shooting activities with respect to the use of suppressors, and allow hunters to reap the many benefits suppressor use provides.

NEBRASKA: Critical Castle Doctrine Bill Heard in Committee
On January 25, Legislative Bill 804 was heard by the Judiciary Committee. This bill would create a presumption in the favor of a person who uses force against an intruder who has, or is attempting to, unlawfully and forcibly enter a dwelling or occupied vehicle. In such cases, deadly force would be presumed to be necessary for defense of those within the premises.

NEW JERSEY: Assembly Committee to Consider Ammo Ban & More
On Monday, January 30, the New Jersey Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee is scheduled to consider Assembly Bill 588 and Assembly Bill 1013. A588 is cleverly disguised as police safety legislation aimed at armor piercing ammunition (which is already prohibited under federal and state law). The measure actually opens the door to a sweeping ammunition ban by an unelected public official by executive fiat. Common hunting, target, and self-defense ammunition would be subject to ban, along with BB’s, airgun pellets, and non-metallic ammunition like plastic airsoft pellets, if the Attorney General decides that they pose a threat to the safety and well being of law enforcement.

NEW MEXICO: Pro-Gun Legislation Being Considered by Legislature!
Several pro-gun reform measures are on the move in this year’s thirty-day session which began on January 17. Senate Bill 26 would allow New Mexico residents to purchase long guns in non-contiguous states and residents of non-contiguous states to purchase long guns in New Mexico. SB 26 received an executive message from Governor Susana Martinez and has been ruled germane to the budget-only legislative session.

NORTH CAROLINA: Forsyth County Commissioners Postpone Vote on Carrying Concealed in County Parks!
At its meeting on January 23, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners was slated to vote on allowing concealed carry in county parks. Currently, both open and concealed carrying of firearms is banned in all Forsyth County parks, and there has been heated debate over the effect enactment of any new laws would have on citizens and visitors alike. Due to intense arguments on both sides, the county commissioners decided to postpone any action on this measure until they meet again on Monday, February 13.

OHIO: Reserve your seats for the 2012 Buckeye Bash and discover the “inside story” behind “Fast & Furious!”
Former NRA President Sandra Froman is the keynote speaker for this year’s event and will reveal what’s really going on in the gun-running scandal rocking the Obama administration. Plus, she’ll discuss the future of gun rights in America, and the dangers that lie ahead for all of us.

Buckeye Firearms Foundation will be holding this year’s fundraiser at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dublin, Ohio, on Saturday, February 11, and they promise that you’re in for a treat. Enjoy a great meal, participate in fun games and raffles, and join in on silent and live auctions for great items, like valuable firearms, artwork, collectibles, gun gear, knives, jewelry and more! Click here (http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/Buckeye-Bash) for more information and to get your tickets now!

PENNSYLVANIA: Votes on Pro-Gun House Bills Postponed until February
On January 24, the state House Judiciary Committee was scheduled to vote on two very important firearm bills. Unfortunately, the votes on House Bill 1523 and House Bill 1668 have been delayed until next month. Please continue to call AND e-mail your state Representative urging him or her to support HB 1523 and HB 1668. These much-needed pro-gun bills would make critical changes to enhance Pennsylvania’s firearm laws.

SOUTH DAKOTA: Employee Protection Legislation Introduced in Pierre!
On January 23, NRA-backed legislation that would prohibit employers from preventing employees from lawfully storing firearms in their locked personal vehicles was formally introduced in the state House of Representatives. Introduced by House Speaker Val Rausch (R-4) and sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Russell Olson (R-8), House Bill 1132 will address a long standing issue for South Dakotans. Please contact your state legislators today and urge them to cosponsor and support HB 1132.

TENNESSEE: House Companion Employee Protection Bills Filed
On January 25, we reported that two NRA-drafted employee protection bills were filed in the Tennessee Senate, Senate Bill 2992 and Senate Bill 3002. We are pleased to announce that the House companion bills were filed on January 26. House Bill 3560 and House Bill 3559 are NRA-drafted bills that would prevent employers from discriminating and enforcing policies against the storage of lawfully-owned firearms in employees’ locked private motor vehicles parked at work.

VIRGINIA: Senate Passes Historic Sunday Hunting Legislation!
On January 26, in a victory for sportsmen throughout the Commonwealth, the Virginia Senate passed legislation to repeal the comprehensive ban on Sunday hunting by a 29 to 11 vote. This bipartisan action will now send Senate Bill 464 to the House of Delegates for committee assignment and further consideration. Those Senators who voted to allow Sunday hunting in Virginia voted to preserve Virginia’s treasured hunting heritage, honor essential private property rights and provide an enormous annual economic stimulus without spending a single dollar of taxpayer money.

House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee Passes Five Pro-Gun Bills!
On January 27, the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee passed five pro-gun bills: House Bill 20, House Bill 22, House Bill 26, House Bill 375 and House Bill 940. These bills will all now be sent to the floor of the House of Delegates for consideration. It is important that you contact your Delegate today and urge him or her to support these bills when they come up for a vote.

Planning Process Underway for James River National Wildlife Refuge
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is writing a new management plan for the James River National Wildlife Refuge which is located along the James River in Prince George County, eight miles southeast of Hopewell and thirty miles southeast of Richmond. The 4,325-acre refuge is open to deer hunting. The USFWS is inviting public comments to help shape management decisions on the refuge for the next fifteen years. Once a plan is drafted it will be made available for public review and comment. The Service has identified several preliminary issues, concerns, and opportunities, including the amount and distribution of public use. If you want to become involved in the planning process, you may submit comments to fw5rw_evrnwr@fws.gov. Please include “James River CCP” in the subject line. For further information you may call Meghan Carfioli, the Planning Team Leader, at 804-829-5413.

WASHINGTON: Two Pro-Gun Bills Could be Heard in House Committee on Monday
House Bill 1508, a shooting range protection bill, and House Bill 2471, a background check reform bill, are scheduled for an executive session and could be voted on by the House Judiciary Committee this Monday, January 30, at 1:30 p.m. in Hearing Room A of the John L. O’Brien Building in Olympia. House Bill 1508 is a vital shooting range protection bill, introduced by state Representatives Dean Takko (D-19), Tim Probst (D-17) and Kevin Van De Wege (D-24). Shooting ranges are critical to competitive and recreational shooters, hunters, law enforcement, and individuals who just want to practice for self-defense.

WEST VIRGINIA: Four NRA-Backed Bills Introduced in the Mountain State
Pro-gun West Virginia legislators have introduced four NRA-backed bills already with at least one more bill expected to be introduced in the very near future. SB 149, SB 353 and SB 370 have been sent to the state Senate Judiciary Committee for its consideration. SB 144 has been sent to the state Senate Natural Resources Committee for its consideration. For more information on these bills please click on the above link.

ATAC TV FIREARMS, TOM CLARKE, MARK FLINN, JIM FULLER, LENNY BOLTON, JEFF HALL, RIFLE DYNAMICS, VENOM TACTICAL, FORCE OPTIONS, GLENN JUSTICE

ATAC TV Firearm Reply and Answer:

Tom Clarke and Lenny Bolton with ATAC TV Firearm’s Q&A address this important question with a serious warning for those traveling with firearms.This is a great question, with a very clear answer.  NO! The gun will not get through an X-ray undetected.  And, taking the answer one step further: DO NOT TRY IT.

First of all it is illegal to carry a concealed firearm or weapon through an X-ray machine, whether it is in an airport or any other government building, without permission from the proper authorities.  This question specifically refers to carrying a GLOCK or similar type handgun through airport security.  Tom Clarke make is very clear:  Just because the gun (GLOCK, Springfield, etc.) is plastic or polymer, does not mean you can sneak it through security.  Nor does it give you the permission to sneak it through security.

Lenny Bolton also emphasizes the gun will show up in the X-Ray image.  Plain as day, the entire outline of the firearm, including the trigger guard, will show up in the monitor.  Even if you separate the metal slide, it will still show up.

There is a correct way to travel with your firearm.  Laws are always changing over time.  For example, in reference to airline security, you can always call or check online with TSA (http://www.tsa.gov/) and ask about procedures for traveling with your firearm.  It is important to also check the laws of your destination because laws are different from state to state, or country to country.  Look into the proper protocol for your travel.  If you’re declaring a firearm, you may have to sign a statement that your firearm is cleared out and properly stored.  It is very important to communicate with TSA and airport officials in this case!

Straight to the point: Just don’t do it.  It’s not going to work.  Follow the firearms laws, which are put in place to protect everyone.  It is illegal and the penalties are pretty severe.

The ATAC Staff appreciates your great questions!  Keep them coming!

Watch Video Now: Will a Plastic Gun get through X-ray?

Ask Firearms Questions and Get the Answers on ATAC TV Firearms Channel

By LTC (RET) Dave Grossman, author of “On Killing.”

Honor never grows old, and honor rejoices the heart of age. It does so because honor is, finally, about defending those noble and worthy things that deserve defending, even if it comes at a high cost. In our time, that may mean social disapproval, public scorn, hardship, persecution, or as always,even death itself. The question remains: What is worth defending? What is worth dying for? What is worth living for? - William J. Bennett - in a lecture to the United States Naval Academy November 24, 1997

One Vietnam veteran, an old retired colonel, once said this to me:

“Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident.” This is true. Remember, the murder rate is six per 100,000 per year, and the aggravated assault rate is four per 1,000 per year. What this means is that the vast majority of Americans are not inclined to hurt one another. Some estimates say that two million Americans are victims of violent crimes every year, a tragic, staggering number, perhaps an all-time record rate of violent crime. But there are almost 300 million Americans, which means that the odds of being a victim of violent crime is considerably less than one in a hundred on any given year. Furthermore, since many violent crimes are committed by repeat offenders, the actual number of violent citizens is considerably less than two million.

Thus there is a paradox, and we must grasp both ends of the situation: We may well be in the most violent times in history, but violence is still remarkably rare. This is because most citizens are kind, decent people who are not capable of hurting each other, except by accident or under extreme provocation. They are sheep.

I mean nothing negative by calling them sheep. To me it is like the pretty, blue robin’s egg. Inside it is soft and gooey but someday it will grow into something wonderful. But the egg cannot survive without its hard blue shell. Police officers, soldiers, and other warriors are like that shell, and someday the civilization they protect will grow into something wonderful.? For now, though, they need warriors to protect them from the predators.

“Then there are the wolves,” the old war veteran said, “and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy.” Do you believe there are wolves out there who will feed on the flock without mercy? You better believe it. There are evil men in this world and they are capable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that or pretend it is not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety in denial.

“Then there are sheepdogs,” he went on, “and I’m a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf.”

If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen, a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath, a wolf. But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What do you have then? A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero’s path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed

Let me expand on this old soldier’s excellent model of the sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. We know that the sheep live in denial, that is what makes them sheep. They do not want to believe that there is evil in the world. They can accept the fact that fires can happen, which is why they want fire extinguishers, fire sprinklers, fire alarms and fire exits throughout their kids’ schools.

But many of them are outraged at the idea of putting an armed police officer in their kid’s school. Our children are thousands of times more likely to be killed or seriously injured by school violence than fire, but the sheep’s only response to the possibility of violence is denial. The idea of someone coming to kill or harm their child is just too hard, and so they chose the path of denial.

The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, can not and will not ever harm the sheep. Any sheep dog who intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. The world cannot work any other way, at least not in a representative democracy or a republic such as ours.

Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. They would prefer that he didn’t tell them where to go, or give them traffic tickets, or stand at the ready in our airports in camouflage fatigues holding an M-16. The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go, “Baa.”

Until the wolf shows up. Then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely sheepdog.

The students, the victims, at Columbine High School were big, tough high school students, and under ordinary circumstances they would not have had the time of day for a police officer. They were not bad kids; they just had nothing to say to a cop. When the school was under attack, however, and SWAT teams were clearing the rooms and hallways, the officers had to physically peel those clinging, sobbing kids off of them. This is how the little lambs feel about their sheepdog when the wolf is at the door.

Look at what happened after September 11, 2001 when the wolf pounded hard on the door. Remember how America, more than ever before, felt differently about their law enforcement officers and military personnel? Remember how many times you heard the word hero?

Understand that there is nothing morally superior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be. Also understand that a sheepdog is a funny critter: He is always sniffing around out on the perimeter, checking the breeze, barking at things that go bump in the night, and yearning for a righteous battle. That is, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle. The old sheepdogs are a little older and wiser, but they move to the sound of the guns when needed right along with the young ones.

Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most citizens in America said, “Thank God I wasn’t on one of those planes.” The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, “Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference.” When you are truly transformed into a warrior and have truly invested yourself into warriorhood, you want to be there. You want to be able to make a difference.

There is nothing morally superior about the sheepdog, the warrior, but he does have one real advantage. Only one. And that is that he is able to survive and thrive in an environment that destroys 98 percent of the population. There was research conducted a few years ago with individuals convicted of violent crimes. These cons were in prison for serious, predatory crimes of violence: assaults, murders and killing law enforcement officers. The vast majority said that they specifically targeted victims by body language: slumped walk, passive behavior and lack of awareness. They chose their victims like big cats do in Africa, when they select one out of the herd that is least able to protect itself.

Some people may be destined to be sheep and others might be genetically primed to be wolves or sheepdogs. But I believe that most people can choose which one they want to be, and I’m proud to say that more and more Americans are choosing to become sheepdogs.

Seven months after the attack on September 11, 2001, Todd Beamer was honored in his hometown of Cranbury, New Jersey. Todd, as you recall, was the man on Flight 93 over Pennsylvania who called on his cell phone to alert an operator from United Airlines about the hijacking. When he learned of the other three passenger planes that had been used as weapons, Todd dropped his phone and uttered the words, “Let’s roll,” which authorities believe was a signal to the other passengers to confront the terrorist hijackers. In one hour, a transformation occurred among the passengers - athletes, business people and parents. — from sheep to sheepdogs and together they fought the wolves, ultimately saving an unknown number of lives on the ground.

There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men. - Edmund Burke

Here is the point I like to emphasize, especially to the thousands of police officers and soldiers I speak to each year. In nature the sheep, real sheep, are born as sheep. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves. They didn’t have a choice. But you are not a critter. As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. It is a conscious, moral decision.

If you want to be a sheep, then you can be a sheep and that is okay, but you must understand the price you pay. When the wolf comes, you and your loved ones are going to die if there is not a sheepdog there to protect you. If you want to be a wolf, you can be one, but the sheepdogs are going to hunt you down and you will never have rest, safety, trust or love. But if you want to be a sheepdog and walk the warrior’s path, then you must make a conscious and moral decision every day to dedicate, equip and prepare yourself to thrive in that toxic, corrosive moment when the wolf comes knocking at the door.

For example, many officers carry their weapons in church.? They are well concealed in ankle holsters, shoulder holsters or inside-the-belt holsters tucked into the small of their backs.? Anytime you go to some form of religious service, there is a very good chance that a police officer in your congregation is carrying. You will never know if there is such an individual in your place of worship, until the wolf appears to massacre you and your loved ones.

I was training a group of police officers in Texas, and during the break, one officer asked his friend if he carried his weapon in church. The other cop replied, “I will never be caught without my gun in church.” I asked why he felt so strongly about this, and he told me about a cop he knew who was at a church massacre in Ft. Worth, Texas in 1999. In that incident, a mentally deranged individual came into the church and opened fire, gunning down fourteen people. He said that officer believed he could have saved every life that day if he had been carrying his gun. His own son was shot, and all he could do was throw himself on the boy’s body and wait to die. That cop looked me in the eye and said, “Do you have any idea how hard it would be to live with yourself after that?”

Some individuals would be horrified if they knew this police officer was carrying a weapon in church. They might call him paranoid and would probably scorn him. Yet these same individuals would be enraged and would call for “heads to roll” if they found out that the airbags in their cars were defective, or that the fire extinguisher and fire sprinklers in their kids’ school did not work. They can accept the fact that fires and traffic accidents can happen and that there must be safeguards against them.

Their only response to the wolf, though, is denial, and all too often their response to the sheepdog is scorn and disdain. But the sheepdog quietly asks himself, “Do you have and idea how hard it would be to live with yourself if your loved ones attacked and killed, and you had to stand there helplessly because you were unprepared for that day?”

It is denial that turns people into sheep. Sheep are psychologically destroyed by combat because their only defense is denial, which is counterproductive and destructive, resulting in fear, helplessness and horror when the wolf shows up.

Denial kills you twice. It kills you once, at your moment of truth when you are not physically prepared: you didn’t bring your gun, you didn’t train. Your only defense was wishful thinking. Hope is not a strategy. Denial kills you a second time because even if you do physically survive, you are psychologically shattered by your fear helplessness and horror at your moment of truth.

Gavin de Becker puts it like this in Fear Less, his superb post-9/11 book, which should be required reading for anyone trying to come to terms with our current world situation: “…denial can be seductive, but it has an insidious side effect. For all the peace of mind deniers think they get by saying it isn’t so, the fall they take when faced with new violence is all the more unsettling.”

Denial is a save-now-pay-later scheme, a contract written entirely in small print, for in the long run, the denying person knows the truth on some level.

And so the warrior must strive to confront denial in all aspects of his life, and prepare himself for the day when evil comes. If you are warrior who is legally authorized to carry a weapon and you step outside without that weapon, then you become a sheep, pretending that the bad man will not come today. No one can be “on” 24/7, for a lifetime. Everyone needs down time. But if you are authorized to carry a weapon, and you walk outside without it, just take a deep breath, and say this to yourself…

“Baa.”

This business of being a sheep or a sheep dog is not a yes-no dichotomy. It is not an all-or-nothing, either-or choice. It is a matter of degrees, a continuum. On one end is an abject, head-in-the-sand-sheep and on the other end is the ultimate warrior. Few people exist completely on one end or the other. Most of us live somewhere in between. Since 9-11 almost everyone in America took a step up that continuum, away from denial. The sheep took a few steps toward accepting and appreciating their warriors, and the warriors started taking their job more seriously. The degree to which you move up that continuum, away from sheephood and denial, is the degree to which you and your loved ones will survive, physically and psychologically at your moment of truth.