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FEDERAL NEWS

FCI ALERT: New Feinstein Bill Targets Muzzle Energy
May 9, 2007

Vitter Amendment Passes
U.S. Senate Votes to Protect Second Amendment Rights During Emergencies
July 13, 2006
Fairfax, VA - Today, the United States Senate passed the Homeland Security appropriations bill (H.R. 5441), including amendment # 4551 -- offered by Senator David Vitter, to prohibit the use of funds appropriated under this bill for the confiscation of lawfully possessed firearms during an emergency or major disaster.

NRA Chief Lobbyist, Chris Cox, asserted, "After Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Police Superintendent issued orders to confiscate firearms from all citizens, allegedly under a state emergency powers law. With that one order, he stripped the one means of self-protection innocent citizens had during a time of widespread civil disorder. This legislation guarantees that will never happen again."

Various reports indicate that military and law enforcement agencies from several states confiscated guns from law-abiding New Orleans residents. The Vitter Amendment prohibits the use of federal funds to seize firearms or restrict firearms possession, except in the circumstances allowed by current federal or state law. Convicted felons and other "prohibited persons," are not protected under this legislation and it does not effect law enforcement operations outside of disaster relief situations.

"In passing this legislation, Congress acted to protect the self-defense rights of citizens when those rights are most vital. There was no 9-1-1 or police to rely on while looters and rapists and thugs ran rampant and honest citizens were left to their own devices to protect themselves, their families and their neighbors. I want to thank Senator Vitter for introducing this amendment and all the representatives who supported it."

Emergency powers legislation prohibiting government officials from restricting the rights of law-abiding gun owners during declared states of emergency has passed this year in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, Alaska, Idaho, Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma.


Support The Vitter amendment
July 12, 2006
During Senate consideration of the Homeland Security appropriations bill (H.R. 5441), Senator David Vitter will offer an amendment (# 4551) to prohibit the use of funds appropriated under this bill for the confiscation of lawfully possessed firearms during an emergency or major disaster.

After Hurricane Katrina, many residents legally armed themselves to protect their lives and property from widespread civil disorder. With no way to call for help, and police unable to respond, honest citizens were able to defend themselves and their neighbors. However, the then-New Orleans Police Superintendent issued orders for the confiscation of firearms, allegedly under a state emergency powers law. “No one will be able to be armed,” he said. “Guns will be taken. Only law enforcement will be allowed to have guns.”

Various reports indicate that military and law enforcement agencies from several states participated in confiscating guns from New Orleans residents. Some coverage of these actions was caught on videotape, available at www.nraila.org/news/VideoLauncher.aspx?id=61 and www.nraila.org/news/VideoLauncher.aspx?id=63

While no one condones the mindless violence of those who looted a helpless city or attacked their fellow citizens and rescuers, Congress can, and should, act to protect the self-defense rights of citizens at the times when those rights are most vital.

The Vitter Amendment would:

  • Prohibit using federal funds to seize firearms or restrict firearms possession, except in the circumstances allowed by current federal or state law.

  • Not prevent gun confiscation from convicted felons and other “prohibited persons,” and would have no effect on law enforcement operations outside of disaster relief situations.
Emergency powers legislation prohibiting government officials from restricting the rights of law-abiding gun owners during declared states of emergency has already been enacted into law this year in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, Alaska, Idaho, Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma.

Since the unconstitutional, forcible confiscation of firearms from law-abiding citizens strikes at the fundamental Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Americans, votes on this amendment will be used in our future candidate ratings and evaluations. For more information on this issue, please call NRA Federal Affairs at (202) 651-2560.

Stop Gun Confiscation in Citizens’ Hour of Need

The National Rifle Association Urges You to Vote for the Vitter Amendment.

The Fifty Caliber Institute (FCI) supports this bill and is asking the entire fifty caliber community to get involved to pass this much needed amendment along with the appropriations bill. For more info go to the FCI web site at: www.fiftycal.org.

John Burtt, Chmn
FCI

Feinstein Attacks The 50 BMG Again
March 27, 2006
Avowed anti-gun leader Dianne Feinstein is on the attack once again against the 50 BMG target rifle. In what appears to be her latest move to become more politically correct on the "illegal immigration" issue which is heating up across America, she has written a letter dated March 24th, 2006 to the acting commissioner of the US Border Patrol, Deborah Spero. In her letter Senator Feinstein is using the 'Secure America's Borders issue' in trying to enlist the support of the Department of Homeland Security to promote her anti gun agenda by forcing the US Border Patrol to take a stand on the issue of the fifty caliber target rifle.

Read her entire letter at: http://www.yubanet.com/artman/publish/article_33384.shtml

Her letter is couched more as an effort at 'arm twisting' US Customs and Border Patrol into establishing a policy statement on an issue they would never had contemplated.

In the past Senator Feinstein and her anti-gun crowd have been frustrated by agencies in the federal government not supporting her outrageous comments and claims about the dangers of law abiding citizens owning the 50 BMG. FCI has consistently pointed out to law makers across the country that no federal agency involved in any aspect of the threat against terrorism has singled out any firearm as a "threat to national security" and has carefully refuted her claims and exaggerations.

FCI wants to inform everyone about this latest attack on your right to own firearms. Don't be fooled by Senator Feinstein's charade of words. She is intent on disarming you of every firearm you own. Her using the smoke screen of the 'secure our borders' issue is ludicrous, because it has been politicians like her who have created the problem in the first place and allowed our border patrol agents to now be in harm's way. For her position on that issue alone she needs to be fired. Write to your own US Senator asking them to write their own letters to the US Border Patrol and for them to focus on the real issue of how best to secure America's borders and to not support the anti-gun agenda of politicians like Dianne Feinstein.

John Burtt, Chmn FCI