LANDMARK NRA VICTORY NOW LAW
President Bush Signs S.397
October 26, 2005
(Washington, DC) - President George W. Bush today signed into law the
National Rifle Association (NRA)-backed "Protection of Lawful Commerce
in Arms Act" (S. 397) ending politically motivated lawsuits designed to
bankrupt law-abiding American firearm manufacturers and retailers. S.
397 passed both chambers in Congress with broad bipartisan support.
"This is an historic day for freedom. I would like to thank President
Bush for signing the most significant piece of pro-gun legislation in
twenty years into law. History will show that this law helped save the
American firearms industry from collapse under the burden of these
ruinous and politically motivated lawsuits," said Wayne LaPierre,
NRA's executive vice president.
In late July, the Senate approved the measure 65-31. Last week, the
House overwhelmingly passed the bill 283-144. The "Protection of
Lawful Commerce in Arms Act" was NRA's number one legislative priority
and a monumental victory for the Association and its members.
"What we witness today is the culmination of a seven-year effort that
included a comprehensive legislative and election strategy," stated
Chris W. Cox, NRA's chief lobbyist. "We worked hard to change the
political landscape to pass this landmark legislation. As always, our
members were up for the task. Key electoral victories in 2000, 2002
and 2004 helped pave passage of this law.
"The Bush administration was a vital ally during debate on Capitol
Hill. I would also like to thank Senators Larry Craig and Max Baucus
and Congressmen Rick Boucher and Cliff Stearns for doing a yeoman's
job as lead co-sponsors of this legislation. In addition, Senate
Majority Leader Bill Frist and Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell
ought to be commended for their steadfast leadership during Senate
deliberations," added Cox.
In recent years, 33 states passed similar legislation outlawing
frivolous lawsuits intended to bankrupt the gun industry. However, this
new law creates judicial uniformity in all courts across the United
States.
"This law will help preserve the American firearms industry and also
help preserve American manufacturing jobs. American companies will
cease to make products if they continue to be sued every time a violent
criminal they do not know, have never met and cannot control, misuses a
legal non-defective product. This is a significant step toward saving
millions of manufacturing jobs," concluded LaPierre. [NRA story]
The bill also bans the Herstal Five-seveN, pistol (already
banned in the state) as well as its ammunition, claiming
they will defeat police body armor, a statement refuted
by the ATF when it originally approved the caliber and
its importation.
(http://www.atf.gov/firearms/firearmstech/fabriquen.htm)
In your phone call or e-mail, remember to urge your Senators
to pass a "clean" bill without amendments.
S-397 is the most important piece of legislation for law abiding
firearms owners and manufacturers to come before the US Senate in
the past several years. It is critical we all get involved and
show our strong support for this bill.
To Call your Senators: (202) 224-3121
Mobilize your co-workers and friends to do so as well.
If you elect to email or fax your Senator, FCI would like to receive a copy of the email at:
info@fiftycal.org or a copy of the fax at: (206) 202-3920 for our files.
This is important folks, so lets make some noise on this issue.
NRA Cancels Columbus Convention July 17, 2005
The
National Rifle Association has canceled the Columbus, Ohio location
for the group's 2007 Annual Meeting of Members.
"The party is canceled because last week your City Council
unanimously voted to revoke the constitutional rights of
law-abiding citizens in Columbus by banning perfectly
legal firearms," stated NRA Executive Vice-President Wayne LaPierre.
On July 12, the Columbus city council outlawed
the sale or possession of semiautomatic rifles with pistol
grips and detachable magazines.
Twice before, the Columbus city council passed restrictions
on so-called "assault weapons" based on specific manufacturer models, but those
efforts were overturned by federal lawsuits.
The latest ban attempts to draw a distinction between military
weapons and those used for sporting purposes based
on cosmetic features such as detachable magazines and
existance of a pistol grip for either hand.
If lawmakers overturn the misguided legislation, LaPierre
says the convention could return. NRA conventions
are booked years in advance and bring tens of thousands of
NRA members and millions of dollars to a community. Portland, Oregon and Reno, Nevada
were also considered as sites for the 2007 event.
Lynn McMurdo Recovering July 11, 2005
Members of the Shooting Community,
As most of you know by now, Lynn McMurdo, President of the Fifty Caliber Shooters Assn. (FCSA) collapsed on Friday July the 8th after arriving in Fallon, NV for Skip Talbot's funeral. Initially it was thought Lynn had suffered a heart attack and he was air-evacuated from Fallon to a hospital in Reno, NV. After examination in Reno it was determined Lynn had not suffered a heart attack but had a blocked artery. A "Stint operation" was performed to open the artery and Lynn is now on his way to recovery.
Lynn's wife April and his two son's JD & Matt drove down from WY and arrived early Saturday morning. April and the boys were able to attend Skip's funeral and then returned to Lynn's bedside.
We have been informed that Lynn has now been released from the hospital and is returning to his home in Afton, WY in the company of his wife April.
If you wish to express your sympathy or get well wishes to Lynn, you can reach him via email at: Lynn_McMurdo@yahoo.com or send him a card to:
PO Box 404
Afton, WY 83110
I'm sure he would like to hear from all of you.
Regarding the funeral of Skip Talbot, there were hundreds of people in attendance from all over the United States and some from as far away as England. Every shooting discipline that Skip was involved in was represented by people he had met and who loved him.
Skip's wife Carmen and the entire Talbot family have asked that we express their appreciation for the incredible expression of love and grief shown by the entire shooting community at the loss of such a great man.
On behalf of Carmen and the Talbot family, thank you very much.
John Burtt, President
Fifty Caliber Institute
July 9, 2005
As the fifty faithful gathered in Fallon Nevada last night, to pay their
last respects to the late Skip Talbot, Lynn McMurdo (newly elected FCSA
President, replacing Skip) collapsed and had to be life-flighted to a
hospital in Reno for emergency surgery. Lynn, also a fifty-caliber world
record holder, the owner of McMurdo Custom Bullets, former member of the
FCSA Board of Directors, and former FCSA Vice-President, is resting
comfortably and the prognosis is good.
We, at the Fifty Caliber Institute, ask that you join us once again in
keeping another shooting legend and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
Keith Pagel
Executive Director,
Fifty Caliber Institute
Untimely Death of Skip Talbot
July 5, 2005 Eulogy
Most people have by now heard the tragic news that a 50 Caliber legend, Mr. Skip Talbot died on Friday, July 1st while he was at the annual fifty caliber World Championships in Raton, NM.
For those of you who had not heard the news, Skip died as a result of complications that
occured subsequent to an operation to stop internal bleeding from a ruptured spleen.
Skips death was very unexpected and certainly untimely. We have lost a legend and our best friend.
For those who would like to attend or pay their respects to his wife Carmen Talbot and the Talbot family, the following information is provided.
For those of you wishing to send flowers or attend services, they will be in Skip's home town of Fallon, NV, at the Christian Life Center, 1435 Kaiser St, at 10 AM, Saturday, July 9. The phone number at the CLC is 775-423-6900. Zip code is 89406.
Skips' home address is:
2462 Hammond Dr.
Fallon, NV 89406
I can assure you that any expression of your condolences to the family will be very much appreciated.
John Burtt, President
Fifty Caliber Institute
Congress Defeats Moran (D-VA) Amendment to Ban the Export of .50 Caliber Rifles June 16, 2005
The Moran amendment would do absolutely nothing to make America safer, and would seriously damage the State Department and Pentagon's ability to assist friendly foreign nongovernmental entities.
The NRA-ILA office
was monitoring this amendment from the beginning and wasted no time sending word to 'Capital Hill' of their opposition. Without their quick action this back door amendment by Rep. Moran might have slipped under the rug unnoticed in this appropriations bill. Gun owners across America owe NRA-ILA a vote of thanks for a job well done.
The Fifty Caliber Institute (FCI) and the fifty caliber community are opposed to this kind of representation from our elected officials and we applaud the other members of Congress who took a strong stand against this back door circumventing of the policies of our govt.
The Fifty Caliber Community has maintained a strong relationship with our Military and Law Enforcement agencies for many years and is responsible for passing on valuable information to our military that has helped many times in the development of the tools they need to fight the war on terrorism. We strongly resent those elected officials who continue to try to handcuff those allies willing to help the US fight to protect this country.
We ask all members of our community to contact their representatives in the US Congress and express your outrage regarding Congressman Moran's Amendment.
Illinois Armory on Display
May 18, 2005
The Illinois National Guard’s return to the Streator Armory
becomes official Saturday with a rededication ceremony and tours
of the facility. The armory, located at 401 W. Bridge St., Streator,
IL had been vacant since the 106th Calvary was deactivated in September
1996. The equipment on display will include grenade launchers, .50-caliber
machine guns and semi-automatic weapons. [More.]
Pro Rights Groups Prevail! Maine's .50 Caliber Ban Stopped
By Committee!
May 6. 2005
A gun control bill that drew a crowd of activists to a hearing earlier
this week has been killed by a legislative committee. The bill seeking
to impose a ban on assault weapons was killed for this year's session
Thursday by a unanimous vote of the Criminal Justice and Public
Safety Committee after the sponsor, Democratic Sen. Ethan Strimling
of Portland, acknowledged flaws with the proposal. Strimling's bill
was intended to fill a gap left by the expiration last September
of a federal assault weapons ban, which had been in effect for a
decade. But gun-owners' rights advocates and other opponents said
the federal law was ineffective and expressed concerns the Maine
bill would erode their constitutional right to bear arms. [Original
Source http://www.wmtw.com/news /4457780/detail.html.]
Assault-Weapons Ban Needless, Owners Say
May 3, 2005
Gun owners turned out in large numbers to condemn a Maine bill in
the Legislature that would make it illegal to own, transfer or manufacture
so-called "assault weapons," as well as .50-caliber rifles
and ammunition. Opponents attacked the bill as unnecessary during
a committee hearing, saying there is no evidence that such semiautomatic
weapons have been used to commit a crime in Maine in more than 60
years, so there is no need for "gun grabbers" to try to
outlaw them now. Dozens of the 80 or so people who crammed the hearing
room wore stickers opposing gun control, and the 22 people who testified
against the bill over the course of several hours far outnumbered
the handful of people who spoke for it. [More.]
Another .50 BMG Ban Proposed ... In Maine
May 2, 2005
A new .50 caliber ban appeared on the horizon last week, this while
the
state of Illinois was considering their own. While quick action
by gun
owners has, at least temporarily, stopped the IL ban (it's still
stuck in
committee), it's not dead. In the interim, the state of Maine began
its movement towards not only banning ownership and manufacture
of .50 caliber rifles, but of owning .50 caliber ammunition as well.
Even reloading your own casings is prohibited!
The proposal calls for confiscation without compensation. Believe
it or
not, this piece of legislation is actually WORSE than California
and
Illinois. Their bill, LD-1579, is in the Committee on Criminal
Justice and Public
Safety. In addition, these incessant attacks on your 2nd
Amendment rights are
putting a financial strain on the Fifty Caliber Institute.
Please contribute to the cause. Without your
financial backing, the FCI cannot continue much longer defending
your RIGHT to own the rifle caliber of YOUR choice.
New York Times Uses Proof of Federal "Assault Weapon"
Ban's Ineffectiveness As Means To Enact Strong Gun Bans
May 1, 2005
Despite dire predictions that the streets would be awash in military-style
guns, the expiration of the decade-long assault weapons ban last
September has not set off a sustained surge in the weapons' sales,
gun makers and sellers say. It also has not caused any noticeable
increase in gun crime in the past seven months, according to several
metropolitan police departments. In an attempt to push for more
anti-firearm rights legislation the New York Times claims that this
underscored what many had said all along: that the ban was porous
- so porous that "assault weapons" remained widely available
throughout their prohibition. [More.]
