Posted on 12/16/2010 8:20:22 PM PST by marktwain
Last November’s landmark elections are creating historic opportunities for the cause of freedom in the Badger State. With the combined efforts of gun owners and hunters, anti-freedom majorities in the Assembly and Senate were removed from power, replaced by pro-freedom lawmakers. Scott Walker, the NRA Political Victory Fund’s endorsed candidate for Governor, will soon succeed Jim Doyle, who relished his title as the most anti-gun Governor in state history. Doyle’s departure marks an end to a very long and dark chapter in Wisconsin’s history. Longtime friend of gun owners, J.B. Van Hollen, was re-elected Attorney General.
Shortly after the 2010 primary elections, the NRA engaged its members throughout the state in an energetic Vote Freedom First campaign. The response was overwhelming. At event after event, the one issue that candidates talked about time and time again was the Right to Carry. They recognize that the day when law-abiding citizens can discreetly protect themselves from violence outside of their homes is long overdue. It is now time for the candidates-turned-elected-officials to convert their words into action.
Because of Jim Doyle’s distrust of the people, he twice vetoed Right to Carry legislation during his terms in office. Each time, the bills were passed with two-thirds majorities in both houses. This should have been enough to overcome Doyle’s veto pen, but three Assembly members chose partisan politics over personal protection and shamelessly changed their votes from “yes” to “no” during the two override votes in 2004 and 2006.
Past legislative efforts to secure the Right to Carry always assumed that a veto override would be necessary. Attempting to secure two-thirds majorities required the NRA and other proponents to accept amendments during the legislative process that sought to place additional restrictions on the good citizens of Wisconsin and would have impeded their ability to protect themselves. With the makeup of the incoming legislature, these unnecessary concessions should no longer be necessary.
The NRA will strive to make Wisconsin’s 2011 Right to Carry law one of the strongest in the country. The experience of 40 other Right to Carry states has eliminated any question as to whether citizens can be trusted to act safely and responsibly. The laws of Vermont, Alaska and Arizona will be used as the model. The latter two, in particular, will set the standard with systems that recognize the citizens’ constitutional right to carry firearms for self-defense along with a provision that will provide for the streamlined issuance of a state permit that can be used for reciprocity purposes in other states while traveling. The primary difference between the open carry provision that has always been part of Wisconsin’s statutes and “Constitutional Carry” is that citizens will finally be able to discreetly carry firearms in public. As we all know, this leaves criminals guessing as to who has the ability to defend themselves against aggression.
With displays of courage and strong leadership from your elected officials; your commitment to be actively involved in the legislative efforts to come; and the NRA’s dedication to this cause, we can achieve an historic victory for Wisconsin gun owners that will last for generations.
Some states do. PA does not. Here it's just a case you get your picture taken and you pay the $45 or so fee.
Oh OK, in states where it’s just a matter of fee payment, then I agree with you, they should just do away with the system entirely. At least once no one needs them any more for reciprocity.
Clearly the NRA strategy of endorsing pro-gun incumbents, even if they are Dems has had an upside over the last 4 years. Even though they controled both houses for four years and had an anti-gun president for 2, pro-gun Dems either stopped the gun grabber bills in caucus, voted them down in committee, or refused to bring the bills to the floor for a vote (yes, I do mean Dingy Harry). Is there a downside also? Sure. But look at the bright side: the NRA policy of favoring pro-gun incumbents over pro-gun challengers will now help a whole lot more Republicans, and a lot of them will be TEA Party Pubs at that.
And you actually believe its because the politicians had a change of heart and/or because the NRA pushed these fights forward?... TOTAL B.S. and you know it!
Not hardly. With the exception of passing concealed carry privileges in national parks to gain the NRA's blessing, rats in Congress have been too afraid of crossing the NRA. It would have endangered their new members.
The reason the anti-gun laws have been falling left and right across the country is due to the activism of SOME gun owners and LOCAL/STATE gun rights groups. Hell the frigging NRA sat on the sidelines most of the time twiddling their thumbs and courting Commie Dems.
I'm glad the NRA finally decided to get back in the fight and I'll give them credit where credit is due, such as this case, but it will take a very long time to win back the loyalty of members... well except for the groupies that are more than willing to look the other way while a NRA shiv is again pushed into the Second Amendments back.
Feds Send Mixed Signals On Push For Gun Control
Speaker Pelosi and Sen. Reid were joined in opposing Holder by members of the bipartisan House of Representatives Second Amendment Task Force. U.S. Rep. and Task Force co-chair Paul Broun (R-Ga.) said "The Attorney General's recent comments about reinstating the 'assault weapons' ban are extremely troubling since a ban clearly violates our Constitutional right to bear arms." Co-chair Dan Boren (D-Okla.) added, "The Second Amendment Task Force is adamantly opposed to reinstating the ban on the sale of assault weapons as it clearly would demonstrate a violation of United States citizens' right to keep and bear arms." Other members of the Task Force include Democrats Jason Altmire (D-Pa.), Travis Childers (D-Miss.), Brad Ellsworth (D-Ind.), Jim Matheson (D-Utah) and Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.), and Republicans Rob Bishop (R-Utah), John Carter (R-Tex.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Steve King (R-Iowa) and Steve Scalise (R-La.).
The rats in Congress knew who they had to elect to get their majorities in 2006 and 2008. It was not gun grabbers. The rats finally woke up six years after Bush v. Gore. They knew who not to endanger with new, serious gun grabbing bills. The NRA had Pelosi and Reid by the short hairs. The NRA has been working all over the country to help local gun rights organizations. I've been posting their press releases and stories from NRA-ILA's news website since I've been posting here.
I'm not crazy about everything the NRA has done, but with all the RINOs in the GOP, their actions are understandable.
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