The Knox Update

NRA Board Elections 2010

The Knox Update

From the Firearms Coalition

NRA Director Elections 2010

By Jeff Knox

(Manassas, VA, February 18, 2010) It is time again to elect one third of the absurdly large Board of Directors of NRA.  Each year 25 seats come up for election for a 3-year term and then one of the runner-ups is elected to a 1-year term at the annual meetings.  This year 24 of the current directors are running for reelection and there are 7 non-incumbent nominees also running resulting in 31 candidates for 25 seats.

As usual, the field includes a number of big names and celebrities, all of whom are certain to win.  This category includes Bob Barr, Dave Butz, Richard Childress, Sandy Froman, Marion Hammer, Susan Howard, Karl Malone, Oliver North, Ted Nugent, and Don Young.

Normally Joaquin Jackson and Larry Craig would have made the shoo-in list, but Senator Craig’s highly publicized personal issues and Ranger Jackson’s televised comments suggesting that “assault rifles” should be restricted to 5 round capacity place their reelection in doubt.  While both of these men have served well on the board and I consider both to be personal friends, I would have preferred it if they had stepped aside to give someone else a chance to serve. Continue reading NRA Board Elections 2010 →

Reports

Iowa – Continued

The Iowa Controversy

By Jeff Knox

(Manassas, VA, January 15) The Iowa Legislature started their brief 2010 election year session last Monday and fortunately, as of Friday, January 15th, NRA had still not filed their concealed carry reform bill.  The NRA proposal first surfaced last November as a revolting collection of sloppily worded amendments to Iowa’s atrocious weapons laws. Thanks to the efforts of rights groups, including The Firearms Coalition and GunVoter.org, NRA made several revisions, improving their first proposal, yet still falling far short of a good bill.  NRA’s current offering could be a barely tolerable fallback, assuming a good bill wasn’t possible, but the current political situation argues for stronger demands.  While the latest version has a number of very good provisions, it also contains things that simply shouldn’t be there.  It boils down to something simple: how much poo should Iowa GunVoters eat? Continue reading Iowa – Continued →

The Knox Update

Losing Lautenberg

The Knox Update

From the Firearms Coalition

An End to the Lautenberg Amendment?

By Jeff Knox

(Manassas, VA, January 7, 2009) The Federal Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit recently declared that the infamous Lautenberg Amendment, barring possession of firearms from anyone ever convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, is a violation of Second Amendment rights.

That’s good news, but don’t fire up the band just yet.  The actual conclusion of the 7th Circuit panel was not that Lautenberg violates the Second Amendment, but that prosecutors had failed to effectively argue that it does not.  Rather than declaring the law unconstitutional and throwing the case out, the court reversed the guilty verdict and sent the case back to the lower court to give federal prosecutors another chance to build a case.  Included in the decision are rather detailed instructions explaining what arguments the prosecution needs to make if they wish to prevail.  Like a child’s game, the court said, “You forgot to say ‘Mother may I’ so try it again.”  If prosecutors carefully apply the lessons laid out in the 7th Circuit’s order, the case should result in another conviction that would then be upheld on appeal, but even that isn’t assured because the court didn’t only provide instructions to the prosecution, they also dropped a hint or two for the defense. Continue reading Losing Lautenberg →

The Knox Update

Gun Show Policing

The Knox Update

From the Firearms Coalition

Protecting Gun Shows

By Jeff Knox

(Manassas, VA, December 2, 2009) Anyone who does not hold an FFL and sells a firearm to someone he doesn’t know well is incurring a certain amount of liability.  And, a bit of bad judgment could cause trouble not just for the seller, but for the rest of the gun owning community as well.  There is no question that individuals have the right to buy, sell, and trade firearms between themselves without government infringement.  But there are laws on the books and failing to know and follow them is just asking for trouble.  A prudent trader will take into account not only the legal technicalities, but the political environment also.

Title 18, Section 922 of the U.S. Code, the 1968 Gun Control Act, covers sales and transfer of guns.  The law forbids transfers between residents of different states except through an FFL in the buyer’s state.  Of course it is also illegal for a federally “prohibited person” – a felon, fugitive, someone dishonorably discharged from the service, etc. – to purchase a firearm from anyone, FFL dealer or not.  If the seller has any indication that the prospective buyer is a “prohibited person,” selling the gun is a crime.  It is also illegal for anyone to purchase a firearm on behalf of someone else – even if that someone else could legally purchase it himself – and a seller can again be held criminally responsible if they had any indication that such a “straw” transaction was taking place. Continue reading Gun Show Policing →

The Knox Update

Lessons from the Dark Side

The Knox Update

From the Firearms Coalition

Lessons from the Dark Side

By Jeff Knox

(Manassas, VA, December 28, 2009) Mike Bloomberg and his Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) caused quite a stir in the gun rights community recently when they released a poll declaring that gun owners and NRA members support the group’s gun control agenda.  The poll was conducted by Frank Lutz’s company “Word Doctors.”  The media gleefully reported the poll as indisputable fact while NRA and others cried “Foul,” pointing out flaws in the pollster’s methodology and challenging the results.

The flaws and distortions are undoubtedly real, but it is important for rights activists to carefully examine this poll to find data we can use to help our cause.  In spite of its flaws, this poll demonstrates a serious failure on the part of rights groups and supporters in efforts to educate our less activist brethren.  We’re not preaching to the choir enough and not getting the right messages through to them.

Continue reading Lessons from the Dark Side →

Reports

Money to Shooting Programs

NSSF Awards $109,500 in Grants to
Colleges to Promote Recreational Shooting

NEWTOWN, Conn. — With an increasing number of college students taking up target shooting at competitive and club levels, the National Shooting Sports Foundation is providing $109,500 in support to ensure that even more young men and women have the opportunity to give shooting a try.

NSSF is awarding the grants through its new Collegiate Shooting Sports Initiative, which was launched earlier this year to raise awareness about shotgun, rifle and handgun shooting at the college level and to provide assistance for the development of shooting clubs and varsity teams.

“NSSF is making these grants available in response to a growing interest in the shooting sports on campuses across the country,” said Zach Snow, NSSF’s senior shooting promotions coordinator. “Graduates of scholastic shooting programs like the NSSF-developed Scholastic Clay Target Program want to continue participating in their favorite sport when they go off to college, and once there they’re eager to introduce new friends, classmates and faculty to this lifetime activity. At the same time, collegiate shooting programs help create a positive image for the shooting sports and firearms ownership.”

Grants were issued to 16 colleges and universities, from prominent Harvard to smaller schools like Fort Hays State University in Kansas, with awards ranging from $4,000 to $7,500 per school. Some colleges will use their grants as seed funding to launch new shooting clubs and teams; other schools will use their funds to expand existing programs and publicize them on campus by developing Web sites and hosting “fun shoots.”

Colleges requested grants through an application process with NSSF, which evaluated the proposals and made the awards.

The grant recipients are as follows:

Bethel University, McKenzie, TN — $7,500
Program: Implement a new shooting team and promote safety and responsibility in the shooting sports (participation requirements include passing the hunter safety course); and promote the sport to the public.

Clemson University, Clemson, S.C. — $7,500
Program: Expand the university’s shotgun club; add a shotgun sports Web page to the school’s club sports directory; establish one competitive squad to represent the club at larger competitions; increase club participation to 50 members; and compete at the ACUI Nationals.

Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO — $7,500
Project: Expand the shooting club, hosting trial shooting to introduce students and faculty to shotgun sports; add a competitive team; host a tournament; and develop a Web site to raise awareness about the club.

Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO — $7,500
Project: Have the Shotgun Sports Project educate students and faculty about firearms safety and the shooting sports; promote intercollegiate competitions; and promote Collegiate Shooting Sports Initiative to other colleges and assist them with getting a club started.

Fort Hays University, Hays, KS — $,7,500
Program: Establish an ambassador squad to promote the shooting team and engage other students wanting to try shooting; host an intercollegiate event inviting all college shooting teams from the Midwest region; and provide positive exposure for the shooting sports on campus.

Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA — $7,500
Program: Increase shooting opportunities for the target shooting club, which provides future attorneys, legislators and public servants with an understanding of firearms and the shooting sports; field intercollegiate team; and assist with coordinating the New England Collegiate Shotgun Championships.

Harvard University, Cambridge, MA — $7,500
Program: Revive the Harvard Shooting Club, founded in 1883, and which has been dormant since 2003; raise awareness of the shooting sports within Harvard community and general public; and host firearms education events on campus.

Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI — $7,500
Program: Develop a marksmanship club that will endorse shooting as a legitimate sport; introduce college students and area residents to shooting; provide competitive opportunities to stimulate interest and improve skills; and host youth hunter safety courses.

Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, FL — $7,500
Program: Develop a new shooting program and participate in intercollegiate competition; promote gun safety on campus; and develop a sporting clays, skeet and trap club Web site.

Northeastern University, Boston, MA — $7,500
Program: Develop a new shooting program with goal of 25 to 50 active shooters; conduct safety classes for new and current shooters; train shooters in all shotgun sports activities; and compete in the New England Collegiate Shotgun Championships and ACUI Nationals.

Salem State College, Salem, MA — $7,500
Program: Develop a new shooting program; participate in league shooting with other college teams; and compete in New England Collegiate Shotgun Championships and ACUI Nationals.

Schreiner University, Kerrville, TX — $7,500
Program: Strengthen the Schreiner Sport Shooting Society by hosting an introductory day for students and faculty interested in learning more about the shooting sports; survey participants to gain feedback; and compete in the ACUI National Clay Target Championship and at the NSSA World Skeet Championship.

Southeastern Illinois College, Harrisburg, IL — $7,500
Program: Recruit new shooters to the varsity shotgun team (many team members are enrolled in Game Preserve/Shooting Complex Management); provide scholarship assistance for new team members; and compete in ACUI Nationals.

Trinity University, San Antonio, TX — $4,000
Program: Host an educational clinic and fun shoots to introduce students and faculty members to the shooting sports and recruit new members to the club. Trinity plans to compete at the ACUI National Clay Target Championship with twice the number of shooters that attended last year.

University of Arkansas — Fort Smith — $4,000
Project: Expand the air rifle team; increase participation at both intercollegiate and intramural levels; create a club Web site to promote the club; and retain competitors by providing top-notch equipment to compete at NCAA level.

University of Vermont, Burlington, VT — $4,000
Program: Expand shooting sports club with clinics and shooting “fests”; and compete in intercollegiate tournaments.

Participation in college shotgun sports has grown remarkably in recent years. Between 2006 and 2009, the annual ACUI Intercollegiate Clay Target Championships has seen a 40 percent increase in participation, with 37 schools and 337 clay target shooters competing in last spring’s championship. Much of the increase can be directly attributed to high school students graduating from programs like the NSSF-developed Scholastic Clay Target Program and 4-H, and then continuing to compete in college.

For more information about NSSF’s Collegiate Shooting Sports Initiative visit www.nssf.org/college or contact Zach Snow at zsnow@nssf.org.

About NSSF

The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 5,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

Jeff's Blog

A Gun to a Snowball Fight?

Don’t Bring a Gun to a Snowball Fight

A plainclothes D.C. police officer driving his personal Hummer during the big snowstorm this weekend came under attack from a large group in the midst of a community snowball fight.  After the officer’s Hummer was struck by snowballs, he exited his vehicle, drew a handgun, and began an “dialog” with the young people throwing the snowballs.  The crowd was not impressed by the gun and responded by throwing more snowballs and chanting “Don’t bring a gun to a snowball fight.”

I can’t imagine any way that this guy could be justified in deploying his gun in this circumstance.

What would happen if you or I drew our legally carried handgun in such a circumstance?

While the police do have broader leeway in deploying deadly force – not that much leeway.

The full story hasn’t been told yet and we must reserve judgment until all of the facts are known, but so far there is little to support the officer’s actions.  The fact that this turned into a direct assault on a police officer, albeit a snowball assault, does not justify it because it only reached that point after the officer escalated and exacerbated the situation by exiting his vehicle and waving his gun around.

I’m a big supporter of the police.  I’ve even considered a law enforcement career myself, but I do not believe the police should receive a pass when they do something stupid – particularly if the stupidity involves firearms.  So far this looks like pure stupidity to me.

The Knox Update

NRA Bad for Iowa

NRA Pushing Bad Bill in Iowa

*** Update: A revised proposal from NRA has surfaced which is somewhat better than the proposal discussed in this article, but which still has some serious flaws.  The new proposal and NRA’s description will be linked at the bottom of this article and hilights of changes will be noted parenthetically within the article at the applicable sections. ***

It’s been a long time since we have had serious issues with NRA actions, but their proposed concealed carry legislation for Iowa is simply bad and we’re taking exception.

Last year two state organizations, Iowa Carry and Iowa Gun Owners, banged heads with competing legislation and competing strategies. Iowa Carry was backing a “shall issue” bill which included mandatory training requirements and several other concessions. Iowa Gun Owners was pushing an Alaska-style bill which removed restrictions on concealed carry and offered an optional permit system for the sake of reciprocity.

The Alaska bill had 25 cosponsors among the 100 members of the Iowa House and failed to pass by just one vote ending in a 49 – 49 tie in the final minutes of the legislative session. (Note: This was not a straight up or down vote, but a procedural vote on whether to suspend the rules to allow the Alaska-style bill language to be amended onto a must-pass bill.  It still demonstrates a surprising level of support.) Continue reading NRA Bad for Iowa →

The Knox Update

Thanks Appleseed

The Knox Update

From the Firearms Coalition

Giving Thanks – At An Appleseed Shoot

By Chris Knox

(Phoenix, Arizona November 29, 2009) Thanksgiving is a time for reflection on our blessings, including the blessings of liberty and on the sacrifices our forebears made for us. With that in mind, son Brandon and I wrapped up our Thanksgiving observations slung into battle rifles on the firing line at the beautiful, newly remodeled and re-christened Joe Foss Shooting Complex near Buckeye, Arizona. As I concentrated on sight picture, breathing and trigger control, I was truly thankful.

Over the past four years, as regular readers of this space will be aware, a group that goes by the delightfully seditious name of “Revolutionary War Veterans Association” has spread across the country with a simple but ambitious goal: To turn the United States once again into a nation of riflemen.  Barely on the radar of the mainstream shooting organizations, and totally off the major media’s screen, the RWVA’s Applessed Project has quietly grown at exponential rates. Continue reading Thanks Appleseed →

Reports

NRA Iowa Explanation

  Memo

From:  NRA-ILA Research & Information Division

 

Re:        Iowa Right to Carry and NICS Improvement Amendments Act Compliance Draft

This memorandum is a section-by-section explanation of the above-referenced draft.

724.4C – This is a new section that would create the aggravated misdemeanor of going armed whiled under the influence of alcohol or illegally used or possessed controlled substances.  Current law prohibits the issuance of a permit to acquire handguns or to carry weapons to a person who is “addicted to the use of alcohol.” IA ST 724.8, .15.  These prohibitions, however, are both under-inclusive and over-inclusive.  They are under-inclusive because they do not reach the situation of a person who is not actually an alcoholic but who causes a risk to public safety by handling a firearm while impaired by alcohol.  They are over-inclusive because they would prohibit an alcoholic who is not drinking and is responsibly managing his condition from exercising a fundamental right.  The proposed section more adequately and fairly addresses the public safety concern posed by firearms and alcohol. Continue reading NRA Iowa Explanation →

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