U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and the Obama administration have devised and implemented a plan that amounts to a gun registration scheme.  The scheme requires federally licensed firearms retailers in states bordering Mexico to report all sales of two or more semiautomatic rifles within five consecutive business days, if the rifles are larger than .22 caliber and use detachable magazines. Yet, under existing law, Holder’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives has full access to every record of every firearm transaction by every licensed dealer, whether during a bona fide criminal investigation or simply to enforce compliance with record keeping requirements. This reporting scheme would create a registry of owners of many of today’s most popular rifles–firearms owned by millions of Americans for self-defense, hunting and other lawful purposes.

For over a year now I have been investigating Fast and Furious, an operation of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This has been a complicated investigation. It’s been made even more difficult because of the Justice Department’s lack of candor and transparency. The Justice Department is stonewalling, interfering with Congress’ constitutional responsibility of oversight.

Despite Mayor Bloomberg’s publicity stunt last week in the form of a Super Bowl gun control ad with his gun-grabbing cohort, Boston Mayor Tom Menino, Bloomberg’s time in reducing gun crime could better be spent policing his own…police.
In a follow up to a story we reported on last October, on Monday, one of Bloomberg’s police officers pleaded guilty to charges that he led a group that took cash to illegally transport firearms into New York. The officer could face up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for June.

This week, NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox wrote an op-ed for the Daily Caller regarding U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s February 2 appearance before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, where Holder answered questions about his role in the deadly “Fast and Furious” gun-running scandal.  Of particular import during the hearings was Holder’s admission to Congress that the Obama administration still hopes to reinstate former President Bill Clinton’s so-called “assault weapons” ban. 

Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants a statewide gun registry in Illinois, an idea some lawmakers quickly dismissed Thursday as ineffective and an insult to gun owners. The proposal would require anyone who buys a handgun to pay a $65 registration fee. To register a gun, a purchaser would need to provide his name, address and phone number, along with the weapon’s manufacturer and serial number and the place and date of purchase. The registry would be in addition to the firearm ownership standards all gun owners must already meet.

House Bill 2457, sponsored by Brenda Barton (R-5), would allow an individual to carry an additional firearm for personal protection while hunting, as long as that firearm is not used for the taking of wildlife.  This bill simply allows hunters the ability to adequately defend themselves from a variety of potential outdoor crimes.  HB 2457 is expected to be heard by the state House Energy and Natural Resources Committee this Monday, February 13, and needs your support! 

Today, one of the NRA’s top legislative priorities, House File 1467, passed in the state Senate Finance Committee by a 10 to 5 vote. HF 1467 will now be considered and voted on by the full state Senate.  Last year, HF 1467 passed in the state House by a 79 to 50 vote and this state Senate vote is the final hurdle to get this important omnibus pro-gun bill to the Governor.  A floor consideration date has not been set, but the NRA will update you when action is imminent. In the meantime, please call AND email your state Senator and urge him to pass HF 1467 quickly and help send this important legislation to the Governor.  Contact information for your state Senator can be found here.

Yesterday, 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.