WE NEED YOU THERE!

By admin, on February 15th, 2013%

It’s time to let your voice be heard at the Minnesota Capitol!

We need you to once again show the Minnesota Legislature that real Minnesotans oppose infringements on Second Amendment rights!

Senate Judiciary Committee chair Ron Latz, a consistent voice against gun rights, has scheduled three hearings next week to discuss the numerous gun control bills introduced this session. They hearing times are:

Thursday, Feb. 21, Noon to 2:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 21, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 22, Noon to 6:00 p.m.

While Senator Latz delayed public announcement of these hearings until Wednesday night, he apparently tipped off anti-rights groups early Wednesday morning!

We don’t know yet which bills will be heard when, but there are plenty of bad bills to go around. We will watch the committee schedule for any last minute changes.

Please call and email members of the committee and urge them to OPPOSE infringement of your rights: Senator Ron Latz (46, DFL) Chair 651-297-8065 Email form Senator Latz is a known foe of gun rights and has earned an F rating from GOCRA.

Senator Barb Goodwin (41, DFL)

Vice Chair

651-296-4334

Email form

Senator Goodwin has earned an F rating from GOCRA, and is author of three current bills to make it nearly impossible for a former felon who has served his time to have his civil rights restored.

Senator Richard Cohen (64, DFL)

651-296-5931

Email form

Cohen is a long-time foe of gun rights and has earned an F rating from GOCRA.

Senator Kari Dziedzic (60, DFL)

651-296-7809

Email form

Senator Dziedzic has earned an F rating from GOCRA for her consistent anti-rights stance.

Senator Kathy Sheran (19, DFL)

651-296-6153

sen.kathy.sheran@senate.mn

Senator Sheran has earned an F rating from GOCRA for her consistent anti-rights stance.

Senator Warren Limmer (34, R)

Ranking Minority Member

651-296-2159

sen.warren.limmer@senate.mn

Senator Limmer has been a staunch and consistent friend to civil rights and has earned GOCRA’s rare A rating.

Senator Dan D. Hall (56, R)

651-296-5975

sen.dan.hall@senate.mn

Senator Hall is a solid supporter of your rights, and has earned an A- rating from GOCRA.

Senator Julianne E. Ortman (47, R)

651-296-4837

sen.julianne.ortman@senate.mn

Senator Ortman has often said the right things about gun rights and has earned a B rating from GOCRA.

We’ll share more details as we get them, but start planning to join us next week.

THANK YOU for fighting for your gun rights — here’s what’s next

By admin, on February 13th, 2013%

Due to an email glitch, some people didn’t get this message yesterday, so we apologize if you get this twice. Please note that we’ve updated the probable Senate hearing date next week to THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21.

YOU FILLED THE CAPITOL

Gun rights activists — that’s you! — made a fantastic showing at last week’s gun control hearings at the Minnesota House. At the hearings, a dozen bills were introduced and debated. Eleven of them would restrict our right to keep and bear arms.

For an overview of all of these bills and what they mean, visit our bill reference page at http://www.gocra.org/news/reference/2013-firearms-bills/

But thanks to your turnout, and your flooding the legislature with calls and emails, there are already cracks forming in the support for these attacks on the Second Amendment:

YOU MADE THEM THINK TWICE!

Committee member Debra Hilstrom (DFL – Brooklyn Center), apparently sent hundreds of people this email over the weekend:

Thank you for contacting me regarding bills introduced regarding guns. I do not support any bans or the proposal for additional background checks.

Thank you

Debra

Sent from my iPad

We appreciate Rep. Hilstrom’s pro-civil-rights approach!

Representative Alice Hausman (DFL – Roseville), the author of the “assault weapon” and magazine ban bills, was not even in the room to present “her” bills to the committee. She left it to a gun control lobbyist, paid by out-of-state foundation funds, to pitch the proposals. Even the Star Tribune took note of this highly irregular activity.

Hausman later admitted to a reporter from the liberal web site MinnPost.com that she “doesn’t really know anything about guns” and “just sorta signed up.”

LET’S CLOSE THE DEAL – ACTION ITEMS

These bills stand a good chance of being shot down in committee. You can make that happen:

1) CALL and EMAIL Representative Alice Hausman and (politely) demand that she withdraw the bills that she didn’t even present.

651-296-3824

rep.alice.hausman@house.mn

Rep. John Ward

2) CALL and EMAIL Representative John Ward, thank him for his past support of your gun rights, and encourage him to stand by his values, maintain his GOCRA A-rating, and vote against these infringements.

651-296-4333

rep.john.ward@house.mn

3) CALL and EMAIL Representative Shannon Savick, remind her that her district is filled with hunters, sportsmen and Second Amendment supporters, and ask her to vote against these rights-infringing bills.

651-296-8216

rep.shannon.savick@house.mn

4) CALL and EMAIL your OWN state representative and senator and tell them not to support these infringements. If their info isn’t at the bottom of this email, please update your address using the link below! We need it to get you information specific to your area.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The Minnesota Senate will have their own gun bill hearings starting, probably, next Thursday afternoon. If you can join us at the capitol to stand up for your rights, we need you there. We’ll send you more details as soon as we have them.

HF238/239 – Turning Guardians Into Felons

By admin, on February 4th, 2013%

In the coming days, GOCRA will give you summaries of each of the bills that will be heard at the hearings THIS week. Please take time to look at the dangerous implications of these bills, and contact the members of the House Public Safety Finance and Policy, and your own representatives.

HF0238 – HF0239 Rep. Davnie

Short Description HF238 – Offenders who unlawfully possess firearms on school properties equal penalties established. HF239 – Persons who possess guns on private property after being ordered to leave the premises equal penalties established. GOCRA Analysis These bills needlessly and pointlessly attack the rights of Permit to Carry holders in Minnesota and implements confiscation of firearms. TURN GUARDIANS INTO FELONS HF238 needlessly removes the protection that legal MN Carry Permit from felony charges from harmlessly having a firearm present on school property, a licensed daycare, or in a facility being used by a school. Currently, 609.66 protects permit holders who have a gun in their vehicle, or on their person while on school property, or on property being used by a school. If this bill becomes law, and you accidentally walk on a path in a park that is considered “school property”, go into a day care, or walk into the wrong rink during a school hockey tournament, you will become a felon, and lose your firearm. TURN LAW ABIDING CITIZENS INTO CRIMINALS As any MN Carry Permit holder knows, If you are asked to leave a private establishment for carrying, you must leave, or face a petty misdemeanor charge. If HF239 becomes law, not only can you now be charged with a gross misdemeanor for the charge, they want to confiscate your firearm for the “trespass”. If you “trespass” again, you’re a felon. Many establishments have non-compliant signage, and do not understand their duty to demand compliance with their policy. The language in this bill is so loose, that waiting to speak to a manager, or owner about the policy before leaving could result in a gross misdemeanor charge, and the loss of your firearm. There have been no problems reported over the past 10 years. Criminals do not obey gun-free zones. There is no reason to criminalize and confiscate the property of legal carry permit holders who are not posing any threat or danger to the public.

We need you to get involved. Contact the members of the committee below, and show up on the 5th, 6th, and 7th. Make it clear that law-abiding citizens will not stand for assaults on our rights, and legislation that will do nothing to prevent criminals from getting firearms.

House Public Safety Committee:

Representative Michael Paymar (DFL) – Chairman

651-296-4199

E-mail: rep.michael.paymar@house.mn

Representative Paul Rosenthal (DFL) – Vice Chairman

651-296-7803

E-mail: rep.paul.rosenthal@house.mn

Representative Tony Cornish (R) – Republican Lead

651-296-4240

E-mail: rep.tony.cornish@house.mn

Representative Debra Hilstrom (DFL)

651-296-3709