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Senate Scheduled to Vote on Free Speech Stranglehold Bill
-- DISCLOSE Act Vote Set For Tuesday

Monday, July 26, 2010

Just as gun owners are engaged in the intense battle over anti-gun Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced a new version of a bill that will gut the First Amendment rights of groups like GOA.

The so-called DISCLOSE Act, which passed the House last month, puts severe and unconstitutional limits on our ability to hold individual congressmen accountable in the weeks leading up to an election.

Chuck Schumer, who would like to do away with the Second Amendment, is now also trampling all over the First Amendment as a way to protect himself and his anti-gun colleagues from voters like you.

You may recall that the DISCLOSE Act passed the House only after a controversial carve-out was added to exempt the NRA from the bill's provisions. Unfortunately, the NRA -- which had originally opposed the bill because it was unconstitutional -- withdrew its opposition after the carve-out was inserted.

The exemption was maintained in the Schumer version of the bill.

Ironically, while the bill is called the DISCLOSE Act, Schumer and Majority Leader Harry Reid are using the rules of the Senate to bypass any committee hearings -- where the merits of the bill could be debated and the American people could see just how the Constitution is being undermined.

The bill will most likely come to the floor on Tuesday afternoon, where it will take 60 votes to "close off debate" on the measure.

So it is imperative that Second Amendment supporters contact their two Senators right away and urge them to oppose the DISCLOSE Act.

Some Senators may complain that this is not a Second Amendment issue. To the contrary, if GOA is hindered in communicating to the public about members of Congress and legislation they may be voting on, that undermining of the First Amendment will certainly have an effect on the Second Amendment.

The type of speech GOA is involved in -- political speech -- is first and foremost what the framers of the Bill of Rights had in mind when they wrote that "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech."

Please urge your Senators to protect ALL of your constitutional liberties.

ACTION: Please contact your Senators and urge them to oppose the new version of the Disclose Act. You can use the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at http://gunowners.org/activism.htm to send your Senators the pre-written e-mail message below.

----- Pre-written letter -----

Dear Senator:

I stand with Gun Owners of America in opposing Senator Schumer's new version of so-called DISCLOSE Act.

It is outrageous that the House of Representatives passed this legislation with a deal to exempt certain large organizations from its terms. This smacks of the money-for-votes fiasco which helped grease the skids for passage of ObamaCare and which has already lowered Congress' reputation to unprecedented depths.

I was glad to see that Senator Mitch McConnell blasted this deal, which was especially aimed at carving out special exemptions for the NRA leadership in exchange for their promise to sit on their hands and not oppose the DISCLOSE Act. "If there is one thing Americans loathe about Washington, it's the backroom dealing to win the vote of organizations with power and influence at the expense of everyone else," McConnell said.

"Just as it wasn't the Democrats' money to offer in the health care debate, free speech isn't theirs to ration out to those willing to play ball -- it's a right guaranteed."

Another irony with the whole process surrounding this legislation is that while the bill is called the DISCLOSE Act, Sen. Schumer and Majority Leader Harry Reid are bypassing the committee process -- where the merits of the bill could be debated and the American people could see just how the Constitution is being undermined.

Gun Owners of America represents hundreds of thousands of Second Amendment supporters. Any bill that hampers the right of groups like this to communicate with the public is also an attack on my rights.

Please vote NO on Sen. Schumer's DISCLOSE Act.

Sincerely,

____________________


Stand up, Speak up, Live Free!

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The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to send the nomination of Elena Kagan to the full Senate floor on Tuesday.

The 13-6 vote was not a surprise. Democrats outnumber Republicans 12-7 on the committee, and their ranks include the anti-gun extreme wing of their party, such as Charles Schumer, Dianne Feinstein and Dick Durbin.

Six Republicans opposed Kagan, with only turncoat Lindsey Graham of South Carolina voting to confirm the anti-gunner.

As this important battle moves to the Senate floor, it is important to keep the heat on all Senators -- especially Democrats coming from rural states who claim to support the Second Amendment.

If a handful of these Senators vote NO on Kagan, her confirmation could be defeated.

While Kagan does not have a record of judicial opinions, her views on the Second Amendment are no mystery. Some things that have come to light since her nomination include:

* While serving in the Clinton administration, Kagan drafted an executive order to ban certain semi-automatic firearms;

* As a law clerk, she advised against the Supreme Court considering Sandidge v. United States in a case that questioned the constitutionality of the D.C. gun ban, writing that she was "not sympathetic" to the gun owner's Second Amendment claims; and

* Kagan was also part of the Clinton team that pushed the firearms industry to include gun locks with all gun purchases and was in the Clinton administration when the President pushed legislation that would close down gun shows.

During her hearings, Kagan ducked and dodged questions about the Second Amendment, and she refused to declare whether she believes the Second Amendment protects an individual right.

Kagan insisted that the Supreme Court decisions in Heller and McDonald are precedent and "settled law," but this in no way precludes her from ruling that almost any gun law -- including gun owner registration, purchasing limits, waiting periods, private sale background checks, and more -- are consistent with the Constitution.

Recall the confirmation hearings of Sonia Sotomayor, the newest Supreme Court Justice. Sotomayor assured the Senate, and the American people, that she accepted the Court's ruling in Heller that the Second Amendment protects an individual right.

Yet, in the McDonald case, Sotomayor joined the dissent in writing that "I can find nothing in the Second Amendment's text, history, or underlying rationale that could warrant characterizing it as 'fundamental' insofar as it seeks to protect the keeping and bearing of arms for private self-defense purposes."

Now Kagan has made the same promises to the Senate, but the available evidence portrays her as a forceful advocate of restrictive gun laws and driven by political considerations rather than the rule of law.

As GOA attorney William J. Olson, who testified at the hearings, noted: "If [Kagan] were to go on the Court, with what we know about her now, she could be the most anti-gun justice on that Court."

There is NO WAY any Senator who claims to support the Second Amendment could vote to confirm anti-gun radical Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court of the United States!

ACTION: Please urge your two Senators to oppose the confirmation of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. You can use the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send your Senators the pre-written e-mail message below.

----- Pre-written letter -----

Dear Senator:

I stand with Gun Owners of America in opposing the confirmation of Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court.

While Kagan does not have a record of judicial opinions, her views on the Second Amendment are no mystery. Some things that have come to light since her nomination include:

* While serving in the Clinton administration, Kagan drafted an executive order to ban certain semi-automatic firearms;

* As a law clerk, she advised against the Supreme Court considering Sandidge v. United States in a case that questioned the constitutionality of the D.C. gun ban, writing that she was "not sympathetic" to the gun owner's Second Amendment claims; and

* Kagan was also part of the Clinton team that pushed the firearms industry to include gun locks with all gun purchases and was in the Clinton administration when the President pushed legislation that would close down gun shows.

During her hearings, Kagan ducked and dodged questions about the Second Amendment, and she refused to declare whether she believes the Second Amendment protects an individual right.

Kagan insisted that the Supreme Court decisions in Heller and McDonald are precedent and "settled law," but this in no way precludes her from ruling that almost any gun law -- including gun owner registration, purchasing limits, waiting periods, private sale background checks, and more -- are consistent with the Constitution.

There is NO WAY any Senator who claims to support the Second Amendment could vote to confirm anti-gun radical Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court of the United States!

Please vote NO on the nominee's confirmation.

Sincerely,

__________________________________________

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Only July 15th, GOA members rallied behind U.S. Senate candidate Sharron Angle, who's taking on anti-gun Majority Leader Harry Reid in Nevada.

While Reid claims to support your gun rights, our alert highlighted 42 Reasons why Harry Reid MUST be defeated.

Well, that list has now grown as two additional anti-gun votes were added.

In March of this year, Sen. Reid voted against an amendment offered by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) to prevent Veterans from losing their Second Amendment rights without due process of law.

The amendment was offered to the massive ObamaCare bill, which Reid was so intent on passing that he wouldn't allow a pro-gun amendment to get in his way.

And in November of last year, Reid voted to confirm the highly controversial Richard Hamilton to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Hamilton has stated that the Founding Fathers intended judges to amend the Constitution through "evolving case law."

So, you can now view the 44 Reasons why Harry Reid MUST be defeated!

And while you're there you can now also vote in a GOA Poll to let us know whether you think Harry Reid is pro- or anti-gun.

But there's more that we all must do to win this important race. Please forward this alert to as many freedom-loving Americans as you can and urge them to support Sharron Angle.

Harry Reid's goal is to raise $25 million in this race against Sharron Angle.

That means it's crucial for one million pro-gun Americans to send Sharron Angle $25. If one million of us from across the country chip in, Sharron will match Reid's campaign war chest and WE WILL WIN!

So please, urge all your friends, gun club members and other pro-gun groups to go to www.sharronangle.com and make a contribution.

Contributions by check can also be mailed to:

Friends of Sharron Angle
PO Box 33058
Reno, NV 89533

There is no race in the country more important than this one. If any gun owner or sportsman has any doubt if Reid is pro-gun or anti-gun, just read the 44 Reasons to Defeat Reid, then decide, and also take the GOA Poll.

Thank you again for standing with Gun Owners of America and Sharron Angle and for forwarding this is email to as many pro-gunners as you can.

Sincerely,

Tim Macy
Vice Chairman
www.GunOwners.org

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PLEASE TAKE ACTION TO FIGHT TAXPAYERS BEING FORCED TO FUND MORE CAMPAIGNS THIS WEEK

Dear Grassroots activist:
With no public notice, the North Carolina State House Speaker, Representative Joe Hackney, (D-Chapel Hill) has just now (3:00 PM Wednesday July 7th) announced he will hold a stealth vote to force you into funding political campaigns against your will. The vote will be held later today and another vote will likely come tomorrow.

Take action now by clicking here.

Despite your massive opposition there are some Raleigh lawmakers that are continuing to push a massive expansion of using taxpayer money to fund political campaigns!!

Let's be clear. We must stop this movement now. The other side will not rest. Every time they add one more elected office to the list you are forced to fund, they move on to the next one, with the goal of using your tax dollars to fund anybody who runs for political office, from the dog catcher to the Whitehouse.

Senate Bill 20 and House Bill 120 would permanently expand taxpayer financing of political campaigns to State treasurer and some municipal races. Taxpayers should not be forced to fund campaigns they disagree with.

Recently the members of American for Prosperity helped stop a scheme to raise taxes and spend millions of your dollars to fund political races. But we need your help again.

AFP-NC urges you to TAKE ACTION and contact your lawmakers and ask them to against Senate Bill 20 and House Bill 120 and/or any bill that expands forced taxpayer support of political campaigns.

Sincerely,
Dallas H. WoodhouseState Director
Americans for Prosperity - North Carolina

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Social Media 101 for activists

Seven ways to change the world with Twitter and Facebook.
By Ambreen Ali
Congress.org

Imagine the reaction if someone stood on a chair at a cocktail party and began shouting opinions and asking for money.

That's precisely what many activist groups do on social networks, Deanna Zandt argues.

The author of "Share This! How You Will Change the World with Social Networking" faults organizations for treating Twitter and Facebook like broadcasting venues instead of places to have a conversation.

"You're sharing and participating and working with each other," she said.

Facebook is full of groups for one cause or another, but few of their followers actually do something. How can activists move people beyond so-called slacktivism?

Zandt offers seven tips on using social media to make a real difference.

1. Share your story. Perhaps the biggest benefit of using social networks is that they allow you to share personal stories with others, Zandt said. Compelling narratives have always been an important way to pull people into a cause. Twitter and Facebook just enhance how that works.

"Any kind of organizing, whether it be door knocking or phone banking, starts with stories," she said. "Stories create empathy, and empathy is a building block of any kind of social change movement regardless of whether someone's politics are left or right."

2. Cultivate relationships. Zandt put her theories to test while writing the book by asking friends and family to donate to the "Feed Deanna" fund. The money went to pay for the author's living expenses while she penned the social media guide.

She sent e-mails to 500 people that yielded $6,000 in cash and a handful of unique offers like $100 a month in pizza from the local restaurant and a free eye exam. What she learned applies to activist groups that often find themselves pinched for funds.

"The biggest takeaway is that fundraising is all about relationships," Zandt said, noting that she knew almost every donor personally. "You need to build your community before you need them. I couldn't have just made 500 friends in a day and then asked them for money."

3. Be personable. Robotic tweets that read like a press release won't get you anywhere. Casual prose and a human touch are the expectations on these social sites.

"You should be using the tone of voice that you would with a coworker you don't know well. Think about having a conversation with someone rather than broadcasting something," Zandt said.

4. Meet people where they are. Not all the people who would be drawn to your cause are on Twitter. Even those that are may not use it in the way you think.

Zandt gave the example of a student-led immigration protest several years ago that used MySpace to build its base. The social networking site is popular with teenagers, so it made sense for organizers to start there.

The protest was planned on a school day, and students were going to walk out of their classrooms in protest. Knowing that the students wouldn't have access to MySpace in school, activists collected their phone numbers ahead of time and texted them.

The concept, called last-mile organizing, means "understanding the community you're trying to reach and figuring out what the appropriate technology is for them," Zandt said. Many people don't use the internet regularly at all, she added, emphasizing the importance of continuing traditional activism.

5. Treat social media like a tool. No technology can take the place of traditional organizing tactics like knocking on a door, holding a protest, or meeting with a lawmaker.

"Those are still tools in the toolbox. This is an additional tool that people can use," Zandt said.

It's important to use the tool when it's best fit. Social media may not be the place to negotiate with a fellow activist group, for example, but it can help bring people together in a crisis.

When books about feminism and gay rights mysteriously disappeared from Amazon.com's search results last year, authors turned to Twitter to share what they were seeing. Pretty soon, the subject "Amazon Fail" was one of the most popular trending topics on the site, and mainstream media sites took notice.

Amazon had to react in a matter of days. Before social media, Zandt said the publisher could have pushed the issue aside or waited weeks before doing something about it.

"Maybe activists would have written to Amazon. But along the line, a number of gatekeepers would have had to approve that this was a valid story to tell," she said.

6. Don't chase the numbers. Not every cause requires a million followers. It's more important to have a dedicated group of activists who are willing to share your information with others and help out than to have tons of followers who don't really care all that much about what you do.

Parents in Florida demonstrated that when they started voicing their frustrations with the public school system through social media sites. They joined together on Facebook, eventually landed a meeting with school officials and had their concerns addressed.

"Eight thousand people may not be a lot for the Red Cross," Zandt said, "but it's a fantastic number for Palm Beach County parents who are putting pressure on a school system."

7. Reward people who help. Activists often struggle with getting their Facebook fans and Twitter followers to actually do something. One way to address that is by giving people easy-to-accomplish tasks and rewarding them publicly for completing them.

The Sunlight Foundation, a nonprofit that uses technology to make government more accessible, used social networks to collect data on lawmakers who hire family members. They uploaded a tool and instructions asking people to look up one member of Congress and report back what they found.

Within two days, the group had data on every member.

"One of the smart things they did is that after you hit submit, they told you, 'While you were working on your lawmaker, four others were submitted.' It was a very subtle clue that you were part of something," Zandt said.

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http://bit.ly/a3CqwT

POLICE STATE NEWS

Oakland Transforms as it Prepares for Street Rebellions
http://bit.ly/a7pizw

Police back down over spy cameras - an amazing result in Birmingham
http://bit.ly/cDNvVM

The militarization of The Police Force in USA
http://bit.ly/bMONUN

Don't kid yourself, it's a Police State
http://bit.ly/9Frpwc

Felony Charge for Writing to a Senator
http://huff.to/cfFN6f

Spy cameras may turn from streets to sidewalks
http://bit.ly/bVB4It

Detroit police probe own gang unit
http://bit.ly/bi0DhJ

America is riddled with politically motivated surveillance
http://bit.ly/cS6wC8

Biometric ATM gives cash via 'finger vein' scan
http://bit.ly/bS1lJg

Man sues RCMP over alleged beating
http://bit.ly/db38vd

DUMBING DOWN AMERICANS

26% of U.S. don't know who we declared independence from
http://bit.ly/cBgvxc

ECONOMIC NEWS

State authorities bust $8 million mortgage fraud ring
http://bit.ly/d08aCV

State and Local Gov't Workers' Job Security Fades
http://bit.ly/cAdJTX

Schwarzenegger puts 200,000 workers on $7.25 per hour
http://bit.ly/duattI

7.9 million jobs lost, many forever
http://yhoo.it/aoJtAM

With the US trapped in depression, this really is starting to feel like 1932
http://bit.ly/bS4MaN

How China's New Generation Of Workers Won't Accept Slave Labor
http://bit.ly/dcqQJL

State workers in I.E. dread impending pay cut
http://bit.ly/aZn0gR

VA state funds drying up for subdivision streets
http://bit.ly/94MoBW

First day of Honolulu's city furloughs
http://bit.ly/9EW9HI

HEALTH NEWS

Bedbugs Expand Their Horizons Beyond the Bedroom
http://bit.ly/99cnlj

REAL ID & PRIVACY NEWS

Enhanced driver's licence not so popular with Canadians
http://bit.ly/bFiPak

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Hackers poison 4th of July search results to sell scareware
http://bit.ly/bjwSu6

Zoo to bring dead animals back to life, 'Jurassic Park'-style
http://bit.ly/bNOkf4

Schoolboys Nick Webber and Ryan Thomas 'ran £8m online fraud network'
http://bit.ly/awWZdA

Tenth of UK PCs compromised by hackers
http://bit.ly/9cWr8k

MORE STORMS?

Three Possible Hurricanes Aim For The Gulf
http://bit.ly/9Qm1D1

Our founding fathers who risked, life limb and property in order to create a new nation would be sickened by what we call Independence Day.

The Fourth of July is used as a time to get drunk, watch communist made colors explode in the air and distract us from what we should really be doing.

Spending quality time with family should be a top priority and many people use the fourth to do just that, but face it, this holiday is just a shadow of what it once had meant to those who sacrificed all so that we could get away from the tyranny of King George.

Today, we are becoming a nanny state and in some places outright police state like conditions. How many of the founding fathers would have tolerated random id checks? How many of the founding fathers would have tolerated a national id card, income tax, taxes on taxes, gun control laws, free speech zones, the patriot act, the federal reserve, monitoring of all forms of communication, suppression of free speech and intrusion into our religions? The list goes on and on.

Spend time with your family and when the celebrations are over, get to work to help liberty minded candidates get into office. Now since many are unemployed and have some free time on their hands, this could be a great way to use it towards something worth doing.

STAND UP, SPEAK UP, LIVE FREE

GOA Attorney Testifies Against Kagan Before Sen. Schumer's Committee

Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
http://gunowners.org

Friday, July 2, 2010

On Thursday, Gun Owners of America had the important opportunity to testify concerning the Second Amendment views of Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan.

William J. Olson, counsel of record on amicus briefs for GOA in both the Heller and McDonald Supreme Court cases, testified at the hearing that Kagan has demonstrated "visceral hostility" to the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

Moreover, Olson demonstrated that Elena Kagan's view of rights is tied in directly to her view of Judicial Supremacy, that is, that our rights "are whatever a majority of the Supreme Court rules at a particular time in a particular case."

But under that philosophy, Olson said, "what the Court grants, the Court may take away."

So what's the bottom line? "f Ms. Kagan does not know whether our inalienable rights to defend ourselves from criminals and tyrants comes from God -- as the Declaration of Independence states -- or from government, she cannot be trusted to protect our God-given right to self-preservation," Olson concluded.

Click here for video of Mr. Olson's testimony.

GOA will have much more to say about the nomination of Elena Kagan in the coming days and weeks. In the meantime, have a happy, and safe, Fourth of July weekend.

Sincerely,
The GOA Team

IN THE NEWS

SELF DEFENSE & PROTECTION

Surviving A Home Invasion Robbery
http://bit.ly/arGVlQ

OBAMA NATION

Soldiers: Obama ordered us to lobby for 'gay' rights
http://bit.ly/bdZ4b2

If what Kyl said is true it is grounds for impeachment
http://bit.ly/bMvH9a

Obama Pushes for National Standard on Immigration, Urges GOP to Back Overhaul
http://bit.ly/cIdr2Q

POLICE STATE NEWS

Army drops 'psy ops' name for influence operations - New Name Same Agenda
http://yhoo.it/aWJd9p

House Approves Martial Law Rule?
http://bit.ly/bSvtFP

Heading toward a police state
http://bit.ly/a7Rd57

Facebook Has Deleted Boycott Bp, Leaving Almost 800,000 Fans Hanging
http://bit.ly/aaRS1H

Police tactics during G20 spark protest
http://bit.ly/djTqrG

POLITICS & GOVERNMENT

Ron Paul: 114 Flip Flop on Audit The Fed Causing Bill to Fail 229 – 198
http://bit.ly/clZwwV

How did Chris Jones die, and does anyone care?
http://bit.ly/cokfhe

After gun ban defeat, Chicago mayor proposes strict rules
http://bit.ly/a7FRNo

Brogdon: Restore freedom
http://bit.ly/9OmCZf

Government Needs to Incentivize, Not Own, Online ID
http://bit.ly/9LLoAA

GRNC Joins Suit Against North Carolina Gun Ban
http://bit.ly/92wH9w

ECONOMIC NEWS

Schwarzenegger orders min wage for state workers
http://yhoo.it/bhQxEH

Fannie-Freddie Bailout Could Cost Taxpayers $1 Trillion
http://yhoo.it/c7Exkz

New CBO report paints ugly picture
http://bit.ly/9T42kR

Pelosi: Unemployment Checks Fastest Way to Create Jobs
http://bit.ly/b1vTgs

Pending home sales plunge record 30 percent
http://yhoo.it/aB7vIz

The recovery seems to be losing its pop
http://bit.ly/aZzyCW

Detroit 3 see auto sales drop by more than 10%
http://bit.ly/bK1ND7

REAL ID & PRIVACY NEWS

An elected Texas Republican will help repeal Real ID
http://bit.ly/aZCwd9

NC DMV Helping to Move State Into Police State
http://bit.ly/9OO5M0

OBAMA CARE

Feds ask for dismissal of Va.'s suit against health care reform
http://bit.ly/9dLf9o

HEALTH NEWS

Scientists Admit Chemtrails Are Creating Artificial Clouds
http://bit.ly/9F2wNc

Dangerous new pesticide coming to the produce aisle
http://bit.ly/9D5aDq

Seventy million expired flu vaccines about to be incinerated as waste
http://bit.ly/djTGKu

U.S. chicken McNuggets 'contain SILLY PUTTY chemical'
http://bit.ly/ctT9Kl

IMMIGRATION NEWS

Brewer: 'Disturbing' That Feds Spend More on Mexico Than Border Guard
http://bit.ly/aFkhYo

They are not 'immigrants,' Mr. President!
http://bit.ly/9uOa2w

Feds arrest Texas ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT shootings suspect in NC
http://bit.ly/dxPDCn

Illegal alien arrested for multiple burglaries, sexual assault of 10-year-old girl
http://bit.ly/arRpS4

Sheriff Joe raids another business, illegal aliens found hiding in dumpsters
http://bit.ly/cmjjfM

Gay U.S. citizens seek to claim residency for foreign spouses
http://bit.ly/9zdZCG

RECALL NEWS

Toyota considering another recall; engines may stall
http://bit.ly/cseJEg

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Hackers poison 4th of July search results to sell scareware
http://bit.ly/bjwSu6

Computer hackers and how they work
http://bit.ly/a8Obed

Legislative website being repaired after hack Infected with a Virus
http://bit.ly/cDB3mP

Internet hackers breach payment system website of Resort at Squaw Creek's management company
http://bit.ly/9TmM1w

More DMV employees charged with taking bribes, giving licenses to illegal aliens
http://bit.ly/aKOxh1

Hacker threat to new signature
http://bit.ly/dstESe

The House and Senate are expected to vote on the final version of the fraudulent "financial reform" bill this week.

We need to defeat this bad bill, HR 4173, which is a whopping 2,319 pages long.

To achieve REAL financial reform we need to pass Ron Paul's Free Competition in Currency Act instead. Please send a letter to Congress pushing for both of these outcomes.

You may borrow from or copy the following sample letter for this purpose . . .

In addition to supporting the "Free Competition in Currency Act" please vote NO on the big Obama-Dodd-Frank financial regulation bill, HR 4173. Ron Paul's currency bill addresses the root causes of the financial crisis, while the regulation bill does not.

The financial crisis was caused by . . .

* The Federal Reserve keeping interest rates artificially low
* The Federal Reserve inflating the money supply to satisfy Congress's deficit spending
* Government policies encouraging or forcing financial institutions to issue credit to undeserving people

Together, these policies caused the sub-prime mortgage crisis and the mal-investment of easy money. The result was the Great Recession.

What does the Obama-Dodd-Frank bill do to address these problems?

NOTHING!

Instead, it sets up a "Consumer Protection" agency whose regulations will conflict with other regulatory agencies.

* Congress wants to continue the policy of pressuring lenders to continue lending to borrowers with bad credit
* And then when those borrowers default, financial institutions will be blamed for "predatory lending"
* And I won't be surprised if some of these institutions are bailed out at the same time that they are being scapegoated

Worse, the Obama-Dodd-Frank bill will create armies of new regulators determined to harass Main Street businesses who did nothing to cause the crisis!

Even the one good aspect of the bill, an audit of the Federal Reserve, was severely weakened in the conference committee.

But the main problem with this bill is that it increases the power of the very people who helped create the crisis. Consider these insights . . . http://www.aei.org/outlook/100968

* Donald L. Kohn, vice chairman of the Federal Reserve Board: "Many central bankers and economists, myself included, were a little complacent coming into the crisis. We thought we knew enough about the basic structure of markets and the economy. . . . The reality is that we didn't understand the economy as well as we thought we did. Central bankers, along with other policymakers, . . . failed to foresee or prevent a financial crisis."
* Economist Arnold Kling: "The regulators made the same cognitive errors as the regulated."

Politicians and regulators do not know any more about the economy than the businesses and consumers they regulate. But Congress can do much more damage than any business can . . .

* You have vast powers to create laws and regulations that impact the entire economy -- no business or consumer can do that
* You suffer no personal consequence equal to the vast size of the mistakes you make, plus . . .
* You have a disturbing tendency to bailout big businesses and special interest groups to protect them from the consequences of their mistakes

At the heart of the problem is the fact that government is a monopoly. And the solution is for you to restore my freedom to choose. Ending the Federal Reserve's monopoly control over what I use for money is a good place to start . . .

* Americans are essentially forced to use just one currency unit, the dollar
* The dollar's value is NOT determined by the free market, but by the Federal Reserve Board
* This monopoly control by the Fed causes wild price fluctuations and mal-investments in a complex economy

Ron Paul's Free Competition in Currency Act provides the real financial reform we need. It repeals the legal tender law and allows other forms of money to compete.

* Individuals and businesses could negotiate their own terms of purchase, using any form of money they mutually agree on
* The open competition will force the Federal Reserve to stop inflating, thereby ending the booms and busts caused by the Federal Reserve's policies
* Power and choice will be in the hands of the consumer

I insist that you oppose the Obama-Dodd-Frank financial reform bill, HR 4173. Instead, Support the Free Competition in Currency Act!

END LETTER

You can send your letter through DownsizeDC.org's Educate the Powerful System.

We also urge you to tell your friends. Share this on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/downsizedc

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org

IN THE NEWS
FINANCIAL REFORM
URGENT: Congress set to deform America’s financial sector
http://bit.ly/8YmyZ1

Financial Reform in Congress: A Disorderly Failure
http://bit.ly/dxVgF6

OIL SPILL 2010

BP controls access to medical care for Gulf Oil clean-up workers
http://bit.ly/cSONP4

Costner cleanup device gets high marks from BP
http://yhoo.it/bfDXNm

CLEAR Water Tests Positive for Oil, Officials Only Doing Visual Assessments
http://bit.ly/be1wx8

Video: BP Turning Beaches Into Hazardous Dumps?
http://bit.ly/bYSldm

US accepts international assistance for Gulf spill
http://bit.ly/9LyUGb

Oil spill visits get partisan
http://politi.co/b19FpM

BP worker found dead of natural causes
http://bit.ly/9HHqzD

OBAMA NATION

Obama's coffee house loophole
http://bit.ly/9CFBDT

Obama risks all on flip of a COIN
http://bit.ly/doE881

Obama's Twitter Account HACKED, Hacker says He Meant Well
http://bit.ly/by6ITn

POLICE STATE NEWS

Rights group ACLU plans to sue over US 'no-fly' list
http://bit.ly/cGnr9p

G20: never forget
http://bit.ly/8XqAfB

This is what a police state looks like!
http://bit.ly/9qfEoL

POLITICS & GOVERNMENT

Democrats appease Sen. Scott Brown
http://bit.ly/bE06jp

AZ lawmaker who questioned 9/11/01 seeks governor's seat, challenging Brewer
http://bit.ly/dg3u83

Kagan Declines To Say Gov't Has No Power to Tell Americans What To Eat
http://bit.ly/d6xsT4

Rationing us to Death: The Real Green Agenda!
http://bit.ly/df6WUR

Federal Judges Sitting On Critical Cases Is Inexcusable
http://bit.ly/a5RIlb

Who Will Pay - Wall Street Or Main Street?
http://bit.ly/9Ttsm3

Nullify, Repeal, and Vote them out!
http://bit.ly/d3Y1YZ

Fighting for Constitutional Government in America
http://bit.ly/cVhmVE

May Be 50 Undercover Russian Couples In US
http://n.pr/aTzSY1

7 Potential Economic Effects Of A War With Iran
http://bit.ly/bsSS2Q

ECONOMIC NEWS

25 Signs That Almost Everyone Is Expecting An Economic Collapse In 2010
http://bit.ly/dvX68c

Dem Congressman: Dow Jones Will Plummet 1,000-2,000 if Financial Regulation Isn't Passed
http://bit.ly/bVOEQI

Consumer Confidence Collapses Massively In June
http://bit.ly/bW73Sz

REAL ID & PRIVACY NEWS

Woman Denied DL Over Missing Marriage License
http://bit.ly/dx1Gfy

Biased State DMV Destroys Naturalization Papers and Other ID, Class Claims
http://bit.ly/aJvwBJ

Lesbian's DC marriage collides with Tennessee's DMV over name change
http://bit.ly/al52Hw

HEALTH NEWS

Medically-Caused Deaths In America
http://bit.ly/dbDt2M

IMMIGRATION NEWS

Banks Financing Mexico Gangs Admitted in Wells Fargo Deal
http://bit.ly/bqGMmf

Whites in state 'below the replacement' level
http://bit.ly/bLPVfG

CHRISTIANITY NEWS

Grad's grievance goes to higher court
http://bit.ly/bi1Qbh

A 'muzzle' on pro-family groups
http://bit.ly/9qAPyp

HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA

Wis. Supreme Court upholds 'gay marriage' ban
http://bit.ly/cIaWeH

OUR COURT SYSTEM

Judge frees mom jailed for keeping son from rapist dad
http://bit.ly/aiSyuv

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Hackers vandalise 200 web sites, cripple 150
http://bit.ly/aBXzWt

Hackers Steal $465,000 from Escrow Firm
http://bit.ly/9fXH46

Instant Messenger Programs Targeted By Hackers
http://bit.ly/cteyDz

Hackers access Maine student information
http://bit.ly/9XNRjX

Hackers Target Non-PC Devices
http://bit.ly/bdzh2A

Downsize DC MAY be on the verge of another victory, but it's up to you to keep up the pressure.

You see, last November, a Senate committee unanimously approved a poisonous "food safety" bill, S.510.

Seven months later, however, the bill still hasn't reached the Senate floor.

Why?

Because of you!

DC Downsizers and a broad coalition of farm activists objected to the draconian regulations that would destroy small farms and the organic food industry.

In response, Sen. Jon Tester proposed some amendments that would exempt family farms and small food processors. Other Senators have proposed other amendments, and Majority Leader Harry Reid is facing division within his own party on the bill.

It's possible that Sen. Reid won't bring S.510 to the floor at all this year. This would be ideal.

It's also possible that the Senate will debate the bill sometime in the coming weeks, so let's be prepared . . .

* tell Congress you oppose this dangerous food "safety" bill
* and at the very least, insist on Sen. Tester's amendments

Please send your message using DownsizeDC.org's Freedom to Farm campaign.

You may borrow from or copy this letter . . .

In general, I oppose federal "safety" regulations. Our food supply would be safer if the free market and the states supplied the regulations.

* Private trade associations and certification boards will compete to win consumer confidence in the safety and reliability of their products
* Firms that sell liability insurance would have flexible, site-specific safety requirements instead of one-size-fits-all regulations
* Consumers would be more likely to purchase from local growers and sellers that they know and trust
* States could learn from each other the most effective government regulations, if any are needed

In principle, then, I believe you should oppose S.510 and work to repeal most of the federal laws and regulations on the books.

I also demand that you make the bill "less bad" by insisting on the inclusion of Sen. Tester's amendments. These amendments would exempt . . . http://tester.senate.gov/Newsroom/pr_041410_foodsafety.cfm

* Producers that add value to food through processing and whose adjusted gross income is less than $500,000 per year;
* Producers who sell their food directly to market (such as farmers’ markets).

Please support other amendments that would make the bill less burdensome for farmers and small processors. There will never be a 100% guarantee that all food will always be safe, but . . .

* recent food-borne illness outbreaks have not been caused by family farms and other small businesses
* if outbreaks were to occur, the number of victims will be small and the effects will be localized

In contrast, excessive fees and regulations could wipe out many small farms and businesses. This would make our food LESS safe because no amount of regulation or inspection will prevent every outbreak, and outbreaks in the corporate food chain will have far more victims and more widespread effects.

We do not need more federal regulation. We would be safer if we had more freedom.

END LETTER

You can send your letter using DownsizeDC.org's Educate the Powerful System.

And we encourage you to share this message with your friends. Retweet it.

Thanks for being a DC Downsizer!

James Wilson
Assistant Communications Director
DownsizeDC.org

IN THE NEWS

OIL SPILL 2010

Is It Raining Oil In Louisiana?
http://bit.ly/b0xQtB

Judge Blocks Offshore Drilling Moratorium
http://bit.ly/9LLmEj

Judge who nixed drilling ban has oil investments
http://bit.ly/9MkxFL

Oil gushing at spill site after vent damaged
http://bit.ly/aWl4ep

BP Is Burning Sea Turtles Alive, Gulf Captain Says
http://bit.ly/bglJPc

OBAMA NATION

Obama Lord of the Flies
http://bit.ly/9HfwCy

Obama embraces incremental response to gay agenda
http://bit.ly/aWg7at

Obama vows to end homelessness in 10 years - How about he starts with the change he promised?
http://bit.ly/9hvwHX

Defiant Obama defends health care overhaul
http://bit.ly/cRYCeW

Is Obama defying federal law?
http://bit.ly/aMMTw1

Obama's 'two fathers' reference inappropriate
http://bit.ly/9pCoJf

POLITICS & GOVERNMENT

McChrystal Resigns Over Critical Remarks, Obama Names Petraeus as Replacement
http://bit.ly/bow7JL

Comments That Cost McChrystal His Job
http://bit.ly/d1vUHe

California Bans Handheld Phones While Biking
http://bit.ly/b1s1hI

Georgia Governor Explores R&amp Partnerships in Uruguay, Argentina - Taking Away US Jobs
http://bit.ly/bcM6XO

Kill the ‘Kill Switch’
http://bit.ly/cVnyya

Calls to action on some G20 protest websites - Infiltratrators of inside ops?
http://bit.ly/aq7U4h

Degeneration of democracy
http://bit.ly/9Ko8Wo

White House summons US general to explain himself
http://bit.ly/cbhmIu

Uk Judged Most Repressive State In The West
http://bit.ly/dANHdV

ADA campaigns to 'Ditch Fitch'
http://bit.ly/cENjG3

REAL ID & PRIVACY NEWS

National ID card to allow e-payments in future
http://bit.ly/bgo0OZ

POLICE STATE NEWS

The Police State’s 'Cardinal Rule': The Mundane Must Submit
http://bit.ly/beaSpE

Australia Takes Further Step Towards Police State With Cyber Crime Proposals
http://bit.ly/bKbF4D

Police state in, power suits out as Toronto goes into security shock
http://bit.ly/aYxm9f

ECONOMIC NEWS

Cigarette Tax Will Mean $10 Packs
http://bit.ly/dxdJsa

Middle Class--Not the Rich or the Poor--Pay Majority of Federal Taxes, Says CBO Data
http://bit.ly/aIGct3

World's rich got richer amid '09 recession: report
http://bit.ly/cjYike

Existing Home Sales Tumble Unexpectedly in May
http://bit.ly/bj5AtK

New-home sales plunge 33 pct with tax credits gone
http://bit.ly/9E4vg6

Squatters take over homes, causing different housing crisis
http://bit.ly/9QK0gt

Budget deficits reflect economic conditions, not just government policy
http://bit.ly/asZGZk

From Hope To Barely Holding On
http://bit.ly/cEi3n9

Is America Destined to Starve?
http://bit.ly/9nTxqd

$75M mansion near Orlando selling 'as is
http://bit.ly/9AQCNf

HEALTH NEWS

Subway chain apologizes for Salmonella outbreak - Eat Fresh?
http://bit.ly/98i4qE

Illinois Subway workers to undergo tests in effort to halt outbreak
http://bit.ly/bfpIgx

Consumer group targets McDonald's Happy Meal toys
http://bit.ly/bIpOP3

San Francisco requires stores to post cellphone radiation levels
http://bit.ly/buZp1I

CHRISTIANITY NEWS

Christian deportation 'sets dangerous precedent'
http://bit.ly/akJSGi

Spiritual Warfare: Knowing Your Enemy
http://bit.ly/9hPkzv

IMMIGRATION NEWS

Midwest town on cutting edge of crackdown on illegals
http://bit.ly/9GqAzU

White House rumored to be planning stay of deportation for millions of illegals
http://bit.ly/dx5cSj

Immigration vote stirs emotions in Neb. town
http://bit.ly/cJCaDQ

White House sharply disputes Kyl assertion on immigration
http://bit.ly/cBSVf2

Angry AZ governor vows to fight White House
http://bit.ly/d1WF9T

TERRORISM USA

Boeing among defense firms fighting cyberterrorism
http://bit.ly/d6B2kS

NORAD to conduct emergency response exercises over DMV this afternoon
http://bit.ly/cUVUqu

HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA

Home Depot's 'gay pride' support spotlighted
http://bit.ly/9cunzT

Obama inches toward 'gay' agenda
http://bit.ly/bVDdrd

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Apple collecting, sharing iPhone users' precise locations
http://bit.ly/dwW0oC

States launch joint probe of Google Wi-Fi snooping
http://bit.ly/bMTYv2

FBI Warns of New Scam That Hijacks Your Phone
http://bit.ly/9g5rJt

Hackers Aren't Only Threat to Privacy
http://bit.ly/ajF0zj

Computer hacker demands sexually explicit videos
http://bit.ly/bjRNIk

VeriSign refutes security vulnerability claim
http://bit.ly/d6TUqj

Security: You May Be Your Company's Biggest Security Threat
http://bit.ly/crA8yg

WICKED WEATHER

Earthquake Shakes New York: Did You Even Notice?
http://nyti.ms/9ApxhD

Threat to Free Speech Lights a Fire in the Grassroots

-- Vote has been temporarily postponed; keep up the heat!

Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
www.gunowners.org

“[T]he NRA -- on whose board of directors I serve -- rather than holding steadfastly to its historic principles of defending the Constitution and continuing its noble fight against government regulation of political speech instead opted for a political deal borne of self-interest in exchange for ‘neutrality’ from the legislation's requirements.”

-- NRA Director Cleta Mitchell, June 17, 2010

Thursday, June 17, 2010

The above quote -- part of an editorial authored by NRA Director Cleta Mitchell -- ran in The Washington Post today.

Like Mitchell, bloggers and editorial writers around the country have lit up the Internet with the story that we have been alerting you to over the past 48 hours. Here are just some of the headlines:

* “The NRA sells out to Democrats on the First Amendment,” The Wall Street Journal

* “Conservatives take on the NRA over deal on disclosure bill,” The Washington Post

* “The National Rifle Association’s Excuse Holds No Water,” RedState.org

The conservative movement (and to be honest, many liberal organizations as well) are coming together to loudly protest the DISCLOSE Act -- legislation that threatens to gag our ability to effectively hold individual congressmen accountable in the days and weeks leading up to an election.

It is imperative that we continue hammering the Congress. But rather than cry “uncle,” liberal Democrats are now trying to buy off more groups with an exemption for those that have at least 500,000 members (rather than the higher threshold of one million, which would have applied to few groups other than the NRA).

Of course, how is the government going to know how many members an organization has? According to the legislation, each organization will have to certify to a government commission how many members they have. But what if the commission wants documentation; will the organization have to “disclose” the names of their members?

GOA, of course, will never do this. Furthermore, you should know that your Gun Owners of America can NOT be bought off. We will continue opposing this bill on principle, urging all gun groups to stick together in this fight. As we stated yesterday, we realize that: “We must all hang together, or we will all hang separately.”

GOA applauds NRA Director Cleta Mitchell for the courageous stand she took today. (You can read her editorial here.) We hope that the NRA leadership will heed her wisdom and take a stand against this bill. If they don’t, we wouldn’t be surprised if NRA members start demanding a change in their leadership. After all, the NRA has engaged in many good fights over the years, and it would be a shame to lose this VERY IMPORTANT battle because high-ranking staff led the NRA down the wrong path.

ACTION:

1. Please call your congressman today and urge him or her to oppose HR 5175. We’ve asked you to send emails before, but now on the eve before the vote, it is crucial that the phones ring off the hook. If they’re not ringing, they won’t be worried.

You can use the Talking Points below to call your Representative toll-free at 1-877-762-8762.

2. If you haven’t yet urged the NRA staff to change its position on HR 5175 and stand with Gun Owners of America, please do so. NRA Director Cleta Mitchell was absolutely correct, and the NRA leadership should heed her wisdom. You can call the NRA at (800) 392-VOTE (8683).

3. Please help Gun Owners of America to continue fighting for your rights. You can go to http://gunowners.org/contribute-to-goa.htm to help us alert as many people as possible to the DISCLOSE Act threat.

----- Talking Points for contacting your Representative -----

1. I stand with Gun Owners of America in opposing the DISCLOSE Act (HR 5175).

2. The Bill of Rights is clear in saying that Congress has no authority to pass legislation like this. Just like the Second Amendment says our gun rights “shall not be infringed,” the First Amendment says “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech.”

3. The Supreme Court was right earlier this year in the Citizens United case. Sen. John McCain -- the author of the Campaign Finance Reform law (otherwise known as the Incumbent Protection Act) -- was wrong. Americans, and the groups they choose to associate with, should be able to criticize Congress in the days and weeks leading up to an election WITHOUT BEING GAGGED OR FORCED TO JUMP THROUGH HOOPS that are mandated by Congress.

IN THE NEWS

OIL SPILL 2010

Judge Napolitano on BP Oil Spill & Obama Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Oqutclvexk

Judge Napolitano on BP Oil Spill & Obama Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMZrINBrKec

Judge Napolitano on BP Oil Spill & Obama Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQJzjQqPLR8

CENSUS 2010

Refusing To Be Counted
http://bit.ly/dnmI7Y

OBAMA NATION

Obama Wants $50 Billion more for Stimulus, Networks Nearly Silent
http://bit.ly/a8m2m5

Obama said he's a Muslim
http://bit.ly/cq4p2L

POLICE STATE NEWS

NH Police-State Checkpoint This Coming Weekend
http://bit.ly/9ET5xt

Biker: DMV stole my motorcycle
http://bit.ly/dtsvgr

REAL ID & PRIVACY NEWS

PA Senate Unanimously Votes to Nullify Real ID
http://bit.ly/cvudYs

Delaware DMV unveils new secure ID cards
http://bit.ly/cl1HpW

DMV Worker Charged with Sexual Abuse
http://bit.ly/bi1iRm

POLITICS & GOVERNMENT

Anti Abortion Right to Life vanity plates: DMV offers Choose Life plates
http://bit.ly/c3CEyJ

Justice Elena 'rubber stamp' Kagan?
http://bit.ly/9c7Xxz

When opinions become laws
http://bit.ly/biC1Su

Japan pledges corporate tax cuts to boost growth
http://bit.ly/aACev5

Folmer bills make it through Senate
http://bit.ly/aU3Y2c

Chinese workers revolt against the unions
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Cap & Trade Image
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ECONOMIC NEWS

Solo Cup plant closing is shock to employees
http://bit.ly/aVHjMc

California Considers Selling Ad Space On License Plates
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Out-of-work job applicants told unemployed need not apply
http://yhoo.it/cRPafm

US Banks May End Free Checking Accounts
http://bit.ly/b2Qgiu

2ND AMMENDMENT

NRA exemption shows campaign disclosure bill's cynical, fatal flaws
http://bit.ly/aryFUC

Warning: The Constitution Can be Hazardous to Children!
http://bit.ly/989aH8

CHRISTIANITY NEWS

Rights restored to Michigan pastor
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Church league denies team with lesbian coach
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ANOTHER ABORTION PILL

FDA panel gives ellaOne a thumbs-up
http://bit.ly/ahm633

FOOD RECALLS

Campbell Soup recalls 15M pounds of SpaghettiOs
http://yhoo.it/9ATmCJ

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Google Probing Possible Google Trends Hack
http://bit.ly/bjXuVu

XP flaw exploited by hackers
http://bit.ly/aSV41c

The Biggest Threat to Apple
http://bit.ly/9blmqQ

Spies, WikiLeaks, and hackers, oh my!
http://bit.ly/9U4pST

New program aims to help hackers report stolen credit cards and other personal data
http://bit.ly/9sLjlf

AT&T Apologizes for Another Privacy Gaffe, Suspends iPhone Pre-orderin
http://bit.ly/dpVZxD

Hackers put sexual content on Tory Twitter
http://bit.ly/bLmwq7

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

The ability of American citizens to communicate with their elected officials is one of the most important rights that help preserve our freedoms. In fact, of all the forms of speech protected by the First Amendment, political speech is at the top of the list.

This is exactly what the Supreme Court said earlier this year, in Citizens United v. FEC, when it ruled unconstitutional huge portions of the McCain-Feingold law, otherwise known as the Incumbent Protection Act.

Now, in an effort to undo the victory at the Supreme Court, liberals in Congress are attempting to pass the so-called DISCLOSE Act, which would severely limit the ability of GOA to communicate to our members and the general public.

This unconstitutional bill could come to the floor of the House as early as Thursday.

Sadly, as we reported yesterday, some in the pro-gun community have abandoned the principle of protecting the free speech rights of all Americans, so long as their ox is not being gored in this instance.

The NRA, which had previously opposed the DISCLOSE Act, has now accepted a deal to exempt that organization from the bill.

This is a startling about-face by the association.

When the Supreme Court ruled in favor of political speech in Citizens United, NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre praised the decision, saying, "This ruling is a victory for anyone who believes that the First Amendment applies to each and every one of us.... This is a defeat for arrogant elitists who wanted to carve out free speech as a privilege for themselves and deny it to the rest of us." (Emphasis added.)

That's a far cry from the NRA statement to Congress this week regarding legislation specifically designed to undo that Supreme Court decision.

"On June 14, 2010, Democratic leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives pledged that H.R. 5175 [DISCLOSE Act] would be amended to exempt groups like the NRA, that meet certain criteria, from its onerous restrictions on political speech," reads the statement.

"As a result, and as long as that remains the case, the NRA will not be involved in final consideration of the House bill."

Apparently it's ok to "carve out" a little free speech if you're in the role of the "elitists."

But the misguided NRA exemption will leave millions and millions of gun owners and sportsmen belonging to dozens of different organizations out in the cold.

We cannot allow this to happen. An attack on our First Amendment rights is a direct assault on our Second Amendment rights. After all, if GOA can't alert you about legislation affecting your Second Amendment rights, then we cannot protect those rights.

Of course, that's precisely what the politicians in Washington want. Shut out the voices of the "commoners" like gun owners and Tea Party activists who are coming to -- in the words of Senate candidate Rand Paul of Kentucky -- "take our government back!"

There's a reason the Bill of Rights is considered as an entire unit, and an attack on one part of the Constitution poses a threat to the whole document.

In short, if GOA loses this battle, all political organizations -- of any size -- will ultimately lose.

ACTION: Please ask your congressman to vote against the anti-gun DISCLOSE Act. This bill could come to the floor of the House as early as Thursday, June 17, 2010. Here's what you can do:

1. Urge your congressman to oppose HR 5175. You can use the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send a pre-written message to your Representative.

2. Urge the NRA to change its position and stand with Gun Owners of America. You know that GOA is the organization that consistently refuses to compromise on principle. Even still, GOA has fought alongside the NRA many times to fight unconstitutional legislation, and it is imperative that we fight side-by-side on this issue as well. It has often been said that, "We either hang together or we will hang alone." But impress upon the NRA management that being the last one hung doesn't make the situation any better. You can call the NRA at (800) 392-VOTE (8683).

----- Pre-written letter -----

Dear Representative:

Please oppose the DISCLOSE Act (H.R. 5175).

The manner in which this bill is moving forward is as despicable as the health care bill -- with backroom deals and special favors being doled out in order to ram this down the throats of the American people.

This bill is a threat to the privacy of individuals and, by gagging the voices of groups like Gun Owners of America, it is silencing my voice as well.

My ability to protect my Second Amendment rights relies on the First Amendment's right to freely and openly communicate with government officials, who at one time were called "public servants."

I agree with GOA that this bill is an unconstitutional sham that will have a chilling effect upon my free speech.

Please vote NO on HR 5175.

Sincerely,

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Celebrate Independence Day on July 4 at Yellowstone National Park. On that day, law-abiding citizens will be openly carrying their handguns, rifles or shotguns at the boardwalk around Old Faithful.

The start time is High Noon on July 4, 2010. This is an informal, non-sponsored and no-host celebration of Independence Day on July 4. Each and every person is totally (100%) responsible for themselves including transportation, food, drink, lodging, etc.

The weather can be cold and rainy, even snowy, in Yellowstone National Park on the 4th of July -- so plan accordingly. Wyoming state laws and National Park Service Rules apply at Old Faithful. If you have any questions, please contact your personal attorney, the Attorney General of Wyoming, or the Yellowstone National Park Service.

Point of Contact: Tim Ravndal, PO Box 287, Townsend, Montana 59644, 406-266-5212 or 406-439-5860, thornyacre@dishmail.net

IN THE NEWS

OIL SPILL 2010

New York Artist Announces Solution to Gulf Oil Crisis
http://bit.ly/cm1Ig0

OBAMA NATION

There's a pipe spewing a gazillion gobs of oil into the gulf, so let's build more windmills
http://bit.ly/d9v3cR

MSNBC Trashes Obama's Address
http://bit.ly/aycJe0

Govt, Congress eye greater power in cyber attacks
http://bit.ly/avdcvx

New Bill Gives Obama ‘Kill Switch’ To Shut Down The Internet
http://bit.ly/aH0QAs

POLICE STATE NEWS

America's Prototype Police State Puerto Rico
http://bit.ly/9FQRMT

Seattle Cop Punches Woman in Face
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REAL ID & PRIVACY NEWS

PA Senate Makes Push To Block 'Read ID' Mandate
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Treasurer's site exposes taxpayers' information to hackers
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Spammers hack into IUSB dean's e-mail account
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POLITICS & GOVERNMENT

American Jailed For Hunting Osama Bin Laden
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One more milestone in the Prop. 8 saga
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Instead of budgeting, Congress is....
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Watchdog Urges Probe Into Whether Greene Was 'Induced' to Run for Senate
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Clyburn Claims 'Hacking' Behind Greene's Surprise Win in SC Senate Race
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Modern-Day Slavery on D.C.'s Embassy Row?
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NC Turnpike Authority Supports Proposed Mobility Fund - Wake County
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NC Inspection changes still confusing motorists
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ECONOMIC NEWS

How Worthless Can They Be?
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French workers' fury as retirement age is raised... to 62
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Britain: Record 7.8m workers are not full-time thanks to lack of jobs
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HEALTH NEWS

Chemical in antibacterial soaps produces toxic dioxins
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Feeding Grains to Cats and Dogs
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CHRISTIANITY NEWS

Religious billboards a nuisance?
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HIGHER EDUCATION

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IMMIGRATION & BORDER NEWS

Mexican Matador Arrested After Fleeing Bullfighting Ring
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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

AT&T, Apple sell out of launch-day iPhone 4s
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Hacker in AT&T-iPad security case arrested on drug charges
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Defence firms face cyber spying at arms bazaar
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Hackers exploit Microsoft XP security flaw
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French ISP waves red rag at hackers
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Google engineer Tavis Ormandy faces the heat
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THE PRICE OF FAME

When Insiders Expose the Ugly Side of the Entertainment Industry
http://vigilantcitizen.com/?p=3925

DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE?

American Apparel Denies Hiring Based on Beauty, Says Looks for 'Strong Sense of Style'
http://bit.ly/cRdBrJ