ILA Report

Anti-Gun Bill Claims No Right to Bear Bullets

LATEST LEGISLATIVE NEWS FROM INSIDE THE NRA INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION

ILA Grassroots: (800) 392-8683 NRA-ILA: (703) 267-1170 NRA-ILA website: nraila.org

In late March, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., introduced the Ammunition Background Check Act of 2018. Wasserman Schultz claimed the act would close an “absurd loophole” by “requiring all buyers of ammunition” to undergo the same sort of background checks that currently apply to the purchase of a firearm from a licensed dealer. The bill would require background checks on both dealer sales and private sales of ammunition that occur at a gun show or are facilitated with an online or print advertisement.

Far from being a “loophole,” however, the absence of a federal ammunition background check reflects the fact that point-of-sale record keeping for ammunition purchases has already been tried, tested and discarded as a failure. The Gun Control Act of 1968 originally required ammunition dealers to be licensed and to record sales, similar to the requirements that still pertain to the sales of firearms by licensed dealers. In 1982, .22-cal. rimfire ammunition was exempted from the record-keeping requirements, followed in 1986 by the repeal of both the licensing and record-keeping requirements as they pertained to ammunition dealers. An official from the ATF, testifying on the 1986 bill, characterized the proposed repeal as a “positive” development, noting that the then-existing requirements had “no substantial law enforcement value” and that “their elimination would remove an unnecessary record-keeping burden from licensees.”

Needless to say, federally prohibited persons experience little difficulty defeating background check requirements for firearms through straw purchasers, theft, illegal purchases on the secondary market or borrowing firearms from criminal associates. Firearms bear markings and unique serial numbers, however, which at least allow investigators to trace them back to the original retail purchaser to generate leads that might help explain how guns came to be diverted to criminal use.

Requiring similar markings for every round of ammunition sold, however, would be prohibitively expensive. And without such markings, ammunition would be virtually impossible to account for after the first retail sale. This explains why the original record-keeping requirements were considered useless and why re-imposing ammunition controls would be a waste of time.

Simply put, criminals could violate the requirements easily and with impunity. Meanwhile, law-abiding dealers and purchasers would be saddled with gratuitous paperwork and all the problems inherent to the current background check system, including delays, false positives, and the laborious and lengthy process of correcting erroneous or incomplete information. The Act would also effectively ban direct online ammunition sales, the most affordable option for those who use large amounts of ammunition in training and competitive shooting. The bill might also make sharing or borrowing ammunition at a range or on a hunt effectively illegal.

No doubt, the “designed to fail” nature of the scheme would only tee up calls to close further “loopholes,” including calls to encode or serialize every round of ammunition and to impose registries and caps on ammunition purchases. It would also likely re-impose dealer licensing for ammunition sellers, with all the expense that entails.

Ammunition background checks are such a bad idea, in fact, that even the most anti-gun jurisdictions have generally avoided them. One Northeastern state enacted a law to require them, to much fanfare, but then quietly abandoned the effort without ever actually implementing the requirements. Out West, another state is trying to figure out how to implement its own recently enacted law, with absurdities such as mandatory fingerprinting of non-residents seeking to buy ammunition while visiting the state.

Showing ignorance not just of the subject matter of her bill but also of the Bill of Rights, Wasserman Schultz insisted at a press conference, “You do not have the right to bear bullets.” This erroneous assertion is in keeping with a growing antipathy toward the Second Amendment among many members of the party for which she was formerly National Committee chairwoman—39 percent of whom favor the repeal of the amendment. It also aligns Wasserman Schultz with Hillary Clinton, the party’s defeated 2016 presidential nominee, who infamously claimed, “The Supreme Court is wrong on the Second Amendment.” Wasserman Schultz, of course, resigned from her chairwoman post in disgrace when emails made public by Wikileaks showed that she used the Democratic Party apparatus to conspire against Bernie Sanders and in favor of Clinton during the presidential primaries.

Little surprise Wasserman Schultz now seeks redemption among her party peers through the introduction of opportunistic and ill-considered gun control legislation. Her backward-looking bill, however, would only burden legitimate firearm-related commerce while doing nothing to hinder criminals.

March 1, 2018 – March 31, 2018

Reuben Ledra, Schenectady, NY (from: Judith Ledra); Jesse Pennington, Grayson, KY (from: Mary Jane Pennington); Eddie Hammond (from: Eddie and Verna Schmidt); Dave Koester, Modesto, CA (from: Modesto Rifle Club); Glenn Kaiser, Modesto, CA (from: Modesto Rifle Club); Frank Kuchensky, Modesto, CA (from: Modesto Rifle Club); Robert Mugge, West Lafayette, IN (from: The Mugge Family); Tim Middleton, Dansville, NY (from: Springwater Rod & Gun Club Inc.); Chuck Wood, Bovina, NY (from: Springwater Rod & Gun Club Inc.); David Ronald Carroll (from: Colleen Clark); George McDonald (from: Bonita Iverson); Leonard J. Smythe, Bluffton, IN (from: Dunes Rifle & Pistol Club); Richard W. Lemon, Ennis, MT (from: Mary Ann Lemon); George Alves (from: Warren and Vickie Alves); Page Moss, Huntsville, AL (from: Cliff Farlow); Paul Ruzich, Johnston City, IL (from: Egyptian Rifle & Pistol Club); John Bittle, Marion, IL (from: Egyptian Rifle & Pistol Club); Clifton Rutledge, Marion, IL (from: Egyptian Rifle & Pistol Club); Vernell Pulley, Marion, IL (from: Egyptian Rifle & Pistol Club); Harold E. Galloway, Las Cruces, NM (Beverly Galloway); James Dobstaff, West Seneca, NY (from: Hamburg Rod & Gun Club); Rodney Johnson, San Diego, CA (from: Jean Johnson); Ronald M. Funk, Medina, OH (from: Elizabeth L. Funk); Brooks Cargile, Corpus Christi, TX (from: George Gibbons).

ILA CONTRIBUTIONS

(The following have contributed $1,000.00 or more to the NRA Institute for Legislative Action: March 1, 2018 – March 31, 2018)

Mathew J. Reno, Gillette, WY; Steven Shawley, Scottsville, VA; Mark Irwin, Milford, IA; Benjamin J. Seib, Delray Beach, FL; Kenneth R. Wood, Winston, OR; James Jones, Waycross, GA; Francis M. Bushnell, Waco, TX; Eric Nunes, Wesley Chapel, FL; Michael P. Ricatto, Kew Gardens, NY; Neil H. Joseph, St. Petersburg, FL; Richard M. Beltram, Randolph, NJ; Roger L. Brotman, North Kingstown, RI; Gerald Fabiano, Newton, NJ; L. L. Ellison, Bellevue, WA; Randy Young, Canonsburg, PA; B. R. Engelking, Mountlake Terrace, WA; Richard Allen, La Luz, NM; Ervin A. Baumann, Midland, TX; John G. Wright, Austin, TX; R. E. Janes, Vista, TX; John Kelly, Kingsport, TN; Bruce Busby, Doss, TX; Philip T. Chaplin, Strafford, NH; Vincent E. Rigoni, Napa, CA; David L. Rossi, Jacksonville, FL; Stewart Mungo, Columbia, SC; Mark B. Sorensen, North Platte, NE; Todd L. Johnson, Duluth, MN; Robert A. Dietz, Houston, TX; Terry Duperon, Saginaw, MI; Thomas O. Freeland, Ocean Springs, MS; Wesley R. Bury, Goodland, KS; Frank P. Reidelberger, Palatine, IL; Perry Diloreto, Carson City, NV; Diana K. Huff, Decatur, IL; Albert S. Zambone, Vineland, NJ; Richard Statman, Pittsburgh, PA; James A. Remington, Henrico, VA; Herbert F. Clark, Simpsonville, SC; James Matthews, Sarasota, FL; Stephen P. McCarroll, San Antonio, TX; Susan E. Close, King Ferry, NY; Bill L. Walker, Frisco, TX; Peter G. Walker, Atlanta, GA; Nimish Patel, Toronto, OH; Dirck Tenbroeck, Westville, FL; Carson McCurdy, Jerusalem, OH; John G. Gammon, Allen, TX; Robert E. Renaud, Carlisle, PA; Michael R. Stanley, North Hollywood, CA; Bob Jervis, Blacklick, OH; James Martin, Chambersburg, PA; Scott A. Dickson, Pleasanton, CA; Matthew Wilson, Bell Buckle, TN; William F. Davis, King, NC; Barry C. Holland, La Porte, TX; Stephen Felker, High Shoals, GA; Michael E. Bannister, Bloomfield Hills, MI; Ric Henry, Decatur, GA; William Harvie, Santee, CA; Pete Masterson, Ridgefield, WA; Thomas Harrison, Green Bay, WI; Philip T. Cagle, Houston, TX; E. E. Strickland, Moncks Corner, SC; Adam J. Farquhar, Fort Worth, TX; Jackie Love, Tallahassee, FL; Matthew B. Evans, Winchester, MA; Alexander P. Anagnos, Manchester, NH; Maudi E. Fleming, Fort Worth, TX; Raymond T. Rupel, Centennial, CO; Gary Clinard, Las Vegas, NV; Phillip S. McDuffee, Austin, TX; Mircea Savu, Chalfont, PA; Matt Maxwell, Riverside, CA; Patrick R. Sampson, Aurora, CO; Robin Galloway, North Wilkesboro, NC; Kelly McAlpine, Irvine, CA; Anne T. Draper, Littleton, CO; Rock Island Auction Co., Rock Island, IL; J. A. Curtis, Sun City Center, FL; Gary Magnum, Stevensville, MD; Cold Steel, Inc., Ventura, CA; Alice C. Malcom, Porum, OK; Michigan Sporting Dog Association, Fife Lake, MI; Arthur B. Choate, Coral Gables, FL; James E. Hall, Midland, TX; Brook Morris, Irvine, CA; Mark Loyd, St. Louis, MO; Ira J. Ehrlich, Gainesville, FL; Randy Glasebrook, Albuquerque, NM; Colleen Clark, Milwaukee, WI; Jim Moyer, Hemphill, TX; Carl T. Haley, Franklin, TN; Gateway Rifle & Pistol Club, Jacksonville, FL; I-Five Concepts LLC, Omaha, NE; Monterey and Great Pacific Corporation, Palo Alto, CA; Turner’s Outdoorsman, Cucamonga, CA; D. P. Nobile, Valencia, CA; Robert T. Moore, Fairfax, VA; Gene Welch, Batesville, MS; David Levy, Fort Washington, PA; Patrick A. Masters, San Antonio, TX; J. F. Strohmeyer, Naples, FL; Dale A. Felderhoff, Muenster, TX; George Adamski, Elk River, MN; Susan L. Straub, Prospect, KY; Arkansas Gun & Cartridge Collectors, Carlisle, AR; Bob Garthwait Jr., Waterbury, CT; Horton S. Spitzer, Wilson, WY; James R. Hamilton, Oakton, VA; Andrea Menard, Colfax, WI; Hibbing Rifle & Pistol Club, Hibbing, MN; Wells Rifle & Pistol Club, Wells, MN; Buds Gun Shop, Lexington, KY; Francis M. Bushnell, Waco, TX; Glenn Perry, Midvale, UT; Poo-An Siauw, Northridge, CA; William Scott Jensen, Mayfield, KY; David C. Olds, Bakersfield, CA; Jason M. Feltner, Clarksville, TN; Thomas R. Jokerst, Chesterfield, MO; David S. Shimm, Beckley, WV; Larry Hudgens, Lindale, TX; Jeremy Wahl, Greenbush, MN; R.E. Janes Lago, Vista, TX; Kay Murphey, Fort Worth, TX; R. D. Knight, Almont, MI; G.M. Satterstrum, Crawford, CO; Jon R. Thomas, Odessa, TX; Bob Schjerven, Highland Village, TX; Robert G. Huenemann, Hollister, CA; James H. Wallace, Jackson, TN; Philip H. Fry, Ortonville, MI; B. W. Loughridge, Albuquerque, NM; Charles V. Rossi, San Jose, CA; Bruce Bostick, Sacramento, CA; Donald Corbett, Roseville, CA; William O Barrett, San Antonio, TX; Wayne C. Perelman, West Palm Beach, FL; John R. Herbst, West Falls, NY; Stan Ramey, Albuquerque, NM; Rodney R. Hoffman, Hartford, WI; Wayne Lee, Woodruff, WI; Raymond Buisker, Fitchburg, WI; Walter C. Stonesifer, Hanover, PA; Dowe Tillema, Land O Lakes, WI; Bruce Bydal, Warrington, PA; Robert Sypolt, Venice, FL; Ken A. White, Hygiene, CO; E. Davis, Cotulla, TX; Lanier Frantz, New Castle, VA; James A. Brown, Abingdon, VA; John R. Davis, Akron, KY; Mark R. Livesay, Stafford, TX; Elton L. Wylie, Hamilton, TX; Martha R. Mugge, West Lafayette, IN; Brian J. Maguire, West Linn, OR; Paul A. Vitale, Port St. Lucie, FL; Donald Campbell, Troy, AL; Daryl C. Staehle, Arlington, WA; Frank A. Deganahl, Amelia Island, FL; Jon Leonhardt, Albuquerque, NM; Rick Hermanson, Lake Tapps, WA; Charles D. Kirk, Hampstead, NC; William L. Walker, Kansas, OK; Kenan J. Clougherty, Hartsville, SC; Robert Hugard, Westborough, MA; Bruce Halle, Marana, AZ; Nicholas J. Sutherland, Santa Fe, NM; William F. Jones, Knoxville, TN; Mark Seymour, Cincinnati, OH; Michael D. Lusk, Naples, FL; Steven W. Morse, Ann Arbor, MI; Johnsie F. Daisley, Mentor on the Lake, OH; Paul H. Harrop, Tallulah, LA; Michael W. Goodman, Randolph, NY; John Collum, Greenville, MS; Michael R. Gilpatrick, San Jose, CA; Kaye S. Tipton, Nolensville, TN; J. Jerome Moiso, McArthur, CA; Nat Turbeville, Richmond, VA; Alan Mossberg, Tierra Verde, FL; Martin D. Ellison, Bellevue, WA; Michael L. Minaides, Bridgewater, NJ; Leon Rivkin, Glen Head, NY; Michael Theriot, Port Arkansas, TX; James Shoureas, Boca Raton, FL; Robert P. Young, Canton, OH; Brian E. Emerich, Fallbrook, CA; Dominick Agron, Dingmans Ferry, PA; Frederick Emmott, East Palo Alto, CA; Jesse Montanez, Santa Ana, CA; Maria Kacik, East Palo Alto, CA; John D. Dovydenas, Portland, OR; Douglas Lochmiller, Franklin, NC; Seth Thomas, Little Rock, AR; Brenda A. Dado, Amsterdam, NY; David Smith, Durand, MI; Lawson A. Lard, Highlands, NC; Leland Lasater, Tyler, TX; Netty Chow, Buena Park, CA; William J. Orr, Round Rock, TX; Rod Harbin, Birmingham, AL; Patrick Bennet, Danville, IL; Dennis Klebba, Norton Shores, MI; Kyle Bailey, Tampa, FL; Colleen Murray, Chandler, AZ; Richard W. McEver, Plant City, FL; Milton Grove Sportsmen’s Club, Elizabethtown, PA; Cape Radiology Group, Cape Girardeau, MO.

Nate Hosie

Photo Courtesy of Nate Hosie is

Nate Hosie is a man of many talents. As a star on Headhunters TV, he can hunt turkey like no other. But he’s just as at home on a stage as he is in a deer stand, as he demonstrated when he performed at the Great American Outdoor Show in February. Hosie personifies what NRA Country is all about: enjoying the great outdoors; supporting our military and being proud of our great nation. He shared the story behind one of his songs, “The Woods,” with NRA Country.

“If there is one thing I have learned in my years of hunting, it is that every hunt is a success, regardless of if you punch a tag. Being in God’s creation—being in the woods—is a success in itself and something I love and truly appreciate. I find inspiration for music all around me in life, but I definitely find it when I’m in nature. I actually wrote a song from a deer stand that means a lot to me. Simply titled “The Woods,” the song talks about the peace I’ve found in the woods growing up; how the woods is where I took my first buck, my first longbeard, but also the first place I ran to the day I lost my granddad, who taught me to hunt. The chorus goes:

The wind going through the trees, the sun shining on the leaves the silence as it screams is deafening to me.

Some folks, they’ll never understand but these trees helped make me a man and brought me peace when nothing else could.

That’s why I love the woods.

I’m excited to be recording the song soon and to share it with my fans and NRA members across our great nation. Happy hunting everybody!” NRA Country is a lifestyle and a bond between the country music community and hard-working Americans everywhere. It’s powered by pride, freedom, love of country, respect for the military and the responsibilities of protecting the great American life. For more information visit nracountry.com, follow on Twitter @NRACountry, and NRA_Country on Instagram.