JAN 2008 CSSA CMP M1 GARAND RAFFLE Don Gilmore of Castle Rock was the winner of a CMP M1 Garand in Monday’s raffle drawing. Thanks to all who supported CSSA in purchasing tickets. Watch your email and the CSSA website for upcoming raffles.
Previous Winners Congratulations to Kathy Stockert of Loma, CO, winner of the Olympic Arms Carbine Raffle April 12. And a big THANKS! to all who supported CSSA in this important fundraiser.
Welcome to the Official Website of the
Colorado State Shooting Association - CSSA
Here are your latest news items . . .
Thursday 10 July 2008
Department of the Interior Extends Deadline for Comments Regarding Right-to-Carry in National Parks and Wildlife Refuges Until August 8.
Like a quarterback taking a knee in the fourth quarter, two of Congress’s most ardent opponents of our Right to Keep and Bear Arms are trying to run out the clock on efforts to enhance your right to self-defense in our national parks and wildlife refuges.
For two months, we have been asking NRA members and gun owners to submit comments in support of allowing law-abiding citizens to carry their legally-owned firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges -- and tens of thousand of you have done so. The deadline to submit comments expired on June 30 -- or so we thought.
Rather than closing the proscribed comments period as scheduled and moving toward finalizing this federal regulation, U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) and U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva (D-Arizona), succeeded in delaying the implementation of the final rule by bullying the Department of the Interior (their respective congressional subcommittees have oversight of national parks) to extend the deadline for comments an additional 30 days! In a letter to Secretary Kempthorne, Senator Akaka and Representative Grijalva asked that the public comment period be extended, citing the recent decision in the District of Columbia v. Heller.
In truth, however, now that the Supreme Court has affirmed that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right, it is more important than ever that we move toward final resolution on this matter and extend the most basic right of self-defense to law-abiding citizens visiting national parks and refuges.
The goal of their strategy is clear. Extending the public comment period amounts to a blatant and intentional stalling tactic; further pushing back resolution on this matter, possibly until after the election, into a new Administration. This needless extension will also allow opponents of carrying guns in national parks (like the Humane Society of the U.S. and the National Parks Conservation Association) to rally their troops to express their opposition to this commonsense proposal.
While we disagree with the decision to extend the comments period on this issue, it is now more important than ever that we give the anti-gunners what they profess to want-additional comments. Gun owners, Right-to-Carry permit holders, and all Second Amendment supporters must deluge the Department of the Interior with comments in support of this proposal! The new deadline for submitting comments is August 8, 2008.
Public Comments Processing Attn: 1024-AD70 Division of Policy and Directives Management U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222 Arlington, VA 22203
Thursday 26 June 2008
COMMENT ON U.S. SUPREME COURT RULING IN D.C. v. HELLER
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution unquestionably guarantees an individual right to keep and bear arms, regardless of any military/martial affiliation.
Writing for the five-member majority that included Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Thomas, Kennedy, and Alito, Justice Antonin Scalia outlined the long legal history of the Second Amendment and the right of individual Americans to own/possess/carry firearms for legitimate purposes. The Court held that not only was the District of Columbia’s outright ban of individual ownership of handguns in homes unconstitutional, but that any law limiting immediate access to functioning firearms such as mandating trigger locks or dismantling of guns was likewise in violation of the Second Amendment. The Court stated that the right to keep and bear arms in the Second Amendment, like all other similar amendments found in the Bill of Rights, is not infinite and can be subject to reasonable government regulation, but that restricting individual access to firearms that are fundamentally used for protection far exceeds any Constitutionally-permissible restriction.
Justice Scalia admitted that the decision does not resolve all issues and questions pertaining to the Second Amendment and individual gun ownership/possession, but that it does settle once and for all that the right to keep and bear arms is an individual Constitutional right.
Writing dissenting opinions were Justices Stevens and Breyer, with Justices Ginsberg and Souter joining. Justice Stevens maintained that the text of the Second Amendment and subsequent case law did not limit the authority of Congress to regulate the use or possession of firearms for purely civilian purposes—i.e. that the Second Amendment protects militia-related, and not self-defense-related, interests. Justice Breyer added that reasonable restrictions of rights set forth in the Constitution have always been permitted, and that analysis of the D.C. law showed it to be reasonable when balancing individual versus governmental interests.
The closeness of this decision, combined with the content of the dissenting opinions, clearly illustrates that the right of Americans to keep and bear arms is definitely NOT secure for the immediate future and that it is critical that future Justices be appointed who will render faithful adherence to the clear original intent of the Second Amendment.
FAIRFAX, Va. - The National Rifle Association has selected Linda Hill of Pueblo West, Colorado, to receive the 2008 Marion P. Hammer Woman of Distinction Award. This award recognizes exceptional contributions to the preservation of the Second Amendment and the shooting sports through education, advocacy, volunteerism, and legislative activism in support of the goals of the NRA.
Hill serves as treasurer on the board of directors of the Pueblo Municipal Shooting Range in Colorado. An NRA Life Member, she was instrumental in starting a local youth shooting program and a women’s shooting group, the Pueblo Pistoleras. Hill is involved with numerous training events, including Women On Target® Instructional Shooting Clinics, NRA Basic Pistol classes, NRA Range Safety Officer training, and personal protection seminars. “This year’s applicants were up against a prestigious group of women,” Hammer said. “The winners’ dedication to the cause of Freedom sets an example for all to follow. Their grassroots involvement and the progress they have made in their communities should make us all proud of their leadership and gives us all hope for the future of Freedom and the Second Amendment.”
Hill is also an experienced hunter education instructor, having taught courses in both Alaska and Montana while living in those states. She was named one of the top 10 hunter education instructors in the state of Alaska in 1994.
“She has taught us all, never wavering in her professionalism,” Esther Mabry said in her letter nominating Hill for this prestigious award. “It is her constant nurturing encouragement that gets many of our more shy members out of their shells and into the middle of the competitions.”
Named for the first female president of the National Rifle Association, the Marion P. Hammer Woman of Distinction Award was created in 2004 to recognize women’s achievements in support of Second Amendment rights and/or the shootings sports at the local, state, or regional levels. In addition to Lynch, the 2008 Marion P. Hammer Award was also bestowed to Paula Radcliff of Dexter, Kan.; Patricia Stoneking of Bonner Springs, Kan.; and Cathy Lynch of Renton, Wash.
For more information on the awards, or to find out how to nominate a deserving woman, please visit the NRA Women’s Programs Department at http://www.nrahq.org/women/awards.asp or call (800) 861-1166.
Tuesday 13 May 2008
NRA’s National 2008 Concealed Carry Report
Get the latest on the national status of concealed carry directly from NRA
FFL holders interested in submitting sealed bids to purchase surplus firearms from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office should contact Ken Lavey at 719-520-6401 or email kenlavey@elpasoco.com. Bids will be opened May 19 and pre-bid meetings and previews will be held on May 9-10.
Thursday 03 April 2008
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
An established sporting optics company in Northern Colorado is looking for a marketing manager. Position description includes the following:
Create annual catalog
Create and manage advertising campaigns and negotiate with Media
Create product packaging and training materials
Market research
Press relations
Web site creation and Internet Marketing
In addition to expected managerial skills/attributes, three-plus years of marketing experience in the shooting sports industry is desirable. Law enforcement experience is a plus.
Top base salary is $65,000 plus benefits with bonus opportunities. Interested applicants should call 303.797.0449 or email Rebecca@ExecutiveSrch.com
Saturday 09 February 2008
COLORADO LEGISLATIVE ALERT!
Unfortunately, Sen. Windels' SB 49 bill to require safe storage for firearms in the home enforced with a threat of a charge of criminal negligence and a $50-$1000 fine, has PASSED the Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs committee on a party-line 3-2 vote. It is now headed for the Appropriations committee which is expected to rubber-stamp it, and then on to the Senate floor.
This bill, if it becomes law, will charge the parent of a 16-17 year-old minor with criminal negligence if that minor inflicts bodily harm on him/herself or takes the gun to a school. It implies safe storage, and it will create the potential situation where a firearm will be locked up and inaccessible for defense of life and property in the event of criminal intrusion. Existing law covers storage and misuse of firearms, and this bill is nothing but harassment of gun owners in their homes.
Please act on this bill! Contact the usually or nominally pro-gun swing-vote legislators listed below, and respectfully and sincerely ask for their continued support of the exercise of our 2nd Amendment rights by voting NO on this bill. Tell them this is anti-gun and anti-self-defense legislation designed to scare gun owners with criminal punishment out of keeping their guns handy for defense. It's unnecessary because there are already means at law to deal with people who negligently store their firearms, and the suicide rate is down overall including suicide by firearms. This is a solution in search of a problem.
(Letters can be sent to all legislators at 200 E. Colfax, Denver, CO 80203)
Lois Tochtrop (D) 303-866-4863 lotochtrop@aol.com Bob Hagedorn (D) 303-866-4879 SenBob@msn.com Jim Isgar (D) 303-866-4884 isgarsenate@frontier.net Gail Schwarz (D) 303-866-4871 gail.schwartz.senate@state.co.us Dan Gibbs (D) 303-866-4873 dan.gibbs.senate@state.co.us Ken Kester (R) 303-866-4877 ken.kester.senate@state.co.us
Your state senator, from this full list:
DISTRICT LAST_NAME FIRST_NAME PARTY E-MAIL PHONE
1 Brophy Greg R greg@gregbrophy.net 303-866-6360 2 Kester Ken R ken.kester.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4877 3 Tapia Abel J. D abel.tapia.senate@state.co.us 303-866-2581 4 Wiens Tom J R tom@tomwiens.com 303-866-4869 5 Schwartz Gail D gail.schwartz.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4871 6 Isgar Jim D isgarsenate@frontier.net 303-866-4884 7 Penry Joshua "Josh" R joshpenry@gmail.com 303-866-3077 8 Taylor Jack R 303-866-5292 9 Schultheis David C. "Dave" R dave.schultheis.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4835 10 Cadman Bill R bill.cadman.senate@state.co.us 303-866-2737 11 Morse John P. D john.morse.senate@state.co.us 303-866-6364 12 McElhany Andrew R 303-866-2318 13 Renfroe Scott W. R scott.renfroe.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4451 14 Bacon Bob D bbacon@peakpeak.com 303-866-4841 15 Johnson Steve R steve.johnson.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4853 16 Gibbs Dan D dan.gibbs.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4873 17 Shaffer Brandon C. D brandon@brandonshaffer.com 303-866-5291 18 Tupa Ron D ron.tupa.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4872 19 Windels Sue D senatorwindels@comcast.net 303-866-4840 20 Keller Maryanne "Moe" D moe.keller.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4856 21 Boyd Betty D betty.boyd.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4857 22 Kopp Mike R mike.kopp.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4859 23 Mitchell Shawn R shawn.mitchell.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4876 24 Tochtrop Lois D lotochtrop@aol.com 303-866-4863 25 Takis Stephanie D stephanie.takis.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4855 26 Ward Steve R steve.ward.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4846 27 Spence Nancy R nancyspence@qwest.net 303-866-4883 28 Williams Suzanne D suzanne.williams.senate@state.co.us 303-866-3432 29 Hagedorn Bob D SenBob@msn.com 303-866-4879 30 Harvey Ted R ted.harvey.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4881 31 Veiga Jennifer D jennifer.veiga.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4861 32 Romer Chris D chris.romer.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4852 33 Groff Peter C. D peter.groff.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4864 34 Sandoval Paula E. D paula.sandoval.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4862 35 Gordon Ken D ken@kengordon.com 303-866-3341
Tuesday 05 February 2008
COLORADO LEGISLATIVE ALERT!
SB49, sponsored by anti-gun Sen. Sue Windels (D-JeffCo), designed to force gun owners into making their firearms inaccessible for defense by making criminals out of gun owners who don’t lock up their guns, has cleared the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee and is headed to the Senate floor. It is vital that this bill be defeated in the Senate, where the Democrat majority is smaller, before it gets to the House. Please call/write/email your state senator (directory at www.leg.state.co.us ), especially the senators listed below, and politely and respectfully urge them to oppose this bill that restricts your right to defend yourself, your family and your property.
»Obama’s Aim In 2007, Senator Barack Obama stood up for a gun owner. He endorsed Chicago Alderman Dorothy Tillman ...[more] »Markell outlines plans to restrict gun rights State Treasurer Jack Markell says if he is elected governor, he will do more to keep guns away from ...[more] »EDITORIAL: Castle doctrine Another of Mr. Mortensen`s bill drafts for the 2009 session would clarify that Nevada homeowners hav ...[more]