NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ALERT: Vol. 21, No. 38 09/26/2014 Shaneen Allen to Avoid Prison as New Jersey AG Revises Sentencing Guidance for Gun Law Violations In a stunning outbreak of sanity in the Garden State, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain has reversed his earlier decision to seek prison time for Shaneen Allen, a single mother from Philadelphia who was facing felony prosecution for misunderstanding concealed carry reciprocity rules. The decision came after John Hoffman, acting New Jersey Attorney General, issued statewide guidance to county prosecutors clarifying the application of New Jersey's mandatory sentencing scheme to certain minor firearm violations. These developments mean that not only will Ms. Allen and her children be spared the ordeal of her facing a felony conviction and lengthy prison term but that other travelers who unwittingly violate New Jersey's harsh laws gun laws may also avoid a similar nightmare. READ MORE >> Venezuelan President Announces $47 Million for Civilian Disarmament Centers It's what happens to gun owners and freedom when a lawless, leftwing, socialist president who doesn't like America, who uses the power of his office to intimidate his political opponents, and who will do nearly anything to preserve his power gets elected. On Sunday, Nicholas Maduro, the president of Venezuela, announced that he will spend $47 million for 60 civilian disarmament centers, where people can turn in their privately owned guns. Venezuela banned the commercial sale of guns in 2012, and Maduro--continuing the fundamental transformation of the country begun by his predecessor, Hugo Chavez--now says "We are building peace from within, and for that, you need disarmament." READ MORE >> The N.J. Star-Ledger Advocates Mandatory Gun Turn-Ins Echoing a desire repeatedly mentioned by President Obama, last week the New Jersey Star-Ledger's editorial board declared its support for Australian-style gun controls, most notably mandatory gun turn-ins. The comments come following the passage of A2895 in the New Jersey State Assembly, which would require the state to have a minimum number of voluntary gun turn-ins each year, using forfeiture funds and private donations. While conceding that their wish is unlikely to come true, the board insists that unless the voluntary turn-ins are made mandatory, "don't expect it to make much of a difference." READ MORE >> D.C. Council Passes Concealed Carry Bill that Nobody Wants On Tuesday, the D.C. City Council unanimously passed an emergency bill that created a highly-restrictive "may-issue" concealed carry licensing system in the District. The law will be in effect for only 90 days, presumably to give the council more time to develop a permanent law and to wait for further developments in the case that overruled the District's total ban on carrying a firearm in public for self-defense. READ MORE >> Feinstein: Everybody's Wrong About My Gun Ban Here's a lesson for California voters: When electing a person to represent you in Congress, remember that blind zealotry and self-righteousness are a poor substitute for level-headedness and humility.  California's senior U.S. senator, Dianne Feinstein (D), sponsor of the federal "assault weapon" and "large" magazine bans of 1994-2004, says that researchers who conducted the congressionally mandated study of the bans, and found them lacking in effect, are wrong. READ MORE >> New York Times Mischaracterizes New FBI Report Things have sure changed at the New York Times. In 1863, the newspaper used a Gatling gun to scare off a mob of draft protestors. Today, it can't resist the temptation to put an anti-gun spin on things any chance it gets.  This week, the Times ran an article titled "FBI Confirms a Sharp Rise in Mass Shootings Since 2000," which claimed that a report recently released by the FBI found that "Mass shootings have risen dramatically in the past half-dozen years."  Say what? Come again? READ MORE >> 13-Year-Old Twin Sisters Sponsored to Hunt, Shoot and Spread Their Message Morgan and Mason Baseley, 13-year-old identical twins, are avid hunters sponsored by Girls with Guns Clothing. We decided to ask the girls a few questions about what message they hope to share with other girls, what their favorite hunt is and more. READ MORE >> Attend the 2014 NRA-ILA Law Symposium- Oct. 11! Focusing on recent developments in our nation's courts and legislatures regarding the Second Amendment, speakers at this year's event will discuss and debate current Second Amendment developments and related issues. The symposium will feature top Second Amendment scholars and attorneys discussing topics that range from the history of the Second Amendment to current Second Amendment litigation in Maryland and across the nation, to the nuts and bolts of legal practice in both defending and advancing gun owners' civil rights. READ MORE >> Order Your NRA-ILA Yard Signs Today! It has been estimated that well-placed campaign signs can account for four percentage points on Election Day. Think back to the 2000 presidential election, where 537 votes in Florida separated George W. Bush from Al Gore, and four percentage points seems like a landslide! While you are focused on the November 4 election, some gun owners may not be aware of what's at stake for the future of the Second Amendment on Election Day. READ MORE >> CALIFORNIA: Governor Brown Needs to Hear Your Opposition to Four Pending Anti-Gun Bills COLORADO: Expanded Hunting Opportunities Offered in Plan for San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex COLORADO: Bloomberg Already Sets His Sights on Next Year's Legislative Session HAWAII: Federal Court Ruling Overturns Certain Firearm Permit Laws LOUISIANA: Stand and Fight with NRA for the 2014 General Elections MAINE: Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Opposes Referendum Based on Forty Years of Research MICHIGAN: Senate Passes Air Gun Reclassification Package MISSISSIPPI: Governor Phil Bryant Urges Mississippians to Celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day. Sportsmen are Encouraged to Support Amendment 1 on November 4 MONTANA: Election Day 2014 Will Be Here Before You Know It NEW JERSEY: Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes Expanding Hunting in Great Swamp NWR NEW YORK: Sportsmen's Association for Firearms Education presents the 2014 Firearm Civil Rights Conference NORTH CAROLINA: NRA Needs You for the 2014 Elections! PENNSYLVANIA: Final Vote in State House on Firearms Preemption Enforcement Bill Postponed WASHINGTON: With Election Day on the Horizon, NRA Needs You to Stand and Fight