--- On Fri, 5/8/09, Gun Owners of America
<Gun_Owners_of_America@...> wrote:

Earlier this week, GOA alerted email activists that certain prominent
Republicans were pushing former Department of Homeland Security Director
Tom Ridge to run against pro-gunner Pat Toomey in a Pennsylvania
primary.

GOA members flooded the Republican National Committee (RNC) office with
phone calls and emails, highlighting a few of Tom Ridge's anti-gun
actions:

* As a Congressman, he provided the pivotal vote to pass the Clinton
semi-auto ban.

* As Governor, he signed into law the infamous Act 17, which registered
and taxed long gun buyers and
placed other restrictions on Keystone
State gun owners.

* As the first director of DHS, Ridge opposed arming commercial airline
pilots in defense of terrorism.

In contrast, former Rep. Pat Toomey stood 100% for the rights of gun
owners.

GOA also sent a letter to every RNC official nationwide, assuring them
that gun owners and sportsmen would not accept an anti-gun candidate
like Tom Ridge.

Well, good news! Tom Ridge "decided," with the help of activism like
yours, to stay out of the 2010 Pennsylvania Senate race.  He withdrew
his name yesterday.

That means Pat Toomey, who has been endorsed by Gun Owners of America
Political Victory Fund, could face Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen
Specter next November.

Specter, you may recall, provided crucial support to confirm gun-hating
Attorney General Eric Holder; was one of two Republicans to vote against
arming commercial airline
pilots; and singlehandedly passed the
so-called economic "stimulus" bill, which contained several provisions
of grave concern to gun owners.


Update on Health Care Gun Ban

Two weeks ago, GOA asked you to urge your Representative and Senators to
vote against the budget resolution conference report.  The vote was a
key battle in the larger war over whether to create a national health
database which would allow BATF to troll your medical records for
information about whether your mental state subjects you to a gun ban.

Well, it looks like we took a couple of small steps forward, even though
the resolution passed the House and the Senate.  The Senate only passed
the resolution by a 53-43 vote, which means that despite the pleas of
the Obama administration -- thanks to your efforts -- all Republicans,
plus Specter, Bayh, Nelson of Nebraska, and Byrd voted against the
conference
report.

This means that, with all senators present, we are only about a half
dozen votes away from defeating the vast, hugely controversial health
package when it comes up for a final vote in September or October.  And,
when the package is unveiled later this summer, we will have a good shot
at picking up the additional votes we need, based on its controversial
details.


****************************

Got Form Letters?

Recently, several legislators such as Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia have
been sending activists interesting form letters whenever those activists
contact them via GOA's Legislative Action Center.  Essentially, the form
letters state that a detailed reply will not be forthcoming because the
e-mail was generated through an "outside third party website," or
include similar sentiments. This has some GOA supporters understandably
concerned that they are being
ignored.

Rest assured, our contacts on Capitol Hill report that GOA-generated
e-mail IS being received and the contents noted by staff of the offices
in question.  If the legislators choose to respond with a nothing-burger
form letter, fine.  They know they have to pay attention to gun owner
concerns when the votes are taken.  So please do not be discouraged if
you receive a less-than-forthcoming response.  Your views are being
heard.

****************************

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