GOA ACTION NOTICE

[Marlin]

Time To Hit Your Senators One Last Time
-- And "chew" on those squishy Senators who seem too willing to
compromise with Obama

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


"I have many serious questions about Mr. Holder's nomination [and] at
the top of the list are his anti-2nd amendment right positions." -- U.S.
Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)


Thursday, January 29, 2009

It was a disappointing result, to be sure. The Senate Judiciary
Committee passed the nomination of Eric Holder yesterday by a 17-2 vote.

Only Senators Tom Coburn (R-OK) and John Cornyn (R-TX) voted against the
anti-gun nominee for Attorney General.

One of the things that gravely hurt us in committee was Senator Orrin
Hatch's support for Holder. Even though Hatch holds a lukewarm "C"
rating with GOA, he is generally viewed as "pro-gun" on the
Hill. His
support for Holder certainly pulled a lot of Senators with him from his
side of the aisle.

Thankfully, there are some Senators who are lining up against Holder:

* Wyoming Senator John Barrasso (R-WY): "Given Holder's career of
attacks on the Second Amendment, his nomination continues to be of great
concern to me.... Our nation's highest law enforcement officer must be
committed to protecting and defending our individual rights to keep and
bear arms. I intend to vote no on the nomination of Eric Holder."

* Senator David Vitter (R-LA): "[Holder has] clearly advocated near
universal licensing and registration, and he joined and filed an amicus
brief in the District of Columbia v. Heller U.S. Supreme Court case
arguing that the 2nd amendment was NOT an individual right. That's
deeply disturbing."

Unfortunately, there are very few Senators right now who are willing to
stand up to Obama's anti-gun nomination. Another conservative firebrand
who opposes the Holder nomination is Senator James DeMint (R-SC). In
addition to Vitter and Barrasso, DeMint is one of the few voices crying
out in the wilderness of a "country club" Senate.

"Club friendships [have become] more important," DeMint says, than
"where we're going as a country."

Sen. DeMint is simply standing firm on conservative, constitutional
principles. Politico.com noted on Tuesday that DeMint is "less willing
to compromise with Democrats than many in his party."

Translation: A lot of other Republicans would rather compromise than
stand up to Obama, and that spells bad news for our gun rights.

So what can we do?

The Politico article notes an important lesson that DeMint has learned
over the years. He has tried pushing good policy, being persuasive and
being nice. He's tried it all, he says. But finally, he realized that
lawmakers in both parties "only respond to pain."

That's the key... dishing out political pain! And that's why your
grassroots involvement is so critical. It is imperative that we keep
banging on the Senate. Pressure from gun owners has already helped to
slow down the momentum to confirm Eric Holder. But if confirmed, he
will be in a position where he will be able to use the force of
government to discourage or outlaw gun ownership in America.

ACTION: Please contact your two Senators, even if you have done so
already, and strongly urge them to vote AGAINST Eric Holder for Attorney
General. You can use the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at
http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send your Senators a
pre-written e-mail message.

NOTE: The pre-written letter will differ according to whether your
Senator is a Republican or Democrat.

[Nighthawk]

Done

[Ed Wagner]

Mine was just sent

[bcj1755]

I sent emails on this yesterday.

[RunningOnMT]

Done.