The Burton Blog

Congressman Burton Cosponsors Bill to Protect Hunting and Fishing

In the article by Examiner.com, two bills are introduced by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R- AK) and U.S. Representative Dan Boren (D- OK). Each bill would protect recreational hunting, fishing and shooting on land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service.  Congressman Burton is one of many cosponsors for this bill. More details about the bill are provided here.

Specifically, both bills would ensure that:

• Federal public land managers with the U.S. Forest Service and BLM provide for the use of and access to public lands for hunting, fishing and shooting,  
• An “open until closed” policy is established for the lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the BLM unless public and Congressional notification is given,
•  Land managers are urged to lease land for shooting ranges by having the lessee offer suitable assurances to remediate leased lands at the termination of the lease, thus remedying concerns expressed in the past by the BLM over damage to land used for shooting, 
• Skilled volunteers be used on federal public lands not open to hunting when wildlife management requires the culling of animal populations,
• Congress receives an annual report detailing any closures of land to fishing, hunting, or shooting and the reasons for the closures.

Burton stands strong for gun rights

OneNewsNow has a short story about the recent vote on a new DC gun ban:

HR 6691, introduced by Congressman Travis Childers (D-Mississippi), was meant to repeal the DC gun ban that the Supreme Court's ruled this summer to be unconstitutional. Childers' measure seemed headed for passage when Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democratic delegate representing the District of Columbia, introduced an alternative bill -- the National Capital Security and Safety Act (HR 6842). All but one of the Republican members of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform voted in favor of Norton's bill.

Erich Pratt of Gun Owners of America says it appears that Republicans cannot stick to their principles.

"Thank goodness for Representative Dan Burton (R-Indiana), who was the one lone dissenter, who was willing to stand up and say this is wrong," says Pratt. "[T]he House should be...pushing the good bill -- the Childers bill -- which in essence is going to bring DC into line with what the Supreme Court said back in June. And that is that the gun ban -- the gun control that they have there in the District -- is wildly and grossly unconstitutional."

Pratt says despite the high court ruling, gun-control proponents are intent on placing illegal restrictions on law-abiding citizens who simply want to be able to defend themselves in the District -- one of the most crime-plagued cities in the world.

Gun Owners of America laud Dan Burton

We've covered extensively Dan's positions on guns and the Second Amendment.  We've emailed supporters in the past about Dan's support for repealing the DC gun ban.  You may have read the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the DC gun ban.

Well, it may be back.  The GOA is lauding Dan Burton for standing strong to make sure it doesn't.

As the House Gets Ready to Vote on Repealing the DC Gun Ban
-- Your Representative now needs to hear from you

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

Monday, September 15, 2008

How quickly things can change.

Last week, the early reports indicated that the Childers bill to repeal the
DC gun ban, HR 6691, was going to be a “cake walk” in the House of
Representatives.

But now, DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) has managed to get an
alternative, anti-gun bill onto the floor of the House. Her bill passed out
of committee last week on a whopping 17-1 vote. Every Republican on the
committee—except for Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN)—voted for the Norton bill.

The Norton bill would allow the DC council to continue enacting gun control,
while the Childers bill (HR 6691) would repeal the ban on semi-auto pistols
and rifles in DC, the registration requirements which require residents to
get permission from the city council before they can own a weapon, and the
lock-up-your-safety provision.

Representatives will now have a choice between the two bills—and the fact
that every Republican in the committee, except for one, voted for the Norton
gun control bill is not a good sign.

ACTION: Please urge your Representative to vote IN FAVOR of the Childers
bill (HR 6691) and to vote AGAINST the Norton gun control bill (HR 6842).
You can use the pre-written message below and send it as an e-mail by
visiting the GOA Legislative Action Center at
http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm (where phone and fax numbers are also
available).

----- Pre-written letter -----

Dear Representative:

I am glad to see that the House is taking up HR 6691, a bill introduced by
Mississippi Democrat Travis Childers. His bill would help enforce the
recent Supreme Court decision in U.S. v. Heller by repealing the gun ban in
the District—including the ban on semi-auto pistols and rifles, and the
registration requirements which require residents to get permission from the
city council before they can own a weapon.

The Childers bill will also strike the “trigger lock”
provision which
endangers gun owners by forcing the lucky ones who successfully jump through
the 12-step process to render their guns unusable for immediate defensive
purposes.

However, I strongly oppose the Norton gun control bill which would allow the
District to continue passing gun control legislation. Please vote for HR
6691 and against the Norton compromise (HR 6842). Thank you.

Sincerely,

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

A Hat Tip to Power Line News.

 

Gun owner update: McGoff's gun grabber connections confirmed

A local Indiana blogger has been trying to get the campaign of John McGoff to answer his inquiries about McGoff's connections to a gun control group:  Indiana Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence.  McGoff lists membership in the organization on his website.

From Call me Ahab:

On his bio, Dr. John McGoff claims that he was involved with the Indiana Partnership to Prevent Firearm Violence from 2000-2004; the Partnership currently operates under the name Indiana Partnership to Prevent Violent Injury and Death.  Back in 1999, the Partnership was founded by Indianapolis area doctors, who were “concerned” about the “epidemic” of gun violence.  The initial grant to found the partnership came from none other than our old buddies and funders of anti-gun astroturf nationwide: The Joyce Foundation, to the tune of half a million dollars a year.

In 2003 and 2004, the Indiana Partnership solidified their chops as anti-gun group, first by accusing the firearms industry of not being willing to “help firearms out of the hands of criminals”, and then in 2004 by joining forces with none other than the Brady Campaign to oppose the Indiana House Bill which granted legal immunity to Indiana gun owners if their firearms were stolen and used in a criminal act (this bill did in fact pass - ed).

The Partnership, like many other Joyce funded groups, also has a habit of commissioning “surveys” using questionable sampling techniques to produce meaningless results which they then tout as “popular support” for their proposed restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms.

In 2005, the Partnership changed their name, removing the “Firearm Violence” in favor of “Violent Death and Injury”.  I can speculate lots of reasons as to why that change was made, foremost being that gun control has long been a losing ballgame in Indiana and they might have been tired of getting creamed.  However, it’s pretty clear that their agenda hasn’t changed, as in that same year they received another grant from the Joyce Foundation; this time to cover all their operating expenses for a year.

If you go to the Partnership’s website check out their list of people on the “advisory board”, about 3/4 down the list you’ll find none other than Marian Towne, of Hoosiers Concerned About Gun Violence, which is yet another local anti-gun group.

The Indiana Partnership to Prevent Violent Injury and Death seems to be pretty firmly established as an anti-gun group masquerading as a public health group.  Firearms violence isn’t a public health issue, it’s a law enforcement issue and should be handled as such.  Dr. John McCoff’s involvement with this group brings tremendous questions to light about his actual support for the 2nd Amendment.

There are no questions about Dan Burton’s support for the 2nd Amendment, at least to me.  I was going to vote in the Democratic primary in an effort to torpedo Barack the Hopemonger; however it’s more important to me to support a candidate who is going to represent our right to keep and bear arms in Washington.

If you’re a 5th district voter (and I know I have some that read here), make sure you get out on May 6th and vote for Dan Burton in the Republican primary.  The last thing we need right now with the possibility of a Hillary or Obama presidency is to lose a pro-gun Congressman.  It’s also kind of pleasant that I have been able to find something to vote for in this primary that I actually believe in.

Gun Owners: The Dr. is out

For Gun Owners, the Dr. is out.  Another Indianapolis, IN blogger comments on the 5th district race.

NRAhab has the skinny on Dr. John McGoff, who is attempting to challenge for the GOP nomination in Indiana's 5th District, and his involvement with Joyce Foundation-funded and Brady-affiliated anti-gun organization "Indiana Partnership to Prevent Firearm Violence", which makes him even less of a Republican than John McCain.

Fortunately, 5th District Republicans won't have to hold their nose in this primary like they will in the national race, because McGoff's opponent, Dan Burton, Votes Freedom First.

Blogger compares the candidates on gun rights

A local Indianapolis blogger has a great post up comparing the candidates in the 5th district race.  Dan Burton has been endorsed by the NRA.  John McGoff was a member of the Indiana Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence, a group the NRA calls "anti-gun."

The incumbent, Dan Burton is being challenged in the primary by Dr. John McGoff - Dan Burton has received an “A” rating from NRA, and has an excellent track record of voting for bills which would protect and expand the right to keep and bear arms.

According NRA-ILA, Dr. Goff has/is a member of Indiana Partnership to Prevent Firearm Violence, which is a local anti-gun group with ties to the Brady Campaign. This doesn’t exactly square well with Dr. Goff’s stated position of “protecting” the 2nd Amendment.

NRA has endorsed Dan Burton in the primary, and I agree with that endorsement. I sent a friendly email to the campaign of Dr. Goff asking for clarification on his position on the right to keep and bear arms with respect to his involvement in an anti-gun organization. I’ll keep you posted on any kind of response.

Right now, I encourage residents of the 5th Congressional district who are concerned about their right to keep and bear arms to vote for Rep. Burton on the May 6th primary. I’ll note that if your polling place is the church right off of Brooks School Road, I’ll be there early in the morning to be casting my vote.

Burton receives NRA Endorsement

US Congressman Dan Burton received the NRA endorsement this week.  Although we are very happy about the endorsement, it is no surprise to TBB.  Burton has been endorsed by the NRA multiple times because of his strong record of supporting the rights of gun owners.

A quote from the endorsement:

During your tenure in the House, you consistently supported the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners and sportsmen, demonstrating a strong commitment to the Second Amendment and our hunting heritage.  Based on your solidly pro-gun/pro-hunting voting record in Congress, as well as your responses to our federal candidate questionnaire, you have earned an "A" rating and endorsement from NRA-PVF.  We urge our members and all other gun owners and sportsmen in the fifth congressional district of Indiana to vote for your reelection to the US House of Representatives.

View the endorsement letter via pdf below.

Download burton_endorsement_letter_nra.pdf

Dan Burton sponsors the Secure Access to Firearms Enhancement (SAFE) Act

All gun owners in the 5th district should be re-assured that their rights are being protected by their current Congressman.  Something they can't guarantee from Dan's opponent, who has a history of supporting restrictions on gun ownership.

The SAFE Act protects the right of citizens to carry their firearms into other states by allowing law-abiding citizens who can legally carry in their home state -- even without a permit -- to carry all across the country.  The Gun Owners of America is supporting the bill. 

Current Original Cosponsors include:  McCotter, Sessions, Peterson (PA), Jeff Miller, Marchant, D. Hunter, Westmoreland, Brown-Waite, Cubin, Burton, D. Young, Franks, Hayes, Garrett, Cannon, J. Wilson, Wamp, R. Hall, Hensarling, Deal.

Check out our issue sites

A while back we created three web sites covering a number of issues important to 5th district voters.  Don't hesitate to check them out again.  We've made some slight updates and changes.

In the last few months we've got quite a few comments about the web sites, particularly from those who are pro-life and pro-gun.

Pro-Lifers for Dan Burton (Right to Life Issues)
Gun Owners for Dan Burton (2nd Amendment Issues)
Patriots for Dan Burton (Illegal Immigration and National Defense Issues)

Gun Owners support Dan Burton

Gun owners support Dan Burton because of his clear record supporting their rights.  Check it out.

Gun Owners of America Scorecard

Gun Owners of America (GOA) is a non-profit lobbying organization formed in 1975 to preserve and defend the Second Amendment rights of gun owners.

2006 100%
2005 75%
2004 100%
2003 100%
2002 100%
2001 100%
2000 80%

National Rifle Association (NRA) Scorecard
While widely recognized today as a major political force and as America's foremost defender of Second Amendment rights, the National Rifle Association has, since its inception, been the premier firearms education organization in the world. But our successes would not be possible without the tireless efforts and countless hours of service our nearly three million members have given to champion Second Amendment rights and support NRA programs. As former Clinton spokesman George Stephanopoulos said, "Let me make one small vote for the NRA. They're good citizens. They call their Congressmen. They write. They vote. They contribute. And they get what they want over time."

Based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionnaire sent to all Congressional candidates, the National Rifle Association assigned Representative Burton a grade of A (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F) the past 4 election cycles.

2006 A
2004 A
2002 A
2000 A

Bills Sponsored by Congressman Dan Burton

* Congressman Dan Burton sponsored the District of Columbia Personal Protection Act (HR1399), to restore 2nd Amendment Rights to residents of Washington, DC.
* Congressman Dan Burton sponsored the Second Amendment Protection Act of 2005 (HR3436), to withhold funding from the United Nations if the United Nations abridges the rights provided by the Second Amendment to the Constitution.

Check out our new website celebrating Dan's record of defending our 2nd Amendment rights.