|
|
July 22, 2011Gun Owners' Action League. |
|
In This Issue.
- News from the Web
- H.2400 Please Contact Ways & Means!
- Governor Files NICs Legislation
- Buyer Beware! Blog by Jim Wallace
- Congratulations Fin, Fur and Feather
- Land Celebration in Newbury, Public Invited
- Double Barrel Dog Days! Donate and YOU might win
- Special Election Notice
- Upcoming Events
- Women on Target
- The GOAL Foundation 2011 Course Schedule
- Important Please Ensure Your Club is GOAL Affiliated
- Advertising Opportunities in Friday News
- Note for Facebook Users
- Note About Forwarding The Friday News
|
|
News/Editorials and other tidbits from the Web.
| 
|
H.2400 Please Contact Ways & Means!
| |
 7/22/11 Update - More Action Needed, please contact Ways & Means!
H.2400 Youth FID Bill H.2400 An Act Relative to Youth Hunting Programs was filed on GOAL's behalf this year by Representative Anne Gobi. The bill was drafted to do away with the fees for Firearm Identification Cards (FID Card) for anyone under 18 years of age. It also will allow youths to apply at 14 years of age. Current law mandates youth hunters using a gun possess an FID card at age 15, but they cannot apply until they are 15. This often causes young hunters to miss out on a hunting season as they wait for their FID application to be processed. H.2400 would allow them to apply at 14 and then get the card when they reach 15, hopefully saving a lot of time.
The bill was released favorably by the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security and currently resides in the House Committee on Ways and Means.
During the latest budget debates the fee portion of the bill was handled. While it was not completely done away with, it was reduced by 75% to $25. This should help cash strapped families get their young ones in the field enjoying our outdoor heritage.
As a result of the fee issue being more or less handled, GOAL is working with the House Committee on Ways and Means on the remainder of the bill. We are currently requesting the Committee amend the bill by dropping Section 3 (fee section) and allow the bill to move forward so we can expeditiously move the other two sections dealing with the application age.
Anyone wishing to help in GOAL's efforts to move this bill can contact the members of the House Committee on Ways & Means and ask them to amend and release H.2400 with a favorable report.
|
Governor Files NICs Legislation
| |
 Governor Files NICs Legislation
Recently Governor Deval Patrick filed H.3569 "An Act Relative to the Transmission of Firearms Background Check Information". The bill currently sits in the Joint Committee on the Judiciary.According to the Governor, the legislation is necessary for the Commonwealth to comply with the federal NICs Improvement Amendment Act.
H.3569 would create several new reporting requirements of state agencies to the United States Attorney General. These reports include certain mental health information, misdemeanor assault and battery on a family member, information regarding court appointed caretakers, etc.
Focusing more on the mental health issues and commitments regarding alcoholism and substance abuse, the legislation amends the licensing laws. The amendments would remove the portion of the background checks for Firearm Identification Cards and License to Carry by removing the requirement to conduct a check with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. According to the legislation, all such checks would be conducted through the use of the National Instant Check System (NICs) as that information would now be forwarded to it.
Read More on GOAL.org
|
Buyer Beware
|
 Blog by James Wallace / Executive Director Gun Owners' Action League Buyer Beware
Every so often I include in my column a reminder to our members concerning the "Brook Trout" license plate. Quite often I run into people who proudly display the specialty plate on their car or truck. When approached they always tell me that supporting Fish and Wildlife programs is something they are happy to do. Unfortunately, I have to inform them that the money they paid for the special plate does not and never has gone to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Most people always remark back that the plate has the FW right on it. Well, it certainly does, but that is a little bit of a misrepresentation or false advertising if you will.
 Twenty-eight dollars of the plate fee actually goes to something called the Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET). The remaining twelve dollars goes to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The MET website (www.mass.gov/eea/met) describes itself as follows: Read the rest here. |
Congratulations Fin, Fur and Feather!
|
The Fin, Fur and Feather Hotshot Team of Jeff Baudisch, Nate Lundie and Tyler Swanberg of Wellesley, Matt Reinemann of Dover and Bennett Palmer of Medfield represented Massachusetts in the Junior National Shotgun Championship in Sparta, Illinois July 13 -16 . The Hotshots were fresh off their first place finish at Massachusetts Junior Trap team competition on June 11.
The Junior National Championship in Sparta Illinois attracted over 1500 athletes from 42 states. Each athlete shot up to 600 targets of Skeet, Trap and Sporting Clays over a four day period. The Hotshots came in 16 (top third) in their division for team Trap and had strong showings in the other disciplines.
The Hotshots are sponsored by the Fin, Fur and Feather Sportsman Club in Millis MA and are coached by Chuck Swanberg.
(Left to right Matt, Nate, Tyler, Bennett and Jeff)
|
Land Celebration in Newbury, Public Invited!
|
On Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 11 AM, the Fisheries and Wildlife Board, the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) and the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) invites the interested public to a celebration of a recent 24.5 acre parcel addition to Martin Burns Wildlife Management Area (MA) at 191 Scotland Rd in Newbury. Other conservation partners joining the celebration will include the Essex County League of Sportsmen, the Parker River Clean Water Association, the Essex County Greenbelt Association, Newbury Town Officials, sportsmen and women, and other local citizens and conservationists who supported the acquisition of this critical parcel to Martin Burns WMA.
Directions: Take Exit 56 of Rt. I-95. Go east on Scotland Road. The site is adjacent to Rt. 95 and directly across from the State Police Barracks. Parking will be along Scotland Rd where there is a wide pull off.
If you know of anyone interested in attending, please forward this email. If you know you are likely to attend, it would be helpful if you could email me so I can give F and W a number of attendees. Food and refreshments will be served.
This is a wonderful piece of property and a great addition to Martin Burns.
Thanks
Christine Wilkinson
|
|
Double Barrel Dog Days! Donate and YOU Might Win!
| |
|
|
Special Election Notice!
|
 TWO SPECIAL ELECTIONS for House Seats are now scheduled!
The open seats are: - 3rd Berkshire (no candidates yet) primary election 9/20/11, general election 10/18/11
- 12th Bristol (one candidate) primary election 8/23/11, general election 9/20/11
If you live in one of these precincts please pay attention to this page, GOAL will update it with candidate information as they file, and hopefully fill out our questionnaire as to where they stand on the Second Amendment. Please ensure that your voice is heard and that OUR RIGHTS are protected on election day! |
|
Women On Target
| |
The GOAL Foundation presents Women On Target events all over Massachusetts. If you are interested in a great day of fun and education for ladies only please contact us by clicking here!
These events are designed to introduce women ages 16 and beyond to the enjoyment of the shooting sports.
Guests will learn about firearm safety and proper shooting fundamentals in a non-competitive relaxed atmosphere.
Guests will also participate in a seminar on Massachusetts firearms law, and will receive a Massachusetts Basic Firearm Safety certificate allowing them to apply for a Firearms Identification Card or Class "A" or "B" License to Carry Firearms.
You do not need any previous firearms experience to participate in and have a great time at these seminars. Don't miss the fun, sign up today!
Click here to check the schedule
|
The GOAL Foundation 2011 Course Schedule
| 
New classes added at The GOAL Foundation!
Click here for our 2011 Schedule! Open Classes, sign up soon, these will fill up fast! - New First Aid & CPR Classes added with Bill Lewitt!
- Metallic Cartridge Reloading, *NEW ONE DAY CLASS*
email or call Tara @ GOAL to sign up, or for more information.
508-393-5333 x203 |
|
Important Please Ensure Your Club is GOAL Affiliated!
| I s your club affiliated with GOAL? If you don't know check out our listing of GOAL Affiliated Clubs here, if your club is not on the list please have your club officer contact Tara at the GOAL office.
Click here for more information about the benefits of being an affiliated club.
Also, please note! Some of our clubs have let their affiliation lapse. Please check out our Affiliated Club Listing page to see if your club is listed. If your club is not listed, and you think it should be, please have your club president/manager/GOAL rep contact Tara at the GOAL Office 508-393-5333 x203 or tara@goal.org
Sign your members up to get the Friday News Directly from GOAL!
If your club has a club email blast, or a web forum, please use it to encourage your members to sign up for this weekly email, it's simple!
- Have them go to any page on our website www.goal.org
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the "Friday News" image.
- This will open a new page with a box where they input their email address, click enter, and they are done!
If your club has a website, you can link it directly to GOAL and to this e-mail, increase member communication for your club, and increase the broadcast of GOAL's message!
- If your club has a website please contact Mike Sweeney, GOAL's Communications Manager so a link exchange can be set up!
This way they get the news and our action alerts as they are sent.
Thanks! |
Advertising Opportunities in Friday News!
| Do you own a business, or would you like to reach our membership?
We now have advertising and sponsorship opportunities available on this weekly email.
If you would like more information, please contact Mike Sweeney
|
Note for Facebook and Twitter users
|  We are now adding "Like" icons to the bottom of our web pages!
Whether it's a tweet about a competition, sharing a page via e-mail, or sharing a legislative alert on Facebook, these will help you share our information through many various social media outlets quickly and easily!
Check them out at the bottom of most pages on goal.org and on the rest of our family of websites going forward
|
An important note about forwarding this email!
Dear subscribers, it has come to our attention that some of you have become "unsubscribed" from our e-mailings as of late. This is due to the method used when forwarding this e-mail. PLEASE NOTE, if you would like to forward this e-mail, use the "forward" option at the bottom of this page. Forwarding this email as you would any other could cause you to become unsubscribed should any of the recipients choose to "opt out". If you ever do need to subscribe, or if you know anybody that would like to receive this, it is now easier than ever to get on our list, simply go to http://goal.org/joinourlist.html to subscribe |
|
This email is made possible by the membership of GOAL and their generous donations. If you found this email helpful please Join/Support/Donate to GOAL!
Protecting YOUR freedom begins here!
Sincerely,
Mike Sweeney
GOAL Communications Manager
Gun Owners' Action League
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
