NRA Applauds Congressional Leaders for Including Gun Ownership Rights in their "American Values Agenda"

Fairfax, VA-The National Rifle Association is pleased by Tuesday's announcement by House Congressional leaders to include gun ownership rights as part of their 2006 “American Values Agenda”.

“On behalf of our four million NRA members nationwide, we deeply appreciate the House Republican leadership for recognizing the fundamental importance of protecting law-abiding Americans’ Second Amendment rights,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA’s chief lobbyist. “We strongly encourage and endorse these pro-gun bills as part of the their “American Values Agenda.’”

"Family, faith, patriotism and hard work bind us together as Americans. Our laws should reflect those priorities, and House Republicans are committed to the American Values Agenda, policies that stress the core values on which our nation was built," said House Majority Whip Roy Blunt.

House Republican leaders have put together a package of “pro-freedom” bills slated for votes this summer and fall. Two of those measures are H.R. 5092 and H.R. 5013, bills that are also among NRA’s top legislative priorities.

H.R. 5092 is the "Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) Modernization and Reform Act of 2006." This measure would make critical changes in the way BATFE enforces federal firearms laws.  H.R. 5092 was introduced after abuses were exposed in several BATFE oversight hearings by the House Crime Subcommittee held this spring.

HR 5013, the “Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act”, would prohibit the confiscation of legal firearms from law-abiding citizens during national emergencies, barring practices by officials in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The NRA recently passed a similar measure into state law in Alaska, Idaho, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia and Louisiana.

“NRA members and gun owners and sportsmen across the country should contact their congressman, urging them to support these pro-gun bills. No matter what the circumstances, lawful gun owners have the right to possess their firearms in their homes. That’s what this legislation ensures,” concluded Cox.

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Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group.  Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime.  The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military.