I sent an email to Gun Owners of America about this and here is what they sent me:
There is a lot of confusion out there -- There is no Blair Holt in the House, and HR 45 is not Blair Holt's bill. Blair Holt was a victim of a gang shooting, and thus, the name “Blair Holt” is part of the bill's nickname, so to speak. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL), who is the founder of the Illinois' Black Panthers and a native of Daley’s Chicago, sponsored this bill.
While HR 45 is a very dangerous bill, it is thankfully still in committee and has not been scheduled for a vote. However, if circumstances were to change for the worse -- say, there is another Columbine-type shooting or some other notorious gun incident -- then it will become a substantial threat.
If this happens, then you will see immediate email alerts with suggested action items. Currently, we are spearheading a national drive, providing postcards for GOA members to use so they can blanket House offices with strong opposition to HR 45 -- thus creating the kind of “background noise” necessary to defeat this bill in the long run.
We have further placed Congress on notice by asking each Member to respond, in writing, regarding how they would vote on HR 45 should it ever come up. Congressmen have been told that we will "score" their response or lack thereof in the next round of GOA ratings..
However, we won’t mobilize our email activists until this bill starts moving in the Congress, which is why we have not been issuing Around-The-Clock alerts on this bill like some others have. (In fact, you have probably noticed that there has been other legislation requiring our immediate attention in recent weeks.)
Until we see HR 45 moving -- and we hope we never do -- please see our analysis at:
http://gunowners.org/111anatb.htmHere is an outstanding Link for status, research, etc., on federal bills. It is "Thomas":
http://thomas.loc.gov/The current status of HR 45 from "Thomas is:
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May 7, 2009
H.R.45
Title: To provide for the implementation of a system of licensing for purchasers of certain firearms and for a record of sale system for those firearms, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 2/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
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ALL ACTIONS:
1/6/2009:
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
2/9/2009:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.