http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGIH9BE0G8C.html
Defense Bill Bars Preferential Treatment for Smith & Wesson
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - Gun-control opponents in Congress have amended a major defense bill to bar the Pentagon from giving preferential treatment to Smith & Wesson, the manufacturer that reached a gun safety agreement with the Clinton administration.
The two-paragraph article in the 474-page bill states that no Pentagon funds may be used to give a preference to a marketer or vendor of firearms or ammunition based on an agreement with the government. The House approved the $310 billion defense authorization bill Thursday.
While Smith & Wesson, the nation's largest pistol-maker, is not mentioned, lawmakers on both sides of the gun issue said it was the clear target.
Rep. John Hostettler, R-Ind., a pro-gun lawmaker who authored the language, "does not want to compromise the lives and safety of our men and women in uniform simply for the sake of a political agreement," said his spokesman, Michael Jahr.
He said Hostettler had heard "rumblings" that the administration was pressuring the Pentagon to reward Smith & Wesson for entering into the gun safety agreement.
"It's clearly aimed at gutting the Smith & Wesson agreement," Marie Carbone, director of congressional relations for Handgun Control, said of Hostettler's proposal.
Hostettler offered the provision as an amendment to the defense bill during a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee last week. It was approved 39-20, with eight Democrats supporting it.
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., a leading gun-control advocate whose husband was shot to death, said in a floor speech Thursday that the Republican leadership had barred her from offering an amendment to strike the Hostettler provision from the bill.
"This is precedent-setting language that would prevent the armed services from getting the best equipment," she said.
The Springfield, Mass., manufacturer on March 17 entered into an agreement with the government under which it promised to install safety locks, demand background checks on gun-show buyers and work on making guns that can be fired only by their owners.
In exchange, the Clinton administration and some states and municipalities have agreed to drop Smith & Wesson from gun lawsuits.
Municipalities participating in a Housing and Urban Development Department gun safety program are being encouraged to purchase Smith & Wesson weapons for their law enforcement agencies.
Hostettler has also written a letter signed by 63 House members urging the chairmen of several Appropriations subcommittees to deny funds in next year's budget for a commission to be created to oversee the Smith & Wesson agreement.
The commission, Hostettler wrote, "has the power to implement national gun-control policies that this legislative body has not agreed to and in some cases rejected."
Gun lobbyists are also working to see that similar wording denying special treatment for Smith & Wesson be attached to other fiscal 2001 spending bills. "We want to prevent the government from using taxpayer money to reward a company kowtowing to the Clinton gun control agenda," said John Velleco of Gun Owners of America.
AP-ES-05-19-00 1205EDT
© Copyright 2000 Associated Press.
-- 30 --
You can thank Hostettler at: john.hostettler@mail.house.gov
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The New World Order has a Third Reich odor.
Defense Bill Bars Preferential Treatment for Smith & Wesson
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - Gun-control opponents in Congress have amended a major defense bill to bar the Pentagon from giving preferential treatment to Smith & Wesson, the manufacturer that reached a gun safety agreement with the Clinton administration.
The two-paragraph article in the 474-page bill states that no Pentagon funds may be used to give a preference to a marketer or vendor of firearms or ammunition based on an agreement with the government. The House approved the $310 billion defense authorization bill Thursday.
While Smith & Wesson, the nation's largest pistol-maker, is not mentioned, lawmakers on both sides of the gun issue said it was the clear target.
Rep. John Hostettler, R-Ind., a pro-gun lawmaker who authored the language, "does not want to compromise the lives and safety of our men and women in uniform simply for the sake of a political agreement," said his spokesman, Michael Jahr.
He said Hostettler had heard "rumblings" that the administration was pressuring the Pentagon to reward Smith & Wesson for entering into the gun safety agreement.
"It's clearly aimed at gutting the Smith & Wesson agreement," Marie Carbone, director of congressional relations for Handgun Control, said of Hostettler's proposal.
Hostettler offered the provision as an amendment to the defense bill during a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee last week. It was approved 39-20, with eight Democrats supporting it.
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., a leading gun-control advocate whose husband was shot to death, said in a floor speech Thursday that the Republican leadership had barred her from offering an amendment to strike the Hostettler provision from the bill.
"This is precedent-setting language that would prevent the armed services from getting the best equipment," she said.
The Springfield, Mass., manufacturer on March 17 entered into an agreement with the government under which it promised to install safety locks, demand background checks on gun-show buyers and work on making guns that can be fired only by their owners.
In exchange, the Clinton administration and some states and municipalities have agreed to drop Smith & Wesson from gun lawsuits.
Municipalities participating in a Housing and Urban Development Department gun safety program are being encouraged to purchase Smith & Wesson weapons for their law enforcement agencies.
Hostettler has also written a letter signed by 63 House members urging the chairmen of several Appropriations subcommittees to deny funds in next year's budget for a commission to be created to oversee the Smith & Wesson agreement.
The commission, Hostettler wrote, "has the power to implement national gun-control policies that this legislative body has not agreed to and in some cases rejected."
Gun lobbyists are also working to see that similar wording denying special treatment for Smith & Wesson be attached to other fiscal 2001 spending bills. "We want to prevent the government from using taxpayer money to reward a company kowtowing to the Clinton gun control agenda," said John Velleco of Gun Owners of America.
AP-ES-05-19-00 1205EDT
© Copyright 2000 Associated Press.
-- 30 --
You can thank Hostettler at: john.hostettler@mail.house.gov
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The New World Order has a Third Reich odor.
Is there an effort out there to bring the other issues of this agreement to the sheeples ears, besides the counter-suit?
