(Friday, December 14, 2001) -- Senator Bob Smith (R-NH) today
declared victory in his efforts to delete the anti-gun
"demilitarization" provisions from the Defense Department
authorization bill.
Those provisions, contained in section 1062 of the Senate version
(S. 1438), would have allowed the government to seize all military
firearms in private hands for the purpose of demilitarizing them.
"This is a great victory for gun owners, veterans, and those who
care about the Constitution," said Smith.
Larry Pratt, Executive Director of Gun Owners of America, concurred:
"The thousands upon thousands of dedicated grassroots activists
provided the ammunition needed to kill the provision."
Pratt also thanked Senator Smith for his tireless efforts, as well
as other legislators who worked hard to see this provision removed
-- Reps. Bob Stump (R-AZ), John Hostettler (R-IN) and others.
The "demil" provision was originally contained in both the House and
Senate versions of the DoD bill, but was struck from the House bill
early in the legislative process as a result of opposition from
pro-gun forces.
GOA activists continued to lobby long and hard against the
provision, asking the conference committee members to strike the
"demil" language from the bill.
Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) made several attempts to keep the provision
by offering compromise after compromise, but the loud outcry from
grassroots activists strengthened the bargaining position of pro-gun
legislators.
declared victory in his efforts to delete the anti-gun
"demilitarization" provisions from the Defense Department
authorization bill.
Those provisions, contained in section 1062 of the Senate version
(S. 1438), would have allowed the government to seize all military
firearms in private hands for the purpose of demilitarizing them.
"This is a great victory for gun owners, veterans, and those who
care about the Constitution," said Smith.
Larry Pratt, Executive Director of Gun Owners of America, concurred:
"The thousands upon thousands of dedicated grassroots activists
provided the ammunition needed to kill the provision."
Pratt also thanked Senator Smith for his tireless efforts, as well
as other legislators who worked hard to see this provision removed
-- Reps. Bob Stump (R-AZ), John Hostettler (R-IN) and others.
The "demil" provision was originally contained in both the House and
Senate versions of the DoD bill, but was struck from the House bill
early in the legislative process as a result of opposition from
pro-gun forces.
GOA activists continued to lobby long and hard against the
provision, asking the conference committee members to strike the
"demil" language from the bill.
Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) made several attempts to keep the provision
by offering compromise after compromise, but the loud outcry from
grassroots activists strengthened the bargaining position of pro-gun
legislators.
