GOA: House Narrowly Defeats Pro-gun Hostettler Amendment

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House Narrowly Defeats Pro-gun Hostettler Amendment Once Again
-- Gun battles now shift to the Senate

Gun Owners of America E-Mail/FAX Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408 http://www.gunowners.org


(Friday, July 21, 2000) -- Despite a valiant effort, pro-gun Rep.
John Hostettler fell just a few votes short of putting the brakes on
the Clinton gun control agenda. A switch of six votes would have
made all the difference.


Hostettler "Stop The BATF" Amendment Fails

By a vote of 204-214, the House rejected a Hostettler amendment to
the Treasury-Postal funding bill that would have stopped the BATF
from enforcing the Clinton & Wesson sellout agreement. The
Republican Congressman from Indiana has fought a tireless battle in
the Congress to peel back the restrictions that Clinton unilaterally
imposed upon gun owners this past March.

[Activists can go to http://www.gunowners.org/cgv.htm -- click on
"2000 (106-2)" -- to see how Representatives voted on the Hostettler
amendment. The vote may not go online, however, until sometime this
weekend.]

While yesterday's vote was certainly a disappointment, Hostettler
has won a couple of significant victories in the recent past:

1. Stopping the Defense Department from showing any favoritism to
Smith & Wesson in exchange for their sell out of gun owners; and

2. Keeping HUD from joining the coalition of state and local
governments that are working to sue American gun makers.


Goode "No Preferences" Amendment Survives

On a positive note, the "no preferences" amendment -- which was
added to the Treasury bill by Rep. Virgil Goode (I-VA) in
subcommittee -- survived yesterday's marathon session on the House
floor. Despite rumors that an attempt would be made to strike the
Goode language, no one actually made an effort to repeal it. As a
result, H.R. 4871 now prevents the Treasury Department from showing
any preference toward Smith & Wesson when purchasing firearms for
their agents -- including BATF, Secret Service, etc.


Battleground Now Shifts To The Senate

The office of Senator Bob Smith (R-NH) has told Gun Owners of
America that he plans to offer some pro-gun amendments in the
following weeks. For example, Smith may offer a Hostettler-type
amendment in September when the HUD appropriations bill comes to the
Senate floor. (More on that in upcoming alerts.)

In the near future, Smith wants to amend current law to make sure
the FBI immediately destroys gun owners' records that are compiled
through the instant "registration" check. Thus, Smith could offer
an amendment very soon that, if passed, will change current law to
require the "immediate destruction of all [gun buyer] information."
The vehicle that Smith for that amendment is the
Commerce-Justice-State bill (H.R. 4690) -- a bill that is expected
on the Senate floor next week.

ACTION: Please urge your Senators to support any Smith amendment
(to H.R. 4690) that protects the privacy of American gun owners.
The Smith amendment would require the FBI to immediately destroy gun
owners' records. Remind your Senators that this very same Smith
language passed the Senate with 69 votes in July of 1998.
(Unfortunately, the word "immediately" was subsequently stripped out
in a conference committee.)

Contact your Senators at 202-224-3121 or toll-free at
1-888-449-3511. A pre-written message is included below for your
convenience. E-mail and fax contact information can be found at http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm in the Legislative Action
Center -- you can also send the pre-written message from there.


Of the 214 wrong votes, the list below represents the 50
compromising Republicans who voted against Hostettler and stabbed
gun owners in the back:

Archer (TX) Kuykendall (CA)
Bereuter (NE) LaTourette (OH)
Bilbray (CA) Lazio (NY)
Boehlert (NY) Leach (IA)
Castle (DE) LoBiondo (NJ)
Davis (VA) McCollum (FL)
Diaz-Balart (FL) Miller (FL)
Dunn (WA) Morella (MD)
Foley (FL) Northup (KY)
Fossella (NY) Oxley (OH)
Franks (NJ) Porter (IL)
Frelinghuysen (NJ) Pryce (OH)
Gallegly (CA) Quinn (NY)
Ganske (IA) Ramstad (MN)
Gekas (PA) Rogan (CA)
Gilchrest (MD) Ros-Lehtinen (FL)
Gilman (NY) Roukema (NJ)
Goodling (PA) Saxton (NJ)
Greenwood (PA) Shaw (FL)
Horn (CA) Shays (CT)
Houghton (NY) Smith (NJ)
Hyde (IL) Tancredo (CO)
Isakson (GA) Upton (MI)
Kelly (NY) Walsh (NY)
King (NY) Young (FL)


----- Pre-written message -----

Dear Senator:

The Senate is expected to consider the Commerce-Justice-State bill
very soon. And it is also possible that Sen. Bob Smith of New
Hampshire will try to amend this bill (H.R. 4690) to protect the
privacy of Americans.

I think it is imperative to require the FBI to immediately destroy
gun owners' records that are compiled through the instant
"registration" check.

Thankfully, Smith could offer an amendment that, if passed, will
change current law to require the "immediate destruction of all [gun
buyer] information."

This is the very same Smith language that passed the Senate with 69
votes in July of 1998.

I hope you will stand for the 2nd Amendment and support any
amendment protecting the privacy of gun owners. Thank you.

Sincerely,
 
When is everyone going to realize these politicians are not going to help us merely because they are Republicans. And dubya won't even say he'll do anything for us. Scares the H--- out of me. Then I'm pretty naive to ever think politicians of either party would ever really represent us American citizens. They represent the lobbyest and special interest. What about the RKBA is that not a special interest to freedom loving Americans...guess not as our representatives don't seem to think so. Vote the bums out...bah! Just be some other bum take his place.

Jim
 
Sorry James E, I don't agree with you. I wrote Larry Combest, my representative, and told him about the Hostettler amendment. Not the GOA form letter, but a detailed report of the S&W agreement and how it was an attack on the powers of the legislative branch and how it could be used to affect all aspects of private business and place them under "governmental control". He wrote me back a detailed, four-page letter which wasn't a form document. It was HAND SIGNED. If people don't get off their a$$ and get involved, how do you expect us to win? Did you write a letter? You don't see Combest's name on the list, do you? If your rep isn't doing a good job, vote him out. But don't think that you're some hero if you've never taken the time to explain your feelings on the issues to your reps. If they disagree, vote them out. If you don't communicate with them, then it's not their fault things are bad, it's YOUR FAULT.
 
Yeah, I've sent letters to different branches of government, and to the state I live in which is under Repubican control, I've sent one to McCain in Arizona to help us win against this anti onslaught. So get off my stern on that issure. And I don't give a rats a-- if you don't agree with me...not many people do that are just part of the herd mentality. I don't happen to think Repbublicans are this nation's answer to peace and prosperity...it's not working out very well for them with their slash and burn tactics. You see...the friggen donkey has finally figured out the dirty tricks themselves and they are playing it for all its worth. The Republican party needs some new thinking to get away from the nose up the big business backside and concentrate on the American people for a change. If they did that there would be such an insurgent rush of citizenry support it would make your head swim with awe. It all boils down to selfish self interest and big bizz. Trickle down economics does not make for U.S. prosperity, people need hope and faith in their elected represenatives, the elephant is not backing us up on that measure...then the donkey practically never has. Hey! Talk to the Republicans that didn't support the firearms rights issue, they're the ones making the decisions for us. And I cannot run around the country stumping for gun rights, I'm old and disabled, writing some bitching letters is about the best I can do. Sorry if my pointing out the flaws in human character disturbs peoples sensibilities on party lines but no one in those parties wants to make any changes. Its the same ol thing year after year. Don't like hearing it...don't read it.

Jim
 
Oh...and one other thing...I am voting for Bush and I hope John McCain. Just hope Bush gets impeached and McCain takes over. That's my dream.

Jim
 
Well, James E is right about one thing: Anyone who places their hope in Congress, whatever party you are, is dreaming, and has hit the snooze button so many times the alarm don't even work anymore. Yeah, vote em out. Sure, vote for Lazio over Hillary...I would. But don't think that's getting you anywhere. Most republicans support gun control, just like most dems do. Sad but true. And I ain't no LP; been Republican with a capital R all my life. But I ain't stupid.

I've exchanged many personal greetings, desires, and demands over the years with my conservative republican representatives. It's fun, it makes you feel like something's happening--and don't get me wrong, occasionally it does--but Congress ain't gonna give us a thing.

Voting, calling, writing letters and checks is important, but it ain't gonna get you your protection for your second amendment rights back.

Those who think it will are just appeasing the tiger and don't realize it yet.

But, MCCAIN!!?? He's as anti as the republicans get.

Hell, at least Gore is pretty open about his gun control. McCain still claims to be one of us. I actually think he believes it, too.

------------------
Those who would appease a tiger do so with the hope
that it will eat them last. Winston Churchill

[This message has been edited by Franklin W. Dixon (edited July 23, 2000).]
 
"They tell us, sir, that we are weak-unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a Brithish guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on out backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope....?

It is vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, peace, peace-but there is no peace. The war is actually begun. The next gale that sweeps from the North will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our bretheren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

-Patrick Henry


I believe we are hugging that 'delusive phantom of hope' relying on Congress. We made 'em pay in 94, yet nothing was reversed. gov't NEVER gives rights back once taken.
 
Don't take my post the wrong way, James E. I don't want to offend you. I just don't want to see people assume a nihilistic attitude and believe that being a citizen doesn't work anymore. It does. These people who cry "revolution! revolution!" have given up. Tell me, when the government is overthrown who will be the new leaders? Will we have a Constitution? A bill of rights? Have you seen "The Postman"? I believe a lot of these militia types around here will be happy to start their own Gang of 8 army with no respect for other people's life, property, or liberty. I don't want to see that happen. We must change the government through elections and candidates that are loyal to the people, not the special interests. Please do not get discouraged, and please DO VOTE. We can make a difference.
 
OK, took the for sale sign down, wife wouldn't go to the antartic anyway, and I will be voting...and don't worry I won't be joining any malitia groups. Oh life is so confusing the older I get the worse it gets.
Mind telling who's going to do a nickel worth of good in the upcoming elections, who's not going to lie their crooked a-- off just to get elected then ignore us RKBA folks. When that scenario happens again...all you Republicans will be whistling and looking the other way...don't worry though...I'll be voting for the worthless scuzzes too.

Jim
 
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