Gun Shows Under Attack in Fort Worth--Act Now!!!

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TEXAS GRASSROOTS ALERT

Gun Shows Under Attack in Fort Worth

Dear Concerned Fort Worth Gun Owner:

Your help is needed immediately to derail attempts to end gun shows in the
City of Fort Worth!

On Tuesday, July 11, the Fort Worth City Council's Safety & Community
Development Committee will consider a number of possible restrictions on
gun shows held within city limits -- including a ban on gun shows on city
property or a "Clinton-Gore style" plan requiring criminal records checks
on any firearm sale at a gun show.

No formal ordinances have been drafted, but the topic will definitely be
brought up for discussion. These are the same types of restrictions being
pushed by the Clinton-Gore Team in Washington, D.C., and by gun control
advocates in other cities across the Lone Star State and in the Texas
Legislature.

Our opponents claim that widespread illegal gun sales occur at these shows
-- with absolutely no concrete evidence to back up such statements. Texas
laws that make it a Class A misdemeanor to transfer firearms to violent
felons or juvenile offenders can and should be enforced if even just one
such illegal sale occurs at a gun show. Another law isn't needed to make
an arrest happen!

Banning gun shows in city facilities could effectively eliminate all shows
in Fort Worth. Requiring records checks on all firearm sales -- even
between individuals who are NOT required by federal law to have a dealers'
license and conduct checks -- brings us one step closer to government
regulation of all private transfers, including those between family
members and friends. But this proposal poses an even greater immediate
danger to our rights.

The FBI -- in clear violation of both the 1968 Gun Control Act and the
Brady Act itself -- is maintaining a central database of every gun
purchase that goes through the National Instant Check System (NICS). And
FBI routinely "delays" gun purchases for as many as three business days --
obviously longer than the duration of a weekend gun show. The bottom line:
the City of Fort Worth can't guarantee your name won't be illegally
entered into a federal registry, nor can it command FBI to prioritize
checks at gun shows so sales won't be halted altogether at these events!

Several years ago, the City of Houston passed an ordinance regulating gun
shows on city property -- and taxpayers had to foot the bill when a local
gun show promoter challenged the law in court, won, and was awarded
attorneys fees and lost profits. The court ruled that the
Houston ordinance violated Texas' firearms preemption law, which makes the
state the sole authority for regulation of firearm sales.

We need to send a strong message to the City Council to oppose these
needless, intrusive restrictions aimed at ending gun shows in Fort Worth.
Here's how you can help deliver that strong message:

Attend the City Council committee meeting on Tuesday, July 11, from
1:00-3:00 p.m in the Pre-Council Chambers at City Hall, located at 1000
Throckmorton. There will be a limit on testimony for both sides, so there
is no guarantee that you will be able to speak. But it's critical
that we have a strong showing from concerned gun owners, as the
anti-gunners will surely be there in full-force.

Let Mayor Barr and councilmembers know where you stand on these issues
before the meeting. Even if you do not reside within city limits, you may
attend gun shows in Fort Worth or just want to make sure they can continue
to be held there. Phone numbers and email addresses are included below.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THESE STEPS
TO PROTECT OUR RIGHTS IN FORT WORTH!

Contact Information

Mayor Kenneth Barr
(817) 871-6118
BarrK@ci.fort-worth.tx.us

Fort Worth City Councilmembers

District 2
Jim Lane
(817) 871-8802
District2@ci.fort-worth.tx.ux

District 3
Chuck Silcox
(817) 871-8803
crsilcox@aol.com

District 4
Becky Haskins
(817) 871-8804
District4@ci.fort-worth.tx.us

District 5
Frank Moss
(817) 871-8805
District5@ci.fort-worth.tx.us

District 6
Clyde Picht
(817) 871-8806
cpicht@landslideclyde.com

District 7
Jeff Wentworth
(817) 871-8807
District7@ci.fort-worth.tx.us

District 8
Ralph McCloud
(817) 871-8808
District8@ci.fort-worth.tx.us

District 9
Wendy Davis
(817) 871-8809
District9@ci.fort-worth.tx.us

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You know, I posted a thread about this about 2 weeks ago when it was talked about on WFAA. Not many people said anything. I hope we have some people out there that can fight this thing because if it happens in Ft Worth, it can happen in Dallas.
Also, just as a reminder, don't forget the vote on the Collin County Gun Range issue on July 18, 2000 at 6:30pm at the Mckinney city council. If you don't remember what that was about, it was about the city's plans to make an ordinance that would force the gun range to enclose it's 2 acre range. It would cost him 5 million to get it done. And they want to add some restrictions to the range. Call the Collin County Gun Range, or search on the internet for their website. I don't remember the address.
Let's get out there and fight.
CW

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Amendment II (1791)
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

So many politicians......so little ammunition!!!
 
Response from...

CHUCK SILCOX
Senior Council Member
Chairman - S&CD Committee
Fort Worth City Council
CRSilcox@aol.com

First, let me say I am very happy to hear from you about your thoughts on Gun Show restrictions. You and the many, many others that have sent e-mails to the Mayor and City Council members in Fort Worth need to understand that there are a handful of organizations (such as the Tarrant County Democratic Women's Club and Peace Action Tarrant County, both of whom say they can be contacted though the Fort Worth League of Women's Voters), and a number of individuals in town that have been pressing the City Council for months to ban gun shows from all city facilities. There are also a couple of council members that are leaning in the direction of at least more restrictions, and maybe even a complete ban on guns on city property/facilities.

I believe a majority of the council does not support that feeling. As Chairman of the Safety & Community Development Committee, and a strong supporter of gun rights, I have scheduled a committee meeting on July 11, 2000, at 1:00 PM, in the City Council chambers, Fort Worth City Hall, to allow for public input. Also understand that I have contacted representatives of the TSRA and the NRA , seeking help putting together a proper presentation to support the position that state law does not allow for restrictions and that it would be an inappropriate action to ban gun shows (by banning guns) from city facilities. I believe the thought to restrict/ban is more of a "feel good" knee-jerk reaction, that the real direction is for better education and the enforcement of existing laws. By education, I mean not just on the proper handling of guns, but also on three things I believe is not seen as much these days, i.e., the teaching of Respect, Responsibility and Discipline.

The agenda that I have laid out for the committee meeting, will include (a). an explanation from our City Attorney's office about the provisions of the state law, what we can and can not do, (b). an explanation from our Facilities Manager about what we currently have in our contracts, (c). 30 minutes for each side to present their positions and thoughts, and (d). the remaining amount of time for the committee to discuss/debate the issue among ourselves. This will be open to the public to hear but not be involved in the debate. The time schedule (if we start on time) will be from 1:00 PM, to 3:00 PM, and maybe to 3:30 PM.

I know the "anti" crowd will most likely have a good number there, so I hope by getting word out, that the support side will also be in good attendance. Even though there will only be 30 minutes per side to talk, I believe it is very important that there is a large showing present to support the position to not try to restrict and to not ban.

Again, thanks for your e-mail, and I look forward to a good turn out on July 11, 2000. If you have any questions, please let me know.

CHUCK SILCOX
Chairman
Safety & Community Development Committee



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Do you have a great letter or post that you would like to share with us?
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