<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Friends:
The Illinois State Rifle Association is one of the best in the country. They've posted a full text of the agreement as
well as a well-reasoned warning at http://ww.isra.org.
The bottom line is that the S&W dealers will have to keep records on YOU if you purchase any firearm from them.
We believe that S&W has made a serious business and political error. This agreement ties them hand and foot, but
in no way will resolve their problems. Kindly review the continued pressures against the tobacco industry since their
agreements.
Additionally, it appears that S&W opens themselves to suits from other manufacturers related to restraint of trade in
forcing their dealers to drop other products.
We don't envy S&W's circumstances but, again, think that they've made a serious mistake here. We suspect that
their overseas ownership has little appreciation of the Constitutional and emotional issues on this side of the
Atlantic, and that that confusion influenced the decision.
The agreement is mostly unworkable, but we're looking at the it to see what sections make sense from a safety or
common-sense security standpoint.
ArmaLite considers the RKBA issue essential to the primacy of the American citizenry over the government. We will
take no action that limits the right of honorable Americans to keep and bear arms.
In the end, this whole situation clearly confirms that WE MUST STRONGLY SUPPORT REPRESENTATIVES THAT
SUPPORT THIS ESSENTIAL RIGHT.
If you are not actively gathering funds, friends (i.e. votes) and other support for our position in the 2000 elections,
you're making a serious mistake. We don't need angry posts to AR-15.com or ArmaLite.com... we need VOTES.
Please help.
Mark Westrom
President, ArmaLite[/quote]
The Illinois State Rifle Association is one of the best in the country. They've posted a full text of the agreement as
well as a well-reasoned warning at http://ww.isra.org.
The bottom line is that the S&W dealers will have to keep records on YOU if you purchase any firearm from them.
We believe that S&W has made a serious business and political error. This agreement ties them hand and foot, but
in no way will resolve their problems. Kindly review the continued pressures against the tobacco industry since their
agreements.
Additionally, it appears that S&W opens themselves to suits from other manufacturers related to restraint of trade in
forcing their dealers to drop other products.
We don't envy S&W's circumstances but, again, think that they've made a serious mistake here. We suspect that
their overseas ownership has little appreciation of the Constitutional and emotional issues on this side of the
Atlantic, and that that confusion influenced the decision.
The agreement is mostly unworkable, but we're looking at the it to see what sections make sense from a safety or
common-sense security standpoint.
ArmaLite considers the RKBA issue essential to the primacy of the American citizenry over the government. We will
take no action that limits the right of honorable Americans to keep and bear arms.
In the end, this whole situation clearly confirms that WE MUST STRONGLY SUPPORT REPRESENTATIVES THAT
SUPPORT THIS ESSENTIAL RIGHT.
If you are not actively gathering funds, friends (i.e. votes) and other support for our position in the 2000 elections,
you're making a serious mistake. We don't need angry posts to AR-15.com or ArmaLite.com... we need VOTES.
Please help.
Mark Westrom
President, ArmaLite[/quote]