Neal Knox Report - 10 May 2000

May 10 Neal Knox Report -- Late yesterday, Senate Majority
Leader Trent Lott unexpectedly pulled S. 2, the huge education
bill, off the floor, rescheduling it for next week -- perhaps.

That probably eliminates any major votes on "gun control" this
week, for the foreign relations bills now on the floor are so far
removed from domestic gun laws that even the Senate's loose
germaneness rules would probably prevent any gun amendments being
considered.

Lott's office adamantly denied that S.2 was taken off the
table to prevent gun votes -- naturally. Republican leaders
weren't talking about what they planned, even with trusted
staffers.

S. 2 would reauthorize Johnson Administration Great Society
education programs costing billions of dollars, but switch control
of the money from Washington, D.C. to states and local school
boards -- which is why President Clinton has said he would veto it.

The bill was pulled down shortly after a compromise version by
Sen. Joseph Lieberman was stomped, making it most unlikely that
anything will pass that Clinton would sign.

In the wake of school shootings, the education bill is a
magnet for gun amendments, and a lot of Republican Senators
wouldn't lose any sleep if no version of the bill ever became law
-- particularly since they oppose anything like what the Clinton
Administration wants.
---------------------

With the Million Misinformed Moms March coming up Sunday, the
anti-gun crowd is undoubtedly fuming over the best and possibly
only "vehicle bill" being pulled. However, Sen. Dianne Feinstein
is still making noises about forcing a vote Thursday, but I don't
see how.

She will undoubtedly make an impassioned speech about
the bill she announced and described Monday, requiring
registration and licensing of handguns and long guns that will
accept detachable box magazines.

The bill will require that present owners would have to go to
licensed dealers within 10 years to apply for a license, which
would involve a "safety test" as well as a criminal background
check.

At the announcement press conference she was surrounded by
promoters of the Misinformed Moms March, who have been demanding
registration and licensing as part of their package of "common
sense gun laws."

New York Senate candidate Hillary Clinton told newspaper
editors meeting in Manhattan that she supported registration and
licensing, but that it was unrealistic to think it could initially
be applied to all guns.
------------------

On Katie Couric's NBC program Monday, NRA E.V.P. Wayne
LaPierre correctly said that criminals will ignore registration
laws.

But Wayne didn't mention that 32 years ago the U.S. Supreme
Court ruled that because of the Fifth Amendment's protection
against forced self-incrimination, criminals, mental incompetents
and others prohibited from gun ownership cannot be required to
register guns they cannot legally possess. (Haynes v. U.S.)

Wayne was there to talk about NRA's challenge to anti-gun
groups to match a million-dollar effort to train children in gun
safety.

Sarah Brady snorted that NRA's plan to make children safer was
just a publicity stunt, while NRA should be supporting the Million
Mom March.

Did I miss something, or isn't the Million Mom March a
publicity stunt?
-------------------

Attn: Ladies

A woman's opinion page wants to know which of the candidates you
most trust on guns -- at http://www.ivillage.com/election/features/opinioncenter/poll

Right now, Bush is slightly ahead.

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Copyright (c) 2000 Neal Knox Associates. All Rights Reserved.




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Slowpoke Rodrigo...he pack a gon...

I voted for the Neal Knox 13

I'll see you at the TFL End Of Summer Meet!
 
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