Gun Registration, Hunting Lands Condemnation, Confiscation And More
-- Please use the pre-written letters below
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, September 8, 2000
ACTION ITEMS:
1. GIVE YOURSELVES A PAT ON THE BACK
Thousands upon thousands of your emails, faxes and phone calls have
poured into Capitol Hill to protest the language in the DoD bill that
would allow the government to collect (read: confiscate) and destroy
certain privately owned militaria -- anything from jeeps and airplanes,
to M1 Carbines and 1903 Springfields.
GOA has heard from several sources on Capitol Hill that eliminating
the dangers in that provision is a now a high priority, thanks to
the grassroots outpouring. GOA will keep you posted on the final
status of that language.
2. ASK YOUR LEGISLATORS TO FIGHT FOR THE PRO-GUN HOSTETTLER
AMENDMENT
The above-mentioned DoD bill (H.R. 4205) still contains a pro-gun
provision included by Rep. John Hostettler (R-IN), but Democrats are
working hard to kill it.
They are reportedly lobbying the House and Senate members of the
conference committee to drop Hostettler's provision which would keep
the Defense Department from giving any preference to Smith & Wesson
as a reward for its sell-out agreement this past March.
Ask your legislators to do everything they can to make sure this
provision stays in the bill. (PLEASE SEE THE PRE-WRITTEN MESSAGES
BELOW. You can use the Legislative Action Center at http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send the messages to
members of Congress.)
Four conference committee leaders are planning to meet on this bill
next Tuesday. The "Big Four" are Rep. Floyd Spence (R-SC), Rep. Ike
Skelton (D-MO), Sen. John Warner (R-VA) and Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI).
If any of these four men represent you, make sure you call his
office and ask him to keep Hostettler's "no preferences for
Smith & Wesson" amendment. Rep. Skelton and Sen. Levin are
reportedly trying to kill the pro-gun amendment.
You can call these four men at 202-225-3121, or toll-free at
800-648-3516 (note the new number).
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES:
1. CONDEMNATION OF HUNTING LANDS AND GUN RANGES BILL
H.R. 701, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act, is purportedly all
about conservation. But the fine print could really stick it to gun
owners. In short, the bill would:
a. Encourage the governmental condemnation of large amounts of
private property -- particularly property which is being used
for firing ranges and other "politically incorrect" purposes;
and
b. Ultimately reduce the amount of land available for hunting and
sporting purposes by creating large new public tracts eligible
for wilderness designation. (The Clinton-Gore administration
has shown a devotion towards the preservationist -- or "stay
out" -- philosophy, rather than true conservation in public
lands policy.)
H.R. 701 expends $45 billion over fifteen years on a trust fund
which will be applied to pork projects, government land acquisition,
and other purposes. This will be money which cannot be used for tax
cuts, debt reduction, or other salutary purposes -- but which will
be used to seize property currently in private hands.
Citizens in the Western states which have suffered under government
ownership of 80 to 90% of their lands can readily appreciate the
ramifications of this fact.
This bill is currently in a House-Senate conference committee.
Please ask your legislators to consider whether the recent Clinton
administration "land grabs" represent the sort of practice which
should be replicated on a large scale. (PLEASE SEE THE PRE-WRITTEN
MESSAGES BELOW.)
2. GUN OWNER REGISTRATION
The buzz in the grassroots continues over the firearm owners
registration bills that have been introduced. But gun owners should
realize that there are scores of bills which have been introduced in
the Senate and the House which would impose draconian gun control.
Congress can't get to them all.
Two of the most recent bills to threaten the very existence of the
right to keep and bear arms are S. 2525 (national handgun
registration) and S. 2099 (treating handguns like machineguns for
the purpose of federal law).
S. 2099 Treats Handguns Like Machineguns
In the case of S. 2099, all handgun owners -- current and
prospective -- would be required to apply for a federal handgun
license. They would have to submit information about themselves,
together with fingerprints and a gun tax payment. Suffice it to say
that this is a bill which should be resisted vigorously.
Having said that, it is important to note that, contrary to some
reports, S. 2099 cannot become law without being voted on by both
the Senate and the House in some form, either separately or as part
of a larger bill. Furthermore, action on all gun control is
currently being blocked by the successful efforts of GOA's members
to stall consideration of the anti-gun juvenile injustice bill,
H.R. 1501.
Keep The Sewer Of Gun Control Clogged By Staying "On Focus"
Again, it is important to remember that Congress can't get to all
the thousands of bills that have been introduced. If the process of
enacting gun control can be viewed as a sewer, the juvenile
injustice bill (with its trigger locks, young adult training
prohibitions, and gun show closings) is a clog which is currently
blocking that sewer. Both S. 2525 and S. 2099 are floating
somewhere behind that clog.
GOA members should oppose both bills. But, even more importantly,
they should fight to keep the juvenile justice clog from being
passed and thereby removed as an obstacle to other gun control
proposals.
----- Pre-written message -----
Dear Senator:
In May, a very important provision was added to the DoD
authorization bill (H.R. 4205). The amendment, offered by Rep.
John Hostettler, would keep the Defense Department from giving
any preference to Smith & Wesson as a reward for its sell-out
agreement this past March.
As the bill is currently in conference right now, I would hope that
you will urge members of the conference committee to support the
inclusion of this amendment in the final version of the bill.
Senators Warner and Levin are the key Senatorial committee leaders
who could benefit from hearing from you.
On a separate matter, there is another bill in conference right now
-- the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 701) -- which also
poses a tremendous threat to gun owners. H.R. 701 expends $45
billion over fifteen years on a trust fund which will be applied to
pork projects, government land acquisition, and other purposes.
I am concerned that this bill will encourage the governmental
condemnation of large amounts of private property -- particularly
property which is being used for firing ranges and other
"politically incorrect" purposes. Moreover, there is the added
danger that the bill would ultimately reduce the amount of land
available for hunting and sporting purposes by creating large new
public tracts eligible for wilderness designation.
If you should have to vote on H.R. 701, I would hope that you would
keep my Second Amendment interests in mind. I would hate to see
private ranges and hunting lands closed down by bureaucratic thugs
in Washington. Quite simply, I don't think that the recent Clinton
administration "land grabs" represent the sort of practice which
should be replicated on a large scale. Thank you.
Sincerely,
----- Pre-written message -----
Dear Representative:
In May, a very important provision was added to the DoD
authorization bill (H.R. 4205). The amendment, offered by Rep. John
Hostettler, would keep the Defense Department from giving any
preference to Smith & Wesson as a reward for its sell-out agreement
this past March.
As the bill is currently in conference right now, I would hope that
you will urge members of the conference committee to support the
inclusion of this amendment in the final version of the bill.
Representatives Spence and Skelton are the key House committee
leaders who could benefit from hearing from you.
On a separate matter, there is another bill in conference right now
-- the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 701) -- which also
poses a tremendous threat to gun owners. H.R. 701 expends $45
billion over fifteen years on a trust fund which will be applied to
pork projects, government land acquisition, and other purposes.
I am concerned that this bill will encourage the governmental
condemnation of large amounts of private property -- particularly
property which is being used for firing ranges and other
"politically incorrect" purposes. Moreover, there is the added
danger that the bill would ultimately reduce the amount of land
available for hunting and sporting purposes by creating large new
public tracts eligible for wilderness designation.
If you should have to vote on H.R. 701, I would hope that you would
keep my Second Amendment interests in mind. I would hate to see
private ranges and hunting lands closed down by bureaucratic thugs
in Washington. Quite simply, I don't think that the recent Clinton
administration "land grabs" represent the sort of practice which
should be replicated on a large scale. Thank you.
Sincerely,
**************
Are you supporting anti-gun candidates unwittingly?
ATT, Sprint and MCI have a long history of filtering much of their
profits to anti-gun candidates like Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and
Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ).
But when you use Life Line for your long distance telephone service,
GOA gets 10% of every call, you pay less than ATT's standard rates
and you give your business to a very pro-Second Amendment company.
Your patronage also deprives ATT and Sprint of your business, thus
reducing their ability to use their Political Action Committee funds
for the anti-gunners in Congress.
Call Life Line's toll free number 1-800-311-2811 to switch your long
distance service.
**************
Do not reply directly to this message.
To subscribe to free, low-volume GOA alerts, go to http://www.gunowners.org/ean.htm on the web.
What a neat way to oppose hunting without openly attacking hunters.
Slowly cut down on the area your able to hunt on in the name of mother earth.
I think itd benefit the whole group (a different view, more info etc.)
if somone posted the NRA version of this alert.
www.ccops.org
------------------
"those who sacrifice
liberty for security deserve neither"
-- Please use the pre-written letters below
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, September 8, 2000
ACTION ITEMS:
1. GIVE YOURSELVES A PAT ON THE BACK
Thousands upon thousands of your emails, faxes and phone calls have
poured into Capitol Hill to protest the language in the DoD bill that
would allow the government to collect (read: confiscate) and destroy
certain privately owned militaria -- anything from jeeps and airplanes,
to M1 Carbines and 1903 Springfields.
GOA has heard from several sources on Capitol Hill that eliminating
the dangers in that provision is a now a high priority, thanks to
the grassroots outpouring. GOA will keep you posted on the final
status of that language.
2. ASK YOUR LEGISLATORS TO FIGHT FOR THE PRO-GUN HOSTETTLER
AMENDMENT
The above-mentioned DoD bill (H.R. 4205) still contains a pro-gun
provision included by Rep. John Hostettler (R-IN), but Democrats are
working hard to kill it.
They are reportedly lobbying the House and Senate members of the
conference committee to drop Hostettler's provision which would keep
the Defense Department from giving any preference to Smith & Wesson
as a reward for its sell-out agreement this past March.
Ask your legislators to do everything they can to make sure this
provision stays in the bill. (PLEASE SEE THE PRE-WRITTEN MESSAGES
BELOW. You can use the Legislative Action Center at http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send the messages to
members of Congress.)
Four conference committee leaders are planning to meet on this bill
next Tuesday. The "Big Four" are Rep. Floyd Spence (R-SC), Rep. Ike
Skelton (D-MO), Sen. John Warner (R-VA) and Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI).
If any of these four men represent you, make sure you call his
office and ask him to keep Hostettler's "no preferences for
Smith & Wesson" amendment. Rep. Skelton and Sen. Levin are
reportedly trying to kill the pro-gun amendment.
You can call these four men at 202-225-3121, or toll-free at
800-648-3516 (note the new number).
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES:
1. CONDEMNATION OF HUNTING LANDS AND GUN RANGES BILL
H.R. 701, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act, is purportedly all
about conservation. But the fine print could really stick it to gun
owners. In short, the bill would:
a. Encourage the governmental condemnation of large amounts of
private property -- particularly property which is being used
for firing ranges and other "politically incorrect" purposes;
and
b. Ultimately reduce the amount of land available for hunting and
sporting purposes by creating large new public tracts eligible
for wilderness designation. (The Clinton-Gore administration
has shown a devotion towards the preservationist -- or "stay
out" -- philosophy, rather than true conservation in public
lands policy.)
H.R. 701 expends $45 billion over fifteen years on a trust fund
which will be applied to pork projects, government land acquisition,
and other purposes. This will be money which cannot be used for tax
cuts, debt reduction, or other salutary purposes -- but which will
be used to seize property currently in private hands.
Citizens in the Western states which have suffered under government
ownership of 80 to 90% of their lands can readily appreciate the
ramifications of this fact.
This bill is currently in a House-Senate conference committee.
Please ask your legislators to consider whether the recent Clinton
administration "land grabs" represent the sort of practice which
should be replicated on a large scale. (PLEASE SEE THE PRE-WRITTEN
MESSAGES BELOW.)
2. GUN OWNER REGISTRATION
The buzz in the grassroots continues over the firearm owners
registration bills that have been introduced. But gun owners should
realize that there are scores of bills which have been introduced in
the Senate and the House which would impose draconian gun control.
Congress can't get to them all.
Two of the most recent bills to threaten the very existence of the
right to keep and bear arms are S. 2525 (national handgun
registration) and S. 2099 (treating handguns like machineguns for
the purpose of federal law).
S. 2099 Treats Handguns Like Machineguns
In the case of S. 2099, all handgun owners -- current and
prospective -- would be required to apply for a federal handgun
license. They would have to submit information about themselves,
together with fingerprints and a gun tax payment. Suffice it to say
that this is a bill which should be resisted vigorously.
Having said that, it is important to note that, contrary to some
reports, S. 2099 cannot become law without being voted on by both
the Senate and the House in some form, either separately or as part
of a larger bill. Furthermore, action on all gun control is
currently being blocked by the successful efforts of GOA's members
to stall consideration of the anti-gun juvenile injustice bill,
H.R. 1501.
Keep The Sewer Of Gun Control Clogged By Staying "On Focus"
Again, it is important to remember that Congress can't get to all
the thousands of bills that have been introduced. If the process of
enacting gun control can be viewed as a sewer, the juvenile
injustice bill (with its trigger locks, young adult training
prohibitions, and gun show closings) is a clog which is currently
blocking that sewer. Both S. 2525 and S. 2099 are floating
somewhere behind that clog.
GOA members should oppose both bills. But, even more importantly,
they should fight to keep the juvenile justice clog from being
passed and thereby removed as an obstacle to other gun control
proposals.
----- Pre-written message -----
Dear Senator:
In May, a very important provision was added to the DoD
authorization bill (H.R. 4205). The amendment, offered by Rep.
John Hostettler, would keep the Defense Department from giving
any preference to Smith & Wesson as a reward for its sell-out
agreement this past March.
As the bill is currently in conference right now, I would hope that
you will urge members of the conference committee to support the
inclusion of this amendment in the final version of the bill.
Senators Warner and Levin are the key Senatorial committee leaders
who could benefit from hearing from you.
On a separate matter, there is another bill in conference right now
-- the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 701) -- which also
poses a tremendous threat to gun owners. H.R. 701 expends $45
billion over fifteen years on a trust fund which will be applied to
pork projects, government land acquisition, and other purposes.
I am concerned that this bill will encourage the governmental
condemnation of large amounts of private property -- particularly
property which is being used for firing ranges and other
"politically incorrect" purposes. Moreover, there is the added
danger that the bill would ultimately reduce the amount of land
available for hunting and sporting purposes by creating large new
public tracts eligible for wilderness designation.
If you should have to vote on H.R. 701, I would hope that you would
keep my Second Amendment interests in mind. I would hate to see
private ranges and hunting lands closed down by bureaucratic thugs
in Washington. Quite simply, I don't think that the recent Clinton
administration "land grabs" represent the sort of practice which
should be replicated on a large scale. Thank you.
Sincerely,
----- Pre-written message -----
Dear Representative:
In May, a very important provision was added to the DoD
authorization bill (H.R. 4205). The amendment, offered by Rep. John
Hostettler, would keep the Defense Department from giving any
preference to Smith & Wesson as a reward for its sell-out agreement
this past March.
As the bill is currently in conference right now, I would hope that
you will urge members of the conference committee to support the
inclusion of this amendment in the final version of the bill.
Representatives Spence and Skelton are the key House committee
leaders who could benefit from hearing from you.
On a separate matter, there is another bill in conference right now
-- the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 701) -- which also
poses a tremendous threat to gun owners. H.R. 701 expends $45
billion over fifteen years on a trust fund which will be applied to
pork projects, government land acquisition, and other purposes.
I am concerned that this bill will encourage the governmental
condemnation of large amounts of private property -- particularly
property which is being used for firing ranges and other
"politically incorrect" purposes. Moreover, there is the added
danger that the bill would ultimately reduce the amount of land
available for hunting and sporting purposes by creating large new
public tracts eligible for wilderness designation.
If you should have to vote on H.R. 701, I would hope that you would
keep my Second Amendment interests in mind. I would hate to see
private ranges and hunting lands closed down by bureaucratic thugs
in Washington. Quite simply, I don't think that the recent Clinton
administration "land grabs" represent the sort of practice which
should be replicated on a large scale. Thank you.
Sincerely,
**************
Are you supporting anti-gun candidates unwittingly?
ATT, Sprint and MCI have a long history of filtering much of their
profits to anti-gun candidates like Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and
Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ).
But when you use Life Line for your long distance telephone service,
GOA gets 10% of every call, you pay less than ATT's standard rates
and you give your business to a very pro-Second Amendment company.
Your patronage also deprives ATT and Sprint of your business, thus
reducing their ability to use their Political Action Committee funds
for the anti-gunners in Congress.
Call Life Line's toll free number 1-800-311-2811 to switch your long
distance service.
**************
Do not reply directly to this message.
To subscribe to free, low-volume GOA alerts, go to http://www.gunowners.org/ean.htm on the web.
What a neat way to oppose hunting without openly attacking hunters.
Slowly cut down on the area your able to hunt on in the name of mother earth.
I think itd benefit the whole group (a different view, more info etc.)
if somone posted the NRA version of this alert.
www.ccops.org
------------------
"those who sacrifice
liberty for security deserve neither"