NRA-ILA FAX ALERT
Vol. 7, No. 24 6/16/00
SENATOR CRAIG REQUESTS ACCOUNTS OF DEFENSIVE USES OF FIREARMS
U.S. Senator (and NRA Board Member) Larry Craig (R-Id.) recently gave an
impassioned defense of our Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and also called on
law-abiding gun owners who have used their firearms to defend themselves
or their family to send him their accounts. (You will be able to find the
full text of Senator Craig's speech posted on NRAILA.org, under the
section called Research & Information.) Several anti-gun Senators have
recently stood on the Senate floor to read the names of crime victims,
implying that lives could be saved by their anti-gun, anti-personal
protection agenda. Craig responded in part by speaking of the defensive
uses of firearms by law-abiding citizens that take place every day in
America, citing specific examples where firearms in the hands of
responsible gun owners saved lives, as well as referencing the extensive
research that indicates firearms are used as many as 2.5 million times
every year in self-defense. Craig also addressed those who misinterpret
the meaning of the Second Amendment in order to promote "gun control" and
their false claim that the reference to a "well regulated Militia" merely
"means that it is a right of our Government to keep and bear arms."
Senator Craig was quick to point out, however, that "under this standard,
the Bill of Rights would protect only the right of a government to speak,
or the right of a government to criticize itself, if you were taking that
same argument and (applying it to) the First Amendment. In fact, the Bill
of Rights protects the rights of people from being infringed upon by
Government -- not the other way around." He then went on to state that the
"framers of our Constitution wrote the Second Amendment with a greater
purpose. They made the Second Amendment the law of the land because it has
something very particular to say about the rights of every man and every
woman....That is: The first right of every human being (is) the right of
self-defense....Our Founding Fathers wrote the Second Amendment to tell us
that a free state cannot exist if the people are denied the right or the
means to defend themselves." Craig ended his oration with a specific
invitation. "I encourage all listening today, if you have heard of someone
using their Second Amendment rights to prevent a crime, to save a life, to
protect another life, then send us your story," he said. "Send me those
stories from your local newspapers about that law-abiding citizen who used
his constitutional right of self-defense. Send that story to me, Senator
Larry Craig, Washington, DC, 20510, or send it to your own Senator." If
you wish to take Senator Craig up on his invitation, but need to know the
address of your U.S. Senators, you can call the Grassroots Division at
(800) 392-8683, or use the "Write Your Reps" feature at www.NRAILA.org.
U.S. v. EMERSON ORAL ARGUMENTS EARLY REPORT
Early accounts from those who attended this week's oral arguments on U.S.
v. Emerson (see FAX Alert Vol. 7, No. 23) have revealed, with no
uncertainty, how the Clinton-Gore Administration truly views our Right to
Keep and Bear Arms. The attorney representing the government, William
Mateja, reportedly said that the Second Amendment offers law-abiding U.S.
citizens no protections against the government prohibiting them from
owning any firearm. Judge William Garwood, one of three judges on the
panel that heard arguments, asked Mateja if it was the government's
position that it could "take guns away from the public," and "restrict
ownership of rifles, pistols and shotguns from all people," to which
Mateja responded, "Yes." When the full transcripts become available, we
will be sure to report more on this important case.
S&W SELLOUT LEADING TO FINANCIAL TROUBLES?
Smith & Wesson (S&W), the British-owned gun maker that has gained
notoriety as the only gun-maker to cave-in to pressure from reckless
lawsuits filed and promoted by the Clinton-Gore Administration and other
anti-gun extremists (see Special FAX Alert 3/20/00), recently announced
that it would shut down two manufacturing plants for the entire month of
July. According to the 6/13 edition of the Dow Jones Business News, S&W
blames its decision partly on "the reaction of some consumers to the
agreement." Unfortunately, about 500 employees at the two plants will be
affected by the shutdown, as they will be required to take either earned
vacation time or be temporarily laid off. S&W CEO Ed Shultz continues to
stand by his company's sellout to anti-gun extremists, telling the AP,
"The risk of the business is much greater in not settling the lawsuits
than the risk of...letting consumers put us out of business." The rest of
the firearms industry remains unwilling to sign on to the S&W sellout.
ATTEND A FREE GRASSROOTS-ELECTION SEMINAR
The NRA-ILA Grassroots Division has scheduled a number of
Grassroots-Election Seminars throughout the country. These seminars will
provide NRA members with tips and strategies on how they can get involved
in working to elect pro-gun candidates to office. Currently, we have
seminars planned in select cities in Florida and New York, with many
others scheduled for later dates in other states. If you are an NRA member
in either of these states and are interested in finding out if there will
be a seminar near you, please call the Grassroots Division at (800)
392-8683.
A LOOK AT THE STATES
MASSACHUSETTS
HB 3419, introduced by Rep. Ron Gauch (R) of Shrewsbury, was recently
voted out of the Commerce and Labor Committee. This legislation would
further clarify the powers of the Attorney General in the interpretation
of "consumer protection regulations," therefore making it more difficult
for the AG to enact regulations concerning firearms. Call your lawmakers
at (617) 722-2000 and urge them to support this critical legislation.
SOUTH CAROLINA
On June 6, Governor Hodges (D) signed HB 3420, which provides protection
for the firearms industry against reckless lawsuits aimed at bankrupting
them. Thanks to all members who made calls to their lawmakers in support
this critical bill. South Carolina became the 22nd state since 1999 to
enact such a law.
TENNESSEE
The full House overwhelmingly approved legislation requiring businesses
and other entities prohibiting firearms to provide a specific notice
posted in a conspicuous place for all patrons to see. In the past, the
vagueness of the statutory notice provision caused uncertainty for the
state's Right to Carry permit holders. The measure has been sent to
Governor Sundquist (R) for his consideration.
WISCONSIN
The Department of Natural Resources recently approved the creation of a
new dove hunting season to begin in 2001. Understanding the importance of
hunting as a wildlife management tool, the Conservation Congress
overwhelmingly endorsed this measure. Now the State Senate Committee on
Agriculture, Natural Resources & Campaign Finance Reform will hold an
"advisory" hearing on the dove season on Wednesday, June 21. This
Committee will be responsible for formal approval. Please call the members
of the Committee at (608) 266-7745 and urge them to approve the dove
season.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Having difficulty finding ILA-related info?
Try our FAQ Sheet http://www.nraila.org/show.cgi?page=/grassroots/19990813-GeneralInfo-015.html
NRAILA.org is maintained for the NRA by http://www.mainstream.net
Mainstream Electronic Information Services
Homepage established 1994 by the NRA Institute for Legislative Action
11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030
------------------
Need help writing a letter to Congress or whomever?
Do you have a great letter or post that you would like to share with us?
Then stop by the NEW 2nd Amendment Activist's 'Copy & Paste' Forum!!!
Vol. 7, No. 24 6/16/00
SENATOR CRAIG REQUESTS ACCOUNTS OF DEFENSIVE USES OF FIREARMS
U.S. Senator (and NRA Board Member) Larry Craig (R-Id.) recently gave an
impassioned defense of our Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and also called on
law-abiding gun owners who have used their firearms to defend themselves
or their family to send him their accounts. (You will be able to find the
full text of Senator Craig's speech posted on NRAILA.org, under the
section called Research & Information.) Several anti-gun Senators have
recently stood on the Senate floor to read the names of crime victims,
implying that lives could be saved by their anti-gun, anti-personal
protection agenda. Craig responded in part by speaking of the defensive
uses of firearms by law-abiding citizens that take place every day in
America, citing specific examples where firearms in the hands of
responsible gun owners saved lives, as well as referencing the extensive
research that indicates firearms are used as many as 2.5 million times
every year in self-defense. Craig also addressed those who misinterpret
the meaning of the Second Amendment in order to promote "gun control" and
their false claim that the reference to a "well regulated Militia" merely
"means that it is a right of our Government to keep and bear arms."
Senator Craig was quick to point out, however, that "under this standard,
the Bill of Rights would protect only the right of a government to speak,
or the right of a government to criticize itself, if you were taking that
same argument and (applying it to) the First Amendment. In fact, the Bill
of Rights protects the rights of people from being infringed upon by
Government -- not the other way around." He then went on to state that the
"framers of our Constitution wrote the Second Amendment with a greater
purpose. They made the Second Amendment the law of the land because it has
something very particular to say about the rights of every man and every
woman....That is: The first right of every human being (is) the right of
self-defense....Our Founding Fathers wrote the Second Amendment to tell us
that a free state cannot exist if the people are denied the right or the
means to defend themselves." Craig ended his oration with a specific
invitation. "I encourage all listening today, if you have heard of someone
using their Second Amendment rights to prevent a crime, to save a life, to
protect another life, then send us your story," he said. "Send me those
stories from your local newspapers about that law-abiding citizen who used
his constitutional right of self-defense. Send that story to me, Senator
Larry Craig, Washington, DC, 20510, or send it to your own Senator." If
you wish to take Senator Craig up on his invitation, but need to know the
address of your U.S. Senators, you can call the Grassroots Division at
(800) 392-8683, or use the "Write Your Reps" feature at www.NRAILA.org.
U.S. v. EMERSON ORAL ARGUMENTS EARLY REPORT
Early accounts from those who attended this week's oral arguments on U.S.
v. Emerson (see FAX Alert Vol. 7, No. 23) have revealed, with no
uncertainty, how the Clinton-Gore Administration truly views our Right to
Keep and Bear Arms. The attorney representing the government, William
Mateja, reportedly said that the Second Amendment offers law-abiding U.S.
citizens no protections against the government prohibiting them from
owning any firearm. Judge William Garwood, one of three judges on the
panel that heard arguments, asked Mateja if it was the government's
position that it could "take guns away from the public," and "restrict
ownership of rifles, pistols and shotguns from all people," to which
Mateja responded, "Yes." When the full transcripts become available, we
will be sure to report more on this important case.
S&W SELLOUT LEADING TO FINANCIAL TROUBLES?
Smith & Wesson (S&W), the British-owned gun maker that has gained
notoriety as the only gun-maker to cave-in to pressure from reckless
lawsuits filed and promoted by the Clinton-Gore Administration and other
anti-gun extremists (see Special FAX Alert 3/20/00), recently announced
that it would shut down two manufacturing plants for the entire month of
July. According to the 6/13 edition of the Dow Jones Business News, S&W
blames its decision partly on "the reaction of some consumers to the
agreement." Unfortunately, about 500 employees at the two plants will be
affected by the shutdown, as they will be required to take either earned
vacation time or be temporarily laid off. S&W CEO Ed Shultz continues to
stand by his company's sellout to anti-gun extremists, telling the AP,
"The risk of the business is much greater in not settling the lawsuits
than the risk of...letting consumers put us out of business." The rest of
the firearms industry remains unwilling to sign on to the S&W sellout.
ATTEND A FREE GRASSROOTS-ELECTION SEMINAR
The NRA-ILA Grassroots Division has scheduled a number of
Grassroots-Election Seminars throughout the country. These seminars will
provide NRA members with tips and strategies on how they can get involved
in working to elect pro-gun candidates to office. Currently, we have
seminars planned in select cities in Florida and New York, with many
others scheduled for later dates in other states. If you are an NRA member
in either of these states and are interested in finding out if there will
be a seminar near you, please call the Grassroots Division at (800)
392-8683.
A LOOK AT THE STATES
MASSACHUSETTS
HB 3419, introduced by Rep. Ron Gauch (R) of Shrewsbury, was recently
voted out of the Commerce and Labor Committee. This legislation would
further clarify the powers of the Attorney General in the interpretation
of "consumer protection regulations," therefore making it more difficult
for the AG to enact regulations concerning firearms. Call your lawmakers
at (617) 722-2000 and urge them to support this critical legislation.
SOUTH CAROLINA
On June 6, Governor Hodges (D) signed HB 3420, which provides protection
for the firearms industry against reckless lawsuits aimed at bankrupting
them. Thanks to all members who made calls to their lawmakers in support
this critical bill. South Carolina became the 22nd state since 1999 to
enact such a law.
TENNESSEE
The full House overwhelmingly approved legislation requiring businesses
and other entities prohibiting firearms to provide a specific notice
posted in a conspicuous place for all patrons to see. In the past, the
vagueness of the statutory notice provision caused uncertainty for the
state's Right to Carry permit holders. The measure has been sent to
Governor Sundquist (R) for his consideration.
WISCONSIN
The Department of Natural Resources recently approved the creation of a
new dove hunting season to begin in 2001. Understanding the importance of
hunting as a wildlife management tool, the Conservation Congress
overwhelmingly endorsed this measure. Now the State Senate Committee on
Agriculture, Natural Resources & Campaign Finance Reform will hold an
"advisory" hearing on the dove season on Wednesday, June 21. This
Committee will be responsible for formal approval. Please call the members
of the Committee at (608) 266-7745 and urge them to approve the dove
season.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Having difficulty finding ILA-related info?
Try our FAQ Sheet http://www.nraila.org/show.cgi?page=/grassroots/19990813-GeneralInfo-015.html
NRAILA.org is maintained for the NRA by http://www.mainstream.net
Mainstream Electronic Information Services
Homepage established 1994 by the NRA Institute for Legislative Action
11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030
------------------
Need help writing a letter to Congress or whomever?
Do you have a great letter or post that you would like to share with us?
Then stop by the NEW 2nd Amendment Activist's 'Copy & Paste' Forum!!!