NRA-ILA FAX ALERT 11250 Waples Mill Road * Fairfax, VA 22030 Phone: 1-800-392-8683 * Fax: 703-267-3918 * GROOTS@NRA.org Vol. 4, No. 49 12/05/97 SCHEDULE MEETINGS WITH YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS DURING RECESS The U.S. Congress has adjourned until the new year, and that means our elected officials are back at home and are ready to hear from you, their constituents. All NRA members are advised to take this opportunity to schedule meetings with their lawmakers to discuss some items of concern to law-abiding gun owners. The Congress's agenda for 1998 is already being scheduled, and these are the upcoming legislative issues that deserve our attention: The Juvenile Justice Reform Act: S.10 is scheduled to be one of the first items debated once the U.S. Senate returns in February, and every indication tells us that anti-gun Senators plan to attempt to amend this bill with restrictive trigger-lock, gun rationing, and "junk gun" proposals. Urge your Senators to oppose any and all "gun control" amendments to S.10, and if they're added, to oppose S.10 in its entirety. The New Clinton Gun Ban: President Clinton imposed by Executive Directive, a ban on the importation of certain semi- automatic firearms, and has ordered the BATF to examine the arbitrary "sporting purposes" standards currently used to determine a firearm's suitability for importation. NRA believes this administration will use every possible executive power to restrict lawful gun ownership, and consequently, we opposed granting "fast-track" authority for trade agreements. Let your Congressmen know that "fast-track" should be opposed unless the President rescinds his latest import restrictions. Campaign Finance Reform: or shall we say, "Free Speech Reform." Many proposals would restrict NRA's right to communicate important legislative and electoral information to our members. NRA believes such reform is clearly unconstitutional, and we are opposed to any legislation that seeks to restrict "issue advocacy" by organizations such as NRA. Urge your Representative and Senators to NOT co-sponsor or support any campaign reform bills that restrict our First Amendment rights. NORTH CAROLINA RIGHT TO CARRY -- POPULAR AND SAFE When the Tar Heel State's legislature debated the concealed carry issue in 1995, anti-self-defense Senator Leslie Winner (D- Mecklenburg) predicted, "As more people carry guns, more will use them." According to a November 24 Charlotte News and Observer story, critics like Winner have been proven wrong two years later, as statistics throughout the state show decreasing crime rates and safe handling by permit holders. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Dennis Nowicki admitted in the same article, "The concerns that I had -- with more guns on the street, folks may be more apt to square off against one another with weapons -- we haven't experienced that." In fact, the counties with the heaviest per capita concentration of permit holders in the Carolinas are in the suburbs around Charlotte, in some places as high as 11 per every 1,000 adults, and it is those areas that have experienced the most significant drop in crime rates -- more indisputable evidence that states that allow law-abiding citizens to obtain permits to carry concealed firearms are enjoying crime decreases, not increases. EDDIE EAGLE CONTEST FOR KIDS! To commemorate the 10th Anniversary of NRA's award-winning Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program, the Association invites all children grades pre-K through the sixth grade to submit a poster featuring the mascot and Eddie's message of "STOP! Don't Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult." All entrants will receive a special Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Kit, and winners will be awarded in each grade level. Winning entries will be featured at the 1998 NRA Annual Meetings in Philadelphia, Pa., and will also be on display at NRA Headquarters. Posters must be originals, made by the entrant, must be no larger than 24" by 36", and must be mailed by April 1, 1998, to "Eddie Eagle Poster Contest," 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA., 22030-9400. If you have questions, call the Eddie Eagle Department at (800) 231-0752. A LOOK AT THE STATES CALIFORNIA: On Nov. 18, the Assembly Public Safety Committee held a special "right to carry" interim hearing. John Lott of the Univ. of Chicago and Texas State Rep. Suzanna Gratia-Hupp (R) both attended in support. The hearing, coordinated by right to carry sponsor, Assemblyman Rico Oller (R-4), focused on Prof. Lott's study which documented that passage of concealed carry laws leads to a decrease in violent crime. GEORGIA: Attention residents of the 166th State House District: Don't forget to get out and vote on Tuesday, December 9, in the special House runoff election. NRA-PVF has endorsed Richard Tyndall as the pro-gun choice in this race. Turnout is expected to be especially low in this special election, so your vote could really make the difference! TEXAS: Tomorrow, Saturday, December 6, a runoff election will be held for the office of Mayor in the City of Houston. NRA-PVF has endorsed Rob Mosbacher (R) in this race. Rob's opponent in the runoff established a dismal record on crime as New York City Police Commissioner AND as President Clinton's anti-gun drug czar. Mosbacher's opponent also supports restrictions on where CHL holders may lawfully carry -- e.g.: city buses. Be sure to get out and support Rob Mosbacher for Mayor tomorrow! =+=+=+=+ This information is provided as a service of the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action, Fairfax, VA. This and other information on the Second Amendment and the NRA is available at: http://WWW.NRA.Org