NRA-ILA FAX ALERT 11250 Waples Mill Road * Fairfax, VA 22030 Phone: 1-800-392-8683 * Fax: 703-267-3918 * GROOTS@NRA.org Vol. 5, No. 13 4/3/98 BIGGER CLINTON GUN BAN PREMIERS ON MONDAY For the better part of the past five months, the Clinton Administration has been hard at work searching for reasons why countless foreign-made firearms should be permanently banned from importation into the United States. Word is that we'll get our first look at their recommendations on Monday, when their "study" of the suitability of these guns for so-called sporting purposes is scheduled to be released at a White House ceremony. You'll recall that the President ordered this "study" back in November, when, by Executive Order, he suspended all permits for the import of certain semi-automatics. Now, after weeks of stalling, it looks like the President and his anti-Second Amendment cohorts in Congress plan to take full advantage of the Jonesboro tragedy in this latest and most shameless attempt yet to advance their war on America's law-abiding gun owners. We expect the president to permanently prohibit countless foreign-made firearms from American shores, despite the fact that they are all perfectly legal under his own 1994 gun ban. Even more unbelievable, the Administration is expected to cancel the permits already issued to importers to bring shipments of these firearms into the U.S., even on those firearms that are now on American soil but have yet to clear customs. Businessmen who put up their own money, jumped through all the legal hoops, and put up with all the government's red tape to get these perfectly legal guns into the country, will never be able to take possession of them, and will lose their entire investment. This latest stunt is but another of the countless examples of this President's complete disregard for the law and for the rights of American citizens. And it demonstrates once again that no matter what they say, the goal of Bill Clinton and his minions in Congress is a complete and total gun ban. CONGRESS ON BREAK, BUT THREATS STILL PENDING Federal lawmakers have gone home for their Easter district work period, which means that now is an excellent time for you to schedule face to face meetings with your elected officials, and voice your concerns regarding some developing issues. While the citizens of Jonesboro are still mourning the losses to their community, anti-freedom zealots have chosen to exploit this horrible incident to promote their anti-Second Amendment agenda. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Cal.) held a press conference on Tuesday to promote her effort to further restrict certain ammunition feeding devices because of their capacity. It is anticipated that her proposal would call for prohibiting the sale and transfer of "high capacity" magazines that were previously grandfathered by the 1994 Crime Bill. Also, Senators Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and John Chafee (R-R.I.) have called for mandatory "safe storage" laws for your personal firearms. Mandatory "safe storage" might be better named "The Burglar Protection Act of 1998," as it would mean that your personal protection firearms would be useless to you if you ever faced a violent criminal attacker. The only person that would be "safe" would be the criminal. Furthermore, how would such a law be enforced without violating the Fourth Amendment protections against illegal searches of your home? While safety programs like NRA's Eddie Eagle help to prevent firearm accidents, the Durbin/Chaffee proposal could only be enforced after the fact, when tragedy has already struck. Right now, however, no legislation on these proposals has actually been introduced, as these opponents of freedom and personal protection have focused their efforts on grabbing the media spotlight created by Jonesboro. If you meet with your lawmakers, or call them at their district offices, please remind them that the nation needs time to heal from deep wounds caused by the horrific events in Arkansas. Remind them that we do not need half-baked "solutions," or to blame law-abiding gun owners. Urge them to support the Constitution, and oppose all efforts to impose further restrictions on your right to keep and bear arms. FREE SPEECH UPDATE Good news! The U.S. House of Representatives considered numerous Campaign Finance "reforms" this week, but voted to pass two bills that did not contain anything that would adversely affect NRA's ability to communicate with our members. While there is still the possibility that attacks on the First Amendment will be brought up in the future, especially through the discharge petition mentioned last week (Vol. 5, No. 12), it looks like the pressure NRA members put on lawmakers really paid off. A LOOK AT THE STATES CALIFORNIA: Keep up the calls in opposition to AB 23, the bill that would replace the current "assault weapons ban" with one significantly more far-reaching and restrictive. A vote is likely to be taken on Monday, April 13. Please contact your Assembly Members at (916) 445-3614 in opposition. COLORADO: Reminder. Next Tuesday, April 7, your precinct caucuses will be held. To get involved in your local caucuses contact your county political party headquarters or clerk to determine where your precinct caucus will be held. It is important to attend and either get elected as a delegate or support another pro-gun delegate for election. For more information check out our website at www.nra.org. or call NRA's Grassroots Division at 1-800-392-8683. DELAWARE: On Thursday, April 9, the full House is scheduled to vote on SB 185. For more details refer to fax alert Vol. 5, No. 11. Please contact your State Representatives -- Republicans at (302) 739-4176, Democrats at (302) 739-4351 -- and urge them to oppose SB 185 . KANSAS: Any day now the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee is expected to consider HB 2886, the NRA-backed range protection bill. Please call your State Senators at (785) 296-2391 and ask them to support HB 2886. KENTUCKY: Good News! Thank to your efforts, the House concurred on HB 318 earlier this week. HB 318, the right to carry reform bill, exempts legal carry permit holders from the 5-day waiting period for the purchase of a handgun, requires the State Police to put more effort into setting up reciprocal agreements with other states, thus giving Kentucky carry permit holders the ability to carry their firearms across state lines, and requires surrender of licenses upon renewal or change of address only after the new license is available for issue. Additionally, HB 455, Governor Patton's Crime Package, passed without any anti-gun amendments. Both measures now go to Governor Patton (D) for his signature. NEBRASKA: This week, the legislature voted 33-7 to end debate on LB 465, right to carry legislation. That vote was the first time this year that lawmakers invoked cloture, a maneuver that allows debate to be cut off after 8 hours. By attaining the 33 necessary votes to invoke cloture, the Legislature was then able to vote 31 to 11 to advance LB 465 from General File to Select File (the second stage of consideration). With only 5 days left in this year's session, it is unlikely the bill will be advanced to final reading; however, this was a critical vote to win to help pave the way for final passage of right to carry in Nebraska next year. Thanks to all your phone calls, faxes, and letters to Senators we've advanced right to carry further than ever before. To find out how your Senator voted on cloture and advancement of LB 465, call NRA-ILA's Grassroots Division. NEW YORK: A.651-F, a bill that would make it a felony to "improperly" store a firearm in your home or business and require that trigger locks be made available at the point of sale, is awaiting action by the full Assembly. Please call your Assembly members at (518) 455-4100 and urge them to oppose A.651-F. Let them know that criminal penalties already exist for reckless endangerment and/or negligence. =+=+=+=+ 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