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. 4 1/30/98 FIRST AMENDMENT FRAY The much ballyhooed, yet misguided crusade for so-called "campaign finance reform" legislation is once again rearing its ugly head. It's anticipated that as early as next week, the McCain-Feingold bill (S. 25) will be back on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Readers of the NRA-ILA FAX Alert are familiar with our concerns over this legislation. Namely, passage of this bill would severely restrict our ability to communicate critical election information to our membership by cutting off our ability to provide you with your NRA-PVF Political Preference Charts. S.25 is nothing more than an attack on the First Amendment and an attempt to silence voices outside of the political party process! NRA has testified on many occasions against the McCain-Feingold legislation, and we have urged you to make your opposition to this outrageous attack on our Constitutional right to free speech known to your elected representatives. With a vote now appearing imminent, we are once again asking you to contact your U.S. Senators at 202/224-3121, and urge them to oppose S.25 -- the McCain -Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Bill. Tell them that we hold all of the Constitution to be inviolate - including the First AND the Second Amendments! LUNGREN DECIDES GUN CONTROL IS OUT, GUN CONFISCATION IS IN On Wednesday, January 28, 1998, in Rocklin, California, Mr. William Doss presented his SKS Sporter rifle to local law enforcement for confiscation -- a firearm previously and expressly deemed acceptable by California Attorney General Dan Lungren (R). The crisis was brought about when Mr. Lungren initially determined that a firearm popular with shooting enthusiasts was legal under California's Roberti-Roos "Assault Weapons Control Act" -- only to reverse course later and pronounce the guns illegal. In the Spring of 1995, while a resident of Florida, Mr. Doss contacted the California Department of Justice (DOJ) to inquire whether he could bring his rifle with him when he moved to California. In a letter dated April 5, 1995, DOJ wrote him that his rifle was indeed legal and could be brought with him. After becoming a California resident, Mr. Doss received another letter from the DOJ dated November 24, 1997, announcing the policy reversal. Mr. Doss, an Air Force veteran, did the only thing he could do, he surrendered his rifle to local authorities for confiscation. "In California, the dream of the gun ban movement has been realized. California is confiscating guns and threatening law-abiding citizens with prosecution," said NRA-ILA Executive Director Tanya K. Metaksa in a Wednesday press conference. "The anti-gun agenda is on display in California," observed Mrs. Metaksa, "and it is a profoundly radical agenda. We are no longer debating gun control. We are defending NRA members against gun confiscation." Mrs. Metaksa concluded her remarks by pledging NRA-ILA's resources and commitment to Mr. Doss and thousands of Californians like him. SURGEON GENERAL SATCHER? Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) has indicated that next week, the U.S. Senate will take up the nomination of Dr. David Satcher for Surgeon General. As you know, while he headed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a division within the CDC funded numerous, unscientific, anti-gun "studies." As is clear from past FAX Alerts, the potential of Dr. Satcher serving as Surgeon General causes NRA and gun owners across the nation grave concern, and as such, we will keep you posted on any future developments. A LOOK AT THE STATES ALABAMA: On Tuesday, February 3, NRA-backed "Instant Check" legislation, House Bill 32, will be brought to the floor of the House for a vote. HB 32 would establish an instantaneous criminal background check system, thus abolishing Alabama's two- day waiting period for the purchase of firearms. The bill also caps the fee prospective buyers may be charged for performing the check, and includes provisions protecting gun owners from registration. Please contact your State Representatives and urge them to support HB 32! COLORADO: House Bill 1138, which would allow Coloradans to exercise their right to self-defense if an intruder enters their home or if they are threatened with bodily harm, passed the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, January 27. The bill now goes to the full House for a vote. Please contact your State Representatives and urge them to support HB 1138. DELAWARE: Due in large part to a flood of phone calls by NRA members, consideration of Senate Bill 185 was postponed. This bill, which was scheduled for a floor vote in the House, would not only allow a judge or a justice of the peace to strip you of your right to own firearms for petty offenses, but it would allow authorities to search your home and property without probable cause. Action on the bill will not take place until the legislature reconvenes in March. MAINE: Second Amendment scholar and attorney Stephen P. Halbrook will make two free presentations at the University of Maine School of Law in Portland, Maine, on February 4. Presentation times are 12 noon and 7 p.m. The topics will cover the recent "Brady Bill" case of Printz v. U.S., and a variety of issues concerning the right to keep and bear arms. For more information on the presentations, contact Brad MacDonald at (207) 773-1513. MISSOURI: The House Miscellaneous Bills and Resolutions Committee unanimously passed House Concurrent Resolution 10, which promotes and encourages the use of NRA's award-winning Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program in Missouri's schools and communities. OREGON: Good news! Earlier this week, the Josephine County Commissioners met and appointed pro-gun candidate Carl Wilson to fill the vacant seat in House District 49. VIRGINIA: NRA-PVF-endorsed candidate, Dick Black, (R) won last week's firehouse primary in House District 32. The general election will be held on Tuesday, February 3. If you live in House District 32, be sure to head to the polls and cast your ballot for Dick Black. WASHINGTON: U.S. Rep. Jack Metcalf (R-2) is starting his own fax alert for constituents who share his concerns about Second Amendment issues. If you'd like to receive these special updates, please call Lesley Dalton at Rep. Metcalf's Washington, D.C. office at 202/225-2605. =+=+=+=+ 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