Date: Wed, 12 Apr 1995 02:54:41 -0500
To: fap@world.std.com, firearms-alert@shell.portal.com,
        firearms-politics@cup.hp.com
From: David.T.Wisniewski@cc.gettysburg.edu (David Wisniewski)
Subject: MEDIA: WSJ article says HCI on the defensive!


WSJ, Tuesday, April 11, 1995  A4: "Spurred by GOP victories, NRA
begins Ambitious Attack on Gun-Control Laws."

It opens w/ the fact that the NRA is on the offensive, working
to repeal or restrict both federal and state gun-control laws.
It follows w/ a quote from Sarah Brady, about how HCI is fighting
back, and an observation by the author, "But the gun-control
lobby is on the defensive."

It mentions that various states have passed or have pending
bills to liberalize CCW laws, and has two quotes from Tanya
Metaksa.  The article says that HCI and their cronies are
being outspent and are outnumbered.  "We'll show up with five
or six professionals at these state hearings, and they'll show
up with 500 angry people," Mike Beard, Pres. of the Coalition
to Stop Handgun Violence, says, "It makes a difference."

My favorite piece is the following:

"President Clinton didn't help matters during his State of the
Union address when he said, inaccurately Mr. Beard insists, that
support of gun control cost several members of Congress their
seats.  That strengthens the NRA image as a powerful political
force not to be crossed and further sinks gun-control advocates
into a defensive posture."

"It makes fund raising more difficult," Mr. Beard said.  "It
makes access to elected officals and people who want to be
elected officials more difficult.  A lot of people don't want
to hear from you, period...The people in the middle where these
battles occur are less likely to want to talk to you now, if
they think it's going to effect their chances for re-election."