Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2002 11:01:39 -0400 From: Brian G Lowery Subject: Re: [firearms-alert] Georgia: Online Petition to Stop NRA's Endorsement of King Barnes There is no website with this information posted but this is what I have collected thus far and have written the NRA about. 1: Roy Barnes and the vast majority of the Democratic Party of Georgia drew up the worst, most biased, most blatantly prejudicial new Congressional districts ever seen in Georgia. This action alone has cost Second Amendment lovers two very important votes. Saxby Chambliss, a long-time faithful supporter of the Second Amendment got cut completely out of a district and is now having to run against Leftist Liberal Max Cleland and the well financed Democratic Party of Georgia to retain a seat of any kind in Washington. Also, Bob Barr is being forced to run against John Linder, both are very faithful supporters of the Second Amendment and one of those men will lose a seat. So, Roy Barnes' extreme partisanship has cost freedom-loving Americans at LEAST two pro-gun votes right there. With the control of the House hinging on 6 seats, Roy Barnes has provided Democrats with a tremendous boost toward attaining that goal. A Democratic House will give the Speaker of the House to the ultra-liberal Dick Gephardt. The House Judiciary committee will be turned over to ultra-liberal and anti-gun, John Conyers. The last time we had a Democratic House, the Brady Bill and Assault Weapons Ban passed. Although, Mr. Barnes is allegedly "pro-gun", the impact of his redistricting actions goes far beyond the borders of Georgia. They have negative implications for all law-abiding gun owners throughout America. On this issue alone, the NRA should not endorse Roy Barnes. Now you may say this is a party issue not a gun issue but when the man allows his extreme partisanship to get in the way of what's best for the state, the country and Second Amendment supporters everywhere then it is a gun issue. 2: Roy Barnes has turned against his constituents and supporters before in other issues that he pledged not to do in all his campaign speeches. He supported the politically correct crowd of big business and PAC's over the will of the people on MORE THAN ONE issue already. What is to stop him from doing it again with ANY other issue, including the Second Amendment? 3: Roy Barnes will be a lame duck if he is elected to another term. With his past record of extreme partisanship and politically correct tendencies he will be even more dangerous as a lame duck. (a.) If George Bush will go against us and pass one of the most Socialistic violations of freedom of speech ever seen in American history (finance reform bill) knowing full well that we, the NRA, are the biggest reason he is President today; then Roy Barnes who has already shown himself to be untrustworthy and willing to do anything for money from the politically correct crowd certainly will sell us down the river. 4: Roy Barnes endorsed Bill Campbell for Mayor of Atlanta and Bill Campbell endorsed Roy Barnes. Then Bill Campbell files a frivolous lawsuit at gun manufacturers on behalf of the city of Atlanta. 5: Roy Barnes pushed through SB385, a horrible piece of legislation that would give him dictatorship-style control, even over the sale of firearms and ammunition to law-abiding citizens in the event of an "emergency" where "emergency" is not clearly and specifically defined. Even if there was such an emergency why would you want to deny your law-abiding citizens the tools for which to defend themselves and families? This is clearly back-door anti-gun legislation and it stinks! 6: The other candidates running for Governor of Georgia are also very pro-gun. Therefore, it is my opinion and the opinion of every other NRA member from Georgia that I have spoken to that the NRA should make NO official endorsement in the gubernatorial race in Georgia. That is all we ask. We do not ask that the NRA come out against Barnes, only that the NRA does not come out in official support of him. A letter grade for each candidate running based on his or her personal views on the Second Amendment issue would suffice. Brian