From firearms-alert-owner Tue Jan 3 20:08:20 1995 Received: (chan@localhost) by jobe.shell.portal.com (8.6.9/8.6.5) id UAA23363 for firearms-alert-outgoing; Tue, 3 Jan 1995 20:05:18 -0800 Received: from nova.unix.portal.com (nova.unix.portal.com [156.151.1.101]) by jobe.shell.portal.com (8.6.9/8.6.5) with ESMTP id UAA23355 for ; Tue, 3 Jan 1995 20:05:15 -0800 Received: from gatekeeper.nra.org (gatekeeper.NRA.Org [192.156.97.62]) by nova.unix.portal.com (8.6.9/8.6.5) with SMTP id UAA16334 for ; Tue, 3 Jan 1995 20:05:11 -0800 Received: by gatekeeper.nra.org (5.65/DEC-Ultrix/4.3) id AA04679; Tue, 3 Jan 1995 23:05:06 -0500 Date: Tue, 3 Jan 1995 23:05:06 -0500 Message-Id: <9501040405.AA04679@gatekeeper.nra.org> Reply-To: alerts@gatekeeper.nra.org Originator: rkba-alert@nra.org From: alerts@gatekeeper.nra.org (NRA Alerts) To: firearms-alert@shell.portal.com Subject: GRASSROOTS: GRASSFIRE Jan, 1995 X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Comment: NRA Alerts list Sender: firearms-alert-owner@shell.portal.com Precedence: bulk Status: RO NRA GRASSFIRE! The Newsletter for NRA-ILA Volunteers January 1995 Vol. 1 No. 1 NRA GRASSFIRE IS HERE! The NRA-ILA Grassroots Division is pleased to introduce its monthly newsletter for NRA-ILA Volunteers -- NRA Grassfire! The information contained in each issue of NRA Grassfire will keep you abreast of pending and late-breaking legislative and political activities happening in Washington, D.C., and across the country. NRA Grassfire is your link to NRA-ILA and will allow you to learn of new studies, fact sheets, grassroots lobbying strategies or other ILA activities. Materials are available to you without cost. We are hopeful that NRA Grassfire's monthly features highlighting firearms-related activities at the local, state and federal levels, as well as any new developments in the courts, will help you defend our liberties and help us promote a nationwide pro-gun agenda. FORGING AHEAD WITH A PRO-GUN CONGRESS The NRA's top priority for the 104th Congress is to turn our ballot box gains into pro-gun victories, as we work to repeal and reform both the '94 crime bill & the Brady Act. Within the first 100 days of the new Congress, the Republican leadership has vowed to introduce a new crime bill to rectify the numerous shortcomings of Clinton's crime bill, which includes both a gun and magazine ban. As for the Brady Act, we'll work with Congress to speed up the process by which states will be required to be on-line with an instant check system. For sportsmen, we'll push to protect hunters from attacks by "animal rights" extremists, and protect your access to national wildlife refuges. And in the "Long Overdue" category, we'll work with our allies to push for oversight hearings on federal agencies, such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As you know, our tax dollars fund CDC studies, which on almost every occasion promote an anti-gun agenda. As for the BATF, in light of the Waco and Ruby Ridge travesties, hearings would help shed some light on the abuses of power the BATF has been engaged in, and hopefully give us a chance to pull in the reins on this rogue agency. Washington Whispers... Changes on the Hill and in the Clinton Administration apparently will continue long after the November 8th revolution. In the U.S. Congress, notorious anti-gun Senator Paul Simon (D-IL) will not seek re-election in 1996, nor will Senator Hank Brown (R-CO). They're cleaning out the cabinets in the Clinton Administration! First on the "hit-list" was gun-ban advocate Joycelyn Elders who has been discharged as Surgeon General and may be replaced by former U.S. Representative Roy Rowland (D-GA), who retired at the close of the 103rd Congress. Over at the Department of Treasury (which oversees the BATF) Secretary Lloyd Bentsen announced his retirement. The leading candidate to fill this vacancy is Robert Rubin, who currently heads Clinton's National Economic Council. Finally, at the Department of Agriculture, Clinton nominated former U.S. Representative Dan Glickman (D-KS) to replace outgoing Secretary Mike Espy. You'll remember that anti-gun Glickman lost his re-election bid to pro- gun challenger Todd Tiahrt. AROUND THE COUNTRY 1995 will be an important year not only on Capitol Hill, but in state legislatures nationwide as well. With a new wave of pro-gun legislators taking office from California to Maine, NRA will be actively working to pass laws to strengthen our freedoms. Here's what you can expect in the coming year: * Passing reform legislation to allow law-abiding citizens to carry firearms for self-defense. * Passing firearms preemption laws to prevent local governments from enacting their own "gun control" ordinances. Preemption laws guarantee statewide uniformity in gun laws and eliminate a web of local regulations. * Passing range protection laws to ensure that shooting ranges will remain open and will be protected from frivolous court actions and local ordinances aimed at shutting them down. * Pass instant check systems which will exempt prospective handgun purchasers from the Brady Act's five-day waiting period. 1995 could be a banner year for gun owners if we work together to pass laws strengthening our Second Amendment freedoms. And we're counting on you to lead the charge! For more information on activities in your state, please call the Grassroots Division at 1-800-392-8683. FROM THE BENCH A federal court in Louisiana has struck down as unconstitutional the Brady Act's requirement that local law- enforcement officials conduct background checks on prospective handgun buyers. Similar decisions have been handed down in Arizona, Mississippi, Montana and Vermont. However, an opposing decision has been handed down in Texas. Several of these decisions are currently under appeal. In addition to the challenges being filed against the Brady Act, NRA is preparing a legal challenge to the crime bill. Although the final strategy has not yet been determined, we will keep you abreast of any developments. HCI GOES NEGATIVE NATIONALLY! Handgun Control, Inc., (HCI) has kicked off a national media blitz attacking NRA's defense of the Second Amendment. The ads feature HCI's Sarah Brady with former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Warren Burger. Action Alert! HCI's ads level a series of fallacious charges against NRA, claiming we deliberately distort the meaning of the Second Amendment. We need your help to counter these attacks. If you see these ads or other charges being made in the broadcast media, please contact the Grassroots Division at 1-800-392-8683. Let us know what was said, the name of the station airing the broadcast, the time and date it appeared, and if an official NRA representative had the opportunity to respond. We're counting on your help! GRASSROOTS STAFF ON THE ROAD In an effort to reach out and meet NRA members, volunteers and gun owners across the country, NRA-ILA Grassroots staff will be working in the NRA exhibit booth at the sports shows listed below. We will have packets of our fact sheets and other materials available for you, so we hope you'll stop by the booth and introduce yourself! January 13-18 Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati Sport & Boat Show January 20-22 Ft. Washington, PA Greater Philadelphia Sport Show January 19-22 Eugene, OR International Sportsman's Exposition January 25-29 Seattle, WA Seattle Sportsman's Show (1) International Sportsman's Exposition (2) January 27-31 Chicago, IL Chicagoland Sport Fishing Show January 27-29 Syracuse, NY Northeastern Sport Show PLENTY OF "AMMO" ON OUR SHELVES The NRA-ILA Grassroots Division houses a vast selection of valuable materials on all aspects of the "gun control" debate and firearms-related issues -- your legislative and political ammo! This information is a must for all Grassroots Volunteers! For a sampling of these materials (quantities available free-of-charge) contact the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at 1-800-392-8683. JOIN THE NRA-ILA FAX NETWORK! To receive weekly legislative and political updates via FAX machine, call the Grassroots Division and join the NRA-ILA FAX Network. This service is absolutely free! QUOTE OF THE MONTH "When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny." -- Thomas Jefferson. NRA Grassfire NRA-ILA Grassroots Division 11250 Waples Mill Rd., Fairfax, VA 22030 Phone: (800) 392-8683/Fax: (703) 267-3918 -- This information is presented as a service to the Internet community by the NRA/ILA. Many files are available via anonymous ftp from ftp.nra.org, via WWW at http://www.nra.org, via gopher at gopher.nra.org, and via WAIS at wais.nra.org Be sure to subscribe to rkba-alert by sending: subscribe rkba-alert Your Full Name as the body of a message to rkba-alert-request@NRA.org Information can also be obtained by connecting to the NRA-ILA GUN-TALK BBS at (703) 934-2121.