Date: Tue, 9 May 1995 00:42:44 -0400 From: alerts@gatekeeper.nra.org (NRA Alerts) To: firearms-alert@shell.portal.com Subject: FAXALERT: NRA Not to Blame (95-05-05) NRA-ILA FAX NETWORK 11250 Waples Mill Road * Fairfax, VA 22030 Vol. 2, No. 20Phone: 1-800-392-8683 * Fax: 703-267-3918 5/5/95 NRA NOT TO BLAME After two weeks of hate-mongering, scape-goating and standard- stock NRA-bashing, Janet Reno finally puts the word out. On May 4, UPI reported that the attorney general went out of her way to refute reports that the National Rifle Association was in any way a target of the bombing investigation. "So far as I know, I know of no links between the NRA and what happened in Oklahoma City," Reno said. "And I think it is important that nobody jump to conclusions, and that nobody link anybody to something unless there is solid evidence to support it." Time for Action, not Silence. On "Meet the Press" April 30, Janet Reno said she'd examine specific cases of abuse if brought to her attention. When? After Waco in April 1993, NRA called on President to "consider appointing an independent special prosecutor." No response. In January 1994, with ACLU and other groups, NRA called for a national commission to study the abuse cases, establish the truth and fix the problem. No response. In January 1995, the same group issued the call again. Save for a single meeting with a Justice Department staffer, no action has been taken. DCM UNDER FIRE -- AGAIN: Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) have introduced S. 757, legislation to end the federally funded Civilian Marksmanship Program. In discussing the bill, Sen. Lautenberg assailed the program, noting that federal tax dollars should not be "used to train people who pose a threat to law-abiding citizens." We'll keep you posted! A LOOK AT THE STATES: Colorado: Although a House-Senate conference committee reported out HB 1084, right to carry reform legislation, the Senate narrowly voted down the conference report, killing the bill for the year. We'll work to ensure passage of right to carry reform next session! Members: please call your State Senators and thank them if they supported the conference report or express your disappointment if they opposed it. Florida: Victory For Gun Owners! SB 1582, a right to carry bill, which reduces fees on initial and renewal licenses and removes the fingerprint requirement for license renewals, passed the legislature and is on its way to the Governor! Also, the legislature is expected to adjourn this evening without having passed any anti-gun measures for the session. Illinois: SB 1129, right to carry legislation, was narrowly defeated by the Senate. Members: please contact your State Senators and thank them if they supported this bill or express your disappointment if they opposed it. We'll look to pass this important reform next year. In the meantime, work continues in the Senate on state firearms preemption legislation, which has already passed the House. We'll keep you posted! Missouri: The House approved a substitute to SB 176, the right to carry bill, which did not contain any referendum requirement. The bill now goes back to the Senate, which must agree to the House amendments. Members: please contact your State Senators at (314) 751-2000 and urge them to support SB 176 as amended by the House. North Carolina: The House overwhelmingly passed HB 90, NRA- supported right to carry legislation. The bill will likely be referred to the Senate Judiciary I Committee. Members: please call your State Senators and urge them to support HB 90 and SB 356 -- the Senate version of right to carry, which is also in Senate Judiciary I. Also, the House Judiciary I Committee reported out HB 919, shooting range protection & instant check legislation to replace the Brady Act waiting period and the state's permit to purchase system for handgun buyers. The bill now moves to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration. Members: please call your State Representatives and urge them to support HB 919. Oregon: The Senate Judiciary Committee reported out SB 1096, NRA- supported instant check legislation to replace the state's 15-day waiting period on handgun purchases, with a "do pass" recommendation. The bill now moves to the Joint Ways & Means Committee for consideration. Although thumb prints will still be taken of all prospective purchasers, which is required under current law, an NRA-supported amendment was added to ensure that all thumb prints will remain with dealer, unless the instant records check indicates a reason not to approve a sale. Texas: The House passed SB 60, right to carry legislation, which included amendments calling for an increase in the number of training hours to qualify for a permit and a provision requiring a non-binding referendum on the issue. NRA-ILA and state activists are working with the conferees to remove these provisions from the bill. Virginia: Today, Governor George Allen signed SB 744, your right to carry reform bill. The new law will go into effect July 1, 1995. For more information on its provisions, call NRA-ILA at 1-800-392- 8683. POTTS PROMOTED: Attorney General Janet Reno has made it official -- Larry Potts, who played pivotal roles in both the Waco and Ruby Ridge raids, is now the FBI's number two man. Despite a recent censure of Potts by Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick for his inadequate oversight of the Randy Weaver incident, Ms. Reno approved the promotion, which has the full backing of FBI Director Louis Freeh. Larry Potts will now assume the post of deputy director of the FBI. =+=+= This information is presented as a service to the Internet community by the NRA/ILA. Some useful URLs: http://WWW.NRA.Org, gopher://GOPHER.NRA.Org, wais://WAIS.NRA.Org, ftp://FTP.NRA.Org, mailto:LISTPROC@NRA.Org (Send the word help as the body of a message) Information can also be obtained by connecting directly to the NRA-ILA GUN-TALK BBS at (703) 934-2121. NRA.org is maintained by Mainstream.com mailto:info@mainstream.com