Date: Sat, 8 Apr 1995 01:45:30 -0400 From: alerts@gatekeeper.nra.org (NRA Alerts) To: firearms-alert@shell.portal.com Subject: FAXALERT: Gun Bean Repeal Bill Introduced in U.S. House (4/7/95) NRA-ILA FAX NETWORK 11250 Waples Mill Road * Fairfax, VA 22030 Vol. 2, No. 15Phone: 1-800-392-8683 * Fax: 703-267-3918 4/7/95 GUN BAN REPEAL BILL -- H.R. 1488 -- INTRODUCED IN U.S. HOUSE Just prior to adjourning for a congressional recess, H.R. 1488 was introduced. H.R. 1488 calls for sweeping pro-gun reforms, including repeal of the gun & magazine ban, a guarantee of the right of law-abiding citizens to secure a firearm for self-defense, increasing the penalties for the criminal misuse of firearms, and a mandate directing U.S. attorneys to step up their prosecution of criminals using firearms in the commission of violent crimes. H.R. 1488 marks the first time in nearly a decade when Congress is seriously considering federal legislation to strengthen the rights of this nation's gun owners. Original co-sponsors of the bill are House Firearms Legislation Task Force members: Reps. Bob Barr (R- GA); Ed Bryant (R-TN); Steve Stockman (R-TX); Helen Chenoweth (R- ID); Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), and pro-gun Democratic Reps. Bill Brewster (D-OK), Billy Tauzin (D-LA), Harold Volkmer (D-MO) and Jim Chapman (D-TX). H.R. 1488 will be referred to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration. Action Alert: Please contact your U.S. Representatives in their district offices and urge them to support HR 1488! SECOND HEARING ON SECOND AMENDMENT: On April 5, the House Subcommittee on Crime held its second hearing on our right to keep and bear arms. Providing testimony were six police officers varying in rank from patrolman to police chief. These officers refuted the often repeated myth that the police support "gun control," and urged Subcommittee members to repeal the Clinton gun ban. The Subcommittee also heard from a host of Second Amendment scholars who spoke to the fact that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to keep and bear arms, and debunked the myth that the Second Amendment pertains only to "militias." A third hearing is scheduled for May 2nd. A LOOK AT THE STATES: Colorado: HB 1084, the NRA-supported right to carry reform bill, passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and will be up for a Senate floor vote on Monday. Members: please call your State Senators on Monday morning and urge them to support HB 1084. Indiana: SB 627, an NRA-backed range protection bill, has passed both the House and Senate and is awaiting Gov. Bayh's signature! Kansas: Wichita election results are in and your votes made the difference! NRA-endorsed mayoral candidate Bob Knight defeated anti-gun Mayor Elma Broadfoot and Bill Gale won in City Council District 4. Maine: The Joint Committee on Natural Resources is expected to vote any day now on LD 96, NRA-backed range protection legislation. Members: please contact your State Representatives and urge them to support LD 96. Michigan: HB 4720, NRA-backed right to carry reform legislation was introduced this week, along with two companion bills, HB 4718 & 4719. Stay tuned for committee hearings and votes on these critical measures! Minnesota: Your votes made the difference as pro-gun candidate Eldon Warkentin won Tuesday's special election in State House District 49B! Missouri: On Tuesday, April 11, the House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on SB 176, a right to carry bill which NRA-ILA and state activists are working to amend to best protect your right to self-defense. Members are encouraged to attend Tuesday's hearing, scheduled for 11:00 a.m., in Room 5 in the basement of the Capitol Building in Jefferson City. Nevada: SB 299, right to carry reform legislation which had been referred to a Senate Judiciary subcommittee for study, could soon come up for hearings. Pro-gun forces are working with the sponsor to make the necessary changes to the bill so that it best protects your right to self-defense. Stay tuned! Special Federal Alert for New York: Pro-gun Rep. Michael Forbes is taking a beating from several area newspapers for his public support for repealing President Clinton's gun ban. Members: please write your local papers and voice support for Rep. Forbes' commitment to our freedoms! Oregon: The House Judiciary Committee reported out HB 2784, an NRA-supported state firearms preemption bill, which now goes to the House floor for consideration. Members: please call your State Representatives and urge them to support HB 2784. Virginia: The Legislature approved 9 of 11 of Governor Allen's amendments to strengthen the state's right to carry reform bill. The Governor is expected to sign this bill, which will become law on July 1! Washington: The Senate Government Operations Committee defeated HB 1115, an NRA-supported range protection bill, yet four critical reform bills (which roll back provisions of last year's omnibus juvenile violence/gun control bill) will be voted on by the Senate next week! The bills include a repeal of the restrictions on open carry (HB 1104); a roll back of numerous restrictions on firearms dealers (HB 1133); a repeal of the requirement that dealers obtain a $125 license to sell ammo (HB 1151); and a reduction of the fee increases for concealed pistol licenses (HB 1152). Members: please call your State Senators and urge them to support these critical reform measures. West Virginia: Elections for Charleston Mayor and the City Council will be held on Monday, April 17. Charleston-area members will receive a list of NRA-endorsed candidates shortly. MAINE COURT OVERTURNS BAN ON GUNS IN PUBLIC HOUSING. The Supreme Judicial Court of Maine struck down a 20-year state ban on guns in public housing projects, asserting that the Portland Housing Authority lacked the authority to regulate the possession of firearms. This is a victory for gun owners and the NRA, who initiated the lawsuit on the grounds that the ban was unconstitutional and a violation of state law! =+=+=+=+ 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 any of the following URL's: 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 may also be obtained by connecting directly to the NRA-ILA GUN-TALK Bulletin Board System at (703) 934-2121.