Date: Sat, 28 Jan 1995 18:57:23 -0500 From: alerts@gatekeeper.nra.org (NRA Alerts) To: firearms-alert@shell.portal.com Subject: UPDATE! Gingrich and NRA Working Together on Gun Issue [This message contains a copy of a FAX from Speaker Gingrich followed by a Press Release from the ILA concerning the new partnership with congress. Craig.] January 28th, 1994 Dear Fellow Supporters of Repealing the Gun Ban: I received this letter by fax late Friday afternoon, January 27th, in response to the meeting between NRA and Republican House Leadership. Mrs. Tanya Metaksa. Newt Gingrich (202) 225-2800 Sixth District Georgia (U.S. SEAL) Office of the Speaker United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 January 27, 1995 Ms. Tanya Metaksa National Rifle Association 11250 Waples Mill Road Fairfax. Virginia 22030 Dear Tanya, There were several articles in the paper regarding discussions that we have been having with the NRA and other fire-arms freedom groups regarding repealing the gun ban and other issues affecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans. Let me say that this is both a discussion among friends but more importantly among like-minded individuals. As long as I am Speaker of this House, no gun control legislation is going to move in committee or on the floor of this House and there will be no further erosion of their rights. What we are going to have is a partnership of strengthening laws against the criminal misuse of firearms, which everyone agrees is the real problem issue, and eliminating harassment of law abiding gun owners who are not the problem. Republicans want to demonstrate the Second Amendment is more about the fundamental rights of the people in a government of and by the people. Our purpose is to remove ill-conceived and unnecessary government interference in those rights. I look forward to working with you. Your friend, (signed) Newt Gingrich [The Press Release...] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For further information, January 27, 1995 call: NRA Public Affairs 703-267-3820 NRA GAINS GROUND AFTER MEETINGS WITH HOUSE LEADERSHIP, KEY DEMOCRATS "A New Second Amendment Partnership" Washington, D.C. -- When President Bill Clinton promised in his State of the Union Address not to allow repeal of his 1994 gun and magazine ban, he was not expecting to prompt a new Second Amendment partnership or a new Second Amendment strategy -- but he prompted both. "There will be a repeal," Mrs. Tanya K. Metaksa assured the President. "We will give Bill Clinton the chance to keep his word," NRA's chief lobbyist continued, "with one critical difference: he will face a massive effort aimed at educating the Congress and the public." In the twenty-four hours following the President's address, meetings were held between officials of the National Rifle Association of America, House leadership and key Democrats. A new Second Amendment partnership was struck and a new pro-gun-rights strategy emerged. "I am pleased to announce a new partnership and a new strategy developed in concert with a former history professor, Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and me, a former high school teacher," said Mrs. Tanya K. Metaksa, NRA chief lobbyist. "Not surprisingly, the primary component of this strategy is education." Mrs. Metaksa said the new partnership will generate the most comprehensive hearings and spark the most profound public debate on guns, crime and freedom in years. "Instead of a lone NRA witness being lost in the last panel of a Congressional hearing and being heard only after the cameras have gone home, our witnesses will be heard early, with the cameras rolling. The entire Congress will hear the truth about the Second Amendment and the uselessness of gun bans. So will America." In correspondence to Mrs. Metaksa today, Speaker Gingrich wrote: "Republicans want to demonstrate the Second Amendment is more about the fundamental rights of the people in a government of and by the people. Our purpose is to remove ill-conceived and unnecessary government interference in those rights." -- nra -- -- 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 the NRA mailing lists. Send the word help as the body of a message to listproc@NRA.org Information can also be obtained by connecting to the NRA-ILA GUN-TALK BBS at (703) 934-2121.