Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 23:16:38 -0400 From: NRA Alerts To: firearms-alert@shell.portal.com Subject: UPDATE: HR1488 - Citizens' Protection From Violent Crime Act BOB BARR 7th District, Georgia CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 MEMORANDUM TO: Sponsors and Potential Co-Sponsors of H.R. 1488 FROM: Bob Barr, Chairman, Firearms Legislation Task Force DATE: September 21, 1995 SUBJECT: Important Changes in Title III of H.R. 1488 On April 7 of this year, I introduced on behalf of a number of my colleagues on the Firearms Legislation Task Force, The Citizens' Protection From Violent Crime Act of 1995, H.R. 1488. The purpose of the proposed legislation is threefold: (1) to repeal the 1994 Clinton gun ban on semiautomatic firearms and on large capacity ammunition feeding devices; (2) to strengthen the right to use firearms within one's home in self-defense, and (3) to enhance penalties for those who commit crimes with a firearm. Task Force hearings on H.R. 1488 were held before the Spring recess and the bill is now awaiting action by the Crime Subcommittee of the Committee on the Judiciary. Over the past several months, there have been expressions of concern in some quarters that Title III of the bill would federalize state crimes in contravention of the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution. Although opinions on this issue within the Task Force were split, I have actively sought to address these concerns, raised in good faith, so that this bill, which enjoys broad and deep support in districts throughout the nation, can move forward through Committee and to the House Floor for a vote and final passage. I am pleased to inform you that amendment language has now been developed and agreed to that eliminates any question of federalizing state crimes. By making the penalties provisions of this legislation applicable solely to federal crimes, H.R. 1488 as amended will incorporate a strong and effective anti-crime measure plainly and unequivocally within the purview of federal jurisdiction. We can now put aside our differences on approach and move forward, on a united front, toward the overwhelming desire of the American people to be free of the scourge of violent criminals, to be safe in their homes, and to be secure in their rights under the Second Amendment to the Constitution. Your active support of this legislation at this moment is critical to making this proposed legislation the law of the land. Millions of Americans are counting on us, and I ask for your support in not letting them down. =+=+=+=+ 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.