Date: Fri, 31 Mar 1995 21:10:18 -0500 From: alerts@gatekeeper.nra.org (NRA Alerts) To: firearms-alert@shell.portal.com Subject: FAXALERT: Historic Hearings Underway in the House NRA-ILA FAX NETWORK 11250 Waples Mill Road * Fairfax, VA 22030 Vol. 2, No. 14 Phone: 1-800-392-8683 * Fax: 703-267-3918 4/31/95 HISTORIC HEARINGS UNDERWAY IN THE HOUSE In front of a packed hearing room with NRA members spilling out into the hallway, the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Crime, Rep. Bill McCollum (R-FL), gavelled to order the first of a series of hearings designed to educate the American public on firearms ownership and the Second Amendment, and to overturn the '94 gun ban. Today's hearing centered on the use of firearms for self-defense, and highlighted just how much the tables have turned in the U.S. Congress. Whereas in the past, if they were allowed to testify at all, pro-gun witnesses would be limited to one or two, today's hearing began by featuring eight men and women who one by one told their compelling stories of how a firearm saved their lives. This testimony flew directly in the face of former Subcommittee Chair Rep. Schumer's (D-NY) opening statement, where he called self-defense a "non-issue." While the specifics of the panelists' stories varied from a Korean shop owner who defended himself during the 1992 Los Angeles riots to a camper who used his Mini-14 with a 30 round magazine to stop his assailants, to a woman who noted that by merely chambering a round in her Colt AR-15 managed to send two intruders fleeing, the underlying theme of each individual's testimony was the same -- their firearm had saved their lives. Later in the day, testimony was heard by two of the nation's most prominent scholars on firearms-related issues, who reiterated the effectiveness of firearms as a deterrent to crime. In addition to the long overdue discussion of the inalienable right to self-defense, new forces in the gun rights movement surfaced: Rep. Steve Schiff (R-NM), Chairman of the House Firearms Legislation Task Force, Rep. Bob Barr (R-GA), Rep. Fred Heineman (R-NC), Rep. Ed Bryant (R-TN), Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH), and Rep. Helen Chenoweth (R-ID), who all spoke eloquently on the right of citizens to defend themselves. Although not a member of the Committee, Rep. Chenoweth received permission from Chairman McCollum to participate in the hearings, where she stated her unequivocal support for law-abiding citizens' right to self-defense and the relevance of the Second Amendment in today's society. Rep. Barr clearly emerged as a pro-gun champion unafraid to take on vocal gun grabbers like Reps. Schumer and Mel Watt (D-NC), when he rebutted Schumer's opening remarks by noting people who choose to own firearms are not "extremists," but rather average law-abiding citizens. Perhaps, Mr. Schumer would be well advised to take a piece of advice offered by Congressman Barr -- "open your eyes!" A LOOK AT THE STATES: California: The Senate Criminal Procedure Committee reported out SB 670 and SB 671, which now go to the Senate Appropriations Committee. On Tuesday, April 4, the Assembly Water, Parks & Wildlife Committee will consider AB 117, a measure placing the issue of mountain lion management on the ballot to allow voters a chance to repeal the ban on mountain lion hunting. Also on Tuesday, the Senate Natural Resources & Wildlife Committee will consider SB 28, a bill requiring the Dept. of Fish & Game to manage the mountain lion population in California to protect residents who live near their habitat. For more information, contact the NRA California Office at 916-446-2455. Colorado: The State House has passed HB 1084 -- NRA-supported right to carry legislation. The bill now moves to the Senate. Members should contact their State Senators and urge them to support HB 1084, and also contact Senate President Tom Norton's office at 303-866-3342 and urge him to refer the bill to a fair committee. Kansas: The Senate defeated HB 2420 -- NRA-backed right to carry legislation. However, we are still working to ensure that the Senate passes this bill, as well as HB 2541 -- the NRA-supported state firearms preemption bill. Members should call their State Senators at 913-296-0111 and urge them to support these bills! In Wichita, elections for Mayor and City Council will be held on Tuesday, April 4. NRA has endorsed Bob Knight for Mayor; Bill Gale for City Council District 4; and Allan Carpenter for City Council District 5. Area members are encouraged to go to the polls and vote for these pro-gun candidates. Massachusetts: On Wednesday, April 5, a pro-gun rally will be held at 10:00 a.m., on the State House steps in Boston, followed by hearings on firearms-related bills in the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committees. Bills to be considered: S.1226 -- a ban on so-called "assault weapons" and gun-rationing scheme; H.2883 -- Gov. Weld's omnibus bill which contains a gun ban; H.3870 -- similar in content to S.1226; and H.1184 -- a right to carry reform bill. Members are encouraged to attend Wednesday's rally and the hearings. Oklahoma: The House Rules Committee approved SB 3 -- NRA-backed right to carry legislation. The full House will vote on this measure next week. Members should call their State Representatives at 405-521-2711 and urge them to support SB 3. South Carolina: A House Judiciary subcommittee reported out HB 3730 -- an NRA-supported right to carry bill -- which will be voted on by the full committee next week. Members should contact their State Representatives and urge them to support HB 3730. Virginia: On Wednesday, April 5, the General Assembly will consider Gov. Allen's amendments to SB 744 -- the right to carry reform bill. His amendments will remove certain anti-gun provisions from the bill. Members should call their State Delegates and Senators and urge them to support Gov. Allen's amendments to strengthen SB 744! =+=+=+=+ 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.