The
PROponent

                   Peoples Rights Organization
5 E. Long St., Suite 412;   Columbus, OH 43215;   (614) 268-0122

Volume 5          June, 1993          Number 6

Anti-gun Program


YOU CANT TELL THE ANTI-GUN BILLS APART WITHOUT A PROGRAM...

BILLS IN THE OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY:

ANTI-GUN BILLS:

HB 99: Registration of all gun buyers; 7 to 37 day waiting period
for ALL "transfers".
Sponsor: Ray Miller Jr. (D-22)

Cosponsors: Boyd, Cain, Campbell, Corbin, Hagan, James, Rankin,
Roberts, Whalen.

     This is the mainline gun control effort this year in Ohio.
While it is disguised as a seven day "waiting period" law, it is in
fact a gun owner registration bill.  The rights denial period and
registration with the police are required for ALL HANDGUN
TRANSACTIONS including those from dealers, gun shows, or even
between family and friends.  (The language of "transfer" means you
can't even GIVE a relative a gun without registration under the
act.)  The law covers all handguns including antiques and
collections of parts from which a handgun can be assembled.
     There are two options: one is to obtain a gun owner license
called an "Ohio Handgun Transferee Identification Card" from the
police who have 30 days to do a background check and up to seven
days after that to approve the transfer [a total of 37 days].  They
are also permitted to charge a "reasonable fee" to cover the
administrative expenses and the background check.  This fee can
presumably be set high enough by the authorities to discriminate
against all Mr. Miller's poor black constituents who wish to have
a firearm for protection but don't wish to deal drugs or can't be
elected to high office to get money to pay their gun ownership tax.

The card is good for two years then you must register and pay
again. (Note, a driver's license is good for 4 years and cars kill
ten times as many people as guns.)
     The other option is to wait 7 days and register yourself for
each handgun.  When you buy (transfer) a handgun an "Ohio Handgun
Transferee form" must be completed. This form must list the name,
address and date of birth of the person getting the gun
cross-referenced to a "valid personal identification card that
contains a photograph of the transferee." [This is kind of
roundabout, why the City of Columbus just comes out and asks your
race on the form]  The buyer (transferee) must consent on the form
to his own investigation.  The seller (transferor) then mails the
form to the police who apparently (in the bill as introduced) can
take as long as they like to "investigate" you.  A minimum wait of
at least 7 days is required before you can receive the gun.
     Law enforcement officers, FFL holders, federally licensed
collectors, or private investigators with A, B, or C licenses, and
all persons with enough money and influence to acquire a handgun
permit from a local municipality are exempt from this law.
     There is no appeals process for wrongful denials and the bill
does not address the liability question for police if they
wrongfully deny or even worse should approve a transfer to someone
who later proves to be a violent criminal.
     WRITE YOUR OHIO STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND GOVERNOR VOINOVICH
AND ASK THEM TO OPPOSE THIS DISCRIMINATORY HB 99.  If you, like me
have the anti-gun Mr. Miller as your elected representative, then
write Governor Voinovich asking him to veto this bill that
illegally cancels your rights under the Ohio Constitution for up to
37 days.  And then send a copy of that letter to Mr. Miller.

HB 278: Ban all but bolt-action rifles and shotguns.
Sponsor: Otto B. Beatty, Jr. (D-21)

     This is the perennial Otto Beatty all but bolt action firearms
ban.  It is basically the same as in previous years and classifies
"any weapon that originally was manufactured for military use, or
a copy  of the firearm if the firearm is not a military handgun or
is not a bolt action firearm" as "dangerous ordnance".  Since
virtually ALL firearms are derived from military firearms this bill
essentially bans all non-bolt action rifles and shotguns.  Needless
to say, since the U.S. Supreme court found in the Miller case that
military firearms are particularly protected by the Second
Amendment this legislation is blatantly unconstitutional.
     All current owners of non-bolt action rifles and shotguns have
seven (7) days from the effective date of the law to apply for a
"license to have and carry", pay $50 in tax and register the
firearm with police.  However, HB 278 states that "No person shall
knowingly use" these non-bolt action firearms.  Hey!  Here's a new
one from the anti-gunners.  Soon all the school history books will
be pointing out that the Constitution gives Americans the right to
"have and carry" arms but that they have no right to fire them.
And that dear children is why possession of even a single round of
ammunition should be a felony!


THE PRO-GUN OHIO BILLS

HB 193: Provide uniformity for gun laws through-out Ohio.
Sponsor: Mark A. Malone (D-94)

     This is the Uniformity Bill that would make all firearm laws
uniform throughout the state.  41 other states already have
pre-emption laws.  It makes sense.  Currently many municipalities
in Ohio are just like "speed traps" for gun owners.  Cities can
enact an amazing multitude of gun laws which can easily be used to
bilk out-of-towners passing through out of huge fines as well as to
confiscate all (not just the banned ones) their firearms. (Think
about "speed traps" and traffic laws are already uniform throughout
the state and mayor's courts have long been ruled
unconstitutional!)
     Honest citizens are getting sick and tired of not only being
victimized by criminals but also becoming victims of dishonest
politicians as well.  This bill will put a stop to these municipal
scams and provide equal protection under the law for all Ohioans.

HB 287: To permit Dove hunting.
Sponsor: Thomas M. Seese (D-48)

     This bill will legalize the hunting of mourning doves.  The
gamebird is hunted in 37 states and all states bordering Ohio
(except Michigan) allow dove hunting.  Already the animal rightsers
have cranked up a campaign stating that these "birds of peace"
should not be hunted.  Note that the "dove of peace" is a white
bird and not these really dumb grunge-colored jobs.  Hunting is
really a much more humane and controlable way to regulate dove
populations than by the poison put out by the city to control
pigeons or by the grill of my car.  While this is not a real
important hunting bill, nevertheless any time the animal "rights"
people restrict hunting, the closer you come to losing your guns
for any purpose.
     Support these pro-gun bills and be ready to support the
sponsors of these bills when called upon by PRO.

FEDERAL BILLS:

JOINT RESOLUTIONS:

H.J.RES. 81: Repeal the Second Amendment.

Sponsor: Rep. Major OWENS (D-N.Y.)

Representative Owens has reintroduced his resolution from last year
calling for a constitutional amendment that would repeal the Second
Amendment.  This resolution represents the true goal of the
anti-gun movement: to eliminate all firearms rights and set the
stage for the federal prohibition of gun ownership in America
(except for those in power).


BILLS CURRENTLY IN U.S. SENATE:

S. 414: Senate version of "Brady Bill"; 7 day rights denial period;
Government officials exempted from responsibility for unlawful
acts.

Sponsor: METZENBAUM (D-OH)
Cosponsors: Dems: 26  Reps: 4; Includes J. Glenn (D-OH)

     This is the senate version of the house "Brady Bill",
originally introduced as H.R. 277 which has now been folded into
rabid anti-gunner Charles Schumer's (D-NY) "new" "Brady Bill" H.R.
1025.  Needless to say, our own legendary Howard Metzenbaum (D-OH)
has introduced the same bill in the senate to speed the overthrow
of the constitution and your rights.
     The bill provides for an unconstitutional 7 day "waiting
period" when your rights can not be exercised.  It mandates an
expensive but unfunded "background check" to provide for giving the
government the names of all gun buyers.  Finally the bill exempts
government officials from responsibility for illegally denying
permission to exercise your constitutional "rights".  The last
feature encourages government officials to flat deny everyone
permission to buy guns.
     Remember the mayor and police chief of Gary Indiana who
proudly proclaimed at a press conference that they would not obey
the law and issue gun applications?  Well they were sued and the
city lost.  Under the "Brady Bill" this kind of action is out.
Willful denial by officials is protected from legal action by the
plaintiffs.
     Also, while there are a myriad of bills introduced this year
to slam gun owners and gun manufactures with the liability for
damage caused by those who mis-use firearms, this bill says it's OK
for government officials to allow every gangster and drug dealer in
town to go out and legally buy firearms (after that 7 day wait, of
course).  No official can be held responsible for the crime that
might ensue.
     And one last thing: You really have to admire the cleverness
of a con running a good scam!  The "waiting period" is "5 working
days" but that is defined on the basis of when State Government
offices are open which thus is in reality a minimum 7 day wait.
But now here is the clever part.  If the governor closes state
offices for any reason, gun deliveries STOP!  This gives state
governors the power to override the Second Amendment whenever they
choose!  If you have seen any recent speech on C-Span by Howard the
Commie, you will be convinced this wording is too clever for him.
We say find out who is writing his bills for him and you will find
out who is trying to enslave you.

S. 376: Handgun Rationing and police registration of all handgun
transfers from dealers to individuals.

Sponsor: LAUTENBERG (D-NJ)
Cosponsors: 1 Dem; 0 Rep; None from Ohio.

     This bill rations your right to keep and bear arms to no more
than what your government thinks you "need", namely one gun per
month (30-day period).  Naturally the only way you can tell if a
person is exercising his constitutional rights more than is
allowed, is by having the police keep detailed records of every
purchase. I say purchase as that is the most common, but the bill
applies to any trade, barter, rent, gift or any other "transfer" of
a gun from a dealer, manufacturer or importer to any individual.
     Any transfer must be registered both with the police
jurisdiction of the residence of the buyer.  Valid picture ID is
required with every transfer report to police.  Registration
reports to police must be sent within one day.  Further, any
private information that is discovered in this process is available
to police but cannot be released to the public except on judge's
orders.  Should the dealer be informed that the person has received
2 or more handguns that month he is required to tell everything he
knows about the buyer to both the police at the buyers residence
and the police jurisdiction of his place of business.
     The maximum penalty for excessive exercise of your
Constitutional Rights is $5000 and one year in prison.

S. 109: To require annual ammunition disposition reports of
manufactures and importers and to require National Academy of
Sciences to study effects of ammunition regulation on crime and
recommend ammo-banning ideas.

Sponsors: D. MOYNIHAN (D-NY);
Cosponsor: 1 Rep; ( Chafee (R-RI)

     This bill requires all manufacturers and importer of
ammunition in addition to records of all sales and other
dispositions of ammunition as now required to "annually prepare a
summary report of imports, production, shipments, sales, and other
dispositions during the preceding year. The report shall be
prepared on a form specified by the Secretary, shall include the
amounts, calibers, and types of ammunition that were disposed
of..."
     The bill mandates a study by the National Academy of Sciences
to "prepare, in consultation with the Secretary" a report and to
submit to Congress, not later than July 31, 1996, a report with
recommendations on the potential for preventing crime by regulating
or restricting the availability of ammunition."
     Any bets on what the secretary and these "brains" are going to
recommend?

S. 108: To give President Clinton authority to ban the import of
ANY semi-automatic rifle or pistol, to ban the import of any "large
capacity" magazine holding more than five (5) rounds and to ban
import of "assault rifle accessories".

Sponsors: Mr. D. MOYNIHAN (D-NY);
Cosponsor: 1 Dem; 1 Rep; {Chafee (R-RI), Simon (D-Il)}

     This bill lists a huge number of rifle types to be banned from
import and then adds at the end: "Any other type determined by the
President to be appropriate."  The same goes for "assault pistols"
which lists things like "UZI type" and "Sterling Mark 7 type" and
then adds the presidential privilege of expanding the pistol list.
     The bill bans the import of all "large capacity ammunition
feeding devices" or a collection of parts from which they can be
made.  A "large capacity" feeding device is one holding more than
5 rounds.  Attached .22 rimfire tubular magazines are exempt.
     Also banned from import are any "semiautomatic assault weapon
accessory" which includes "Grenade Launcher", "Bayonet", "Flash
suppressor", "Night sight", "Adaptor designed to facilitate the
attachment of a silencer or flash suppressor" or "A combination of
parts" or "A part designed solely for use in assembling one of the
foregoing articles". Also banned are "Any other articles determined
by the President to be appropriate."
     Naturally, federal and state government is exempt from this
law.  I trust Bill Clinton to be dictator, don't you?

S. 175: Requiring a 1000% tax (ten times cost) on .25, .32 and 9mm
ammunition to keep poor people (mostly black and Hispanic, no
doubt) from affording it.

Sponsor Mr. D. MOYNIHAN (D-NY)

     This bill seeks to impose a tax equal to ten times the cost of
.25, .32, and 9mm ammunition so as to restrict it's use to the
rich, drug dealers, politicians or anyone else making big money.
Amazingly, this anti-gun, anti-poor bill is closer to
constitutional than anything else we have seen Mr. Moynihan
introduce.

S. 178: An outright ban on all .25, .32, and 9mm ammunition.

Sponsor Mr. D. MOYNIHAN (D-NY)
Cosponsors: 1 Dem; 1 Rep; {Chafee (R-RI), Simon (D-Il)}

     A similar law to the tax bill above but completely
unconstitutional.  Bans the manufacture, transfer or importation of
.25, .32, and 9mm ammunition. [note 9mm is a military caliber
protected under Miller v. U.S.] The idea is that guns without
ammunition are of little use.

S 496: To raise FFL fees from $10 to $750, to allow as many FFL
inspections as the BATF wishes rather than annually, to require a
photograph and fingerprints to obtain an FFL, to require FFL
holders to provide any yellow sheet information within 24 hours of
an oral request by the BATF, and to register anyone being shipped
a firearm by interstate or foreign carriers.

Sponsor:Mr. SIMON (D-IL);
Cosponsors: 4 Dems; 0 Reps; (Feinstein (D-CA), Lautenberg (D-NJ),
Kennedy (D-MA) and Pryor (D-AR)

     This bill proposes to raise the FFL fee from the present $10
or $25 dollar level to $750.  The idea is to drive marginal FFL
holders out of business. You should note that when FFL holders go
out of business, the yellow sheets must be turned into the
government!
     The bill changes annual inspections of license holders into
giving the BATF a free hand to inspect.  There is nothing to
prevent daily inspections to run dealers out of business.  The bill
requires a photo and fingerprints for all dealers.  Also FFL
holders are required to provide any yellow sheet information the
BATF (Secretary of Treasury) requests within 24 hours!  You could
be required to sift all your records and provide information within
24 hours or loose your license.  This bill says the requests can be
oral and sets no limit as to how many requests are reasonable.
     But speaking of reasonable, this bill also provides for a
making a new crime of providing a firearm or ammunition where the
provider has "reasonable cause" to believe they would be used in a
crime of violence.  This applies to ALL PERSONS not just FFL
holders or other dealers.  Won't lawyers and juries have a field
day with this one.
     Lastly, all shippers in interstate and foreign commerce (UPS,
FEDEX and ALL others) are to be required to identify the recipient
of any firearm shipment and maintain this list of names for the
BATF.  The exact rules for how this is to be done will be written
by the BATF.

S. 892: To ban and confiscate all handguns in the U.S.

Sponsor: J. CHAFEE (R-RI)

     PRO has not seen the text of this bill, but it is reported to
be similar to last year's which called for the banning of all
handguns in the United States and the confiscation of those now
owned (possession is a crime).  It also banned the manufacture,
importation or assembly of handguns or handgun ammunition.  Chafee
calls this bill his "Public Health and Safety Act" because there
are just so many handguns out there killing people all by
themselves.  You just never know when one will jump out of its box
and shoot someone.
          Since we live in Ohio, and both of our Senators are
anti-gun, we should contact Senator Robert Dole(Kansas-R), Senate
Minority Leader, to protest this bill.  His number in Washington
is: 202-224-6521.  His mailing address is:
          Senator Robert Dole
          Senate Minority Leader
          141 HSOB
          Washington, D.C. 20510
     Also contact Senator Chafee at 202-224-2921 and write him a
letter at:
          Senator John H. Chafee
          567 DSOB
          Washington, D.C. 20510
     When contacting Senator Dole, ask him to bring the pressure of
the Republican Party to bear on Senator Chafee to have him withdraw
his bill.
     In fact, since Ohio doesn't have a senator who takes his oath
of office seriously, let's all adopt Senator Dole as OUR senator
and write him about ALL these hideous anti-gun senate bills.

OTHER SENATE BILLS TO WATCH:

     PRO hasn't seen the text of these bills but suspects that they
are anti-gun.

S. 21: Sponsor: Feinstein (D-CA);
     To change designation of certain national parks.  May be an
anti-hunting bill.  (Kennedy, Metzenbaum, Lautenberg, and Simon
among co-sponsors)

S. 221: Sponsor: Metzenbaum (D-OH);
     Supposedly to allow those on death row with evidence that they
are innocent to get judicial review.  It should be checked for
features that allow those with little evidence they are innocent to
appeal forever.

S. 470: Sponsor: Boxer (D-CA);
     Bill to punish "stalking" as a crime. It should be checked for
unconstitutional features that make exercise of your rights a
crime.

S. 497: Sponsor: Simon (D-IL);
     Bill to put big federal bucks behind the establishment of DNA
identification banks.  It should be examined to see if it is
another federal funding bill for "big brother" machine development
to be used for citizen identification.

S. 608: Sponsor: Exon (D-NE);
     We hear this is basically a "preemption" bill to allow Brinks
guards to carry no matter what the local or state laws.  Needs a
closer look.

S. 639: Sponsor: DiConcini (D-AZ);
     Some version of his old "assault weapon" ban combined with a
law to make "drive-by" shootings a federal crime.  Considering his
anti-gun past and cosponsors Chafee and Moynihan, this one needs a
REAL close look-see.

S. 653: Sponsor: Metzenbaum (D-OH); (8 Dem Cosponsors)
     This is an Ohio-grown version of the DiConcini assault weapon
ban.  It gives the (appointed) Secretary of the treasury power to
outlaw any guns he chooses.

S. 687: Sponsor: Rockefeller (D-WV);
     It is some kind of product liability law and needs to be
checked to make sure it is not like Washington D.C. firearm "strict
liability" law.
____________________________________________________________

     "The political conditions of the latter half of the twentieth
century will continue to be dominated by the weapons situation,
for, while politics consists of much more than weapons, the nature,
organization and control of weapons is the most significant of the
numerous factors that determine what happens in political life."

Carroll Quigley, Tragedy and hope, 1966, Macmillan Co., N.Y.
____________________________________________________________

BILLS CURRENTLY IN THE U. S. HOUSE:

H.R. 277: Original "Brady Bill".

Sponsor: MAZZOLI (D-KY)

     This is the "Brady Bill" as originally introduced this year.
It has now been folded into H.R. 1025 introduced by rabid
anti-gunner Charles Schumer.

H.R. 1025: "Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act"

Sponsor: C. SCHUMER (D-NY)
Cosponsors: 146 Dems, 16 Reps; Including Ohio Representatives:
Fingerhut (D-19), T. Hall (D-3), Kaptur (D-9), Mann (D-1), Sawyer
(D-14), Stokes (D-11), Traficant (D-17).

     This is the mainline anti-gun bill this year.  The anti's
consider it "must pass".  Many details of features are discussed in
S. 414 above but we also might mention that these bills mandate an
expensive criminal background check that could cost billions.  The
"Brady" includes an appropriation of 100 million dollars "for
fiscal year 1994 and all fiscal years thereafter" just for grants
to improve the criminal records in the states.  This does not
include operating or other expenses.
     While the manual "background check" requires police to destroy
records after "20 working days" or about 30 days when government
offices are open weekdays, the "instant" system doesn't seem to
have the requirement. However when files are transferred to the
centralized "instant" system the government is prohibited from
(legally) creating a gun owner registration system from the data.
     There is one other thing you need to think about in regard to
"waiting periods" is that not only do they endanger someone who
suddenly needs protection, but they also cause the very thing the
anti-gunners say they are trying to control: the proliferation of
gun ownership.  Think about it.  A lot of persons just hum though
life never thinking about needing a gun.  If they are threatened,
or find themselves in a riot or natural disaster or need to
transport money or items of value they figure they will just go get
protection when they need it.  But once it becomes clear that you
CAN'T just go buy a gun should you need one, everyone who thinks
they might someday need protection in a hurry will have to plan for
it ahead of time. They will have to buy a gun NOW if there is ANY
chance they might need one later.  Thus, this bill will force
people who never considered buying firearms to arm themselves.

H.R. 893: To ban all semi-automatic firearms and revolving cylinder
shotguns.

Sponsor: GUTIERREZ (D-IL)
Cosponsors: 9 Dems; 0 Reps; None from Ohio.

     This bill bans the transfer of any "assault weapon" or it's
possession "unless the weapon was lawfully and continuously
possessed by the person since before the date of the enactment of
this subsection."
     An "assault weapon" is defined as "any repeating firearm which
uses a portion of the energy of a firing cartridge to extract the
fired cartridge case and chamber the next round, and which requires
a separate pull of the trigger to fire each cartridge;"  That is to
say, ALL semi-autos!  Revolving cylinder shotguns (Street Sweeper)
are also included.
     The bill provides that the BATF can make exceptions for
individual firearms it feels are "generally recognized as
particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting
purposes."
     The bill also adds these "assault weapons" to the possession
of short-barreled rifle or shotgun specification that gives an
increased penalty in crimes of violence or drug trafficking.

H.R. 737: To hold manufacturers and importers of handguns and
magazine-fed semi-auto long guns strictly liable for ANY damage
resulting from the "use" of those firearms.  Also to impose a 20%
sales tax on ALL firearms and an 11% sales tax on ALL shells and
cartridges.  Half the money from the tax will go to a trust fund to
pay the hospital bills of gunshot victims.

Sponsor: REYNOLDS (D-IL);
Cosponsors: 10 Dems; 0 Reps; None from Ohio.

     This bill states, "Any person suffering bodily injury, death,
or property damage, as a result of the discharge of a handgun or an
assault weapon may bring an action in any United States district
court against any permissible defendant for damages and such other
relief as the court deems appropriate."  Permissible defendants are
manufacturers and importers.
     Note that punitive damages or claims of mental anguish do not
seem to be ruled out.  The law specifically states that courts can
include attorney's fees in the damages awarded.  If your neighbor
fires a handgun and you get nervous and "can't work", under this
law you it seems you could sue the gun manufacturer for the "pain"
and loss you have suffered.  The manufacturer has no defense.  He
is responsible for every act performed with his products.
Perpetrators are also responsible but probably don't have the same
"deep pockets".
     Also United States Attorneys are required to report any cases
within 30 days after a conviction where the liability act will
apply.  In this way the lawyer-sharks will be given an automatic
list of clients ready sue any manufacturers still in business.
     Manufacturers and importers, however, are not responsible for
injuries to persons by firearms while they are committing a felony,
for self-inflicted injuries, or for injuries caused by police,
security guards or members of the armed forces.
     The law covers hand guns and "assault weapons".  Here "assault
weapons" are any semi-auto that can accept ammunition directly from
a "large capacity" (more than 14 rounds) feeding device. Firearms
deemed to have "sporting purposes" are exempt from liability.
     This bill also imposes a 20% sales tax on ALL firearms and an
11% sales tax on ALL ammunition.  Half the money is to go into a
trust fund to pay for medical costs of gunshot victims of
criminals.  It makes the honest people pay the costs of damages
caused by criminals.  How about a 50% sales tax on all illegal
drugs to pay costs for shooting victims. (many of whom are also
criminals).
     How about a 20% sales tax on cars to pay for traffic accident
victims. Or maybe a 20% tax on matches and flammable liquids to pay
for burn victims.  No?

H.R. 661: To make manufactures, importer and DEALERS strictly
liable for damages caused by handguns and semi-auto long guns.

Sponsor: COLLINS (D-IL)
Cosponsors: 2 Dems; 0 Reps; None from Ohio.

     This bill is essentially identical to H.R. 737 above except
that it expands liability to include DEALERS and does not have the
tax proposals.
     Since anti-gunners are always saying gun ownership should be
as strict as owning a car, it is high time we made auto
manufacturers and dealers strictly liable for all damages caused by
automobiles.

H.R. 1501: "Handgun Control Act of 1993"

Sponsor: YATES (D-IL);
Cosponsors: None.

     "A bill to prohibit the importation, manufacture, sale,
purchase, transfer, receipt, or transportation of handguns,  in any
manner affecting interstate or foreign commerce,   except for or by
members of the armed forces, law    enforcement officials, and, as
authorized by the secretary of the Treasury, licensed importers,
manufacturers, dealers, and pistol clubs."


H.R. 1571: "Restricted Weapons Act of 1993"

Sponsor: Hughes (D-NJ);
Cosponsors: 1 Dem; 0 Rep; None from Ohio.

     "to prohibit the possession, transfer, and certain     exports
of restricted weapons, the manufacture of firearms capable of
accepting a silencer or bayonet without alteration, and the
possession and transfer of large capacity ammunition feeding
devices, and for other purposes"

H.R. 1616: Handgun Registration.

Sponsor: Collins (D-Il);
Cosponsors: none.

     "A bill to provide for the mandatory registration of
handguns."

H.R. 1472: To prevent the transfer of "assault weapons".

Sponsor Schumer (D-NY);
Cosponsors: 13 Dems; 0 Reps; None from Ohio.

     "A bill to make unlawful the transfer or possession of assault
weapons."  PRO has not seen the text of this
bill but considering the sponsor you can be sure it is a gem!

H.R. 1421: A ban on manufacture or importation of "assault weapons"

Sponsor: Stark (D-CA)
Cosponsors: 55 Dems; 2 Reps; including Stokes (D-11) and Traficant
(D-17) from Ohio.

     "to prohibit the importation and the manufacture of firearms
designed to accept a silencer, bayonet, grenade launcher, flash
suppressor, or folding stock, of certain ammunition feeding
devices, and of related devices, and to provide for the imposition
of enhanced penalties for the possession or the use of any such
item in a crime of violence or in a drug trafficking crime."  PRO
has not seen the text of this bill so we can't give you all the
ugly details.

H.R. 987: Federal pressure for schools to implement gun-control
propaganda programs for children and money to arm those in
authority to the teeth.

Sponsor: Miller (D-CA);
Cosponsors: 13 Dems; 0 Reps; including T. Hall (D-3) from Ohio.

     "to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
to require each state, as a condition of receiving federal
assistance under such act, to implement a gun control program in
its schools, and to establish a program of grants to local
educational agencies for purposes of purchasing crime prevention
equipment and training security personnel."  We haven't seen the
text.


H.R. 711:  To require a permit to possesses any handgun.  The
license requires registration and the passing of a safety course
and any other requirements the BATF sees fit to impose.

Sponsor: GONZALEZ (D-TX)
Cosponsors: none.

     After the passage of this bill no person may possess a handgun
unless he is licensed.  Current owners have 90 days to get a
handgun permit.  Getting a permit requires the successful
completion of "a course instruction, in the safe use, maintenance,
and storage of handguns, offered by a Federal or State law
enforcement agency or an entity designated by such an agency to
offer the instruction."
     Hearings are provided for in the case of appealing a denial of
a permit.  The cost of the permit or the costs of administration of
the program are not addressed in the bill.

H.R. 1277: Federal preemption for cops and ex-cops.

Sponsor: CUNNINGHAM (R-CA);
Cosponsors: 2 Dems; 5 Reps; None from Ohio.

     "to exempt qualified current and former law enforcement
officers from state laws prohibiting the carrying of concealed
handguns."  We don't know more.

H.R. 1262: Explosive to contain tracing materials.

Sponsor: MANTON (D-NY);
Cosponsors: 13 Dems; 2 Reps; Applegate (D-18) from Ohio.

     "A bill to require explosive materials to contain taggants
which enable law enforcement authorities to trace the source of the
explosive material, whether before or after detonation."

H.R. 1189: Restoration of Second Amendment rights to armored car
guards (eg. Brinks)

Sponsor: COLLINS (D-Il);
Cosponsors: 2 Dems; 3 Reps; Oxley (R-4) from Ohio.

     "A bill to entitle certain armored car crew members to
lawfully carry a weapon in any state while protecting the security
of valuable goods in interstate commerce in the service of an
armored car company."  Appears to be the House version of S. 608.
We haven't seen the text of the bill.

H.R. 1042: A bill to make sure money or drugs being transported by
air is not missed for theft by the government.

Sponsor: BYRNE (D-VA):
Cosponsors: none

     "to direct the administrator of the Federal Aviation
Administration to issue regulations to require individuals
conducting weapon screenings of passengers in air transportation to
notify law enforcement officers of discoveries of controlled
substances and/or sums of money in excess of $10,000 in accordance
with applicable federal guidelines."  We haven't seen the text.

H.R. 829: Money for DNA identification.

Sponsor: EDWARDS (D-CA)
Cosponsors: 1 Dem; 1 Rep; None from Ohio.

     Appears to be the House version of S. 497, but we don't have
details.
____________________________________________________________

     "All of past history shows that the shift from a mass army of
citizen-soldiers to a smaller army of professional fighters leads,
in the long run, to a decline of democracy."

Carroll Quigley, Tragedy and Hope, 1966, Macmillan Co., N.Y.
____________________________________________________________

SOME PRO-GUN FEDERAL BILLS:

H.R. 1276: Affirmation of the right to use firearms in self
defense.

Sponsor: BARTLETT (R-MD)
Cosponsors: 1 Dem; 12 Reps; None from Ohio. [ Ask YOUR U. S.
Representative to "get on board"!]

     This bill not only affirms the right to self-defense for self,
family or home, but also lays out the right for all citizens not
prohibited by federal law from receiving a firearm to obtain and
use a firearm in "defense of self, family, or home."
     The bill defines a "firearm" as a shotgun, rifle, or handgun.
     Moreover the bill has teeth.  It holds the government, any
state or person liable for "damages, injunctive relief, and any
other relief as the court deems appropriate" if this right is
violated.  The bill also allows the court to award the prevailing
party (other than a state) attorney's fees as part of the costs.
     Believe it or not, there are still a few lawmakers who do not
think that self-defense should be a felony or that as they now say
in Australia, "personal protection is no reason to own a gun."

HConRes3: Resolution stating that the Second Amendment means that
Americans have the right to keep and bear arms.

Sponsor: CRANE (R-IL)
Cosponsors: 2 Dems; 13 Rep; None from Ohio!

     With all the anti-gun bill pretending that the Second
Amendment doesn't exist, here is a resolution in Congress asking
senators and representatives to stand up and say in public that the
Bill of Rights means exactly what it says.
     It asks these politicians to affirm that the Second Amendment
refers "to the right of all Americans to keep and bear arms in
defense of life or liberty and in the pursuit of all other
legitimate endeavors."
     Don't you think it's time we all started asking our
representatives from the great state of Ohio whether they stand
ready to "support and defend" our constitution or whether they
think their oath of office is some meaningless ritual they intend
to forget as soon as they start sitting in the big chair.
____________________________________________________________

                   Thought for the month...

Is there any coincidence between the Clintons becoming President
and the removal of the statue Armed Freedom from the White House?
____________________________________________________________

GROVE CITY COOPERATES...

     Several months ago, you will recall that Grove City tried to
initiate restrictive firearms legislation.  Due to an overwhelming
show of strength from local residents and the leadership of PRO,
Mayor Richard Stage withdrew the ordinance before it was even read.

He also agreed to meet with responsible members of the community
and PRO's legal advisor, David Buda.
     Other members of the committee included Bill Fowler, Bill
Wentzel, Jr. and Jim Brick, DVM.  They are all residents of Grove
City.
     At the last of several meetings, Police Chief Jim McKean was
presented with a proposal that would slightly change a zoning
ordinance.  He was satisfied with it, and said that he would
present it to Mayor Stage and see what his reaction was, and then
get back to the committee.  He never got back with us.
     On May 3, 1993 Ordinance C-34-93 was introduced and passed in
Grove City Council chambers.  It amends Section 1135 of the
Codified Ordinance entitled Zoning Districts and Regulations. It
reads:

     Section 1.  Section 1135.09(12) under Special Use Permits of
the Codified Ordinance which reads:

     A. 24.  Sale or Rental of WEAPONS AND/OR EXPLOSIVES as defined
in Section 2923.11... is hereby amended to read:

     A. 24.  Sale , Rental, BARTER OR TRADE of WEAPONS AND/OR
EXPLOSIVES as defined in Section 2923.11...etc.

     This ordinance will become effective on June 2, 1993.
     PRO members and the residents of Grove City owe Mayor Stage,
Chief McKean and the Grove City council a heartfelt thank you for
listening to their constituents and passing legislation that
addresses their concerns, yet protects and preserves the Second
Amendment rights of Grove City residents.  Thank you.
     And one last thing.  When Grove City began making anti-gun
noises we indicated that Mayor Stage and the rest of City Council
had a great opportunity to set an example for cities around the
country.  By cooperating with gun owners and PRO, the city has been
able to address their legitimate concerns over illegal gun sales
without attacking honest citizens.  You know a city has some rights
too and one of those is the right to regulate zoning and commercial
enterprises.  Compare the reasoned approach in Grove City with the
blatant attack on Dublin Residents by councilman A.C. Strip who
used outside activists to "Strip" honest law-abiding Dublin
Citizens of their guns in spite of non-existent gun crime and
non-existent popular support for his law.
     Yes, Grove City has indeed set an example for the rest of the
country.

BUS TRIP...

     When I was midway between the teenage years, I was fortunate
enough to travel to the Scandinavian countries with my parents.  On
one of the narrow roads leading up into the glacier country, two
young men passed us by on their cycle.  They were going quite fast.
This was one of those narrow roads that had 14 hair-pin turns in it
to reach the top of the mountain.
     At the next turn, the bike lay on its side, with one of its
riders sprawled half-way off of the road.  If he had gone over, he
would not have landed for many thousands of feet.  Our bus driver
stopped, and he and my father and another man got off to help them.

I started too, but my father told me to stay where I was.  I was
probably five or six years younger than the two cyclists.  No one
else on the bus offered to help them.
     My father and the others pulled the one cyclist back to safety
on the road and lifted the bike off of the other one, wheeling it
to the other side of the road.  They then helped both young men
over to where the bike was and made sure that they were alright.
Other than being shaken-up and a little bruised, they were fine.
     The driver, my father and the other man got back on the bus
and we continued on our way.  The two young men and their brush
with catastrophe becoming dim memories.
     Is this to be the fate of the Second Amendment and our Bill of
Rights?  Are the vast majority of us just going to sit idly by
while our rights and freedoms are quickly eroded from underneath
us?  At the compound in Waco the freedoms of religion, speech,
search and seizure, keep and bear arms, cruel and unusual
punishment and almost every other civil right that Americans expect
to live under was violated.
     Here in Columbus, some residents of Grove City and Dublin are
saying that we have to give something up in order to keep our
hunting guns.  They say that the "Brady Bill" will pass this year
anyway, so why not give in to the city councils in these various
cities surrounding Columbus?  This is the worst attitude to have.
They will not win until we give in to those that wish to deprive us
of our rights.  If we give them a little now, they will want more.
And then more.  Virginia said all they wanted was an instantaneous
check.  Now they can only buy one gun a month.  What is next?
     We must all get off of the bus and help.  A few cannot do it
by ourselves.  Join the NRA.  They are gaining members at the rate
of a thousand a day.  Join PRO, or have a friend join.  If you just
joined to get into the gun shows free, now is the time to exit the
bus and pitch in with your time and money and effort.  The Second
Amendment and our cherished Bill of Rights desperately needs your
help.  A few of us are still fighting.  It is high time that the
rest of you joined us.

TERRORISM...

     During the first full week in March, a terrorist shot a doctor
in the back three times with a revolver.  The doctor was one that
helped women abort unwanted pregnancies.  The terrorist was in
favor of right to life.
     This editor is not taking sides on this issue.  That is not
the point of this article.  The point is that this terrorist is on
the same level as those that bombed the World Trade Center and that
blew up the jet over Scotland.  This terrorist shot the doctor
three times in the back!  The terrorist didn't even have the nerve
to shoot his victim in the front.  Anyway, how can you proclaim you
are "pro-life" and then kill someone?
     Among all other countries in this world community, America
practices the rule of the majority.  So if most of the people want
something, they pass a law that will enforce their way of thinking.

This is called democracy.  America, however is a Republic and
operates a little differently.  In America the majority elects
representatives to pass laws, but what they can pass is limited by
a constitution.
     With the recent election of Bill and Hilary Clinton to the
White House, it is almost assured that some type of abortion
protection will become law.  This will be by a mandate of the
people that contact their elected representatives and not by acts
of terrorism.  However, neither lawmakers nor activists can be
permitted to operate outside constitutional limitations.
     Whether or not you agree with the pro-choice side or the
concept of right to life, terrorism is not the answer.  Terrorism
can only hurt the side that you are on.  It is the same with the
Second Amendment.
____________________________________________________________

     "...Though I have no doubt exceptions can be brought forward,
I think the following rule would be found generally true: that in
ages in which the dominant weapon is cheap and simple, the common
people will have a chance..."
     George Orwell, Essays, Volume IV
____________________________________________________________

APRIL 19TH...

     1775.  1943.  1993.
     Is there something about this date that portends momentous
changes in the history of mankind?
     On April 19th, 1775, General Gage began the Revolutionary War
when he tried to confiscate American's guns.  On April 19, 1943 the
Warsaw Ghetto uprising began with a handful of defiant Jews and
several firearms.  On April 19, 1943, agents of the U.S. government
were involved in the gassing and fatal fire of some 90 U.S.
citizens.
     Our civil war against King George gave America the opportunity
to twice free the world from tyranny and oppression in the War to
End All Wars and the Second World War.  During World War II, a
ghetto community of Jews in Warsaw staged an uprising for freedom
from the oppression of their Nazi overlords.  This year, agents of
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Federal Bureau
of Investigation attempted to serve a warrant on David Koresh and
other Davidians at their compound near Waco, Texas.  It was
supposedly over child abuse.  If this is true, why then was the
BATF involved?  How can child abuse be equated with alcohol,
tobacco or firearms violations?
     There were 17 children inside that compound.  They had done
nothing to warrant being gassed and burnt to death.  Some will say
that the Davidians fired in self defense when the black suited
federal agents stormed into their compound.  Others say that they
fired first, killing four agents and injuring many others.  The
people inside that compound had not been tried and convicted in a
court of law.  Had they done anything to deserve the death penalty?
Other than to live in a compound, practice their type of religion,
and collect firearms and ammunition.
     Before the Jewish uprising in 1943, the Nazi oppressors said
that the Jews were abusing their children and that they were
practicing a twisted religion.  They also wore black suits.  It is
the same today with the agents of the U.S. government.  They say
that the children in the compound were being abused by Koresh and
that he was practicing a bizarre fundamentalist religion.
     Who is wrong?  Who is right?  We may never know, but a full
scale investigation should be conducted, and not by those
governmental agencies involved.  The adults were old enough to make
their own decision on whether to stay or go.  The children stayed
with those they knew and loved.  They were the ones that had their
constitutional rights and civil liberties violated in the same
manner that those in the death camps of Germany and Poland
suffered.
     Four police officers underwent a civil liberties trial for
severely beating a speeding motorist in L.A.  Two were eventually
found guilty of violating his civil rights.  Seventeen children
were gassed and burnt to death in Waco.  Weren't their civil
liberties violated in the extreme?  At least Rodney King is still
alive.  The children are dead.
     When a government, or it's agents, are involved in the
slaughter of innocent children, isn't it time that the populace ask
why?  And demand that their government become answerable to the
people that pay them.  Why did they have to use tear gas?  Why not
another form of gas?  The agents had turned off the electricity.
Didn't they think that maybe they would be using kerosene lamps and
heaters?
     Let us take back our government from the bloated politicians
and self-serving government agents and demand a full accounting of
the tragedy in Waco, Texas.  Call the President at 202-456-1111 and
demand the dismissal of the U.S. Attorney General, Janet Reno, and
a full accounting of the actions of the various agencies involved
in the deaths of the 17 children.  Call your representatives in
Washington and demand that they do not let this incident be swept
under the rug.  That all questions be answered to the full
satisfaction of the American voter.
     What is it about April 19th?  What will befall us on future
April 19ths?  Will you or I be the next ones that are surrounded
and hounded by Tibetan chants, because we want to exercise our
Right to Keep and Bear Arms?  Will our friends and neighbors label
us kooks and do nothing as our guaranteed freedoms and civil
liberties are denied to us?

BBS NETWORKS...

     The following article is gratefully stolen from "We the
People", the monthly newsletter of Gun Owner's ACTION Committee in
Anaheim, California.  It is from the January-February issue and is
written by Ross Regnart and John R. Graham.

BBS Networks Could be Seized.

[Editors: BBS means "Bulletin Board System" and refers to the kind
of Computer data systems that use telephone lines or other networks
to transfer information.  Examples are "Blue Moon" or "Compu$erve"
used by PRO.  Past events in China and France have shown BBSs and
other computer technology to be powerful tools when used against
governments trying to exercise fascist powers.  Little wonder then
these kind of politicians are worried.]

     Sweeping new powers to confiscate user records, database
lists, software and even the computers and homes or businesses in
which the computers are located, could devastate unwary computer
bulletin board operators, if two proposed bills pass Congress this
year.
     The bills, SB-265, titled "Terrorism Death Penalty Act of
1991" and SB-266, titled "Comprehensive Counter-Terrorism Act of
1991," have attracted little notice.  After all, who cares what's
done to terrorists?
     But the bills contain language which would make otherwise law
abiding citizens into "agents" or "members of terrorist
organizations."
     Consider the forfeiture effects on organizations and
individuals when "speeches, writings, assemblies" mentioned under
SB- 265 are combined with "Forfeiture Provisions" of SB-266.
Consider also that anybody who had, or should have had, knowledge
that somebody they were associating with might commit a terrorist
act, can have their property seized.
     The SB-266 Forfeiture Provisions aimed at public dissent are
written like RICO Laws taking on the added prospect of "Political
Property Seizure."
     Unions and politically active organizations are especially
vulnerable to the combined effects.  SB-266 defines bodily acts as
"Terrorist Acts."  A fist fight at demonstration or strike would
Qualify.  "Intent to Commit Terrorist Acts" is defined on page 22,
line 19:
1) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population
2) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or
coercion.
     Any strike line which blocked public access or prevented
persons from crossing a strike line would qualify to intimidate or
coerce a civilian population.  Should violence result during a
demonstration or strike, the Property Seizure provisions of SB-266,
pages 24 and 25, may be triggered causing the forfeiture of
members' homes used for arranging protest meetings and vehicles
used for transportation to events resulting in violence.  The
leaving of messages on a BBS system could cause the seizure of the
system and all its records.
     The fact that the system operator (sysop) had no knowledge of
any planned violence is no defense under these laws.  All that is
necessary is for somebody to use the equipment to "further any
terrorist cause."
     It should be noted that violence is not necessary to
precipitate property forfeiture of organization and member assets.
Conspiracy is enough.
     Like Federal Drug Enforcement Laws, a person whose property
has been seized would start out guilty, having to prove they did
not have any knowledge of the actual planned unlawful methods of
the organization or individual which they were affording support.
     Defense here is difficult since both bills include terms such
as "should have reasonably known."
     SB-266, when first examined is misleading for it gives the
reader the impression it is after "Agents of a Foreign Power"
wishing to do Americans harm.  Closer examination of SB-266 reveals
that any organization benefiting from an international contact may
be charged as Agents of a Foreign Power.  International computer
networks such as FIDO would be subject to list and property
seizures if any "node" was charged with being part of a terrorist
organization.
     Lawful speeches, writings and peaceful public assemblies may
be used to show the actors' awareness of the unlawful methods of an
organization.
     We believe that the real target of these laws is freedom of
speech and assembly.  Senators Biden and Kennedy have cleverly
masked those goals under the term "anti-terrorist" and slipped the
bills into the Congressional hopper without any fanfare to warn
liberty loving Americans what is about to happen.
     The RICO and Zero Tolerance seizure laws have served as
precedents to the seizure of property of any politically unpopular
people.  Expanding the seizure laws is the only thing left in
implementing an absolute police state into U.S. law.
     To oppose these bills, write or fax your Senator or
Congressman.  Spread this information to every organization and to
any sysop you know.  Copies of the bills and follow-up information
is available from Ross Regnart, P.O. Box 11346, Tahoe, CA 96155.
      [Is PRO a terrorist organization?  Well, not yet, but just a
few more gun control laws and you can be sure our houses,
computers, files and records will be fair game.]

RECEPTION...

     The next PRO Gun Show will be on June 11, 12, and 13, 1993.
It is a big three-day show, with three buildings at the Franklin
County Fairgrounds in Hilliard, Ohio.
     Saturday afternoon at the gun show, PRO is pleased to announce
that Joseph and Peggy Tartaro will be in attendance from 3-5.
After the Gun Show, PRO is hosting a reception at the Holiday Inn
Columbus West.  The reception will start at 6:00 pm with a cash
bar, and hors d'oeuvres will be served at 7:00 pm.
     This is an excellent opportunity for you to meet the Executive
Editor of "The New GUN WEEK" newspaper and the editor of "WOMEN &
GUNS" magazine.  Joseph Tartaro is the Executive Editor of the
paper and has helped PRO with his excellent publication.  He also
assists the Citizen's Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
(CCRKBA) put on their Grass Roots training seminars.
     Peggy Tartaro assists her father in publishing the paper with
advertising and the gun show calendar, and also assists in the
CCRKBA seminars.  She has recently taken over the editor's position
on the monthly magazine, "Women & Guns."  This magazine also lists
PRO in it's activist's portion of the magazine.  We have received
many calls from this source.
     Mark June 12, 1993, 6:00 pm on your calendar, and come and
meet these two staunch defenders of the Second Amendment at the PRO
reception at the Holiday Inn Columbus West.  The address is 2350
Westbelt Drive, and their phone number is 614-771-8999.
     The Holiday Inn is located at the Roberts Road exit off I-270
(west side of Columbus), and is at the corner of Roberts Road and
Westbelt Drive.
     See you there.

_________________________________________________________________

The PROponent is published by:
Peoples Rights Organization;
5 E. Long St., Suite 412;  Columbus, OH 43215;
Tel (614) 268-0122
Fax (614) 275-0092
EMAIL: 73427.1615@compuserve.com
Richard Hale, Chairman;  Ron Herman, Vice Chairman
Dennis Walker, Secretary;  Bill Johnson, Treasurer
Editors:  Dennis Walker and Frank Jacoby
Contributions, either written or financial are gladly accepted.

       Anyone wishing to reprint all or part of an article from the
PROponent may do so.  Please mention the PROponent and the issue
that the article was in, and send a copy of the publication to our
PRO office. (We like to know what your organization is doing too.)
Also, PRO will exchange newsletters with any pro-gun, pro-rights,
pro-hunting, etc. group to further grass-roots communication.  Put
us on your newsletter mailing list and we will put your club on
ours.
     PRO general meetings are held the third Tuesday of every month
at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, W. Broad St. Columbus, Ohio.
_________________________________________________________________