The PROponent Peoples Rights Organization 5 E. Long St., Suite 412; Columbus, OH 43215; (614) 268-0122 Volume 6 November, 1994 Number 11 (headline) VOTE! VOTE MORE THAN ONCE ... This is probably one of the most important elections ever as far as your rights are concerned. One thing is certain: the Clintonista Democrats know what they have done and that the public is not happy with them. The only question in their minds is whether or not they can get away scot-free. Our job is to make sure they pay. Every voter needs to make sure that the politicians understand that the people of this country can't be so easily fooled and that they will not tolerate a bunch of crooks and scam artists who steal our tax dollars and Rights with one hand and then give it back to themselves with the other. If you want to see pay-back time, then you need to vote more than once! No, I'm not talking about the old days in Chicago when the graveyards were full of voters. I'm talking about legally increasing your vote-power. The way you vote more than once is to take someone else with you to the polls. The way you vote more than once is to talk up all the pro-gun candidates with all your friends and relatives. Make sure that they understand the importance of slapping these rights-grabbers down. Every person you get to vote who was going to stay home because it is an "off" year election, is one more vote for you. At this point it is too late to get the non-registered out to vote, but it's not too late to put the arm on all the like-minded people you know. Don't let them get away with a bunch of half-baked excuses as to why it's too much trouble to vote. Remind them of the blood money they pay every time they turn in their name to Handgun Control Inc. through its board member Lee Fisher and his illegal implementation of the "Brady" background check. Remind them of the last election for Attorney General where just one gun owner in each ward staying home made the difference. There are many important races this election and the best way you can put things right in Washington is to not only check the Citizens Against Crime endorsements in this issue, but also to vote more than once by making copies for your gun club, your friends, relatives, and co-workers. And after you have voted, hand the sheet to another person. THE PRO PROPHESY ... Back in the November 1992 edition of the PROponent, the election of William Jefferson Clinton inspired us to make our prediction of what the future would hold for gun owners under the new socialist regime. You can learn a few things about where we won and where we lost by going back to that prediction: November, 1992 "Naturally the "Brady bill" came up again during the Clinton presidential "honeymoon" with Congress just after the election and was passed in a much strengthened version mandating a "background check" and "waiting period" for all firearms...even private sales. Using the background checks to build a list of gun owners was forbidden but no penalties were provided for any public official who did. The law ended PRO's gun shows and income. The easy passage of the waiting period bill encouraged anti-gun legislators to pass an "assault weapon" ban. This bill was also much "improved" over the old DiConcini version having a much expanded list of firearms including nearly every semi-automatic rifle and shotgun as well as ammunition for them. Bills were introduced to ban all handguns within the United States borders but were stalled meeting stiff NRA resistance. Since crime rates had soared after passage of nationwide gun control, the omnibus crime package easily passed containing exclusionary rule and habeas corpus "reform." [By the way, YOU ARE *HERE*] Now without need for search warrants and with the ability to hold persons for indefinite periods without charges, the search for America's firearms began in earnest." "The black-shirted National Police (Natpo's) would come into an area and take control of local police to search suspected gun owners homes in massive operations as they began to use the computerized list of names acquired from the "background check," "forward trace" and big city gun registration files. Some hardcore gun owners began to shoot back. The media used these incidents to show the nation that contraband firearms were a danger every bit as extreme as drugs. For this reason, anyone found in possession of contraband firearms, firearm parts, or military style ammunition was to be treated as any drug dealer. All their possessions, property, safe deposit box contents, bank accounts or anything else of value was to be seized by the state. As has long been the case with drug charges, these seizures could be made any time police became suspicious and an actual arrest or conviction was not required to seize property. (Hey, these contraband hoarders might sell their property and use the money to defend themselves in court!). "With all the arrests of suspected gun owners and convictions of felony self-defense perpetrators jails were overflowing and these criminals were being housed in the FEMA-converted military bases abandoned by the "peace dividend." With more than 100 new federal judges appointed by Clinton, convictions were many, reversals on appeal few. As the concentration camps swelled many patriotic citizens decided they wouldn't take it any more and the Second American Revolution began in earnest." We can judge how we have done by comparing this prediction with how things actually went the last two years. Most frightening, is that most of the program in our prophesy has come to pass. "Brady" is law. The Crime bill is law. The "assault weapon" ban was expanded to include not only hundreds of guns but "high capacity" magazines as well. Most ominously of all, the crime bill states: "...the President may declare the State or part of a State to be a violent crime or drug emergency area and may take appropriate actions authorized by this section." and "The President shall not limit declarations made under this section to highly populated centers of violent crime or drug trafficking, drug smuggling, or drug use, ..." I don't know what you think, but to me this sounds like a "good first step" toward the implementation of the second half of our predictions! The good news, on the other hand, is due to you. This is because activist, patriotic, freedom-loving gun owners like yourselves did not just sit back and let the Clintonista program become law without a fight. The "Brady" bill did NOT pass in the "honeymoon" period. The "Brady" bill did NOT cover private sales. The Crime Bill was a cat fight that we nearly won. Ammunition bans are still pending. And most important of all, the "habeas corpus" and search and seizure "reform" was squeezed out of the Crime Bill. The good news is all there ONLY because of people like YOU who were not willing to give up without a fight. The only question remaining is the second half of our predictions. If we don't stop this steamroller now, I can assure you MANY people will die. Go back and re-read our predictions. Check how right-on we have been to now and what we have said lies beyond. This is scary stuff. BUT THERE IS AN ANSWER. THAT ANSWER IS TO VOTE! Now is your chance to derail the next two years of this freight train. If you kick the bums out, we can show these statists that Americans want no part of their vision of an all-powerful government. I would say that the future of this country is now in the hands of those few like yourselves who understand what is going on and understand what those seeking power have in mind for all of us. Don't let us all down. VOTE! 12 AND 12... John Hosford, NRA Grass Roots Director, presented the NRA/ILA hit and save list at the recent Gun Rights Policy Conference in San Francisco on October 12, 1994. These lists are the top 12 races we must win to defeat anti-gunners, and the top 12 races we must win to elect pro-gun candidates. The major race is the re-election of Orrin Hatch, and to make sure that the Senator becomes Chairman Hatch. Hosford stressed that the NRA is a non-partisan organization. "We are not a Republican organization. We are a single issue, one item. We only look at the gun bills, nothing past that...If they are pro-gun, we want them in Congress." Hosford listed the "Top Twelve That Have To Go": 1. Rep. Bob Carr(D-MI), appears vulnerable to challenger Spence Abraham; 2. Sam Coppersmith(D-Az), Sen. DeConcini's replacement, favored gun control, is being opposed by Jon Kyl; 3. Missouri Open Senate Seat is being sought by Rep. Alan Wheat(D-Mo) and is being challenged by pro-gun republican John Ashbrock; 4. Rep. Ron Coleman(D-Tx), claimed to be on our side in 1992, then voted against us on Brady and the "assault weapon" ban, is running against republican Bobby Ortiz; 5. Rep. Don Johnson(D-Ga) running against pro-gun republican Charles Norwood; 6. John Bryant(D-Tx) said his votes for Brady and the ban had nothing to do with firearms, is being challenged by republican Pete Sessions; 7. Rep. George "Buddy" Darden(D-Ga) needs replaced by pro-gun republican, Bob Barr; 8. Rep. Karen English(D-Az) needs replaced by pro-gun republican challenger, J.D. Hayworth; 9. Sen. Richard Bryan(D-NV) said gun control belongs at the state and local level, and then voted Clinton's way. Hal Furman is attempting to return Bryan to the local level; 10. Open Senate seat in Maine. Rep. Olympia Snowe(R-Me) needs your support; 11. Gov. Roy Romer(D-Co) is in a tight race against pro-gun republican Bruce Benson; 12. Last, but not least on the hit list is Gov. Ann Richards(D-Tx). She is on the verge of being replaced by pro-gun republican George Bush, Jr., son of the former President. In the above list, those names listed first are the ones that must be voted out of office. The "SAVERS" are as follows: 1. Rep. Harry Volkmer(D-Mo); 2. Rep Gerald Solomon(R-Ny); 3. Rep. Bill Brewster(D-Ok); 4. Rep. Rick Santorum(R-Pa) who is given a real shot at defeating incumbent Senator Harris Wofford(D-Pa); 5. Rep. Karen Thurman(R-Fl); 6. Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr.(R-Wi); 7. Sen. Orrin Hatch(R-Ut); 8. Rep. James Inhofe(R-Ok) has an excellent chance in Oklahoma; 9. Oliver North appears to be leading Sen. Chuck Robb in Virginia; 10. Sen. Trent Lott(R-Ms) has predicted that many members of Congress will have to answer for their anti-gun votes stands an excellent chance of being re-elected; 11. Sen. Connie Mack(R-Fl) is being challenged by Hillary's brother; 12. Rep. Duncan Hunter(R-Ca) helped put together a crime bill that didn't contain gun control and caused real problems for the White House. In this list, those we want elected are listed first. If you live in any of these states, or know anyone that lives in these states, contact them and spread this information to them. Call, write, fax or use the computer BBS. Spread the word on those we should vote for, and against. RUGER ARMS THE GESTAPO ... What a wonder is pro-Rights patriot, William Batterman Ruger. (Sarcasm!) First he tries to convince all gun owners that 10 round magazines are all any honest person could ever need. But gun owners told him to take a flying leap. Then in an interview on national television he asserts that he finds nothing wrong with background checks and gun registration and all the other oppressive crap coming out of Sarah Brady's well-paid mouth. Now it's rumored that he is converting his mini-14 to a 5 round fixed magazine and supposedly his company will soon sell no guns to "civilians" with over a 5 or 6 round "ammunition feeding device. (9 mm handguns may be an exception.) For years now, PRO's assessment was that all this pussy-footing and tippy-toeing up to the anti-gun line has had one purpose: To kiss the butts of the gun-grabbers in Washington so Bill Ruger can sell them large numbers of guns. And now the proof is here. Ruger has just introduced the MP9, 9mm submachine gun that is a revamped Uzi. You know, that bullet-spraying killing machine that every street gang punk uses to "gun down" innocent people as they "drive-by" ... or at least that's the way the media propagandists put it. And that's what all the do-gooders in la-la land (Hollywood) believe, so what will they say now that Ruger has purchased the old UZI design and vastly improved it to make it even more efficient in it's sole purpose: "the killing of human beings" I'll tell you. They will say nothing because they never worry about "killing machines" in government hands. They and Bill Ruger think only YOU shouldn't have one for ANY purpose ... killing or otherwise. But I'm sure the gun-grabbers have no problem whatever with the MP9's "invisible" plastic receiver, with its "ultra-high capacity" 32 round magazines or with the new tilt to the magazine well that improves the feed of "cop killer" hollow-point cartridges. The reason they have no problem is that this weapon is not designed for civilian self-defense, but rather for offensive use by government agents. That is, the gun's purpose is to kill civilians not save them. The review in the November 1994 Soldier of Fortune magazine notes, "There are few outdoor scenarios applicable to the submachine gun. It is most effective when deployed within the restricted and confined environment of an indoor setting." They note that at ranges no greater than room-length they are more effective than small assault weapons (full auto) and the reduced muzzle blast and flash also make them ideal indoors. Well isn't this special! Old man Ruger thinks you should be restricted to a 5 round hunting rifle while he gets richer supplying the national police with firearms whose "only purpose" is to spray hot lead around the inside of your house. What does he care that you and your family end up looking like Swiss cheese because the government thought that maybe you hadn't paid a $200 tax or maybe you had one of those dangerous unregistered "high capacity" 11 round ammunition feeding device "firearms." Just so long as he lands that big government order, he is happy as a clam. Phooey! Perhaps this is just one more reason why gun owners are continuing the Ruger boycott. ____________________________________________________________ "Two of the gravest general dangers to survival are the desire for comfort and a passive outlook." U.S. Army Ranger Handbook [Editors: Get off your butt and VOTE!] ____________________________________________________________ TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE ... Guns are good. Guns are great. Guns in the "right" hands are a wonderful thing. Of course, when it comes to gun control the emphasis is always on control. So now that the Clinton administration has armed the American people through their gun-grabbing policies, they are finally trying to stop the flow of cheap, effective imported firearms and ammunition to the exploding arms market across the land. First they banned all imports from China to correct the mistake they made in allowing a positively enormous pile of cheap Chinese guns and ammo into the country. It was a slight setback for those who have not yet bought a little SKS "insurance" but, hey, the Russians ones are better anyway. So now the State department is "reviewing" Russian arms imports to see if they should be allowed. But it gets better. The front page of the Oct 14, Gun Week contained the little blurb: "As Gun Week goes to press, representatives of firearm importers are meeting to decide what action to take in the face of a virtual halt in all firearms imports into the United States that already has been in place for several months." "Officials of the BATF have admitted to importers that the action was not based on any law but on orders straight from the White House. Importers had hoped to work quietly with the BATF to solve the problem, but now it appears they will be forced to go public. Several prominent members of Congress have agreed to spearhead their effort." Once again, it's the old "laws are for you, not for government officials" story. The imperial Clinton administration has one more time decided to chuck a nation of laws and simply rule by decree. But it gets STILL better. The Oct 17, Spotlight reports: "The Clinton administration has very quietly approved the sale and export of 50,000 US made [ed. Mossberg] shotguns to Russia, for the Russians to be better able to protect themselves against their country's burgeoning crime, particularly within Russian cities (you know, places similar to Chicago)." According to the March 14, Business Week, the gun exports could top "several hundred thousand units" and 100 million dollars. A State Department official said the White House is trying to keep a lid on the story because "It's a political hot potato." I would say it's a hot potato. After the biggest effort in the history of this country to illegally disarm every honest citizen and turn them into defenseless, helpless victims of criminals, the caring and feeling Clintonistas feel sorry for all the crime victims in Russia. But they don't help the Russians return to the old crime-free ways of totalitarian gun control. No, they help the Russians take the very American approach of keeping arms and defending yourself as a deterrent to crime. Apparently William Jefferson Clinton feels that American-style freedom "is for other countries, not for us." HUNTER'S EDUCATION... Gun safety is paramount whenever one handles a firearm, whether for self-defense, plinking or hunting. In the last several weeks since hunting season began in Ohio, there have been several tragic hunting accidents. These are directly attributed to stupidity. An 11-year old boy was walking back to the woods to hunt squirrel. He tripped, and killed himself with his .22 rifle. A fourteen-year-old boy fell out of his tree stand while hunting, seriously hurting himself. Both of these "accidents" were preventable. They learned how not to have these attacks of stupidity in their Hunter's Education course that all first-time hunters in Ohio are required to take. In class, students are taught not to load their firearm until they are at their hunting site. The 11-year-old loaded his rifle and began walking across a field with it. During his walk, he tripped or stumbled, and the rifle went "off." He also had his finger on the trigger when it should not have been. Guns do not just go "off." This incident was a tragedy of errors that ended in death. Never load your firearm until you are ready to hunt. If you have to cross a field, or a road, wait until you have done so before you load. Keep your d*mn finger off the d*mn trigger until you are ready to shoot. That means that you have your sights lined up on your game, and not while you are walking. And finally, never aim until you are sure it is game. Make sure of your target and what's beyond before you raise your firearm to aim. Align your sights and then put your finger on the trigger. When you are in a tree stand use a safety rope or strap to secure yourself to the tree. Tree stands are small pieces of equipment with very little foot-room. After you have reached your desired height in the tree, secure yourself to the tree with a strap or rope. Then adjust your seat and pull up your hunting gear with a rope. Never carry your bow and arrows, or gun while climbing up or down a tree. Use a rope. In all aspects of hunting, let's be careful out there. LOSERS ... The election is coming up and in every election there are some winners and some losers. However, some of the candidates have lost even before the people go to the polls. We know we will catch it for what we are about to say, because people really get hot under the collar about their favorite candidates, but it has to be said. Except in certain symbolic cases, PRO does not support candidates who have no chance to win. Politics is a game and if you don't play the game using established principles, you will be overwhelmed. Write-in candidates simply can't win. Write-in candidates have never won. Supporting write-in candidates is an exercise in futility. We know there are a number of really pro-gun, pro-rights write-in candidates running who have their staunch supporters, but we feel they are all a lost cause. If they're so great and so dedicated to changing politics as usual, then why didn't they take the time, first, to become a viable candidate. Get the petitions signed and run in the primary. Win there and you have a chance. The same goes to a lesser degree for independent and third party candidates. Here they actually can win, but first (and this is rarely done) they have to establish credibility with the public. If an independent comes out of nowhere and runs for President or the Senate without any proven political experience, he ain't going to win. Would you let a mechanic work on your car who said, "I've never worked on cars before, but I mean well and think just like you do!" Fat chance. Sure PRO very much agrees with most everything Joe Slovenec stands for, but the guy can't win. It's even worse than that: All he is going to do is take conservative votes away from Dewine and give us Son-o'-Baum as Senator. We've heard all the arguments, about how you have to stand for what you believe even if your guy can't win or if he gets the worst candidate elected. We don't agree. The game in politics is to move down the field. You want to make as much forward progress in each election as you can. This is how the gun-grabbers do it. Chip, chip, chip. It's not the hail-mary pass that will win the game but all the small yardage along the way. However, that having been said, we also want to say that at times you DO need to support a loser to send a message. Sure the opposition to Kasich and Pryce don't stand much of a chance, but this pair needs to get a message bad. Some people have told us that PRO is being to hard on them for voting for the Crime Bill. After all, they voted our way on most other gun legislation. Again, we don't agree. Some votes are much more important than others. If your legislators stick with you right up to the big vote on the core constitutional issues and then bail out, they are worse than those who opposed you all the way. We are reasonable. If E. J. Thomas supports a ban on Dove hunting, we down-grade him from an A to a B+. This is not major stuff. But when Kasich and Pryce vote to throw out the Second Amendment, we call that an F job. This can in no way be canceled by their opposition to "Brady." OK, it's certain Mr. Buckel can't win. One reason is he won't play the game. He won't take any contributions over $25 and won't take contributions from anyone outside his district. He can't win that way and never intended to win. The only reason he runs and loses all the time is that he wants a forum to bring certain issues into public view. He knows that by calling for higher taxes to pay off the deficit, he can't possibly get enough public support to win. (He is a tax and not-spend Democrat.) But nevertheless Citizens Against Crime endorses him, because Pryce needs a message. The message will be related to what percentage of the vote a certain loser can get. If it's big enough, it can be a little food for thought in the next two years. We know that there are bound to be people who are unhappy with our PAC's practical approach to candidates, but we know this is the path to final victory. If your candidate is a good guy and thinks like you then let him build credibility with the public. This is the route Amy Salerno is taking and it is clear to us, that win or lose, this hard work is eventually going to pay off in a win for her and a stanch supporter of Rights in high office for us. Anyway, this election we believe she will move from the loser to the winner column and that is what it is all about. REPUBLICAN PLATFORM... In the Republican Platform adopted August 17, 1992 are several interesting passages. One is on page 59. It states: "We reaffirm our commitment to the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution: "No person shall be... deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation." We support strong enforcement of this Takings clause to keep citizens secure in the use and development of their property." "The right to own, use, and dispose of property inheres in mankind by nature and is a fundamental political tenet of all free nations. We applaud the wisdom of the First Congress for incorporating this guarantee of individual liberty in the Bill of Rights. We remind all government officials that property rights are not granted by government; rather, government is directed by the governed to protect the rights of property owners." "The vigilant protection of private property rights safeguards for citizens everything of value, including their right of contract to produce and sell the fruits of their labor." One could draw from these three paragraphs that republicans should have voted against the crime bill because it stops Colt Mfg. Company and others from selling the fruits of their labors to law-abiding citizens. The passage of the so-called crime bill also denies American citizens from owning, using and disposing of their property in a manner that see fit. The above quotes were under the heading, "Private Property Rights." If one's firearms are not private property, what is? On page 47, they state: "We will not initiate any federal activity that can be conducted better on the State or local level." "In doing so, we reassert the crucial importance of the Tenth Amendment. We oppose costly federal mandates that stifle innovation and force tax hikes upon States and localities." Does this mean that republicans helped shove a federal bill down our throats that should have been handled on a state and local effort? The cost of the Brady and crime bills will be staggering to the American public. Especially the lawsuits. So far there have been five over the Brady bill. Under Individual Rights on page 24 of the republican manifesto, they state: "Republicans defend the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. We call for stiff mandatory sentences for those who use firearms in a crime. We note that those who seek to disarm citizens in their homes are the same liberals who tried to disarm our nation during the Cold War and are today seeking to cut our national defense below safe levels. We applaud congressional republicans for overturning the District of Columbia's law blaming firearm manufacturers for street crime." We now know that many republicans have voted to let felons play basketball until two in the morning. One wonders what they will do after a game of basketball? Go home, or go to your home full of energy and rape, rob and kill. Republicans also voted that we can own a Ruger mini-14, but not a Colt Sporter AR 15. Same cartridge. Same rate of fire. Over the past several weeks, PRO members have received letters and calls from the republicans for support and monies in this election cycle. Many are for the Senate and House races collectively, or for the Republican National Party. Many members replied that until the party forces its elected members to uphold the party platform, that no further donations will be sent to the Republican party. Tell them that you will pick and choose those that uphold the party platform in defense of your individual rights, not those that "vote their conscience," or cut three billion dollars from worthless legislation. Our current legislators in the 12th, 15th and 7th districts need to be sent a strong message in November at the ballot box. Adhere to the party platform or face tougher elections and possible defeat. In the 7th district, our republican candidate has no opposition in his re-election try. Don't vote for him. All he needs is one vote to win. If he receives little support from gun-owners in his district, maybe the Republican party in Ohio will wake up and support the Second Amendment. Copies of the republican manifesto can be obtained by writing to: The RNC,310 First Street, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003. We are not saying that you should give up on the party because a few members jumped ship, but we are saying that you can tell them that you expect the party to be able to keep its office holders in line with the party platform. ____________________________________________________________ "The right of self-defense is the first law of nature . . . and when the right of the people to keep and bear arms is, under any color or pretext whatsoever, prohibited, liberty, if not already annihilated, is on the brink of destruction." St. George Tucker, in his edition of Blackstone's Commentaries ____________________________________________________________ ARIZONA... National Guard troops in Arizona are trading in their combat boots for sneakers and t-shirts and are joining neighborhood action programs at several public housing sites throughout the state. The program is called SPIN, Supporting People In Neighborhoods. Members of the guard patrol housing projects and surrounding parks and act as the eyes and ears of the local police department. While on patrol, the guard members carry police radios and are told to request help if they witness any gang activity, drug dealing or street violence. Major H. Salazar, of the Arizona National Guard, said, "Our policy is if there's the least bit of any kind of confrontation or danger, they disengage and get the hell out of there and let the cops take care of it." The soldiers carry no weapons, wear uniforms consisting of t-shirts, shorts and sneakers, and have no special arrest powers. Their main function is to act as mentors for young people. They play basketball with them and drive them to the local pool. The soldiers are introduced into the areas in a very low-key, very friendly manner, to teach the residents the positive things about being more involved in the community and taking more responsibility for what's happening in the community. And here in Columbus, they want to put cam-corders in school buses, and even one high school wanted to put cameras in it's halls and rooms, and another has armed police roaming the halls to prevent violence. With soldiers acting like police and active surveillance of our school age children, George Orwell missed by only ten years. When I read 1984, our class had a discussion about it's portents. Most felt that things like that could never happen in America. We were wrong, and it is only going to get worse. Unless you go vote. Unless you campaign for those that have the same beliefs that you do. Unless you quit complaining about those that are doing something and pitch in and help them. Unless you get up and help protect your freedoms that you take for granted because we have had them for so long that many do not realize when their rights are being denied or eroded away. It is up to you to help your fellow citizens stay free. Register to vote. Vote. Help like-minded candidates. Quit watching the circuses on Sunday afternoon. Don't sit there and let America go the way of Rome and Greece. Fight back! (The above information about the use of National Guard troops as police was taken from the Law Enforcement News, Vol. XX, No. 407. The LEN article seemed to favor the use of soldiers in the community.) CORN PLANTING... A field in northwest Columbus has sprouted 106 ears of corn. Concrete corn, that is. The ears are 6-foot-tall and are already shucked. Along with the corn, there will be planted rows of Osage orange trees. Are these to be made out of concrete, too? The "Field of Corn" cost $70,000 and is at Sherex Park in Dublin, Ohio. This is the same suburb of Columbus that drove it's only gun store out of town. The money for the agricultural marvel came from the city's hotel-motel bed tax. Dublin could have hired a special teacher for one year, and had that person teach firearm safety and the Eddie Eagle program to all the school-age children of Dublin. But no, they decide to plant concrete corn. One wonders when Columbus will erect a concrete cow to eat the concrete corn. What a waste of money! GUN SEIZURES... The Crime Control Institute of Washington, D.C. conducted a survey of 30 large cities, including Phoenix, Albuquerque, Birmingham, Sacramento and Chicago. One of the most striking results of the survey was that most departments weren't sure how many firearms were seized by their officers because they DO NOT KEEP SUCH RECORDS. Researchers Carol Bridgeforth and Dr. Lawrence Sherman wrote, "Given the high visibility of the gun crime issue in recent years, it would seem that gun-seizure data would be an important administrative statistic for all police agencies." Sherman is president of the Crime Control Institute. "The results show otherwise. Almost half of the big-city police agencies were unable to tell us how many guns their officers seized last year." They added, "Perhaps we could take more guns off the streets, and prevent more gun crime, if we would simply start counting how many guns we are already taking." Sherman went on to say that the absence of gun-seizure data is shocking and said that finding "may be the most important contribution of the study." "If you have departments that aren't even paying attention to that number, then clearly nobody's putting much emphasis on getting the guns off of the street." Phoenix led with 331 gun seizures per 100 police employees. Albuquerque with 321. Birmingham with 276. Sacramento had 275. Memphis had 231. Oakland had 214. Indianapolis had 211 along side of Chicago. Dallas had 197 and Kansas City had 194. New York City was at the bottom of the list with 47 seized guns per 100 police employees. In the rankings of guns seized per 100,000 people Chicago ranked first with 1,075. Birmingham second with 1,004, followed by St. Louis with 914, Albuquerque with 872, and Phoenix with 860. When seizures were ranked per 100 homicides, Albuquerque ranked first with 8,333, followed by Phoenix with 6,324. Sacramento had 5,507, Louisville had 3,910 and Seattle had 3,337. The researchers said that the disparity could be explained by geographic factors, and pointed out that there are more guns per person in the South than in the North, and more in the far West than in the Midwest. The study also revealed that half of the 30 city police departments surveyed indicated that seized weapons not returned to owners were melted down, shredded, blown up with dynamite, grinding, crushing or cutting them with metal shears. (The above information was taken from an article in the September 30, 1994, Law Enforcement News, Vol. XX, No. 408.) ____________________________________________________________ CLIP THIS PAGE ! [You may take this with you into the voting booth.] Citizens Against Crime Candidate Endorsements Office Candidate NRA Rating (Federal) U.S. Senate Mike Dewine (C) U.S. House of Representatives District 1 Steve Chabot (A) District 6 Ted Strictland (A+) District 10 Martin R. Hoke (A+) District 12 Cynthia Ruccia (?) District 14 Lynn C. Slaby (A) District 15 Bill Buckel (B) District 18 Bob Ney (A) (State) Governor George Voinovich (A) Attorney General Betty Montgomery (C) Supreme Court Sara J. Harper (?) (Local) Court of Appeals Sharon A. McClella (?) Court of Appeals Bill Klatt (?) Common Pleas David Mendel (?) Common Pleas John S. Marshall (?) Common Pleas Susan L. Brown (?) Common Pleas David E. Cain (?) County Commissioner Mark S. Froehlich (See page 11) (State Senator) 15th District Michelle D. Fulks (F) (State Representative) 21st District Frank Blacksher (?) 22nd District Sidney Stern (?) 23rd District Amy Salerno (A) 24th District JoAnn Davidson (C) 25th District James Mason (A) 26th District Pat Tiberi (A) 27th District E. J. Thomas (B+) 28th District William Shuck (B+) Citizens Against Crime is a Political Action Committee. Contributions are not tax deductible and contributions cannot be accepted from corporations. Patricia Johnson is Treasurer. Citizens Against Crime, 2161 Katrina Ln. Columbus, OH, 43211 ____________________________________________________________ VOTERS INFORMATION GUIDE Election 1994 takes place on Tuesday, November 8. The ballot will be filled with candidates seeking election to one of thirty-four different offices available to be filled in the State of Ohio and in Franklin County. This array of candidates can be confusing to the average voter, especially those voters who are desirous of knowing the candidates' position on gun control issues. What follows here is a brief discussion of the various candidates aimed at informing the public of any candidates' official stand and/or public comment upon the issues of gun control. NRA and Ohio Constitution Defense Council ratings are included. STATE OF OHIO Governor and Lt. Governor (Since the Governor and Lt. Governor run as a team, we will indicate only the candidate for governor.) Robert L. Burch Official position unknown. However, has enjoyed the support of gun owners within his State Senate District. NRA rating A. George V. Voinvoich Official position unknown. While Governor, however, Mr. Voinvoich has generally been supportive of gun owner's rights. In his first (successful) gubernatorial campaign, he took the position that he would support no new gun laws for Ohio. However, he has not re-affirmed that position in this campaign. He appointed a commission to study gun violence which included prominent members of shooting groups from around the State. NRA rating A. Billie R. Inmon Has publicly taken a position generally favorable to the rights of gun owners. Attorney General Lee Fisher While a member of the Ohio Senate, and later as Attorney General, has publicly supported all manner of gun control legislation including handgun registration, the Brady Bill, and the assault weapons ban. While a Senator, made the following statement: "I never met a gun control bill I didn't like." NRA rating F-. Betty Montgomery Official position unknown, but as State Senator, has generally been supportive of the rights of gun owners. NRA rating C. Guy Templeton Black Position unknown. United States Senator Joel Hyatt Has publicly voiced support for the Brady Bill and called for the passage of the assault weapons ban contained in the Crime Bill. NRA rating F. OCDC rating F. Mike DeWine While a member of Congress, publicly supported the Brady Bill and as a candidate for the U.S. Senate, has publicly supported the assault weapons ban which was included in the Crime Bill. NRA rating C. OCDC rating D. Joseph J. Slovenec Has publicly taken positions generally supporting the rights of gun owners. Justice of the Supreme Court Alice Robie Resnick While a member of the Ohio Supreme Court, voted to uphold the Cleveland assault weapons ban. Sara J. Harper Position unknown. FRANKLIN COUNTY Representative to Congress (12th District) Cynthia L. Ruccia Favors the assault weapons ban, the Brady Bill and further efforts at gun control. NRA rating ?. OCDC rating F. John R. Kasich Voted for the assault weapons ban and the Crime Bill recently passed. Voted against the Brady Bill. NRA rating F. OCDC rating F. Representative to Congress (15th District) Bill Buckel Against any form of federal gun control. NRA rating B. OCDC rating C+ Deborah Pryce Voted for the assault weapons ban and the Crime Bill. Voted against the Brady Bill. NRA rating F. OCDC rating F. Judge of the Court of Appeals (10th District) Cynthia Lazarus While a member of the Columbus City Council, voted for the Columbus assault weapons ban. Sharon A. McClellan Position unknown. Judge of the Court of Appeals (10th District) Peggy Bryant While on the Court of Appeals, voted to uphold the Columbus assault weapons ban. Bill Klatt Position unknown. Judge of the Court of Common Pleas David Mendel Position unknown. Evelyn J. Stratton While a Judge on the Common Pleas Court, publicly called for the passage of 5-day waiting periods. Judge of the Court of Common Pleas Charles M. Lease Position unknown. Strongly endorsed by Lee Fisher and John Glenn. David E. Cain Position unknown. Judge of the Court of Common Pleas John S. Marshall Position unknown. Dale A. Crawford While sitting on the Court of Common Pleas, upheld the Columbus assault weapons ban. Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (Domestic Relations) Ronald L. Solove While a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, issued an Order to require all persons, including litigants and lawyers, who desire access to the Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations, to submit to a metal detector test. Susan L. Brown Position unknown. County Commissioner Mark S. Froehlich Has made public policy statements against any form of gun control. Dewey R. Stokes While President of the Fraternal Order of Police, made public appeals for passage of the Brady Bill and the assault weapons ban. State Senator (3rd District) Christina L. Cox Position unknown. NRA rating F. OCDC rating C-. Bruce E. Johnson Position unknown. NRA rating C+ OCDC rating ?. State Senator (15th District) Ben Espy While a Member of the Columbus City Council, voted in favor of the Columbus assault weapons ban and as State Senator has supported every gun control initiative introduced into the Ohio Senate. NRA rating F. Michelle D. Fulks Position unknown. NRA rating F. State Representative (21st District) Otto Beatty, Jr. Routinely votes in favor of every gun control initiative introduced in the Ohio House. NRA rating F. OCDC rating F. Frank Blacksher Position unknown. NRA rating ?. OCDC rating A. Michael E. Goins Position unknown. State Representative (22nd District) Charleta B. Tavares Appointed successor to Ray Miller. Was administrative assistant to Ray Miller while Miller was in the Ohio House. During his tenure, Miller voted for every gun control initiative introduced in the House. Tavares has indicated that she supported Miller's record in that regard and intends to favor further gun control initiatives in the Ohio House. NRA rating ?. OCDC rating F. Sidney Stern Position unknown. NRA rating ?. OCDC rating F. Roberta Booth Position unknown. State Representative (23rd District) Mike Stinziano While in the House, has supported every Democratic-introduced gun control initiative. NRA rating F. OCDC rating F. Amy Salerno Has publicly stated her opposition to any gun control initiatives. NRA rating A. OCDC rating A. State Representative (24th District) Steve Ording Position unknown. NRA rating F. OCDC rating D. JoAnn Davidson Has generally opposed any gun control initiative in the Ohio House. NRA rating C. OCDC rating F. State Representative (25th District) Nancy M. White Position unknown. NRA rating ?. OCDC rating F. James W. Mason Has publicly taken a stand against gun control initiatives in the Ohio House. NRA rating ?. OCDC rating F. State Representative (26th District) Pat Tiberi Position unknown. NRA Rating A, OCDC rating B. (Unopposed) State Representative (27th District) Thomas V. Erney Position unknown. NRA rating ?. OCDC rating F. E. J. Thomas Has taken public positions against gun control initiatives in the Ohio House and has expressed a willingness to introduce legislation authorizing the carrying of concealed weapons by permit holders. NRA rating B+. OCDC rating A. State Representative (28th District) Pricilla D. Mead Position unknown. NRA rating ?. OCDC rating F. (Unopposed) State Representative (29th District) Don Haines Position unknown. NRA rating F. OCDC rating C+. William Schuck Has taken public positions against any gun control initiatives in the Ohio House. NRA rating B+. OCDC rating B+. While the People's Rights Organization cannot take a position endorsing one candidate over another, it is hoped that the above brief description of the candidates' views on gun control issues will be informative and helpful to voters in evaluating candidates this November 8. _______________________________________________________________ BILL BUCKEL ON 2ND ... Bill Buckel is running against Deborah Pryce for congressman in the 15th district. He has been rated B by the NRA and as we promised, we are publishing his official position paper on the Second Amendment: THE 2ND AMENDMENT The framers of the U.S. Constitution tried to strike a balance between (a) having the national government use armed citizens and "well-regulated militia" to assist in the defense of national interests and (b) make it possible for armed citizens and "well-regulated militia" to defend their own Constitutional rights against a repressive government. One of the several concepts that divided the Federalists and Antifederalists of 200 years ago is still with us today in the gun-control controversy. In this instance, the Federalist position being something like, "Government employees are there to protect us. Therefore, they alone have need for firearms." The Anti-federalist saying, "While government is necessary, one should not always trust those who work for it. Thus, it is best to have an armed population -- just in case." Consistent with the Anti-federalist view, I favor: 1. Removing nearly all restrictions and tracings on the manufacture and sale of small arms and ammunition up to and including 50 caliber automatic weapons to adult law-abiding citizens. In other words, I do not support either direct repeal of the 2nd Amendment or the systematic infringement of it with restrictive laws. In general, any small arms technology available to agents of the government should also be available to the adult law-abiding population. Mere possession by ordinary citizens of such weapons would not be a crime. Of course, misuse would be. 2. Requiring all firearms to be sold with a gun safety manual. All manufacturers and importers of a firearm would be required to file a copy of the safety manual with the National Technical Information Service for microfilming and resale at a cost-recovery price. Manufacturers and importers would be responsible for the quality (safety and accuracy) of their products. 3. Continuing to consider it unlawful for a person deemed "unworthy of gun ownership" by a court judgement, to possess a firearm. Continue to have it unlawful for a minor to carry a firearm unless under the supervision of a parent or gun-safety instructor. 4. Providing some Federal matching funds for firearm-safety class in high schools. 5. Reducing the size of the standing military from the current funding of nearly $300 billion per year to about $150 billion per year. Use $10 billion per year (it is now about $6 billion) to maintain cost-effective well-regulated and well-equipped part-time and volunteer militia in any state and county that wants one. In addition, encourage those who own fire arms to join either a state or local volunteer militia. To the extent practical, allow these militia to be under local control and free of the command structure of the standing military. FROEHLICH POSITION ... Franklin Co. Commissioner candidate Mark S. Froehlich is running against the F rated FOP president Dewey Stokes. For your information, PRO is publishing his position statement: Politicians have long been searching for the ultimate issue that touches our hearts and pulls at our emotions. Once these ultimate issues are identified, more time is spent selecting a "politically correct" position than working towards meaningful discussion. Crime is such an issue. In my eleven years as an elected Mayor in Franklin County I have never met any other elected official who did not want to fight crime or work towards safer streets. I am no different. Unfortunately, however, I see too many people more eager to jump on a headline grabbing bandwagon than trying to identify and solve the real problem of crime. Gun buy-backs, weapons bans or gun purchase waiting periods are "politically correct" positions that many support in hopes of capturing the crime issue. My opponent in this year's race for county commissioner, FOP President Dewey Stokes, is one such individual. To paraphrase a quote from President Harry S. Truman, "There are two sets of laws that we need to live by, the Holy Bible and the Bill of Rights." Fighting crime must be more than taking a weapon away from your law abiding neighbor or by trading a nonworking gun for a voucher for groceries. Fighting crime means building more prisons, providing law enforcement agencies with the personnel and equipment they need to fight crime, as well as taking steps to build communities that have adequate street lighting, alternative activities for our young people, and encouraging neighborhood participation in making our streets safer. We must work to build good and strong neighborhoods, where people are not held hostage in their homes due to a small percentage of our population that commits crime. We must not forget that criminals are criminals, and law abiding citizens are law abiding citizens. If we enforce the laws we have now to keep the criminal element off our streets, what need will we ever have to enact restrictive legislation? The last time I looked it was still a crime to murder your neighbor whether one used a handgun, a knife or an automobile. I began my career as an assistant attorney general in the crime victims section. In my private law practice I have clients who have been victimized and who have lost loved ones to violent crime. I understand how a criminal act can completely devastate a family. The victims of crime many times are victimized twice, once by the criminal, and then often times by the criminal system itself. I will work to ensure that victim's rights are effectively addressed. I ask that voters take a moment to Consider the candidates carefully. Are they supporting candidates that offer solid solutions to a problem or are they electing individuals interested only in grabbing headlines? As a county commissioner I hope to have the opportunity to provide leadership that will help reduce crime in Franklin County. I will do that administratively by funding our sheriff's office to the highest level possible and by ensuring that our has the funds and resources necessary to provide fair and swift justice to those who commit Crime. Crime can only be reduced by action, not talk! On November 8th we can make a difference ! SAVED BY GRIDLOCK... Last month we reported on S. 349, the lobby "reform" bill that would have required grassroots organizations to turn in their membership lists. As you know the bill started as a simple reform measure and then when the Crime Bill sponsors got phenomenal grassroots opposition that nearly killed the seditious Crime Bill for good, they sneaked a revenge measure into the lobby bill. The bill passed the House, but thanks to your calls and the republicans the bill was killed. Democrat gun-grabbers are all over the media claiming that republicans are blocking "progress" and "reform" again, but the truth is that the blockers need to be thanked. I always tell people that I consider Eisenhower to be the best President we ever had. "But all he ever did was play golf all the time," they protest. "Yes," I say, "That's exactly the point, isn't it?" It's the ones always trying to "do something" that worry me. If you called to oppose the lobby registration bill we thank you and if not, you can thank the republicans (except in the races with PAC endorsed Democrats) when you vote November 8. WIRETAP LAW PASSES ... On October 7, 1994 the congress passed HR 4922 / S 2375. This is the wiretap bill we discussed last month. Jerry Berman, Policy Director of the Electronic Freedom Foundation, said: "Although we remain unconvinced that this legislation is necessary, the bill draws a hard line around the Internet and other online networks. We have carved cyberspace out of this legislation." The bill also raises the standard required to obtain online transactional records from a subpoena to a court order and provides no expansion of law enforcement authority to wiretap. The bill also recognizes a citizens right to use encryption. But you can expect "wiretap II" since gun-grabbing FBI director Louis Freeh told attendees at a conference on Global Cryptography that if the government "clipper" encryption chip with the built-in back door fails to catch on he will ask congress to solve the problem of private encryption equipment. Thus Congress could force all manufacturers to include a "clipper"-like back door or even outlaw private encryption schemes all together. Buried in the background briefing papers of the original Clipper announcement, is a statement that the White House doesn't consider the public's right to use private encryption methods are protected anywhere in the Constitution. VOTE!!!... November 8, 1994 is an extremely important date for all gun owners. It is the day that we can take back our Congress and make our elected officials responsible to us once again. This is the day that we need to be heard all over the country. If they voted for the Brady Bill or the Assault Weapon Ban or the Crime Bill, VOTE AGAINST THEM! Speaker of the House, Tom Foley, is in trouble in Washington State. Senator Ted Kennedy is in trouble in Massachusetts. Governor Mario Cumo is in trouble in New York State. Rep. Synar, democrat from Oklahoma, has already been defeated. Feinstein, in California is in trouble. Metzenbaum has resigned and his hand-picked successor, Joel Hyatt, is behind in the polls. Attorney General Fisher is barely in the lead against Betty Montgomery here in Ohio. How can these anti's be defeated? And how can we elect pro-gun candidates? You have to vote on Nov. 8, 1994. You have to make calls to your friends to have them vote. Hell, even offer to drive them to the polls. If you are going to be out of town, contact your County Board of Elections and get an Absentee Ballot sent to you. This is the election that we must do away with party lines. We must vote against those who voted against our Second Amendment and vote for their opponents. In some cases this is not much of a change, but change is needed. Remember that the Crime Bill would not have passed without the help of the Clinton republicans. These Clinton Republicans deserted us, so we are going to vote against them once. Don't think that your vote doesn't count. It does. In 1990, Attorney General Lee Fisher would not have won the election if one gun owner in each ward had voted for his opponent. That is how close we came to defeating him. We can do it this election, but only by informed voting. Elsewhere in this issue is a Voter's Guide that has been compiled by the Ohio Constitution Defense Council, the NRA and PRO. It is a guide only, not an endorsement of any candidate. We would be well ahead if we took it to the polls on Nov. 8 and used it to vote out the anti-gun candidates. GUN SHOW Don't forget the Circleville gun show November 12-13. For info: (614) 523-7759 ____________________________________________________________ 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 Michael T. Regan, Chairman; Ron Herman, Vice Chairman Dennis Walker, Secretary; Sherry Herman, 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 your 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. Unlimited electronic distribution of all or part of this text file is permitted so long as this footer remains attached. PRO general meetings are held the third Tuesday of every month at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, W. Broad St. Columbus, Ohio. "That government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth" _________________________________________________________________