The
      PROponent

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

Volume 6               December, 1994                  Number 12

(headline)
Hunting Rifle Ban!


COLUMBUS TO BAN ALL SEMI-AUTO HUNTING RIFLES ...

     As we reported in previous issues, the Columbus, Ohio "assault
weapon" ban was overturned in court.  The appeals court found the
law to be confusing and vague.  The City had several options.  One
was to appeal the ruling and the other was to simply pay the NRA
more than $60,000 in legal fees as required by the court.
     Once again the City Council decided that taxpayer money was of
much less concern to them, than the thought of all those gun owners
in town keeping their hunting rifles.  It's pretty clear that the
Democrats on City Council didn't notice anything unusual in the
last election and are dedicated to the final destruction of their
own party by continuing the misguided gun-control policies that
caused the political earthquake in Ohio and Washington D.C.
     In typical high-handed fashion, city council president John P.
Kennedy (doubtless, with a little help from his gun-grabbing
friends) came up with the tricky new ordinance and intended to push
it through without any press coverage, discussions or hearings.
Unfortunately, Cynthia Lazarus objected to passing a bill the
council members hadn't read and it was tabled for one meeting.  (We
really don't understand this attitude: If someone high up wanted
this ban, that should have been enough for Council!  Chuckle!)
     The new hunting rifle ban is modeled after the Cleveland ban,
which the court in overturning the previous Columbus ban strongly
suggested would be viewed favorably by them.  Furthermore the
Cleveland ban passed muster with the Ohio Supreme court which ruled
that Constitutional Rights can be infringed provided city fathers
do it in a "reasonable" fashion.  Banning all self-loading hunting
rifles sure sounded reasonable to the court in the Cleveland case
and will doubtless be just as reasonable in Columbus.
     The trick wording that bans all self-loaders is: "'assault
weapon' means: (1) any semiautomatic action, centerfire rifle or
carbine that accepts a detachable magazine with a capacity of 20
rounds or more."  Obviously the people aren't supposed to notice
that ANY rifle that accepts a detachable magazine can "accept" one
holding more than 20 rounds.  Note that such a magazine does not
even have to have ever been manufactured.  Just the theoretical
possibility that someone "could" make one is enough.
     So it's good-bye Mini-14, probably the most popular
auto-loading hunting rifle ever made.  And there is no grandfather
clause either.  All you hunters were just sitting in your homes
with your Marlin camp rifle in the gun case and overnight you went
from law-abiding citizen to criminal!  Your house suddenly became
a cache of contraband ready for some judge to use your hunting
license records as "probable cause" to have police smash in your
door, trash your home and roust you and your family looking for
your "contraband" "assault weapons."
     The only "good news" if you can call it that, is that the
shotgun and handgun portions of the ban are much milder.  Only
"semi-auto shotguns with a magazine capacity of more than 6 rounds"
are declared to be "assault weapons."  Also handguns which are a
modification of a semi-auto rifle, or a full-auto firearm, or a
handgun which was "originally designed to accept a detachable
magazine with a capacity of more than 20 rounds" are banned.  What
"originally designed" means, I presume is up to the judge in your
case.  Also .22 rimfire firearms are excluded provided they don't
have a magazine capacity of more than 20 rounds.
     "Large capacity magazines" of more than 20 rounds are also
banned.  However, there is an exception for .22 rimfire.  Thus, you
can keep your 10-22 banana clip, but if you put it in the gun, you
are a criminal.
     Another feature of the ordinance is a great deal of repetition
of state law on firearms, including concealed carry laws.  We can
only assume that the trick here is either to put someone found
carrying in double jeopardy by charging them both with a city and
state crime (where you are presumed guilty and must prove your
innocence twice!) or else to move jurisdiction to municipal courts
where the city might have greater influence on the court.
In either case, the inclusion of Ohio Revised Code provisions into
a city ordinance seems a capricious assault upon the legal rights
of gun owners.
     In some cases the ORC law is "improved" by the city.  For
example, it is an "unlawful transaction in weapons" to "Knowingly
exhibit for sale in a show window, any firearm."  Also, discharge
of a firearm, airgun, or "any ... thing filled with any explosive
substance" is a crime, unless (get this!) you are a criminal "in
the commission of a felony" or have a permit issued by the Director
of Public Safety.
     Let's see ... Hunters have their guns banned, but felons can't
even be charged with discharge of a firearm if they shoot someone
sticking up a carry-out!  City Council is getting tough on crime
now!
     This is going to be a tough fight for PRO members.  The courts
have already said they don't find a total semi-auto ban to be an
infringement of rights.  They have already determined that the
Second Amendment does not apply within Ohio borders.  This
ordinance was written by gun-grabbers who really understand
firearms.  There are no cowtown lawyer loopholes like those in the
last ban, like using the term .22 caliber instead of .22 rimfire.
     The tricky "can accept" wording is going to make it difficult
to educate the public that this bans hunting rifles and not just a
few machinegun look-alikes as the last ordinance did.  This will
make a referendum vote an uphill fight.  But all hope is not lost.
Once those South-enders in the land of giant garbage cans,
understand that city council is out to give them the shaft one more
time, they will come out to vote.  The last election proved that.
     There is little doubt that Mr. Wolfe and all the other
bird-hunting movers and shakers will think that taking hunting
rifles away from Columbus citizens is a great idea so long as they
get to keep their expensive shotguns.  Well, we don't agree.  These
people may own the newspaper and have all the money, but PRO would
like to point out that "We the people" still have the votes, just
in case any of them missed the last election.

CITY GUN POLITICS ...

     Some people never learn in that they continue to operate
politics as usual.  This is even more disturbing since the defeat
of many incumbent Democrats in the recent election.
     Residents of Columbus recently won their lawsuit against the
Columbus ban on "assault" rifles.  The city filed a counter suit
that was defeated and the haggling of fees commenced.  Following is
a letter from Stephen Halbrook, Ph.D., Attorney at Law, that
handled the case for the plaintiffs.

Dear Editor:
     In response to your inquiry, the following sets forth the
status of the challenge to the Columbus, Ohio, ordinance
prohibiting "assault weapons."
     On July 11, 1994, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth
Circuit declared the ordinance unconstitutionally vague and
irrational.  The opinion is published as Springfield Armory, Inc.
V City of Columbus, 29 F.3d 250 (6th Cir. 1994)  On August 31,
1994, the Court of Appeals denied the City's motion for a
rehearing, holding that to declare only a part of the ordinance
void and not all of it would "make the ordinance even more
irrational that it is now."
     On October 4, 1994, we filed a petition in the U.S. District
Court for attorney's fees against the City under the federal Civil
Rights Act.  The petition seeks approximately $70,000 in legal
fees.  That petition remains pending at this time.
     Please contact me should you require any further information.
As an aside, I would note that I believe this precedent will be
persuasive in any challenge to the newly-enacted federal
prohibition on "assault weapons," which has similar vagueness
problems.

Sincerely,
Stephen Halbrook

     Since this letter was written, the City of Columbus has
settled the fees at $63,000.  This could have brought over 100
firearms for the police department, or five police cruisers or made
Eddie Eagle available to all students in the Columbus Public School
system.  But no, our city council enacted bad legislation that has
cost them lives and many thousands of dollars.
     Our murder rate has not fallen.  It has even hit record highs
since the gun ban became law.  Drive-by shootings have risen.  As
have carjackings.  The gun ban did nothing except make the streets
safer for the thugs and criminals of our city.  It has also driven
honest citizens to move out of Columbus or to become criminals
themselves.
     The perfidy doesn't stop there.  When the City Attorney's
office was negotiating with Halbrook, they offered to pay cash for
the whole $70,000 if he promised not to become involved in any
further litigation with Columbus if they introduced new legislation
to ban firearms.  He told them no.  The City finally paid him
$63,000 and are now planning to introduce a Cleveland-type
ordinance to ban firearms.  It is possible that the City will
outlaw any firearms that accept a magazine.
     On November 7, 1994, the City Council scheduled a vote to
correct conflicting laws in the City Code and the Ohio Revised
Code.  It was delayed for further public input.  The criminal code
changes are supposed to eliminate duplication in existing laws and
remove outdated rules (such as the gun ban of 1989), but it seems
to us as if the proposed ordinance just adds more duplication.
     On Friday, November 18, 1994, the council had nothing on it's
agenda concerning firearms.  On the following Monday, they
supposedly added the new gun ban to the "LATE AGENDA".  Late agenda
means 4pm.  A copy of the proposed gun changes was obtained through
the office of Jennette Bradley.  Copies were sent to the PRO
lawyers and Board members.  City council meetings begin at 5pm,
thus making it too late to coordinate our phone tree or to get any
decent amount of people to City Hall to protest this action.
     What had been planned by Council president John Kennedy, was
to read the new gun ban into the criminal code and waive the first
reading thus making an immediate vote possible.  In the council
meeting, Cynthia Lazarus tabled the ordinance because no one on
council knew what was in it and that they did not have time to read
it.  It will be heard on November 28, 1994.
     The ordinance was introduced by the City Attorney's office,
and was drafted by them at the orders of Council President John P.
Kennedy.  The same Kennedy that introduced similar legislation in
1989.  One would suppose that democrats had learned not to conduct
business as usual with the results from the recent election still
reverberating across the land.  Thanks to Lazarus, PRO and other
gun owners in Columbus have a week to mount a defense against this
legislation.

CITY ORDINANCE 2323.11...

     The new city ordinance defines deadly weapons, assault
weapons, firearms, handguns, semi-automatic firearms, automatic
firearms and large capacity magazines in the usual anti-gun manner.
An assault weapon is:
     (1)  any semiautomatic action, center fire rifle or carbine
that accepts a detachable magazine with a capacity of 20 rounds or
more;
     (2)  any semiautomatic shotgun with a magazine capacity of
more than 6 rounds;
     (3)  any semiautomatic handgun that is:
     (a)  a modification of a rifle described in division (a)(1),
or a modification of an automatic firearms; or
     (b)  originally designed to accept a detachable magazine with
a capacity of more than 20 rounds.

     Since any semi-automatic firearm can accept any size magazine
that is made for it, it would seem that the City Attorney's office
and John P. Kennedy are trying to outlaw all semi-automatic
firearms.  This would mean that they would have to be removed from
the confines of the city of Columbus.
     This hypothesis is proven in section 2323.31, Unlawful
Possession of Assault Weapons.  It reads:
     (A)  No person shall sell, offer or display for sale, give,
lend, or transfer ownership of, acquire or possess any assault
weapon.
     Of course this does not apply to law enforcement officers of
the U.S., this state, this city, and members of the armed forces of
the U.S. or this state if such person is authorized to acquire or
possess an assault weapon and is acting within the scope of his
duties.
     The same restrictions apply to ownership of large capacity
magazines.  No one can own a magazine that:  Means a box, drum,
clip or other container which holds more than twenty rounds of
ammunition to be fed continuously into a semi-automatic firearm,
except a magazine designed to hold only .22 caliber firearms.
Police officers, etc., are not banned from having these terrible
destructive devices.  Just common citizens.
     When you read this, the ordinance will probably have become
law, but you should still call John P. Kennedy and voice your
objections against this repetitious legislation.  These types of
firearms are covered under the recently enacted federal law
concerning "assault weapons" in the Crime Bill.  Why the
redundancy?
     Kennedy had his ego hurt when the citizens of Columbus
rebelled against what he knew was best for us.  It was further
damaged when we filed two lawsuits against the city.  His ego
suffered further degradation when his first gun ban was ruled
invalid.  So this current ordinance is his revenge.  Our revenge
will be in two years when we unseat him in his re-election bid.
     Here are the numbers for city council:
          Clerk, of Council:       645-7380
          John P. Kennedy:    645-8558
          Matt Habash         645-8564
          Cynthia Lazarus          645-8557
          M.D. Portman        645-8571
          Les Wright          645-8580
          Michael Coleman     645-8561
          Jennette Bradley         645-8559

          Mayor Greg Lashutka 645-7671
          City Attorney       645-7385
          FAX for City Council     645-6164.
     These are the only numbers available at this time.

JEWISH NAZIS ...

     I'm sure that Rush Limbaugh listeners have heard him going on
about "male lesbians", but now we have a new one for you ... Jewish
Nazis.
     Let me explain in some detail.  There was a time in this
country, when discrimination was commonplace.  The Klan was strong
and even local law enforcement officers were members.  The target
was not only blacks.  A Jew going into a restaurant or hotel would
often as not be told that Jews were not allowed.  And while blacks
may have had their own "separate but equal" drinking fountains and
restrooms, however scroungy they might have been, Jews had no
alternatives ... save one ... to stand up and fight for their
Rights.  So in 1913 the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith was
born.
     But after the Civil rights movement of the 60's, the Klan was
reduced to little more than a pimple on the rear end of progress
and the great swell of enthusiasm for Hitler's ideas had shrunk to
little more than a few strutting nuts with shaved heads.  But just
like a commission formed to solve a parking problem, the ADL could
not just declare victory.  Their  existence demanded a continued
struggle.  If the problem was gone then so were their jobs.   So
they redoubled their efforts, but this time as an attack on civil
rights rather than to defend them.
     Just as the March of Dimes found new enemies once polio was
cured, the ADL expanded to fight to include the religious right,
gun owners, and now the unorganized militia.  In short, they turned
exactly 180 degrees from defending what America stands for to a
frontal attack on the Bill of Rights.  The principles they adopted,
all-powerful government, gun bans, restriction of rights,
propaganda, religious intolerance, spying, and keeping of dossiers,
were astoundingly those of the very Nazis they had been fighting.
     The latest ADL assault is a report titled, "ARMED & DANGEROUS:
Militias Take Aim At The Federal Government"  Speaking of militias,
the report concludes, "There is no right, however, to use force or
violence either to impose one's views on others or to resist laws
properly enacted."  The ADL support of Nazi gun control laws and
their apparent view that citizens should have not resisted Hitler's
"properly enacted" laws is amazing.  They do not seem to understand
the subtle difference between "properly enacted" and "lawfully
enacted."
        Abraham H. Foxman, ADL national director, said, "The
militias' target is plainly the democratic process itself.  To be
'fed up' with government is one thing, to call for armed resistance
is quite another.  We are especially troubled, but not surprised,
that they are attracting racists and anti-Semites."
     A recent story in the November 13, Columbus Dispatch quotes
Alan S. Katchen, director of our three state region as saying,  "We
know that some of the leaders of these militias, although they are
loosely knit organizations, have a history of being involved in
racist and anti-Semite movements."  "I think this is a lot more
dangerous than a Ku Klux Klan rally someplace. These people are
preparing for armed conflict."
     So what do you do about all these "dangerous" people?  Why,
you do the things any Gestapo-minded organization would do: you
hire spies and infiltrators, you collaborate with government
agencies, you amass dossiers on "suspicious" people and you
infiltrate police departments.  In the notorious San Francisco ADL
investigation more than 700 pages of documents were made public
that allege that there was a "regional and possibly nationwide" spy
network paid for by ADL.  During the probe, ADL files on some
12,000 individuals and 950 organizations were confiscated in
California alone!  The ADL had collected information on not just
right-wing extremists, but their activities included spying on the
ACLU, anti-apartheid groups, Arab-American rights groups and even
progressive Jewish groups.
     In the past the ADL has often shared it's information gathered
on right-wing groups with local and national law enforcement
agencies.  But the information was going both ways.  In the San
Francisco case a former SFPD agent was charged with 11 felony
counts of theft of confidential government documents.  Tom Gerrard,
the spy, was recently sentenced to 3 years probation, a $2,500 fine
and 45 days in jail closing the case.   Nevertheless ADL leaders
dismissed the pile of San Francisco evidence of spying as
"phantasmagoria."
     So just where did PRO get these reports lifting the lid on ADL
activities against civil rights organizations?  Have your editors
been reading the "anti-Zionist" Spotlight again?  Wrongo in the
Congo!  These reports were in the July 1993 issue of the newsletter
of the left-wing civil rights group NCARL (National Committee
Against Repressive Legislation; formerly called The National
Committee to Abolish the House Un-American Activities Committee)
     What does the ADL think of left-wing civil rights groups?  Let
me quote the NCARL newsletter: "This focus reflects the politics of
Irwin Suall, ADL's head of its Fact-Finding Department. Suall
reportedly told Berlet [NCARL activist] that the American Left is
the greatest threat to American Jewry."
     The ADL thinks that Left-wing Civil Rights groups are a
threat.  The ADL thinks that Right-wing Civil Rights groups are a
threat.  The ADL even thinks Jewish or Jewish-influenced Civil
Rights groups are a threat!  The only common thread here is that
all are Civil Rights organizations.  Clearly the ADL leadership
regards American Civil Rights as the greatest threat to their
agenda, no matter what the politics of those fighting for them.
     Consistent with their views is their position that no Jew and
certainly no other American should be allowed a Right Keep and Bear
Arms.  Having consistently attacked the gun ownership part of the
Second Amendment, they now are bitterly attacking the "well
regulated" provision as well.  In 18th Century usage, "well
regulated" did not refer to government control, but rather to skill
and training.  Thus, a citizen of the unorganized militia was not
only expected to show up, if needed, with a gun, but was also
expected to possess a certain amount of skill and training in it's
use as well.
     The ADL militia report goes beyond gun-control into an attack
on any form of firearms training.  It includes "model legislation"
to ban firearms instruction.
     Their proposed law would make felons of "Whoever teaches or
demonstrates to any other person the use, application, or making of
any firearm ... or ... Whoever assembles with one or more persons
for the purpose of training with, practicing with, or being
instructed in the use of any firearm, explosive or incendiary
device, or technique capable of causing injury or death to persons,
... knowing or having reason to know or intending that same will be
unlawfully employed for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil
disorder."
     Note that they define a "civil disorder" as "any public
disturbance involving acts of violence by assemblages of three or
more persons, which causes an immediate danger of or results in
damage or injury to the property or person of any other
individual."  Under the ADL plan if even one of PRO's firearm
safety class students ends up on some picket line of three people
where a fist fight breaks out or property is damaged, and if the
picket turns out to be unlawfully carrying, ALL students and
instructors would immediately be felons!  Even with no shots fired!
This is like Nazi law: One sniper shoots a soldier and the whole
town dies!
     The ADL report says that such "paramilitary training" laws are
already on the books in some states and is urging all states to
quickly adopt these unconstitutional measures. In our view, the
evidence shows that the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith has
adopted Nazi principles.  They pretend to espouse "tolerance", but
in truth, their message is one of hate.  Like the German Nazis they
preach that it is OK to hate if you hate the "right" groups.  Hate
the Klan.  Hate gun owners.  Hate Christian fundamentalists.  Hate
militia members.  But PRO says, hate is hate!  Moreover, this venom
is all the more disgusting coming from a group that purports to
promote tolerance.
     The ADL is clearly, actively engaged in a campaign to
undermine ALL those groups dedicated to the preservation of
American Civil Rights, be they Left-wing, Right-wing or even
Jewish; which leaves us with no choice but to quote ADL director
Abraham  H. Foxman, "We urge all Americans, conservative and
liberal alike, to spurn them."  He meant the militias.  We mean the
ADL.
     Instead, send your money to Jews for the Preservation of
Firearms Ownership.  There's a group where "Never Again!" means
"Never again!"  Rather than "Never again with Germans in charge!"

(cartoon)
[news reader saying, "On gun control, the President announced today
that he feels that married women who are suspicious of their
husband's conduct outside the home should be denied the right to
own any firearm, period."


ATTACK OF THE ZOMBIE ...

Do you know what I don't understand?  I don't understand why some
raving redneck hasn't taken a gun and pumped the White House full
of deer slugs because he's honked off at Clinton and won't take it
any more.  But that hasn't happened.  I agree that something that
was supposed to look like that happened, but it doesn't appear to be
the real thing to me.
     Look at the situation.  Clinton's ratings with the people are
in the basement.  His ratings are so low even his hip pocket
pollsters can't come up with enough leading questions to pull him
out.  Twenty percent of the American public say they hate the
president.  At least another twenty percent are severely irritated
by him.
     The wonderful tribute to gun owners is that out of that 50
million or so who hate the president none has gone round the bend
and started shooting.  I know.  I know.  I can hear the arguments
now: What about that Colorado nut case that just shot up the White
House with one of those dreaded SKS "assault rifles" that "slipped
through the cracks" of the crime bill?  Are you speaking about the
felon who used a "relic and curio" type gun to damage the stonework
and (heh heh) media room of the big house?
     Well I happen to know a little bit about gun nuts and this guy
doesn't fill the bill.  The scene rather fits perfectly with so
many more "media darling" shootings.  First of all look at the
choice of gun.  The media had already started a hate campaign
against the SKS the day after the "crime bill" was passed.  If you
go to a gun shop and look down the row of rifles of all kinds, what
do you suppose are the chances that a buyer will pick exactly the
current "demon weapon of media choice" out of that row.  If the guy
were already slightly unbalanced and easily influenced by the
media, his first choice would probably be some AK-47 variant which
are still available for sale.  But that didn't happen here.  Police
said that the White House shooter, Martin Duran, 26 had a Mossberg
shotgun in his trunk, but he didn't use that gun.  Doubtless
because it was too politically correct.
     And another thing.   If some of the rednecks I know went to
shoot up the White House, they'd have been jumping and screaming
and cursing and shouting epithets regarding the parentage of the
president and his mother.  But the real shooter was just one more
case of an attack by a zombie.  He didn't yell.  He didn't even
speak.  He just loped along firing at the White House from his hip.
According to the citizen who tackled him when he tried to reload,
he didn't even "grunt" when he hit the ground.  News reports said
he maintained his "flat" demeanor after capture and during
questioning at the police station.
      Apparently the shooter was missing for a month before the
shooting.  Where was he?  The whole thing is just a little too pat.
He buys the gun the day the crime bill is signed.  Which allowed
the Washington Post to say that the Crime Bill "barred sales of
Chinese SKS rifles with modifications."  Which is, of course, a
lie.  Or a "good story" which is the expression The Washington
<bleep> uses when they mean lies.  What was banned was the
manufacture of such a modified firearm (adding folding stock which
included a "killer" pistol grip).  Of course, they never mentioned
that such modifications were banned even before the "Crime Bill"
passed!
     While the Post noted that Duran had spent 2.5  years in
Leavenworth and was dishonorably discharged, they did not note that
he therefore could not legally buy a gun and lied on his forms.
It's so much more fun to attack honest gun owners as being the
problem.  While federal prosecutors charged Duran with just about
everything but spitting on the sidewalk, perjury was NOT one of the
charges.  I'm sure you all know that answering the yellow sheet
questions with lies is a VERY serious crime.  Certainly more so
than "destruction of federal property" which is like carving your
initials on a park bench.
     So here we had the election coming and the Dem's are in
trouble for going along with Clinton's anti-constitutional agenda
such as the Crime Bill, and then comes this "attack" on the White
House stonework, to "prove" that the overthrow of the Bill of
Rights was really necessary and is a good thing.
     The shooter is going to get a Psychiatric evaluation by the
court, but seeing as how this is Washington D.C., I seriously doubt
if any truly independent probe of the guy's motivation will ever be
forthcoming.  It's just one more zombie shooter to become poster
boy for the anti-gun jackal press.  And just in time for the
election too... how about that.

THE PRO-GUN VOTE ...

     The election is over and it was a Republican landslide, but
how big a role did the pro-gun vote play?  As I am sure you know,
many politicians have been spinning the yarn that "the people" are
really for gun control and that being strongly anti-gun is a big
political plus.  However, I am happy to report that finally enough
gun owners are waking up to lay that lie to rest.
     Remember the now former governor of New York Mario Cuomo?  PRO
has not forgotten.  Back in the November, 1990 issue of the
PROponent we reported:

New York governor, and likely presidential candidate Mario Cuomo
pledged to ban so-called "assault weapons" if the Democrats gain
control of the state senate.  Speaking to candidates at a fund-
raiser he said, "You tell the gun clubs to go to hell and you vote
for the assault weapons [ban] bill."

     Sorry, Guv, but it seems a lot of democrats took your advice
and now YOU and they are OUT!  One reason for this was revealed in
an exit poll described in the November 10, Washington Post. "Exit
poll data showed that more than a third of all voters who cast
ballots Tuesday said they supported the National Rifle Association
-- and two-thirds of those voters cast their ballots for Republican
candidates."  The NRA dead? I think not!
     Another indication came from CBS who in a similar poll found
that for 25% of the voters, the primary reason for their choice of
candidate was the gun issue!  Think of it: a quarter to a third of
all votes cast were based on the gun issues!  Sorry Mario, it seems
the gun clubs just told YOU to "go to hell."
     For those of us seeing gun-grabber after gun-grabber get
elected, this is very good news, but as the saying goes, "a man has
to know his limitations."  Our work is NOT over.  As an off-year
election, voter turn-out was low.  Only about one third of
registered voters turned out.  This places our true strength at
about 10% in a strong turn-out year.  It's enough to turn a close
race, but that's all.  Even this time, we gave gun-ban queen
Feinstein the run of her life, but we still couldn't kick her out.
And a Republican sweep is not all good news either.  Don't forget
that the 46 republicans who sold us out by voting for the Crime
Bill were all returned to office too.  This makes the pro-gun
victory much slimmer than it might appear at first glance.
     Nevertheless, the power of getting off your butt and voting
the gun issues HAS been demonstrated.  We can only hope that this
ridiculous story about the great ground-swell of popular support
for gun-control has finally been laid to rest.  It should now be
evident that the story saying supporting gun-control is a political
plus is just another urban legend like alligators in the sewer.

DEAR PRO ...

Subject: November 1994 PROponent elections comments.

"The same goes to a lesser degree for independent and third party
candidates.  Here they actually can win, but first...."

     It never ceases to amaze me that after being hammered on gun
rights, and other Constitutional issues, pro-gun organizations
continue to support the political parties and politicians that are
the source of their frustrations.
     The two currently powerful political parties have taken
control of the election process making it very difficult for anyone
else to compete.  One example: It takes six times more petition
signatures for an Independent to be placed on the ballot than a
Republican or Democrat.  Would anyone be satisfied with only two
brands of firearms, automobiles, computers?  There is nothing
inherently wrong with a two-party system.  What is wrong is the
situation we have today where the SAME two parties have "fixed" the
system  and have been running and slowly ruining the country for
over one hundred years.
     The protagonist in George Orwell's "1984" was so brainwashed
that as the government's execution bullet smashed into his brain
his final thought was that he really loved Big Brother. A vote for
the status quo could literally be a vote that could kill me...I'll
pass.  After Waco, the constant attack on gun rights, and over
500,000 Americans in prisons (for "crimes" without a victim), if
you still support the same-two-party system .... you deserve it.

PS.   You may publish this as a letter to the editor.

     Bill Hickman
     LibBill@aol.com

[Editors: Thanks, we did.  This letter was one of a number we
received from various people who sought to differ with our
candidate evaluations.  Some accused us of being an extension of
the Republican party (in spite of our Democratic endorsements) and
many were upset over our conclusion that minor candidates not be
considered.
     Let's say it now: neither PRO nor C.A.C. PAC "supports" the
two party system.  The media and education system have created a
myth that the American form of government is a "two party system"
and that anything else is somehow foreign.  Nothing could be
further from the truth.  The Constitution does not define a two
party form of government.  There is not even a requirement of
having political parties at all.  The whole idea of political
parties is something of a swindle.  By promulgating the idea that
all you have to do just vote the party and not think or evaluate
individual candidates, party leaders can dumb-down their
constituents and increase their power.
     Power.  It's all about power, isn't it?  The points Mr Hickman
raises about those in power "fixing" the system to exclude possible
competition are true.   PRO feels it's high time some of this
stacked deck is undone.  But it isn't going to be undone until some
of the "third" parties start to field viable candidates and some
qualified independents start to win elections.  Sorry, but Mr.
Slovenic, whose views are very close to our own, only pulled a
little less than 8% of the vote.  He didn't have a chance of
winning.  Not a chance!  But had the tally been close, there is no
doubt that his 8% could have tipped the scales in favor of Hyatt.
     As far as we are concerned politics is the "science of the
possible."  If it isn't possible, we aren't interested in handing
over our votes to the enemies of our Rights.  Thus, the key here
for third parties and independents is to start to make it possible.
All persons interested in being governed by a constitutional
republic should start agitating to overturn these roadblocks to
qualified third party and independent candidates.  It won't be easy
because the media loves the two-party status quo.  Those in power
love the little game where the parties change but the names and
policies stay the same.
     However, PRO still remains committed to being practical about
candidates.  If we have the choice of chipping away at the power
octopus slowly strangling our Rights or going down to glorious
defeat with an idealistic loser, we still recommend you hold your
nose and go for a little chip.  With enough chips you can wear down
a mountain but with the same number of idealistic defeats, you are,
well, just defeated.]
____________________________________________________________

"If we don't change direction, we are going to wind up
where we are going."

Ancient Chinese Proverb
____________________________________________________________

DEAR PRO: RE ADL REPORT ...

     In October of this year, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
produced a report on the growing militia activity throughout the
United States.  In their diatribe, they labeled its members as
racists, bigots, anti-Semitic, etc.  As an American of African
dissent (not African-American), and a duly elected officer in the
Ohio Militia, I feel it necessary to respond.
     Pursuant to O.R.C. 5923.01, the Unorganized Militia of Ohio
consists of all able body persons between 17 and 67 years of age
who are not part of the "organized militia".  Therefore, Abraham H.
Foxman, the ADL's national director DEFAMED the character of about
5 million Ohioans.  His organization was created to fight against
such narrow minded views.
     Foxman considers us "armed and dangerous", passing out
"propaganda," and that our "target is plainly the democratic
process itself."  Well... it's evident that our "target practice"
paid off this Nov 8th.
     Apparently, Foxman believes that these LEGAL, LAWFUL Militias
have some hidden agenda. Our agenda is to preserve, protect, and if
necessary, defend the Constitution of the United States of America.
That agenda is hidden only to those who don't read it.
     The Second amendment of the Constitution wasn't referring to
the national guard, the army reserve, or the BATF, but ALL able
bodied persons, including Foxman himself.
     And as far as armed and dangerous is concerned, if WE had
helicopter gunships, tanks, CS gas, and black-suited,
armor-wearing, paid terrorists who use these weapons against
innocent civilians, we might deserve that label. However, we are
NOT in possession of these weapons or personnel!
     If our members were anti-black, racist, or anti-semitic, I
would certainly not have been elected to the office I hold, nor
would I associate myself with such an organization.
     The ADL report has actually helped recruit more Jews, blacks
and other minorities into the militias of all 50 states, not just
13. Unlike the ADL, many American Jews see this government
following the path of Hitler's Germany.  I wonder if "armed
resistance" was considered by those awaiting death in concentration
camps. I wonder how many blacks across the nation are hearing what
I've stated prior: "If our ancestors had been armed, they wouldn't
have been slaves."
     Most of our so-called "propaganda" comes from newspapers, wire
reports, and government documents.  What used to be "conspiracy
theories" are now IN-YOUR-FACE on the nightly news.
     So let's get something straight. The Militia will not fire the
first shot. We will use the ballot box (as proven), the jury box,
and if that fails, the Constitutional Authors gave us clear
instructions.
     Therefore, we will continue arming, training, recruiting,
educating, informing, and networking with others regardless of
unconstitutional laws passed by the state or federal government.
     We will persevere until all unconstitutional actions of our
government stop.  It isn't just about guns - its about ALL of the
Bill of Rights.  Read'em.
     So when I'm asked, "How does the ADL get away with this
stuff?", I'll say, "It's their First Amendment Right."
     ...And when I'm asked, "Why is a Militia necessary?" I'll
say, "For the security of a Free State."

J.J. Johnson
Ohio Unorganized Militia
P.O.Box 44404
Columbus, Ohio 43204

ARSENAL OF TYRANNY ...

     You will recall the report from Commerce Business Daily
printed in the September, 1994 PROponent indicating that the Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) had put out a call to
purchase 800 machine guns to help in collecting those gun taxes
that some gun owners are allegedly trying to dodge.
     I'm sure PRO members will remember how the BATF had to
"borrow" some helicopters from the Texas National Guard to raid the
Branch Davidian church in Waco.  Sure they had to lie and claim
that church members were running a drug operation to get them, but
they came in handy to shoot a woman sitting on a bed by firing
right though the roof.  She had just been nursing her baby, but 200
bucks is 200 bucks.  Who knows how many guns they had with taxes
due?
     Of course, this kind of activity is just a wee bit illegal,
but who cares.  After all, the only ones that saw the evidence of
roof shots are dead, except for one attorney, but he can't prove
anything because the bulldozers took care of that.  In fact, it
seems the operation and subsequent cover-up worked so well, the
planners at the ATF are going for bigger action next time.
     Dr. Edgar A. Suter, a major pro-gun spokesman reports:
     "According to the November 1994 issue of FLYING magazine, the
BATF has obtained three OV-10 twin-engined "light attack and
reconnaissance" aircraft." The OV-10 "Bronco" was used in the Gulf
War. Most commonly armed with rockets, it can be armed with a
variety of other weapons, including machine guns and chain guns
(modern versions of the Gatling Gun)."
     Dr. Suter's organization is requesting that Congress
investigate this arming of the ATF with weapons of war.  Hopefully,
many civil rights and police groups will join this call.  PRO
certainly thinks that NO police force should be equipped with heavy
weapons.  This goes double for a mere tax-collecting agency.  A
summons and the sheriff should be more than sufficient.
     However, I'm sure that this equipment makes perfect sense from
the ATF viewpoint.  It's all a matter of efficiency.  Instead of
having to shoot the tax evaders through the roof and then take time
to burn and bulldoze the evidence, with this new equipment, they
can just lob in a few rockets and do the entire job in just one
pass.
____________________________________________________________

"Reasonable people adapt themselves to the world. Unreasonable
people attempt to adapt the world to themselves. All progress,
therefore, depends on unreasonable people."

George Bernard Shaw
____________________________________________________________

BOOK REPORTS ...

     This is just a little note to inform our members about two
excellent books that have just come out on the subject of the
deterioration of Rights in this country.
     The first is Guns, Crime, and Freedom by Wayne LaPierre of the
NRA.  It is an excellent effort by Mr. LaPierre to combine into one
volume all the sad stories and cases you have been reading about
each month in the PROponent.  It's all in there.  Disgusting
legislative histories of "Brady" and other gun-control laws, BATF
abuses of power, media bias, "assault weapons," gun buy-backs, and
much more is covered in great depth and detail.  It's a great
reference volume.  What's more, you can help PRO with a $20
donation and while they last, we'll give you a copy.  You help PRO
fight for your rights and still save three bucks over bookstore
price.  See a PRO officer or the PRO table at our gun shows.
     The other book is Lost Rights by James Bovard.  This book
covers the gun-control issues but also goes on to the "rest of the
story."  It's all in there.  But our advice is to be sure to take
your blood pressure medicine before flipping it open.  Open this
book anywhere at random and you'll find a nightmare.  It's
confiscation of property.  It's dictatorial behavior by a wide
variety of Government agencies.  It's shameless scare tactics by tax
collectors.  It's nothing more than a complete chronicle of the
dictatorship of government "do-gooder" agencies run amok.  Get a
copy and read it.  You will find its power to motivate you to fight
to save what's left of your rights will be amazing.  If you can read
it and not start shouting "live free or die" then you have much
greater self-restraint than the rest of us.

STEVE CANNON ...

     On a recent talk-radio show of Steve Cannon, on 610-WTVN, a
lady caller threatened to write and boycott his sponsors.  This is
her prerogative.  We also have the same prerogative.
     Please drop a line to Steve Cannon at: 610-WTVN Radio, 1301
Dublin Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43215.  You could make it a Christmas
card.
     Steve has been a staunch friend of the Second Amendment and
has provided a fair and honest forum for the airing of our views.
In other subjects, he is a fair and honest moderator.  Steve is
1,000% better than the blowhard (Jim Bliecamp) that was on the air
previously.
     Spread a little holiday cheer, and send Steve a card.  Thanks,
the Editor.
____________________________________________________________

(Photo of Wayne Lapierre and Jim Ramm)

Author, Wayne LaPierre signing copies of his book at Nickleby's
Bookstore.  PRO's own police liaison and NRA Board member, Jim Ramm
is seen talking to Wayne.
____________________________________________________________

CITIZEN FRUSTRATION...

     The past year has given birth to frustration and revenge in
our country.  Frustration, in that the government has proven itself
incapable of solving our day-to-day problems.  Revenge has
manifested itself with an airborne attack on the Whitehouse, and
the firing on the Whitehouse by a Colorado resident with a
semi-automatic rifle.
     Neither of these "attacks" were aimed directly at the
President of the United States.  Even though the authorities are
charging Francisco M. Duran with attempting to assassinate the
President.
     Not withstanding the charges filed against Duran, these
"attacks" on the Whitehouse signify a growing frustration with big
government and politics.  Politicians make big promises to deliver
the American people from their problems and governmental
ineptitude, and then do nothing but let them sink deeper into the
quagmire.
     As a result of governmental gridlock, the Whitehouse has
suffered assault from an airplane and a semi-automatic rifle.  The
plane missed most of the Whitehouse, and the rifle was held at the
hip and not aimed properly.  Bullets hit everywhere.
     The biggest fabricator in the last two years has been President
Bill Clinton.  He promised big changes in how government operates,
yet he has operated in the best of Tammany Hall politics.  Promise
this and that to get unpopular legislation passed by a very slim
margin.
     Another form of revenge has also re-surfaced this year.  The
throw the bums out philosophy shocked the news readers, politicians
and electorate.  Senseless acts of violence against the Whitehouse
shock and dismay the American populace especially since we wield
the ultimate form of revenge.  The ballot box.  That is why it is
so important to register to vote and then vote on all election
days.
     To those of you that helped PRO oust Lee Fisher, we thank you.
To those of you that figured that your vote didn't count, you
deserve Dewey Stokes.

PRO BOARD MEETING...

     During the PRO Board meeting of November, a by-law change was
introduced.  This would change our monthly meetings to quarterly
meetings.  If you have any comments about this proposed change to
the by-laws, you are invited to attend our General Meeting on the
third Tuesday of December at Veteran's Memorial in rooms 206 and
207.  The meetings begin at 7:30pm.
     The Board took no action on the proposed change to the
by-laws.  It has been PRO's practice to read a by-law's change at
a general meeting, publish it in the PROponent and then vote it up
or down at the next general meeting.

RICKI LAKE ...

     The week before Thanksgiving, Ricki Lake joined PETA in a fur
protest in New York City.  Lake and 15 other terrorists stormed the
offices of fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld.  They were all arrested
on charges of burglary and criminal mischief.  After spending 24
hours in jail, Lake appeared on the David Letterman show.
     On the show she explained that she was just against the
senseless killing of animals to make a fur coat and that she wore
leather shoes.  Host and guest had several laughs over the
terrorist incident and treated it as a juvenile prank.
     It's not.  There are legal ways to enact laws and to change
them after they have been passed.  Burglary and criminal mischief
are not the way.  As in the abortion issue, when one side or the
other sinks to the murder and bombing of people and facilities of
those with an opposing view, violence is not the answer.  Elect
representatives that are compatible with your views and have them
enact legislation that will halt the activities of those you
disagree with.
     There is no reason to resort to violence and mayhem, even in
the Second Amendment movement.  With the power exhibited in the
recent election, PRO has little sympathy with those preparing for
a military option, who refuse to participate in a political
solution.  All of these pseudo-terrorists should work within the
system to achieve their goals whether it's animal rights people,
abortion people or those of us who believe in the Second Amendment.
     Those of any cause that act outside of, or on the extreme
fringe of the law, create an unfavorable image and cast a bad light
on those that are working within the frame work of the law to
protect our rights or to change public opinion about certain
issues.

DEAR PRO: "PRUNING HEDGES"

    Right now, we're all excited about the anti-Big Government
result of the last election. It is invigorating to see what can be
accomplished when folks who believe in people's rights get up and
vote that way.

    But please, everyone, remember that the battle is far from
over. As Jefferson would tell you, it is the natural tendency of
people to become lazy; to allow government to become overgrown and
to dictate to us our affairs.

    The Clinton government has imbedded and entrenched upon us
bureaucracies which will continue to assault our constitutional
rights. These bureaucrats are appointed; not elected, and are
difficult to dislodge from their safe government jobs, where they
daily carry out their master's work.

    We will need to badger our elected officials and constantly
press them to cut back the great fat of Big Government
bureaucracies. Only by trimming the budgets of the various
anti-constitutional rights departments and bureaus, (ATF, DEA, CIA,
IRS, HUD, SSA, FDA, EPA, FBI, etc.) can we remove from office these
non-elected officials--our would-be masters, the usurpers of those
basic human rights promised us in the U.S. Constitution.

    Government may do, in its daily business, all those things
which the American people determine is government's proper
business. But, at the point where this "government's proper
business" begins to infringe on basic human rights enumerated in
the Bill of Rights, at that point government has gone too far.

    Just as we would trim a hedge, (as Jefferson frequently warned
thinking citizens) we need to periodically prune back government if
it is to continue to perform its proper function.

     John L. Haueisen
     Worthington, Ohio

SALERNO AND OTHER RACES ...

     November 8, 1994 was a day of change and message sending to
elected politicians all across our country.  From local and state
politics on up to national elections, voters sent a strong message
to their elected office holders.  We want change.  We want less
government.  We want you out of office.  We want to control our own
lives on a local level.
     In the Columbus area, all of the incumbents were re-elected
except one.  Beatty and Espy were re-elected along with Bill
Schuck, E.J. Thomas, Jo Ann Davidson, James Mason, Pat Tiberi and
Priscilla Mead.  Charleta Tavares won election to her appointed
seat.  She replaced Ray Miller.
     Mike Stinziano was defeated by Amy Salerno in the 23rd House
District race.  This was a bitterly fought race with accusations
flying from both camps.  Amy's strengths were Stinziano's
weaknesses.  He had been in office for 22 years.  He received
$44,000 a year from Ohio State University without having to do much
to earn it, and he sold real estate to fellow politicians.
Stinziano accused Salerno of not filing PAC reports on $130,000
worth of TV advertisements that she supposedly received.  Channel
6 denied any contributions to her campaign fund.
     With her Rocky-like clasping of hands over her head at her
acceptance speech, Representative Amy Salerno will be a welcome
addition to the Ohio House of Representatives.
     In other election news, Attorney General Lee Fisher lost a
close race to Betty Montgomery.  His mean and vindictive
commercials concerning Montgomery cost him the election in the
final days.  The vote was not as close as the race in which Fisher
beat Paul Pfeiffer, but it was a close race for Montgomery to win.
     While Montgomery is not solidly in our corner, the loss
prevents Fisher from using the AG's office as a podium for free
press in which to campaign for the Governor's office in 1998.  We
have not heard the last of Fisher and Ohio campaigns, but his
defeat will make it harder to win again.
     Representative Jo Ann Davidson is being touted as the next
Speaker of the House.  Davidson earned a C from the NRA-ILA in it's
endorsements.  Former Speaker Vern Riffe prevented any state-wide
legislation on guns from coming to the floor, while supporting and
passing pro-hunting legislation.  It is uncertain if Davidson will
do the same.
     Long time friend, Mark Malone lost his re-election bid to John
A. Carey in the 94th District.  Both were rated an A.  Malone kept
the anti-gunners off-balance by introducing controversial pro-gun
legislation.  He will be missed.
     Representative Robert Corbin was defeated by challenger Edward
Schock.  Corbin was rated a D, and Schock was rated an A by the
NRA-ILA.  Corbin will not be missed.
     In the U.S. House, Eric Fingerhut lost to Steve LaTourette.
They were graded F and an A respectfully.  Fingerhut will not be
missed either.  In other races, Kasich, Pryce and Hobson won their
races.  They are Clinton republicans that received an F, F and an
A- (should have been an F).  Pryce only captured 75% of the vote
against a challenger that accepted no PAC money or contributions
over $25.00, or used yard signs.  Kasich beat his opponent 62% to
37%.  He lost 10% of his winning margin compared to two years ago.
Hobson was unopposed.
     In the U.S. Senate race, Howard Metzenbaum was defeated in his
bid to impose a family dynasty on the Ohio electorate.  Joel Hyatt
lost by a handy margin to Mike Dewine.  This race also consisted of
a considerable amount of mudslinging.
     There were no noticeable changes in the Ohio Senate races.

75% OUT - 91% IN ...

     In the second October edition of the PROponent, we published
the NRA-ILA hit and save list for the November election.  Of those
that the NRA-ILA wanted to depose or stop from being elected, they
achieved their goal in 75% of the races.  In those races that they
felt it was imperative to win, they won 91.666% of the races.
     The only race lost in the must-win side was that of Ollie
North in Virginia.  He ran against Chuck Robb and a third party
candidate.
     The NRA-ILA won in the races against Rep. Bob Carr (Michigan,
open Senate seat), Rep. Sam Coopersmith (Arizona, open Senate
seat), Rep. Sam Wheat (Missouri, open Senate seat), Rep. Don
Johnson(Georgia, 10th Dist.), Rep. George Darden (Georgia, 7th
Dist.), Rep. Karen English (Arizona, 6th Dist.), Rep. Tom Andrews
(Maine, Open Senate seat) and Gov. Ann Richards of Texas.
     Those races lost were Rep. Ronald Coleman (Texas, 16th Dist.),
Rep. John Bryant (Texas, 5th Dist.), Sen. Richard Bryan (Nevada)
and Gov. Roy Romer of Colorado.
     Other races won by the Second Amendment were the defeat of Tom
Foley (the first Speaker of the House to be defeated since the
Civil War), Jack Brooks of Texas and Gov. Mario Cuomo of New York.
     All in all, it was a good election, but don't get too
optimistic.  None of the Clinton republicans were voted out of
office.  It is hoped that with a republican majority in both
houses, that those Clintonistas will return to the fold of the
Republican party.
     Overall, the NRA-ILA won 83% of the elections that they were
evolved in.  Can the Democrats say that?  No, and neither can the
Republicans!

MILWAUKEE & KENOSHA...

     Milwaukee and Kenosha, Wisconsin had pistol bans on their
ballots in the recent election.  This would have been an outright
ban on owning, possessing or keeping pistols within their city
limits.
     Milwaukee defeated the binding referendum by a 67.1% to 32.9%
vote.  Their referendum would have affected police officers and
civilians alike.  The referendum was backed by two groups.  The
Jobs With Peace(JWP) and Mobilization for Survival(MS).  The
referendum was opposed by three prominent police organizations.(FOP
union president Dewey Stokes was stuck in Columbus winning his
election against Mark Froelich for Franklin County Commissioner).
     In Kenosha, the handgun ban was rejected 73.3% to 26.7%.  It
is refreshing that the anti-gunners claim that most people want to
ban handguns is being proven false.  It also makes the pollsters
lose credibility.
(Editor:  This information was gratefully stolen from the NEW Gun
Week, Volume 29, Issue 1432 of the November 25, 1994 issue.)
____________________________________________________________
(text box)
                           Voter's Guide

     The PROponent editors have received many favorable comments
from PRO members with regard to the Voter's guide in the November
issue (mistakenly labeled the October issue).
     Many people appreciated seeing the voting records and
positions of the various candidates themselves so that they could
better understand what goes into the endorsements made by Citizens
Against Crime.  These choices are often compromises and PRO members
should feel free to review the record and make their own choices if
they so choose.
     The editors would like to give credit where credit is due.
The basic voter's guide was generated by PRO's legal council, Dave
Buda who deserves much credit for the idea as well as the work he
put into it.  Several other PRO members also provided some
additional input from attending candidate debates.
     Because of the very positive response, we hope to have these
voter guides be a regular feature at election time.
____________________________________________________________

STOP THE PRESSES: COLUMBUS HUNTING RIFLE BAN PASSES !

     As this PROponent goes to press, Columbus City Council has
just passed the semi-auto gun ban discussed earlier in the issue.
On Monday November 28, 1992 (A day that will live in Central Ohio
infamy) Columbus City Council unanimously passed a Cleveland-style
ban.  That's right, even Jennette Bradley shed her pro-gun
sheepskin to show the rights-grabbing, gun-grabbing traitor
underneath.  It's just one more female that PRO helped get elected
that thinks she doesn't need us now that she is an incumbent.
     If you want to know how bad this is for Columbus residents,
let me explain:  Old John C. Columbus is sitting at home watching
the game and having a beer, thinking he is just the same as any
other citizen in town.  But he is not the same.  In his closet sits
a mini-14 hunting rifle or maybe it's a Marlin Camp rifle.  It
doesn't matter.  If it's self-loading and has a removable magazine
OF ANY SIZE, his rifle has just been declared to be city property.
If they find it, it's theirs!  Moreover, it's former owner, John C.
has become a criminal.  No, he had no criminal intent whatsoever.
No, he didn't DO any thing with the gun.  He didn't even touch it!
Nevertheless by a stroke of a pen he has been declared a criminal
as a result of the mere formerly legal contents of his closet.
     But the City of Columbus gives him no choice.  While the new
law appears on the surface to have a "grandfather" clause, like any
good scam, it's only appearances.  The city exempts "assault
weapons" that were previously registered under the old illegal
ordinance, but the new law bans not just a few named guns but a
whole class of firearms.  And their owners are given no options.
They can't register the newly defined "assault weapons."  The
registration period is over.  They can only wait to be arrested for
possession of "contraband" and have their formerly legal property
taken by the city.
     The only good news here is that the "assault weapon"
definitions for shotguns and handguns are much milder than that for
rifles.  With pistols the "can accept a large capacity magazine"
wording is replaced by "originally designed to accept."  This bans
Tek-9's but not most semi-auto pistols.
     The code of silence between the media and City Council is
another disgusting aspect to the passage.  There was a complete
stonewalling by council of all media as to any information on the
proposed (and now enacted) ban.  We knew, for example that the
Columbus Dispatch knew of this pending legislation, but there was
not a peep from them.  Steve Cannon of 610 radio, said he went to
their news room to find out about the ban and the reporters told
him that they hit a brick wall down at city hall.  The whole plan
was to keep the law secret so as to avert another large
embarrassing demonstration of gun owners such as the one at City
Hall when the original "assault weapon" ban passed.
     It worked.  Only a few PRO members were present to speak
against the new ban.  Of course it did no good, but at least there
was some semblance of an open forum in government.  As when any
small time crooks set out to steal from honest citizens, they have
to have protection, and there was plenty of Council "muscle" in the
form of Columbus Police spread around Council Chambers.
Interestingly enough, when the PRO people left, the police left.
     Quite frankly, PRO wonders what is really behind this bill.
When City Council just forks over $63,000 to the NRA without
batting an eye, we begin to suspect that some kind of "deal" has
been cut.  Is this all just a matter of Kennedy revenge, or did
some big-wig suggest that if Columbus unanimously passed a gun ban,
some money might be forthcoming to help pay for the recent UN dog
and pony show.  We don't know, but we wonder.
     As for what comes next, that will depend to some extent on our
lawyers.  But I can tell you this, we won't give up.  We don't care
if the City says your guns are their property.  We don't care if
the Ohio Supreme court says that the Bill of Rights is invalid
within Ohio borders.  We don't care if the court system says that
making vast numbers of law-abiding citizens into criminals for the
crime of doing nothing is a "reasonable" exercise of municipal
police powers.  We will go on fighting.  Somewhere there still have
to be a few judges who still possess honesty, integrity and
morality.  And if not, there is still the next election.




                      Happy Holidays!

PRO wants to wish each and every PRO member a happy holiday season
and a most prosperous and effective New Year!

____________________________________________________________
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"
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