In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

Here we go...lets pray!

Mr. GunzMr. Gunz Member Posts: 1,621 ✭✭✭
Thursday, July 19, 2007


The gun issue has been in the news a lot lately, despite the strange
silence coming from Capitol Hill on the status of the McCarthy bill
(HR 2640). Many Senators on the Judiciary Committee are being kept
in the dark as to when the legislation will start moving.

But The New York Times seems to have let the cat out of the bag this
week when an editorial indicated there would be Senate hearings on
the bill very soon. The Times ability to glean this information is
probably related to the close relationship that their editorial
writers have, no doubt, with New York's Chuck Schumer, who is the
primary backer of the bill in the Senate.

Since the bill will start off in the Senate Judiciary Committee, it
is time for gun owners to start targeting Senators there. Committee
members who could stand to hear from gun owners include: Patrick J.
Leahy (D-VT), Arlen Specter (R-PA), Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT), Charles E.
Grassley (R-IA), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Lindsey Graham
(R-SC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Tom Coburn
(R-OK).

Of special note is Sen. Sam Brownback. As a candidate for President,
who vocalizes support for the Second Amendment, he should be
interested to hear from gun owners all over the country. Hence,
today's alert is geared specifically for him. More on that below.

IN OTHER NEWS: Last week, Democrats on the House Appropriations
committee tried to kill the so-called Tiahrt amendment, which is a
pro-gun legislative rider that has been passed every year since 2003.
The amendment, which is named after Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS), prevents
the use of gun trace data except where law-enforcement can show they
need it for a specific criminal investigation. Committee Democrats
failed to repeal the provision on Thursday when a sufficient number
of members from their own party broke ranks and voted pro-gun.

This week, there has been another mini-victory of sorts. You've
probably heard about the proposed OSHA regulations that have taken
the Internet by storm. Published on April 13, the regs went
virtually unnoticed until late last month.

On July 3, GOA issued comments in opposition to the proposed regs,
citing fears from the firearms industry that the new requirements
would threaten to bring the sale and transportation of ammunition in
this country to a halt.

But on Monday, the Labor Department (which oversees OSHA) sent Rep.
Dennis Rehberg (R-MT) a letter, notifying him that "OSHA is taking
prompt action to revise this NPRM to clarify the purpose of the
regulation."

Hence, even though the public comment period was extended to
September 10, it now seems that we will have to take a "wait and
see"
approach, and examine the revised regulations once they become
available. Please stay tuned.

In other news, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty, announced yesterday that his
city will appeal the Parker decision, which struck down the draconian
gun ban in our nation's capital. Gun Owners Foundation will be
issuing an amicus brief in that case.

Finally, we twice emailed you to solicit support for GOA Life Member
Paul Broun, who was running for Congress in a special election to
replace the late Rep. Charlie Norwood in Georgia. Well, after the
election on Tuesday, Dr. Broun -- who is a Republican -- won by 373
votes. Since his opponent was a long-time legislator with the
support of the mainstream Republican establishment, it is obvious
that gun owners helped put Brown over the top. Thanks to all of you
who helped elect a staunch pro-gunner by contributing to his
campaign!

UPDATE: In our previous alert, we told you about Horatio Miller of
Pennsylvania, who lost his gun rights after being involuntarily
committed for essentially making an off handed comment (saying that
it could be worse than VA Tech if someone broke into his car). He
was not charged with a crime, but the local district attorney had him
involuntarily committed anyway.

Subsequent news articles indicate that Miller, among other things,
may have made inappropriate remarks to his neighbors in the past, as
the police had previously been called to his home to investigate.
But what's significant is that he was never charged with any crimes
(prior to his being involuntarily committed). No charges were ever
leveled and his concealed carry permit was never revoked.
Nevertheless, if it turns out that Miller is an obnoxious individual
(and not a suitable example), one should still understand that this
man initially got zapped without due process. That is the key point
here. The truth of the information about his other behavior -- if
it's true -- and an assessment of him being a danger, should have
been determined in a court of law. Our gun rights should not hang on
the whims of an anti-gun district attorney!

The Miller case illustrates the danger presented by the McCarthy
legislation. HR 2640 would, for the first time, statutorily make a
battle-scarred veteran (suffering from Post Traumatic Stress) or a
troubled school kid (who was considered a problem on the playground
but later grew up just like everyone else) a "prohibited person"
based solely on a diagnosis by a shrink. Again, lose your guns --
forever -- without due process in court. (See more specifics on this
legislation by going to http://www.gunowners.org/netb.htm and check
out "What Others are Saying about HR 2640.")

ACTION: Senator Sam Brownback is a member of the powerful Senate
Judiciary Committee. He is also a candidate for President. This is
a perfect opportunity for a Senator like Brownback, who wants to
solicit gun owners' support from around the country, to stand up for
the Second Amendment. Ask him to not only oppose this bill, but to
solicit others on the committee to join him as well. You can use the
letter below to help direct your comments to Senator Brownback.

CONTACT INFORMATION: There are several ways to contact Sen.
Brownback. If you choose to contact him electronically, please note
there is no direct e-mail address available. You can copy/paste the
letter below into Brownback's webform.

Webform: http://brownback.senate.gov/CMEmailMe.cfm
Fax: 202-228-1265
Phone: 202-224-6521

Pre-written letter

Dear Senator Brownback:

Gun Owners of America tells me that the New York Times has let the
cat out of the bag. The paper is acknowledging that gun control will
be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee soon.

The specific gun control bill is the Brady enhancement bill that was
passed in the House (HR 2640). I hope you will do everything in your
power to OPPOSE this bill when it comes to a vote in committee.

As a presidential contender who advocates support for the Second
Amendment, you have a wonderful opportunity to show Americans that
you will fight for the rights of gun owners. You can't go wrong
opposing a bill that is being supported or sponsored by gun control
fanatics like Rep. Carolyn McCarthy and Senator Chuck Shumer.

I should add that the Military Order of the Purple Heart is also
OPPOSING this bill, stating that for the first time in history, HR
2640 "would statutorily impose a lifetime gun ban on battle-scarred
veterans."

Despite what you may have heard elsewhere, this bill THREATENS gun
owners' rights and represents one of the biggest gun bans in history.
For more information on this -- and for a point-by-point analysis of
HR 2640 -- please go to http://www.gunowners.org/netb.htm on the
website of Gun Owners of America.

Again, I hope you will do everything in your power to defeat the
McCarthy gun control bill (HR 2640) or any comparable Senate bill.
Thank you.

Sincerely,


****************************

Defend The 2nd Amendment Through Creative Giving...

As we confront the challenges of the future, we know that the
generosity of those who assist us will make all the difference in our
success. That's why GOA seeks your long-term support.

Please call 703-321-8585 during regular business hours or e-mail
goamail@gunowners.org to request information on how to keep control
of your assets and make a gift at the same time through:

* a bequest
* a retirement plan
* a will, living trust, or insurance policy

Requests for information are confidential and do not represent an
obligation.

****************************

Please do not reply directly to this message, as your reply will
bounce back as undeliverable.

To subscribe to free, low-volume GOA alerts, go to
http://www.gunowners.org/ean.htm on the web. Change of e-mail
address may also be made at that location.

---
If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please visit
http://capwiz.com/gunowners/lmx/u/?jobid=88280327&queueid=1310398191.
Sign In or Register to comment.