http://www.gunowners.org/a090905.htmHouse Getting Ready to "Roll Over and Play Dead"
-- Ask your Representative to insist on H.R. 800, rather than S. 397
Gun Owners of America
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102
Springfield, VA 22151
(703)321-8585
Friday, September 9, 2005
Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, is considering legislation to protect the gun industry from predatory lawsuits. What has not yet been determined, however, is which bill (House or Senate) will be voted on.
You will remember that when the Senate passed S. 397 in July, it included two anti-gun amendments. But the House bill, H.R. 800, is free and clear of ANY gun control whatsoever.
S. 397 provides for a troublesome study that could result in the BATFE concluding that almost all rifle bullets are armor piercing. Also, S. 397 requires the sale of trigger locks -- whether you want one or not -- with all new guns.
The trigger lock measure is guaranteed to get worse in the near future. Sen. Barbara Boxer, who has promoted this bad idea, is just waiting for sales of gun locks to be required so she can come back for more -- namely, requiring you to use those locks and, thus, forcing you to "lock up your safety."
Do you think Congress would never do that? Did anyone think that requiring seat belts to be in cars would result in laws penalizing those who drive without them?
The anti-gunners are playing chess with us, and they are always looking several moves ahead. That is why it is imperative that we act today!
ACTION: It is crucial that we tell the House leadership and Rep. Sensenbrenner that H.R. 800 is the only acceptable version of the lawsuit protection bill. Please use the letter below to ask your Representative to tell the House leadership and Rep. Sensenbrenner that S. 397 is unacceptable gun control.
You can use the pre-written message below and send it as an e-mail by visiting the GOA Legislative Action Center at
http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm (where phone and fax numbers are also available).
-----Pre-written letter-----
Dear Representative:
I am alarmed that the House is on the verge of passing gun control in the name of protecting the gun industry. The House should ditch S. 397 and use its own bill, H.R. 800, instead.
S. 397 is gun control pure and simple. The trigger lock provision is no different from the requirement years ago that seat belts "just be in cars." We all know what happened later, however. Once the belts were in, it became a punishable offense not to use them.
Anti-gun leaders are just waiting to do the same thing with my firearms. First, S. 397 will require them to be sold with all handguns, then at a future date, it will become a crime for me to have immediate access to my firearm for self-defense. But please understand that if I am forced to have a trigger lock on my guns, then they will be unusable during a moment of crisis.
Why should American citizens be asked to submit to anti-gun amendments so that gun manufacturers can get special privileges? I want Congress to help gun manufacturers, but not at the expense of individual gun rights!
Please tell the Speaker and the Majority Leader of the House that S. 397 is unacceptable to gun owners. Instead, send H.R. 800 to the Senate or tack it on as an amendment to some "must pass" legislation.
Also, please give Rep. Sensenbrenner the same message. S. 397 is gun control, and H.R. 800 is the only acceptable way to provide relief to the gun industry from predatory lawyers.
Sincerely,
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Gun Confiscations in New Orleans
GOA has received reports that the confiscation of legally-owned firearms has commenced in New Orleans. In addition to denouncing this in the press, GOA will also be looking to draft legislation at both the state and federal level to preclude authorities from imposing ANY firearms restrictions during emergency response activities.
This is expected to be a lengthy and arduous process. If you haven't joined GOA yet, please consider going to
http://www.gunowners.org/ordergoamem.htm and doing so to help in this endeavor.
