NRA-ILA FAX ALERT

 HEY, SEN. SCHUMER: Enforce.The.Laws.Com! 

   On the heels of the Clinton/Gore Administration's quest to ban gun shows and its congressional allies' legislative efforts to do the same, this week, Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) went one step further. With the introduction of S. 637, Sen.Schumer's "Internet Gun Trafficking Act," the Senator claims to be pushing this bill solely as a means to apply existing laws to Internet sales. However as Schumer apparently acknowledges, yet in the next breath ignores, there are already ample laws governing the sale and transfer of firearms -- whether advertised on the Internet or in print ads. Such sales are regulated by exactly the same laws that have been on the books for decades that cover transfers of firearms by licensed dealers and by individuals. Schumer apparently understands that such laws, and penalties for their violation, are on the books, he just feels that what is needed is yet another law requiring the enforcement of existing law! Just because a gun is advertised and sold on the Internet does not negate the laws that would apply to the same transfer if it occurred via a newspaper's "classified ads"section. Please call your U.S. Senators at (202) 224-3121 in opposition to S. 637.

 U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) announced on March 18 that he will chair a joint meeting of the Senate JudiciaryCommittee's Youth Violence and Criminal Justice Oversight Subcommittees. The hearing, scheduled for March 22, will examine the dramatic reduction in federal prosecutions of firearm-related offenses, and look to the success of Project Exile for possible solutions. According to several media sources, Project Exile is also about to receive a brand-new supporter -- President Clinton. You may recall that NRA has been calling on the Clinton/Gore Administration to support Project Exile for quite some time, and we have been met with nothing but silence or outright opposition. Perhaps realizing that his Administration is about to be exposed through Senate hearings as being responsible for the failure to prosecute armed criminals has caused him to switch his position.

 There have been a number of recent announcements that will affect the make-up of both chambers of Congress, both now, and in the immediate future. First, pro-Second Amendment Representatives Ed Bryant (R-Tenn.) and Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) and anti-gun Representative Tom Barrett (D-Wis.) have chosen to relinquish their seats on the House Judiciary Committee in order to focus more energy on other committee assignments. Pro-Second Amendment Representative Joe Scarborough (R-Fla.) appears to be slated to replace Buyer, while the replacement for Bryant has yet to be determined. Anti-gun freshman Representative Tammy Baldwin(D-Wisc.) will replace Barrett, and freshman Representative Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), who was elected to replace Charles Schumer as a Representative, will also fill Schumer's vacated seat on the House Judiciary Committee. Meanwhile, two more Senators, anti-gun John Chafee (R-R.I.) and Second Amendment supporter Connie Mack (D-Fla.), have decided to call it quits in 2000. Pro-gun stalwart Representative Bill McCollum (R-Fla.) has already thrown his hat into the ring to replace Mack.

HESTON TO LEAD MISSOURI RALLIES FOR RIGHT TO CARRY

On Tuesday, March 23, NRA President Charlton Heston, NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, and NRA-ILA Executive Director James Baker will attend two free rallies in support of Proposition B -- Missouri's Right To Carry ballot referendum. Don't miss this opportunity to stand with your fellow Right To Carry supporters as we make the final push to pass this critical referendum on April 6. The events will be held in St. Louis and Kansas City, and campaign materials will be available for distribution following both events. The St. Louis rally will begin at 11:30 a.m. sharp (doors open at 11:00 a.m.), at the St. Louis Airport Hilton, 10330 Natural Bridge Road, in St. Louis. The Kansas City rally will begin at 2:00 p.m. (doors open at 1:45p.m.), in the Main Terminal of the Kansas City Downtown Municipal Airport. For more information call Missourians Against Crime at(314) 839-6017 (St. Louis) and (816) 353-0695 (Kansas City). Please make plans to attend, and bring your family, friends, and fellow Right To Carry supporters. Don't Give Up Your Rights!

ARKANSAS: Sen. Jay Bradford's (D) SB 818, which among other things, would establish a seven day waiting period for purchases of firearms and create a "one gun a month" law, is currently pending before the Senate Judiciary Cmte. Contact your Senator at (501) 682-6107 and urge him to oppose SB 818.
SB 15, which would ban the sale of most used handguns and impose testing standards on new ones, and SB 23, which would drastically expand the state's current ban on so-called "assault weapons," will be heard in the Senate Public Safety Cmte. on March 23. Contact members of the committee and urge them to oppose SB 15 and SB 23. For committee members' names and telephone numbers contact the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at(800) 392-8683. Also, on March 22, the Culver City Council will hold a hearing on a proposal that would establish a "one gun amonth" ordinance within the city's limits. The hearing will begin at 7:00 pm, in the city council's first floor chamber located at 9770 Culver Blvd. For more information, contact Tony Zungolo at (310) 826-8720.
COLORADO: HB 1316, an omnibus pro-gun bill which would establish a shall-issue Right To Carry law (and exempt permit holders from the NICS system), will be up for final passage in the House in the next few days. Contact your Representative at (303) 866-2904 and urge him to support the amended version of HB 1316 proposed by Rep. Doug Dean. Additionally, HB 1305, which would establish uniform firearm laws throughout Colorado, and SB 205, which would prevent municipalities from engaging in reckless lawsuits against gun manufacturers, will both be before the full Senate for consideration next week. Contact your Senator at (303) 866-2316 and urge him to support Senator Dennis' amended version of HB1305 and to support SB 205 in its current form.
FLORIDA: SB 1586, which would prevent municipalities from engaging in reckless lawsuits against gun manufacturers, passed the Senate Judiciary Cmte. SB 954, the NRA-supported Right To Carry reciprocity bill, passed the Senate Criminal Justice Cmte,and HB 67 & SB 776, shooting range protection legislation, have passed the full House and the Senate Judiciary Cmtes, respectively. Contact your lawmakers and urge them to support these bills.
ILLINOIS: SB 177, which seeks to mandate the use of trigger locks or other mandatory storage schemes for your firearms, passed out of the Senate Judiciary Cmte. Contact your Senator at (217)782-4517. and urge him to oppose SB 177. Additionally, please continue to contact your Representative at (217) 782-8223 and urge him to oppose HB 225 (registration of firearms) & HB 228(one gun a month legislation).
KANSAS: HB 2540, which seeks to prevent municipalities from engaging in reckless lawsuits against gun manufacturers, passed the House earlier this week and now awaits Senate consideration. Contact Gov. Graves (R) at (785) 296-3232 and your Senator at(785) 296-2456 and urge them to support HB 2540.
MAINE: The Criminal Justice Committee will soon be holding a work session on LD 532, which would mandate storage standards for firearms and thus restrict your right to self-defense. Contact your lawmakers at (207) 287-1456 and urge them to oppose LD 532.
MARYLAND: HB 736, Del. Carmen Amedori's (R-5) shall-issue Right To Carry bill, is still pending before the House Judiciary Cmte. Contact members of the House Judiciary Cmte at (410) 841-3488 and urge them to support HB 736. For a list of committee members, please contact NRA-ILA Grassroots at (800) 392-8683.
MASSACHUSETTS: S. 4109, which exempts primitive arms from the state's mandatory gun storage law, was recently signed into law by Gov. Cellucci (R). S. 4109 also exempts residents from having to obtain a license to possess ammunition for these black powder guns.
MINNESOTA: HF 619, the NRA-backed range protection legislation, and HF 1704, which seeks to prevent municipalities from engaging in reckless lawsuits against gun manufacturers, are both awaiting consideration by the full House. Contact your Representative at (612) 296-2146 and urge him to support these bills.
MONTANA: Two bills are currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Cmte. which require immediate action -- HB 459, the NRA-backed Right To Carry reciprocity bill, and HB 566, which seeks to prevent municipalities from engaging in reckless lawsuits against gun manufacturers. Contact your Senators at (406) 444-4800 and urge them to support these two bills.
NEBRASKA: The Legislature could consider LB 476, NRA-backed Right
To Carry legislation, as early as next week. Contact your Senators and urge them to support LB 476.
NEVADA: On March 25, the Senate Judiciary Committee will be considering SB 420, the NRA-backed Right To Carry reciprocity bill. Additionally, on April 1, the Assembly's Judiciary Committee will be considering AB 543, which would prevent municipalities from engaging in reckless lawsuits against gun manufacturers. Contact your lawmakers at (800) 992-0973 and urge them to support SB 420 and AB 543.
NEW YORK: The NY State Dept. of Environmental Conservation is proposing a 30% increase in hunting and fishing fees to the General Assembly even though they currently receive some $50 million dollars in federal funding ear-marked for such activities! Contact your Senator at (518) 455-2800 and your Assemblyman at(518) 455-4100 and urge them to oppose this proposed increase.
OKLAHOMA: SB 562, which would prevent municipalities from engaging in reckless lawsuits against gun manufacturers, will be heard before the House Rules Committee on March 24.Contact your Representative at (405) 521-2711 and urge him to support SB 562.
OREGON: Next week, the Senate could consider SB 700, Sen. Ginny Burdick's (D) Clinton-style "crackdown" on gun shows bill, which bans private firearms transactions at such events. Please contact your Senator at (503) 986-1187, and urge him to oppose SB700.
PENNSYLVANIA: Rep. Teresa Brown has introduced HB 957, which seeks to prevent municipalities from engaging in frivolous lawsuits against gun manufacturers. Currently, this legislation has 86 co-sponsors and wide bipartisan support. Contact your lawmakers at (717) 787-5920 and urge them to support HB 957.
SOUTH DAKOTA: Governor Janklow (R) signed HB 1213, the NRA-backed shooting range protection bill, into law this week.
TEXAS: The Senate is set to consider SB 717, which would prohibit local governments from filing reckless lawsuits against the firearms industry without legislative approval. Contact your Senators at (512)463-0063 and urge them to support SB 717.
WASHINGTON: Please contact Sen. Jim Hargrove, Sen. Jeanine Long,& Rep. Mike Carrell at (800) 562-6000 and thank them for their efforts in defeating two firearms storage bills -- HB 1424 and SB5294.
WISCONSIN: SB 6, which would require the sale of trigger locks with each firearm as well as establish mandatory storage requirements, is on the move in the Senate. Contact your Senator at (608) 266-2517 and urge them to oppose SB 6.

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This information is provided as a service of the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action, Fairfax, VA. This and other information on the Second Amendment and the NRA is available at: http://WWW.NRA.Org