February 2000
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be covered.
LOCAL AND STATE
EXPECT DELAYS AT THE ORANGE
COUNTY PISTOL DEPARTMENT.
Local Orange County Legislators
are deciding if they will accept a gift of some revolvers.
1999 totals from Orange County
Pistol Applications and Amendments.
2000 Sportsman's March on Albany
K-Mart in Riverhead to be site of Pro-gun,
Anti-gun demonstration.
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EXPECT DELAYS AT
THE ORANGE COUNTY PISTOL DEPARTMENT.
Illness in key personal and early retirement has caused
a man/womanpower shortage in the County Clerks Office. They are doing
as much as they can but unfortunately you can expect some delays in the
processing of new applications and in amendments. This problem should
only be temporary but could last a few more months. Let us hope that
those who are out because of illness recover soon.
Local Orange County
Legislators are deciding if they will accept a gift of some revolvers.
I am still trying to find out what is going on but
the Otisville Federal Prison is trying to gift to Orange County some 50
revolvers. Some will be used for training and others will be sold
and the money used to buy new guns. The motion to accept the guns
was returned to the P&E committee for review. The problem is
that they want to make sure that the guns do not end up on the street used
in crime. I will try to find out more information and update this
report.
1999 totals from Orange
County Pistol Applications and Amendments.
The Orange County Pistol Permit office issued 326 new
licenses in 1999. This number does not include applications that
were submitted but not issued or applications that were "abandoned" by
the applicant. 1624 amendments were processed. These amendments
covered request in changes of restrictions, duplicate licenses, adding
and removing firearms from a license, address changes and other a few other
minor categories.
2000 Sportsman's March
on Albany
Sponsored by NYS CONSERVATION COUNCIL, INC.
On Wednesday, March 15, 2000, plan on attending the 2000 Sportsman's
March .
The local Sportsmens Federation is planning to take a bus that will
leave from Black Rock. E-mail me if you want information. You
will need to let us go as soon as you can.
WHY?
Because your voice needs to be heard.
Meet sportsmen from all over the state
Visit legislators with messages of sportsmen and women
Hear legislative leaders address key issues
WHERE/WHEN?
Meet at 9:00 AM at the Legislative Office Building
Rally to start in the Hamilton Hearing Room ( Hearing Room B)
Invited speakers include:
Assemblymen Michael Bragman,
John Faso, Richard Smith, Patrick Manning, Richard Brodsky, Senators Owen
Johnson, Carl Marcellino, DEC Commissioner John Cahill
ISSUES?
Legislation to protect Firearms Manufacturers from frivolous lawsuits
An Environmental Conservation Officer & Forest Ranger School
A Sportsperson's Bill of Rights
Handicap access for trails and requirements for special
licenses
If you plan to attend with a group from your area, please contact
the NYSCC
8 East Main Street, Ilion, NY 13357 or 315/894-3302 or
nyscc@nyscc.com
REMEMBER The more people that attend the more OUR messages will
be heard.
BE A PART OF THE ACTION!! SEE YOU THERE!!
K-Mart in Riverhead to be
site of Pro-gun, Anti-gun demonstration.
The Suffolk County Chapter of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, the First
Baptist Church of Riverhead, the Long Island Chapter of the NAACP and the
Rockville Diocese Hispanic Apostolate will be demonstrating against the
sale of firearms and ammunition at the Riverhead K-Mart on Sunday February
20th, 2000.
We need to counter this demonstration of anti-gun, anti-civil rights
people with our own support of K-mart. We need to be there to show
support for K-Marts policy to continue to sell lawfully, firearms and ammunition,
and that any opposition to such sales is misguided and wrong.
I am asking all SAFE members and supporters to show up at the K-Mart
store in Riverhead on Route 58, located about 2 miles East of the last
exit on the Long Island Expressway at 10:15 AM. Be prepared to stay
until at least 2:00 PM and dress causally but not in camos or blaze orange.
We will have ribbons for you to wear and you should wear your SAFE membership
card in a plastic name tag holder so the media will know you are not one
of the anti-gun protesters. Be polite at all times and if given the
opportunity to talk to one of the anti’s, do so with conviction and honesty.
I will be there and I hope to see as many of you as can attend. The
Eastern Long Island Sportsmen’s Alliance Inc. is spearheading this rally
and we at SAFE fully support them.
We will have some signs such as “ guns cause crime like knives forks
and spoons cause Rosie O’Donnell to be fat”, or, “don’t let the first
amendment be used to take away the second amendment” or, “ we support K-Mart’s
right to protect our grandchildren's rights”. But if you feel the
need to make your own sign just make sure it is tasteful and not nasty
or insulting. The media would like nothing better than to find a
nasty or insulting sign to prove that gun owners are nothing but rotten
people who do not deserve the right to own and use firearms. Hope
to see you all there!!
John L. Cushman
ONLINE PETITION
From: "Leroy Pyle" <lpyle@PaulRevere.org>
The Second Amendment Sisters have created an online petition against
gun control to be submitted at the rally in DC on Mother's Day.
As luck would have it, it's at the same place that the Million Mom Marchers
have their petition. It was put up this evening, and can you believe
that we've got more signatures than the MMM's do?
Please help us out - sign and cross post this alert!
http://www.i-charity.net/sw.cgi/ptn/4
Monday
January 31 12:27 PM ET Candidates on the Issues: Guns
By The Associated Press
Three days a week, The Associated Press asks the presidential candidates
a question on the issues. Today's question and the responses:
Guns
Do you believe law-abiding citizens should be able to carry concealed
guns?
Democrats:
Bill Bradley: ``We should take all measures necessary to improve gun
safety and reduce gun violence. There may be a few limited circumstances
under which some law-abiding citizens, such as former police officers,
could be eligible for concealed gun permits. But the carrying of concealed
handguns generally increases the likelihood that such weapons will be involved
in
either crime or accidents. Concealed weapons should be the exception
rather than the rule.''
Al Gore: ``No. We must not loosen the restrictions on concealed weapons.
I believe that, after all the gun violence we have seen, simple common
sense dictates that we must have stricter gun control measures to keep
guns out of the wrong hands, without unnecessarily imposing on the rights
of law-abiding hunters and homeowners.
Reform:
Pat Buchanan: ``Yes.''
Republicans:
Gary Bauer: ``Yes.''
George W. Bush: ``I believe law-abiding citizens who pass rigorous background
checks and a firearm proficiency test should be able to protect themselves
and their families. This decision is best left to individual states. I
believe the federal government should enforce tough laws to keep guns out
of the hands of criminals, juveniles and others who should not have them.''
Alan Keyes: ``Given the proper training and certification in safety
and responsibility, yes.''
John McCain: ``Yes. I believe that law-abiding citizens should be able
to carry concealed guns consistent with state law. The Constitution assures
the right to bear arms. We have a duty to protect the rights of law-abiding
citizens, while taking the appropriate steps necessary to keep guns out
of the hands of criminals, children, and the mentally incompetent and to
prosecute those who criminally possess or use a firearm.''
__________________
Robert P. Firriolo
Gun Owners
Bush Over McCain
Now it’s just Bush vs. McCain
Feb. 9 Neal Knox Report—After a third-place finish in yesterday’s Delaware
contest, Steve Forbes is withdrawing from the Republican Presidential contest.
With pro-gun stalwart Alan Keyes hanging by a thread, the GOP nomination
is now a two-man race.
George W. Bush is rated a B by the Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association,
while their own senator, John McCain is rated a C-minus. I concur
with those ratings.
Bush has taken a lot of heat from the press over his signing the Texas
concealed carry licensing law, improvements to that law, and signing the
law prohibiting Texas cities from suing gunmakers for acts by criminals.
Though a lot of gunowners aren’t fond of him (perhaps remembering the
betrayal by his father), his support for gun show background checks and
other gun bills are basically in line with NRA’s positions.
McCain is generally described by the media as “opposed to gun control”
but when the Senate was considering the Juvenile Justice bill last May
it was McCain who threatened Senate gun rights leaders with leading four
other Senators to vote for the original Lautenberg gun show bill if they
failed to bring up a mandatory gun show background check bill.
The Republicans did, throwing their party into disarray and causing
eventual passage of a slightly softer version of Lautenberg’s gun show
bill.
McCain also was chief co-sponsor of a “campaign finance reform” bill
that would have destroyed the ability of NRA and other pro-gun groups to
inform gunowners of a candidate’s gun record during the last two months
of a campaign. He thanked now-NRA Vice President Sandra Froman and
me for what NRA accomplished in the 1994 Arizona elections. “Unlike
most politicians, I will never forget.”
Yet his bill would have prevented NRA from doing that which so pleased
him.
Since my old friend Alan Keyes has shown no ability to win any primary,
if I were voting in the South Carolina primary it would be against McCain—which
means for George W. Bush.
To paraphrase that great lawman Bill Jordan, in gunfights and politics
there are no second place winners.
******************************************************
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Juvenile
Injustice Bill May Be Moving Again
(Tuesday, February 15, 2000) -- Capitol Hill insiders have told Gun Owners
of America that House Speaker Denny Hastert (R-IL) would like to push the
anti-gun crime bill, (H.R. 1501),out of the conference committee before
the Easter recess. Because this is an election year, the Speaker
wants to get this gun bill “behind him” before the Congressional races
heat up this Fall. It is imperative that you contact your Representative
and Senators now, and remind them that this crime bill is more about gun
control than crime control.
You will remember that GOA members and activists have been on the front
line of opposition to this bill. But because of the long Congressional
break that included the Christmas holidays, many Congressmen have not heard
from you, the constituents, on this issue for quite some time. Now
is the time for your elected representatives to hear from you again!
ACTION: Please send a letter to your Representative and Senators.
CLICK HERE TO IDENTIFY YOUR ORANGE COUNTY
REPRESENTATIVE. You can also call them toll-free at 1-888-449-3511;
or reach them at 202-225-3121.
Please consider subscribing to the GOA E-Mail Alert Network directly.
There is no cost or obligation, and the volume of mail is quite low. To
subscribe, simply send a message to goamail@gunowners.org and include the
state in which you live, in either the subject or the body. To unsubscribe,
reply to any alert and ask to be removed.
Personal note: I called Schumers office and talked to Ipyana Critton
and she said that this is the only bill that has a chance to come out of
Committee. She also said that hi capacity magazines have no sporting
purpose and that they are only used by criminals. They have no sporting
use that she knows of.
Subject: Roll
Call Article/gun control 2/17/00
Hatch May Strip Gun Provisions From Bill Senator Might Move Juvenile Justice
Legislation Without Weapons Language By John Bresnahan
Senate Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) is
considering dropping controversial gun control provisions from a stalled
juvenile justice bill in order to push the underlying legislation through
Congress, according to GOP sources. Hatch told House Judiciary Chairman
Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) of his proposal last week in a private meeting between
the two. The maneuver would give the GOP a chance to say they have passed
something - rather than nothing - on crime in this election year. Hatch
declined to talk about his negotiations with Hyde, although he admitted
that stripping all the gun provisions from the juvenile justice bill was
“one of the options we are looking at.” Hyde supports the idea of dropping
all gun language from the teen legislation, saying he wants to save the
juvenile justice bill, which has been stalled in a House-Senate conference
since late last summer. Hyde also suggested that the House could consider
a separate gun bill if there appeared to be support to pass it. But even
he admits that is unlikely, considering the likely opposition on both sides
of the aisle to such a move. “I don’t want to lose [the] juvenile justice
bill,” said Hyde. “It’s too important. It would be a shame to lose that
in the perennial struggle over new gun legislation.”
But Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) apparently doesn’t
like Hatch’s idea, and he is privately worried that a well-publicized shooting
during the election year could cost Republicans in tight House races, considering
the GOP’s strong ties to the National Rifle Association. Majority Leader
Dick Armey (R-Texas) and Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Texas), however, would
rather see the entire issue fade away, fearing the political consequences
of a new debate on the controversial matter. “That would be a huge nightmare,”
one House GOP leadership aide said of Hatch’s attempt to resurrect the
issue. “We could probably pass the juvenile justice bill, but it would
be a bloody debate.” House Democrats are also sure to pounce on their GOP
colleagues for not moving on any new gun proposals. “We would aggressively
oppose that,” said a senior House Democratic leadership aide of the idea
of moving a stripped-down version of the juvenile justice legislation.
“They would be hammered.” “The goal of this conference was to come up with
comprehensive juvenile justice legislation,” added Sue Harvey, a spokeswoman
for Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.). “Gun safety is an essential
part of that bill and any compromise that excludes that is unacceptable.”
Hatch, who stressed that no final decisions have been made, may want to
simply pass the underlying $1.5 billion juvenile justice bill, which would
impose stiffer penalties on teens convicted of weapons crimes, as well
as allowing state governments to post the Ten Commandments in public buildings.
Hatch could strip out gun control provisions, such
as restrictions on gun show sales, which were included in the Senate version
of the juvenile justice bill last year. Regardless of the spin that either
party puts out, GOP leaders and party strategists know they will have to
deal with the gun issue at some point this session, considering how politically
explosive the topic was last year. Senate Democrats are widely expected
to offer gun control amendments to one of the year’s 13 appropriations
bills, although what the proposal will contain and when it will occur are
still unclear. In order to counter that effort, Republicans are trying
to come up with a plan to neutralize the feared Democratic offensive. One
of the GOP ideas under discussion is to take selected portions of the gun
provisions adopted by the Senate last year and offer them as individual
bills in the House. For instance, President Clinton has called for additional
funding to enforce existing gun laws, a position House GOP leaders already
support. Senior Republicans could offer that provision as a stand-alone
bill and dare Democrats to vote against it. The gun strategy would mimic
the GOP plan on tax cuts, where the leadership has broken out the most
popular parts of last year’s unsuccessful $792 billion tax cut and offered
them as separate bills.
A senior House GOP aide cautioned that no decisions
have been made yet, adding that a number of proposals are under consideration.
Spurred on by last April’s horrific shooting at Colorado’s Columbine High
School, as well as other high-profile shootings, the Senate passed a teen
crime bill last year that included new gun control measures. One key provision,
authored by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), required 72-hour background
checks for those looking to buy guns at gun shows. But the House refused
to include any gun provisions in the teen justice bill it adopted in June.
GOP conservatives joined with a number of Democrats - led by Rep. John
Dingell (Mich.) - in voting down the Lautenberg provision. The House then
passed the juvenile justice bill over strong Democratic opposition. Hatch
and Hyde were unable to reach agreement on a compromise bill during House-Senate
negotiations. Hyde at one point suggested that 95 percent of background
checks for gun show sales occur within one day, but couldn’t reach a deal
with Hatch. President Clinton himself weighed in late in the session, urging
Congress to pass a bill in October, although the year ended with no movement.
With Hatch out running for President during the early part of this year,
there seemed to be little chance that the teen-crime bill would move soon.
But with Hatch’s presidential quest now over, he is now looking to score
some quick victories on the legislative front. The Senate chairman is looking
to free up the juvenile justice bill in particular, according to House
GOP sources.
CAL.
CITIES SEEK TO BAN SMALL GUNS
(It seems to start in Cal. and move east.)
Becerril and Oakland City Councilman Henry Chang will each introduce legislation
next week banning the sale of handguns smaller than 6 3/4 inches long and
4 1/2 inches high. Because they are better made, such guns are not prohibited
by the cities' bans on junk guns, or ``Saturday Night Specials.'' Those
laws outlawed cheap, poorly made guns as inherently unsafe.
CLICK
HERE TO SEE THE FULL ARTICLE
CLICK HERE TO LINK TO CALNRA WEB PAGE