New York State Office of Mental Health, Bureau of Children and Families, 44 Holland Ave., Albany, NY 12229, (518) 474-8394,  has published VIOLENCE PREVENTION, Creation safer schools in New York State in response "to rising concern about school violence with informative tools designed to help school personnel manage the problem."  It is designed to be "a starting point to begin thinking about you own school district's needs and the measures that are currently employed to prevent violence and to promote a safe and positive learning environment."  Under RISK FACTORS two sections have information about the relationship of guns to school violence.  Community and environmental risk factors list "Access to guns or other weapons" and Family risk factors list "History of weapon possession or use by family."  Nothing is said about racism, illegal weapon sales, possession or use, or side effects from prescription drugs.  Call and order your free booklet today.  Aren't you glad to know that it is the hunters, target shooters, police persons, security guards and all of the other gun lovers and gun sellers that are the cause of school violence.

RUMOR:   S&W WILL NOT BE STOPPING THE SALE OF 2 INCH BARREL REVOLVERS A SPOKESMAN FOR S&W  SAID ON SUNDAY, 10/17 ON TOM GRESHAM'S GUN TALK.  They are bringing out a 3 inch airlight kit gun.

Handgun Control has started a new anti-gun group. 

VOTE FOR ROSENWASSER AND McGUIRK.

ORANGE COUNTY FEDERATION OF SPORTSMEN’S CLUBS  The Annual dinner is on Oct. 15.  If you want to go let me know.  $25 each.  I still have raffle tickets at $50 each or we can split it.
FEDERAL LEGISLATION
CALL CONGRESS 1-800-839-5276  The Juvenile Justice Bill is in conference and it is important that you call up as much as you want and talk to as many people as you want.  First tell them that you are using the American Federation of Teachers 800 number.
STATE LEGISLATION:
The Eddie the Eagle bill is on Pataki’s desk but I understand that he will not sign it until after the Nov. elections.  Call/write Pataki and ask him to sign the bill, S4057/A2045.
It is rumored that Assembly. Speaker Sheldon Silver is planning for a push to ban all handguns in New York State after the Nov. elections.
COUNTY:
HOW THE QUESTIONNAIRE WAS GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE YOUR CHARACTER REFERENCES WAS CHANGED ON 9/29/99!  Under the new system, the Pistol License Applicant is given 4 copies of the questionnaire when they pick up the Pistol License Application.  The applicant is then responsible for having the questionnaire filled out.  The applicant will then turn in the four questionnaires when they turn in their application to the Sheriff's Department when they are fingerprinted.  The new system is a great improvement.  Under the old system the Sheriff's Department mailed each reference a questionnaire and applications were delayed because the questionnaires were lost or not filled in or mailed by the applicants references.

VOTING TIME IS HERE!! VOTE FOR ROSENWASSER AND McGUIRK.

MISC.

COLT: SCREWING ALL GUN OWNERS. Effective immediately, Colt's Manufacturing Co., Inc. will accept no new orders for the following products: 1. Magnum Carry, 2. DS II 38 Special 3. Python Elite - I's 4. Anaconda - MM's, 5. 380s, 6. Pocket Nine, 7. 1991 Family, Please note: All standard model variations within the above products are also discontinued, effective immediately.
Colt's very pleased to advise you that we will continue to manufacture and actively promote the sale of a variety of important handguns which best support and represent the unique value of the Colt Brand. These include: 1. Single Action Army, 2. Cowboys, 3. Model O's (New XS, Defender, Custom)  A total boycott of all Colt Products is under way.  They are still having problems from the bankruptcy they had in the early 90’s.  They still plan to introduce the SMART GUN next year.
Cincinnati win  10/7/99  That is the message of today's decision by an Ohio state judge in dismissing with prejudice the suit filed by Cincinnati -- the first such lawsuit to reach court disposition. The opinion states that, "the City's complaint is an improper attempt to have this Court substitute its judgment for that of the legislature ... only the legislature has the power to engage in the type of regulation that is being sought by the City here. Moreover, the City's request ... exceeds the scope of its municipal powers and ... violates the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution."
UPS has stopped shipping handguns except for expensive overnight and many will be boycotting them.  If they can not keep track of a $300 gun how can they keep track of all of the drugs and other valuable items they ship.
RPS UPS’s major competitor has now decided that it will not ship handguns.
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NRA-ILA FAX ALERT

Vol. 6, No. 40 10/15/99

JUVENILE JUSTICE DEBATE CONTINUES

 The House-Senate conference committee continues to try to iron out
the differences between each chamber's version of juvenile justice reform
legislation passed earlier this year. This week, the House of
Representatives rejected another proposed "motion to instruct" conference
committee members on how to proceed (see FAX Alert Vol. 6, No. 37 for
details on previous motions). This motion, introduced by U.S.
Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.), stated that (1) the conference
should immediately convene its first substantive meeting to offer
amendments and motions, including gun safety amendments; and (2) conferees
should conclude their deliberations and report a conference agreement by
October 20 so that Congress may consider the measure before adjourning the
first session of the 106th Congress. The motion failed on a vote of 174 in
favor, 249 against. Debate on this issue will continue, as will procedural
and political grandstanding from anti-gun lawmakers, so it is critical
that you continue to call the conference committee members considering the
juvenile justice legislation, as well as both your U.S. Senators and your
U.S. Representative, to ensure that no anti-gun language is included in
the conference committee's final "compromise" legislation. You can call
your two Senators at (202) 224-3121 and your Representative at (202)
225-3121. For contact information on conference committee members, call
ILA Grassroots at (800) 392-8683.

SEE MY ALERT FOR A 800 NUMBER TO CALL CONGRESS

ANOTHER RECKLESS LAWSUIT REJECTED

This week, Baltimore (Md.) Circuit Court Judge Evelyn Omega Cannon
dismissed a lawsuit filed against two manufacturers and one Maryland gun
store. The suit attempted to hold the defendants responsible for the
accidental shooting of two boys (one of which was fatal), but Judge Cannon
rejected the plaintiffs' argument, stating that the manufacturers did not
produce a product that was defective. This ruling follows closely on the
heels of last week's dismissal by an Ohio court of Cincinnati's reckless
lawsuit against certain firearm manufacturers and one distributor (see FAX
Alert Vol. 6, No. 39). The Cincinnati City Council voted five to four this
week to appeal the court's decision against the objections of Councilman
Charles Winburn (R), who feels the suit is a waste of the city's time and
money. The attorney in the Maryland case stated that he also intends to
appeal.

"OPERATION HARD TIME" UNVEILED IN PENNSYLVANIA

While NRA continues to call on the Clinton-Gore Administration to enforce
existing firearm laws, yet another state has beaten the White House to the
punch in answering this call. On Wednesday, Pennsylvania Attorney General
Mike Fisher (R), joined by NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre,
urged the Keystone State's General Assembly to approve his proposal for
"Operation Hard Time," a program that calls for toughening the laws
prohibiting convicted felons from possessing firearms. LaPierre told
Fisher that Pennsylvania's effort has the full support of NRA's three
million members. "While federal prosecutions of gun crimes have dropped by
44 percent under the Clinton-Gore Administration, Pennsylvania has today
become the fifth state in the country to launch an aggressive effort to
enforce existing laws and prosecute armed criminals," said NRA's EVP.
"Prosecution is prevention. Removing violent felons with guns from our
streets will, indeed, make those streets safer for our children." During
the last year, NRA has vigorously promoted Richmond, Virginia's "Project
Exile," the model for the program in Pennsylvania and other cities and
states around the country. Moreover, NRA is urging Congress to appropriate
$50 million to implement the program nationwide. LaPierre also praised
U.S. Senators Arlen Specter (R) and Rick Santorum (R), as well as
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge (R), for their support of tough
enforcement of existing laws. "Pennsylvanians are fortunate to have
leaders who believe in upholding the rights of law-abiding Americans,
while throwing the book at violent criminals who all too often have
escaped prosecution in the past. Today's announcement will help change
that and will help make all our streets safer."

THE SHOW WILL GO ON!

A preliminary injunction has been granted in the case of Great Western
Shows, Inc., v. The County of Los Angeles, which will allow one of the
nation's largest gun shows to go on as originally scheduled during the
last weekend in October. Los Angeles County had passed an ordinance
prohibiting the sale of firearms or ammunition on County property,
including the Fairgrounds -- the site of the Great Western Show for the
past 22 years. This represents a tremendous victory for NRA, which has
financially supported this suit, as well as California's gun owners and
the operators of the show.