Vote could come later today.
Immediate action imperative!
South
Dakota Gun Owners E-mail Alert
PO Box 3845, Rapid City, SD 57709
(605) 737-5583
LibertyTeeth@sdgo.org
http://www.SDGO.org
(Wednesday,
February 25, 2004) – The US Senate is scheduled to begin debate today on S.
659, the "Protection of Lawful
Commerce in Arms Act."
This
bill would attempt to end the baseless lawsuits brought by anti-gun groups and
greedy trial lawyers in an effort to bankrupt American firearms manufacturers.
But
this is not the only measure that will be considered.
Anti-gunners like Diane Feinstein, Ted Kennedy and John McCain are lining
up to offer amendments to extend the ban on semi-automatics and to create
debilitating restrictions on gun shows.
This
is no surprise. The real danger is
that many may be willing to accept these restrictions in exchange for the
passage of the lawsuit bill.
The
Clinton Semi-auto ban outlaws more than 180 firearms, not simply 19 as is
commonly reported. It strikes at
the heart of the Second Amendment by banning the very arms America’s Founders
took such pains to protect. As you
may know, the ban will sunset in September of this year if Congress does not
renew it. But if a compromise is
accepted now, the ban will be renewed for at least another ten years, if not
made permanent.
The
gun show amendment would outlaw the private sale of firearms at gun shows,
unless the buyer agrees to submit to a background registration check. If the
Senate were to adopt the McCain language, it would effectively eliminate gun
shows because every member of an organization sponsoring a gun show could be
imprisoned if the organization fails to notify each and every "person who
attends the special firearms event of the requirements [under the Brady
Law]."
Thus,
if the person responsible for handing out "Brady pamphlets" took a
break to go to the bathroom, everyone responsible for the event could be sent to
prison.
Such
anti-American laws are clearly unacceptable, even when attached to the gun
maker’s protection bill.
SDGO
has joined Gun Owners of America in opposing S. 659 if it is amended with any
gun control provisions. If either
of the above amendments is tacked onto S. 659, then the correct vote is “NO”
on S. 659!
The
NRA is also opposed to any “poison pill” amendments to S. 659.
But they have not taken a strong stance against S. 659 if any gun control
amendments are added.
Passing
S. 659 is the top priority of the NRA, and it is possible that they may waver if
it appears that the liability bill will fail without the semi-auto or gun show
ban amendments.
Action:
Please
call the NRA immediately toll-free at 800-392-8683 and/or email them at Federal-Affairs@nrahq.org
You
can also e-mail one of the NRA-ILA Director of Federal Affairs,
Chuck Cunningham, at ChuckC@visi.net
You
can use this sample message to direct your comments:
-----------------------------------
Dear
Mr. Cunningham-
Please
continue standing firm against any “poison pill” amendments to S. 659.
Allowing
a re-enactment of the Clinton Semi-auto ban, the “gun show loophole”
amendment or any other gun control, to be tacked onto the liability bill is
simply unacceptable. Such a
compromise would literally be one step forward and two steps back, resulting in
a net loss for gun rights.
We
must pull out all the stops to defeat these gun control amendments.
The NRA must make it clear that they will oppose S. 659 if any gun
control amendments are added.
Sincerely,
----------------------------------
Also
contact both of South Dakota’s US Senators.
Sen.
Daschle is perhaps more vulnerable now than he has ever been in the past, since
he is facing Thune this fall. He
does not want you to see him cast another anti-gun vote.
Because
both Sen. Daschle and Sen. Johnson have signed as co-sponsors of S. 659, it is
vital that they hear your opposition to any gun control amendments.
Don't
wait until later, use the below sample communication to e-mail, fax, or call our
US
Senators immediately. Or better yet, contact them in all three manners:
Senator Tom Daschle
Phone: (202) 224-2321
Fax: (202) 224-7895
Contact
via the internet: http://www.senate.gov/~daschle/webform1.html
(follow this link and type a message in the online form, or paste the
pre-written message below)
Senator Tim Johnson
Phone: (202) 224-5842
Fax: (202) 228-5765
Contact
via the internet: http://johnson.senate.gov/ContactPage/emailform.htm
(follow this link and type a message in the online form, or paste the
pre-written message below)
----Pre-written
Message----
Dear
Senator ________
I
strongly oppose allowing any amendments which re-enact the Clinton Semi-auto
ban, or which add the McCain gun show restrictions or any other gun control, to
be tacked onto S. 659, the gun liability bill.
S.
659 is not worth swallowing a re-enactment of the semi-auto ban or restrictions
on gun shows. Both of these
measures would constitute very egregious violations of Congress’
Constitutional authority. I hope
you will do everything in your power to make sure these amendments do not end up
in the bill.
Please
know that any senator who votes to extend the Clinton Semi-auto ban in any form,
or to restrict gun shows, will be recognized as the anti-gun politician that he
is.
If
either of the above amendments is tacked onto S. 659, then the correct vote is
“NO” on S. 659!
I
will be watching how you vote. Thank you.
Sincerely,
-----------------------------------
While the vote on any anti-gun amendments could come today, it is likely that the debate over S. 659 will last several days. Please take action ASAP!