An Alert from Gun Owners of America - http://www.gunowners.org
(Thursday, August 4, 2005) - Last week, SDGO
alerted you to legislation passed in the Senate (S. 397) that will
protect gun makers from frivolous lawsuits.
Unfortunately, S. 397 passed with some unwanted baggage -- specifically,
an amendment offered by Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) requiring gun dealers to
include a "lock-up-your-safety" device with every handgun sold.
In addition to imposing a "gun tax" on every handgun buyer, this
amendment paves the way for future legislation mandating that gun owners
use those trigger locks. Many gun owners don't use locking devices
because they want instant protection during a moment of crisis. That
should be their choice.
So SDGO and Gun Owners of America are now working with Colorado Rep.
Marilyn Musgrave (R) to get this obnoxious provision stripped out of the
bill. She will be sending a letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert and
Majority Leader Tom DeLay, asking them to NOT approve the Senate bill.
Rather, the Musgrave letter asks these two leaders to push the House
bill, H.R. 800, which provides lawsuit immunity for gun makers and
sellers, without endangering average gun owners. H.R. 800 has been well
received in the House, as it currently has a whopping 257 cosponsors.
Rep. Musgrave needs additional cosignatories before she sends her
letter. And this is where we need your help.
Action:
Please ask Congresswoman Herseth to sign onto the Musgrave letter opposing the "lock-up-your-safety" provision in S. 397. She needs as many Congressional signatures as possible to show the House leadership that there is a groundswell of support for pushing the House bill, H.R. 800, rather than just taking the Senate version at face value.
Rep. Stephanie Herseth
Phone: (202) 225-2801
Email:
stephanie.herseth@mail.house.gov
You can use this sample letter to direct your comments.
--- Pre-written letter ---
Dear Representative:
As you know, the Senate recently passed much-needed lawsuit protection
for the gun industry (S. 397). But this bill passed with some unwanted
baggage -- specifically, an amendment offered by Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI)
requiring gun dealers to include a "lock-up-your-safety" device with
every handgun sold.
In addition to imposing a "gun tax" on every handgun buyer, this
amendment paves the way for future legislation mandating that gun
owners use those trigger locks.
Many gun owners don't use locking devices because they want instant
protection during a moment of crisis. Mandatory trigger locks will
actually cost lives by rendering self-defense firearms ineffective in an
emergency situation.
I urge you to sign onto a letter being circulated by Rep. Marilyn
Musgrave which deals with real efforts to gain lawsuit protection for
gun makers and gun dealers, without endangering ordinary gun owners.
The letter asks the House leadership to push H.R. 800, a lawsuit
protection bill that contains no gun control, rather than its Senate
counterpart. H.R. 800 has been well received in the House, as it
currently has 257 cosponsors.
America deserves a clean bill which offers real protection for gun
makers and dealers. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
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