URGENT ALERT!!!
Even while we are busy defending our Second
Amendment rights against efforts to enhance the
Brady Law, there is a movement afoot to restrict
our First Amendment rights as well... a movement
that can make the defense of our liberties that
much harder.
Who does congress think they are?
the certainly don`t ask us before they
try to enact this stuff.
Amendment rights against efforts to enhance the
Brady Law, there is a movement afoot to restrict
our First Amendment rights as well... a movement
that can make the defense of our liberties that
much harder.
Who does congress think they are?
the certainly don`t ask us before they
try to enact this stuff.
You may have heard of this effort as the "Hush
Rush" bill or, just simply, as the Fairness
Doctrine. No matter how you look at it, however,
there is nothing fair about it.
Rush" bill or, just simply, as the Fairness
Doctrine. No matter how you look at it, however,
there is nothing fair about it.
Better termed the UnFairness Doctrine, it would
radically limit the type of information you hear
in the media and would greatly restrict access by
Gun Owners of America to the airwaves.
radically limit the type of information you hear
in the media and would greatly restrict access by
Gun Owners of America to the airwaves.
Access to talk radio has been crucial for GOA. If
we had to depend on network news alone, one would
think that crime is out of control. Talk radio
has given Second Amendment supporters the
opportunity to present the data that more guns in
the hands of the public has actually lowered
crime.
we had to depend on network news alone, one would
think that crime is out of control. Talk radio
has given Second Amendment supporters the
opportunity to present the data that more guns in
the hands of the public has actually lowered
crime.
On June 28, the House of Representatives voted
309 to 115 for an amendment -- offered by pro-gun
Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) -- to defund enforcement
of the unFairness Doctrine. This was a great
victory. But even though the amendment -- which
was added to a Federal Communication Commission
appropriation (HR 2829) -- was a victory for
supporters of the First Amendment, it does not
give lasting comfort to supporters of free
speech.
309 to 115 for an amendment -- offered by pro-gun
Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) -- to defund enforcement
of the unFairness Doctrine. This was a great
victory. But even though the amendment -- which
was added to a Federal Communication Commission
appropriation (HR 2829) -- was a victory for
supporters of the First Amendment, it does not
give lasting comfort to supporters of free
speech.
The vote on the appropriations amendment applies
only to FCC actions in 2008. Since no one thinks
that the Commission would move to reimpose the
unFairness Doctrine until after 2008, what is
needed is enactment of S. 1748, the Broadcaster
Freedom Act which was introduced by Senator Norm
Coleman (R-MN).
only to FCC actions in 2008. Since no one thinks
that the Commission would move to reimpose the
unFairness Doctrine until after 2008, what is
needed is enactment of S. 1748, the Broadcaster
Freedom Act which was introduced by Senator Norm
Coleman (R-MN).
The so-called Fairness Doctrine is openly touted
as a way to squelch conservative's market-driven
dominance of talk radio. For example, Sen. James
Inhofe of Oklahoma reports overhearing a
conversation between Senators Hilary Clinton (NY)
and Barbara Boxer (CA). The two Senators were
complaining about conservatives' success in the
free market of ideas on radio and said "We've got
to have a balance. There's got to be a
legislative fix for this."
as a way to squelch conservative's market-driven
dominance of talk radio. For example, Sen. James
Inhofe of Oklahoma reports overhearing a
conversation between Senators Hilary Clinton (NY)
and Barbara Boxer (CA). The two Senators were
complaining about conservatives' success in the
free market of ideas on radio and said "We've got
to have a balance. There's got to be a
legislative fix for this."
The UnFairness Doctrine is on its face an attack
on free speech. Were folks like Senators Clinton
and Boxer truly interested in balance, they would
want to extend their unFairness Doctrine to the
Public Broadcasting System and the network news
programs, almost all of which tilt to the left.
on free speech. Were folks like Senators Clinton
and Boxer truly interested in balance, they would
want to extend their unFairness Doctrine to the
Public Broadcasting System and the network news
programs, almost all of which tilt to the left.
The anti-free speech forces in Congress may want
to gag talk radio because Air America has
staggered into bankruptcy. Air America, which was
the left's failed attempt to compete with
conservative talk radio, has almost no audience.
It got its clock cleaned and has only itself to
blame. It should not be allowed to hide behind a
phony "Fairness Doctrine.
to gag talk radio because Air America has
staggered into bankruptcy. Air America, which was
the left's failed attempt to compete with
conservative talk radio, has almost no audience.
It got its clock cleaned and has only itself to
blame. It should not be allowed to hide behind a
phony "Fairness Doctrine.
Remember, the First Amendment protects free
speech, not fairness. Free speech is a
constitutional doctrine; using the power of
government to mandate political "fairness" is a
socialist doctrine.
speech, not fairness. Free speech is a
constitutional doctrine; using the power of
government to mandate political "fairness" is a
socialist doctrine.
============
You may recall that in recent years, GOA has
enlisted your aid in fighting so-called "gang"
legislation, which typically includes attempts to
apply federal RICO anti-racketeering statutes to
minor gun infractions -- thus harassing and
prosecuting otherwise law-abiding gun owners as
though they were Mafia bosses.
enlisted your aid in fighting so-called "gang"
legislation, which typically includes attempts to
apply federal RICO anti-racketeering statutes to
minor gun infractions -- thus harassing and
prosecuting otherwise law-abiding gun owners as
though they were Mafia bosses.
Well, Feinstein's S. 456 is the latest vehicle
for such underhandedness.
for such underhandedness.
At issue is section 215 of the bill. In essence,
your family, gun shop employees, or even church
bowling league would be considered an organized
"gang" and subjected to draconian prison
sentences if you did any of a number of things,
such as:
your family, gun shop employees, or even church
bowling league would be considered an organized
"gang" and subjected to draconian prison
sentences if you did any of a number of things,
such as:
* having a gun (loaded OR unloaded) in your
glovebox as you -- inevitably -- drive within
1,000 feet of a school, even if you didn't know
the school was there;
glovebox as you -- inevitably -- drive within
1,000 feet of a school, even if you didn't know
the school was there;
* selling a gun out of your store while being
entrapped in a Bloomberg-style "sting" operation;
entrapped in a Bloomberg-style "sting" operation;
* teaching your son to shoot without giving him a
written letter of permission (which must be on
his actual person), even if you are standing
right behind him at the range the whole time; or,
written letter of permission (which must be on
his actual person), even if you are standing
right behind him at the range the whole time; or,
* simply being one the 83,000 veterans whose
names were illegally added to the Brady system by
President Clinton (or, presumably, one of the
thousands more who will be on the list if the
current Veterans Disarmament bill passes), if you
continued to possess a firearm.
names were illegally added to the Brady system by
President Clinton (or, presumably, one of the
thousands more who will be on the list if the
current Veterans Disarmament bill passes), if you
continued to possess a firearm.
Now, there's a lot of legal verbiage in S. 456,
which is quite large as bills go. Feinstein and
her anti-gun cronies will counter that the
situations listed above aren't enough -- you also
have to commit a crime of violence while engaging
in them.
which is quite large as bills go. Feinstein and
her anti-gun cronies will counter that the
situations listed above aren't enough -- you also
have to commit a crime of violence while engaging
in them.
Oh yeah? Consider how many people defending
themselves from carjackers or their businesses
from hold-ups are indicted by anti-gun
prosecutors merely for exercising their right to
self-defense. And what judge is going to say that
the "gun crimes" in those instances aren't crimes
of violence?
themselves from carjackers or their businesses
from hold-ups are indicted by anti-gun
prosecutors merely for exercising their right to
self-defense. And what judge is going to say that
the "gun crimes" in those instances aren't crimes
of violence?
Further, any anti-gun prosecutor could simply
state that family members or gun shop employees
are "co-conspirators" or are "aiding and
abetting" actual criminals using guns.
state that family members or gun shop employees
are "co-conspirators" or are "aiding and
abetting" actual criminals using guns.
And of course, we have had plenty of warning of
what happens when prosecutorial powers are
enormously expanded. Take the original RICO Act
itself, for example. We were told that it was
needed to shut down the Mafia -- a tool to be
used in the fight against organized crime. But in
the years since its passage, the RICO Act has
become the overzealous prosecutor's version of
going nuclear... wrapping everything up in one
big package of conspiracy charges and twenty
years to life prison terms.
what happens when prosecutorial powers are
enormously expanded. Take the original RICO Act
itself, for example. We were told that it was
needed to shut down the Mafia -- a tool to be
used in the fight against organized crime. But in
the years since its passage, the RICO Act has
become the overzealous prosecutor's version of
going nuclear... wrapping everything up in one
big package of conspiracy charges and twenty
years to life prison terms.
It just isn't right that you, your spouse, and
your two teenage boys could be treated like the
Gambino family just because you brandished your
firearm to scare away a carjacker... without
firing a shot! And prison terms of 10, 20, or
even all of your remaining years aren't right in
such instances, either!
your two teenage boys could be treated like the
Gambino family just because you brandished your
firearm to scare away a carjacker... without
firing a shot! And prison terms of 10, 20, or
even all of your remaining years aren't right in
such instances, either!
In short, section 215 of S. 456 is unacceptable.
It must be deleted, period. To our knowledge, the
entire Second Amendment community -- spearheaded
by GOA and the NRA -- is adamantly opposed to
Feinstein's scheme.
It must be deleted, period. To our knowledge, the
entire Second Amendment community -- spearheaded
by GOA and the NRA -- is adamantly opposed to
Feinstein's scheme.
It should be noted that there is lots of talk on
Capitol Hill about how to "handle" the problems
of S. 456 with a minimum of fuss. The most likely
scenario is that there would only be two
amendments allowed -- one Republican and one
Democratic. Once that is done, the Senate would
immediately proceed to a vote on the bill...
which may or may not be a recorded vote. Gun
owners should bear in mind that, regardless of
which politician is saying otherwise, there is NO
GUARANTEE that the Republican amendment would
even attempt to totally strike section 215. The
amendment might not help matters that much, and
might not pass anyway.
Capitol Hill about how to "handle" the problems
of S. 456 with a minimum of fuss. The most likely
scenario is that there would only be two
amendments allowed -- one Republican and one
Democratic. Once that is done, the Senate would
immediately proceed to a vote on the bill...
which may or may not be a recorded vote. Gun
owners should bear in mind that, regardless of
which politician is saying otherwise, there is NO
GUARANTEE that the Republican amendment would
even attempt to totally strike section 215. The
amendment might not help matters that much, and
might not pass anyway.
So this attempt to placate gun owners with a
"roll of the dice" amendment vote is nothing more
than the usual smoke-and-mirrors designed to give
politicians cover from the wrath of a known
activist constituency.
"roll of the dice" amendment vote is nothing more
than the usual smoke-and-mirrors designed to give
politicians cover from the wrath of a known
activist constituency.
GOA doesn't believe in gambling with your rights.
Our position is firm and unalterable: section 215
must go away, now. The time to kill a snake is
before it strikes. And this snake could strike at
any time; a vote on final passage could occur as
early as this week.
Our position is firm and unalterable: section 215
must go away, now. The time to kill a snake is
before it strikes. And this snake could strike at
any time; a vote on final passage could occur as
early as this week.
So here's what you can do to help kill the snake.
Any individual senator can place a "hold" on a
particular piece of legislation until his or her
concerns are addressed; if the Leadership ignores
those objections, it becomes extremely difficult
to move the legislation forward. The "hold" is a
legislative tactic that we have used to great
advantage in the past. We need at least one
Senator to take that step and place a hold on S.
456.
Any individual senator can place a "hold" on a
particular piece of legislation until his or her
concerns are addressed; if the Leadership ignores
those objections, it becomes extremely difficult
to move the legislation forward. The "hold" is a
legislative tactic that we have used to great
advantage in the past. We need at least one
Senator to take that step and place a hold on S.
456.
Please utilize the Take Action feature to send
your Senators a pre-written message asking them
to place a "hold" on S. 456 until such time as
section 215 is deleted from the bill.
your Senators a pre-written message asking them
to place a "hold" on S. 456 until such time as
section 215 is deleted from the bill.
=========================
URGENT ALERT!!!
Anti-gun Zealots Trying To Ram Disarmament Bill Through Senate
-- Immediate action required
URGENT ALERT!!!
Anti-gun Zealots Trying To Ram Disarmament Bill Through Senate
-- Immediate action required
Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
http://www.gunowners.org
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
http://www.gunowners.org
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
You'd think that when rabid, anti-gun legislators like Sen. Charles
Schumer and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy join together to pass anti-gun
legislation, it would raise a few red flags.
You'd think that when rabid, anti-gun legislators like Sen. Charles
Schumer and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy join together to pass anti-gun
legislation, it would raise a few red flags.
But these two New York Democrats are currently planning to roll over
gun owners with H.R. 2640 -- legislation which would bar you from
owning guns if:
gun owners with H.R. 2640 -- legislation which would bar you from
owning guns if:
* You are a battle-scarred veteran suffering from Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder; or
Stress Disorder; or
* As a kid, you were diagnosed with ADHD.
Not to mention the fact that your ailing grandfather could have his
entire gun collection seized, based only on a diagnosis of
Alzheimer's (and there goes the family inheritance).
entire gun collection seized, based only on a diagnosis of
Alzheimer's (and there goes the family inheritance).
Gun owners have been desperately fighting this bill for several
months. You will remember that it passed in the House with an
unrecorded voice vote in June and was later passed out of the Senate
Judiciary Committee -- also without a recorded vote.
months. You will remember that it passed in the House with an
unrecorded voice vote in June and was later passed out of the Senate
Judiciary Committee -- also without a recorded vote.
Sen. Schumer is pushing hard to pass this legislation -- dubbed the
Veterans Disarmament Act -- so he is circulating an
"agreement" which
would waive the Senate rules in order to bring up and pass the bill.
Veterans Disarmament Act -- so he is circulating an
"agreement" which
would waive the Senate rules in order to bring up and pass the bill.
This agreement could come about in the next few hours or the next
couple of days!
couple of days!
This agreement is extremely diabolical, as it would eliminate the
ability of pro-gun senators to offer amendments which would clean up
the legislation... and would grease the skids for immediate passage!
ability of pro-gun senators to offer amendments which would clean up
the legislation... and would grease the skids for immediate passage!
But there is good news: In order for Schumer's "agreement" to
prevail, he must get "unanimous consent." This means that just ONE
single senator can block it.
prevail, he must get "unanimous consent." This means that just ONE
single senator can block it.
ACTION: Please contact your two U.S. Senators RIGHT AWAY and urge
them to OBJECT to Senator Chuck Schumer's "unanimous consent
agreement" to steamroll H.R. 2640, the McCarthy anti-gun bill.
them to OBJECT to Senator Chuck Schumer's "unanimous consent
agreement" to steamroll H.R. 2640, the McCarthy anti-gun bill.
You can use the pre-written message below and send it as an e-mail by
visiting the GOA Legislative Action Center at
http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm (where phone and fax numbers
are also available).
visiting the GOA Legislative Action Center at
http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm (where phone and fax numbers
are also available).
----- Pre-written letter -----
Dear Senator:
Currently, anti-gun zealot Chuck Schumer is trying to get "unanimous
consent" to steamroll the Senate in connection with Carolyn
McCarthy's anti-gun bill, H.R. 2640.
consent" to steamroll the Senate in connection with Carolyn
McCarthy's anti-gun bill, H.R. 2640.
If this bill is passed, an American would be barred from owning guns
if:
if:
* He is a U.S. veteran suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder;
or
or
* As a kid, he was diagnosed with ADHD in connection with the IDEA
program.
program.
Not to mention the fact that an ailing grandfather could have his
entire gun collection seized, based only on a diagnosis of
Alzheimer's from a Medicare home health provider (and there goes the
family inheritance).
entire gun collection seized, based only on a diagnosis of
Alzheimer's from a Medicare home health provider (and there goes the
family inheritance).
Gun owners don't support this legislation, better known as the
Veterans Disarmament Act. The Military Order of the Purple Heart is
opposed to it, having stated on June 18 of this year, that "For the
first time the legislation, if enacted, would statutorily impose a
lifetime gun ban on battle-scarred veterans."
Veterans Disarmament Act. The Military Order of the Purple Heart is
opposed to it, having stated on June 18 of this year, that "For the
first time the legislation, if enacted, would statutorily impose a
lifetime gun ban on battle-scarred veterans."
Please place a hold on the McCarthy bill and object to any unanimous
consent agreement to discharge the bill.
consent agreement to discharge the bill.
Sincerely,
Comments