The People's Right to Keep and Bear Arms
The 2nd Amendment of the Bill of Rights: "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the Right of the people to Keep and Bear Arms shall not be infringed."


Right to Bear Arms News 10/26/00


updated 10/26/00

I just received my November / December 2000    America's 1st Freedom, an NRA publication, "Official Journal of the National Rifle Association". The cover headline;"THE SECOND AMENDMENT DOES NOT EXTEND AN INdivIDUAL RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS.";
Official Position of Clinton-Gore Department Of Justice In A Letter Dated August, 22 2000.

There is a series of articles starting on page 30. I can't reproduce the whole thing here, but I will summarize them as concisely as I can.

First is about a Texas case Government lawyers appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals of the 5th Circuit in New Orleans. This exchange (I've seen this reported from other sources previously) between the U.S. Attorney William Mateja and senior Judge Will Garwood is telling about the view point of Gore, Clinton, their justice department and their allies.

Judge: "Are you saying the Second Amendment is consistent with a position that you can take guns away from the public? You can prevent ownership of rifles, pistols and shotguns from all the people? Is that the position of the United States?"
U.S. Attorney: "Yes"

Judge: "Is it the position of the United States that persons who are not in the National Guard are afforded no protections under the Second Amendment?"

U.S. Attorney: "Exactly."


Observers reported that this incredible exchange caused the Judges' jaws to hit the floor. The ominous truth is exposed, if Al Gore is elected, your gun and your rights are not safe. The leaders of the Democrat party do not respect the Constitution or the Bill of Rights, the documents the founders of this great country wrote to protect your rights from the Government. The appellate court does not release transcripts of it's proceedings, so a concerned NRA member wrote the Clinton-Gore Department of Justice (more like injustice..) asking " whether it is indeed the governments position that the Second Amendment does not extend to the people as an individual right". the DOJ solicitor general responded on August 22, 2000 that the position of the Clinton-Gore administration is "the Second Amendment does not extend an individual right to keep and bear arms,...it must be considered as settled that there is no personal constitutional right, under the Second Amendment, to own or use a gun."

From the Democrat Party Platform;
"A shocking level of gun violence on our streets and in our schools has shown America the need to keep guns away from those who shouldn't have them - in was that respect the rights of hunters, sportsmen and legitimate gun owners. The Columbine tragedy stuck America's hear, but in its wake Republicans have done nothing to keep to keep guns away from those who should not have them. Democrats believe that we should fight gun crime on all fronts - with stronger laws and stronger enforcement. That is why Democrats fought and passed the Brady Law and the Assault Weapons Ban. We increased federal, state, and local gun crime prosecution by 22% since 1992.
Now gun crime is down by 25 percent. Now we must do even more. We need mandatory child safety locks, to protect our children. We should require a photo license Id., a full background check, and a gun safety test to buy a new handgun in America. We support more federal gun prosecutors, ATF agents and inspectors, and giving states and communities another 10,0000 prosecutors to fight gun crime."

In contrast, From the Republican Party Platform;
"We defend the constitutional right to keep and bear arms, we affirm the individual responsibility to safely use and store firearms. Because self-defense is a basic human right, we will promote training in their safe usage, especially in federal programs for women and the elderly. A Republican administration will vigorously enforce current gun laws, neglected by the Democrats, especially by prosecuting dangerous offenders identified as felons in instant background checks.
Although we support background checks to ensure that guns do not fall into the hands of criminals, we oppose federal licensing of law0abiding gun owners and national gun registration as a violation of the Second Amendment and an invasion of privacy of honest citizens. Through programs like Project Exile, we will hold criminals individually accountable for their actions by strong enforcement of federal and state firearms laws, especially when guns are used in violent or drug-related crimes. With a special emphasis upon school safety, we propose the crackdown on youth violence explained elsewhere in this platform."

Al Gore has been quite lately about his anti Second Amendment views because he is down in the polls. Make no mistake he wants to take away your rights.

FACT: Gore has called for a ban on all semi-automatic handguns.

FACT: Gore has called for a ban on affordable handguns that are owned by millions of Americans for the defense of themselves and their families.

FACT: Gore wants to use the power of the federal government to sue the American firearms industry into bankruptcy.

FACT: Gore demands mandatory government testing and photo-licensing for all firearm purchasers.

FACT: Gore wants to strip law-abiding citizens of the right to carry firearms for self-defense.

FACT: Gore cast the tie-breaking vote to close down all gun shows; create a national registry of firearms owners, and impose and unlimited tax on gun purchases.

FACT: Gore stood with Bill Clinton defending a massive, illegal registration of gun buyers; passing the most enormous set of new federal gun control laws since 1968; and directing the federal regulatory agencies to attack gun ownership in any way possible.

FACT: If elected, Gore will pack the U.S. Supreme Court with Feinsteint/Kennedy/Schumer - selected anti-gun activist who will agree with the Gore Department of Justice that you have no right to own any firearm.

DEFEND YOUR RIGHTS! DEFEAT GORE
AND THE REST OF THE DEMOCRATS

Vote November 7, 2000!

I wish I had the time to detail the ways Clinton-Gore have done their best to take away your Right to Bear Arms. I don't (I shouldn't even be writing this, I should be packing to move next week.., but I feel this is important), if your not an activist like I am you probably have not kept up on their actions. Take my word, there is no doubt that the Democrats and other liberal groups like Handgun Control want to eliminate your Second Amendment Rights. They have been chipping away at them for a long time. Clinton has done terrible things to our rights, Gore if elected could finish them off.. I'm voting for George Bush because I know he is our ONLY chance of defending our rights and keeping Gore from taking them from us. Won't you do the same?



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Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2000 17:15:10 -0400 (EDT)
From: alerts@nra.org
Subject: NRA-ILA FAX ALERT

NRA-ILA FAX ALERT
Vol. 7, No. 38 9/22/00

A GUN OWNER'S GUIDE TO CAMPAIGN WORK 12 Days Left Until November 7!

This year's elections will determine the future course of our Second Amendment rights for decades to come. In addition to registering to vote and casting your ballot on November 7, it is critical that you volunteer for the campaigns of pro-gun candidates in your area as soon as possible. Whether you can spare one day a month or a few days a week, any time commitment will help.
Below is a summary of the activities you can expect to undertake once you contact your EVC or the campaign directly. Please copy and circulate this Alert to your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners, and encourage them to take these actions as well.
CONTACT YOUR EVC

Your NRA-ILA Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC) will be coordinating many of the activities you will be undertaking to assist candidates. Your EVC is an NRA member -- just like you -- who will be acting as the liaison between NRA members and gun owners in your district and various pro-freedom campaigns. Your EVC's name and contact information was printed on the cover of your October NRA magazine. Meantime, you can get your EVC's contact information on our website -- www.NRAILA.org/grassroots/ -- or by calling the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683).
VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT Hunt Where the Ducks Are
While NRA boasts more than four million members, we need to expand our corps of pro-gun political volunteers. That's where you come in. You have the ability to increase our grassroots impact by reaching out to your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners -- informing them of the importance of the upcoming 2000 elections; and getting them actively involved in political campaigns in their areas.
When recruiting pro-gun volunteers, you should concentrate your efforts on the "natural resources" of the pro-Second Amendment community - -- gun shows, gun shops, shooting ranges, and gun & hunting clubs. These are the places where you are most likely to find supporters of the Second Amendment, and, thus, where you need to focus your efforts.
When visiting a gun shop, when shooting at the range, when attending a gun show or gun club meeting, or even when casually talking to your hunting or shooting buddies, use these opportunities to recruit volunteers. And don't forget to contact your friends and associates in your Rolodex or on your Christmas card list! Whatever you do, though, make sure you get commitments from those who have the most at stake on November 7. Get them to commit some time to a pro-gun campaign, and then follow up to make sure they follow through. Be sure you share these names and contact information with your EVC, and pass along any relevant notices you receive from your EVC or NRA-ILA to these new volunteers.
VOTER REGIStrATION Don't Let Others Choose For You
Sadly, there are some among our ranks who aren't registered to vote. Maybe you know some of them. Definitely you've heard the excuses before -- "I don't want to get pulled for jury duty...""It's too hard..."and "My one vote won't make any difference." Well, it's up to us -- more so, it's up to you -- to convince these gun owners that these excuses don't fly. Let's briefly look at each.
  • JURY DUTY. Gun owners know if the government wants to find us for some reason, they'll find us. If you're not registered to vote, you'll still probably get called for jury duty at some point. Voter registration lists are not the only tool used for jury duty. Your driver's license, state tax return, etc., may be used as well. So don't neglect the most important individual political action -- registering to vote.
  • IT'S TOO HARD. Most states allow mail-in voter registration applications. You may also register to vote at the DMV or various other state agencies. For an application for your state or more information on voting, call ILA Grassroots.
  • MY VOTE WON'T COUNT. Numerous elections and instances in history have demonstrated the power of one vote. Problem is, it usually isn't just one person who thinks that way, so the "one vote" mentality actually translates into many votes. Consider a 1994 race for the U.S. House of Representatives turned in favor of an anti-gun incumbent by an original margin of four votes. Similarly, a 1998 U.S. Senate race was decided by some 400 votes out of 400,000 votes cast! More recently, you'll recall, it was just a single vote in the U.S. Senate (cast by Al Gore) that passed the Lautenberg gun show ban.

CAMPAIGN SIGNS Raising Awareness
Campaign signs are an integral part of a candidate's strategy. These signs increase a candidate's name identification. With so many candidates vying for so many offices, hammering a candidate's name into the memory banks of voters helps ensure he is remembered on Election Day. Signs are also an integral component of the "good neighbor policy." While every voter may not be familiar with every candidate, a well-placed campaign sign on one's property conveys to neighbors that the candidate is a solid choice. If your buddy next door feels a candidate is good enough for you, that may be reason enough for him to cast his lot for that candidate. Finally, signs serve as a constant reminder that an election is approaching. Support for pro-freedom candidates means nothing if a potential pro-gun voter forgets to vote on Election Day.
Your role in assisting with campaign signs will mainly consist of helping to assemble the signs (stapling & affixing them to stakes), delivering them to voters who wish to display a sign, and ensuring our "natural resources" have quantities for display at their shop, show, range, or club. According to the Free Congress Foundation, campaign signs can account for up to four percentage points on Election Day!
LITERATURE DROPS Spread The Word
As with campaign signs, distributing campaign literature helps increase the candidate's visibility and educates the electorate on his stances on issues. In addition to the usual places to hand out campaign literature -- e.g., shopping malls, sporting events, "back-to-school nights"-- make sure pro-gun candidates' literature is provided to our "natural resources."
GET OUT THE VOTE & ELECTION DAY ACTIVITIES Crunch Time
The last few weeks of a campaign should be totally dedicated to getting a candidate's supporters to the polls. This isn't the time for debate, it's time for mobilization. Every registered voter who supports the pro-gun candidate must be reminded to get to the polls. Tactics include phone banks, going door-to-door, and visiting gun shops, ranges, and clubs. Your GOTV efforts should focus on the three "Ds" -- dialing, door-to-door, and driving voters to the polls. In addition to these activities, you may be asked to "work the polls" -- helping to place campaign signs and handing out literature at the polling stations in your area.
ATTEND A FREE GRASSROOTS-ELECTION SEMINAR!
More than two dozen of these free seminars have been conducted to date, with nearly 20 more scheduled for the coming months. Seminars feature candidates, lawmakers, EVCs, and ILA staff and discuss what you can do in your own community to ensure pro-gun candidates are elected to office on November 7. Topics include: volunteer identification and recruitment, voter registration, signs and literature drops, Get Out The Vote, and Election Day activities. Remaining Seminars are scheduled in the following states through mid-October: Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin. If you're an NRA member in one of these states and want more information on the seminars, or wish to register for a meeting, call ILA Grassroots at (800) 392-VOTE.
WILL YOU ANSWER THE CALL?
Obviously, we don't expect every NRA member to do everything. But there are enough tasks associated with a successful campaign that every NRA member must do something. If preserving the Second Amendment isn't worth a few hours of your time in the coming months, what is?

For more information on campaign activities in your area, contact the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) or visit our website at www.NRAILA.org
Having difficulty finding ILA-related info?
Try our FAQ Sheet
NRA ILA FAQ Sheet
NRAILA.org is maintained for the NRA by
http://www.mainstream.net
Mainstream Electronic Information Services
Homepage established 1994 by the NRA Institute for Legislative Action
11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030
- - To subscribe, send a message to majordomo@nra.org, and as the body of the message (plain text, no HTML), send the following:
subscribe rkba-alert email-address
where "email-address" is the your email address.
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AT&T CAVES TO "MMM" DEMANDS --
PULLS NRA INFOMERCIAL IN ST. LOUIS
(Partially excerpted from the "MMM Apple Pie" piece)
The "Million Mom March" ("MMM") has bestowed one of its "Apple Pie Awards" upon AT&T. One of NRA's infomercials was running on a local AT&T Cable station in the St. Louis area. The infomercial prompted a local "MMM" member to protest to AT&T about running the piece. Officials at AT&T Cable professed they bought a package of infomercials from the National Booking Company and were unaware that the NRA ad was part of that package, and that they certainly had no desire to offend "MMM" members. The company immediately pulled the infomercial from its St. Louis television stations, and said that they would not buy NRA infomercials in the future. This ludicrous and hostile anti-gun move was basically prompted by the phone call of a single "MMM" member. We urge all NRA members to contact AT&T Broadband (this is the subsidiary that operates the cable TV) en masse at: 9197 S. Peoria, Englewood, CO 80112 , Phone: (720) 875-5500, Fax: (720) 875-4984, www.broadband.att.com to make their views known on this action! AT&T's corporate HQ needs to hear from you as well: AT&T Corporate, 32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013-2412 , Phone: (212) 387-5400, Fax: (212) 387-5695, www.att.com
ANTI-GUNNERS PRESSURING WAL-MART TO RECONSIDER GUN & AMMO SALES
Anti-gun extremists are pressuring Wal-Mart to stop selling guns and ammunition at its stores. In fact, last Thursday, Wal-Mart announced that its store opening on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard in Tampa, Fla., won't display or stock guns. To gauge the sentiments of its customers on this decision, Wal-Mart is keeping a running tally of those who call their Customer Service Relation Department 800-925-6278 in opposition to this blatantly anti-gun move. Please call Wal-Mart at the above number and make your views known on this issue. Be sure you provide them with your name and address, and pass this information on to your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners. You may also e-mail Wal-Mart at www.walmart.com. Click the "Customer Service" icon and then choose "Contact Wal-Mart."
SHEEN SHILLS FOR HCI
Actor Martin Sheen is donating his time to Handgun Control, Inc. The actor is being featured in two TV ads being run by the anti-gun group. The first ad specifically attacks Governor George W. Bush for his support of the rights of law-abiding citizens, while the second doesn't name any candidate per se, but makes clear it is yet another direct attack on Governor Bush. These ads, and similar endeavors, will also be prominently featured on Monday, when the "Alliance for Justice" shows an anti-gun "documentary," also starring Martin Sheen, at hundreds of events across the country in what it calls "First Monday 2000, Unite to End Gun Violence." A partial listing of these events -- many involving Clinton-Gore Administration officials -- is posted on our website at www.NRAILA.org. Reports claim that Sheen was spurred to film the ads as payback for the firearm industry's use of his brother's voice in their own TV ads (see FAX Alert Vol. 7, No. 34). Sadly, this type of attitude is far too pervasive among Hollywood's elites. While the film and music industries have again recently come under well deserved scrutiny for the violent content of many of its films and songs, at least one member of the entertainment community has suggested Sheen would be better off focusing his efforts elsewhere. A recent episode of "Comedy Central's The Daily Show," alluded to Sheen's longtime activism in assorted left-wing causes. A graphic of Sheen's son, Charlie, who is infamous for his numerous run-ins with the law, was then showed, with the host noting Sheen's time "perhaps, could have been better spent parenting."
NSSF LAUNCHES SHOOTING
INDUStrY NEWSLETTER
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has recently created a weekly shooting sports newsletter called Bullet Points. Bullet Points is a useful tool for staying abreast of accurate and timely industry news. Bullet Points is distributed to NSSF members and shooting industry professionals. It is distributed via e-mail and fax. E-mail subscriptions are free, while fax subscriptions are $25.00 per year for non-NSSF members. To subscribe, or for more information, please contact: J. Scott Moore, Director, Promotions & Special Events, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Flintlock Ridge Office Center, 11 Mile Hill Rd., Newtown, CT 06470, (203) 426-1320 (P), (203) 426-1087 (F), smoore@nssf.org.
MARK YOU CALENDARS
On Monday, Oct. 9, "ABC News" will air an hour-long special on NRA and its efforts to mobilize gun owners for this year's elections. The special is scheduled to run at 8:00 p.m. EST -- prior to "Monday Night Football."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
For more information on campaign activities in your area, contact the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) or visit our website at www.NRAILA.org
on-line registration form at www.NRAILA.org.
Having difficulty finding ILA-related info?
Try our FAQ Sheet
NRAILA.org is maintained for the NRA by
http://www.mainstream.net
Mainstream Electronic Information Services
Homepage established 1994 by the NRA Institute for Legislative Action
11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030

- - To subscribe, send a message to majordomo@nra.org, and as the body of the message (plain text, no HTML), send the following:
subscribe rkba-alert email-address
where "email-address" is the your email address.
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