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          Republican Leaders Resurrect Problematic Bill
                    by Gun Owners of America
      8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA  22151,
             (703)321-8585, http://www.gunowners.org
                   (Wednesday, March 25, 1998)
Incumbent Protection Bill revived in the House
     Having died in the Senate, the Incumbent Protection Bill has
now been resurrected in the House.  This new draft, like its
predecessors in the House and the Senate, would severely regulate
-- or "chill" -- the free speech of groups like GOA by limiting
their ability to report on incumbents' records during the
election season.  This, of course, would benefit the anti-gun
media and incumbents, who would not be limited in their ability
to publicize (and distort) their own records or viewpoints.
     For example, on page 7 of this new bill (H.R. 3485), GOA
"political activity" that would be heavily regulated (and
prohibited in many cases) would be "any activity carried out for
the purpose of influencing (in whole or in part) any election for
Federal office, influencing the consideration or outcome of any
Federal legislation or the issuance or outcome of any Federal
regulation, or educating individuals about candidates . . . "
     When debating the Senate bill, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
summarized this issue quite well:
          The Supreme Court has made it abundantly clear . . .
     [that] spending is speech and the first amendment applies
     to individuals, groups, candidates and parties, as well as
     applying to the press. . . . [The press doesn't] like it.
     They would like to have more power, not less.  They would
     like to control our campaigns, control the discourse in the
     course of the campaign that goes on, and control the
     outcome with their editorial endorsement.  But the first
     amendment doesn't allow them to control the political
     process.  It also doesn't allow the Government, through
     some statute we passed here, to be put in charge of
     regulating either the quality or the quantity of political
     speech. (Source:  Congressional Record, 2/26/98.)
     ACTION:  Gun owners should urge their Representatives to
oppose any bill (like H.R. 3485) that would not only restrict
your First Amendment rights, but the free speech rights of those
groups (like GOA) that represent you.  A vote on the House bill
is scheduled for this week.
     To contact Capitol Hill, call 202-225-3121, or use the toll
free number at 1-800-522-6721.  Individual office numbers, fax
numbers, and e-mail addresses can be found at the GOA website.
GOA spokesmen counter gun grabbers in aftermath of Jonesboro
shooting
     From Fox Cable Network to MSNBC and other media outlets,
spokesmen from Gun Owners of America have been called on today to
counter Chuck Schumer and his fellow gun grabbers in the
aftermath of yesterday's tragic shooting in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
     Not surprisingly, the shooting has led to the familiar cries
for more gun control on today's talk shows.  As if reading off
the same page, many pundits have trotted out the same old,
worn-out argument that the "availability of guns" is the problem.
     Of course, what these gun grabbers miss is that the young
thugs broke several laws already (murder, no guns allowed within
1,000 feet of a school, possession with intent to commit a crime,
etc.).  Moreover, the anti-gun zealots completely ignore the
biggest evidence that their "availability of guns causes crime"
mentality is pure myth.  Consider that in the 1950's, when there
were far fewer gun control laws on the books, there was not a
problem with illegal guns in schools.  There was no Brady law, no
semi-auto ban, no Gun Free Zones Ban.  Guns were more "available"
in the 1950's and yet there was no "gun problem" in the schools!
     So what has changed?  Well, the lax punishment of criminal
juveniles and the imitation of T.V. violence are just two of many
reasons.  But clearly, guns are LESS AVAILABLE today than they
were 40 years ago.  As you contact your elected officials, make
sure they don't buy into this "availability of guns is the
problem" myth.
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