*********** NOTICE: THIS IS A FORWARDED MESSAGE *********** 
============================================================================
MARION P. HAMMER P.O. Box 7530 Tallahassee, Florida 32314
BY FAX
DATE:	September 30, 1997 TO:	Jim Land, NRA Secretary 
FROM:	Marion Hammer, NRA President/Chairman Opposition Statement Committee
SUBJECT: Opposition Statement to Ronin Colman/Albert Ross proposed Bylaw 
Amendment by petition
The Opposition Statement Committee's 500 word statement in opposition to 
the above referenced proposed Bylaw Amendment, which is due October 1, 
1997, follows this cover sheet.
Original hard copy and a diskette containing the document have been 
Federal Expressed to you.
/S/ Marion P. Hammer
OFFICIAL SUBMITTAL FOR PUBLICATION:
Statement in Opposition to Proposed Bylaw Amendment
The proposed amendment was NOT generated by NRA grassroots members, but 
by a group of dissidents on the NRA Board acting in self-interest. These 
dissidents want you to damage NRA permanently. That's why NRA's Board of 
Directors voted AGAINST this amendment nearly two-to-one and URGES YOU TO 
VOTE NO!
	Most NRA members know a small group of dissidents led by Neal 
Knox, Albert Ross and Ronin Colman tried a hostile takeover of NRA. They 
tried to fire Wayne LaPierre, Marion Hammer, Tanya Metaksa, Jim Land, 
Craig Sandler, and other effective leaders, and worked to defeat Charlton 
Heston. They failed.
	The membership clearly spoke in the last Board election and the 
Board responded by electing Officers with integrity and vision. But the 
dissidents won't quit.
	If passed, this amendment would MUZZLE your NRA Officers, VIOLATE 
their FREE SPEECH RIGHTS and damage NRA.
	Under its mandates, Free Speech would exist for the dissidents, 
but NOT for NRA Officers, whom you know and trust to tell the truth about 
NRA issues and concerns. READ SECTION (D) CAREFULLY.
	The amendment announces a high and mighty purpose but is DESIGNED 
TO SILENCE your Officers: Charlton Heston, Wayne LaPierre, Marion Hammer, 
Chief Kayne Robinson, Tanya Metaksa, and even NRA's Past Presidents.
	The dissidents especially fear the powerful voice of First Vice 
President Charlton Heston.
	It would force PUBLIC disclosure of confidential legislative and 
political strategies used by every NRA official in their work to protect 
the Second Amendment -- details anti-gunners would love to know.
	It would keep your leaders from speaking up for NRA Board candi
dates who want to protect NRA's programs: education, safety, competitive 
shooting, hunting, and Second Amendment defense.
	It would PREVENT YOU from learning the truth about bylaw amend
ments like this one, and about Board members who are endangering and 
weakening NRA in a ruthless power grab! IT'S CENSORSHIP -- nothing else!
	NRA State Associations, affiliated clubs and organizations, as 
service providers, WOULD BE BARRED from speaking out on NRA Board elec
tions, candidate endorsements, or NRA issues; would be forced to have 
PRIOR Board permission on routine transactions and to publicly disclose 
any single transaction between themselves, their employers, and their fa
milies with NRA, NRA employees, NRA Directors, their families and em
ployees -- a mandate impossible to comply with! Paying dues, buying 
targets, instructional materials, etc. are business transactions with 
NRA. Routine business would grind to a halt.
	It's not about financial disclosure, that's a smoke-screen! Since 
1983, the Bylaws have required financial disclosure annually by Direc
tors, Officers and employees doing business with NRA.
	The Secretary must report all financial disclosures to the Board 
and NRA members at every annual meeting There is absolutely no evidence 
to indicate these current reporting requirements aren't working.
	Your NRA Officers have a proven record of standing up for you, 
your rights and NRA. Now it's your turn to stand up with them. They are 
your leaders -- you have a right to hear what they have to say.
	VOTE NO ON THIS AMENDMENT (498 words)
Written by the Opposition Statement Committee
Members of the Board of Directors who URGE YOU TO VOTE NO!
[ Note:  What follows is a list of directors who voted against the good 
conduct amendment as introduced.  Not all of these directors gave permis
sion to have their names used in opposition to the amendment. -- Chris 
Knox ]
Charlton Heston - CA Marion P. Hammer - FL Lt. Col. Rex Applegate - OR 
Dr. Thomas P. Arvas - AZ Michael P. Baker - FL Dr. David E. Bennett, III 
- NM Irv Benzion - WA LTC. Robert K Brown - CO Raymond W. Cahen - VA Jeff 
Cooper - AZ Robert K Corbin - AZ John L. Cushman - NY Donn DiBiasio - RI 
Manuel Fernandez - CA Joe Foss - AZ Sandra S. Froman - AZ Robert E. 
Hodgdon - KS Steve Hornady - NE Susan Howard - TX Roy Innis - NY David C. 
Jones - MO Phillip B. Journey - KS D. Cynthia Julian - RI U.S. Senator 
Larry Craig - ID Chief Kayne Robinson - IA Sue King - IX Herbert A. 
Lanford, Jr. - SC Bill Miller - WV John Milius - CA Ted Nugent - MI Dr. 
Kenneth Oehler - TX Dr. David A. Oliver - MO Prof. Joseph E. Olson - MN 
Ernie Padgette - VA Dr. Barbara Phillips - CO Edie P. Reynolds - NC Col. 
Wayne Anthony Ross - AK Harold W. Schroeder - NY John C. Sigler - DE 
Bruce E. Stern - CT Lt. Harry Thomas - OH Miles Ugarkovich, Jr. - CA Dr. 
Robert J. Veazie - AK Robert L Viden, Jr. - NJ Phillip A. Williams - GA 
Dave Workman - WA
=====================================================================
[ Neal Knox sent the following reply to directors over internal NRA 
cc:Mail and to a select group on the outside.  -- Chris Knox ]
Reply to President Hammer's statement opposing the Good Conduct Bylaw
Neal Knox Post Office Box 6537 Silver Spring, MD 20916
Oct. 17, 1997
Fellow Directors and Concerned NRA Members,
I was astounded to read the "Official Opposition Statement" to the pro
posed member Bylaw sponsored by Director Ronin Colman, which requires 
disclosure of each Directors' financial relations with NRA.  That 500-
word statement, and its untruths about Albert Ross, Ronin Colman and me, 
has been circulated to the board by President Marion Hammer and posted to 
the Internet.
That statement and a 250-word rebuttal will appear (along with an initial 
500-word statement in support of the proposal) in the NRA magazines.  
Since the Bylaws are very specific about what statements are allowed, 
additional commentary in NRA publications would violate the Bylaws -- but 
I'll be surprised if those who enjoy the Freedom of NRA's Press will 
refrain from abusing their power.
President Hammer appointed herself Chairman of a committee to prepare 
that "Opposition Statement" and appended the names of every Director who 
voted not to support the proposed member Bylaw (though I know that some 
are distressed to have their names attached). Thus far, Ms. Hammer has 
refused to tell Director Albert Ross who served on the drafting commit
tee.
-=Continued in next post=-
...          ******** NOTE: THIS IS A FORWARDED MESSAGE ********
--- FMail 1.22
---------------