*********** NOTICE: THIS IS A FORWARDED MESSAGE *********** 
============================================================================
			    GENERAL-RKBA Digest 328
Topics covered in this issue include:
  1) FAXALERT: Justice After All? by NRA Alerts 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Topic No. 1
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 20:15:12 -0500 (EST)
From: NRA Alerts 
To: general-rkba-real.nra
Subject: FAXALERT: Justice After All?
Message-ID: 
                        NRA-ILA FAX ALERT
           11250 Waples Mill Road * Fairfax, VA  22030
Vol. 5, No. 1 * Phone: 1-800-392-8683 * Fax: 703-267-3918 
GROOTS@NRA.org                                     1/9/98
                        JUSTICE AFTER ALL?
     According to the January 8 edition of the WashingtonTimes,
Lon Horiuchi, the FBI sniper who gunned down Vicki Weaver, wife
of Randy Weaver, during the 1992 siege at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, will
stand trial in an Idaho court for involuntary manslaughter. 
While the Justice Department has chosen to take no action
regarding Horiuchi's involvement in the killing of Mrs. Weaver -
shot through the neck while standing in the doorway of her home,
holding her infant daughter in her arms - an Idaho state judge
found probable cause for the manslaughter charges.  With support
from the Justice Department, which is paying Horiuchi's legal
fees, the defense, at a hearing on Monday, will seek to move the
case to be tried in federal court, where a plea of immunity can
be presented, claiming he acted in his capacity as a federal
agent when he fired the fatal shot.  A severe blow to the defense
came in September of last year, when the U.S. 9th Circuit Court
of Appeals in San Francisco ruled unanimously that a civil case
against Horiuchi and others could proceed.  In the ruling, the
court called the "shoot-on-sight" orders that were in place
during the siege "a gross deviation from constitutional
principals and a wholly unwarranted return to a lawless and
arbitrary Wild West school of law enforcement."  NRA-ILA will be
sure to keep you abreast of any future developments regarding the
criminal case.
                  LOSS OF A FRIEND TO GUN OWNERS
The pro-gun community lost a true friend earlier this week when
Rep. Sonny Bono (R-Cal.) tragically died in a skiing accident. 
Rep. Bono had stood solidly behind gun owners on numerous
occasions, including voting to repeal the '94 Clinton Gun Ban
during the 104th Congress, and signing on to H.R. 339, the
National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Bill, during the current
legislative session.  He will be missed.
                   PHILLY MAYOR MULLS OVER SUIT
According to an article in the 1/8/97 issue of the Philadelphia
Inquirer, lawyers for Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell have prepared
a  lawsuit contending that the nation's gun industry has created
"a public nuisance by saturating Philadelphia with firearms used
by criminals."  The article goes on to say that the suit would
call for firearms manufacturers to reimburse the city for
"millions of dollars...stemming from guns," even down to "the
cost of washing blood off streets."  No immediate action is
anticipated on the suit, but you can expect the anti-gun media to
cover this story.  Of course, the real message being sent by even
discussing such an outrageous idea is that criminals are not
responsible for their actions, but those who manufacture a
completely legal product are.  What's next, suing automobile
manufacturers because criminals use cars to make a speedy
getaway?
                       A LOOK AT THE STATES
FLORIDA:  Urgent alert to Florida gun owners!  South Florida's
anti-gun crowd is mounting a back-door assault on Florida's
firearms preemption law with a proposed constitutional amendment,
CRC-167.  CRC-167 opens the door for a wide range of local
attacks on our rights -- licensing & registration schemes,
waiting periods, gun rationing plans -- by allowing counties to
regulate firearms and ammunition in any way they see fit (as long
as it's not an outright ban!).  CRC-167 has been reported out of
committee and may be considered by the full commission at any of
their future meetings beginning Monday, January 12.  If 22 of the
37 commission members approve the proposed constitutional
amendment, it could appear before voters on the November 1998
ballot! Members: It is critical that you contact commission
members and urge them to OPPOSE CRC-167.  For contact information
and a copy of CRC-167, please visit NRA's website on the Internet
(www.nra.org.) or call NRA-ILA's Grassroots Division at 1-800-
392-8683.  
INDIANA: The January 8th editorial section of the Indianapolis
Star is already showing its support for two anti-gun bills filed
in the Indiana Legislature.  The first, HB 1046, amends the right
to carry statute, attempting to prohibit 18-21 year olds from
obtaining carry permits.  Current law provides for issuance to
law-abiding persons in this age group.  The other, SB 111, is a
measure mandating, among other things, trigger locks on all
handguns.  Members: Please send an opposing letter-to-the-editor
of the Indianapolis Star at P.O. Box 145 Indianapolis, IN 46206
and urge your lawmakers to vote against these bills. 
NEBRASKA:  On Wednesday, January 14, NRA-ILA will hold an
organizational meeting for members in Legislative District 23 on
LB 465, right-to-carry legislation pending before the Nebraska
Legislature.  Members: Please make plans to attend next
Wednesday's meeting from 7:30-8:30 p.m., at the Veterans Memorial
Club, located in the basement of 112 East 7th Street in Wahoo. 
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Tremendous effort! Over 350 concerned gun owners
showed up at yesterday's public hearing on  HB 1199, a bill that
would require right to carry applicants to complete a costly
training course with rigorous requirements, and HB 1200, a
measure seeking to ban the manufacture, sale, and transfer of ALL
magazines capable of accepting over 10 rounds.  Those who
currently own such magazines would have to turn them in!  These
bills now move to a subcommittee for further consideration.
Members: Please contact your state lawmakers at (603) 271-3321
and express your opposition to these bills.  
NORTH  CAROLINA: Rep. W.G. "Bill" Hefner (D-N.C.)announced this
week that he will not be seeking reelection this fall, choosing
to retire after serving in the U.S. House of Representatives for
12 terms.  NRA will be sure to keep its members in the 8th
Congressional District informed as to the Second Amendment views
of all candidates who seek to replace Rep. Hefner.  
VIRGINIA: Tomorrow, Saturday, January 10, the Northern Virginia
Delegation to the Virginia General Assembly will hold a public
hearing to receive citizens' recommendations regarding
legislation to be considered during the 1998 General Assembly
session. All Northern Virginia gun owners are encouraged to
attend the hearing to show their opposition to any legislation
restricting our rights. The hearing will begin at 9:00 am in the
Board Auditorium of the Fairfax County Government Center, located
at 12000 Government Center Parkway, in Fairfax.  If you would
like to sign up to speak during the hearing, call the Clerk at
(703) 324-3151.
=+=+=+=+
This information is provided as a service of the National Rifle
Association Institute for Legislative Action, Fairfax, VA.
This and other information on the Second Amendment and the NRA is
available at: http://WWW.NRA.Org
------------------------------
End of GENERAL-RKBA Digest 328
******************************
...          ******** NOTE: THIS IS A FORWARDED MESSAGE ********
--- FMail 1.22
---------------