>>> Part 2 of 4...
Thank you for your note, and allow me to apologize for the delay in our
response.  Due to being short-staffed over the holidays, we have fallen
a bit behind in our correspondence.  We should, however, be getting back
up to speed now.
As for your questions regarding our efforts to overturn the ban on
so-called assault weapons, we apologize if you have not been receiving
our legislative alerts via e-mail, where we have discussed such
matters.  Here was the last update on the ongoing court challenge, as
taken from our FAX Alert of 11/26/97:
                CLINTON GUN BAN SUIT GETS NEW LIFE
      Last Friday, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a
portion of Judge Robert Cleland's 1995 decision that rejected a
challenge to the 1994 Clinton gun ban.  Along with NRA, a number of gun
manufacturers, dealers, and gun owners filed the suit. As you may
recall, in 1995, the federal government petitioned Judge Cleland to
dismiss the NRA's challenge to the Clinton gun ban, and Cleland
acquiesced, claiming the plaintiffs lacked sufficient standing. However,
according to an AP story on November 22, Judge Cleland will now hear the
reinstated part of the suit that challenges Congress's authority to
enact the ban, and contends that the gun ban violates the plaintiffs'
right to equal protection.  In reversing Judge Cleland's earlier
decision, the appeals court ruled that manufacturers and dealers may
forge ahead with the litigation because they've demonstrated that the
gun ban could harm them economically.  David Hardy, a lawyer for the
plaintiffs, noted he's examining the court's most recent actions to
determine if a more favorable ruling may be issued by appealing the
case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
[...]
Sincerely,
Anthony Roulette
___----------------------------------
NRA-ILA Grassroots Division
E-mail: groots@nra.org
National Rifle Association
Institute for Legislative Action
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, Virginia  22030
(800) 392-8683
http://www.nra.org
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Date : Tue Jan 27
From : groots@nra.org                                        
To   : Alex Vasauskas                                            
Subj : Re: Gun rights progress                                               
Alex Vasauskas wrote:
> 
> Groots:
> 
> Thank you for your prompt response.  You did not explicitly state whether
> a challenge based upon 2nd Amendment grounds is being made.  Was the
> reference to a challenge regarding congress's authority to enact the ban
> intended to refer to a 2nd amendment challenge?  I am guessing that it
> did not since no economic harm should need to be shown to challenge a
> deprivation of a constitutional right.  It seems bizarre to me that such
> a challenge by citizens who are affected by the legislation and who also
> are intended to be protected by the 2nd Amendment could be dismissed for
> lack of standing.
> 
> I would like to review the complaint, answer, major pleadings, and
> court's orders in this case.  Are they available in electronic
> form?  Can you send me copies by e-mail?
> 
> Thank you for your attention,
> 
> Alex Vasauskas
Thank you for your request, but we do not have specific information on
this lawsuit, although I do know that it has not been filed on Second
Amendment grounds, here in the Grassroots Division.  If you write to our
Office of General Counsel, however, at the address posted below, they
may be able to send you more specific information.
Sincerely,
Anthony Roulette
___----------------------------------
NRA-ILA Grassroots Division
E-mail: groots@nra.org
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