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restriction of handguns (now expanded to all semi-automatic firearms, 
specifically rifles). In its membership drive pamphlet, HCI proudly 
displays and discusses briefly the recent legislation for which it has 
pushed passage. Unfortunately, they do not list bill numbers so it is 
impossible to tell which legislation is really being discussed and 
whether or not HCI is presenting the facts. In my research, this proved 
to be quite common with HCI declarations. Their words are better than 
mine in describing their achievements:
 "INTERSTATE SALE OF HANDGUNS: HCI lobbyists protected existing gun 
controls by persuading Congress to continue a ban on the interstate 
sale of handguns, despite a $100 million NRA campaign to gut our 
national law.
"UNDETECTABLE HANDGUNS: We broke the NRA's stranglehold on Congress 
when federal lawmakers passed a bill outlawing plastic, undetectable 
handguns. The NRA spent millions of dollars trying to persuade Congress 
that these handguns, which could slip through metal detectors, were 
not a problem. Our strong alliance of police groups and a bipartisan 
coalition of legislators forced the NRA to change its position.
 "COP-KILLER BULLETS: Unbelievable as it may seem, the NRA defended 
the sale of armor-piercing bullets that can penetrate the bulletproof 
vests worn by our nation's police officers. Handgun Control lobbied 
fiercely on Capitol Hill against these needless bullets. We won.
"SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIALS: These easily concealable, low-quality 
handguns have one purpose--use in violent crime.  Sarah Brady, along 
with other HCI supporters and law enforcement officials, helped 
persuade Maryland lawmakers to stop the sale of Saturday Night Specials 
in the state. The gun lobby immediately launched a drive to repeal the 
law at the ballot box, spending over $6 million in a campaign of 
hysteria and misinformation. But Marylanders soundly rejected the NRA 
and voted to keep the law.
"ASSAULT WEAPONS: Military-style assault weapons, designed solely to 
gun down human beings quickly and efficiently, are an ever-growing 
concern of America's police officers.  Despite the increased use of 
these weapons by drug dealers and hate groups, the NRA spends millions 
of dollars to defend their sale. With the help of law enforcement and 
Handgun Control, Inc., California became the first state to outlaw 
the sale and manufacture of these killing machines.  New Jersey 
followed, and Virginia and Maryland have also enacted restrictions on 
assault weapons."
      The validity of these claims and others will be addressed a 
little later. It is through emotional passages such as these that 
membership is solicited. Adding to these, are acts of shocking criminal 
activity utilizing firearms. The stories in the membership pamphlet 
read:
      "In Atlanta, James Calvin Brady walked out of a mental hospital 
and into a pawn shop where he quickly and easily purchased a handgun. 
The next day, Brady, who had a history of cocaine addiction, went 
into a mall's crowded food court at lunchtime and opened fire, killing 
one young man and wounding four others."
     "Lancelot Armstrong, wanted by authorities on charges of rape and 
assault, lied about his criminal past on the federal form he filled 
out to buy a TEC-9 assault pistol. He later used the gun to kill a 
deputy sheriff in Broward County, Florida. Police found the receipt 
for the gun in Armstrong's wallet when he was apprehended."
     "In Boca Raton, Kenneth Misher, owner of an optics store, was 
murdered by his business associate and colleague of 15 years who went 
out on his lunch hour and purchased a handgun with a credit card. Later 
that day, the co-worker shot Misher several times and then turned the 
weapon on himself."
       Again, the pamphlet contains no documentation of these incidents, 
thus their validity cannot be challenged. It may interest the reader 
to know that these same incidents are implemented repeatedly throughout
HCI's advocacy and lobbying. It is rare that the group uses different 
examples of handgun violence.
       The membership form is also an emotional plea. The new member 
is required to contribute $15 in dues, but is urged to send $29, the 
alleged price of a Saturday Night Special. I asked several gun dealers 
in the area if they could sell me a $29 handgun and between chortles 
of laughter, I was told that no such handgun exists.
       The primary goal of HCI at present is passage of the Brady 
Bill. Awaiting passage for a couple years, HR467 has been defeated 
several times and keeps coming back for more. According to HCI, the 
Brady Bill (named in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Brady) would institute a 
national seven-day waiting period for all handgun purchases. The 
supposed effect of this period would be "... to ensure we aren't 
selling handguns over-the-counter to those with a criminal past. And 
angry or suicidal individuals would have time to cool off-- rather than 
buying a gun to settle an argument or to take their own life." During 
this seven-day period, the seller of the handgun would send a copy of 
the BATF form required of all purchasers, certifying that they are 
eligible to purchase a firearm under the provisions of the 1968 Gun 
.  [ Continued In Next Message... ]
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 * SRP 2.00 #2737 * If you can read this, I've escaped from your Twit List.
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