I forwarded a copy of my exchange of correspondence
with the NRA, which I previously posted here, to NRA's
General Counsel.  Here is a transcript of NRA's attorney's
letter to me regarding my request for information on the
assault-weapons-ban suit and NRA's not raising the 2nd
Amendment as an issue (any misspellings and typos are mine).
Considering that the Brady law lawsuit has already been
decided and that the ban statute is becoming so old that
it is getting hard to remember that life was ever any
different that it is now with the ban (kind of _1984_-like),
you tell me what you read in and between the lines:
National Rifle Association of America
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, VA  22030
Office of the General Counsel
Telephone:  (703) 267-1250
Fax:  (703) 267-3985
February 13, 1998
Alex Vasauskas
[...]
Dear Mr. Vasauskas:
You have asked several questions regarding the litigation challenging
the ban on "semiautomatic assault weapons" (i.e. ugly guns).  Our
initial complaint was dismissed for lack of standing.  We appealed
and have just prevailed in the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court.  Thus, we
are back in District Court.  After a conference scheduled for March 9,
we intend to file an amended complaint.  Accordingly, there are no
relevant pleadings at present.
You have also asked about the Second Amendment.  I hope that you
will understand that this issue is of very great significance.  It
would be imprudent to discuss our strategy before we have filed
our amended complaint, and any other pertinent papers.  We are
playing to win, and I hope that you will understand.  We will keep
you informed through the magazines.
Sincerely,
/s/
James H. Warner
Assistant General Counsel
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