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			    GENERAL-RKBA Digest 341
Topics covered in this issue include:
  1) FAXALERT: First Amendment Safe... For Now by NRA Alerts 
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Topic No. 1
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 19:20:44 -0500 (EST)
From: NRA Alerts 
To: general-rkba-real.nra
Subject: FAXALERT: First Amendment Safe... For Now
Message-ID: 
                        NRA-ILA FAX ALERT
           11250 Waples Mill Road * Fairfax, VA  22030
* Phone: 1-800-392-8683 * Fax: 703-267-3918* GROOTS@NRA.org
Vol. 5, No. 8                                               2/27/98
 
                 FIRST AMENDMENT SAFE...FOR NOW
                                
     On Thursday, the U.S. Senate blocked efforts which would
have limited your and NRA's First Amendment rights by defeating
S. 25, the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill.  The
measure, which would have curtailed constitutional free-speech
rights and increased governmental control over campaigns, was
killed when supporters of the bill were unable to muster the 60
votes required to shut off a filibuster led by Senator Mitch
McConnell (R-Ky.). McCain-Feingold's defeat assures that NRA can
continue to communicate critical election information to its
members concerning the views candidates have on firearms-related
issues. Supporters of these restrictions on free-speech have
vowed that they will pursue such reforms in the future.  "The
First Amendment doesn't allow us the latitude to categorize
certain kinds of speech as offensive and other kinds of speech as
laudable," said Senator McConnell. "What the reformers want to do
is shut everybody up." Thanks to the efforts of individuals like
Senator McConnell, lawmakers will be sure to hear your voice, and
that of your NRA, loud and clear.
                       TARGETING GUN SHOWS?
The Feb. 24th Chicago Sun-Times reports that anti-gun Congressman
Rod Blagojevich (D-Ill.) is drafting legislation targeting private
collectors who sell firearms at gun shows.  Blagojevich wants
private gun owners to go beyond the procedures that licensed FFL
dealers do, such as reporting the sales of multiple guns to the
BATF, insisting they forward records of all sales made.  No
legislation has been formally introduced, but we'll keep you
posted.
                   LONGER TIME FOR ARMED CRIME
On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed
H.R. 424, a bill to increase mandatory minimum sentences for
violent and drug trafficking crimes involving firearms, as well as
require life in prison or death for felons that kill others with a
firearm during the commission of a crime.  "This legislation is the
right approach to take toward predators who use guns to commit
crimes against our loved ones," said Congressman Bob Barr (R-Ga.),
a supporter of the measure.  The bill now awaits action in a House-
Senate Conference Committee.  
                        PRO-GUN RETIREMENT
Western New York Congressman Bill Paxon (R) announced on Wednesday
that he plans to retire from Congress at the end of this year's
session.  Paxon, a strong supporter of the right to keep and bear
arms, cited his desire to spend more time with his family as the
chief reason for his unexpected retirement.  Thomas Reynolds, the
pro-gun Minority Leader of the New York State General Assembly,
announced his candidacy for Paxon's seat on Thursday.   No other
candidates have yet to enter the race.    
 
                       A LOOK AT THE STATES
CALIFORNIA: Volunteers are needed in Huntington Beach and Burbank
to help stamp mail March 2-5 for the special election campaign of
Tom Bordonaro for Congress.  For further details on locations and
times, please call (714) 894-5252 in Huntington Beach or (818) 841-
5210 in Burbank.  In other news,  AB 23, Assemblyman Don Perata's
proposal to expand California's Assault Weapons Control Act (AWCA),
has been scheduled for a hearing next Tuesday in the Senate Public
Safety Committee. It is critical that you contact the members of
the Public Safety Committee at (916) 445-4251 and urge them to vote
"NO" on AB 23!  
CONNECTICUT: Your phone calls to legislators and the show of
support of over 50 people at the public hearing Tuesday on SB 315
worked well. Yesterday, the State Legislature's Public Safety
committee reported out SB 315, the NRA-backed Range Protection bill
with only one dissenting vote.  SB 315 now moves to the Judiciary
Committee for consideration. MEMBERS: Please contact your State
Senator at  (860) 240-0500 and your State Representative at (860)
240-0400 and ask them to urge the members of the Judiciary
Committee to report  SB 315 out of their committee favorably.
KANSAS: On Wednesday, March 4,  a 1:30 pm hearing will be held on
HB 2885, the NRA-backed Range Protection bill in the Federal and
State Affairs Committee. MEMBERS: Please make plans to attend
Wednesday hearing which will be held in room 519 south of the State
Capitol Building in Topeka . 
MARYLAND: The "Gun Days" in both the House and Senate Judicial Proceedings
Committees (JPR) have been set and it is important that we have a strong 
show of force at these hearings. On Friday, March 13, at 1:00 p.m. the 
House Judiciary Committee will meet on gun issues in room 121 of the
Lowe House Office Building and on Wednesday, March 18, at 1:00 p.m. the
Senate JPR will hold their hearings in room 300 of the James Senate
Office Building in Annapolis.  Those who wish to testify need to be
there prior to the hearing time to get their names on the list. 
For a complete listing of gun bills call NRA-ILA's Grassroots
Division at 1-800-392-8683 or check out http: //mlis.state.md.us
/1998 rs/subjects/guns.htm.  
NEBRASKA: On Thursday, March 5, Handgun Control, Inc.'s Sarah Brady
will be in Omaha to speak at a breakfast sponsored by the
University of Nebraska-Omaha's College of Continuing Studies.  The
event is scheduled for 7:00 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Convention
Center, located at 77th & Grover in Omaha.  It is probably no
coincidence that she will be in town so close to a vote on LB 465,
right to carry legislation, pending before the Nebraska
Legislature. MEMBERS: Tickets to this speaking engagement can be
purchased for $10 by calling (402) 595-2322. 
TEXAS: The Texas Department of Public Safety announced that Texas
has signed a reciprocal  agreement with the State of Arkansas which
allows concealed handgun licensees (CHL) of these states to legally
carry concealed handguns across the Texas-Arkansas state line. 
Members are reminded, however, to be knowledgeable of the laws of
the state that you may be carrying in.
=+=+=+=+
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
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End of GENERAL-RKBA Digest 341
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