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"Seven Clones of Schumer" Bill Nearing Vote
 --And in the Senate, one more Senator could soon jump off
   Hatch's Horror Bill!
               by Gun Owners of America
   8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151,
       (703)321-8585, http://www.gunowners.org
              (Friday, February 27, 1998)
Sarah Brady and Chuck Schumer to gain with Puerto Rico
Statehood
The Washington Times reported today that unrest is brewing
in the Republican Party over Newt Gingrich's pushing of
H.R. 856, the Puerto Rico Statehood Act.  Nevertheless,
there are a surprising number of pro-gun Republicans that
either plan to vote for it or are still undecided on how
they will vote.
The Times article pointed to several problems with the bill,
in addition to GOA's gun rights concerns.  Taken together,
concerned citizens can present at least five reasons to
their Rep. for opposing H.R. 856:
  1.  Firearms are registered and many are banned in Puerto
Rico.  Assuredly, statehood for Puerto Rico means at least
six (or seven) more anti-gun Congressmen from the island --
which makes Puerto Rico statehood six (or seven) times worse
than D.C. statehood.
  2.  At least 50% of the island's population is on food
stamps.  Under statehood that number would increase, as
would the cost to the U.S. taxpayer ($3-4 billion annually
in food stamps alone).  Moreover, Puerto Rico will pay
little "into the system" thanks to low incomes and tax
credits.
  3.  The island's independence movement will still exist,
especially among the more extreme elements. Notice how
terrorist acts always seem to cause the rest of us to lose
more of our rights and freedoms.
  4.  Nine out of ten high school graduates in Puerto Rico
cannot speak English.  In regard to this point, pro-gun Rep.
Gerald Solomon said that Puerto Rico statehood "could create
a Quebec-style problem in the United States."
  5.  Bill Clinton, the most anti-gun President in U.S.
history, has endorsed H.R. 856 and demanded that Congress
pass it.  This reason alone should suggest that gun owners
oppose the bill!
  ACTION:  Urge your Representative to oppose H.R. 856
(Call the Capitol at 800-522-6721 or 202-225-3121; the GOA
website contains e-mail, fax numbers, and office numbers).
If your Rep. is a Republican, then you especially need to
contact him or her since their leadership is trying to "put
the squeeze" on them.  The vote was originally scheduled for
March 4, but there is talk of bringing up the bill earlier
-- perhaps to preclude the increasing opposition from the
grassroots.
One more Senator sends warning shot to Hatch on S. 10
Horror Bill
On Tuesday (2/24/98), Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) sent a
warning shot to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin
Hatch (R-UT).  Enzi fired off a letter to Hatch, charging
that several of the provisions in the bill "would unduly
restrict the rights of law-abiding gun owners and dealers."
After detailing these provisions -- many of which have been
covered extensively in previous GOA fax/email alerts -- Sen.
Enzi bluntly stated that,
  I believe that the current version of S. 10 would unduly
  punish law-abiding citizens in its attempt to crack down
  on hardened criminals.  As such, unless changes are made
  to S.10 to ensure that it will not be another vehicle for
  increased federal gun control . . . I will have to
  withdraw my name as a cosponsor of this legislation.
Your Calls Matter:  U.S. News & World Report takes notice of
heat applied by GOA and its members
The current issue of U.S. News & World Report (3/2/98)
discloses that Hatch's anti-gun crime bill is running into
some stiff opposition.  In an article entitled, "Gunning for
Hatch," the magazine stated that:
  [S. 10], which the GOP touts as 1998's big anticrime
  measure, is running into trouble.  Gun Owners of America
  calls it "Hatch's Horror Bill," saying Utah's Sen. Orrin
  Hatch would allow "crippling" suits against gun makers
  under anti-racketeering laws and would penalize parents
  harshly if children practice shooting without written
  approval.  Conservative Sens. Wayne Allard, Conrad Burns,
  and Bob Smith have withdrawn support.
With a little noise from the grassroots, Senator Enzi could
become the fourth one to withdraw!
One final note:  GOA received a report today that yet
* another * Senator will be soon announcing his withdrawal
from S.10.  GOA has yet been unable to confirm this report
through the particular Senator's office, but we will keep
you posted.
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