ftp.xmission.com/2014.06.ftp.xmission.com.tar/ftp.xmission.com/pub/lists/utah-firearms/archive/utah-firearms.200008

Internet Message Format | 2000-08-17 | 45KB

From: Scott Bergeson <[e-mail]>
Subject: FW: Special Sales Tax for Gun Seller
Date: 03 Aug 2000 10:43:23 -0600

-----

US-DIN head Clark Aposhian called my show yesterday and laid out
a completely surrealistic story about many California communities
tacking an additional 4% sales tax on all merchandise sold in a
store that also sells firearms. IOW, you buy paper plates at the
Sacramento K-Mart, and you'll pay 4% more in sales tax than you
would at Albertson's because Albertson's doesn't sell guns.

Naturally, I was skeptical because, while I know Clark to be an
honest man, such a tax must surely be totally unconstitutional.
So I sent a note to Rob Latham, JD, former legal counsel of the
LPUtah and now a Bay Area resident.

Sadly, he verifies the story and provides additional detail.
It is an outrage.


Yep.  It's true.  As for the constitutionality, the San Leandro
case is working its way through the courts.

See the story below. I went to Siegle's for the first day of its
going out of business sale.  The owners hung a big sign over the
entrance behind the counter that led to a back storeroom that
read "Oakland Sucks."

Pretty sad.


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/07/13/MN89677.DTL

Last Gun Shop in Oakland Closing
Steep tax ruined profits, owner says

Janine DeFao, Chronicle Staff Writer    Thursday, July 13, 2000

OAKLAND -- Mara Siegle has fired her last shot in her battle against
Oakland's increasingly tough gun laws. After 57 years, she is closing
the doors to her family's gun shop, the last one standing in Oakland.

A few miles south, in neighboring San Leandro, the owner of Traders
fears his store, the largest gun outlet in Northern California, could
meet the same fate. But Anthony Cucchiara is determined to keep fighting.

Yesterday, as Siegle rang up going-out-of-business bargains for a long
line of customers under a sign decrying Oakland's ``illegal'' gun tax,
an Alameda County Superior Court Judge dismissed Cucchiara's lawsuit over
a similar tax in San Leandro.

But Cucchiara's lawyers said he will appeal the ruling on the tax, which,
they say, was designed to drive Traders out of business -- the same claim
the owner of Siegle's Guns makes.

Voters in both cities approved special taxes on gun sales and shops in June
1998. City leaders argued that those who sell guns should help pay for their
costs to society, an estimated $32,000 for every gunshot wound treated.

San Leandro's tax, approved narrowly, requires a seller to pay the city 3
percent of the proceeds from the sale of concealable firearms and their
ammunition.

Oakland's measure, which was approved by a wide margin, is farther reaching.
Any store that sells guns or ammunition must pay the city $24 for every
$1,000 made on any merchandise sold, from guns to fishing rods to books.

Prior to the tax's approval, such businesses paid $1.20 for every $1,000
in receipts.

``It's a business-destruction tax,'' Siegle said yesterday as customers,
new and old, crowded her store on West MacArthur Boulevard at Telegraph
Avenue for her three-week closeout sale.

The tax measures in Oakland and San Leandro were part of a campaign by
officials in East Bay cities to control the sale of guns. Money from
the taxes is used to fund gun- violence prevention programs.

In addition, many of the cities have approved bans on the sale of
so-called junk guns. Earlier this year, Oakland became the first
city in the nation to ban the sale of pocket-size handguns known as
``ultracompacts'' -- a move that targeted Siegle's Guns.

Oakland has ``strategically and selectively targeted Siegle's,'' said
Siegle, who took over the North Oakland sporting goods store after her
husband's death seven years ago. He had inherited it from his father,
the founder.

``They wanted me gone,'' she said. ``They got their wish.''

City Councilman Henry Chang, who championed the tax, denied that was
the city's intent, saying that Siegle's has been a responsible business
and never the subject of complaints.

``We didn't do that to hurt her. It's to protect the young people who
get hurt by gun violence,'' Chang said.

Siegle's was the only store in Oakland subject to the tax because Super
K-Mart opted to stop selling ammunition rather than pay it. Chang said
Siegle's could have reduced the effect of the tax by opening a second store
for nonfirearm sporting goods.

But ``if you profit from guns, you need to pay part of the costs, too,''
he said.

Siegle's customers called the tax unfair and warned it could backfire.

``If a person really wants a gun, they'll use illegal means to get one,''
said Roland Horn, a San Francisco target shooter.

In Traders' lawsuit against San Leandro yesterday, Superior Court Judge
James A. Richman threw out the case. Among Traders' arguments was that
the city invalidly placed the tax measure on the ballot.

Attorney Jack Leavitt, who represents the gun store, said he will appeal
to the Court of Appeal in San Francisco.

``With the 2 percent profit margin Traders makes on most transactions,
a 3 percent tax can essentially put it out of business. . . . Our
position is the city is less interested in raising revenue than in
putting Traders out of business,'' he said.

San Leandro Assistant City Attorney Liane M. Randolph said the city intends
to use the money toward crime prevention and anti-violence programs.

But because of the lawsuit, Traders had not paid the city the money owed
-- $110,000 over two years -- until recently.

The law does affect an additional six or seven smaller gun sellers,
including pawnshops, in the city, officials said.

Randolph said city officials do hope the tax will ``discourage the sale
of handguns in San Leandro.''

E-mail Janine DeFao at [e-mail].

⌐2000 San Francisco Chronicle   Page A17

LPUtah
LPUtah -- This message sent via listserver "[e-mail]"
LPUtah -- All messages are the sole responsibility of the sender.
LPUtah -- Support: Jim Elwell, email: [e-mail]
LPUtah

-



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Scott Bergeson <[e-mail]>
Subject: FW: NRA coup in WP, TX lawsuit
Date: 07 Aug 2000 09:44:20 -0600

-----
Reply-To: [e-mail]

August 6 Neal Knox Report -- Today's Washington Post Sunday
Supplement Magazine has an unusual article by Michael Powell,
complete with a photo of Wayne LaPierre on the cover and full page
photos of Jim Baker and me inside (and a small pic of me standing
in front of the Stonewall Jackson statue at the Manassas
battleground).

What's unusual, for the Post, is that Powell doesn't portray any
of us as nutcases. Powell does his best to explain us gun folks,
and the ongoing internal wars within NRA. In some ways he succeeded
-- though there are many factual errors.

The gist of the piece is that NRA is restored to power through
the leadership of Wayne, since getting rid of us harder line folks,
but that Wayne is in danger of repeating my mistakes of being too
harsh in support of the Second Amendment.

For the record, no Federal or significant state gun laws passed
during my watch at NRA-ILA.

When Powell called me last spring and asked for an interview,
I told him I would talk to him as much as he wanted about the gun
issue, but wouldn't talk about NRA internal affairs -- my standard
answer, which has chased off reporters for the New York Times,
Nightline and many others wanting me to give them dirt on NRA.

Powell stuck to the deal; we talked only about the history of the
"gun control" movement and my role in it. But over the Fourth of
July he sent me an email to check a few facts -- such as if the
.22 rifle my wife Jay was given when she was nine was the same
one she had in her college dorm when we began dating (I'm sure
that tidbit will cause many Post readers to brand us as nutcases.

However, in that email he told me he had spoken with NRA
Director/movie producer John Milius and other board members
at the Charlotte meeting.

"They were suprisingly open in talking about the plot to save
LaPierre's job, install Heston and beat you. Milius claims that
(NRA public relations/advertising/fundraising contractor Tony)
Makris was behind much of it, that he and Makris met in Hollywood
several times to plot strategy. And, Milius further claimed, they
accomplished much of their victory by lying for weeks and weeks."

Powell sent me the quote from Milius which appeared in today's
magazine: "We were facing a genuine and extremely well-organized
coup d'etat," Milius told Powell. "So we used our best techniques:
lying, cheating and disinformation. I didn't tell the truth for
weeks."

That's when I broke my rule about not talking about NRA internal
affairs. I emailed him back: "Milius was correct about Makris being
mainly behind it. Of course he was. He was the one who would have been
out of a job. We had too much invested in Wayne to throw him away.

"It wasn't a corporate takeover or coup d'etat; it was a mutiny of
the (Executive Vice President against a majority of the board),
assisted by NRA vendors determined to keep some very lucrative
contracts. The same vendors for the same reason ran the expensive
and successful advertising and mail campaigns that have succeeded
in removing all those who voted against Wayne in '97."

It was probably too late for any of that to get into his story, and
it's just as well. But since what happened has now been published,
thanks to Milius, I figured you NRA members needed to know about it.

You remember the movie "Wag The Dog?" About the Presidential
political operative who got a Hollywood producer to fake a war
to divert attention from his sexcapade with a young woman?

The Hollywood guy told the press because he just had to get
credit for his production. I guess, being Hollywood, John just
had to get a credit line.

You now have a better understanding of the reason for the Bylaw
I'm co-sponsoring to prohibit NRA employees or vendors from being
involved in -- or funding -- NRA elections.

BTW -- Michael Powell is going to be talking about this
article at 1 p.m. Monday on www.washingtonpost.com/liveonline.

------------

There's going to be a $10 per plate Civil Liberties Defense
Foundation fundraising barbecue and auction at the Lubbock, Texas,
Civics Center Thursday night for the lawsuit being brought by Rep.
Suzanna Gratia Hupp, former Sen. Jerry Patterson and other
legislators against the cities suing the gun industry.

The suit is based on two points -- denying Texans their 2nd
Amendment rights and violating the Constitution's Commerce Clause.
What's different from the gun manufacturers' suit against the
cities (also on Commerce grounds) is that this one is brought
under Sec. 1983 of the U.S. Civil Rights Act against the mayors,
councilmen and other officials responsible for the lawsuits.

Sec. 1983 makes those responsible for violating our civil
liberties *personally* liable, and unable to get their state or
municipal governments to pay their legal fees. Even if it doesn't
win -- and lawyers tell me it's highly winnable -- it will hurt
the mayors and councilmen fighting the suits in the same way the
gunmakers are being hurt by the expense of fighting the cases.

It would sure chill the cities' ardor for more gun manufacturer lawsuits.

It amazes me that the gun industry isn't supporting this suit.

For more info, see http://www.libertydefense.com

--
Help us keep you informed! Send your Firearms Coalition dues to:

Neal Knox Associates
7771 Sudley Road, No. 44
Manassas, VA  20109

Suggested dues are the price of a box of ammunition -- $15 - $25.

This is the Coalition Alerts list. To subscribe or unsubscribe send mail to

[e-mail]

with the word "subscribe" or "unsubscribe" in the body.

Archives of these messages are stored at http://www.nealknox.com/alerts/.
Copyright (c) 2000 Neal Knox Associates. All Rights Reserved.

-



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Scott Bergeson <[e-mail]>
Subject: FW: A judge's Pro-Second Web site
Date: 08 Aug 2000 11:54:45 -0600

-----
I am a Judge, and I am on YOUR side in your fight to protect
our Constitution and our freedoms. I am not running for office,
selling anything, or asking for anything except your quick
look at my new web-site with the hope that you will help me
promote it. I am trying to use my background to influence
and persuade people to support and defend the 2nd Amendment,
as well as the rest of our Constitution. I have been told by
many people that my site has the potential to be one of the
best and most effective tools in our political struggle.
Please look at it, and help in anyway that you can:
http://www.velek.com/gun

I am not using any bulk e-mail programs, but rather I have
visited web-sites with similar philosophies to my own,
primarily through a search for 2nd Amendment sites, and I
then manually copied your addresses for this mail. I
therefore hope that you are not offended by this or consider
this as just 'spam'; in any event, this is just a single
mailing, and with the exception of a possible announcement
of another major development, I will not be sending you more
mail so you needn't worry that I will be harassing you.

I hope that you will agree that I have acted in a reasonable,
responsible way, and if you are annoyed or offended by it,
then I apologize; I assure you now that I will not be sending
out repeated mailings nor will your address be given to anyone
else.

Thank you.

Bill Velek
PLEASE recommend my web-site to one pro-gun person today.
If you're Pro-Gun: http://www.velek.com/gun
If you're Anti-Gun: http://www.velek.com/bill/boycott

-



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Scott Bergeson <[e-mail]>
Subject: The Gun Culture
Date: 09 Aug 2000 14:00:10 -0600

http://www.FreeRepublic.com/forum/a398c590448da.htm

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or
its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright
law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

The Gun Culture

     Culture/Society Opinion (Published) Keywords: GUNS, CULTURE
     Source: Yuma Arizona Prospector
     Published: 2 July, 2000 Author: Dean Weingarten
     Posted on 08/05/2000 11:12:20 PDT by marktwain

The Gun Culture is an essential part of America. About half of American
homes have guns, and the United States has more guns per person than
most countries, with the possible exception of Switzerland. Members of
the gun culture are better educated, more prosperous, and have lower
levels of crime than those who have not integrated into the Gun Culture,
or who have been intimidated from joining the Gun Culture by the incessant
attacks against it in the old media and various legislatures. Children
who are members of the Gun Culture have less problems, and commit less
crime, than those who are outside of the Culture.

The Gun Culture is noted for a strong belief in individual rights, the
necessity to limit goverment, individual responsibility, ethics, and
integrity. Ask around gun shops and shooting clubs. You will find that
bad checks are virtually unknown. I have had none.. zero... for the
hundreds of students who have gone throught the Isher Enterprises
course. Interestingly, there are almost no representatives of the Gun
Culture in the old media. It appears that members of the Gun Culture
are forced out of the old media early in their careers by a form of
cultural discrimination. I personally had a close friend that this
happened to. In the Gun Culture, reality matters. Image is of only
marginal importance. "I thought it was unloaded" is no excuse. In the
old media, image is everything. Reality is of only marginal importance.
Truth is what you can convince enough people to believe. Individuals
do not matter, except as they can be used to manipulate groups. The
Gun Culture used to be the dominant culture in the United States.
While it still has more members than other cultures in the U.S.,
it has lost its dominant position to the old media.

The Gun Culture opens its arms to all who wish to join. In America,
Switzerland, Israel, and some Scandinavian and South American countries,
anyone can become a member of the Gun Culture. In most countries of the
world, the Gun Culture is the exclusive province of the ruling elites.
Shooters will find that they have an invitation into these elites as
they show their knowledge and interests in social circles around the
rest of the world. A person with knowledge of personal arms is assumed
to be in the elite, just as knowledge of arms separated the feudal
nobility from the peasants. Perhaps Machiavelli said it best in "The
Prince" "There can be no proper relation between one who is armed and
one who is not; nor is it reasonable to expect that one who is armed
will obey one who is not, or that the latter will feel secure amoung
servants who are armed." In the United States, this was to be avoided
by recognizing the right of all to keep and bear arms. As Patrich Henry
said, "The great object is that every man be armed... Everyone who is
able may have a gun."

I am a proud member of the Gun Culture. It is the representation
and defender of all that is best in America.

Dean Weingarten has been teaching fiream techniques and safety for more
than 25 years. He has been both a peace officer and a military officer.
He is the current lead instructor for Isher Enterprises, which offers
the course necessary to obtain a concealed weapons permit in Arizona.
He is certified by the State of Arizona, the State of Louisiana, and
the National Rifle Association.

-



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Scott Bergeson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Burst the Registration Bubble
Date: 09 Aug 2000 20:11:21 -0600

Written By: Russ Howard

Bursting the Registration Bubble

http://keepandbeararms.com/newsarchives/XcNewsPlus.asp?cmd=view&articleid=414

by Russ Howard
[e-mail]
Former NRA Director

Hate to burst the bubble, folks, but let's face it:

We already have registration, and NRA management supports it. The Clinton
plan, by making registration official, extending it, and actually calling
it registration, serves to conceal the fact that we already have it.

We already have gun registration under the Gun Control Act of 1968,
supported by Charlton Heston & NRA management. Under GCA68, dealers who
go out of business must turn over their lists to the government.

GCA68 created a dangerous system of registration lists kept locally across
the nation. The government knows the location of each of these lists, and
they know who's responsible for them. Once the government decides to do so,
it can simply go to the gun stores and confiscate or copy the lists, which
to some extent it has already been doing. Who will stop them? Who will
punish them? Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

We have registration through NRA management's InstaCheck program. Is it
really likely that the people who murdered Vicky & Sammy Weaver and 24
children at Waco and then covered up the evidence, who not only were never
punished for it but arranged to give each other national standing ovations,
who work for a government that practices a religion of secrecy, lies,
oathbreaking, lawbreaking, and invasion of privacy - is it really likely
that they're afraid to keep some stinking records? Get real. A prudent man
must assume they're keeping the records already.

NRA management refused to consider viable alternatives to InstaCheck whereby
dealers could check backgrounds without the government knowing who's buying
a gun, even after its Board of Directors - that great model of decisiveness,
strength, intelligence, independence, and voluntarism - asked it to.

We have registration through NRA management's "Shall Issue" concealed carry
programs.

NRA management has fought to quarantine Vermont carry in Vermont. Vermont
carry does not involve registration. NRA management refuses to back, and
threatens to punish, legislators who introduce or support Vermont carry in
other states.

Is this "great struggle" against registration yet another grand Beltway
Kabuki, a good cop/bad cop play acted out on a national scale, choreographed
to wow and pacify natives who've been stuck in NRA management's version of
Plato's Cave for so long they've lost the ability to distinguish the play,
in which they all have a part, from reality? What better way to help us
avoid facing the painful truth that we already have registration, which our
"leaders" signed off on, than to stage an epic battle where we "fight" and
"kill" registration?

We now have an NRA management that holds joint press conferences with Jim &
Sarah Brady to introduce laws promoting "zero tolerance full enforcement of
existing gun controls", an NRA management that proudly promotes Soviet style
snitch-on-your-neighbor billboards proclaiming "Report Illegal Guns. Call
1-800...", an NRA management that openly supports a law that provides for
10-year prison sentences for teachers who carry concealed to defend
themselves and their students.

Meanwhile, NRA members continue to send money. Be sure to send yours so
LaPierre, Beltway & Co. can keep their $20,000-a-month salaries, $15,000-
a-month "expense" accounts, and who-knows-what other perks; so they can
keep flushing your money over to anti-gun politicians and sweetheart
vendors. In fact, it's time the "Winning" Team got another raise, don't
you think? They sure do.

Registration is Dead!

Long Live Registration!

Russ Howard

-



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Joe Waldron <[e-mail]>
Subject: HULL AND LEAVITT SUPPORT GUN GRABBERS
Date: 11 Aug 2000 14:58:06 -0700

I'll feel a lot safer visiting Arizona and Utah after reading the
following press release.  You can read the entire release at

     http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/000811/az_safe_st.html


Joe W



Friday August 11, 6:00 am Eastern Time

Press Release

SOURCE: Safe Schools, Safe Students

Victoria Reggie Kennedy: 'Remember: The Child You Save May Be
Your Own.' Endorsing Safe Schools, Safe Students and Their
Proactive Child Safety Campaign - Safe Communities = Safe Schools

PRESCOTT, Ariz., Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Safe Schools, Safe
Students is proud to announce its partnerships with some of the
leading child advocacy groups in the United States. Safe Schools,
Safe Students, organizer and coordinator of Safe Communities =
Safe Schools = Safe Students week is working diligently to
provide community/family based solutions to today's violent youth
problems.

Victoria Reggie Kennedy, President of Common Sense about Kids and
Guns and wife of the Honorable Senator Edward Kennedy (D) Ma.
stated earlier today: ``Common Sense and the unprecedented,
diverse coalition of organizations endorsing the message of
safety and responsibility have joined together with Safe Schools,
Safe Students because of one overreaching principle: the safety
and protection of our children is paramount. Safe Schools, Safe
Students and their Safe Communities = Safe Schools Awareness
campaign are united in our belief that we can best protect our
children by addressing the issue of child
safety in a responsible and inclusive way. We are proud to
endorse their campaign. Remember: the child you save may be your
own.''

   <<<snip>>>

Additional quotes and endorsements include:

``Safe Schools, Safe Students is an excellent illustration and
nationwide model of how Arizona's citizens can work together to
help better the lives of the children in our state. You have done
a wonderful job.'' Jane Dee Hull, Governor, State of Arizona.

    (several other AZ legislators were also quoted)


``I appreciate and applaud Safe Schools, Safe Students
willingness to help make our communities and children's lives a
little
safer.'' Michael O. Leavitt, Governor, State of Utah.

SOURCE: Safe Schools, Safe Students

-



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Karl Pearson" <[e-mail]>
Subject: FW: Safe Schools = Safe Students...
Date: 11 Aug 2000 16:48:28 -0600

Here's an email I mailed to Mary Beaumont at [e-mail] who is
listed as the contact person for the Press Release which quoted Governor
Mike (take the guns away) Leavitt. This press release was just sent out to
utah-firearms and is from Prescott, AZ and is about Victoria Reggie Kennedy.

Please feel free to respond to me and set me straight, if that's what I
need.

Karl L. Pearson
Senior uniVerse Database Analyst
Senior Unix/NT/Win Analyst
[e-mail]

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Friday, August 11, 2000 4:45 PM


Hi and I appreciate your time.

Please explain to me why advertising that my children are unprotected in
their schools will keep criminals with guns and malicious children with guns
out.

Please explain to me why you don't advocate allowing a few highly-trained
teachers, or parents who are fully qualified, to be in the schools carrying
automatic weapons. Israel has fully stopped all terrorist attacks in their
schools by arming all their teachers. Can't we do the same?

Karl L. Pearson
Senior uniVerse Database Analyst
Senior Unix/NT/Win Analyst
[e-mail]


-



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Peter Chamberlain" <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: Safe Schools = Safe Students...
Date: 11 Aug 2000 17:08:41 -0600

Please post her response, if you get one.

Peter

 -----Original Message-----
[mailto:[e-mail]]  On Behalf Of Karl Pearson
Sent:    Friday, August 11, 2000 4:48 PM

Here's an email I mailed to Mary Beaumont at [e-mail] who is
listed as the contact person for the Press Release which quoted Governor
Mike (take the guns away) Leavitt. This press release was just sent out to
utah-firearms and is from Prescott, AZ and is about Victoria Reggie Kennedy.

Please feel free to respond to me and set me straight, if that's what I
need.

Karl L. Pearson
Senior uniVerse Database Analyst
Senior Unix/NT/Win Analyst
[e-mail]

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Friday, August 11, 2000 4:45 PM


Hi and I appreciate your time.

Please explain to me why advertising that my children are unprotected in
their schools will keep criminals with guns and malicious children with guns
out.

Please explain to me why you don't advocate allowing a few highly-trained
teachers, or parents who are fully qualified, to be in the schools carrying
automatic weapons. Israel has fully stopped all terrorist attacks in their
schools by arming all their teachers. Can't we do the same?

Karl L. Pearson
Senior uniVerse Database Analyst
Senior Unix/NT/Win Analyst
[e-mail]


-



-



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Scott Bergeson <[e-mail]>
Subject: FW: Thinking Tanks -- Not the Kind that Go Boom
Date: 11 Aug 2000 19:50:19 -0600

-----

... One thing I've seen mentioned in four or five different accounts
about [GWB] is his habit of reading a book, then inviting the writer
for dinner to talk about his ideas in depth. A few random thoughts
related to my favorite issue.

1) I would dearly like to make sure GWB reads "That Every Man Be Armed"
by Stephen Halbrook, and "More Guns, Less Crime" by John Lott. Lott
especially could have an enormous impact. One thought that has occured
to me is to send a letter to Cheney suggesting that GWB read those two
books. Might as well try to drop the seed on the most receptive ground
possible. There are other books and writers who I think could have about
as big an impact, but those are the two who I think could really get his
attention.

2) The media is all excited about Lieberman's Jewish roots. Somebody
should drop a line to Aaron Zelman and suggest a very public endorsement
of Bush. (He's bright enough to work out the quid pro quo details
himself.) I doubt he could get much media coverage, but maybe the
Bushies could work on that, though frankly I doubt they would. But even
if they won't, being on record and being able to show you're bringing
some voters to the table could be useful down the line. Problem being
of course that we've seen some evidence that Bush at least publicly is
trying to hold gun rights groups at a distance.

3) Along the same vein, the Second Amendment Sisters should publicly
ask for a meeting with Bush. They're proven, they have at least some
connections unto the halls of power, they're telegenic, they're awful
hard for the media or the slicksters at HCI to attack or ignore, and
they can tap into some pretty awesome conservative support. And the
plus for the Bushies is that if its played right, they could draw yet
more support away from the Gore unit among women. Go, SASsy ladies, go!

4) Suzanna Gratia-Hupp. She's the nuclear weapon of the gun rights
movement. Bush knows her for sure, given that he signed the CCW bill she
championed. If she's willing and interested she seems to me to be the
perfect person to work with the campaign on those issues. Maybe she
already is; I certainly don't know.

5) The NRA. Watch them vigilantly. THey're making all the right noises
at the moment, other than the wretched Project Exile foolishness. But
even that will play well with the public, and perhaps the prospect of
actually enforcing all those tyrannical laws will make some people
realise just how bad they are.

6) Don't forget Senate and House races. We're going to need every vote
no matter who wins - and even more so if Gore pulls off a miracle. Check
GOA ratings for your Senators and congerscritter, and be ruthless. I've
been including open references to his voting record and the imminent
election in my letters to the weakest members of my delegation for over
a year. No idea if they pay attention to that sort of veiled threat -
but I have noticed that Charlie Bass is a lot better about answering my
letters this year than the past couple.

7) Go shooting to remind yourself what its all about. Drop by sometime
and we'll use my range. Take a novice along and teach them if you get
the chance - for the price of a box or two of 22 ammo you might "buy"
a bunch of very useful votes.

-



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Scott Bergeson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Fw: NRA-ILA FAX ALERT - Vol. 7, No. 32
Date: 12 Aug 2000 11:21:27 -0600

-----

> > If you are a pro-gun Democrat who does not agree with the
> > apparent abandonment by the national leadership of your
> > party, you can contact the Democratic National Committee
> > at [phone] to ask why the party  bosses have
> > targeted our Second Amendment rights for extinction.

Let me emphasis that sentence by repetition, and say "why should
democrats have all the fun"? If you can spare the ten minutes and the
coupla bucks to make the call, I'm just SURE the DNC would like to hear
from "swing voters", too.

-



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Scott Bergeson <[e-mail]>
Subject: FW: Re: Burst the Registration Bubble
Date: 12 Aug 2000 11:43:37 -0600

-----

I received the following letter from Michael Jackson in response to an
op-ed piece written by Russ Howard, Former NRA Director, criticizing
the NRA for compromising on firearm rights. Below Michael's letter is
my commentary, and below that is Russ Howard's article.

Dave

Michael Jackson ([e-mail]) wrote:

To Russ and His followers -

Besides a lot of envy and insinuations, I get the following out of
your hate mail about the NRA:

First: We should not join or support the NRA
Second: The NRA wants every gun and every gun owner in America to be
registered
Third: The NRA, Sarah Brady, and other fascist members of government
are one in the same.

Are you for real? Or are you just another idiot with a lot of
criticism and no suggestions for improvement? If you've bothered to
read this far, I'll say it again so boneheads like you might FINALLY
get the message: THE NRA IS THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN. IF YOU DON'T LIKE
IT, HELP US CHANGE IT, BUT DON'T RECOMMEND PEOPLE NOT SUPPORT THE
SOLE ORGANIZATION FIGHTING FOR OUR RIGHTS AND OUR NATION!

Can I explain it any plainer? I see not one suggestion to improve
anything in your letter. Are you just another "legend in your own
mind" cretin or could it be YOU want the 20K/Mo? I have never heard
the NRA claim to be as you charge.

I tried being nice to you [blanks]... I got no response; no one
bothered to help improve things. I have concerns about the NRA too,
but a lot more about people who want to stand in the way of freedom
such as you. So now maybe I'll be half as insulting as you; maybe
then I'll get yout attention.

Express your opinion - mostly because if you keep this kind of rot
inside, you'll decay into less than you already are.

Michael
___________________________
Dave's comments below:

NRA is NOT the only game in town. You might try Gun Owners of
America. When NRA has been rolling over playing dead, GOA has
pushed aggressively and saved many of our rights from extinction.

Why do you think Orrin Hatch hates that organization so much? At least
you get the truth from it. And it blasts away with both barrels! You
say you too have "concerns" with the NRA. Just what concerns do you
have with it? And how would you propose to change the NRA without
letting people know about those concerns? As I see it, Russ did an
excellent job in presenting facts, many of which I've seen with my
own eyes.

Look at NRA's support for Mike Leavitt and Orrin Hatch, when they could
have supported Glen Davis and Greg Hawkins, far more ardent defenders
of the Second Amendment. Look also at the much touted "Project Exile"
which seeks to "vigorously enforce" all gun laws that we fought for
years to keep OFF the books. If people like Russ weren't trying to wake
people up, which is exactly what his letter is supposed to do, just
how do you propose to "CHANGE IT"? I am also sick of the USSC and its
compromising ways, which are supported by the NRA. We have lost more
ground because of willingness to compromise than because of opponents
such as Sarah Brady. I am a voting member of the NRA, but my one vote
to clean up the NRA just isn't enough. At least Russ is planting in
people's minds the seeds that have to take root before we can clean
house on the NRA. I just hope it's not too late and that not all of
our rights have been compromised away before that can happen.

Dave


Russ Howard's article below:

Written By: Russ Howard
Bursting the Registration Bubble

http://keepandbeararms.com/newsarchives/XcNewsPlus.asp?cmd=view&articleid=414

by Russ Howard
[e-mail]
Former NRA Director

Hate to burst the bubble, folks, but let's face it:

We already have registration, and NRA management supports it. The
Clinton plan, by making registration official, extending it, and
actually calling it registration, serves to conceal the fact that
we already have it.

We already have gun registration under the Gun Control Act of 1968,
supported by Charlton Heston & NRA management. Under GCA68, dealers
who go out of business must turn over their lists to the government.

GCA68 created a dangerous system of registration lists kept locally
across the nation. The government knows the location of each of these
lists, and they know who's responsible for them. Once the government
decides to do so, it can simply go to the gun stores and confiscate
or copy the lists, which to some extent it has already been doing.
Who will stop them? Who will punish them? Sed quis custodiet ipsos
custodes?

We have registration through NRA management's InstaCheck program. Is it
really likely that the people who murdered Vicky & Sammy Weaver and 24
children at Waco and then covered up the evidence, who not only were
never punished for it but arranged to give each other national standing
ovations, who work for a government that practices a religion of secrecy,
lies, oathbreaking, lawbreaking, and invasion of privacy - is it really
likely that they're afraid to keep some stinking records? Get real. A
prudent man must assumes they're keeping the records already.

NRA management refused to consider viable alternatives to InstaCheck
whereby dealers could check backgrounds without the government knowing
who's buying a gun, even after its Board of Directors - that great
model of decisiveness, strength, intelligence, independence, and
voluntarism - asked it to.

We have registration through NRA management's "Shall Issue" concealed
carry programs.

NRA management has fought to quarantine Vermont carry in Vermont.
Vermont carry does not involve registration. NRA management refuses to
back, and threatens to punish, legislators who introduce or support
Vermont carry in other states. Is this "great struggle" against
registration yet another grand Beltway Kabuki, a good cop/bad cop play
acted out on a national scale, choreographed to wow and pacify natives
who've been stuck in NRA management's version of Plato's Cave for so
long they've lost the ability to distinguish the play, in which they
all have a part, from reality? What better way to help us avoid facing
the painful truth that we already have registration, which our "leaders"
signed off on, than to stage an epic battle where we "fight" and "kill"
registration?

We now have an NRA management that holds joint press conferences with
Jim & Sarah Brady to introduce laws promoting "zero tolerance full
enforcement of existing gun controls", an NRA management that proudly
promotes Soviet style snitch-on-your-neighbor billboards proclaiming
"Report Illegal Guns. Call 1-800...", an NRA management that openly
supports a law that provides for 10-year prison sentences for teachers
who carry concealed to defend themselves and their students.

Meanwhile, NRA members continue to send money. Be sure to send yours
so LaPierre, Beltway & Co. can keep their $20,000-a-month salaries,
$15,000-a-month "expense" accounts, and who-knows-what other perks;
so they can keep flushing your money over to anti-gun politicians and
sweetheart vendors. In fact, it's time the "Winning" Team got another
raise, don't you think? They sure do.

Registration is Dead!

Long Live Registration!

Russ Howard

-



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Scott Bergeson <[e-mail]>
Subject: paper maintaining list of anti-gun scandals
Date: 12 Aug 2000 12:20:24 -0600

http://www.alamanceind.com/newfol~2/nation.html

-



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: charles hardy <[e-mail]>
Subject: Make-A-Wish caves to animal rights extreemists
Date: 14 Aug 2000 17:23:11 -0600

And current or past supporters of Make-A-Wish may want to let them know
what you think of this decision.

From Sunday's SLTrib:


Hunting for a Wish
                                                       Sunday, August 13,
                                                       2000





         The famous Make-A-Wish Foundation, noted by people everywhere
     with justifiable affection for making dreams possible for
terminally-ill young
     people, has decided to limit its altruistic mission. Not because it
is running
     out of money. Not because dying youngsters are asking for more
grandiose
     wish fulfillment, but because its governing board wants to be
politically
     correct.
         The Phoenix-based charity's board recently announced that it
will no
     longer grant a youngster's wish if it involves hunting or the
shooting sports.
     A spokesman claimed the decision came out of safety concerns, but
this
     seems but a feeble excuse to dissemble a more accurate reason --
     placating angry animal rights groups.
         Four years ago, animal rights activists exploded in vociferous
wrath
     when the Make-A-Wish Foundation sent a terminally-ill teen-ager,
Erik
     Ness, on an Alaska hunting trip -- something he ardently desired.
Some
     animal rights proponents are loud, emotional and bullying. It is
hard for
     many to buck them. It is too bad Make-A-Wish could not muster the
     backbone to do so.
         Make-A-Wish Foundation exists to grant "last requests" of
youthful
     cancer patients and others with terminal diseases. It's primary
criterion
     should be the physical and financial ability to carry out the
recipient's
     request, whether it is for a hunting trip, a visit to Disney World
or a trip to
     Jerusalem. Once it starts down the road of political correctness,
supporting
     and eschewing activities dictated by groups and individuals it
respects or
     fears, its basic purpose is compromised. It no longer grants last
requests,
     but only certain ones.
         Moreover, hunting is every bit as legitimate as any other
endeavor. It
     has been practiced by people since the dawn of human activity.
         Hunters were among the earliest folks to realize the benefits of
wild
     places and the need to preserve them. Theodore Roosevelt, perhaps
the
     most conservation-minded president in U.S. history, was a
thoroughgoing
     hunter and fond of the shooting sports, too.
         It is too bad the Make-A-Wish Foundation has decided its mission
will
     be conditional and less inclusive. It is too bad it listens better
to anti-hunting
     and anti-shooting groups than it does to the wishes and dreams of
the
     terminally-ill youngsters it was created to serve.



==================================================================
Charles C. Hardy
Utah Email Coordinator--Women Against Gun Control
<[e-mail]>

-



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Scott Bergeson <[e-mail]>
Subject: NRA brings ads to party
Date: 15 Aug 2000 10:40:10 -0600

Is she daft?

"It [the ad] claims we're trying to take away people's
rights," said Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, New York Democrat,
during a forum yesterday on gun violence. "You show me
one thing I'm doing to take away people's rights."

The National Rifle Association is sounding a media counterpoint
to the Democratic convention with ads asking party officials
why they're so hostile to the right to bear arms. (8/15/00)
URL: http://washtimes.com/national/default-200081523282.htm

-



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: charles hardy <[e-mail]>
Subject: Tiger mauls woman in Boise
Date: 18 Aug 2000 12:45:59 -0600

Did anyone see the report in yesterday's DesNews
<http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,195007376,00.html?> or on last
nights TV news about the woman who was mauled by the tiger in the Boise
Zoo?

I found something interesting.  From the DesNews article:

"     Boise Police Sgt. Rich Schnebly was among the visitors. He fired
two warning shots and the tiger backed up. Schnebly moved toward [the
victim] and the cat stepped forward. He fired another shot, Taiga
retreated and the cage door was shut.

"     [The victim] said she excruciating pain in her left leg and assumed
the tiger had broken her femur. Hours later she learned one of the
bullets had snapped the bone and caused some nerve damage."

Now I'm wondering, exactly how did a "warning shot" hit the victim's leg?
 Was it from a ricochete inside what I presume to be a concrete building?
 If it was a ricochete, why didn't a trained officer realise that lodging
the bullet squarly in the tiger's body--while somewhat tragic--would have
been the safest way to discharge his gun?  For some reason did the
officer think that shooting in the general direction of the tiger (and
victim) was the safest way to discharche his gun?  Or was the officer
aiming at the tiger and missed and then chose to call it "a warning shot"
rather than a missed shot?

In any event, how might it have been reported if an armed citizen with
CCW had done EXACTLY what the officer did?  Would we now be reading about
how he needlessly injured the victim by shooting when he wasn't
qualified?

==================================================================
Charles C. Hardy
Utah Email Coordinator--Women Against Gun Control
<[e-mail]>

-