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- From: chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy)
- Subject: [greggt@INDIRECT.COM: Zychik Chronicle 07/29/96 Part 2 (fwd)]
- Date: 01 Aug 1996 09:53:35 -0600
-
-
- It is well worth the time to look up the following URL and read the
- letter.
-
- ----BEGIN FORWARDED MESSGE----
-
- >---------------All Rights Are Individual
- >
- >(ZC) Steve Silver, Founding Member of the Lawyers'
- >Second Amendment Society (LSAS) will be on KOGO radio in
- >San Diego today 7/29 at 5:00 PM, PST. Mr. Silver will be
- >discussing the Hickman case. Essentially, the 9th District Court
- >ruled that Mr. Hickman could not bring suit for his right to bear
- >arms on Second Amendment grounds. The Court reasoned the
- >right to bear arms is reserved for the States, not individuals.
- >
- >The NRA, of course, is *not* appealing the case to the
- >Supreme Court.
- >
- >So, Mr. Silver and Mr. Dan Schultz also of the LSAS closed
- >down their law practices for 10 days and worked their butts off
- >to meet the filing deadline for an appeal to the Supreme Clown
- >Convention.
- >
- >Mr. Hickman will be on the show also. Hopefully, everyone
- >understands that if the Second Amendment means that only
- >States have the right to bear arms, then only States have the
- >right to freedom of religion and press. Or is that too logical for
- >some of my anti-gun readers to grasp?
- >
- >---------------Enthusiastic Corrections:
- >
- >(ZC) Last week I mentioned a fantastic document which
- >explains how capitalism really works. Unfortunately I typo-ed
- >the location - which resulted in a wonderful surprise. Many
- >readers figured out the typo, found the location and wrote back
- >with rave reviews about the document which was written by TJ
- >Rodgers of Cypress Semiconductor. Here's the correct
- >location:
- >
- >http://www.cypress.com/cypress/cyp_news/gormley.htm
- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
- >
- >If you're the least bit curious about what Capitalism truly is,
- >fire up your browser and take a look.
- >
- >--
- [major snip]
-
- Rick Tompkins
-
- "I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery."
- THOMAS JEFFERSON
-
- ----END FORWARDED MESSAGE----
-
- --
-
- Charles C. Hardy <chardy@es.com> | If my employer has an opinion on
- | these topics, I'm sure I'm not
- | the one he would have express it.
-
- "Indeed, I am now of the opinion that a compelling case for "stricter
- gun control" cannot be made, at least not on empirical grounds. I have
- nothing but respect for the various pro-gun control advocates with whom
- I have come in contact over the past years. They are, for the most part,
- sensitive, humane and intelligent people, and their ultimate aim, to
- reduce death and violence in our society, is one that every civilized
- person must share. I have, however, come to be convinced that they are
- barking up the wrong tree." -- James Wright (scholarly research who
- collaborates with Peter Rossi)
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: righter@aros.net
- Subject: Study: Weapons laws deter crime
- Date: 02 Aug 1996 19:32:17 -0600
-
-
- http://www.usatoday.com/news/nds1.htm
-
- > [Keep an eye on your competitors | www.personal.infoseek.com]
- >
- > 08/02/96 - 11:18 AM ET - Click reload often for latest version
- >
- > Study: Weapons laws deter crime
- >
- > In a comprehensive study that may reshape the gun control debate,
- > researchers have found that letting people carry concealed guns
- > appears to sharply reduce killings, rapes and other violent crimes.
- >
- > The nationwide study found that violent crime fell after states made
- > it legal to carry concealed handguns:
- >
- > * Homicide, down 8.5%.
- > * Rape, down 5%.
- > * Aggravated assault, down 7%.
- >
- > The University of Chicago study, obtained by USA TODAY, is set to be
- > released next Thursday. But its impending release has already sent
- > shock waves through the gun-control debate because of the effect it
- > may have on one of the most controversial areas of gun law.
- >
- > Since 1986, the number of states making it legal to carry concealed
- > weapons has grown from nine to 31.
- >
- > The National Rifle Association has led this fight in state
- > legislatures, arguing that concealed weapons deter crime.
- >
- > Gun control supporters counter that these laws cost lives by
- > increasing accidental deaths and impulsive killings.
- >
- > The study analyzed FBI crime statistics in the nation's 3,054 counties
- > from 1977 to 1992 to see if the introduction of concealed-weapons laws
- > had any effect on crime.
- >
- > The results overwhelmingly supported the idea that these laws deter
- > violent crime.
- >
- > The drop isn't primarily caused by people defending themselves with
- > guns, says John Lott, the study's author. Rather, criminals seem to
- > alter their behavior to avoid coming into contact with a person who
- > might have a gun.
- >
- > Concealed-weapons laws have drawbacks, too, the study found. Auto
- > theft and larceny increased. Criminals shifted to property offenses,
- > in which contact with a victim is rare, says Lott.
- >
- > "The policy implications are undeniable: If you're interested in
- > reducing murder and rape, then letting law-abiding, mentally competent
- > citizens carry concealed weapons has a positive impact," says Lott.
- >
- > Gun control backer Josh Sugarman of the Violence Policy Center blasted
- > the study: "Anyone who argues that these laws reduce crime either
- > doesn't understand the nature of crime or has a preset agenda."
- >
- > Lott, who spent two years on the study, says he sent his research to
- > scholars who might disagree with him and made changes to satisfy the
- > critics.
- >
- > David Kopel, a gun control scholar who did a smaller study on the same
- > issue, says, "Lott's study is so far ahead of all previous studies
- > that it makes them all worthless."
- >
- > By Dennis Cauchon, USA TODAY
-
-
-
- <---- End Forwarded Message ---->
-
- Sarah Thompson, M.D. Dedicated to ALL Civil Liberties
- The Righter The Demo-Cans have betrayed us!
- PO Box 271231 Vote Libertarian!
- Salt Lake City, UT 84127-1231 Harry Browne for President
- 801-966-7278 - fax & voice mail
- righter@aros.net
- http://www/aros.net/~righter/welcome.html
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: righter@aros.net
- Subject: DEADLY THREAT
- Date: 03 Aug 1996 01:06:35 -0600
-
- The following letter to the editor appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune Friday. It
- looks like we may now have to defend ourselves from the police! Personally, I
- think Officer Bell is a "rogue cop" and HE should be seeking other employment
- since he's obviously a danger to the people he's supposed to protect. Since
- when do police officers publicly threaten the citizens they "serve" with
- violence?
-
- If you agree, I'd suggest writing to the following:
-
- Chief Ruben Ortega
- Salt Lake City Police Dept.
- 315 E. 200 South
- Salt Lake City, UT 84102
-
- Mayor Deedee Corradini
- 451 S. State Street
- Salt Lake City, UT 84111
-
- Superintendent Douglas Bordrero
- Utah Dept. of Public Safety
- 4501 S. 2700 West
- West Valley City, UT 84119
-
- Thanks!
-
- Sarah
- (At least I'VE taken an oath never to INITIATE violence. Shouldn't the police
- do the same?)
-
-
- http://www.sltrib.com/96/AUG/02/tlt/22521918.htm
-
- > The Salt Lake Tribune Public Forum
- > Friday, August 2, 1996
- > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
- >
- > DEADLY THREAT
- >
- >
- > [Image] Dave Servatius (Forum, July 14) he wrote
- > that he has discussed the issue of citizens carrying
- > (concealed) firearms with ``numerous'' law
- > enforcement officers. He further indicated that these
- > officers, in private, support and even encourage
- > citizens to carry firearms. He then identified two
- > members of the Salt Lake City Police Department as
- > having told him that it was their belief that the
- > police `` . . . cannot insure the safety of the
- > citizens.''
- >
- > [Image] If these two officers actually made such a
- > statement, I would recommend that they find new
- > employment. I am familiar with both identified
- > officers and therefore somewhat suspect their
- > motivation for making such a statement, if in fact
- > they made such a statement. I believe both have a
- > personal agenda regarding anything that resembles
- > ``gun control.'' This might have influenced their
- > thought on this matter.
- >
- > [Image] I have worked for the Salt Lake City Police
- > Department longer than either of the two officers
- > mentioned by Servatius and I have never felt that we
- > (police) cannot insure the safety of our citizens. I
- > know for certain that carrying a Combat Colt under
- > your jacket is not going to protect your house from
- > being burglarized while you're away. However, joining
- > or establishing a Neighborhood Watch could save it.
- > Taking your Glock 9mm to the library will not stop
- > the next gang-related shooting, but becoming involved
- > in the Mobile Watch might.
- >
- > [Image] I would like to inform Servatius and any
- > others who believe that simply tucking that gun under
- > their shirt will be beneficial to always wear old
- > clothing. If I or any other law enforcement officer
- > observes your ``hidden'' weapon, you will be lying
- > face down in the dirt having handcuffs placed on you.
- > I and others involved in law enforcement cannot
- > afford to get into the mind set that a person
- > carrying a hidden handgun is just a ``good'' citizen.
- > What you become is a potential deadly threat to me,
- > and I have to treat you as such.
- >
- > [Image] So remember, the questions as to who you
- > are and why you are carrying the gun will come after
- > you are face down and handcuffed.
- >
- > D.B. BELL
- > Salt Lake City
-
- > ------------------------------------------------------
- >
- > ⌐ Copyright 1996, The Salt Lake Tribune
- >
- > All material found on Utah OnLine is copyrighted The
- > Salt Lake Tribune and associated news services. No
- > material may be reproduced or reused without explicit
- > permission from The Salt Lake Tribune.
-
-
- Sarah Thompson, M.D. Dedicated to ALL Civil Liberties
- The Righter The Demo-Cans have betrayed us!
- PO Box 271231 Vote Libertarian!
- Salt Lake City, UT 84127-1231 Harry Browne for President
- 801-966-7278 - fax & voice mail
- righter@aros.net
- http://www/aros.net/~righter/welcome.html
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy)
- Subject: Officer Bell
- Date: 03 Aug 1996 17:09:20 -0600
-
-
- Below is my letter to the SLC police department and mayor's office
- submitted for your critique. Please join suite and let the big
- brother know that this is unacceptable behaviour.
-
- Charles Hardy
- xxxxxx
- xxxxx
-
- August 3, 1996
-
- Chief Ruben Ortega
- Salt Lake City Police Dept.
- 315 E. 200 South
- Salt Lake City, UT 84102
-
- Mayor Deedee Corradini
- 451 S. State Street
- Salt Lake City, UT 84111
-
-
- Dear Mayor Corradini and Chief Ortega
-
- I have just read a letter to the editor in the Salt Lake Tribune from
- an officer D.B. Bell. That letter is transcribed below for your
- convenience. In this public letter, officer Bell informs the 12,160
- law-abiding citizens of this State who have received the requisite
- training and submitted to fingerprinting, photographs, and background
- checks and have been issued permits by the State to carry a concealed
- weapons that "[i]f [he] or any other law enforcement officer observes
- [their] ``hidden'' weapon, [they] will be lying face down in the dirt
- having handcuffs placed on [them]." He also states "the questions as
- to who [they] are and why [they] are carrying the gun will come after
- [they] are face down and handcuffed."
-
- He justifies this course of action by writing, "I and others involved
- in law enforcement cannot afford to get into the mind set that a
- person carrying a hidden handgun is just a ``good'' citizen." I must
- strenuously disagree. Given that Utah law specifically provides for
- adults to carry a "hidden" weapon, those in law enforcement appear to
- have no choice but to "get into the mind set" that at least some, if
- not many or most, non-threating adults carrying "hidden" guns are, in
- fact "just 'good' citizens."
-
- In light of current State law, officer Bell's statement appears to be
- a threat of unnecessary and inappropriate force. I am concerned we may
- have an insecure and hot-headed officer who seems prone to violence
- taking it upon himself to pronounce police department policy with
- regard to appropriate officer reaction upon suspecting or discovering
- a concealed firearm on an individual offering neither threats nor
- violence. I am even more concerned at the possibility that throwing
- non-threating, law-abiding adults to the ground at the first hint of a
- bulge under their clothes may, in fact, be police department policy.
- Or that the department has no clear policy in this area and leaves the
- handling of such situations too much to the individual officer's
- discretion -- officers such as D.B. Bell who have already decided
- that gestapo-like police-state tactics are appropriate courses of
- action to take with their employers, the tax-paying public.
-
-
-
-
- It appears to me that officer Bell is opposed to citizens carrying
- firearms for self defense. That is his right. However, if he wishes
- to outlaw the carrying of concealed firearms he should employ the
- legislative process as law-abiding citizens are expected.
- Unfortunately, he seems bent on abusing his office of public trust and
- taking the law into his own hands to prevent the carrying of concealed
- weapons through harassment, intimidation, and violence. Such action
- would appear to border on "Infringement of Civil Rights under color of
- law" -- a federal offense if I'm not mistaken.
-
- I hereby formally request that a hearing be convened to determine it
- officer Bell's comments and promised course of action are in harmony
- with departmental policy and State and Federal laws. I also request
- to be informed of the outcome of said hearing.
-
- I further request that a copy of official Salt Lake City Police
- Department policy on officer handling of situations in which a
- non-violent, non-threating individual is suspected of, or is found to
- be, in possession of a concealed weapon, along with training standards
- in this area be sent to me at my address above. If either such policy
- or training standards do not exist, I request a written statement to
- that effect on departmental letter head and bearing the signature of
- an official legally empowered to speak for the department.
-
- The citizens of this State, particularly those who have fulfilled the
- full requirements of the law and choose to exercise their rights to
- self-defense, are under no obligation to be subjected to State
- sponsored violence just to allay the concerns of police officers who,
- it seems, are too ill-trained to insure their own safety through
- legal, appropriate, and less intrusive, demeaning means.
-
- Your prompt attention in this most serious matter of public safety and
- potential civil rights abuse, as well as your written response
- including the requested documentation of departmental policy and
- training is most appreciated.
-
- Sincerely
-
-
-
- Charles Hardy
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Transcribed from the August 2, 1996 Salt Lke Tribune.
-
-
- DEADLY THREAT
-
- Dave Servatius (Forum, July 14) he wrote that he has discussed
- the issue of citizens carrying (concealed) firearms with ``numerous''
- law enforcement officers. He further indicated that these officers, in
- private, support and even encourage citizens to carry firearms. He
- then identified two members of the Salt Lake City Police Department as
- having told him that it was their belief that the police ``
- . . . cannot insure the safety of the citizens.''
-
- If these two officers actually made such a statement, I would
- recommend that they find new employment. I am familiar with both
- identified officers and therefore somewhat suspect their motivation
- for making such a statement, if in fact they made such a statement. I
- believe both have a personal agenda regarding anything that resembles
- ``gun control.'' This might have influenced their thought on this
- matter.
-
- I have worked for the Salt Lake City Police Department longer
- than either of the two officers mentioned by Servatius and I have
- never felt that we (police) cannot insure the safety of our citizens.
- I know for certain that carrying a Combat Colt under your jacket is
- not going to protect your house from being burglarized while you're
- away. However, joining or establishing a Neighborhood Watch could save
- it. Taking your Glock 9mm to the library will not stop the next
- gang-related shooting, but becoming involved in the Mobile Watch
- might.
-
- I would like to inform Servatius and any others who believe
- that simply tucking that gun under their shirt will be beneficial to
- always wear old clothing. If I or any other law enforcement officer
- observes your ``hidden'' weapon, you will be lying face down in the
- dirt having handcuffs placed on you. I and others involved in law
- enforcement cannot afford to get into the mind set that a person
- carrying a hidden handgun is just a ``good'' citizen. What you become
- is a potential deadly threat to me, and I have to treat you as such.
-
- So remember, the questions as to who you are and why you are
- carrying the gun will come after you are face down and handcuffed.
-
- D.B. BELL
- Salt Lake City
-
-
-
- --
-
- Charles C. Hardy <chardy@es.com> | If my employer has an opinion on
- | these topics, I'm sure I'm not
- | the one he would have express it.
-
- "...the rank and file are usually much more primitive than we imagine.
- Propaganda must therefore always be essentially simple and repetitious."
- -- Joseph Goebbels - Nazi Propaganda Minister
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy)
- Subject: CCW letter to editor
- Date: 03 Aug 1996 17:15:04 -0600
-
-
- Finally, a letter to the editor (don't know which one yet since I wrote it
- before reading aobut officer Bell and am sending a reply to his letter to
- the tribune--probably the Deseret News and Daily Spectrum.) Feel free
- to critique or, on the outside chance you see something usefull, to
- steal from, the following:
-
- Charles Hardy
- xxxx
- xxx
-
-
- Dear Editor
-
- I am a bit confused by the irony of the arguments put forth by those
- opposed to the carrying of concealed weapons. On the one hand, these
- individuals do not trust upstanding citizens to make it through the
- day without loosing such control of their faculties as to begin
- shooting people at random. On the other hand, they think that the
- criminal element in our society is going to honor their notion of
- "no-crime" zones.
-
- As of July 1, there were approximately 12,160 Utah citizens holding
- State issued permits to carry a concealed weapon (CCW). To date not a
- single permit holder has illegally shot another person. Not one!
- There is a higher risk of being shot under questionable circumstances
- by a police officer than by a private citizen legally carrying a
- concealed weapon.
-
- Now consider the folly of thinking "no-crime" zone exists. Some have
- expressed the opinion that libraries are not a place for violence. I
- whole-heartedly agree. But then neither are churches, schools,
- hospitals, parks, streets, nor homes. However, even a cursory look
- through our own papers will indicate that criminal violence does occur
- in all these places. The fact that criminals often employ a firearm
- against defenseless victims only underscores the need for law-abiding
- citizens to have firearms available for their self-defense.
-
- I do not, nor have I ever held a State issued permit to carry a
- concealed weapon. My reasons are, I suspect, as personal and varied
- as the reasons of those who do. However, we all owe a debt of
- gratitude to those who do decide to carry weapons. As reported in the
- August 2nd USA Today, a new study by John Lott at the University of
- Chicago indicates that nationwide, violent crime fell by roughly 7% in
- areas where citizens are allowed to carry concealed weapons. It seems
- rapists, murderers, and thugs prefer unarmed victims and the potential
- of a concealed weapon makes it tough to single out the safe targets.
- Neither the 90 pound jogger nor the 90 year old grandmother are such
- easy prey if they are trained and armed.
-
- Sincerely
-
-
- Charles Hardy
-
-
- --
-
- Charles C. Hardy <chardy@es.com> | If my employer has an opinion on
- | these topics, I'm sure I'm not
- | the one he would have express it.
-
- "...the rank and file are usually much more primitive than we imagine.
- Propaganda must therefore always be essentially simple and repetitious."
- -- Joseph Goebbels - Nazi Propaganda Minister
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy)
- Subject: Office Bell--letter to editor
- Date: 03 Aug 1996 17:26:12 -0600
-
-
- Below is my letter to the editor of the SLT. Fire up your assault
- word processors...
-
- Charles Hardy
- xxxx
- xxx
-
-
- Dear Editor
-
- I am deeply troubled by Officer D.B. Bell's August 2nd letter to the
- Salt Lake Tribune editor entitled "Deadly Treat" wherein he informs
- the 12,160 law-abiding citizens of this State who have received the
- requisite training and submitted to fingerprinting, photographs, and
- background checks and have been issued permits by the State to carry a
- concealed weapons that "[i]f [he] or any other law enforcement officer
- observes [their] ``hidden'' weapon, [they] will be lying face down in
- the dirt having handcuffs placed on [them]." He also states "the
- questions as to who [they] are and why [they] are carrying the gun
- will come after [they] are face down and handcuffed."
-
- He justifies this course of action by writing, "I and others involved
- in law enforcement cannot afford to get into the mind set that a
- person carrying a hidden handgun is just a ``good'' citizen." I must
- strenuously disagree. Given that Utah law specifically provides for
- adults to carry a "hidden" weapon, those in law enforcement appear to
- have no choice but to "get into the mind set" that at least some, if
- not many or most, non-threating adults carrying "hidden" guns are, in
- fact "just 'good' citizens" and treat them with due respect.
-
- It appears to me that officer Bell is opposed to citizens carrying
- firearms for self defense. That is his right. However, if he wishes
- to outlaw the carrying of concealed firearms he should employ the
- legislative process as law-abiding citizens are expected.
- Unfortunately, he seems bent on abusing his office of public trust and
- taking the law into his own hands to prevent the carrying of concealed
- weapons through threats of harassment, intimidation, and violence.
- Such action would appear to border on "Infringement of Civil Rights
- under color of law" -- a federal offense if I'm not mistaken.
-
- I encourage all those concerned about their safety and civil
- liberties to contact the Salt Lake City Police Department and Mayor's
- Office and demand that this rogue cop be reined in.
-
- Sincerely
-
-
-
- Charles Hardy
-
-
- --
-
- Charles C. Hardy <chardy@es.com> | If my employer has an opinion on
- | these topics, I'm sure I'm not
- | the one he would have express it.
-
- "...the rank and file are usually much more primitive than we imagine.
- Propaganda must therefore always be essentially simple and repetitious."
- -- Joseph Goebbels - Nazi Propaganda Minister
-
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chad@pengar.com (Chad Leigh -- The Electronic GunShop)
- Subject: Utah Health Dept. warning -- from -- Non-member submission from
- Date: 05 Aug 1996 20:20:48 -0600
-
- Scott - the list only accepts posts from the email address you are
- subscribed through...
-
- >Date: Mon, 5 Aug 96 20:06:00 -0700
- >To: utah-firearms@xmission.com
- >Organization: State of Utah (UTAHNET) 801-538-3383
- >Subject: Health Dept Firearms Poll
- >
- >Subject: Utah Health Dept Polls about Firearms in Homes
- >
- >Today I received a call from Cecilia of Gallup Opinion Poll in
- >Lincoln, Nebraska conducting a poll on behalf of the Utah State
- >Health Department. Along with numerous questions about health,
- >demographics, accidents, diet, medical insurance, etc., was a
- >question about whether there were any firearms in the home.
- >Although I declined to answer, this question is troubling since it
- >appears that the Utah State Health Department may be attempting to
- >make firearms a public health issue and make consequent regulatory
- >recommendations to the Legislature.
- >
- >The point of contact is Lois Hagert (sp?), 538-9455. Her secretary
- >is Kim Bangerter. Please inform me or the Utah-Firearms list of
- >any developments.
- >
-
- ------------------------- Live Free or Die ! ---------------------------
- Chad Leigh | When Guns are Outlawed, Criminals Win!
- Pengar Enterprises, Inc -- Home of The Electronic GunShop (sm)
- http://www.xmission.com/~pengar/gunshop mailto:gunshop@pengar.com
- http://www.xmission.com/~pengar/gunshop/egs_text.html for text interface
- Ask me about it! Classifeds and Commercial Ads & free Firearms and
- Activism Info
- --------------------$4/month commercial WWW space!!!--------------------
-
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: Scott Bergeson <Scott.Bergeson@m.cc.utah.edu>
- Subject: Utah Health Dept Polls about Firearms in Homes
- Date: 05 Aug 1996 21:32:44 -0600 (MDT)
-
- Today I received a call from Cecilia of Gallup Opinion Poll in
- Lincoln, Nebraska conducting a poll on behalf of the Utah State
- Health Department. Along with numerous questions about health,
- demographics, accidents, diet, medical insurance, etc., was a
- question about whether there were any firearms in the home.
- Although I declined to answer, this question is troubling since it
- appears that the Utah State Health Department may be attempting to
- make firearms a public health issue and make consequent regulatory
- recommendations to the Legislature.
-
- The point of contact is Lois Hagert (sp?), 538-9455. Her secretary
- is Kim Bangerter. Please inform me or the Utah-Firearms list of
- any developments.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy)
- Subject: [elk@tristan.mit.edu: 2nd Amendment to Supremes?]
- Date: 06 Aug 1996 11:04:06 -0600
-
-
- ----BEGIN FORWARDED MESSGE----
-
- I previously posted this message. However, I am reposting it because we
- we need to line up amicus briefs (at the Petition for Writ of Cert
- level). If you know of an organization which would like to submit a
- brief, or sign on to one, please call us at (818) 734-3066. Briefs are
- due on Monday, August 19!!!
-
-
- Hickman v. Block: A Second Amendment Case Goes to the Supreme Court (Or
- Does It)
- May You Defend Yourself?
- Although the answer to this question seems obvious, some
- self-proclaimed "experts" claim you do not have this right. They
- suggest the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution only
- guarantees a state's right to maintain a militia.
- What's more, these same "experts" suggest the Second Amendment
- does not prohibit gun control, not even total confiscation.
- Scholars Agree: A Personal Right -- Of the 45 law review articles
-
- analyzing the Second Amendment since 1980, 40 concluded it guarantees a
-
- personal right. Four of the others were written by "researchers" paid
- by anti-gun groups, and one was by a politician!
- Indeed, all evidence from the Constitutional Convention shows the
-
- Founding Fathers intended the Second Amendment to be a personal right.
- Just ask the British: on April 19, 1775, they marched to Concord to
- confiscate the Americans' firearms, and touched off the Revolutionary
- War.
- The Ninth Circuit Weighs In -- The U.S. Supreme Court has never
- addressed the question of whether the Amendment protects an individual
- right. However, on April 5, 1996, the ultra-liberal Ninth Circuit held
- in Hickman v. Block that the Second Amendment did not guarantee your
- right to own a firearm. Rather, the Ninth Circuit held the Amendment
- only guarantees a "state's right" to maintain a militia.
- That's when The Lawyer's Second Amendment Society (LSAS) went
- into action. On July 5, 1996, the LSAS filed a Petition for Writ of
- Certiorari (a request for the U.S. Supreme Court to hear an appeal of
- the Ninth Circuit's decision) on behalf of the plaintiff, Ray Hickman.
- It is anybody's guess what the Court will do. However, if the
- Court agrees to hear Hickman, we intend to win.
- $5 for Freedom -- To be successful, we need your help. We are
- asking every gun owner to contribute at least $5 to the cause. With a
- well-funded war chest, we will hire the best legal minds in the country
- to write the brief and argue the case. Is your freedom worth $5?
- Surplus funds will be used to underwrite other worthwhile
- pro-firearms litigation. Everyone is invited to join the LSAS; dues are
-
- $35 for lawyers, $25 for all others, and include a subscription to our
- acclaimed newsletter, "The Liberty Pole."
-
- Thank you for your support.
-
- Dan Schultz, President
- Steve Silver, Vice President
- The Lawyer's Second Amendment Society
- 18034 Ventura Blvd., No. 329, Encino, CA 91316 (818) 734-3066
- web site: http://www.mcs.net/~lpyleprn/law_pole.html
- (The LSAS is a non-profit 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organization; Donations
- are *not* tax-deductible.)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- ----- End Included Message -----
-
-
- ----END FORWARDED MESSAGE----
-
- --
-
- Charles C. Hardy <chardy@es.com> | If my employer has an opinion on
- | these topics, I'm sure I'm not
- | the one he would have express it.
-
- "The difficulty here has been to persuade the citizens to keep arms, not
- to prevent them from being employed for violent purposes." -- Dwight
- "Travels in New-England"
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy)
- Subject: Letter to Legislators
- Date: 06 Aug 1996 16:36:20 -0600
-
-
- Below is my first swipe at a letter to my legislators on the CCW
- changes swirling around the media. It is a little over 700 words and
- I am concerned about the length. I can't decide whether to send it as
- is, try to shorten it but hit all the same points (private property,
- businesses, churches, schools) or to break it into two shorter letters
- one dealing with perhaps churches and schools and one dealing with
- businesses and private property. Suggestions would be appreciated.
-
- Charles Hardy
- xxxx
- xxx
-
- August 6, 1996
-
- Hon. Senator David Buhler
- 1844 E. Hollywood Ave.
- SLC, UT 84108
-
- Dear Senator Buhler
-
- I am writing in regard to the proposed changes to Utah's concealed
- weapon permit laws I have heard about in the media. Particularly
- those that would allow private businesses to ban weapons on their
- property and completely prohibit weapons in churches and schools. I
- am very concerned about potential restrictions on not only my ability
- to exercise my right to self defense through the carrying of a
- defensive weapon, but also the erosion of private property rights.
-
- I believe that restricting the public places a person may legally
- carried a concealed weapon will generally result in more, not less,
- crime. Consider that much crime involving guns is committed with
- stolen weapons. There is certainly much less chance of a weapon being
- stolen while in the physical possession of the owner than from an
- unattended vehicle; and those vehicles are exactly where guns will be
- left if they cannot be carried into a given area. Beyond that,
- criminals will surely ignore "no-gun" zones just as they ignore the
- laws against rape, robbery, and murder. Individuals legally carrying
- a firearms are no more likely to commit crimes in one building than in
- another.
-
- However, I do believe that private property owners do have the right
- to restrict access to their property. If a private property owner
- does not want firearms on his property, he should be free to prohibit
- them just as he might prohibit any individual for any other reason.
- But, if we suggest that a public establishment may bar entrance to, or
- otherwise discriminate against, anyone exercising their rights to
- self-defense by legally being in possession of a firearm, it seems we
- must also be willing to accept that same establishment may
- discriminate against someone based on race, religion, or any other
- reason. I do not think the citizens of this State are prepared to do
- that. Private property owners must also be free to allow or encourage the
- presense of firearms on their property.
-
- Churches, in order to maintain true religious freedom, must have the
- greatest possible discretion over their holdings. Thus, if some
- churches wish to prohibit firearms on some or all of their property,
- they must be free to do so. But other churches must remain free to
- allow or even encourage the presense of firearms on their properties.
- A legislative prohibition on weapons in churches would infringe on
- churches' rights to use their property as they see fit. It would also
- leave what recent events in the South prove to be popular targets for
- crime completely dependent on the state for defense--a defense the
- state is not legally obligated to provide.
-
- Schools are the great red-herring of this entire end-run around
- self-defense rights. Inasmuch as no one under 21 years of age may
- obtain a permit to carry a weapon concealed in this State, it is
- already illegal for students to have guns in school. However,
- teachers, administrators, parents, and other law-abiding adults who
- may have business at public schools have as much right to self defense
- while in transit to or from or actually at the school as they do
- anywhere else in the State. Adult students attending colleges and
- universities have the same rights and may be particularly vulnerable to
- crime because of the hours they must keep.
-
- Further, if permit holders are not "specifically authorized to possess
- firearms" then even leaving their firearm in a car on or near school
- grounds may very well put them in violation of federal laws, forcing
- them to leave the gun at home or to park excessive distances from
- school grounds. Both options leave law-abiding adults needlessly
- unarmed and defenseless for prolonged periods. Publicly owned
- property should not be allowed to prohibit weapons unless facilities
- for storing patrons guns are provided and substantive security is
- maintained to ensure that criminals may not simply ignore the signs
- and prey like wolves on so many sheep.
-
- Finally, I believe it is important to protect the rights of
- individuals. Anyplace concealed weapon permits are invalid should be
- required to be clearly posted at all entrances. This will allow
- holders of CCWs to remain informed and to decide ahead of time whether
- or not to enter the posted property and to take whatever action is
- necessary to remain within the bounds of the law. Such posting should
- be required regardless of whether such property is privately or
- publicly owned. Neither criminal nor civil penalties should be
- allowed for an infraction anyplace not properly posted.
-
- Thank you for your attention in these matters. I would very much
- appreciate your comments on this topic.
-
- Sincerely
-
-
- Charles Hardy
-
- --
-
- Charles C. Hardy <chardy@es.com> | If my employer has an opinion on
- | these topics, I'm sure I'm not
- | the one he would have express it.
-
- "With reasonable men I will reason; with humane men I will plead; but
- with tyrants I will give no quarter, nor waste arguments where they will
- be certainly be lost." -- William Lloyd Garrison
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy)
- Subject: school zone maps
- Date: 06 Aug 1996 18:43:41 -0600
-
-
- ----BEGIN FORWARDED MESSGE----
-
-
- Last year in Arizona, someone took a large map and highlighted where
- every school in the city was located. This included pre-schools,
- private schools, church schools, universities, university hospitals,
- anything that be intreprted under the State definition of a school.
- He then highlighted outward from every "school" boundry the maps scale
- of 1000 feet.
-
- This showed which areas in the city a person carry a concealed weapon
- would be guilty of crime if they entered given the State's (current
- and potential) definition of a school and the fed's 1000 ft gun free
- zone. Apparently it made quite a visual presentation for legislators
- who were of the opinion that prohibiting weapons at schools didn't
- really affect anyone.
-
- Might be worth having at the next hearing on the topic of ccw permits.
-
- Anyone know how to go about getting a list of all the licsensed
- schools in SLC?
-
- --
-
- Charles C. Hardy <chardy@es.com> | If my employer has an opinion on
- | these topics, I'm sure I'm not
- | the one he would have express it.
-
- "It is not the function of our government to keep the citizen from
- falling into error; it is the function of the citizen to keep the
- government from falling into error." -- Justice Robert H. Jackson
- ----END FORWARDED MESSAGE----
-
- --
-
- Charles C. Hardy <chardy@es.com> | If my employer has an opinion on
- | these topics, I'm sure I'm not
- | the one he would have express it.
-
- "It is not the function of our government to keep the citizen from
- falling into error; it is the function of the citizen to keep the
- government from falling into error." -- Justice Robert H. Jackson
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: righter@aros.net
- Subject: Re: Letter to Legislators
- Date: 07 Aug 1996 07:18:15 -0600
-
-
-
- On Tue, 6 Aug 1996, chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy) wrote:
- >
- >Below is my first swipe at a letter to my legislators on the CCW
- >changes swirling around the media. It is a little over 700 words and
- >I am concerned about the length. I can't decide whether to send it as
- >is, try to shorten it but hit all the same points (private property,
- >businesses, churches, schools) or to break it into two shorter letters
- >one dealing with perhaps churches and schools and one dealing with
- >businesses and private property. Suggestions would be appreciated.
- >
- >Charles Hardy
-
- Charles,
- While your letter makes excellent points, it is WAY too long!
- A general rule of thumb when writing to legislators is that the letter should
- never be more than one typewritten page - and not single spaced! (This is
- true for letters to the editor of newspapers as well.)
- Also, it's important to be very clear as to what you want your
- legislator to actually DO, what legislation you'd like to see enacted or
- opposed.
- If you'd like me to edit this, let me know, but it may take me a
- couple of days. This is a busy week!
- Thanks again for your enthusiasm and support.
-
- Best wishes,
- Sarah
-
- Sarah Thompson, M.D. Dedicated to ALL Civil Liberties
- The Righter The Demo-Cans have betrayed us!
- PO Box 271231 Vote Libertarian!
- Salt Lake City, UT 84127-1231 Harry Browne for President
- 801-966-7278 - fax & voice mail
- righter@aros.net
- Director for Women's Affairs, Doctors for Integrity in Policy Research
- http://www.aros.net/~righter/welcome.html
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy)
- Subject: Re: Letter to Legislators
- Date: 07 Aug 1996 12:14:12 -0600
-
-
- On Wed, 7 Aug 1996, righter@aros.net posted:
-
- >Charles,
- > While your letter makes excellent points, it is WAY too long!
- >A general rule of thumb when writing to legislators is that the letter should
- >never be more than one typewritten page - and not single spaced! (This is
- >true for letters to the editor of newspapers as well.)
- > Also, it's important to be very clear as to what you want your
- >legislator to actually DO, what legislation you'd like to see enacted or
- >opposed.
- > If you'd like me to edit this, let me know, but it may take me a
- >couple of days. This is a busy week!
- > Thanks again for your enthusiasm and support.
- >
- >Best wishes,
- >Sarah
-
- It seems even the brightest of individuals lose the ability to read
- more than 100 words at a sitting as soon as they are elected to
- office. ;) I'm open to any and all suggestions as to the best way to
- persuade my elected officials to vote for freedom.
-
- I'm especially interested in what specific course of action to suggest
- when there is no specific bill in question yet. While I'm guessing
- that most any bill modifying the CCW statute will be so full of
- statist garbage that it should be oppossed, it's just that, a guess.
-
- But as you can see from my letter, there are a few changes that I
- think should be made wrt the rights of propety owners and the
- responsibilities of property owners and government to clearly post and
- of government to provide storage for weapons that cannont be carried
- into an area. (Totally truthfully, I think the permit system should
- be scrapped and we should go to a Vermont style law. But I know that
- is way to radical to fly at this point. Freedom can be scary.) At
- the suggestion of other list members, the letter has been broken into
- two letters--one dealing with schools and other governmetn owned
- property and the other dealing with churches and businesses. At their
- suggetion I have also added a bit to one letter dealing with
- government assuming responsibility for my safety when they disarm me
- and maing sure civil recourse is available.
-
-
- Thanks.
-
- --
-
- Charles C. Hardy <chardy@es.com> | If my employer has an opinion on
- | these topics, I'm sure I'm not
- | the one he would have express it.
-
- "The right of citizens to bear arms is just one guarantee against
- arbitrary government, one more safeguard against the tyranny which now
- appears remote in America, but which historically has proved to be
- always possible." -- Senator Hubert Humphrey
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: righter@aros.net
- Subject: FOX to air story on Lott paper
- Date: 08 Aug 1996 13:22:59 -0600
-
- FOX-13 news in Salt Lake City will be covering the presentation of the
- Lott-Mustard paper (on the benefits of CCW) at the Cato Institute today.
- Reporter Robin McLean will be interviewing Sarah Thompson, M.D. of DIPR about
- the paper and its implications for CCW policy. Be sure to watch, and also to
- call and thank FOX and Ms. McLean for their willingness to cover this issue.
-
- The paper itself can be found at: http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/~llou/guncont.html
- or in other formats and including tables at
- http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/~llou/guns.html
-
- Sarah Thompson, M.D. Dedicated to ALL Civil Liberties
- The Righter The Demo-Cans have betrayed us!
- PO Box 271231 Vote Libertarian!
- Salt Lake City, UT 84127-1231 Harry Browne for President
- 801-966-7278 - fax & voice mail
- righter@aros.net
- Director for Women's Affairs, Doctors for Integrity in Policy Research
- http://www.aros.net/~righter/welcome.html
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chad@pengar.com (Chad Leigh)
- Subject: Action! Lott CCW stufi to the legislature, gov, and mayors
- Date: 13 Aug 1996 11:42:17 -0600
-
- Hi All
-
- I would like to organize an action to collect money and to use that money
- to purchase nice official bound copies of the Chicago/Lott CCW study that
- just came out and to present them to each Utah senator and legislator at
- the State House as well as the governor and some of the mayors.
-
- What do you all think?
-
- regards
- Chad
-
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: righter@aros.net
- Subject: LPU: Browne on KALL
- Date: 15 Aug 1996 03:39:41 -0600 (MDT)
-
-
-
-
- Harry Browne, the Libertarian Party Presidential candidate will be on Kevin
- Stanfield's program on KALL-910 AM from 5:30 to 6:00 PM on Wednesday, August
- 28th. Mark your calendar.
- Tune in and call in.
-
- Remember that Harry Browne is the ONLY presidential candidate who will guarantee
- our Second Amendment rights, without restriction! He's also got a lot of other
- good ideas and is an engaging speaker. This should be good!
-
- Sarah
-
- Sarah Thompson, M.D. Dedicated to ALL Civil Liberties
- The Righter The Demo-Cans have betrayed us!
- PO Box 271231 Vote Libertarian!
- Salt Lake City, UT 84127-1231 Harry Browne for President
- 801-966-7278 - fax & voice mail
- righter@aros.net
- Director for Women's Affairs, Doctors for Integrity in Policy Research
- Director of Communications, Utah Libertarian Party
- http://www.aros.net/~righter/welcome.html
- PGP key available on request.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: righter@aros.net
- Subject: CCW discussion on KTKK
- Date: 17 Aug 1996 17:16:58 -0600 (MDT)
-
- Sarah Thompson, M.D. and attorney Elwood Powell will be appearing on the
- Robyn Bowers show on KTKK (K-TALK) radio, 630 AM, from noon to 1 PM on
- Monday, Aug. 19. Our topic will be concealed carry permits.
-
- Please listen, and please call in with support, comments, questions, etc.
- The call-in numbers are 254-5855 (SLC), 670-5855 (Ogden) and 470-5855 (Provo).
- We don't want to talk to ourselves!
-
- If you like the show, please call KTKK or Robyn and thank them. 253-4883
-
- Sarah
-
- Sarah Thompson, M.D. Dedicated to ALL Civil Liberties
- The Righter The Demo-Cans have betrayed us!
- PO Box 271231 Vote Libertarian!
- Salt Lake City, UT 84127-1231 Harry Browne for President
- 801-966-7278 - fax & voice mail
- righter@aros.net
- Director for Women's Affairs, Doctors for Integrity in Policy Research
- Communications Director, Utah Libertarian Party
- http://www.aros.net/~righter/welcome.html
- PGP key available on request.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy)
- Subject: Re: CCW discussion on KTKK
- Date: 19 Aug 1996 17:16:38 -0600
-
-
- On Sat, 17 Aug 1996, righter@aros.net posted:
-
- >Sarah Thompson, M.D. and attorney Elwood Powell will be appearing on the
- >Robyn Bowers show on KTKK (K-TALK) radio, 630 AM, from noon to 1 PM on
- >Monday, Aug. 19. Our topic will be concealed carry permits.
- >
- >Please listen, and please call in with support, comments, questions, etc.
- >The call-in numbers are 254-5855 (SLC), 670-5855 (Ogden) and 470-5855 (Provo).
- >We don't want to talk to ourselves!
- >
- >If you like the show, please call KTKK or Robyn and thank them. 253-4883
-
- I don't have a radio at work yet and so missed the show. Anyone care
- to summarize it for me?
-
- Thanks.
-
- --
-
- Charles C. Hardy <chardy@es.com> | If my employer has an opinion on
- | these topics, I'm sure I'm not
- | the one he would have express it.
-
- Would YOU be willing to give up your favorite federal program if it
- meant never paying another dime in federal income taxes? Check out
- <http://www.harrybrowne96.org> or call 800-682-1776.
-
- "There is only one tactical principal which is not subject to change. It
- is to use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wounds,
- death, and destruction in the minimum amount of time." -- General George
- S. Patton
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy)
- Subject: Off-topic: Banks
- Date: 20 Aug 1996 17:59:57 -0600
-
-
- This is mostly off-topic but I figured someone here might have a good
- suggestion.
-
- I have been banking with First Interstate for 10 years but three
- things have happened recently that suggest it is time for me to take
- my business elsewhere.
-
- 1. First Interstate decided that every customer holding an ATM card
- would be issued a new ATM card which doubles as a debit card. Since
- this card may be used just like a credit card at certain businesses,
- it now provides access to your funds without knowing the pin number.
- There is no option to maintain an ATM without the Debit "feature".
-
- 2. First Interstate declined to allow a legal defense fund account to
- be opened in one of their Arizona branches for the accused members of
- Team Viper (known in the media as Viper Militia). It seems First
- Interstate cares more for political correctness than assisting those
- interested in justice help the accused receive decent representation.
-
- And the straw that has broken the camel's back:
-
- 3. I just noticed that First Interstate is now requiring a finger
- print from all non First Interstate costomers to cash checks drawn on
- First Interstate. I frankly don't care to have my business associates
- treated as common criminals.
-
- So my question is, does anyone know of a good institution here in the
- valley that:
-
- 1: Does not fingerprint to cash checks.
-
- 2: Has ATM cards without a Debit "feature".
-
- 3: No or very low fee checking/savings.
-
- 4: Convenient location.
-
- It would also be nice if they had on-line banking services free or
- inexpensive and even better if they were openly pro-gun rights. I
- suppose that is too much to hope for so I'll settle for one that is
- neutral on the topic.
-
- Thanks
-
- --
-
- Charles C. Hardy <chardy@es.com> | If my employer has an opinion on
- | these topics, I'm sure I'm not
- | the one he would have express it.
-
- Would YOU be willing to give up your favorite federal program if it
- meant never paying another dime in federal income taxes? Check out
- <http://www.harrybrowne96.org> or call 800-682-1776.
-
- "It is in vain, Sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace,
- Peace! -- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next
- gale that sweeps from the North will bring to our ears the clash of
- resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we
- here idle? What is it that Gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life
- so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains
- and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may
- take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" -- Patrick Henry
- (1736-1799) in his famous "The War Inevitable" speech, March, 1775
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: righter@aros.net
- Subject: LPU: Browne Wins "Election"
- Date: 20 Aug 1996 23:38:59 -0600 (MDT)
-
- Whether or not you support Harry Browne's campaign, he DOES deserve to be heard
- in the debates. Please sign the petition and pass it on!
-
- Thanks!
- Sarah
-
-
- Harry Brown, Libertarian Party Candidate, * wins * CNN TIME/Warner
- internet Virtual Pesidential Election (you may have heard this
- already but here are the exact final vote tolls):
-
- CNN TIME Virtual Election Results (total votes: 16553)
- one vote per person
-
- Candidate Votes Percentage
-
- Harry Browne 5004 30.23 %
- Bob Dole 3952 23.87 %
- Bill Clinton 3029 18.30 %
- Pat Buchanan 1375 8.31 %
- Ross Perot 470 2.84 %
-
-
- See for yourself:
-
- http://pathfinder.com/cgi-bin/GDML/report/AllPolitics?AllPolitics/virtualele
- ctionresults.html
-
- CNN Time is supposedly going to host a presidential debate.
- Harry Brown will not be invited. Hell, winning isn't everything,
- it's certainly not grounds for receiving any attention.
-
- It stands to reason that the most intelligent people are those
- that have staked a claim on the computer internet. It therefore
- follows that the intelligent presidential choice is Harry Browne.
-
- What to do next (from Hugh Butler)
-
- There's an on-line petitioning drive to get Harry Browne into the debates. If
- you go to http://www.twr.com/stbo you'll find a place to sign, and get other
- info concerning the drive. If you're interested, please do so, and pass the
- message along to anyone else you feel may wish to help. Thanks!
-
-
- Sarah Thompson, M.D. Dedicated to ALL Civil Liberties
- The Righter The Demo-Cans have betrayed us!
- PO Box 271231 Vote Libertarian!
- Salt Lake City, UT 84127-1231 Harry Browne for President
- 801-966-7278 - fax & voice mail
- righter@aros.net
- Director for Women's Affairs, Doctors for Integrity in Policy Research
- Communications Director, Utah Libertarian Party
- http://www.aros.net/~righter/welcome.html
- PGP key available on request.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: righter@aros.net
- Subject: 48 HOURS
- Date: 20 Aug 1996 23:39:40 -0600 (MDT)
-
- THEY'RE ARMED!
- THEY'RE READY TO PULL THE TRIGGER!
- "I'm ready to kill somebody in a heartbeat." (innocent looking blonde woman)
-
- Teaser for "48 HOURS", thursday on CBS.
-
-
- Sarah Thompson, M.D. Dedicated to ALL Civil Liberties
- The Righter The Demo-Cans have betrayed us!
- PO Box 271231 Vote Libertarian!
- Salt Lake City, UT 84127-1231 Harry Browne for President
- 801-966-7278 - fax & voice mail
- righter@aros.net
- Director for Women's Affairs, Doctors for Integrity in Policy Research
- Communications Director, Utah Libertarian Party
- http://www.aros.net/~righter/welcome.html
- PGP key available on request.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: righter@aros.net
- Subject: SHOOT DOWN JUNK SCIENCE
- Date: 20 Aug 1996 23:45:11 -0600 (MDT)
-
- > THIS IS A MESSAGE IN 'MIME' FORMAT. Your mail reader does not support MIME.
- > Please read the first section, which is plain text, and ignore the rest.
- > This message was composed with SPRY Mail. Contact SPRY at 1-800-777-9638.
-
- --XXCGW-1838713197XX
- Content-Type: text/plain
- Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
-
-
-
-
-
- http://www.sltrib.com/96/aug/20/tlt/21555816.htm
-
- > Tuesday, August 20, 1996
- > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
- >
- > SHOOT DOWN JUNK SCIENCE
- >
- >
- >
- > The headline ``NRA Effort Works: Funds For
- > Gun Research Sliced'' (Tribune, July 14) is
- > misleading and inflammatory, and the accompanying
- > article contains many factual errors which require
- > clarification.
- >
- > No one in the pro-gun movement opposes
- > legitimate firearms research, not even the much
- > maligned and allegedly ``evil'' NRA. However, it is
- > reasonable to expect that our tax dollars be used for
- > legitimate, scientifically accurate research, not
- > junk science and propaganda designed to support the
- > administration's anti-gun policies.
- >
- > Research must always be neutral, yet the
- > National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
- > (NCIPC) has consistently published poorly designed
- > and statistically invalid studies. Its
- > ``researchers'' start with the premise that guns must
- > be eliminated and then design the studies to prove
- > this premise. They have refused to acknowledge or
- > consider studies by criminologists showing that
- > firearms have a net benefit to society. This is the
- > reason their funding came up for review.
- >
- > The House Appropriations subcommittee
- > responded not to ``lobbying'' by the NRA, but rather
- > scientific evidence presented by a coalition of
- > highly educated professionals. Those who testified
- > before the committee were: Bill Waters, M.D., of
- > Doctors for Integrity in Policy Research; Timothy
- > Wheeler, M.D., president of Doctors for Responsible
- > Gun Ownership; Miguel Faria, M.D., former editor of
- > the Journal of the Medical Association of Georgia,
- > and Don Kates, a widely respected and often cited
- > lawyer and criminologist.
- >
- > These experts may or may not be members of
- > the NRA, but they are not spokespersons for the NRA,
- > nor are they officers of that organization. The House
- > Subcommittee is to be commended for both protecting
- > the public from false research and for saving
- > millions of dollars needlessly wasted on this
- > propaganda.
- >
- > The Tribune owes an apology to the House
- > subcommittee, the NRA, the experts who took time out
- > of their busy schedules to testify, and especially
- > the readers who depend on you for accurate, unbiased
- > information.
- >
- > SARAH THOMPSON, M.D.
- > Salt Lake City
-
- > ------------------------------------------------------
- >
- > ⌐ Copyright 1996, The Salt Lake Tribune
- >
- > All material found on Utah OnLine is copyrighted The
- > Salt Lake Tribune and associated news services. No
- > material may be reproduced or reused without explicit
- > permission from The Salt Lake Tribune.
-
-
- Sarah Thompson, M.D. Dedicated to ALL Civil Liberties
- The Righter The Demo-Cans have betrayed us!
- PO Box 271231 Vote Libertarian!
- Salt Lake City, UT 84127-1231 Harry Browne for President
- 801-966-7278 - fax & voice mail
- righter@aros.net
- Director for Women's Affairs, Doctors for Integrity in Policy Research
- Communications Director, Utah Libertarian Party
- http://www.aros.net/~righter/welcome.html
- PGP key available on request.
- --XXCGW-1838713197XX
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- --XXCGW-1838713197XX--
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: Fred Orrell <FORRELL@velara.sim.es.com>
- Subject: RE: Off-topic: Banks
- Date: 21 Aug 1996 10:32:39 -0600 (MDT)
-
- I believe that the fingerprint requirement was approved by the state,
- possibly was some kind of law. I remember talking to my bank, Zion's,
- and they have the same thing.
-
- I would suggest a credit union. They generally are more economical, but
- pick a well know one. I use the University of Utah for business accounts
- and have considered switching all my banking to those folks.
-
- Fred Orrell
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: WILL THOMPSON <will@phbtsus.com>
- Subject: Re: Off-topic: Banks
- Date: 21 Aug 1996 13:08:36 -0600
-
- Fred Orrell wrote:
- >
- > I believe that the fingerprint requirement was approved by the state,
- > possibly was some kind of law. I remember talking to my bank, Zion's,
- > and they have the same thing.
- >
- > I would suggest a credit union. They generally are more economical, but
- > pick a well know one. I use the University of Utah for business accounts
- > and have considered switching all my banking to those folks.
- >
- > Fred Orrell
- The decision to use fingerprints, as reported on KCNR 860, was a Utah
- Bankers Assoc. decision to allow it. As I understand it, not all banks
- are required to do it. I believe Key Bank is not.
-
- I would agree with the credit union deal. I use America First and they
- have always been happy to do what I ask and While I'm not sure about
- On-Line, they do have Touch Tone Banking, no charge on ATM, free
- checking,
- etc.
-
- Re KCNR....one of the hosts spent a week or so ranting about
- fingerprints
- and ATM charges. After speaking to Bank 1's regional manager, who told
- him that his account wasn't of sufficient size to concern her, he moved
- his accounts to Mounain West Credit Union. ( I think those "facts" are
- correct.)
-
- G'Day
-
- Will
- --
- Will Thompson
- Alpha Engineering
- Philips BTS
- Phone 801.977.1678 Fax 801.977.1602 will@phbtsus.com
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: righter@aros.net
- Subject: PT Press Release
- Date: 23 Aug 1996 22:13:57 -0600 (MDT)
-
-
-
-
- The following went out as a press release to the news media yesterday.
-
- JH
-
- NEWS RELEASE
- Peaceable Texans For Firearms Rights
-
- Contact: Paul Velte, 512-476-2299 Release: August, 20, 1996
-
- ATF PROVES GOVERNMENT CANNOT BE TRUSTED WITH GUN REGISTRATION
-
- Thomas A. Busey, then Chief of the National Firearms Act Branch of the
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms in October of 1995 made the startling
- revelation that officials under his supervision routinely perjure themselves
- when testifying in court about the accuracy of the federal database that the
- government uses to register and tax machine guns (the National Firearms
- Registration and Transfer Record or NFR&TR). The NFR&TR is mandated by the
- 1934 National Firearms Act (NFA), and Chief Busey is the official custodian
- of this governmental record.
- Every prosecution brought by the federal government involving an
- allegedly
- unregistered machine gun requires testimony under oath by a duly-authorized
- custodian of the NFR&TR that, after a diligent search of the official
- records, no record of the registration of the firearm in question was found
- (or was found but showed a different registrant than the person being
- prosecuted). An alternative method of proving the same facts is by
- admission into evidence of a certified copy under official Treasury
- Department seal of a similar written declaration by the custodian. This is
- a critical element of the government's proof and, according to Busey,
- occurred 880 times in 1995 alone.
- In a video taped training session, Chief Busey stated that, "when we
- testify in court, we testify that the data base is 100 percent accurate.
- That's what we testify to, and we will always testify to that. As you
- probably well know, that may not be 100 percent true." Later in the same
- video tape, Busy goes on to state, "when I first came in a year ago, our
- error rate was between 49 and 50 percent, so you can imagine what the
- accuracy of the NFRTR could be, if your error rate's 49 to 50 percent."
- When the existence of this video tape was leaked to defense attorney
- James
- H. Jeffries, III, he initiated a FOIA request. Eventually the Justice
- Department responded by sending a transcript of the video tape to Jeffries
- in February, 1996 (they have thus far refused to release the tape itself).
- Justice has now begun advising every NFA defendant in the country of the
- situation. It did this with a recent mass mailing by United States
- Attorneys to defense lawyers and defendants of relevant BATF documents,
- including the Busey tape transcript.
- It is too early to predict how many new trials, appeals, and habeas
- corpus
- actions will result from this affair. Also unknown is the number of
- innocent convicted felons presently serving time in federal prison from
- flawed weapons convictions and what effect the Busey disclosures will have
- on their situation.
- "What we have here is a prime example of why we cannot trust government
- firearm registration schemes," said Paul Velte, founder of Peaceable Texans
- for Firearms Rights, a gun-owners rights advocacy group based in Austin.
- "If we are going to put people in jail for failing to register their
- firearms, then we must have government agents who we can trust to keep
- accurate registration records and honest enough to admit it when they do
- not," said Velte. "We want to know if anyone in BATF is going to pay any
- price for this 'institutional perjury.' What they have done is criminal."
-
-
-
-
- <---- End Forwarded Message ---->
-
- Sarah Thompson, M.D. Dedicated to ALL Civil Liberties
- The Righter The Demo-Cans have betrayed us!
- PO Box 271231 Vote Libertarian!
- Salt Lake City, UT 84127-1231 Harry Browne for President
- 801-966-7278 - fax & voice mail
- righter@aros.net
- Director for Women's Affairs, Doctors for Integrity in Policy Research
- Communications Director, Utah Libertarian Party
- http://www.aros.net/~righter/welcome.html
- PGP key available on request.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: righter@aros.net
- Subject: All About Guns in the UK
- Date: 23 Aug 1996 22:14:09 -0600 (MDT)
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Sean Gabb Internet Release
-
- Re: The Right to Keep and Bear Arms
-
- Last Sunday the 18th August, I took part in a one hour discussion
- on Radio Viva (963 Kh, London area only). I argued for the
- unfettered right to keep and bear arms. Opposing me were
- Tobias Bernstein of Society Against Guns in Europe (SAGE) and
- Jacqueline Walsh of the Snowdrop Campaign. Sort of opposing
- me was Graham Downing of the British Shooting Sports Council.
-
- Here follows a transcript of the first ten minutes of the
- programme. Since I have a living to earn doing other things, I
- haven't transcribed the whole - which is a shame, bearing in mind
- all that was said. However, what there is should be interesting,
- especially to those Americans who may not share Mr Bernstein's
- view of the Second Amendment to their Constitution.
-
- S T A R T S
- =======================
-
- Sunday 18th August 1996, 10:13am. Jasmine Birtles (Presenter),
- Sean Gabb (Libertarian Alliance), Tobias Bernstein (Society
- Against Guns in Europe).
-
-
- JB Last week, we heard the official outcome of an all party
- [Parliamentary] committee on guns. The committee
- members were utterly split - in fact, it was six Conservative
- Members who voted to keep handguns, and five Labour
- Members who voted against. But they finally decided not to
- recommend the banning of handguns but simply a tightening
- of the licensing laws. Of course, we are still awaiting the
- result of the official Inquiry into the Dunblane Massacre, but
- for the moment is seems that handguns at least, as well as
- some shotguns, are here to stay.
-
- In today's debate, we have Tobias Bernstein from the anti-
- gun group SAGE [Society Against Guns in Europe], who's
- on the phone. In the studio at the moment we have Sean
- Gabb from the Libertarian Alliance. Later in the hour,
- we'll be speaking to Graham Downing, who's the
- spokesman for the British Shooting Sports Council, and also
- to Jacqueline Walsh, who's the organiser of the Snowdrop
- Petition, which, obviously enough, is against guns.
-
- If we could just start with you, Sean, as you're in the
- studio, could you just explain a little about the philosophy
- behind the Libertarian Alliance?
-
- SIG The Libertarian Alliance believes in Life, Liberty and
- Property. We believe in free enterprise, in privatisation, in
- low taxes - indeed, in many cases in no taxes at all. We are
- rather like what's called the right wing of the Tory Party -
- except that we take our principles to their logical conclusion,
- and say that if people are to have the right to make money
- in the way of their choice, they should also have the right to
- spend it in the way of their choice. Therefore, we're
- against any controls on drugs, pornography, and
- prostitution; we're against immigration controls; and - just
- a side issue, we're against gun controls as well.
-
- JB Do you have any difficulty with the idea that maniacs could
- have guns? Do you feel that there should controls on that -
- that there should be a toughening of the licensing laws at
- least?
-
- SIG No I don't. Let me give you my position very clearly. I
- believe that any adult should have the right to go into a gun
- shop and, without producing any licence or any form of
- identification, should have the right to buy as many guns
- and as much ammunition as he or she can take away; and
- should have the right to use all this for the defence of his or
- her life, liberty and property.
-
- JB For the defence?
-
- SIG For the defence. Now, if that means that, once every
- decade or so, some maniac runs amok, freedom has its
- costs. But the thing that the gungrabbers don't take into
- account - what they leave to one side - is that there's a
- downside to gun control. If guns are banned, it means that
- respectable people do not have any means of defending
- themselves; and it means that criminals - who will always
- get hold of guns if they want them - will be able to wander
- among us like a fox through chickens. Another point that
- the gungrabbers often overlook is that the State is the
- biggest violator of life, liberty and property in the 20th
- century. It is states that have murdered something like 250
- million people this century. I don't hear any calls to disarm
- the policemen you see at Heathrow Airport with their
- Heckler and Koch submachine guns. I don't see any panic
- about the policeman who stands outside the offices of El Al
- in Regent street with his submachine gun. Supposing they
- were to run amok? People think "No, of course not! These
- are the State. They are trained. Well, as a matter of plain
- fact, state servants do run amok. They have uniforms put
- on their backs. They get sent out to kill people.
-
- JB Tobias Bernstein, you are from SAGE, which is against
- guns of any sort. Sean Gabb has said quite a lot about guns
- and why anybody should have the right to own them. What
- is your response? What do you think?
-
- TB I am surprised to hear what I've just heard. The libertarian
- view is perhaps much too liberal for some people in this
- society. The idea that as a free thinking and caring society
- we shouldn't try to protect ourselves from things which are
- clearly dangerous - like for example drugs, like for example
- guns - is, I think, ridiculous. Of course we know that many
- people enjoy taking drugs, and we know that they perhaps
- claim not an addiction, but that they are enjoying
- themselves. But that is illegal at present. And likewise
- guns should be unlawful - because the vast majority of
- people may use them in safety, but the minority kill people.
- The reality is that, although the slogan is constantly used by
- the gun lobby - "Guns don't kill people: people kill people"
- - it is both true and untrue. The reality is that, although
- guns don't kill people, people with guns do.
-
- JB What do you feel about this issue of civil rights - which is
- very strong in America - according to which everyone
- should be able to have guns for self-defence?
-
- TB There is a misconception here. Let me make it plain that
- the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
- does not provide for every citizen to be able to posses a gun
- as people believe. It's a common misconception. The
- Second Amendment deals with the State rights to arrange a
- militia and to have possession of guns. In 1972 the Supreme
- Court ruled in the United States that there was no inherent
- right to the ownership of a gun, that it was a State right
- which they conferred on the people in the form of a
- privilege. It is a farce to carry on thinking that in America
- everyone has a right to bear arms. That's not necessarily
- true.
-
- JB I've noticed in one of your recent advertising campaigns,
- you've put: "Five months on, the gun lobby can breathe a
- sigh of relief. Emma can't". And we have a picture of
- Emma Crozier, one of the little girls killed in the Dunblane
- Massacre.
-
- TB She was murdered.
-
- JB There is this issue of freedom of adults to carry guns and
- the freedom of children to live. That's obviously putting it
- in a very emotive way, but....
-
- TB We'd like to say that there is no liberty where fear exists.
- Regardless of your circumstances, if you live in fear, if you
- wonder whether or not you'll be shot in a public gathering -
- in your own home in fact, as happened to a Tory activist
- shot with a sporting shot gun at his home - you have no
- liberty at all.
-
- JB Sean, do you genuinely think it is worth the occasional
- sacrifice of children and adults for the sake of the right to
- bear arms?
-
- SIG The short answer is yes. But a slightly longer answer is to
- say that there is no contradiction between those rights.
- Thomas Hamilton ran amok in Dunblane. He killed some
- children. There's no doubt of that. It was a disaster. But
- I am saying that gun control does not work in the overall
- picture. There is....
-
- TB [Interjection]
-
- SIG No, let me finish. I've let you finish. There is no
- contradiction between my right to own a gun and someone
- else's right to stay alive. Let me give you a clear
- illustration of this. In 1933, Hitler came to power in
- Germany. He immediately moved to disarm Jews and
- Communists and anyone else thought undesirable by his
- regime. Because they had been disarmed, they were not
- able to prevent themselves from being herded into those
- concentration camps like cattle.
-
- JB That's selective, though.
-
- SIG It's not selective.
-
- TB This is propagating paranoia. I read this every day on the
- Internet, from American patriots who send me e-mail,
- propagating this paranoid fear of government. If you don't
- trust your government and you don't trust your police can
- you trust yourself? It's a disservice to the listeners of this
- programme to carry on propagating paranoia.
-
- SIG It isn't paranoia. We are talking about hundreds of millions
- murdered by states this century. For heaven's sake, do you
- really trust the State? If you do, why bother having a
- constitution and laws to restrain it?
-
- TB Do you trust your State?
-
- SIG No, I don't trust the State.
-
- TB You're paranoid of the people who you've elected into
- government. I think that that's a very sad state of affairs.
- I don't honestly think that this gentleman should be on the
- programme.
-
- SIG Are you calling for censorship?
-
- [No answer. Programme continues until the hour with much,
- much more of SIG]
-
- E N D S
- =============================
- =======
-
- Curious about a man who could talk about free thought and
- caring in one breath and call for my banning from the airwaves
- in another, I decided to look into Mr Bernstein and SAGE. What
- I found surprised me.
-
- According to a publicity leaflet now before me, SAGE is "an
- international pressure group with clear and concise aims". These
- are worth quoting in full:
-
- We seek to obtain the abolition of private ownership of
- all guns throughout the UK and Europe.
-
- We are actively targeting National Governments, the
- European Commission and law enforcement agencies
- throughout Europe to effect an immediate change to the
- current legislation on all private gun ownership.
-
- We are campaigning for the introduction of mandatory
- prison sentences for the illegal possession of any
- firearm.
-
- If we do not wish to become a member of SAGE, we are invited
- to join SAGE Community and Charitable Services, a registered
- charity (No. 1056753) with a very similar logo. We are invited
- to do this because the charity
-
- is in place to allow sympathetic people and
- organisations to help fund our activities and promote
- our cause to a wider audience.
-
- Now, while somewhat indulgent in other matters, the English law
- of charities does not allow charities to register for tax exemption
- while they engage in partisan political campaigning. I do not
- accuse SAGE the charity of doing this. I have not enough
- evidence to form any certain view. I do not who is in charge of
- each SAGE organisation, nor how the charitable wing is spending
- its money. However, the natural, grammatically correct, meaning
- of the words quoted above is that SAGE the charity is soliciting
- funds for SAGE the pressure group. In an appeal to join SAGE
- the pressure group, after all, to whom else could the possessive
- adjective "our" refer?
-
- It could be that Mr Bernstein is as incoherent on paper as he was
- on air last Sunday, and that the two SAGEs are not joined in any
- unlawful or disreputable way. But, lacking the means to find this
- out for myself, I invited the media to do the work for me in the
- following press release, sent out on Monday the 19th August
- 1996:
-
-
- S T A R T S
- =============================
- =======
-
-
- Release Date: Immediate, 20th August 1996
-
- Free Market Think Tank
- Calls for Investigation of "Sinister" Anti-Gun Group.
-
- Britain's leading radical pro-free market and pro-civil liberties think
- tank, the Libertarian Alliance, called today for an investigation into
- the sinister political agenda of the campaigning anti-gun pressure
- group, Society Against Guns in Europe (SAGE).
-
- Appearing on a radio programme against Sean Gabb of the
- Libertarian Alliance, a spokesman from SAGE made it clear that, in
- his opinion, opponents of gun control should not be allowed on air to
- put their views.
-
- * He expressed hostility to other liberal and civil libertarian
- positions, apart from the right to keep and bear arms for
- self-defence.
-
- * He claimed that it was "paranoid" to distrust politicians and
- government. When it was pointed out that governments have
- murdered several hundred million people this century alone -
- and that gun confiscation had always preceded oppression and
- genocide - he replied:
-
- "If you don't trust your government, and you don't trust your
- police, can you trust yourself?"
-
- Sean Gabb, Editor of the Libertarian Alliance journal Free Life, and
- author of many papers on guns and other civil liberties issues, says:
-
- "It is high time that the press should look very closely at the
- broader and sinister political agenda of this pressure group. It
- is campaigning for the abolition of the private ownership of all
- guns. Leaving aside the dangers of confining gun ownership to
- criminals and the State, SAGE is closely connected with a
- registered charity (SAGE Community and Charitable Services)
- that is seeking donations from the public of up to Pounds 500.
- The Libertarian Alliance has today written to the Charities
- Commission, to raise the issue of whether such political
- campaigning is really within the law. And if it is within the
- law, then it is high time the law was changed."
-
- For further comment contact Sean Gabb on 0181 858 0841 (e-mail:
- cea01sig@gold.ac.uk)
-
- E N D S
- ===============================
-
-
- So far, I have had no enquiries from any media organisation.
- However, my readers might care to ask a few questions of their own.
- SAGE can be contacted at the following:
-
- Society Against Guns in Europe
- FREEPOST
- ANG2146
- PO Box 330
- Danbury
- Chelmsford
- Essex CM3 4YY
-
- FREEPHONE 0800 317938
-
- Since any letters and calls from within the United
- Kingdom will be paid for By SAGE, correspondents are advised to be
- sparing in what they send through the post, and so far as possible to
- call during off-peak hours.
-
- SAGE also has a Web Page:
-
- http://www.sage.org.uk
-
- As soon as I have it, I will send Mr Bernstein's e-mail address.
-
-
- Sean Gabb
-
-
- Sarah Thompson, M.D. Dedicated to ALL Civil Liberties
- The Righter The Demo-Cans have betrayed us!
- PO Box 271231 Vote Libertarian!
- Salt Lake City, UT 84127-1231 Harry Browne for President
- 801-966-7278 - fax & voice mail
- righter@aros.net
- Director for Women's Affairs, Doctors for Integrity in Policy Research
- Communications Director, Utah Libertarian Party
- http://www.aros.net/~righter/welcome.html
- PGP key available on request.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy)
- Subject: Letter from SLC PD
- Date: 24 Aug 1996 19:07:05 -0600
-
-
- Here is the response I received from The SLC PD from a letter I sent
- them regarding Oficer Bell's editorial in the SL Tribune. My letter
- to the department is first followed by their response. I won't
- prejudice anyone's reading of the letter by offering any comments at
- this point, but I am open to suggestions as to where to go from here.
-
-
-
- August 3, 1996
-
- Chief Ruben Ortega
- Salt Lake City Police Dept.
- 315 E. 200 South
- Salt Lake City, UT 84102
-
- Mayor Deedee Corradini
- 451 S. State Street
- Salt Lake City, UT 84111
-
-
- Dear Mayor Corradini and Chief Ortega
-
- I have just read a letter to the editor in the Salt Lake Tribune from
- an officer D.B. Bell. That letter is transcribed below for your
- convenience. In this public letter, officer Bell informs the 12,160
- law-abiding citizens of this State who have received the requisite
- training and submitted to fingerprinting, photographs, and background
- checks and have been issued permits by the State to carry a concealed
- weapons that "[i]f [he] or any other law enforcement officer observes
- [their] ``hidden'' weapon, [they] will be lying face down in the dirt
- having handcuffs placed on [them]." He also states "the questions as
- to who [they] are and why [they] are carrying the gun will come after
- [they] are face down and handcuffed."
-
- He justifies this course of action by writing, "I and others involved
- in law enforcement cannot afford to get into the mind set that a
- person carrying a hidden handgun is just a ``good'' citizen." I must
- strenuously disagree. Given that Utah law specifically provides for
- adults to carry a "hidden" weapon, those in law enforcement appear to
- have no choice but to "get into the mind set" that at least some, if
- not many or most, non-threating adults carrying "hidden" guns are, in
- fact "just 'good' citizens" and treat them with all due respect.
-
- In light of current State law, officer Bell's statement appears to be
- a threat of unnecessary and inappropriate force. I am concerned we may
- have an insecure and hot-headed officer who seems prone to violence
- taking it upon himself to pronounce police department policy with
- regard to appropriate officer reaction upon suspecting or discovering
- a concealed firearm on an individual offering neither threats nor
- violence. I am even more concerned at the possibility that throwing
- non-threating, law-abiding adults to the ground at the first hint of a
- bulge under their clothes may, in fact, be police department policy.
- Or that the department has no clear policy in this area and leaves the
- handling of such situations too much to the individual officer's
- discretion -- officers such as D.B. Bell who have already decided
- that gestapo-like police-state tactics are appropriate courses of
- action to take with their employers, the tax-paying public.
-
- It appears to me that officer Bell is opposed to citizens carrying
- firearms for self defense. That is his right. However, if he wishes
- to outlaw the carrying of concealed firearms he should employ the
- legislative process as law-abiding citizens are expected.
- Unfortunately, he seems bent on abusing his office of public trust and
- taking the law into his own hands to prevent the carrying of concealed
- weapons through harassment, intimidation, and violence. Such action
- would appear to border on "Infringement of Civil Rights under color of
- law" -- a federal offense if I'm not mistaken.
-
- I hereby formally request that a hearing be convened to determine it
- officer Bell's comments and promised course of action are in harmony
- with departmental policy and State and Federal laws. I also request
- to be informed of the outcome of said hearing.
-
- I further request that a copy of official Salt Lake City Police
- Department policy on officer handling of situations in which a
- non-violent, non-threating individual is suspected of, or is found to
- be, in possession of a concealed weapon, along with training standards
- in this area be sent to me at my address above. If either such policy
- or training standards do not exist, I request a written statement to
- that effect on departmental letter head and bearing the signature of
- an official legally empowered to speak for the department.
-
- The citizens of this State, particularly those who have fulfilled the
- full requirements of the law and choose to exercise their rights to
- self-defense, are under no obligation to be subjected to State
- sponsored violence just to allay the concerns of police officers who,
- it seems, are too ill-trained to insure their own safety through
- legal, appropriate, and less intrusive, demeaning means.
-
- Your prompt attention in this most serious matter of public safety and
- potential civil rights abuse, as well as your written response
- including the requested documentation of departmental policy and
- training is most appreciated.
-
- Sincerely
-
-
-
- Charles Hardy
-
- ------SLC PD letter follows----------
-
- typos mine
-
- August 14, 1996
-
- Dear Mr. Hardy
-
- In response to your letter dated August 2, 1996, I would like to
- respond to your concerns. First of all , I would like to state that
- this officer did editorialize as a private citizan, and not as a
- police officer. He did not speak for the Salt Lake City Police
- Department in any way.
-
- Secondly, I would like to put your mind at ease as to the policy of
- this Department. We do not, as stated in the article, put citizens on
- the ground "face down" as a matter of policy. Our policy is to use
- that force which is necessary to effect an arrest. This, of course,
- does not allow an officer to simply put a citizen face down or arrest
- that person becasue he or she is carrying a concealed weapon.
-
- We, in law enforcement, realize that there are those citizens who are
- allowed by law to carry concealed weapons. I'm sure that you realize
- being a law enforcement officer today is very difficult, and it's not
- always easy to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Therefore, we
- must also do what is necessary and within the perimeters of the law to
- make sure our law enforcement officers are safe.
-
- Officers, such as Officer Bell, are faced so frequently with the fact
- that this may be someone who means him harm, and may kill or maim him.
- He, of course, doesn't know that you Charles Hardy, and are a
- law-abiding citizen. He only knows that you have a gun. He,
- therefore, wants to take those precautions which will put him out of
- harms way. I know Officer Bell and know that he would take the
- appropriate action according to the circumstances, and that would not
- be placing a citizen face down on the ground without the probable
- cause to justify that course of action.
-
- I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your concern
- and writing us about those concerns. If I can at all help in further
- clarification as to the Department's policy and procedure in this
- matter, please feel free to contact me.
-
- Sincerely
-
- Stephen Chapman
- Assistant Chief of Police
-
- --
-
- Charles C. Hardy <chardy@es.com> | If my employer has an opinion on
- | these topics, I'm sure I'm not
- | the one he would have express it.
-
- Would YOU be willing to give up your favorite federal program if it
- meant never paying another dime in federal income taxes? Check out
- <http://www.harrybrowne96.org> or call 800-682-1776.
-
- "The practical and safe construction is that which must have been in the
- minds of those who framed our organic law. The intention was to embrace
- the 'arms,' an acquaintance with whose use was necessary for their
- protection against the usurpation of illegal power - such as rifles,
- muskets, shotguns, swords and pistols. These are now but little used in
- war; still they are such weapons that they or their like can still be
- considered as 'arms' which the [the people] have aright to bear." STATE
- v. KERNER; 181 NC 574, 107 SE 222, 224-25 (North Carolina Supreme Court,
- 1921.)
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy)
- Subject: Fwd: NEA and guns
- Date: 26 Aug 1996 10:57:39 -0600
-
-
- If anyone has any doubts on where the NEA stands wrt to RKBA, let this
- dispel them. Or, in other words, teachers' union dues at work. The
- second paragraph contains the meat.
-
- ----BEGIN FORWARDED MESSGE----
-
-
- The National Education Association has published their 1996-97 Resolutions.
- Here is their position on guns:
- ------------------
- I-29. Gun-Free Schools and the Regulation of Deadly Weapons
-
- The National Education Association believes that all students and
- educational employees must be allowed to learn and work in an environment
- free of unathourized guns and other deadly weapons. Severe penalties should
- be enacted and strenuously enforced for criminal actions involving guns and
- other deadly weapons, especially in school settings, and for those who
- profit from the illegal sale, importation, and distribution of these
- weapons.
-
- The Association also believes that strict prescriptive regulations are
- necessary for the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale and resale of
- handguns and ammunition magazines. The possession by the private sector of
- automatic weapons and military-style semiautomatic assault weapons should be
- illegal, except for historical and collection purposes which must be
- strictly regulated. A mandatory waiting period for a background check
- should occur prior to the sale of all firearms.
-
- The Association further believes that gun owners should participate in
- educational programs that stress responsible ownership, including safe use
- and storage of guns. (82, 96)
-
- ----------------------
- Contrast the above with last (school) year's resolution (1995-96):
-
- I-29. CONTROL OF GUNS AND OTHER DEADLY WEAPONS
-
- The National Educataion Association believes that stricter legislation
- is needed to control guns and other deadly weapons. The Association
- supports legislation that provides for prescriptive controls on the
- manufacture, distribution, and sale of handguns, with particular efforts to
- eliminate easily obtained, low-cost handguns -- commonly described as
- Saturday Night Specials.
-
- The Association further believes that the sale and possession by the
- private sector of automatic and semiautomatic paramilitary weapons, such as
- UZI submachine guns and AK-47 assault rifles, should be illegal.
-
- The Association believes that severe penalties should be enacted and
- strenuously enforced for criminal actions involving guns and other deadly
- weapons, especially in school settings, and for those who profit from the
- illegal sale and distribution of these weapons.
-
- -------------------------
- To contact the National Education Association:
-
- mail: NEA Today
- 1201 16th St., N.W.
- Washington, DC 20036
- --------
- FAX: 202/822-7206
- --------
- phone: 202/822-7201
- --------
- Online (AOL): Keyword: NEA Today
- --------
- E-mail: NEAToday@aol.com
- ------------------------------------- >>
-
- --
-
- Charles C. Hardy <chardy@es.com> | If my employer has an opinion on
- | these topics, I'm sure I'm not
- | the one he would have express it.
-
- Would YOU be willing to give up your favorite federal program if it
- meant never paying another dime in federal income taxes? Check out
- <http://www.harrybrowne96.org> or call 800-682-1776.
-
- "Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation,
- that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the
- difference between having our arms in possession and under our
- direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our
- defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they
- be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own
- hands?" -- Patrick Henry, Philadelphia, 1836.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy)
- Subject: [mongoose@INDIRECT.COM: Republican RKBA Plank]
- Date: 26 Aug 1996 16:25:44 -0600
-
-
- Don't remeber if I passed this along or not.
-
- ----BEGIN FORWARDED MESSGE----
-
-
- 1996 Republican platform plank on RKBA:
- ================================================================================
- "We defend the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. We will promote
- training in the safe usage of firearms, especially in programs for women and
- the elderly. We strongly support Bob Dole's National Instant Check Initiative,
- which will keep all guns out of the hands of convicted felons. The
- point-of-purchase instant check has worked well in many states and now it is
- time to extend this system all across America. We applaud Bob Dole's
- commitment to have the national instant check system operational by the end of
- 1997. In one of the strangest actions of his tenure, Bill Clinton abolished
- Operation Triggerlock, the Republican initiative to jail any felon caught with
- a gun. We will restore that effort and will set by law minimum mandatory
- penalties for the use of guns in committing a crime: 5 years for possession, 10
- years for brandishing, and 20 for discharge."
- ================================================================================
- The plank is reported by RP RKBA activists as "much watered down" from the one
- that was originally submitted -- which would not be too surprising, given that
- Henry Hyde was Platform Committee Chairman. The entire platform may be found at
-
- http://www.rnc.org/hq/platform96/
-
-
-
- ----END FORWARDED MESSAGE----
-
- --
-
- Charles C. Hardy <chardy@es.com> | If my employer has an opinion on
- | these topics, I'm sure I'm not
- | the one he would have express it.
-
- Would YOU be willing to give up your favorite federal program if it
- meant never paying another dime in federal income taxes? Check out
- <http://www.harrybrowne96.org> or call 800-682-1776.
-
- "What the subcommittee on the Constitution uncovered was clear - and
- long lost - proof that the Second Amendment to our Constitution was
- intended as an individual right of the American citizen to keep and
- carry arms in a peaceful manner, for protection of himself, his family,
- and his freedoms." -- Senator Orrin Hatch, Chairman, Subcommittee on the
- Constitution - Preface, "The Right To Keep And Bear Arms"
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: Sarah Thompson <righter@aros.net>
- Subject: Re: [mongoose@INDIRECT.COM: Republican RKBA Plank]
- Date: 27 Aug 1996 07:04:26 -0600 (MDT)
-
- At 04:25 PM 8/26/96 -0600, you wrote:
- >1996 Republican platform plank on RKBA:
- >===========================================================================
- =====
- >"We defend the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. We will promote
- >training in the safe usage of firearms, especially in programs for women and
- >the elderly. We strongly support Bob Dole's National Instant Check Initiative,
- >which will keep all guns out of the hands of convicted felons. The
- >point-of-purchase instant check has worked well in many states and now it is
- >time to extend this system all across America. We applaud Bob Dole's
- >commitment to have the national instant check system operational by the end of
- >1997. In one of the strangest actions of his tenure, Bill Clinton abolished
- >Operation Triggerlock, the Republican initiative to jail any felon caught with
- >a gun. We will restore that effort and will set by law minimum mandatory
- >penalties for the use of guns in committing a crime: 5 years for possession, 10
- >years for brandishing, and 20 for discharge."
- >===========================================================================
- =====
- >The plank is reported by RP RKBA activists as "much watered down" from the one
- >that was originally submitted -- which would not be too surprising, given that
- >Henry Hyde was Platform Committee Chairman. The entire platform may be found at
- >
- >http://www.rnc.org/hq/platform96/
- >
- >
- >
- >----END FORWARDED MESSAGE----
-
- Oh how utterly sickening!
- How can an insta-check system keep ALL guns out of the hands of criminals
- when only
- 7% obtain them from legal sources??
-
- And those added penalties for "using a gun" in committing a crime are
- obscene! Just
- what defines "using a gun in the commission of a crime"? If I'm speeding
- and carrying a gun will that get me 5-10 years of hard time? If I bend over
- and my T-shirt slides
- up and my gun becomes partly visible, I'm brandishing. Do I visit the Big
- House for
- that too? And if someone murders me, I'm DEAD. I'm no more dead or less
- dead whether
- I'm murdered with a gun, or a knife, or a baseball bat, or poison, or a
- drunk driver.
- So on what grounds is this penalty just - or justified?
-
- This sounds suspiciously like a watered down version of HCI's RKBA bill.
-
- Any gun owner who supports Dole is probably mentally incompetent and
- deserves to have
- his/her gun taken away! There is only ONE candidate who will assure our Second
- Amendment rights - Harry Browne. (Admittedly I'm talking single-issue
- politics here,
- which is not something I especially approve of, and people may have
- legitimate reasons
- for voting for other candidates - but this IS a firearms list!)
-
- I think I need more coffee.....
-
- Sarah
- Sarah Thompson, M.D. Harry Browne in '96!
- PO Box 271231 Vote Libertarian!
- Salt Lake City, UT 84127-2731 Take back America!
- righter@aros.net
- 801-966-7278 voice mail/fax
- http://www.aros.net/~righter/welcome.html
- Dedicated to ALL Civil Liberties
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy)
- Subject: [fap@xpresso.seaslug.org: Sign of the Times (fwd)]
- Date: 27 Aug 1996 10:11:47 -0600
-
-
- Maybe we should send a copy to blockbuster and some other businesses
- around the valley?
-
- ----BEGIN FORWARDED MESSGE----
-
- A sign recently spotted in a restaurant in the square in Burnsville.
-
- "Concealed Weapons License Holders Welcome. We all have them."
- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
- I would bet this restaurant doesn't get held up or have some crazy come in
- shooting!
-
- We couldn't stop grinning from this one.
-
-
- --
-
- Charles C. Hardy <chardy@es.com> | If my employer has an opinion on
- | these topics, I'm sure I'm not
- | the one he would have express it.
-
- Would YOU be willing to give up your favorite federal program if it
- meant never paying another dime in federal income taxes? Check out
- <http://www.harrybrowne96.org> or call 800-682-1776.
-
- "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who
- approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but
- downright force. When you give up that force, you are ruined." --
- Patrick Henry, speaking to the Virginia convention for the ratification
- of the constitution on the necessity of the right to keep and bear arms.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy)
- Subject: Re: [mongoose@INDIRECT.COM: Republican RKBA Plank]
- Date: 27 Aug 1996 10:40:39 -0600
-
-
- On Tue, 27 Aug 1996, Sarah Thompson <righter@aros.net> posted:
-
- >
- >And those added penalties for "using a gun" in committing a crime are
- >obscene! Just
- >what defines "using a gun in the commission of a crime"? If I'm speeding
- >and carrying a gun will that get me 5-10 years of hard time? If I bend over
- >and my T-shirt slides
- >up and my gun becomes partly visible, I'm brandishing. Do I visit the Big
- >House for
- >that too? And if someone murders me, I'm DEAD. I'm no more dead or less
- >dead whether
- >I'm murdered with a gun, or a knife, or a baseball bat, or poison, or a
- >drunk driver.
- >So on what grounds is this penalty just - or justified?
-
- Let us not forget that anytime there is a "real" crime committed with
- a gun the first things to get plea bargained away are the gun charges.
- but if the only "crime" is the one resulting in the gun charge you are
- stuck. The result is that real criminals rarely ever serve any time
- for gun crimes while decent citizens who are guilty only of honest
- mistakes get hit with 5, 10, 0r 20 year mandatory sentences.
-
- An article in one of the Phoenix or Tucson papers last year discussed
- this very problem. A housewife was facing a mandatory charge because
- the anti-gun DA decided her brandishing of gun (no shots fired) to
- defend her car was not legally justified. The same DA was apparantly
- plea bargaining away gun charges on violent, repeat offenders in order
- to secure quick convictions. Of course since we don't have any
- anti-gun public officials here in Utah, we should have no problem. ;)
-
- >
- >This sounds suspiciously like a watered down version of HCI's RKBA bill.
-
- Either that or NRA's RKBA bill. I just love it when the "premier gun
- rights organization" in this country lobbies for instant-checks (prior
- restraint) and gun and bullet bans. I wonder what they will bargain
- away when the only thing we're left with are bolt action, low power
- sporting rifles and single shot shotguns--all of which are kept in
- shooting club lockers. Quick hint, look at our friends across the
- pond.
-
- >
- >Any gun owner who supports Dole is probably mentally incompetent and
- >deserves to have
- >his/her gun taken away!
-
- >There is only ONE candidate who will assure our Second
- >Amendment rights - Harry Browne. (Admittedly I'm talking single-issue
- >politics here,
- >which is not something I especially approve of, and people may have
- >legitimate reasons
- >for voting for other candidates - but this IS a firearms list!)
-
- I don't agree with everything the Libertarians stand for, but I agree
- with enough that I'll vote for them. They don't even have to win to
- be a significant influence. Even if they did win, they would at least
- get the course of the country changed to be more inline with were it
- should be. I maybe wouldn't want them at the wheel forever, but for
- the next 4 or 8 years, I think would be a real improvment.
-
- --
-
- Charles C. Hardy <chardy@es.com> | If my employer has an opinion on
- | these topics, I'm sure I'm not
- | the one he would have express it.
-
- Would YOU be willing to give up your favorite federal program if it
- meant never paying another dime in federal income taxes? Check out
- <http://www.harrybrowne96.org> or call 800-682-1776.
-
- "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who
- approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but
- downright force. When you give up that force, you are ruined." --
- Patrick Henry, speaking to the Virginia convention for the ratification
- of the constitution on the necessity of the right to keep and bear arms.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy)
- Subject: Lott Editorial in today's (8/28) WSJ
- Date: 28 Aug 1996 13:36:35 -0600
-
-
- Prof Lott has an editorial in today's issue of the WSJ (at least in
- the online version) discussing his study that shows shall-issue laws
- prevent violent crime.
-
- Copyright agreements keep me from posting the article, but it may be
- worth picking up a copy of the paper.
-
- --
-
- Charles C. Hardy <chardy@es.com> | If my employer has an opinion on
- | these topics, I'm sure I'm not
- | the one he would have express it.
-
- Would YOU be willing to give up your favorite federal program if it
- meant never paying another dime in federal income taxes? Check out
- <http://www.harrybrowne96.org> or call 800-682-1776.
-
- "Tell General Howard I know my heart. What he told me before, I have in
- my heart. I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed. Looking Glass
- is dead. Toohoolhoolzote is dead. The old men are all killed. It is the
- young men who say yes or no. He who led the young men [Ollokot; his
- brother] is dead. It is cold and we have no blankets. The little
- children are freezing to death. I want time to look for my children, and
- see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead.
- Hear me, my chiefs. I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the
- sun now stands, I will fight no more forever." -- Chief Joseph; Wallowa
- Nez Perc tribe; October 5, 1877; Montana, near the Canadian border.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: Sarah Thompson <righter@aros.net>
- Subject: Highlights from Clinton's Columbus,OH Police Training Academy
- Date: 29 Aug 1996 01:45:02 -0600 (MDT)
-
- >To: freematt@coil.com (Matthew Gaylor)
- >From: freematt@coil.com (Matthew Gaylor)
- >Subject: Highlights from Clinton's Columbus,OH Police Training Academy
- Speech Aug 26
- >
- >[Note from Matthew Gaylor: Clinton's Aug 26th speech in Columbus has raised
- >an interesting point- He want's to expand the Brady Bill by adding those
- >convicted of domestic violence to those who can't purchase handguns. Not
- >mentioning that the 1994 crime act already addresses this issue, Clinton
- >should have mentioned that Police, as a group, have one of the highest
- >percentages of restraining orders for spousal abuse of any occupation.]
- >
- >From: "Michael Conners" <mconners@coil.com>
- >Subject: Re: Clinton to speak at Columbus Police Training Academy
- >
- >Clinton's speech - gun control...
- >
- >His main thrust is that hunters still have their guns.
- >
- >The new stuff - he thinks the Brady bill works. He wants to expand the
- >denial to domestic violence cases (misdemeanors), so that if you've been
- >convicted of domestic violence, you can't get a handgun.
- >
- >Wants to ban "cop killer" bullets.
- >
- >Wants to ban guns anywhere near schools - (this was overturned earlier this
- >year and they're still hot about it...). He wants a federal law.
- >
- >Tougher penalties for people dealing drugs that possess a gun.
- >
- >A cute quote..."I've never seen a deer with a Kevlar vest."
- >
- >---
- >
- >No mention of new gun bans, but now he wants to get the "bad" ammunition.
- >There were numerous allusions to hunters having their guns. I'll say it for
- >everyone - the Second Amendment is not about duck hunting.
- >
- >CPD recruit class was on the podium, no real mention of the regular
- >uniformed officers. I find that interesting. I don't think that CPD can
- >order officers to go to a political event.
- >
- >-----------------------------------------------------------------------
- >
- > Monday August 26 12:05 PM EDT
- >
- >Clinton Stokes Train Trip with Anti-Crime Initiative
- >
- > COLUMBUS, Ohio (Reuter) - President Clinton Monday launched a
- > Democratic Convention-linked barrage of policy initiatives by calling
- > for a ban on the sale of handguns to people convicted of domestic
- > violence.
- >
- > Clinton unveiled the anti-crime proposal, which was designed to widen
- > the issue-driven gender gap which gives him an edge over Republican
- > Bob Dole among women voters, as he started the second leg of 559-mile
- > train trip to Chicago, where party activists were gathered to
- > renominate him.
- >
- > Using the Columbus Police Academy as a backdrop, Clinton said public
- > safety should not be a partisan issue but ``an American issue.''
- >
- > ``Under the current law, thousands of people who are wife- beaters or
- > child abusers...can still buy handguns with potentially deadly
- > consequences,'' Clinton said. ``I believe strongly in the right of
- > Americans to own guns. I have used them with great joy myself.
- >
- > ``But make no mistake: those who threaten the safety of others do not
- > deserve our trust,'' he said.
- >
- > A White House fact sheet said there were 88,500 incidents of domestic
- > violence in which a firearm was present in 1994, and that over a
- > 10-year period ending the same year, 65 law enforcement officers were
- > killed when they responded to family quarrels.
- >
- > Many spousal abusers are not now affected by a ban on the sale of
- > firearms to convicted felons because many domestic violence cases are
- > treated as misdemeanors.
- >
- > Clinton's proposal would require expansion of the Brady Bill, which
- > requires a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases. He also
- > called for a ban on cop-killer bullets, saying every law enforcement
- > group backs it and Congress should as well.
- >
- > ``If a bullet can slice through a bulletproof vest like a hot knife
- > through butter, it should be against the law,'' he said.
- >
- > Clinton, whistlestopping through small town America with his daughter
- > Chelsea, 16, while his wife Hillary conducted a separate schedule in
- > her old hometown, intended to grab headlines with a new proposal every
- > day of his trip. Tuesday's will concern education, Wednesday's the
- > environment.
- >
- > His focus on crime was designed to tie into the opening session of the
- > convention, which featured a speech by Sarah Brady, wife of former
- > White House spokesman James Brady, who inspired the eponymous gun law.
- >
- > Brady is wheelchair-bound because of the gunshot wounds he suffered
- > when John Hinckley, Jr. tried to kill then-President Ronald Reagan in
- > front of the Washington HIlton Hotel in 1981.
- >
- > Clinton, campaigning through five states with 64 of the 270 electoral
- > votes needed to win the presidency on his way to Chicago, is on the
- > 559-mile trip to energize grassroots support for his re-election bid.
- >
- > He boarded his ``21st Century Express'' for the four-day whistlestop
- > in Huntington, W.Va., on Sunday and rolled through parts of Kentucky
- > before reaching Ohio. His train will also roll through Michigan and
- > Indiana.
- >
- > As he has at every previous stop, Clinton slammed the tax cut proposal
- > at the heart of Dole's campaign. ``We cannot afford to blow a hole in
- > the deficit again,'' he said.
- >
- > Clinton was heckled at the start of his speech by a small group of
- > demonstrators, but he silenced them by saying they did not want the
- > American people to know of his record.
- >
- > If the public learns the truth, Clinton said, his opponents ``won't
- > have a chance.''
- > _________________________________________________________________
- >
- >
- >****************************************************************************
- >Subscribe to Freematt's Alerts: Pro-Individual Rights Issues
- >Send a blank message to: freematt@coil.com with the words subscribe FA
- >on the subject line. List is private and moderated (7-30 messages per week)
- >Matthew Gaylor,1933 E. Dublin-Granville Rd.,#176, Columbus, OH 43229
- >****************************************************************************
- Sarah Thompson, M.D. Harry Browne in '96!
- PO Box 271231 Vote Libertarian!
- Salt Lake City, UT 84127-2731 Take back America!
- righter@aros.net
- 801-966-7278 voice mail/fax
- http://www.aros.net/~righter/welcome.html
- Dedicated to ALL Civil Liberties
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chad@pengar.com (Chad Leigh)
- Subject: Re: Action! Lott CCW stufi to the legislature, gov, and mayors
- Date: 29 Aug 1996 10:16:56 -0600
-
-
- A couple of weeks ago I posted on an idea to collect money and with that
- money present copies of the Lott CCW study to the legislature, gov, and
- some mayors.
-
- Several people emailed me in support.
-
- I have since learned , thanks to an email from a utah-firearms reader
- (whose mail I have misplaced and cannot remember his name), that the
- official printed version is not available until January.
-
- I propose that we find out if we can print our own copies for presentation
- right after the Nov election and then in January get real copies to
- present.
-
- Someone also had the idea to have a pizza party with some of the friendlier
- legislators and tell them how "we common folk" feel.
-
- Feedback?
- Chad
-
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy)
- Subject: Re: Action! Lott CCW stufi to the legislature, gov, and mayors
- Date: 29 Aug 1996 11:21:59 -0600
-
-
- On Thu, 29 Aug 1996, chad@pengar.com (Chad Leigh) posted:
-
- >
- >I propose that we find out if we can print our own copies for presentation
- >right after the Nov election and then in January get real copies to
- >present.
- >
- >Someone also had the idea to have a pizza party with some of the friendlier
- >legislators and tell them how "we common folk" feel.
- >
- >Feedback?
- >Chad
-
- I think this is a great idea--on both counts. What can I do to help?
-
-
- --
-
- Charles C. Hardy <chardy@es.com> | If my employer has an opinion on
- | these topics, I'm sure I'm not
- | the one he would have express it.
-
- Would YOU be willing to give up your favorite federal program if it
- meant never paying another dime in federal income taxes? Check out
- <http://www.harrybrowne96.org> or call 800-682-1776.
-
- "Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation,
- that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the
- difference between having our arms in possession and under our
- direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our
- defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they
- be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own
- hands?" -- Patrick Henry, Philadelphia, 1836.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: scott.bergeson@ucs.org (SCOTT BERGESON)
- Subject: Re: piml] Letter to ACLU
- Date: 29 Aug 1996 10:07:00 -0700
-
-
- *****Forward*****
-
- This is a copy of a letter I emailed the ACLU this evening (8-28-96)
- in response to their statement that the Unorganized Militia is their
- next target.
-
-
- Ohio ACLU Exec. Director Christine Link commented on WTVN 610 AM radio
- (Columbus, OH), on Tuesday August 27th that the ACLU's target group next
- year will be the Unorganized Militia. Ms. Link commented that the ACLU
- plans to expose the militia as a "hate group".
-
- If this is true, I respectfully request an explanation of just what is
- going on. I am a militia supporter, and activist, and also a dues paying
- member of the ACLU. The Unorganized militia stands for the Constitution
- and the Bill of Rights. We do not tolerate racists or expouse hate. We
- do demand that the government obey the Constitution and all amendments,
- including the 2nd Amendment, the 4th Amendment, the 9th Amendment, and
- the 10th Amendment, as well as all the other Amendments.
-
- The ACLUs announced campaign against the Unorganized Militia would appear
- to be in direct opposition to their stated mission of protecting the
- citizen's Constitutional Rights. Or does the ACLU feel it should decide
- which Constitutional Rights should be defended, and which should be ignored?
-
- As a supporter of the ACLU, I hope that this is not the case. If it is
- the case I ask that my name be removed from your list of members. Further,
- if this is really the case I will do everything in my power to get other
- ACLU members to withdraw from your organization, and advise anyone
- considering joining the ACLU to save their money to contribute to an
- organization that doesn't practice a hypocritical approach to the
- Constitution of the United States, and The Bill of Rights. As I write
- articles for my local paper, and am also the controller of the Government
- House conferences on our local community BBS I am not without a
- substantial audience.
-
- Yours,
-
-
- --
- Robert Ireland
- aircav@zapcom.net
-
- "Liberty is not free, it must be fought for every day."
-
- You may contact Ms. Link at:
-
- ACLU Ohio Executive Director: Christine Link
- 1266 West 6th Street, 2nd Floor
- Cleveland, OH 44113
- Phone: (216) 781-6276
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy)
- Subject: [nvrgivup@vnet.net: STBO SPECIAL MESSAGE!]
- Date: 29 Aug 1996 15:32:53 -0600
-
-
- Forwarded for your information
-
- ----BEGIN FORWARDED MESSGE----
-
- CONTACTING THE COMMISSION
-
- The Commission on Presidential Debates will be making its
- decision in the next few weeks, and it is up to us to make
- sure that they know how many of us want to see Harry Browne
- included in the 1996 debates.
-
- While compiling signatures is a good way show our support,and
- is the main emphasis of the STBO campaign, letters, FAXes, and
- phone calls from individual people are also very important.
-
- Please take a moment to write a brief letter to the
- Commission, and send it as soon as you can. Some sample
- letters are included below, but letters in your own words
- (particularly handwritten ones) will have the greatest
- impact. One or two paragraphs is all it takes.
-
- To reach the Commission, send your letter to:
-
-
- The Commission on Presidential Debates
- 601 Thirteenth St., NW Suite 310S
- Washington, DC 20005
-
-
- Also send your letter to their email addresses:
- [ Please do not send JUST email -- Actual letters really
- are important! ]
-
- debates96@usa.pipeline.com
- presdeb@falcon.cc.ukans.edu
-
-
- If you're feeling personable, you can also call them at:
- [ The receptionist is friendly, and will only ask you for
- your name and city. It takes under a minute. ]
-
- 202-872-1020
-
-
- Once you've sent a letter to the Commission, and called them,
- another thing you can do is contact each member of the
- Commission individually by US mail, FAX, and email as follows:
-
- Professor Diana Carlin
- DebateWatch '96
- P.O. Box 3467
- Lawrence, KS 66046-0467
- (Note: Carlin is especially important, as she is on the committee
- which makes recomendations to the Commissuion)
-
- Sen. Paul Coverdell
- 200 Russell Senate Office Building
- Washington, D.C. 20510-1004
- FAX: 202-228-3783
- email: senator_coverdell@coverdell.senate.gov
-
- John C. Danforth
- 249 Russell Senate Office Building
- Washington, D.C. 20510
-
- Antonia Hernandez
- President, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
- 634 South Spring Street, 11th Floor
- Los Angeles, CA 90014
- FAX: 213-629-8016
-
- Rep. John Lewis
- 229 Cannon House Office Building
- Washington, DC 20515-1005
-
- Newton N. Minow
- The Annenberg Washington Program in Communications Policy Studies
- 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- Washington, DC 20004-1008
-
- Rep. Barbara Vucanovich
- 414 Cannon House Office Building
- Washington, DC 20515
-
-
- SAMPLE LETTER #1:
-
-
- Dear Commission:
-
- I'm writing to urge the Commission to seize this opportunity to
- include
- a Libertarian perspective in the 1996 Presidential debates.
-
- Libertarian Presidential candidate Harry Browne is an accomplished
- writer, and is a skilled speaker and debater. His strongly
- pro-liberty
- stance on all issues often stands in stark contrast to those of the
- other candidates, and would make an ideal catalyst for interesting
- debate. His presence would give the other candidates an excellent
- opportunity to stand their ground, and clearly state their beliefs
- before the American public.
-
- Though the Libertarian Party is actually larger than Perot's Reform
- Party,
- Harry Browne and running-mate Jo Jorgensen do not have huge personal
- fortunes at their disposal, and cannot simply spend millions on
- television advertising to raise their numbers in the polls. Also,
- they
- have turned down the offer of hundreds of thousands of dollars in
- federal campaign funds because, as a matter of principle, they do not
- believe political campaigns should be funded at taxpayer expense.
-
- However, even though their message has not been thoroughly publicized
- their ideas have proved interesting enough to draw the attention of
- many
- prominent members of the print, radio, and television media. Among
- those who now openly support the inclusion of Harry Browne and Jo
- Jorgensen in the 1996 debates are such figures as David Broder, Hugh
- Downs, Gil Gross, Coleman McCarthy, Bill Press, Mary Matalin, Rush
- Limbaugh, and even Ross Perot.
-
- Again, I urge you to seize this opportunity to bring a different
- point
- of view to the American public, and make the 1996 Presidential
- Debates
- something worth watching.
-
- Thanks for your time,
-
-
-
- SAMPLE LETTER #2:
-
-
- Dear Commission:
-
- I'm writing to urge the Commission to seize the opportunity to
- include a
- vibrant female perspective in the Vice-Presidential debates.
-
- Libertarian Vice-Presidential candidate Jo Jorgensen is a woman of
- many
- accomplishments. She is a mother, an entrepreneur, a small business
- owner, a compelling speaker, and an excellent role model for American
- women. Americans deserve this opportunity to hear her point of view
- on
- the issues. ( For more information about Jo, see her web page at
- <http://www.HarryBrowne96.org/jo/>. )
-
- Though the Libertarian Party is actually larger than Perot's Reform
- Party,
- Jo Jorgensen and running-mate Harry Browne do not have huge personal
- fortunes at their disposal, and cannot simply spend millions on
- television advertising to raise their numbers in the polls. Also,
- they
- have turned down the offer of hundreds of thousands of dollars in
- federal
- campaign funds because, as a matter of principle, they do not believe
- political campaigns should be funded at taxpayer expense.
-
- However, even though their message has not been thoroughly publicized
- their ideas have proved interesting enough to draw the attention of
- many
- prominent members of the print, radio, and television media. Among
- those who now openly support the inclusion of Harry Browne and Jo
- Jorgensen in the 1996 debates are such figures as David Broder, Hugh
- Downs, Gil Gross, Coleman McCarthy, Bill Press, Mary Matalin, Rush
- Limbaugh, and even Ross Perot.
-
- Again, I urge you to seize this opportunity to bring a new
- perspective
- to the American public, and make the 1996 debates something worth
- watching.
-
-
- SAMPLE LETTER #3 (suggestion by Erin Donelle)
-
-
- Dear Commission:
-
- I truly hope that you will be including Harry Browne in the
- publicly held Presidential Debates this year. Without this
- established and highly viable candidate's participation, the
- 'debates' would simply be redundant. Indeed, there would be
- no debate.
-
- I am sure that President Clinton and Bob Dole are uneasy at
- the thought of debating someone like Harry Browne, but I
- think it healthy and only fair to the voters that they do so.
-
- Harry Browne has garnered tremendous support by all groups
- able to hear him voice his principles and his stand on the
- issues facing voters. The American public deserves to hear
- his point of view.
-
- The purpose of the debates is to provide a forum where the
- public can easily contrast candidates views on the issues.
- But is it really a debate if certain credible candidates
- are excluded? Please don't miss out on this opportunity
- to present a legitimate debate to the public.
-
- Also, without Harry Browne the debates would look just the
- same as they did in 1992, with two of the three players
- exactly as before. If the debates are dull, people will
- not hesitate to change the channel.
-
-
-
-
-
- ----END FORWARDED MESSAGE----
-
- --
-
- Charles C. Hardy <chardy@es.com> | If my employer has an opinion on
- (801)588-7200 | these topics, I'm sure I'm not
- | the one he would have express it.
-
- Would YOU be willing to give up your favorite federal program if it
- meant never paying another dime in federal income taxes? Check out
- <http://www.harrybrowne96.org> or call 800-682-1776.
-
- "If a gun bill will pass because of the politics of the situation, you
- must see to it that its burdens are imposed upon a man because of a
- criminal background and not because he is an ordinary citizen and
- perhaps poor." -- Gen. James H. Doolittle
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy)
- Subject: [frdmftr@primenet.com: FWD: ACLU siding with gun-trader]
- Date: 30 Aug 1996 08:51:59 -0600
-
-
- This may be of interest to those of you who are contenplating getting
- a State issued CCW permit. Last time I looked at the application
- there was a space on it for your SS#. I questioned the DPS about this
- and they acknowledged that they could not legally require your SS#
- because a gun permit has nothing to do with social security. They
- said they would not deny an application if the SS# was left blank, but
- they would "just get the number from elsewhere." Perhaps someone
- thinking of applying for a permit in the near future should contact
- the local ACLU and see if they would like to follow suite.
-
- ----BEGIN FORWARDED MESSGE----
-
- Like I say: If you're going to give up your right to privacy to get
- permission to exercise your right to keep and bear arms, you might as
- well give them your weapons too.
-
- Forwarded with credit to the ACLU Newsfeed:
-
- ------Forwarded Text Begins ------
-
- ACLU of Arkansas Challenge Ordinance Requiring Social Security Numbers of Gun
- Traders and Others
-
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- Wednesday, August 28, 1996
-
- LITTLE ROCK -- The ACLU of Arkansas filed a lawsuit today in U.S. District
- Court of Western District of Arkansas on behalf of Anthony Zuckert, a man who
- enjoys gun-trading.
-
- Mr. Zuckert and his wife, Jeanne, object to a Harrison ordinance requiring
- that "itinerate" salespeople wishing to participate in trade shows provide to
- the show-operator their social security numbers.
-
- Federal law already requires that regular gun-traders obtain a federal
- firearms license that lasts for three years. In order to obtain such a
- license, social security numbers and other information is provided by the
- applicant so that a criminal background check can be performed by
- authorities: Mr. Zuckert already has a current license.
-
- The ACLU claims that the Harrison ordinance unduly burdens Mr. Zuckert's
- right to engage in commercial speech by demanding he provide his social
- security number, because no legitimate government interest can be
- demonstrated for making such a request: this, we claim, violates the First
- Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
-
- Second, we believe that the ordinance is "impermissibly vague," by providing
- "no ascertainable standards for determining whether any salesperson is
- 'itinerate' [sic] or any location is 'transitory,'" and is also vague
- regarding the supposed exceptions for "farm products" "garage sales" and
- "trade shows."
-
- We further believe the plaintiff's right to due process has been violated for
- all the above reasons. Lastly, we believe that the ordinance violates the
- federal Privacy Act by requiring the use of social security numbers.
-
- "Once upon a time, social security numbers were supposed to be used only for
- the management of social security benefits," says ACLU Executive Director
- Rita Spillenger. "These days, everyone from your doctor to your mechanic
- thinks they have the right to get and use that number.
-
- "People who object to this common practice of using the number for
- identification are within their rights, but they fight an increasingly uphill
- battle with every request," Spillenger added.
-
- "Most people are unaware that you can refuse to provide your social security
- number in many situations, like obtaining a driver's license," Spillenger
- said. "We are happy to help the Zuckerts stand up for their right not to hand
- over their number to every government official that asks for it."
-
- The ACLU attorney who is representing the Zuckerts, Charles Kester of Rogers,
- added, "The City of Harrison placed Mr. Zuckert in the unfortunate position
- of having to choose whether to give up his right to privacy and his social
- security number or give up his right to engage in commercial speech.
- Fortunately, the Constitution and the federal Privacy Act forbid such a
- Hobson's choice."
-
- The suit asks for the ordinance to be found unconstitutional and to be not
- enforced. A gun show is scheduled in Harrison for Labor Day, and the
- Zuckerts would like to participate. They did not participate in the last
- show because of this ordinance.
-
- ----END FORWARDED MESSAGE----
-
- --
-
- Charles C. Hardy <chardy@es.com> | If my employer has an opinion on
- (801)588-7200 | these topics, I'm sure I'm not
- | the one he would have express it.
-
- Would YOU be willing to give up your favorite federal program if it
- meant never paying another dime in federal income taxes? Check out
- <http://www.harrybrowne96.org> or call 800-682-1776.
-
- "No man is competent unless he can stalk alone and armed in the
- wilderness." -- Townsend Whelen
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy)
- Subject: tobacco and guns
- Date: 30 Aug 1996 09:39:11 -0600
-
-
- I've seen the question of nicotine and guns on some of the other lists
- and thought I would pass it along here just out of curiosity. Has
- nicotine been declared a controlled substance? Or just addictive?
- Medical difference? What if caffiene is ever declared addictive?
-
- ---BEGIN FORWARDED MESSAGE---
-
- The form 4473 you fill out when buying a firearm from a gun dealer
- asks the question:
-
- Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana,
- or any depressant, stimulant, or narcotic drug, or any
- other controlled substance ?
-
- If you answer Yes you cannot buy any firearm.
-
- ----END FORWARDED MESSAGE----
-
- --
-
- Charles C. Hardy <chardy@es.com> | If my employer has an opinion on
- (801)588-7200 | these topics, I'm sure I'm not
- | the one he would have express it.
-
- Would YOU be willing to give up your favorite federal program if it
- meant never paying another dime in federal income taxes? Check out
- <http://www.harrybrowne96.org> or call 800-682-1776.
-
- "A cardinal rule of bureaucracy is that it is better to extend an error
- than to admit a mistake." -- Colin Greenwood
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: righter@aros.net
- Subject: Re: tobacco and guns
- Date: 31 Aug 1996 09:59:03 -0600 (MDT)
-
-
-
- On Fri, 30 Aug 1996, chardy@es.com (Charles Hardy) wrote:
- >
- >I've seen the question of nicotine and guns on some of the other lists
- >and thought I would pass it along here just out of curiosity. Has
- >nicotine been declared a controlled substance? Or just addictive?
- >Medical difference? What if caffiene is ever declared addictive?
- >
- >---BEGIN FORWARDED MESSAGE---
- >
- >The form 4473 you fill out when buying a firearm from a gun dealer
- >asks the question:
- >
- > Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana,
- > or any depressant, stimulant, or narcotic drug, or any
- > other controlled substance ?
- >
- >If you answer Yes you cannot buy any firearm.
-
- Charles,
-
- You're quite correct that this is hopelessly vague in its wording.
- "Unlawful user of" is clear enough. If you're using an illegal substance, or
- using a legal substance illegally, then you cannot buy a firearm.
-
- Lawful user is also fairly clear. You're using a substance lawfully whether
- it's tobacco which is legal (until they make it a controlled substance anyway!),
- or narcotics prescribed by a physician. (I do NOT however advocate actually
- going shooting while under the short-term influence of a narcotic!)
-
- The problem is with the term addiction. It's a vague term with pejorative
- connotations. For example a war vet may be dependent on narcotics to control
- the pain from a war injury, but that's not the same as an addiction, although
- the words are used synonymously by most people. Likewise a person with
- attention deficit disorder may be dependent on stimulants, but not be an addict.
-
- To further confuse things, I suppose I should go turn in my gun since I'm
- suffering (and that IS the correct word!) from "acute nicotine withdrawal"
- which is an official and diagnosable mental disorder, and definitely am
- addicted! <g>
-
- The law needs to be rewritten by someone who understands substance abuse and
- mental disorders. I'm not holding my breath though.... I'm addicted to
- oxygen!<g>
-
- Sarah
-
- Sarah Thompson, M.D. Dedicated to ALL Civil Liberties
- The Righter The Demo-Cans have betrayed us!
- PO Box 271231 Vote Libertarian!
- Salt Lake City, UT 84127-1231 Harry Browne for President
- 801-966-7278 - fax & voice mail
- righter@aros.net
- Director for Women's Affairs, Doctors for Integrity in Policy Research
- Communications Director, Utah Libertarian Party
- http://www.aros.net/~righter/welcome.html
- PGP key available on request.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: righter@aros.net
- Subject: A HOPE FOR JUSTICE?
- Date: 31 Aug 1996 18:29:19 -0600 (MDT)
-
-
-
-
- >>From: Harvey Wysong <hwysong@atl.mindspring.com>
- >>Subject: A HOPE FOR JUSTICE?
- >>
- >>MULTIPLE RECIPIENTS
- >>
- >>Dear M R,
- >> Hope springs eternal. Just a few weeks ago I was installed as a
- >>"Member in Good Standing" of the Society of Intransigent Cynics (SIC). Then
- >>the article below appeared in the Atlanta newspaper. I wavered,
- >>reconsidering all my unkind remarks about the Atlanta Newspapers, Inc.
- >> Then I recalled how they served as the shill for the FBI & BATF in
- >>the Richard Jewell case. Remember him? -- the security guard who went from
- >>"Hero" to "Villain" faster than you can eat a hot dog? He discovered sack of
- >>bombs and began clearing the area. He was a hero. But the feds were in a
- >>pressure cooker; they had to solve the crime NOW. They had over 30,000 "law
- >>enforcement" agents in Atlanta. The entire region was under martial law.
- >>Even then, a bomb went off in the most heavily populated spot in town:
- >>Centennial Olympic Park. They had to furnish a villain to halt the clamor.
- >>So they furnished Richard Jewell -- "Unabubba."
- >> The Atlanta newspapers -- in cooperation with the FBI & BATF -- ran
- >>an Extra! to announce that the suspect was Richard Jewell. ("We'll put the
- >>heat on the boy.")
- >> Well, no one with a three-digit IQ suspects him of being a bomber
- >>any more. But they do suspect that he'll soon be a plaintiff. I wonder what
- >>kind of bass boat the ol' boy wants.
- >> Well, when an article such as the one below appears in a
- >>government-front newspaper, you know that the government's case is
- >>micron-thin. This is good news for the militia guys.
- >>
- >>-- Harvey
- >>
- >>
- >>
- >>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- >>Tuesday, August 20, 1996
- >>
- >>Dave Kindred
- >>At Large
- >>
- >>Taking a 2nd look at Georgia Militia
- >>
- >> It makes no sense.
- >> But the questions ought to be asked.
- >> What if the Georgia Republic Militia is even a little bit right?
- >> What if the boys playing soldier in the Crawford County woods were
- >>not arming themselves, building bombs and otherwise preparing to go to war
- >>against the federal government?
- >> What if they were just good ol' boys playing soldier in the woods
- >>and cussin' out Uncle Sam between beers?
- >> We know that agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
- >>arrested leaders of the militia in April on evidence produced by two
- >>informants who had infiltrated the organization.
- >> But what if the informants were rogues who took their act further
- >>than they should have? What if the informants planted the evidence that was
- >>then used to have the militiamen arrested?
- >> Informants are not sworn police officers. They're mercenaries used
- >>by the police to do dirty work. So they're hired hands looking to please the
- >>boss, in this case the ATF. Not only is there no guarantee these mercenaries
- >>will be honest, upright, law-abiding citizens, chances are they like the
- >>thrill of the chase as much as the honor of the law.
- >> So the question ought to be asked; What if the Georgia Republic
- >>Militia is even a little bit right when it claims the informants didn't just
- >>report what they saw but invented something to report?
- >> That question comes up because a federal agent has testified in open
- >>court, under oath, that the founder of the Georgia Republic Militia was not
- >>present when pipe bomb components were buried on his property by an informant.
- >> The agent also testified that a second militia member had said, "I
- >>don't want to know anything about it," and walked away when the government's
- >>informant talked about building bombs.
- >> Yet both men were arrested. Robert Edward Starr III and William
- >>James McCranie now await a Sept. 3 trial date on charges of conspiring to
- >>possess unregistered explosive devices.
- >> Their lawyer, Nancy Lord, said at a preliminary hearing, "This is
- >>beyond entrapment. It is manufactured evidence." She called the informants
- >>"agent provocateurs."
- >> No one wants to believe that. We don't want to believe our
- >>government works that way. Whether or not it does, we may find out soon.
- >> And we certainly don't want to believe the militiamen when they take
- >>their argument another step forward. They move from citing sworn testimony
- >>to speculating a theory of the Centennial Olympic Park bombing that could
- >>pass for a first draft of an Oliver Stone exercise in paranoia.
- >> They suggest this because the park bomb was similar in construction
- >>to the components buried in Macon.
- >> The first week of May, the militiamen say, they answered an FBI
- >>request for information about the ATF informants, including photographs.
- >> Two days after the park bombing on July 27, militia spokesman J.J.
- >>Johnson issued a written statement saying the organization had called the
- >>FBI, Atlanta police and Olympic federal security agency "and told them that
- >>we were aware of suspects who know about and have made pipe bombs."
- >> He also wrote, "Based on news reports concerning a pipe bomb made of
- >>galvanized steel with nails attached and a white male with a soft Southern
- >>accent, we became concerned that the tragedy might be linked to individuals
- >>who we learned of through our investigation on the Macon case..."
- >> Meanwhile, an Alabama militia group, the Gadsden Minutemen, has
- >>named the two ATF informants and distributed photographs of them. Neither
- >>man, it might be noted, bears a resemblance to Richard Jewell.
- >> ****************************************************
- >>"...It is a matter of common observation, that judges and lawyers, even the
- >>most upright, able and learned, are sometimes too much influenced by
- >>technical rules; and that those judges who are...occupied in the
- >>administration of criminal justice are apt, not only to grow severe in their
- >>sentences, but to decide questions of law too unfavorably to the accused."
- >>--Justice Gray (Sparf v. U.S., 156 U.S. 51 @ 174 in 1894)
- >> ****************************************************
- >> Harvey Wysong, National Spokesman, Fully Informed Jury Assn.
- >> 701 Longleaf Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30342, U.S.A.
- >> hwysong@mindspring.com (404) 266-0930
-
- Sarah Thompson, M.D. Dedicated to ALL Civil Liberties
- The Righter The Demo-Cans have betrayed us!
- PO Box 271231 Vote Libertarian!
- Salt Lake City, UT 84127-1231 Harry Browne for President
- 801-966-7278 - fax & voice mail
- righter@aros.net
- Director for Women's Affairs, Doctors for Integrity in Policy Research
- Communications Director, Utah Libertarian Party
- http://www.aros.net/~righter/welcome.html
- PGP key available on request.
-