ftp.xmission.com/2014.06.ftp.xmission.com.tar/ftp.xmission.com/pub/lists/utah-firearms/archive/v02.n008

Internet Message Format | 1997-12-23 | 48KB

From: [e-mail] (utah-firearms-digest)
To: [e-mail]
Subject: utah-firearms-digest V2 #8
Reply-To: utah-firearms-digest
Sender: [e-mail]
Errors-To: [e-mail]
Precedence: bulk


utah-firearms-digest    Tuesday, December 23 1997    Volume 02 : Number 008




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

Date: Thu, 18 Dec 97 23:31:00 -0700
From: [e-mail] (SCOTT BERGESON)
Subject: Netanyahu on US Militias

- ---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 14:52:41 -0500
From: "Mark A. Smith" <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]

Obviously, Netanyahu must be reading a lot from the American media,
in order to have a view like this.
Mark Smith

Mike Piet wrote:

And to think I used to respect this guy. Mike Pietrantoni
X-Posted from Randy Trochman
- -------------------------

Your attention is brought to the following book:

"Fighting Terrorism: How Democracies Can Defeat Domestic and
International Terrorism" by Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli
SpecOps officer, UN ambassador and now prime minister.

Addressing the "terrorist threat" he says we should, among other things:

"Loosen warrant requirements in terrorist cases. Search and seizure,
detention, and interrogation may be necessary for short periods without
a warrant where there is a strong SUSPICION of terrorist activity.
Strict and prompt judicial oversight of such actions can serve as a
sufficient deterrent to most government abuses...(!)

"Restrict ownership of weapons. Tighten gun control, beginning with
registry of weapons. Israeli law, for example, requires careful
licensing of handguns and prohibits the ownership of more powerful
weapons, yet gun ownership is widespread. Forgidding the ownership of
machine guns is not a denial of the right to own a weapon for self
defense; it is a denial of the right to organize private armies--a
right which no society can grant without eventually having to fight
those armies. The continued existence in the US of heavily armed
antigovernment militias numbering thousands of members is a grotesque
distortion of the idea of civil freedom, which should be brought to a
speedy end."

Two United States Senators endorsed this book: Ted Kennedy and Bob Dole.



- -

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

Date: Thu, 18 Dec 97 23:31:00 -0700
From: [e-mail] (SCOTT BERGESON)
Subject: BATF Surveying Select Groups Regarding Properly Importable Firearms

NRA-ILA FAX ALERT
11250 Waples Mill Road * Fairfax, VA  22030
Phone: [phone] * Fax: [phone] * [e-mail]

SPECIAL 12/17/97

THE NEXT LINK IN THE CHAIN:
BATF Sends Letter & Survey to Determine
Certain Rifles' Suitability for Importation

On December 10, BATF Director John Magaw sent a letter and survey
to select groups and individuals seeking their input on whether
certain modified semi-automatic rifles are "properly importable"
based upon whether they "are particularly suitable for or readily
adaptable to hunting or organized competitive target shooting."
(Many of you may have already seen these items, as they've created
quite a buzz on the Internet as of late.) This language is another
link in the "sporting purposes" chain that was established by the
Gun Control Act of 1968 -- a criteria which NRA has long rejected
as arbitrary and unacceptable. For starters, the Second Amendment
makes no mention of "sporting purposes" in its guarantee of our
right to keep and bear arms, and this test totally ignores other
important, legitimate reasons for owning firearms, e.g., self-
defense and collecting. Moreover, under this factoring criteria,
firearms are not considered useful for sporting purposes unless
they are actively being used in an organized target shooting event
or for hunting. Translation: the BATF considers practicing for a
shooting event or "plinking" -- two activities that dominate the
shooting community -- as illegitimate for the purposes of whether
a firearm should be legal for importation.

Does any of this sound familiar? It should. This philosophy is
in line with Senator Barbara Boxer's (D-Cal.) bill, S. 70 -- the
"American Handgun Standards Act," that would ban any handgun
deemed not appropriate for importation -- a bill that, by her own
concession, would ban upwards of 50% of handguns in America. BATF's
latest actions, coupled with bills such as S. 70, demonstrate with
clarity that the anti-gunners are fighting their anti-freedom
battle on many fronts.

Add to the Boxer bill, Sen. Dianne Feinstein's (D-Cal.) recent
outrage over BATF technical staff informing gun manufacturers
of what modifications they would need to make to their firearms
to bring them in accordance with federal law -- including the
1994 Clinton gun ban which Feinstein herself authored in the U.S.
Senate! Don't forget, it was Sen. Feinstein, who, when confronted
with FBI data showing rifles of all types are used in only 3% of
homicides, noted, "I don't doubt that at all...It is probably
less than 3%." (San Diego Union Tribune, 1/30/94). This latest
attempt to gather information on the usage of some semi-automatics
to determine their suitability for importation has nothing to do
with crime. It is a blatant political move -- plain and simple.

In light of this latest development, we're asking all NRA-ILA
Volunteers who have been contacted by BATF to let us know that
they've received Mr. Magaw's letter and survey (we suspect many
of you in the competitive shooting community were not contacted
by BATF for your input). For those who would like to see a copy
of this mailing and survey, you can call the NRA-ILA Grassroots
Division at 800/392-8683 for copies. In the meantime, all members
are encouraged to contact their U.S. Representative at 202/225-3121,
and encourage them to support H.R. 2734 -- Rep. Bob Barr's (R-Ga.)
bill which calls for the repeal of the "sporting purposes" test.

Stay tuned for additional information in future FAX Alerts.

=+=+=+=+
This information is provided as a service of the National Rifle
Association Institute for Legislative Action, Fairfax, VA.

This and other information on the Second Amendment and the NRA is
available at: http://WWW.NRA.Org


- -

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

Date: Sun, 21 Dec 97 07:39:00 -0700
From: [e-mail] (SCOTT BERGESON)
Subject: Once Upon A Tea Party 3/4

"Tyrannies, and the bureaucracies that serve them, work on paperwork--
either paper or electronic in this day and age. Destroy the paper (or
the computer files) and you destroy the ability of the tyranny to
exercise its plans.

That's what we intend to do today, now, in your shop. Were gonna have
a modern day tea party. A "4473 party" if you will.  Nobody gets hurt,
no real property gets stolen. As far as I'm concerned, no crime gets
committed. We might just do a little bit to stop an even greater crime."

"I see," said Les. He might have fought anyone else. Even though he
hated the new law and hated Clinton, come to that. No one would take
what was his, not even paperwork. But Walter was his best friend.
They grew up together, fought over the same girls in high school.
In Vietnam each had saved the other so often they had quit keeping
count. And after it was over they had come back to their home town
with a shared fervent desire never to go anywhere else people would
shoot at them. Now it seemed, the shooting might start again. Here. Now.
In their town. He still had the impulse to draw his .45. He overrode it.

"OK," said Les as turned his right side to Walter, offering his .45
for plucking, "Just make it good, and make it fast."

Relieving Les of his sidearm, Walter motioned him to his chair.

"Les, I'm real sorry about this. But it's the only way I can see
to get the job done and protect you. I'm going to tie you to your
chair with plastic flexties and tape your mouth shut. I've got to
slug you at least once and draw some blood so the Feds will believe
it was involuntary on your part. I've got a nice fresh pillow case
to put over your head so you won't see the guys who haul off your
records. With luck you'll be rescued by the news media or the
local cops before the Feds get here so you'll have more witnesses.
One last thing. We know about the records in the EZ-Store locker
and we cleaned those out last night. Are there any more records
other than the ones I once saw in your storeroom back there?"

Les shook his head, "No, that's it."

"OK, I hope you forget who it was that slugged you, but I'm willing
to take the chance even if you're not. This has got to be done, Les.
And I'm sorry as hell it's got to be me that does it to you."

And with that said, Walter slugged his best friend with his own
pistol, splitting scalp, pulling hair and spilling blood.

In a moment, his unconscious friend trussed securely, Walter pulled
a walkietalkie from his pocket and clicked twice.

The stepvan erupted as men painted as Mohawk Indians bolted from
every door and rushed into the shop. Across the street, a TV camera
crew hastily summoned for the event took pictures while their militia
contact verified that no closeups were being taken. The first Mohawk
into the shop tossed Walter an Indian headress and a costume mask.

When the last of the records was loaded into the stepvan, two other
vans pulled up, loaded Mohawks and sped away in opposite directions.
The last shot the camera crew got was of Walter, taking a final look
around. The militia media man gave them permission to do a closeup
shot of Walter's masked face.

When he got the focus, the cameraman started to laugh uncontrollably.
The leader of the raid had chosen a Bill Clinton mask to wear under
his askew Indian warbonnet.

By the time the footage was being aired on the NBC Nightly News, the
last of the records was going into an impromtu bonfire in a quarry
outside town. Even the ATF was forced to admit that Les seemed an
innocent victim of what they called "militia terrorists." He couldn't
quite remember exactly who it was that had gotten the drop on him
that morning. In the final analysis, the ATF had far more trouble
elsewhere than to worry about what Les Miller knew, or didn't know.

**************************************************
Charlie Schumer's Last Stand

HEADLINES: USA TODAY, 12 February - 21 March 1999:

"Gunowners Engage In Massive Civil Disobedience Nationwide",

"4473 Parties" Staged By Gun "Nuts" Dressed as Mohawk Indians.

Two ATF Agents in Raid Party Killed By Sheriff Deputies In New Mexico
Standoff. Surviving Agents Disarmed & Returned To Federal Authorities.

National Guard Units Refusing Federal Orders In Present Crisis.

Governors Seek Immediate Relief From Supreme Court on New Gun Ban.

Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas Killed In
Mysterious Car Crash. Court Business Suspended Until Clinton Can
Appoint Successors.

The 4473: What Is It? Why Is It An Issue?

ATF, DOJ COMPUTERS ATTACKED BY VIRUS & EMP ATTACK.
Militia Hackers Destroy Gun Registration Databases

ATF WAREHOUSE BURNS IN MASSIVE RECORDS FIRE.
Two Militiamen Killed, Three Captured.

Former Federal Informant Says Detroit Gas Attack a "Sting Gone Bad"
Republicans Demand Investigation.
Was Detroit the Democrats "October Surprise?"

AT THE BRINK OF CIVIL WAR, CLINTON BLINKS

GUN BAN TO BE REVERSED, SAYS CLINTON

Senator Charles Schumer Implicated In Detroit Gas Attack
Phone Records Of Dead Informant Show Many Contacts With Schumer

JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF MEET WITH CLINTON
RUMORS OF IMPENDING COUP SWIRLING AROUND WASHINGTON

Senator Charles Schumer Found Dead Of Apparent "Self-Inflicted
Gunshot Wound"

CLINTON RESIGNS AS PRESIDENT, AL GORE RESIGNS AS VICE PRESIDENT.
HOUSE SPEAKER DICK GEPHARDT TO ASSUME PRESIDENCY.

*********************************************************
People's Tribunal Exhibit #A-213, U.S. Vs. Vanderboegh, et al. 1999
(Defendants charged with Treason, Sedition, Conspiracy To Subvert the
National Sporting Firearm Protection & Assault Weapon Confiscation
Act of 1999.)**

**Vanderboegh, an Alabama militia leader, was convicted with four of
his co-conspirators of all charges in a "show trial" in the middle
of the Gun Ban Crisis. Vanderboegh, his partners in crime and 428
other political prisoners were freed during a guerrilla attack on
the Talladega Federal Prison complex, 19 March, 1999. All were
subsequently pardoned by order of President Gephardt. Vanderboegh's
current whereabouts are unknown.

EMAIL MESSAGE RETRIEVED FROM PARTIALLY DESTROYED COMPUTER DISC
RECOVERED IN RAID BY FBI, BIRMINGAHM, ALA., 21 FEBRUARY 1999.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Everything above this line is fiction. Everything below it is, sadly, fact.
- -- Mike Vanderboegh.

***************************************************



- -

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

Date: Sun, 21 Dec 97 07:39:00 -0700
From: [e-mail] (SCOTT BERGESON)
Subject: Once Upon A Tea Party 2/4

Charlie thought for a second and said, "You know there was one guy
hanging around the shop yesterday that didn't quite fit in... he had
a buddy too. Never seen either of 'em before."

Knowing he was stupid for asking, the ATF man asked, "Well, what did
they look like?"

"Well, the one guy looked like a deadringer of the sketch of John Doe
Number Two and his buddy was seven foot tall, had green skin, yaller
hair and a earring in his nose. Oh, yeah, the tall one was wearing
an "Al Gore in 2000" teeshirt. I had 'em figured for ATF snitches.
You know 'em?" Charlie grinned.

The shop erupted in hoots and laughter. A deputy entered and handed
a piece of paper to Tolliver, saying, "Here's the report, Sheriff."

Tolliver in turn handed it to the smaller, older and wiser ATF man.

"Well, here's your report. I'm sure ya'll be wantin' to get back to
Dallas now. I took the liberty of letting the sheriffs of all the
surrounding counties know ya'll were in the area so we can make sure
ya'll have a safe trip back. You can thank me later, by phone, when
you're safely back in Dallas. Ya'll have a nice day."

And with that, Sheriff Tolliver turned and left the shop.

"Look," started the big agent to his partner, who cut him off short.
"Later, Dick. Can't you read between the lines? Just shut up and follow me."

The ATF men left Charlie's without a word. Behind them, the shop
erupted in convivial bedlam.

Out on the street, it took a moment for the agent's eyes to adjust
to the bright Texas mid-day sun. Without realizing it, they had
stepped out of Charlie's door into the middle of two lines of armed
men, facing each other, and the ATF agents. Some were in uniform.
Some in work clothes. Beyond the men on the opposite side of the
street stood Sheriff Tolliver, his deputies and the town Mayor, as
well as representatives of the local press (no photographers, though).

The two lines of men (and some women, the agents noted) formed a
corridor from the door of Charlie's shop to their car, parked across,
and slightly down, the street. Every one held a semiautomatic
military-style rifle-- the same kind that were banned by the new Act
the ATF men had come to enforce. The escort was standing at
attention, their rifles held at "present arms", their combat
harnesses full of loaded magazines, many with holstered pistols
hanging from military belts or shoulder holsters. Some wore kevlar
vests and helmets. Each one fixed the ATF men in a steely gaze as
the Feds walked quickly, breathlessly, to their car.

The ATF men jumped in their motorpool car, the formation parted, and
they "U-turned" and sped out of town, oblivious to the words "GUN
GESTAPO" which had been spraypainted in big letters on the trunk lid.

The armed men and women in the street erupted into cheers. Charlie was
carried from the gunshop on the shoulders of his customers. Sheriff
Tolliver was smiling in relief, but was less enthusiastic. Leaning his
head down closer to the mayor's ear, he cautioned, "They'll be back....
with friends." Unable to make himself heard over the din, the mayor
could only nod in agreement. It wasn't over. It was just starting.

The same day, in another part of the country.......

"Plausible Deniability"

Les Miller always opened up his gunshop at 10:00 am on the button.
He usually got to the shop around 7:30, disarmed the alarm, checked
the surveillance footage from the night before on fast forward for
anything unusual while the coffee was brewing, and then sat down to
peruse the morning paper and the firearms industry publications that
had come in the mail the previous day.

The headlines this morning were full of the "Assault Weapons Confiscation
Act" passed the day before and signed by the President in a midnight
ceremony in the White House with Charlie Schumer and the usual
gun-grabbing politician/suspects beaming with approval. Les didn't want
to even read the paper this day. He knew this act would not be obeyed
by a number of his customers. He knew that with just an incident here
or there, a civil war could start, which was something the politicians
seemed not to know or care about. Troubled as he was, Les paid little
attention to the stepside van pulled up in front of the out-of-business
shop next to his.

Just as he worked the lock with his key, his best friend Walter
Thurston pulled up in a beat-up Chevy Blazer. At first startled
enough to reach back for his pistol, Les relaxed when he recognized
his old army buddy. "Walter, what the heck brings you slumming down
here in this part of town so early in the morning?"

He could tell instantly his friend was as troubled as he was when
Walter replied, "Bad times, old friend."

"Well, we've seen those before you know......Come on in and I'll
brew us up some coffee. And then we can talk about bad times coming
and good times gone....wait here for a sec while I disarm the alarm."

The alarm off, the two men entered the store. Les tossed his keys
to Walter, "Lock the door back will you, and I'll go put the coffee
on." Walter stood at the door, fumbled with the keys, then turned to
go to the back of the store without relocking the door.

"Les," he said loudly over the sound of the water filling the pot,
"I came by because the ATF is going to be here this morning to
confiscate your 4473's."

Surprised, Les stuck his head out of the bathroom door, "Oh yeah,
how do you know?"

"Well I've got a buddy down at the Federal Building and he let me
know last night that they're going to be moving fast to secure
those records before they can be destroyed by any militia people."

"Well, I guess that makes sense from their point of view but I'll
be damned if I'd like to see them do it. There's a lot of my friends
names on those things. Yours too."

"Yeah I know," said Walter, "That's why I'm here."

"You want me to pull yours out, Walter? I'd have to lose the logs
and the Brady paperwork too. I'd go to jail. I'd like to help you
but I've got a family too, you know."

"I know Les," sighed Walter, "That's why I'm here. To give you what
the bureaucrats call "plausible deniability."

"Huh?" said Les, pouring the water into the coffeemaker. Les turned
and his old friend stood there holding a Keltec P11 9mm pocket
pistol pointed right at him.

"Now you don't want to go to jail, and me and my other friends don't
want to either. So we've come to get your records, and we'll leave you
here for the ATF to find, hale, hearty, in one piece and totally without
anything the ATF is interested in. And with "plausible deniability."




- -

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

Date: Sun, 21 Dec 97 07:39:00 -0700
From: [e-mail] (SCOTT BERGESON)
Subject: Once Upon A Tea Party 1/4

- ---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 20:43:55 -0800
From: Liberty or Death <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail],
    [e-mail], [e-mail]

From: Mo10Cav <[e-mail]>

Once Upon a Tea Party....

By Mike Vanderboegh 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiment, Constitutional Militia

The following tale is fiction. Nothing quite so far-fetched could
ever happen in our country, I'm sure.

Once Upon a Tea Party.....

Transcript, Court Ordered Wiretap, [phone], 2103hrs,
11 February, 1999:
"Jim, it's me."
"Yeah."
"You heard the news."
"Yeah." (Pause.)
"When?"
"Tomorrow, just like we discussed. We all know the drill, no sweat,
nobody gets ....."
"Yeah, O.K." (Pauses.)
"I'm goin' fishin tomorrow. Will you feed my dog? I won't be back
till late. I'll leave my keys under the mat."
"Sure thing, Jim."
"See you later."
"Yeah." (Call ends.)

Headline, USA Today, 12 February, 1999: "Assault Gun Confiscation Act
Passes, Clinton Orders Dealers To Provide Records. Gun Owners Promise
Massive Disobedience." (Picture Caption: "Come and get mine yourself,
Clinton, or better yet, send Charlie Schumer." says Mike Vanderboegh,
Alabama militiaman, brandishing his semiautomatic rifle.)

"The Assault Weapon Confiscation Act was a foregone conclusion after
the Democrats regained control of the House and Senate in the
aftermath of the October, 1998 chemical warfare attack in Detroit.
That terrorist massacre of over 7,000 inner city residents was blamed
on the Michigan Militia by the FBI's new director, James Kallstrom.

Unfortunately, all of the alleged militia perpretrators were killed
in an attempt to arrest them by members of the U.S. military's Special
Operations Command, so definitive blame may never be assigned for the
massacre. The political consequences of the attack, however, were
clear from the day the bodies of the Michigan militiamen were hauled
from the burnt-out raid site. Militias would be outlawed, assault
weapons would be banned, if the Democrats were able to use the issue
to regain control of Congress. They were, and semiautomatic so-called
"assault weapons" are now forfeit. Gun owners have 60 days to turn
them into their local police or county sheriff. Simple possession of
a previously legal weapon will be punishable by ten years in prison
and a $200,000 fine. Use of any weapon to resist the enforcement of
the act is punishable by death."
- -- USA Today, 12 February, 1999, Page 2a.

The Battle of Charlie's Gun Rack

The door to "Charlie's Gun Rack" swung open, and two men in cheap
suits walked up to the sales desk and flashed their badges.
"ATF", one announced.
"Assholes" muttered one of the customers in a low enough voice to
make its source legally indistinguishable. The larger of the two
agents glared in the general direction of the insult.

"You know why we're here, Charlie," said the other to the long, lanky
Texan who had his legs propped up on the desk.

"No, Ah don't know why a couple of cosmopolitan sophisticates such as
yerselves would take a chance on comin' all the way out here to "Fort
Stinkin' Desert". Why don't y'all tell me and break my suspense?"

That got a belly laugh from the front of the store, but the agents
were unamused.

"We're here for your records, Charlie. Your logs and all the completed
Brady's and 4473's you've got here and in storage. You know the law."

"Yer law, guncop. Clinton's law, not constitutional law," said
Charlie bitterly.

"That's for the Supreme Court to decide, Charlie."

"Yeah, and by the time the case gets there, ya'll have all the records
and all the guns. Probably have all the records on computer and all
the guns ground up by then, won't ya?"

"That's not my concern, Charlie. Right now I've got the job of
enforcing the law and picking up your records and I hope you'll
cooperate with me, or I'll be forced to take them and you to Dallas,"
replied the agent.

Charlie smiled and nodded. Unnoticed by the agents, a customer slipped
out of the front door and walked down the street toward the sheriff's
office. Once out of view of the gunstore window, he began to run.

"Waalll," drawled Charlie, "Ya'll gonna find that a little difficult
to accomplish."

"Oh, yeah," said the bigger agent in what he imagined was an ominous
voice, "How's that?"

"Well first off," said Charlie, "somebody broke in here last night
and took every one of my records--Brady's, 4473's, the logs, my
gunsmithin' register, everythin'."

"Bullshit!" said the big agent.

"Naw," said Charlie, "ain't no bullshit, it's the smokin' hot Gospel
truth. And you know what? I went down to my storage shed to check on
the old ones I had there and they're all gone too. To tell you the
truth, I thought it was you chickenshits that'd come and done it in
the middle of the night cause ya'll didn't have the balls to come and
get 'em in the daylight, but I see now I was mistaken."

The gunstore erupted in laughter, and the big agent's face which was
already red, grew a darker shade of purple.

"That's it, you sonofabitch," snarled the big agent, starting to move
around the desk, "you're coming with us. Conspiracy to violate the Act."

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," boomed out a voice from the doorway.
The agent stopped and turned, and Charlie eased his grip on the ParaOrdnance
.45 pistol he had under his chair, hidden from the agent's view.

Sheriff Bob Tolliver advanced into the store, so the ATF agents
could plainly see his uniform, his badge and his open-holstered
sidearm, which he happened to have his hand resting on.

"Look boys," Tolliver said amiably to the ATF men, "Charlie here
reported his records stolen to me first thing this morning. He's
filed an official report which I'll be glad to give you a copy of to
take back to your superiors so's they know you didn't come all the
way out here for nothin'."

Somebody laughed, and the Sheriff continued, "Now as far as takin'
Charlie back with you, I don't mind if he wants to go voluntarily to
answer any questions you boys have." Turning on Charlie, he asked,
"You want to go with 'em Charlie?"

"Hell no," Charlie replied, "I got things to do."

"Well, that's it then," said Tolliver, "If you boys want to know anything
about the theft other than what's in the report you'd better ask him now."

"Look you Barney Fife....." the big agent spluttered.

"Shut up, Dick!" ordered the other ATF man. Turning to Charlie, the
agent gamely asked, "OK, Charlie, do you have any idea what the...
"burglars" looked like?"



- -

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

Date: Sun, 21 Dec 97 07:39:00 -0700
From: [e-mail] (SCOTT BERGESON)
Subject: Once Upon A Tea Party 4/4

In a message dated 97-11-24 21:28:05 EST, you write:

Subj: ATF RUNS AROUND THE LAW
Date: 97-11-24 17:28:47 EST
(Email addresses redacted to protect the innocent.)

Although quite long, this information below is very important. All the
references used to gather this info are listed at the end.

The GAO (Government Accounting Office) determined it was illegal for
the ATF to spend the money to develop a firearms purchase computer
system. Instead it is now being funded through The Ford Foundations
Innovations in American Government Awards and is administered by
Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government in partnership with
the Council for Excellence in Government.

The computer program analyzes data gathered by the Bureaus National
Tracing Center during firearms traces. The data is gathered ostensibly
so that it can be used to determine what firearms are used in crimes
and therefore should be banned.

DISARMING THE CRIMINAL U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

The ATF has developed "Disarming the Criminal," a comprehensive illegal
firearms tracking program that combines computerized data and aggressive,
focused enforcement that identifies the source of and stems the flow of
firearms.

The ATF's Disarming the Criminal program was selected from among the
finalists for Innovations in American Government, an awards program
of the Ford Foundation and Harvard University.

INNOVATIONS IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO
AND FIREARMS
The Innovations in American Government Program
A Program of the Ford Foundation and Harvard University

[Cambridge, MA] The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Disarming
the Criminal program has been named one of 25 finalists for the 1997
Innovations in American Government Awards. Each finalist will receive
a $20,000 grant from the Ford Foundation and will compete for a total
grant of $100,000 awarded to each of ten winners in Washington, D.C.
on October 7.

The Ford Foundations Innovations in American Government Awards is
administered by Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government in
partnership with the Council for Excellence in Government.

Reuters News Headlines
Monday October 27 9:05 AM EST
Company Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 27, 1997--

According to this press release earlier this year, the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms' National Tracing Center received a
Golden Hammer Award from Vice President Al Gore's office for
converting and indexing 60 million gun records to microfilm.

The Hammer Award is presented to teams of federal employees who
have made significant contributions in support of reinventing
government principles.

The Award is the Vice President's answer to yesterday's government
and its $400 hammer. Fittingly, the award consists of a $6.00 hammer,
a ribbon, and a note from Vice President Gore, all in an aluminum
frame. More than 900 Hammer Awards have been presented to teams
comprised of federal employees, state and local employees, and
citizens who are working to build a better government.

The Innovations in American Government - 1997 Award Winners

Ten federal, state, and local programs that exemplify new models
of government working effectively to produce results for people
were named winners of the 1997 Innovations in American Government
Awards. Each winner will receive $100,000 from the Ford Foundation.
An additional 15 programs received $20,000, for a total of
$1.3 million in grants.

[As shown in the GAO report below, this "Disarming the Criminal"
program is illegal and in conflict with direct statutory restrictions
established by Congress:]

Federal Firearms Licensee Data: ATF's Compliance with Statutory
Restrictions (Letter Report, 09/11/96, GAO/GGD-96-174).

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed various aspects of
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms' ((ATF) operations,
focusing on ATF compliance in meeting specific legislative restrictions
regarding federal firearms licensee data.

Since the passage of the Gun Control Act, Congress has enacted two
provisions that place restrictions on ATF's handling of federal
firearms licensee records. Since fiscal year 1979, the annual
Treasury appropriation act generally has prohibited ATF from using
appropriated funds in connection with consolidating or centralizing
the records of acquisition and disposition of firearms maintained
by federal firearms licensees.

"The Bureau would establish a centralized computer data bank to
store the above information. It is important to note that the
proposed regulations would create a central Federal computer
record of commercial transactions involving all firearms--whether
shotguns, rifles, or handguns. There are approximately 168,000
federally licensed firearms dealers, manufacturers, and importers.
It is estimated that the proposed regulations would require
submission of 700,000 reports annually involving 25 million to 45
million transactions.

 "It is the view of the Committee that the proposed regulations go
beyond the intent of Congress when it passed the Gun Control Act of
1968. It would appear that BATF and the Department of Treasury are
attempting to exceed their statutory authority and accomplish by
regulation that which Congress has declined to legislate."

REFERENCES:
Reuters News Headlines http://www.yahoo.com/text/headlines/
    http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/97/10/27/ek_y0006_1.html
What Is a Hammer Award? http://www.npr.gov/library/awards/hammer/whatis.html
Vice President's National Performance Review Home Page http://www.npr.gov/
Who We Are http://www.npr.gov/whoweare/index.html
    Harvard University Home Page - John F. Kennedy School of Government
http://ksgwww.harvard.edu
    The Innovations in American Government Homepage
http://ksgwww.harvard.edu/~innovat/
Current Award Year Updates http://ksgwww.harvard.edu/~innovat/update.htm
1997 Winners http://ksgwww.harvard.edu/~innovat/1997.htm
    http://ksgwww.harvard.edu/~innovat/97fin.htm
U.S. Treasury Homepage http://www.treas.gov/
ATF's Web site http://www.atf.treas.gov/
Awards - Disarming the Criminal
http://www.atf.treas.gov/about/awards/awards.htm
    Innovations in American Government Reward
http://www.atf.treas.gov/about/awards/award1.htm
Carnegie Mellon University http://www.cs.cmu.edu
    GAO (Government Accounting Office) Records
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/user/wbardwel/public/nfalist/gao/recordsg
ao.txt

Chief, Firearms Enforcement Division
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms
U.S. Department of the Treasury
650 Massachusets Ave. NW, Rm. 7400
Washington, DC 20226
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

- - Monte

"Maybe freedom's just one of those things that you can't inherit."
 - Peter Bradford, in the film "Amerika"

The Idaho Observer
http://www.proliberty.com/observer



- -

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

Date: Sun, 21 Dec 1997 22:08:07 -0700
From: "S. Thompson" <[e-mail]>
Subject: I warned you! MERRY CHRISTMAS

>From: [e-mail] (Dave Workman)
>Subject: I warned you! MERRY CHRISTMAS
>
>'Twas the day after Christmas when Santa returned
>He was looking quite happy, all trim and sunburned
>His sleigh had been emptied, and I'll bet you're all guessin'
>If he did the same thing to his borrowed Smith & Wesson
>
>Well the fact of the matter is in need of reporting,
>Like the press oughta do about Clinton's cavorting!
>Seems Santa encountered some trouble 'long the way,
>'Cause some not-too-bright dirtbags tried to hijack his sleigh
>
>When he left Christmas Eve, he was ready for action
>And he made real good time, thanks to reindeer hoof traction
>He had rag dolls, and capguns, baseballs and bats.
>New dresses, toy airplanes, and a few dogs and cats.
>
>Seems these wannabe grinches thought they were hot shooters
>So's a bunch of 'em tried to be Christmas gift looters
>But the one thing they hadn't expected to meet
>Was a licensed St. Nick, packin' full magnum heat.
>
>The night was still young, when these dipwits appeared
>Their caps all turned backwards; at least one had a beard.
>They were trying to look vicious, as they stood in his path
>He could tell in an instant that they needed a bath
>
>One fool made a grab for Comet and Cupid,
>But froze when St. Nick had yelled "Hold it, there, stupid!"
>When he leveled my sixgun at this crazy-eyed fellow
>The snow at his feet turned a pale shade of yellow
>
>"It was over real quick," Santa said with a chuckle
>As he hauled out my Smith from behind his belt buckle
>"Never fired a shot, never pulled back the hammer
>"Got the cops on my cell phone, and sent 'em all to the slammer"
>
>After that much excitement, 'twas a rest Santa needed
>So with his gift-giving, he quickly proceeded
>And when he was finished, Santa issued this order:
>"Rudolph, old pal, take us south of the border!"
>
>So now he was rested, and this stop was his last one
>And he made it real clear, that it must be a fast one
>With my piece back in lockup, he said "Thanks for the loan
>"Next year, rest assured, I'll be packin' my own"
>
>And just what, did I wonder, might then Santa unlimber?
>A Colt, Sig or Taurus, a Glock or a Kimber?
>Perhaps Heckler & Koch, a Kahr or a Ruger?
>A wheelgun from Rossi, a Walther or Luger?
>
>"I'm not sure," replied Santa, as he scoped out the weather,
>"But I'll contact your buddy, Mitch Rosen, for leather.
>"And now, I must leave you, until late next December
>"But Dave, I assure you, I will always remember
>
>"You did me a favor, and that's one I owe you
>"So when I get my own gat, I'll be certain to show you
>"In the meantime, ol' buddy, I'll scream it, I'll shout it
>"If you're licensed to carry, don't you leave home without it!"
>
>
>

- -

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

Date: Mon, 22 Dec 97 08:03:00 -0700
From: [e-mail] (SCOTT BERGESON)
Subject: I warned you! MERRY CHRISTMAS

- ---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: [e-mail] (Dave Workman)

'Twas the day after Christmas when Santa returned
He was looking quite happy, all trim and sunburned
His sleigh had been emptied, and I'll bet you're all guessin'
If he did the same thing to his borrowed Smith & Wesson

Well the fact of the matter is in need of reporting,
Like the press oughta do about Clinton's cavorting!
Seems Santa encountered some trouble 'long the way,
'Cause some not-too-bright dirtbags tried to hijack his sleigh

When he left Christmas Eve, he was ready for action
And he made real good time, thanks to reindeer hoof traction
He had rag dolls, and capguns, baseballs and bats.
New dresses, toy airplanes, and a few dogs and cats.

Seems these wannabe grinches thought they were hot shooters
So's a bunch of 'em tried to be Christmas gift looters
But the one thing they hadn't expected to meet
Was a licensed St. Nick, packin' full magnum heat.

The night was still young, when these dipwits appeared
Their caps all turned backwards; at least one had a beard.
They were trying to look vicious, as they stood in his path
He could tell in an instant that they needed a bath

One fool made a grab for Comet and Cupid,
But froze when St. Nick had yelled "Hold it, there, stupid!"
When he leveled my sixgun at this crazy-eyed fellow
The snow at his feet turned a pale shade of yellow

"It was over real quick," Santa said with a chuckle
As he hauled out my Smith from behind his belt buckle
"Never fired a shot, never pulled back the hammer
"Got the cops on my cell phone, and sent 'em all to the slammer"

After that much excitement, 'twas a rest Santa needed
So with his gift-giving, he quickly proceeded
And when he was finished, Santa issued this order:
"Rudolph, old pal, take us south of the border!"

So now he was rested, and this stop was his last one
And he made it real clear, that it must be a fast one
With my piece back in lockup, he said "Thanks for the loan
"Next year, rest assured, I'll be packin' my own"

And just what, did I wonder, might then Santa unlimber?
A Colt, Sig or Taurus, a Glock or a Kimber?
Perhaps Heckler & Koch, a Kahr or a Ruger?
A wheelgun from Rossi, a Walther or Luger?

"I'm not sure," replied Santa, as he scoped out the weather,
"But I'll contact your buddy, Mitch Rosen, for leather.
"And now, I must leave you, until late next December
"But Dave, I assure you, I will always remember

"You did me a favor, and that's one I owe you
"So when I get my own gat, I'll be certain to show you
"In the meantime, ol' buddy, I'll scream it, I'll shout it
"If you're licensed to carry, don't you leave home without it!"



- -

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

Date: Mon, 22 Dec 1997 16:20:53 -0700
From: DAVID SAGERS <[e-mail]>
Subject: Century Arms Survey for import ban:IMPORTANT! -Forwarded

Received: (qmail 26844 invoked by alias); 22 Dec 1997 06:07:13 -0000
Delivered-To: [e-mail]
Received: (qmail 26834 invoked by uid 516); 22 Dec 1997 06:07:11 -0000
Received: (qmail 26808 invoked from network); 22 Dec 1997 06:07:09 -0000
Received: from dfw-ix8.ix.netcom.com (206.214.98.8)
  by majordomo.pobox.com with SMTP; 22 Dec 1997 06:07:09 -0000
Received: (from smap@localhost)
          by dfw-ix8.ix.netcom.com (8.8.4/8.8.4)
      id AAA05543 for <[e-mail]>; Mon, 22 Dec 1997 00:06:36 -0600 (CST)
Received: from den-co20-24.ix.netcom.com(206.214.109.56) by dfw-ix8.ix.netcom.com via smap (V1.3)
    id rma005532; Mon Dec 22 00:06:28 1997
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
X-Sender: [e-mail]
X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Light Version 1.5.4 (32)
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Date: Sun, 21 Dec 1997 23:00:10 -0700
To: [e-mail]
From: Patricia Fosness <[e-mail]>
Subject: Century Arms Survey for import ban:IMPORTANT!
Sender: [e-mail]
Precedence: bulk
Reply-To: [e-mail]

Posted to rkba-co by Patricia Fosness <[e-mail]>
- -----------------------
The following is important and worthy of your consideration.

>Date: Sun, 21 Dec 1997 15:13:13 -0500 (EST)
>From: "Strider's Retreat" <[e-mail]>
>To: Multiple recipients of list <[e-mail]>
>Subject: Century Arms Survey for import ban:IMPORTANT!
>
>The following is from http://www.centuryarms.com.
>I suggest mass quantities of responses to this survey, as well as written
>arguments to "the powers that be," in this case the BATF.
>
>    "Only the exhaustive                      *****************
>        can be truly interesting."        * Michael Jones *
>            -Thomas Mann        *  Hickory, NC  *
>                        *****************
>
>
>                             EMERGENCY BULLETIN
>     _________________________________________________________________
>
>   Firearms Industry Crisis!
>
>   The firearms industry is under siege! Your business is threatened and
>   your Second Amendment rights are being diminished, the right to keep
>   and bear arms! After more than 40 years in the firearms importation
>   business we are worried about our future and yours! If you would like
>   to speak with one of our sales representatives please call us at
>   1-800-527-1252.
>
>   Please fill out the attached survey form and if possible have your
>   customers fill it out too! You can print this out and fax us back by
>   January 5th at: 561-998-1993.
>
>   On November 14th, BATF temporarily halted the importation of the
>   following semi-automatic rifles:
>   AK Type Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle, Caliber 7.62x39 - Caliber 5.45x39 -
>   Caliber 5.56 NATO - Caliber .223 Remington
>   L1A1 Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle and similar using L1A1 style, Caliber
>   7.62x51 (.308 NATO) - .308 Winchester
>   G3 Style Semi-Auto Rifle, Cal. 7.62x51 (.308 NATO) - 7.62 NATO - .308
>   Winchester
>   While BATF determines whether any of the above are "generally
>   recognized" as suitable for "sporting purposes", they have stated that
>   anyone wishing to comment on their suitability for "sporting purposes"
>   can have something in writing to them by January 9th, 1998. Therefore
>   we have undertaken this initiative to complete the following survey
>   which results will be forwarded to BATF before the deadline.
>   The bottom line is that we feel your response to this survey can make
>   a difference in their decision in not banning this group of firearms
>   and who knows which group next year?
>   Lets begin......
>     _________________________________________________________________
>
>   Only one survey per person may be completed. Please only check one
>   box.
>   I. AK Type Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle, Caliber 7.62x39 - Caliber 5.45x39
>   - Caliber 5.56 NATO
>
>   Please only check if you currently do not use the AK Type Semi-Auto
>   Sporting Rifle, Caliber. 7.62x39 - Caliber 5.45x39 - Caliber 5.56
>   NATO, but would for the following purposes: Yes ___- If Yes please
>   also answer below:
>
>   I am only a collector and want to keep my rights in being able to
>   collect the AK Type Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle.
>   Yes ___
>
>   1) Is the AK Type Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle,  Caliber. 7.62x39 -
>   Caliber 5.45x39 - Caliber 5.56 NATO used for lawful hunting?  Yes
>   ___No ___
>
>   2) Is the AK Type Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle, Caliber 7.62x39 - Caliber
>   5.45x39 - Caliber 5.56 NATO used for organized marksmanship
>   competitions?  Yes ___No ___
>
>   3) Is the AK Type Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle, Caliber 7.62x39 - Caliber
>   5.45x39 - Caliber 5.56 NATO used for non-competitive target shooting?
>   Yes ___ No ___
>   4) Is the AK Type Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle, Caliber 7.62x39 - Caliber
>   5.45x39 - Caliber 5.56 NATO  used for plinking? Yes ___ No ___
>   5) Is the AK Type Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle, Caliber 7.62x39 - Caliber
>   5.45x39 - Caliber 5.56 NATO  used for home defense? Yes ___ No ___
>
>   II.L1A1 Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle and similar using L1A1 style,
>   Caliber  7.62x51 (.308 NATO)
>
>   Please only check if you currently do not use the L1A1 Semi-Auto
>   Sporting Rifle and similar using L1A1 style, Caliber. 7.62x51 (.308
>   NATO), but would for the following purposes: Yes ___- If Yes please
>   also answer below:
>
>   I am only a collector and want to keep my rights in being able to
>   collect the L1A1 Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle and similar using L1A1
>   style.
>   Yes ___
>
>   6) Is the L1A1 Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle and similar using L1A1 style,
>   Caliber 7.62x51 (.308 NATO) used for lawful hunting? Yes ___No ___
>
>   7) Is the L1A1 Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle and similar using L1A1 style,
>   Caliber 7.62x51 (.308 NATO) used for organized marksmanship
>   competitions? Yes ___No ___
>
>   8) Is the L1A1 Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle and similar using L1A1 style,
>   Caliber 7.62x51 (.308 NATO) used for non-competitive target
>   shooting? Yes ___ No ___
>   9) Is the L1A1 Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle and similar using L1A1 style,
>   Caliber 7.62x51 (.308 NATO) used for plinking? Yes ___ No ___
>   10) Is the L1A1 Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle and similar using L1A1 style,
>   Caliber 7.62x51 (.308 NATO) used for home defense? Yes ___ No ___
>
>   III. G3 Style Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle, Caliber 7.62x51 (.308 NATO)
>
>   Please only check if you currently do not use the G3 but would for the
>   following purposes:the G3 Style Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle, Caliber
>   7.62x51 (.308 NATO) but would for the following purposes: Yes ___ If
>   Yes please also answer below:
>
>   I am only a collector and want to keep my rights in being able to
>   collect the G3 Style Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle.
>   Yes ___
>
>   11) Is the G3 Style Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle, Caliber 7.62x51 (.308
>   NATO) used for lawful hunting?
>   Yes ___No ___
>
>   12) Is the G3 Style Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle, Caliber 7.62x51 (.308
>   NATO) used for organized marksmanship competitions?  Yes ___No ___
>
>   13) Is the G3 Style Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle, Caliber 7.62x51 (.308
>   NATO) used for non-competitive target shooting?
>   Yes ___ No ___
>
>   14) Is the G3 Style Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle, Caliber 7.62x51 (.308
>   NATO) used for plinking?   Yes ___No ___
>
>   15) Is the G3 Style Semi-Auto Sporting Rifle, 7.62x51 (.308 NATO)
>   used for home defense? Yes ___ No ___
>
>   Any comments?
>   ____________________________________________________________
>     _________________________________________________________________
>
>   Please enter the following information which will validate this
>   survey:
>   Name: ____________________             Are you a Business ___or
>   Consumer ___
>
>   Email: ____________________
>   Phone: ____________________
>
>   Fax:    ____________________
>   FFL #: ____________________
>   Address: ____________________________________________________________
>   __________ _____________
>   Thanks for your vote which will make a difference in all our freedoms.
>   We must keep the 2nd amendment in place, The Right To Keep And Bear
>   Arms as it's part of our nation's constitution!
>
>
>
- ---------------------------------------------------------
Pat Fosness
listowner rkba-co
NRA certified instructor:
Rifle, Pistol, Personal Protection, Home Firearm Safety
- ---------------------------------------------------------
Copyrighted material contained within this document is used in
compliance with the United States Code, Title 17, Section 107,
"for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching"


For Help with Majordomo Commands, please send a message to:
[e-mail]
with the word Help in the body of the message


- -

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

End of utah-firearms-digest V2 #8
*********************************