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utah-firearms-digest     Friday, February 16 2001     Volume 02 : Number 205




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

Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2001 10:32:30 -0700
From: charles hardy <[e-mail]>
Subject: Fw: [UTGOA] URGENT!  CCW fee hearing TODAY!

PLEASE READ AND MAKE A CALL NOW.

We are very close to killing the ccw fee increases that have been sneaked
into the appropriations bill.  We have legislators committed to making
and supporting a motion that will kill this sneaky increase and allow us
all the chance to study it and do it right in the future.  One legislator
we need who is still holding out is Rep. Bigelow.  His contact info this
morning is in the following message and he may also be called at
801-538-1029 today.  Please call him.  Remember to be polite.  You can
also be very brief, leaving a simple message to "Please support Rep.
Thompson's motion to reconsider concealed weapons fee increases. Thank
you."  If you are delegate, precinct officer, or just registered voter in
Rep. Bigelow's district, please mention that as well.

Thank you.

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

- --------- Forwarded message ----------
CCW fee hearing today!

Last week, Rep. Gary Cox proposed that permit renewal fees and instructor

renewal fees be raised from $10 to $35, an increase of 250%.  The
Criminal
Justice Appropriations committee approved these fees last week, although
many committee members say that the schedule was very busy and they had
no
idea what they were voting for.

In response to your calls and emails, several legislators have agreed to
support a motion that these fee increases by reconsidered.  Rep. Mike
Thompson will be making the motion today.

What you must do - NOW!

Call the following legislators and ask them to support Rep. Thompson's
motion to reconsider the fee increases.  The problems with the fee
increases are:
1. 250% increases are unreasonable and should never be done without
public
comment.
2. The Legislative Audit does not justify such huge increases.
3. The Legislative Audit said that funds for BCI should come from the
General Fund AND fee increases, not just fee increases.
4. No one has had time to study the Legislative Audit carefully and the
raw
data has not even been released so we can verify its accuracy.
5. While BCI did request fee increases, they were not involved in this
process, and learned of this proposal only after it was passed.
6. Gun rights organizations and concealed carry instructors were not
invited to participate in the review process.
7. Rep. Cox bypassed the usual legislative review process to sneak this
into an appropriations bill after it was defeated by standing committees
several years in a row.
8. Many legislators were apparently unaware that they were voting in fee
increases.

Please CALL the following legislators at the Capitol NOW.  Senators can
be
reached at 801-538-1035.  Representatives can be reached at 801-538-1029.

Sen. D. Chris Buttars, [e-mail]
Rep. Ron Bigelow, [e-mail]
Sen. Peter C. Knudson, [e-mail]
Rep. Paul Ray, [e-mail]
Rep. Mike Thompson, [e-mail]

Your message (email or phone) can be short and sweet:  "Please support
Rep.
Thompson's motion to reconsider concealed carry fee increases.  Thank
you."

If possible, please plan to attend this meeting!  2 PM, Room 405.  The
room
will be packed with law enforcement personnel, and we need some pro-gun
folks to show  how important this is to us.

Thanks!

Copyright 2001, Utah Gun Owners Alliance, Inc. and Sarah Thompson
PO Box 1185
Sandy, UT 84091
801-566-1625
http://www.utgoa.org
[e-mail]

PLEASE SUPPORT UTAH GUN OWNERS ALLIANCE!  JOIN US TODAY!

Did someone forward this to you?  Please SUBSCRIBE NOW!  That way you'll
receive our FREE alerts as soon as they're released.  During the
legislative session, we send urgent, time limited alerts.  Don't risk
missing important information because someone else neglected to forward
important information.  Our alerts are low volume and average less than
one
alert per day.

To subscribe to the UTGOA list, send a blank email to
[e-mail] or use the form on our web site,
http://www.utgoa.org. For more information, see
http://www.egroups.com/group/UTGOA.

UTGOA is written and distributed by, Utah Gun Owners Alliance, Inc.
www.utgoa.org, and Sarah Thompson, M.D.  All information contained in
these
alerts is the responsibility of the author, unless otherwise attributed.

Permission is granted for distribution of these alerts so long as no
changes are made, UTGOA is clearly credited, and this message is left
intact.

Archives of the UTGOA alerts can be found at:
http://www.utgoa.org/cgi-bin/alerts

Utah Gun Owners Alliance, Inc. is a Utah non-profit corporation.


To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[e-mail]




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

Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2001 18:09:29 -0700
From: charles hardy <[e-mail]>
Subject: Legislative Update

Good news.  The Huge CCW fee increase that Rep. Gary Cox sneaked into the
appropriations bill after failing to pass that increase (and other
measures intended to increase the cost and difficulty of getting and
keeping a CCW permit) the last couple of years using stand alone bills
was removed from that appropriation bill.  Watch for it to be introduced
later in the session using one of the remaining "boxcar" bills.    Thank
you to all of you who took the time to make phone calls to committee
members.  They may not seem receptive to your call, but when they get
enough calls, they do vote properly, even if they aren't really happy
about it.

Time to support a good bill.

Rep. Mike Thompson's HB 264 - Gun Safety Law Amendments which would
require that basic ("Eddie Eagle" type) gun safety instruction be given
to grade school children and historical / legal instructions on guns be
given to high school seniors as well as providing optional (with parental
consent) hands-on firearms training for seniors is scheduled to be heard
in the House Education Committee tomorrow, Tuesday February 13th, at 4:00
pm in room 129 at the capital.

This is a good and an important bill.  Schools are already allowed to
provide basic safety training, but--surprise, surprise--very few do.
While railroad (TRAX) tracks, power lines,  and crime (don't accept rides
from strangers) safety all merit some time and effort by our schools, it
seems that some modest and basic instructions on avoiding injuries should
a gun be found is just too much trouble for them.

This bill faces an uphill battle.  Liberals--in both parties--are not
going to support it simply because it deals with guns without demonizing
them or putting anyone in jail.  Conservatives are hesitant to support it
(they say) because it imposes another mandate on local school districts.
Legislators of all stripes need to hear from us.  This is not about guns
or mandates.  It is about the safety of children.

If possible, please attend the hearing tomorrow, Wednesday, at 4:00 pm,
room 129.

This evening, please take a few minutes and call members of the House
Education Committee.  Let them know you want them to support HB 264 "for
the sake of the children."  :)  Remember to be polite, but firm and
clear.  If you are a constituent of any committee members, please call
that member first, letting them know you are a constituent.  Then (or if
none of them are your rep) please call other members.  I've not bothered
to paste in home address so regardless of your area code or that of the
legislator, any of these could be long distance for you and require
1+area code+number.  Try it without the one first, then add the 1 if you
need it.

Email is better than nothing, but not nearly as good as a personal call.
Do both if possible.  Or, at least call a couple and email the rest.  I
suggest the use of the blind carbon copy (bcc) field when emailing more
than one and using a generic greeting like "Honorable Representative".
Be sure to include your name and phone number and/or postal address in
your email.  Cut and paste email addresses and email body (if you'd like
to use it) follow the committee members.

Committee members are:

Rep. Margaret Dayton (R) , Chair  [e-mail]  801-221-0623

 Rep. Loraine T. Pace (R) , Vice Chair [e-mail]  435-753-6154

 Rep. Jeff Alexander (R) [e-mail],  801-375-1092
                                       [e-mail]

 Rep. Duane E. Bourdeaux (D) [e-mail] 801-596-8784

 Rep. Judy Ann Buffmire (D)   [e-mail] 801-266-1862

 Rep. James A. Ferrin  (R) [e-mail]  801-224-6823

 Rep. James R. Gowans (D) [e-mail] 435-882-2120

Rep. David L. Hogue (R) [e-mail] 801-254-1668

 Rep. Bradley T. Johnson (R) [e-mail] 435-529-3227

 Rep. Merlynn T. Newbold  (R)  [e-mail]  801-254-0142

 Rep. LaWanna Shurtliff (D) [e-mail] 801-391-7387

 Rep. Matt Throckmorton (R) [e-mail]   801-489-8342
                                          [e-mail]

Rep. A. Lamont Tyler (R) [e-mail],   801-272-1218
                                               [e-mail]


==========cut and paste addresses===========

[e-mail];   [e-mail];   [e-mail];
 [e-mail]; [e-mail];
[e-mail];
 [e-mail];   [e-mail];
[e-mail];
 [e-mail]; [e-mail];
[e-mail];
[e-mail];  [e-mail];  [e-mail];
  [e-mail]

=============end cut and paste addresses============

=============cut and paste letter====================
Subject: Please support HB 264 - Gun Safety Law Amendments

Dear Honorable Representative,

Please support HB 264 -- Gun Safety Law Amendments and pass it out of the
House Education Committee favorably.

This bill will require that public grade schools provide a very basic
course of safety instruction in the event a child or his/her playmate
should find a gun.  The children will be taught to "Don't touch, leave
the area, and tell an adult."  They will also be taught how to teach this
information to others.  High Schools would be required to provide basic
instruction regarding historical and legal issues regarding firearm
ownership to seniors.  Those seniors would also have the option, with
parental consent, to receive basic hands-on use of a firearm under the
strict supervision of a police officer or other qualified instructor.

Regardless of your position on private firearms ownership or legislative
mandates to schools, the fact remains that most homes in Utah have a gun
and almost no local districts have chosen to offer this essential
education even though they are currently free and encouraged to do so.
Some children will happen upon a gun at some point in their lives and
there is simply no reason for any child to be injured--or to accidently
injure someone else--because they are ignorant concerning basic gun
safety.  Children are currently being MIS-educated concerning the dangers
of guns via video games, movies, television, and other media.  It is our
duty to make sure children are properly educated in this area so they can
avoid injuries.  This is no different than the safety training currently
and routinely given about railroad (or TRAX) tracks, water ditches, power
lines, etc.  This program would utilize community volunteers and present
almost no cost to local school districts.

Please let me know whether you plan to support this common sense bill to
prevent childhood accidents with firearms.

Sincerely,

Your name
Your phone number
Your address

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

- -

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

Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 22:48:14 -0700
From: charles hardy <[e-mail]>
Subject: Town meeting planned for HD 50

Rep. Merlynn Newbold, HD 50, has scheduled a town meeting.  If you live
in her district (or even if you don't but are concerned about /
interested in the issues that come before the committees on which she
sits--like the education committee that will vote on Tuition Tax Credits)
please plan to attend.

It is scheduled for Saturday, February 24th at 4:00 pm in the South
Jordan pubic library.

That is very late in the session, so if you want to give her input on
bills she is likely to see before then, contact her directly.  However,
it is soon enough to give her some good guidance on what we expect and
hope for in the final hours of the session when a lot of bad stuff can
slip through.  It would be great if she heard from several of us that
we'd like her to do two things:

1--Vote against any bill she hasn't personnaly read in its final form.

2--From the floor object when unanamous consent is requested to waive
reading of said bills before a vote is taken.

Please plan to attend.  I'll update if I hear of any changes.

- ----------------
Charles Hardy
<[e-mail]>
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------------------------------

Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 23:26:34 -0700
From: charles hardy <[e-mail]>
Subject: Gun safety bill held in committee

It looks like Rep. Thompson's HB 264 that would require grade schools to
teach basic gun safety met all the expected opposition and then some.
Several amendments were proposed and it looked like the opposition had
plenty of votes to kill the bill outright.  Somewhat surprisingly, it was
Rep. Duane Bourdoux who saved us by moving to hold the bill.  This gives
Rep. Thompson some time to make a few minor technical changes to blunt
the critisism of the educational establishment.  The bill should be heard
again in the near future.

If you haven't yet contacted the house education committee members on
this bill now is the time to do so.  If you have, now is the time to
contact them, ask them where they stand on the bill after hearing it, and
let them know you expect them to support it.  Education committee member
contact info listed below.  Support for and oppossition to this bill
really does cross party lines and the usual conservative/liberal labels
so don't hesitate to contact those you think would normally be opposed to
gun issues or neglect contacting those you would normally think are very
supportive of gun issues.  Remember, this isn't about guns.  It is about
childhood safety.  We in the RKBA community are frequently criticized
(unjstly) as not caring about the safety of children when we oppose
mandatory trigger locks and such.  NOW is the time to make it clear we
fully support the safety of children.

Rememeber, "You can't childproof every gun.  But you can 'gun-proof'
every child with just a little education."

House Education Committee members:

                Alexander, [e-mail], 801-375-1092
                 Bourdeaux, [e-mail], 801-596-8784
                 Buffmire, [e-mail], 801-266-1862
                 Dayton, [e-mail], 801-221-0623
                 Ferrin, [e-mail], 801-224-6823
                 Gowans, [e-mail], 435-882-2120
                 Hogue, [e-mail], 801-254-1668
                 Johnson, [e-mail], 435-529-3227
                 Newbold, [e-mail], 801-254-0142
                 Pace, [e-mail], 435-753-6154
                 Shurtliff, [e-mail], 801-479-0289
                 Throckmorton, [e-mail], 801-489-8342
                 Tyler, [e-mail], 801-272-1218

                 REMEMBER!  Be polite, be firm.  Do not engage in threats
and
                 name-calling.  DO let legislators know that this is very
important to you
                 and will likely affect your future support for them.

Cut and past email addresses:

[e-mail];   [e-mail];   [e-mail];
[e-mail]; [e-mail];
[e-mail];
[e-mail];   [e-mail];  [e-mail];

[e-mail]; [e-mail];
[e-mail];
 [e-mail];  [e-mail];  [e-mail];
[e-mail]


========Cut and paste email body if you'd like to use it==============

Subject: SUPPORT HB 264 - Gun Safety Law Amendments

Honorable members of the House Education Committee:

I am writing to ask you to support HB 264, Gun Safety Law Amendments This

bill is not about "guns in schools", or pushing a pro-gun (or anti-gun)
agenda.  It is not a partisan issue.  It is not even about legislative
mandates to
schools.  It's about protecting our children, something we all agree is
important.

The truth is that even though current law allows the teaching of gun
safety and even though
numerous individuals and organizations have offered to provide materials
and qualified
instructors, most Utah Public schools refuse to teach gun safety - even
though it's really
no different than holding fire drills, teaching safety around power lines
or railroad tracks,
or teaching water safety.  The goal is to keep children safe should they
encounter a firearm.
I wish schools would teach this  lifesaving information on a voluntary
basis, but they don't.

Many parents don't know basic firearms safety, and aren't able to their
children.
And too often, these parents trust mechanical solutions  like trigger
locks (which have a
very high incidence of failure and cannot be counted on to be in place
when a criminal
discards a gun near a playground), instead of providing their children
with survival skills.

Please SUPPORT HB 264, Gun Safety Law Amendments.  If it saves only one
child, won't
it be worth it?

I consider this a high priority bill, and will be interested to see how
you vote.

Thank you for your attention.

                 YOUR NAME
                 YOUR ADDRESS

==========end email body====================================


- ----------------
Charles Hardy
<[e-mail]>
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------------------------------

Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 09:12:14 -0700
From: charles hardy <[e-mail]>
Subject: Fw: SAF: Responses Refuting Bellesiles Claims

- ----------------
Charles Hardy
<[e-mail]>

- --------- Forwarded message ----------
SAF: Responses Refuting Bellesiles Claims


SAF has put together a good web page of responses countering Bellesile's
claims that guns were rarely owned or used in pre-civil war America.

  http://www.saf.org/pub/rkba/general/GunsInEarlyAmerica.htm

Included are links to critical responses by Cramer, Malcom, Halbrook,
Lindgren and Lee, Stromberg, Suprynowicz, NRA, About.com, and even the
Washington Post.  It also has some quotes from founders such as:

"If this now flourishing City, and greatly improving   Colony, is
destroy'd
and ruin'd, it will not be for   want of Numbers of Inhabitants able to
bear
Arms in
  its defence. 'Tis computed that we have at least   (exclusive of
Quakers)
60,000 Fighting Men, acquainted   with Fire-Arms, many of them Hunters
and
Marksmen,   hardy and bold."

  Benjamin Franklin (1747), B.F. Papers, vol. III, p.202


"I enclose you a list of the killed, wounded, and   captives of the enemy
from the commencement of   hostilities at Lexington in April, 1775, until
November, 1777, since which there has been no event   of any
consequence...
I think that upon the whole it   has been about one half the number lost
by
them, in some instances more, but in others less. This difference is
ascribed to our superiority in taking aim when we fire; every soldier in
our
army having been intimate with his gun from his infancy."

  Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Giovanni Fabbroni, June 8, 1778.

More at the site.
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------------------------------

Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 09:03:20 -0700
From: charles hardy <[e-mail]>
Subject: Fw: [UTGOA] Bill of Rights, Gun Safety, More bills to watch

The latest for UTGOA including more info on the gun safety bill.

- ----------------
Charles Hardy
<[e-mail]>

- --------- Forwarded message ----------
Bill of Rights Day
Gun Safety Education
Important changes: HB 266 and HB 95
Constitutional Convention
School Surveys
CCW Reciprocity


BILL OF RIGHTS DAY - HB 133, HJR 10 - Philpot

Good news!  The two Bill of Rights Day Bills, HB 133 and HJR 10 passed
the
House unanimously today!  HB 133 was amended to also create Constitution
Day on Sept. 17, an amendment we support.  Utah Gun Owners Alliance would

like to thank Rep. Philpot and the members of the House for their support

of our Constitution and Bill of Rights.

These bills will now go to the Senate.  Please let YOUR Senator know that

you would like him/her to support HB 133 and HJR 10.


GUN SAFETY EDUCATION - HB 264 - Thompson

HB 264, Gun Safety Law Amendments was debated by the House Education
Committee today.  The bill met with a lot of resistance.  It was amended
to
make the secondary school safety education optional.  (The amendment is
not
yet available.)  There was a lot of opposition to "mandating" safety
education.

However, there are already provisions for voluntary safety education in
place - and they're generally ignored.  UTGOA doesn't understand the
objection to teaching something that will save children's lives -
especially when we mandate so many other programs that are far less
important.  Isn't it worth spending an hour or two to keep our children
safe?

The committee voted to hold the bill to give Rep. Thompson a chance to
revise the bill to deal with some of the objections.

Please contact members of the House Education committee (see previous
alert
for  their names) and encourage them to support HB 264.  If they voice
objections to the bill, ask them to tell you specifically what they think

needs to be done so that they will support the bill.  And please let
UTGOA
know what responses you get.

Thanks to those of you who took the time to attend the hearing.


CHANGES

Utah Gun Owners Alliance has changed its position on the following bills,

due the changes in the bill language.

HB 266 - RESTORATION OF RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS - THROCKMORTON
UTGOA position: OPPOSE

HB 266 apparently intends to make it possible for those who have been
committed to a psychiatric institution to petition to regain their gun
rights.  However, as written, the bill would do nothing, since it depends

on the federal government to  fund such petitions at the federal level.

In addition, the bill has been amended to provide that a person must not
be
receiving treatment or taking any medication in order to regain his
rights.

UTGOA is not quite sure why someone who recognizes that he has an illness

and cooperates with treatment should be punished for being
responsible.  We're not sure why someone should be forced to choose
between
the right to self-defense and necessary medical treatment.

People who are under psychiatric care and are taking medications are
currently permitted to work as teachers, doctors, lawyers, social
workers,
and legislators.  Why should they be forbidden to own guns?

UTGOA believes that anyone who is too dangerous to own a gun should not
be
permitted to serve in ANY position of public trust.

If a person can prove he's not a danger to others, what difference does
it
make what medications he takes?  And if he can't prove he's not a danger
to
others, whether or not he takes medications is irrelevant.

This bill will not help restore gun rights, and it will open the door to
barring anyone who's ever received mental health treatment from owning a
gun.

HB 266 has passed the House and is now in the Senate.  Please ask YOUR
Senator to OPPOSE HB 266, 1st substitute.


HB 95 - REGULATIONS OF PAWN SHOPS - MURRAY
This bill has been substituted and we are currently reviewing it to see
if
it addresses our objections.


MORE BILLS TO WATCH!

HJR 15: RESOLUTION RESCINDING THE CALL FOR CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION -
FIFE
UTGOA position: SUPPORT

HJR 15 "urges the repealing, rescinding and superseding of all
applications
to Congress for a constitutional convention".  It also urges other states

to do the same.

The Utah legislature has previously voted to support a constitutional
convention.  Such a convention would make it possible to rewrite the
Constitution completely and would pose a serious threat to our entire
system of government.  We would also almost certainly see attempts to
remove the Second Amendment.

Our existing procedures for amending the Constitution have worked well
for
over 200 years.  Rewriting the entire document is neither necessary nor
advisable.

HJR 15 will be heard by the House Political Subdivisions Committee on
Thursday, Feb. 15, at 8 AM, Room 223.  Please let committee members know
that you would like them to SUPPORT HJR 15.

Committee members:
Rep. David L. Hogue, Chair
Rep. David N. Cox, Vice Chair
Rep. Sheryl L. Allen
Rep. Ralph Becker
Rep. Stephen D. Clark
Rep. Fred J. Fife
Rep. Joseph G. Murray
Rep. Darin G. Peterson
Rep. LaWanna "Lou" Shurtliff
Rep. David Ure
Rep. Max W. Young

Contact info is at: http://www.utgoa.org/resources/legcontact01.html


HB 355: PUBLIC SCHOOLS SURVEYS AMENDMENTS - KING
UTGOA position: OPPOSE

HB 355 will allow government schools to question children about "matters
related to youth violence, or to the use of alcohol, drugs or tobacco"
without parental consent.  In other words, they will be able to ask your
children if you have guns at home, if they're loaded, how they're stored,

etc. - without your permission.

The school would have to send a letter to let you know they plan to do a
survey and if you want to see it, you'll have to go to the school.  If
the
letter gets lost, or if you're a non-custodial parent, you're out of
luck.

Earlier today we heard over and over again that no student should be
"forced" to learn gun safety, and that it should require a note from
parents to participate.  If teaching life-saving skills requires parental

permission, shouldn't the same hold true for participation in intrusive
surveys?

We were also told that teachers are so terribly overworked that they
can't
possibly find time to include one hour of gun safety education without
seriously affecting our children's academic progress.  If there's not
even
an hour to save kids' lives, how is there time to administer surveys that

have no direct benefit to children at all?

Except in the case of child abuse, there is no excuse for questioning
children without parental consent.  And precious school time should be
devoted to education, not surveys.

HB 355 is currently in House Rules - where we hope it stays!  Please let
your Representative know that you would like him/her to support parental
rights and OPPOSE HB 355.


HB 376: CONCEALED WEAPONS PERMIT HOLDERS - RECIPROCITY is now available
online at http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2001/htmdoc/hbillhtm/HB0376.htm.

HB 376 will require that Utah honor carry permits from any state or
county.  It will also require that BCI actively request that other states

recognize Utah permits.  UTGOA enthusiastically supports this bill.  It
has
not yet been assigned to a committee; we'll let you know as soon as we
do.

Please thank Rep. Donnelson for sponsoring HB 376
([e-mail]) and let YOUR legislators know you expect them

to vote YES.

Copyright 2001, Utah Gun Owners Alliance, Inc. and Sarah Thompson
PO Box 1185
Sandy, UT 84091
801-566-1625
http://www.utgoa.org
[e-mail]

PLEASE SUPPORT UTAH GUN OWNERS ALLIANCE!  JOIN US TODAY!

Did someone forward this to you?  Please SUBSCRIBE NOW!  That way you'll
receive our FREE alerts as soon as they're released.  During the
legislative session, we send urgent, time limited alerts.  Don't risk
missing important information because someone else neglected to forward
important information.  Our alerts are low volume and average less than
one
alert per day.

To subscribe to the UTGOA list, send a blank email to
[e-mail] or use the form on our web site,
http://www.utgoa.org. For more information, see
http://www.egroups.com/group/UTGOA.

UTGOA is written and distributed by, Utah Gun Owners Alliance, Inc.
www.utgoa.org, and Sarah Thompson, M.D.  All information contained in
these
alerts is the responsibility of the author, unless otherwise attributed.

Permission is granted for distribution of these alerts so long as no
changes are made, UTGOA is clearly credited, and this message is left
intact.

Archives of the UTGOA alerts can be found at:
http://www.utgoa.org/cgi-bin/alerts

Utah Gun Owners Alliance, Inc. is a Utah non-profit corporation.
________________________________________________________________
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- -

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

Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 11:04:15 -0700
From: "Scott Bergeson" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Father Murphy and the Million Mom March

Father Murphy and the Million Mom March
- ----------
by David Dieteman
   Today's gun control advocates should listen to "Boulavogue," an
   Irish folk song about a priest who convinced his parishioners to
   surrender their arms to the English, then led them in rebellion
   with a few remaining weapons when he realized his mistake.
   (02/14/01)
http://www.lewrockwell.com/dieteman/dieteman19.html

- -

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

Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 15:36:29 -0700
From: charles hardy <[e-mail]>
Subject: Fw: HJR 15 (pro U.S. Constitution) cmtee hearing Thurs 2-15-01 8am rm 223

Of importance to anyone who values any or all of our bill of rights.

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



Dear friend,

As many of you know, a Constitutional Convention, also known as a ConCon,
(vrs. a Constitutional Amendment) would have the power to re-write the
entire U.S. Constitution.

There has never been an Article V Constitutional Convention since our
current U.S. Constitution was ratified.  Sadly, Utah is one of several
states with a standing call for a ConCon.  Realizing the threat to the
U.S. Constitution that a ConCon poses, several states have recently
repealed their calls for a ConCon.

HJR 15 would repeal all of Utah's calls for a ConCon.  HJR 15 will put
Utah on the books as being pro-Constitution instead of being on the books
as anti-Constitution (calling for a convention implies we need a new
Constitution).

Please attend the House Standing Committee hearing on HJR 15 tomorrow
(Thursday, February 15, 2001) at 8:00 am, in RM 223 (in the State Capitol
Building), if at all possible, in support of HJR 15.

I have included a flyer below with some key points about why HJR 15
should be approved and Utah's calls for a ConCon repealed.

Thanks!

- --Carlton


CITIZEN ALERT


Dear Citizen of Utah, please ask your Legislators to rescind (invalidate)
all calls for a Constitutional Convention, which still remain on their
books.

Article V of our Constitution allows amendments to be made two ways. The
only method which has been used since 1787 requires a "yes" vote from two
thirds of both the House and the Senate, plus ratification (approval) by
three quarters of the states. This procedure is reasonably safe. The
other way, a Constitutional Convention (sometimes called an Article V
convention or a Con Con) is dangerous. Recently, several State
Legislatures, hoping to bye-pass Congress and to push through a
single-issue amendment, such as a Balanced Budget Amendment,

have applied to Congress for a convention. It is an erroneous belief that
state Legislatures

can control the convention and limit it to a single issue of their
choosing.

LetÆs look at why a Constitutional Convention can be very dangerous.

Although, the states may have asked for it, they have absolutely no
control over it.

Article V gives the states no power to:

- -Decide which topics will be considered, or limit it to a one-issue
convention.

- -Choose who the delegates to the convention will be, or how they will be
chosen.

- -Write the desired amendment(s).

- -Object, or withdraw, if the convention does not do what they intended it
to do.

Congress is given a blank check in choosing:

- -Where the convention will be held.

- -How many delegates the states may have, and how they will be chosen.

(Note: There is no constitutional guarantee that every state will have at
least one delegate.)

Now û The most dangerous part

Once the delegates are chosen, only the Convention is empowered by
Article V to determine the number and content of the proposed amendments.
The Convention is not bound by any limitations from the States, Congress
or the people.

Chief Justice Burger said, "No one tells a Con Con what to do.. Its
powers are unlimited." Once the Convention is called, there is no way to
stop wholesale changes to our constitution or Bill of Rights. The
delegates may use their power to re-write the rules, the Constitution, or
the means of ratifying their proposals. Chief Justice Burger further
stated, "After a Convention is convened, it will be too late to stop the
Convention if we donÆt like its agendaà..A new Convention could plunge
our Nation into constitutional confusion and confrontation at every turnà
and I am glad to see states rescinding their previous resolutions
requesting a Convention".

All applications to Congress for a Con Con remain active on their books,
regardless of subject matter. If 34 states apply for a convention, for
any reason, Congress must call it. 32 states have already applied. The
good news is that recently four states (Idaho is one) have rescinded all
their applications. It is time for Utah to do the same. Please call your
elected state representatives and ask them to sponsor or co-sponsor a
bill to rescind UtahÆs calls for a Con Con.

State
Rep:_____________________________________________________________________
_

State
Senate:__________________________________________________________________
__

For more info & documents call:    Kay Garske   801-466-2248




________________________________________________________________
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- -

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

Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 11:21:08 -0700
From: charles hardy <[e-mail]>
Subject: Resistance to Gun Safety Bill

The following is an excerpt of  Rep. L. Pace's response to my inquiry
regarding her position on HB 264, gun safety education.  Please try to
contact Rep. Pace and encourage her to support this important bill.
Please do not include her original response to me in any email you send,
but please do contact her.  Please be polite but firm, and if you are a
constituent, let her know you consider this bill critical to how you cast
your votes in the future.

Loraine T. Pace
District 4
Party (R)
Mailing Address: 435 East 900 North Logan, Utah 84321
Phone: (home) 435-753-6154 (fax) 435-753-5013
Email:<[e-mail]>


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

Although the issue is of great importance, it is difficult to mandate one
more thing for the teachers to fit into their schedules to have taught.
There are good pamphlets generated that could be made available to
parents to take care of that teaching in the home.  After school or
weekend workshops would also be an alternative.  Rep. Pace
________________________________________________________________
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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 11:49:56 -0700
From: "Scott Bergeson" <[e-mail]>
Subject: URLs

Some of these are reluctant to load today.

Soccer moms vs. soccer moms in battle over guns
- ----------
   In Michigan, authoritarian soccer moms opposed to the right to
   bear arms are being fought to a stand-still by the only opponents
   with the clout to take them on -- other soccer moms. Pro-freedom
   women threatened to boycott a soccer league if the "Million Moms"
   didn't stop using it as a platform for their anti-gun agenda.
   (02/15/01)
http://www.freep.com/news/metro/moms14_20010214.htm

Do gun laws cause Maryland's sky-high crime?
- ----------
   The Maryland Citizens Defense League, a gun rights group,
   charges that Maryland's number one nationwide ranking for
   armed robberies is a result of restrictive gun laws that
   "promote victim disarmament." (02/15/01)
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=21722

Zero tolerance or hidden agenda?
- ----------
by Dean L. Kalahar
   Schools across America have jumped on the "zero tolerance"
   bandwagon in a knee-jerk reaction to the tragedy at Columbine
   ... and as a weapon for special interest groups to advance their
   political cause. (02/14/01)
http://www.educationnews.org/inside_the_classroom.htm

- -

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

Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 22:31:56 -0700
From: charles hardy <[e-mail]>
Subject: FW: Special Event Notice

One last, quick reminder about Eddie Eagle at the Safe Kids Expo
tomorrow, Saturday.
- ----------------
Charles Hardy
<[e-mail]>

- --------- Forwarded message ----------
SAFE KIDS EXPO

Please bring your children to the Safe Kids Expo on Saturday, Feb. 17 at
the
new South Towne Exposition Center at 9575 So. State St., Sandy, Utah
84070.
The Safe Kids Expo runs from 10-5.  Special guest star is Eddie Eagle,
and
Eddie Eagle gun safety coloring books and other info will be available.
There will be info on a wide variety of safety issues, not just gun
safety.
________________________________________________________________
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------------------------------

End of utah-firearms-digest V2 #205
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