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NRA-ILA FAX ALERT=20
Vol. 8, No. 15 4/13/01=20
PREPARE FOR RENEWED ATTACKS
ON GUN SHOWS WHEN CONGRESS RETURNS
Congress is still on recess for its Easter District Work Period (House =
scheduled to return April 20, Senate scheduled to return April 22), so =
now is a good time to set up face-to-face meetings with your federal =
lawmakers at their district offices. The gun-ban extremists in D.C. have =
already set their sights on gun shows, and U.S. Senator Jack Reed =
(D-R.I.) is poised to introduce his version of the legislation =
championed by former U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) that sought =
to end gun shows as we know them today. The Senate will soon take up the =
issue of education reform, and we anticipate that Reed and fellow =
gun-ban extremists such as U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and =
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) will be working with the gun-ban lobby, HCI, to =
attach Reed's assault on gun shows, as well as other anti-gun =
amendments, to any education legislation brought up for consideration. =
Try to schedule personal meetings with your Senators-or contact them by =
letter or phone call-to express your opposition to any assaults on our =
Right to Keep and Bear Arms. For those on the Internet, you can also use =
the "Write Your Reps" tool at NRAILA.org.=20

Also remember to urge your U.S. Representative to oppose S. 27, the =
McCain-Feingold campaign finance "reform" legislation that was passed by =
the Senate. This bill would severely restrict our ability to provide =
timely information-including information on lawmakers' positions on =
firearm-related issues-to our membership and tens of millions of other =
law-abiding gun owners.=20

Finally, be sure to contact the offices of both your Senators and your =
Representative to see if they have any Town Hall Meetings scheduled over =
the next week. If so, be sure to attend, and bring your family, friends, =
and fellow gun owners, so that you can take advantage of any =
opportunities to express your support for the Second Amendment. If you =
learn of any of these meetings, be sure to share the information with =
the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division, so we may alert others. To find out =
your federal lawmaker's district office number, you can call the U.S. =
House switchboard at (202) 225-3121, and the U.S. Senate switchboard at =
(202) 224-3121. Just ask for your lawmaker's office, and someone there =
will be able to tell you the closest district office to where you live. =
Also for those on the Internet, if you go to=20

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
SET TO HONOR CONTROVERSIAL RESEARCHER
Next week, Columbia University will bestow its Bancroft Prize-an award =
it touts as "one of the most prestigious awards in the field of =
history"-upon Michael Bellesiles of Emory University, author of last =
year's "Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture." =
Bellesiles's book, according to the author, is a culmination of research =
that indicates that most Americans around the time of our country's =
formation did not own firearms. This, of course, is contrary to reams of =
scholarly research showing that America has always been a nation where =
the possession of firearms by responsible, law-abiding citizens has been =
widespread.=20

While this book was received with high praise from gun-ban extremists =
and the anti-gun media (the New York Times actually gave the book praise =
before it was ever released), an editorial by Kimberley Strassel from =
the April 5 issue of The Wall Street Journal points out that =
Bellesiles's research has been under fire by many respected scholars. =
Thus far, however, Bellesiles has refused to produce anything of =
substance that would counter the claims of his critics. Gerald =
Rosenberg, a visiting professor of law at Northwestern, told Strassel, =
"...[T]he evidence is so overwhelming that it is incumbent upon =
Bellesiles as a serious scholar to respond. He either has to admit =
error, or somehow show how his work is right."=20

UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh has pointed to examples of Bellesiles =
either misquoting sources, or citing sources that do not contain the =
information the Emory professor claims they contain. Bentley College =
history professor Joyce Lee Malcolm, author of "To Keep and Bear Arms: =
The Origins of an Anglo-American Right," referred to Bellesiles's use of =
travel narratives, which he claims failed to mention the use of guns for =
hunting. But Malcolm states that "Arming America" makes no mention of =
the same narratives referring to guns outside of the context of hunting. =
And Northwestern professor of law James Lindgren tackles what many =
reviewers have considered to be the most compelling aspect of Bellesiles =
research-his use of probate records, which are basically inventories of =
someone's estate at his time of death. Bellesiles claimes his research =
shows that only 14.7% of American men, and virtually no women, owned =
firearms, and he goes on to claim that most guns were old or broken. But =
Lindgren says he went over the same records that Bellesiles cited, and =
found that 54% of American men, and 18% of the women, owned firearms, =
with no indication that most were listed as old or broken. Lindgren =
stated, "No one who has seen the evidence can figure out how he could =
have made such errors, or why he has not retracted the obviously =
mistaken data."=20

According to Strassel, Bellesiles told her that many of his critics are =
"ideologically motivated," but she points out that Rosenberg and =
Lindgren all told her that they favor gun control. Bellesiles has also =
revealed that he did not keep a database (rather odd in the age of =
computers), but kept all his data on paper notes, and he claims these =
paper notes were recently destroyed in a flood. Randolph Roth, an =
associate history professor at Ohio State who also supports gun control, =
examined Lindgren's work on probate records and commented that "it looks =
as though Mr. Bellesiles work won't be reproducible."=20

In an effort to present a different view to Bellesiles's, Ron Lewenberg, =
President of the Columbia College Conservative Club, has been working =
with university officials to try to schedule a panel of researchers and =
scholars to discuss "Arming America" next Wednesday, April 18, the day =
Bellesiles is scheduled to receive his recognition from the university. =
At this time, it is unclear if the school will accommodate this request, =
but if it does, tentatively scheduled to appear are Yale professor John =
Lott, author of "More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun =
Control Laws," and Clayton Cramer, author of several historical books, =
including "For the Defense of Themselves: The Original Intent and =
Judicial Interpretation of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms." Bellesiles =
declined an invitation to appear as well. We should have more =
information on this tentative panel discussion next week, so if you are =
interested in finding out more, please call the Grassroots Division at =
(800) 392-8683.=20


A LOOK AT THE STATES
CALIFORNIA=20

SB 52, a bill that seeks to require licensing of all handgun purchasers, =
will be heard by the Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, April =
17. Contact members of the committee and urge them to oppose SB 52. For =
a list of committee members, call NRA-ILA Grassroots, or use the "Write =
Your Reps" tool at NRAILA.org.=20

FLORIDA=20

SB 412, a bill that seeks to protect firearm manufacturers from =
reckless, politically-motivated lawsuits aimed at bankrupting them, =
passed the Florida Senate on a vote of 27-12. The bill was immediately =
certified to the House and will be awaiting consideration when lawmakers =
return from Easter recess next week.=20

LOUISIANA=20

SB 425, a bill that sought to make gun owners criminally liable if a =
juvenile gained access to one of their handguns and caused it to =
discharge, or used it to harm another-even if that juvenile accessed the =
handgun by theft, trespass, or other unlawful means-was defeated by the =
Louisiana Senate on a vote of 27-9. If passed into law, SB 425 could =
have caused gun owners to lose their homeowners' insurance if accidents =
involving juveniles occurred in their homes.=20

MINNESOTA=20

House File 1360, the NRA-backed Personal Protection Act that seeks to =
allow all trained, law-abiding citizens to obtain permits to carry =
concealed handguns for personal protection, passed the Minnesota House =
by an overwhelming margin, on a 85-45 vote. Unfortunately, when it was =
time to bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote, a group of =
anti-gun state senators voted to keep the bill from even being =
considered. For the names and numbers of those senators who voted =
against your right to personal protection, contact NRA-ILA Grassroots, =
or use the "Write Your Reps" tool.=20

TENNESSEE=20

The House Judiciary Civil Practices Subcommittee still has not =
considered HB 227, a bill that seeks to allow Right to Carry permit =
holders to carry firearms for self-defense in grocery and convenience =
stores that sell alcohol for off-site consumption. Contact Subcommittee =
Chair Representative Kim McMillan (D) at (615) 741-2043, and ask that =
she bring this important bill up for a vote when the subcommittee meets =
this Tuesday, April 17. Also on Tuesday, the House State and Local =
Government Committee will hear HB 221, a bill that seeks to authorize =
municipalities to heavily regulate the use of firearms under certain =
conditions, such as banning hunting and regulating shooting range =
activity. Contact committee members and urge them to oppose HB 221. For =
a list of committee members, please contact NRA-ILA Grassroots, or use =
the "Write Your Reps" tool.=20

TEXAS=20

The House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee passed HB 367, a bill that =
seeks to mandate a federal records check using the flawed NICS system =
prior to the sale of any firearm at a gun show (other than a sale to a =
CHL holder). Although the bill has not yet been scheduled for action by =
the full House, NRA members should begin calling their State =
Representatives at (512) 463-4630 and urge them to oppose HB 367. =
href=3D"http://www.bushtaxrelief.com/townhall.asp">http://www.bushtaxreli=
ef. com/townhall.asp, you can find information on some town hall =
meetings.=20


-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-------

Having difficulty finding ILA-related info? Try our FAQ Sheet=20

NRAILA.org is maintained for the NRA by=20
Mainstream Electronic Information Services=20

Homepage established 1994 by the NRA Institute for Legislative Action=20
11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030=20




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<DIV>
<CENTER>
<H2>NRA-ILA FAX ALERT </H2>
<H3></CENTER>Vol. 8, No. 15 4/13/01 </H3>
<CENTER><B>PREPARE FOR RENEWED ATTACKS<BR>ON GUN SHOWS WHEN CONGRESS=20
RETURNS</CENTER></B>
<P>Congress is still on recess for its <B>Easter District Work =
Period</B> (House=20
scheduled to return April 20, Senate scheduled to return April 22), so =
now is a=20
good time to set up face-to-face meetings with your federal lawmakers at =
their=20
district offices. The gun-ban extremists in D.C. have already set their =
sights=20
on gun shows, and <B>U.S. Senator Jack Reed</B> (D-R.I.) is poised to =
introduce=20
his version of the legislation championed by former <B>U.S. Senator =
Frank=20
Lautenberg</B> (D-N.J.) that sought to end gun shows as we know them =
today. The=20
Senate will soon take up the issue of <B>education reform</B>, and we =
anticipate=20
that Reed and fellow gun-ban extremists such as <B>U.S. Senators Dianne=20
Feinstein</B> (D-Calif.) and <B>Chuck Schumer</B> (D-N.Y.) will be =
working with=20
the gun-ban lobby, <B>HCI</B>, to attach Reed's assault on gun shows, as =
well as=20
other anti-gun amendments, to any education legislation brought up for=20
consideration. <I><U>Try to schedule personal meetings with your =
Senators&#8212;or=20
contact them by letter or phone call&#8212;to express your opposition to =
any assaults=20
on our <B>Right to Keep and Bear Arms</B>. For those on the Internet, =
you can=20
also use the "Write Your Reps" tool at NRAILA.org.</I></U>=20
<P>Also remember to urge your U.S. Representative to oppose <B>S. =
27</B>, the=20
<B>McCain-Feingold</B> campaign finance "reform" legislation that was =
passed by=20
the Senate. This bill would severely restrict our ability to provide =
timely=20
information&#8212;including information on lawmakers' positions on =
firearm-related=20
issues&#8212;to our membership and tens of millions of other law-abiding =
gun owners.=20
<P>Finally, be sure to contact the offices of both your Senators and =
your=20
Representative to see if they have any <B>Town Hall Meetings</B> =
scheduled over=20
the next week. If so, be sure to attend, and bring your family, friends, =
and=20
fellow gun owners, so that you can take advantage of any opportunities =
to=20
express your support for the <B>Second Amendment</B>. If you learn of =
any of=20
these meetings, be sure to share the information with the NRA-ILA =
Grassroots=20
Division, so we may alert others. <I><U>To find out your federal =
lawmaker's=20
district office number, you can call the U.S. House switchboard at (202) =

225-3121, and the U.S. Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Just ask =
for your=20
lawmaker's office, and someone there will be able to tell you the =
closest=20
district office to where you live. Also for those on the Internet, if =
you go to=20
<A <P><B>
<CENTER>COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY<BR>SET TO HONOR CONTROVERSIAL=20
RESEARCHER</B></CENTER>
<P>Next week, <B>Columbia University</B> will bestow its <B>Bancroft=20
Prize</B>&#8212;an award it touts as "one of the most prestigious awards =
in the field=20
of history"&#8212;upon <B>Michael Bellesiles</B> of <B>Emory =
University</B>, author of=20
last year's "<B>Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun =
Culture</B>."=20
Bellesiles's book, according to the author, is a culmination of research =
that=20
indicates that most Americans around the time of our country's formation =
did not=20
own firearms. This, of course, is contrary to reams of scholarly =
research=20
showing that America has always been a nation where the possession of =
firearms=20
by responsible, law-abiding citizens has been widespread.=20
<P>While this book was received with high praise from gun-ban extremists =
and the=20
anti-gun media (the <I><B>New York Times</I></B> actually gave the book =
praise=20
before it was ever released), an editorial by <B>Kimberley Strassel</B> =
from the=20
<B>April 5</B> issue of <I><B>The Wall Street Journal</I></B> points out =
that=20
Bellesiles's research has been under fire by many respected scholars. =
Thus far,=20
however, Bellesiles has refused to produce anything of substance that =
would=20
counter the claims of his critics. <B>Gerald Rosenberg</B>, a visiting =
professor=20
of law at <B>Northwestern</B>, told Strassel, "...[T]he evidence is so=20
overwhelming that it is incumbent upon Bellesiles as a serious scholar =
to=20
respond. He either has to admit error, or somehow show how his work is =
right."=20
<P><B>UCLA</B> law professor <B>Eugene Volokh</B> has pointed to =
examples of=20
Bellesiles either misquoting sources, or citing sources that do not =
contain the=20
information the Emory professor claims they contain. <B>Bentley =
College</B>=20
history professor <B>Joyce Lee Malcolm</B>, author of "<B>To Keep and =
Bear Arms:=20
The Origins of an Anglo-American Right</B>," referred to Bellesiles's =
use of=20
travel narratives, which he claims failed to mention the use of guns for =

hunting. But Malcolm states that "Arming America" makes no mention of =
the same=20
narratives referring to guns outside of the context of hunting. And =
Northwestern=20
professor of law <B>James Lindgren</B> tackles what many reviewers have=20
considered to be the most compelling aspect of Bellesiles =
research&#8212;his use of=20
probate records, which are basically inventories of someone's estate at =
his time=20
of death. Bellesiles claimes his research shows that only 14.7% of =
American men,=20
and virtually no women, owned firearms, and he goes on to claim that =
most guns=20
were old or broken. But Lindgren says he went over the same records that =

Bellesiles cited, and found that 54% of American men, and 18% of the =
women,=20
owned firearms, with no indication that most were listed as old or =
broken.=20
Lindgren stated, "No one who has seen the evidence can figure out how he =
could=20
have made such errors, or why he has not retracted the obviously =
mistaken data."=20

<P>According to Strassel, Bellesiles told her that many of his critics =
are=20
"ideologically motivated," but she points out that Rosenberg and =
Lindgren all=20
told her that they favor gun control. Bellesiles has also revealed that =
he did=20
not keep a database (rather odd in the age of computers), but kept all =
his data=20
on paper notes, and he claims these paper notes were recently destroyed =
in a=20
flood. <B>Randolph Roth</B>, an associate history professor at <B>Ohio =
State</B>=20
who also supports gun control, examined Lindgren's work on probate =
records and=20
commented that "it looks as though Mr. Bellesiles work won't be =
reproducible."=20
<P>In an effort to present a different view to Bellesiles's, <B>Ron=20
Lewenberg</B>, <B>President of the Columbia College Conservative =
Club</B>, has=20
been working with university officials to try to schedule a panel of =
researchers=20
and scholars to discuss "Arming America" next <B>Wednesday</B>, <B>April =
18</B>,=20
the day Bellesiles is scheduled to receive his recognition from the =
university.=20
At this time, it is unclear if the school will accommodate this request, =
but if=20
it does, tentatively scheduled to appear are <B>Yale</B> professor =
<B>John=20
Lott</B>, author of "<B>More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and =
Gun=20
Control Laws</B>," and <B>Clayton Cramer</B>, author of several =
historical=20
books, including "<B>For the Defense of Themselves: The Original Intent =
and=20
Judicial Interpretation of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms</B>." =
Bellesiles=20
declined an invitation to appear as well. <I><U>We should have more =
information=20
on this tentative panel discussion next week, so if you are interested =
in=20
finding out more, please call the Grassroots Division at (800) =
392-8683.</I></U>=20

<P>
<CENTER><B>A LOOK AT THE STATES</CENTER></B>
<P><B>CALIFORNIA</B>=20
<P><B>SB 52</B>, a bill that seeks to require licensing of all handgun=20
purchasers, will be heard by the <B>Senate Public Safety Committee</B> =
on=20
<B>Tuesday</B>, <B>April 17</B>. <I><U>Contact members of the committee =
and urge=20
them to oppose SB 52. For a list of committee members, call NRA-ILA =
Grassroots,=20
or use the "Write Your Reps" tool at NRAILA.org.</I></U>=20
<P><B>FLORIDA</B>=20
<P><B>SB 412</B>, a bill that seeks to protect firearm manufacturers =
from=20
reckless, politically-motivated lawsuits aimed at bankrupting them, =
passed the=20
<B>Florida Senate</B> on a vote of 27-12. The bill was immediately =
certified to=20
the House and will be awaiting consideration when lawmakers return from =
Easter=20
recess next week.=20
<P><B>LOUISIANA</B>=20
<P><B>SB 425</B>, a bill that sought to make gun owners criminally =
liable if a=20
juvenile gained access to one of their handguns and caused it to =
discharge, or=20
used it to harm another&#8212;even if that juvenile accessed the handgun =
by theft,=20
trespass, or other unlawful means&#8212;was defeated by the <B>Louisiana =
Senate</B> on=20
a vote of 27-9. If passed into law, SB 425 could have caused gun owners =
to lose=20
their homeowners' insurance if accidents involving juveniles occurred in =
their=20
homes.=20
<P><B>MINNESOTA</B>=20
<P><B>House File 1360</B>, the NRA-backed <B>Personal Protection Act</B> =
that=20
seeks to allow all trained, law-abiding citizens to obtain permits to =
carry=20
concealed handguns for personal protection, passed the <B>Minnesota =
House</B> by=20
an overwhelming margin, on a 85-45 vote. Unfortunately, when it was time =
to=20
bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote, a group of anti-gun state =

senators voted to keep the bill from even being considered. <I><U>For =
the names=20
and numbers of those senators who voted against your right to personal=20
protection, contact NRA-ILA Grassroots, or use the "Write Your Reps"=20
tool.</I></U>=20
<P><B>TENNESSEE</B>=20
<P>The <B>House Judiciary Civil Practices Subcommittee</B> still has not =

considered <B>HB 227</B>, a bill that seeks to allow <B>Right to =
Carry</B>=20
permit holders to carry firearms for self-defense in grocery and =
convenience=20
stores that sell alcohol for off-site consumption. <I><U>Contact =
<B>Subcommittee=20
Chair Representative Kim McMillan</B> (D) at (615) 741-2043, and ask =
that she=20
bring this important bill up for a vote when the subcommittee meets this =

<B>Tuesday</B>, <B>April 17</B>.</I></U> Also on Tuesday, the <B>House =
State and=20
Local Government Committee</B> will hear <B>HB 221</B>, a bill that =
seeks to=20
authorize municipalities to heavily regulate the use of firearms under =
certain=20
conditions, such as banning hunting and regulating shooting range =
activity.=20
<I><U>Contact committee members and urge them to oppose HB 221. For a =
list of=20
committee members, please contact NRA-ILA Grassroots, or use the "Write =
Your=20
Reps" tool.</I></U>=20
<P><B>TEXAS</B>=20
<P>The <B>House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee</B> passed <B>HB =
367</B>, a=20
bill that seeks to mandate a federal records check using the flawed NICS =
system=20
prior to the sale of any firearm at a gun show (other than a sale to a =
CHL=20
holder). <I><U>Although the bill has not yet been scheduled for action =
by the=20
full House, NRA members should begin calling their State Representatives =
at=20
(512) 463-4630 and urge them to oppose HB 367.</I></U>=20
href=3D"http://www.bushtaxrelief.com/townhall.asp"&gt;http://www.bushtaxr=
elief.=20
com/townhall.asp</A>, you can find information on some town hall=20
meetings.</I></U>=20
<HR noShade>

<CENTER>
<P><FONT size=3D-2>Having difficulty finding ILA-related info? Try our =
<A=20
href=3D"http://www.nraila.org/show.cgi?page=3D/grassroots/19990813-Genera=
lInfo-015.html">FAQ=20
Sheet</A>=20
<P>NRAILA.org is maintained for the NRA by <BR></FONT><A=20
href=3D"http://www.mainstream.net/"><FONT size=3D-2>Mainstream =
Electronic=20
Information Services </FONT></A><FONT size=3D-2>
<P><FONT size=3D-2>Homepage established 1994 by the NRA Institute for =
Legislative=20
Action <BR>11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 </FONT></P>
<P>&nbsp;</P></CENTER></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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