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NRA-ILA FAX ALERT=20
Vol. 8, No. 6 2/9/01=20
ASHCROFT CALLS FOR "TOUGHER ENFORCEMENT," NOT NEW LAWS
On Wednesday, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft appeared on CNN's =
"Larry King Live," and spoke of his support of enforcing existing laws =
against violent criminals who misuse firearms, rather than passing new =
"gun control" laws. Ashcroft told King, "I think we've got enough laws =
on the books. I think what we need is tougher enforcement." This =
appearance was the first opportunity for the Attorney General to make =
public statements since he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate last week, =
after one of the most contentious confirmation battles the Senate has =
ever seen.=20

Ashcroft said that under his stewardship, the Bush Administration's =
Department of Justice would work to increase federal prosecutions of =
"people who use guns in commission of a crime." This, of course, would =
be in stark contrast to the Clinton-Gore Administration, which had an =
abysmal record when it came to prosecuting violations of federal gun =
laws. The new Attorney General stated that he plans to increase federal =
involvement in prosecuting criminals who misuse firearms by supporting =
programs such as the NRA-backed "Project Exile" prosecution model that =
was developed in Richmond, Virginia. "Project Exile"-a cooperative =
effort among local, state, and federal law enforcement and =
prosecutors-targets violent felons who violate firearm laws, then seeks =
the most stringent penalties available. The program has been credited =
with a dramatic reduction in Richmond's homicide and gun-related crime =
rates, which Ashcroft pointed out, and he continued by commenting that =
he hoped to take "Project Exile" nationwide.=20

It's certainly good to see a U.S. Attorney General who is interested in =
aggressively targeting violent criminals, rather than constantly =
harassing law-abiding citizens. Even more heartening, though, is knowing =
that we now have a U.S. Attorney General who supports the individual =
right to arms. Ashcroft took the time during his appearance to remind =
King that, "Law-abiding citizens have a right, under our Constitution, =
to have firearms." The last stated Justice Department official position =
was that "the Second Amendment does not extend an individual right to =
keep and bear arms."=20


U.S. HOUSE AND SENATE
TAKE UP BANKRUPTCY REFORM
This week, the U.S. House and Senate took up the issue of reforming our =
nation's bankruptcy laws. And while this is normally not an NRA-related =
issue, gun-ban extremists tried to attach anti-gun language to similar =
legislation last year. We must be prepared for a similar strategy on =
their part this year. Last year, in a show of bipartisan support for the =
rule of law, and a rejection of the anti-gun agenda of reckless lawsuits =
against firearm manufacturers, the U.S. Senate defeated Senator Carl =
Levin's (D-Mich.) amendment that would deny gun makers equal protection =
under our nation's bankruptcy laws. Levin's attack on the firearms =
industry was nothing more than a direct attempt to assist in crushing =
gun makers under the relentless pressure of costly, frivolous =
litigation. We expect that a similar amendment will be offered again =
this year.=20

Please be sure to contact both your U.S. Senators and your U.S. =
Representative and remind them that gun makers are entitled to the same =
legal protections due every other lawful industry. Tell them there is no =
rational basis to exclude firearms companies from bankruptcy law, and to =
do so would be patently unfair. Urge your lawmakers to oppose any =
amendments that would deny gun makers equal protection under our =
nation's bankruptcy laws. The bill number for bankruptcy reform =
legislation in the Senate is S. 220, and in the House it is H.R. 333. =
You can call your U.S. Senators at (202) 224-3121, and your U.S. =
Representatives at (202) 225-3121. For those on the Internet, you can =
find additional contact information for your federal lawmakers by using =
the "Write Your Reps" tool at www.NRAILA.org.=20


TWISTED IRONY FOR MMM?
The February 2 edition of the Washington Post reported that a D.C. =
Superior Court jury found Barbara Graham guilty of "trying to avenge her =
son's death by shooting a young man she blamed for the killing." Graham, =
49, was convicted on February 1 of nine separate counts, all stemming =
from a January 26, 2000, shooting that left 23-year-old Kikko Smith =
paralyzed from the waist down. The "grieving mother" was accused of =
having shot Smith because she thought he was responsible for the =
shooting death of her own son, Le'Pierre Clemons, although prosecutors =
say Smith was not responsible. Clemons had been killed in 1999.=20

But what seems like a tragic story of misguided revenge doesn't end =
there. According to a WorldNetDaily (an online news service you can find =
at www.wnd.com) article from February 5, Barbara Graham is not just a =
"bereaved mother," but she also "spoke out against gun violence and =
memorialized shooting victims" at last year's Mother's Day event in =
Washington, D.C.-an event orchestrated by the so-called "Million" Mom =
March (MMM). Graham, according to the online article, got involved with =
a D.C.-based group called "Mothers on the Move Spiritually" after her =
son was killed, and this group was one of the sponsors of the MMM event. =
Thus far, the MMM seems to be silent about what can only be considered a =
rather tragic story filled with ironic twists, but Mary Ann Smith, Kikko =
Smith's mother, commented, "From a mother to a mother, she (Graham) knew =
better. You can't tell the kids to stop the violence with the mothers =
running around like this."=20


A LOOK AT THE STATES
ARIZONA=20

On Tuesday, February 13, at 8:30 a.m., the House Committee on Retirement =
& Government Operations will consider two NRA-backed bills. HB 2213 =
seeks to expand the current reciprocity statute to recognize Right to =
Carry permits issued by any state, while also simplifying the renewal =
process for Right to Carry permits, and HB 2218 seeks to allow Right to =
Carry permit holders to carry firearms for self-defense in restaurants =
that are licensed to serve alcohol. Call members of the committee and/or =
attend Tuesday's hearing in House Hearing Room 3 of the State Capitol =
and urge them to vote for HB 2213 & HB 2218. Also on Tuesday, at 1:30 =
p.m, the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider two NRA-opposed bills. =
SB 1549 seeks to mandate the use of trigger locks or other locking =
devices on all firearms in every home-thus rendering a firearm useless =
for self-defense. It also would allow holding adults criminally =
responsible if a minor gains access to a firearm that has not been =
secured in a manner approved by the government and injures or kills =
another person-even though Arizona law already provides penalties for =
reckless endangerment, under which an adult found grossly negligent in =
the storage of a firearm under certain circumstances can be prosecuted =
for a felony offense. SB 1566 seeks to mandate that all private firearm =
transfers at gun shows include a federal background check-even transfers =
between relatives, neighbors, and close friends. Call members of the =
committee and/or attend Tuesday's hearing in Senate Hearing Room 1 of =
the State Capitol and urge them to oppose SB 1549 & SB 1566.=20

ARKANSAS=20

SB 190, which seeks to repeal the minimum 10-year sentence for =
brandishing a firearm while committing a felony, will be heard by the =
House Judiciary Committee this Tuesday. SB 190 would be a major step =
backwards in the battle to ensure that individuals who commit violent =
crimes are severely punished. Contact members of the committee at (501) =
682-6211 and urge them to oppose SB 190. For a list of committee =
members, please contact NRA-ILA Grassroots at (800) 392-8683.=20

COLORADO=20

Both SB 83, the NRA-backed Right to Carry bill, and SB 160, the =
NRA-opposed "Negligent Storage" bill, are scheduled to be heard before =
the Senate Judiciary Committee this week. Contact committee members and =
urge then to support SB 83 and oppose SB 160. For a list of committee =
members, please contact NRA-ILA Grassroots at (800) 392-8683.=20

NEW MEXICO=20

The House Government & Urban Affairs Committee approved HB 126, =
NRA-backed shooting range protection legislation. The bill now moves to =
the House Judiciary Committee for consideration. Also, the House =
Consumer & Public Affairs Committee passed HB 277, NRA-backed Right to =
Carry legislation, with "no recommendation" to the House Judiciary =
Committee. Call members of the House Judiciary Committee at (505) =
986-4410 and urge them to support both HB 126 & HB 277. For a list of =
committee members, please call NRA-ILA Grassroots at (800) 392-8683.=20

SOUTH DAKOTA=20

This Monday, the House State Affairs Committee will hear HB 1239, the =
NRA-backed Right to Carry reciprocity bill. Contact members of the =
committee this weekend at their "cracker barrel" meetings, leave a phone =
message at (605) 773-3851, and e-mail them at House@state.sd.us-just =
type the representative's last name in the subject line of your =
message-and urge them to support HB 1239. For a list of committee =
members, please call NRA-ILA Grassroots at (800) 392-8683.=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><FONT size=3D2>
<CENTER>
<H2>NRA-ILA FAX ALERT </H2>
<H3></CENTER>Vol. 8, No. 6 2/9/01 </H3><B>
<CENTER>ASHCROFT CALLS FOR "TOUGHER ENFORCEMENT," NOT NEW =
LAWS</B></CENTER>
<P>On Wednesday, <B>U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft</B> appeared on =
<B>CNN's=20
"Larry King Live,"</B> and spoke of his support of enforcing existing =
laws=20
against violent criminals who misuse firearms, rather than passing new =
"gun=20
control" laws. Ashcroft told King, "I think we've got enough laws on the =
books.=20
I think what we need is tougher enforcement." This appearance was the =
first=20
opportunity for the Attorney General to make public statements since he =
was=20
confirmed by the U.S. Senate last week, after one of the most =
contentious=20
confirmation battles the Senate has ever seen.=20
<P>Ashcroft said that under his stewardship, the <B>Bush =
Administration's=20
Department of Justice</B> would work to increase federal prosecutions of =
"people=20
who use guns in commission of a crime." This, of course, would be in =
stark=20
contrast to the Clinton-Gore Administration, which had an abysmal record =
when it=20
came to prosecuting violations of federal gun laws. The new Attorney =
General=20
stated that he plans to increase federal involvement in prosecuting =
criminals=20
who misuse firearms by supporting programs such as the NRA-backed =
"<B>Project=20
Exile</B>" prosecution model that was developed in Richmond, Virginia. =
"Project=20
Exile"&#8212;a cooperative effort among local, state, and federal law =
enforcement and=20
prosecutors&#8212;targets violent felons who violate firearm laws, then =
seeks the most=20
stringent penalties available. The program has been credited with a =
dramatic=20
reduction in Richmond's homicide and gun-related crime rates, which =
Ashcroft=20
pointed out, and he continued by commenting that he hoped to take =
"Project=20
Exile" nationwide.=20
<P>It's certainly good to see a U.S. Attorney General who is interested =
in=20
aggressively targeting violent criminals, rather than constantly =
harassing=20
law-abiding citizens. Even more heartening, though, is knowing that we =
now have=20
a U.S. Attorney General who supports the individual right to arms. =
Ashcroft took=20
the time during his appearance to remind King that, "Law-abiding =
citizens have a=20
right, under our Constitution, to have firearms." The last stated =
Justice=20
Department official position was that "the Second Amendment does not =
extend an=20
individual right to keep and bear arms."=20
<P><B>
<CENTER>U.S. HOUSE AND SENATE<BR>TAKE UP BANKRUPTCY REFORM</CENTER></B>
<P>This week, the U.S. House and Senate took up the issue of reforming =
our=20
nation's bankruptcy laws. And while this is normally not an NRA-related =
issue,=20
gun-ban extremists tried to attach anti-gun language to similar =
legislation last=20
year. We must be prepared for a similar strategy on their part this =
year. Last=20
year, in a show of bipartisan support for the rule of law, and a =
rejection of=20
the anti-gun agenda of reckless lawsuits against firearm manufacturers, =
the U.S.=20
Senate defeated <B>Senator Carl Levin's</B> (D-Mich.) amendment that =
would deny=20
gun makers equal protection under our nation's bankruptcy laws. Levin's =
attack=20
on the firearms industry was nothing more than a direct attempt to =
assist in=20
crushing gun makers under the relentless pressure of costly, frivolous=20
litigation. We expect that a similar amendment will be offered again =
this year.=20
<P><I><U>Please be sure to contact both your U.S. Senators and your U.S. =

Representative and remind them that gun makers are entitled to the same =
legal=20
protections due every other lawful industry.</I></U> Tell them there is =
no=20
rational basis to exclude firearms companies from bankruptcy law, and to =
do so=20
would be patently unfair. Urge your lawmakers to oppose any amendments =
that=20
would deny gun makers equal protection under our nation's bankruptcy =
laws.=20
<I><U>The bill number for bankruptcy reform legislation in the Senate is =
<B>S.=20
220</B>, and in the House it is <B></B>H.R. 333. You can call your U.S. =
Senators=20
at (202) 224-3121, and your U.S. Representatives at (202) 225-3121. For =
those on=20
the Internet, you can find additional contact information for your =
federal=20
lawmakers by using the "Write Your Reps" tool at www.NRAILA.org.</I></U> =

<P><B>
<CENTER>TWISTED IRONY FOR MMM?</B></CENTER>
<P>The February 2 edition of the <B><I>Washington Post</I></B> reported =
that a=20
D.C. Superior Court jury found <B>Barbara Graham</B> guilty of "trying =
to avenge=20
her son's death by shooting a young man she blamed for the killing." =
Graham, 49,=20
was convicted on February 1 of nine separate counts, all stemming from a =
January=20
26, 2000, shooting that left 23-year-old <B>Kikko Smith</B> paralyzed =
from the=20
waist down. The "grieving mother" was accused of having shot Smith =
because she=20
thought he was responsible for the shooting death of her own son, =
<B>Le'Pierre=20
Clemons</B>, although prosecutors say Smith was not responsible. Clemons =
had=20
been killed in 1999.=20
<P>But what seems like a tragic story of misguided revenge doesn't end =
there.=20
According to a <B><I>WorldNetDaily</B></I> (an online news service you =
can find=20
at www.wnd.com) article from February 5, Barbara Graham is not just a =
"bereaved=20
mother," but she also "spoke out against gun violence and memorialized =
shooting=20
victims" at last year's Mother's Day event in Washington, D.C.&#8212;an =
event=20
orchestrated by the so-called <B>"Million" Mom March</B> (MMM). Graham,=20
according to the online article, got involved with a D.C.-based group =
called=20
"<B>Mothers on the Move Spiritually</B>" after her son was killed, and =
this=20
group was one of the sponsors of the MMM event. Thus far, the MMM seems =
to be=20
silent about what can only be considered a rather tragic story filled =
with=20
ironic twists, but <B>Mary Ann Smith</B>, Kikko Smith's mother, =
commented, "From=20
a mother to a mother, she (Graham) knew better. You can't tell the kids =
to stop=20
the violence with the mothers running around like this."=20
<P>
<CENTER><B>A LOOK AT THE STATES</B></CENTER>
<P><B>ARIZONA</B>=20
<P>On <B>Tuesday, February 13</B>, at 8:30 a.m., the <B>House Committee =
on=20
Retirement &amp; Government Operations</B> will consider two NRA-backed =
bills.=20
<B>HB 2213</B> seeks to expand the current reciprocity statute to =
recognize=20
Right to Carry permits issued by any state, while also simplifying the =
renewal=20
process for Right to Carry permits, and <B>HB 2218</B> seeks to allow =
Right to=20
Carry permit holders to carry firearms for self-defense in restaurants =
that are=20
licensed to serve alcohol. <I><U>Call members of the committee and/or =
attend=20
Tuesday's hearing in House Hearing Room 3 of the State Capitol and urge =
them to=20
vote for HB 2213 &amp; HB 2218.</I></U> Also on Tuesday, at 1:30 p.m, =
the=20
<B>Senate Judiciary Committee</B> will consider two NRA-opposed bills. =
<B>SB=20
1549</B> seeks to mandate the use of trigger locks or other locking =
devices on=20
all firearms in every home&#8212;thus rendering a firearm useless for =
self-defense. It=20
also would allow holding adults criminally responsible if a minor gains =
access=20
to a firearm that has not been secured in a manner approved by the =
government=20
and injures or kills another person&#8212;even though Arizona law =
already provides=20
penalties for reckless endangerment, under which an adult found grossly=20
negligent in the storage of a firearm under certain circumstances can be =

prosecuted for a felony offense. <B>SB 1566</B> seeks to mandate that =
all=20
private firearm transfers at gun shows include a federal background =
check&#8212;even=20
transfers between relatives, neighbors, and close friends. <I><U>Call =
members of=20
the committee and/or attend Tuesday's hearing in Senate Hearing Room 1 =
of the=20
State Capitol and urge them to oppose SB 1549 &amp; SB 1566.</I></U>=20
<P><B>ARKANSAS</B>=20
<P><B>SB 190</B>, which seeks to repeal the minimum 10-year sentence for =

brandishing a firearm while committing a felony, will be heard by the =
<B>House=20
Judiciary Committee</B> this Tuesday. SB 190 would be a major step =
backwards in=20
the battle to ensure that individuals who commit violent crimes are =
severely=20
punished. <I><U>Contact members of the committee at (501) 682-6211 and =
urge them=20
to oppose SB 190. For a list of committee members, please contact =
NRA-ILA=20
Grassroots at (800) 392-8683.</I></U>=20
<P><B>COLORADO</B>=20
<P>Both <B>SB 83</B>, the NRA-backed Right to Carry bill, and <B>SB =
160</B>, the=20
NRA-opposed "Negligent Storage" bill, are scheduled to be heard before =
the=20
<B>Senate Judiciary Committee</B> this week. <I><U>Contact committee =
members and=20
urge then to support SB 83 and oppose SB 160. For a list of committee =
members,=20
please contact NRA-ILA Grassroots at (800) 392-8683.</I></U>=20
<P><B>NEW MEXICO</B>=20
<P>The <B>House Government &amp; Urban Affairs Committee</B> approved =
<B>HB=20
126</B>, NRA-backed shooting range protection legislation. The bill now =
moves to=20
the <B>House Judiciary Committee</B> for consideration. Also, the =
<B>House=20
Consumer &amp; Public Affairs Committee</B> passed <B>HB 277</B>, =
NRA-backed=20
Right to Carry legislation, with "no recommendation" to the House =
Judiciary=20
Committee. <I><U>Call members of the House Judiciary Committee at (505) =
986-4410=20
and urge them to support both HB 126 &amp; HB 277. For a list of =
committee=20
members, please call NRA-ILA Grassroots at (800) 392-8683.</I></U>=20
<P><B>SOUTH DAKOTA</B>=20
<P>This Monday, the <B>House State Affairs Committee</B> will hear <B>HB =

1239</B>, the NRA-backed Right to Carry reciprocity bill. <I><U>Contact =
members=20
of the committee this weekend at their "cracker barrel" meetings, leave =
a phone=20
message at (605) 773-3851, and e-mail them at =
House@state.sd.us&#8212;just type the=20
representative's last name in the subject line of your message&#8212;and =
urge them to=20
support HB 1239. For a list of committee members, please call NRA-ILA =
Grassroots=20
at (800) 392-8683.</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=20
</FONT></CENTER></P></FONT></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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