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      The Right to Keep and Bear Arms


      A well regulated Militia,
      being necessary to the security of a free State,
      the right of the people to keep and bear Arms,
      shall not be infringed.

      The right to keep and bear arms is derived from and is inseparably =
linked to the right of self-defense. Thus, by nature it is an =
individually possessed right, as are all rights protected in our =
Constitution.

      The Founding Fathers, the Framers of the Constitution and Bill of =
Rights, and those whom the Supreme Court (U.S. v. Miller, 1939) referred =
to as "approved commentators" of their day could not have been more =
clear about the nature of the right and the purpose of the Amendment.

      Patrick Henry said, "The great object is that every man be armed." =
Richard Henry Lee wrote, "To preserve liberty it is essential that the =
whole body of people always possess arms." Thomas Paine noted, "(A)rms =
discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order =
in the world as well as property. . . Horrid mischief would ensue were =
the law-abiding deprived of the use of them." Thomas Jefferson said, "no =
free man shall be debarred the use of arms."

      In introducing the Bill of Rights in the House of Representatives, =
James Madison noted that the amendments "relate first to private =
rights." Sen. William Grayson observed that they "altogether respected =
personal liberty." Prominent Federalist Tench Coxe wrote, "(T)he people =
are confirmed by the next article (of amendment) in their right to keep =
and bear their private arms."

      Constitutional scholars have noted that there is no historical =
basis for the claim that the Amendment protects a so-called "collective =
right" of the states. Stephen P. Halbrook writes, "If anyone entertained =
this notion in the period during which the Constitution and Bill of =
Rights were debated and ratified, it remains one of the most closely =
guarded secrets of the eighteenth century, for no known writing =
surviving from the period between 1787 and 1791 states such a thesis." =
(That Every Man Be Armed, Univ. of N.M. Press, 1984.)

      Historian Joyce Lee Malcolm, testifying before Congress in 1995 =
said, "It is very hard, sir, to find a historian who now believes it is =
only a 'collective right' . . . . (T)here is a general consensus that in =
fact it is an individual right." Prominent liberal constitutional =
scholars Laurence H. Tribe and Akhil Reed Amar write, "(T)he Second =
Amendment's reference to the people's 'right' to be armed cannot be =
trumped by the Amendment's preamble. Besides, the 14th Amendment, which =
makes parts of the Bill of Rights applicable to the states, reflected a =
broad agreement that bearing arms was a 'privilege' of each citizen." =
("Well-Regulated Militias, and More," New York Times, 10/28/99.)

      The Supreme Court recognized that the right to arms is an =
individual right in U.S. v. Cruikshank (1876), Presser v. Illinois =
(1886), Miller v. Texas (1894), U.S. v. Miller (1939) and U.S. v. =
Verdugo-Urquidez (1990). In U.S. v. Cruikshank, the Court also =
recognized that the right preexisted the Constitution. In U.S. v. =
Emerson ( N. Dist. Texas, 1999), Judge Sam Cummings ruled that "A =
textual analysis of the Second Amendment supports an individual right to =
bear arms." Other federal court decisions have been divided on whether =
the right is individual or "collective."

      The National Guard, established in 1903, is not the Militia =
referred to in the Second Amendment. For more than 400 years, the term =
"well regulated militia" has meant the people, with privately owned =
weapons, led by officers chosen by themselves. Tench Coxe said that the =
militia "are in fact the effective part of the people at large." Richard =
Henry Lee said that the militia "are in fact the people themselves . . . =
and include all men capable of bearing arms." George Mason said that the =
militia consist "of the whole people."

      The Guard is subject to absolute federal control (Perpich v. Dept. =
of Defense, 1990) and thus is not the "well regulated militia" named in =
the Second Amendment. "The Militia of the United States" is defined =
under federal law to include all able-bodied males of age and some other =
males and females (10 U.S.C., §311; 32 U.S.C., §313), with the =
Guard established as only its "organized" element.

      RIGHT TO CARRY
      Thirty-one states now have Right to Carry (RTC) laws providing for =
law-abiding citizens to carry firearms for protection against criminals. =
Twenty-two states have adopted RTC laws in the last dozen years. Half of =
Americans, including 60% of handgun owners, live in RTC states.

      Professor John R. Lott, Jr. and David B. Mustard, in their =
research at the University of Chicago, conclude, "allowing citizens to =
carry concealed weapons deters violent crimes and it appears to produce =
no increase in accidental deaths. If those states which did not have =
Right To Carry concealed gun provisions had adopted them in 1992, =
approximately 1,570 murders; 4,177 rapes; and over 60,000 aggravated =
assaults would have been avoided yearly. . . . (T)he estimated annual =
gain from allowing concealed handguns is at least $6.214 billion . . . . =
(W)hen state concealed handgun laws went into effect in a county, =
murders fell by 8.5%, and rapes and aggravated assaults fell by 5 and =
7%." ("Crime, Deterrence, and Right To Carry Concealed Handguns," 1996. =
See also More Guns, Less Crime, Univ. of Chicago Press, 1998.)

      RTC states have lower violent crime rates on average: 26% lower =
total violent crime, 20% lower homicide, 2% lower rape, 39% lower =
robbery and 22% lower aggravated assault. Eight of the 10 states with =
the lowest violent crime rates are RTC states. People who carry legally =
are by far more law-abiding than the rest of the public. In Florida, for =
example, only a fraction of 1% of carry licenses have been revoked =
because of gun-related crimes committed by license holders. (Fla. Dept. =
of State)

      Survey research during the early 1990s by criminologist Gary Kleck =
showed at least 2.5 million protective uses of firearms each year in the =
U.S. "(T)he best available evidence indicates that guns were used about =
three to five times as often for defensive purposes as for criminal =
purposes" (Kleck, Targeting Guns, 1997).

      Most protective uses do not involve discharge of a firearm. In =
only about 0.1% of protective gun uses are criminals killed, and in only =
1% are criminals wounded. A Dept. of Justice survey found that 40% of =
felons chose not to commit at least some crimes for fear their victims =
were armed, and 34% admitted being scared off or shot at by armed =
victims. (James D. Wright, Peter H. Rossi, Armed and Considered =
Dangerous, 1986)

      CURRENT ISSUES
      ** Mandatory storage laws that would require gun owners to =
purchase and install gun locks on all firearms prevent a firearm from =
being used for self-defense and impose a single requirement on each gun =
owner regardless of his or her personal circumstances.

      ** Registration and licensing are precursors to confiscation, as =
shown by recent experiences in England, Australia, Mexico and =
California. In the 1970s, the first chairman of Handgun Control =
described registration as the second step in a three-part plan to =
confiscate all privately owned handguns in America. Criminals will not =
register guns or license themselves, thus such measures impact upon only =
good citizens.

      ** Junk lawsuits against firearm manufacturers are an attempt to =
bankrupt a lawful industry by seeking to hold its members responsible =
for the acts of criminals. Because these lawsuits run counter to =
long-standing principles of tort law, the legislatures of 23 states have =
prohibited them.

      ** "One per month" limits on handgun purchases are arbitrary, =
could be increased to one per year or, as recently imposed in South =
Africa, one per person . . . period. The first federal handgun limit =
legislation, sponsored by Sen. Ted Kennedy in the 1970s, called for a =
limit of two handguns per year. Such limits treat a constitutionally =
protected right as if it were a mere privilege to be rationed.

      ** "Gun Show" legislation pushed by anti-gun members of Congress =
contained provisions designed to eliminate, not simply regulate, gun =
shows. In 1999, the anti-gunners showed their true goals by voting =
against another bill that would have required Instant Checks on all =
sales at shows without eliminating shows.

      ** Raising the age for handgun ownership from 18 to 21 would =
infringe the right of young adults to defend themselves and their =
families. Persons of that age can drive a car, serve in the military, =
vote, buy a home and raise a family. Why shouldn't they be trusted to be =
responsible as gun owners?

      ** Waiting period have never reduced crime. Historically, violent =
crime has been worse in states with waiting periods. States that had the =
Brady Act's waiting period imposed upon them in 1994 had worse violent =
crime trends thereafter, compared to other states. (FBI)

      "Gun control" advocates claim that a waiting period is necessary =
as a "cooling off period" for "crimes of passion." However, Congress =
rejected the "cooling off" theory when it passed the Instant Check =
provisions of the Brady Act in 1993, following Dept. of Justice =
testimony that there were no statistics suggesting that large =
percentages of firearms were being used in crimes within a few days of =
their purchase. Later, the BATF reported that the average gun taken from =
a violent crime scene is more than six years old.

      "Gun control" advocates claim that a thorough records check cannot =
be accomplished without a delay. But most Instant Checks require only a =
few minutes, and they are the most comprehensive checks ever run on =
firearm purchasers, superior to any conducted under waiting periods.

      The federal "assault weapon" law affects firearms never widely =
used in crime, a fact noted by a study conducted for Congress. (The =
Urban Institute, "Impact Evaluation of the Public Safety and =
Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act of 1994," 3/13/97.) The law =
unfairly restricts semi-automatic rifles which have for decades been =
widely used in organized target shooting events and with which, for =
national defense purposes, citizens should be able to maintain =
familiarity and proficiency. The law expires in Sept. 2004.

      ASK THE PEOPLE=20
      85% of Americans believe people have the right to use firearms to =
defend themselves in their homes, 64% favor allowing law-abiding =
citizens to carry firearms for protection outside their homes, and 72% =
prefer stiffer sentences for criminals who use guns in crime, rather =
than more gun laws. (National survey of registered voters, Lawrence =
Research, 1998.)

      FIREARM SAFETY
      Because focus group research has shown that the public reacts =
unfavorably to the term "gun control," anti-gun politicians and activist =
groups have begun calling their legislative proposals by the euphemistic =
term "gun safety." True gun safety, however, depends on education and =
personal responsibility, not government regulation.

      NRA's 38,000 Certified Instructors and Coaches reach 700,000 =
Americans each year. The NRA's award-winning Eddie Eagle=AE GunSafe =
Program has been used by more than 10,000 schools and law enforcement =
agencies to reach 13 million children since 1988. Accidental deaths with =
firearms have been decreasing for decades and are now at an all-time =
annual low among the U.S. population on the whole and among children in =
particular. Since 1930, the annual number of such accidents has =
decreased 73%, while the U.S. population has more than doubled and the =
number of privately owned guns has quintupled. They decreased 42% during =
the decade 1989-1998, and continued falling to record annual lows almost =
every year thereafter. Between 1998-1999 they declined another estimated =
13%. Among children, fatal firearm accidents have decreased 78% since =
1975. (National Center for Health Statistics and National Safety =
Council)

      The per capita rate of accidental deaths with firearms is also at =
an all-time low. It has decreased 91% since the all-time high in 1903, =
50% during the decade 1989-1998. Firearm accidents account for 0.9% of =
accidental deaths and 0.04% of all deaths in the U.S. Among children, =
firearm accidents account for 2% of accidental deaths and 0.4% of all =
deaths. Most accidental deaths involve motor vehicles or are due to =
drowning, falls, fires, poisoning, medical mistakes, choking on ingested =
objects, and environmental factors

      "GUN CONTROL" FAILURES
      The federal Gun Control Act was imposed in 1968, yet violent crime =
increased steadily until the early 1990s. Washington, D.C., banned =
handguns in 1976, and by 1991 its homicide rate had tripled, while the =
U.S. rate rose only 12%. States that delay firearm sales with waiting =
periods, licensing, and purchase permits have historically had higher =
crime rates. Since California imposed a 15-day waiting period on firearm =
sales in 1975 (reduced to 10 days in 1997), its violent crime rate has =
been 50% higher each year, on average, compared to the rest of the =
country. States without Right to Carry laws have higher crime rates on =
average.

      A Library of Congress study concluded, "it is difficult to find a =
correlation between the existence of strict firearms regulations and a =
lower incidence of gun-related crimes." (Report for Congress: Firearms =
Regulations in Various Foreign Countries, LL98-97-2010, May 1998)

      CRIME CONTROL, NOT "GUN CONTROL"
      Violent crime has decreased for eight consecutive years. Most =
criminologists and sociologists attribute the decrease to increased =
imprisonment rates, mandatory sentencing requirements, the hiring of =
additional police officers, "community policing," improved policing =
methods and equipment, the aging of gang populations, the decline in the =
crack cocaine trade, the improved economy, and other factors unrelated =
to restrictions on firearms. Notably, less than one-fourth of violent =
crimes are committed with firearms. (FBI)

      "Gun control" advocates instead credit the federal Brady Act and =
"assault weapon" laws. However, both laws were imposed in 1994, two =
years after crime began declining, and independent studies have found no =
evidence that either has affected crime levels. (The Urban Institute, =
cited above, and Ludwig and Cook, "Homicide and Suicide Rates Associated =
with Implementation of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act," =
Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/2/00) Violent crimes =
committed with weapons other than firearms have decreased at roughly the =
same rate as those committed with firearms. (FBI)

      "Gun control" advocates also allege that federal restrictions on =
firearms laws have reduced crime by reducing gun sales - an extension of =
the anti-gun activists' slogan, "more guns means more crime." To the =
contrary, privately owned firearms increased in the U.S. by 40-45 =
million during the 1990s. Furthermore, only about 2.5% of retail gun =
purchase attempts are rejected under the Brady Act (including persons =
wanting guns for non-criminal purposes), only a small percentage of =
those who illegally attempt to buy guns are prosecuted, and the Act does =
not prevent those who are not prosecuted from acquiring guns by other =
means (or other weapons by any means).

      A study for the Department of Justice concluded, "Advocates of =
stricter weapons regulations sometimes assert that the United States is =
virtually the only advanced civilized nation in the world that exercises =
no controls over the civilian ownership of possession or use of =
firearms. In fact there are about 20,000 firearms laws of one sort or =
another already on the books." (Wright, Rossi, Under the Gun, 1983.)

      Rather than imposing additional laws that restrict the rights of =
the law-abiding, existing laws should be strictly enforced against =
violent armed criminals. "Project Exile," launched in 1997 by U.S. =
Attorneys working with state and local law enforcement in Richmond, Va., =
cracks down on illegal possession of firearms by felons. In a year, the =
city's homicides were cut 41% from their 1994 high. Crimes committed =
with firearms decreased 65%. In the three years since the inception of =
the Richmond program, several hundred felons have been returned to =
prison with sentences averaging 56 months. Six states--Virginia, Texas, =
Florida, South Carolina, Louisiana and Colorado--have instituted similar =
programs, as have several major cities, including New Orleans, =
Birmingham, Philadelphia, Oakland, Rochester and Buffalo.


      GENERAL INFORMATION
      * Privately owned firearms in the U.S.: Over 200 million, =
including 65-70 million handguns

      * Gun owners in the U.S.: 60-65 million; 30-35 million own =
handguns

      * American households that have firearms: Approx. 45%

      * Hunters nationwide: 14 million (16 yrs. of age and older)

      * NRA Members: 4.2 million

      * NRA State Associations and Local Clubs: 10,000

      * NRA Target Shooting Tournaments annually: 10,000

      * NRA Certified Instructors: 38,000

      Rev. 1/2001
    =20
      Posted: 2000-12-19 =20




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      <CENTER>
      <P><FONT size=3D+1><B>The Right to Keep and Bear =
Arms</B></FONT><BR></P>
      <P><FONT size=3D+1><B><I>A well regulated Militia,<BR>being =
necessary to=20
      the</I> <I>security of a free State,<BR>the right of the people =
to</I>=20
      <I>keep and bear Arms,<BR>shall not be=20
      infringed.</I></B></FONT></P></CENTER>
      <P>The right to keep and bear arms is derived from and is =
inseparably=20
      linked to the right of self-defense. Thus, by nature it is an =
individually=20
      possessed right, as are all rights protected in our =
Constitution.</P>
      <P>The Founding Fathers, the Framers of the Constitution and Bill =
of=20
      Rights, and those whom the Supreme Court (<I>U.S. </I>v<I>. =
Miller</I>,=20
      1939) referred to as "approved commentators" of their day could =
not have=20
      been more clear about the nature of the right and the purpose of =
the=20
      Amendment.</P>
      <P>Patrick Henry said, "The great object is that every man be =
armed."=20
      Richard Henry Lee wrote, "To preserve liberty it is essential that =
the=20
      whole body of people always possess arms." Thomas Paine noted, =
"(A)rms=20
      discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve =
order=20
      in the world as well as property. . . Horrid mischief would ensue =
were the=20
      law-abiding deprived of the use of them." Thomas Jefferson said, =
"no free=20
      man shall be debarred the use of arms."</P>
      <P>In introducing the Bill of Rights in the House of =
Representatives,=20
      James Madison noted that the amendments "relate first to private =
rights."=20
      Sen. William Grayson observed that they "altogether respected =
personal=20
      liberty." Prominent Federalist Tench Coxe wrote, "(T)he people are =

      confirmed by the next article (of amendment) in their right to =
keep and=20
      bear their private arms."</P>
      <P>Constitutional scholars have noted that there is no historical =
basis=20
      for the claim that the Amendment protects a so-called "collective =
right"=20
      of the states. Stephen P. Halbrook writes, "If anyone entertained =
this=20
      notion in the period during which the Constitution and Bill of =
Rights were=20
      debated and ratified, it remains one of the most closely guarded =
secrets=20
      of the eighteenth century, for no known writing surviving from the =
period=20
      between 1787 and 1791 states such a thesis." (<I>That Every Man Be =
Armed,=20
      </I>Univ. of N.M. Press, 1984.)</P>
      <P>Historian Joyce Lee Malcolm, testifying before Congress in 1995 =
said,=20
      "It is very hard, sir, to find a historian who now believes it is =
only a=20
      'collective right' . . . . (T)here is a general consensus that in =
fact it=20
      is an individual right." Prominent liberal constitutional scholars =

      Laurence H. Tribe and Akhil Reed Amar write, "(T)he Second =
Amendment's=20
      reference to the people's 'right' to be armed cannot be trumped by =
the=20
      Amendment's preamble. Besides, the 14th Amendment, which makes =
parts of=20
      the Bill of Rights applicable to the states, reflected a broad =
agreement=20
      that bearing arms was a 'privilege' of each citizen." =
("Well-Regulated=20
      Militias, and More," <I>New York Times</I>, 10/28/99.)</P>
      <P>The Supreme Court recognized that the right to arms is an =
individual=20
      right in <I>U.S.</I> v.<I> Cruikshank</I> (1876), <I>Presser =
</I>v<I>.=20
      Illinois </I>(1886)<I>, Miller </I>v<I>. Texas </I>(1894)<I>, U.S. =

      </I>v<I>. Miller </I>(1939)<I> </I>and <I>U.S. </I>v<I>. =
Verdugo-Urquidez=20
      </I>(1990). In <I>U.S.</I> v.<I> Cruikshank</I>, the Court also =
recognized=20
      that the right preexisted the Constitution. In <I>U.S.</I> v<I>. =
Emerson=20
      </I>( N. Dist. Texas, 1999), Judge Sam Cummings ruled that "A =
textual=20
      analysis of the Second Amendment supports an individual right to =
bear=20
      arms." Other federal court decisions have been divided on whether =
the=20
      right is individual or "collective."</P>
      <P>The National Guard, established in 1903, is not the Militia =
referred to=20
      in the Second Amendment. For more than 400 years, the term "well =
regulated=20
      militia" has meant the people, with privately owned weapons, led =
by=20
      officers chosen by themselves. Tench Coxe said that the militia =
"are in=20
      fact the effective part of the people at large." Richard Henry Lee =
said=20
      that the militia "are in fact the people themselves . . . and =
include all=20
      men capable of bearing arms." George Mason said that the militia =
consist=20
      "of the whole people."</P>
      <P>The Guard is subject to absolute federal control (<I>Perpich =
</I>v.<I>=20
      Dept. of Defense</I>, 1990) and thus is not the "well regulated =
militia"=20
      named in the Second Amendment. "The Militia of the United States" =
is=20
      defined under federal law to include all able-bodied males of age =
and some=20
      other males and females <I>(10 U.S.C., &amp;#167;311; 32 U.S.C.,=20
      &amp;#167;313)</I>, with the Guard established as only its =
"organized"=20
      element.</P>
      <CENTER><FONT size=3D+1><B>RIGHT TO CARRY</B></FONT></CENTER>
      <P>Thirty-one states now have Right to Carry (RTC) laws providing =
for=20
      law-abiding citizens to carry firearms for protection against =
criminals.=20
      Twenty-two states have adopted RTC laws in the last dozen years. =
Half of=20
      Americans, including 60% of handgun owners, live in RTC =
states.</P>
      <P>Professor John R. Lott, Jr. and David B. Mustard, in their =
research at=20
      the University of Chicago, conclude, "allowing citizens to carry =
concealed=20
      weapons deters violent crimes and it appears to produce no =
increase in=20
      accidental deaths. If those states which did not have Right To =
Carry=20
      concealed gun provisions had adopted them in 1992, approximately =
1,570=20
      murders; 4,177 rapes; and over 60,000 aggravated assaults would =
have been=20
      avoided yearly. . . . (T)he estimated annual gain from allowing =
concealed=20
      handguns is at least $6.214 billion . . . . (W)hen state concealed =
handgun=20
      laws went into effect in a county, murders fell by 8.5%, and rapes =
and=20
      aggravated assaults fell by 5 and 7%." ("Crime, Deterrence, and =
Right To=20
      Carry Concealed Handguns," 1996. See also <I>More Guns, Less =
Crime</I>,=20
      Univ. of Chicago Press, 1998.)</P>
      <P>RTC states have lower violent crime rates on average: 26% lower =
total=20
      violent crime, 20% lower homicide, 2% lower rape, 39% lower =
robbery and=20
      22% lower aggravated assault. Eight of the 10 states with the =
lowest=20
      violent crime rates are RTC states. People who carry legally are =
by far=20
      more law-abiding than the rest of the public. In Florida, for =
example,=20
      only a fraction of 1% of carry licenses have been revoked because =
of=20
      gun-related crimes committed by license holders. (Fla. Dept. of =
State)</P>
      <P>Survey research during the early 1990s by criminologist Gary =
Kleck=20
      showed at least 2.5 million protective uses of firearms each year =
in the=20
      U.S. "(T)he best available evidence indicates that guns were used =
about=20
      three to five times as often for defensive purposes as for =
criminal=20
      purposes" (Kleck, <I>Targeting Guns</I>, 1997).</P>
      <P>Most protective uses do not involve discharge of a firearm. In =
only=20
      about 0.1% of protective gun uses are criminals killed, and in =
only 1% are=20
      criminals wounded. A Dept. of Justice survey found that 40% of =
felons=20
      chose not to commit at least some crimes for fear their victims =
were=20
      armed, and 34% admitted being scared off or shot at by armed =
victims.=20
      (James D. Wright, Peter H. Rossi, <I>Armed and Considered =
Dangerous,=20
      </I>1986<I>)</I></P>
      <CENTER><FONT size=3D+1><B>CURRENT ISSUES</B></FONT></CENTER>
      <P><B>** Mandatory storage laws</B> that would require gun owners =
to=20
      purchase and install gun locks on all firearms prevent a firearm =
from=20
      being used for self-defense and impose a single requirement on =
each gun=20
      owner regardless of his or her personal circumstances.</P>
      <P><B>** Registration and licensing</B> are precursors to =
confiscation, as=20
      shown by recent experiences in England, Australia, Mexico and =
California.=20
      In the 1970s, the first chairman of Handgun Control described =
registration=20
      as the second step in a three-part plan to confiscate all =
privately owned=20
      handguns in America. Criminals will not register guns or license=20
      themselves, thus such measures impact upon only good citizens.</P>
      <P>** <B>Junk lawsuits</B> against firearm manufacturers are an =
attempt to=20
      bankrupt a lawful industry by seeking to hold its members =
responsible for=20
      the acts of criminals. Because these lawsuits run counter to =
long-standing=20
      principles of tort law, the legislatures of 23 states have =
prohibited=20
      them.</P>
      <P>** <B>"One per month" limits on handgun purchases</B> are =
arbitrary,=20
      could be increased to one per year or, as recently imposed in =
South=20
      Africa, one per person . . . period. The first federal handgun =
limit=20
      legislation, sponsored by Sen. Ted Kennedy in the 1970s, called =
for a=20
      limit of two handguns per year. Such limits treat a =
constitutionally=20
      protected right as if it were a mere privilege to be rationed.</P>
      <P>** <B>"Gun Show"</B> legislation pushed by anti-gun members of =
Congress=20
      contained provisions designed to eliminate, not simply regulate, =
gun=20
      shows. In 1999, the anti-gunners showed their true goals by voting =
against=20
      another bill that would have required Instant Checks on all sales =
at shows=20
      without eliminating shows.</P>
      <P>** <B>Raising the age for handgun ownership from 18 to 21</B> =
would=20
      infringe the right of young adults to defend themselves and their=20
      families. Persons of that age can drive a car, serve in the =
military,=20
      vote, buy a home and raise a family. Why shouldn't they be trusted =
to be=20
      responsible as gun owners?</P>
      <P>** <B>Waiting period</B> have never reduced crime. =
Historically,=20
      violent crime has been worse in states with waiting periods. =
States that=20
      had the Brady Act's waiting period imposed upon them in 1994 had =
worse=20
      violent crime trends thereafter, compared to other states. =
(FBI)</P>
      <P>"Gun control" advocates claim that a waiting period is =
necessary as a=20
      "cooling off period" for "crimes of passion." However, Congress =
rejected=20
      the "cooling off" theory when it passed the Instant Check =
provisions of=20
      the Brady Act in 1993, following Dept. of Justice testimony that =
there=20
      were no statistics suggesting that large percentages of firearms =
were=20
      being used in crimes within a few days of their purchase. Later, =
the BATF=20
      reported that the average gun taken from a violent crime scene is =
more=20
      than six years old.</P>
      <P>"Gun control" advocates claim that a thorough records check =
cannot be=20
      accomplished without a delay. But most Instant Checks require only =
a few=20
      minutes, and they are the most comprehensive checks ever run on =
firearm=20
      purchasers, superior to any conducted under waiting periods.</P>
      <P><B>The federal "assault weapon" law</B> affects firearms never =
widely=20
      used in crime, a fact noted by a study conducted for Congress. =
(The Urban=20
      Institute, "Impact Evaluation of the Public Safety and =
Recreational=20
      Firearms Use Protection Act of 1994," 3/13/97.) The law unfairly =
restricts=20
      semi-automatic rifles which have for decades been widely used in =
organized=20
      target shooting events and with which, for national defense =
purposes,=20
      citizens should be able to maintain familiarity and proficiency. =
The law=20
      expires in Sept. 2004.</P>
      <CENTER><B>ASK THE PEOPLE </B></CENTER>
      <P>85% of Americans believe people have the right to use firearms =
to=20
      defend themselves in their homes, 64% favor allowing law-abiding =
citizens=20
      to carry firearms for protection outside their homes, and 72% =
prefer=20
      stiffer sentences for criminals who use guns in crime, rather than =
more=20
      gun laws. (National survey of registered voters, Lawrence =
Research,=20
      1998.)</P>
      <CENTER><B>FIREARM SAFETY</B></CENTER>
      <P>Because focus group research has shown that the public reacts=20
      unfavorably to the term "gun control," anti-gun politicians and =
activist=20
      groups have begun calling their legislative proposals by the =
euphemistic=20
      term "gun safety." True gun safety, however, depends on education =
and=20
      personal responsibility, not government regulation.</P>
      <P>NRA's 38,000 Certified Instructors and Coaches reach 700,000 =
Americans=20
      each year. The NRA's award-winning Eddie Eagle=AE GunSafe Program =
has been=20
      used by more than 10,000 schools and law enforcement agencies to =
reach 13=20
      million children since 1988. Accidental deaths with firearms have =
been=20
      decreasing for decades and are now at an all-time annual low among =
the=20
      U.S. population on the whole and among children in particular. =
Since 1930,=20
      the annual number of such accidents has decreased 73%, while the =
U.S.=20
      population has more than doubled and the number of privately owned =
guns=20
      has quintupled. They decreased 42% during the decade 1989-1998, =
and=20
      continued falling to record annual lows almost every year =
thereafter.=20
      Between 1998-1999 they declined another estimated 13%. Among =
children,=20
      fatal firearm accidents have decreased 78% since 1975. (National =
Center=20
      for Health Statistics and National Safety Council)</P>
      <P>The per capita rate of accidental deaths with firearms is also =
at an=20
      all-time low. It has decreased 91% since the all-time high in =
1903, 50%=20
      during the decade 1989-1998. Firearm accidents account for 0.9% of =

      accidental deaths and 0.04% of all deaths in the U.S. Among =
children,=20
      firearm accidents account for 2% of accidental deaths and 0.4% of =
all=20
      deaths. Most accidental deaths involve motor vehicles or are due =
to=20
      drowning, falls, fires, poisoning, medical mistakes, choking on =
ingested=20
      objects, and environmental factors</P>
      <CENTER><B>"GUN CONTROL" FAILURES</B></CENTER>
      <P>The federal Gun Control Act was imposed in 1968, yet violent =
crime=20
      increased steadily until the early 1990s. Washington, D.C., banned =

      handguns in 1976, and by 1991 its homicide rate had tripled, while =
the=20
      U.S. rate rose only 12%. States that delay firearm sales with =
waiting=20
      periods, licensing, and purchase permits have historically had =
higher=20
      crime rates. Since California imposed a 15-day waiting period on =
firearm=20
      sales in 1975 (reduced to 10 days in 1997), its violent crime rate =
has=20
      been 50% higher each year, on average, compared to the rest of the =

      country. States without Right to Carry laws have higher crime =
rates on=20
      average.</P>
      <P>A Library of Congress study concluded, "it is difficult to find =
a=20
      correlation between the existence of strict firearms regulations =
and a=20
      lower incidence of gun-related crimes." (Report for Congress: =
Firearms=20
      Regulations in Various Foreign Countries, LL98-97-2010, May =
1998)</P>
      <CENTER><B>CRIME CONTROL, NOT "GUN CONTROL"</B></CENTER>
      <P>Violent crime has decreased for eight consecutive years. Most=20
      criminologists and sociologists attribute the decrease to =
increased=20
      imprisonment rates, mandatory sentencing requirements, the hiring =
of=20
      additional police officers, "community policing," improved =
policing=20
      methods and equipment, the aging of gang populations, the decline =
in the=20
      crack cocaine trade, the improved economy, and other factors =
unrelated to=20
      restrictions on firearms. <U>Notably, less than one-fourth of =
violent=20
      crimes are committed with firearms.</U> (FBI)</P>
      <P>"Gun control" advocates instead credit the federal Brady Act =
and=20
      "assault weapon" laws. However, both laws were imposed in 1994, =
two years=20
      after crime began declining, and independent studies have found no =

      evidence that either has affected crime levels. (The Urban =
Institute,=20
      cited above, and Ludwig and Cook, "Homicide and Suicide Rates =
Associated=20
      with Implementation of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act," =

      <I>Journal of the American Medical Association</I>, 8/2/00) =
Violent crimes=20
      committed with weapons other than firearms have decreased at =
roughly the=20
      same rate as those committed with firearms. (FBI)</P>
      <P>"Gun control" advocates also allege that federal restrictions =
on=20
      firearms laws have reduced crime by reducing gun sales - an =
extension of=20
      the anti-gun activists' slogan, "more guns means more crime." To =
the=20
      contrary, privately owned firearms increased in the U.S. by 40-45 =
million=20
      during the 1990s. Furthermore, only about 2.5% of retail gun =
purchase=20
      attempts are rejected under the Brady Act (including persons =
wanting guns=20
      for non-criminal purposes), only a small percentage of those who =
illegally=20
      attempt to buy guns are prosecuted, and the Act does not prevent =
those who=20
      are not prosecuted from acquiring guns by other means (or other =
weapons by=20
      any means).</P>
      <P>A study for the Department of Justice concluded, "Advocates of =
stricter=20
      weapons regulations sometimes assert that the United States is =
virtually=20
      the only advanced civilized nation in the world that exercises no =
controls=20
      over the civilian ownership of possession or use of firearms. In =
fact=20
      there are about 20,000 firearms laws of one sort or another =
already on the=20
      books." (Wright, Rossi, <I>Under the Gun</I>, 1983.)</P>
      <P>Rather than imposing additional laws that restrict the rights =
of the=20
      law-abiding, existing laws should be strictly enforced against =
violent=20
      armed criminals. "Project Exile," launched in 1997 by U.S. =
Attorneys=20
      working with state and local law enforcement in Richmond, Va., =
cracks down=20
      on illegal possession of firearms by felons. In a year, the city's =

      homicides were cut 41% from their 1994 high. Crimes committed with =

      firearms decreased 65%. In the three years since the inception of =
the=20
      Richmond program, several hundred felons have been returned to =
prison with=20
      sentences averaging 56 months. Six states--Virginia, Texas, =
Florida, South=20
      Carolina, Louisiana and Colorado--have instituted similar =
programs, as=20
      have several major cities, including New Orleans, Birmingham,=20
      Philadelphia, Oakland, Rochester and Buffalo.<BR></P>
      <CENTER><B>GENERAL INFORMATION</B></CENTER>
      <P>* Privately owned firearms in the U.S.: Over 200 million, =
including=20
      65-70 million handguns</P>
      <P>* Gun owners in the U.S.: 60-65 million; 30-35 million own =
handguns</P>
      <P>* American households that have firearms: Approx. 45%</P>
      <P>* Hunters nationwide: 14 million (16 yrs. of age and older)</P>
      <P>* NRA Members: 4.2 million</P>
      <P>* NRA State Associations and Local Clubs: 10,000</P>
      <P>* NRA Target Shooting Tournaments annually: 10,000</P>
      <P>* NRA Certified Instructors: 38,000</P>
      <P><B>Rev. 1/2001</B></P></TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD><FONT size=3D-3>Posted: 2000-12-19</FONT></TD>
    <TD align=3Dright></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P></P>
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