(Thursday, July 20, 2000) -- The moment of truth has arrived. The last train will ride through Congress tonight, and with it, will come the last chance for pro-gun Rep. John Hostettler (R-IN) to defeat President Clinton's back door gun control.

Hostettler "Stop the BATF" Amendment

The House today begins consideration of the Treasury-Postal funding bill (H.R. 4871). And Rep. Hostettler plans to offer an amendment preventing the BATF from enforcing the agreement signed by the Clinton administration and Smith & Wesson. This accord regulates and restricts the sales of ALL firearms sold by dealers carrying S&W products -- including Glocks, Berettas, Brownings, etc.

Hence, under the agreement, if a person tries to buy a gun from a S&W dealer, he must at the very least: take a government-approved safety course to buy ANY firearm, and submit to a limit of no more than one handgun OF ANY KIND at a time. In addition, the agreement could shut down all gun shows.

Hostettler will probably offer his amendment some time late tonight.

Goode "No Preferences" Amendment

On the other side of the aisle, Democrats are hoping to strip out an amendment that was tacked onto the bill in subcommittee by pro-gun Rep. Virgil Goode (I-VA). The Goode amendment prevents the Treasury Department from rewarding S&W with fat government contracts in exchange for the sell-out agreement the company signed last March. The language of his provision will stop the Treasury Dept. from showing any preference toward Smith & Wesson when purchasing firearms for their agents -- including BATF, Secret Service, etc.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) is expected to offer the amendment striking the Goode language from the bill.

ACTION: Please call your Representatives right away and urge them to:

1. Support the Hostettler amendment which will stop the BATF from in any way enforcing the Clinton & Wesson agreement. This accord is more than just about trigger locks. This agreement regulates and restricts the 2nd Amendment rights of ALL kinds of gun makers, gun dealers and private individuals. Clinton should not be allowed to make an end-run around the Congress in order to unilaterally impose gun control upon the nation.
2. Oppose any amendment (by DeLauro or others) that would strike the Goode "no preferences" provision from the bill. The criteria our government should use when purchasing weapons should be quite simple -- the safety of the public and law-enforcement personnel which comes from purchasing the best product at the best price. The awarding of these contracts should have nothing to do with whether a gun maker (like S&W) has adopted the President's gun control agenda. The Goode amendment ensures the President cannot give preference to S&W and reward them for selling out gun owners.