Wednesday, August 3, 2005

Last week, GOA alerted you to legislation passed in the Senate (S. 397) that will protect gun makers from frivolous lawsuits.

Unfortunately, S. 397 passed with some unwanted baggage -- specifically, an amendment offered by Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) requiring gun dealers to include a "lock-up-your-safety" device with every handgun sold.

In addition to imposing a "gun tax" on every handgun buyer, this amendment paves the way for future legislation mandating that gun owners use those trigger locks. Many gun owners don't use locking devices because they want instant protection during a moment of crisis. That should be their choice.

So GOA is now working with Colorado Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R) to get this obnoxious provision stripped out of the bill. She will be sending a letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Majority Leader Tom DeLay, asking them to NOT approve the Senate bill.

Rather, the Musgrave letter asks these two leaders to push the House bill, H.R. 800, which provides lawsuit immunity for gun makers and sellers, without endangering average gun owners. H.R. 800 has been well received in the House, as it currently has a whopping 257 cosponsors.

Rep. Musgrave needs additional cosignatories before she sends her letter. And this is where we need your help.

ACTION: Please ask your Representative to sign onto the Musgrave letter opposing the "lock-up-your-safety" provision in S. 397. She needs as many Congressional signatures as possible to show the House leadership that there is a groundswell of support for pushing the House bill, H.R. 800, rather than just taking the Senate version at face value.

You can visit the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send your Representative a pre-written e-mail message such as the one below.

--- Pre-written letter ---

Dear Representative:

As you know, the Senate recently passed much-needed lawsuit protection for the gun industry (S. 397). But this bill passed with some unwanted baggage -- specifically, an amendment offered by Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) requiring gun dealers to include a "lock-up-your-safety" device with every handgun sold.

In addition to imposing a "gun tax" on every handgun buyer, this amendment paves the way for future legislation mandating that gun owners use those trigger locks.

Many gun owners don't use locking devices because they want instant protection during a moment of crisis. Mandatory trigger locks will actually cost lives by rendering self-defense firearms ineffective in an emergency situation.

I urge you to sign onto a letter being circulated by Rep. Marilyn Musgrave which deals with real efforts to gain lawsuit protection for gun makers and gun dealers, without endangering ordinary gun owners.

The letter asks the House leadership to push H.R. 800, a lawsuit protection bill that contains no gun control, rather than its Senate counterpart. H.R. 800 has been well received in the House, as it currently has 257 cosponsors.

America deserves a clean bill which offers real protection for gun makers and dealers. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

***********************

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