10/97 Lautenberg Repeal Update

Lautenberg Gun Ban Repeal Update:
Get pro-gun compromisers on board the FULL repeal!

by Gun Owners of America
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102
Springfield, VA 22151
(703) 321-8585, fax: 321-8408

ATTENTION: Please cut/paste/e-mail or clip/fax the provided message and send it to the Reps. listed below.

(Wednesday, October 15, 1997) -- Rep. Helen Chenoweth (R-ID) now has 34 cosponsors who have signed onto her bill to repeal the Lautenberg gun ban -- a pernicious law that disarms innocent, decent Americans for offenses as slight as grabbing a spouse or spanking a child. The Chenoweth bill (H.R. 1009) is still the only bill that will fully repeal the gun ban.

As you know, Rep. Bob Barr (R-GA) has introduced a compromise version of the Lautenberg repeal which would still leave the ban in place -- his bill only repeals the retroactive portion of the law.

Earlier this year, Gun Owners of America alerted you to Rep. Bob Barr's (R-GA) editorial in USA Today (3/6/97) where he expressed his support for the Lautenberg gun ban. He said:

This [Lautenberg gun ban] is important and worthwhile legislation, and we cannot allow its effectiveness to be reduced.

You will also remember that this was not the first time that Rep. Barr expressed his support for the underlying principle behind the Lautenberg gun ban. On September 28, 1996, Rep. Barr issued a memo on his Congressional letterhead stating that:

THE LAUTENBERG AMENDMENT WITH THE BARR LANGUAGE IS STRONG PROTECTION FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN. [All Caps courtesy of Rep. Barr in the original.]

Unfortunately, many Representatives have signed onto Barr's compromise version but not onto Chenoweth's full repeal. Perhaps they do not realize that there is a REAL difference between the two bills. The Chenoweth bill asks for a TOTAL repeal; the Barr bill does not -- and that is by design. After all, Barr has expressed support for the future enforcement of the ban!

ACTION: The Representatives listed below are cosponsors of Rep. Barr's bill, BUT ARE NOT cosponsors of Rep. Chenoweth's FULL repeal. Get them to sign onto H.R. 1009 (1-800-522-6721).

Fax/E-Mail Reps. the message below & urge them to get on H.R. 1009.
Contact Info (All fax numbers are area code 202)
Barcia (D-MI)
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225-2168		 Emerson (R-MO)
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226-0326		 Norwood (R-GA)
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225-0279
Bishop (D-GA)
no e-mail
225-2203		 Gekas (R-PA)
no e-mail
225-8440		 Oberstar (D-MN)
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225-0699		 
Bliley (R-VA)
no e-mail
225-0011		 Hayworth (R-AZ)
no e-mail
225-3263		 Peterson, John (R-PA)
no e-mail
225-5796
Camp (R-MI)
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225-9679		 LaTourette (R-OH)
no e-mail
225-3307		 Petri (R-WI)
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225-2356
Christensen (R-NE)
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225-3032		 LoBiondo (R-NJ)
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225-3318		 Schiff (R-NM)
no e-mail
225-4975
Collins (R-GA)
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225-2515		 Lucas (R-OK)
no e-mail
225-8698		 Traficant (D-OH)
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225-3719
Deal (R-GA)
no e-mail
225-8272		 Ney (R-OH)
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225-3394		 Upton (R-MI)
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225-4986

Dear Representative:

I'm disappointed that you have not yet cosponsored Rep. Helen Chenoweth's bill to repeal the Lautenberg gun ban. This ban is one of the most dangerous gun laws that has passed in recent years, as it disarms decent Americans for offenses as slight as grabbing a spouse or spanking a child.

While I realize that you have cosponsored a partial repeal of the ban (H.R. 26), I am writing to urge your cosponsorship of the full repeal (H.R. 1009). The former will still leave the Lautenberg gun ban in the federal code to disarm decent Americans in the future; many innocent people have already lost their rights.

Moreover, this law can disarm Americans without giving them a trial by jury. It is unconscionable that our government can now deny decent Americans their basic rights without a jury trial!

Some people on Capitol Hill see the Barr bill as our best attempt to get "half a loaf." Regardless, I don't think that cosponsoring his bill ALONE is equivalent to taking a pro-gun stand. The lead sponsor, Mr. Barr, indicated in USA Today (3/6/97) and in other places that he has no intention of repealing the entire ban.

I hope you do not agree with that sentiment! If you don't, then I strongly urge you to go on record in support of the full repeal -- not just the part about past offenses. Please cosponsor H.R. 1009, the Full Repeal bill by Rep. Chenoweth.

Sincerely,