Here are some of the top stories we brought you in the NRA-ILA FAX Alert
over the past year. We look forward to providing you with timely stories in
2000, and remember -- inform your fellow NRA members, family, friends, and
fellow firearm owners of this free alert so they can receive it as well!
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YEAR STARTS WITH SETBACK IN COURT
In January, U.S. District Judge James
Robertson denied NRA's request for a preliminary injunction to end the FBI's
registration of gun buyers whose lawful purchases are subject to a National
Instant Check System (NICS) check (National Rifle Association of America, Inc.,
et al. v. Janet Reno). Then, on July 7, Robertson dismissed the case entirely,
completely ignoring one of the three primary arguments our lawsuit made
challenging FBI's actions, and arbitrarily dismissing the others. This ruling
was not unexpected, however, considering Robertson is a Clinton appointee.
Stephen Halbrook, NRA's counsel in this case, filed a notice of appeal the
following day, which remains pending.
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FEDERAL JUDGE RENDERS
SIGNIFICANT RULING
Some court news, however, was met with
applause from the pro-Second Amendment community. In March, U.S. District Judge
Sam Cummings granted a defendant's motion to dismiss an indictment against him
on the grounds that the law violated both the Second and Fifth Amendments.
Judge Cummings explored the historical context of the Second Amendment, its
grammatical structure, judicial interpretations, and how it relates to society
today, finding in all cases that it clearly protects an individual right to
arms.
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NRA GRIEVED WITH NATION OVER COLUMBINE TRAGEDY
The horrific events on April 20
at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., left our great nation saddened and
disturbed. The entire NRA family joined with our fellow Americans in offering
thoughts and prayers to the victims and the community, and NRA scaled back its
Annual Meetings, scheduled to run April 30-May 4 in Denver, to the two days
necessary to comply with our bylaws and the corporation law under which we
operate, to show our profound sympathy and respect for the families and
communities in the Denver area in their time of great loss. Unfortunately, the
Clinton-Gore Administration and members of the so-called "mainstream" media
chose shamelessly to exploit the tragedy in order to further their agenda of
assaulting the Second Amendment.
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RECKLESS LAWSUITS SUFFER REPEATED LOSSES
In October, the City of Cincinnati
experienced American justice at its finest when Judge Robert P. Ruehlman
dismissed the city's reckless lawsuit against certain firearm manufacturers and
one distributor "with prejudice," meaning the city cannot attempt to amend and
refile the suit. The following week, Baltimore (Md.) Circuit Court Judge Evelyn
Omega Cannon dismissed a lawsuit filed against two manufacturers and one
Maryland gun store that sought to hold the defendants responsible for the
accidental shooting of two boys, one of whom was killed. Judge Cannon rejected
the plaintiffs' argument, stating that the manufacturers did not produce a
product that was defective. December saw back-to-back dismissals of reckless
lawsuits in Bridgeport, Conn., and Miami-Dade County, Fla. On Dec. 10, Judge
Robert McWeeny of the Connecticut Superior Court dismissed Bridgeport's suit,
followed on Dec. 13 by Circuit Judge Amy Dean's dismissal of the Miami-Dade
County suit.
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"PROJECT EXILE" GRABS NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
"Project Exile," the cooperative
effort that originated in Richmond, Va., calling for federal, state, and local
law enforcement and prosecutors to work together to seek full prosecution of
violent gun crimes under federal law, began to reshape the debate over
controlling crime. The Senate held hearings on "Project Exile" in March, and in
November, NRA President Charlton Heston testified before the House in support of
this program, calling for federal funding to implement it nationwide. Congress
eventually set aside approximately $7.25 million to extend "Project Exile"
nationwide -- far short of the $50 million NRA has been calling for, but
certainly a step in the right direction. Also, Colorado, Pennsylvania, South
Carolina, Texas, and Virginia all announced the implementation of statewide
programs based on the "Project Exile" prosecution model.
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ASSAULTS ON GUN SHOWS DEFEATED...FOR NOW
One of the goals that anti-gunners
hoped would become a reality in the wake of Littleton was the attempt,
spearheaded by U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), to put an end to gun shows
as we know them today. Even before the tragedy in Colorado, attacking gun shows
was one of the leading issues being promoted by the Clinton-Gore Administration.
Fortunately, NRA's grassroots army prevailed upon the House of Representatives.
While the Senate passed a version of Juvenile Justice Reform legislation (S.
254) containing the Lautenberg amendment, the House of Representatives stood
fast and blocked similar legislation. We expect the fight to renew next year.
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ELECTION '99 WRAP-UP
A handful of states hosted elections this year, and the
results for gun owners were impressive, as NRA-PVF-endorsed candidates won
nearly 90% of their elections. In Virginia, no incumbent, challenger, or open
seat candidate, who was targeted for his pro-Second Amendment stance or for
being "soft" on gun control, lost. In New Jersey, NRA-PVF-endorsed candidates
won 42 out of 44 Assembly races (95%). NRA members were involved in many of
these elections, and should be heartened with these results as we continue to
mobilize our grassroots base in preparation for the 2000 elections.
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CLINTON-GORE 2000 AGENDA SIMILAR TO 1999
While Congress adjourned this year
without passing any new gun restrictions, expect the Clinton-Gore Administration
to assault our right to keep and bear arms with renewed vigor in 2000. In
addition to its quest to outlaw gun shows, the Administration is promoting
federally-funded gun turn-in programs, and is currently exploring an attempt to
circumvent the legislative process through the courts by filing a federal
reckless lawsuit against firearm manufacturers. The year 2000 will be a
watershed year in the debate over gun control, so all NRA members need to be
prepared to redouble their grassroots efforts. The first step all Second
Amendment supporters must take is to register to vote. For information on voter
registration deadlines and requirements in your state, please call the NRA-ILA
Grassroots Division at (800) 392-8683.
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HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE NEW YEAR
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This information is provided as a service of the National Rifle
Association Institute for Legislative Action, Fairfax, VA.
This and other information on the Second Amendment and the NRA is
available at: http://WWW.NRA.Org
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