HEALTH CLUBS JOIN ATTACKS ON GUN-OWNERS

      Sport & Health Clubs, the largest operator of health clubs in the Washington, D.C., area, has dedicated its resources to aggressively promote gun control. In a May 17, PR News Wire story, CEO Don Konz says Sport & Health Clubs needs to utilize its resources "to address the senseless proliferation of weapons that are designed solely to kill other humans."

      His take on the Second Amendment; "The right to bear arms dates from antiquated laws. . . . Today [these] laws are putting [children] in harm's way. . . ." Sport & Health Clubs recently ran a two-thirds page ad in the Washington Post titled "When does someone's right become wrong?" calling for a ban on "assault weapons" and handguns, but failing to mention the criminal misuse of firearms. The ad leads off: "Our forefathers wrote the right to bear arms into the American Constitution. We've interpreted that right to include weapons like handguns and assault weapons. Today, this right has become tragically wrong."

      Sport & Health Clubs is mailing its members urging their support for gun control and providing the contact information for a variety of anti-gun groups, including HCI, Ceasefire, Inc., Marylanders Against Handgun Abuse, Virginians Against Handgun Violence, and the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence. It is also encouraging supporters to "Make a little noise in your neighborhood. Don't be afraid to ask your neighbors if they own guns, and, if so, how they are stored. If they don't have the right answers, tell your kids they can't play there."

      Contact Sport & Health Clubs at (800) 882-5827 or (703) 556-6556, or e-mail the firm at info@sportandhealth.com to voice your objections to their efforts.

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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