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BIGGER CLINTON GUN BAN In April, President Clinton banned the importation of many semi-automatic firearms, proving that his 1994 ban was only a preview of coming attractions. Clinton's "bigger" gun ban restricted firearms that conformed in every way to the criteria set out in his gun ban of 1994. As an aside to this story, in July, U.S. Rep. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) was dealt a defeat when the House rejected an amendment he proposed (301-122) to eliminate compensation for licensed firearms importers whose products were made worthless by the ban. Schumer's amendment also sought to transfer the funds earmarked for aggrieved importers to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. |
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BRADY SUCCESS RUSE In June, we reported on a Department of Justice (DOJ) report, issued through the Bureau of Justice Statistics, claiming that 69,000 handgun sales were blocked in 1997, due to the Brady Act's "background check" (the Supreme Court had ruled earlier that the "background check" was not mandated). However, even DOJ statistics verify that, besides administrative errors in records, many denials are not based on criminal records, but often are a result of other factors. DOJ didn't tout, however, that during the first 17 months the Brady Act was in effect, there were only seven prosecutions with only three incarcerations for violation of the Act. |
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U.S. SENATE SCUTTLES GUN CONTROL AGENDA July saw the U.S. Senate defeat a host of anti-gun proposals. First, it defeated an amendment by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Cal.) that sought to require the sale of a trigger lock with every firearm sold in America. In lieu of the Boxer amendment, the Senate adopted an alternative by Sen. Larry Craig (R-Id.), an NRA Board member, to provide Federal grants for gun safety and education, and to require dealers to have locking devices available for sale . Later, the Senate passed an amendment by Sen. Robert Smith (R-N.H.) dealing with the operation of the National Instant Check System (NICS). Sen. Smith's amendment prohibited a fee being charged for NICS checks and prohibited the retention of records. The penultimate action was adoption of another amendment offered by Sen. Craig that called for more vigorous federal prosecution of criminals who illegally possess, transfer, and use firearms, particularly in connection with drug offenses or violent felonies. In sum, Sen. Craig adopted the proven crime-fighting techniques of the Project Exile program that started in Richmond, Va., in early 1997 -- that calls for the prosecution under federal law of all firearms offenses. Finally, the Senate rejected an amendment offered by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) to hold gun owners criminally liable if juveniles stole their guns and misused them. Additionally, after the House had passed "campaign finance reform," which would have severely limited NRA's ability to communicate political information to our members in August, the Senate killed the proposal in September. |
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RIGHT TO CARRY RECIPROCITY ADVANCES IN HOUSE On August 4, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 218. This bill, introduced by Rep. Randy Cunningham (R-Cal.), originally allowed for all active and retired law enforcement personnel to carry concealed firearms for personal protection throughout the U.S. However, Rep. Bill McCollum (R-Fla.) amended the bill to create reciprocity agreements between the 30 states that currently have "shall-issue" right to carry permit systems. Unfortunately, the full House never voted on the legislation. |
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NRA PRESIDENT MAKES FIRST HILL APPEARANCE On September 23, NRA President Charlton Heston testified before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution. It was Mr. Heston's first Hill appearance as NRA President. Joined by NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre and others, Heston firmly stated that the wording of the Second Amendment could not be more clear, "The law-abiding citizen is entitled to own a rifle, pistol, or shotgun. The right, put simply, shall not be infringed." |
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CLINTON GUN TAX DEFEATED! "NRA achieved its number one legislative goal for 1998 -- to defeat the gun tax," announced NRA-ILA Executive Director James Jay Baker on October 22. He was speaking of language attached to the massive Federal omnibus spending bill, signed by President Clinton, that prevented an attempt by the White House and the FBI to impose a tax on gun purchasers to fund the NICS. |
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98 ELECTIONS The 1998 elections saw NRA maintain its pro-gun majority in both houses of Congress. Unfortunately, the U.S. Senate will be the new home of Chuck Schumer. Gubernatorial candidates endorsed by NRA-PVF won 22 out of 28 races, and three pro-gun governors who were not endorsed were also victorious. Nine out of the 10 most populous states now have pro-Second Amendment governors. Overall, 36 states now have governors who support our right to keep and bear arms, representing a net gain of two pro-gun governors. As for ballot issues, NRA was victorious in Alaska, Minn., Ohio, and Utah, and Wis. Unfortunately, Cal. and Fla. passed anti-freedom initiatives. |
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CLINTON-GORE ADMINISTRATION TARGETS GUN SHOWS Immediately after the elections, the Clinton-Gore Administration began its call for the virtual elimination of gun shows. Erroneously claiming that law-abiding citizens are somehow responsible for the Administration's unwillingness to clamp down on armed criminals, the President took to the radio airwaves noting, "With this action we are one step closer to shutting them down." |
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FBI REGISTERS, NRA SUES True to form, the FBI forged ahead with its plan to retain information on gun buyers whose purchases are not blocked by NICS. In response, NRA filed a lawsuit charging Attorney General Janet Reno and the DOJ with violating the law and grossly intruding into the privacy of lawful citizens by creating such lists. |
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