LIEBERMAN-McCAIN GUN SHOW “COMPROMISE” INTRODUCED

U.S. Senators Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) have

finally introduced their “compromise” gun show legislation, and as

predicted, it is an unworkable “middle ground” bill offered as an

“alternative” to S. 767?Senator Jack Reed’s (D-R.I.) reincarnation of

the failed 1999 Lautenberg amendment that sought to end gun shows as we

know them today. If passed, the Lieberman-
McCain bill, S. 890, would still allow a waiting period on gun

purchases of as long as five days, would add

miles of bureaucratic red tape, and would set up a gun registration

scheme that is far more intrusive than Reed/Lautenberg. And if anyone

still has any doubts as to whether or not the Lieberman-McCain bill is

bad news for law-abiding gun owners (you can get more details by

calling the Grassroots Division at 1-800-392-8683 and requesting a Fact

Sheet on this bill), it should be noted that one of Congress’s most

vocal and active anti-gun extremists, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.),

has signed on as a cosponsor.

But the anti-gun community cannot seem to decide which of these

two anti-gun bills would best suit its goal of imposing more

restrictions on law-abiding gun owners. The anti-gun AGS?which has

already stated its long-term goal as the registration of firearms and

licensing of firearm owners?has promised to spend at least one million

dollars on a deceptive and misleading media campaign in support of S.

890. In contrast, the Violence Policy Center?a small extremist group

that advocates banning all handguns?has thrown its support behind S.

767, opposes the Lieberman-McCain bill, and has publicly questioned

AGS’s strategy to promote “gun control.” Meanwhile, the gun-banners at

HCI have decided to split the difference, and are supporting both

bills.

Your U.S. Senators still need to hear from you TODAY?even if

you have already contacted them on this issue?in opposition to both S.

767 and S. 890. Please continue to call, e-mail, and write your U.S.

Senators today to urge them to oppose gun control amendments to the

education bill! And be sure to spread the word and encourage your

family, friends, and fellow firearm owners to do the same. Tell your

Senators that registration, and waiting periods that are longer than

gun shows are unacceptable!

HCI TO BECOME BCPGV

In its continued search for public acceptance, HCI appears ready to

take on its third name in its brief history. Founded in 1974 as the

National Council to Control Handguns (NCCH), it later changed its name

to Handgun Control, Inc., and is now poised to undergo yet another

superficial transformation.

On June 14, 2001, HCI will officially become the Brady Campaign

to Prevent Gun Violence, or BCPGV, while its “educational” arm, the

Center to Prevent Handgun Violence, will become the Brady Center to

Prevent Gun Violence?also BCPGV.
But to avoid confusion, we’ll just keep things simple, and

continue to refer to this organization by the more appropriate and

accurate name of the “gun-ban lobby.”

A LOOK AT THE STATES

CALIFORNIA SB 52, the “English only” Handgun Licensing Bill,

and SB 510, which mandates all semi-automatic pistols include a chamber

load indicator, will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on

Monday, May 21. AB 35, the Assembly’s version of the “English only”

Handgun Licensing measure will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations

Committee on Wednesday, May 23. Please keep your calls going into the

members of the Appropriations Committees prior to the hearings, and

urge them to oppose SB 52, SB 510, and AB 35. For a complete listing

of committee members click here