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Straight talk about what you can do to preServe your right to keep and bear armS citizenS committee for the right to keep and bear armS (a non-profit corporation) National Headquarters: 12500 N.E. Tenth Place Bellevue, Washington 98005 Capitol Hill Office: 1090 Vermont Ave., N.W., Suite 800 Washington, D.C. 20005 September 2004 Volume XXIX No. 9 Campaign to Renew Ban Flawed 1 Gun Rights in Nat’l Campaigns 2 AWB Not Dead 3 Armed Pilots 4 Anti-Gun Gov Dumped 4 FOP Should Support CCW 5 Citizen Action Project 5 Defender of the Month 6 Quick Shots 7 IN THIS ISSUE Campaign to renew ‘assault weapon’ ban mired in mythology By Joe Waldron and Dave Workman Touring the country in an effort to renew the ten-year-old ban on so- called “assault weapons,” the numerically-challenged Million Mom March has been conducting a campaign built largely on fiction. As far back as 1988, gun prohibitionists figured they could fool the public into supporting a ban that has been essentially symbolic. Josh Sugarman with the Violence Policy Center put the campaign in its proper perspec- tive, admitting, “The weapons’ menacing looks coupled with the public’s confusion over fully automatic machine guns versus semiautomatic assault weapons – anything that looks like a machine gun is assumed to be a ma- chine gun – can only increase that chance of public support for restrictions on these weapons.” Contrary to myth, guns affected by this ban are not machine guns. They fire one shot with each press of the trigger, the same as any shotgun used by duck hunters, or rifle used by big game hunters. These guns are not the “weapon of choice” among criminals. Studies , before and after the ban took effect, have shown that so-called “assault weapons” are used in less than 2% of violent crimes. Ban proponents claim that after the ban expires Sept. 13, America’s streets will be “flooded” with these guns. The “ban” only placed a freeze on pro- duction. Those rifles are still out there, legally for sale – albeit at premium prices because of all the media hype – and most of them are in the gun safes and cabinets of law-abiding gun owners. Banning their production did not eliminate them, and had nothing to do with a drop in homicide rates, as, apparently, neither do any other gun control laws. Last October, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a review of 51 previous “studies” of gun control laws. Their conclusion? None of these laws reduced crime. That includes gun and ammunition bans, waiting periods, school “zero tolerance” laws, safe storage statutes, and licensing or registration. On March 11, VPC’s Tom Diaz admitted to National Public Radio, “If the existing assault weapons ban expires, I personally do not believe it will make one whit of difference one way or another in terms of our objective, which is reducing death and injury and getting a particularly lethal class of firearms off the streets.” Anti-gunners want to eliminate private gun ownership, period, no mat- ter how they mask it, how they accomplish it, or which guns they get first. They should cut out all the hype and just be honest about it.
Transcript
Page 1: Campaign to renew ‘assault weapon’ ban mired in mythology ... · 9/12/2013  · chine gun – can only increase that chance of public support for restrictions on these weapons.”

Straight talkabout what you

can do topreServe your

right to keep andbear armS

citizenS committee

for the right to keep andbear armS

(a non-profit corporation)

National Headquarters:12500 N.E. Tenth Place

Bellevue, Washington 98005

Capitol Hill Office:1090 Vermont Ave., N.W., Suite 800

Washington, D.C. 20005

September2004

Volume XXIX No. 9

Campaign to Renew Ban Flawed 1Gun Rights in Nat’l Campaigns 2AWB Not Dead 3Armed Pilots 4Anti-Gun Gov Dumped 4FOP Should Support CCW 5Citizen Action Project 5Defender of the Month 6Quick Shots 7

IN THIS ISSUE

Campaign to renew ‘assault weapon’ ban mired in mythology

ByJoeWaldronandDaveWorkman

Touringthecountryinanefforttorenewtheten-year-oldbanonso-called“assaultweapons,”thenumerically-challengedMillionMomMarchhasbeenconductingacampaignbuiltlargelyonfiction. Asfarbackas1988,gunprohibitionistsfiguredtheycouldfoolthepublicintosupportingabanthathasbeenessentiallysymbolic.JoshSugarmanwiththeViolencePolicyCenterputthecampaigninitsproperperspec-tive,admitting,“Theweapons’menacinglookscoupledwiththepublic’sconfusionoverfullyautomaticmachinegunsversussemiautomaticassaultweapons–anythingthatlookslikeamachinegunisassumedtobeama-chinegun–canonlyincreasethatchanceofpublicsupportforrestrictionsontheseweapons.” Contrarytomyth,gunsaffectedbythisbanarenotmachineguns.Theyfireoneshotwitheachpressofthetrigger,thesameasanyshotgunusedbyduckhunters,orrifleusedbybiggamehunters. Thesegunsarenotthe“weaponofchoice”amongcriminals.Studies,beforeandafter thebantookeffect,haveshownthatso-called“assaultweapons”areusedinlessthan2%ofviolentcrimes. BanproponentsclaimthatafterthebanexpiresSept.13,America’sstreetswillbe“flooded”withtheseguns.The“ban”onlyplacedafreezeonpro-duction.Thoseriflesarestilloutthere,legallyforsale–albeitatpremiumpricesbecauseofallthemediahype–andmostofthemareinthegunsafesandcabinetsoflaw-abidinggunowners.Banningtheirproductiondidnoteliminatethem,andhadnothingtodowithadropinhomiciderates,as,apparently,neitherdoanyotherguncontrollaws. LastOctober,theCentersforDiseaseControlandPreventionreleasedareviewof51previous“studies”ofguncontrollaws.Theirconclusion?Noneof these lawsreducedcrime.That includesgunandammunitionbans,waitingperiods,school“zerotolerance”laws,safestoragestatutes,andlicensingorregistration. OnMarch11,VPC’sTomDiazadmitted toNationalPublicRadio,“Iftheexistingassaultweaponsbanexpires,Ipersonallydonotbelieveitwillmakeonewhitofdifferenceonewayoranotherintermsofourobjective,whichisreducingdeathandinjuryandgettingaparticularlylethalclassoffirearmsoffthestreets.” Anti-gunnerswanttoeliminateprivategunownership,period,nomat-terhowtheymaskit,howtheyaccomplishit,orwhichgunstheygetfirst.Theyshouldcutoutallthehypeandjustbehonestaboutit.

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“Straight talk about what you can do to preserve your right to keep and bear arms.”

Editor JohnM.SnyderPublisher AlanM.GottliebManagingEditors J.H.Versnel DaveWorkmanAssociateEditors TomGresham MerrillJacobs BobKukla HerbStupp PeggyTartaro JoeWaldron

POINTBLANKispublishedmonthlybyCitizensCommitteefortheRighttoKeepandBearArms,LibertyPark,12500N.E.TenthPlace,Bellevue,Washington98005.

Copyright©2004CCRKBA

CorrespondenceandmanuscriptsshouldbesenttoPOINTBLANK,CCRKBA,1090VermontAve.,N.W.,Suite800,Washington,D.C.20005Address Change:Writenewaddress,city,state,andzipcodeonaplainpieceofpaper.AttachmailinglabelfromanissueofPOINTBLANKandsendto CCRKBA, 12500 N.E. Tenth Place, Bellevue,Washington98005.Pleaseallowfourtosixweeksforchangetobecomeeffective.

Asthenationalpoliticalcampaignsmoved into full swing, CCRKBAofficials noted that the individualSecond Amendment civil right oflaw-abiding American citizens tokeepandbeararmsonceagainisamajorissueinthecampaign. CCRKBAsaidthatbyofferingra-bidlyanti-gunRep.CarolynMcCar-thyofNewYorkaplumopportunityto promote legislation expandingtheso-called“assaultweapons”banduringitsconventioninBostontheDemocraticPartyonceagainshoweditstruecolorstomillionsofAmericangunowners. “Formonths,”observedCCRKBAChairmanAlanM.Gottlieb,“Demo-crats have been out hustling gunowners for their votes, trying toportray themselves as pro-SecondAmendment. Giving McCarthya microphone proved Democratshaven’tabandonedtheirfailedguncontrolpolicies.” McCarthy’s husband was mur-deredbyaderangedracistgunmannamed Colin Ferguson, who alsowoundedhersoninashootingonacommutertrainin1993.Fergusondidnotuseaso-called“assaultweapon”in that crime, but a handgun hepurchasedinCalifornia,astatewithsomeofthemostrestrictivegunlawsinthenation. “Democratsmayaswelleraseanycredibility they may have gainedamonggunownersoverthepasttwoyears,”Gottliebstated.“SomuchforJohnKerry’spheasanthuntingandskeet shooting opswith borrowedfirearms, or any other lip serviceDemocratsareofferinggunownersbackintheirdistricts.AllowingMc-Carthyaforumtocampaignagainstthefirearmrightsofmillionsoflaw-abidingAmericansinthemiddleof

theirnationalconventionshouldtellfirearmownersalltheyneedtoknowaboutthetrueDemocratagenda.” Gottlieburgedallgunowners toreviewMcCarthy’sspeechandtheapplause it elicited from the partyleadership,“andthendecidewhetherDemocratsdeservetobetrustedwiththeirSecondAmendmentrights.” Duringthepreparedversionofherspeech,McCarthycastigatedseverelyPresident George W. Bush for notaskingtheRepublicanleadershipinCongress“totakeactionandextendtheban.Hehasnotdonehisparttoprotectourchildren.Orhisparttoprotectourpoliceofficers…IknowPresident JohnKerrywill fight forabanonassaultweapons. IknowJohnKerrywillstandupto”thegunlobby. Indeed,sogunghoforguncontrolwere the delegates in Boston thatalmostnineoutof10describedthem-selvesassupportersofguncontrol,accordingtoaBostonGlobepollofacrosssectionof400delegates. In an article headlined, “GunControlAnEmergingIssue,”DavidLightman,WashingtonBureauChiefof the Hartford Courant, reported,“Democratsareconfidenttheyfinallyhaveagunissuetheycanenthusiasti-callyrunwith…The10-yearbanonsemiautomatic, assault-style weap-onsendsSept.13,andbecausethereislikelytobenocongressionalactionbeforethentoextendit,apresidentialcampaignissueisreadytoignite. “Democrats can claim hypocrisy,becausePresidentBushhassaidhesupportsextendingthebanbuthasdone little to followup. Theycanrun against the powerfulNationalRifle Association, which is aggres-sivelyopposingextension,andtheycanfightSenateRepublicans,many

ofwhomareleadingthechargetokeepitfromavote.Republicanswhooppose the ban are playing to theGOPbase and counter that it is ‘aphonydeal.It’smoresymbolicthatreality,’asSenateJudiciaryCommit-teeOrrinG.HatchofUtahputit.”Hatch, a CCRKBA CongressionalAdvisor,holdsaCCRKBAGunRightsDefenderoftheMonthAward.

CCrKba sees gun rights as maJor Campaign issue

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As this issue of Point Blankwasgoing topress, it appeared certainthattheten-year-oldbanonso-called“assaultweapons”wasgoingtodie,andbymid-month,Americanswouldonceagainbeabletoenjoytheirrighttoownfirearmsdemonizedbythedo-nothingban. However, leaders at theCitizensCommitteefortheRighttoKeepandBearArmsarenotexpectingthefightoversemiautomaticriflesandshot-gunstodisappearfromthepoliticallandscape.WhilethebanwasbeingpromotedbygungrabbersonCapitolHillandinthepress,CCRKBAtookstepstocounterthepropaganda. CCRKBA Executive Director JoeWaldron andCommunicationsDi-rectorDaveWorkmanteameduponanOp-Edessaycirculatedtoeverynewspaperinthecountry,strippingaway themyths thatgungrabbershavebeenusingtopushforrenewaloftheban. Intheirarticle,theynoted,“Asfarbackas1988,gunprohibitionistsfig-uredtheycouldfoolthepublicintosupportingabanthat,ashistoryhasshown,hasbeenessentiallysymbolic.Sixteen years ago, Josh SugarmanwiththeViolencePolicyCenterputthecampaigninitsproperperspec-tive,admitting,‘Theweapons’men-acinglookscoupledwiththepublic’sconfusionoverfullyautomaticma-chinegunsversussemiautomaticas-saultweapons–anythingthatlookslikeamachinegunisassumedtobeamachinegun–canonlyincreasethat chance of public support forrestrictionsontheseweapons.’ “Prohibitionists,”theycontinued,“argue these firearms have no le-gitimatepurpose.Thousandsofcom-petitiveshooters,whoparticipateinregisteredmatcheswiththeserifles

all over the country almost everyweekend,woulddisagree.Mostofthese guns are suitable for homedefense,manyarelegitimatecollec-tor’sitems,andothersareusedforhunting.” Pullingnopunches,WaldronandWorkmanexposedthehypocrisyofanti-gunners byquotingTomDiazfromtheViolencePolicyCenter,whoadmitted toNational Public RadioMarch 11, “If the existing assaultweapons ban expires, I personallydonotbelieveitwillmakeonewhitofdifferenceonewayoranotherintermsofourobjective,whichisre-ducingdeathandinjuryandgettingaparticularlylethalclassoffirearmsoffthestreets.” Theyfurthernotedthattwoimpor-tantstudies,independentfromoneanother, have acknowledged thatgunlawshavenotbeenshowntobeaneffectivetoolinthefightagainstcrime. Last October, they recalled, theCenters for Disease Control andPreventionreleaseda reviewof51previous “studies” of gun controllaws.“Theirconclusion,”theauthorsnoted,“Noneoftheselawsreducedcrime.TheCDCreportadmittedthat‘…theTaskForcefoundinsufficientevidence to determine the effec-tivenessofanyofthefirearmslawsreviewed for preventing violence.’Thatincludesgunandammunitionbans,waitingperiods, school ‘zerotolerance’laws,safestoragestatutes,andlicensingorregistration. “Justdaysago,”theyadded,“theWashington Times revealed that areportfromtheNationalInstituteofJusticesays,‘Wecannotclearlycreditthebanwithanyofthisnation’sre-centdropingunviolence…Shoulditberenewed,theban’seffectsongun

violencearelikelytobesmallatbestand perhaps too small for reliablemeasurement’.” Inmid-August,theanti-gunBradyCenter to Prevent Gun Violence,knownformerlyasHandgunCon-trol,Inc.,obviouslyupsetabouttheprospectofthesunset,complainedthat, “some Americans are simplydrooling at the notion of deadlierguns.” TheycrankedupthevolumeeverlouderastheSept.13deadlineap-proached, attacking one gun com-pany, ArmaLite, Inc., for allegedly“contemptiblycateringtothosewhoaredesperateforextraordinaryfire-power.” They’refrothingatthemouthandwilldowhattheycantomakethisamajorissue.Nodoubt,especiallyifSen.JohnKerrywinsinNovember,anti-gunnerswillbeclamoringforanew,expandedversionoftheban. “Therenewaloftheassaultweap-onsban,”asStephenBealewrotefortownhall.com,“isthecausedujourforliberals.TheAtlantaJournal-Con-stitution,BostonGlobe,LosAngelesTimes,MiamiHerald,NewYorkTimes,Portland Oregonian, San FranciscoChronicle,andTheWashingtonPost–tonamejustafew–haveallsoundedacalltoarms.” But Waldron and Workman putthisbattleinitsproperperspective,whentheynotedattheconclusionof their essay, “Anti-gunners wanttoeliminateprivategunownership,period,nomatterhowtheymaskit,how they accomplish it, or whichgunstheygetfirst.Theyshouldcutoutallthehypeandjustbehonestaboutit.”

‘assault weapon’ ban not dead issue

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Even though the 108th Congressseems to bewinding down in an-ticipationoftheNovemberelections,CCRKBAcontinuesonCapitolHillin Washington, D.C. to promoteenactmentoftheproposedCockpitSecurity Technical Corrections andImprovementsAct. Theproposal,S.2268,bySen.JimBunningofKentucky,and itscom-panionpiece,H.R.4126,byRep.JoeWilson of South Carolina, woulddirect the Transportation SecurityAdministration(TSA)tostopitsfoot-draggingwithregardtoimplementa-tionofthearmedpilotsprogram. CCRKBA Public Affairs DirectorJohnMichaelSnydersaid,“WearesupportingtheeffortsoftheAirlinePilots Security Alliance (APSA) inworkingforenactmentofthisneces-sarylegislation.” APSA noted that, “almost a year

andahalfago,CongressorderedareluctantTSAtoarmAmerica’sair-linepilotstodefendtheirpassengersfrom terrorist attack. Obstructivebureaucratssabotagedtheprogram,rejectinghundredsofapplicantpi-lotson‘psychologicalgrounds’andaddingdangerousandnonsensicalrulestodeternewvolunteers.Tensofthousandsofpilotsarenowavoidingthearmedpilotprogramandonlytwo to three percent of our pilotsaretrainedtoflyarmed,asgovern-mentbureaucratsputtheirpoliticalagendasaheadofyourlives. “Inoneof thehighest threaten-vironments we’ve ever faced, andtrusting a security system that letacollegestudentgetfakeweaponsonto airliners 100 percent of thetimeshetried,andwithourcriticalairmarshalscoveringonlythesmall-estfractionofourflights,ourpilots

andpassengersaredefenseless…Aconfluence of events has causedAPSA’ssecurityconsultantstobelieveAlQaedamaybeinthefinalstagesofpreparationforamajorattackontheUnitedStates.” Congress, stated APSA, “is sud-denly very interested in terrorismlegislationandshowingtheAmeri-can people they are engaged. WewantthemtoseetheCockpitSecurityActasthefastest,easiestwaytoprovetothepublictheyareseriousaboutfighting terrorism! To do that, weneedtogetthebilloutoftheHouseAviation Subcommittee (Rep. JohnMicaofFlorida,chairman)andtheSenateCommerceCommittee(Sen.JohnMcCainofArizona,chairman).Ifeverweneededstronggrassrootssupport,now is that time!Pickupthephone!”

CCrKba Keeps pushing armed pilots measure

Last month’s primary defeat ofanti-gunMissouriGov.BobHoldenshouldserveasanobjectlessonforotherpoliticianswhoplacepoliticalcorrectness ahead of the personalsafetyoftheirconstituents,theCiti-zensCommitteefortheRighttoKeepandBearArmsstated. “Show Me State gun ownersshowedBobHoldenthedoor,”saidCCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb.“Althoughtheytriedtodownplayit,boththeSt.LouisPost DispatchandKansasCityStar acknowledgedthatHolden’s veto of concealed carrylegislation cost him critical votes.Thegovernorandhispoliticaladvi-sors shouldhave seen this comingtheinstantthatMissourilawmakers

camebacktoJeffersonCitylastyeartooverridehisarrogantveto.” CCRKBA Executive Director JoeWaldronadded,“IttakesexampleslikeBobHoldentoremindanti-gunpoliticiansthattheyshouldneverun-derestimatethefuryofgunowners.Grassrootsactivisminthefirearmscommunityisaliveandwell,astheprimaryvotedemonstrated.” Formorethanayear,Missourigunownershavebeenwaiting for thisopportunity,thegunrightsleadersnoted.Itwasthefirst timeinstatehistorythatanincumbentgovernorwasoustedbyachallengerfromhisownparty. “BobHolden’s veto last year gotMissourigunownersmad,”Gottlieb

observed,“andgunownersgoteven.The governor ’s other leadershipproblemsoneducation,theeconomyand social issues certainly crippledhim,buthisanti-gunphilosophywastheproverbial strawthatbroke thecamel’sback.” “You do not take a position thatundermines the personal safety ofyourconstituents,leavingthemde-fenselessagainstcriminals,”Waldronstated. “Politicians who think theycangivelipservicetogunrightsandpersonalprotection,whilevotingorvetoingotherwise,shouldtakeales-sonfromHolden’sprecedent-settingprimarydefeat.Gunownersareoutthere,inthetallgrass,andtheydon’tforget.”

mo gun owners hammer holden

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The Citizens Committee for theRight toKeep andBearArmshascalled on the Fraternal Order ofPolice (FOP) to support nationalconcealedcarryforprivatecitizens. CCRKBAnotedthatgunownersstronglysupportedrecently-passedfederallegislationthatallowswork-ingandretiredpoliceofficerstocarryalloverthecountryas“adeterrenttocrimeandterrorism.” CCRKBA Executive Director JoeWaldronobservedthat,“theseciti-zenslobbiedvigorouslyonbehalfofthepoliceintheirefforttopasstheLaw Enforcement Officers SafetyAct.Itisonlytherightandproperthingtoexpectthatactivedutyandretiredpoliceofficersnowbenefit-ingfromthatlaw,alongwithpolicegroupssuchasFOP,wouldstepupto the plate and support nationalconcealedcarryforalllegally-armedprivatecitizens.”

“Weallknowthatevenretiredpo-licemencan’talwaysbetherewhentheyareneededtopreventorstopacrime,”Waldronsaid,“butthelikeli-hoodoflegalinterventionincreaseswhenyouaddseveralmillionlaw-abiding licensedprivatecitizens totheequation.” Dozens of states have enactedreciprocityagreementsamongthem-selvesandahandfulofstateshavepassed“universalrecognition”lawsthatsimplyhonorconcealedpistollicenses issued by all other states,Waldron said. The problem is thatthese state reciprocity agreementsdonotcoverallthestates. “Private citizens have the sameself-defenserightsasworkingandre-tiredcops,”hesaid.“Afterall,outsidetheirjurisdictions,andafterthey’veentered retirement, these officersarejustplaincitizenslikeeveryoneelse.Citizensdonotleavetheirself-

defense rights at state borders, nomatterwhattheydoforaliving.” Waldron said also that, “the vastmajority of these citizens have re-ceivedtrainingintheuseoffirearmsasaconditionofobtainingtheircarrylicenses.Manyarecompetitiveshoot-erswhousetheirfirearmsfarmorefrequently thanworkingor retiredpoliceofficers.Theywouldonlyaddtoourlevelofcommunitysafetyandhomelandsecurity. “Theyhavebeenstaunchsupport-ers of law enforcement and theyunderstand that instead of societycontinuing to place the burden ofsafetyjustonpoliceofficers,allciti-zensshouldsharethatresponsibility.Howbettercouldtheydothatthantopromoteanationalsafetyactforcitizens,withthewell-earnedsupportofthisnation’sdedicatedpolicemenandpolicewomen?”

CCrKba Calls on Fop to supportpriVate CitiZen CCw

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Maryland State Senator Alex X.MooneyofFrederickhasbeennamedtheCCRKBAGunRightsDefenderoftheMonthAwardwinnerforSep-tember. InnominatingtheFreeStatesolonfortheAward,CCRKBAPublicAf-fairsDirectorJohnMichaelSnyder,notedthat,“intheStateofMaryland,wheretheanti-gunforcesforthepastfewyearshavebeenonthemarchingreaterstrengththantheyhavebeeninsomeotherareasofourcountry,it takesa lotofguts forabuddingpoliticiantostandupinaforthrightmanneranddefendandpromotetheindividualcivilrightoflaw-abidingcitizenstokeepandbeararms.Alexis just such a youngpolitician.HemostcertainlydeservesthisAward,and with it we encourage him tokeepupthegoodfightfortraditionalAmericanvalues.” InearlyJuly,Sen.MooneysaidthatMarylandgunownersmustbegintowieldmorepoliticalclout.Heisthechairmanofanewly-formedgroupthataimstoregistermoregunown-erstovote. TheMarylandSecondAmendmentCoalitionwenttoworkinlateJuneat aFrederickgun show. Mooneyand Co-Chairman Robert CulverofMontgomeryCitizensforaSaferMarylandsaidtheywillbevisitingothergunshowsinthestatetodis-tributevoterregistrationformsandprovideappropriatebumperstickers. MooneysaidthatSecondAmend-mentproponents“tendtobepeoplewhodon’twantthegovernmenttointerveneintheirlivesasfarastak-ingaway theirgunsandgenerallytendtobepeoplewhodon’tturntogovernment”forservices,reported

theAssociatedPress. “Perhapsinreturntheydon’tfeeltheneedtogetinvolvedinthegov-ernmentprocessasmuch,”hesaid. Inapressreleaseannouncingthedrive, Mooney said gun owners“need to become a major politicalforce”inMaryland.“The2AMCo-alitionwillmakegunownersawarethateveryday,liberalpoliticiansareworkinginAnnapolis(theMarylandState Capital) and in Washington,D.C.totakeawaytheirconstitutionalrighttoownagun.” Mooney has opposed gun con-trol measures such as Maryland’srequirementthatallhandgunssoldinthestatebeequippedwithinte-gratedtriggerlocks,andaproposedstatebanonso-called“assault-styleweapons”thatfailedbyonevoteinaSenatecommitteeearlierthisyear. Mooneyhasdrawntheireofanti-gunforcesinthestate.LeahBarrett,executive director of the anti-gungroupCeasefireMaryland,Inc.,saidtheSecondAmendmentCoalitionismerelyaRepublicanpublicityploy.Shesaidthatduringthedebateaboutbanningcertainsemiautomaticrifles,which Mooney calls “sport utilityguns,” gun rights activists packedthehearingroom. ThepurposeoftheMarylandSec-ondAmendmentCoalitionistotargetlikemindedindividualsandgroups,and distribute voting information,togathervotersupportforfirearmfriendlycandidates inforthcomingelections. Interested parties couldcallAlexMooneyat(410)841-3575,orBobCulverat(301)776-4488. MooneywasborninWashington,D.C.andmovedwithhisfamilytoFrederickwhenhewasaninfant.He

graduatedfromDartmouthCollegein1993withadegreeinPhilosophy.Shortlyaftergraduation,heservedasanaidetoU.S.Rep.RoscoeBartlett(MD).AfterRepublicans tookoverCongress in the 1994 elections,Mooney worked as a legislativeanalyst for the House RepublicanConference Committee. He laterleftCapitolHilltoworkforasmallconservativepublicpolicyorganiza-tion, serving as vice president forLegislativeAnalysisof theCouncilforNationalPolicyAction,Inc. In1998,AlexdecidedtorunfortheMarylandStateSenate.Afterknock-ingonthousandsofdoorsandwork-ing tirelesslymakinghis casewiththevotersofthethirddistrict,Alexwasrewardedwith63percentofthevoteandtookofficeinJanuary1999,becoming the youngest and onlyHispanicmemberof theMarylandStateSenate. He sits on the Senate JudicialProceedings Committee. He hasreceivedthe topbusiness rating inthestatebytheMarylandBusinessforResponsiveGovernment.HealsohasreceivedtheMarylandTaxpayeroftheYearAwardforvotingconsis-tentlytoprotectthe“littleguy”bycutting burdensome governmentregulations and red tape on smallbusinesses. Alexandhiswife,GraceGonzalez,M.D.,Ph.D.,weremarriedin2002.Theirson,LucasAlexanderMooney,wasbornonJuly13,2003.AlexisamemberoftheKnightsofColumbusandSt.John’sCatholicChurch.

maryland state senator reCeiVes CCrKba award

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CaliforniaGov.ArnoldSchwar-zeneggerdidtherightthingwhenhevetoedaso-called“gunsafetyedu-cation”billbecauseofitspotentialtoallowanti-gunpropagandatobetaughtintheguiseofpublicsafety,CCRKBA stated. The bill, SB1177“wasanattempt topoliticizehunt-ing and self-defense issueswithinschoolsinanopen-endedmanner,with no state guidance,” statedCCRKBA California representativeJimMarch.“Onacostbasisalone,it was a disaster in the making.”CCRKBAChairmanAlanM.GottliebsaidCCRKBA“opposedthislegisla-tionfromtheoutset.ItseemedcleartousthatSB1177,authoredbyanti-gun rights zealotSen. JackScott,easilywouldhavebeenabusedtopromoteananti-self-defensemes-sage.”

A mid-July ruling by RamseyCounty, Minnesota District CourtJudgeJohnFinley that thestate’stwo-year-old concealed carry lawis unconstitutional is an affront tothestate’slaw-abidingcitizensandshould be quickly appealed byan appeals court, said CCRKBA.“Judge Finley’s ruling is a slap inthe face tomore than30,000Min-nesota residentswhohave legallyobtainedconcealedpistollicenses,”said CCRKBA Chairman Alan M.Gottlieb.“WeurgeAttorneyGeneralMichael Hatch to quickly appealthisdecisionand,inthemeantime,makecertainthatastayisgrantedsothatMinnesotafirearmsownerscancontinueobtainingtheirlicensesimmediately upon completing the

requirements.”CCRKBAExecutiveDirectorJoeWaldronsaidthat,“noMinnesotaresidentshouldhavehisorhersafetyplacedinjeopardybythislowercourtdecision.”

WhiletherecanbenodoubtthatpoliceofficersinOshkosh,WIrecent-lyconductedaneighborhoodsearchforagunmanwhoshotandwoundedOfficerNateGallagher with goodintentions,CCRKBAChairmanAlanM.Gottliebbelievesthereremainse-riousquestionsabouttheseizureoffirearmsfromoneoftheresidenceswithoutbenefitofawarrant.“We’vereceivedalltheinformationwecouldgetaboutthiscase,”saidGottlieb,“andweremainconcernedthatsomeinnocentperson’sfirearmswerere-movedfromhishome,withouthimknowingaboutit,andwithoutbenefitofasearchwarrant.Althoughthesesearchesreportedlywereconductedwiththeconsentofthehomeowners,takingsomeoneelse’sgunswithouttellinghimcouldbeaseriouslegalbreech,regardlessofanyconcernsaboutcatchinganarmedcriminal.”Thepolicereturnedgunstotheoneresidentfromwhomtheyweretakenwithoutconsent.

AnAlamedaCounty,CaliforniaSuperiorCourtjuryearlylastmonthfound that firearm manufacturerBerettaU.S.A.Corp.wasnotrespon-sibleforthetragic1994accidentalshootingdeathofa14-year-oldboy.KenzoDixwaskilledwhenhisfriend

playedwitha firearm thatwas leftunloadedandunlockedbyanirre-sponsibleparent.The jurydeliber-atedonlyfivehoursbeforereturningaverdict in favorofBerettaU.S.A.Corp.,findingthepistol’sdesigndidnotcausetheaccident.Thelawsuitwas filed in 1995onbehalf of theparentsofDixbylawyersfromHand-gun Control, Inc., since renamedastheBradyCentertoPreventGunViolence.Theanti-gungrouptriedtoclaimthatBerettawasatfaultfornothavingincludedabuilt-inlockandfornotprovidingmorewarningsbyhavingadifferent“loadedchamberindicator” feature than theoneonthefirearm.

Keep up-to-date by visiting

our website: ccrkba.org

Page 8: Campaign to renew ‘assault weapon’ ban mired in mythology ... · 9/12/2013  · chine gun – can only increase that chance of public support for restrictions on these weapons.”

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Gun Week: Frustrated with gun news in the anti-gun mainstream media? You need GUN WEEK! For over 30 years, GUN WEEK has been America’s most up-to-date and compre-hensive news source on firearms and gun rights. Every issue is packed with new product reviews, political watchdog reports, national gun show listings, regional hunting reports, industry news . . . and much more! GUN WEEK is published three times a month, with scoops and information weeks ahead of the competition. If you want to know what’s happening in the world of firearms, you need GUN WEEK!

Half Year (18 issues) $20 – 45% OFF COVER PRICE!

Women & Guns: Finally, a magazine just for America’s 15 million gun-owning women! WOMEN & GUNS is the only magazine of its kind in the world. Written and edited by women, for women, WOMEN & GUNS emphasizes self-defense and personal protection – including real life tips on surviving attacks – as well as recreational and sport shooting. Each issue features top women gunowner profiles, personal protection tips, product reviews, and a useful, eye-open-ing legal column. WOMEN & GUNS is a must-have for every gun owning woman.

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The Gottlieb-Tartaro Report: Here’s a monthly newsletter that gives you inside gun-rights information from the desks of active principals in the battle for the right to keep and bear arms. The GOT-TLIEB-TARTARO REPORT is headed by Alan M. Gottlieb – chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms – and Joseph P. Tartaro – editor of Gun Week and president of the Second Amendment Foundation. This monthly newsletter is full of inside gun rights news straight from the desks of the experts. Not available on newsstands. Regular subscription $60 per year.

1 year (12 issues) $30 – 50% DISCOUNT!

The Journal of Firearms and Public Policy: At last, an academic journal dedicated to scholarly discussion of firearms and public policy! The JOURNAL OF FIREARMS ANd PUBLIC POLICY has published annually since 1989. Its mission: to encourage objective research on the right to keep and bear arms, and explore America’s Constitutional heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Edited by david B. Kopel – Research director at the Independence Institute and renowned gun-rights scholar – and contributors include Randy E. Barnett, Glenn Harlan Reynolds, John R. Lott, Joseph P. Tartaro, Gary Kleck, and others.

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