SENATE TO CONSIDER COMPROMISE ON GUN MAKERS' PROTECTION
-- Ask Senator Frist to shield the bill from anti-gun "killer
amendments"
Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
http://www.gunowners.org
Monday, April 18, 2005
As early as this week, the U.S. Senate could take up S. 397 -- a
measure originally designed to protect gun dealers and manufacturers
from frivolous lawsuits.
The bill has been watered down substantially over the years, as
pro-gun Senators have worked hard to get additional support for the
legislation.
But far more important than what's currently in the bill is what
anti-gun senators plan to try to tack onto it. Anti-gun "killer
amendments" could include:
* A lock-up-your-safety trigger lock mandate;
* A renewal of the semi-automatic ban, similar to the one which was
successfully added to the same bill last year -- a ban which
eventually died because of the outpouring of opposition from
grassroots gunnies;
* A .50 caliber ban;
* A Lautenberg amendment to match Instant Check applicants against an
administration "enemies list";
* A gun show crack-down which would subtly but effectively outlaw gun
shows.
As was the case last year, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has the
parliamentary tools to block all of these amendments -- if he chooses
to use them.
He can use his privileged status to offer innocuous amendments to the
bill until no more amendments are in order. This blocking strategy
is called an "amendment tree."
Or he can move to shut off debate on the bill before any of the
anti-gun amendments have been adopted -- and he can even lay the bill
aside until it is time to vote on shutting off debate.
The bottom line is that the bill has not been shown to provide enough
of the protection the gun industry really needs for gun owners to
swallow a single anti-gun amendment. A pure bill will represent a
good step forward. But we must not compromise -- by swallowing
anti-gun amendments -- if we want to strengthen our gun rights.
ACTION: Contact Majority Leader Bill Frist. Ask him to use the
parliamentary tools at his disposal to block amendments on trigger
locks, semi-auto bans, .50 caliber bans, gun show bans, or any
attempt to amend S. 397 with anti-gun provisions.
Because Senator Frist is reportedly looking to run for president in
2008, he should be eager to hear your views -- even if you're not a
resident of Tennessee.
You can reach Sen. Frist via phone, fax or e-mail. However,
non-constituents can only send e-mail by going to his website and
filling out the form provided. If you choose to do that, please
disregard any automated response you might receive (his office WILL
take note of your position). Phone calls are encouraged.
Contact info for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist:
Phone: 202-224-3344
Fax: 202-228-1264
Webform:
http://frist.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutSenatorFrist.ContactForm
(Note: If you have problems with the above url, go to
http://frist.senate.gov and click on "About Senator Frist," then
select the "Contact Senator Frist" option.)
----- Pre-written message -----
Dear Senator Frist:
When S. 397 comes before the Senate, I urge you, in the strongest
terms, to use the parliamentary procedures at your disposal to block
the adoption of anti-gun amendments on trigger locks,
semi-automatics, gun shows, .50 calibers, or any other gun control
measure.
This watered-down bill is a good step forward, but it is NOT worth
the adoption of any gun control amendment.
Sincerely,
-- Ask Senator Frist to shield the bill from anti-gun "killer
amendments"
Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
http://www.gunowners.org
Monday, April 18, 2005
As early as this week, the U.S. Senate could take up S. 397 -- a
measure originally designed to protect gun dealers and manufacturers
from frivolous lawsuits.
The bill has been watered down substantially over the years, as
pro-gun Senators have worked hard to get additional support for the
legislation.
But far more important than what's currently in the bill is what
anti-gun senators plan to try to tack onto it. Anti-gun "killer
amendments" could include:
* A lock-up-your-safety trigger lock mandate;
* A renewal of the semi-automatic ban, similar to the one which was
successfully added to the same bill last year -- a ban which
eventually died because of the outpouring of opposition from
grassroots gunnies;
* A .50 caliber ban;
* A Lautenberg amendment to match Instant Check applicants against an
administration "enemies list";
* A gun show crack-down which would subtly but effectively outlaw gun
shows.
As was the case last year, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has the
parliamentary tools to block all of these amendments -- if he chooses
to use them.
He can use his privileged status to offer innocuous amendments to the
bill until no more amendments are in order. This blocking strategy
is called an "amendment tree."
Or he can move to shut off debate on the bill before any of the
anti-gun amendments have been adopted -- and he can even lay the bill
aside until it is time to vote on shutting off debate.
The bottom line is that the bill has not been shown to provide enough
of the protection the gun industry really needs for gun owners to
swallow a single anti-gun amendment. A pure bill will represent a
good step forward. But we must not compromise -- by swallowing
anti-gun amendments -- if we want to strengthen our gun rights.
ACTION: Contact Majority Leader Bill Frist. Ask him to use the
parliamentary tools at his disposal to block amendments on trigger
locks, semi-auto bans, .50 caliber bans, gun show bans, or any
attempt to amend S. 397 with anti-gun provisions.
Because Senator Frist is reportedly looking to run for president in
2008, he should be eager to hear your views -- even if you're not a
resident of Tennessee.
You can reach Sen. Frist via phone, fax or e-mail. However,
non-constituents can only send e-mail by going to his website and
filling out the form provided. If you choose to do that, please
disregard any automated response you might receive (his office WILL
take note of your position). Phone calls are encouraged.
Contact info for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist:
Phone: 202-224-3344
Fax: 202-228-1264
Webform:
http://frist.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutSenatorFrist.ContactForm
(Note: If you have problems with the above url, go to
http://frist.senate.gov and click on "About Senator Frist," then
select the "Contact Senator Frist" option.)
----- Pre-written message -----
Dear Senator Frist:
When S. 397 comes before the Senate, I urge you, in the strongest
terms, to use the parliamentary procedures at your disposal to block
the adoption of anti-gun amendments on trigger locks,
semi-automatics, gun shows, .50 calibers, or any other gun control
measure.
This watered-down bill is a good step forward, but it is NOT worth
the adoption of any gun control amendment.
Sincerely,
