----- Original Message -----
From: CSG
To: a1-list@
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 2:14 PM
Subject: URGENT: State "BATF" Bill Passes Ga. Senate
(Atlanta, Wednesday, March 24) -- A bill to to set up a state-level "BATF" in the Georgia Department of Revenue has slipped through the State Senate and is now moving in the Georgia House.
SB528 would give state revenue agents far-reaching new powers to harrass, threaten, and bully firearms dealers in Georgia.
In the past, you've helped defeat direct attacks on your gun rights by vigorously voicing your objections, so now anti-gunners are attacking the underlying firearms trade instead.
First, they tried to bankrupt gun makers with bogus lawsuits. Now they want to strangle your firearms, ammunition, and accessories suppliers with red tape.
The bill delegates the authority of the General Assembly to the State Revenue Commissioner, giving him a blank check to write new rules and regulations over the firearms business.
Just for starters, an anti-gun Governor could use this to order a statewide triggerlock mandate, or put gun shows out of business.
SB528 is being pushed by gun rights compromiser Sen. Ross Tolleson (R-Perry) and anti-gun Sen. Gloria Butler (D-Clarkston).
Mr. Tolleson claims he's for guns but, last year he was one of the few elected Republicans who sold out your gun rights by joining the Democrats to vote down the Self-Defense amendment in the Senate. His partner, Ms. Butler of DeKalb County, is an avowed anti-gunner.
Mr. Tolleson got his bill through the Senate by telling everybody all it did was transfer state licensing of firearms dealers from one department to another. When asked point-blank in Senate committee if it did anything else, he misled the other senators by not telling the whole story.
If gun dealers don't bow and scrape before state "BATF" thugs, SB528 gives agents new powers to put them out of business for good with hefty fines. The "icing on the cake" is that SB528 will cheat your firearms dealer out of due process because it specifically exempts future disciplinary proceedings from the Administrative Procedure Act which controls state bureaucrats.
SB528 is a shameless, ruthless power grab, and a dangerous threat to the future of your right to keep and bear arms in Georgia.
After passing the Senate, SB528 is now in the Democrat-controlled House Special Judiciary Committee. The bill faces a crucial vote in committee as early as Thu. Mar. 25 but for sure sometime this week or next. Regardless of when you get this alert, it's vital you TAKE ACTION to send a message to the politicians that lots of gun owners are watching them.
Please call the offices of the Republicans on the committee and ask them to do everything in their power to kill SB528. Even though the legislative session is getting short, there's still enough time for SB528 to pass, so you must act immediately.
--
ACTION ITEMS
1. Choose one (1) of the Republican representatives on the House Special Judiciary Committee, call their office right away and ask them to do everything in their power to kill the "State BATF" bill SB528. If these Reps. feel they have enough public support from around the state, they will almost certainly use extraordinary tactics against this bad legislation. That's why your call is vital. If you can't get through by phone, use e-mail, or both. Here are their legislative office phone numbers:
Rep. Brian Joyce (R-Lookout Mountain) 404-656-0265 [email protected]
Rep. Bobby Franklin (R-Marietta) 404-656-0152 [email protected]
Rep Tom Knox (R-Cumming) 404-656-0194 [email protected]
2. Pick one (1) of the Democrats on the House Special Judiciary Committee, call their office and tell them you're against SB528. You may not change their mind, but it's important to let them know SB528 is a "hot potato" and it will help tie them up. Here are their legislative office phone numbers:
Rep. Curtis Jenkins (D-Forsyth) 404-656-7857 [email protected]
Rep. Curt Thompson (D-Norcross) 404-656-0177 [email protected]
Rep. Randal Mangham (D-Decatur) 404-656-0126 [email protected]
Rep. Nikki Randall (D-Macon) 404-656-0109 [email protected]
Rep. Barbara Mobley (D-Decatur) 404-656-5087 [email protected]
Rep. Joe Heckstall (D-East Point) 404-656-0220
3. Contact Sen. Tolleson's office by phone or fax and let him know that since he's from a pro-gun district, he should be working for gun owners, instead of against them like he's been doing. It's important to rattle his cage and knock him off stride so maybe he will end up running out of time on SB528 this session. To make double-sure your message gets through, call or fax his district office too:
Sen. Ross Tolleson 404-463-8056 (phone) 404-463-1386 (fax) [email protected]
District Office: 478-746-6262 (phone) 478-987-5243 (fax)
4. This is an emergency. Please let your gun dealer know, and forward a copy of this e-mail to everybody you know who might own a gun.
--
Citizens for Safe Government, Inc.
P.O. Box 813764
Smyrna, GA 30081
[email protected]
From: CSG
To: a1-list@
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 2:14 PM
Subject: URGENT: State "BATF" Bill Passes Ga. Senate
(Atlanta, Wednesday, March 24) -- A bill to to set up a state-level "BATF" in the Georgia Department of Revenue has slipped through the State Senate and is now moving in the Georgia House.
SB528 would give state revenue agents far-reaching new powers to harrass, threaten, and bully firearms dealers in Georgia.
In the past, you've helped defeat direct attacks on your gun rights by vigorously voicing your objections, so now anti-gunners are attacking the underlying firearms trade instead.
First, they tried to bankrupt gun makers with bogus lawsuits. Now they want to strangle your firearms, ammunition, and accessories suppliers with red tape.
The bill delegates the authority of the General Assembly to the State Revenue Commissioner, giving him a blank check to write new rules and regulations over the firearms business.
Just for starters, an anti-gun Governor could use this to order a statewide triggerlock mandate, or put gun shows out of business.
SB528 is being pushed by gun rights compromiser Sen. Ross Tolleson (R-Perry) and anti-gun Sen. Gloria Butler (D-Clarkston).
Mr. Tolleson claims he's for guns but, last year he was one of the few elected Republicans who sold out your gun rights by joining the Democrats to vote down the Self-Defense amendment in the Senate. His partner, Ms. Butler of DeKalb County, is an avowed anti-gunner.
Mr. Tolleson got his bill through the Senate by telling everybody all it did was transfer state licensing of firearms dealers from one department to another. When asked point-blank in Senate committee if it did anything else, he misled the other senators by not telling the whole story.
If gun dealers don't bow and scrape before state "BATF" thugs, SB528 gives agents new powers to put them out of business for good with hefty fines. The "icing on the cake" is that SB528 will cheat your firearms dealer out of due process because it specifically exempts future disciplinary proceedings from the Administrative Procedure Act which controls state bureaucrats.
SB528 is a shameless, ruthless power grab, and a dangerous threat to the future of your right to keep and bear arms in Georgia.
After passing the Senate, SB528 is now in the Democrat-controlled House Special Judiciary Committee. The bill faces a crucial vote in committee as early as Thu. Mar. 25 but for sure sometime this week or next. Regardless of when you get this alert, it's vital you TAKE ACTION to send a message to the politicians that lots of gun owners are watching them.
Please call the offices of the Republicans on the committee and ask them to do everything in their power to kill SB528. Even though the legislative session is getting short, there's still enough time for SB528 to pass, so you must act immediately.
--
ACTION ITEMS
1. Choose one (1) of the Republican representatives on the House Special Judiciary Committee, call their office right away and ask them to do everything in their power to kill the "State BATF" bill SB528. If these Reps. feel they have enough public support from around the state, they will almost certainly use extraordinary tactics against this bad legislation. That's why your call is vital. If you can't get through by phone, use e-mail, or both. Here are their legislative office phone numbers:
Rep. Brian Joyce (R-Lookout Mountain) 404-656-0265 [email protected]
Rep. Bobby Franklin (R-Marietta) 404-656-0152 [email protected]
Rep Tom Knox (R-Cumming) 404-656-0194 [email protected]
2. Pick one (1) of the Democrats on the House Special Judiciary Committee, call their office and tell them you're against SB528. You may not change their mind, but it's important to let them know SB528 is a "hot potato" and it will help tie them up. Here are their legislative office phone numbers:
Rep. Curtis Jenkins (D-Forsyth) 404-656-7857 [email protected]
Rep. Curt Thompson (D-Norcross) 404-656-0177 [email protected]
Rep. Randal Mangham (D-Decatur) 404-656-0126 [email protected]
Rep. Nikki Randall (D-Macon) 404-656-0109 [email protected]
Rep. Barbara Mobley (D-Decatur) 404-656-5087 [email protected]
Rep. Joe Heckstall (D-East Point) 404-656-0220
3. Contact Sen. Tolleson's office by phone or fax and let him know that since he's from a pro-gun district, he should be working for gun owners, instead of against them like he's been doing. It's important to rattle his cage and knock him off stride so maybe he will end up running out of time on SB528 this session. To make double-sure your message gets through, call or fax his district office too:
Sen. Ross Tolleson 404-463-8056 (phone) 404-463-1386 (fax) [email protected]
District Office: 478-746-6262 (phone) 478-987-5243 (fax)
4. This is an emergency. Please let your gun dealer know, and forward a copy of this e-mail to everybody you know who might own a gun.
--
Citizens for Safe Government, Inc.
P.O. Box 813764
Smyrna, GA 30081
[email protected]
