Date: Sat, 15 Jul 95 04:18 EST From: Peter Nesbitt <0005111312@mcimail.com> To: Firearms Alert Subject: INFO: PAHV May 1995 newsletter. P A H V Pennsylvanians Against Handgun Violence Action Update The newsletter of Pennsylvanians Against Handgun Violence Vol. 3, No. 1; May 1995 Update on Pennsylvania Legislation Mark down the date - Mon., May 22 -on your calendar. This will be an historic date for Pennsylvania's gun control supporters. On that day, the Pennsylvania Senate is scheduled to vote on legislation, commonly caled the Fumo Committee Bill, which will keep guns out of the wrong hands. What does the bill do? The Fumo Committee Bill is bi-partisian legislation (supported by both PAHV and Handgun Control, Inc.) which mandates a 5-day waiting period (similar to the Brady Law's for all gun purchases, and retains the present 48-hour waiting period even after an instant background check system is operational. The bill specifies which individuals should not possess a gun, including persons who are habitual drug users, adjudicated spouse abusers, and those with multiple drunk driving convictions. The bill also imposes civil and criminal penalties upon individuals and businesses who violate the law. Unfortunately, the NRA is actively working to defeat the bill, even though it once supported the bill in its entirety. What can you do? 1. Write and call your legislators (even if you think they support the bill) and tell them to vote for the Fumo Committee Bill, and to oppose any amendments which would weaken the bill. Also, tell your friends and relatives to call their legislators. The following are particularly key Senators: Kasunicm, Fisher, Hart, Tilghman, Salvatore, Loeper, Holl, Bell, Tomilnson, Armstrong, Greenleaf, O'Pake and Shumaker. 2. Write letters and Op/Ed pieces for your local newspapers. 3. Come to Harrisburg on May 22 for Lobbying Day! PAHV and Handgun Congrol, Inc. will be sponsoring a bus that will leave from two Philadelphia-area locations in the morning. Breakfast will be provided once we arrive in Harrisburg. Gun control advocates from across the state will also be there. It is very important that gun control supporters are present at the Capitol because we know the NRA and other pro-gunners will be represented. For more information about Lobbying Day, call PAHV at 610- 896-1950 or 412-621-3123. 4. Send copies of everything you write about the Fumo bill to PAHV, and send a special contribution to help us make it law! [picture] Phila. District Attorney Lynne Abraham, second from left, and Dixie Horning, third from left, executive director of the Gray Panthers, joined PAHV members, left to right, Rachel Cole, Joan Lesnick, Rebecca Williams and Dan Siegel at the March 30 press conference to announce the Campaign to Protect Sane Gun Laws. Campaign to Protect Sane Gun Laws Launcehed; Assault Weapon Ban Repeal Postponed On March 30, the 14th anniversary of the Brady-Reagan shooting, PAHV, in conjunction with Handgun Control, Inc., other statewide gun control groups and hundreds of other organizations across the political spectrum, announced its Campaign to Protect San Gun Laws. This coalition was formed to preserve the assault weapon ban and the Brady Law, which have been under constant threat by Congress, and to make sure our federal legislators hear from the majority of Americans who support sensible gun control laws. In Philadelphia, PAHV sponsored a kick-off breakfast on April 20. The event was attended by more than 40 civic, religious and law enforcement leaders, including Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham, all committed to a sensible gun policy. Assault Weapon Repeal Postponed In the wake of the Oklahoma bombing, the vote on the repeal of the assault weapon ban has been postponed. (It had been scheduled for May 18, the day before the NRA's annual convention, as a "gift" to the NRA.) However, the opponents of gun control still voew to bring the repeal to the floor as soon as they deem it politically feasible! So please keep the pressure on Congress! Let your Congresspeople and Senators Specter and Santorum, as well as Majority Leaders Dole and Gingrinch, know you support a sensible gun policy, including the assault weapon ban and the Brady Law. [picture] Dan Siegel, Esq., PAHV's new statewide president, speaks at a Peace Fair organized by the American Friends Service Committee. It was held March 26 in Philadelphia. PAHV President Dan Siegel Nominated for Handgun Control, Inc. Board Daniel J. Siegel, president of Pennsylvanians Against Handgun Violence, has been chosen as one of three candidates for a position on the Handgun Control, Inc. (HCI) Board of Directors. HCI members will be asked to vote on the candidate; we urgeyou to elect Dan to the board. Dan has been involved in gun control since the 1970s. He has worked in every facet of the gun control movement, and has worked with HCI for more than a decade. In pennsylvania, which has more NRA members than any other state, this has been an especially dificult challenge. Last year, Dan represented HCI on the Fumo Committee. Although he was the only gun control advocate (seven pro-gun groups were represented), it was largely through Dan's efforts that the Committee unanimously approved the legislation which the Pennsylvania Senate is considering this month. Dan wants to bring his energy and ideas to the HCI board. Please support him. PAHV Elects Statewide Officers and Board of Directors PAHV has elected its first statewide officers and board of directors. Serving as president will be Daniel Siegel, a Philadelphia attorney and PAHV founding member. Dan has been active in gun control for more than fifteen years and is the state's spokesperson for Handgun Control, Inc. Kenneth Steinberg, a Pittsburgh attorney and vice president of PAHV's Allegheny County Chapter, will be vice president. Zita Glasgow, a PAHV founding member and Allegheny County chapter president, was elected recording secretary. Serving as treasurer will be Rachel Cole, a PAHV founding member and treasurer of its Delaware Valley chapter. The board of directors are: Judy Becker Darling, the fictim of an AK-47 attck in which her husband was killed while on the way to work. Carol Dolinskas, MD, head of the Violence Task Force for the Philadelphia branch of Physicians for Social Responsibility. Virginia Fisfis, former member of the State Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania League of Women Voters. Kenneth Kaiserman, a Philadelphia businessman. Joan Lesnick, president of PAHV's Delaware Valley chapter. Darryl McCauley, a junior high schoool teacher and PAHV founding member. William T. Mullins, Professor Emeritus at Carnegie Mellon University. James E. Scheuermann, a Pittsburgh attorney. Rebecca Williams, a director of PAHV's Delaware Valley chapter. Previously, PAHV had done most of its business through its chapters. With its growing presence on the state scene, we felt it was time to incoporate and elect a board. New PAHV Brochure! Enclosed is PAHV's new brochure, which shows what we've done and what's ahead. For more copies, call us at 610-896-1950. Also, if you are not a PAHV member (or haven't paid dues in a year), please take a moment to fill out the membership potion! Next Meetings Planned The Delaware Valley chapter's next meeting is May 31 at 7 p.m. on City Line Ave. outside Phila. Call 610-896-1950 for directions. The Alleghey chapter meets the first Monday of every month. Call 412-621-3123 for more details. You can reach PAHV at: 610-896-1950 OR 412-621-3123 P.O. Box 495 Wynnewood, PA 19096