[ftp://ftp.shell.portal.com/pub/chan/action/dillon.txt] [Good advice from Dillon's "The Blue Press." -- Jeff C.] __ TEN THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PRESERVE YOUR GUN RIGHTS By Mike Dillon Whether or not you're willing to admit it, the Feinstein amendment to the Senate's "crime bill" and the assault rifle ban it proposes might very well be the beginning of the final battle in our war to retain our Second Amendment rights. Every major survey - including the FBl's Uniform Crime Reports has shown that "assault rifles" are not involved in any meaningful fraction of gun-related crime. If it were possible to melt down every single "assault rifle" tomorrow, it would have NO EFFECT on crime. The only justification for such a ban is the precedent-setting elimination of an entire class of firearms. No shooter, regardless of what kind of firearm he or she owns, should feel immune from the gun prohibitionists. Either we stop them at the gate, or you'll be trying to stop them at your front door! Here are 10 things you can do right now to help preserve your rights: (1) Join the National Rifle Association I've heard all of the arguments, all of the excuses. "They didn't do enough to stop the Brady Bill"...'' They betrayed machine gun owners in 1986" ..."All they do is ask me for money." Regardless of how you feel about the NRA, the fact is, the NRA is the only pro-gun rights organization the anti-gunners acknowledge. The reason? Because the NRA is the largest and the oldest pro-gun rights organization in existence, and the only one with real political power. They are the only pro-gun organization with a fulltime legislative liaison in Washington. That's why the anti-gunners have vilified the NRA in the media. If you're not already a member, you need to join NOW. If you are a member, consider upgrading to a life membership. The NRA needs to build up its war chest, because we ARE in a war! (2) Register to vote Many people don't vote because they don't believe it makes any difference. "My vote doesn't count," they say. But the truth is. if you don't vote, YOU DON'T COUNT, as far as the politicians are concerned. If you don't vote, the politicians will be glad to continue making decisions that affect your life for you. If you don't like the decisions they've made so far, you have to vote them out of office. Also, you have no right to complain if you don't vote, which brings me to... (3) Politicians: Make them hear you Your status as a registered voter gives you power - the power to tell your representatives that you will vote against them unless they support the Second Amendment. Tell them that you are an honest, hard working citizen who is not involved in crime. Write and call your representatives at every level: city, county, state and federal. Your local League of Women Voters or the local offices of the major political parties can tell you who your elected representatives are and how to contact them. If you can, go see them. They are always more impressed with people who will look them in the eye. President of the U.S., 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20500, Tel (202) 456-1414, Fax (202) 456-2461 Office of the Vice President, Old Executive Office Bldg., Washington, D.C., 20501, Tel (202) 456-2326, Fax (202) 456-2461 U.S. Senate/U.S. House of Representatives, Capitol Building, Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-3121 (Ask to be connected to your senator/representative's office.) (4) Media Elites: Make THEM hear YOU Time, Newsweek, USA Today, NBC, CBS, ABC, and your local news reporters. They can manipulate public opinion at will. Objective journalism? Not when it comes to Second Amendment issues. If you're tired of the way the media treats the gun issue, start with your local newspaper and your local television stations, call the editors and program directors and LET THEM KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. You would be surprised just how easy it is to get the editor on the phone, or to get an appointment to see the program director in person! And that's even better! Let them see what kind of a person you are - not some slobbering Neanderthal, but rather a well-dressed, intelligent person who is capable of making a point in a calm, pleasant voice. ABC, 77 W. 66th Sreet, New York, NY, 10023, (212) 456-7777, fax (212) 456-7112 CBS Inc., 51 W. 52nd St., New York, NY, 10023, (212) 975-4321, fax (212) 975-7133 Fox Broadcasting Co., Inc., 10201 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90035, (310) 277-2211 NBC Inc., 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY, 10112, (212) 664-4444 Newsweek, 444 Madison Ave. New York, NY, 10022, (800) 631-1040, (212) 350-4000, fax (212) 421-4993 Time, Time & Life Bldg., Rockefeller Center, New York, NY, 10020, (800) 621-8200, (212) 522-1212, fax (212) 522-0325 USA Today, 1000 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA, (800) 828-0909, (703) 276-3400, fax (703) 276-5513 US News & World Report, 2400 'N' Street N.W., Washington, D.C., 20037, (800) 234-2450, (202) 955-2000, fax (202) 955-2410 (5) Take someone shooting The future of our gun rights is in great jeopardy. Unless we turn the tide of public opinion in our favor, we stand to lose much more than the right to purchase a handgun without a five-day waiting period or a semi automatic rifle that will accept a large capacity magazine. Our forefathers bequeathed the right to keep and bear arms to us by recognizing and protecting it in the Second Amendment. How can we do less for our progeny? Now is the time to promote gun rights by introducing our nonshooting friends and acquaintances to the shooting sports. On a grassroots level, one new shooter at a time, we can make a difference. Take someone shooting - let them see for themselves that shooting is fun, and that you are not a bloodthirsty monster. (6) In addition to the NRA, join any other pro-gun rights organization Even if you agree that the NRA is our best hope, it's prudent not to put all your eggs in one basket. Here are some other organizations you may want to support: AWARE (Arming women Against Rape & Endangerment) (508) 443-5404 American Women's Self Defense Association, (516) 226-8383 Firearms Coalition, Neal Knox Associates, PO Box 6537, Slver Spring, MD 20906 Gun Owners of America, 8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151 JPFO (Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership), (414) 769-0760 National Shooting Sports Foundation, (203) 762-1320. (7) Join your local shooting club, become active in some organized shooting sport, AND... (8) Join a national association relating to your favorite shooting activity Granted, the Second Amendment has nothing to do with sport shooting of any kind, but the general public doesn't understand that. Public opinion about firearms issues is manipulated by negative media hype about gun ownership. The more positive examples there are of responsible recreational shooting, the better. Becoming active in one of these associations, and helping to increase involvement in your sport wins converts to our cause. International Handgun Metallic Slhouette Association, 127 Winthrop Terrace, Meriden, CT 06450 National Bench Rest Shooters Association, Inc., 2027 Buffalo, Levelland, TX 79336 SASS (Single Action Shooting Society) (714) 991-7277 USPSA/IPSC (United States Practical Shooting Association), (206) 855-2245 (9) Promote and be an example of RESPONSIBLE Gun Ownership How many times have you come upon an informal "shooting area' where people have shot up glass bottles, old paint cans, household appliances, junk cars, etc., and littered the ground with ammunition boxes and other obviously shooting-related debris? Did it piss you off, or did you contribute to the mess? To the anti-gun crowd, that is visible evidence to support their argument. The hunting enthusiasts have castigated "slob hunters" who endanger their sport, so l believe responsible shooters should castigate (or is it castrate?) "slob shooters" who provide excellent examples of PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NOT OWN GUNS! When you shoot in an informal area, do not leave "targets" behind. Get yourself a portable target stand and clean up your mess when you leave. If possible, take along a big garbage bag and pick up the garbage "slob shooters" have left behind. Organize members of your local club and have a "Clean Up Task Force" of shooters who clean up any garbage-dump-shooting-ranges in your area. You can make a difference, especially if you can get the local media to cover your "Environmental Clean Up Project, Sponsored by Local Shooters." (10) NEVER give up the fight! The only way they can win is if we let them. The only way we can lose is if we give up the fight. Always remember that.