Date: Tue, 21 Feb 1995 19:49:52 -0500 From: alerts@gatekeeper.nra.org (NRA Alerts) To: firearms-alert@shell.portal.com Subject: FAX-NETWORK: 2/17/95 - BATF Compiling Central Registry NRA-ILA FAX NETWORK 11250 Waples Mill Road * Fairfax, VA 22030 Vol. 2, No. 7Phone: 1-800-392-8683 * Fax: 703-267-3918 2/17/95 BATF COMPILING CENTRAL REGISTRY OF DEFUNCT FFLs! This week, a House Appropriations Subcommittee heard testimony from two top BATF officials who conceded that for the past six months, BATF has been compiling a central registry of "out of business" Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs). Pressed by pro-gun Representative Jim Istook (R-OK), ATF Director John Magaw noted that approximately four BATF operators had been actively engaged in entering some 2,500 former FFLs into a BATF database for the past six months. Director Magaw confirmed that the agency plans to start scanning the information into computers to double their input! Despite the Gun Control Act of 1968's specific prohibition against federal registration of gun owners, augmented by Clinton's '96 budget proposal which forbids the use of any funds for this type of activity, ATF's Ronald Noble stated that ATF's activities were permissible because they were compiling a list of former FFLs. Noble further defended this illicit activity by stating its purpose was to enable the agency to trace firearms more quickly. Thankfully for gun owners, Rep. Istook was quick to point out that such an endeavor is fruitless since an overwhelming majority of firearms obtained lawfully are never used to commit a crime. Stay tuned for more details on this subject! On the flip side, House Speaker Newt Gingrich has appointed six pro-gun Congressmen to a special House task force on firearms issues. Gingrich instructed the task force to make recommendations on possible legislation, and mentioned that "everything was on the table" for consideration -- from Clinton's 1994 gun ban to renegade federal agencies like BATF. Appointment of this task force reinforces the Republicans' commitment to push for a gun ban repeal in May. A LOOK AT THE STATES: Kansas: On Monday, Feb. 20, the House Federal & State Affairs Committee will hold hearings on HB 2420 -- an NRA-supported right to carry reform bill sponsored by Rep. Gary Hayzlett. The hearings begin at 1:30 p.m., in Committee Room 526 on the 5th floor of the State Capitol. Kansas members should contact members of the committee and urge them to support HB 2420. For a listing of key members, call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division. Missouri: The Senate is set to vote on SB 176, the NRA-supported right-to-carry reform bill sponsored by Sen. Harold Caskey. Missouri members should contact their State Senators and urge them to support SB 176 and to oppose any amendments to exempt certain cities or counties from the provisions of the bill. Ohio: Thanks to the efforts of NRA members and gun owners in Cleveland, the City Council's Public Safety Committee tabled Ordinance No. 52-94, which would have imposed severe restrictions on your right to keep and bear arms. Good job! Oklahoma: On Tuesday, Feb. 21, the Senate Appropriation Subcommittee on Public Safety and Judiciary will hold a hearing on SB 3 -- the NRA-supported right-to-carry reform bill. Members in the area should attend next Tuesday's hearing! Please meet at 1:30 p.m., in Senator Shurden's office, Room 412 in the State Capitol. Also, please call and urge your State Senator to support SB 3! Texas: A runoff election for the Houston City Council will be held tomorrow, Feb. 18, and the NRA has endorsed pro-gun candidate Katherine Tyra for position 4 -- an at large position on the Council. Voter turnout is expected to be low, so Houston members are encouraged to go to the polls with their friends tomorrow and support Katherine Tyra! Utah: Good news! NRA-backed state firearms preemption and right to carry bills have passed the state legislature and now await Governor Leavitt's signature! Word from the Governor's office is that he will sign the bills into law! Virginia: SB 744, the NRA-supported right to carry reform bill, will likely be voted on by the House Courts of Justice Committee on Monday and a House floor vote could follow on Wednesday. It is critical that Virginia members contact their State Delegates and urge them to support SB 744 without any gutting amendments! Wisconsin: On Thursday, Feb. 23, the Milwaukee Common Council's Public Safety Committee will hold a public hearing on an ordinance that would require you to store all your personally- owned firearms with a trigger-lock -- including guns kept in your home or business for personal protection! Initial failure to comply would mean confiscation of unlocked firearms and possible jail time! Second and third violations would be punishable with fines up to $25,000! Milwaukee members should attend Thursday's hearing scheduled for 9:00 a.m., in Room 301 B at City Hall to speak out against this needless ordinance, and call their City Aldermen at 286-2211 to express opposition! Wyoming: Two NRA-supported bills -- Senate File 77 (statewide firearms preemption) and Senate File 76 (range protection) -- passed the House and now await the Governor's signature! BLACK RHINO, ANYONE? According to an ad in the American Firearms Industry magazine, Signature Products, Corp., promoter of the mythical "Black Rhino" ammo and the regular Rhino round, is selling its rights to manufacture their ammunition for the low price of $500,000! Any takers? -- This information is presented as a service to the Internet community by the NRA/ILA. Many files are available via anonymous ftp from ftp.nra.org, via WWW at http://www.nra.org, via gopher at gopher.nra.org, and via WAIS at wais.nra.org Be sure to subscribe to the NRA mailing lists. Send the word help as the body of a message to listproc@NRA.org Information can also be obtained by connecting to the NRA-ILA GUN-TALK BBS at (703) 934-2121.