Date: Sat, 10 Aug 1996 11:37:53 -0400
From: NRA Alerts <[a--er--s] at [nra.org]>
To: Multiple recipients of list <[r k ba alert] at [mainstream.net]>
Subject: FAXALERT: New Study Proves It: Right to Carry Works
X-Comment: RKBA Alerts list
NRA-ILA FAX ALERT
11250 Waples Mill Road * Fairfax, VA 22030
Phone: 1-800-392-8683 * Fax: 703-267-3918 * [G--OO--S] at [NRA.org]
Vol. 3, #33 8/9/96
NEW STUDY PROVES IT: RIGHT TO CARRY WORKS
1,570 of the murders and 4,177 of the rapes that have
occurred yearly since 1992 could have been prevented if all 50
states had adopted "right to carry" laws at that time and allowed
law-abiding citizens to carry firearms for self defense. Those
are among the findings by University of Chicago School of Law
professor John Lott, Jr. in his landmark study of "right to
carry" laws released this week. Entitled "Crime, Deterrence, and
Right-to-Carry Concealed Handguns," Prof. Lott's thorough study
compared the crime rates in states that allow law-abiding
citizens to carry concealed firearms with those that do not, and
found that crime fell measurably when states made it legal to
carry concealed handguns, proving what many of us have known all
along -- that armed citizens deter criminals. Lott also found
that contrary to the claim of the anti-gunners, there is no
significant rise in accidental shootings when law-abiding
citizens are allowed to legally carry firearms. The facts
provided in this important study will help NRA-ILA and state
volunteers pass right to carry laws next year in states like
Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota,
Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio and Wisconsin. Look for
NRA-ILA's anaylsis of the study in an upcoming issue of the
American Rifleman and the American Hunter.
HOUSE PASSES ANTI-TERRORISM BILL: On a 389-22 vote, the House
last Friday passed anti-terrorism legislation that does not
require the placement of "taggants" in black and smokeless
powders. Despite heavy pressure from the Clinton White House and
anti-gunners on Capitol Hill (who were pushing to "criminalize
the possession of untagged black and smokeless powder") lawmakers
refused to mandate the use of taggants, calling instead for a
federal study to investigate the questions that NRA and members
of the explosives industry have raised about the microscopic
plastic tracers. As was reported last week, the study will
examine the risk posed by taggants to human life and safety as
well as what, if any, law enforcement benefits are offered by
adding taggants to black and smokeless powders. Needless to say,
anti-gunners looking to score political points off the issue were
not pleased with the final version of the House bill, and have
vowed to re-introduce taggants language in the Senate when it
takes up the issue in September. Members: With Congress in
recess until September, please call your Senators' district
offices & demand an INDEPENDENT scientific study of taggants. For
a fact sheet on the issue, call 1-800-392-8683.
NCIPC FUNDING DEBATE SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER: The Senate Labor,
Health & Human Services subcommittee will take up the issue of
tax-payer funded anti-gun research when the Senate returns from
summer recess in September. While we were successful in
stripping funding for biased "research" by the Centers for
Disease Control's (CDC) National Center for Injury Prevention and
Control (NCIPC) in the House, the gun-grabbers have vowed to
restore that funding in the Senate. Members: Please call your
Senators and urge them to oppose funding for NCIPC's anti-gun
"research".
LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION FUNDING IN JEOPARDY: Funding for the
Commission on the Advancement of Federal Law Enforcement is in
jeopardy in the Senate. You'll recall that just last month, the
House voted to approve funding for this long-sought commission to
examine the practices and policies of federal law enforcement
agencies in the wake of the Ruby Ridge and Waco disasters. Well,
prior to the Senate's adjourning for the summer, Sen. Judd Gregg
(R-N.H.) quietly killed the funding. Rest assured, however, that
we will work to restore funding when the Senate convenes in
September -- and you can help! Members: Please call your
Senators and urge them to support funding for the Commission on
the Advancement of Federal Law Enforcement.
COURT UPHOLDS "THREE STRIKES" LAW: Washington state's "three
strikes, you're out" law, the first of its kind and a model for
many similar laws in other states, was upheld by the state's
Supreme Court on Thursday. The court rejected arguments from
three men sentenced to life under the law who claimed it was
unconstitutional. The law, which passed with the help of NRA
CrimeStrike, mandates life sentences for repeat violent
criminals.
FLORIO WEIGHING COMEBACK: Brace yourselves, New Jersey gun
owners. Rumors have surfaced that former governor Jim Florio is
considering a run for governor in 1997. Florio, a strong
supporter of "gun control," led the fight to pass the state's ban
on so-called "assault weapons," on which Bill Clinton based his
own 1994 gun and magazine ban. While state Democratic leaders
are wary of a Florio return, word has it that he has considerable
support among the party's rank and file. Stay tuned!
ELECTION SEASON IS ALMOST HERE: With summer winding down, the
1996 campaign season is just beginning to heat up. NRA is
committed to electing pro-freedom, pro-Second Amendment
majorities in the House and Senate this November -- but we'll
need your help! The NRA Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC) in
your district is looking for volunteers in your area to help with
the campaign efforts of pro-gun lawmakers. Watch your mailbox
next week for the September issue of your American
Rifleman/American Hunter magazine, which will give you the name &
number of your EVC and then make the call!
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This information is provided as a service of the National Rifle
Association Institute for Legislative Action, Fairfax, VA.
This and other information on the Second Amendment and the NRA is
available at: http://WWW.NRA.Org