Article 64419 of talk.politics.guns:
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From: [Gary Westfall] at [f69.n105.z1.fidonet.org] (Gary Westfall)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns
Subject: Lawsuit Update
Date: 17 Oct 1993 11:15:55 -0400
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ALERT          ALERT            ALERT

The following is the text of an article by John Nichols, Legislative
Chairman of the Oregon State Shooting Association, that was published
in the NORTHWEST SHOOTING NEWS for October 1993.

  "On August 28, 1993, the Oregon Court of Appeals rendered an
opinion in the Oregon State Shooting Association lawsuit against
the Multnomah County Anti-Gun Ordinance.  While we won on the
portion of the suit which challenged the County's prohibition
against the sale of so-called "assault weapons" at the Expo Center,
we lost on the portions which require fees for background checks
of handgun buyers and the portion which requires that "assault
weapons" must be broken down, locked in a gun case and then locked
in the trunk of your car.

  Moreover, the Appeal Court, like the Trial Court, went far beyond
the issues involved and made what is essentially an ideological and
political decision.  They ruled that only those firearms which were
in general use for self defense in Oregon by settlers in 1859 are
constitutionally protected.  In addition, firearms which are of
military origin or which have been redesigned for civilian use are
not constitutionally protected.  In as much as most, if not all,
firearms were originally designed for military use, this ruling has
ramifications far beyond the "ugly gun" controversy which spawned it.

  We have until November 3 to file for a Supreme Court Review of the
case.  While we don't know what the costs will be, we are anticipating
somewhere in the vicinity of $20,000.  (Also we still owe about $5,000
on the Appeals Court case.)  We are applying to the NRA's Legal Defense
Fund for an additional grant, however, we cannot realistically expect
them to fund the entire appeal.  This means that we must raise locally
at least $10,000 plus the back legal bill.

  I hate to keep asking for donations but the ramifications of this
decision are horrendous.  Please send a donation today to our
affiliate (Oregon Gun Owners, Inc.) which is handling the funding of 
the suit.  The address is:  OGO, Inc., P.O. Box 83929, Portland, OR
97283.


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