Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns From: [j g d] at [dixie.com] (John De Armond) Subject: NRA-ILA Sellout in Virginia Date: Tue, 13 Jul 93 06:08:38 GMT Well it looks like NRA has been in lockstep with the Brady bunch in order to pass the Virginia Gun Control Act of 1993, also known as H.B. 2273. This bill, among other things, adds the Striker 12 and the Streetsweeper to Va's list of banned guns. I just received about 15 pages of FAX from Howard Rabb, Exec director of Citizens for Safe Government, the Ga No-compromise gun rights organization. This package came to Howard from Bill Stump, a gun rights activist who is organizing a CSG-style organization in Virginia. I almost puked as I read this package. NRA, through Mr. Charles Cunningham, NRA-ILA Va state liason, twisted arms to get this measure passed 97-1 in the House of Delegates (opposite the senate in Va.) and with a similar margin in the Senate. In this package is a letter from Delegate William Mims, a staunch pro-gun representative. Regarding the 1992 session where this same bill was known as SB 94, he says: "I staunchly opposed this bill when it first came to the House after narrowly being approved by the Senate. However, the bill's patron met with representatives from the National Firearms Association and the Virginia Firearms Dealers Association (give 'em something so they won't take my bread'n'butter), among other groups, and agreed to every amendment that concerns firearms owners." In a letter from Del. Thomas Baker Jr of the 7th district, an NRA rated A+ pro-gun politician, he says that he voted for HB2273 because a) language affecting the TEC-9 and other pistols had been removed, b) Inner city police bosses, particularly Richmond, asked for it and c) because a federal Executive order had already banned the import so no harm done. (There's that "reasonable" argument again, only this time OUR side is doing it.) And, later on in the letter, because Charles Cunningham gave it his blessing. Elsewhere in this package is a letter from Thomas W. Evans (is he on the NRA board? He writes as if he is.) to Bill Stump telling him in effect, stop the crusade against Charles Cunningham because the situation is too complicated for him (Bill) to understand. Riiiight. Elsewhere in the package is a two page letter from Mike Farris, candidate for Lt. Govenor. He spends the whole letter outlining his staunch conservative pro gun position, specifically stating he is against waiting periods, the gun-a-month program, instant checks or any other restriction on non-criminal gun ownership. In the margin is a hand-written note that says Farris won the nominating election on June 5th. It also says that NRA-ILA refused to give Mr Farris any money but donated $50,000 to his opponent. (That number seems high, could it be $5000? Anyone have any other data?) After the uproar over the above antics and the fact that Cunningham was the person who cut the deal for the MD Handgun roster board, ILA replaced Cunningham with a Mr. Rabon (don't have his first name.) But the damage is done. Is there now any doubt how the NRA represents our interests? Does anyone else see an uncomfortable parallel between what NRA did in Va and what they have done here in Georgia for the last two years trying to pass an instant check bill? I certainly heard the same "shut up kid, you don't understand" argument. I tried to call Mr. Stump today but missed him. I'll try tomorrow. I want to get an update on what is going on. I'll have more details after I talk to him. Meanwhile if anyone in Virginia is intersted in joining Mr. Stump in a grassroots organization, he can be contacted as follows: Bill Stump Jr. Rt 1, Box 240B Dublin, VA 24084 703 674 9537 The Farris campaign can be reached at 703 882 9000. Sounds like this is a fellow who deserves our support. We may not win every battle but one thing is for sure. We damn sure won't win those we concede ahead of time. John -- John De Armond, WD4OQC | (Pardon the inconvenience while we Performance Engineering Magazine(TM) | remodel this .signature) Marietta, Ga | [j g d] at [dixie.com] |