Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns,seattle.general,alt.society.civil-liberty
From: [r--oh--n] at [eskimo.com] (Rebecca Rohan)
Subject: Al Woodbridge's story 2/5
Date: Sat, 14 May 1994 08:17:30 GMT

WA --- BATF and Al Woodbridge, Part 2 of 5
Reprinted from the newsletter of WAC (Washington Arms 
Collectors)

                    Big Al's Gun Fight
                    by Russell Carollo

     Woodbridge, a licensed firearms dealer, has strong ties to pro-
gun groups.  He is a former president of the Washington National 
Firearms Act Association, a machine-gun owners group.  He won 
first in 1989 and second place in 1990 in the submachine gun 
division of the Oregon state machine-gun championship.  Since 
the legal battle began, Woodbridge has become a high-profile 
spokesman and lobbyist for Washington gun owners. 
     As a registered lobbyist for the Gun Owners Action League of 
Washington, Woodbridge gained a reputation during the past 
year as a moderate voice within the gun lobby.  He became the 
gun lobbyist most sought by lawmakers.
     "if he gave his word, he was willing to go back to his members 
and say, 'I gave my word and that's what we're living with," said 
Rep. Marlin Appelwick, a Seattle Democrat who chairs the House 
Judiciary Committee.
     Just last week, he testified before Appelwick's committee 
about proposed gun legislation, assuring lawmakers that gun 
owners would not oppose efforts to keep handguns away from 
juveniles.
     During the last session, his approval was vital to passage of a 
controversial law allowing police to destroy seized handguns.  
Gun advocates supported the former method of disposal:  
auctioning the weapons to licensed firearms dealers.  
Woodbridge personally inspected weapons in a Seattle storage 
room and found that most of them were of little value to collectors 
or dealers.  His endorsement, legislators said, convinced 
lawmakers to vote for the change.
     Woodbridge also was well-known among police agencies, 
according to his attorneys.  A court document says the clientele 
at Big Al's includes "several police agencies."
     Various other pro-gun groups have agreed to help pay legal 
expenses, said Paul Williams, executive director of the Citizens 
Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, a lobby group.
     Williams said the groups were grateful 'for all the work he's 
done for firearms groups in the state.'  I think people are inclined 
to pay him back when he needs it."

condensed and reprinted from _The News Tribune_, January 24, 
1994 

END OF 2ND WAC ARTICLE 

-- 
      Rebecca Rohan ([r--oh--n] at [eskimo.com])         |  If fascists try to take 
Gun control forces responsible citizens to be:  |  your gun, say "No" to 
A.) Slaves  B.) Criminals  C.) Revolutionaries  |  them all until it's empty.