Thursday, July 1, 2004
On Tuesday, the Senate is scheduled to begin consideration of
legislation to limit class action lawsuits -- a prime candidate for
so-called liberal "killer amendments," including the Feinstein
amendment to extend the ban on semiautomatic firearms and magazines.
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has threatened to offer her semi-auto
ban to any "appropriate" legislative vehicle, and the class action
bill is about as "appropriate" as any on the Senate's legislative
schedule.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) has, at his disposal, a
variety of parliamentary techniques to prevent Feinstein from
offering the semiautomatic ban. Back in March, he chose NOT to use
these parliamentary maneuvers during the debacle over the ill-fated
gun makers' protection act.
The debate over this pro-gun bill resulted in a free-for-all which
led to killer amendments being added to the bill -- amendments like
the Feinstein gun ban.
GOA is urging Frist to learn from his mistakes and to use his
leadership office to insure that the Feinstein amendment is not
offered to S. 2062.
America is at a crossroads on the Second Amendment. If the pro-gun
community can succeed in killing the extension of the semi-auto ban
(due to expire on September 13) we will have inflicted a serious blow
on the anti-gun zealots -- a blow from which they will not soon
recover.
If, on the other hand, Feinstein is successful in forcing her
amendment to the president's desk, Bush has indicated that he will
sign the ban -- and the pro-gun community will be on the defensive
and facing the anti-gunners' next priority: a comprehensive gun
registration scheme.
ACTION: Please contact Senate Majority Leader Frist. Tell him to
use whatever parliamentary tools are necessary to block consideration
of the Feinstein semi-auto ban -- particularly as an amendment to the
class action bill.
You can call Senator Frist at (202) 224-3344, or go to
http://www.frist.senate.gov and select "Contact Senator Frist" under
the "About Senator Frist" heading to send a message similar to the
one below.
----- Pre-written letter -----
Dear Senator Frist:
America is at a crossroads. If we are successful in blocking the
Feinstein semiautomatic ban, we will have inflicted a major blow to
the anti-gun community -- a blow from which it will not soon recover.
Therefore, we would urge you to use any parliamentary tools at your
disposal to prevent this amendment from being offered -- particularly
to the class action bill. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Semi-Auto Ban: Next Week In The Senate
