1 Jul 2004

via e-mail alert

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,