"May I remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in the pursuit of justice no virtue."
Posted on 03/01/2006 12:23:21 PM PST by neverdem
www.gunowners.org
Feb 2006
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
A few weeks ago, we alerted you to legislation -- introduced by anti-gun Senator John McCain (R-AZ) -- which is aimed at squelching the First Amendment rights of grassroots groups like Gun Owners of America.
That bill, S. 2128, is ostensibly aimed at dealing with some of the congressional controversies that have hit the media in recent weeks. A true reform bill would focus the spotlight on members like John McCain, who was one of the original Keating Five senators who were deeply implicated in the savings and loan scandal.
Instead, McCain began his war on real transparency in 2002 when he teamed up with anti-gun Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) to push the Incumbent Protection Act into law -- an act that stifles the ability of organizations like GOA to criticize elected officials before an election.
Now with the Gag Act (S. 2128), McCain wants to target his wrath on groups like GOA -- requiring them to register their "grassroots" communications and to file twice as many frivolous reports.
If McCain succeeds in pushing an expansive interpretation of his bill (as he did when he convinced the courts to regulate the Internet under McCain-Feingold), then we could see a host of draconian restrictions affecting both GOA and you.
For example, if we wanted to alert you to gun ban that is moving in our nation's capital, we could first have to tell McCain (and all his other buddies in Congress) about what we're planning to do, who we're planning to alert (that is, grassroots folks like yourself), how much money we plan to spend, etc.
Because of Section 105 in this bill, everyone with whom GOA contracts to get the word out (advertisers, printers, etc.) could be required to tell Congress twenty days in advance about GOA's public information campaign.
In effect, we would end up alerting Sarah Brady every time we plan to wage a grassroots campaign in opposition to gun control.
This is ridiculous!
No doubt, the Gag Act is further proof that grassroots lobbying works. It works so well, that John McCain wants to muzzle it.
S. 2128 -- or a bill that is similar to it -- is now likely to come to the floor of the Senate in early March, according to Majority Leader Bill Frist. It is imperative that we contact our Senators today.
ACTION:
1. Please urge your Senators to oppose the Gag Act (S. 2128). And, if your Senator has cosponsored the bill, then he or she especially needs to hear from you. Senators who have cosponsored this bill are:
Conrad Burns (R-MT)
Norm Coleman (R-MN)
Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
Joseph Lieberman (D-CT)
Bill Nelson (D-FL)
Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
You can visit the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send your Senators a pre-written e-mail message such as the one below.
2. Take action and then please forward this alert to your pro-gun friends and family!
----- Pre-written letter -----
Dear Senator:
Now that the Senate is looking to pass so-called lobbying reform legislation, I hope you will NOT support any bill that would gag grassroots lobbying organizations.
To be sure, John McCain's bill (S. 2128) would do just that!
In 2002, Senators McCain and Feingold teamed up to pass the Incumbent Protection Act, a bill that infringes upon the First Amendment rights of gun owners and other Americans by squelching their ability to criticize elected officials before an election.
Now, Senator McCain wants to pass the Gag Act (S. 2128). In this latest version, McCain targets his wrath on grassroots organizations -- requiring them to register their "grassroots" communications with their members and to file twice as many frivolous reports.
Please oppose S. 2128 or any other "reform" bill that would scapegoat outside groups, through which American citizens are better able to petition their government and which serve as government watchdogs.
Sincerely,
****************************
Michael & Me
This debut DVD from provocative filmmaker and talk-radio host Larry Elder aims to mirror Moore's quest for a confrontation with General Motors' CEO, Roger Smith -- except this time it's Moore himself who is being pursued. "Michael & Me" follows Elder over an 18-month period as he attempts to locate the elusive Moore in order to quiz him about some of his assertions in his attack on guns and gun owners in "Bowling for Columbine." Prominent in Elder's mind is the question of how many Americans have managed to stay alive after using a gun in self-defense.
The DVD includes interviews with prominent Second Amendment spokesmen, including several appearances by GOA's executive director, Larry Pratt. It's now ON SALE through Gun Owners Foundation at just $14.50.
Please see http://www.gunowners.com/resource.htm to order (and check out the massive, ongoing book sale at the same time).
McBlame needs to be sent home to retire.
Don't you think the letter would be more effective if the legislation is called by the name given to it, rather than what the legislation does for an incumbent?
I sure as hell hope so. Now if we can just overthrow Mclame and send his idiotic ass into retirement, we'd be far better off.
McCain will give the White House to Hillary, just like Perot gave it to Clintoon.
And for the same reason: to defeat the Republican Party candidate.
I say again, McCain will see to it that Hillary wins.
The Mad Hatter. Enought said.
He's going to have a hard enough time getting conservative support without being a gun hater.
He could be trouble as an independent, but a lot of Libs like him, probably more than Hitler-y.
Looks like he's all over the place trying to make friends at every opportunity.
you know, unfortunately there are a bunch of morons here at FR who will tell you that McFgld did nothing to the First Amendment....incredibly they say that here, all too often
Has the Gov started dusting off the "relocation camps" yet?
To me the 2008 election shapes up as follows:
The nominated Republican candidate holds onto the base and some moderate voters.
Hillary as the Democrat candidate will have even the graveyards voting Independant or Republican.
McCain as a third party candidate will get the left wing of moderates and the disaffected graveyards voters of the left.
I can see the Republicans winning with a plurality of 40% of the vote, and leading both other candidates by 10%.
The biggest effect will be in the Electoral College, in that many "Blue states" following the above voting pattern, will wind up pluralties for the GOP.
I echo your sentiments: I will NEVER vote for John McCain.
Any way you want to skin that cat for attacking the First Amendment. Just not a form letter, please?
I only wish he were that rational. It's not his decisions that scare me, but, his enacted and his proposed legislaton.
At least one knows that these Congressman have something to hide or they wouldn't want people GAGGED.
That's ridiculous and is without a doubt against our Constitution giving us rights to free speach.
Kyl voted for the Brady Bill as a congressman. Our guys here are nearly all Rino's.
Bump
No RINO bills. No RINO for President.
bump
Perhaps some of us will remember to offer them this posting each time.
Every time I see this guy:
I think of this guy:
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