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House To Vote This Week On Further Limiting Free Speech
Gun Owners of America ^ | April 4, 2006 | NA

Posted on 04/05/2006 8:29:51 AM PDT by neverdem

www.gunowners.org
Apr 2006

House To Vote This Week On Further Limiting Free Speech

Gun Owners of America
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102
Springfield, VA 22151
(703)321-8585

Tuesday, April 4, 2006

Remember the Swift Boat Veterans?

After a presidential election which was determined by fewer than 120,000 Ohio voters, it is clear that George Bush is president of the United States -- rather than John Kerry -- because of the swift boat veterans and because of pro-gun support.

For their part, the swift boat veterans formed a political organization under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code -- and their organization was therefore called a "527."

Shortly, the House of Representatives will consider legislation (HR 513) which would regulate "527 organizations" -- like the Swift Boat Veterans -- as severely as the most heavily regulated political groups in the country. The result could be to effectively eliminate organizations like the Swift Boat Veterans.

It is clear that the enemies of Free Speech are choosing their targets strategically. First, Senators like John McCain regulated (in 2002) the ability of groups such as GOA to use radio and TV to criticize any candidate before an election.

Then, earlier this year, McCain & Co. wanted to further regulate GOA and similar organizations by requiring them to register their "grassroots" communications with their members and to file twice as many frivolous reports.

Now, this new legislation (HR 513) would try to strengthen the Anti-Free Speech beachhead to limit even more avenues to free speech.

The restrictions on our liberties need to end here.

Really, this battle is similar to the battle to preserve our gun rights. Anti-gunners have fought a guerilla type of warfare, chipping away at our gun rights with piecemeal legislation. Some gun owners -- who didn't own ranch rifles or AR-15s or other so-called assault weapons -- were lulled to sleep for a time and thought that the anti's weren't really interested in their hunting shotguns or rifles.

They soon found out they were mistaken. And it just shows, once again, that when the anti's get a beachhead, they don't stop there. They keep coming and coming.

That's why we must now fight this battle to preserve another bastion of Free Speech. It is our constitutional right -- it is not a "privilege" to be expanded or contracted based on the impact on the party in power.

ACTION: Please use the pre-written letter below to help direct your comments to your representative. Ask him to oppose H.R. 513 which would limit the constitutional Free Speech of "527 organizations" like the Swift Boat Veterans.

You can visit the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send your Representatives a pre-written e-mail message such as the one below.

And, you can call your Representative toll-free at 1-877-762-8762.

----- Pre-written letter -----

Dear Representative:

The House will soon consider legislation (HR 513) which would regulate "527 organizations" -- like the Swift Boat Veterans -- as severely as the most heavily regulated political groups in the country. The result could be to effectively eliminate organizations like the Swift Boat Veterans.

I would urge you to oppose that legislation.

Free Speech is a constitutional right -- not a "privilege" to be expanded or contracted based on the impact on the party in power. Thank you.

Sincerely,

*****************************

"Live Fire" radio with Larry Pratt is broadcast by the Information Radio Network on Saturdays at 12:00 Noon Eastern. "Live Fire" is simulcast on the web at http://inforadionet.com and previous episodes are archived at http://www.soundwaves2000.com/livefire/ in RealAudio. Recent guests and topics have included:

* Jim Jacobson: Christian Burmese refugees defined as terrorists for resisting genocide -- by US government

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TOPICS: Announcements; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: District of Columbia
KEYWORDS: 109th; 527groups; 527s; bang; banglist; freespeech; incumbantprotection; swiftboatveterans
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IMHO, use the text of the pre-written letter as a starting point so that every email or letter looks individual and unique.

Repeal McCain-Feingold!

FEC’s coordination ruling could shake up the midterms

G.O.P. Is Taking Aim at Advocacy Groups

FEC Ordered to Rethink '527' Rules

1 posted on 04/05/2006 8:29:53 AM PDT by neverdem
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To: neverdem

Here is the details of the bill if anyone would like to review before firing off their letters.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.00513:


2 posted on 04/05/2006 8:33:55 AM PDT by mnehring (http://abaraxas.blogspot.com)
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To: neverdem

BTTT!!


3 posted on 04/05/2006 8:40:05 AM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (betätigen Sie ein für Englisch)
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To: neverdem

Congress should grow a spine and censor the true enemies of the U.S., the press.


4 posted on 04/05/2006 8:41:29 AM PDT by Paul C. Jesup
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To: mnehrling
People are worried about monitoring terrorists, but where is the outrage that John McCain , with the help and millions from George Soros, is taking rights away from American citizens. McCain is at it again with his efforts for amnesty for illegal aliens. If McCain is the best the Republicans have to offer we are in trouble.
5 posted on 04/05/2006 8:45:53 AM PDT by paguch
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To: neverdem

Given that McCain-Feingold should not exist at all...

Is it me or does the Left abuse the 527's much more than the right and the Swifties? It seems that this action would hamper the Left much more than the Right.


6 posted on 04/05/2006 8:46:11 AM PDT by Personal Responsibility (Amnesia is a train of thought.)
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To: neverdem

This is aimed at keeping the Vietnam vets from "Swift Boating" McCain like they did Kerry.


7 posted on 04/05/2006 8:49:18 AM PDT by SUSSA
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To: Paul C. Jesup
Congress should grow a spine and censor the true enemies of the U.S., the press.

The cure for a lack of free speech is not to restrict it further.

Censorship is anti freedom. No matter who is being censored.

8 posted on 04/05/2006 8:52:43 AM PDT by Protagoras (The world is full of successful idiots and genius failures.)
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To: SUSSA

Congress shall pass no law abridging freedom of speech or the press (except 60 days before an election, then congress can pass laws that abridge anything they damn well please, heck lets suspend habeas corpus and allow cruel and unusual punishments 60 days before an election too).


9 posted on 04/05/2006 8:54:31 AM PDT by noobiangod
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To: paguch
In this case, I don't believe it is 'with help from Soros' instead it is partially because Soros, specifically, his 527s like Move-On and ACT. Remember, all Soros really is interested in is influencing US politics to devalue the US dollar and push up the Euro. It is what he does.. he has played this currency speculation/political game in many other areas, just not to the extent he does in the US.. He potentially could make Billions of this alone if successful.. luckily, he hasn't been...

From reading this law, it would mostly hurt domestic based activism like the Swifties far more than Move-On who can hide under the guise of 'issues activism' instead of partisan motivation.

Why not just make all groups under the 527 statute have open records? This should take care of the problem and expose any motivations they may have, while at the same time, still giving them their freedom of expression.

..and if anyone doesn't think this has a short term motivation, look at the expiration in Section 3.
10 posted on 04/05/2006 8:56:00 AM PDT by mnehring (http://abaraxas.blogspot.com)
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To: Personal Responsibility
Is it me or does the Left abuse the 527's much more than the right and the Swifties? It seems that this action would hamper the Left much more than the Right.

The Dems obviously have a plan to circumvent this if it is put into law just like they had with the original CFR.

11 posted on 04/05/2006 9:00:10 AM PDT by tertiary01 (Why are those who say a fence is not the answer most likely to live behind high walls)
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To: Protagoras
The cure for a lack of free speech is not to restrict it further.

Yes it is, restrict the freedoms of those who seek to restict OUR FREEDOMS!!

It's a matter of self-defense. The leftist press wants us U.S. citizens dead and they will do anything in their power/freedoms to do so.

Don't you see the leftist press are traitors. They support the mexican invasion of the U.S. They support bankrupting higher taxes and more regulations to destory us with. They support third world tyrants (Iran, North Korea), so these tyrants have the time to develope nukes to be used to kill us U.S. citizens.

The left press wants us U.S. citizens dead. So we must does everything in our power to stop them. If that means taking about their voices and pen through censoring them, then it will be worth it.

12 posted on 04/05/2006 9:00:40 AM PDT by Paul C. Jesup
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To: noobiangod

The Constitution is meaningless to the ruling political class now.


13 posted on 04/05/2006 9:05:45 AM PDT by SUSSA
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To: mnehrling

Thanks for the link!


14 posted on 04/05/2006 9:06:45 AM PDT by neverdem (May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows that you're dead.)
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To: Personal Responsibility; montag813
Is it me or does the Left abuse the 527's much more than the right and the Swifties? It seems that this action would hamper the Left much more than the Right.

That's my overall impression. I would use the word 'use' not 'abuse', but the left raised 3 - 4 times more money using 527s. Check the links in comment 1. Repeal McCain - Feingold!

15 posted on 04/05/2006 9:20:45 AM PDT by neverdem (May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows that you're dead.)
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To: neverdem
Please use the pre-written letter below to help direct your comments to your representative.

The traitors in Congress ignore us. Better to spend our time writing to SCOTUS and demonstrating in the streets. Do you honestly believe Congress cares about us and the nation? Have you kept up with current events? We need to change our tactics.

Instead of pleading to Reps, we should be in the streets voicing outrage at our Reps, or getting some neighbors and friends to go to our local Reps office and raising hell. That will gain far more traction that writing a letter to a traitor.

16 posted on 04/05/2006 9:30:06 AM PDT by Dont_Tread_On_Me_888 (The purpose of this forum is to fight socialism (see FR homepage), not to defend Republicans.)
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To: Dont_Tread_On_Me_888
The traitors in Congress ignore us.

Not if we are loud enough. Why do you think both Clinton and Schumer supported arming commercial airline pilots? You can't name bigger gun grabbers!

17 posted on 04/05/2006 10:00:06 AM PDT by neverdem (May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows that you're dead.)
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To: Personal Responsibility
Is it me or does the Left abuse the 527's much more than the right and the Swifties? It seems that this action would hamper the Left much more than the Right.

I believe it's true that 527's help the left more than the right, so if the law were applied in a neutral fashion, your premise would be correct.

But, when was the last time you saw any liberal brought to task for breaking any law? In practice, only conservatives are expected to obey laws. Or obey laws that haven't been passed yet, in cases like DeLay's. Or obey rules that liberals would LIKE to be laws, but aren't.

18 posted on 04/05/2006 10:24:40 AM PDT by Still Thinking (Disregard the law of unintended consequences at your own risk.)
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To: Paul C. Jesup
Yes it is, restrict the freedoms of those who seek to restict OUR FREEDOMS!!

So since you seek to restrict my freedom, I am justified in doing whatever it takes to shut you up. Right?

It's a matter of self-defense. The leftist press wants us U.S. citizens dead and they will do anything in their power/freedoms to do so.

Take deep breaths.

The left press wants us U.S. citizens dead. So we must does everything in our power to stop them. If that means taking about their voices and pen through censoring them, then it will be worth it.

You may want to seek some counseling from a qualified person.

19 posted on 04/05/2006 10:38:23 AM PDT by Protagoras (The world is full of successful idiots and genius failures.)
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To: Protagoras
So since you seek to restrict my freedom, I am justified in doing whatever it takes to shut you up. Right?

The 1st Amendment of teh U.S. Constitution does not protect journalistic speech if that speech is lying and/or aiding a foreign enemy of the State.

The would pretty much shutdown the leftist press right there.

20 posted on 04/05/2006 10:46:22 AM PDT by Paul C. Jesup
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