Posted on 02/11/2003 10:19:07 AM PST by from occupied ga
(Atlanta, Tuesday, February 11) -- Just like the famous Hollywood movie, yesterday was "A Bad Day at Black Rock" for state anti-gun ringleaders pushing the HB197 Stealth Triggerlock bill.
After cruising to an easy victory last Wednesday in her "stacked-deck" Family Law Subcommittee, anti-gun HB197 co-sponsor Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur) expected smooth sailing through yesterday's hearing before the full House Judiciary Committee.
But things began to go terribly wrong for anti-gunners when state offices opened yesterday morning and phones started ringing in what was to become a steady stream of grass-roots pressure all day from gun owners across Georgia.
Last week in Ms. Oliver's subcommittee, special interests behind HB197 got an hour of floor time while gun owners only got five minutes. In a sign pressure from your phone calls was working, anti-gun Judiciary Chairman Tom Bordeaux (D-Savannah) yesterday directed each side to have 30 minutes of debate time, with HB197 sponsor Wendell Willard (R-Dunwoody) managing those behind HB197 and CSG Legislative Director Bill Phillips managing the opposition.
Rep. Brian Joyce (R-Lookout Mountain) led off the attack on HB197, testifying not only as a gun owner, but as a parent of 3 grown children. "We live on a mountain in North Georgia" he said. "My kids were always getting hurt--and I suspect that's true for kids in the city. After things I did when I was kid, I'm lucky to be alive. But I grew up with a love for freedom, and I wanted my kids to grow up the same way."
"If HB197 had been the law when I was raising my kids," the 6-term legislator said, "the left-wingers could have put me in prison--instead I'm here fighting for freedom."
The anti-gunners weren't prepared for your strong support of the Massey Self-Defense amendment to exempt gun owners who want to keep their guns unlocked so they're ready for self-defense.
In a committee room packed to overflowing, Rep. Warren Massey (R-Winder) said, "It's no secret that people right here in this room have repeatedly stated in public they want to take away our guns. My amendment would stop them from using this bill to start confiscating our guns."
Honorable mention goes to freshman Rep. Barry Fleming (R-Harlem) who stood out among committee members as strong pro-gun second to Rep. Massey.
After hard-hitting testimony by CSG lobbyist Ronnie Farr, Chairman Bordeaux, a slick lawyer, bore down trying to trap him with legal tricks. But it backfired, with Mr. Bordeaux looking like a prosecutor trying to browbeat a defendant for keeping their gun unlocked.
The NRA lobbyist showed up this time, admitting the NRA had no position on HB197 and refusing to endorse the Massy Self-Defense Amendment. The hearing further demonstrated the NRA is becoming marginalized, with unorganized gun owners led by CSG and Gun Owners of America leading the way protecting gun rights.
Encouraged by bold resistance by Rep. Joyce and the CSG lobbyists, cracks began to appear in the unified front of the Democrats.
Rep. Jim Stokes (D-Covington) said he thought so-called "child protection" laws now on the books were overly broad and he questioned the need for even worse ones. Rep. Able Mable Thomas (D-Atlanta) blasted country-club Republican Willard, saying the new law won't be used out where he lives, but against working people in inner city neighborhoods like the one she represents.
But anti-gunners fought back. Rep. Larry Walker tried to gut the Massey Self-Defense Amendment by suggesting the amendment itself be amended with vague language like the original bill so prosecutors could still prosecute gun owners. And freshman Rep. Roger Bruce (D-Atlanta) showed his colors by denouncing the idea that people even need guns.
After hours of testimony and debate, a worn down Chairman noted there were many committee members yet to speak, and the committee would adjourn until 2 pm Tuesday when it would resume debate and then hopefully vote on passing the bill.
A dejected Mary Margararet Oliver summed up a bad day for anti-gunners with a protest: "Mr. Chairman, the Massey amendment means we won't be able to prosecute ANYBODY for having an unlocked gun."
HB197 Summary:
After a bad day Monday, anti-gunners are regrouping overnight to come back Tuesday and muscle HB197 through the House Judiciary Committee. Monday's hearing brought out three main points:
a) The scariest part of HB197 is a brand new so-called "endangerment" section where people can be arrested and convicted just for situations officials don't like, even if nobody is actually injured or hurt.
b) HB197 is the result of 3 years of back room plotting by a network of so-called "child advocates" and metro-area prosecutors, who are paid and supported by government grants and/or your taxpayer dollars. No independent parents showed up in support of the bill.
c) The Massey Self-Defense Amendment successfully exposed the hidden agenda behind HB197 as anti-gunners publicly admitted they want to jail people who keep their guns unlocked so they're ready for self-defense.
The anti-gunners are regrouping and will try to pass HB197 out of committee this afternoon after they resume deliberation starting at 2 pm. It's vital that you call again like you did yesterday. This time demand they stop stalling on the Massey Self-Defense Amendment and say you don't want it watered down with vague langauge like HB197. Keep the pressure on the politicians--it's working.
ACTION ITEMS
1. Contact the office of a member of the full House Judiciary Committee who represents a pro-gun district. If your own State Rep. isn't on this list, pick one at random. Leave a message telling them to quit stalling on the Massey Self-Defense Amendment and that you don't want it watered down.
Mike Boggs (D-Waycross) 404-656-0152
2. Contact the office of a member of the full House Judiciary Committee who is NOT from a pro-gun district. If your own State Rep. isn't on this list, pick one at random. Leave a message telling them to quit stalling on the Massey Self-Defense Amendment and that you don't want it watered down:
3. E-mail or fax this alert to everybody you know.
Like I said, I don't think they're lying about this because I heard it confirmed from independent sources, altough I wasn't there in person, so I can't say absolutely. In any event sponsor Oliver (D Decatur) confirmed the CSG analysis of the bill with her comment (in red).
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