ACTION: Send the message at the bottom of this page to the Representatives that are NOT listed below. Or call 202-225-3121 and let your Rep. know that now is the time to cosponsor HR 1009!

(June 9, 1998) -- Gun Owners of America today put Representatives on notice in Washington that the cosponsorship of H.R. 1009 would be counted as a ratings vote in 1998. Rep. Helen Chenoweth (R-ID) is the chief sponsor of this very important bill repealing the Lautenberg gun ban.

In a prepared statement, GOA Executive Director Larry Pratt told Congressmen that, "This unconstitutional law must be repealed, and Congress owes it to the people to put Rep. Chenoweth's bill to a vote.

"But if Congress doesn't, then Gun Owners of America will rate the cosponsorship of her bill instead of a vote. Those who cosponsor H.R. 1009 will be listed as having cast a pro-gun vote. All the others will be ranked as having cast an anti- gun vote and will have to answer to their constituents in November."

The Lautenberg ban, passed in 1996, imposes a lifetime gun ban on those who have committed minor infractions in the home-- "offenses" as slight as shoving a spouse or spanking a child.

"So far, only 37 Representatives have taken a stand for freedom and cosponsored H.R. 1009," Pratt said. "This is one of the most important bills in the Congress, and Rep. Chenoweth deserves a lot of thanks from the American people."

Current cosponsor list for H.R. 1009:

BATEMAN (R-VA)
BUNNING (R-KY)
CANNON (R-UT)
CHAMBLISS (R-GA)
CHENOWETH (R-ID) (sponsor)
COBURN (R-OK)
COMBEST (R-TX)
COOKSEY (R-LA)
CRAPO (R-ID)
CUBIN (R-WY)
DICKEY (R-AR)
DOOLITTLE (R-CA)
GIBBONS (R-NV)
GOODE (D-VA)
HALL (D-TX)
HASTINGS (R-WA)
HEFLEY (R-CO)
HERGER (R-CA)
HILL (R-MT)
HOSTETTLER (R-IN)
KIM (R-CA)
KOLBE (R-AZ)
LAHOOD (R-IL)
LEWIS, R (R-KY)
McINTOSH (R-IN)
PAUL (R-TX)
PICKETT (D-VA)
REDMOND (R-NM)
RIGGS (R-CA)
SKEEN (R-NM)
SMITH (R-MI)
SPENCE (R-SC)
STUMP (R-AZ)
THORNBERRY (R-TX)
TIAHRT (R-KS)
WATTS (R-OK)
WICKER (R-MS)
YOUNG, D (R-AK)

-- Clip & Fax -- (see http://www.gunowners.org/h105th.htm for fax numbers and e-mail addresses or call your Rep. and ask)

Dear Representative

Gun Owners of America has announced that cosponsorship of H.R. 1009 will be considered a pro-gun vote on its upcoming Candidate's Vote Rating. Please become a cosponsor of H.R. 1009, the bill to repeal the Lautenberg gun ban.

The Lautenberg law makes a mere misdemeanor grounds for denying citizens, including police, the right to keep and bear arms. It is a grave infringement on the rights of Americans and must be repealed.

The Chenoweth bill has the support of gun groups, women's groups, civil rights groups and other organizations concerned with constitutionally guaranteed liberties. Please let me know how you intend to act.