“Demil” Threat Defeated!

 

Sen. Smith Announces Victory on Gun “Demil” Provision
— Gun owners gave Smith & Co. the upper hand in negotiations

(Friday, December 14, 2001) — Senator Bob Smith (R-NH) today declared victory in his efforts to delete the anti-gun “demilitarization” provisions from the Defense Department authorization bill.

Those provisions, contained in section 1062 of the Senate version (S. 1438), would have allowed the government to seize all military firearms in private hands for the purpose of demilitarizing them.

“This is a great victory for gun owners, veterans, and those who care about the Constitution,” said Smith.

Larry Pratt, Executive Director of Gun Owners of America, concurred: “The thousands upon thousands of dedicated grassroots activists provided the ammunition needed to kill the provision.”

Pratt also thanked Senator Smith for his tireless efforts, as well as other legislators who worked hard to see this provision removed — Reps. Bob Stump (R-AZ), John Hostettler (R-IN) and others.

The “demil” provision was originally contained in both the House and Senate versions of the DoD bill, but was struck from the House bill early in the legislative process as a result of opposition from pro-gun forces.

GOA activists continued to lobby long and hard against the provision, asking the conference committee members to strike the “demil” language from the bill.

Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) made several attempts to keep the provision by offering compromise after compromise, but the loud outcry from grassroots activists strengthened the bargaining position of pro-gun legislators.

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

Have you joined GOA yet? Or renewed your existing membership for 2002? Have you considered upgrading to Life Member? Please see http://www.gunowners.org/ordergoamem.htm for membership options.