On Winning The Semi-Auto Ban Repeal Battle

We Won!!!

Pinch yourself. This is not a dream.

A fresh breath of freedom has swept across the land.

The hated ban on semi-automatic firearms and magazines has now expired; and it was, in large part, thanks to your efforts.

In fact, you played a TREMENDOUS role in making sure this onerous law faded into the sunset.

Remember, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has been trying to attach this gun ban to a must-pass bill all year long.

She succeeded in doing this in March, when she tacked her ban onto the gun makers’ protection act, by getting 52 votes in favor of her amendment.

At that time, Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) had refused to use parliamentary techniques to keep the gun ban from being offered to the bill. He said it couldn’t be done.

Of course, GOA knew that wasn’t true. So we posted the specific details on GOA’s website, documenting how Majority Leader Frist can bring up a bill for a vote, while using parliamentary roadblocks that keep antagonistic amendments from being offered.

Then, we asked you to contact Senator Frist’s office — to make sure he not only read the document, but was prepared to use all the weapons in his arsenal to stop Senator Feinstein.

He listened to you. When Senator Feinstein threatened to attach her gun ban to a legal reform bill, Senator Frist blocked her amendment.

Democrats were furious. They protested the “undemocratic” spirit of Senator Frist. They were very upset they couldn’t offer the gun ban as an amendment.

But Senator Frist stood firm, as he was being encouraged by thousands upon thousands of e-mails and phone calls coming from GOA members.

Listen to what an outraged Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) had to say about Senator Frist’s actions:

I know we have the class action reform bill on the floor of the Senate, but that bill apparently is going nowhere at this moment. My understanding is the majority leader [Frist] has ‘filled the tree,’ which is a fancy way of saying he is blocking everything. He puts a bill down, blocks everything, and creates a little gate in the majority leader’s office saying: Show me your amendment. If I like it, you can offer it; if I don’t, you can’t. That is where we are. Because of that action, I assume very little is going to happen at the moment.
[Source: Congressional Record, July 7, 2004, p. S 7726.]

Because of you, Senator Frist had now learned how to “block everything” — a strategy that was the turning point in a long and protracted battle. Grassroots lobbying won the day in the Senate.

You guys also made the difference the House, as your e-mails and phone calls continually applied the heat to Representatives in the Congress. Because of you, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) was able to say “we don’t have the votes to pass” the semi-auto ban.

They didn’t have the votes because you were holding your Congressmen’s feet to the fire. Thousands upon thousands of letters, e-mails, postcards and phone calls.

Thanks to you, the gun banners have been blocked at every turn.

Thanks to you, firearms and magazines that were once banned are now legal.

And thanks to you, GOA will continue to be here in Washington, D.C., fighting for your right to keep and bear arms.

Thank you!

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If You’re Not Yet A GOA Member, Is It Time You Became One?

The ability of GOA to continue putting pressure on politicians depends on loyal activists like yourself. We want to keep sending you these e-mails for free, but it does cost us to continue providing them.

Are you unsure if you’re a member? If you’re not getting our newsletter, The Gun Owners, then that’s a good sign that you’re not a member.

Consider the benefits that paid-up GOA members get:

* A no-compromise voice in Washington, D.C.

* A Congressional rating — mailed before the election — listing the grade of every major candidate for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives

* Pre-written letters and postcards to help you lobby your Congressmen

* Experienced spokesmen to defend your rights in the media

* In-depth research and analysis

* Valuable discounts which are only presented to GOA members

So, please become a GOA member today! Join GOA today online at http://www.gunowners.org/ordergoamem.htm or call 703-321-8585.

U.S. Representative Ron Paul of Texas says, “Your membership in Gun Owners makes a difference on Capitol Hill every single day…. I know that GOA will continue to be the ‘no compromise’ leader in defending America’s gun rights and personal freedoms.”

When you join forces with GOA, you will become part of the toughest, no-compromise group in the nation’s capital. Just ask Rep. John Hostettler, Republican Congressman from Indiana:

“Gun Owners of America is the pit bull of the Second Amendment. They are relentless and never give any ground whatsoever to the gun grabbers.”