From: owner-roc-digest@lists.xmission.com (roc-digest) To: roc-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: roc-digest V2 #359 Reply-To: roc-digest Sender: owner-roc-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-roc-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk roc-digest Monday, June 26 2000 Volume 02 : Number 359 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 13:50:01 -0500 From: linzellr@datastar.net (Robert Linzell) Subject: RNC Wants Our Input! WASHINGTON, June 22 /P R News wire/ -- The Republican National Committee has formed a partnership with major Internet "democracy portals" to make it easier for Americans to communicate their policy ideas and concerns. "The RNC has arrangements with all three major "democracy portals" to have direct links to our website," Nicholson said. "This triples the likelihood that people across the country will know we are actively seeking their ideas and counsel. Anyone with access to a computer, be it at home, work, school or the local public library, can go to Voter.com, Grassroots.com, Speakout.com, or rnc.org to send us ideas about what should be in our 2000 platform." Nicholson said every comment received would be read and taken into consideration as Republican leadership begins to draft the 2000 platform document. [snip...] SOURCE Republican National Committee, Web Site: http://www.rnc.org See also http://www.speakout.com http://www.voter.com http://www.grassroots.com - -- Bob in Mississippi - State Motto: Virtute et Armis ("By Valor and Arms") My PGP Public Key(s): RKBA! - - ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Jun 00 12:25:00 PST From: roc@xpresso.seaslug.org (Bill Vance) Subject: SELL YOUR LAND OR WE'LL TAKE IT (fwd) On Jun 24, Swftl@aol.com wrote: [-------------------- text of forwarded message follows --------------------] analoncom@earthlink.net writes: << Saturday, June 24, 2000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- LEVIATHAN USA Sell your land or we'll take it Use of eminent domain 'completely out of control' by Patrick Poole Private developers and local governments, using the power of eminent domain, are increasingly joining together to force property owners from their land, coercing the transfer of property from one private owner to another. One major battleground in this growing land-grab phenomenon is Pittsburgh, Pa., where city officials are aggressively using eminent domain to redevelop urban areas. "Pittsburgh has become the capital of eminent domain abuse," said Doug Reed, a senior research fellow for the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy. "Our mayoral administration and redevelopment authority are completely out of control." Eminent domain is the power granted to local, state and federal government agencies to force property owners to sell their land to the government for public use. But critics say eminent domain power is no longer being used for the greater good of the community -- such as for roads, bridges or utilities -- but rather for the benefit of companies who are looking for good deals on prime inner-city property. The Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Justice, is taking a leading role in eminent domain battles across the country. The nonprofit public interest law firm represents businesses and homeowners threatened with eminent domain for the benefit of other private parties. Dana Berliner, a senior attorney for the Institute, told WorldNetDaily that her organization became involved in the eminent domain issue after they began receiving a flood of calls from property owners asking for help. "One of the reasons that we got into this area was that there was virtually no one for property owners to turn to," Berliner said. The most recent fight in Pittsburgh was provoked after Mayor Tom Murphy announced plans to condemn major portions of downtown under eminent domain and hand the property over to Chicago-based Urban Retail Properties for development of the site as a suburban-style shopping mall. Under Murphy's plan, the private developer would get the prime downtown real estate along with additional government subsidies to build the shopping center. The mall would be anchored by an AMC Multiplex Theater and house several national retail chains, such as The Gap, FAO Schwartz, and Tiffany's. Reed says that Murphy's administration is using a loose definition of "public use" to grab-up large sections of valuable downtown property. "We have reached the point that 'public use' is defined to mean anything they think is better than what's there now," he said. "I find it hard to believe that James Madison had an 18-screen movie theater in mind when he wrote the takings clause of the Constitution." One of the 125 businesses in the five-block area threatened with displacement is Patty Maloney's greeting card shop, which has been in her family for 47 years. Maloney told WorldNetDaily that the mayor's office is using the threat of eminent domain to get residents and businesses to comply. "The city has refused to negotiate with any of us," Maloney said. "Their intentions are quite clear: If you don't sell your property to us at the price we offer, we're going to take it from you." The Institute for Justice has joined the battle, promising to defend property owners facing eminent domain. The organization recently sponsored a rally in front of City Hall in opposition to the mayor's plans. Maloney says she is grateful for the Institute's efforts on behalf of Pittsburgh property owners. "Its encouraging to have someone in your corner, particularly when you have large portions of the city government working against you," she said. Evicting Jesus Pittsburgh residents are not alone in their fight against city hall. An inner-city church, City Chapel in South Bend, Ind., is engaged in a David versus Goliath struggle against their city to keep their church building from being plowed under to make room for a privately owned office complex. The congregation was established in the city center more than five years ago to expand opportunities for ministry to the surrounding urban area. Observers agree that City Chapel faces an uphill battle. First, the developer who wants the church's property is Baker and Daniels, the largest law firm in the state. Not only does the firm have enormous legal resources at its disposal, it is well connected to officials with the City of South Bend. Baker and Daniels even represented the city when it applied to the federal government for the funds and authority to conduct the redevelopment activities being used to remove the church. The church also has to endure a process geared in favor of the city. According to the rules established by the city for eminent domain takings, the only point at which a property owner may object to the taking in court is after the deed has already been transferred to the city and, then, only the property appraisal can be challenged. At no time is the city required to make a case in court to defend its eminent domain claim. "I refuse to believe that the Supreme Court would authorize a property taking without so much as a court officer conducting a hearing on whether the city's need overrides the free exercise and property rights of this congregation," says James Master, the church's attorney. "There is no stage in the process where my client's rights are heard." Master told WorldNetDaily that due to the size of the congregation, the likelihood of finding another suitable location on the church's budget is not very good. "They have nowhere to go," he said. "What the city is planning to do will effectively destroy this church. This clearly violates the First Amendment's free exercise protections." City Chapel's travails are shared by St. Luke's Pentecostal Church in North Hempstead, N.Y. As WorldNetDaily recently reported, St. Luke's property is scheduled for seizure by the North Hempstead Community Development Authority, which claims the property is "blighted" and zoned for business. The development authority is offering the church $80,000 for its real estate, far less than the $130,000 the congregation paid for the property in 1997. The church has until June 29 to contest the development authority's offer. Meanwhile, the church lost its tax-exempt status after the town's zoning authority determined that the property didn't have adequate parking spaces, adding another $20,000 to the church's financial woes. New Rochelle's furniture fetish David Newmark, a New Rochelle, N.Y., business owner told WorldNetDaily he first learned about the designs his city had on his property from a newspaper report. "To say that I was surprised when I read in the paper that the city had announced plans to develop our property would be an understatement," he said. "At that point, we started writing letters to our city council and our mayor telling them that we didn't appreciate them trying to take our property from us." Newmark's company, Vernon Devices, has been manufacturing cutting tools in the area for over 40 years, eight years at its current location. The city has been negotiating with IKEA, a national furniture manufacturer, to house a massive retail outlet store on the property currently owned by Newmark and his neighbors. The proposed IKEA store would cover 300,000 square feet and provide 1,300 parking spaces. City officials say the project could generate hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars in new sales tax revenues. However, 29 businesses that employ 378 people, 34 houses with 160 residents and two churches will be required to move or close to make way for the facility, with no guarantee that the businesses will be able to relocate and reopen. Timothy Idoni, New Rochelle's mayor, recently defended the proposal in an interview with CNN. "It's an area that's in real need of sprucing-up," Idoni said. "And the question here is whether IKEA is the right fit or not." Last October, the City of New Rochelle and IKEA entered into a memorandum of understanding which states that the city would use its eminent-domain power to obtain any property where IKEA was not able to successfully negotiate with the current property owners. "We're pretty disgusted with all of this," Newmark said. "It's disheartening that you can live in a town your entire life and they come to railroad you out of town for the benefit of a large corporation that really shouldn't be asking for corporate welfare." Vera Coking KOs Donald Trump One of the most prominent eminent domain cases for the Institute for Justice was when they took on real estate mogul Donald Trump, who wanted to oust Vera Coking from her three-story Atlantic City beachside home of 36 years to build a casino. Trump had initially offered the elderly widow $250,000 for the property, but she had already rejected a $1 million offer in 1983 from Penthouse publisher Bob Guccione. Unsuccessful in trying to reach an agreement with Coking and her neighbors, Trump began working with the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority to use its power of eminent domain to condemn Coking's property, take it away from her at a bargain-basement price, then transfer the ownership to Trump for a fraction of the market value. Trump intended to use the property to park limousines where Coking's bedroom, kitchen and dining room now stand. He went ahead with a plan to build the 22-story Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino next door to Coking's home. But his plans to acquire the property were scuttled in 1996 when the Institute intervened and won a hard-fought victory in the New Jersey courts for Coking and her neighbors. Property rights crusade Since the big win against Trump in Atlantic City, the Institute for Justice has taken on more eminent domain cases and established a separate legal unit dedicated to the issue. The organization is now engaged in court battles all over the country. For instance, the Institute recently filed an amicus brief in a case currently before the Illinois Supreme Court that challenges a policy granting 10 percent of the proceeds from every piece of property the development agency condemns to the agency itself. In the legal brief, the Institute argued that this arrangement provides the government with undue incentive to use eminent domain to obtain more funds for the agency. A decision is expected in the next few months. Berliner told WorldNetDaily that curbing eminent domain abuses and protecting property rights is one of the most important civil liberties issues confronting America today. "If private property can be condemned and given to another private individual for private profit, is there any limit to the exercise of government power?" she asks. She noted that in many cases, the threat of a protracted and costly legal battle is enough to get property owners to comply with the government's demands to turn over property. "In order to fight it, you have to put out so much," Berliner said. "For the most part, the people are forced to give up." "We're trying to give those people an alternative." For more, read "This land is your land," by WorldNetDaily Editor Joseph Farah and California Congressman Richard Pombo. [------------------------- end of forwarded message ------------------------] - -- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RKBA! ***** Blessings On Thee, Oh Israel! ***** RKBA! - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- An _EFFECTIVE_ | Insured | All matter is vibration. | Let he who hath no weapon in every | by COLT; | -- Max Plank | weapon sell his hand = Freedom | DIAL | In the beginning was the | garment and buy a on every side! | 1911-A1. | word. -- The Bible | sword.--Jesus Christ - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- Constitutional Government is dead, LONG LIVE THE CONSTITUTION!!!!! - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Jun 00 12:22:24 PST From: roc@xpresso.seaslug.org (Bill Vance) Subject: Keyes for VP update (fwd) On Jun 26, RichSlick@aol.com wrote: [-------------------- text of forwarded message follows --------------------] Now here's a novel idea: a veep who can move his lips and not lie at the same time. Rich Martin Editor of Slick << Hi, fellow Keyesters! We'd like to announce the creation of our new Keyes for Vice-President WEB SITE: www.keyesvp.addr.com For those of you who'd like to help with the Keyes for VP cause, go to the web site and check out the resources, information, and suggestions we've put there. On this site, you can leave comments, read arguments, sign up to help, download the petition, etc. The site contains everything you need to know about helping in the Keyes for VP effort. Be sure to tell your friends, family and acquaintances about the new website. Notify everyone in your addressbook, if you can. Thanks everyone, and God bless. Stefani Stone National Coordinator, Keyes for Vice-President (801) 377-4728, 362-4927 (cell) stefani@softhome.net keyesvp@addr.com www.keyesvp.addr.com [------------------------- end of forwarded message ------------------------] - -- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RKBA! ***** Blessings On Thee, Oh Israel! ***** RKBA! - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- An _EFFECTIVE_ | Insured | All matter is vibration. | Let he who hath no weapon in every | by COLT; | -- Max Plank | weapon sell his hand = Freedom | DIAL | In the beginning was the | garment and buy a on every side! | 1911-A1. | word. -- The Bible | sword.--Jesus Christ - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- Constitutional Government is dead, LONG LIVE THE CONSTITUTION!!!!! - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Jun 00 13:30:54 PST From: roc@xpresso.seaslug.org (Bill Vance) Subject: 1st Amendment violation (fwd) On Jun 26, Swftl@aol.com wrote: [-------------------- text of forwarded message follows --------------------] >FROM MOUNTAIN MEDIA FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE >DATED JUNE 28, 2000 >THE LIBERTARIAN, By Vin Suprynowicz > >Jews, come out On Saturday, June 17, a city zoning code enforcement officer >showed up as Rabbi Moshe Omer was leading an Orthodox prayer meeting at his >Las Vegas home, near Sahara Avenue and Durango Drive. > >The visit was the latest in a series of attempts by city enforcement >officers to deal with neighbors' complaints that Omer is generating too much >traffic -- and resulting parking problems -- by operating his Kabbalah >Centre in an area zoned exclusively for residential use. > >The local Kabbalah Centre is one of 39 operated world-wide by the Los >Angeles-based organization of the same name. > >In front of a dozen congregants, the city inspector -- accompanied by three >Las Vegas police officers -- issued Omer a citation for conducting religious >worship in a private home and "creating a public nuisance." > >Rabbi Omer refused to sign the citation, explaining he was forbidden to even >sign his name on the sabbath, under his religious laws. Treating him as a >non-cooperative suspect, police then proceeded to place him under arrest, >handcuff him, and lead him to a waiting patrol car. > >The rabbi explained his faith forbids him from riding in automobiles during >the sabbath, as well. Ignoring that, the cops hauled him downtown and >booked him, anyway. > >Fortunately, a judge was located to sign the rabbi's citation for him, and >he was released that day, though the arrest left him stranded downtown till >the sabbath ended at sunset. By Wednesday, Mayor Oscar Goodman was >apologizing for what he called his officers' "ignorance and a mistake in >judgment." > >Some will doubtless say "The law is the law," pointing out that it's >standard procedure to haul a suspect down to the station -- even on a >misdemeanor matter -- if he or she refuses to sign a citation, which amounts >to a "promise to appear." > >But they would be wrong. What about suspects who are unable to sign due to >illiteracy, or a physical handicap? Are there no provisions for them? > >While law enforcement types are fond of saying "We have no choice, we have >to enforce the letter of the law," common sense tell us this is not so. Try >driving at precisely 55 mph in the center lane of a limited-access highway, >sometime. Vehicles will zip past you so fast on both sides you'll feel like >a small ship straddled by shellfire. But do police attempt to pull over >every driver going 60 in a 55 mph zone? Of course not. > >Think the desk sergeant will dispatch squads of men to arrest a dozen of his >fellow officers, hauling them down to court in their underwear, if you >provide him with a list of those illegally "cohabitating" without benefit of >marriage? Fat chance. > >In fact, police in a number of cities, unhappy with their contracts, >occasionally threaten to enforce every law "to the letter" as a form of job >action, knowing this would bring any city to a halt, so profligate have the >lawmakers been in churning out their endless, petty edicts. > >The first thing that needs to be done here is to amend any city or county >ordinance -- if there really is one -- prohibiting "conduct of religious >worship in a private home," before the ACLU goes to court and does the job >for us. Yes, under current law, someone building a huge church or temple >with a 400-space parking lot in a residential area without proper zoning or >permits might merit an order to "appear and show cause." But a dozen folks >praying quietly in private? > >Such a blatant violation of the First Amendment would be laughable, were not >Rabbi Omer here to tell us his frightening experience put him in mind of the >Nazis and their round-ups -- hardly a topic for merriment. > >Second, a local attorney for the Kabbalah Centre says the group is looking >for another location. City officials might meet with them and see if a >schedule can be arranged which will assure the rabbi's neighbors that >strange cars won't be lining their streets indefinitely. > >But finally, this is one more example of the simple fact that we now have >far too many laws, regulations, and enforcers, in the first place. > >Any fan of old Western movies can remember the Ladies Temperance Committee >descending on the sheriff and demanding that he evict from town that brazen >hussy or gunman drinking alcohol over at the saloon, or playing cards, or >whatever the perceived sin of the moment might be. > >And what did the sheriff invariably respond? "Sorry, ladies. It's still a >free country." > >Is it? > >We need a lot fewer of these front-line functionaries, and a lot fewer >ordinances for them to enforce. > >And if an officer finally is sent out, we need men and women with the >experience and judgment to calmly say, "If a car is blocking your driveway, >we'll go knock and ask for it to be moved. But you want me to arrest the >rabbi for conducting religious services on the sabbath? In his private >home? Not in (start ital)my(end ital) America, pilgrim." > > >Vin Suprynowicz is assistant editorial page editor of the Las Vegas >Review-Journal. His book, "Send in the Waco Killers: Essays on the Freedom >Movement, 1993-1998," is available at $24.95 postpaid by dialing >1-800-244-2224; or via web site >http://www.thespiritof76.com/wacokillers.html. > >*** >Vin Suprynowicz, vin@lvrj.com "The evils of tyranny are rarely seen but by >him who resists it." -- John Hay, 1872 "The whole aim of practical politics >is to keep the populace alarmed -- and thus clamorous to be led to safety -- >by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary." >-- H.L. Mencken >* * * > >All I ask of electronic subscribers is that they not RE-forward my columns >until on or after the embargo date which appears at the top of each, and >that (should they then choose to do so) they copy the columns in their >entirety, preserving the original attribution. > >The Vinsends list is maintained by Alan Wendt in Colorado, who may be >reached directly at alan@ezlink.com. The web sites for the Suprynowicz >column are at http://www.infomagic.com/liberty/vinyard.htm, and >http://www.nguworld.com/vindex. The Vinyard is maintained by Michael Voth >in Flagstaff, who may be reached directly at mvoth@infomagic.com [------------------------- end of forwarded message ------------------------] - -- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RKBA! ***** Blessings On Thee, Oh Israel! ***** RKBA! - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- An _EFFECTIVE_ | Insured | All matter is vibration. | Let he who hath no weapon in every | by COLT; | -- Max Plank | weapon sell his hand = Freedom | DIAL | In the beginning was the | garment and buy a on every side! | 1911-A1. | word. -- The Bible | sword.--Jesus Christ - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- Constitutional Government is dead, LONG LIVE THE CONSTITUTION!!!!! - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Jun 00 19:21:30 PST From: roc@xpresso.seaslug.org (Bill Vance) Subject: Tracing Gun Prints Readied by Govt (fwd) On Jun 26, Bruce Chesley wrote: [-------------------- text of forwarded message follows --------------------] Don't be fooled. The $250,000 per computer is a small percentage for what it will cost to computerize all those images AND do all the links to the 230 labs and 30,000 police departments. Figure $10,000 - $30,000 average for the computer hardware and software PER POLICE DEPARTMENT and at least that amount for each lab. Then there are the ongoing connect charges, electrical, office space renovations, personnel hiring / training / salary increases, the annual conferences.....yada, yada, yada. real costs will be $40,000,000 - $140,000,000 just to install and link everyone. Digital cameras go for @ $600 - $2,000 EACH x 30,240. Make that at least 2 cameras or 60,480 because we're talking A LOT of digital photography. Cameras will be worn out. And the payback ? Read the next to last paragraph which I have placed an asterisk line before and after. So far - 2, that's right, 2 crimes solved from the current 500,000 image database. How many gun crimes are there every year - 30,000 ? Bruce Chesley Truth is a terrible cross to bear. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered.". Thomas Paine Treason for $$$: ccrkba, jpfo, leaa, nra, saf. On Mon, 26 Jun 2000 18:08:29 EDT ********@aol.com writes: http://usatoday.com/news/ndssun06.htm 06/25/00- Updated 09:18 PM ET Tracing gun prints readied in Calif. By Gary Fields, USA TODAY WASHINGTON - The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms hope to install the first of several computers this year to trace guns and bullets in much the same way individuals are identified and tracked by fingerprints. Tentative plans are to install the computers in crime labs in California first. Oklahoma and Texas would be the second region to receive the new systems, followed by New York and Connecticut, then Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Officials say they give those areas priority because of the levels of gun violence there and because of past success using computer ballistics examination systems. The goal is to create a network that links the nation's 230 crime labs and 30,000 law enforcement organizations to millions of computerized images of bullets and cartridge casings. Scientists have known for decades that every gun leaves markings on bullets and cartridge cases that are as distinctive as fingerprints. In the early 1990s, FBI and ATF computer systems were developed that allowed comparisons of those "gun prints" with bullets collected from crime scenes. The new computers, each of which costs about $250,000, will house a new system that combines the FBI's Drugfire system and the ATF's Integrated Ballistics Imaging System. The two agencies had been working for more than a year on finding a way to link their systems. Officials say they decided earlier this year that it would be easier to create the hybrid system. Under the new system, bullets and cartridge cases are photographed with a digital camera. The images are computerized, and microscopic imperfections are measured. Within minutes, the images can be compared with other bullets and casings in the system and matched with images of bullets and casings recovered in crimes. In the past, ballistics tests were usually done only after police had a suspect and a weapon in hand. As they assembled evidence for a trial, police would test-fire the gun and compare the bullets they fired with those found at a crime scene or extracted from a victim's body. ********************************************************************************** So far, about 500,000 ballistics images are in the FBI and ATF databases. Although that is a small percentage of the ammunition from the 220 million firearms in circulation, examiners and police departments have used the limited databases to link at least 5,700 guns to two or more crimes when no other evidence existed. ********************************************************************************** In addition to fine-tuning the new system, authorities also have a pilot program working with a gun manufacturer, Glock, in which the "gun prints" of the company's new guns are being added to the database. Front page, News, Sports, Money, Life, Weather, Marketplace © Copyright 2000 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc. [------------------------- end of forwarded message ------------------------] - -- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RKBA! ***** Blessings On Thee, Oh Israel! ***** RKBA! - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- An _EFFECTIVE_ | Insured | All matter is vibration. | Let he who hath no weapon in every | by COLT; | -- Max Plank | weapon sell his hand = Freedom | DIAL | In the beginning was the | garment and buy a on every side! | 1911-A1. | word. -- The Bible | sword.--Jesus Christ - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- Constitutional Government is dead, LONG LIVE THE CONSTITUTION!!!!! - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Jun 00 19:24:11 PST From: roc@xpresso.seaslug.org (Bill Vance) Subject: [Fratrum] making a list, checking it twice.... (fwd) On Jun 26, Jim Moore wrote: [-------------------- text of forwarded message follows --------------------] Here's more on our Gestapo in action! Important Vote Affecting Gun Rights Tomorrow -- House to decide if government can glean gun owners' names from certain lists Gun Owners of America E-Mail/FAX Alert 8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151 Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408 http://www.gunowners.org This alert posted on the web at: http://www.gunowners.org/a062600.htm (Monday, June 26, 2000) -- The Hostettler amendment to gut the Smith & Wesson agreement is scheduled to be voted on tonight. Having said that, there is a threat looming on the horizon -- a threat that may materialize in the House as early as tomorrow. The House is expected to begin debating H.R 4717, the Archer-Houghton "Full and Fair Political Activity Disclosure Act of 2000" -- a bill that turns out to be neither full nor fair. H.R. 4717 would force affected organizations (like GOA) to release many, if not all, of the names and addresses of their members to the IRS -- a requirement which is blatantly unconstitutional. Many years ago, the state of Alabama had tried to get the names of NAACP members, but its attempts were beaten back by the Supreme Court in NAACP v. Alabama (1958). Despite this obvious precedent, this bill is now targeting so-called 501(c)(4) lobbying organizations -- groups like GOA and NRA-ILA -- which cannot receive tax-deductible contributions from the public. In contrast, there are many liberal foundations that are set up as 501(c)(3) organizations -- groups like the Million Mom March Foundation which are limited in the amount of direct lobbying that they can do. Even so, these foundations can still spend up to $1 million per year in direct lobbying and conduct voter education campaigns while still receiving tax-deductible contributions. All this to say: H.R. 4717 applies to 501(c)(4) organizations but not to 501(c)(3) organizations. Thus, this bill regulates GOA and NRA, but not anti-gun organizations such as the Violence Policy Center, the Million Mom March Foundation or HCI's Center to Prevent Handgun Violence. Unfair? You bet it is. But the bigger issue is the threat this bill poses to the Constitution. This bill, sponsored by retiring Representative Bill Archer (R-TX), will allow Republicans to claim they have "done something" about campaign finance reform. But in doing so, they're blowing holes in the Constitution. The Supreme Court correctly noted in the NAACP decision that forcing groups to disclose their members' names to the government would "constitute a[n] effective restraint on freedom of association." It goes without saying that an activist who sends a check to GOA to help protect his Second Amendment rights doesn't want his name being registered with the IRS as a gun owner. And for that reason, GOA will fight this bill "tooth and nail." And if this bill were to become law, GOA would not comply. We would fight it in court, and exhaust every possible resource, because we are not going to turn over our members' names to the IRS. This underscores why it is SO VERY IMPORTANT that we defeat this bill in the Congress! GOA would rather spend its members' dollars defending 2nd Amendment freedoms, as opposed to spending hundreds of thousands of dollars fighting 1st Amendment battles in court. ACTION: Please ask your Congressman to OPPOSE H.R. 4717, the Archer-Houghton Political Activity Disclosure Act. Tell them the government has no business keeping tabs on who you're associating with. Moreover, this kind of legislation is dangerous as far as gun ownership is concerned. The registration of gun owners could very well be the first step towards confiscation in the future. Tell your Congressman to vote NO on H.R. 4717. Please call him toll-free at 1-888-449-3511. [------------------------- end of forwarded message ------------------------] - -- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RKBA! ***** Blessings On Thee, Oh Israel! ***** RKBA! - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- An _EFFECTIVE_ | Insured | All matter is vibration. | Let he who hath no weapon in every | by COLT; | -- Max Plank | weapon sell his hand = Freedom | DIAL | In the beginning was the | garment and buy a on every side! | 1911-A1. | word. -- The Bible | sword.--Jesus Christ - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- Constitutional Government is dead, LONG LIVE THE CONSTITUTION!!!!! - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Jun 00 19:22:16 PST From: roc@xpresso.seaslug.org (Bill Vance) Subject: ABC one-ups PBS w/Search For Jesus tonite (fwd) On Jun 26, House, David Alan wrote: [-------------------- text of forwarded message follows --------------------] The selection of experts and advocates for the various perspectives are reportedly liberal to at least a 5 to 1 count. However I definitely intend seeing it. 9pm tonite, est. According to Religion writer Richard Ostling of AP, 'Jennings seems to have discovered none of the estimable moderate and conservative scholars in America. And even on the liberal side, the show doesn't visit the blueblood campuses where biblical history is being undermined, nor does it hear from some prime figures in the debate.' & 'Though viewers aren't told this, four of the five Americans on-screen come from the 'Jesus Seminar'. As fundamentalists scowled and scholars smirked, this group organized to take votes on whether each passage in the Gospels is true or false. Given the group's methods, skeptical presuppositions and special ideologies, falsity was bound to win most of the ballots.' I.E. severely unbalanced and biased, as in nearly everything else it often seems. Finally Mr. Ostling reports that the common folk who are interviewed are stood 'against the experts, who supposedly know better. That's a hugely distorted picture.' 'nuf said. One last quote, 'Jennings, an occasional Episcopal churchgoer, displays his continuing interest...by personally reporting on 'The Search for Jesus.' David http://abcnews.go.com/onair/jesus/index.html ABCNEWS' Peter Jennings Reporting: The Search for Jesus is a journalist's exploration of the historical figure of Jesus. The two-hour documentary will provide extensive insights into the 2,000-year-old story of Christianity and the man whose life continues to inspire devotion and debate. In this Web version of The Search for Jesus, we invite you to interact with the story and to engage in discussion with others who may or may not share your views. The multimedia presentation features video excerpts from the television special plus original content created specially for the Web. In addition, we encourage you to join us for a live chat with Peter Jennings at 11 p.m. ET, Monday, June 26. The basic version of this material is available to users with slower connections and can be viewed by selecting the "Basic Version" links. The enhanced version of this presentation is built for broadband users-those with at connection at or above 256 kbps-and can be viewed by clicking on the "Enhanced Version" links. Both versions features maps, an historical timeline of Christianity, user surveys, links to related stories and a discussion board where users can talk about issues and questions related to their beliefs and the life of Jesus. [------------------------- end of forwarded message ------------------------] - -- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RKBA! ***** Blessings On Thee, Oh Israel! ***** RKBA! - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- An _EFFECTIVE_ | Insured | All matter is vibration. | Let he who hath no weapon in every | by COLT; | -- Max Plank | weapon sell his hand = Freedom | DIAL | In the beginning was the | garment and buy a on every side! | 1911-A1. | word. -- The Bible | sword.--Jesus Christ - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- Constitutional Government is dead, LONG LIVE THE CONSTITUTION!!!!! - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Jun 00 22:44:13 PST From: roc@xpresso.seaslug.org (Bill Vance) Subject: [our-constitution] Freedom-Lovers International needs help (fwd) On Jun 26, Charles F. Nawrocki wrote: [-------------------- text of forwarded message follows --------------------] ////// SENT FYI /////// >From: "FLI" >Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2000 16:24:46 -0500 >Reply-To: our-constitution@egroups.com >Subject: [our-constitution] Freedom-Lovers International needs help > >FLI is going through a growth period, and we are enlisting volunteers to >help us out. > > >We need writers. Reporters who will report on events or news from your >area. We would like to list you as an exclusive FLI reporter. We also >need news and reporters from each of your organizations. If you have a >press release or a hot news tip, or you just want to send us an interesting >article, please email news@freedomloversinternational.com > >We can't publish the news if we don't get it. > >We need a listing or announcement of any events you have coming up for you, >your group, or your organization. For events you can email us at >events@freedomloversinternational.com > >We can't help you promote your events if we don't have them. > >We need alerts. Any upcoming action alerts you need to be publicized...such >as boycotts, upcoming legislation, etc. Those should also go to >news@freedomloversinternational.com > >We need your editorials. If you are looking for a way to get published, >here is a great opportunity. We are looking forward to adding more writers >to our contributing editorialists list. You can send all OpEds to >OpEdDirector@freedomloversinternational.com > >We need someone who can help us fill other needed vacancies that are >dependable and are media advocates for the freedom-movement. > >We need proof-readers, also. > >The best way to get the information out is to become media. We need people >who will help us do other forms of research also on an as needed basis. If >you are interested in becoming a "Freedom-Lover" at FLI, please contact me >and let me know how you can help. > >We are also looking for sponsors. We would like to be able to fund this >little operation as professionally and with as much weight as we can muster >up...and unfortunately, that takes funding. > >If you are not sure how you can help us, we will give you a list of options >that might be able to suit your schedule, and your experience. > >No experience is necessary, just a love for freedom and a wish to help out, >and a loyalty to your Country. If you can't help in any way except your >prayers, we will take that, too. > >Thanks for taking the time to read this, and we hope to hear from you soon, > >Shonda M. Ponder, president >Freedom-Lovers International >http://www.freedomloversinternational.com > > > > >Visit Freedom-Lovers International for Freedom News >You Can Use! >http://www.freedomloversinternational.com > >Phone: 713-272-9941 > >Here you will find updated news items that effect your activities >as a citizen. > >Freedom-Lovers International needs your help! >You can sign up for our FreedomNewsAlerts and become a "Freedom-Lover" >by sending a blank email to FreedomNewsAlert-subscribe@egroups.com >If you wish to join the FLI discussion list, you can do so by sending a >blank email to >freedom-loversinternational-subscribe@egroups.com > > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ >BeMANY, where eGroups members SAVE on long distance. >http://click.egroups.com/1/4121/0/_/266979/_/962065904/ >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >To Post a message, send it to: our-constitution@eGroups.com > >To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: >our-constitution-unsubscribe@eGroups.com [------------------------- end of forwarded message ------------------------] - -- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RKBA! ***** Blessings On Thee, Oh Israel! ***** RKBA! - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- An _EFFECTIVE_ | Insured | All matter is vibration. | Let he who hath no weapon in every | by COLT; | -- Max Plank | weapon sell his hand = Freedom | DIAL | In the beginning was the | garment and buy a on every side! | 1911-A1. | word. -- The Bible | sword.--Jesus Christ - ----------------+----------+--------------------------+--------------------- Constitutional Government is dead, LONG LIVE THE CONSTITUTION!!!!! - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - ------------------------------ End of roc-digest V2 #359 *************************