TexasCHLforum.com

S 397, the NRA-backed Lawful Commerce in Arms Act may be headed to the U.S. Senate floor as early as Thursday. Undoubtedly, there will be attempts to amend the bill with provisions such as "assault weapon" ban, gun show "loophole," .50 cal. ban, ammo restrictions, etc. It is highly unlikely an assault weapons ban amendment would succeed, but the gun show provision and .50 cal. ban are more dangerous, in my opinion.

We need to start calling and faxing our Senators and tell them to support S397 in its current form and oppose any anti-gun amendments such as those mentioned above. Its okay to send emails, but they are of very little value on the federal level; most simply don’t get read. If you email, please call and/or fax as well.

Remember, Sen. Hutchison voted for an anti-gun amendment to this bill last year, when it had to be killed by its author. I can't recall which one she voted for, but I was shocked. We can't take her vote for granted on amendments, though she will certainly support the bill.

Contact Information:
Sen. Hutchison: http://hutchison.senate.gov/e-mail.htm Scroll to the bottom.
Sen. Cornyn: http://www.cornyn.senate.gov/contact/index_1.html

Regards,
Chas.

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/ne ... 238336.htm

"Posted on Wed, Jul. 27, 2005

Senate leader takes no chance on NRA bill

LAURIE KELLMAN

Associated Press


WASHINGTON - Until lawmakers vote on a top-priority gun rights bill, nothing else happens in the Senate. And that includes Congress' prized monthlong vacation.

That's the way Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has toughened up his style in the final days before the August break was to begin, learning from last year to leave no room for gun control advocates to derail legislation limiting lawsuits against the gun industry.

Frist, R-Tenn., used Senate parliamentary procedures Wednesday to keep Democrats from dooming the measure with an amendment that would offend the National Rifle Association.

Last year, the NRA abruptly withdrew its support from a similar bill after Democrats succeeded in adding a measure that would renew the expiring assault weapons ban. Frist took the bill down.

But emboldened by a four-seat GOP gain in last November's elections, Frist this week cleared the floor of the $491 billion defense bill and replaced it with the gun liability bill sponsored by Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho.

The bill would prohibit lawsuits against firearms manufacturers, dealers and importers for damages resulting from the unlawful use of a firearm or ammunition. It provides for some exceptions.

Frist opened the formal debate Wednesday by presenting his own amendments. The parliamentary impact was to bar any other amendment. One after another, Democratic amendments were submitted and blocked by Craig, who also sits on the NRA's board of directors.

Craig said the maneuver provided time for Republicans to examine the amendments.

"There is no intent to block all amendments," Craig said.

Frist's maneuver put Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in the unusual position of supporting both Craig's bill and his fellow Democrats' right to change it with amendments. Not even during the Senate's debate on judicial filibusters did Frist play such hardball, Reid said.

"It's not in keeping with how he's done business here," Reid said. "I'm surprised.""

-----------------------------------------------------

Things are sounding much better than last year.

Maybe we need to get them to repeal the NFA.

Full auto and silencers for everyone. ATF becomes that AT.