From: m0102@tnc.UUCP (FRANK NEY)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns
Subject: The Unrepentant Bush
Date: 25 Aug 92 13:34:44 GMT
Reply-To: m0102@tnc.UUCP (FRANK NEY)
Organization: The Next Challenge, Fairfax, Va.


NEAL KNOX REPORT
                      The Unrepentant Bush
                          By NEAL KNOX
     WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 21) -- George Bush, with a well-
crafted, well-delivered speech climaxing the Republican National
Convention last night, guaranteed that the Presidential contest
with Bill Clinton will be a real horse race.
 
     The President admitted his mistake in breaking his "Read my
lips, no new taxes" pledge, and he said many of the right things
to regain the support of various constituent groups --
particularly disenchanted conservatives.
 
     But not one word was said about his reneged promises to gun
owners.  And the Second Amendment platitudes in the GOP platform
are as utterly meaningless as those in the 1988 platform.
 
     In 1988 Mr. Bush campaigned across the south proclaiming "No
more gun control," and specifically made four pledges in a letter
to NRA:  "Federal licensing, gun registration, background checks
or a ban on a firearms ... would only restrict the rights of the
law-abiding ..."  
 
     NRA made millions of reproductions of that letter, used
excerpts in its massive independent expenditure campaign, and
spent almost $1.5 million on his behalf.
     But barely two months after taking office President Bush
broke his pledge by signing an Executive Order banning the
importation of arbitrarily declared "non-sporting firearms."  
 
     On July 8, 1992 his campaign published "The Bush
Administration Record" containing a "Fact Sheet:  President Bush
on Gun Control."  It states: "in consultation with gun
manufacturers and concerned citizen groups, the Bush
Administration has ... proposed legislation to prohibit the
importation, manufacturing, transfer, or sale of high-capacity
gun magazines (over 15 rounds) for use by private citizens...."
 
     The 1989 Administration crime bill they're bragging about,
S. 1225, while prohibiting gun ownership for those convicted of a
misdemeanor fist fight during World War II, and authorizing
police to kick in doors without a warrant if they were seeking a
gun, also demanded that presently owned 16-shot magazines be
registered, at $25 each.
 
     In 1991 Mr. Bush said he was willing to use gun rights as a
bargaining chip; he would willingly sign the Brady waiting period
bill and the DeConcini "assault weapon" ban if they were coupled
with greater limits on criminal appeals and fewer restraints on
police searches and seizures.  (Attorney General Barr reaffirmed
that position only a month ago.)
     In short, Mr. Bush has violated three of his four promises
to gun owners.  And there was not a word of penitence at Houston. 
 
     While Mr. Bush does these things with reluctance, Bill
Clinton enthusiastically supports both prohibiting military-style
guns and passage of the "Brady Bill."  Though Clinton is no ban-
all-guns Michael Dukakis, as President he would almost certainly
appoint the same gun-banners that Dukakis would.
 
     Handgun Control Inc. unquestionably would have great access
and influence in a Clinton Administration -- but they are quite
cozy with the Bush Administration.  
 
     Item:  On June 8, 1992, the "Center to Prevent Handgun
Violence," HCI's tax-deductible foundation, held a fund-raiser
(co-hosted by Ronald Reagan) "In Honor of Jim Brady."  Along with
Sens. Howard Metzenbaum and the usual anti-gun crowd, the "Host
Committee" included Bill Clinton -- plus "conservative"
California Attorney General Dan Lungren, FBI Director William
Webster and Republican National Committee Chairman Richard N.
Bond!
 
     So what should gun owners do on election day?
 
     I don't know.  But I do know that none of us should act like
a battered wife, rushing back to the bed of her abuser.  That
would guarantee more abuse in the future, and would send
absolutely the wrong message to the Congress and legislatures --
which is where our primary efforts this year must lie.
 
     If you decide to support George Bush as the lesser of two
evils, that's your business.  But please don't do it while
showing the flag of a gun rights supporter.
 
     A lot can happen in the next two months -- including the
probable re-emergence of Ross Perot, at least as a protest
candidate.  Perot's gun views still are not known, but he is
working to put himself on the ballot in every state, and may yet
play a major role in determining the next President.  
 
     But it won't be him.
 
     Neither will it be Libertarian Andre Marrou, Populist Col.
"Bo" Gritz, or Taxpayer Howard Phillips -- each of them solidly
pro-gun, and each of them (and Perot) the certain recipients of
votes that went to Bush in 1988.
 
     I suspect the next President will be George Bush.  But he'll
have to do it without my help, for one.
                       --30--
 
Frank Ney N4ZHG  EMT-P  LPVa NRA ILA GOA CCRTKBA 'M-O-U-S-E'
Commandant and Acting President, Northern Virginia Free Militia
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