*************************************                mailed 1/9/92
HANDGUN CONTROL
*************************************
*************************************
ONE MILLION STRONG...working to
keep handguns out of the wrong hands.
Dear Handgun Control Member,

     You and I were robbed!  There's no other way to describe what 
happened to the Brady Bill last year.

     Our best chance to enact this sane gun control law was STOLEN 
FROM US IN A DEVIOUS PLOT in which a few irresponsible Senators 
conspired to kowtow to the gun lobby while keeping the public in the 
dark.  Motivated by election year politics -- and the overflowing money 
bags of the National Rifle Association -- they very quietly consigned 
the Brady Bill to legislative limbo.

     BUT ... if they think that's the end of it, they should think 
again!  And some of those Members of Congress had better start worrying 
about their jobs.  Because we have a new plan -- a powerful plan that 
CAN enact the Brady Bill this year!  A plan that CAN pass the assault 
weapon ban. And a plan to kick those NRA puppets out of Congress, if we 
have to!

     It's a "do or die" plan.  Either our elected representatives DO 
WHAT IS NEEDED TO HELP PUT AN END TO AMERICA'S INSANE GUN VIOLENCE -- or 
we will put an end to their political careers!

HOWEVER ... WE CAN'T IMPLEMENT THIS MASSIVE "DO-OR-DIE" PLAN WITHOUT 
YOUR HELP.  AND THAT'S WHY I'M WRITING TODAY TO URGE YOU TO REINVIGORATE 
OUR CAMPAIGN TO SAVE LIVES WITH YOUR MOST GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION TODAY.

     You see, it's a "do-or-die" situation for us. too.  We 
spent literally EVERY DIME WE HAD last year trying to enact the 
Brady Bill, fighting to pass an assault weapon ban, and countering 
the NRA's extremely aggressive atacks against us in the states.  
And thanks to you and the other members of Handgun Control, we were 
able to fight hard, and NOT LOSE ANY GROUND!

     BUT ... without your immediate and most generous help, we are not 
going to make any further progress towards enacting sensible gun laws.  
Because first we've got to TAKE BACK CONTROL OF OUR LAWMAKERS.  And 
we've got to do it quickly! Before more people are killed and maimed by 
handguns and assault weapons in the wrong hands.  Let me explain ...

                   OPERATION SPOTLIGHT II: DO OR DIE

     We've got ONE LAST CHANCE TO FREE THE BRADY BILL from the 
clutches of the NRA faction of the Senate -- either as part of the 
stalled Crime Bill or on its own as an independent bill.  But we've 
got to do it BEFORE CONGRESS ADJOURNS next fall.

     So, we're reactivating and intensifying a very sucessful 
tactic -- focusing the spotlight on legislators who take NRA money 
and consistently vote the NRA line -- but this time with a new and 
more powerful twist.

     Not only are we planning to make the need for the Brady 
Bill and an assault weapon ban election year issues, but with your 
help, we're also going to make congressional inaction on both of 
these life-and-death issues AN ELECTION YEAR CONTROVERSY.

     As you know, politicians hate controversy.  And they 
especially don't like it when the hot spotlight of public scrutiny 
is turned on them.  But that's why such tactics will work.  Because 
the real reason we can't get sane handgun legislation like the 
Brady Bill into law is because certain politicians will go to any 
lengths to stop us.

     Let me tell you about one of them: Senator Phil Gramm, 
Republican from Texas and one of the key Senate leaders who robbed 
us of the Brady Bill's protections.

     Senator Gramm's an extremist when it comes to gun control -
- just like Jesse Helms.  Yet, lot's of people have heard of Jesse 
Helms while few know about Phil Gramm and his leading roll in 
blocking sensible gun laws.  AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO CHANGE.

     We want to publicize the story of Senate leader Phil Gramm, 
a man with serious presidential ambitions who now heads the 
National Republican Senatorial Committee and is charged with 
raising money for GOP Senate candidates.  We want to let every 
American know how Phil Gramm WAS ELECTED TO THE SENATE WITH 
$347,652 OF THE NRA'S MONEY!  That's more money than any other 
Senator got from the NRA.

     As long as Senator Gramm pays the NRA back by blocking our gun 
control measures, we consider that money to be DOLLARS FOR DEATH.  And 
until he comes to his senses and allows the Brady Bill to go through the 
Senate, WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE SPOTLIGHT ON HIM AS THE MOST BLATANT 
EXAMPLE OF WHAT'S WRONG IN CONGRESS -- and why such a vitally important 
measure as the Brady Bill is still not law!

     Phil Gramm is probably the most outrageous example of how 
special interests -- like the NRA -- can control Congress. But 
there are others.

     Let's take the two House Members who argued against our 
assault weapon ban by repeating the NRA's twisted logic that 
banning assault guns -- MILITARY WEAPONS DESIGNED TO KILL MANY 
PEOPLE QUICKLY -- won't help stop the mayhem.

     Rep. Bill Sarpalius (D-13, TX) told of a woman killed by a 
pair of scissors.  "Do we ban scissors?" he asked.  Rep. Bill 
Brewster (D-3, OK) said people die in air crashes and asked, "Do we 
ban airplanes?"

     Do you think it's just a coincidence that Rep. Sarpalius 
received $13,250 from the NRA since his election in 1989? Or that 
Rep. Brewster, in his first term, has already taken $10,950?

     I don't.  I believe these legislators have totally and 
irresponsibly sold out to the NRA.  But too many Americans are 
paying with their lives for those lawmakers' callous disregard for 
our safety.

     Their constitutents should be told that by voting against 
our ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines, 
their representatives are endangering their lives and the lives of 
all Americans.  These House Members are not protecting the rights 
of hunters or the principle of self-defense.  What they're really 
doing is protecting the profits of the assault gun industry by 
knuckling under to the NRA.

     SO ... our plan is designed to translate our anger and 
frustration into a very clear message to all the "Phil Gramms" in 
both Houses of Congress:  Enact the Brady Bill now -- or else!  
Vote to pass the assault weapon ban -- or watch out!

     With your help, here's how we are going to get that message 
across to that small minority in the Senate who helped send the 
Brady Bill into limbo.  And the 38 House members whose votes need 
to be changed in order to pass the assault weapon ban.

     And WITH YOUR HELP we're going to take back control over 
these legislators from the NRA by undertaking these actions:
**  A NATIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN to focus on WHY we still 
don't have sensible gun laws and exactly WHO is responsible. Let's 
put the spotlight on every Member of Congress who persists in 
trading dollars for death!

**  LOCAL EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS to inform constitutents of the
    irresponsible -- and dangerous! -- votes their Members of Congress
    cast against measures intended to save lives.

**  MASS MEDIA OUTREACH EFFORTS in target media markets to encourage
    costitutents to contact their legislators and ask WHY they continue
    to vote against public safety.  To ask IF it's because the NRA gives
    them money.  And to demand that they protect the peoplr who 
elect
    them, not the profits of the gun industry!

**  SHADOW CAMPAIGNS in which local activists follow a candidate 
from
    one rally to another to make sure questions about Brady Bill or
    assault weapon votes and NRA money are always asked in every 
public
    forum.  This effective tactic intensifies the glare of the
    spotlight.

**  More FIELD ORGANIZERS, PHONE BANKS and MATERIALS to distribute.  
We must produce RADIO SPOTS and NEWSPAPER ADS and mail ELECTION YEAR
INFORMATION to voters.

     And that's why we've got to RAISE THE MONEY RIGHT NOW to 
activate our "do-or-die" campaign and keep it running at full steam 
during the coming months.  We've only got to the end of this 
congressional session to enact the Brady Bill and an assault weapon 
ban.  And until we do, more Americans will die.

     That's why I'm asking you to take TWO IMPORTANT STEPS right 
now:

     STEP ONE:  Send the largest contribution you can to HANDGUN
CONTROL, INC. so we can implement our "do-or-die" plans to 
enact the Brady Bill and pass the assault weapon ban.  We need to turn 
up the voltage on the spotlight of public scrutiny, to show every
voter just who in Cogress is PROTECTING THE GUN MANUFACTURER'S
PROFITS AT THE COST OF OUR SAFETY.

     STEP TWO:  Then, if you can, enclose a separate check made 
payable to HCI'S VOTER EDUCATION FUND so we'll be able to fight to 
unseat those Members of Congress who refuse to enact the sensible gun 
laws you and I need.

     Right now, we must begin our new strategy to enact the Brady 
Bill and to pass the assault weapon ban.  So, please, HELP US FIRST WITH 
A CHECK MADE PAYABLE TO HANDGUN CONTROL, INC.

     We intend to hold these politicians accountable on Election Day 
for their Brady Bill and assault weapons votes.  Under law, however, we 
can't fund our electoral activity with contributions made to Handgun 
Control.  So, if you can, please write AN ADDITIONAL CHECK TO THE VOTER 
EDUCATION FUND.

     Again, I thank you for being so responsive to our pleas for your 
help.  This is an incredibly fight to wage.  Yet, when we enact all the 
laws we need to protect ourselves and our families from gun violence, 
you and I will have made the world a better place.  I hope I can count 
on your support again.  Thank you.

                                 Sincerely,

                                 Sarah Brady
                                 Chair


P. S.  With Congress just getting back into action after the 
holidays, it's urgent that we're ready to launch our new strategy 
NOW.  Please rush your contribution to me today! Thanks.


----------------------------
enclosure: Wallet Card

(front):

           1992
   Operation Spotlight

         /-----\
           O O
            ^
           `-'


Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX)

FOE of the Handgun Control
        Movement


(reverse):
           Phil Gramm

Positions: US Senate, 1985-present;
Up for reelection, 1996;Chair,Nat'l
Republican Senatorial Cmte.,1992

Statistics: Campaign contribution from
NRA 1984-present: $349,042

Voting Record: Key NRA leader in
Senate against all gun control measures;
voted against Brady Bill and assault
weapon ban;blocked Brady Bill in 1991.

Mailing address: Interfirst Plaza Bldg.,
102 N.College, Tyler,Texas 75702,
(214) 593-0902
      Handgun Control, Inc.
       1225 Eye Street, NW
     Washington, D.C. 20005
