The
      PROponent

                   Peoples Rights Organization
3953 Indianola Ave   Columbus, OH 43214   (614) 268-0122

Volume 7             August, 1995              Number 8

[headline]
PRO Fired!

PRO OUSTED FROM FOP CONVENTION ...

     As we indicated in the last issue, we were contacted by the
organizers of the Ohio State Fraternal Order of Police Convention
asking if we would like booth space.  As a long-time supporter of
the rank and file police officer, we jumped at the chance.
However, at the last minute the FOP leadership saw fit to oust PRO
and the NRA from the convention.

Fraternal:  Brotherly; pertaining to a brother or brothers;
belonging to a society of men or a confraternity.(A society or body
of men united for some purpose or in some profession.)

Order:  ...a social state of established authority and observance
of the law; a body of persons of the same occupation or pursuits.
of:  Belonging to or over.

Police:  An organized civil force for maintaining order, preventing
and detecting crime, and enforcing the laws

Union:  The act of uniting or the state of being united; a number,
as of persons, societies, states, or nations, joined or associated
together for a common purpose; a labor union.
(The above definitions came from the New Webster's Dictionary,
Deluxe English Language, 1986 Edition.)

     But the leadership of a brotherhood of an organized force for
maintaining law and order, joined together for a common purpose has
struck again.  The State FOP Union denied admission to the NRA and
PRO at their state convention held July 8, 9 and 10.  A call from
the organizers of the union convention, Emerald House, said that
the FOP did not want us at their convention.  No other reason nor
were any names given, as to who did not want these organizations
there.  Emerald House also stated that several other booths were
asked not to attend the convention.
     PRO and the NRA had no recourse because our contract stated
that the organizers could remove any exhibitors from the show at
any time without having to give a reason for such a decision.  Our
contract states that the show organizers are not liable for any
results of such removal. In other words, if the FOP doesn't want
PRO there, then we don't get in.
     This really shows how far the Police leadership has strayed
from the wishes of the rank and file police officer.  For a great
many years the NRA and PRO have shown the strongest support for our
police.  A great many police in this country have received NRA
firearms training.  Relations between the NRA and police have
always been warm and strong.
     But we appear to have a police leadership in this union as
well as in other positions of authority that has sold out to
international interests.  We have the FOP leadership directing
efforts not only to destroy the right to keep and bear arms, but
also to suppress any reasonable discussion of the issues among
their own members.  Obviously the FOP leadership intends to speak
for police officers not by taking a poll to find out what they
think, but rather by standing up and telling them what to think!
     A former member of the Columbus police force, Jeanne Bray, was
also a member of the NRA Board of Directors.  A memorial
scholarship fund was established after her death in 1988.  This
fund provides $1,000 a year, for four years to children of police
officers to attend college.
     It is disappointing that the police union of Bray's home state
saw just cause to deny the NRA and PRO access to their state
convention.  The FOP union also denied access to the local media to
their state convention.
     In view of this censorship, it's little wonder that the FOP
leadership constantly supports the line of the International
Association of Chiefs of Police (IACOP), an organization that
admits members from communist, formerly communist and tin horn
dictator regimes around the world.  So once the FOP starts thinking
along these line, it's no surprise that open discussions of issues
are banned.
FOP SAYS NO, BUT WTTE-28 SAYS YES ...

     WTTE Channel 28, in Columbus, hosted their TV 28 kids Expo on
July 22-23, 1995.  PRO and the NRA were fortunate enough to land a
free booth at the event.  PRO members worked the gun safety booth
with police officers from the city of Columbus.  PRO was extremely
pleased to work with these capable members of the Columbus Police
Department.
     From all accounts, the NRA/PRO Eddie Eagle booth was a huge
success.  Many school-age children taught our booth workers the
Eddie Eagle dance.  Pro also made several valuable contacts with
local community associations and the Lung Association, and is
looking forward to working with them in the future.
     At the TV 28 Kids Expo, over 2,000 copies of the Eddie Eagle
activity book were distributed, along with many copies of the
Division of Police's Eddie Eagle coloring books.
     The Franklin County Fair was held during the week of July 15-
22, 1995.  During the week of the fair, PRO distributed almost
1,500 Eddie Eagle books.  Along with the books at both events
copies of the brochure: "A Parents Guide to Gun Safety" was also
handed out.
     An "Atta Boy" or "Atta Girl" is gratefully awarded to Ron and
Jeremy Herman, John Lydic, Pam and Don Sheets, Dave Stockham and
Sabrina Kelley for working the TV 28 Kids Expo.  Kudos also go to
Scott Metheny, Dan and April McBride, Pat and Bill Johnson, Richard
Hale, Mike Duve, Gary Barnes and Dennis Walker for their hours
spent at the Franklin County Fair.  It was brutally hot.

CANADA BEGINS TO WAKE UP ...

     Once again PRO founding father Bill Wentzel has stuffed our
mailbox with some "good stuff".  This time it is the May 28, 1995
Toronto Star that came back from a hunting trip.  After years and
years of Canadians berating the American enthusiasm for guns.
After years and years of Canadians saying that Americans had a
"wild west" mentality.  After years and years of blind support for
gun control thinking it European and "more civilized" (Ha, that's
a laugh, like the European record for "civilized" behavior is
something anyone would want to copy!).  Finally, Canadians are
beginning to wake up and discover, that it isn't about crime, it's
about freedom!
     In a scene reminiscent of our own massive Statehouse rally
some years ago, the Canadian paper shows a highway filled with
pro-gun demonstrators (estimated by the paper at 6,000) stretching
back as far as the eye can see.  Many carried signs saying "Can
Rock" [Alan Rock is Canada's Justice Minister who is pushing the
proposed gun registration plan] and "Crime control, not more gun
control."
     The best news is that this scene did not take place somewhere
in the pro-gun Western provinces, but rather in Fredericton, New
Brunswick.  New Brunswick is just east of the state of Maine.  But
in this rural province one in three households owns a firearm and
more than 100,000 hunting licenses are sold each year.  The message
that is being sent to Ottawa is that if Prime Minister Cretien and
Alan Rock want to push a harsh gun registration and ban plan as did
Democrats in this country before the last election, then Canadian
gun owners intend to see that they pay the same price that many
anti-gun politicians did here.
     One of the things I find interesting about this article is
editorial approach.  I have had to listen to a number of Canadians
on the Internet going on and on about how biased and distorted the
American media is.  Well, we all know that is true!  But then they
turn around and tell us what a joy it is to read the free,
unbiased, tell it like it is, Canadian papers.  There are a couple
of reasons that this is wrong.  One is in scanning the Toronto
Star, you find that the thing is filled with biased stuff just
pulled off the AP wire.  In that they are no different than our own
Columbus Dispatch.  And the other proof is right here with my
ruler.
     The Star article called "Thousands draw a bead on gun laws"
features two color photos.  One measuring a little over 3.5 by 4
inches shows the thousands of pro-gun demonstrators filling the
highway.  The other much larger one measuring 5.5 by 7 inches,
shows a "scuffle" between a pro-gunner (lying on his back in the
street) and gun law supporter who is on top of him.  The
psychological message here is clear:  Government supporters of gun
registration have Canadian gun owners on their backs!"  Fair
coverage, no way!
     The thing I find so encouraging about these protests is that
Canadian gun owners seem to finally be realizing that the
government plan to register ALL guns by the year 2002 is not about
crime or violence.  Monte Shaw of Hartland New Brunswick who has
been a hunter for 50 years said, "Our government isn't telling us
what the real reason is [for registering guns] and we definitely
won't find out as long as we have our guns."  Said Fred Carroll of
Fredericton, "The day that someone comes into my house with
jackboots on, telling me what I'm going to do, democracy is dead."
     We don't know if the kind of boots worn by mounties can be
called "jackboots" but PRO has already reprinted a story by a
Canadian gun owner who not only had his guns taken, but where the
police actually took more than the law allowed.
     The July 7, Gun week also notes the sudden pro-gun organizing
going on in Canada.  Even the Prime Minister's own party is showing
signs of resistance to the proposed gun law.  Gosh where have we
seen that before?  Perhaps some of these members of parliament
don't feel up to signing on as co-martyrs with Rock and Cr tien
when they finally feel the heat of political revenge.
     But, unfortunately enough of them did feel like signing on for
one of the most strict gun control laws in all the western nations
to pass Canada's lower house.  Passage is virtually assured in the
upper house.  So while New South Wales in Australia is giving up on
their Draconian gun registration scheme and replacing it with
something similar to what Canada has now, Canadian politicians are
going for broke.  In the same manner that economic income to the
City of Columbus was of no concern compared to the importance of
disarming the public, Canadian politicians are little concerned
about the economic loss of a threatened boycott by American
sportsmen should Canadian gun registration become law.
     PRO would like to give the Canadian pro-gunners a little
benefit from our experience.  When you start out it seems like you
have an impossible battle ahead of you, but don't give up.  Never
give up!  Keep putting one foot in front of the other and soon you
find that your efforts really can make things happen.  In politics,
you never win every fight nor get all you want, but that is also
true for the other side.  And so long as you keep fighting, it will
stay true.  And PRO is here to assure you that if you keep fighting
and never give up, you very definitely CAN make them pay.  We have
done that and we are continuing to do that.  You can too.

HUNTING IN CANADA WILL REGISTER YOUR GUN HERE !

     A recent report out of Canada on their massive new gun
registration system indicates that to smooth the bad feelings the
law has generated in the countryside, the Canadian government is
going to keep each gun owner's name and address separate from the
registered gun listings.  Obviously the Canadian politicians are
once again following the lead of American politicians and are
trying to operate under the assumption that Canadian citizens are
all a bunch of "two-four" sucking hosers who can't figure out that
some sort of ID number will link the guns and owners making this
so-called "protection" all but worthless.
     But wait, it gets still better.  When Pro's Bill Wentzel or
any other American takes a hunting trip to Canada, you must
register your guns at the border to enter.  That information is
going to be typed into the Canadian police information computer
known as the CPIC.  So what?  This is what: US Police Agencies are
tied into CPIC and are able to get any information they want!  So
while you are on your way to enjoy hunting in the north, the
registration data on you and your guns is heading south to
Washington where it can be added to your doubtless already growing
file.
     A sportsman's boycott of Canada is not just about political
revenge, it's also about YOUR freedom!

"BIG" JIM CRIMINAL ...

     Let's review a little local history.  Remember back in 1992
when "Big" Jim Karnes was running for Franklin County Sheriff
against incumbent Earl Smith?  The bottom line back then was the
PRO candidate survey ended up giving Smith an A rating and Karnes
a B rating.  Smith was very pro-gun and never would join in
anti-gun dog and pony shows but left something to be desired in the
pro-rights department.  Karnes on the other hand was supposedly
more pro-rights but much less pro-gun.  He told PRO he filled out
our questionnaire as honestly as he could, but he wasn't going to
lie about his feelings just to get an A rating.  We believed him.
He also told the PRO membership at a "meet the candidates" night
that he was not about to deny anybody their rights as guaranteed
under law.  But we were not surprised about Sheriff Karnes'
newspaper articles and opposition to the proposed concealed carry
law since he told the PRO membership he was against it before he
was elected.
     Of course after the election, the first change we noted is
that unlike Smith who would never cooperate in using the Sheriff's
department to show police "support" for the current anti-gun
schemes, and unlike Columbus Chief Jackson who would only
grudgingly participate when ordered by his bosses, Karnes seemed as
eager as Dewey Stokes to lick the boots of anti-gun party bosses.
     PRO noticed this, but being politically practical we tried to
simply ignore it as "politics as usual".  So if Karnes shows up at
an event with Dewey Stokes and HCI board member Lee Fisher and
Attorney General Reno, well we might not like it, but it's how the
Sheriff's department treats gun owners that is the real issue.
     But now in the May 24 issue of the Columbus Dispatch both
Sheriff Karnes and Grove City Police Chief Jim McKean crowed that
they do not grant permission for citizens to own fully automatic
machine guns no matter what a background check shows.  Karnes said,
"I don't sign 'em; I don't want you to have them."  McKean also
said, "I have never approved one," of the one or two requests for
full auto tax stamps he gets each year.
     McKean, as you will recall was behind a push in Grove City to
ban semi-autos until a giant turnout by Grove City gun owners
scared the mayor and PRO helped defuse the issue with a simple
zoning change.  Obviously he is still anti-gun.
     On the other hand. Dublin Chief, Ron Farrel, although he has
had no requests, indicated he would not turn one down without
cause.  He approved them in Lebanon where he used to be chief and
said, "There are some genuine collectors who want them for very
sincere reasons."  "I never remember that causing any kind of
problem."
     At least Chief Jackson was smart enough not to make any
statements on the issue.  The reason I say "smart enough" is that
gun rights are civil rights.  Your right to keep and bear arms is
affirmed right in the Bill of Rights.  And just in case Jim Karnes
and Chief McKean don't get it, PRO is here to remind them that for
government officials to deny citizens civil rights is a serious
crime.
     Remember Rodney King?  No, those cops didn't get put in the
slammer for working over Mr. King with batons.  The jury said he
had it coming.  They are in the joint for the very same crime that
two of our chief law enforcement officers have just publicly
admitted to having committed and have indicated they intend to
continue to commit: Denying a Citizen his civil Rights!
     PRO says that sucking up to party leadership by appearing in
anti-gun shows is one thing, but for chief law enforcement officers
to admit to committing crimes in office is quite another,
especially when they indicate that they intend to keep committing
the same criminal acts.  It's one thing to deny full auto ownership
for cause, say something in one's background like a history of
domestic violence or criminal activity, but saying I'm going to
deny you your rights, simply because I feel like it is quite
another.  This is something that "Big" Jim Karnes swore to PRO
members he would never do and yet now that he is sheriff, he not
only does it, but boasts about it in the newspapers.
     PRO is not amused.  If any of our members have been denied a
full auto tax stamp without cause by Sheriff Karnes, Chief McLean
or any other local chief law enforcement officer, PRO would like to
hear about it.  Please Call the PRO hotline at (614) 268-0122 with
your story.
____________________________________________________________

"Some Americans have been denied their faith"

William Jefferson Clinton, July 12, 1995.  [Was he talking about
prayer in schools or Waco?]
____________________________________________________________

OPEN CARRY OF A MUNITION...

     What with the Ohio concealed carry of a firearm bill chugging
along in the Statehouse, all the anti-gun people have been
screaming that an open carry bill would be much better.  Of, course
Ohio already has open carry except that the very people who are
suggesting it are the same folks who start running around like
chickens with their heads cut off if they see anyone with a gun.
The net result is that anyone carrying a gun openly gets charged
with inciting a riot or disturbing the anti-gun peace.
     So how about doing something a little more along the lines of
what gun-grabbers can appreciate like open carry of a munition or
international arms trafficking.  And it's easy.  All you need to do
is buy a T-shirt and wear it!
     It works like this: According to part 121.1, category XIII (b)
of the Defense Trade Regulations, speech scramblers, privacy
devices, cryptography devices and software (encoding and decoding)
are munitions. And if you disclose the workings of such devices to
a "foreign person" (which includes all foreign corporations,
organizations and governments as well as non-citizens) you are
guilty of arms trafficking the same as if you were selling F-16s or
TOW missiles in the Middle East.
     You may be aware that there is a privacy program for
encrypting your messages sent by computer that is very popular in
the Internet and is being used by various militia groups.  It is
called PGP for "pretty good privacy".  It protects your data with
a method known as RSA which is very difficult to break even if you
are the government and have unlimited funds to buy computers.  The
RSA algorithm is not secret.  It has been published all over the
world.  But when did being reasonable ever enter into a
bureaucrat's mind when there was a political agenda to advance.
     The net result is that the US government has been harassing
and threatening legal actions against the PGP author, Phil
Zimmermann claiming that he illegally exported a munition since
someone (NOT him) put his program on the Internet which is world
wide.  They are generating intense pressure to censor the INTERNET
and especially to curtail the use of PGP to make messages hard to
read.
     In the past software export was denied if it was placed on the
"munitions" list, but now the bill S-974 just introduced proposes
to make it illegal to "distribute computer software that encodes or
encrypts electronic or digital communications to computer networks
that the person distributing knows, or reasonably should know, is
accessible to foreign nationals and foreign governments, regardless
of whether such software has been designated nonexportable."The
bill also brings the crime under the RICO laws to insure that if
you export ANY "encoding" software or even have more than two
"unlicensed" software programs on your machine, it's kiss your
house, money, car, you-name-it goodbye.  If there was any doubt in
your mind what this is all about, it will be gone once I tell you
that the bill includes the "affirmative defense" where if you send
the government copies of all your codes and keys, you get to keep
your house and car and don't go to jail.
     It's only fair. If people are going to engage in anti-soviet
... excuse me, I meant anti-government acts, then if they own
anything, the government ought to be able to steal it.  No?  Well,
some of us don't think so.  Some of us think it's time to rein-in
a government more and more out of control.
     We all need to write our Senators to oppose S-974 and even
better, we can also show we are pro-gun and pro-privacy by
strapping on a munition.  You can now buy a Munition T-Shirt which
has the RSA encryption algorithm including the same code as a
barcode printed on the front.  The government is claiming that if
any non-US/Canadian citizen sees your T-Shirt, you are an arms
trafficker.  Never mind that the information is in no way secret.
T-shirts are black 100% cotton Beefy-T with white printing.
     You can order your T-shirt from:

     West El Paso Information Network (Tshirt)
     6112 N. Mesa #218
     El Paso, Texas 79912

Prices are $15.95 for Large and X-Large, $17.95 for 2x-Large, and
$19.95 for 3x-Large.  Full Price!  No tax, shipping, handling or
any other extra profits added on.
     25% of the proceeds go to Phil Zimmermann for his legal
defense against the government harassment.  The above address is
for US/Canadian citizens only.  Other citizens of the "free world"
(except for France) need to order from a location in the UK.
     Be the first on your block to tell Big Brother government to
take a hike by wearing a munition on your chest.


[Three full page advertisements for PRO Gun Show, LEAA meeting, and
the Gun Rights Policy Conference]


SARAH BRADY, STILL...

     On July 16, 1995, Sarah Brady, Chair of the Center to Prevent
Handgun Violence, ran an almost full-page ad in the Columbus
Dispatch.  It appeared on the back of the sports section, which was
an interesting place for the paper to place it.  In it, she
repeated her tired arguments against the Second Amendment and the
personal ownership of firearms.
     She also had two boxes on the bottom of her ad.  One was to
join the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence, and the other was to
be used to send in for FREE information.  Hopefully, you sent in
for the free information.  With the cost of the ad, about $7,000,
plus the several dollars cost to process your request for free
information, maybe we can keep them from running more ads in other
papers.
     With the controversy over the Concealed Carry Bill, SB 68, and
Columbus City Council passing a resolution to prevent passage of
the bill, it was an opportune time for them to place their ad.
Here is the address, so you can send in for your free information:

Center to Prevent Handgun Violence
1224 Eye Street, NW, Room 1100
Washington DC 20005

     The following letter was written by PRO and sent to the
Outdoors editor of the Columbus Dispatch, Tom Porch.  The court
cases mentioned were taken from an article written by Fielding
Lewis Graves called "The Supreme Court and Your Right to Arms."  It
was published in the July, 1995 issue of Women & Guns.  Our letter,
however, was never published by the Dispatch.

Dear Mr. Porch:

     It was an eye-opening day for me on Friday, June 16th., when
I turned to the back page of the sports section and saw Sarah
Brady's 7/8's page advertisement.
     Several things struck me as odd right off.  The first thing
was that Brady is now chair of the Center to Prevent Handgun
Violence.  She is still chair of Handgun Control, Incorporated.
Both organizations are anti-gun.  The Center to prevent Handgun
Violence is a non-profit organization, while Handgun Control,
Incorporated is the political action arm of the anti-gun movement.
This is similar to the National Rifle Association and the National
Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action.  The NRA is
non-profit, while the NRA/ILA is the political action arm of the
pro-gun movement.  Both halves of each side work toward common
goals.
     In the middle column of her advertisement, Brady states that
the United States Supreme Court has never ruled on the issue of the
Second Amendment.  This is mostly fiction.  While there has never
been a case directly involving the Second Amendment brought before
the Supreme Court, there have been many where the Justices have
found it necessary to comment upon the validity of the Second
Amendment.
     In Dred Scott vs. Sandford(1856), the Court said that
citizenship endows citizens with certain inherent rights, "Which
the courts would be bound to maintain and enforce," including the
"right to keep and carry arms wherever they went."
     In U.S. vs. Cruikshank (1876), the Court said the right to
arms, like our rights of assembly and petition, existed long before
the Constitution, adding, "Neither is it in any manner dependent
upon that instrument for its existence."  Several decades later in
Robertson vs. Baldwin (1897), the Court characterized the right to
arms as a "fundamental right...inherited from our Englishancestors
that has existed from time immemorial."
     In Presser, after noting that "all citizens capable of bearing
arms constitute the reserve militia of the United States," the
Court added flatly that "the states cannot prohibit the people from
keeping and bearing arms so as to...disable the people from
performing their duty to the general government."
     Also indicative of the Court's view, that the Second Amendment
is a collective right, is that it has remarked seven times in this
century that the first eight amendments of the Constitution
guarantee individual, personal rights.  Please note that the Second
Amendment is one of the first eight.
     Brady and others in the anti-Second Amendment movement cite
former Chief Justice Warren Burger's allegation that the claim of
an individual right to arms is a "fraud."  They also forget to
mention that Burger carried a loaded revolver in his hand when
meeting a late caller at his home.  This would seem to show,
conclusively, that Burger personally recognized that it was an
individual right.
     Another case in 1895, Beard vs. United States, said that a
person has the right to possess a firearm for self-defense.  In
Patsone vs. Pennsylvania (1914), the Court suggested that even
resident aliens were entitled to possess arms such as revolvers
that might be needed occasionally for self-defense.  In Brown vs.
United States (1921), The Court said one has the right to meet a
deadly attack with lethal force, adding, "Detached reflection
cannot be demanded in the presence of an uplifted knife."
     In other cases, such as Bivens vs. Six Unknown Agents of the
Federal Bureau of Narcotics(1971) and Carlson vs. Green(1980), the
Court said that a federal official who deprives a citizen of a
right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution may be held personally
liable for damages.  In Hafer vs. Melo(1991), the Court applied the
same personal liability for damages to any state official who,
"acting under color of state law," deprives a citizen of a right
guaranteed by the Federal Constitution.
     It is clear from the remarks of the Supreme Court
over the last 100 years that our ancient right to arms, confirmed
and protected from the government by the Second Amendment, is an
individual, personal right.
Sincerely,

     Dennis Walker,
     Vice-Chairman, PRO

Surf Nazis...

     Days of yesteryear!  Going to the drive-in and watching
Annette and Fabian battle beach thugs so they could sing a pretty
song at a beach party at the end.  The second feature was usually
the "Brain Suckers From Mars!".  On the weekends, the third feature
was "Surf Nazis" or some other nonsense.  It seems that Hollywood
predicted the future rather accurately.
     In California, the battles are heating up over ownership of
ocean waves.  Fist fights, slashed tires and death threats have
become common as local surfers try to protect their surf from
outsiders.  Fights have erupted as a result of surfers stealing
waves from another and cutting a surfer off.  A sixth grade teacher
received a lacerated liver and a broken hip.  Another surfer
required 16 stitches to close his scalp.
     Rep. Brian Bilbray, a San Diego Congressman who has surfed for
years, said "It's wild.  We've had cases where people cut somebody
off and they go and beat the hell out of them on the beach and send
them to the hospital."  Bilbray has suggested undercover operations
to catch troublemakers.  "They're surf Nazis.  It's an in-your-face
attitude.  But the thing you have to do with any bully is get back
in their face."
     The land of milk and honey, Charles Manson, Annette and
Disneyland has thug surfers.  Must be all that liberalism.  What
happened to raising our children with a moral and ethical code of
behavior?  This problem is not just California's, but our nation as
a whole.  People seemed surprised when you say thank you or please.
They give you a weird look.  Many motorists don't wave when one
lets them enter into the flow of traffic, or doesn't block a side
street when waiting for a traffic light.  But failing to do so will
surely bring another gesture that has been popularized by a
baseball player.
     Having a character based on common morals and ethics is not
demeaning, nor will it show that you are weak.  It is an integral
part of your character to show that you can co-exist with your
fellow citizens in a manner that leads to non-violent solutions to
imagined slights or invasion of your surf.

GUN RIGHTS...

     On July 11, 1995, the House Republicans dropped a plan to
continue a program that allows convicted felons to regain their
right to keep and carry firearms.  A federal program has existed
for years that allows felons to petition for a return of their gun
rights.  Democratic lawmakers and gun-control advocates opposed the
proposed GOP legislation.
     The critics said that this program would put firearms back
into the hands of dangerous criminals. and they were quick to claim
victory after the about-face by the Republicans.  Rep. Steny
Hoyer(D-Md) said that "Americans don't believe criminals ought to
have guns back in their hands.  I think this was a victory for
public safety and for the American public."
     Jack Kingston, a Representative from Georgia replied that,
"You can get a felony conviction for many reasons besides violent
crime.  You should have a constitutional right to protect
yourself."
     Tax evasion is a felony that springs to mind.  Willy Nelson,
Wayne Newton and even leaders in the Second Amendment have had
problems with the IRS.  A prominent leader in the fight to Keep and
Bear Arms had his rights to gun ownership restored after an income
tax evasion conviction.
     Any victory for the gun-grabbers is a loss for our side.  This
is a war that will be fought for ages to come.  While no one wants
convicted rapists and murderers to regain their Second Amendment
rights, there is no harm in restoring those same rights to those
convicted of non-violent felonies.

WE BLINKED, II...

     During the first 100 days we blinked when we did not press the
House to immediately hold hearings on overturning the Brady Bill
and on the assault weapon ban.  Our Republicans are once again
blinking in their handling of the hearings on the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and their actions at the Branch
Davidian compound in Waco, Texas.  Instead of acting like the
majority party, they are letting the Democrats foul the hearings
with their rhetoric and anti-gun agendas.
     In the past, when the Democrats were in power, they did not
allow pro-gun testimony during their hearings.  At one hearing they
even had two large state highway patrol troopers sit in front of a
shooting victim that had been confined in a wheelchair.  This was
done so that the cameras would not show her on tv.
     While the Republicans attempt to separate truth from cover-up,
the Democrats trot out testimony to discredit David Koresh and the
Branch Davidians.  They elicit testimony about child abuse, sexual
abuse and Koresh's beliefs about divinity and marriage.
     Koresh's religious beliefs, nor those of his followers, is not
the issue.  The issue is the complete incompetence of the BATF and
the FBI and their utter failure to arrest Koresh without bloodshed.
     In recent testimony, former BATF agents have testified that
Koresh knew that the BATF was going to raid the compound on April
19, 1993.  An agent inside the compound notified his superiors to
this fact.  The raid went ahead as planned.  Four agents died,
along with six Davidians.  Fifty-one days later eighty more
citizens of the United States died without benefit of trial.
     Whether you feel that Koresh was right or wrong in his
religious practices, it is morally right that the House holds
hearings on the actions of the agencies involved in their deaths.
There are many unanswered questions and half-truths that need to be
exposed before the American public will be able to put this tragic
event behind them.

LETTERS...

Dear PRO,

     Most Americans were busy the past couple of weeks planning how
they were going to spend the holidays with family and friends.
July Fourth celebrates the day that our founding fathers put their
lives, family and fortunes on the line to express their
disagreement with the king.  Many have paid with their life to
preserve the nation which has provided the greatest degree of
freedom ever experienced by citizens of any nation.
     While many were planning for the Independence Day holiday, the
Ohio House of Representatives was also busy working to deprive law
abiding citizens of Ohio of another one of their important rights
guaranteed by the Constitution of this great nation.
     Prior to Independence Day, the Ohio House of Representatives
passed H.B. 336(Ohio Brady Bill).  Every legislator which voted for
this bill violated his or her oath of office which they took to
uphold the Constitution of the United States.  They have acted in
direct defiance of the ruling of at least 6 Federal judges which
have ruled the Brady Bill un-constitutional.  These judges have
ordered all agents of the Federal Government to cease the
enforcement of the Brady Bill.
     I want to remind the Ohio House members that the Federal
Constitution still has the Second Amendment in it which states "The
right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
The Ohio Constitution still states "The people have the right to
bear arms for their defense and security."  Article 1 of the Ohio
Constitution again exemplifies the need to protect the
"inalienable" God given right of Ohio's Citizens.
     The same Ohio House which passed the above H.B. 336 which
implements an unfunded federal mandate also passed H.C.R. #7 which
puts the Federal Government on notice that we(The Ohio State
Legislature) will not implement any federal law which is not funded
by the Federal Government.  H.C.R. #7 was very popular among the
voters of Ohio.  Legislators scrambled to support H.C.R. #7 because
of its popularity with the voters.  Now this same body has passed
H.B. 336 which goes against the very principles of H.C.R. #7.
     The Ohio House has drafted and passed this bill(H.B. 336)
which will go against its own unfunded mandates bill. This
bill(H.B. 336) will in fact deprive law abiding citizens of their
right to acquire the means to protect their life and property.  The
most efficient and effective means of protection is the firearm.
Now, when H.B. 336 is passed and implemented, the law abiding
citizen will be at the mercy of some government bureaucrat to
authorize his purchase of protection.
     To add insult to injury, the National Rifle Association has
endorsed (at least at that is the statement of one Ohio legislator)
H.B. 336.  The NRA has compromised in the past on significant gun
control legislation such as the 1968 gun control bill and the Brady
Bill.  I want to state that there are times when forming
legislation there is room for compromise but not on
Constitutionally protected God given rights.  If you compromise on
key principals, it is like a compromise between food and poison.
In such a compromise, poison always wins.  If your legislator or
your organization has compromised on the Second Amendment, you
should call them to task and accept no excuses.  Ask your state
Representative how they voted on H.B. 336.  Also ask them to oppose
the bill when it comes up for a final vote after the Senate acts.
You will get either food or poison.  The choice is up to you, the
voters.

Sincerely,
David Nally
Fresno, Ohio
[Editors:  H.B. 336 is a bill that would create an instant check
system in Ohio.  It would also abolish the Brady Bill waiting
period for the purchase of a handgun within Ohio.  As the bill is
written, it would sunset when the Brady Bill sunsets in the year
2000.  The major advantage of H.B. 336 is that it would allow
citizens to immediately purchase a pistol if they were in fear of
their life, or their loved ones lives or they just wanted to buy a
pistol.  At the last Ohio Constitution Defense Council meeting in
July, OCDC voted to oppose H.B. 336.  On the face, H.B. 336 looks
like a good bill, but Gun Owners of America is opposed to it while
the NRA is supporting the bill.  But even a "good" bill may be
subject to abuse by the authorities.
     Generally speaking, both PRO and OCDC oppose any "instant
check" scheme where the buyer's name, address and other information
(Such as citizen ID number) are typed into a computer or there
exists a reasonable possibility that such information could be
intercepted (say transmission by modem over the phone lines) and
used to compile (either legally or illegally) a list of gun owners
and their firearms.
     PRO would appreciate your input on this important legislation.
Please drop us a post-card saying yes or no to H.B. 336.]


THE ORIGINAL MEANING OF THE PLEDGE...

     In 1951, Red Skelton gave the following discourse on the
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
It was given to him and his grade-school classmates by their
teacher.

I: Me, an individual, a committee of one;

Pledge: Dedicate all of my worldly goods, to give without
self-pity;

Allegiance: My love and my devotion;

To the Flag: Our standard, Old Glory, a symbol of freedom, wherever
she waves there's respect because your loyalty has given her a
dignity that shouts freedom is everyone's job;

of the United: That means that we have all come together;

States of America: Individual communities that have united into
forty-eight great states of America, forty-eight individual
communities with pride and dignity and purpose all divided with
imaginary boundaries yet united to a common purpose and that's love
of country;

and to the Republic: Republic, a state in which sovereign power is
invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern and
government is the people and its from the people to the leaders,
not from the leaders to the people;

For Which It Stands, One nation,: one nation meaning so blessed by
God;

Indivisible: Incapable of being divided;

With Liberty: Which is freedom, the right of power to live one own
life without threats, fear or some sort of retribution;

And Justice: The principal or qualities of dealing fairly with
others;

For All;  For all, which means boys and girls, its as much your
country as its mine.  And now boys and girls, let me hear you
recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE
TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
ONE NATION, INDIVISIBLE,
WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR
ALL.
     Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our
country and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance:
under God.  Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer
and that would be eliminated from schools too?

Red Skelton, 1951.

[The above Pledge of Allegiance by Red Skelton was taken from the
Rush Limbaugh tv program of July 4, 1995.  Thanks to both men. Just
read this over again and try to imagine how anyone who recites this
pledge and believes in it can be bigoted, racist, hate-filled or in
any way anti-government.  If anybody needs their patriotism
questioned, PRO says it is the federal employees who are reciting
"liberty and justice for all" one day and then picking up their
"nigger hunting license" the next at the "good old boys" retreat.]
____________________________________________________________

"The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the
sword because the whole body of the people are armed."

Noah Webster, "An Examination Into The Leading Principles of the
Federal Constitution Proposed by The Late Convention", reprinted in
Paul Ford, ed., "Pamphlets on The Constitution of The United
States" (New York, 1888).
____________________________________________________________

ATF FUNDING NOT CUT ...

     July 21, 1995, Washington, D.C.  By a vote of 317-111, the
House of Representatives defeated an amendment that would limit
funding to the BATF.  Rep. Helen Chenowith(R-ID), author of the
amendment, said her provision would "prevent any member of the ATF
from receiving any bonuses or salary rewards this year until the
Waco and the Ruby Ridge and other investigations have been
concluded."
     In Ohio the following representatives voted for the BATF pay
raises.  They are: Brown, Hall, Hobson, Kaptur, Kasich, Latourette,
Oxley, Portman, Pryce, Regula, Sawyer and Stokes.  Why do we always
see the same hands?
     It seems strange that the champion budget-slasher, John
Kasich, voted in favor of the pay raises.  He also voted against
slashing pay-raises for congress.  Let's cut everybody else's
budget so that we can have terrorist agencies plague citizens and
I need more money to pay for my new security system to protect
myself from the enraged citizens.  Makes sense to me.

SB 68, CCW MOVING ...

     Just in case you haven't heard, the Ohio Senate passed the
Ohio Concealed Carry of a Firearm bill by a vote of 26-6.  It now
goes to the House where it will be re-worked, and then sent back to
the Senate for a concurrence vote.

DAY ONE, OLD LIES ...

     PRO is absolutely outraged and disgusted after watching Dianne
Sawyer once again cynically trying to pull the wool over the eyes
of the American people.  Obviously, she thinks we are all (in the
words of "Rack-Jite" an Internet anti-gun, anti-rights propaganda
posting effort) a bunch of "mud-dumb gunloons".  This time the
subject was Waco.
     Clearly a chit was called on the no-talent Sawyer for payback
on the high level national news post she apparently was given for
just such an occasion.  And she obliged with an ABC July, 13
"Turning Point" story called "The Truth about Waco."  Snort!
Whenever the professional insider propagandists and spin doctors
use the word "truth," you can bet that little is to be found,
whether it be in Time magazine or ABC News.
     So with congressional hearings getting underway clearly it was
time to call for a massive PR and cover-up by some increasingly
worried folks.  And Dianne obliged.  I think that is how she spells
her name, but since here name was not spelled anywhere in the
credits (no doubt accidentally deleted with the rest of the folks
who really wrote the script).  The program was a masterpiece of
innuendo and deception.
     Here's how dumb Dianne, the ATF, and the FBI think you are:
Not only was virtually every story the government line, but they
actually had the gall to tell bald-faced lies while the video
clearly showed that they were doing it!  One example had an ATF
spokesman telling how at the start of the raid they had to endanger
women and children because they were met by a "hail of gunfire" and
that at least "50 people were shooting" at them.
     So while the government man is spinning this yarn, the video
is the famous clip from the Linda Thompson tape where the ATF
agents are all emptying their guns in the direction of the complex
(constantly referred to by Dianne and everyone else in the program
as a (infer military) "compound").  And get this.  With 50 persons
in there subjecting the ATF to a "hail of bullets" not one hit the
ground or the cars or any thing else around the men.  Cynical
Dianne probably figured that those American couch potatoes will
never notice the lie.  And interestingly enough, the cars subjected
to the "hail of Davidian bullets" were conveniently run over by
tanks and the front door subjected to a "hail" of ATF bullets
trying to kill Koresh somehow was just "lost". No mention of that
by Sawyer.
     In another incident the ATF man is describing the trip up the
ladder also of Linda Thompson film fame.  He described the men
being met with "automatic fire".  At the same time the video being
shown clearly shows them being met with semi-auto or for that
matter maybe even revolver fire... who knows?  But it sure wasn't
full auto fire.  Oh I forgot, ... "automatic gunfire" means double
action revolver fire in Fedspeak(tm) these days!
     There were even sound effects apparently added to the video
giving a low rumble at the propane tank explosion and other sounds
of gunfire in scenes shot from miles away.  Shades of exploding
pickup trucks and fake dead fish!
     The whole show went on like this.  They were so desperate they
actually used the same "hand grenade" quote by a Branch Davidian
TWICE in two separate time frames to give the impression to the
mud-dumb that there were several grenades.  And while the show was
billed as a "tough look at new evidence" as usual it was an old
cover-up told once more.  A "tough" question would have been "where
did the grenade come from?"  The answer, of course, might have been
that it was taken from the government agents who were captured.
But Dianne and Co. simply implied that it was part of the illegal
weapons the church was alleged to have.  Softballs only.
     This whole media event, it's blatant falsehoods, it's
cynicism, it's condescending view of the American public, it's
complete lack of any hint of journalistic integrity is enough to
make you barf.  But one thing seems certain about this show, Dianne
Sawyer will now be sure of a nice new contract and a fat raise.
But most of us mud-dumb American citizens are only left to wonder
how she manages to look in the mirror to put on her lipstick.

CON-CON-SPIRACY ...

     Did you know there is a massive conspiracy afoot in this
country?  And did you know the conspiracy is you?
     Phyllis Schlafly recently reported that a front-page story in
the New York Times accused conservatives and patriots who are
questioning some of the suspect things going on in government of
being "a conspiracy of all those who believe in any conspiracy!"
Wow, what a stretch!  All the pro-gun, pro-rights, pro-constitution
people are all supposedly hatching some massive "anti-government"
plot.
     I'm sure it will come as no surprise that what has the statist
noses so far out of joint is the recent failure of the latest
"conference of states" Con-Con scam.   But the Constitutional
Convention gang hasn't given up.  With only 14 states signed on,
they plan to hold a confab in Cincinnati this fall to plan the next
run at the constitution.  And they will be using $200,000 of Ohio
taxpayer money.  Sure, states have a right to meet and talk, but
keep your eyes open.
_________________________________________________________
The PROponent is published by:
Peoples Rights Organization;
3953 Indianola Ave.;  Columbus, OH 43214;
Tel (614) 268-0122
Fax (614) 275-0092
EMAIL: 73427.1615@compuserve.com  or  dcarney@freenet.columbus.oh.us

Back issues of the PROponent are available via the World Wide Web at:

        http://www.portal.com/ chan/orgs/pro/


Michael T. Regan, Chairman;  Dennis Walker, Vice Chairman
Todd Koehler, Secretary;  Ron Herman, Treasurer
Editors:  Dennis Walker and Frank Jacoby
Contributions, either written or financial are gladly accepted.

     Anyone wishing to reprint all or part of an article from the
PROponent may do so.  Please mention the PROponent and the issue
that the article was in, and send a copy of your publication to our
PRO office. (We like to know what your organization is doing too.)
Also, PRO will exchange newsletters with any pro-gun, pro-rights,
pro-hunting, etc. group to further grass-roots communication.  Put
us on your newsletter mailing list and we will put your club on
ours.

     Unlimited electronic distribution of all or part of this text
file is permitted so long PRO is credited.

     PRO general meetings are held the third Tuesday of every month
8:00pm at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, W. Broad St. Columbus,
Ohio.


"That government of the people, by the people, and for the people,
shall not perish from the earth"
_________________________________________________________________





 
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