Georgia Gun Rights Activism Needed Right Now!

[mikebell308]

KeepAndBearArms.com Georgia Alert

March 24, 2004

Georgia Gun Rights Activism Needed Right Now!

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Forwarded for our friends at Citizens for Safe Government:

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URGENT: State "BATF" Bill Passes Ga. Senate

(Atlanta, Wednesday, March 24) -- A bill to to set up a state-level
"BATF" in the Georgia Department of Revenue has slipped
through the State Senate and is now moving in the Georgia House.

SB528 would give state revenue agents far-reaching new powers
to harrass, threaten, and bully firearms dealers in Georgia.

In the past, you've helped defeat direct attacks on your gun rights
by vigorously voicing your objections, so now anti-gunners are
attacking the underlying firearms trade instead.

First, they tried to bankrupt gun makers with bogus lawsuits.
Now they want to strangle your firearms, ammunition, and
accessories suppliers with red tape.

The bill delegates the authority of the General Assembly to the
State Revenue Commissioner, giving him a blank check to write
new rules and regulations over the firearms business.

Just for starters, an anti-gun Governor could use this to order a
statewide triggerlock mandate, or put gun shows out of business.

SB528 is being pushed by gun rights compromiser Sen. Ross
Tolleson (R-Perry) and anti-gun Sen. Gloria Butler (D-Clarkston).

Mr. Tolleson claims he's for guns but, last year he was one of
the few elected Republicans who sold out your gun rights by
joining the Democrats to vote down the Self-Defense amendment
in the Senate. His partner, Ms. Butler of DeKalb County, is an
avowed anti-gunner.

Mr. Tolleson got his bill through the Senate by telling everybody
all it did was transfer state licensing of firearms dealers from
one department to another. When asked point-blank in Senate
committee if it did anything else, he misled the other senators
by not telling the whole story.

If gun dealers don't bow and scrape before state "BATF" thugs,
SB528 gives agents new powers to put them out of business for
good with hefty fines. The "icing on the cake" is that SB528 will
cheat your firearms dealer out of due process because it
specifically exempts future disciplinary proceedings from the
Administrative Procedure Act which controls state bureaucrats.

SB528 is a shameless, ruthless power grab, and a dangerous
threat to the future of your right to keep and bear arms in Georgia.

After passing the Senate, SB528 is now in the Democrat-controlled
House Special Judiciary Committee. The bill faces a crucial vote
in committee as early as Thu. Mar. 25 but for sure sometime this
week or next. Regardless of when you get this alert, it's vital you
TAKE ACTION to send a message to the politicians that lots
of gun owners are watching them.

Please call the offices of the Republicans on the committee and
ask them to do everything in their power to kill SB528. Even
though the legislative session is getting short, there's still enough
time for SB528 to pass, so you must act immediately.
--
ACTION ITEMS

1. Choose one (1) of the Republican representatives on the
House Special Judiciary Committee, call their office right away
and ask them to do everything in their power to kill the "State BATF"
bill SB528. If these Reps. feel they have enough public support from
around the state, they will almost certainly use extraordinary tactics
against this bad legislation. That's why your call is vital. If you can't
get through by phone, use e-mail, or both. Here are their legislative
office phone numbers:

Rep. Brian Joyce (R-Lookout Mountain)
404-656-0265
[e-mail]

Rep. Bobby Franklin (R-Marietta)
404-656-0152
[e-mail]

Rep Tom Knox (R-Cumming)
404-656-0194
[e-mail]

2. Pick one (1) of the Democrats on the House Special Judiciary
Committee, call their office and tell them you're against SB528.
You may not change their mind, but it's important to let them
know SB528 is a "hot potato" and it will help tie them up. Here
are their legislative office phone numbers:

Rep. Curtis Jenkins (D-Forsyth)
404-656-7857
[e-mail]

Rep. Curt Thompson (D-Norcross)
404-656-0177
[e-mail]

Rep. Randal Mangham (D-Decatur)
404-656-0126
[e-mail]

Rep. Nikki Randall (D-Macon)
404-656-0109
[e-mail]

Rep. Barbara Mobley (D-Decatur)
404-656-5087
[e-mail]

Rep. Joe Heckstall (D-East Point)
404-656-0220

3. Contact Sen. Tolleson's office by phone or fax and let him know
that since he's from a pro-gun district, he should be working for gun
owners, instead of against them like he's been doing. It's important
to rattle his cage and knock him off stride so maybe he will end up
running out of time on SB528 this session. To make double-sure
your message gets through, call or fax his district office too:

Sen. Ross Tolleson
404-463-8056 (phone)
404-463-1386 (fax)
[e-mail]
District Office:
478-746-6262 (phone)
478-987-5243 (fax)

4. This is an emergency. Please let your gun dealer know, and forward
a copy of this e-mail to everybody you know who might own a gun.

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Citizens for Safe Government, Inc.
P.O. Box 813764
Smyrna, GA 30081
[e-mail]



If you experience any difficulties, please contact us for assistance.
[e-mail]

[noonebil]

Thanks for the heads-up on this. I already emailed everyone listed in your post. I also sent the email to Jerry Keen (my state Rep.).
It's very dangerous to give one person such broad & unchecked athority. If passed, this could be a very bad thing for legal gun dealers in Georgia.

[hunt4fun1]

Wow......good to see a pro-active stance instead of someone just bitching about it.

[Shorthair]

I'll take care making some calls tomorrow. I'll also let the guys over at The Georgia Waterfowler know about this too.

Good to see you around here again Mike. Don't be a stranger.

[noonebil]

Here is a copy of the email I wrote:

I am writing to let you know of my opposition of SB
528. I believe the states firearms dealers have
enough 'red tape' to deal with when trying to pursue
their trade.
I specifically oppose the part that gives the state
revenue commissioner the far reaching ability to
"...make and publish reasonable rules and regulations
that the commissioner deems appropriate for the
administration of this chapter..." Although this
seems like a simple way to handle rules & regulations,
giving one person the ability to dictate rules as they
wish is dangerous to the future of firearms sales in
Georgia. Who decides what is reasonable? A radical
state revenue commissioner could either completely end
firearm sales in Georgia by issuing excessive rules &
regulations or could relax the rules & regulations so
as to make gun trade in Georgia favorable to
unscrupulous individuals.
Please consider rejecting SB528.

Currently only Curtis Jenkins has replied. He supports my position.