From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] NRA-ILA FAX ALERT Vol. 7, No. 45 11/09/00 ELECTIONS ARE OVERù43RD PRESIDENT REMAINS UNKNOWN November 7, Election Day 2000, will go down in history as one of the most interesting elections in history, and certainly one of the most confusing. As we go to press, we still do not know who will be the next President of the United States of America, and all eyes remain focused on the state of Florida. Due to the closeness of the presidential race in Florida, an automatic recount was required. If the recount confirms Texas Governor George W. Bush (R) did, indeed, win Florida, then he should become the 43rd U.S. President on January 20, 2001. But the final outcome may not be known for several days, and perhaps even longer. With that said, you can rest assured that NRA, along with the rest of the nation, will watch Florida very closely. As for the thousands of other races across the country, the picture is more clear. The U.S. Congress changed a little as far as which party controls the majority in each chamber, although those elections, too, have not all been determined. The U.S. Senate very well may be evenly split or tilted to the Republicans by one or two seats. From the pro-gun community's perspective, though, there was not a great deal of change overall, and there is still a slim pro-Second Amendment majority in the Senate. One particular race of interest, though, was in Virginia, where NRA-PVF-endorsed former Governor George Allen (R) defeated Chuck Robb (D), who had been an important ally of anti-gun extremists during his 12 years in the Senate. In the U.S. House, it looks like the Republicans will remain in control by a narrow margin, although there are still a few races that have not been officially called. But the majority is still considered to be pro-gun, as there remains a substantial bloc of pro-gun Democrats. Overall, NRA enjoyed tremendous success in federal races, and if the final numbers hold, more than 85% of the candidates we endorsed won their races. At the state level, the final results may not be known for several days, as NRA was involved in thousands of races. But again the pro-gun movement was successful in at least 85% of the races in which we were involved. Pro-gun governors continue to be the distinct majority, with 33 now in office. In addition, the pro-gun community added three new supporters of our Right to Keep and Bear Arms to Attorneys General offices on November 7. Of significant note, Indiana's incumbent Attorney General, Karen Freeman-Wilson (D), who attacked NRA as a speaker at the Democratic National Convention, was defeated by NRA-PVF-endorsed Steve Carter (R). State legislative chambers across the country did not change dramatically, and the general landscape seems much the same as it was before the elections. Even more telling is the fact that no NRA-PVF-endorsed candidate at the state level lost his race because of his views on firearms. NRA was also involved in a number of ballot measures. In Michigan, voters solidly rejected Proposal 2, a ploy to gut pro-gun statutes, silence the pro-gun majority in the legislature, and prevent Right to Carry reform from passage in the future. In North Dakota and Virginia, voters approved "Right to Hunt and Fish" constitutional amendments by wide margins, and in Oregon, an attempt to ban certain traps was easily defeated. Unfortunately, Colorado's and Oregon's "Gun Show" initiatives passed. Local pro-gun activists simply could not overcome the deceptive advertising campaigns and out-of-state activists who poured in money to promote these attacks on gun shows. While NRA helped financially at the request of our Colorado and Oregon members, financial support for the opposition from outside these states by individuals such as anti-gun extremist Rosie O'Donnell and billionaire Andrew J. McKelvey of Monster.com was simply overwhelming. Other ballot measures that were defeated included Measure 1 in Alaska, which sought to ban wildlife initiatives from the ballot, and Arizona's Proposition 102, which would have required a supermajority (2/3 of the vote) to approve any wildlife initiative. Also, Washington passed Initiative 713, a ban on certain traps. Overall, NRA and its members can take great pride in the effort we put forth to ensure our success on November 7. We didn't win every race, but we did win manyùand these victories simply would not have been possible without the active support of each and every NRA member in our noblest of causes. NRA members in Al Gore's home state of Tennessee should be exceptionally proud, as their votes are likely what delivered Tennessee's 11 Electoral votes to George Bush. NRA President Charlton Heston, NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, and NRA-ILA Executive Director James Jay Baker hosted rallies in Knoxville and Nashville just days prior to November 7, to bolster support for Bush and other pro-freedom candidates. These events were attended by thousands of NRA members. Under the current scenario, had Gore won his home state, the race would already be decided, and Gore would already be named our 43rd President. The entire NRA staff extends a heartfelt "Thank You" to all who went the extra mile on November 7, and in the days, weeks, and months leading up to Election Day 2000. It has often been said the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. Rest assured, whatever battles lay ahead for the Second Amendment, your NRA stands vigilant, ready to fight for our Right to Keep and Bear Arms on any and all fronts. As the next chapter of the Second Amendment's history is written, we hope all 4.2 million NRA members will take heart in knowing that their Herculean efforts on behalf of America's 65 million lawful gun owners is something that will be appreciated by, and will benefit, the next generation of Americans. In recognition of Veterans Day, NRA-ILA will be closed tomorrow, November 10. Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A http://www.topica.com/t/17 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics
