-Caveat Lector- So much for all that liberal snivelling over gun control. I love this story! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The run on guns Year 2000 sparks dash for weapons By Julie Foster � 1999 WorldNetDaily.com With the millennium just four days away, gun purchases in the month of December are at an all-time high, according to FBI statistics, showing more than a 20 percent increase over December 1998. Government officials played down the role that fear -- of Y2K, and particularly of Y2K-related domestic terrorism -- has likely played in the record gun purchases. Rather, FBI spokesmen credited the booming economy and the Christmas gift-giving season as probable reasons for the huge jump in nationwide firearm background checks. "We expect a December spike based on Christmas sales," said Daniel Wells, acting operations manager for the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check system, according to an Associated Press report. "It's a bit larger than we expected." Larger indeed. Federal officials conducted 1,045,799 background checks from Dec. 1-26, compared to 871,644 checks during all of December 1998. And Thursday, Dec. 23 broke all records, with the FBI reporting an unprecedented 67,000 background checks in one day. The background-check system, operated by the FBI and state governments since 1993, is required by the federal Brady law and replaces the voluntary checks on handgun buyers that used to be conducted by state and local police and sheriffs. Since the nationwide system began on Nov. 30, 1998, state and federal officials have conducted 9,823,408 checks, said FBI spokesman Kevin Wilkinson. Although handgun-filled stockings may not account for the large spike in background checks, fear of terrorist attacks in the U.S. may. Earlier this month, suspected terrorist Ahmed Ressam was captured trying to smuggle explosives into Washington state. Another suspected terrorist, Lucia Garofalo, who has ties to Algerian Islamic groups, was stopped at the Vermont border. Both suspects have ties to Osama bin Laden, according to the FBI. As a result of these and many other ominous events, the government has issued its sternest public advisories ever with respect to the dangers of terrorist attacks against Americans. The White House has cautioned Americans at home and abroad to use "caution" while celebrating the new millennium, saying that crowds and "suspicious" individuals should be avoided. A Justice Department press conference urged citizens to be extra aware and cautious during the holiday season, reporting to authorities suspicious strangers and unattended packages and bags. Despite all the year end concern, however, John Koskinen, President Clinton's official Y2K advisor, says Americans appear not to be worried about Y2K. "Even now, at this late date, we see no evidence at all of any increased anxiety by the public as a result of Y2K," he said from a special $50 million Y2K command center set up by the White House. Koskinen also noted that Americans have not demonstrated financial concern over the Y2K computer glitch that could affect banking systems nationwide. "We see no indication at all that people are increasing in any noticeable way financial transactions or withdrawal of funds,"' he said. "And we have no indications thus far that anybody is, you know, starting to stock up or load up on gasoline." Despite Koskinen's upbeat assessment, the truth is, for months Americans have been withdrawing money in preparation for anticipated Y2K problems, with repeated polls showing a large percentage of Americans making significant cash withdrawals. Indeed, the Federal Reserve system has stocked national banks with double their normal cash reserves to prevent any bank runs that could result from too many banking customers withdrawing too much money at the same time. Likewise, Australian, Canadian and British banks have increased their cash reserves up to four-fold. So, along with stockpiling -- or as detractors call it, "hoarding" -- cash, Americans also appear now to be purchasing firearms in record numbers. As for gasoline -- when Energy Secretary Bill Richardson and the American Automobile Association, from a downtown Washington D.C. gas station urged Americans not to "hoard" gasoline in anticipation of Y2K-related shortages, Richardson stood in front of a mock gas gauge reading halfway between "Empty" and "Full." "If you have half a tank on New Year's Eve, you're okay," promised the Energy secretary. With the near-impossible task of simultaneously assuring Americans that there would be neither shortages of gasoline nor price increases, yet also urging motorists not to fill their tanks before "the big weekend," a reporter asked Richardson why consumers needed to fill their tanks only halfway if there were no anticipated gas shortages. Richardson answered that only motorists gearing up for a long trip have cause to fill the tanks. Steve Hayes, managing director for AAA, echoed Richardson's advice, urging motorists not to create an artificial problem by "topping off" their tanks unnecessarily. All modern gasoline pumps rely on an electric component that directs the flow of fuel from the main storage tank. If the power goes out next week, the pumps will be unable to serve gas. ================================================= WARNING! Stay OUT of America's cities on 1/1/2,000!! Edward Britton ><+> http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/5285/connector1.html Reality Pump: http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/Reality_Pump2 ================================================= DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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