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I get the NRA's American Rifleman magazine. The July issue also has
an article about Ashcroft's letter, which does not quote the rather
lengthy footnote. However, it does contain a legible image of BOTH
pages of the letter, including the ENTIRE text of the footnote. This
is hardly the action of an organization bent on distorting Ashcroft's
view on the Second Amendment. Stupid editing on the part of the
America's First Freedom team, perhaps, but not an organization-wide
conspiracy.
Jonathan Wienke
- -----Original Message-----
From: Matthew Gaylor [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2001 12:01 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: General Ashcroft make his move
[Note from Matthew Gaylor: Richard Stevens is author of the recent
book "Dial 911 and Die" published by the Jews for the Preservation of
Firearms Ownership. http://www.jpfo.org ]
Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 16:00:46 -0700 (PDT)
From: Richard Stevens <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Matt -- we must protest when "our side" errs
To: Matthew Gaylor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Dear Colleagues,
The July 2001 Issue of NRA's America's First Freedom
magazine featured a cover picture of John Ashcroft and
highlighted the story of Ashcroft's letter indicating
that "the Constitution protects the private ownership
of firearms for lawful purposes." The magazine (at
pp. 35-37) exults in the reversal of Justice
Department policy on the Second Amendment.
That's great. On page 37, the NRA reprints Ashcroft's
letter -- as though it were *in full* -- but omits the
footnote that exists in Ashcroft's actual letter.
As you know, Ashcroft also said in that footnote in
his letter that the Constitution "does not prohibit
Congress from enacting laws restricting firearms
ownership for compelling state interests, such as
prohibiting firearms ownership by convicted felons."
The NRA omitted a key element of Ashcroft's position
- -- and then published the letter as though it were
complete.
That omission is a terrible distortion -- and
seriously damages NRA's credibility with those of us
who know the whole truth. What else might the NRA
choose to omit, where the omission serves a PR
purpose? Are their reports from the UN correct?
Their reports about lobbying efforts and the positions
taken by NRA-backed candidates?
I wonder who at the NRA thought it was a good idea to
distort the facts, and conceal the somewhat negative
truth, just to advance the appearance of NRA success?
That's the conduct we came to expect from HCI & Co.
... now it has infected the NRA.
Members like me should demand the NRA publish an
accounting of this mistake, fire the person who made
the mistake, apologize and repent from such conduct.
- --Richard Stevens
(my personal views only)
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