-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_dougherty/19990811_xnjdo_a_progun_l .shtml">A pro-gun legal offensive </A> http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_dougherty/19990811_xnjdo_a_progun_l.shtml A pro-gun legal offensive Lawsuit would challenge 1934 National Firearms Act ------------------------------------------------------------------------ By Jon E. Dougherty © 1999 WorldNetDaily.com A group opposed to the provisions of the 1934 National Firearms Act is planning a lawsuit to force the federal government to amend or repeal the 65-year-old law. According to the 1934 Group, a provision of federal firearms law known as the CLEO, or Certified Law Enforcement Officer sign-off provision is being challenged as an illegal unfunded federal mandate and tax requirement. The provision requires local law enforcement officials to approve the purchase of fully automatic weapons and, once approved, requires the purchaser to pay a $200 tax on each weapon purchased. That requirement, the group claims, is subject to bias against certain dealers who sell the weapons as well as the individuals who want to buy them. And, a spokesman for the group told WorldNetDaily, it has lent itself to abuse for political reasons. "We're willing to do what most other organizations are unwilling to -- help manufacturers, dealers and consumers of NFA items exclusively," said Kel Whelan, director of the 1934 Group. "Ultimately, we'd love to see the NFA '34 pulled down as the unconstitutional taxation sham it is." Whelan told WorldNetDaily the proposed suit "will not center exclusively on the Second Amendment because if it did, we don't think we'd get very far." Instead, "there are a number of provisions and constitutional amendments, including the Second Amendment, in question here. We just think it's time this law went away." "The nice part about this suit is it will have many plaintiffs, each with their own argument," he said. "Unreasonable search and seizure, Fifth Amendment issues, restraint of trade from a retailer's perspective, restraint of trade from the buyer's, tax privacy issues, 10th Amendment, 14th Amendment, Second Amendment and so on. And the Treasury Department has to win all the arguments, while we only have to win one to succeed." Whelan said the suit should not be misconstrued as an attempt to legalize any weapons that are not currently legal. "It is about helping legal manufacturers, dealers and end-users process paperwork used in paying tax on firearms that have always been legal to purchase," he explained. "If someone doesn't agree that these collectible and rare firearms should be legal, then that is an entirely separate issue that they are welcome to attempt legislation concerning, but no one should agree to endorse harassment through abuse of law and cronyism resulting in chilling civil rights." One of the 1934 Group's attorneys is Stephen Halbrook, "the attorney that argued the 'Brady' (U.S. v. Printz) case and subsequently got that piece of poor law declared void." Another attorney, Jim Jeffries, is joining Halbrook. "I would hope that every CL2 manufacturer and CL3 dealer, regardless of whether their current CLEOs are friendly for now, will understand that this suit translates into more sales," Whelan said. "Every purchaser should understand that their purchases and the ability to leave them to an heir should not involve having their privacy infringed upon by often-prejudiced local law enforcement." Whelan said the CLEO requirements have been politically motivated or otherwise biased for years. He cited abuses documented by the group in Alaska, Houston, and Miami, and said even the BATF has advised dealers "not to sign off on their own requirement on their own forms." "Often dealers find it in their interest to bribe or search out friendly chiefs and sheriffs in order to provide signoffs for their clients," Whelan wrote in a recent press release. "Sometimes it works out the opposite way. In some areas, if you don't buy the item from a store that made a significant contribution to the sheriff's re-election fund, you don't get a signoff." "Is it not obvious that this federal requirement lends itself to local corruption? Is it not obvious that a federal form should not require a local signoff?" he said. Whelan added that many pro-gun supporters have been waiting for an organization to "go on the offensive" for years rather than simply "fight back." "That time is now," he said. "That group is us. It's time." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jon E. Dougherty is a senior writer and columnist for WorldNetDaily, as well as a morning co-host of Daybreak America. **COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] 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. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
