From the Radio Free Michigan archives ftp://141.209.3.26/pub/patriot If you have any other files you'd like to contribute, e-mail them to bj496@Cleveland.Freenet.Edu. ------------------------------------------------ We sent a spy into one of our local Handgun Control Inc. clones, that operates under the guise of Pennsylvanian's Against Handgun Violence (PAHV). He took notes as evidenced below. This is how they operate folks. ==================================================== Undercover Minutes from PAHV (board?) meeting Nov 30, 1994 ==================================================== I went to the "Pennsylvanians Against Handgun Violence" meeting last night, which turned out to be more of a board meeting than an open meeting, at the law offices of (forgot the name - previously posted) at 1731 Spring Garden Street in Philadelphia (across from Phila. Community College.) I got there a little late, appr 18:20, and was politely greeted by the assembled members. Two more arrived after me. I was a bit taken back by the size, thought it'd be a meeting like that at the Germantown Friends... I sat down and took notes. It was very interesting and very informative!!! Presented below is my notes and recollections. I have avoided to enter my views in there. You make up your own mind. It is clear that we need to get to the grass roots and have solutions to things as crime and gun accidents. They speak in churches and such. They deal with issues such as how to be a good public speaker, etc. Worst of all, they are, like was said of Jon Mirovitz, really nice people, except when talking about guns! They say gun nuts are a bunch of backwards retards that will eventually see the light, their light, and little by little will we be converted by reasonable infringements... Being obnoxious and abrasive about Constitutional Rights does not impress these people - and it does not impress those on the fence either. They are about as reasonable as are the Pro-Life or Act-Up groups - this is a LONG TERM agenda and they feel that even PA can be turned around! What long term plan do we have, other than to quote the Founding Fathers and mouth off at gun shows? We need emotional appeals, crying children, bleeding hearts, NOT cold, hard facts - sad, but true! P.S. I had prepared a bit of a speech to blast them, but felt the mole method would be better once I got there. I doubt the info I got would have been available to me if I'd flown my flags. Now they think I'm all for their shit! These people are not assholes! They are firm in their belief that guns are bad and violence will stop only if guns are taken from the people or access is severly restricted. They are rather, wellmeaning but misguided activists hellbent on saving us from ourselves. =========================== Present: Dan Segal (acted as chair person, and active in the Fumo Commission) early 40ish cauc m. working at this law firm. ? early 30sh (tall blonde, forgot her name) Joan mid 30sh cauc f. Chris mid 30sh cauc f. Carol late 30sh cauc f. (doctor of some such thing?) Rachel 50-60sh A-A f. Audrue early 40sh A-A f. Ken 50-60sh cauc m. Agenda 10/30/94: (as handed out) Senate-House Committee Legislation Update (see below) Future Direction of PAHV PAHV 10-point plan (see below) Broschure update (see below) Cultivating speaker skills Events - past and future Oct 26 Anti-Santorum rally video and pix Nov 13 Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church presentation (to push Fumo bill) Dec 2 Lehigh-Pocono Committee of Concern (expect major opposition) Treasurer's report Next Meeting date (the agenda was done backwards) I arrived as the Treasurer's report was wrapped up. Bylaws: discussions on term limits of officers and such, visa vi the Pittsburg/Allegheny chapter and HCI practices. Outreach program: how get more people involved, tied into speaker skills and the broschure. HCI mailed 18,000 cards in support of the "Fumo" bill PAHV mailed 500 letters HCI will not at this time share their mailing list Vinnie DeMarco, now in Maryland, is to become PA HCI rep and may bring with him their mailing list and PA now is seen as a key state by HCI - although the (R) majorities are putting them on the defensive. Phil Gramm is putting HCI on defensive. NRA has a printing office in PA and full time staff. NRA has professional witnesses and people doing nothing but pro-gun stuff while HCI has only the core group as staff. Richard Aborn wins converts while Sarah Brady pisses people off. General: Talked about Eddie Eagle and STAR programs This (gun control) is a long term agenda, 30 years, not 5! AMA is coming out for gun control, even though their main thrust is health care legislation, not gc. HCI trying to work with AMA. "Doctors against guns..." "Fumo bill:" (mostly Dan Segal's words) Dan Segal sat through the 50 hours of testimony of the commission. It is a total rewrite of the PA Uniform Firearms Act - A PHONOMENAL BILL - WHAT WE WANT! No bans and no child provisions, although the parental responsibility provisions get that in the back door. All committee members agreed upon the bill. Fumo defended the 48 hour waing period - has been there 60 years and it stays! Uniform (Phila) CCW provisions were protested by Abraham/Rendell. Then Tom Ridge got elected. Uniform (Phila) CCW provisions discussed again - KCPR/Jon Mirowitz pushed it - PA "T" sportsmen don't care about Phila CCW. Sportsmen can shoot Bambi if they must... Fumo and Heckler got upset at NRA because of discussions on 48h wait. The bill never got to the floor. Phila St. Rep Harry James pushed Fumo to pass this bill. (James is seen as a major ally by PAHV) Tried to attach "Fumo" to wire tap and what else - failed. Heckler upset at NRA - friend of Bill Eastburn (the guy shot by Mari Polaski in Doylestown(?) - major antigun fun raiser! Bill will be re-introduced in Jan/Feb - SUPPORTED BY TOM RIDGE! Mike Fisher to run for Attorney General next time around. * Fumo's #1 issue is now this bill, and he will do ANYTHING to pass it. It's a matter of personal pride. PAHV seen as a moderate gun control group, Gov Casey&Co seen as extremists who wanted to ban everything. * Calls and letters are still effective as they are still on top of this issue. Heckler says 48hours will be removed on the floor, but HCI wants it. Fumo - Heckler - Harold James keep in touch. Criminal and civil liability for selling a gun in an unlawful manner was pushed by Dan - it's good to scare gun retailers into submission. * PA FFL's must comply with local laws, zoning, tax, etc, and must prove they are in compliance. ** (R) wants to pass this too (seen as tough on crime?) Itkin's office scrutinized bill with James' office - ok. PA "T" worked against this bill (these are the hardcore gun nuts we need to convert). Wants politicians to blast NRA and their (R) supporters. * Keep pushing in the press: Jill Porter PDN Steve Lopez PI are friendly (expect Lopez to blast Don B. Kates in future column) Don B. Kates is a kook - saying that the Methodist Church teaches submission to violence instead to self-defense (eyes rolling) and is the founder of HCI type ideologies. NRA wants a lot of this stuff - mostly technical details. Phila CCW stumbling block (eyes rolled) Alan Krug the most boring person alive - but can't stand the new NRA leadership, like Tanya Metaksa, but toes party line. Jon Mirovitz - only moron on committee - noone took him seriously or listened to hime after a while - nice guy but completely nuts when it comes to guns. Committee body language: Fumo sat with gun nuts to start with but ended up with us... change of heart? * What changed Fumo? Evolution against illegal gun xfers - all gc activists do not want to ban all guns - Fumo couldn't face our witnesses - went nuts. Richard Aborn shut them all up. Gun nut witnesses an embarassment. Most of all, the dinner at Lavarando(?) with 4-5 people. David Kopel, Bill Christie?, Dan Segal, Chris Craig, who else? * Chris Craig is for much more gun control than he lets on... * Fumo owns an Uzi for target practice (snickers) Dan and Fumo on close terms...talks every other day... St. Rep. Allyson Schwartz supports the bill - noone can get to her - but Sarah Brady somehow reeled her in. * Community groups gets to politicians. * St. Rep Tilghman gets no pro-gun mail, hint, hint... Personal presentations: I presented myself - as newcomer and parent against handgun, knife, baseball bat and penis violence - and pushed my Educate Our Kids message: "regardless of how you feel about guns, there are 200 million of them out there and the Just Say No approach isn't working..." Blasted visual media for their irresponsible use of guns. They wanted video laws & I warned them about 1st Am. problems I was offered an activist position - if I had the time... End of meeting. PAHV proposed 10 point plan (as written) 1. Adoption of a five day waiting period, with mandatory background check (similar to the "Brady" bill), with expansion of the list of individuals prohibited from purchasing a weapon. [Ed. 3 times DUI in 5 years was mentioned during "Fumo" discussion.] 2. Establishment of a system of statewide licensing of gun dealers, setting minimum standards for the operation of these businesses. 3. Require that the sale of all firearms and ammunition (including provate sales) be made only through a licensed dealer in order for background checks, weapons traces, etc. to be performed. [Ed. Auto licenses etc were used as illustration.] 4. Establishment of a statewide licensing system for handgun and ammunition purchasers. Under this system, prospective handgun purchasers would apply for a license (similar to the system for obtaining a driver's license), be subject to a background check, and would be required to demonstrate a minimum level of competency in the safe handling of a firearm. 5. Enactment of a Child Accident Prevention law, similar to those enacted in 13 other states, as well as prohibition of juveniles under age 18 from possessing firearms (except under certain circumstances such as hunting and target shooting, and when accompanied by an adult). 6. Adoption of a ban on the sale and possession of semi-automatic assault weapons. 7. Adoption of a ban on "Saturday Night Specials," which are inexpensive, poorly made with no sporting purpose. 8. Enactment of a provision making it a crime to alter or to possess a weapon with altered or obliterated identification marks. [Ed. Isn't this already a federal crime?] 9. Establishment of state-funded violence prevention efforts, such as "STAR - Straight Talk About Risks," for use by schools and community groups. [Ed. The STAR program deals with "violence prevention" as opposed to Eddie Eagle's straight talk about guns message.] 10. Permit law enforcement authorities to seize and weapons possessed by an individual who does possess the appropriate license and/or carry permit. [Ed. "and" should possibly be "any" and "does" should possibly be "does not" but who knows with these people?] Broschure to be folded in three: _bold face text_ {calligrapgy} _{Freedom From Fear:}_ What you can do to create _Safer Streets_ _Safer Schools_ _A Safer Pennsylvania_ PAHV ..... _Since our founding..._ PAHV has worked for reasonable gun control laws. To this end, we * Worked for passage of the _Brady Bill_ in 1993 and the gun provisions of the 1994 _Crime Bill_ * Prepresented gun control advocates on the Pennsylvania House-Senate Select Committee to investigate criminal use of assault weapons and other firearms * Backed the _assault weapons bans_ in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and defended against legal challenges of the gun lobby * Promoted candidates who favor common-sense gun laws _Looking towards the future..._ PAHV will continue * Working on the state and federal level to regulate the way guns are manufactured and sold and to _legislate responsible gun ownership._ We support handgun licensing and registration, limits on handgun purchases, higher dealer fees, and closer monitoring of gun sellers. * _Educating the public_ via our newsletter and public discussions about the need for gun control to minimize the effects of violence. In most instances this can be achieved by regulating the use and availability of firearms rather than through outright bans. * Implementing the nation's first comprehensive _gun violence prevention program_, "Straight Talk About Risks," in schools throughout Pennsylvania. * Distributing a newsletter to inform our membership about gun control legislation and the voting records of elected officials. [A graphix box soliciting members, from $20 and up] _{Help us reduce handgun violence}_ _Pennsylvanians Against Handgun Violence_ is a non-profit, grassroots organization working for a safer Pennsylvania. _PAHV_ members believe that sensible laws and education will reduce gun violence. Join us! _Gun Violence Facts:_ * In 1991, _38,317 Americans were killed_ with firearms in homicides, suicides and accidents. (Center for Health Stats, Dept of Defense Almanac) * _1,100,000 violent crimes_ were committed with guns in 1992. (Buereau of Justice Statistics) * In 1991, _1 of every 25 high school students_ carried a gun to school. (Center for Disease Control) * The _direct medical cost of firearms injuries_ in 1992 totalled approximately $3 billion, lost wages approximately $34 billion. (Textbook of Penetrating Trauma, Philadelphia) Do you have a question? If so, please call us at (610) 896-1950 or fax your question to (610) 526-0655 Pennsylvanians Against Handgun Violence P.O. Box 495 Wynnewood, PA 19096-0495 **************************************************** Howard L. Bloom President PC-MAN, Inc A full service Computer Consulting Co. Article Posted without prejudice per U.C.C. 1-207 Join PA-RKBA by sending mail to pa-rkba@netaxs.com. Pennsylvania's only internet maillist dealing with politics of firearms and our unalienable right to keep and bear them. Pennsylvania's Constitution is quite clear about firearms, in Article 1 Section 21: "The right of citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the state shall not be questioned." **************************************************** ------------------------------------------------ (This file was found elsewhere on the Internet and uploaded to the Radio Free Michigan archives by the archive maintainer. All files are ZIP archives for fast download. E-mail bj496@Cleveland.Freenet.Edu)