A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO NRA MEMBERS IN PENNSYLVANIA

[LifeNRA]

A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO NRA MEMBERS IN PENNSYLVANIA

Recent developments in Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate race make it more important than ever for gun owners and sportsmen to help our NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) endorsed candidate, Senator Arlen Specter, win on November 2. With just over two months until Election Day, the time for each of us to help Senator Specter's campaign is now.

Earlier this month, Sarah Brady, the leader of the national gun ban organization formerly known as "Handgun Control Inc.," endorsed Senator Specter's opponent, Congressman Joe Hoeffel, citing Hoeffel's support for gun control and Specter's defense of the Second Amendment in her announcement. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence has also recently rewarded Hoeffel for his many years of consistent support for gun control legislation by contributing thousands of dollars to his campaign. In a speech this week, Hoeffel attacked us, saying he does not deserve his "F" rating from NRA-PVF, but during the very same event, he reiterated his support for reenactment of the Clinton gun ban. And in a fundraising letter Hoeffel has mailed across Pennsylvania, he criticizes American firearms manufacturers for supporting the campaign of a proven defender of the Second Amendment, Senator Arlen Specter.

These recent developments reinforce why it was so important for the NRA-PVF to endorse and support Senator Specter's reelection. The following is a copy of NRA-PVF Chairman Chris W. Cox's endorsement letter to Senator Specter:

_____________________

June 10, 2004

The Honorable Arlen Specter

United States Senate

711 Hart Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510-3802

Dear Senator Specter:

I am pleased to announce that the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund proudly endorses your reelection to the United States Senate. Our endorsement of your candidacy is based on your longtime commitment to protecting our Second Amendment rights, as demonstrated by your “A”-rated voting record in the U.S. Senate.

The NRA appreciates your cosponsorship of “The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act” that protects law-abiding firearms manufacturers and sellers from frivolous lawsuits seeking to hold these companies responsible for the acts of violent criminals. When the U.S. Senate debated this legislation earlier this year, you helped the NRA fight against numerous amendments designed to bring down the bill and deny needed relief to the besieged American gun industry. You stood up for our Second Amendment rights by voting against three “poison pill” killer amendments to the underlying bill: the Feinstein amendment that would have reenacted the misdirected and ineffective Clinton semi-auto gun ban, the McCain-Reed amendment that would have regulated gun shows out of existence, and the Kennedy amendment that would have banned many common types of hunting ammunition, including the ammunition that has been used by generations of Pennsylvania deer hunters.

Reviewing your career in the U.S. Senate, the NRA also appreciates your votes against legislation that would have:

. allowed gun shows to be regulated out of existence (the Lautenberg amendment to the Juvenile Justice bill in 1999),

. imposed a mandatory five-day waiting period on the purchase of handguns (the Schumer version of the “Brady Bill” in 1993), and

. banned certain semi-automatic firearms based on the way they look (the Feinstein “assault weapons ban” in 1993).

The NRA thanks you for playing a key role in the launch of "Project Exile" in Philadelphia. With your strong support, Philadelphia became one of the first cities in the nation to devote state and federal resources toward the increased prosecution of armed, violent criminals who misuse guns. We appreciate the experience you brought to "Project Exile" as the former District Attorney of Philadelphia and are grateful for your commitment to the belief that the increased prosecution of violent criminals - not additional gun control - is the best way to reduce gun violence.

The NRA also appreciates your leadership in authoring the Armed Career Criminals Act that provides severe federal penalties for criminals convicted of illegal possession, sale, or transfer of firearms.

The NRA also thanks you for your leadership as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Government Information in conducting Senate hearings following the Ruby Ridge incident. Your efforts put a spotlight on the proper role of federal law enforcement and the respect that must be given to personal freedoms, including the Second Amendment. As a result of those hearings and the Subcommittee’s 156-page report, the FBI was forced to change its rules of engagement regarding deadly force, and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms - which you labeled “out of control” - was forced to change internal procedures.

As a long-time member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and its likely chairman beginning in January of 2005, we look forward to continuing to work with you to defend the Second Amendment rights and privacy of law-abiding Americans.

Your opponent in the general election, Congressman Joe Hoeffel, has demonstrated through his voting record in the U.S. House of Representatives that he is an avowed enemy of the Second Amendment and of the rights of law-abiding gun owners. During his short time in the House, Congressman Hoeffel has supported: extending and expanding the Clinton semi-auto gun ban, regulating gun shows out of existence, allowing trial lawyers and big city mayors to sue gun manufacturers and sellers into bankruptcy, and maintaining the District of Columbia’s prohibition on law-abiding individuals exercising their Second Amendment rights. Congressman Hoeffel is so anti-gun that he even voted against recognizing the Second Amendment as an individual right.

The NRA Political Victory Fund encourages Pennsylvania gun owners and sportsmen to protect their Second Amendment rights and hunting freedoms by bringing their family and friends with them to the polls on November 2 to vote for your reelection.

Sincerely,

Chris W. Cox

Chairman

NRA Political Victory Fund

_____________________

To learn more about Senator Specter's strong defense of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and about Congressman Hoeffel's lengthy and consistent record of support for gun control, please visit http://www.sportsmenforspecter.com.

With so much at stake in this year’s elections, it is absolutely critical that all Pennsylvania gun owners work together to ensure they continue to be represented by two U.S. senators who are friends of the Second Amendment -- Senators Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum. If you would like to assist Senator Specter’s campaign as well as other pro-freedom candidates this election cycle, please contact your NRA-ILA Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC).

Your EVC is an NRA member like you who has volunteered to take on a leadership role by serving as the liaison between pro-gun candidates and NRA members and gun owners in the Keystone State. EVCs spearhead ILA’s volunteer activities to ensure pro-freedom candidates, like Senator Specter, have sufficient volunteers for campaign-related activities, such as: phone banks, precinct walks, literature drops, voter registration drives, Get Out the Vote & Election Day activities, etc. The key to a successful EVC program, however, is a steady supply of dedicated volunteers who are ready and willing to assist with the numerous activities that must be undertaken to preserve liberty for future generations, AND YOUR EVC NEEDS YOUR HELP!

To begin working with your EVC, please visit: http://www.nraila.org/ActionCenter/GetInvolvedLocally/Default.aspx where you can locate your EVC and obtain their contact information.

As in every election year, two things will win this year’s elections for gun owners: votes and action. No pro-Second Amendment candidate can succeed without both. Be assured, the gun-ban crowd is hoping you do not turnout in support of pro-freedom candidates in Pennsylvania. Even if you can spare only a few hours, your EVC needs to hear from you as soon as possible.

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION POLITICAL VICTORY FUND

[Bruce Schmeck]

Re: A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO NRA MEMBERS IN PENNSYLVANIA

While I may not be a big fan of Arlen Specter (too moderate to suit me), I have voted for him in the past. I would have preferred to have been able to vote for Pat Toomey, but will have to cast my vote for Specter because Huffer (misspelling intentional) is not an alternative.

[Strut10]

Re: A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO NRA MEMBERS IN PENNSYLVANIA

One case where a guy probably should hold his nose and vote for Specter through the stink. On all accounts (other than gun-control) Specter is a waste of space where fresh air could be. He's neither a Republican or a conservative.