NRA-ILA FAX NETWORK 11250 Waples Mill Road * Fairfax, VA 22030 Vol. 2, No. 32 7/21/95 Phone: 1-800-392-8683 * Fax: 703-267-3918 HOUSE HEARINGS SUGGEST WACO COVER UP Missing Treasury records, reports "filled with falsehoods and distortion of the facts," misleading the Department of Defense to acquire military equipment and training -- that's what's been uncovered in the first three days of Congressional hearings into the 1993 tragedy in Waco, Texas. As Committee co-chairman Rep. Bill Zeliff (R-N.H.) stated, "the truth is being sought and new facts are starting to come out." Those facts include (1) ATF agents testified that they refused an invitation by David Koresh to come and examine his firearms long before the deadly raid, (2) testimony by legal experts showed that the search warrant needed to enter the compound was filled with "inflammatory language ... sloppy ...[with] factual inaccuracies," (3) while ATF's request for military involvement hinged on a methamphetamine drug lab at the Mt. Carmel compound, a deputy sheriff from the area testified that "he had never seen and had no knowledge of any drug lab," (4) an internal ATF document confirmed that pages of ATF's surveillance logs on the Branch Davidian complex were "torn out," and other documents attributed to an ATF agent fired for his role in the Waco raid (and later reinstated) were "destroyed." And in the latest sign of a cover-up, a July 21 Associated Press report stated that Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin called in Rep. Bill Brewster (D-Okla.) and urged him, in Brewster's words, "to not ask any questions that would make the administration look bad." Former NRA Director Brewster spurned the Secretary's advice, saying "I told him I would ask my questions as I saw fit, probably a little more direct than that....we'll let the chips fall where they may." While these facts clearly prove the necessity of these hearings, it's been difficult for co-chairs Zeliff and Rep. Bill McCollum to keep the Committee focused, as the anti-gun crowd led by Reps. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), John Conyers (D-Ill.) are doing their best to derail & discredit the investigation by diverting attention from the true purpose of the hearings to a non-stop NRA bash and blame session -- even going so far as to demand that NRA officials be subpoenaed to testify before the Committee! The hearings continue on Monday, July 23. For more information, call the NRA-ILA FaxLine at (703) 267-3734 and get your printed update in minutes! Or, for a complete transcript of the day's activities, call the Federal News Service at 1-800-969- 3677. Let them know you're an NRA member and you'll get a full day's transcript for just $9.95. ATF UNDER SENATE SCRUTINY: On July 21, the U.S. Senate held hearings on ATF which focused on racism within the organization, namely the "Good Ol' Boys Roundup," an annual lawmen's gathering, plagued with racist incidents, founded by a former ATF agent and attended (by invitation only!) by numerous federal agents. In a hearing which featured top-level executives from the Justice and Treasury Departments, very little was accomplished. FBI Director Louis Freeh, Assistant Treasury Secretary Ron Noble and ATF Director John Magaw, all admonished those who attended the disgraceful event. And although he did not testify at this hearing, a July 20, Washington Times report stated that Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin has ordered his department's inspector general to conduct a "comprehensive and independent" investigation of the "Roundup." He also said he wants investigators to "take all necessary steps so that we can tell the American people this will not happen again." RUBY RIDGE STILL REARING ITS HEAD: On July 20, The Washington Post reported that U.S. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Ut.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) will hold hearings on the government raid in Ruby Ridge. Specter's Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Government Information hearings will start on September 6, and will no doubt focus on the amended rules of engagement drawn up by FBI officials that allowed FBI snipers to shoot any armed adult on sight. Also, renewed allegations of a possible FBI coverup resurfaced when a senior FBI official admitted to destroying documents relevant to FBI's activities in the 1992 siege. No word yet on when Hatch's hearings will begin. We'll keep you posted! NRA'S CREDIT RATING REALITY: On July 18, newspapers nationwide jumped on a report by Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) claiming NRA is in financial dire straits. Truth be told: the D&B report was issued based on erroneous news reports and outdated information (1993). NRA does not routinely furnish financial information to D&B because, unlike other organizations, our business with banks and contractors is not dependent on that agency's rating. Our attorneys may look into the matter with D&B officials and possibly furnish current data to set the record straight. In the meantime, our relations with banks and contractors remains healthy, as one would expect from a 124 year-old organization, with some $49 million in cash and investments, which pays its bills on time. A LOOK AT THE STATES: Oregon: On July 14, Governor John Kitzhaber issued a press release listing 46 bills he is considering vetoing. Two NRA-supported bills were on that list: HB 2784, clarifying & strengthening the state firearms preemption law, and HB 3112, shooting range protection. Today was the last day he could act on any measures which passed this session. At press time, he had not yet announced if he had vetoed either bill. A special session may be held next Friday, July 28, where legislators would have the opportunity to reconsider those bills the governor vetoes. Stay tuned! END =+=+=+=+ This information is provided as a service of the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action, Fairfax, VA. This and other information on the Second Amendment and the NRA is available at any of the following URL's: http://WWW.NRA.Org, gopher://GOPHER.NRA.Org, wais://WAIS.NRA.Org, ftp://FTP.NRA.Org, mailto:LISTPROC@NRA.Org (Send the word help as the body of a message) Information may also be obtained by connecting directly to the NRA-ILA GUN-TALK Bulletin Board System at (703) 934-2121.