                       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

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