Subj: LP RELEASE: Lautenberg Act
Date: Sun, Apr 20, 1997 1:29 PM EDT
From: 73163.3063@CompuServe.COM (William Winter)
-----------------------------------------
NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY
2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100
Washington DC 20037
-----------------------------------------
For release: April 21, 1997
-----------------------------------------
For additional information:
George Getz, Deputy Director of Communications
Phone: (202) 333-0008 Ext. 222
E-Mail: 76214.3676@CompuServe.com
-----------------------------------------
Repeal the Lautenberg Act, demands Libertarian Party
WASHINGTON, DC -- Who's crazy enough to defend wife-beaters with guns?
Libertarians, that's who. But they're not crazy -- they're just
willing to stick up for the Bill of Rights, even in the face of overwhelm
ing public pressure.
"Yes, this is an unpopular position," acknowledged Jo Jorgensen,
the
Libertarian Party's 1996 vice presidential candidate. "But even wife-beat
ers
have Constitutional rights that can't be taken away by politicians."
Jorgensen's comments were prompted by HR-26, a new bill filed by
Rep.
Bob Barr (R-GA), which would repeal the retroactive aspects of the 1996
Lautenberg Act. That legislation made it a crime for anyone ever convicte
d of
domestic violence -- even a misdemeanor -- to own a firearm or a single
bullet. Penalty: A $250,000 fine or 10 years in jail.
"Congressman Barr's bill is a step in the right direction," said
Jorgensen, the only woman to be on all 50 state ballots in 1996. "But wha
t's
really needed is acknowledgement that the Second Amendment is a basic civ
il
right -- not a reward doled out by politicians for good behavior. So, if
no
one else has the guts to demand the total repeal of the Lautenberg Act, w
e
will."
Here's why the Lautenberg Act is a bad law:
* It suggests that civil liberties are conditional on good behavi
or.
"In fact, the Bill of Rights lists inalienable rights, according to the
Founding Fathers," said Jorgensen. "Being convicted of a crime doesn't ma
ke
people lose all future rights to protection against illegal search and se
izure
(the Fourth Amendment); self-incrimination (the Fifth Amendment); or crue
l and
unusual punishment (the Eighth Amendment). And it shouldn't make them los
e
their Second Amendment rights, either."
* It erases the "innocent until proven guilty" concept. "If someo
ne is
guilty of domestic violence, punish them for that crime," urged Jorgensen
"Don't punish them for theoretical future gun crimes they haven't committ
ed."
* It deprives people of the right to self-defense. "This bill wil
l
deprive men and women of a lifetime of self-defense because of one misdem
eanor
conviction," she said. "This could be a death sentence for people in
high-crime areas, for whom firearms are the only protection against viole
nt
thieves and murderers."
* It's a uniform punishment for wildly divergent crimes. "This bi
ll
treats all domestic violence convictions the same -- whether for actual
violence, or verbal threats, or trespassing, or even for spanking your
children," noted Jorgensen. "It's a one-size-fits-all approach to revokin
g the
Second Amendment."
* It opens a Pandora's Box of future gun-grabbing legislation. "W
hat
hot-button issue will politicians use next to whittle away at the Second
Amendment?" asked Jorgensen. "Will they go after misdemeanor hate crimes?
Misdemeanor crimes against the elderly? Misdemeanor traffic violations? T
he
Second Amendment has become the neighborhood weakling of the Bill of Righ
ts.
What shameless excuse will politicians use to beat up on it again?"
* It suggests that another federal law can solve the complicated
and
tragic problem of domestic violence. "This bill diverts attention from so
me
potentially effective legal solutions -- such as local and state laws aga
inst
violent behavior; consistent enforcement of such laws; and appropriate
punishment and victim restitution," said Jorgensen.
"It also ignores the fact that real solutions will only arise out
side
of government -- through a prosperous, free-market system that reduces po
verty
and promotes educational opportunities; through growing social disapprov
al of
domestic violence; and through voluntary organizations that give victims
of
domestic violence the support, self-esteem, and financial help they need
to
escape abusive environments."
Does the party's anti-Lautenberg Act position mean that Libertari
ans
are indifferent to the problem of domestic violence? No, said Jorgensen.
"Libertarians abhor the initiation of force," she said. "If someo
ne
physically harms their spouse, he or she should be liable for criminal
penalties or victim-restitution payments. Or, if individuals covered by t
he
Lautenberg Act are so clearly and immediately dangerous that their libert
y
must be curtailed, then they should be arrested, tried, and imprisoned.
"Short of that, the government has no more right to nullify their
Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms than it does to deprive the
m of
their First Amendment rights to free speech," she said. "Repealing the Bi
ll of
Rights is not a way to show genuine concern about domestic violence."
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R A I N F O R E S T R E L I E F ' S
INTERNATIONAL
T E A K W E E K O F A C T I O N
July 1 - July 7, 1997
Protesting the continuing oppression of the Burmese people and
the destruction of their rainforests by the SLORC.
Burma is the source of the majority of internationally traded teak.
BURMA'S REIGN OF TERROR
"TEAK IS TORTURE"
A military coup in Burma in 1962 began a reign of terror and oppression
that
continues to this day. In 1988, after tens of thousands of Burmese ralli
ed for
democracy, the military junta formed the SLORC (State Law and Order
Restoration
Council) to "keep order", composed of numerous high-level generals, and
then
gunned down thousands of demonstrators. In the following years continued
protests brought about general elections. The democratic party won over
80% of
the Parliamentary seats. However, the military declared the elections nu
ll and
void and refused to yield power. The SLORC generals use forced labor, ra
pe,
torture, forced relocation and intimidation to control the people of Bur
ma.
Until recently, large areas of southern and eastern Burma had remained
relatively free from military rule due to resistance of numerous indigen
ous
ethnic groups such as the Mon, Karen and Karenni. However, with massive
inputs
of new capital, largely from selling natural gas concessions offshore, a
"cleansing" operation has ensued. Much of this capital has come from the
American energy giants, Unocal and Texaco; the French energy giant, Tota
l
and a
Thai company, PTT. The "cleansing" involves burning villages, raping and
torturing villagers, forced labor and forced relocation. Another prize:
the
intact hardwood forests of the south.
Cases of forced labor have been documented by the SLORC in logging opera
tions.
LIQUIDATING FORESTS
Burma is home to the world's last primary teak forests and some of the l
argest
virgin rainforests remaining in mainland Asia -- which are now being
liquidated
to fund the SLORC's rule. Many of these forests are home to rare species
such as
the Asian Rhino, Asian Elephant and others.
The SLORC is now once again increasing hardwood logging. Teak and hardwo
od
harvest increased dramatically in the early 1990, then fell when the bor
ders
with Thailand were closed and is now again on the rise. State-run total
hardwood
extraction in 1991-92 was over one million cubic tons. The SLORC-control
led
Minister for Forestry, Lieutenant General Chit Shwe, recently stated tha
t teak
forests will be logged to increase economic development, calling for ful
l
support of the private sector in the development of "forestry". The SLOR
C is
providing assistance to private companies for expansion and investment,
having
exempted forestry products exports from commercial tax since May, 1996.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy, c
alls
this kind of economic "development" "crony capitalism". The generals and
their
friends get rich, while the Burmese populace starves.
Taking advantage of the tax holiday, Sunwood Industries Plc's holding co
mpany,
the Sunti Forestry group, is building high-tech teak processing factorie
s in
Burma which will provide a steady flow of teak furniture parts for Sun,
Thailand's largest exporter of teak furniture.
Sunti Forestry Group is one of the world's largest exporters of teak
furniture,
mostly to markets in the United States, Europe and Japan.
THE IMPORTER'S ROLE
IN the US, teak is used for indoor and outdoor furniture, interior trim,
boat
trim & decking and small consumer items like spice racks, salad bowls an
d
napkin
holders.
Some of the largest buyers in Europe are the Scandinavian furniture
manufacturers which supply Scandinavian furniture stores in the US and E
urope
such as Scandinavian Design, Happy Viking, Scan Design, Dania, etc. Most
of
these individually operated stores carry similar inventories, buying fro
m the
same suppliers. They claim, of course, that selling teak helps the peopl
e of
"Myanmar" achieve economic "development" and gives them jobs but fail to
mention that the SLORC is using the money from the sale of teak to buy m
ore
weapons to use against the very people the companies say they are benefi
tting.
With the full support of the Burmese democratic government-in-exile, Rai
nforest
Relief has called for an international boycott of teak from Burma. Since
most
of the teak exported from Thailand, Singapore and Taiwan is Burmese in o
rigin,
this includes teak from those countries until they can prove it is not f
rom
Burma.
Rainforest Relief is against the logging, export. import or purchase of
tropical
rainforest woods unless they originate from an operation that has been
certified by an idependent organization accredited by the Forest Steward
ship
Council.
What You Can Do:
We can pressure Burmese teak logging by pressuring consumers in the US,
Europe and Japan to stop buying teak furniture and other teak products f
rom
Burmese teak.
Organize a demonstration at the Scandinavian furniture retailer nearest
you
(you can find them in the phone book under Furniture -- Retail. Look for
"Scandinavian designs" or "teak" in the ads).
Go in and ask them where the wood comes from (they will probably have so
me
propaganda to hand you about sustainable production and plantations).
Write to the heads of these stores asking them to cease selling teak (an
d
mahogany) unless it is independently certified. Let them know you are pl
anning
to demonstrate in July, and give them a reasonable date by which to resp
ond to
your letter. They will either not respond, or they'll tell you to take a
hike
(which you should do anyway, in a forest near you).
Organize rallies in front of these stores between July 1st and 7th. Sign
s can
read: "Leave Burma's Teak Forests Alone", "[Store Name] Out of the
Rainforests",
"Stop Funding Human Rights Abuses in Burma", "When You Buy Teak,
You Pay For Rape and Torture of the Burmese People", "No Teak For Guns",
"This Furniture is Stained With the Blood of Innocent Burmese", etc.
Contact Rainforest Relief for flyer originals and further information.
Get your town to pass a tropical timber resolution barring the use of tr
opical
hardwoods unless they are independently certified (call, write or email
us for
sample ordinances).
Get your school or workplace to pass a resolution to do the same.
Let's leave Burma's forests for the Burmese, the Rhinos and the Elephant
s.
RAINFOREST RELIEF
WHY NOT TO BUY TEAK
When you buy a teak wood product you are funding the destruction of trop
ical
forests and the illegal military regime of Burma. The demand for teak is
fueling
massive deforestation in Burma, having been responsible for the loss of
entire
forests in many other countries. The repressive illegal regime of Burma
is
selling off its teak and other hardwoods to pay for the purchase of arms
to
quell the democracy movement.
TROPICAL FORESTS AT RISK
Teak (Tectona grandis) is native to the tropical forests of Southeast As
ia and
India. Teak logging began in earnest in the area during the British colo
nial
period. British demand for teak ships eliminated most teak in India and
eventually Thailand. Thailand and more recently Cambodia, have had to
institute
bans on the export of unprocessed logs in an attempt to slow deforestati
on
that
has led to massive flooding and drought in those countries. Current teak
production now comes almost entirely from Burma.
Teak logging, like most tropical logging, causes extreme degradation to
the
tropical forest. Since teak trees are sporadically dispersed throughout
the
forest, loggers travel further into the primary forest creating miles of
roads
to haul logs to mills. Logging roads play a fundamental role in allowing
further
deforestation of primary forests in Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand.
In addition, Burmese and Thai loggers use elephants to move logs around,
drugging the animals with large amounts of amphetamines, to which they c
an
become addicted. Many elephants get sick and die because of overwork due
to the pressure to log teak at ever faster rates.
BURMA
In 1988, the Burmese military government gunned down thousands of
pro-democracy demonstrators. Forced to have general elections in 1990, t
he
military declared the elections null and void when the democracy party,
the
NLD, won over 80% of the Parliamentary seats. Since then, the military r
egime
in Burma renaming themselves the State Law and Order Restoration Council
(SLORC) has ruled the country using repression, torture, imprisonment, r
ape
and murder to hod on to power.
Additionally, it's estimated that half of the government's income is fro
m
trafficking in heroin, as Burma is the source for an estimated 60% of th
e
world
trade.
Teak is the second largest legal money-maker for the SORC. In 1992-93, B
urma
extracted nearly one million cubic tons of teak logs with state owned or
contracted operations, up from 700,000 in 1983.
Claims that teak production helps the Burmese people are false, since th
e
democratically elected government has never been allowed to take office,
and
funds generated from teak and heroin sales are not going any further the
n the
pockets of the generals and their rich friends.
THE IMPORTER'S ROLE
China is the largest importer of teak logs from Burma, with Thailand the
second
largest. Much of this teak is processed for re-export as furniture and s
mall
consumer items. The United States and Europe are the final destinations
of
large
amounts of teak, either lumber or finished products. Much of the teak lu
mber
imports are used in construction of yachts and boats, a luxury the Burme
se can
ill afford.
What You Should Do
By buying Burmese teak you are threatening the largest remaining pristin
e
tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peac
e
Prize
laureate, has asked that other nations stop investing in Burma until dem
ocracy
can be restored.
Do not buy (or, if you are an architect or interior designer, do not spe
cify)
teak or other tropical hardwoods unless they are certified as coming fro
m an
ecologically sound operation (less than 1% of production). If you have
questions
about these claims, call Rainforest Relief for verification. We can also
supply
you with information on sources of certified tropical woods.
Boycott stores that sell teak that is not certified. Common outlets incl
ude
"Scandinavian" furniture stores. You probably have one in your area. Cal
l
Rainforest Relief to coordinate demonstrations and other actions at thes
e
stores.
John Peck c/o UW Greens, 731 State St., Madison, WI 53703 #608-262-9036
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before startin
g
to improve the world." - Anne Frank
***********************************************************
From: rc@vom.com (Robert Cherwink)
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 1997 12:26:24 -0400 (EDT)
From: SafanNews@aol.com
Subject: SAFAN NO. 386. Troop Dispositions
STOP ALL FEDERAL ABUSES NOW!!
S.A.F.A.N. Internet Newsletter, No. 386, April 16, 1997
TROOP DISPOSITIONS
by David Rydel (eagleflt@flash.net) and
Ralph (ralph@TeamInfinity.com)
What you are about to read I obtained from David J. Smith who can be reac
hed
at 1420 West Ross, Waxahachie Texas 75165. Would love more details from
anyone who has them and VERIFICATION.
(ralph@TeamInfinity.com)
I basically have paraphrased what I saw on a raw Satellite broadcast
of David's over 6 months ago. The reason I bring it up now is that as
time has passed David's report herein paraphrased by me only seems
to ring more and more true with COSCO border 21, Panama Canal
being controlled by Chinese, Luftwaffe in New Mexico etc. The details
in the paraphrase by me of David's work are quite alarming to say the
least. Please excuse the spelling and grammatical probs, I wish we
all had more time. Toodleloo, ralph@TeamInfinity.com
11/94 Hawaian Islands:
State S.W.A.T. team, against orders, came out to investigate 4
Russian Generals conducting military maneavers involving Russian
secret Speksnaz forces, Nepalese Gurkas all over the 5 Hawaian
Islands.
Speksnaz are highly trained forces who specialize in nuclear power,
electrical power, and communications sabotage, and infiltration.
Speksnaz for several years have been seen coming into US via Alaska,
first one at a time, then 10 at aatime, now, hundreds at a time, to
preassigned jobs here in the US.
JFK in 1961 and 62, signed into law State Department Document 7277,
a three-step plan to completely and generally disarm the United
States, we are now in step 2.
9/2/1992 - George Bush said: "US is prepared to make available our
bases and lands for multinational field exercises. "Formerly defunct
Fort Dix, in New Jersey is turned over for use by the United Nations
and converted into a base for UN "Peace" keeping training. There
are signs on the base pointing to a Prisoner of War Compound.
I have seen video of this. Brand new razor wire on the ground
surrounds many parts of this UN base.
UN Charter - No such thing as "Peace Keeping" forces. They have the
EXCLUSIVE "right" to declare war anywhere in the world. Peace
Keepers or War Mongerers ? If they have all the guns, who can make
war against the beast. (see Rev 13:4). No one can of course.
Fort Dix NJ, is a 50 sq mile base handed over to the United Nations
Organization to train foreign troops there RENT FREE !!
There are 19,000 United Nations Organization Troops in Fort Polk
Louisiana, French and Pakistani, 2 Battalions of Russian soldiers, on war
footing according to an insider of that compound who told his parents,
who also says this same compound has VAST underground facilities
storing equipment and other materiel.
NAPA California Sentinel reports 50,000 National Guard and United
Nations Organization Troops based near Barstow California. Forces
are held on standby in case of rioting in Los Angeles area.
There are 40,000 United Nations Organization Foreign troops based
near Sacramento California. These anti-American foriegn soldiers
are based nearby in El Dorado National Forest.
Southern California, another hot bed of United Nations Organization
military activity, bases more than 40,000 United Nations Organization
Troops in San Diego, another 22,000 combat ready UN troops stationed
just south of Los Angeles.
Thousands of Russian troops are stationed in secret military bases in
Nevada, people have heard of Area 51 and there are other areas. They
are under the auspices of the United Nations Organization, and a
special instruction manual has already been written and passed out
for Russian soldiers in the United States. It teaches them how to do
door-to-door seizures and searches and the correct procedure for
weapons seizure. The manual is written for the Russians.
Can there be any doubt why the TROJAN horse, the United Nations, is
on the soil of America ? It was placed here to takeover, subvert our
sovereignty for world government. The ONLY way they could get troops
and equipment on American soil was through the United Nations Organizatio
n.
Supposedly, by brainwashing the American people to
believe that it was an organization to bring world peace instead of
world tyranny and slavery.
There is a 43,000 man United Nations Organization battle group which
is stationed in the Texas Panhandle by Oklahoma and New Mexico. Anchorag
e
Alaska has 14,000 United Nations Troops dispersed through-
out the area, and more are coming in every week. These Anti-
American soldiers wear black uniforms, they usually drive dark
unmarked military vehicles.
United Nations Organization Gurka troops from Nepal can be found
near Yakima, Washington. These are very ruthless individuals known
to be merciless killers. They are stationed at a U.S. military reservati
on
known as the Yakima Firing Range.
A 20,000 man contingent, once again UN Troops were kept in a state of
alert during the Ruby Ridge siege on the Weaver family in Idaho. The
plan was to have them to join with the US Marshalls if called upon by
their bosses. Why should our US leaders TREASONOUSLY offer to
house and equip a hostile standing United Nations Organization
Standing Army on an American military base ? It's because NO ONE
has called it treason against the people of this country. This opened
the flood gates for tens of thousands of foreign troops to pour into our
country because no one says anything against it.
Russian Naval transport ships have been spotted numerous times in the
Gulf of California. Part of the Russian fleet is anchored with 4 floatin
g
dry docks near Gulfport, Mississippi. Four Russian subs are docked
with normal shipping in Alabama's Mobile Bay. These are equipped
with 22 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles and each of these can hit 10
different targets in the United States.
United States Service personnel are seeing foreign troops on military
bases all over the nation. There are foreign military personnel on our
bases and foreign troop movement and activity is going on in the Gulf
of Mexico coastal region west of Gulfport in Mississippi near the border
of Louisiana, to be exact, United Nations Organization troops wear
Vietnamese-style uniforms, no insignias or emblems. In some areas,
these soldiers ride armed guard on barges going north of the Gulf up
the Pearl River. The Pearl River is a river that one would cross to get
to Alabama or Florida from that area. These barges are loaded with
military equipment vehicles and supplies, their destination is the HUGE
NASA Test Facility which borders the Pearl River. United Nations
Organization mercanaries, all of whom despise Americans such as you
and me, because they are not in general Christian or moral, and have
no conscious or will to stop any orders against the American people
who might be Christian or moral. They are quartered and undergoing
special training at the NASA facility attached to the Pearl River.
Included are Russian, East German, Koreans and other nationalities.
The Spotlight newspaer obtained several years ago irrefutable evidence,
photographs, hundreds of photographs, showing THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of
foreign military vehicles and armour going ALL over the United States,
including vehiles being used by the UN. We even have
film footage we have taken ourselves in Gulfport, Mississippi, and
Beaumont, Texas, showing United Nations Organization vehicles on
trucks being transported in this country.
Our President, Bill Clinton, has signed Executive Orders as well as
other Presidents before him, giving very wide-ranging powers to the
United Nations Organization to command our military forces. This
means the National Security Council has now delegated these powers
to the United Nations Organization. Bill Clinton signed on July 15,
1996, Executive Order 13010. Within the context of this Exective Order
it states VERY CLEARLY that if there is ANY type of emergency whatsover
of terrorism, especially like a blackout of electricity, that DOD has all
the powers of the President.
Well, our nation basiclly has 9 separate power grids like TVA
(Tennessee Valley Authority) that supply all the electrical power in the
U.S. So nine key positions need to be taken out and we will have the
conditions necessary for take over by law. (Who forgot about the
massive powerouts that occurred last year in the West ?)
Hundreds of railroad flat cars bearing Russian military vehicles and
armour and even some United Nations Organization vehicles (painted
white with UN letters) all over America, especially Colorado, Wyoming,
Montana, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Nashville, along Interstate 24,
west of Nashville, we received two calls telling us of HUGE fuselages
with UN letters heading toward a military base. Yes, they are all over.
In Mississippi, hundreds of Russian-built military vehicles obtained from
what was East Germany are, according to officials on the base. (We
attempted to tape the facilities when we were confronted by an official
who explained to us the specifics herein) the vehicles were being refurbi
shed
under the auspices of the United Nations Organization.
Without doubt. This MASSIVE depot in Gulfport, Mississippi, behind
barbed wire, anybody can go there can see it from Highway 49, 6-8
miles north of Interstate 10.
Twenty miles of newly built road lead directly from this MASSIVE depot
directly into NASA's Stennis Space Center. WHY ? Every American
needs to know why. Why are our representatives silent ? Many of the
vehicles have been spotted (we have pictures) are for chemical and biolog
ical
warfare purposes. Why - when this is banned by treaty ?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ED. NOTE: Troop movements up and down our Interstate and State
Highways with unmarked vehicles and soldiers with no insignia, etc.
ARE NOT - I repeat - necessarily your friendly national guard going
for
their two-week training somewhere. Of course, it could be, then it
could NOT be. All troops, foreign and domestic, now move around in
these unmarked vehicles, planes, etc., with the same BLAH uniform
with no insignia. WHY? So you THE PUBLIC will be unaware of their
movements. KEEP your eyes open for ALL TROOP movements. Notify
someone!!! Call your Radio and Newspapers - and report UNMARKED
vehicles moving up YOUR highway!!!! ................Dot Bibee]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"A nation of well informed men who have been taught to know and priz
e
the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in th
e
region
of ignorance that tyranny begins." .........Benjamin Franklin
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SAFAN %Dot Bibee (SafanNews@aol.com) Ph/FAX (423) 577-7011
SAFAN Internet Newsletters are archived on http://feustel.mixi.net
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