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                  NRA'S BATF AD HITS ITS MARK!

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It seems NRA's ad which ran last week in the Washington Post and

USA Today calling on the President to regain control of the BATF

has registered quite an effect!  In fact on Wednesday, March 8,

USA Today reported that there is some serious discussion within the

Treasury Department about scuttling the agency -- including proposals

to merge the BATF into the Secret Service, U.S. Customs or to split

BATF's functions between those agencies and the FBI.  A memo written

by Robert Switzer, special agent in charge of the BATF's St. Paul,

Minn. office, charges that many of its top field managers are

"thoroughly disgusted with current affairs" at the agency. In addition

to mentioning NRA's ad, which criticized the agency for its disregard

for citizens' civil rights, the article also cited numerous allegations

of racism -- including a lawsuit filed against BATF by a group of black

agents charging widespread discrimination.  And speaking of BATF...

Congressional leaders have now planned to hold hearings beginning in

late March and continuing into May, on topics including:

self-defense, the Second Amendment, armed criminals and the gun ban.

Hearings on federal law enforcement abuses will also be held, as NRA-ILA

continues its effort to highlight arrogant and abusive activities

undertaken by BATF -- and any other federal law enforcement agency that

chooses to violate the civil rights of American firearms owners.



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              DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

                    WASHINGTON, D. C.



UNDER SECRETARY



                                   March 3, 1995



Ms. Tanya K. Metaska

Executive Director

Institute for Legislative Action

National Rifle Association of America

11250 Waples Mill Road

Fairfax, Virginia 22030-7400



Dear Ms. Metaska:



This week, The National Rifle Association, in a full page advertisement in

the Washington Post and USA Today vilified the brave Treasury agents who

serve the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF). The ad profoundly

misrepresented ATF, its agents, and its mission -- even the photo is of paid

models and not ATF agents. ATF agents and all of law enforcement carrying

out crime fighting legislation deserve public gratitude, not public

contempt.



The advertisement alludes darkly to ATF's "threat[s] to civil liberties,"

"contempt for civil rights," and a "tyrannical record of misconduct and

abuse of power." Allow me to provide the truth about ATF's record. Of the

over 10,000 search warrants served by ATF agents in the last decade, not one

has led to any civil court to render any adverse judgements for

constitutional violations. Not one.



While the NRA spends lavishly on ads to fight ATF, ATF agents put their

lives on the line to fight crime and to protect our communities and our

citizens' property from armed criminals. Since 1986, the more than 6,000

armed career criminals and armed drug traffickers ATF brought to justice

have been sentenced to more than 55,000 years in prison. Taking these felons

off our streets has, by some estimates, prevented over 4 million crimes and

saved countless lives and dollars. ATF agents make America safer.



Your true target, of course, is President Clinton's landmark firearms

legislation, including the Brady Law and the Assault Weapons Ban. The great

majority of Americans stand with law enforcement in supporting sensible

firearms laws. The NRA should join them.



The NRA leadership may choose to oppose moderate, reasonable firearms laws.

But it is wrong to single out for abuse the courageous agents who enforce

laws championed by the President and duly enacted by the people's elected

representatives. Rather than casting about for villains, the NRA should join

the American public and a vast majority of your members in recognizing and

praising the men and women who risk their lives to protect public safety.



                         Sincerely,



                         (signed)

                         Ronald K. Noble

                         Under Secretary

                         (Enforcement)

...........................................................................



NRA-ILA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HITS THE AIRWAVES:  As of last Sunday, March 5,

NRA-ILA Executive Director Tanya Metaksa has been featured on a weekly radio

show called "Gun Talk," which airs Sunday afternoons from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., on

the Talk America Radio Network. Hosted by veteran outdoor writer Tom Gresham,

this call-in show will allow Mrs. Metaksa 5 minutes on each week's show

(between 4:00 and 4:15 p.m.) to speak directly to relevant issues facing gun

owners today.  At this time, "Gun Talk" has been picked up by some 25 radio

stations across the country. To find out if a station near you is carrying this

show, please call the Grassroots Division at 1-800-392-8683.

............................................................................



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