Looking Back at the Poison Pill
Talking Points on Amending S. 253 (H.R. 218) to S. 1805
We said it would happen! Although the Senate on March 2, 2004 made it clear with an overwhelming 91-8 vote that they supported nationwide police right-to-carry, anti-gun bureaucrats put politics-as-usual ahead of officer safety. Against the clear desire of both the President and the House of Representatives, they loaded S. 1805 with so many "poison pill" amendments (extending the Clinton Gun and Magazine Ban, attacking gun shows, etc.) that in the end, S. 1805 had to be withdrawn.

Following is the Talking Point Memo sent out by LEAA prior to the critical March 2nd, 2004 vote:

CALL TO ACTION:

Contact your Senators and urge them to vote YES on Senator Hatch's Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act Amendment to the Gun Lawsuit bill

Urge them to vote YES on final passage of the gun lawsuit bill and the Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act

Urge them to oppose poison pill amendments designed to kill support for this legislation.

 

Background:

Thursday afternoon February 26th, at just past noon, debate began in the U.S. Senate regarding allowing qualified off-duty and retired law enforcement to carry concealed firearms nationwide. S. 253 is the senate companion to H.R. 218, officially called "The Law Enforcement Officer's Safety Act of 2003."

There is a bill before the Senate, S. 1805, the "Lawful Protection of Commerce in Arms Act." This bill deals with limiting civil liability for gun manufacturers. There are a number of possible amendments to this bill, one of which is S. 253, a.k.a. National Concealed Carry for Cops.

Amending S. 253 to the bigger bill, S. 1805, requires a vote of the entire Senate. The vote on whether or not to allow S. 253 to move forward as part of the bigger bill is scheduled for Tuesday, March 2, 2004. If enough Senators vote yes on amending S. 1805 to include National Concealed Carry for Cops (e.g. S. 253) we could see this become law this year.

The bigger bill, S. 1805, has a huge base of support with 75 Senators already on record as supporting its adoption. It has similar strong support in the House of Representatives. The President has joined in support of it as well. Our bills, H.R. 218 and S. 253 also have strong bipartisan support. IF we can just get S. 253 amended onto S. 1805 we will see an up or down vote almost immediately thereafter.

S.253 and its companion, H.R. 218, should be law:

When National Concealed Carry for Cops is passed it will put approximately 1.5 million qualified, trained, trustworthy people on the streets with the tools to protect themselves and our community and to provide homeland security, 24/7 -- all at no cost to the taxpayer.

It's common sense that qualified off duty and retired cops should be allowed to carry concealed firearms nationwide to protect themselves. That is why LEAA co-authored H.R. 218, the Law Enforcement Officer's Safety Act almost ten years ago, long before "Homeland Security" was a buzzword on Capitol Hill. But it won't become law unless you act.... RIGHT NOW!

OPEN LETTER FROM JIM FOTIS TO MEMBERS OF THE U.S. SENATE
February 27, 2004

Dear Senator:

Nearly ten years ago the Law Enforcement Alliance of America (www.leaa.org) working together with Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA), drafted the very first piece of legislation to allow qualified, off-duty and retired law enforcement professionals to carry their firearms concealed, across jurisdictional boundaries. The current version of that bill in the House is H.R. 218. The Senate side companion, S.253, "Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act of 2003," is now before the Senate.

On Tuesday, March 2, 2004, the Senate is scheduled to vote on adding S. 253 to the gun industry lawsuit protection bill, S. 1805. S. 253 is a great bill and deserves to become law; please vote in FAVOR of amending S. 1805 with S. 253, vote against any and all 'poison pill' amendments and then vote for passage.

The support for National Concealed Carry for Cops (as this legislation is commonly called) is bi-partisan and overwhelming. It has a long history of steady support:

  • S. 253 has 67 Senate co-sponsors and was passed last April by the Senate Judiciary Committee in a vote of 18 to 1.
  • The House version, H.R. 218, also has a bi-partisan supermajority of support, currently with 289 co-sponsors.
  • President Bush supports this legislation.
  • In 1999 when this issue was voted on by the entire House of Representatives, 86% of the entire house voted in favor of it (372-53).
  • This is the most popular piece of legislation in the police community. It is supported by nearly 100 organizations representing rank-and-file law enforcement officers, including, among others: the Law Enforcement Alliance of America (LEAA), the National Association of Police Officers (NAPO), the Grand National Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the National Law Enforcement Council and the National Troopers Coalition (NTC).

Opponents of this legislation suggest it would lead to police carrying concealed 'sniper rifles.' Because 67 Senators have already publicly announced their support of the idea of letting off-duty and retired cops carry guns, we hope this baseless fear-mongering proves unsuccessful.

LEAA expects this amendment will be approved by a comfortable margin and we'd like to see your vote in support of amending S. 1805 with the language of S. 253. Next, we need your support to reject any and all 'poison pill' amendments followed by your vote for S. 1805. The brave men and women in law enforcement who put their lives in danger protecting us all deserve no less.

If you would like any additional information about the history of this legislation please feel free to go to http://www.leaa.org/218 or call 703-847-2677.

Sincerely,

James J. Fotis

Executive Director

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