Tanya K. Metaksa, Executive Director
              NRA Institute for Legislative Action
                  On Police Station Talk-Radio
                          May 31, 1995

     This is Tanya Metaksa, Executive Director of the National Rifle
Association's Institute for Legislative Action, with another update
from the nation's capital.  Over the last several weeks, members of
the national media have tried to create the impression that NRA is
anti-law enforcement.  This disinformation campaign is an ongoing
effort by the media elite -- but nothing could be further from the
truth.

     The NRA's approach to legislative issues is simple -- and it's
time to set the record straight.  If a policy proposal protects the
freedoms of law-abiding citizens, then we're for it.  If it punishes
the actions of law-breaking criminals, then we're for it.  But we
stand firm against proposals that are tough on law-abiding
citizens...and soft on criminals.  It's just that simple.

     It's not just talk -- at the NRA, we've put our money where our
mouth is year after year.  Most people don't know that thousands of
police officers are NRA members...and even fewer know about the
programs and benefits that the NRA has dedicated to our law
enforcement community.

     Here's a rundown...Police training.  Over the years, the NRA has
trained hundreds of thousands of officers nationwide, in a variety of
instructional programs.  And we train thousands more every year.

     Insurance benefits...police families are protected by
NRA-paid-for coverage.  Every law enforcement officer who is a member
of the NRA receives these special insurance benefits...a life policy
benefit of $25,000 for the families of police officers who make the
ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

     Academic scholarships...every year, the NRA sponsors the Jeanne
Bray Memorial Scholarship Awards program to help the children of
police officers get the education they deserve.  And there's more --
safety seminars, competitions, awards, the list goes on.

     Do you remember the controversy over the song Cop Killer in 1992?
Performed by rap star Ice-T, and distributed by Time Warner, this sick
piece of so-called art encouraged our nation's youth to kill police
officers.  Do you remember who stood up and spoke against this
obscenity?

     It was the National Rifle Association...we ran national newspaper
ads to put pressure on Time Warner.  We sent Charlton Heston to the
meeting of Time Warner's Board of Directors...and they sat in silent
shock when he read these lyrics from the song... "Die, die, die, pig,
die...I know your family's grievin' [expletive] 'em."

     We celebrated our victory when Time Warner canceled the
distribution of Cop Killer, and cut their ties with Ice-T.  Cop Killer
was a vicious and baseless attack on all members of our law
enforcement community...and we stood up against it.

     We also listen and act upon the concerns of law enforcement.
Over and over again, rank and file police officers have told us how
disheartening it is to put their lives on the line only to have the
hardened criminals they arrest released back to the streets, sometimes
within a matter of hours.  That is why we've fought so hard to reform
our failed criminal justice system, to help law enforcement keep
violent criminals off the street for good.

     The simple truth is, the NRA does more to assist the law
enforcement community than any of our critics.  But you won't hear
that on the evening news.  No, the media wants you to believe that the
NRA is against law enforcement, simply because we have upheld our
obligation to speak out against the few rogue officers who have abused
the rights of law-abiding citizens.

     Simply put, the NRA believes that law enforcement itself is not
above the law.  Consider the following quote from former NRA leader
Harlon Carter, who also served as Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol for
seven years: "All acts of unlawful violence must be subjected to due
process and appropriately punished...without regard for whether or not
the violator carries a badge."

     From all across America, hundreds of citizens who have been
subjected to acts of unlawful violence have turned to the NRA for
help....because no one else would listen.  These are accounts of
horrifying violence against law-abiding citizens...perpetrated not by
common criminals, but by rogue agents of the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, and Firearms.

     Make no mistake.  The NRA supports the vast majority of law
enforcement officers, who face their dangerous jobs with
professionalism and courage...who uphold their oath to protect and
obey the Constitution.  But we cannot remain silent in the face of
overwhelming evidence that some members of law enforcement have abused
their powers...without any accountability, and without any justice for
the victims.

     That's why the NRA has asked the U.S. Congress to hold hearings
on Waco, the Weaver case, and numerous other similar incidents....a
long trail of tragedies for which no one has taken any responsibility.
Only through this process will we be able to restore accountability to
our justice system, and restore the faith of the American people.

     On behalf of the National Rifle Association's Institute for
Legislative Action, this is Tanya Metaksa, and this concludes our
update from Washington.

     For more information, call our Grassroots toll-free hotline at
1-800-392-8683.
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