Dems Gird Up for Gun Battle
   WASHINGTON--With 2 dozen Democrats vowing to fight the nation's new
assault weapons ban, the White House Thursday underscored President
Clinton's willingness to veto any repeal.
   White House press secretary Mike McCurry, asked about a letter from
26 House Democrats backing GOP efforts to repeal the ban, said Clinton
"understands that there are strong feelings on this issue."
   But McCurry added: "He feels strongly about it too, and made that
very clear" in his State of the Union address.
   Asked if Clinton would veto a repeal, McCurry said: "The president
made that very clear Tuesday night."
   Attorney General Janet Reno, at her weekly news conference, said it
would unwise to repeal the ban.
   "We do not need these weapons that have no recreational purpose, that
are used just as instruments of death and conflict," Reno said.
   "The American people ... are saying we do not need these weapons. I
think Congress, listening to the American people, will understand that
they shouldn't even address the issue."
   In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, Clinton noted that
many new House members are there because their predecessors supported
the gun ban, but made clear he would veto any repeal of the ban.
   "I will not let it be repealed," Clinton said.
   In a letter to House Speaker Newt Gingrich, 26 House Democrats said
they were "resolute in our commitment to repealing this ill-conceived
measure at the first opportunity." The letter said, if the repeal
language was not in a crime bill that emerges from committee, repeal
supporters would offer a floor amendment. "It is our sincere hope that
we will be able to work in full cooperation with the Republican
leadership and party on this most important issue."
   The letter said the 26 Democrats would use "every parliamentary
opportunity and procedure to repeal the ban," according to The New York
Times, which first reported on the letter.
   The group is led by Oklahoma Rep. Bill Brewster, who voted against a
$30 billion anti- crime bill containing the weapons ban. 6ty-3 other
House Democrats voted against the bill, which Clinton signed into law
last September.
   The Republican "Contract With America" includes a provision for the
reconsideration of the crime bill, which bans 19 types of assault
weapons.
   Many Republicans would prefer putting off work on the politically
sensitive issue of repealing the ban until after the first 100 days of
the new Congress.
   The National Rifle Association has been lobbying steadily for repeal
of the ban, and the Times quoted a top Republican aide as saying
Wednesday that "the (House) leadership and the NRA are working out their
differences."





                                          (From AP)


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