Tanya Answers Klinton
NRA Attacks Clinton on Gun Ban
   WASHINGTON--The National Rifle Association's chief lobbyist on
Tuesday labeled as "ludicrous and indefensible" President Clinton's
statements in support of continuing a ban on certain types of
assault-style firearms.
   "The ban is masking an abysmal record of this administration in
failing to prosecute federal weapons violations," lobbyist Tanya Metaksa
said at a National Press Club debate.
   But gun-control advocate Sarah Brady countered that "gun laws do
work," and that the ban "will reduce the firepower of criminals and save
lives."
   A day earlier, Clinton had attacked the gun lobby, saying in a speech
that it had maligned federal law enforcement agents by referring to them
in an association letter as "jack-booted government thugs."
   Referring to Clinton's statement that the September 1994 ban has been
effective, Metaksa said the president's comments were "in my opinion,
ludicrous and indefensible."
   Metaksa maintained that prosecutions of federal weapons violations
have declined 23 % in the past 2 years. "That's the only way this gun
ban is effective: It camouflages a lack of performance," she said.
   White House spokeswoman Ginny Terzano, asked about Metaksa's remarks,
said, "It's sad that the chief lobbyist of this organization is trying
to wage a war of words when in fact the president has met with law
enforcement officers from across the country, who overwhelmingly want to
see the weapons ban held."
   "The president does not want to see it repealed and will do
everything he can to make sure that more people don't get killed from
these weapons," Terzano said.
   Justice Dept spokesman Bert Brandenburg said Metaksa's criticism was
"off-base."
   "We don't ave hard numbers yet, but our year old anti-violent crime
initiative has ... emphasized fighting violent crime by parceling out
weapons cases in the most efficient way possible," having state or local
prosecutors handle some of them, Brandenburg said. Such cases would not
be reported as federal prosecutions.
   Metaksa's remarks came amid a heightened focus on the NRA, one of
Washington's most powerful lobbies, and its sometimes aggressive anti-
government rhetoric, in the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing.
   In a related development, the National Association of Police
Organizations released a survey on the April 19 bombing and other recent
events. In the survey, 79 % of those responding said they had a
favorable opinion of federal law enforcement agencies such as the FBI
and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, as well as local
police.
   The survey also showed that 87 % of respondents had a negative
opinion of armed "citizen militias."
   Condemning the Oklahoma City bombing, Metaksa said there was
"absolutely no justification" for such terrorist acts. But she said the
government should not wield "a broad brush of blame."
   "The NRA believes in government. We work in the governmental
process," she said. "The NRA has always been pro-police."
   Metaksa appeared in a debate with Brady, who started campaigning for
gun-control laws after her husband, James, then President Reagan's press
secretary, was permanently injured in the March 1981 assassination
attempt on Reagan.
   "Our opponents insist that gun laws don't work. But gun laws do
work," Brady said. "Given a chance to work, the assault-weapon ban will
reduce the firepower of criminals and save lives."
   Metaksa, who describes herself as "a mother, a grandmother and a
competitive shooter," commands a $19 million lobbying war chest. She was
introduced at the debate as being "in the aggressive camp" of the NRA,
which goes into its annual meeting later this week amid news reports of
a rift in the organization over its strategy.
   Brady, daughter of an FBI agent, is a one-time director of
administration for the Republican National Committee. Growing up, she
has said, she viewed the NRA as a "motherhood, apple pie, patriotic
group."
   Now, Brady said, "our opponents resort to hysteria."
   "Somewhere along the way, the NRA never met a gun-control law that
they were willing to live with," she said.
   "These are weapons of war," Brady said of the assault-style firearms.
"These weapons shouldn't be in the hands of anybody."
   Retorted Metaksa: "These are not weapons of war; these are
semiautomatic firearms. ... This is a great hoax played on the American
people."
                                          (From AP)


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