NEAL KNOX REPORT

Clinton Holds Back

By NEAL KNOX

     WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 20) -- Bill Clinton took a few swings
at gunowners during his State of the Union address last night.
But he didn't talk about already-announced plans for controls on
private firearms transfers, particularly at gun shows.

     Chalk it up to the bizarre timing of the speech -- just
three weeks after the House had voted to impeach him, after three
days of devastating prosecutorial speeches to the Senate
demanding his removal from office, and at the end of the opening
day of his legal team's emotional defense.

     Clearly, in an 81-minute speech in which he made more
"chicken in every pot" political promises than Huey P. Long, and
laid out more new big government programs than any President
since Lyndon Johnson, he was doing his best to buy new friends
and gain no new enemies.

     After introducing the mother of a girl killed at Jonesboro,
Ark., he said:  "In memory of the children who lost their lives
to school violence, I ask you to strengthen the Safe and Drug
Free School Act, to pass legislation to require child trigger
locks, to do everything possible to keep our children safe."

     That was dramatic, but hardly new.  And a White House
background sheet made it clear that he was still talking only
about requiring locks to accompany each gun sold -- not requiring
them to be kept installed, subject to criminal or civil
liability, as much of the anti-gun crowd has been demanding.

     He hit Handgun Control Inc.'s hot button by calling for the
restoration of the five-day waiting period on handgun purchases.
Again nothing new, and it isn't going to upset too many, for most
of the nation still has a longer waiting period under state laws.

     Clinton called on Congress to "extend the Brady Bill" but
only "to prevent juveniles who commit violent crimes from buying
a gun."

     Juveniles can't buy guns, and haven't been able
to for 30 years.  What he wants is to impose a lifetime gun
prohibition on anyone who while a juvenile committed any broadly
defined "violent" offense (which could be a fistfight or property
damage).

     That proposal, which sounds tough (and would be
for some good citizens) is designed to counter a far-tougher
Republican proposal to treat juveniles as adults if they commit
adult crimes, to stop the ludicrous expunging of records when
juvies with murderous rap sheets turn 18, and to allow serious
juvenile offenses to become part of permanent criminal records.

     What Clinton didn't talk about was the Treasury and Justice
Department "gun show" controls that he had asked to receive by
Jan. 7.  But when he called for "no background check, no gun, no
exceptions" in his Nov. 7, he didn't think he would be impeached,
and fighting for his political life.

     Clinton is still almost certain to serve out his full term,
and will try to hammer us with far more than he talked about last
night.  But not until the Senate impeachment trial is over.
                               ---

     As many of you know, an ethics complaint seeking my removal
from NRA membership "for life" was filed last August.

     I was accused of "engaging in conduct disruptive of the
orderly operation of the Association ...; violating (my)
obligation of loyalty to the Association ...; and willfully
making false statements or misrepresentations about the
Association and its representatives."

     I have just been formally advised that the maker of the
complaint notified the Ethics Hearings Committee on Jan. 7:  " I
hereby formally withdraw my charges specifically dealing with the
making of false statements.

     "Nothing contained herein shall constitute any waiver or
withdrawal of any charges I've made relative to conduct
disruptive of the orderly operation of the Association in pursuit
of its goal."

     Now that's funny!

     I was accused of damaging NRA and its officers by telling
lies; I now stand accused of damaging NRA and its officers by
telling the truth.

                               ---
    If you haven't yet cast your NRA Director election
ballot from your February magazine, I urge you to vote ONLY for
the 14 candidates the NRA establishment's ads ask you NOT to vote
for -- and to vote against the Board majority-endorsed Bylaw
amendment.  For more information, write Second Amendment Action
Committee, 100 Heathwood Drive, Liberty, S.C. 29657 or visit
HTTP://www.NealKnox.com)