Require, the delivery truckdriver of a common carrier to inspect licenses, very likely resulting in carrier's refusal to accept any shipments (p. 10, lines 1, 2); Prohibit purchase in Africa of an elephant rifle (with bore over half inch—a "destructive device") and bringing home this rifle or any other "firearm" purchased abroad (p. 10, line 24);

Now lastly, the most important prerequisite of any well-written law is that it be very specific, self-contained and explicit, whereas S. 1592, in practically each of its sections authorizes promulgation of such further administrative rules and regulations, as the current Secretary of the Treasury may see fit to adopt at his own discretion.

Since there is considerable evidence of the nationwide mounting unpopularity of bill S. 1592, such as the tens of thousands of letters to Congress, along with at least two memorials from State legislatures, opposing it, it is requested that the attached memorial to Congress from our State of Washington and the broadcast over station WWL by the much honored by us, U.S. Senator Allen J. Ellender, be both incorporated into and made part of our presentation to this committee.

HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL No. 30

STATE OF WASHINGTON-39TH EXTRAORDINARY SESSION

(By Representatives Day, Harris and Sheridan)

Read first time March 31, 1965, and referred to committee on game and game fish.

To the Honorable Lyndon B. Johnson, the President of the United States, the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States, in Congress assembled:

We, your memorialists, the senate and house of representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, most respectfully represent and petition as follows:

Whereas there is pending before Congress, the Dodd bills, knows as S. 1591 and S. 1592, relating to regulation and registration of interstate firearms sales; and

Whereas this legislation, if enacted, could: (1) Deny private citizens their constitutional property rights of selling personal valuable or rare firearms to other private citizens through interstate shipment; (2) force private citizens to sell firearms in interstate commerce only to dealers at a property value loss; and (3) infringe upon the constitutional right of private citizens to keep and bear arms;

Now, therefore, your memorialists respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to take great caution not to enact any legislation relating to the regulation and registration of interstate firearms sales which would tend to infringe upon the aforementioned constitutional rights of the citizens of the United States: Be it

Resolved, That copies of this memorial be transmitted to the Honorable Lyndon B. Johnson, President of the United States, the President of the U.S. Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each Member of Congress from the State of Washington.

EXCERPT FROM RADIO ADDRESS RECORDED BY SENATOR ALLEN J. ELLENDER FOR BROADCAST OVER WWL, NEW ORLEANS, SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1965

GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION

I am receiving a great deal of mail in reference to the so-called gun-control legislation now pending in the Congress. My mail has been uniformly in opposition to these measures, and I am inclined to share the view that strict, nationwide gun control regulations are unneeded at this time. It seems to me that this Nation has too many legitimate sportsmen who would be affected and hindered by adoption of legislation aimed at correcting a few isolated abuses, although these abuses often receive a great deal of publicity.

Laws are already on the statute books giving the Federal Government control over illegal interstate shipments of arms and ammunition, and it would seem to me that these laws would be applicable to control the few unscrupulous gun dealers who do most of their business through the mails. These are the sources of many of the abuses, and where they are carrying out activities on the fringe of legality, I believe the necessary and called-for action should be taken by the State and Federal authorities.

But I do not believe that nationwide gun-control legislation is either necessary or justified. As I said, its adoption would be inimical to the great multitude of law-abiding sportsmen we have not only in Louisiana, but in all States which still have within their boundaries large areas of open fields, hills, and great quantities of wildlife.

HUDSON-MOHAWK ARMS COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION, INC.,

Tribes Hill, N.Y., July 3, 1965. Hon. THOMAS J. DODD, Chairman, Senate Subcommittee To Investigate Juvenile Delinquency, Senate Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.

DEAR SENATOR DODD: The Hudson-Mohawk Collectors Association, Inc., at our meeting on June 13, reviewed in detail S. 1592, introduced into the 89th Congress to amend the Federal Firearms Act. It is the wish of the members of HudsonMohawk Arms Collectors Association, Inc., by majority vote, to register in opposition to this bill as written, and that this letter be entered into the record when the measure is scheduled for hearing before the Senate Subcommittee To Investigate Juvenile Delinquency.

We feel that the provisions of this bill as they will apply to sportsmen and dealers in firearms and ammunition are unduly restrictive and would tend to impose unnecessary hardships on our law-abiding citizens.

Sincerely yours,

UNA M. ROBERTS, Secretary.

STATE ASSOCIATIONS

NEW MEXICO WILDLIFE & CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION, INC.

RESOLUTION No. 6 RELATING TO S. 1592

Whereas agitation in certain segments of the Congress to pass bills to control the ownership, possession, and use of firearms, which are among the cherished hereditary rights of law-abiding, patriotic citizens of the United States of America, has greatly increased since the assassination of President Kennedy; and

Whereas S. 1592, introduced by Senator Thomas J. Dodd, of Connecticut, would prohibit all mail-order sales of firearms to law-abiding citizens as well as to criminals, and permits such sales only between licensed importers, manufacturers, and dealers and places unreasonable restrictions upon reputable citizens who may wish to order recreational firearms by mail; and

Whereas if S. 1592 should become law it obviously would not prevent criminals from obtaining firearms for unlawful purposes any more than the licensing and registration of motor vehicles prevent bank robbers, holdup men, and murderers from obtaining getaway cars, instead it would inevitably increase the crime of breaking and entering to steal the desired weapons; and

Whereas any law passed in the face of such widespread public opposition by law-abiding citizens as exists against the provisions of this bill could not possibly be enforced, the ill-fated prohibition law being a good example; and

Whereas under the provisions of this bill the Secretary of the Treasury, or his agent, would have virtually unlimited authority to regulate the sale of firearms by dealers which could lead to the institution of unreasonably stringent controls and prohibitions over such sales; and

Whereas this bill must be viewed as the first fatal step toward registration and complete control of the acquisition, possession, and use for lawful purposes of all firearms typical of a police state and completely un-American; and

Whereas the provision in the second amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, providing that the "rights of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed," is comparable to the first amendment to the Constitution which provides assurances for free speech, freedom of religion, of the press, and of peaceable assembly, and is just as essential to maintenance of our inherent freedom as the provisions of the first amendment are; and

Whereas the use for good or bad of innumerable other instruments as well as firearms is entirely dependent upon the person using them and not upon the inanimate instrument and hence legislation should be against the crime and not the instrument; and

Wheras it is essential that the inherent and constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens be safeguarded against the possibility that legislation intended to be against delinquents and criminals does not result in penalizing and hampering patriotic citizens of good repute and S. 1592 contains no such safeguards; Therefore, be it

Resolved by the New Mexico Wildlife & Conservation Association, That the acquisition, possession, and use of firearms by reputable American citizens must not be denied so long as they continue to use them for lawful purposes; be it further

Resolved, That the target for preventive legislation must be the crime, and not an inanimate tool used by perpetrators of crimes, and that severest penalties should be provided for use of a firearm in the commission of any crime; be it further

Resolved, That this association is strongly opposed to S. 1592 for reasons stated above and because it will be the first fatal step toward universal registration and complete control of all firearms and because it appears to be primarily aimed at outlawing firearms rather than punishing the criminal who uses them for illegal purposes; and further because this bill could seriously hamper lawful recreational activities an impair the recreational economy of the State and Nation, infringe upon the constitutional rights of law-abiding U.S. citizens, damaging essential wildlife management programs, and unduly extend Federal authority on powers reserved to the States; be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of the United States, to Senator Thomas J. Dodd, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency; to every member of that subcommittee; to Senators Clinton P. Anderson and Joseph M. Montoya; to U.S. Representatives in Congress Thomas G. Morris and E. S. Johnny Walker; to the Governor of New Mexico; and to such other officials, individuals and organizations as may be deemed appropriate.

Adopted by unanimous vote of the delegates to the 45th Annual Convention of the New Mexico Wildlife & Conservation Association, Inc., assembled at Alamogordo, N. Mex., this 16th day of May 1965.

Dr. MARVIN H. WILKENING,

President, New Mexico Wildlife & Conservation Association, Inc. Attest: I, Elliott S. Barker, secretary of the New Mexico Wildlife & Conservation Association, Inc., hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and correct copy of the resolution adopted by the New Mexico Wildlife & Conservation Association, Inc., as stated.

ELLIOTT S. BARKER,

Secretary, New Mexico Wildlife & Conservation Association, Inc.

VETERANS' ASSOCIATIONS

PAUL E. BOLDING POST No. 7
RESOLUTION

To: The Honorable Thomas J. Dodd, the Honorable Richard Russell, the Honorable Herman Talmadge, and the Honorable Phil Landrum.

Whereas the Honorable Thomas J. Dodd, U.S. Senator, Connecticut, has during January and March 1965 introduced bills numbered S. 14 and S. 1592, which bills deal with the regulation of the mail-order gun business and the sale, import, registration, and transportation of firearms; and

Whereas the members of Paul E. Bolding Post No. 7 as citizens of these United States of America and Veterans of Foreign Wars are vitally concerned with the regulation, sale, and transportation of firearms; and

Whereas said membership is of the belief that some type regulation and control is essential to the peace, happiness, and welfare of the citizens of this great country; and

Whereas said members are of the belief that regulations and controls should be enacted for the purpose of eliminating the indiscriminate sale and transport of firearms so as to restrict, prohibit, and eliminate the illegal or unlawful use of same, yet, said membership is of even stronger conviction and belief that con

trols and regulations should not be enacted to abridge or infringe upon the peaceful and lawful use and transportation of firearms by the good and conscientious law-abiding citizens of these United States of America: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Honorable Thomas J. Dodd be commended for his efforts and dedication in proposing legislation for the purpose of prohibiting and eliminating the illegal and unlawful purchase, sale, transport, and use of firearms: and be it further

Resolved by the members of the Paul E. Bolding Post No. 7, That said bills numbered S. 14 and S. 1592 be carefully studied by its authors, the Honorable Richard Russell, the Honorable Herman Talmadge, the Honorable Phil Landrum, and Members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, for the purpose of enacting laws and regulations to control, curb, prohibit, and eliminate the indiscriminate, unlawful, and illegal sale, purchase, transport, and use of firearms and for the further and most vital purpose of insuring against arbitrary controls and regulations which would infringe upon the peaceful and lawful use of firearms by the good citizens of these United States of America.

Let copies of this resolution be delivered to the Honorable Thomas J. Dodd, the Honorable Richard Russell, the Honorable Herman Talmadge, and the Honorable Phil Landrum.

This 10th day of May 1965.

By the committee:

JOE B. SARTAIN, Jr.
GORDAN A. DUNAGAN,
ROY BENNETT, Jr.

Submitted to, voted on, and adopted by the membership of Paul E. Bolding Post No. 7 at its regular convened meeting, May 10, 1965.

WILLIAM L. NORTON, Jr..
Post Commander.

PHIL JACKSON,

Adjutant.

WAYNE A. LARSON POST 7356

RESOLUTION OF CONCURRENCE AGAINST FEDERAL AND STATE FIREARM CONTROL

LEGISLATION

Whereas the second amendment of the Constitution of the United States specifically states: "A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed"; and

Whereas any law restricting the peaceable use and ownership of firearms by the people as guaranteed by the second amendment is unconstitutional; and Whereas the enactment and enforcement, together with necessary rules and regulations, of any antique or firearm control laws, by either Federal or State Governments is an infringement upon private property; and

Whereas restrictive legislation such as S. 1591 and S. 1592, together with House concurrent bills H.R. 6628 and H.R. 6629 would, in the opinion of this organization, be in violation of the fourth amendment wherein it states: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated"; and

Whereas the members of the Wayne A. Larson Post 7356. Veterans of Foreign Wars, United States of America, by acclamation, concur and endorse that certain resolution enacted by the National Peace Officers Association of America and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc., a copy of which is attached hereto; be it

Resolved, That the commander and adjutant of this post be directed to prepare and mail copies of this resolution to the President and the Attorney General of the United States, together with copies to appropriate committees and Members of the National Congress, the Governor of the State of California, and the California State Legislature; and be it further

Resolved, That the delegates to the California State Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, United States of America, be instructed to file this resolution at that convention.

Enacted at regular meeting, May 18, 1965.
KLAMATH, CALIF.

WAYNE A. LARSON Post 7356.
W. C. KOHSE, Commissioner.
LEONARD BENTZ, Adjutant.

A JOINT RESOLUTION-FIREARMS CONTROL IN THE UNITED STATES

Whereas the beginning history of our Nation was written and our sovereignty assured by the heroic sacrifice of volunteer rifilemen, adept in their use and armed by their own personal weapons; and

Whereas the professional military forces of our country have through the conflicts of the past relied upon trained citizen soldiers who were capable in the use of firearms; and

Whereas it is reasonable to believe that a capable and well armed citizenry, as a potential backup to our regular forces, could well deter an aggressor from our shores, and effectively assist in interdicting the enemy's progress, should he effect a bridgehead; and

Whereas restrictive antigun laws have never been, and never will be a successful deterrent to crime, organized or otherwise; and

Whereas restrictive antigun laws do not succeed in disarming the criminal, but do disarm the law-abiding citizen, thus denying the law-abiding citizen effective self-defense, as well as jeopardizing his opportunities for training in the use of firearms, and discouraging his hunting and gun sports afield. We, the undersigned, make the following statements for and in behalf of the National Police Officers Association of America and National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc., in the best interests of all law-abiding citizens of the United States of America:

Proper training in the safe and effective use of firearms is as important to the health and security of our Nation now as it was in the early days of our national history, when the minutemen with their rifles and their knowledge of musketry rallied so gallantly to our cause.

The shooting sports, consisting largely of wholesome activity in the great outdoors, hunting the game of field and marsh, or participating in the competitive gun sports, contribute importantly to our Nation's health and physical fitness.

Gun laws today, as they all too often exist at the Federal, State, and local levels of government, frequently resolve into a conglomeration of contradictory mandates that are difficult if not impossible to effectively and impartially enforce. When such inept gun laws do appear they disarm or severely restrict the law-abiding citizen in legitimately owning a firearm, thereby depriving such citizen of his rightful heritage to own, become proficient in, and to use a firearm in competition and recreational activities.

The person of criminal intent could not be less interested in vague, unenforcible gun laws. Only the law-respecting citizen will bow to obey, thus forfeiting his precious common law right of self-protection in his castle; in addition depriving himself of healthful pursuits of shooting sports afield; and thus is lost beyond recall his revered heritage of the minuteman of Lexington and Concord.

Ill-planned, restrictive gun laws consistently disarm and bind the law-respecting citizen, eliminating any possibility of his assisting in the daily fight against crime, by placing him in a passive pose wherein he is unable to protect himself, family, or premises.

Be it resolved, therefore, That we, the undersigned, do urgently recommend in the light of the aforesaid, that all gun laws now existing within the Federal Government, and the several States be codified within the clear intent of the U.S. Constitution and that all inactments in consonance with this subject be carefully forged so as to protect the rightful heritage of the law-abiding American citizen to have and to hold firearms in lawful pursuits of gun sports, for his self-protection, and in the light of the armed citizen's importance in our national defense.

Be it further resolved, That we now commend the prosecutors of the Federal Government and the various States for the vigorous action taken on their part in the prosecution of criminals committing felonies while armed with a firearm. And, further, strongly recommended to the courts a continuance of the policy of strict enforcement of the penalties prescribed wherein a crime is aggravated by the use of a firearm.

Be it further resolved, That we believe that an American citizen of voting age or a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, of whatever age, should have the right to legally purchase, without restriction, a handgun, rifle, air rifle, shotgun, or a like item, excepting fully automatic firearms.

Be it further resolved, That we believe in the value of the National Rifle Association-sponsored hunter safety program, and recommend its adoption by all