By Tom DeWeese

While Americans focus on the prospect of war with Iraq, one to liberate the citizens of that nation from a terrible dictator, other Americans are organizing to protect essential Constitutional rights that are being eroded and destroyed.

Military training across the nation has been hamstrung by environmental regulations and lawsuits. For example, training for amphibious landing is severely controlled at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina because of beach restrictions during turtle-nesting season. At Camp Pendleton, California, Marines aren't allowed to practice digging foxholes because environmental restrictions forbid it on the huge base. Navy SEAL training has been seriously curtailed on Coronado Island, CA, due to the migratory patterns of a bird called the Snowy Plover. Coronado Island provides a naturally unique landscape that is crucial to SEAL training.

After years of putting up with these suffocating restrictions, the Pentagon is seriously concerned that our troops are being robbed of sufficient training. The Endangered Species Act is endangering U.S. soldiers and national security. Yet the greens continue to show nothing but hostility toward America's brave men and women. The Natural Resources Defense Council has filed a suit and prevented vital training exercises at Camp Pendleton and Miramar Air Station (both in CA) ostensibly to protect a small coastal bird called "the gnatcatcher." Sound science does not even support most of the environmental extremists' claims that the military is endangering the environment.

The military must be allowed to train without these radicals obstructing them at every turn! American lives and national security is at stake!

** Action to Take **

1. Call your Representative and ask him or her to loosen the environmental restrictions that prevent the military from properly training. House Switchboard: (202) 225-3121.

2. Call both of your Senators and tell them to remove the environmental restrictions that are hurting our military's preparedness. Senate Switchboard: (202) 224-3121.

3. Click here  to send this APC Action Alert to up to TEN of your friends!

Congressman Announces Bill to Shrink Government, Restore 2nd Amendment

It is good to know that in these days of increased encroachment into our private lives by the federal government, at least one congressman is pushing in the other direction. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) recently introduced H.R. 153, the "Second Amendment Protection Act."

"Specifically, my legislation repeals the five-day waiting period and the 'instant' background check, which enables the federal government to compile a database of every gun owner in America," Rep. Paul announced. "Jefferson, and all of the Founders, would be horrified by the proliferation of unconstitutional legislation that prevents law-abiding Americans from exercising their right and duty to keep and bear arms."

Rep. Paul's bill could not have come at a better time. Liberals in congress plan to push hard for even more anti-gun legislation this year. H.R. 153 would put a BIG dent in their radical plans.

** Action to Take **

1. Call your Representative and strongly urge him or her to cosponsor and support the Second Amendment Protection Act. House Switchboard: (202) 225-3121.

2. Click here to send this APC Action Alert to up to TEN of your friends!

Congressman Announces Bill to Expand Government Snooping, Destroy Second Amendment

Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) wants federal bureaucrats to have a record of every gun owner in the United States. Furthermore, he wants to prosecute every gun owner who owns a handgun that is not licensed and registered under his Big Brother scheme. Americans, beware of Rep. Holt's H.R. 124, the "Handgun Licensing and Registration Act."

Purchasing a firearm in America today is already a cumbersome task. Waiting periods, background checks, mandatory training and a litany of bureaucratic red tape work to make the process as difficult as possible. H.R. 124 is the precursor to mass gun confiscation in America.

If Rep. Holt and his gun-grabbing cohorts want a safer America, perhaps they should direct their attention to the thousands of illegal aliens and possible terrorists that pour across our borders every day, and leave lawful Americans alone!

1. Call your Representative and tell him or her to oppose H.R. 124, and to fight against it, and any measures like it. House Switchboard: (202) 225-3121.

2. Click here to send this APC Action Alert to up to TEN of your friends!

*Note: 2003 is quickly shaping up to be a vital year for constitutional liberty. Good patriots are defending our freedoms on many different fronts. We want to make APC's Action Alert System the most effective in the nation. If you know of activists who should be receiving these alerts-especially those with distribution lists of their own-please have them contact us via feedback form or fax us at: (540) 341-8917. Thank you.