gun control legislation and other S. 254 issues

[Steve Cooke <scooke@uidaho.edu>]

Dear Visionaries,

Pls contact your US Senators re. S. 254 Juvenile Crime Bill if you support 
it or have questions and concerns

Steve Cooke

Idaho's Congressional Delegation is:

ID   R   Craig, Larry         larry_craig@craig.senate.gov
ID   R   Crapo, Mike          http://crapo.senate.gov/webform.html
ID   1   R  Chenoweth, Helen      ask.helen@mail.house.gov
ID   2   R  Simpson, Mike         mike.simpson@mail.house.gov
source:
http://www.lib.umich.edu/libhome/Documents.center/congress/conemail.txt

Issues and update from the Children's Defense Fund:

Updates on Gun Amendments:
An amendment offered by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) on Thursday was 
adopted by a vote of 59-39.  This amendment would, among other things, ban 
the sale of large capacity ammunition clips to minors.
An amendment offered by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) that would have 
required background checks on all sales at gun shows was defeated by a vote 
of 47-51.  Later, by a vote of 53-45, Senators approved an amendment by 
Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) to encourage voluntary background checks for gun 
show sales.
More gun amendments could be offered on Monday or Tuesday:
Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL): Child Access Prevention (CAP)
Senator Robert Kerrey (D-NE): gun show restrictions
Senator Herbert Kohl (D-WI): child safety locks
Senator Carl Levin (D-MI): semi-automatic guns
Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY): prohibition on handgun sales to
minors
For more information on S. 254 and juvenile justice issues, visit the CDF 
Web site at <http://www.childrensdefense.org/juvenilejustice>.

ACTION STILL NEEDED:  Final Vote on S. 254 Expected Tuesday Juvenile Crime 
Bill is Weak on Core Protections for Children Please Call Your Senators 
TODAY!
The U.S. Senate will continue debating S. 254, the so-called Violent and 
Repeat Juvenile Offender Accountability and Rehabilitation Act of 1999. 
 This bill, in its current form, weakens core protections for children and 
does not do enough to keep our children safe and out of trouble.
S. 254 contains many misguided provisions that strip away vital protections 
for children.  If passed, S. 254 will:  put more children at risk of 
assault and abuse in adult jails; undermine states' efforts to address the 
disproportionate number of minority children in the juvenile justice 
system; fail to ensure that prevention funding will be allocated or even 
spent on prevention programs that work; and fail to address the mental 
health needs of at-risk children or children who have already come into 
contact with the juvenile justice system.
Please call your Senators immediately (202/224-3121) and urge them to allow 
votes on the following amendments before the bill is voted on:
Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and John Chafee (R-RI):
Protecting Children in Adult Jails Amendment
This amendment would ensure children would not be subject to assault or 
abuse from adult inmates in adult jails.
Senator Paul Wellstone (D-WI) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) Disproportionate 
Minority Confinement Amendment This amendment would ensure that states 
continue to address efforts to reduce the disproportionate number of 
minority youth who come into contact with the juvenile justice system.
Senators John Chafee (R-RI) and Herbert Kohl (D-WI):
Prevention Amendment
This amendment would ensure that the prevention block grant is solely 
dedicated for prevention purposes.
Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
Prevention Amendment
This amendment would ensure that funding is dedicated to prevention.
Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN)
Mental Health Amendments
These amendments would provide mental health services to at-risk children 
and children who come into contact with the juvenile justice system.

Children's Defense Fund
25 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
202/662-3540 (fax)