Gun CollectorsNews NewNew Mexico Mexico Gun Gun Collectors Collectors Association Association July Mar / /August Apr 2008 2004 Officers A Call to Arms President: Jim Covell Bush Anti-gun Brief Deals Blow Vice President By Paul C. Lisle Darlene Couchman he Bush Administration dealt a devastating blow to gun owners when Secretary U.S. Solicitor General Paul D. Clement submitted an anti-gun brief to the Vacant U.S. Supreme Court in support of the D.C. handgun ban that the SupremeT Court has agreed to hear. Treasurer Dan Brovont In summary, the brief stated “unrestricted” private ownership of guns clear- ly threatens the public safety, the Second Amendment can be interpreted to allow Show Manager a variety of gun restrictions. Gun rights are limited and since they are subject to Mark Covell “reasonable regulation,” all gun limits imposed by the federal government should Association be affirmed as constitutional. Telephone: “Given the unquestionable threat to 505-262-1350 public safety that unrestricted private Contribution Receives Web Site: firearm possession would entail, various cat- www.nmgca.net egories of firearm-related regulation are Thank You From NRA E-mail: permitted by the Second Amendment.” The following is a letter to the newmexicogca@aol. The brief also stated that banning private NMGCA Treasurer for the NMGCA's com ownership of handguns by D.C. citizens pledge to the NRA Foundation. The letter was a reasonably restriction and that the was signed by Wayne Sheets, Executive case be sent back to the trial court so that Director, the NRA Foundation, Inc. NMGCA the court can take evidence on everything "Thank you and your association for Membership from how much the District needs the law your pledge payment of $5,000.00 to the Dues: to whether people can defend themselves NRA Foundation's New Mexico Gun without pistols and just what the D.C. trig- Collectors Association Endowment to bene- Annual renewal for ger lock law means. It would take another fit the National Firearms Museum. regular members, four years for the case to work back for a “Our goal through the NRA under age 62, is hearing in the Supreme Court, if ever. Foundation's National Firearms Museum $30.00. Sending the case back to the trial court Endowment is to ensure that future genera- Renewal for spouse: would put our gun rights in extreme jeop- tions will always be able to learn about our $15.00. ardy. There is an old saying that the GOP national firearms heritage and operates on two principles: screw your Constitutional freedom. Your association's Annual Renewal for friends and appease your enemies. senior members, contribution plays a vital part in our efforts over age 61, is What is needed in New Mexico as to permanently endow this treasure that cel- $25.00. well as the whole country is a “Gun-Free- ebrates America's liberty, history, artistry, Renewal for senior Zone Liability Act. In the wake of recent and technology. public shootings, it has been proven that spouse is $10.00. “Thank you for your commitment to “Gun-Free-Zones” are a real danger to the our endowment-building efforts. We are honest people that are in attendance with- fortunate to count you among those dedi- out their guns.The proposed law only cated to the future of NRA, the Second See Call to Arms,Page two Amendment and freedom." New Mexico Gun Collectors Association March / April 2008 Call to Arms from page one addresses the negligent nature of such zones, making those responsible for disarming innocent bystanders by cre- ating gun free zones liable for the damages. It has no direct cost to the government and it does not prevent gun free zones from being created. As reported by the Citizens Committee For The Right To Keep And Bear Arms, both the House and Senate passed by voice vote the NICS Improvements Bill. President Bush signed the bill. Sen. Coburn, gun rights defender, delayed the bill in the Senate until the following changes were made. Under terms of the agreement, the govern- ment would pay for the cost of appeals by gun owners and prospec- tive buyers who argue successfully in court that they were wrongly deemed unqualified for mental health reasons. Originally, the bill would have require any agency, such as the Veterans Administration or the Defense Department, to notify a per- son flagged as mentally ill and disqual- ified from buying or possessing a Old Time Hunting handgun. Now it also would require that the notification be made when someone has been cleared of that District Congressional Seat. Former lets work to get the one selected to run restriction. defense aide to Senator Pete V. against Udall elected. The bill authorizes up to $250 Domenici and Santa Fe Lawyer It has been announced that million a year over the same period for Marco Gonzales announced that he is Remington and Marlin have agreed state courts to help defray of costs of running for the 3rd District seat. that Remington will acquire Marlin enacting the policy. This bill was Marco attended the annual meeting of Fire Arms Col & Marlin’s other com- backed by the unholy alliance of Rep. the NM Shooting Sports Association, panies (H&R, NEF & L.C. Smith). McCarthy of New York and Sen. held January 12th, where I had a long Deal will be finished in early 2008. talk with him about the Second Schumer of New York with the active The New Mexico Legislature was Amendment and our gun rights. The support of Rep. Dingell of Michigan, called into session on January 15. So GOP gives Marco little chance in the the National Rifle Association and the far no anti-gun bill has been intro- heavily Democratic district, but as Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun duced and, as I reported in the last shown in the first paragraph, the GOP Violence. All of the other pro-gun issue of CTA, no pro-gun bills will be is not always right. Also attending the activists organizations opposed the introduced. bill. The law will add thousands of Shooting Sports annual meeting was veterans to the NICS no gun list. I Steve Pearce who was our luncheon “Don’t pick a fight with an old was also opposed to the bill. speaker. With two strong pro-gun man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just candidates running for the kill you.” Retired Army Command We have a 100% pro-gun candi- Sergeant Major Dave Herbach. date running for the vacant 3rd Republican nomination for Senate, New Mexico Gun Collectors Association March / April 2008 Reminiscence My First Gun Collection:Toys of the 1960s By Ron Smith ations of the toy makers. pistol to fit with each theme: Red Rider (westerner), Mugambo (safari hunter), Since the advent of the television, Probably the most popular of the Skeet-Shooter, and The Lieutenant the toys that children want are heavily spy guns came from the show Man (marked U.S. Army). Copies of the influenced by what they see on TV. from U.N.C.L.E.(1964-68); with Illya original advertisements with each type Westerns and Spy (cold war) shows Kuryarkin and Napoleon Solo battling may be viewed at the side. were the main diet of the ‘50s and ‘60s. the evil THRUSH agents (and wooing Then the Vietnam War was broadcast the girls) every week. Made by Ideal, Another Topper original was the into our living rooms every evening, their pistol with added accessories Secret Sam. Advertised as “The most initially making military toys popular, became a scoped rifle. Not only were amazing secret weapon ever made!”, I but later made “shoot ‘em up” unpop- U.N.C.L.E. guns marketed, but just had to have one. My sample is not ular as entertainment. But it was these THRUSH guns as well. The totally complete, but the take-down two earlier genres that created the toy THRUSH rifle looked similar to an M- gun is designed to fire the small white guns of that generation. Toy guns of 16 with an infrared scope (NIB, these bullets (and take pictures) from the the past didn’t have orange-tipped are valued at over $1500). closed attaché case. muzzles, because kids were taught to Mattel had two series of spy guns: SixFinger can also fall into the spy- ”never point guns at people, including Agent Zero W (for the westerners) and gun genre. Made by De Luxe Reading, toys”. Most actually shot projectiles (as Zero M line (for the cold-war spy dated 1965, this toy gun had 6 different well as caps) or somehow made shoot- enthusiast). These toy guns were the types of shootable projectiles: basic ing noises. first transformers in the industry. One bullet, writing pen, written-message Some of television Westerns that of my survivors of the M series is the sender, SOS message, exploding tip, put their name to the most collectable “Pocket-Shot”: a pocketknife that con- and a cap-hammerhead. There is a toy guns including Roy Rogers, The verts into a pistol. The Agent Zero W metal clicker on the backside of the Lone Ranger, Daniel Boone, The line was not as vast, having a standard grip (its purpose I don’t recall). This Rifleman, Wagon Train, Wanted: size Fanner, the Snub-Nose, and a was yet another disguised pistol that Dead or Alive, and Have Gun will shooting belt buckle (also marketed as the secret agent could sneak under the Travel. Presently, depending on condi- the “Remington Derringer 1867”). nose of his elementary teacher! tion and accessories, any of the above The distinction that the Zero W guns Most of my collection did not sur- toys are valued in the $100s.