CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC) . . .In the next few weeks, the United States Senate will consider ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention Treaty (CWC). Many pro-family groups and property rights groups have taken a stand against the ratification of the CWC treaty because the provisions of the treaty would negate Fourth and Fifth Amendment protections enjoyed by the American people. Treaty ratification would: 1) permit other nations to inspect U.S. businesses and homes at will, thereby essentially negating 4th Amendment Constitutional search-and-seizure protections; [1 -- "SCOOP" The National Center for Public Policy Research, 4/2/97] 2) harm U.S. security by forcing the U.S. to give away its chemical weapons technology -- including technology designed for defense against chemical attacks, thus helping other nations to figure out how to get around our defenses; and 3) allow inspectors to collect data and analyze samples, which could result in the taking of private property by the government without compensation. Additional concerns: 1) the U.S. has already signed an agreement with Russia to get rid of chemical weapons, but so far, only the U.S. has adhered to the agreement; 2) provisions of the treaty call for technology-sharing, which could actually facilitate the transfer of chemical weapons and chemical weapons technology to states like Iran and Libya; 3) the Clinton administration has agreed to impose the burden of funding 25% of this new U.N.-affiliated enforcement agency on the backs of America's working families, at an estimated cost of $200 million per year; [2 -- Family Research Council's Legislative Hotline, 4/1//97] 4) "American family businesses which innocently use common chemicals in the painting, dry cleaning and thousands of other industries must contend not only with U.S. regulations and taxation, but also with the specter of a burgeoning international regulatory and taxation regime." [2] 5) Should this treaty be ratified by the Senate, it would supersede the basic freedoms granted by the U.S. Constitution. ACTION TO TAKE: The U.S. Senate ratifed the CWC Treaty on 4/24/97 with the required 2/3rd vote of 74-26. ALTERNATIVE TO CWC . . . Senators Kyl (R-AZ) and Lott (R-MS) have sponsored S. 495 as an alternative to the Chemical Weapons Treaty. S. 495 includes stronger sanctions against the use of chemical weapons than the CWC, but does not include the provisions that will disrupt Americans' civil rights and those that pose a risk to national security. For additional information about the CWC and/or S. 495, contact The National Center for Public Policy Research at (202) 543-1286 or Family Research Council at (202) 393-2100. ZONING RESTRICTIONS FOR RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS . . .The Missouri Senate will be considering SB 432, which gives local zoning bodies specific authority over properties used for "religious purposes." According to existing statues, zoning bodies already have authority over "the location, and use of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry, residence and other purposes." It would appear that the phrase "or other purposes" already gives local officials the authority for any needed, normal and reasonable building code oversight, etc. The "official" bill summary disseminated by Legislative Research states that the purpose of SB 432 is "to allow conditions and restrictions to be placed on structures used for religious purposes ..." Consequently, the "restrictions" allowed by this legislation could make religious use extremely difficult, expensive or impractical. John Stormer, pastor of Heritage Baptist Church in Florissant has said, "My greatest concern is that SB 432 will open the door for zoning authorities to define what is a use for 'religious purposes' and what isn't. The Christian Law Association is now litigating numerous zoning cases across the county where local authorities have denied churches the right to operate a school within its facility, or build a gym or have a softball field for its young people on its property because those are not "religious uses."Action To Take: Call your Missouri State Senator at (573) 751-2000 with your concerns about SB 432. In the event that SB 432 passes the Senate, it will then be sent over to the House, where the first action will be a House Committee Hearing. [Stormer Email Alert, SB 432, 4/10 & 4/12/97] TV STATION WON'T RUN ELLEN EPISODE . . .Mr. Jerry Heilman, President and General Manager of ABC affiliate, WBMA in Birmingham, Alabama has decided that his station will not air the hourlong April 30 episode of ELLEN, in which the lead character will reveal she is a lesbian. ELLEN will became the first primetime TV show with a gay leading character. WBMA first tried to get permission from ABC to air the episode at 11:30 p.m., but the network would not allow it. Mr. Heilman has also announced that "there's a possibility we won't carry any of the episodes in May if it deals with the same thing." A spokeswoman for the Human Rights Campaign, a Washington-based gay rights organization has said, "the decision amounts to censorship." American Family Association has learned that the Birmingham Pride Alabama and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation plan to show the April 30 episode of ELLEN at the Alabama Theater by satellite and will not allow the local ABC affiliate to black out Birmingham from the ELLEN coming-out episode.Action to Take: 1) Send a note of appreciation to Mr. Jerry Heilman, General Manager, 800 Concourse Parkway, Suite 200, Birmingham, AL 35244. Email: jerryh@abc3340.com. 2) Contact your local ABC affiliate and ask them to follow the lead of Mr. Heilman by not running the April 30 episode of ELLEN. [AFA Action Alert, 4/13/97] NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER - MAY 1, 1997 . . . |