The Clinton Administration's virtual extortion of the firearm industry and settlement with Smith & Wesson is yet another attempt by this President to place restrictions on law abiding citizens who value their rights and freedoms. That is why I stand with Congressman Hostettler to prohibit the appropriation of funds to implement this agreement.

Filing lawsuits against the manufacturers of legal products in an attempt to bully these businesses into an agreement is governance at its worst. The Executive Branch has nearly unlimited resources, and it should not be using them against law-abiding companies that it happens to dislike.

Instead of enforcing the laws, the Administration is trying to use suits or the threat of suits to get around the lawmaking process and the legislative branch. To do so undermines the authorization process, demeans the justice system and poses threats to the liberty of everyone who ever falls out of Presidential favor. And, typical of most of this Administration's gun control schemes, the only ones who will remain unaffected are the criminals.