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Joint Statement on ATF Litigation |
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2000 Archived News by TRA/NAR Joint Task Force
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Thursday, August 24, 2000 |
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WASHINGTON, District of Columbia USA — Over the past six weeks, we have had extended discussions with our counsel and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, seeking an out of court settlement to the litigation we brought back in February. Those discussions included one face to face meeting in Washington, D.C., and two lengthy joint conference calls.
We regret to report that we are unable to reach any settlement agreement at this time. ATF was unwilling to agree to any settlement terms which left any portion of the high power rocket hobby unregulated by the agency, and appears willing to take its chances in court.
We have instructed counsel to let the current litigation stay expire as scheduled on September 1, 2000, and asked them to seek the earliest possible court date to proceed with the litigation. When we have a firm court date scheduled, we'll notify members of that hearing date. We continue to believe that our legal case is solid, both on procedural and substantive grounds. And we appreciate the extraordinary efforts our counsel undertook to attempt settlement, only to be thwarted by unreasonable demands from the defendant's staff and in house attorneys.
We realize that committing to this step means a potentially long, uncertain and expensive journey. But we have exhausted all other avenues to provide sport rocket flyers with an elimination of the illegal and unnecessary regulation sought by ATF. We will continue to seek all avenues of relief, judicial and legislative, to secure that unregulated environment for all sport rocket flyers. Our safe, legal and educational hobby deserves nothing short of our utmost effort in this battle, and we jointly pledge our maximum effort on your behalf.
Mark Bundick, NAR President
Bruce Kelly, TRA President |
