Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 30, 1994 TAG: 9408300096
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLUEFIELD LENGTH: Medium
``I will protect and defend the right to bear arms, and I get my advice on gun control matters from the United States Constitution,'' he told a reporter.
Fast was responding to Wednesday's criticisms by state Sen. Jack Reasor, D-Bluefield, who said some of Fast's ``most ardent supporters and closest advisers on gun control issues'' were among those recently arrested on charges of federal firearm violations.
Fast said he had no knowledge of any of those activities. He said he would repudiate support from those men if the charges turned out to be true.
He pointed out that one of the men, William Darrell Stump II, had been a Boucher supporter until late 1991. Stump objected to Boucher's vote for crime control legislation that included the Brady bill and its waiting period and other provisions on firearm purchases.
``That's how he initiated contact with my campaign,'' Fast said.
Fast fired the first gun-owner rights volley in the 9th Congressional District campaign July 22 when he held news conferences accusing Boucher of being soft on the issue.
Stump is charged with possession of an unregistered silencer. He and other members of the Blue Ridge Hunt Club have supported Fast but are not among his advisers.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms arrested several club members on charges of violating federal gun registration laws and recovered material allegedly written by the club's leader, James Roy Mullins, suggesting a campaign of terrorism against authorities.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB