
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 18, 1995                   TAG: 9505180057
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

NRA APOLOGIZES FOR LETTER

Sounding a conciliatory tone, the National Rifle Association apologized Wednesday to law enforcement officials and others offended by a recent fund-raising letter describing some federal agents as ``jack-booted thugs.''

``I really feel bad about the fact that the words in that letter have been interpreted to apply to all federal law enforcement officers,'' NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre said.

``If anyone thought the intention was to paint all federal law enforcement officials with the same broad brush, I'm sorry, and I apologize,'' he said.

Lapierre's apology comes after a week of steadily mounting criticism of the NRA, which began May 10 when former President Bush revealed that he had resigned from the group in protest of the letter. This week, President Clinton joined the critics and praised Bush for his action.

LaPierre insisted that the fund-raising letter was intended to criticize only isolated actions, primarily involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

by CNB