The effect of the "loophole" to the Disclose Act you mentioned in the editorial "Disclose, disclose, disclose" (June 29) is that it empowers the entrenched special interest groups who are exempted from it. Such groups, as the NRA (which you mentioned) and many, many others, such as AFL/CIO, ACLU, NARAL, NAACP, Planned Parenthood, PETA, People for the American Way and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, are given a free pass, and the bill silences the citizens of the U.S.

Any group of citizens who decide to band together and make a TV ad about the state of our country or to speak out and let the American people know facts about a particular issue are silenced by the bill. These small, grassroots organizations do not have large corporate donors. Yet, they are willing to donate to make their voices heard. The provisions of the bill are so onerous, it makes it impossible for these groups of citizens to comply.

So, the loophole has actually turned the bill 180 degrees from what it was supposed to do. The bill, if passed in it's current form, will make the entrenched special interest groups and lobbyists even more powerful than they are already. And the diversity of voices now available to the American people will be censored!

Linda Smith, Glen Burnie