Archive for the ‘Gun Control’ Category

From RMGO: H.R. 45

February 5, 2009

H.R. 45 is Draconian Gun Control

What H.R. 45 Does

The legislation has three main components.

  1. Increasing requirements for firearms purchases.
  2. Creating a national firearms registry overseen by the Federal Government.
  3. Stiffen penalties for bookkeeping errors related to the Federal Firearms Database formed in section 2.

To purchase a firearm a person would be required to pass a written firearms examination, release all health records — including mental heath records — to the Attorney General’s office, and submit to a two-day waiting period, as well as pay an “appropriate” fee of $25 per firearm.

Additionally, every firearm sale would be recorded in a database, which would track the serial number, make, model and identity of the owner. The legislation would also make all private sales of firearms illegal, and a felony offense.

In addition to these regulations, the legislation includes excessive regulations and penalties for bureaucratic missteps from simple failures to report address changes to failure to report stolen weapons.

Provisions of H.R. 45 include:

  • Requires passing a written examination to purchase a firearm.
  • Releases medical records — including confidential mental health records — to the Attorney General for Government review.
  • Requires a two-day waiting period on all firearms purchases.
  • Institutes a fee of $25 or more on all firearm purchases.
  • Creates a national database with all firearms and firearms owners registered by serial number with the Federal Government.
  • A Federal ban on all private firearms sales.
  • Increases in penalties for clerical errors related to this national firearms registry.
  • You can read the full text of the bill here.Click here to sign the petition against H.R. 45!


    Who’s sponsoring H.R. 45

    H.R. 45 — President Obama’s National Gun Registry and Citizen Disarmament Act — was written by Illinois Congressman Bobby Rush (D). It currently has no cosponsors.


    But will it pass Congress?
    Congressman Rush’s bill an outrageous destruction of Constitutional Rights, but it’s the compromises that are truly dangerous

    Though far-left gun-haters routinely sponsor pie-in-the-sky legislation (anyone remember the days of Sen. Moynihan’s annual 1000% tax on ammo?), H.R. 45 has set new lows for the depths to which hoplophobes will sink.

    Is H.R. 45 dangerous? Yes.  But is it likely to pass?  No, not in its current form…. it’s too far-reaching.

    What is likely to pass, though, is a compromise, a deal cut with the gun-grabbers and the group that ostensibly represents gun owners, the NRA.

    Think that can’t happen? Rewind to the summer of 2007, when arch gun-hater Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy sat down with NRA board member Congressman John Dingell to craft a deal to expand Brady Checks into new realms of mental health records. A few months later, H.R. 2640 passed…with the approval of the NRA and McCarthy.

    Congressman Rush’s gun control ideas are much, much more dangerous as amendments to legislation that is already advancing.

    Remember the Brady Bill? It didn’t pass as a stand-alone bill. It passed as an amendment.

    Even more frightening was that it passed with the approval of the NRA (click here for that full story)

    The same is true of the Lautenberg Domestic Abuse ban, the Assault Weapons ban, 1986 McClure-Volkmer (which bans the manufacture of transferable machine guns), the 1968 Gun Control Act, and numerous other examples (especially if you look at state legislation).

    Yes, we’re watching H.R. 45. , and we want everyone to sign our petition against it. But also beware the slight of hand — it’s often more dangerous.

    Click here to sign the petition against H.R. 45!

    Eric Holder Sworn In As Attorney General

    February 5, 2009

    Anti-gun Eric Holder Sworn In As Attorney General
    — See who stabbed you in the back

    Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert
    8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
    Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
    http://www.gunowners.org

    Wednesday, February 4, 2009

    GOA wants to thank all of you for your hard work in opposing the
    extremely anti-gun Eric Holder for Attorney General.

    While we lost the battle on Monday (by a vote of 75-21), you guys
    registered your opposition loud and clear.

    There is no doubt that your activism truly made gun rights THE issue in
    this nomination battle. Every Senator who spoke against Holder
    mentioned Second Amendment fears. And even among many of the Senators
    who voted for him, there was tremendous concern regarding Holder’s
    stance on gun rights.

    As stated by The Washington Post yesterday, “Holder overcame concerns by
    a small but vocal group of GOP lawmakers about his position on national
    security and GUN RIGHTS, as well as his recommendations in two
    controversial clemency decisions by President Bill Clinton.”

    This was truly a battle worth fighting. In fact, the man who was being
    deified two weeks ago is now the very same President who is widely seen
    as not being able to shoot straight in selecting cabinet members and is
    already starting to lose public support. The battle over Holder was
    certainly central to taking the bloom off this rose.

    So thank you for helping magnify our voice on Capitol Hill. GOA spent
    many hours lobbying against Holder, as we were the only gun rights group
    in Washington to tell Senators we would be rating this vote in our
    end-of-session grade report.

    With Holder in office, you can expect to see renewed efforts to drive
    gun dealers and manufacturers out of business — similar to the efforts
    he supported while in the Clinton administration.

    Expect also to see attempts to classify more guns as “not
    suitable” for
    sporting purposes. And don’t be surprised to see attempts to use the No
    Fly List to disqualify gun owners from exercising their Second Amendment
    rights. (Bureaucrats can add innocent Americans to the No Fly List —
    and have done so — without any due process of law being followed.)

    With Eric Holder at the helm, the list could easily become a No Gun
    List, as there are already discussions in Washington about doing this.

    All the above horror scenarios are policies that could conceivably occur
    without ANY legislation being passed in Congress. That is what makes
    Holder’s confirmation as Attorney General so dangerous. Through the use
    of Executive Orders or by prosecuting gun owners, Holder can inflict
    much damage upon the Second Amendment — even apart from lending his
    support for legislation, such as renewing the semi-auto ban.

    So what can we do now? Is the battle over Holder finished?

    No, not yet. There’s one more action item that needs to be taken.
    There are 75 Senators who ignored your pleas to vote against Holder.
    They need to hear from you and know that you’re upset.

    They need to be reminded again and again that voting for gun control is
    what cost Bill Clinton’s party the control of Congress in 1994… and Al
    Gore his election in 2000… and John Kerry the presidency in 2004.

    And don’t forget, there are the 21 Senators who voted right. They need
    to be thanked. So please don’t file this alert until you’ve taken the
    action item below.

    ACTION: Please use the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at
    http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send your Senators a
    pre-written e-mail message. You will be prompted to input your zip
    code, which will then bring up the correct letter for your Senators.

    The pre-written letter will differ according to whether your Senator
    voted in favor or against Eric Holder. (Three Senators missed the vote
    entirely. GOA is treating their absence as an anti-gun action.)

    NOTE: GOA’s pre-written letters are usually editable by the sender. In
    this instance, they are not for the sake of avoiding confusion, so that
    Senators who voted wrong are not thanked (and vice versa).

    —————————————————————

    SENATORS WHO VOTED FOR ERIC HOLDER (AN ANTI-GUN VOTE):

    Akaka (D-HI)
    Alexander (R-TN)
    Baucus (D-MT)
    Bayh (D-IN)
    Bennet (D-CO)
    Bennett (R-UT)
    Bingaman (D-NM)
    Bond (R-MO)
    Boxer (D-CA)
    Brown (D-OH)
    Burris (D-IL)
    Byrd (D-WV)
    Cantwell (D-WA)
    Cardin (D-MD)
    Carper (D-DE)
    Casey (D-PA)
    Chambliss (R-GA)
    Collins (R-ME)
    Conrad (D-ND)
    Corker (R-TN)
    Dodd (D-CT)
    Dorgan (D-ND)
    Durbin (D-IL)
    Feingold (D-WI)
    Feinstein (D-CA)
    Gillibrand (D-NY)
    Graham (R-SC)
    Grassley (R-IA)
    Gregg (R-NH)
    Hagan (D-NC)
    Harkin (D-IA)
    Hatch (R-UT)
    Inouye (D-HI)
    Isakson (R-GA)
    Johnson (D-SD)
    Kaufman (D-DE)
    Kerry (D-MA)
    Klobuchar (D-MN)
    Kohl (D-WI)
    Kyl (R-AZ)
    Landrieu (D-LA)
    Lautenberg (D-NJ)
    Leahy (D-VT)
    Levin (D-MI)
    Lieberman (ID-CT)
    Lincoln (D-AR)
    Lugar (R-IN)
    McCain (R-AZ)
    McCaskill (D-MO)
    Menendez (D-NJ)
    Merkley (D-OR)
    Mikulski (D-MD)
    Murkowski (R-AK)
    Murray (D-WA)
    Nelson (D-FL)
    Nelson (D-NE)
    Pryor (D-AR)
    Reed (D-RI)
    Reid (D-NV)
    Rockefeller (D-WV)
    Sanders (I-VT)
    Schumer (D-NY)
    Sessions (R-AL)
    Shaheen (D-NH)
    Snowe (R-ME)
    Specter (R-PA)
    Stabenow (D-MI)
    Tester (D-MT)
    Udall (D-CO)
    Udall (D-NM)
    Voinovich (R-OH)
    Warner (D-VA)
    Webb (D-VA)
    Whitehouse (D-RI)
    Wyden (D-OR)

    SENATORS WHO VOTED AGAINST HOLDER (A PRO-GUN VOTE)

    Barrasso (R-WY)
    Brownback (R-KS)
    Bunning (R-KY)
    Burr (R-NC)
    Coburn (R-OK)
    Cochran (R-MS)
    Cornyn (R-TX)
    Crapo (R-ID)
    DeMint (R-SC)
    Ensign (R-NV)
    Enzi (R-WY)
    Hutchison (R-TX)
    Inhofe (R-OK)
    Johanns (R-NE)
    McConnell (R-KY)
    Risch (R-ID)
    Roberts (R-KS)
    Shelby (R-AL)
    Thune (R-SD)
    Vitter (R-LA)
    Wicker (R-MS)

    SENATORS NOT VOTING

    Begich (D-AK)
    Kennedy (D-MA)
    Martinez (R-FL)

    Facist Holder secures power

    February 2, 2009

    Fascist Eric Holder has been appointed United States Attorney General. Only twenty-one Senators had the courage to stand for the Constitution and against the Obama henchman. Get ready for more Americans to die at the hands of government rogues after being entrapped. How long until another group of Americans are incinerated at the hands of the Department of Justice for practicing their religion? Those things happened during Holders last watch. Eric Holder condemns as torture something that every American troop that is spec ops, and many others go through as training, but he can’t condemn atrocities against Americans..?

    Obama, the new “American way?”

    February 2, 2009

    Many times I have posted about the Obama. About this phenomenon and his ability to mesmerize audiences. About how our Constitutional Republic is turning into the pure democracy of mob rule. About how the Obama used amoral methods to get elected to an office that he does not deserve to be in simply based upon the requirements for the office laid out in the Constitution. Not to mention the foreign money. His promises to negotiate with those sworn to destroy America. Well, just take a look at his cabinet. What a bunch of misfits and outright traitors to their oaths to the Constitution. My prose though, is nothing compared to that of  Dr. Ali Sina. Read his work here.

    The Million Gun Owner March

    February 1, 2009

    SOURCE

    I received this from our fellow member Bushwack and this is one of those things that needs to be passed on, supported, nurtured and carried to fruition!

    The Million Gun Owner March

    Last week I received the below email from a lady in Belgium who had just read my book “RKBA: Defending the Right to Keep and Bear Arms”. She was distraught and discouraged because her beloved country was no longer what it used to be. Here are her words.

    “Another nutcase criminal entered a baby/little kid’s daycare center… and he began to stab the kids with a knife! You know what the adults who are supposed to take care of the kids did? One was stabbed himself, but two others ran away. One hid behind a closed door and watched through the window while the kids got slaughtered and another one ran away and left the kids alone with the attacker! Two babies died, several kids badly wounded… The country is in shock, how is this possible? …No one said anything about the cowardly behavior of the two adults who ran away. They told it like it was a normal reaction, a normal thing to do…”

    I can sense the outrage in her voice when I read her words. This woman, once a patriotic and proud citizen, was now a mere subject, and ashamed of what her country had become. Thanks to the miracle of gun control and pistol-free zones, two more babies are dead.

    I did some research and learned that in June of 2006, reacting to a racially inspired shooting in Antwerp, a Draconian gun ban went into effect in the country of Belgium. Citizens were required to turn over their firearms to police, without compensation, or, in the case of antiques, were required to render them permanently inoperable.

    In the words of my reader in Belgium “The country is in shock, how is this possible?” The answer is simple: cause and effect. When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. In this pitiful case the man didn’t even have a gun. He was loaded down with knives; he was mentally ill, and he arrived at the crime scene on a bicycle, did his killing, and then rode away – on a bike. Folks this is sad and shameful. Six adults couldn’t stop one crazy man with a knife on a bike.

    “One man with a gun can control 100 without one. … Make mass searches and hold executions for found arms.” ~ Vladimir Lenin ~

    Apparently, one man with a knife can now control six people without. But then again, it’s easy for us Americans to sit back and make fun of Europe. After all, we are the land of the free, the home of the brave. Right? Well, not so fast. In many states in America, including my home state of Michigan, the outcome would have been the same as in Belgium, because daycare centers are one of the hallowed and sacred pistol-free zones. (Sacred and revered, but only to law-abiding citizens, because criminals pay them no heed.)

    For two centuries, us damned Yankees have enfleshed the attitude of freedom and independence. But now, have we changed? Is Obama fiddling as Washington DC burns? In my opinion, America has lost much of its spunk, much of its spirit, and much of its grit. We have become less heroic and more sheeplike. We are no longer leaders, but followers. In light of the outcome of the last elections, have we become simply Euro-sheep? I am ashamed to admit that many of my fellow Americans have indeed succumbed to oppression and have lost their will to fight. They would rather have peace than freedom.

    I received another email just yesterday. It was from a fellow patriot who said:

    “I am a fellow gun owner and supporter of the second amendment. I have been chatting with a bunch of fellow gun lovers on the S&W forum about trying to get a million man march on Washington organized. Since I know very little about doing so, I thought I’d write you on behalf of all of us. We would like to get some help organizing such an event. We would like to be able to get the word out to as many gun owners as possible and encourage them to join us.”

    That idea struck me as good, so I got involved. First, I emailed Ted Nugent and asked him to headline a “Million Gun Owner March” on Washington DC. Here is his response:

    “It is time. IF coordinated with NRA, GOA, JFPOFO, MCRGO, SCI, NWTF, RMEF, DU, FNAWS, etc etc & all gunrights orgs, I would be proud to join/lead the fray!!!”

    This is how it works folks. Every revolution throughout history has always started with a single person. One ordinary person wakes up, looks around and says “Hey! This isn’t right! Someone should do something!”

    And that someone is you and I. We are one small part of the Million Gun Owner March. The next thing I did was email Chuck Perricone, Executive Director of Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners and asked if they’d like to be involved. His response was similar to Ted’s:

    “The answer is, “YES”…and we’d like to handle the press/recruiting. We can knock this out of the park. FANTASTIC idea, Skip.”

    Hmmm, I see some possibilities here. I see excitement. I see motivation. I see patriots with guns! I see a peaceful (but loud) march on Washington DC, on the Capitol steps, down Pennsylvania Avenue, with Ted Nugent singing his electrified version of the National Anthem as loud as he can. Maybe I can get Toby Keith too? And I like that song by LC Greenwood “God Bless the USA”. That one just brings chills to my tired, old, gun-totin’ body.

    I’ll have to check into that. In the meantime, I logged on and bought the domain name http://www.milliongunownermarch.com/. It is my donation to the cause. Now, since I’m computer clumsy, we need someone to step forward and build the website. Any computer-savvy volunteers out there willing to build a website for us?

    You know the frustrating part of a movement, is that too many people wait for someone else to step forward and do what needs doing. It’s known as the crowd mentality. People wait until it looks safe, then they step out and join. A few weeks ago I quoted Mark Twain, and it bears repeating.

    “In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, brave and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.”

    Well, America, this is the beginning of a change and it is no time for the timid. This is the time for brave men and women to stand up and be counted. Because, I just have a feeling, that America’s time may be running out. I don’t want to live in a nation of Euro-sheep. I want my children to inherit the freedom our forefathers knew. But freedom has to be protected or it will fall. I suspect, my freedom-loving friends, that we are at a crossroads. Now, assuming we are smart enough to see it, and that we are brave enough to take the road less traveled, perhaps, America, just perhaps, there is still time to save our liberty. The time to act is now. We must march now, or forever hold our piece (rendered inoperable by the government).

    THE OBAMANISTA REGIME’S SCAMS

    February 1, 2009

    Leave it to a Marine to call it as he sees it.

    THE OBAMANISTA REGIME’S SCAMS, SCANDALS, CONTROVERSIES, LIES, DECEPTIONS AND EMBARRASSMENTS

    Attorney General Eric Holder, revealed to be the man who, as Clinton’s deputy AG, was the driving force behind the sentence commutation of 16 murderous FALN terrorists.

    Attorney General Eric Holder’s law firm represents 17 Gitmo terrorists and he is a driving force behind the closing of Gitmo.

    On Inauguration Day, Obama granted only ABC News an interview, after they paid him $2 million to sponsor his DC Neighborhood Ball.

    After three days in office, Obama ordered an attack on homes in Pakistan. Twenty-one people were killed but only five were reported to have been terrorists; the rest of the incinerated and dismembered victims were children, their moms and dads, and other civilians, according to the New York Times, the AFP, the AP and many other news sources.

    On 23 January 2009, Obama demanded that GOP leaders stop listening to Rush Limbaugh or else things would not go well for them during his regime.

    William Lind, a powerful defense industry lobbyist, was appointed by Obama to be deputy defense secretary, despite all the rants and promises Obama made about never appointing a lobbyist to a position of power in his regime.

    On 23 January 2009, Obama lifted the ban on federal tax dollars funding abortion mill operations in Third World countries where eugenics are now again used to control the population.

    Two days after seizing power, Obama signed an executive order to close Gitmo, making it clear that the comfort and happiness of the terrorists therein, and Europe’s opinion of us, are far more important than national security and the lives of American families.

    Secretary of State Hillary Clinton refuses to reveal all of the big foreign donors to her husband’s “foundation,” but the Washington Times says huge sums of money came from the People’s Republic of China via a secret 2006 stock transaction.

    On 24 January 2009, despite his hundreds if not thousands of pledges and promises of total transparency in his regime, Obama held a secret closed-door meeting with his economic advisors as anger over his $1 trillion “economic stimulus” spending scheme, refusing to allow the media and American people access to what was discussed.

    On 26 January 2009, Rep. John Boehner revealed that Obama and his Obamanistas in the Congress had added language in the Democrats’ stimulus bill that would allow Obama’s infamous voter fraud organization, ACORN, to receive billions of dollars in federal funding under the farcical guise of “neighborhood stabilization activities.”

    On 26 January 2009, U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Susan Rice, stated that the Obama regime seeks direct negotiations with the terrorist regime of Iran.

    In a shocking insult to our military’s heroes, on 20 January 2009, Barack Obama became the first president in 56 years–since its inception–to skip the Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball, which is held in honor of Medal of Honor recipients, Purple Heart recipients, paralyzed veterans and other military heroes. Obama did, however, find time to attend the Neighborhood Ball, which was filled with Hollywood’s ultra elite.

    On 26 January 2009, with hat in hand and apologizing for the United States, Obama gave his first formal television interview as president not to an American network, but Al-Arabiya, saying America must stop “dictating,” a move and statement that was immediately seen by extremist Muslims as a sign of sure weakness and fear.

    James B. Steinberg, whom Obama nominated to be deputy secretary of state, told the Foreign Relations Committee in writing that Americans have a free speech right guaranteed by the Constitution to taxpayer funded abortions.

    On 26 January 2009, Timothy Geithner was sworn in as Obama’s secretary of the treasury despite having serious tax problems and having had an illegal alien housekeeper.

    On 27 January 2009, Obama, for some reason confused, attempted to walk through a window to get back into the White House rather than using a door. There were no calls from liberals to have him take a urinalysis to determine why he did this.

    The Obamanistas added $325,000,000 to the economic stimulus bill for a program to teach Americans how not to get the clap and other STDs. More additions:

    The Obamanistas added $1.5 billion to run a contest to capture carbon.

    The Obamanistas added $45 million for ATV trails.

    The Obamanistas added $572 million to create 1,235 Coast Guard civilian jobs at $460K each.

    The Obamanistas added $4 billion for Obama’s voter fraud unit that is under federal investigation for massive fraud.

    The Obamanistas added $3.5 billion for new education facilities.

    The Obamanistas added $200 million for DoD alternative energy vehicles.

    The Obamanistas added $600 million for new government cars.

    The Obamanistas added $134 million for hospices.

    The Obamanistas added $50 million for the Endowment for the Arts.

    The Obamanistas added $650 million for digital TV coupons.

    Obama’s economic stimulus bill includes his plan to force all American to have their entire health care history recorded in a government electronic database that privacy experts say could result in your most private medical issues being shared and viewed by no-one-knows who.

    After the House passed what conservative watchdog Michelle Malkin calls the Generational Theft Act of 2009 worth $1 trillion + in debt to the American people and loaded with leftist pork like $335,000,000 for training Americans how not to catch the clap, Obama, who promised to lead a “new era of responsibility,” served up $100/ounce wagyu steak for some pals at the White House as shocking numbers of American homeless and jobless struggled to survive.

    On 19 May 2008, Obama chided Americans that it is wrong for them to keep their thermostats on 72 degrees and stated, “That’s not leadership. That’s not going to happen.” On 21 January 2009, Obama’s chief political advisor, David Axelrod, said Obama will be keeping the Oval Office thermostat so high that “You could grow orchids in there” because “He likes it warm.”

    President Obama went to bat for accused USS Cole attack mastermind Abu al-Nashiri and told military judge James Pohl to postpone the terrorist’s trial. On 29 January 2009, Pohl refused the presidential order. The attack killed 17 American sailors and wounded several dozen.

    On 29 January 2009, it was learned that despite his many repeated promises, Obama was stacking his regime with lobbyists, such as William Corr (finance industry) and Mark Patterson (anti-tobacco industry, despite Obama being a heavy smoker), in addition to William Lynn of the defense industry.

    In January 2009, more than 1 million homes from Texas to Maine were without power after a winter storm; dozens of people died in the storm. Estimates for some areas said it could be two weeks or more before power would be restored. Obama did nothing to save lives and restore power, instead cranking up the heat in the Oval Office, according to David Axelrod, to tropical levels. No liberals complained about Obama total lack of response to the calamity, as they did after Katrina about Bush.

    SOURCE

    Can’t ban guns? Okay, just ban the ammunition!

    January 30, 2009

    My usual Friday project for this week was going to be addressing the latest control scheme by those that don’t have anything better to do than infringe upon the rights of others. However, someone beat me to it, and in a much better manner than my poor writing skills allow for.

    Read it here

    Be sure to also read the comments!

    So, what can I add to the discussion? Not a heck of a lot, but I can drop a few ideas!

    • Small business plans are fairly simple to write. This ban could make more people more money than Nigerian Internet scams!
    • Making otherwise law abiding people into criminals will have them going into the underground economy and learning from the professionals that already operate there. Like drug dealers and manufacturers. So, from simple ammunition manufacturing ( like marijuana) one can easily get to the next (transition) step up the criminal ladder. Illegal weapons, such as crew served weapons, RPG’s and so on. (Like cocaine and heroin.)
    • The immense profits will lead to territorial conflicts. An entire new version of gang warfare and violence will lead to a new war. A war on guns/ammo that will make the war on drugs look like a 1960’s love in. Think about the product being sold. Drugs most often kill as a secondary effect, while an RPG kills through primary effect.
    • As the violence rises, so will the profits as more and more people seek the ability to properly and effectively defend themselves and families. The market then starts all over again, and the business plan adjusts to the new cycle as new recruits join the ranks of the criminal world.
    • Government will respond with increased enforcement, and more people will get killed, sometimes based upon incorrect information. Or simply because of the nature of this new class of law breaking.

    The path to hell is paved with bricks made from good intentions. Making decent people that simply want to exercise their natural right to defend oneself and family into criminals is in and of itself criminal. Those that seek to pass such laws are the true criminals and should be resisted by any and all that are capable of thinking rationally and logically.

    An individual right? CNN Poll

    January 29, 2009

    STOLEN FROM

    Does the Second Amendment give individuals the right to bear arms?

    If you have seen this and voted, GREAT, if you haven’t, PLEASE vote!! I was a *no-brainer* for me, and should be for any thinking person, but we ALL know that there are many brainless moonbats out there. Here’s a chance to combat those moonbats!

    Please vote on this gun issue, 2nd Amendment question on USA Today. It will only take a few seconds of your time.

    Then pass the link on to all the pro gun folks you know. Hopefully these results will be published later this month. This upcoming year will become critical for gun owners with the Supreme Court accepting the District of Columbia case against the right for individuals to bear arms.

    First – vote on this one.

    Second – launch it to other folks and have THEM vote – then we will see if the results get published.

    Vote in the USA Today poll – click on the link below.

    The Question is:
    Does the Second Amendment give individuals the right to bear arms?

    USATODAY.com – Quick Question- VOTE HERE

    my response;

    Here’s my take on it. The term “inalienable rights” is in the Declaration of Independence.

    The Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, are an expression of the Declaration. At least that is how I was taught.

    Before our Founders rebelled, and the United States was formed there was what was called the “Rights of Englishmen.” Those rights had been in place since the Magna Carta had been written, and there, it is stated as a God given right, to possess arms for the common and personal defense. Those were “individual rights.” Granted, the belief was “God given” but the King didn’t see it that way. So it was written down in the common language of the times.

    Our entire Bill of Rights is based upon those very same beliefs. Those are individual rights belonging to everyone, and are not granted by any king, government, or authority.

    And please, don’t come back with the “limited rights” argument expressed as by shouting fire in a crowded theater is a crime. If the damned thing is in fact on fire it’s your civic duty to warn others of the danger.

    Decorated Marine faces charges

    January 28, 2009


    A Decorated Marine needs your support more than ever.
    Torrey Thompson is in danger of serving time in jail for a crime that he did not commit.  Thompson is a former police officer of DeKalb County, Georgia and a Marine Corps veteran.  This dedicated man does not deserve to be convicted all for doing his job; enforcing the law and protecting the public.

    Torrey Thompson is charged with felony murder, manslaughter and aggravated assault arising out of an incident which occurred on September 12, 2006.  Thompson was called for back-up along with two other officers in an apartment complex in Decatur, Georgia.  The two officers that called for back-up were Officers Knock and Mondesir.  They were investigating a stolen vehicle in the apartment complex, which had been identified in a hit and run incident earlier that day.

    When Officer Knock stopped the vehicle, the occupants jumped and fled on foot.  Knock and Mondesir contacted the owner of the vehicle who informed them that the vehicle had been stolen.  The owner identified one of the occupants to be Lorenzo Mathews.  Mathews was already wanted in connection with a shooting earlier in the month.

    Knock and Mondesir were given permission to search the second floor of the apartment building where they believed Mathews to be hiding.  Thompson was then called for back-up along with Officer Nunn and Sergeant Berg. Officers Knock and Mathews positioned themselves at the rear of the apartment on the ground floor.  Officer Thompson positioned himself next to Officer Knock at the base of the stairwell.

    As the Officers entered the building, Mathews was standing in the kitchen area.  Mathews fled out the back and down the stairs while Officers Thompson and Knock proceeded to yell “STOP, GET TO THE GROUND” and then ordered Mathews to “SHOW YOUR HANDS”.  Matthews refused the orders and ran down the stairs pointing what appeared to be a gun at Officer Thompson.

    Mathews then pointed the item at Knock.  Officer Knock then yelled “SHOW YOUR HANDS”, “STOP”, “DROP YOUR WEAPON”, and “GIVE UP”.  Once again, Mathews ignored Knock’s commands and lunged towards him.  Officer Knock fired his 9-millimeter Beretta four times hitting Mathews once in the chest.

    Officer Knock did not think that he hit Mathews because he then jumped over the railing of the staircase and ran towards Officer Thompson.  Officer Knock did not fire again because Thompson was in his line of fire.  Knock yelled to Thompson to “shoot him”.  Observing something dark in Matthews hand and believing it to be the butt of a pistol, Officer Thompson shot his 9-millimeter Beretta twice.

    Mathews jumped the backyard fence and fled the scene towards a wooded area behind the apartment building.  Officer Thompson chased Mathews and yelled for Mathews to “STOP” as he chased him through a parking lot towards the wooded area.  Mathews turned and Officer Thompson fired his Beretta four times because he feared that Mathews was armed and would take an offensive position against him as he entered the woods.

    As Mathews entered the woods he stopped and looked at Officer Thompson.  Officer Thompson proceeded to fire four more times.  Mathews ran through the woods and jumped over a fence into a shopping center.

    When the K-9 unit arrived, they found Lorenzo Mathews located dead in the shopping center.  A large knife was found at the shopping center fence where Mathews had climbed over.

    Officer Torrey Thompson is now being charged with felony murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, and violation of oath by an officer.  These outrageous charges against Thompson are completely unjust.

    Officer Thompson was performing his job the way he was trained to do.  He knew that Lorenzo Mathews was a dangerous felon who had earlier demonstrated a willingness to place others in harms way to avoid arrest.  Thompson took the necessary actions to keep this criminal off the streets of the community he was trying to protect.

    Officer Thompson was indicted in July 2008, almost two years after the incident occurred.  It is not fair that this dedicated officer could spend time in jail for protecting the public.

    LELDF is assisting to help Officer Torrey Thompson with his expensive legal fees and expert witness testimony, but we need your support.  But, we cannot do it alone.  Thompson needs to know that his fellow Americans support the job he does and that we appreciate his bravery.

    LELDF is a non-profit organization founded to support and defend police officers from unfair charges for actions taken in the line of duty.

    This Decorated Marine has four letters of commendation and has never been disciplined.  This is not a police officer who deserves to spend any time jail for a crime that he did not commit.

    The two Officers, Knock and Thompson, both believed that their lives were in danger.  Mathews was a dangerous suspect who was making aggressive moves towards the officers.  They believe that they were justified in the actions they took.

    Why should Torrey Thompson, a dedicated Police Officer and Decorated Marine, have to endure the consequences of these charges because of this criminal?

    You can help Officer Thompson obtain justice by showing your support as a fellow American who respects the sacrifices he makes for his community.

    LELDF is asking you to make a contribution of $25, $50, $100, or any other amount that you can afford.  Your tax-deductible donation will make a huge impact on Officer Torrey Thompson’s life.

    We thank you for your support.

    Sincerely,


    David H. Martin
    Chairman

    Dems derail Brophy bill to protect homeowners

    January 28, 2009

    State Senator Greg Brophy has been stabbed in his own home, so to speak. Despite the logic, and indeed inalienable right to properly and effectively defend themselves Democrats stopped this needed legislation.

    A Republican effort that would have reinforced Coloradans’ ability to defend their families against home intruders hit a dead end today in a Senate committee.

    Assistant Senate GOP leader Greg Brophy, R-Wray, presented Senate Bill 74 before the Senate Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs, calling it a matter of “statewide concern.”

    SB 74 would prohibit local governments from passing any law or regulation that requires a person to store their lawfully-owned firearms in a way that renders them inoperable. The Democrat-controlled committee voted to postpone the bill indefinitely, effectively killing it.

    Brophy said the bill addresses and recognizes the landmark United States Supreme Court decision made last summer in the District of Columbia v. Heller case.  The Heller decision held that gun ownership is an individual right and that any government in the U.S. cannot put individuals in the position where they would be inadequately prepared to defend themselves against home invasion.

    “We need to pass the ban on safe-storage laws in Colorado,” Brophy said in the committee. “I think the Heller case raised this issue to the national spotlight and brought it forward so that everybody is aware of it.”


    Research Director of the Independence Institute Dave Kopel, left, tesifies in favor of Sen. Greg Brophy’s Senate Bill 74.


    “This would save the citizens of Colorado the trouble of being forced to go the courts and have the courts say, ‘yes indeed the Supreme Court has already ruled on this,'” Brophy said.

    Currently, the cities of Denver and Boulder have so-called “safe-storage” laws that require guns be disassembled or secured with a trigger lock while stored in private homes.

    In his testimony in favor of the bill, renowned Second Amendment expert and constitutional lawyer Dave Kopel, who is research director at the Golden-based think tank the Independence Institute, offered evidence showing that cities with safe-storage laws actually have higher rates of home intrusion and violence because criminals are all too aware that homeowners are unable to defend themselves.

    “Law-abiding gunowners in Denver and the public in general continue to be in danger due to unreasonable laws that prevent families from teaching gun safety in their own homes and make it way too difficult for crime victims in Denver to be able to protect themselves,” Kopel said after the bill was killed.

    While ruling Democrats offered few insights to their opposition to the bill, Fort Collins Democrat Bob Bacon rasied concerns about second-guessing local-government policies on the issue of gun ownership.

    Brophy countered that such concerns reflect misplaced priorities.

    “They’re giving City Hall the right to preempt your own right to defend yourself and your family,” Brophy said. “And I think that’s just wrong.”

    Assistant Senate Republican Leader Greg Brophy, of Wray, sits in disappointment after his bill, which would have given homeowners more power to defend themselves, was killed in a Democrat-controlled committee.

    SOURCE