I am urging everyone to contact their Senators to NOT Confirm ATF Acting Director Michael J. Sullivan to ATF Director. Ted Kennedy praised Sullivan the other day and laid out the ATF's agenda. Armed and Safe points out his praise of IACP which recently joined forces with the Gun Control group the Joyce Foundation. Sullivan has demonstrated that he intends to continue to carry out the mission of the ATF. This mission began with Bill Clinton and is eroding away our rights. Of Arms and the Law just posted the following on the ATF: http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2007/09/atf_from_the_in.php Sullivan is not the answer, he is part of the problem. Contact your Senators Today!!

OK–that's not really what they call <a href="http://www.csgv.org/site/c.muLYJ7MMKrH/b.2607867/k.BF4D/Home.htm" ref="nofollow">themselves</a>.  But recently, the Director of Communications for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, <a href="http://www.csgv.org/site/c.muLYJ7MMKrH/b.2831727/k.218A/About_Ladd_Everitt_Director_of_Communications.htm" ref="nofollow">Ladd Everitt</a> (who is also the president of the Washington DC chapter of the Million Mom March–I know this is none of my business, but if he is one of the Marching Mommies, I wonder who the <i>father</i> is–on second thought, I don't want to know), as much as publicly admitted that <a href="http://frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=7CB2079F-DD40-436A-8551-D8FD8E3ED165">supporting tyranny was the objective</a>.  <blockquote><i>Mostly Livingston wanted the “Living Letters” to help advocate stricter gun control in the U.S. He was joined by Ladd Everitt of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, who bewailed: "We have a real pride in violence in our country." He likewise exclaimed, "We also profit from it,” fingering the U.S. films that “glorify violence and promote vigilante justice,” according to a WCC account.

More revealingly, Everitt insisted that <b>“the government must have a monopoly on force,”</b> according to an account by my assistant Rebekah Sharpe, who attended the meeting. He identified the obstacles to fuller gun control as <b>“hardcore gun owners”</b> who have a <b>“profoundly, virulently anti-government attitude.”</b> Many of these hardcore zealots adhere to the National Rifle Association’s ostensible belief that <b>“if our government becomes tyrannical they have a right to take over that government, our democratically elected government!”</b></i>  [emphasis mine]</blockquote>  "The government must have a monopoly on force," eh?  I have never doubted that this was the core objective of the civilian disarmament groups, but I never expected them to come out and publicly <i>acknowledge</i> it.  Note also his dismay at the thought of people believing they have a right to overthrow tyrants (especially if they are <i>elected</i> tyrants). 

The article I quoted above is about a <a href="http://overcomingviolence.org/en/news-and-events/feature-articles/dov-features-english/article/1323/gun-control-issues-peace.html">delegation from the World Council of Churches</a>, which recently came to the United States "to investigate America's violence" (their itinerary wisely included Washington DC, with its rampant violence, <i>and</i> its draconian civilian disarmament laws–but I doubt they made the connection).  The delegates were, oddly enough, referred to as "Living Letters" (is it just me, being a child of the '70's, or is anyone else having trouble shaking <a href="http://www.buten.com/bobopolis/letter/">these mental images</a>?).  It was while they were in DC that Ladd made his speech to them.  This speech was apparently well received–as evidenced by the agreement of the "Letter" from South Africa: <blockquote><i>“Yes… the right wing out there wants to de-legitimize government… [If we give in to them] we are playing into the hands of the forces of chaos.”</i></blockquote>  Evidently, Africa has no history of governmental abuses–I'm so glad that I was apparently wrong about that.

The group also bleated and wailed in anguish over the various war memorials–reverence for courage and sacrifice is apparently <i>very</i> upsetting to their tender sensibilities.  <blockquote><i>The “Living Letters” also toured Washington’s many presidential monuments and war memorials, where they found lots of glorification of “violence.” Naturally, they were very concerned and asked, “Victory and sacrifice are the only way to build a great nation?” They also wondered why the “cost of freedom is paid by so many human lives.” While visiting the recently built World War II Memorial, they realized to their horror that “these praises of violence and sacrifice are not only memories of humanity’s past but are very much present today, in times we as churches are called to be protagonists.”</i></blockquote>  I suppose that's to be expected–anyone who opposes the use of force to free <i>oneself</i> from tyranny is naturally going to be horrified by using force to help free others.

Just curious, Ladd, when the tyranny you are trying to help bring about is imposed, do you figure to be one of those holding the whips, or is it your plan to survive through abject boot licking (I understand that some folks are into that sort of thing)?

When I spoke at the Regulatory Fairness Forum, the National Ombudsman Nicholas Owens warned those Government Agencies that were there that his office strongly looks down on Government Agencies that retaliate against individuals or businesses. In fact they are working with Federal Agencies to establish a policy prohibiting retaliatory actions. That is great…BUT I think that Mr. Owens has not dealt with ATF Acting Director Michael J. Sullivan and The Gang. I have received countless calls from other dealers (some large retailers as well), Distributors and Manufacturers who tell us that they are behind us 100%…BUT they do not want to speak out or the ATF will set there sights on them as well. I completely understand why would you want to get in the cross hairs of a government agency that is bent on retaliation. Their employees don't know any different, if you can not shut a dealer down then try and bankrupt them. If that doesn't work then set up straw purchase stings, which will result in the owner and employees being arrested. You have to look no further than our case where they have cost us a considerable amount of money, attempted to smear our name and reputation, blatantly harassed customers who have legally purchased firearms, violated our First Amendment, denied us a fair appeal process, lied and left out critical information. So Mr. Owens, I appreciate you seeking a High Level review of the BATFE but as far as retaliation…you don't know The Gang.

The Senate Judiciary committee today Praised ATF Acting Director Michael J. Sullivan at Sullivan's confirmation hearing. Sullivan then promised to release more trace data. The ATF has been on an agenda to shut down firearms dealers and manufacturers. Sullivan has continued to carry out this Back Door attack on our Second Amendment. As Gun Owners we should be deeply concerned when the ATF Director is being praised by John Kerry and Ted Kennedy, the bows to release more information to Chuck Schumer.

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