This is on my YouTube page. Somebody sent this to me as an email floater. Pretty good stalking skills. I have no idea who did it, when or where. If it’s yours, let me know so I can give credit.
History of Gun Control
The History of The Gun Rights War
The history of the gun rights war goes back as far as anyone wants to dig. I would not be surprised if someone were to uncover a lost chapter from the book of Genesis describing how Eve and a coalition of mothers from the land of Nod instigated a rule requiring weapons-grade stones to be cleared from fields and work spaces in hopes of preventing crimes of passion such as befell Able. Throughout history there are examples of governments and people of power attempting to control the peasants by restricting their access to weapons.
Here in the US the history of gun control is integral to the creation of the nation. It was when British troops marched from Boston to seize militia arms in Lexington and Concord that the people drew the line in the sand and the war for independence began in earnest. For the better part of the following century the right to arms was clearly understood and recognized in the United States. Debate over the Second Amendment revolved not around whether the right existed, but whether such a clearly understood and unquestionable right needed to be reiterated in the Constitution at all.
The Power of a Sign…
… is probably overrated.
A bill to “allow” (that word just grates on me) lawful carry on college campuses is being debated in the Arizona legislature, accompanied by predictable huffing and puffing of academia.
Mistrust in Oklahoma
ORA Doesn’t Trust You
According to the Oklahoma Rifle Association (ORA) and a good many state legislators from both sides of the aisle, people in Oklahoma are less responsible, less sensible, and less trustworthy than the people of Missouri, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, and 39 other states. Or so it would seem based on the arguments they have been voicing against proposals that the state recognize citizens’ right to bear arms out in the open.
The primary proposal, SB129, carves out exceptions to Oklahoma’s firearms carry restrictions for persons carrying their firearms in plain view as long as they are holstered, sheathed, or slung. Like open carry laws in many states, the Oklahoma proposal would lift restrictions for anyone 18 or older and would not mandate a license or training class. But, as seems to happen every time a state legislature begins entertaining legislation to broaden recognition of their citizens’ right to arms, the debate over open carry in Oklahoma has been conducted as though this is a new and untested idea. There has been much hype, speculation, and hypothetical anecdotal postulating from both sides of the issue. All of this non-evidence is presented as though the state is an isolated island nation with little or no contact with the rest of the world, much less the rest of the US.
Save Shotguns
Take Action to Stop Gun Ban
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is seeking public comment on their recent “study” on the importability of certain shotguns. It is critical that rights supporters express their objections to this “study” and its pending implementation in no uncertain terms. A strong showing of opposition can help to stiffen the spines of members of Congress and a poor showing will absolutely be pointed to as proof that people support expanded importation bans.
Comments need to be clearly opposed to expanding import bans and, most importantly, they must be submitted in a timely fashion. Intending to send a comment, but never actually getting around to it, does no one any good. The comment period is open now through the end of April. Comments can be submitted via email to shotgunstudy@atf.gov or by fax to (202) 648-9601.
Below is a sample comment you can paraphrase or simply cut and paste into your own email:
Subject: I Oppose Further Restrictions on Shotgun Imports.
I strongly oppose further restrictions on the importation of shotguns and disagree with the findings in the ATF shotgun study.
Test Article
The Knox Update
From the Firearms Coalition
Interpreting the Second Amendment
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state,
the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
By Jeff Knox
(February 5, 2009) It has been famously said and often repeated that the Constitution means what the Supreme Court says it means. While this statement is generally true, it is incomplete. Regardless of what the Supreme Court says, the Constitution ultimately means what the People believe it to mean.
So far in our history the Supreme Court has refrained from any interpretation of the Constitution that was so flagrantly at odds with the beliefs of the People that a serious, violent uprising ensued. But they may have come perilously close in last year’s decision in DC v. Heller. In that case the Court unanimously agreed that the Second Amendment refers to an individual right to arms, but disagreed in a 5 – 4 split as to whether the District of Columbia’s virtual ban on handguns violated that individual right. Even in the prevailing opinion, the justices expressed positions which are completely at odds with the understanding of those of us in the Second Amendment community.
The Second Amendment exists to ensure that the government does not trample the rights
NRA 2011 Board Elections
NRA Board Endorsement
Each year 25 of the 75 regular director seats comes up for election to 3-year terms along with the 76th director, who voters attending the Annual Meeting select for a one-year term.
There is little chance of any injection of new blood in this year’s election. The candidate list is a bit larger than usual, but it includes 26 incumbent directors, including the current 76th director, vying for the 25 seats. The Nominating Committee nominated all 25 of the current 3-year directors plus an additional six candidates. Additionally, six more candidates nominated exclusively by petition of the members. Historically we can expect that at least 23 of the 25 incumbents will win reelection. Since the NRA uses a cumulative total election – the 25 highest total vote getters win – the real race is always between candidates at the bottom of the list.
“Gunwalker” Scandal Widens
ATF Scandal Widens
“Project Gunwalker” may have strolled from Arizona to Texas.
The gun that was used by a smuggler to kill ICE Agent Jaime Zapata
last month in Mexico has been traced to a Texas gun shop, where it was
purchased by suspected gun traffickers who had reportedly been under
ATF surveillance for over a year.
According to an affidavit in the arrest of alleged straw purchasers,
Otilio and Ranferi Osorio, and Kelvin Morrison, they had previously
sold 40 guns to a federal agent, but had not been arrested.
Action Alert 13 Feb. 2011
Action Alert . . . . FirearmsCoalition.org . . . . Action Alert . . . . FirearmsCoalition.org . . . . Action Alert . . . . FirearmsCoalition.org . . . . Action Alert . . . . FirearmsCoalition.org . . . . Action Alert . . . .
Immediate Action Needed – Window Closes Tuesday!!
Copy the text of the email below or rewrite it in your own words and email it to:
The comment period has been extended for the ATF’s proposed “temporary,” emergency regulation requiring firearms dealers to file reports every time someone purchases more than one semi-auto long gun, but that comment period closes this Tuesday, February 15.
The ATF claims the reporting is necessary to combat the flow of firearms across the border into Mexico, but recent revelations and accusations raise significant questions about ATF’s motives and the efficacy of such a reporting requirement.
In what has been dubbed “Project Gunwalker” ATF is accused of allowing hundreds of AR and AK- type rifles to be sold in questionable sales and smuggled across the border – including two rifles recovered after a shootout with bandits on the border in which Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was killed.
The implications of the Project Gunwalker scandal are that ATF has already been receiving significant, voluntary cooperation from gun dealers in the border states, but that the agency has used that cooperation more to build support for their Project Gunrunner interdiction program and justify the need for the emergency reporting regulation by inflating the numbers of illegally “trafficked” weapons tracked across the border.
Beyond the complications of Project Gunwalker, the idea of requiring reporting of multiple long gun sales is clearly in conflict with established congressional mandates and restrictions on ATF’s authority.
Back in 1968 when the federal Gun Control Act was passed Congress included a requirement that multiple sales of handguns be reported to ATF and local law enforcement. At that time, and several times since, Congress has had the opportunity to include multiple sales of long guns in the reporting requirements and they have chosen not to do so. Congress has also passed several resolutions and included language in laws restricting ATF and other government agencies from instituting any sort of registration program or collecting detailed information from firearms sales without a direct connection to a specific criminal investigation. By attempting to push through this major regulatory change without congressional approval, ATF is seriously overstepping their legal authority.
Here is a sample letter which we ask you to copy and paste into an email or use as a template for writing a letter of your own to email in response to this proposal.
Subject: Oppose Regulation Expanding Multiple Sale Reporting
I am writing to oppose the so called emergency regulation to register multiple sales of certain rifles with BATFE as described in FR Doc. 2010-31761 from the 12/17/2010 Federal Register. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-31761.pdf
This regulation is both illegal and unnecessary. Further there is no justification for any “emergency” implementation as reported by the Washington Post:
White House delayed rule meant to stop gun flow to Mexico, Washington Post, Dec. 17, 2010, On-line edition:
( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/17/AR2010121706598.html ).
* The regulation proposed is outside the statutory grant of authority to record information about multiple sales of firearms. Title 18 U.S.C. § 923(g)(3)(A) specifically grants the authority to collect multiple sale information on handguns and revolvers. Other firearms are excluded and there is no implied authority to extend this reporting requirement to rifles or any other type of firearm.
* “FFL” holders are already required by law to respond to BATFE requests for information on firearms distribution pursuant to criminal investigations: Title 18 U.S.C. § 923(g)(7).
* The regulation contains no provision for the destruction of information collected, which establishes a nationwide registry of “certain types of firearms” as proposed. Because of this the regulation as proposed is illegal under Title 18 U.S.C. § 926(a). “No such rule or regulation . may require that records required to be maintained under this chapter or any portion of the contents of such records, be recorded at or transferred to a facility owned, managed, or controlled by the United States or any State or any political subdivision thereof, nor that any system of registration of firearms, firearms owners, or firearms transactions or disposition be established.”
There is a grave potential for this regulation to unduly burden citizens who are collectors or must obtain purchase permits at the local or state level to possess firearms. The proposed regulation does not say what the agency intends to do with the information but ostensibly it would be for criminal investigations. Subjecting law abiding gun owners to this type of investigation under the guise of “information collection” is an overt attempt to prevent them from exercising their 2nd Amendment rights to purchase and own firearms.
* This regulatory action has not allowed the public sufficient time to comment.
This regulatory action should not be approved.
# # #
Whether you use this specific language, edit it, or compose a letter of your own, please take action immediately! Do not put off sending a comment!
Comments must be received by Tuesday February 15, 2011 and it would be better if they were received by Monday, February 14.
Let’s send ATF a Valentine’s Day present!
Please Send Your Comments Immediately!
Thank you for your Action!
Jeff Knox
Director, The Firearms Coalition
Aaron Zelman – Lion of Liberty
The Knox Report
From the Firearms Coalition
Celebrating the Legacy of a Lion of Liberty
By Jeff Knox
On December 21, 2010 Aaron Zelman, Founder and Executive Director of Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership (JPFO), author, producer, advocate, and educator, passed away in Hartford, Wisconsin. Several websites, including WND.com, have published brief obituaries or tributes, but I have held off commenting on the passing of my friend until the reality of the tragedy could sink in and the future of his important work could be determined.
When I first received news that Aaron had died, I was shocked and disbelieving. I was sure it had to be a mistake. This couldn’t be the Aaron Zelman I know, he was only 64 and I was unaware of any illness. I had just spoken with him a few weeks prior and he was just as energetic, committed, and determined as ever, but I finally confirmed that it was no mistake. What a tremendous loss – for his wife and sons, for his friends, and for all lovers of liberty. Continue reading Aaron Zelman – Lion of Liberty