Informative

Jeff Knox: GRPC ’09

        One of the challenges of GRPC is the fast pace and very short time allotted to each speaker.  The topic of my panel was "Expanding Self-Defense and Right to Carry."  The point I wanted to make is that we, as a movement, have fallen into bad habits of using the language of our opponents to frame the debate and by so doing we weaken our case.  When we use phrases like "arming teachers" and "arming students," or say things like "responsible, licensed citizens should be allowed to carry guns in National parks…" we are undermining our own position.  There should be no debate about whether you have the right to defend yourself and your family.  There should be no question whether you have the right to have the means available to effectively accomplish such defense if needed.  Therefore there should be no talk of "allowing" or of "arming," but rather talk of "banning" and "disarming."  It is wrong that the means for effective self-defense is banned from college campuses simply because they are college campuses.  It is wrong that qualified students and faculty who take responsibility for their own protection everywhere else in their lives are disarmed simply because they are on a college campus.

        If we wish to expand self-defense and recognition of the right to carry, the first thing we must do is make sure that the language we use to frame the debate recognizes these as RIGHTS, not priviledges.

Continue reading Jeff Knox: GRPC ’09 →

Informative

California – Back to the Future?

Arnold Signs AB 962

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signs AB 962.  Ammunition record-keeping was one of the planks of the 1968 Gun Control Act that was proven not to work and repealed with the 1986 Firearms Owners Protection Act.  Count on similar pushes across the country.  Friends in Arizona consider blowing bridges across the Colorado River.  If you don’t see the video click the Read More link.

 

 

Continue reading California – Back to the Future? →

Chris's Blog

Obama Prize and California Ammo Registration

Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize, The Governator signs ammo restrictions

What a week! The gushing from the Left over Obama’s winning of the Nobel Peace Prize puts the prize on a level with the Oscars or the Tony awards — mere entertainment.  The strangest thing about the award is that it was given for a presidency that was less than two weeks old at the time nominations closed.  In other words, Obama won the prize for not being George W. Bush.  Frankly, there may be some merit for that position.  But my favorite reaction to O’s winning the prize comes from Reason magazine’s Nick Gillespie.  The YouTube video is classic.  Watch it here.

Speaking of entertainment, California’s governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a very bad bill requiring ammunition sellers to record each sale of "handgun" ammunition.  That apparently includes .22 Long Rifle.  Unknown whether it includes the 7.62 x 39 Russian for this handgun: 

Romanian AK Draco Pistol 7.62x39 caliber handgun

California statute defines "Handgun Ammunition" thusly:

"Handgun ammunition" means ammunition principally for use in
pistols, revolvers, and other firearms capable of being concealed
upon the person, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 12001,
notwithstanding that the ammunition may also be used in
ome rifles.

 

I’ve seen a handgun chambered in .45-70.  So does it apply there?  Given the broad brush that law enforcement seems comfortable using in all matters related to guns, I’d counsel California ammo sellers to err on the side of caution.  

Informative

Jeff Interview – Guns in School!

There is a young man putting together a documentary about the battle for our rights.  The working title is "Not Without a Fight" and he recently interviewed me for the film.  Here is the second of two clips from that interview he has posted on Youtube.  In this clip, I talk a little about guns and growing up, including a story about taking a Mauser "Broomhandle" to school.   Man I was a lucky kid!  (Click the title above or the "Read more" below to see the clip.)

300px-mauser_c96_m1916_red_9_7.jpg

Continue reading Jeff Interview – Guns in School! →

Informative

Jeff Interview – Belgian Corporal

There is a young man putting together a documentary about the battle for our rights.  The working title is "Not Without a Fight" and he recently interviewed me for the film.  Here is the first of two clips from that interview he has posted on Youtube.  In this clip, I talk a little about Dad and his conversion from a casual gun owner to a gun rights advocate and how his core belief effected me growing up.   (Click the title above or the "Read more" below to see the clip.) Continue reading Jeff Interview – Belgian Corporal →

The Knox Update

SCOTUS Takes a Second Look

Supremes Take a Second Look

By Jeff Knox

(October 2, 2009) On September 30, the Supreme Court announced that they were going to review the Second Amendment case McDonald v. City of Chicago and decide whether the Second Amendment applies at the state and local level.  Application of the Bill of Rights to the states has been a long and convoluted battle with the Second Amendment being the last major article left out in the cold.

As originally proposed and applied, the Bill of Rights was an expression of universal, natural rights, but was considered directly enforceable only on the federal government – except that it was a statement of principles to which all of the states in the union agreed.  Over the years there has been wrangling between states and the federal government regarding recognition of these rights, particularly in the years surrounding the Civil War as debates raged over the definition of a citizen and the rights such citizens enjoyed.  Chief Justice Taney presents these rights of citizenship – privileges and immunities – in a clear and unequivocal fashion in his infamous decision in Dredd Scott v. Sanford.  Part of the debate was over whether a person recognized as a citizen by one state was automatically a citizen of the United States and fully possessed of the privileges and immunities of such citizenship.  Justice Taney described these privileges and immunities to include, “the right to enter every other State whenever they pleased, singly or in companies, without pass or passport, and without obstruction, to sojourn there as long as they pleased, to go where they pleased at every hour of the day or night without molestation, unless they committed some violation of law for which a white man would be punished; and it would give them the full liberty of speech in public and in private upon all subjects upon which its own citizens might speak; to hold public meetings upon political affairs, and to keep and carry arms wherever they went.”

Continue reading SCOTUS Takes a Second Look →

Chris's Blog

Chris and Jeff’s Excellent GRPC Adventure

Gun Rights Radicals Meet and Greet Again

What a great weekend!  It’s always good to see the guys who really get what gun rights, the Second Amendment, and civil rights are all about.  I especially enjoyed connecting with the contingents from the Arkansas Concealed Carry Association and from the Nebraska Firearms Owners Association.  I was also pleased to see The Appleseed Project with a table and a couple of reps in the room.  They were handing out passes to Appleseed shoots.  If you haven’t been to one, GO!  If you have been to one, GO!  They’re planning one in Buckeye near me, but unfortunately my time’s committed for that one.  I have my calendar cleared for April 19 in Payson, though.

Joe Tartaro kindly asked me to bring a generous stack of Neal Knox – The Gun Rights War with me to the conference.  SAF always sets up a bookstore in the back of the room and I got to see the book moving briskly.  I don’t know how many copies I signed, and all of the direct feedback was positive.  This year’s GRPC was a bit of a coming-out party for the book, with the first gun press review appearing in the current issue of Gun Week.  Thanks to Joe for that. 

Next year the GRPC heads directly into the belly of the beast:  San Francisco.  The Pink Pistols delegation offered to lead a march through the Castro district.  Stereotype busting, anyone? 

I’ve attached my written speech below.  You may need to click the "Read More" button to see it. 

Continue reading Chris and Jeff’s Excellent GRPC Adventure →

Jeff's Blog

Back from GRPC

          I got back from GRPC last night and just fell over.  The combination of early mornings, long days, and late, late nights really takes its toll, but it is definitely worth it.  Nowhere else do I have the opportunity to meet and talk with so many committed activists and leaders of the movement.  At the SHOT Show every year I am focused on meeting with members of the industry and some of the "gun media."  At the NRA Convention I get to see some of the rights leaders, but there is always so much going on and there are so many demands on all of our time that it is difficult to find a moment to really sit down and discuss the important issues of the day and work out strategies for cooperative efforts.  At GRPC though, I get to hear ideas from dozens of the best and the brightest minds in the gun rights movement and am able to follow up on those ideas during breaks and at the evening receptions.  Each night there are small groups of people scattered about the conference area quietly scheming, jovially sharing stories, and boisterously arguing into the wee hours.  This networking and idea sharing is absolutely invaluable and the discussions, arguments and friendships often continue via the internet and telephone long after the conference ends.

         I was a little disappointed with my presentation this year.  I served on a panel focused on the expansion of carry rights and chose to discuss the importance of taking the high ground in the language we use to promote our rights.  Those who have followed my writing know that I have long advocated that we, as a movement, must be more aware of the words we choose to use in arguing our cause, avoiding saying things like "we should be allowed to carry guns" in this place or that.  We need to talk about repealing laws which disarm us in these places rather than conceding the authority and giving our opponents the upper hand with the word allow.  Similarly we need to avoid phrases like "arming teachers," and "guns on campus."  These are important issues and need to be couched in terms of "disarming" the law-abiding and creating safe working environments for criminals.  We have the moral authority and must argue from the position of demanding the recognition of our rights.  We should never allow our words to paint us as supplicants begging for permission to exercise our natural rights.  The point I is that if we wish to win the fight for recognition of our right to carry arms when we choose, we must argue from our strength, not beg from our knees, and the words we choose are what determines that position.

          Chris gave a presentation about the threats to our rights  being generated by the drug violence in Mexico and now crossing the border into border states.  This was Chris’ first time presenting at GRPC and I think he did a good job. 

         Now we need to do the follow-up work from the conference; adding all of those who requested it to our email list and mailing list, and making sure that the ideas and discussions started there continue and are turned into productive actions.  No time to rest.  The ’09 elections are just weeks away and the 2010 campaigns are already starting.  

Ammunition for the grassroots gun rights movement