Recent national polls by CNN, NBC News and the Wall Street Journal have revealed that support for new gun control measures is declining in the United States, despite efforts by the Obama administration and its media cheerleaders to demonize guns by sensationalizing recent shooting incidents, and the bloody drug war in northern Mexico.
In April, CNN polling found that 46 percent of Americans say existing gun laws are adequate, and another 15 percent believe they ought to be relaxed, while only 39 percent of those responding want stricter gun laws.
Also last month, an NBC News/WSJ poll revealed that support for restrictions on so-called “assault weapons” had dropped from 75 percent in 1991 to 53 percent today, which may have something to do with the rush on gun shops over the past six months by people buying those guns and case upon case of ammunition for them.
A recent story on National Public Radio said the shortage — as well as a sharp rise in gun sales — coincided with the election of President Obama, fueled by fears his administration would usher in more restrictive gun laws.
In the midst of this, U.S. Senator Orrin G. Hatch of Utah weighed in the other day with an opinion piece published on-line by the Main Street Business Journal that takes the press to task for its treatment of gun owners, especially in the Beehive State, but also at the federal level. He was critical of the Department of Homeland Security document, leaked to the public in April, that revealed a depth of paranoia about gun owners and traditional conservatives in the federal agency that should leave the public outraged.
As gun owners are fond of observing, “Don’t trust a government that doesn’t trust its citizens.” Emphasis should be placed on armed citizens who are the target of this mistrust.
Hatch made specific points about the demonization of gun owners and gun rights organizations, particularly the National Rifle Association. In a recent editorial cartoon published in the Salt Lake Tribune, Hatch noted, it was implied that a member of the NRA was responsible for a recent mass shooting, and that gun owners worshipped “at a gun-shaped altar atop a mountain of skulls.”
This sort of demagoguery is nothing new to gun rights activists. It is rare, however, that the level of vitriol is enough to bring public admonishment from a member of the U.S. Senate, which suggests that the gun prohibitionist movement – which appears to include, or at least influence, far too many members of the working press – may have finally gone too far.
While the issues are often lightning rods for attack, fewer than 2 percent of all gun crimes involve guns purchased at gun shows, and concealed-carry permit holders commit so few crimes that the statistics can't even be tracked. When faced with these facts, anti-gun enthusiasts are left with only one option: attack on personal and/or cultural grounds. - Sen. Orrin Hatch
Yes, this nation has a problem with people who misuse firearms, but taking legislative sanctions against law-abiding citizens who are not responsible for those heinous deeds is not the way to deal with that problem. Here’s a novel approach: Punish people who break the law and leave everyone else alone.
Note to Congress and state legislatures: Stop trying to micromanage the lives of your constituents. Stop blaming gun owners, firearms retailers and manufacturers for crimes committed by felons here and in Mexico.
While on the one hand, newspaper editorials and opinion pieces consistently dismiss gun owner concerns about new gun control efforts, on the other hand some newspapers confirm – as did one in New York State – that legislation has been introduced that would require some gun owners to surrender their particular firearms to the state. This bill involves the much-demonized class of large rifles chambered in .50 BMG, but if that legislation is approved, what would stop some zealot from pushing a different proposal to ban “sniper rifles,” which might be defined as rifles with synthetic stocks, telescopic sights and bipods. You know, the kind of rifle used by millions of target shooters, varmint hunters and big game hunters.
Another of the bills bans .50 caliber weapons and not only prevents their sale but would require current owners to turn them in to the State.
April’s polling results should send a clear message – not just a signal – to every member of Congress. Fewer people are buying into the notion that strict gun control is the solution to violent crime. Increasing numbers of people are ready to try something different, and judging from the volume of gun and ammunition sales the past few months, they’re pretty serious.
Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder. We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, "Stay the course." Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is, not the damned Titanic. I'll give you a sound bite: Throw the bums out! – Lee Iacocca America
Congress and the Obama administration should take a lesson from Lee Iacocca, the business giant who saved Chrysler (the first time), and author of Where Have All The Leaders Gone? His message was simple. If something has not worked over and over again, it’s time to do things differently.
They should also remember the words of Thomas Paine, whose advice Iacocca turned into a great American catch phrase: “Lead, follow or get out of the way.”
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Comments
Seems the pundits, press, and politicians are 'out of touch' with a WHOLE lot more than gun rights/Second Amendment. A 3.5 TRILLION dollar budget along with a 65 TRILLION dollar debt being paid for with BORROWED Chinese money (you know...the ones who are hacking into our military, electric grid, ATC, etc. and our own government approved the sale of IBM to them), government taking over private enterprise (can we say the word "fascism" boys and girls?), redistribution of our earnings (can we say the word "communism" boys and girls?), proposals to put the rights of American citizens in the hands of the courts of other nations, proposals to end the 'freedom to sell your own stuff' "loophole", wide open borders, proposed amnesty for foreign nationals who break our laws, sending billions of BORROWED money for medical care in other countries, my god I could go on for pages but it's giving me a headache. But the pundits, press, and politicians think the economic crisis is coming to an end, guns are the problem, and sovereign American citizens are terrorists. The problem, fellow Americans, is our own government and the idiots who think that being elected means never having to say you're sorry when you've entirely screwed up our nation. The idea that being elected means no accountability for illegal, unethical, immoral, and unConstitutional actions must end.
your not alone buddy, i am sick and tired of people not studying history, researching the ideas they so ignorantly support, and looking to the gov to answer all their problems... to anybody who reads this whether you agree or not,you must understand American work ethic, desire to educate oneself on ANY subject, as well as the importance of being a RESPONSIBLE human being and the foundation on which this government was built upon (all the practices and ideals of a once STRONG United States) have crumbled away... it is time for us all (American Citizens) to analyze our own selves and accept responsibility of our entire economic situation. It is time for people to pick sides based on fact not on emotion, to educate ourselves on our own ideas as well as the ideas of our "opponents"... one last thing... the ideas expressed in the constitution were NOT just ideas, NOT just beliefs, they were a formulation of years of studying and understanding the necessary means to build and sustain a NATION, NOT A GOVERNMENT, but a NATION that was FOR the PEOPLE, made up OF the PEOPLE, and run BY the PEOPLE. Understand that this bye no means whatsoever should be interpreted as an anarchy, but as an establishment to uphold the FREEDOMS and the GOD(ALLAH, BUDDHA, OT GOD, NT GOD...OR NO GOD) given rights of the CITIZEN, The people who designed this elaborately simple system of checks and balances, did so by comprising many historical documents (from way before their time) of once great nations. They took from these documents the plans that had worked, eliminated the ones hindered those nations, as well as adding the means to avoid the problems ultimately damned those nations to failure.
...I do not have any intentions to sound "Radical" but if you know your history you'll find that these "radical" ideas had existed long before Columbus had even learned to walk... Also if I have any errors in my facts please be sure to let me know...as I would rather experience the hardships and agony of knowledge than the false sense of bliss that comes with ignorance.
I apologize if you find this "rant" as a waste of time and I pray to (add politically correct entity or lack there of) that all Americans (Dems, Reps, Libs, Constitu's, moderates, -political affiliation of choice-) never see the full and complete failure of the system that once made this NATION GREAT
Thank you for your time and your patience
-907engineer
"Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? "
Here is the answer for you : coming to your town in Spring of 2010 - Second Amendment March (secondamendmentmarch (dot) com). It's time our voices are heard!! Spread the word and support the organizers!
My grand-grandpa did not stand up and fight when the Soviets came and took his guns away. Then they came and took his land and vinyard and house away, in return they promised lots-lots-lots of "great things to come." I am still "waiting", ... well, not anymore -- I am living and taking care of my own life in the free State of Virginia.
What so many American's seem to overlook is the fact that the Constitution not only shows that American citizens have the right to own firearms, we also have the right to bear those firearms.
Doesn't seem stange at all about RINO Hatch doing a reverse about his Conservative feelings! He is building up his base for the 2012 elections! Why can't Red State Utah elect a Conservative Senator?
I do not understand why we the 'People' have not tested our elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit also known as Congress on the political manipulation of language, by obfuscation when bringing forth bills into the house or senate that will be repugnant to the Constitution.
Each and every elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit Must take the Constitutional requirement "Oath" before entering the Office in which they have been elected or appointed, civil and uniform service. The Constitutional requirement of Article 6; Section 3: The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust, under the United States.
And in section 3331(a) of title 5, United States Code: Oath of office
Statute:
An individual, except the President, elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit in the civil service or uniformed services, shall take the following oath: ''I, AB, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.'' This section does not affect other oaths required by Law.
What does that mean? That means they are required to support and defend the Preamble to the Bill of Rights also.
Preamble:
Congress OF THE United States begun and held at the City of New York, on Wednesday the Fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.
THE Conventions of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution.
Did you understand the Preamble? In order to prevent 'misconstruction' or 'abuse' of its powers, as by the Constitutional requirement, they are 'BOUND' and are 'SWORN’ to “support" and "defend" the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights and the Preamble to the Bill of Rights. The answer to holding government from passing any repugnant bill(s) by the political manipulation of language by obfuscation is the Oath test. This would also include uniform officer such as the police, state government and Judicial Officers. Wake up America and use your ‘People’ powers to keep government from misconstruction or abuse of its powers.
Constitutional Law – is Americans supreme Law of the Land to Rule their Government and it is the Citizenry that is obligated to enforce that Law on government. The People (Citizenry), not God, or God forbid not government itself, that is/are obligated to enforce the Oath of Office on government Officials. Constitutional Law is the People’s only legitimate “Will” for government Officials to obey in their official acts. The Constitution’s Oath of Office is the only Law of the Constitution that the People can forcibly enforce and the vehicle of forcible enforcement is the Ballot Box. The People are the Boss of government only as to who is hired (elected) via the ballot box – in other words the People are the Boss only of the Ballot box and not actually the Boss of any government personnel. Otherwise the people have no say as to what government, or Officials, do or does. My best defense of that latter statement is the fact that the People have no means or method to amend, much less change, the Constitution.
Legislative law – is government laws to authorize and fund government operations and government enforces its laws with police and courts. However, Constitutionally government cannot punish any person without the consent of two Citizen juries. Citizens as Jurors are not obligated to enforce government legislation on each other, nor even enforce Constitution Amendments. The constitution and Amendments are not about the People but about government and its powers.
To understand more on the "Oath of Office" visit: www.civilrightstaskforce.info
CALLING ALL CITIZENS WE THE PEOPLE
A new national movement in holding government accountable for over stepping their limited powers. We need to send a clear message to government that when congress passes repugnant laws ‘We the People’ expect the same laws to pass on them. This needs to be sent out on a fixed day, possibly in July on or before the 4th. Or it could be through the whole month of July.
MELT THE SWITCHBOARD Day! Call your Reprehensive and Senator to demand that they up their Oath of Office or we demand that they pass a bill like HR 1776, the Peoples Bill. No more misconstruction or abuse of its powers
Start posting what you are doing to spread the word and build for this action.
Join the Peoples Bill HR1776 Action Group.
Gary De Capua
my friend terry got me to become politically involed in gun rights,and I have never felt so alive.!!!!
Lots of really good comments here and for the newly awakened they serve as a valuable learning tool. However; in some respects it is also kind of like preaching to the choir. Important, yes, but let's don't forget that what we really need to do is to share our knowledge about the assault on everyone's rights with the public at large. We can do this with informative letters to our newspapers, organize a march at your courthouse, encourage your neighbors to have a block party to brainstorm ideas about how to best get our message out to our cities, (you do know your neighbors, don't you?) We can write emails and hard copy letters to our elected officials etc., etc. We simply need to get upset enough to begin making enough noise that the media, politicians, and anti-freedom types everywhere start to get the message that there are still LOTS of people who want to live in freedom.
Thanks for reading and getting involved.
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