About the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution

The 2nd Amendment to the Constitution says, “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."

The 2nd amendment is always under assault by liberal politicians who would disarm and regulate “who can possess a firearm”, and “what can be possessed as a legal firearm. This year (2009) has already started off with several negatives in the balance for the right to bear arms. They are as follows:

1st, it is important to mention that anti-gun advocate Eric Holder was sworn in as President Obama’s new Attorney General. Mr. Holder has previously worked on anti-gun legislation before in Illinois. Do not expect him to change.

2nd, One of the 9,000 pork barrel spending amounts provided in President Obama’s “Stimulus Bill” provides billions of dollars to the anti-gun liberal organization called ACORN.

3rd, Between $12 and $20 BILLION of the “Stimulus Bill” went for a new expanded health care database, requiring your doctor to retroactively put your most confidential medical records into this government database. The government will likely try to use Veteran’s computerized psychiatric records to impose gun bans on those who sought (or will seek) treatment.

4th, H.R.45 – Called the Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009 is a massive gun registration bill introduced by Chicago congressman Bobby Rush (D), as the latest effort at federal gun legislation. This bill requires registration for all owners of handguns and rifles, and it also lists more weapons as illegal. Fortunately in is still in the Judiciary Committee and has not yet gained a co-sponsor nor support.

This is a very bad recommended law change and our Senators and Representatives should be contacted with your opinion by email and phone call. This bill must not go to vote. To see the wording of this law go to: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-45

Currently, it is believed that House Democrats will allow the Blair Holt bill to die in subcommittee rather than risk the ire of so many pro-gun voters (about 80,000,000 gun owners).

5th H.R.257 – called the Child Gun Safety and Gun Access Prevention Act is a bill introduced by Texas Representative Sheila Jackson (D) on Feb 9, 2009: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. No co-sponsors also. It also is not likely to come out of committee for a vote. To see the wording of this bill go to: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-257

There are other gun legislation bills in the House, but these appear to be the worst. You can track the progress of these bills at: http://www.govtrack.us/

While we are on the subject of defending ourselves, there is a powerful video of a woman who defended herself and survived a break-in and assault. This is a chilling YouTube video, but very informative. Listening to the 911 call will give you the shivers. Website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTAADW9wNvk

Remember people kill people, guns are just one method. Based on gun ownership of some 80,000,000 people in the United States, 99.9 percent of which are law-abiding citizens, we need to protect the rights of citizens, not penalize ownership for the crimes of the few. When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns, right?"

George Jonas columnist for the National Post said that, “In Mumbai, one obvious reason the terrorists were so successful was firepower. In that nation, guns were illegal in the hands of both the terrorists and the victims in that country. The victims obeyed the laws, the terrorists didn’t. The police had guns, of course, but instead of protecting people, they stayed away until the massacre was practically over. Gun laws -- surprise, surprise! – were not strong enough to defend victims, only strong enough to keep victims from defending themselves.”

Having been a prior police officer, I concur that the police were under armed against the terrorists in Mumbai, and took the only correct action their agencies would allow. This is true today for Washington State also. The bad guys (translate this to mean organized crime and gang members) are better armed than most of our law enforcement.

We do not need to reduce arms ownership or register all gun owners. Crooks will never register their weapons. They never have, and they never will obey the laws of the land.

I say it is better to be armed and prepared than to be caught without a defense. A strong defense is only good if you are trained on how to use your weapons and you practice safe handling procedures.

If you want legislation, encourage hunter education to continue to teach licensed hunters and youth who hunt and target shoot. Knowing how to use your weapon and how to safeguard it, these are important things to learn. Every bit as important as learning how to drive a car, but not requiring paid registration or licensing just for ownership.

Ownership of handguns, rifles and shotguns is a basic right we need to keep to remain a free nation. A registered nation is not a free nation.