Minuteman Monthly Issue 2 Good day fellow Patriots, In this month's issue of the Minuteman Monthly, I will address the problems with the Million Mom's March and their demands for "common sense gun laws". The Million Mom's March that occurred on Mother's Day was only a few hundred thousand people at best, and not all of them were mothers to boot. But you won't really hear very much in the media about how short they came of their goal. Like I said in my letter to the organizers of the event, some of the "Million Moms" who marched for more gun control, are probably very nice and well intentioned mothers who actually know very little about firearms and the truth behind the failure of gun control as a method of controlling criminal behavior. I refuse to demonize these women who are really genuinely concerned over the level of violence in this country where guns are used. However, there are a faction of people who were involved in the "Million Mom's March" who were clearly demonstrating for America to become a decidedly Socialist country. Some of them were even calling for an end to private property ownership. There was also a group there who called themselves the Revolutionary Communist Youth Brigade. I believe that the Second Amendment is one of the only reasons that our republic has not been destroyed. I also believe that because gun owners feel betrayed and detached from government affairs, they will not turn our in force in November, and this is the big tragedy. Did you know that there are more lawful gun owners in the United States, than the total amount of voters in the 1996 election? What can you do to help make sure gun owners flood the polls and vote on a single issue basis and save the guns? +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I will now digest and comment on their demands one by one. First on the Million Mom's wish list is that all law-abiding firearm owners in America obtain a federally issued license. My problem with a federal firearm permit is that it is none of government's business, who owns guns and who does not. A federal permit system makes gun ownership seem more like a privilege granted by government instead of a pre-existing right. Keep in mind that the Bill of Rights is really a list of pre-existing rights that are off-limits to government encroachment. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Second on their list is that all law-abiding people in the country have their handguns registered with the federal government, so that the BATF and the FBI know which lawful gun owners have firearms and which ones they have. Letting government know which handguns you own only opens the door to future confiscation. After the sale of a firearm is completed by the lawful gun owner, the records of that sale should be destroyed as required by law. However, the National Instant Check System and the F.B.I. are compiling these statistics contrary to current law. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Third is that all guns are subjected to consumer product safety laws, which would ensure that all guns would be "childproof"...yeah like those dang aspirin bottles that we can't open without a pair of pliers. I equate this premise with the seatbelt issue. I always wear a seatbelt when I drive. But is it government's place to tell me that I have to? The trigger lock requirement would jeopardize the safety of gun owners who are forced to use a firearm to defend their homes, families and businesses. Trigger lock laws will be ignored by the violent offender, just like all the rest of the gun control laws. Even though President Clinton thinks that crackhouse junkies will obey it... yeah and he didn't cheat on Hillary either. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Fourth, they wish to have every sale at a gun show regulated by the federal government so that gun enthusiasts can't sell their firearms to each other without first getting permission from the United States Treasury Department...hmmmmmm sounds unconstitutional to me. Gun owners who do not have a Federal Firearm License (FFL) should not be required to perform background checks on purchasers. I would be for this type of approach ONLY IF THE BACKGROUND CHECKS WERE INSTANT. By instant, I mean 1 to 2 minutes. Just like a credit card check at a department store. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Fifth, they want to confiscate and destroy guns that they feel can be called "junk guns". Just what exactly is a junk gun? Well it seems to me that they feel a "junk gun" is a handgun that usually costs about $80 to $140, and usually comes in such calibers as .22LR, .25 ACP, and .380 ACP. You know, the kind of home defense handguns that are purchased by families who cannot really afford to spend up to $1000.00 on a brand new shiny Desert Eagle from Magnum Research. Banning inexpensive firearms is unfair to those of medium to medium/low income. Not to mention the fact that it violates the Second Amendment. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Sixth and thank God, the last demand usually spewed forth by the Million Mom March organizers, is the confiscation and destruction of firearms that would be most likely utilized by any type of unorganized non-government militia that is protected by the Bill Of Rights...the semi-automatic rifle. (also known as assault weapons by those who aren't familiar with this issue). Semi-automatic "assault" rifles are not machine guns, regardless of the fact that the media shows video clips of machine gun fire when the semi-auto is discussed. The semi-automatic rifle was invented in 1895 and is nothing new to society. This type of rifle is used in less than 3% of gun related crime. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Senate has responded to some of the demands of the "Million Mom March" organizers. One of those responses is Senate Bill # S. 2525. This bill would establish a federal firearm permit system, among other things. The bill is currently in a Senate Committee on the Judiciary. I will try to keep on top of this bill and notify you if it becomes a real threat to liberty. You can check on the current status of this bill yourself at the U.S. Senate Web site linked from my "For Activists Only" page. ================================================ The last point I want to make in this issue of the Minuteman Monthly is "Register to vote, or register your guns with the federal government." Please get your gun owning friends to register and vote. I won't tell you who you should vote for, but the Democrats have not been very friendly to gun owners. Please remember that the "Million Misguided Moms" are registered to vote and will be voting for Al Gore in November. I would really like to see a Libertarian candidate gain some ground on the run for president, but for now, George W. Bush is our choice for president. But it is also extremely important that the Republicans retain control of both houses of Congress. Please forward this newsletter, print it, post it at work, post it at the mall and wherever you feel people will see it.