Second Amendment Stuff

Concealed Carry on Federal Lands Approved

The National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (part of the Department of the Interior (DOI)), has announced the final changes to rules on carrying of firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges.  This move will restore the rights of law-abiding gun owners who wish to transport and carry firearms for lawful purposes on most DOI lands, and will make federal law consistent with the state law in which these public lands are located.  The National Rifle Association (NRA) led the effort to amend the existing policy regarding the carrying and transportation of firearms on these federal lands.

The change was announced by DOI on December 5 and will then be published in the Federal Register.  The rule will then take effect 30 days later.  In short, the new regulations allow right-to-carry permit holders to exercise their Second Amendment rights on national park and wildlife refuges in those states that recognize such permits.  We will finally have the consistency we've been lacking on federal lands.  In the past, Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands allowed the carrying of firearms, while lands managed by DOI did not.

As you can imaginge, the anti-gunners have begun their whining as they predict bloodshed in the woods, just like they've predicted bloodshed in the streets every time another state implements "shall issue" right-to-carry laws.  You'd think by now they'd realize that they're wrong ... that their predictions never materialize.  We suppose that you have to consider the source, huh?

Let's say it again so we're all clear ... Once the rule is in effect, those with a valid right-to-carry permit (you know ... those upstanding citizens that have undergone background checks and carry guns today in their cities and towns) will also be able to carry in national park and wildlife refuges in those states that recognize such permits.

Let's chalk one up for common sense.

God, Guns & Rock and Roll

Second Amendment Stuff Is Back

WOW!  The Thanksgiving week turned into many weeks.  We're now back in the saddle with more good stuff to come.

Happy Thanksgiving from Second Amendment Stuff

Your friends at Second Amendment Stuff would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving.

For a look back in history, I urge you to read our first President's Thanksgiving proclamation. Click here.

Second Amendment Stuff will be taking the next few days off to enjoy time with the family.  Watch for more important information starting again next week.

Protecting Your Rights (Part 1) - Gun Owners of America

As promised, over the coming days we'll be taking a look at a few organizations that you can support, and things you can do, with the goal of protecting your rights. For the first part of that series, we'll take a look at Gun Owners of America.

Gun Owners of America (GOA) is non-profit lobbying organization that been around for over 30 years. Their goal is simple: Preserve and defend the Second Amendment rights of gun owners. GOA sees firearms ownership as a basic necessity of a free people.

While some gun-rights organizations have taken heat over the years for compromising, GOA proudly posts a quote from Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) on their website where he called them "The only no-compromise gun lobby in Washington."

Also from their website, they note:

Over the last 30 years, GOA has built a nationwide network of attorneys to help fight court battles in almost every state in the nation to protect gun owner rights. GOA staff and attorneys have also worked with members of Congress, state legislators and local citizens to protect gun ranges and local gun clubs from closure by overzealous government anti-gun bureaucrats.

As an example, GOA fought for and won, the right of gun owners to sue and recover damages from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) for harassment and unlawful seizure of firearms.

I rely on information published by GOA on a regular basis. They do an especially good job at marshalling resources for campaigns to write or call your representatives and senators (both on the state and federal levels) on topics related to gun owners rights.

While GOA provides the ability to sign up for alerts by email even without joining their organization, I would wholeheartedly urge you to join as I have done. Their work no doubt comes with a price tag, and all of us need to be prepared to put our money where our mouth is ... particularly when it comes to protecting our freedom.

You can find Gun Owners of America at www.gunowners.org.

How To Protect Your Rights

If you're a regular visitor to this site, chances are good that you have a desire to protect your rights as guaranteed by the Second Amendment. Maybe you're already actively engaged ... but maybe you're not. If that's the case, it's time you did something.

Over the coming days, interspersed with news items as I see fit, we'll be taking a look at a few organizations that you can support, and things you can do, with the goal of protecting your rights. Some of them may be focused solely on gun rights, while others have a more broad view.

The important point here, is that you need to get involved. Sure ... sitting back and letting someone else do the work is much easier. But when we're talking about something as important as this, we all have a responsibility to do our part. Even those of you who are not gun owners should not be content to sit back. Apathy is a dangerous thing.

For now, I leave you with this:

Obama's Actions Speak Louder Than His Words

If the word on the street is right, Obama will appoint Eric Holder as Attorney General. Who is Eric Holder? Well let me tell ya ...

Holder was Deputy Attorney General under Janet Reno during the Clinton years. At that time, he said that the Second Amendment does not protect an individual right, but instead protects the right to have a firearm when serving with a militia. More recently, he maintained that position when he signed Janet Reno's brief to the Supreme Court in the Heller case, which stated, "The Second Amendment does not protect firearms possession or use that is unrelated to participation in a well-regulated militia." As you know, the Supreme Court ruled on the Heller case in June of 2008 saying that the Second Amendment DOES guarantee an individual's right to keep and bear arms.

Holder has also claimed that gun control was responsible for crime declining in the '90s. However, we know that criminologists and law enforcement professionals attributed the trend to other factors entirely. We wonder what Holder would say today, since the federal ban on "assault weapons" and standard-equipment magazines holding more than 10 rounds has expired, the number of privately owned guns has risen by 35-40 million, and yet, murder and total violent crime have declined even more than before.

Keep in mind that this apparent pick comes shortly after Obama chose Rahm Emanuel as White House Chief of Staff. What's the concern with Emanuel? Well, Sarah Brady of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (formerly named Handgun Control, Inc.) said to her organization's supporters in a recent letter:

"I was so excited when I heard that Rahm Emanuel was going to be the Chief of Staff in the Obama White House. Jim and I know Rahm from when we worked closely with him to pass the Brady bill. As our "go to" guy ... he has consistently and vocally supported strengthening Brady criminal background checks, banning military-style assault weapons ..."

For many months, we heard candidate Obama say that he supported an individual's right to keep and bear arms.  By his choice of anti-gunners like Holder and Emmanuel, our soon-to-be President makes it quite clear where he stands.

Are Your Guns Your Employer's Business?

Are Your Guns Your Employer's Business?  I don't know about you ... but I'd say no.  However, the Obama transition team sees it differently. It seems that in a lengthy questionnaire intended for prospective employees, the following question appears:

“Do you or any members of your immediate family own a gun? If so, provide complete ownership and registration information. Has the registration ever lapsed? Please also describe how and by whom it is used and whether it has been the cause of any personal injuries or property damage.” 

Personally, I take offense.  This is no different than an employer than an employer asking questions about my race, sex, religion, etc..

For a deeper look into this story, you can check out this piece from The Politico on CBS News.com.  Just click here.

A Look Back At Election Week

Almost a week has passed since the 2008 Presidential Election.  It's hard to believe it’s over.  When you look back, it seems like it's been going on FOREVER!  They say it was the longest campaign in history.  I can believe it.  Honestly, I'm glad it's done.  Not that I'm happy with the outcome … quite the opposite in fact. Nevertheless, since I haven't been granted the ability to go back in time and change history, I guess I'm stuck with it.

Before I go on, let me apologize in advance to any friends I'm about to offend.  Understand that I'm not setting out with that goal, but it could happen.  I think it's more important that we speak our mind... lay it all out on the table as it were.  While all who know me know where I stand in my political philosophy, I also never get in anyone's face about it.  I’ve always enjoyed an open and honest exchange of ideas.  Each is more than welcome to have their opinion ... and I'm taking this opportunity to state mine.

Let's be clear ... this isn't about McCain.  I didn't even vote for McCain during the primaries. Honestly, he's not Conservative enough for my taste ... then again, neither is George Bush ... but I digress.  While I acknowledge that I did vote for McCain on Tuesday (while holding my nose), I did so for only two reasons:  1) he was the only chance to beat the other guy, and 2) to support the Conservative on the ticket (Sarah Palin). This also isn't about political parties.  While I may be a registered Republican, I will support (and have supported) candidates of other parties who support the same core principals as I.  This also is not about race.  I am very happy that we’ve finally crossed that line.  I just wish we had done it with Condaleeza Rice rather than Barack Obama. 

What is this all about?  It is about ideas.  It is about the core beliefs that many of us hold.  It is about substance over style.  It is not about having an orator as President who speaks of hope and change and makes us feel all warm and fuzzy.  It's about freedom and liberty.  It’s about limited government.  It’s about making your own choices where your money goes … not allowing the government to make the choices for you.  It’s about the right to speak your mind, to defend yourself (and arm yourself if you see fit).  It’s about the God-granted rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

I guess what really troubles me about this last week, beyond Obama's win of course, is all this talk of "unity". Now don't misunderstand me ... it would be great to all sit around and sing Kumbaya.  However, to do so when there really is no unity is utterly pointless and dishonest. You see, I am happy to acknowledge that 65.4 million think differently than I.  I also expect those 65.4 million to acknowledge that there are another 57.4 million of us who stand on the other side and don't want to unite behind their ideas.  The expectation that we should suddenly "come together" and be part of the "change" is somewhat ludicrous.  After all, had John McCain won on Tuesday night, I expect the love fest at Invesco Field would have had a VERY different tone. 

For the last eight years, I listened to some threaten to move to another country (though sadly, few did).  I’ve listened to them go on, and on, and on about George W Bush.  I’ve listened to them call him:

•           a retarded cowboy
•           the worst president in US history
•           a joke
•           a right-wing zealot
•           a psychopath
•           a criminal

Where was all of their unity then? 

For the coming years, you won’t hear me call Obama names.  That’s just not very cool.  You will however see me join with millions of other people and work to rebuild Conservatism in hopes of repairing the damage that I expect will be done.  I will also pray … I’ll pray a lot.

You can keep “the change.”

Are You Making Any Gun Purchases Before January 20, 2009?

As we discussed here last week, there's recently been an increase in gun sales.  The common wisdom says that it was in part due to economic woes, and in part due to a potential Obama presidency. Well ...

Now that 65.2 million people have foolishly elected the most anti-gun president in US history, we're seeing an even greater increase.  According to a story on FoxNews.com, some gun shops have reported the biggest sales ever since Tuesday's election.

Check out the story here.

As you Head to the Polls ... Keep Alert for Deceptive Tactics By Obama Supporters

The text below comes from an email I received from the NRA minutes ago.  

---

Dear NRA Member,
 
NRA members in key presidential battleground states have informed us they have received deliberately misleading phone calls from someone professing to represent the NRA, asking voters to support Barack Obama. This is an absolute and intentional lie.

NRA has long been on record as opposing Barack Obama, as Barack Obama has long been on record as opposing the rights of law-abiding gun owners. For example, Barack Obama:
 

• Voted to allow the prosecution of citizens who use a firearm for self-defense in the home (Illinois Senate, S.B. 2165. 3/25/04);
  
• Voted to allow reckless lawsuits designed to put America's firearms industry out of business (S.397, vote 219, 7/29/05);
  
• Voted to ban almost all rifle ammunition commonly used for hunting and sport shooting (United States Senate, S. 397, vote 217, 7/29/05);
  
• Supported a 500% increase in federal taxes on guns and ammunition (Chicago Defender, 12/13/99);
  
• Voted to ban hundreds of rifles and shotguns commonly used for hunting, including single-shot, over-under and side-by-side shotguns (Illinois Senate SB 1195, 3/13/03); and,
  
• Proposed restrictions that would close 90% or more of all gun stores in the U.S. (Chicago Defender, 12/13/99).
  

 
For more information on the TRUTH about Barack Obama's hostility toward the Second Amendment, please visit www.gunbanobama.com.

If you receive a call to this effect, please know that it is a deliberate attempt by Barack Obama supporters to mislead gun owners. Our opponents know that you can make the difference in this election, and they'll stop at nothing to try and deceive you!
 

Thank you for your support, and remember to "Vote Freedom First!" on November 4th.
 

Sincerely,

Chris W. Cox

Executive Director, NRA-ILA