Hello friends,
I, like you, am a staunch believer in, and defender of the 2nd amendment right to keep and bear arms. The forums for my chosen brands are a valuable source for technical information, as well as an opportunity to share with others of like mind our enjoyment of shooting. Some of us are hunters, some marksman and competition shooters, and many, like me, carry a concealed weapon on a regular basis.
This note is an appeal to all of you who understand that the right to keep and bear arms is in grave jeopardy. The forces that have amassed to remove this right from the general population continue to gain momentum and political strength. If we, who are defenders of the appropriate interpretation of the constitutional right to personal protection, if we do nothing we will most certainly lose this right. Already, there are many States , and locals, that have so severely restricted their populous that the people cannot carry a pistol to protect themselves and their loved ones. In California, New York City, Chicago, and even our capitol Washington D.C. the rights of the citizens have been violated.
The good news is ? you can make a difference! I am appealing to you as a fellow American. Do something. Write to your congressmen, often. Send in letters to your local newspaper. Debate the issue with friends. Do not go quietly into the night, bring light and sanity to this issue.
Here are just a few suggestions and ideas.
? When you write, keep your comments succinct. Stick to the point, do not rant, be sincere and polite
? Quotes from our founding fathers are helpful. You can find many of these on the NRA site.
? Write to both parties. Whether you are a democrat, independent, or republican, write to them all in your State.
? Do your research if you are going to debate this issue with friends or family. There are many good references on the net that give statistics, and information on the benefits to all of CC.
YOU can make a difference. You must.
Why I carry ? (I got this from a source long ago?. forgot where it came from)
I don?t carry a gun to kill people. I carry a gun to keep from being killed. I don?t carry a gun to scare people. I carry a gun because sometimes this world can be a scary place. I don?t carry a gun because I?m paranoid. I carry a gun because there are real threats in the world. I don?t carry a gun because I?m evil. I carry a gun because I have lived long enough to see the evil in the world. I don?t carry a gun because I hate the government. I carry a gun because I understand the limitations of government. I don?t carry a gun because I?m angry. I carry a gun so that I don?t have to spend the rest of my life hating myself for failing to be prepared. I don?t carry a gun because I want to shoot someone. I carry a gun because I want to die at a ripe old age in my bed, and not on a sidewalk somewhere tomorrow afternoon. I don?t carry a gun to make me feel like a man. I carry a gun because men know how to take care of themselves and the ones they love. I don?t carry a gun because I feel inadequate. I carry a gun because unarmed and facing armed thugs, I AM inadequate. I don?t carry a gun because I love it. I carry a gun because I love life and the people who make it meaningful to me. ?Police Protection? is an oxymoron. Free citizens must protect themselves. Police do not protect you from crime, they usually just investigate the crime after it happens and then call someone in to clean up the mess. I carry a gun because I?m too young to die and too old to take a beating. Anon.
"The Constitution preserves the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation...(where) the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms."
James Madison, The Federalist #46.
"Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence."
George Washington.
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."
Thomas Jefferson, Proposed Virginia Constitution (1776), Jefferson Papers 344 (J. Boyd, ed. 1950).
"The great object is, that every man be armed...Everyone who is able may have a gun..."
Patrick Henry, 3 Elliott Debates 386.
"Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them."
Thomas Paine, Thoughts on Defensive War (1775).
"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined."
Patrick Henry, during Virginia 's ratification convention (1788).
"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe . The supreme power in America can not enforce unjust laws by the sword, because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States."
Noah Webster, An Examination Into the Leading Principals of the Federal Constitution (1787).
"To disarm the people; that it was the best and most effectual way to enslave them..."
George Mason, 3 Elliott Debates (on the Constitution) 380.
