The right to keep and bear arms

Libertarians believe that the second amendment is really your last guarantee of all the rest. We believe that one reason the recent escalation of violence has come about is because a small percentage of people, who used to be hestitant to attempt violence, are now confident that their intended victims cannot protect themselves. The majority of people today in the U.S. are walking around unarmed.

Unfortunately, after every frightening incident, some people want to convince you that giving up your legal right to protect yourself will make you safer. We join with those who defend their right to keep and bear arms, and urge you to let your congresspeople know that this right matters to you.

What's been happening in this area?

4/3/00: Some Democratic anti-gun bills even harsher than Pataki's measures were voted down last week in the State Senate, but SCOPE (Shooters' Committee On Political Education) reports that some Republicans still feel it may be politically necessary to pass some gun control.

Please continue to call Senator Majority Leader Joseph Bruno at (518)455-3191 or bruno@senate.state.ny.us, and contact your own senator by looking him or her up at http://www.senate.state.ny.us/. Let the Senators know that your right to defend yourself is not up for negotiation!

1/12/00: Thumbs up for Dr. Laura, thumbs down for Rosie! Dr. Laura Schlessinger, the #2 national talk show host, told the world on January 12, 2000 about her first shooting lesson. JPFO recommends that you write a letter to encourage her to continue with her lessons.

Your letters DO make a difference: reportedly, Rosie O'Donnell is no longer sponsored by KMart, after her anti-gun remarks (on a show with Tom Selleck, back in May) brought her bad press, and angered many gun owners, who wrote to KMart. The story, from E!.

1/4/00: Gun Owners of America released their members survey today, which highlighted three positive acts Congress took during the past year. (text of the GOA announcement)

#1- Passage of Ron Paul's Concealed Carry Reciprocity bill (H.R. 407)
#2- Passage of the Citizen's Defense Act (H.R. 347)
#3- Repeal of the Brady Registration Law (H.R. 1179)

This year will bring more challenges to your right to defend yourself: be prepared to help write letters to your congressional reps and senators!

11/2/99: The NYC Charter revision attempt was voted down this year. It would have instituted new regulations controlling your right to bear arms... a 1000-foot gun-free district around schools (which would cover much of New York City), and a requirement to use gun locks when storing a gun, whether you have children or not. Both would place major practical difficulties upon the people who have somehow managed to obtain gun permits in NYC and want to protect themselves and their families legally.

Fortunately for gun owners, the proposal was shot down...but probably not in outrage against the second amendment violations, so stay vigilent for repeat attempt to pass similar restrictions.

Article from LP Queens County about the proposal's defeat.
Text of proposed city charter changes, courtesy of the Gotham Gazette

8/24/99: There has been an unprecedented attack on gun ownership in the Congress this year. The reactions to Littleton and other national tragedies were so extreme that even the ACLU has spoken out against them: ACLU speaks out against the Juvenile Crime Bill (S. 254)

8/14/99: This week in the senate, another week of fear-motivated legislative activity. After a tragedy at the North Valley Jewish Community Center in Los Angeles, America once again thinks that more laws aginst guns can prevent senseless violence. Bob Smith attempted a filibuster, and is still championing his 'Smith Amendment,' which would stop the FBI from taxing and registering gun owners --and individuals would be able to sue for violations of privacy as a result of the Brady Law. Janet Reno recommended gun licensing in her weekly press conference. The NRA-ILA points out that everything the suspect, Buford O. Furrow, Jr., did with guns was already illegal, and in fact, Los Angeles already has some of the most restrictive gun laws in the country.

6/25/99: A brief celebration for the death of the original "Violent Youth Backlash Bill," in the House, but brace yourself for round two of the gun-grabbing. This is a women's issue, an upstate issue, and we have to make it an issue New York City can identify with, also. New Yorkers, do you like living in a city where only the criminals have access to guns, and law-abiding citizens have to stand like deer caught in the headlights, defenseless? Do you know that the courts have held that the police don't have to come protect you? (in Warren v. District of Columbia, D.C. App., 444 A. 2d 1 (1981).) Who will, if you don't protect yourself? See the websites of Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership and Gun Owners of America for updates on this fast-moving bill. (GOA has a mailing list with nearly instant updates on gun-related legislation.)

5/14/99: The second Amendment is being whittled away, with NY senator Chuck Shumer leading the way, unfortunately. Senator Bob Smith (R-NH) and Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) were some of the only senators standing up against the restrictions proposed in the wake of the tragedy at Columbine High School. Several different restrictions were approved today when S.254 passed.

As Gun Owners of America put it:

[The Instant Registration Checks amendment] will force the instant registration check system upon gun sales that occur between PRIVATE sellers and PRIVATE buyers at gun shows. The number one danger here-- besides being an infringement of the 2nd Amendment-- is the threat of gun owner registration. According to government studies from 1989 onwards, any background check can lead to registration, despite legal prohibitions. If this provision becomes law, expect anti-gunners to start complaining about the next Brady "loophole"-- that is, private individuals buying and selling guns outside of a gun show (say, in a home) without a background check. By closing all the "loopholes," gun grabbers can thereby register ALL gun owners in America.

For more on who voted how, please see:
ABC's coverage of the Senate vote
CNN's coverage of the Senate vote