My Right to Bear Arms? You Better Believe It!
I saw a bumper sticker once that is etched in my memory: “Iran Has Gun Control”.
The 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution states, “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.”
I bought my first gun in 1980. I was 24 years old, single, and moving to Dallas for the second time. (Yes, I tried to be a city girl but it just did not work out the first time.) This was before concealed carry permits and I was a bit concerned about traveling with it in my car on weekend trips. A distant cousin was a detective for the Dallas police force so I asked his advice. His words to me – words I will never forget—were, “The chances of you needing the gun are greater than the chances of you getting caught.”
In these past few months leading up the election I have become so tired of liberals trying to convince me–convince us–that President Obama supports the 2nd Amendment.
In 1996 when Obama was running for the Illinois State Senate he filled out a form endorsing a state ban on the sale and possession of handguns in Illinois. Obama wrote in “yes” when asked, “Do you support state legislation to ban the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns?” Another question was, “Do you support legislation to ban assault weapons?” Again, Obama’s answer was “yes”.
I will not attempt to define “assault weapon” other than, very loosely, as automatic or semi-automatic firearms. The definition of the term is a hot-topic surrounding gun control laws and it is frightening to this gun-totin’ Texas girl just how broad that definition is becoming.
As an Illinois State Senator, Obama voted for an “assault weapons” ban so extreme that it would have outlawed shotguns of 28 gauge and larger. Obama is on the record in both 2007 and 2008 as saying he believed the Washington D.C handgun ban was constitutional. (Senate Bill 1195 of 2003)
In 2007 Obama also said, “I am consistently on record and will continue to be on record as opposing concealed carry.”
As President, one of Obama’s first major policy speeches to the nation concerned gun control. He spoke to the fact that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was, at that moment, issuing “emergency regulations” prohibiting the import of all handguns and assault weapons. He went on to stress that current federal law gave him the power to ban the import of firearms “not suitable for sport”.
Over the next few days millions of Americans rushed to gun stores and were stunned to find the number of items they could not purchase such as all semi-automatic firearms and muzzleloaders. The Obama gun bans were ended through corrective legislation–but are you sure he will not try it again?
Another issue is the fact that Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reversed previous U.S. policy and entered into an Arms Trade Treaty with the United Nations. This treaty has only been tabled; it has not been eliminated. The treaty calls for firearms and ammunition registration that would put American gun owners at the mercy of foreign governments.
Americans have a clear choice in the election on November 6th. Both Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan believe in the 2nd Amendment and have clearly stated their opposition to further restrictions for gun owners. Paul Ryan, in fact, has been an avid hunter for most of his life and recently told a campaign crowd, “I am happy to be clinging to my guns and my religion.” The National Rifle Association has endorsed the Romney-Ryan ticket; can they count on your endorsement at the polls on November 6th?
One of the most amusing questions I was ever asked regarding guns was, “Hey Patti, you are from Texas. Have you ever received a gun as a gift?” Just in case you are wondering, the answer is yes. My husband gave me a gun as a Christmas gift on more than one Christmas. No, I was not mad. Why would I be? He let me pick them out.
And for the record, you can have my guns when you pry them out of my cold, dead hands.
