Really?
Posted on 09/24/2005 9:51:57 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
A storm is brewing. It has the potential to utterly destroy the Republican Party.
For years, under both Democrat and Republican administrations, American citizens -- cornerstones of their communities -- have been falsely charged and railroaded into prisons. Their lives have been ruined. Their families have been shattered. It has all been because of accusations and sham trials that belong in Communist China, not the United States of America.
We're talking about the decades of abuses committed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). We're talking about the _continuing_ abuses that are ruining innocent gun owners and gun makers today. Worse, we're now also talking about political cover-up and complicity.
A HISTORY OF ABUSE
For evidence of the abuses, see:
http://www.jpfo.org/alert20050103.htm
http://www.jpfo.org/savagebatfe.htm
http://www.jpfo.org/savage2.htm
People are being convicted on utterly meaningless testimony from "expert" witnesses who don't know what they're talking about and who work for an agency that uses arbitrary testing methods designed to yield whatever results bureaucrats and politicians want.
Do the Republicans know about this? Yes. Of course they do. They've known since at least 1982, when Congress recommended curbing the ATF's powers. Instead of controlling the ATF, administration after administration, of both parties, has handed the ATF more money and more power.
NEW EVIDENCE OF A COVER-UP
But it's worse. Not only does the current administration know about these unjust persecutions, these outrageous, trumped-up charges, they're now blatantly aiding and abetting the very agency that so horribly abuses American gun owners.
Here's what we're discovering:
Earlier this year, firearm manufacturer Len Savage and JPFO worked together to reveal that ATF Firearms Technology Branch (FTB) actually has NO standards for determining what constitutes an "illegal machine gun"!
One agent might decide that a semi-automatic rifle is an "illegal machine gun" if it can be made to fire full-auto after 15 minutes of casual tinkering. Another ATF agent might say another semi-automatic rifle is an "illegal machine gun" if a gunsmith with a machine shop can make it fire full-auto after eight hours of expert modification.
But each "expert" can then give testimony that puts the innocent owner of a semi-automatic rifle in prison.
Sometimes, they do no real testing or examination of firearms at all. Don't believe it? Watch the video of the "testing" of John Glover's FAL, and see for yourself: http://www.jpfo.org/batfevideo.htm. You'll see an ATF "expert" claim that a semi-automatic rifle is an "illegal machine gun" because it had a broken part and would occasionally fire two shots on one trigger pull. No one from the ATF ever even disassembled the gun to look for the cause of the malfunction before charging Glover with a federal felony!
When the Glover footage became public, the prosecutor ordered the charges against Glover dropped. Later, the head of the ATF himself ordered Mr. Glover's guns returned to him. (If you know someone being attacked by the ATF, make sure they have a copy of the footage to use!)
GUN OWNERS ATTEMPT TO HOLD THE ATF'S FEET TO THE FIRE
Recently, many concerned gun owners have contacted their congressional representatives requesting the FTB's firearms-testing procedure manual. The response has been -- shockingly, but not surprisingly -- that _no such manual exists_. The ATF is now being forced to admit that for decades it's been "making it up as it goes along" -- at the expense of American gun owners.
BUT ... Instead of defending gun owners in this simple matter of commonsense and justice, powerful Republicans are helping the ATF cover up!
The FTB has _refused_ to release its manual to the Congressional Research Service. Note: It's not admitting the truth -- that there is no manual, that there are no standards. It's just saying it won't release it. And the Department of Justice (under which the ATF now operates) is backing up its underlings.
Congressman James Sensenbrenner - Chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary - is scrambling to give the FTB time so that it can hurriedly write some sort of fake manual - anything! - to show the public when knowledge of this travesty becomes widespread.
But by doing so, the FTB will be facing unintended consequences: If the standards for testing firearms have only _now_ been written, then literally thousands of _previous_ gun owner convictions will become suspect, and may well be overturned. The Department of Justice fears (accurately) that there will be a wave of retrials or even complete exonerations for imprisoned gun owners when the public discovers this fetid coverup.
But the current VIPs of the Republican Party and the Bush administration are actually trying to _prevent you and me from learning what their agents are doing to us_.
Only one congressman, Phil Gingrey of Georgia, stands alone in opposition to the ATF's domestic terrorism. He has written a bill to force the ATF to video-record all firearms tests. He made the first requests for the non-existent manual. Yes, Gingrey is a Republican, and a courageous one. But his attempts to get justice have been stymied at every turn by Republican James Sensenbrenner and the Republican Department of Justice.
We're getting calls from outraged, patriotic gun owners. We're reading angry rumblings on second-amendment blogs and message boards. They're all saying the same thing: "If more gun owners begin to grasp the full depth of their betrayal, the Republican Party will not survive the fallout."
Republican betrayal of gun owners is unfortunately not new. The Brady law passed only because a powerful Republican (Bob Dole) enabled it. Republicans who claimed to oppose various Clinton-era gun laws have vigorously supported enforcement of those same laws through Project Safe Neighborhoods. It has been a _Republican_ administration, not a Democrat one that has appointed hundreds of special prosecutors just to handle "gun crimes" (which are often completely non-violent and technical "crimes").
Until now, many gun owners have either been oblivious to the depth of the Republican betrayal or they've held their noses and supported Republicans because they believed the Democrats to be worse.
Many Democrats are open and frank in their hatred of guns and gun owners. But for years the Republicans have looked us in the eye, smiled, shaken our hands, asked for our support -- then stabbed us in the back.
If this were a just world with an impartial media, this brewing scandal of Republican-supported abuse and Republican coverup would have the potential to make Whitewater or Iran Contra look trivial in comparison.
Because the media doesn't care about gun owners, and because gun owners themselves are so often willfully blind to Republican betrayal, we don't know that this scandal _will_ be the end of the Republican Party.
We only know an increasing number of concerned, patriotic gun owners are saying that it _should_ be.
- The Liberty Crew
For more background information and references, see: www.jpfo.org/batfearticles.htm
For a copy of JPFO's "BATFE Fails the Test" footage of BATFE testing procedures, see: www.jpfo.org/batfevideo.htm
Jews For The Preservation of Firearms Ownership, Inc.
P.O. Box 270143
Hartford, WI 53027
www.jpfo.org
Mirror site: www.jpfo.net
Phone (262) 673-9745
Fax (262) 673-9746
They also know about the phony polls, studies, etc., conducted by the Violence Policy Center, but use them anyway to justify their silence on whatever gun law changes the gun-grabbing left wants to push.
FYI
"Cowards allways accept the lesser of two evils."
If you saying that people who consider whether or not a person can be elected when voting ofr him are cowards, then I respectfully disagree.
The current Republican party is run by RINOs. It's our job to throw them out - one by one.
A good start would be to take over townships, villages, small cities and counties - both elected positions and unelected spots such as seats on planning commissions. That's the body of the Republican party, and the head (Washington) can't function without co-operation of the body.
The Republican party should not be dumped; it needs to be taken back from the New York Rockefeller socialists (RINOs).
Once a politician gets to DC, doesn't matter what he goes in as. He'll come out a prostitute if he/she's not one already.
Let's just have one party - The Prostitution Party - and everybody just try to get what they can get from whoever's there.
Once again, you have articulated an astute solution to an acute and growing problem!!! All of FReeperdom would be wise to heed your good counsel!!!
"Let's just have one party - The Prostitution Party"
Give or take the name tags, I'd say that's about what we do have right now.
Really?
How you doing, SierraWasp?
I don't like the idea of walking away from a fight that's worth fighting. In 1994, conservative Republicans took over the house. Now they (the party) are getting soft and mushy and slipping into the comfortable daddy socialist swamp.
I say we take our party back.
I can hardly believe the article failed to mention any bill numbers!
There are three pro-gun bills languishing in committee at this time that urgently need our attention, H.R. 1603, H.R. 1703, and H.R. 2088 (with over 50 cosponsors!).
I am posting all the information I have readily available, fall is here, congress is back in session, it's time to get involved and convince congress to PASS these bills!
The bill this article references is H.R. 1603, the "Fairness in firearms testing act".
Sorry, I do not have the full text handy at the moment.
The bill requires ATFE-Tech to video document all test, and to make UNEDITED copies available to the defense if they decide they have a case worthy of prosecution.
The full text can be found at http://www.nfaoa.org
The main effect of the bill would be to force ATFE to tighten up their standards and behave rationally, it would have little or no effect on LEGITIMATE prosecutions!
HR 1703 IH
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1703
To restore the second amendment rights of all Americans.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 19, 2005
Mr. PAUL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To restore the second amendment rights of all Americans.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Second Amendment Protection Act of 2005'.
SEC. 2. REPEAL OF FEDERAL HARASSMENT PERIOD.
Public Law 103-159 is repealed, and any provisions of law amended or repealed by such Act are restored or revived as if such Act had not been enacted.
SEC. 3. REPEAL OF UNCONSTITUTIONAL DISTINCTION.
(a) Section 5845(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
(1) by striking `which the Secretary finds is generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes'; and
(2) by striking `which the owner intends to use solely for sporting purposes'.
(b) Section 921(a)(4)(B) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking `which the Attorney General finds is generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes'.
(c) Section 921(a)(4) of such title is amended in the 2nd sentence by striking `which the owner intends to use solely for sporting, recreational, or cultural purposes'.
(d) Section 921(a)(17)(C) of such title is amended by striking `a projectile which the Attorney General finds is primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes,'.
(e) Section 923(j) of such title is amended by striking `devoted to the collection, competitive use, or other sporting use of firearms in the community'.
(f) Section 922(r) of such title is amended by striking `of this chapter as not being particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes'.
(g) Section 925(a)(3) of such title is amended by striking `determined by the Attorney General to be generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes and'.
(h) Section 925(a)(4) of such title is amended by striking `(A) determined by the Attorney General to be generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes, or determined by the Department of Defense to be a type of firearm normally classified as a war souvenir, and (B)'.
(i) Section 925(d)(3) of such title is amended by striking `and is generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes'.
(j) Section 925(e)(2) of such title is amended by striking `provided that such handguns are generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes'.
(k) Section 922 of such title is amended in each of subsections (a)(5), (a)(9), and (b)(3) by striking `lawful sporting purposes' and inserting `lawful purposes'.
SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The provisions of this Act shall take effect immediately upon enactment.
H.R. 1703
H.R. 2088
• H.R.2088
• Title: To provide an amnesty period during which veterans and their family members can register certain firearms in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and for other purposes.
• Sponsor: Rep Gibbons, Jim [NV-2] (introduced 5/4/2005) Cosponsors (55)
• Latest Major Action: 5/4/2005 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
•
• Rep Akin, W. Todd [MO-2] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Bachus, Spencer [AL-6] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Baker, Richard H. [LA-6] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Barrett, J. Gresham [SC-3] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Barton, Joe [TX-6] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Bishop, Rob [UT-1] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Bradley, Jeb [NH-1] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Burgess, Michael C. [TX-26] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Cannon, Chris [UT-3] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Cramer, Robert E. (Bud), Jr. [AL-5] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Cunningham, Randy (Duke) [CA-50] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Deal, Nathan [GA-10] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Duncan, John J., Jr. [TN-2] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Feeney, Tom [FL-24] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Franks, Trent [AZ-2] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Goode, Virgil H., Jr. [VA-5] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Hall, Ralph M. [TX-4] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Hefley, Joel [CO-5] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Herger, Wally [CA-2] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Hostettler, John N. [IN-8] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Hunter, Duncan [CA-52] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Kennedy, Mark R. [MN-6] - 5/4/2005
• Rep King, Steve [IA-5] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Kingston, Jack [GA-1] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Kuhl, John R. "Randy", Jr. [NY-29] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Lewis, Ron [KY-2] - 5/4/2005
• Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Mollohan, Alan B. [WV-1] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Musgrave, Marilyn N. [CO-4] - 5/12/2005
• Rep Otter, C. L. (Butch) [ID-1] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Pearce, Stevan [NM-2] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Peterson, John E. [PA-5] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Putnam, Adam H. [FL-12] - 5/16/2005
• Rep Rogers, Mike D. [AL-3] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Ross, Mike [AR-4] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Shimkus, John [IL-19] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Simpson, Michael K. [ID-2] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Tancredo, Thomas G. [CO-6] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Taylor, Gene [MS-4] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. [OH-12] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Whitfield, Ed [KY-1] - 5/4/2005
• Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] - 5/4/2005
Sadly, I have to agree with you. The non-military spending bills he's signed is mind bogling.
Really.
That is BAY Buchanan.
Not Pat.
Pat has nothing to do with TA PAC
Bay was Reagan's campaign finance person.
The sooner those who have wrongly imprisoned are released the better! This is outrageous!
When sergeantdave speaks... people listen!!!
We'll take it back, one voter at a time, even if we are forced to create new voters!!! (right?)
You guys are too pessimistic. Within the next few weeks there is going to be a project launched on FreeRepublic that can restore the Constitution in less than ten years. Check your freepmail later today and I will send you a heads up that will allow you a sneak preview and the opportunity to participate.
Sounds like an indecisive "moderate's" invitation to defeatism, to me!!! (I look at life from both sides now...)(Phhhhht!!!)
"So many RINO's on this forum who don't even know they are"
I wasn't gonna go there, but... You can say that again!
Some of the people here are mainly into politics as a sport. All they care about is there side winning, without regard to the kind of gvt they end up with.
Others seem to care mainly about particular social issues (abortion, gay amrriage), but don't otherwise care about the size or scope of gvt.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.