Posted on 02/13/2009 11:34:30 PM PST by neverdem
FAIRBANKS - Fairbanksans are fired up about gun rights.
More than 100 people showed up at the Fairbanks Denny’s on Monday night as part of a “Second Amendment Task Force” to discuss legislation that they feel infringes on their right to bear arms.
Chief among their concerns is House Resolution 45, introduced by an Illinois Congressman earlier this year, an amendment to the Brady Bill would require a federal or state license for the ownership of any firearm and give the Attorney General’s office broad powers to track gun sales.
“We’ve seen it happen in other countries across the world, and we know totalitarian governments see ownership of firearms as a liability they just can’t afford,” said Schaeffer Cox, the 24-year-old entrepreneur who organized the meeting via e-mail.
Cox, who ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for Mike Kelly’s state House seat last year, addressed the crowded Denny’s dining room from atop a chair for the majority of the hour-long meeting.
He advocated for those in attendance to sign a letter in support of gun rights intended for Alaska’s at-large representative in the House, state legislators, as well as the ATF, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.
Many took his message to heart to resist stronger gun control laws if they are passed.
“They can pass whatever bills they want; they’re not going to get my guns,” said Mike Anderson after the meeting. Anderson wore a T-shirt with pictures of Hitler, Stalin and Mao that read “Mass murderers agree, gun control works.”
Those with knowledge of how Congress works say there’s little chance of HR45 going to a full vote in the House. University of Alaska Fairbanks political science professor James Gladden said that while he was not familiar with HR45 specifically, in general, the quickest way to kill a bill is to not assign it to a committee.
The bill is assigned to the House Judiciary Committee, but it does not have any co-sponsors. Illinois Rep. Bobby Rush initially put it forward. Gladden said it is often difficult to move a bill out of committee if it does not have several well-known backers.
Meredith Kenny, spokeswoman for Alaska Rep. Don Young, acknowledged in an e-mail that the bill probably will not get to a full House vote, but said that the 49th state’s longtime Congressman would be against it if it did.
“As an NRA board member, Rep. Young vehemently opposes any infringement on the Second Amendment, and if this bill were ever to come to the floor, you can bet he’d lead the charge against it,” she said.
Assurances such as those did not seem to be enough to dissuade those who attended Monday’s meeting. Many said they were shocked to see the $700 billion Troubled Assets Relief Program pass through Congress last fall just before an election, and said they now don’t see the passage of other surprising legislation such as stricter gun control as much of a stretch.
“I could see this passing, that’s the scary thing,” said Fairbanks resident Jim Huddleston.
Cox, who vowed to have a larger meeting at another venue next Monday, said he saw the event as more about making the public aware of the “ongoing encroachment on the right to bear arms” rather than about defeating one bill.
“It’s kind of like a flu vaccine,” he said. “You can hear it coming, and you need to get ready for it.”
Contact staff writer Chris Freiberg at 459-7545.
Why are people in Fairbanks worried about their guns. Sarah’s their Governor, lifelong member of the NRA, they have nothing to fear
There's more rumbling in the distance.
Why are people in Fairbanks worried about their guns. Sarah’s their Governor, lifelong member of the NRA, they have nothing to fear
It still doesn’t hurt to let the feds know your views.
The gun grabbers will see this and pause to reflect. Especially now since the dems have lit the fuse to a civil war.
The Tenth Amendment...arguably the least used, least applied amendment.
There is nothing ambiguous in the Second Amendment.
Coming to your neighborhood soon,.
Anderson wore a T-shirt with pictures of Hitler, Stalin and Mao that read "Mass murderers agree, gun control works."Thanks neverdem.
They are worried about federal laws encrouching on their state and local laws. They are also worried like I am that federal laws will make buying ammunition and firearms impossible.
Complacency is absolutely the worst enemy of freedom! I imagine that the representatives of King George tried to placate the colonists into lowering their guard in similar fashion on April 18th 1775. That would be the day BEFORE the historic confrontation at Lexington & Concord generating the Shot heard 'round the world.
There is a truism of which I would remind you: Fear the government that fears your gun! By all indications, based on the Congress and the new administration's cabinet, this is the most antigun Presidency/Congress in all of American history. Do you understand the concept of federalism? Power shared between state and national government with the national government being the controlling factor. Palin and the NRA can't stop a federal gun law from taking effect. And you want to tell these folks they have nothing to fear? Lemme ask you a question: Got Ostrich?
I wish I could recall how many times these commie 'schemes' have been flung against the walls of CONgress in the past 20 yrs...
eventually itll stick and the gloves will be off...
the first cut is the deepest, same with the first 'crime' for a few million gunowners...
LFOD...
“They are also worried like I am that federal laws will make buying ammunition and firearms impossible.”
I bought a case of 9mm last night and more .45 a and 9mm ammo this morning at a gun show because of this very thing.
And if there is no law, it will increase in value anyway because of this adminstration.
Amm is a safer bet than the stock market at this point. Sad commentary on the times in which we live.
Absolutely 100% spot on correct. The new element now is that for the first time we have virulent antis in charge; both in the White House & the Congress. The Senate is within a whisker of being filibuster proof if the wrong Rinos swing away. Also there is the issue of a looming Constitutional Convention. What happens if the RATs control the delegates there?
You know, this particulary onerous piece of legislation was written by “Former” Black Panther leader and founder of the Illinois Black Panther Party Bobby Rush, a Piece of sh*t domestic terrorist that is now a US Rep.
When human garbage like that get to start writing laws, things are hairy indeed.
Keep your powder dry.
GOOD rumblings. Would that it would be a States' Rights tsunami on the horizon. God only knows SOMETHING has got to happen -- and SOON.
with your screen name, and being [i think?] at least a part time history teacher, you know the value of true 'leaders' in the coming months in the battles ahead...
Luke 22:36 trumps the minions writing 'law' in this world...
LFOD...
You truly are a drooling idiot.
that chapter was the one that brought me to the Spirit...realizing that faith in Gods power was NOT weakness, rather that the Lord Jesus was a realist, and there exists a time physical as well as for idealogical battles, not simply always being steamrolled... for me the declarations of two real [man made iron] swords speaks volumes of how we live today...
no, we wont be armed to 'attack & conquer'...but we have 'enough' to defend against what 'the world' will bring to our doorsteps...
there is a certain insane denial by those who think they will roll us in the 'final battle'...
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