Charles Hanna: Proud to be an American(KS)

augustagazette.com ^ | 1 September, 2011 | Charles Hanna

[marktwain]

Augusta, Kan. —

Readers may remember I recently wrote a column defending the image of the National Rifle Association of America in which I reviewed the origin, purpose, and contributions to the country by that organization. I am extremely concerned by the concerted effort of the past 30 years or so to denigrate, marginalize, and even criminalize many of the traditions, organizations, and activities that make us uniquely American. While researching a different subject in the Kansas State Adjutant General’s archives, I was impressed by what an integral part the National Rifle Association plays in the national defense, though it is not a governmental agency, and how truly different we are from the rest of the world; and how blessed I am to have been born American. We have no need to apologize for who we are, to anybody, foreign or domestic. During the late 1930s, the world was marching inexorably toward World War II. Japan was at war in China and Manchuria; Germany was on the march in Europe. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt asked for, and was given, authority to federalize the National Guard of the United States for one year of active duty training when war had not been declared. Mobilization of the National Guard began Sept. 16, 1940. This mobilization stripped all 48 states of their military forces, leaving them incapable of responding to insurrection, riot, invasion, and disasters. Legislation was formulated allowing the governors to raise Home Guard units to replace the National Guard, which was to be immediately mustered out upon return of all the states’ National Guard elements to state control. These were to serve without pay and allowance, with federal support limited to “...such arms and equipment as may be in possession of and can be spared by the War Department.”

[marktwain]

A good article, but copywritten, so I excepted it.

[ozzymandus]

The Japanese feared to invade mainland America because of the armed populace.

Good to see an article from Kansas like this to contrast with the little commie punk who wrote “What’s The Matter With Kansas?”. That punk claimed the matter with Kansas was that they weren’t a bunch of welfare-dependent little RATS. Said author naturally became a favorite on MSNBC, and wrote another leftist propaganda book.