I know Jay Simkin, and I spoke with Aaron Zelman back in the ‘90s. Two more truthful and sincere people you could not hope to meet...nor two more pro-gun people.
Zelman specifically formed JPFO to counter the (still strong) impression that all Jews were anti-gun. He perceived this belief to be the cause of yet more anti-Semitism, and wanted to both avoid that and to keep this nation strong with an armed populace (the militia). Two of his most hated politicians were people he viewed as traitors to their own people, Chuck Schumer and Diane Feinstein. Alas, both are still sitting Senators, while Aaron is no longer with us...but his ideas will live on.
WRT the topic of this thread, the Nazi Weapons Law WAS the basis for the ‘68 Gun Control Act. One of its chief sponsors and proponents was Senator Thomas Dodd of CT (Chris Dodd’s father). Thomas Dodd was one of the lawyers for the US during the Nuremberg trials, and had more than adequate access to this material.
From the JPFO website selling this book:
“Produced by Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, this book contains the German language original of the Nazi Weapons Law of March 18, 1938, a page-by-page translation, and then a page-by-page comparison with the U.S. Gun Control Act of 1968. The similarities are striking. The book also contains an actual copy of the correspondence between the U.S. bill’s sponsor, Sen. Thomas Dodd, and the Library of Congress which translated the Nazi law for him.” http://shop.jpfo.org/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=24
It is the height of historical irony that a law passed in Nazi Germany was used as the intellectual and ideological basis for a severe gun control measure in the US, and was/is strongly backed by Jews whose relatives were among the first victimized by the original law. For me, as an unfailingly pro-gun American of Jewish heritage, it is a fact that enrages me every time that I think about it. Frankly, Jews should oppose it JUST BECAUSE its origin was in Nazi Germany and its fanatical desire to disarm (in preparation for massacre) its “sub-human” victims.
Another dirty secret was the NSSF and the major US firearms manufacturers like Colt supported it as well. It more or less killed imports, new cheap guns and reduced the surplus market.. crony capitalism all due the 17th Amendment...
As I recall, JPFO’s book was all over the Clinton-era gun show bookseller tables, especially after the Assault Weapons Ban passed. The organization was very meticulous in its research.