Don't Let Obama's Anti-Gun Silence Breed Complacency

American Thinker ^ | March 09, 2010 | Anthony W. Hager

[neverdem]

What should we make of a recent editorial arguing that the Obama White House has made no attempt to infringe upon the Second Amendment and that Obama openly declared his respect for the right to bear arms during his presidential campaign?

It's true that President Obama hasn't advanced the gun control agenda. He hasn't even sought a renewed ban on "assault" weapons. However, the idea that President Obama has more in common with Wayne LaPierre than with Sarah Brady is misleading. Remember the "bitter clingers" comment? Therefore, if eternal vigilance is freedom's price, then complacency must be its worst enemy. The Second Amendment is under assault even as the Supreme Court seems poised to recognize the individual right it protects.

Rep. Bobby Rush's Firearms Licensing and Record of Sale Act (H.R. 45) would require a license to possess a firearm. That license would also be required to transfer a firearm, and a tracking number would be assigned to each sale. Most ominous is H.R. 45's prohibition on storing firearms and ammunition in any manner that a child could access.

Rep. Rush's bill assaults the basic notion of a right. Free people need no government license to exercise a right. This bill would also create de facto gun registration and render firearms inadequate for self-defense. Unloaded guns are rather poor clubs.

Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee produced the Gun Safety and Gun Access Prevention Act (H.R. 257). Section Three in Rep. Lee's proposal would impose ten-year prison sentences upon firearm sellers if they have "reasonable cause to know" that their customers intend criminality. Section Four criminalizes the sale of a firearm without an approved security device. Section Five effectively forbids keeping a loaded firearm for self-defense whenever a child is present, much like H.R. 45. Section Six requires adult chaperones for minors at gun shows. Under Section Six (b)(8), the offending parent can be charged with child abandonment.

Since a defensive firearm must be kept loaded, and most homes contain children at least periodically, it's clear that Rep. Rush and Rep. Lee intend to abolish the use of firearms for personal defense. They also require dealers to be clairvoyant. To deny sales opens dealers to civil rights violations, while approving sales opens them to prosecution. It's a catch-22 for gun sellers.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg's Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act (S.1317) denies firearms to "dangerous" terrorists (is there another kind?). What Sen. Lautenberg has authored is a clever ruse. No one can argue that denying guns and bombs to terrorists violates the Second Amendment, right? Let's see.

Section 922A(1) of S. 1317 grants the Attorney General discretionary authority to deny access to firearms. The AG, under Section 922B(g)(1), can also withhold information used in the denial from the aggrieved party. Should gun owners feel secure if Eric Holder wields such authority?

What about Pres. Obama's stated respect for gun rights? Well, politicians will say just about anything to get elected. Obama is still on the record as supporting a ban on "assault" weapons. Furthermore, his administration is backing a U.N. treaty that would regulate the small arms trade worldwide. Don't scoff. The president can constitutionally enter such treaties under Article 2, Section 2. Said treaty would become law under Article 6, at least temporarily.

Inaction on gun control doesn't make President Obama a Second Amendment loyalist. Inaction doesn't mean that politicians and bureaucrats hostile to private firearms aren't at work. Gun-owners will benefit from a dose of extra vigilance now, even while the gun control waters appear still.

Anthony W. Hager has authored therightslant.com since 2003. More than 200 of his commentaries have appeared in a variety of publications and web outlets.

[neverdem]

I'm sorry, but I just don't see any crdible threat for the time being from a Congress that passes the Coburn Amendment and had 58 votes to pass the Thune Amendment in the Senate. Obama has bigger socialist fish to fry in Congress, and many rats elected since 2006 are pro Second Amendment, at least nominally. Are the bills mentioned getting any traction?

[HiTech RedNeck]

Rats would hopefully fear to tread in this territory in an election year. But who knows what could happen if Bummer gets a second wild hair.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

You are terribly naieve! Until we secure congress anything might happen. The UN treaty issue isn't fully understood yet but you can bet it will be dangerous.

No matter if SCOTUS decides favorably or not you can bet the gun banners will stall and fight compliance inch by bloody inch.

The anti-gun movement is driven by a mix of insanity and evil, expecting rationality from them is foolish.

If nothing else works they WILL create a crisis, and Obama WILL sign an executive order!

I've been fighting for RKBA since I was 14 years old, I'm 67 now. I intend to fight until they throw dirt in my face!

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

Social Security is no longer the lone 3rd rail of American politics... RATS learned the hard way once before and in an environment much less pro-gun than the one we have today.

Alot has changed since 1994

[RC one]

ping

[BobbyT]

Bobby Rush pushes that crap every year in IL.

He’s a Chicago thug, Black Panther party member, militant racist separatist, and multiple prior felon.

This makes him unable to legally own a gun, just like the serfs in Chitcago. As a felon, he of course wants to ensure a safe working environment for his felon constituency.

[elcid1970]

The Bobby Rush of today is a wizened little old man. His glory days as a Panther are forty years gone.

His idiotic gungrabbing bill can’t even get a co-sponsor in the House.

The American population is arming itself to the teeth, and that’s good. Obama is supremely arrogant, but he’s not stupid. His WH advisors probably believe that armed insurrection is just around the corner, and they’re frightened.

Open carry in Starbucks? What is this world coming to?

Be alert to the liberals as always, but regard things calmly. It’s not 1975, Ted Kennedy is dead, and even Illinois may soon have CCW.

[Shooter 2.5]

Gunowners always had complacency since only five percent of the eighty million gunowners actually fight for their Rights.

Me: They’re going for a gun ban.
Them: They can’t do that. We have a Second Amendment.

Later.

Them: How did they do that??
Me: I told you they were going to do that and you didn’t help stop it.

My ex-Brother in Law went to jail for the weekend because he had a handgun in his sockdrawer.

[Joe Brower]

[rarestia]

My ex-Brother in Law went to jail for the weekend because he had a handgun in his sockdrawer.

When was this? Where was this? What were the circumstances? Why we LEOs in his home in the first place? I don't know the situation, but your brevity does not impart a favorable situation for your ex-BIL. First thing in my mind was that he was arrested on a warrant serve and the LEOs rooted through his stuff to tack on to his sentence.

[ZULU]

Even now, Lautneberg has introduced an “anti-terrorism” bill which would mandate national registration of all fireamrs.

Simultaneously, that *itch Hillary Clinton is working with Obama to get the U.S. to sign onto the U.N.’s small arms control treaty which may lead to gun confiscation.

Obama’s HEalth Care Plan is tied in with his illegal amnesty bill to provide him with more voters through offering citizenship and healthcare to newly minted citizens through amensty.

EVERYTHING he does is carefully crafted to further his agenda of absolute control of the American ecomony, American society and all American’s personal freedoms.

Obama has demonstrated again and again he has NO respect for the Constitution OR public opinion.

That makes him a Tyrant. And Tyrants can never be trusted.

[neverdem]

My ex-Brother in Law went to jail for the weekend because he had a handgun in his sockdrawer.

Was it for violating safe storage laws? If so, safe storage laws should be gone by June, like Heller, IMHO.

[wastedyears]

That E.O. being instituting Martial Law.

[wastedyears]

Gunowners always had complacency

NFA '34, GCA '68, FOPA '86, AWB '94... need I continue?

[TexasRepublic]

We have three years to go before FUBO faces reelection. His plate is full right now, but he’ll get around to gun control after his other projects are finished.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I will never relax, I know what they want to do.

With all due respect, when someone from NY tells me to relax I've got to consider the status of RKBA in NY compared to RKBA down here. Obviously someone in NY relaxed too damned much! I'm not picking a fight, just stating a fact.

Florida laws are too intrusive to me as they are, I sure don't want ANY more.

[blackie]

Be Ever Vigilant!

[wastedyears]

I’m not saying to relax, I’m saying to always keep an eye on what government wants to do regarding the Second Amendment.

I’d fit in far better in the midwest or south, only problem is I’m limited by lack of funds. And I’d also rather have some sort of job set and a place to stay when I get there.

[EdReform]

Oath Keepers

Click here to join your State Group

[Blood of Tyrants]

The problem is that if the Rats see that they are going to lose in November they may decide to go kamikaze and pass a whole boatload of unpopular crap.