Oathbreak Ridge

I recently found my copy of Gun Owners of America's "The Gun Owners," Volume 13, Number 5, November 3, 1994, and reread its headline article, "Every Vote Counts this Year," by GOA Executive Director Larry Pratt.

It says all we need to know about Homeland Security "czar" (why don't they ever say "fuhrer"?) Tom Ridge, and explains his hostility toward both arming commercial pilots and activating the Constitution's citizen militia in contrast to his stated goals and this country's needs.

"Congressman Thomas Ridge of Pennsylvania was a surprise vote for the ban on so-called 'assault weapons.' Pennsylvania is a strongly pro-gun, pro-hunting state. And Rep. Ridge faced a primary the following week for a statewide office.

"When asked why he voted anti-gun, Ridge reportedly said, 'Those people aren't registered. Nor do they vote.' He was proven right. He won his primary."

And he went on to become governor of his state, and now "pro-gun" George W. Bush's pick for keeping America safe from terror.

Can you imagine any of America's Founders making such a crass public statement? Or even admitting to such self-serving and treasonous sentiments in private? Ridge may as well have said "Who cares what the Constitution says? Based on results, I can get away with anything I want."

We're dealing with a creature who has no respect for his oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. Principle means nothing to opportunists like Tom Ridge, who subvert the supreme law of the land and betray their countrymen in their pursuit of power. And it looks like President Bush, who sold us out on the First Amendment, and who endorsed Feinstein-supporting gun-grabber Richard Riordan in the recent California gubernatorial primary, may be cast from the same mold.

"I trust you!" Bush told supporters when he promoted his tax cut plan. That always struck me as presumptuous. It should be the other way around, Mr. President — it should be us deciding if WE trust YOU.

But does Bush really trust us? Because one thing's for sure — his oathbreaking functionaries like Tom Ridge don't. After all, the ultimate proof of trust between the government and the people is whether they trust us with guns.

Here are three things Bush can immediately do to give us such proof. They will validate his words through unmistakable actions — especially since the targets of terror have largely been ordinary people who are prohibited from defending themselves by a government that has utterly failed in its duty to protect them — and cannot guarantee against future catastrophic failures:

• Promote and utilize, rather than prosecute, armed citizen volunteers training and acting in concert for homeland defense, that is, provide leadership to restore the Constitutional militia.

• Order Attorney General Ashcroft to enforce the Second Amendment by prosecuting government officials at local, state and federal levels who infringe on that right. So far, rather than doing his sworn duty, Ashcroft has shown deliberate indifference to violations called to his attention.

• Order Transportation Secretary Mineta to facilitate rather than impede arming commercial airline pilots.

We must judge our leaders — indeed, all people — based on what they say and what they then do. If there's any disparity between the two, we know we have a problem.

David Codrea is a co-founder and director for the national pro-rights media campaign, Citizens of America (CitizensOfAmerica.org), and an advisor and contributor for KeepAndBearArms.com. His professional writing is featured often in Guns and Ammo magazine. Additionally, he is the national coordinator for A Petition for the Enforcement of the Second Amendment (KeepAndBearArms.com/Petition). His archives can be accessed here: KeepAndBearArms.com/Codrea.

Ridge is nothing more than a typical new-century politician. Their basic creed is to see "How much anti-Constitutional crap can I get away with?" The answer - as much as they want - because nobody outside of a few RKBA advocates and other strict Constitutionalists, gives a damn. Oh, we all have our "pet" issues, but in the end, we still think we can play the game by the rules of those who are in authority and win. The idea that guns might be seen in a "good light" by the public is anathema to the rotten socialists who are currently in charge of this nation's political landscape. Thta's why theydesparately DO NOT want to allow pilots to carry arms. They would rather sacrifice the entire country to the likes of bin Laden than to admit that maybe guns are good.

The successful implementing of the federal assault weapons ban in 1994 was a breakthrough for the enemies of freedom. Their success was the greatest public relations victory that the anti-gunners ever had. Considering that the guns banned were and are the quintessential Constitutional Milita arms, and that there was nary a whimper of protest from the general public, shows just how far down the slope to tyranny we have slid. AW bans are the most egregious of all gun laws, because they set the stage for an eventual TOTAL ban on the sale and possession of all arms by the citizenry. To those who say "it can't happen in a Free Republic" I say, just wait awhile. You ain't seen nuttin' yet.

We have a slim chance of rolling back this rotten law and undoing its value as legal precedent since it will "sunset" in 2004; that is, if the rotten bastards in Congress do not renew and strengthen it. I think the latter is what they are going to do. And Bush will probably sign on (if he is re-elected).

"Congressman Thomas Ridge of Pennsylvania was a surprise vote for the ban on so-called 'assault weapons.'

Why is anybody surprised about this? Bubba-2's father used executive orders to create more anti-gun laws that Bubba-1 even dreamed of,and Bubba-2 plainly stated BEFORE the election that if Congress passed a premanent extension of the so-called "Assault Weapons Ban" that he would sign it into law.

We have a slim chance of rolling back this rotten law and undoing its value as legal precedent since it will "sunset" in 2004;

No,we don't. We have Bubba-2 in the White House,and Trent Lott in the Senate. This ain't even mentioning Hassert in Congress who is for the AWB. We stand a better chance of seeing Jesse Jackson being elected president of the KKK.

And Bush will probably sign on (if he is re-elected).

Chances are this will be done BEFORE the 2004 elections,and Bubba-2 WILL sign it. He has already said he would. He and the alleged leaders in the RNC are probably saving this untill just before the elections so they can show the Dim voters how "moderate" they are.

The leaders of both major parties are betraying us on a daily basis.

Politicians resopond to only ONE thing PRESSURE from lobby groups and voters

IF the NRA had 25 million members none of this BS would occur

Blame all the damn gun owners that don't belong to a gun rights group and have let those members carry the load
THERE IS THE REAL PROBLEM

Politicians have been that way since the days of Rome and aren't going to change.
In a free society if freedoms are lost BLAME THE CITIZENS

That is true but the law is meaningless as you can buy those guns with some cosmetic changes with no trouble

Not in California and I think in New Jersey. There is a TOTAL ban on the retail sale of AR's here. And those who refused or forgot to register the AR's which they owned prior to the ban, are now felons under California law. This is what the bastards in Congress have in mind for the updated and renewed federal AW ban in 2004.

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