Posted on 06/27/2005 9:52:14 AM PDT by neverdem
www.gunowners.org
Jun 2005
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Registration leads to confiscation. We all know that, and that is why GOA has vehemently opposed all attempts by government forces to compile or retain information pertaining to lawful firearms purchases.
But the United States Senate does not appear to see it that way. People on Capitol Hill seem to think that any "edge" in the war on terror is worth trampling on the rights of law-abiding Americans, no matter what the Constitution (and current law) happens to say.
At issue is a provision in the Patriot Act reauthorization bill (S. 1266) authored by Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS). Now, GOA has long opposed the vast majority of Patriot Act powers as being detrimental to freedom in general and dangerous to gun owners in the particular.
In short, Sen. Roberts' language would allow the FBI to seize ANY business records it believes would be relevant to an anti-terrorism investigation... without first seeking permission from any court in the land.
Gun sales are business transactions, and FFL holders must retain copies of the 4473 forms (yellow sheets) filled out on every gun sale. Thus, an anti-gun administration could easily determine that such records would be useful in the fight against terrorism, and demand them all. (In fact, shortly after 9/11, liberal Democrats in Washington were screaming for exactly that.)
It gets worse. It is conceivable that your local gun dealer would risk his license, his business, and lots of money to protect your privacy and refuse to turn over the records. But under this legislation, the Attorney General could order the dealer NOT TO TELL YOU WHAT IS GOING ON. So that dealer would be the ONLY person who could contest the action before your life is raked over the coals... and honestly, how many among us would risk everything rather than tell the feds who it was that stopped by to pick up a Glock a couple of months ago?
After having used an "administrative subpeona" (again, not subject to judicial review) to collect all gun purchase records across the country, your friendly anti-gun but oh-so-patriotic government would have brought about the gun owner's second-worst-case scenario: a national firearms registration list.
Registration leads to confiscation.
This monstrosity must be stopped. Please take the action requested below, and urge all freedom-loving Americans you know to do the same.
ACTION: Contact your United States senators. Politely but firmly demand that they oppose the bill to expand the Patriot Act (S. 1266), and specifically, its provision to allow "administrative subpoenas" of all gun records.
You can use the pre-written message below and send it as an e-mail by visiting the GOA Legislative Action Center at http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm (where phone and fax numbers are also available).
Dear Senator:
The Patriot Act expansion bill (S. 1266) would allow the United States government to seize every lawful gun sale record in the country... solely on the basis of a bureaucrat's determination that a national registry of gun owners would be useful in an anti-terrorism investigation.
Registration leads to confiscation.
Section 213 of the bill allows a designee of the Attorney General to issue "administrative subpoenas" for any business records which, in his opinion, are relevant to investigating terrorism. Even more ominous, the Attorney General could order gun dealers NOT to disclose the existence of the investigation to their customers, meaning that the dealer (rather than the gun purchaser) would be the only person who could contest this action. And why should he risk his livelihood on my behalf?
None of the above is subject to prior judicial review -- it is massive gun control by simple executive fiat.
I believe that a national gun registry is a step this country cannot afford to take, and one that the citizenry will not abide.
I would ask you, in the strongest terms, to oppose this Patriot Act "reform" bill outright, and especially its administrative subpoena provision.
Sincerely,
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What's the use? if you practice religion the state will strip you of religion, if you speak out about sin, you will be arrested for hate speech, your land can and will be taken away at the whim of the state, and the FBI will already know you had a gun and have long since confiscated it on the grounds you aledgely might do something with it, and should you try to pack your cash and run the police can stop you and confiscate the cash on the ground they think you've got too much of it, they won't be obligated to report this since they didn't officially arrest you and you weren't officially charged.
...and brought forth by a republican no less. We are being sold out by the dems and repubs.
I never did trust the patriot act.
Is OUR Republican majority behind this bill? Please tell me they are not?
Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars. (THR)
I don't think the Republicans understand the word majority either. That's why it sort of cracks me up that Democrats get so hysterical when we actually have the majority.
Roberts is a pubbie. There may be enough RINOs for this to pass the Senate. I think the House is a no-go.
not to worry, I register my car and they haven't taken it ...(sarcasm)
No guns for citizens, no sons for the service
This is exactly why I don't trust Republicans any more than I trust Democrats. Let me know when the Republicans grow some gonads and come out STRONGLY for the Second Amendment. I don't believe it will happen in my lifetime.
The original Patriot Act was fine, but I would strongly oppose this expansion of it. Let the FBI look at gun purchase records of aliens and other non-Americans. But keep the government out of spying on Americans through this manner!
Good to see that we have our priorities straight.
/sarcasm
I'm not sending squat. I'm OK with the Patriot Act. While I oppose this provision, I own no guns. I have got other letters to write and this is further down the list. Sorry.
It looks like now Citizens should buy their weapons privately so as not to leave a paper trail.
It really doesn't matter because the Ay Tee Eff is wired into their cash registers; the owner info and serial numer is entered there.
Sooner or later, we'll get what's coming to us. It's inevitable.
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