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Repeal gun control laws that leave us defenseless against evil terrorists
http://www.lp.org ^ | October 30, 2001 | Libertarian Party Press Release

Posted on 12/12/2001 5:41:57 PM PST by ATOMIC_PUNK

Repeal gun control laws that leave us defenseless against evil terrorists

WASHINGTON, DC -- With sales of guns soaring and support for the Second Amendment peaking after the September 11 terrorist attacks, it's time for politicians to start repealing burdensome gun laws, the Libertarian Party said today.

"More Americans are beginning to realize that the Second Amendment is not some fossilized remnant of a frontier nation, but a practical solution to the 21st century problem of terrorism," said the party's national director, Steve Dasbach.

"Now, it's time for politicians to acknowledge this change in attitude -- as well as the new reality of the terrorism threat -- and immediately start repealing laws that prohibit law-abiding Americans from buying and carrying firearms to protect themselves and their families."

Over the past month, a number of news stories and polls have revealed a stunning increase in gun purchases and an unprecedented groundswell of support for gun rights. According to media reports:

* There has been "a surge in gun sales" following September 11, reported the Washington Post (October 2, 2001), with applications to buy handguns in Virginia doubling the week after the attack, and background checks for handguns, rifles, and shotguns up by 32%.

* 45% more Americans "value Second Amendment rights" than before the terrorist attacks, according to an NRA poll reported in U.S. News & World Report (November 5, 2001).

* In Colorado, background checks for concealed carry permits jumped 172% from August to October, according to the Rocky Mountain News (October 30, 2001).

* In Connecticut, 41% more people bought guns in September 2001 than in the same month last year, according to the Associated Press (October 2, 2001).

* Women across the country are signing up for gun safety courses in record numbers, according to NBC's Today Show (October 10, 2001), with sales of guns to women increasing by 60%.

* In California, gun sales surged 42%, reported CBS Morning News (October 2, 2001).

There is an obvious explanation for such figures, said Dasbach.

"Americans have begun to realize, following the September 11 tragedy, that government and police cannot keep them safe from every danger," he said. "There is simply no way the government can protect 280 million Americans from stealthy terrorists or even garden-variety criminals.


"Americans have begun to understand that they must take personal responsibility for their own safety. That's why we're seeing such a surge in gun sales -- especially to vulnerable demographic groups, like women."

Unfortunately, noted Dasbach, there are over 21,000 local, state, and federal laws that limit the right of Americans to purchase or carry guns -- leaving millions of individuals still at risk.

"September 11 was a wake-up call to America that we are vulnerable to terrorists," he said. "Now, politicians need to wake up, and start repealing the 21,000 gun control laws they passed over the last few decades. It is unconscionable that old-fashioned gun laws and anti-gun politicians can prevent Americans from protecting themselves and their families from murderous terrorists.

"Those laws are a shameful legacy of a government that not only could not protect Americans -- but actually has made it more difficult for Americans to protect themselves. In light of September 11, that must change."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist; libertarians
I know I know but i posted it for the red
1 posted on 12/12/2001 5:41:57 PM PST by ATOMIC_PUNK
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To: ATOMIC_PUNK; *libertarians; *bang_list
Bump
2 posted on 12/12/2001 5:46:41 PM PST by Libertarianize the GOP
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To: ATOMIC_PUNK
Heh Heh Heh....yep, It's true, you know, that if you lose your driver's license, you forget how to drive....Same with gun laws...you forget how to shoot if the laws are against you...........

screw the laws....protect yourselves and sort it all out later.

3 posted on 12/12/2001 5:57:42 PM PST by B.O. Plenty
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To: Libertarianize the GOP
Give the gift of love this CHRISTmas. Give the person you love a gun and lessons (if they've not had training before). Hubby and I bought each other guns last CHRISTmas. Then he taught me how to shoot safely. (He's an old farm boy who grew up with guns, and is ex-military). Then we both went for our CCW in TN.
4 posted on 12/12/2001 5:58:15 PM PST by GailA
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To: ATOMIC_PUNK

click

5 posted on 12/12/2001 6:00:50 PM PST by glock rocks
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To: ATOMIC_PUNK
The reported threats against Texas school children today is a powerful reminder of the importance of allowing our citizenry to be armed. Police cannot cover all possible targets. A handful of armed security, teachers, and administrators would be a significant deterrent to many possible scenarios.
6 posted on 12/12/2001 6:03:34 PM PST by Faraday
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To: ATOMIC_PUNK
It is a shame that the American public is only now realizing they are on their own, the courts decided that a long time ago. Warren v. D.C.
7 posted on 12/12/2001 6:12:03 PM PST by Unbeliever
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To: BOBWADE
Ping
8 posted on 12/12/2001 6:20:07 PM PST by zip
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To: ATOMIC_PUNK
To Atomic Punk

Good Job with article- keep it up.

9 posted on 12/12/2001 6:24:54 PM PST by CHICAGOFARMER
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To: ATOMIC_PUNK
"Women across the country are signing up for gun safety courses in record numbers, according to NBC's Today Show (October 10, 2001), with sales of guns to women increasing by 60%." (Libertarian Party)

This is a nightmare for the antigun lobby.

Having lost the entire South of both sexes - and most all the rest of Red Nation of both sexes - they are now losing heavily among the only people that they previously thought were theirs to keep, women in the Northeast/urban Midwest and urban Kalifornia.

GUN REVIEWS free of ad-money bias - with emphasis on women-friendliness of guns!

10 posted on 12/12/2001 7:46:13 PM PST by glc1173@aol.com
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Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

To: IceCreamSocialist
I don't buy the line of reasoning that states registration leads to confiscation. My car has not been confiscated, my boat hasn't been confiscated.

Some points:
(1) There is no Constitutional Amendment guaranteeing the right to own or use a car or boat, there is one guaranteeing the right to own and carry guns, or other arms for that matter.
(2) Cars and boats are not a threat to any would be dictators or other usurpers of your rights, guns in the hands of the people are.
(3)Confiscation has already occurred, in the United States, using registration lists that those who registered were assured would never be used for confiscation, but no one has used car or boat registration lists to confiscate non politically correct cars (SUVs maybe) or boats.

12 posted on 12/12/2001 9:13:00 PM PST by El Gato
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To: IceCreamSocialist
(4) Cars and boats are registered, by the states, so they can be taxed. Why are guns to be registered?
13 posted on 12/12/2001 9:14:29 PM PST by El Gato
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To: Faraday
Good post.

The firearms manager at my local sporting goods store made the point that well trained citizens can actually handle guns better than law enforcement officers....he said it is because police officers use their weapons primarily as a deterrent (they get thrown in jail if they use them).

He told us that they only have to be certified once a year and they all crowd the range around that time working on their rusty skill.

So when I see police officers pandering to HCI it makes me angry.

14 posted on 12/12/2001 9:30:56 PM PST by JakeWyld
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To: IceCreamSocialist
Your car or boat can be taken any time the government sees fit. If you are late in registering your vehicles, they can be taken without recourse. If you get a ticket for any reason, your vehicles can be taken. If your vehicles are stolen and used in a crime, they will be taken and not returned to you. Same goes for your land and any personal property you own. The government sees it as on loan to you, not belonging to you.
15 posted on 12/12/2001 10:24:32 PM PST by goodieD
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Comment #16 Removed by Moderator

Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

To: El Gato
Once a person leaves the South or Midwest, he/she really isn't in America anymore.

The Democrat Stalinists have proven this time and again with these absurd and UNCONSTITUTIONAL gun control laws.


18 posted on 05/04/2008 10:46:54 PM PDT by Prole (Pray for the families of Chris and Channon.)
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