Reflections of the Chairman

An important letter to all pro-gunners in America from Senator H.L. "Bill" Richardson, Founder and Chairman of Gun Owners of America:

Gunners -- Get to know U.S. Senator Jim DeMint and read his book Saving Freedom: We Can Stop America's Slide into Socialism! 

Senator DeMint is one of a kind.

For more on Saving Freedom, Click HERE.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Just one year ago, would you have believed that an unelected government official, not even a Cabinet member confirmed by the Senate but simply one of the many "czars" appointed by the president, could arbitrarily cut the pay of executives in private businesses by 50 percent or 90 percent?

Did you think that another "czar" would be talking about restricting talk radio? That there would be plans afloat to subsidize newspapers - that is, to create a situation where some newspapers' survival would depend on the government liking what they publish?

Did you imagine that anyone would even be talking about having a panel of so-called "experts" deciding who could and could not get life-saving medical treatments?

Scary as that is from a medical standpoint, it is also chilling from the standpoint of freedom. If you have a mother who needs a heart operation or a child with some dire medical condition, how free would you feel to speak out against an administration that has the power to make life-and-death decisions about your loved ones?

Does any of this sound like America?  [Continue reading]

 Another Second Amendment Case Heads to the Supreme Court

(September 30, 2009) -- The Supreme Court agreed to hear a challenge to the City of Chicago’s ban on handguns, a case that will test the reach of the Second Amendment.

In last year’s historic Heller decision, the Supreme Court ruled that: “The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia.”

That ruling shattered years of anti-gun revisionist history and misinformation that claimed the Second Amendment protected a “collective” right of the states to maintain something like the National Guard.

Heller, though, was limited in scope only to Washington, D.C., a federal enclave.  The Court did not address the issue of whether states or localities can prohibit the right to keep and bear arms, or if the Second Amendment was “incorporated” to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Court will consider this question in the case of McDonald v. City of Chicago, a suit filed immediately after the Heller decision.  A lower court and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals both ruled in favor of the city, setting the stage for Supreme Court consideration.

The spotlight is sure to focus brightly on new Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.  In a case before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in January, 2009, Judge Sotomayor ruled that the Second Amendment did not apply to the states.  [Read more]

September 16, 2009) -- An amendment to end the complete gun prohibition on Amtrak trains passed overwhelmingly Wednesday in the U.S. Senate by a vote of 68-30.

“Americans should not have their Second Amendment rights restricted for any reason, particularly if they choose to travel on America’s federally subsidized rail line,” said Sen. Wicker. [Read More]

Gun rights, control groups find fight in health debate
By Jordy Yager

A Virginia-based gun rights group has taken issue with the Democrat-led healthcare proposals, saying that the proposed plans could strip citizens of their rights to own a gun.

The Gun Owners of America group, which boasts more than 300,000 members, has been warning its ranks that the proposed healthcare legislation would compile the information of Americans into a government database. The group says that by using this data, the government could deem a citizen “medically unfit” to carry a gun.

“All of the proposals that we’re aware of would handle people’s health data that way,” said Larry Pratt, executive director of the group.

“And then you end up having a gazillion people lose their gun rights because of some medical record that someone doesn’t like, where they say, ‘Oh, that might be a danger to their self or others.’ No trial, no due process, just gone.” [Read MORE]

Rep. Conyers Sees No Point in Reading the Bills

Years ago, GOA's Founder and Chairman H.L. "Bill" Richardson wrote a book entitled, What Makes You Think We Read the Bills?  As a former state senator, Richardson knew of the antics and dirty tricks that go on in our legislatures across the country.

Today, Americans are beginning to demand that their legislators read the bills.  But despite the appeals to do so, some legislators -- like Democrat Rep. John Conyers of Michigan -- are digging in their heels.

Take a look at this video and see for yourself.

In What Makes You Think We Read the Bills, you'll be both amused and outraged at Sen. Richardson's tales of the day to day shenanigans in your state and national capitols.

Does your legislator suddenly stop being your representative?  He's just suffered Peer-Group Shift (see Chapter 12).  Does the majority elect? (find the answer in Chapter 18).  There are wildly funny chapters -- Ze Mooz (4), Burros and the Pill (9), Gangrene and the Board of Education (16) -- as well as plenty of straight talk about how and why our legislators are no longer ours.

Throughout, Sen. Richardson's breezy text is the underlying theme that "this can't go on much longer, enough is enough!"  He offers many thoughtful reflections on why our legislatures have gone off the tracks, and scores of helpful suggestions how to put things right.

You can order your copy of  What Makes You Think We Read the Bills at a special price of $4.95 plus shipping and handling.  To order your copy today, please go to:  http://www.gunowners.com/bookst.htm

GOA Congressional resource: learn more about legislation in Congress that could affect your right to keep and bear arms.

Legislation in the 111th Congress

One Gun Owner Educates Community over Firearms' Benefits