It’s “crunch time” for the 9/11 bill — and the future of the anti-gun National ID proposal attached to it.

Those who want to trade their constitutional liberties for a little false security are aware of this. They were on ABC News on Tuesday night, demanding National ID’s for American citizens.

Gun Owners of America has been educating the public and rallying the troops against this horrendous idea. GOA Executive Director Larry Pratt and former Rep. Bob Barr teamed up to place an editorial in The Washington Times right before Thanksgiving.

Among other things, the editorial notes how this National ID card will be “a driver’s license that, more than likely, will include a radio identifier chip and some biometric data, allowing the government to track individual Americans’ movements with ease. Every time we pass through a toll, or board an airplane, or enter a state or federal government facility, that will be tracked and recorded.”

Will microchips really be inserted into your new driver’s licenses? Well, H.R. 10 does not yet call for that, but the momentum is already pushing in that direction. Realize that the passports which will be issued by the end of 2005 will have microchips which can read electronically from as far away as 30 feet.

And according to State Department documents that were released last week, the Bush administration has opposed safeguards that privacy advocates contend are needed to prevent identity theft or government snooping.

In addition to being used as a method of tracking your movements, these microchips can be, of course, infused with all kinds of personal information — such as your medical, financial and library records, and, oh yes, even your gun owning status.

Those who love the Constitution, love liberty, and love America need to be vigilant in fighting for their rights.

National ID cards will NOT keep us safer from terrorism. Israel has a national identification card that uses biometric identifiers — a requirement that has hardly stopped suicide bombers from detonating bombs in crowded areas.

And no one should think that these National ID cards will be counterfeit-proof. Despite our best efforts and after using anti-counterfeiting technology, bad guys have still managed to counterfeit the new $20 bill.

Right now, no one knows whether the impasse on the 9/11 bill — otherwise known as the Intelligence Reform bill — will be broken, or whether pro-Constitution negotiators have succeeded in finally striking this abomination from the bill.

But we cannot assume that we have won, or that the bill will die.

Rather, we must make one final push — and must fight every bit as hard as those who hate our Constitution and want to take away our liberties.

ACTION: Contact your senators and representative. Ask them to vote against any Intelligence Reform conference report which authorizes National ID cards or creates large government databases on the private affairs of American citizens.

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 on the GOA website.

—– Pre-written letter —–

Dear

Those who would trade their constitutional rights for a false sense of security deserve neither.

Provisions in the Intelligence Reform bill which authorize National ID cards and create large government databases on the private affairs of Americans do not enhance our security. They diminish it.

On November 24, 2004, GOA Executive Director Larry Pratt and former Rep. Bob Barr teamed up to place an editorial in The Washington Times. Among other things, their editorial notes how this National ID card will be “a driver’s license that, more than likely, will include a radio identifier chip and some biometric data, allowing the government to track individual Americans’ movements with ease. Every time we pass through a toll, or board an airplane, or enter a state or federal government facility, that will be tracked and recorded.”

I realize that this microchip requirement is not yet in H.R. 10, but the momentum is obviously pushing in that direction. I’m sure you are aware of the fact that the passports which will be issued by the end of 2005 will have microchips which can read electronically from as far away as 30 feet.

Let’s be honest: allowing the government to track U.S. citizens is not going to do anything to stop real terrorists. Israel has a national identification card that uses biometric identifiers — a requirement that has hardly stopped suicide bombers from detonating bombs in crowded areas.

Please vote against the conference report on any Intelligence Reform bill which contains the National ID card or government database provisions.

Sincerely,

****************************

Note: You can read the Pratt/Barr Washington Times piece online at: http://www.washingtontimes.com/commentary/20041123-080539-8041r.htm

****************************

Also, please be aware that every Saturday Larry Pratt hosts the radio program Live Fire. It is streamed live on the web, and previous episodes are archived for your convenience. See http://www.gunowners.org/radio.htm for details.