“...the right of the people to keep and bear arms…”

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In the interest of full disclosure I have been a Life Member of the National Rifle Association for twenty-three years. Prior to that, I was an annual member of that organization for thirty years. I like guns. I like freedom. I like a functioning action with the no-nonsense sound of steel on steel operating flawlessly to engage the firing mechanism. I also enjoy the satisfaction of a well placed shot. In addition to military training I have kept my hand in and continue to shoot on my private range as often as time and ammunition shortages allow.

Amendment II of the United States Constitution reads as follows:

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

I would suggest that any person who has difficulty understanding those words is too ignorant to breathe let alone hold public office. For clarification, the Supreme Court of the United States has helped them by declaring the right an individual matter. As evidence of their distaste for the constitution, officials at all levels continue to attack those 27 words with a vigor born of desperation. They blanch in terror at the thought of the people being armed. Let’s take a look at some other societies who recognized the danger of having an armed population.

In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.

In 1938, Nazi Germany established gun control. From 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, and other dissenters who were unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

In 1935, China established gun control. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

In 1964, Guatemala established gun control. By 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

In 1970, Uganda established gun control. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

In 1956, Cambodia established gun control. From 1974 to 1977, one million educated people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

The above examples total 55,400,000 who were rounded up and exterminated during the last century. That is a number equivalent to the combined 2000 census population of 27 US states: SC, LA, KY, OR, OK, CN, IA, MS, AR, KS, UT, NV, NM, WV, NE, ID, ME, NH, HI, RI, MT, DE, SD, AK, ND, VE, DC, and WY. None of those people had the right to bear arms.. They are all dead.

Over a year ago, Australia passed a new law which required 640,381 firearms to be confiscated and destroyed. That program cost their government over $500,000,000 to implement or $781.25 per firearm. What was the result of this massive dis-armament program? Homicides up 3.2%; assaults up 8.6%; armed robbery up 44%; and in the state of Victoria, homicides were up 300%.

Actually, over the preceding 26 years, there had been a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, which has changed to an increase in the first year of the legislation, since the criminal is now assured he will meet no resistance.

Break-ins and assaults on the elderly have increased dramatically and the politicians are frantically seeking an answer to the cause. Apparently it has not occurred to them that armed criminals delight in an unarmed populace.

With these figures in mind, I would encourage you to be highly skeptical of anyone who is advancing any proposal which would limit the guarantees of our second amendment. Your biggest danger lies in two equally dangerous categories of people: politicians and criminals. Is that redundant?

Always keep in mind this little reminder:

With guns, we are “citizens.”
Without them, we are “subjects.”


In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon