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Preserving the Second Amendment – Ballot or Bullet

Friday, December 21st, 2012

Over the next few days SSD will be posting items from industry professionals that we hope will inform and spark discussion on the Second Amendment of the Constitution. This first article is from Special Forces Veteran Richard Mason of the Direct Action Resource Center.

Comrades,

Let’s take a step (or two) back and look at the whole instead of just the current debate. I promise to make you angry at some point: either at what you read or me.

There is a lot rhetoric and hyperbole being slung around. Emotional arguments proliferate, for and against.

On this issue, the public can be divided up into these basic groups:
1. Pro 2A – don’t tread on me
2. Anti 2A – you are morally corrupt for liking guns
3. Owns a gun(s) but welcomes ‘reasonable’ restrictions for assorted reasons
4. Doesn’t own a gun, isn’t opposed to guns but thinks there should be various restrictions of firearms control.
5. It doesn’t affect me, who cares: is the mall open yet?
6. Non-Americans

Actually, there are only two groups, regardless of where you think you stand on the issue. You are either for your Bill of Rights, you are against them (for whatever reason), or you are too stupid and/or lazy to care (which means you are aiding those opposed to them). The reason is history. Mostly, it is the history of the 2nd Amendment – it really does matter. Second would be the history of man and their governments. History echoes.

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Tags: Direct Action Resource Center
Posted in 2A | 33 Comments »

The NRA Speaks

Friday, December 21st, 2012

After a week of self-imposed silence on the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, the NRA’s Wayne Lapierre issued the following statement earlier today. I agree wholeheartedly that the real issue is how to deal with the root cause. We also need to protect our children from violence, just as the precious resources that they are. As a nation, we are failing miserably on that point. Gun free zones are an open invitation to mayhem.

National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre

The National Rifle Association’s 4 million mothers, fathers, sons and daughters join the nation in horror, outrage, grief and earnest prayer for the families of Newtown, Connecticut … who suffered such incomprehensible loss as a result of this unspeakable crime.

Out of respect for those grieving families, and until the facts are known, the NRA has refrained from comment. While some have tried to exploit tragedy for political gain, we have remained respectfully silent.
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Tags: NRA
Posted in 2A | 16 Comments »

AOL Comes Out of the Anti-2A Closet

Friday, December 21st, 2012

In a statement posted early this morning, AOL laid out their four point plan to reduce gun violence in America. Point number two is most telling. We love it when people are so oblivious that they come out in favor of laws that are already on the books like criminal background checks.

Second, we’re joining with 750 mayors and other leaders in the Demand a Plan campaign (http://www.demandaplan.org/) to ban high volume assault weapons and require criminal background checks for firearms. This is a sensible idea and is in line with our commitment to family safety.

However, it seems as if the statement was drafted by committee or a schizophrenic. Despite coming out in favor of a ban on high volume assault weapons (whatever the hell that is) they also acknowledge that they don’t know it all and ask for input on how to “prevent tragedies like the one in Newtown.” Too bad they are so focused on the least effective; firearms legislation.

Third, we know not all of our members agree on potential changes to gun laws. So if you have different ideas on how to prevent tragedies like the one in Newtown, please let us know in the comments area below and we’ll share the best of them on AOL.com. This isn’t about ideology — it is about reducing the number of mass murders, so please share any realistic solution you may have.

AOL members, let them know what you think. So far, the comments are the typical no-nothing anti-2A drivel; ban automatic weapons, etc. It would be nice nice for a change if people who call for additional laws knew about the ones already on the books.

portalblog.aol.com/2012/12/21/a-message-from-the-aol-com-team

Tags: AOL
Posted in 2A | 17 Comments »

And Cut…

Thursday, December 20th, 2012

It seems the news cycle for the Newtown tragedy has played out. As if on cue, the President appoints a special commission to make recommendations for additional gun control targeting so-called assault weapons and the 24 hour news coverage surrounding the tragic murder of 27 in Newtown, Connecticut last Friday abruptly ends. There’s definitely an agenda at play. For some it’s a desire to ban guns, but for others it’s all about ratings. Shock and awe isn’t just about invading a country. It’s about captivating and manipulating an audience.

Now that the propaganda and demonizing has died down, we can begin to learn the truth of what happened and consider some real solutions. For example, we are unsure of the shooter’s state of mind. Despite wild aspersions by the news media, we have no idea if violent video games played a role in the tragedy and we continue to see conflicting reports on what weapons the killer actually used. The last one is most perplexing considering the horrific event was almost a week ago.

I look at this issue as bigger than gun violence and I encourage all of you to do so as well. Over the next month we will begin to see facts emerge. Hopefully, no matter what they turn out to be, they will help guide a substantive dialogue regarding these tragedies as the Nation works toward a set of solutions.

Posted in 2A | 16 Comments »

I’ll Just Leave This Right Here

Thursday, December 20th, 2012

It appears the gun laws were so effective they’ve had to add knives too…

Posted in 2A | 9 Comments »

Why New Firearms Legislation Will Hurt The Military

Thursday, December 20th, 2012

Back in July, a Congressman proposed an amendment to the Cyber Security Act that would ban high capacity magazines. I made this argument based on the negative effects the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 commonly referred to as the Assault Weapons Ban or AWB had on the US military. Rarely do legislators consider the second and third order affects of laws and only later, like ripples in a pond do these implications manifest themselves. Now, we can look at the AWB and its affects not only on crime but also on national defense. Please review this article but remember that it was published in July and there is currently no proposed legislation in debate.

From 1994 until 2004 the American firearms industry suffered under a form of prohibition. The “Assault Weapons Ban” not only covered weapon features but also magazines over 10 rounds. This legislation did nothing to alter crime and, once lifted did not result in any increased gun violence. Overall, it was useless legislation.

These very magazines and weapon features that were banned under the “Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994” have been crucial to the US Department of Defense’s and our Allies small modernization as part of operations in Iraq as well as globally against piracy, terror and general mayhem. During the 10-year period of the AWB, US businesses curtailed small arms innovation. The point of a business is to make money. When there is little market for a product (as was the case during the AWB), the business case is not there to service it. This was most definitely the situation with magazines for the M9 Beretta Handgun. Many who served early in the war will remember poorly produced high capacity magazines for that weapon. This is because there was no competition in the marketplace due to a lack of market. Rather, government contractors for that magazine were able to produce products that performed poorly on the battlefield. There was no competition. There was no innovation.

Since the ban was lifted, an entire industry has grown and flourished, producing innovative solutions for both law abiding citizens and our military alike. American troops are the best equipped in the world and other countries look to us for technical innovation in small arms.

On the heels of the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado, opportunistic members of Congress have attached an amendment to (S.A. 2575) to the “Cybersecurity Act” (S. 3414) that would once again restrict these magazines that are critical to our military.

Contact your Congressional representation (switchboard 202-225-3121) and let them know how you feel about this proposed legislation and the hijacking of the Cybersecurity Act by opportunists. A strong American firearms industry contributes directly to our National Defense.

Posted in 2A, Black Rifle, weapons | 12 Comments »

You’ve Got Your Breathing Room

Wednesday, December 19th, 2012

The President has spoken. He is giving his commission until January to provide him with recommendations on additional gun control. That’s breathing room that takes emotion out of the equation. Hopefully, as the President said, “common sense will prevail.”

However, despite paying lip service to mental health issues and school safety during the beginning of his address, President Obama failed to mention them at all during the meat of the speech. Unfortunately, they are the two issues that will result in the greatest impact. It lets you know where his head is.

So now, it’s out there and he’s played to his base. So it’s time to get back to work and make something happen regarding Sequestration. By the way, a “deal” means that both sides get something. Congress and the President need to make a deal. Inaction will result in everyone losing.

Posted in 2A | 16 Comments »