True History

The maelstrom about removing guns from the populace, completely forgets true history. The 2nd Amendment was never about hunting with guns. During the American Revolutionary War, the first shot fired over a bridge in Concord  [4/18/1775], was to try and stop the British from coming into America and take away America’s guns.

Paul Revere’s goal was to spread the news through Middlesex County, the population center of Massachusetts.

  Middlesex County, Massachusetts

The British Are Coming!

 Revere’s warning made it to Concord, even though Dr. Samuel Prescott carried the message the last few miles. Longfellow, eighty years later, told Revere’s story in verse ["Listen my children and you shall hear, Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere"].

For months before Revere’s ride, constrictions between the Colonists and British were increasing. The British wanted to ensure troops would control the colony if rebellion occurred. Orders went out to seize weapons stored by Colonists.

British troops (Redcoats) traveled up the coast to appropriate ammunitions. Revere, and the Sons of Liberty, alerted the townspeople of the British invasion well before arrival.

Redcoats then decided to take a short water route across Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Revere knew lanterns shining from the steeple of the tallest building in Boston, would clearly be seen on the other side of the Harbor. At the very top he lit, and briefly held up two lanterns, long enough to be seen by the patriots in Charlestown before he was captured.

These lanterns, from the King’s own church, ignited the American Revolution. No guns were ever confiscated. Events of April 18, 1775 – The Old North Church will verify the above events.

Gun Control Today

In the 20th century, NY had far more restrictive gun control laws than London, but London had much less gun crime. Yet gun crimes in London skyrocketed, after severe gun control laws were levied over the next half century. Today, things have turned sour again. Obama is proposing 23 Executive Orders the administration will initiate for gun control.

Executive Orders do NOT grant a president any power to change the Constitution, which only an amendment can change. The existing 27 have changed it in the past. Or, how Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky) remarked:  “…someone who wants to bypass the Constitution, bypass Congress – that’s someone who wants to act like a king or a monarch.”

State of Gun Control

Current liberal bias calling for more “gun control” laws is typical. Studies over the years in the US (and other countries) repeatedly show “gun control” laws don’t reduce crimes committed with guns.

The Center for American Progress (CAP) proposed an 11-page restriction, including a ban selling assault weapons with a 10-bullet capacity. CAP wants legislation requiring licensing on any assault rifles.

Before his recent speech Obama told John Lott, “I don’t believe that people should be able to own guns.” After the speech, he didn’t say that anymore. [Obama Fact Sheet]

Walter Williams (GOPUSA): in 2010 the National Center for Education Statistics reported 828,000 nonfatal criminal incidents, 470,000 thefts, and 359,000 violent attacks. Add 145,100 teachers physically attacked, and 276,700 threatened. Amazingly, FBI statistics show more people murdered by clubs than guns.

Bottom line, all gun laws will always be non-existent for any criminal. But Obama, and his ‘gun-control’ cohorts, refuse to admit this. Most law abiding citizens will always keep their guns in check, knowing even automatic rifles are for the tyranny of oppressive governments, as in the Revolutionary War.

Interestingly, the existing administration can support the killing of >3000 babies/day by abortion (fully support), but put erroneous regulations for gun-control of lawless people over which they have no control.

“My Cold, Dead Hands”

Charlton Heston and the NRA , and his rallying cry for gun owners: “You can have my guns when you take them from my cold, dead hands”, was monumental in 2nd Amendment rights. Or, as many would say, the right to put a gun in your house labeled: “Open in case of Tyranny.”

These rights were written down to protect the citizenry from executive overreach. Specifically, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison both warned us against the dangerous “passions” of the mob.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kevin Roeten can be reached at roetenks@charter.net.