The gun control fanatics in Congress are at it again, capitalizing on the public’s media- and government-induced fear of terrorism and contrived anecdotes to promote their watch list and gun control/gun-grabbing measures for all Americans.

In early May there was a hearing in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs that gave perennial gun-grabber Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Rep. Peter King (R- N.Y.) and a few cronies a platform for the subject “Terrorists and Guns: The Nature of the Threat and Proposed Reforms.” That subject is tied into Lautenberg’s S. 2820 PROTECT Act of 2009 (Preserving Records of Terrorist & Criminal Transactions Act) and S. 1317 Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act, and Rep. Peter King’s matching version in the House, H.R. 2159.

Billed as an “anti-terrorist” measure by the authors, the details of S. 1317 and its companion bill H.R. 2159 would allow the Attorney General of the United States to deny the purchase of a firearm to anyone on the “terrorist watch list.” The AG could accomplish this without due process of law and without the accused knowing any details of possible suspicion. The responsibility of determining a person’s guilt or innocence would be outside the judicial system and in the hands of the Attorney General (currently Eric Holder, not personally in favor of gun rights), and who would not have to produce one shred of evidence for his decision, a huge loss of civil rights for American citizens.

S. 2820 would establish a national gun registry. This bill would require record-keeping of gun transfers for ten years for anyone who is suspected of being a member of a terrorist organization, and 180 days for all other criminal background checks relating to firearms transfers. It also repeals “certain provisions that require the destruction within 24 hours of identifying information for individuals who legally purchase or possess firearms."

With the growing labeling of “homegrown terrorists” extending to concerned citizens who seek a return to constitutional doctrine, the government would have free rein in determining individual gun ownership for those who indeed are not terrorists, all in direct contradiction to a protected God-given right.

Every American citizen, active patriot or not, should be motivated by such disingenuous rhetoric to oppose all this legislation vigorously and persistently. Contact your representative and senators about all three pieces of proposed legislation, S. 1317, H.R. 2159, and S. 2820, and let them know you adamantly oppose any and all attempts to restrict gun ownership through various unconstitutional strategies.

Thank you,

Your friends at The John Birch Society