GOA article

[rev214]

I saw this in a GOA email newsletter this morning...

So it's not surprising that, having skipped much of the legislative
process, there are still a lot of unanswered questions regarding HR
2640. In fact, these questions have only been magnified after an
offhanded, tongue-in-cheek remark made at the Harrisburg Community
College in Pennsylvania cost a man his gun rights for life in that
state.

Newspapers last month reported that Horatio Miller allegedly said
that it could be "worse than Virginia Tech" if someone broke
into his car, because there were guns there. It is not clear whether he was
making a threat against a person who might burglarize his car, or if
he was simply saying that the bad guy could do a lot of damage
because of the guns he would find there. Nevertheless, Miller was
arrested, but not charged with anything.

The comment Miller made was certainly not the smartest thing to say.
But realize, we don't incarcerate people for making stupid statements
in this country -- at least not yet. Miller was a concealed carry
permit holder who, as such, had passed vigorous background checks
into his past history. Miller does not have a criminal record.

Regardless, the county district attorney did not like what he had
said, so, according to the Harrisburg Patriot News on June 20, "I
contacted the sheriff and had his license to carry a firearm revoked.
And I asked police to commit him under Section 302 of the mental
health procedures act and that was done. He is now ineligible to
possess firearms [for life] because he was committed involuntarily."

Pennsylvania is operating exactly the way Rep. McCarthy's bill (HR
2640) could treat all Americans. You might be thinking, I've never
had a mental illness... I'm not a military veteran... I've never been
on Ritalin... hey, I have nothing to worry about under the McCarthy
bill. Right?

additional info:
http://www.gunowners.org/netb.htm

[LastManOut]

I just e-mailed Casey and Specter about this Bill. I will usually include a personal note or request for a reply when I send out 'form' letters like this, to sort of personalize the letter. Requesting other information or a reply I found, usually will prompt the legislators office to respond, which tells if they actually read my letter.

I urge everyone here to write their respective elected officials to express your views, on this or any other issue of importance to you. So few people actually participate it the process that it does make a difference.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Senator _____:

The Military Order of the Purple Heart got it right when it stated
that for the first time in history, HR 2640 "would statutorily impose
a lifetime gun ban on battle-scarred veterans."

The Military Order of the Purple Heart, which is chartered by
Congress, is urging the DEFEAT of HR 2640, the Brady-expansion
legislation introduced by anti-gun Rep. Carolyn McCarthy.

Despite what you may have heard elsewhere, this bill THREATENS gun
owners' rights and represents one of the biggest gun bans in history.


A recent case in Pennsylvania shows how easily a gun owner can be
slapped with a LIFETIME gun ban, without any due process, based
solely on a mere accusation by a shrink or other "lawful authority."
For more information on this -- and for a point-by-point analysis of
HR 2640 -- please go to http://www.gunowners.org on the website of
Gun Owners of America.

All the background checks in the world will NOT stop bad guys from
getting firearms. Severe restrictions in Washington, DC, England,
Canada, Germany and other places have not stopped evil people from
using guns to commit murder.

Again, I hope you will OPPOSE the McCarthy bill (HR 2640). Thank
you.

Sincerely,

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(This was part of my personalized note, make up your own.)

P.S. I would appreciate a reply outlining your personal views on this and any other Constitutional citizens' rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights.