The comic character Pogo famously said “We have met the enemy and he is us.” I often feel that way about Georgia groups that are supposed to support gun owners. We bicker among our selves over trivial matters and almost seen to support Brady Bunch like gun control groups rather than supporting our right to keep and bear arms.

This was what was happening seven years ago.

Right now the Georgia legislature is playing ping pong with HB 89 that removes some restrictions from Georgia gun owners. It has been referred to a House/Senate Conference Committee, a place bills often go to die. At least part of the reason a bill supporting gun owners is having a hard time passing is the disagreement of groups that are supposed to support gun owners’ rights.

Did you know you can not legally carry your gun in a state park, even if you have a carry permit? Did you know that you could be walking down the street with your legally concealed gun, walk up on a group protesting something, and suddenly break the law simply because you had your gun at a public gathering?

The argument over the wording of HB 89 seems silly. Why are law-abiding gun owners in Georgia restricted in so many ways? Why can I carry my pistol into a liquor store but not into a bar? Why can I carry my pistol to a bass club meeting but not to a church meeting? Why am I not trusted based on where I happen to be?

Vermont has no laws restricting gun owners there. Anyone can carry a gun anywhere. According to the Census Bureau Vermont ranked 48th in violent crime in 2004. Georgia has all kinds of restrictions on carrying a gun and we ranked 19th in violent crime in the same report. Law abiding citizens carrying guns are not the problem.

Why do Vermont politicians trust their citizens while Georgia politicians do not trust us? Why are we so restricted in our rights? What purpose do the mish-mash of Georgia gun laws serve, other than to trap law-abiding citizens that make an honest mistake. They certainly do not reduce crime.

The latest shooting on a college campus is a perfect example of the stupidity of gun laws. An insane murderer killed five innocent students at Illinois State University. He had a shotgun and four handguns in a “gun free zone” on campus. That rule did nothing but disarm law-abiding citizens and make them easy targets. We deserve the right to protect ourselves without running afoul of some state law or university rule.

On a more positive note,

Shooting wire 2/15/08
Thirty one state Attorneys General have weighed in on the case, signing an amicus brief that supports the decision of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in striking down the District of Columbia’s thirty-plus year gun ban. Since I’m one who criticizes pretty easily, it seems only appropriate that I list the names of those Attorneys General: Troy King of Alabama, Talis Colberg of Alaska, Dustin McDaniel of Arkansas, John Suthers of Colorado, Bill McCollum of Florida, Thurbert Baker of Georgia,

And a final note: one “inquiring mind” called me this week to ask if I would consider assembling a list of those Senators and House of Representatives who didn’t sign the congressional amicus brief. I worked on it, but simply didn’t have the list together in time for today’s deadline. Instead, I’m going to list those who did sign the brief. If you don’t see your elected representative’s name on the list – they didn’t support your rights as a gun owner or individual.

Here’s a list deserving of a thank-you from each of us. And an extra thanks to Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas for leading the bi-partisan effort to let the Supreme Court know a majority of the legislative branch still supports individual rights and freedoms.

Vice President Richard B. Cheney in his capacity as President of the Senate

Georgia – signed
Sen. Saxby Chambliss
Sen. Johnny Isakson
Rep. Jack Kingston (GA-1)
Rep. Sanford Bishop (GA-2)
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (GA-3)
Rep. Tom Price (GA-6)
Rep. John Linder (GA-7)
Rep. Jim Marshall (GA-8)
Rep. Nathan Deal (GA-9)
Rep. Paul Broun (GA-10)
Rep. Phil Gingrey (GA-11)
Rep. John Barrow (GA-12)

For the past few weeks, a battle’s been quietly raging between legitimate firearms dealers and two of the major companies that process credit card transactions. The companies, Citi Merchant Services and First Data Corp., have both refused to process any non face-to-face credit card transactions involving firearms. That refusal includes both business-to-business transactions between federally licensed firearms retailers, distributors, and manufacturers.

Yet the companies both continue to insist they’re neither anti-gun or anti-firearm industry.

Jan 16 shooting wire

BAD SIGN FROM THE NORTH
The 82,000 members and 655 member clubs of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, is criticizing an announcement by the Ontario Chief Firearms Officers of a “pilot initiative” targeting owners of firearms in the City of Toronto who are over the age of 75 and possess more than ten firearms. The “initiative” would subject the citizens to a mandatory search of their premises by officials. The OFHA says such a program would remove Canada’s senior citizens from protection under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Subsequent to this announcement, the Mayor of Toronto and the Premier of Ontario Province have called for a total ban on hand guns across Canada.
Outdoor wire jan 17