Minuteman Monthly Newsletter Issue 58 May 2006 On Thursday, March 23rd, the Kansas Legislature succeeded in overriding the veto of right-to-carry concealed carry legislation by Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius. At the time of Governor Sebelius' veto of right-to-carry legislation, 46 of the 50 states in the United States had at least some level of provision for the law abiding citizen to carry a concealed gun in public for purposes of protection and defense. Thirty nine of these states were "shall issue" states, while seven states reserved the right to deny carry permits for a variety of reasons. Since then, both Kansas and Nebraska have come on board, leaving only Illinois and Wisconsin who completely ban the freedom of carrying a concealed handgun for purposes of personal protection. Upon her veto of Kansas concealed carry legislation, she issued a statement from her office explaining her reasons for not wanting to provide a way for lawful, honest and upright citizens to have a handgun concealed in public. I will post her statement below and then examine it in this issue of the Minuteman Monthly Newsletter. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SAVETHEGUNS.COM QUOTES OF THE MONTH ''That's the argument of flexibility and it goes something like this: The Constitution is over 200 years old and societies change. It has to change with society, like a living organism, or it will become brittle and break. But you would have to be an idiot to believe that. The Constitution is not a living organism, it is a legal document. It says something and doesn't say other things." U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia "...I don't believe gun owners have rights." Hearst Newspapers Special Report, "Handguns in America" Sarah Brady October 1997 "You can't get around the image of people shooting at people to protect their stores and it is working. This is damaging to the [gun control] movement." Josh Sugarmann Violence Policy Center The Washington Post, May 18, 1993 "...So long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those who wish to tyrannize will do so; for tyrants are active and ardent, and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods, religious and otherwise, to put shackles upon sleeping men." -- Voltaire [François Marie Arouet] (1694-1778) Source: Philosophical Dictionary, 1764 "The federal government has taken too much tax money from the people, too much authority from the states, and too much liberty with the Constitution." -- Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) 40th US President ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NRA MEMBERSHIPS There are about eighty million gun owners in the United States, yet only about four million of them are members of the oldest and most effective gun rights group in the country, namely the National Rifle Association of America. It's my opinion that the vast majority of gun owners simply don't care enough to fight. They just don't feel strongly enough about the issue of lawful gun ownership to do anything about it. They merely pass-the-buck onto the National Rifle Association and know that the NRA is doing the fighting for them. Who is the NRA anyway? It is us!! It's every concerned and active gun owner. We are the NRA. The NRA's strength lies in the actions of individual members. The power of the NRA is not in a large building on Waples Mill Road in Fairfax, Virginia, but rather the power of the NRA lies inside each of us individually. It's our willingness to respond vigorously when our rights are attacked. That's the power of the NRA. If you're not an NRA Member, I'd like to know why. Please find time to e-mail me at info@savetheguns.com and tell me why you're not in the NRA. If you've never considered joining, I'd like to let you in on the benefits of membership. http://www.savetheguns.com/nra_membership.htm ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ MINUTEMAN MONTHLY AIMING POINT FOR MAY 2006 Governor Kathleen Sebelius' Concealed Carry Veto Statement "I support the Second Amendment and the right of our citizens to keep and bear arms. It's an important part of our heritage and way of life in Kansas, and I've upheld that right as Governor. All law-abiding Kansans have the right to own a weapon to provide for their protection and the protection of their families. "Last year, I signed a bill to allow retired law enforcement officers, who have unique experience and special training, to carry concealed weapons. The new law also makes sure Kansas hunters and law-abiding gun owners don't violate the law by mistake when traveling. These changes, strongly supported by the National Rifle Association, were commonsense improvements to Kansas gun laws. As violent crime rates in Kansas continue to drop below surrounding states with concealed carry laws, I continue to hear from the police chiefs and other law enforcement officials, members of the clergy, health care workers, and employers throughout our state that concealed weapons on the streets make our citizens less safe and secure. "While every law-abiding Kansan has a right to keep and bear arms, hidden weapons make it harder for law enforcement to do its job, and they make Kansas' workplaces less safe. Legislators know concealed weapons are a safety threat, which is why they ban them in their own workplace - the Capitol. Because of opposition from law enforcement and business leaders, I cannot support allowing hidden weapons into businesses, restaurants, malls and any number of other public places. Therefore, in order to keep hidden weapons off Kansas streets, pursuant to Article 2, Section 14 of the Constitution of the State of Kansas, I veto Senate Bill 418." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ MY RESPONSE TO GOVERNOR SEBELIUS' VETO STATEMENT In her very first sentence, she issued a blatant lie, she said "I support the Second Amendment and the right of our citizens to keep and bear arms." Without any doubt, the modern terminology for the words "keep and bear arms" are "own and carry firearms". I don't want to confuse Governor Sebelius with the facts, but her veto of concealed carry legislation, is a violation of the Second Amendment. It is clearly not an action that supports the Second Amendment at all. She also claims that she has upheld the Second Amendment as Governor of Kansas. I would say that denial of common sense concealed carry legislation is clearly not upholding the right to keep and bear arms. She openly touts the fact that she signed legislation that "allow[s]" retired police officers to carry concealed handguns, while denying it to law abiding, honest and thoughtful civilians. In my opinion, most firearm enthusiasts are just as capable, if not more so, than many police officers in handling a firearm under the stress of mortal combat. One should not have to be a retired member of law enforcement to be trusted with a concealed firearm in public. Someone should remind her that some of the most capable handgunners in the country were never members of law enforcement. I'm not saying that I disagree with allowing retired members of the law enforcement community to carry concealed firearms, that's great! I'm just saying that law enforcement employment should not have to be a prerequisite to exercise that same right. She says that rates of violent crime in Kansas are lower than in states that surround Kansas who have concealed carry laws in place. I would like to remind her that Colorado, the state to her west, has lower rates of overall violent crime. In addition to that, being ranked 24th in the nation in overall rates of violent crime is not really anything Kansans should be exceedingly proud of, it's just the middle of the road in terms of rapes, robberies and murder. Continuing with her statement, she says that law enforcement officials don't support concealed carry, but I would argue vigorously with that statement. Law enforcement has seen drastic declines in overall rates of violent crime in states that have enacted concealed carry legislation. Furthermore, official law enforcement spokesmen, often do not speak accurately concerning the opinions of officers on the beat. Going further, she says that members of the clergy, healthcare workers and employers feel that concealed carry makes for a more dangerous environment. Since when are the clergy and healthcare workers experts in concealed carry and it's affects upon the mind of the violent criminal thug? If there are members of the clergy and healthcare workers that feel that way, they are not paying attention to rates of violent crime where concealed carry legislation has been passed. Governor Sebelius has got her head stuck in the sand if she thinks that business leaders have the people's best interest in mind when it comes to concealed carry of handguns. That's a big pile of bovine manure!! All business cares about is not being sued when one of their employees actually defends themselves on business property. Business cares about being sued much more than any benefit or drawback to concealed carry legislation. The opinion of business leaders on this issue should not be taken seriously. Governor Sebelius said "Legislators know concealed weapons are a safety threat, which is why they ban them in their own workplace - the Capitol." Obviously due to the override of your veto Kathleen, legislators do not believe that allowing good people to carry concealed handguns in public is a threat to safety that warrants its denial. They believe that the basic human right of self defense should be supported. The most ridiculous and utterly offensive part of Governor Sebelius' statement is the following: "Therefore, in order to keep hidden weapons off Kansas streets, pursuant to Article 2, Section 14 of the Constitution of the State of Kansas, I veto Senate Bill 418." This is one of the most insulting and ignorant statements I've heard yet. She insinuates that law abiding citizens who would apply for concealed carry permits under the proposed law, would be prowling the streets of Kansas seeking out innocent people to inflict harm upon. Nothing could be further from the truth. Honest handgun owners who would obtain a concealed carry permit are some of the most upright, concerned, careful and sincere people I know. Criminal thugs who would be willing to commit a violent crime with a handgun would not be lining up to apply for a concealed carry permit. They never have and they never will. The truth is that violent criminal thugs are more afraid of being killed by a randomly chosen victim, than being caught in the act by the police. That's where the real benefit of concealed carry legislation comes in. It drastically reduces the incidence of randomly chosen victims of rape or robbery. Maybe somebody should let Governor Kathleen Sebelius in on a secret. Shhhhhh, don't tell anybody, but law abiding gun owners commit no crime. That's not too difficult to understand is it??? Here's the bottom line: Lawful, honest and concerned handgun owners who would apply for concealed carry permits don't commit crimes of violence. Secondly, violent criminal thugs who are willing and inclined to commit these crimes, never apply for concealed carry permits and never will. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ AFFILIATE LINKS Visit my "Affiliate Links" page to do your online shopping for Mother's Day and Father's Day! http://www.savetheguns.com/affiliate_links.htm ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ You may post, forward, print, blog or otherwise use this newsletter as you see fit. I only ask that you mention www.SaveTheGuns.com somewhere in your material. Thanks, Marc Richardson Owner/Founder www.SaveTheGuns.com "We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government. Far from it. We have staked the future of all our political institutions upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God." James Madison (1751-1836) Fourth President of the United States. 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