This is a robbery!" someone hollered. Colton, Calif., liquor store owner Dan Lee grabbed for a pistol that was beneath the cash register, but in an instant he found himself staring down the barrel of a robber's gun. At the same JB time, he noticed another man climbing over the counter toward his mother. Lee grabbed his gun and shot them both. "He pretty much made the decision for me when he came over the counter at my mother and threatened her life," Lee said. After three recent robberies and three slayings of business owners and clerks in the San Bernardino Valley, Lee recommends that people in high-risk businesses consider what they will do in the event of a worst-case scenario. (The Press-Enterprise, Riverside, CA, 03/26/05)
Shoals Grocery & Package is a small store where neighbors often stop for breakfast or lunch, but owners Bobby and Gloria Doster said two strangers who entered their business had more nefarious intentions. Mrs. Doster was rearranging boxes by the front door when a wigged man came through it; behind him, another masked man announced they were robbing the store. One intruder grabbed Mrs. Doster and pushed her toward the register, while the other kept his gun on her 62-year-old husband. As Mrs. Doster tried to open the register, the assailant told her she wasn't moving fast enough and shot at her husband. Not only did he miss, but his gun jammed. Bobby Doster then retrieved a .380-cal. handgun and shot one of the men while his wife drew a 9 mm pistol she keeps near the register. They both opened fire on the other robber. "I was trying to shoot and dial 911 at the same time," Mrs. Doster said. Police arrived about five minutes after her call and took the men to the hospital, where both died soon after. (The Augusta Chronicle, Augusta., GA, 01/25/05)
The attempted hold-up of a Charlotte area shoe store was foiled when a store employee returned fire against robbers who had begun shooting inside the store. According to witnesses, three or four men wearing ski masks and carrying guns entered the store, announcing, "This is a robbery." One of the thieves began searching store patrons and, shortly thereafter, the men began shooting. However, a store clerk quickly grabbed a gun of his own and fired back, striking at least two of the crooks. One crumpled in a doorway and later died at the hospital. Another man, whom police suspect was involved in the robbery, arrived at an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. Neither the clerk nor any store employees or customers were injured. "The (clerk) did a good job. He saved us. He saved my kid. He saved our lives," said store customer Ramon Lopez. (The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC, 02/26/05)
A pit bull had mauled a 3-year- old boy and was biting the youngster's mother when a passing motorist stopped to see what was going on. Corey Kelley said that at first he thought Shonda Busby was playing with the dog in the family's rural yard in Chatom, Ala. He turned his truck around for another look and saw blood. "The closer I got to her, I could see the blood and bite marks on her arms. I pulled up and said, 'Are you alive?' She said, 'Yes, get this dog off me. He's biting me; he's killing me.'" Kelley quickly drove home, called 911 and grabbed his .22-cal. rifle. Unaware that Busby was shielding her 3-year-old, her rescuer said he drove as close as he could, about eight feet away. From his truck, he aimed at the dog and told Busby to lie as still as she could. "Shoot!" she told him. Kelly's mortal shot hit the animal between the eyes. When Busby sat up, Kelley saw the little boy; his scalp was torn and there were bite marks all over his body. Following the tragedy, the child was treated at Children's Hospital and was in fair condition. His mother required surgery. Kelley said he did not feel like a hero. "I'd do it again in a heartbeat," he said. "I'm just an old country boy. Helping people is just something I like doing." (The Birmingham News, Birmingham. AL, 03/05/05)
An employee of a St. Louis gas station sent a would-be armed robber running for his life when the clerk pulled a pistol from his waistband and began firing at him. The 24-year- old clerk told police a man appearing to be in his 20s and dressed in dark clothing entered the station, pulled a mask down over part of his face, produced a handgun and announced a holdup. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, MO, 03/23/05)
A Jacksonville, Fla., cabbie was dropping off two passengers when a robber with a gun burst onto the scene. The cab driver halted the attack by shooting the culprit in the chest. Police said the criminal, who died at the scene, had been hiding in the bushes and made his move as the passengers were exiting the car. (Florida Today, Jacksonville, EL, 03/20/2005) |
You read right: "INTERNATIONAL OPINION." In March, in a shocking 5-4 decision striking down execution of juveniles found guilty of heinous crimes, the majority of the high court, in large, based its opinion on what Justice Anthony Kennedy called, "The overwhelming weight of international opinion." That new-age judicial thinking was shredded in a brilliant dissent penned by Justice Antonin Scalia who wrote: "'Acknowledgment' of foreign approval has no place in the legal opinion of this Court ... the basic premise of the Court's argument-that American law should conform to the laws of the rest of the world-ought to be rejected out of hand." But Justice Scalia was on the losing side-just as he was when the high court supported the political speech gag rule of campaign finance reform on groups like NRA. So here we are, facing a court that not only strangled First Amendment freedom, but now cites as a trump to American law that, "The opinion of the world community, while not controlling our outcome, does provide respected and significant confirmation for our own conclusions." At some future time, I can hear a self pro- claimed "progressive" justice writing similar words to erase the Right to Keep and Bear Arms: "The opinion of the world community, while not controlling our outcome, does provide respected and significant confirmation for our own conclusions that the Second Amendment does not comport with international law and opinion." The Court's decision on this death penalty case has opened that door to a constitutional abyss. Rebecca Peters, who heads the international gun-ban movement-bankrolled by billionaire internationalist George Soros and by gun-confiscating foreign governments-laid out their nightmare vision of the future for now-free Americans when I debated her at Kings College London on September 11,2004. Demanding registration and licensing, followed by bans on semi-auto rifles, shotguns and all handguns, she was asked what firearms the globalists would allow Americans to keep. "I think Americans who hunt ... should have single-shot rifles ..." was her reply. And she said, "I think American citizens should not be exempt from the rules that apply to the rest of the world ... this is the irony that the gun lobby based in a country where people do have their rights should be obstructing a global process ... ." To complete this "global process" to crush American firearm rights using the power of the U.N., she is joined by a large number of gun-ban countries pushing for acceptance of a global gun-ban treaty as early as July 2006. The Bush administration has already strongly opposed such efforts, but faces what can be described as the "weight of international opinion." If you think Americans' rights are safe and secure if the United States refuses to sign and ratify any such treaty, the Supreme Court in this juvenile death penalty case might just say otherwise. As part of the international law cited by the Court as applying to Americans was a U.N. treaty that was never signed by a president, nor ratified by a U.S. Senate. This action prompted Justice Scalia to suggest that "the Court has added to its arsenal the power to join and ratify treaties on behalf of the United States ... ." Second Amendment? You can see the disaster coming. An anti-gun-rights high court could recognize a treaty created by the likes of Rebecca Peters-but rejected by the United States-as a basis for striking down the Second Amendment. That is where all this is headed ... a Kafkaesque court run by "progressive" free thinkers who place the interests of the "international community" above the rights of Americans. Federal judges are appointed for life and, except for one opportunity, are utterly beyond the reach of the people. And that opportunity will shortly be upon us. It is surmised that President Bush will have the opportunity to fill several vacancies to the Supreme Court, If he names Justice Scalia to sit as Chief Justice, we know there will be another nominee to fill Scalia's old chair. We must assure that all nominees be in the mold of Justices Scalia and Clarence Thomas. If they are, I can guarantee that there will be an enormous, hyperbolic media firestorm of opposition. We must stand shoulder to shoulder to mobilize as many of our fellow gun owners as we can to assure that pro-Second Amendment nominees are confirmed. Otherwise, we may find our nation made subservient to U.N. rule and to the will of the likes of George Soros and Rebecca Peters. |
In as little as a few weeks from now, with the expected retirement of the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, the nation's gun owners will be waging the first of several political battles in a war to reshape the highest court in the land. At stake is the nomination and confirmation of justices who believe in the intent of the Founders and who will protect the Second Amendment from being subjected to judicial rewriting based on the current court's "progressive" majority's newfound test-"international opinion" as a replacement for the Constitution of the United States.
My first objective is to help restore and expand our American right of self-defense and to make the right to carry a firearm available to every peaceable, law-abiding American. I became passionate about the right to own a firearm years ago when, as a young woman living alone, I was almost the victim of a late night home invasion. The would-be intruder did not get into my house, but that night changed my life. Then and there, I resolved to take responsibility for my own safety. Although I had never before felt the need to own a firearm, I soon bought my first pistol and learned to use it. Since 1987, when the first "shall issue" Right-To-Carry law was enacted, that right has been restored in dozens of states. Millions of Americans who had never owned a firearm now exercise the Right to Keep and Bear Arms on a daily basis. As violent crime retreated in its advance, Right-To-Carry has transformed the firearm debate. Even those media outlets that condemn the Second Amendment have largely abandoned their efforts to stop such popular legislation. But millions of Americans still live in states that deny them this basic human right of self-protection. Which is why, as president, I plan to help secure legislation at the state level that restores this right to all Americans. But even the passage of legislation does not guarantee our rights. One legislator alone cannot pass a bad bill, but a single activist judge can strip you of your rights with the stroke of a pen. As a practicing attorney, I've had experience with many judges, good and bad. As president of NRA, I am most concerned about activist judges who push an anti-Second Amendment agenda that threatens to deprive us of our constitutional liberties. That's why my second objective is to work to get good judges appointed-those who will interpret the law, not invent it. We must support federal judges who will respect and protect the Constitution. The appointment of good judges is especially important when it comes to the United States Supreme Court. The High Court is the final arbiter of the meaning of the Second Amendment. We must ensure that vacancies on the Court are filled with judges who are faithful to the Constitution and Bill of Rights. To get the job done, NRA needs resources. So my third objective is to inspire you to help build NRA into a fundraising powerhouse, with development strategies and an endowment that will fuel our success across the board. I served eight years on The NRA Foundation's board of trustees and three years as Foundation president. I currently chair the NRA Grassroots Development Committee, and I've volunteered my time to a variety of public service organizations. Based on my experience, I believe there's a vast reservoir of potential support for the Second Amendment in America, just waiting for us to tap it. About 25 million Americans consider themselves NRA members, whether or not their dues are up to date. Many more agree with our commitment to the Constitution and Bill of Rights. If we appeal to their patriotism, honor and sense of duty, I believe we can inspire them to join something larger than themselves-the cause of freedom. We must proclaim the truth that the Second Amendment is the cornerstone and guarantor of our Constitution and Bill of Rights; that the right of peaceable, law-abiding Americans to Keep and Bear Arms is the vanguard of liberty. More than any other group, we own that cause. If we don't protect it, nobody else will. In the months ahead, I'll tell you how you can help. For now, I offer you my gratitude for giving me the opportunity to serve. |
I'm honored and humbled to have been elected president of your National Rifle Association. Let me tell you about some of the issues I plan to focus on during my presidency.