CBPO Jon A.
Underwood, CBP, (Ret.)
Let me get this straight in my mind
Using the tragedy of Sandy Hook Elementary as a tool to pry at the Hearts of millions of Americans, (an old tactic of the Liberal Left) if The Liberals get their way, there will be some sort of required “clearance” granted by a mental health professional (MHP) for a person to exercise their Second Amendment (2A) right to purchase/possess a weapon, ammunition and other accessories, such as high capacity magazines. Let’s discuss this just a bit further.
There is so much misinformation and abuse of terms out there, Lets discuss the basic terms being used:
Automatic Weapon: A firearm that is magazine or belt fed with ammunition that has the designed mechanical capability to fire more than one (1) round with a single depression of the firearms triggering device. This weapon may or may not have the capability to switch mechanically from Automatic to Semi-Automatic operation. This weapon is a true “Assault Rifle”.
(For Civilians, these weapons must be authorized to be possessed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF&E), National Firearms Act Branch, (NFA) through a process that includes, finger prints, a photo and a completed form to facilitate a background investigation of the person requesting possession or ownership. Only after an approved completion of the investigation may the person transfer to their possession the weapon in question)
Semi-Automatic weapon: A firearm that is magazine or belt fed with ammunition that does not have the designed capability to fire more than one (1) round of ammunition, with a single depression of the firearms triggering device. This weapon does not have the capability to switch mechanically from Semi-automatic to Automatic operation. Even though it may appear physically to be similar as an automatic weapon, this weapon is not a true “Assault rifle”.
(Weapons purchased through a firearms dealer, may only be transferred to the purchaser after the completion of an ATF Form 4473, and an approved FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check performed by the firearms dealer. Normally, without an approved NICS check, the transfer of the weapon can’t be completed, except if the purchaser’s has a valid, state issued, concealed weapons permit (CWP), Purchases from one individual to another does not currently require a NICS check to be completed prior to the transfer of the weapon between seller and buyer)
When a purchaser goes to a MHP, with the intention of obtaining the permission to own a weapon and its needed accessories, “their US Constitutional rights are in the hands of someone that not only, by Education and Training, may be diametrically opposed to weapons and the use of force in anyway, but they can also deny said rights in one lone action, without review, appeal or redress. The intention of the Founding Fathers has always been to insure that personal freedoms are paramount and any action that limits them must be done so in a court of law or by Constitutional means.”
Considering the mass shootings that happen in the US in the past 30 years, there have been about the same amount of these incidents in each decade. For a ten year period, between 1994-2004, these shootings still happened, regardless of the “Assault Weapons Ban”, (that included a ban on High Capacity Magazines) being in effect. There were more killings with Pistols than with Rifles in these shootings. Why not ban pistols? I will answer that later.
Say the Obama administration forces through a New Assault Weapons ban, like the last one, but with some very important differences:
The entire line of “AR” and “AK” military derived semi-automatic rifles may be banned for civilian manufacture and ownership. Of course, the democrats will insure that the ban will never sunset. This in and of itself is illegal because it puts a restriction on future congresses and administrations, which is illegal.
This serious adjustment to the 2A right of the “People”, can only be done by a Constitutional Amendment and that’s not going to happen, because the American people won’t stand for that, and the Liberals know this, they won’t take the chance to have the American people actually voice their say in this manner, because they know they will lose! That is why the liberals are trying to “infringe” further on the “People’s” right to keep and bear arms in the legislative manner they are.
Let’s consider the question that if there is a MHP visit and certification as part of the purchase of weapon’s, and a person is “cleared” to purchase a weapon and also the ammunition, why would you need to limit the size of magazines?
A MHP has cleared you right? You are not a foaming at the mouth raving lunatic and you are certified as not a threat to the public, why can’t you have a magazine as large as you want?
The Liberal’s can’t have it both ways, it’s either a “Mental Health Issue” or it’s a step in restricting the “People’s” right to purchase property with their own money!
The real reason for each and every restriction they are going after is the following:
The Liberal’s want the military and police, (and their personal security of course) to be the only ones with firearms! By Definition, that’s a “Police State”. Limiting the “People’s” capability to confront the Military and Police that will be the front line in restricting the “people” from exercising their US Constitution based rights and personal freedoms.
This will be the very first step in the change from the US being a “Representative Republic” to a “Dictator based, oppressive regime”, with no respect or consideration for the US Constitution which is the basis of all Law in the United States. Consider the Chaos that is now occurring in Europe and other parts of the world because of austerity measures from decades of Socialist financial decisions. How far is the US from these same problems caused by the “Fiscal Cliff” and other nonsensical financial policies that the Obama Administration has? What incident needs to happen for this administration to completely disregard the US Constitution and force the issue?
What is better for an oppressive government when the decision is made, having to face down 100 Million Americans that own and possess 300 million weapons and ammunition for every one of them, or, a disarmed populace with no way to defend themselves? Why not ban Pistols? Because pistols are defensive in nature, “close” weapons, with limited ammunition capacity and rifles can be defensive or offensive in employment and can inflict wounds from further distances, with ammunition that is usually far more injurious and with higher velocities than pistol rounds.
Every single American needs to consider: Is it better to have the ability to have a weapon and not need it, than to need a weapon and not be allowed to have it!
We need to think through this point clearly and dispassionately before making any decision regarding limiting our own Constitutional right to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment.
JON A. UNDERWOOD
CBPO, CBP, (RET.)
YUMA, ARIZONA
Comments