In re. to my letter here. I think they dodged the politically incorrect militia bullet once again. They still haven't answered the real question: What shall we do on the fateful day the scum tell us to 'turn them in?' (This text was scanned from a hard copy so there may be typos.):
National Rife Association
of America
|Institute for Legislative Action
11250 Waples Mill Rd
Fairfax,
Virginia
22030
June 26, 2007
Dear Mr. Bright
Thank you for your recent letter to the NRA. Sandra Froman is no longer our president. Our current president, John Sigler, asked that I write to you on his behalf. We are always happy to address any and all concerns from individuals who have an interest in firearms and firearms issues.
If one of our endorsed candidates loses in a primary, we may subsequently apply a new endorsement in the general election to the candidate who won that primary. However, we only give endorsements to those who are staunchly pro-gun. We look for gun-friendly candidates in both primary and general elections, and may apply endorsements in either election to help protect our Second Amendment rights.
Article 1, section 8, of the Constitution does give Congress power to raise an army and navy, and the power for "calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions ...... This section of the Constitution provides us great insight into the Founding Fathers' intentions.
The men who formed this great country had just fought a revolutionary war to gain their freedom. They had lived under a system of government that easily lent itself to tyranny and repression of the people. Individual freedoms and liberties were not guaranteed; the government determined who had "rights" and what those "rights" were. The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution because of the fear and distrust of a large government. The Founding Fathers correctly believed that guaranteeing the individual right to keep and bear arms was the best way to insure newly granted rights would not be trampled upon.
By providing the people the right to freely choose to own arms, the Founding Fathers addressed three main concerns. First, since the people had a means to oppose or overthrow a tyrannical government, a "one man, one rule" system would not develop. Second, since large standing armies could easily be used to suppress the people, a militia system suited the framer's needs well. In time of peace, there was no expense to the government or threat to the people; in time of war, the people would be called upon to defend the country with their own arms. And third, the basic right to defend one's self, family and property, as well as the interest of sport, recreation and collection, for many, is best provided by firearms.
The term Militia applies to all able-bodied males (and some females) between the ages of 17 and 45. This is still current Federal law (Title 10 U.S. Code, section 311 (a)). The individual right to own firearms is guaranteed by the Constitution and reaffirmed by statutory law. There are some who claim that a militia is not necessary in a day of large military forces and nuclear weapons. But the right to own firearms is not dependent solely upon the militia definition, nor can Constitutional rights be granted or denied due to an apparent change of circumstances.
It is the NRA's view, based on law (Article 1, section 8 of the U.S. Constitution; Title IO, U.S. Code, Section 311(a)), court precedents, and legal and historical interpretation, that all able-bodied persons, explicitly those between the ages of 17 and 45, are members of the Federal unorganized militia, except members of the organized state guards (for example, State Defense Forces which exist in about two dozen states), the National Guards of the various states (which also serve as a part of the National Guard of the United States, a military reserve subject to nationalization by the President of the United States), and certain government officials. An "organized citizen militia" must be created under the constitution itself and/or the laws of a state.
Title 10, U.S.C., clearly affirms the existence of the citizen militia; it is little changed since the original Militia Act of 1792 (except for the addition in this century of recognition of the third type of militia, the Federally supported National Guard, in addition to the enrolled and un-enrolled militia).
Further, the individual right to own firearms is guaranteed by the Constitution, but the right to own firearms is not at all dependent upon the militia clause. The militia clause of the Second Amendment merely adds to the reason for the right, which is a common law right rooted in the right of protection of self, family and community. The Second Amendment guarantees an individual's right to arms; participation in a citizen militia organization does not make that right more valid or any stronger.
NRA-ILA's ability to fight successfully for the rights of America's law-abiding gun owners directly reflects the support of NRA's more than 4 million members-a number that has more than tripled since 1978. When restrictive "gun control" legislation is proposed at the local, state or federal level, NRA members and supporters are alerted and respond with individual letters, faxes, e-mails and calls to their elected representatives to make their views known.
Thank you again for your letter. If you have any more questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at the above address or at (800) 392-9683.
Cordially
Angus McClellan
NRA-ILA Grassroots Division
Blacksburg
Willowtown Photography Home