Republicans are Trying to Block the ‘No Gun Registration’ Amendment

Republicans are Trying to Block the “No Gun Registration” Amendment
Please call Minority Leader McConnell today

Gun Owners of America
Gun Owners of America

Washington, DC –-(Ammoland.com)- Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has been doing a yeoman’s job of trying to rein in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and protecting the privacy of gun owners.

But now, according to senate insiders, the Republican leadership is trying to undermine these efforts by urging fellow Republicans to oppose Paul’s “no gun registration” amendment.

Paul’s amendment would exempt gun records — including 4473’s (the form all purchasers fill out when they buy a firearm from a licensed dealer) — from the blanket information demands which the ATF can make under the 9/11 legislation.

We have known for weeks that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid would oppose Rand Paul. But now, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is also helping “Dirty Harry” Reid by encouraging other Senate Republicans to oppose the Paul language.

All gun owners need to take action right now. Time is short, as the PATRIOT Act extension will become a done deal sometime tomorrow (Friday).

So please use the Talking Points below TO CALL Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell today! Ask him to support the Paul amendment and to urge other Republicans to do the same.

Even if you live in Kentucky, please make sure you call the Senator’s office, because time is short.

CONTACT INFORMATION for Mitch McConnell:

Direct office number: 202-224-2541

Toll-free switchboard number (you must ask for McConnell’s office): 1-877-762-8762

Email: The Senator does NOT accept emails from out of state

TALKING POINTS FOR SENATOR McCONNELL

1. Please urge Senator McConnell to support the Paul “no gun registration” amendment and to use his leadership position to urge other Republicans to do the same.

2. Without the Paul “no gun registration” amendment, it is possible that the ATF could go to a secret (FISA) court and demand every 4473 in the country, ostensibly because a “terrorism investigation” requires it. If such an action were taken, the government would have a list of every gun buyer in the country going back decades.

3. If Senator McConnell allows Harry Reid to successfully shut out gun amendments, then gun owners will hold him (McConnell) personally responsible for enabling the Majority Leader. And if the Democrats retain the control of the Senate in 2012, the Republicans will only have themselves to blame.

4. ANSWERS TO POSSIBLE OBJECTION. Senators have been trying to tell Senator Paul (and Senator McConnell will probably tell you) that the PATRIOT Act does not allow the ATF to get every 4473 in the country. Well, there are two answers to this:

a. First, if the PATRIOT Act does not, in fact, allow the ATF to go on fishing expeditions, then what is the harm in passing the Paul amendment? Why not just pass the Paul provision so that we can have an extra ounce of prevention specifically prohibiting the ATF from using the PATRIOT Act to fish for people’s gun sale records.

b. Second, the very language that some Senators are claiming will protect us is the very language that the ATF is currently violating! Senators like McConnell want us to think that the 1986 McClure-Volkmer law (which outlaws gun owner registration) is good enough to protect us from fishing expeditions under the PATRIOT Act.

But as any law school student and judge in the country knows, more recent laws (like the PATRIOT Act) ALWAYS TRUMP older laws (like the 1986 Act which prohibits gun owner registration). If there is a conflict, the more recent law governs. Hence, it’s not surprising that we are currently witnessing the ATF violate the 1986 McClure-Volkmer law, as the agency recently issued new proposed rules to require registration of those persons who purchase multiple semi-autos — and all of this in the name of fighting gun smuggling in the Southwest.

Gun Owners of America
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102
Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585
FAX: 703-321-8408
www.gunowners.org

About:
Gun Owners of America (GOA) is a non-profit lobbying organization formed in 1975 to preserve and defend the Second Amendment rights of gun owners. GOA sees firearms ownership as a freedom issue. `The only no comprise gun lobby in Washington’ – Ron Paul

4 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
bill

The NRA opposed Rand Paul in his efforts to protect the records of gun owners. The NRA claimed the Patriot Act has not been abused when it comes to gun records. The NRA went on to say that Paul’s amendment would have caused the FBI to simply seek other ways of accessing those records. The NRA and the Republicans stopped the efforts of Paul to protect the rights of gun owners and to maintain the status-quo. What the Rand Paul amendment really exposed is that the current law does not protect gun owners from abuse and that the NRA and… Read more »

James A. "Jim&q

The only answer is to &%^* can the Republican Party and switch to an honest, independent third political party: the Constitution Party (www.constituitonpartyoregon.net). Furthermore, I don't want to hear this parroted "your'e throwing your vote away" lie by voting for a third party or third party candidate! The late Alabama Governor George C. Wallace rightly stated back in 1968: "there isn't a dimes worth of difference between the Democrats and Republicans!" When is the American public going to wake up, learn, and accept this? The John Birch Society (www.jbs.org) likewise has much to say about both Socialist Party A. (Democrats)… Read more »

Tom Davis

Rand Paul is an American Ninja. Way to FALCON PUNCH Harry Reid for freedom.

McConnell Fascist

McConnell is a fascist.