This article was printed from KeepAndBearArms.com.
For more gun- and freedom-related information, visit
http://www.KeepAndBearArms.com.
----------------------------------------------------------------
|
Concerns about PA Gov. Tom
Ridge from Kim Stolfer September 25, 2001 In light of the recent developments of the President
appointing Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge to the newly created Cabinet-level
post of the "Office of Homeland Security", we offer the following
observations and concerns. We have a deep and alarming fear regarding the
appointment of Tom Ridge to this very visible and powerful position in our
government. We fear, with Tom Ridge's record on gun rights and civil liberties
that he is the wrong man for this job, and we are concerned that our liberties
will be in jeopardy. We all need to support the President in these very
serious times foisted upon us by the attacks on America with the killing of
thousands of American citizens in the destruction of the World Trade Center, the
Pentagon and the heroic actions by passengers who lost their lives on flight 93
that crashed in Pennsylvania at the hands of the the world wide terrorist
movement. However, we believe that he has made a critical mistake in appointing
Tom Ridge to this cabinet level position. We must maintain constant vigilance were our liberties
are concerned, and it must begin when Tom Ridge takes office. Remember, the
words of Benjamin Franklin in 1787, which is etched in a wall next to the steps
leading into the Pennsylvania Capitol building, "Those who would give up essential liberty to
purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" If asked, even I could have come up with a better list
of Americans that would have been better suited for this job. The novelist Tom
Clancy, I believe, has a better understanding of terrorism than Tom Ridge. Keep in mind, in 1994 Tom Ridge was the pivotal vote for
the so-called "Assault Weapons" ban while serving as the Congressman
from the 21st District in Pennsylvania. In 2004 this ban will expire, and there
are those in the Congress who will be all too willing to work to make it
permanent. Also, this could be the perfect launching pad for Tom Ridge to
replace Dick Cheney as the President's choice for Vice President in 2004. We
have known for sometime that Ridge's aides have been leaving and taking jobs in
the Bush Administration to prepare the way to Tom Ridge to serve in some
capacity. There have been rumors that he would resign before the end of his term
for some time now. We have been tracking Tom Ridge's record since he became
Governor in 1995. We invite anyone who is interested to read Tom Ridge's record
on firearms and civil rights issues as Governor of Pennsylvania by visiting the
following web sites. Firearm Owners Against Crime's Analysis of the
Ridge Record on Firearms and Rights. http://www.hhi.com/foac/ridge/Ridge_new_982.html
Gun Registry Law Suit - ACSL et. al. vs. Tom Ridge NRA-ILA Staffers Keep Silent on Gun Legislation? If anyone has any other questions, please do not
hesitate to contact us. Kim Stolfer Mike Slavonic |
||||||||