Originally published on this website July 30, 2000
In a message dated 7/30/00 10:23:10 PM Pacific Daylight Time, RHA42A writes
to the Editor of The Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
To Whom It May Concern,
Lauren Grote (Letters 7-29-00) believes, as many people do, that licensing
and registration will save lives. She couldn't be more wrong. Criminals won't
get licenses and won't register their firearms either. According to the Supreme
Court, they won't have to; the court has ruled that it would violate their 5th
Amendment right against self-incrimination.
Assuming that every gun owner complied with such requirements one can only
imagine a decline in accidental gun injuries, due to the increase in firearm
education. Such a decline would be welcome, but could be achieved through
greater education efforts, without the implementation of licensing and
registration. The corresponding increase in the murder rate, of unarmed citizens
by armed criminals, would more than make up for the decrease in accidents.
Besides, the majority of gun owners won't comply with any licensing or
registration plan. I won't, and neither will anyone I know. Not because it would
be a hassle. Not because we don't want to lose a nifty hobby, or a time honored
tradition.
We won't register or license our rights away because we cherish our Liberty,
our Constitution and our Republic. History has shown that licensing and
registration always lead to confiscation -- which is followed by tyranny,
repression and genocide. Remember Hitler, Stalin, etc.? It's because we know
licensing/registration/confiscation will cost lives because they invite abuse
and tyranny, leave us defenseless against violent criminals, and will very
likely ignite a Civil War. Think it can't happen? Think again. Remember
Lexington and Concord? Independence had been growing in popularity for years,
but it was the attempted confiscation of firearms that led to the shot heard
'round the world. The parallels with our current situation are staggering. So,
if you oppose the 2nd Amendment (It escapes me how anyone with the slightest
knowledge of history could.) ask yourself this question: Am I willing to die for
this? Your opponents have already pledged their lives, their fortunes and their
sacred honor.
Sincerely,
Robert H. Anderson Jr.
