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GUN RIGHTS GROUP ENDORSES CRANE RESOLUTION

Contact: John Snyder, 202-326-5259 or 703-418-0849

WASHINGTON, D. C. - The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) today endorsed a resolution to put Congress firmly on record as affirming an individual Second Amendment civil right to keep and bear arms, John Michael Snyder, CCRKBA Public Affairs Director, announced here this afternoon.

Congressman Philip M. Crane of Illinois, a CCRKBA Congressional Advisor, introduced the measure, H. Con. Res. 119, on Tuesday. It has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee. Rep. Crane has introduced identically worded resolutions in each successive Congress since 1984.

"The adoption of this resolution," said Snyder, "would drive a sharp knife through the erroneous argument of gun control advocates that the Second Amendment refers to a collective, rather than to an individual, right."


	"The adoption of this resolution would drive a sharp knife through the erroneous argument of gun control advocates that the Second Amendment refers to a collective, rather than to an individual, right."

He said, "we regard the collectivist argument vis-ŕ-vis the Second Amendment is a lot of self-serving hot air. Constitutional students generally construe the other nine propositions in our Bill of Rights with reference to individual rights. It is ridiculous to maintain that one out of the 10 Amendments in the Bill of Rights is so completely out of sync with the rest of the document.

"The Crane resolution would be a lethal shot at the heart of that argument. It would take serious wind out of the sails of those who try to twist the Constitution around to their way of thinking. We hope it will be considered and approved."

H. Con. Res. 119 would state that, "the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States conveys an inalienable right to all Americans, such right occupying the same preferred position as all other constitutional rights."

It would stipulate also that, "the Framers of the Second Amendment to the Constitution and those who ratified the Second Amendment intended that the individual retain the right to keep and bear arms in order to protect life, liberty and property and to protect our Nation from those who would attempt to destroy our freedom."

It would affirm "that it is the sense of the Congress that the Constitution provides that all individual citizens have the right to keep and bear arms, which right supersedes the power and authority of any government."

Snyder noted that Congressman Crane has been the recipient of CCRKBA Gun Rights Defender of the Year and CCRKBA Special Lifetime Achievement Awards.

The text of the resolution, obtained from the Thomas website, is as follows:

HCON 119 IH

107th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. CON. RES. 119

Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to the right of all Americans to keep and bear arms in defense of life or liberty and in the pursuit of all other legitimate endeavors.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 1, 2001

Mr. CRANE submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to the right of all Americans to keep and bear arms in defense of life or liberty and in the pursuit of all other legitimate endeavors.

Whereas the second amendment to the Constitution of the United States conveys an inalienable right to all American citizens, such right occupying the same preferred position as all other constitutional rights;

Whereas unconscionable abridgements of the second amendment have been undertaken over the years by State and local governmental bodies, and have been allowed by the courts to stand uncorrected; and

Whereas the Framers of the second amendment to the Constitution and those who ratified the second amendment intended that the individual retain the right to keep and bear arms in order to protect life, liberty, and property and to protect our Nation from those who would attempt to destroy our freedom: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the Constitution provides that all individual citizens have the right to keep and bear arms, which right supersedes the power and authority of any government.

END