April 6, 2002

I recently found my copy of Gun Owners of America's "The Gun Owners," Volume 13, Number 5, November 3, 1994, and reread its headline article, "Every Vote Counts this Year," by GOA Executive Director Larry Pratt.

It says all we need to know about Homeland Security "czar" (why don't they ever say "fuhrer"?) Tom Ridge, and explains his hostility toward both arming commercial pilots and activating the Constitution's citizen militia in contrast to his stated goals and this country's needs.

Per Pratt:

"Congressman Thomas Ridge of Pennsylvania was a surprise vote for the ban on so-called 'assault weapons.' Pennsylvania is a strongly pro-gun, pro-hunting state. And Rep. Ridge faced a primary the following week for a statewide office.

"When asked why he voted anti-gun, Ridge reportedly said, 'Those people aren't registered. Nor do they vote.' He was proven right. He won his primary."

And he went on to become governor of his state, and now "pro-gun" George W. Bush's pick for keeping America safe from terror.

Can you imagine any of America's Founders making such a crass public statement? Or even admitting to such self-serving and treasonous sentiments in private? Ridge may as well have said "Who cares what the Constitution says? Based on results, I can get away with anything I want."

Who would give power to such a scoundrel?

We're dealing with a creature who has no respect for his oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. Principle means nothing to opportunists like Tom Ridge, who subvert the supreme law of the land and betray their countrymen in their pursuit of power. And it looks like President Bush, who sold us out on the First Amendment, and who endorsed Feinstein-supporting gun-grabber Richard Riordan in the recent California gubernatorial primary, may be cast from the same mold.

"I trust you!" Bush told supporters when he promoted his tax cut plan. That always struck me as presumptuous. It should be the other way around, Mr. President — it should be us deciding if WE trust YOU.

But does Bush really trust us? Because one thing's for sure — his oathbreaking functionaries like Tom Ridge don't. After all, the ultimate proof of trust between the government and the people is whether they trust us with guns.

Here are three things Bush can immediately do to give us such proof. They will validate his words through unmistakable actions — especially since the targets of terror have largely been ordinary people who are prohibited from defending themselves by a government that has utterly failed in its duty to protect them — and cannot guarantee against future catastrophic failures:

• Promote and utilize, rather than prosecute, armed citizen volunteers training and acting in concert for homeland defense, that is, provide leadership to restore the Constitutional militia. 

• Order Attorney General Ashcroft to enforce the Second Amendment by prosecuting government officials at local, state and federal levels who infringe on that right. So far, rather than doing his sworn duty, Ashcroft has shown deliberate indifference to violations called to his attention. 

• Order Transportation Secretary Mineta to facilitate rather than impede arming commercial airline pilots.

We must judge our leaders — indeed, all people — based on what they say and what they then do. If there's any disparity between the two, we know we have a problem.

Don't we, Mr. Ridge? Mr. Bush?

David Codrea is a co-founder and director for the national pro-rights media campaign, Citizens of America (CitizensOfAmerica.org), and an advisor and contributor for KeepAndBearArms.com. His professional writing is featured often in Guns and Ammo magazine. Additionally, he is the national coordinator for A Petition for the Enforcement of the Second Amendment (KeepAndBearArms.com/Petition). His archives can be accessed here: KeepAndBearArms.com/Codrea.