by James Buchanan

Some people are shocked by a new proposed law that will allow the government to deny gun rights to anyone the Feds declare a “suspected terrorist.” The NRA has strongly objected to this even though Bush has made his usual promises that the bill will be used to fight terrorism and not to take gun rights away from ordinary Americans.

The terrorism problem supposedly stems from the Mid East. Why not cut off all immigration from that part of the world? And why not deport any suspected terrorist from the Mid East? Isn’t it a little crazy to cut off gun rights for a suspected terrorist while letting him stay in the US?

There were a couple signs early on that George Bush really didn’t believe in the importance of armed citizens. Shortly after the 911 attack, Bush stubbornly refused to arm the pilots. If 911 had been a real terrorist attack, this would be the one most logical and effective action (aside from banning young Middle Eastern men from flying on our planes). Bush could have passed an executive order to get this done immediately.

Instead, Bush passed the issue off to Congress, which dragged its feet for months and months and created so many hurdles and requirements that only two percent of pilots ever became armed. Did Bush know something about 911 that we don’t know? Such as 911 being an “inside job” which would mean arming the pilots really wouldn’t change things.

Pilots are already entrusted with the lives of their passengers. All a pilot has to do is put the plane in a nose dive if he had ill intentions. Also a pilot is a responsible, highly trained professional. The average pilot would easily qualify to be a police officer. If Bush (and Congress) can’t trust a pilot with a gun in the face of an imminent terrorist threat, then it seems likely Bush just doesn’t believe in the Second Amendment.

Another sign that Bush is anti-gun was his contrary role in the sunsetting of the Assault Rifle Ban. Bush announced publicly that he would sign an extension of the Assault Rifle Ban if Congress brought that bill to Bush’s desk. Thankfully, the Republican-controlled Congress sat on the Assault Rifle Ban and allowed it to sunset. We have had semi-automatic rifles and pistols in the US since about 1896. The hysterical legislation called the “Assault Rifle Ban” played on the ignorance of voters, who thought that machine guns were being banned.

A president who truly believed in the Second Amendment would have made a speech as Ronald Reagan would have done. Reagan would have clearly and unambiguously told the public the difference between an assault rifle and a legal semi-automatic firearm. George Bush Junior apparently didn’t care about the dishonesty. Instead, he went along with it and offered to renew the ban.

Most people remember the NRA endorsing Bush in 2000 and 2004. One press release from the NRA notes “The National Rifle Association`s Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) has endorsed George W. Bush for President of the United States. ‘NRA stands with President George W. Bush on November 2nd,’ said Wayne LaPierre, NRA executive vice president. “If you believe in freedom and want to preserve the Second Amendment for future generations, vote to re-elect President Bush and Vice President Cheney. ‘In the United States we have a long tradition of hunting and sport shooting,’ stated LaPierre. ‘President Bush and Vice President Cheney both love to hunt and fish. They know the Constitution gives people the personal right to bear arms. And, they want to pass the values of our Nation on to a new generation.’ ”

George Bush has turned into another huge disappointment for all patriotic Americans, just like his father.