Oregon Firearms Federation
P.O. Box 556
Canby, OR
97013

Voice: (503) 263-5830

<http://www.oregonfirearms.org>




OFF ALERT 9/08/05
No Jokes. Gun Confiscation Begins In New Orleans.



The New York Times is reporting that the "authorities" are confiscating  legally owned firearms in New Orleans.

<http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/08/national/nationalspecial/08cnd- storm.html? hp&ex=1126238400&en=efe0a58b7fc8e12c&ei=5094&partner=homepage>

This link may require registration, so if you cannot see it, let us  know and we will send you the story as a PDF,

The top of the story reads as follows:

" NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 8 - Waters were receding across this flood-beaten  city today as police officers began confiscating weapons, including  legally registered firearms, from civilians in preparation for a mass  forced evacuation of the residents still living here."


This is madness. The "authorities" have shown no ability to deal with  this crisis and now want to disarm people in a place where dangerous  criminals have been freed and packs of thugs wander at will.

The "authorities" however, are not disarming everyone. The Times goes  on to report:

"But that order apparently does not apply to hundreds of security  guards hired by businesses and some wealthy individuals to protect  property. The guards, employees of private security companies like  Blackwater, openly carry M-16's and other assault rifles. Mr. Compass  said that he was aware of the private guards, but that the police had  no plans to make them give up their weapons."

Gun owners have often been accused of being "paranoid."  Clearly, their  fears have been realized.

And now we are facing the appointment of two new Supreme Court Justices  who will be able to have a profound effect on our gun rights for years  to come.

Please, don't ignore the lesson from New Orleans. Disasters can happen  anywhere. Prepare yourself.

And please read the e-mail from Gun Owners of America that we have  copied below. The outrageous actions of the "authorities" must NOT go  unchecked,




NEW SUPREME COURT OPENING PUTS GUN OWNERS IN PERIL

Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
http://www.gunowners.org

Wednesday, September 7, 2005


ACTION:  President Bush will be selecting yet another nominee for the
U.S. Supreme Court in upcoming weeks.  Because there are several
horrible candidates on the President's short list, it is imperative
that gun owners ask him to nominate someone who is a true
constitutionalist.

This alert provides a draft letter below, along with contact
information for the President's office.  Please use the letter to
direct your contact to the White House, and ask your friends and
family to contact him as well.

The situation is very dire, as the following will explain.


WHERE IS AMERICA HEADED?

The next couple of weeks could shape the direction of gun rights for
years to come.  Consider what is happening right now.

A federal agency is running roughshod over gun owners' rights in the
state of Virginia, while police officers in that state are harassing
the family members and neighbors of potential gun buyers.  At least
one gun show promoter has reported losing thousands of dollars
because of the intimidation tactics resulting from the BATFE and the
police.  [See Jeff Johnson, "ATF, Virginia Police Accused of
'Persecuting' Gun Shows," Cybercast News Service, at
http://tinyurl.com/8n5nb (August 23, 2005).]

And in other parts of the country, several states are considering
whether to ban certain semi-automatics, now that the federal ban on
those weapons has sunset -- states like Maryland, Illinois,
Massachusetts and New York, to name but a few.

This should come as no surprise, for gun ownership is one of the most
politically incorrect activities in the country these days.   And it
underscores how important it is for true constitutionalists to sit on
the Supreme Court.

Speaking of the high court, the confirmation hearing for Judge John
Roberts was supposed to begin this week.  But with death of Chief
Justice William Rehnquist, the President will now have to nominate
yet another justice to that position.

This gives Bush the incredible opportunity to mold the shape of the
Court for next few decades.


DOES ROBERTS' RECORD RAISE CONCERNS FOR GUN OWNERS?

So far, there is little direct evidence showing how Judge Roberts
would come down on Second Amendment rights.  But a pile of indirect
evidence has recently been unearthed that should greatly trouble gun
owners.

To be sure, there are a lot of people who consider themselves
supporters of the President who are VERY concerned with the Roberts'
nomination.

Columnist Ann Coulter calls the President's pick a "Souter in
Roberts' clothing" -- an obvious reference to the fact that Supreme
Court Justice David Souter was a "stealth nominee" himself when he
was nominated by President Bush in 1990, and, for most
constitutionalists, has turned out to be quite a "dud."

And this is why it is imperative that President Bush hear from gun
owners nationwide.  There are truly OUTSTANDING candidates that could
have been nominated to the Supreme Court, unfortunately, the
President has already squandered an opportunity to appoint one of
these candidates.


THERE ARE MANY GOOD JUDGES OUT THERE

Justice Janice Rogers Brown is one such candidate.  She was confirmed
to the federal bench in June by a 56-43 vote, and she would, no
doubt, make a wonderful addition to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Brown is a modern-day Annie Oakley who used language from an amicus
curiae brief that was submitted by Gun Owners of California to argue
against Los Angeles' ban on gun shows.  (For more on Judge Brown's
position on gun rights, please go to
http://www.gunowners.org/a071105.htm.)

There are several other good choices, as well.  Judge Samuel Alito,
Jr., in the Third Circuit, has argued that Congress has no right to
regulate the private possession of machine guns.  Edith Jones in the
Fifth Circuit understands that our "unalienable rights were given by
God to all our fellow citizens."

And in the Ninth Circuit, Judge Alex Kozinski has chided his liberal
colleagues for falling prey to the popular delusion that we are
"better off leaving all weapons in the hands of professionals on the
government payroll."  He cites chapter and verse, showing how gun
control has been used to subjugate blacks in the South, as well as
other minorities all across the world.

However, there are far more bad choices that President Bush could
pick from -- one of the worst being Attorney General Alberto
Gonzales.  He has been a favorite of the president, having been
nominated by him to sit on the Texas Supreme Court when Bush was
Governor of that state.

When Gonzales testified before the U.S. Senate on January 18, 2005,
he expressed his unequivocal support for gun control. Fox News quoted
Gonzales on that day as saying, "The president has made it clear that
he stands ready to sign a reauthorization of the federal assault
weapons ban if it is sent to him by Congress.  I, of course, support
the president on this issue."

Gonzales believes the Constitution is a "living document" and that
only the nine justices on the court have the capacity to explain what
it means.  He has also stated that, "The Supreme Court tells us what
the Constitution says and means."  In his view, the high court
actually "makes law" through its precedent-setting rulings.

Thankfully, we already know quite a bit about Gonzales' views.
Roberts is a different story, however, as he has already stated he
will try to keep his views close to the vest during the Senate
confirmation hearings.

Syndicated columnist Ann Coulter says that the current President "has
given us a Supreme Court nomination that will placate no liberals and
should please no conservatives.  Maybe Roberts will contravene the
sordid history of 'stealth nominees' and be the Scalia or Thomas Bush
promised us when he was asking for our votes.  Or maybe he won't.
The Supreme Court shouldn't be a game of Russian roulette."

She's right.  We shouldn't be gambling with the Supreme Court.
Please ask the President today to nominate a constitutionalist to
fill the new vacancy on the court.

CONTACT INFORMATION:  You can visit the Gun Owners Legislative Action
Center at http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send the President
the pre-written message below.  You can also contact the President
using any of the following mediums:

Phone Numbers:
Comments:    202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX:         202-456-2461
E-Mail:      [email protected]


--- Pre-written letter ---

Dear President Bush:

With the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist, you will now have
another opportunity to appoint a constitutional scholar who truly
understands the rule of law and respects the Bill of Rights.

Unfortunately, there is a growing amount of evidence which reveals
that Justice Roberts is not of the same constitutional caliber as
justices like Janice Rogers Brown and Samuel Alito, Jr.

To be sure, Alberto Gonzales is NOT the man for the job, either!As one  who respects the Constitution and the Bill of Rights
(especially the Second Amendment), I hope that you will NOT appoint
someone who holds views similar to those of Gonzales.

You truly made an excellent choice in putting Justice Janice Rogers
Brown on the federal bench.  She understands the Second Amendment
protects an individual right, and she realizes that the Supreme Court
is supposed to interpret, not make, the laws.  I hope that you will
nominate either her or someone like her to the Supreme Court.  Thank
you.

Sincerely,


****************************


________________________________________________________

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