(Tuesday, September 18, 2001) -- In the wake of last week's terrible tragedy, Gun Owners of America mourns with all Americans over the lives that were lost in the horrific attack.
"We grieve for the families of these victims," said GOA Executive Director Larry Pratt, "and hope that Congress will implement policies that will save lives in the future.
"It seems clear that billions of dollars for metal detectors and ID checks have proven ineffective in stopping terrorism. Villains always manage to get weapons and always seem to get them through security checkpoints. Despite this obvious fact, many voices are now calling for Americans to give up more of their freedoms. What we really need is to instigate procedures that will serve as a deterrent to terrorists."
For example, Gun Owners of America is calling upon Congress to immediately adopt self-defense legislation that was introduced on Friday by Republican Representative Ron Paul of Texas.
Paul's bill (H.R. 2896) will overturn existing laws and regulations that prevent pilots from carrying sidearms onto planes. Rep. Paul believes that armed pilots could save the lives of thousands of individuals.
"It would be a mistake," Paul told Gun Owners of America, "to respond to last week's terrorist attacks by punishing the American people with more infringements on their liberties.
"We don't need more intrusive government. We need freedom. Freedom saves lives, and my bill is a modest step towards letting pilots defend their lives and the lives of their passengers -- not to mention the lives of thousands of innocent people who may be working in office buildings."
It is imperative that gun owners let their Congressman and Senators know that they support this common-sense legislation.
ACTION: Urge your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 2896, which allows pilots to defend the lives of their passengers. Please use the prewritten text below to help direct your comments to your Representative. You can call your Congressman at 202-225-3121. To identify your Representative, as well as to send a message via e-mail, see the Legislative Action Center at http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm on the GOA website.
And if you are not currently receiving the full GOA membership benefits (such as The Gun Owners newsletter in the mail), go to http://www.gunowners.org/ordergoamem.htm on the web to sign up; or, call toll-free at 1-888-886-GUNS. GOA's upcoming newsletter will be a SPECIAL ISSUE entirely devoted to last week's bombing, and will include some of the best commentary from several different authors as to what America needs to do to stop similar tragedies in the future.
Dear Representative:
I strongly urge you to cosponsor common-sense legislation introduced by Rep. Ron Paul last week. H.R. 2896 would allow airplane pilots to use firearms to defend the lives of their passengers against crazed terrorists.
Reports by the media indicate the pilots in last Tuesday's tragedy were overpowered by attackers armed only with knives. The thousands of deaths from this tragedy were made possible because those capable of defending against such an attack (the pilots and crew) were disarmed by our current laws and security policies.
Had the pilots of those doomed aircraft had access to firearms, these attacks could have been thwarted and thousands of American lives saved.
I truly believe that freedom will save lives. I keep hearing government officials say that Americans must give up their freedoms so that law enforcement can stop terrorists. The problem is that we have ALREADY given up too much freedom. The fact that pilots -- many of whom have prior military training -- do not have the freedom to defend the lives of their passengers on board is absurd.
Gun control once again has contributed to the loss of innocent lives. Haven't we learned the lessons that allowing good people to carry guns will deter criminals (and terrorists) from perpetrating their evil deeds? Whenever a state or county allows good people to carry guns, crime rates go down. Wherever guns are banned -- like in Washington, D.C. and in England -- crime rates go up.
So I urge you in the strongest way, to cosponsor the Paul legislation which will save American lives (H.R. 2896). And I also urge you to vote against any legislation that would further restrict the liberties of all Americans.
As Senator Phil Gramm said last week, "We are hearing a lot of talk today about what we can do to be safer. I want to be safe. But let me make it clear: I don't want to change our way of life. I want to change their way of life. If we start infringing on our own freedom, if we start limiting our own freedom to move about our country and engage in our business and live our lives, then we are giving up what this war is about. We want to change their lives...."
I agree with Senator Gramm. Let's punish the enemy and not America.
Sincerely,