For Immediate Release
February 22, 2008
Contact: Eddie Isler or Ellie McDaniel
703-321-8585

Gun Owners of America today hailed Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA) for slapping the Bush administration's extremely weak stance on the Second Amendment.

Rep. Goode told President Bush this week, in a letter that was signed by 57 other congressmen, that he should "direct the Department of Justice to withdraw [its] misguided brief... [and] prepare a new brief that more accurately reflects the time-honored view that the Second Amendment provides law-abiding Americans with the right to keep and bear arms."

In January, U.S. Solicitor General Paul D. Clement filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the DC v. Heller case -- Heller being a DC resident who was denied the right to own a firearm as a result of the draconian gun ban which exists in the nation's capital.

The Bush-Clement brief argues that any gun ban -- no matter how sweeping -- could be constitutional if some court determines that it is "reasonable."

"The Bush's administration's brief is hogwash," said GOA Communications Director Erich Pratt. "And the ramifications will be huge if the Supreme Court sides with the Solicitor General.

"Not only will it open the flood gates to greater gun control restrictions, we may see states talk about leaving the union," Pratt said. "Already, Montana has issued an official resolution where several dozen federal and state officials have signed on stating that a Supreme Court decision against the Second Amendment in the Heller case will be considered a breach of contract, forcing Montana to consider 'historic' remedies for such a breach."

Gun Owners of America has taken the lead in building public awareness of the Solicitor General's action, and the need to urge all members of Congress to support Rep. Goode's efforts.

The Goode letter, and the list of signatories, is available here.

Erich Pratt is the Director of Communications for Gun Owners of America, a national gun lobby with over 300,000 members. Either Erich Pratt or another GOA spokesman is available for press interviews.