Thursday, December 23, 2010

You did it!

Gun Owners of America asked you to get behind our effort to push Congress to read the Constitution on the floor of the House and Senate.

House Speaker Designate John Boehner announced that the clerk of the House of Representatives will read the Constitution aloud at the start of the new Congress.

“This is a great victory for all Americans who care about limited government, individual liberty and the Constitution,” said John Velleco, GOA’s Director of Federal Affairs. “Maybe Congress is finally getting the message that the oath they take to support and defend our most important founding document is still relevant in the 21st century. Reading it is a good first step, but now we must get Congress to abide by the real contract with America.”

At about 4,400 words, it is one of the shortest written Constitutions in the world and will only take about an hour to read. In contrast, the ObamaCare bill weighs in at around 180,000 words and was never read at all by those voting for its passage.

The overwhelming reponse to GOA’s petition, found at www.readtheusconstitution.org, shows that Americans want Congress to follow the Constitution.

“I will enjoy watching Nancy Pelosi’s face when the clerk reads the Constitution, since it may be the first time she’s ever heard it read. And hopefully the clerk will read it nice and slowly to let the words sink in,” said Velleco.

There is no word yet from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid if the Senate will follow the House’s lead, so GOA is still urging people to visit the website and sign the petition.

The current oath that all members of Congress take reads:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”

Please help keep the pressure on Congress to read — and abide by — the Constitution. If you’ve already signed the petition, thank you, and please urge all of your pro-gun family and friends to visit readtheusconstitution.org .