For what good it will do, I sent this to the Obama web site. It is a letter I wrote to all senator and congressmen back when Lautenberg gun control legislation was being pushed.
Oppose Lautenberg
The President, in an effort to motivate support for the Clinton/Gore/ Lautenberg/Schumer legislation, said today, “Let’s not dishonor those sacrificed at Columbine by not passing this legislation.” I suggest that with the passage of this legislation the real dishonor is to all those who paid the ultimate price in the defense of the Constitution. The dishonor to the Columbine students is the lack of prosecution of the 250,000 gun law violators discovered by the Brady background checks.
I am a retired soldier with 24 and a half years in the United States Army. With each reenlistment I took an oath to ...” uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic”. While not every member of Congress is a veteran of military service, certainly the ones who are not did not actively cower and shirk that responsibility. Who is the real domestic enemy? The President, Vice President, Senators, Representatives and Judges in the Federal system take a similar oath. “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of the United States.” The oath does not allow the individual to select which portions of, or amendments to, the Constitution will be defended, protected, or preserved. It is a shame and disgrace that there is a battle being waged in congress over the right of Americans to keep and bear arms, and that right shall not be infringed. Far too often the last word of the 2nd Amendment is neglected. I wonder if it is because the Representatives of the people believe those people too ignorant to understand the meaning of “infringed”, or that they presume the founders use of the word imprudent. Surely having taken an oath of office to preserve, protect, and defend the constitution, one would not attack it . It is unthinkable that Senators and Representatives should attack the very Bill of Rights they are sworn to defend.
I am asking you as a true believer in the Constitution of the United States, to defend it as sworn, and vote against the Lautenberg legislation.
David L. Boltz, MSG(ret) Nashville, Tennessee