A letter to the editor: re John Kerry and Gun Control

I haven't fired off a letter to the editor in some time. The CANADIAN RECORD is a very small paper in West Texas, and I was compelled to respond to a letter from citizen Ray Byard. He (I think) tried to point out that John Kerry was not completely an anti-gun liberal pinko-commie. I disagree, and I enclose my letter. Mr. Byard's letter appeared in the Oct. 14th, 2004 edition.

Many thanks to the NRA for compiling most of the info in the letter.

Dear Ms. Brown

I feel compelled to write regarding Mr. Byard's letter. First, I have no idea what the writer's message here really was. Is he illustrating that John Kerry is anti-gun? Is he pro-Kerry or against him?

Second, if the point of the letter was to show that John Kerry is not seeking the eradication of private firearms ownership in America, then Mr. Byard is flat-out wrong.

John Kerry's record on the right to keep and bear arms is one of the worst in Congress. He rivals Diane Feinstein and Charles Schumer in this regard. Their avowed goal is to completely ban gun ownership in America.

One has only to look at Kerry's voting record and legislation sponsorship to ascertain Kerry is an anti-gun liberal. I believe firmly that the only way to judge what a candidate will do in the future is to examine what he has done in the past.

This month's AMERICAN RIFLEMAN details a list of Kerry's anti-gun legislation and votes. Kerry's voting record is easily obtainable online, for verification.

For instance, John Kerry co-sponsored a bill that would ban ALL semi-automatic shotguns and detachable magazine semi-auto rifles (Nov. 21, 2003, S. 1431).

Notice that Kerry wanted to do away with ALL semi-auto shotguns. I am sure there are a few people in Canadian who would have to turn in their bird guns and deer rifles if this were ever passed. How does taking away Grandfather's dove gun do anything to make the streets safer?

John Kerry is in favor of taxing all guns and ammunition (CNN's "Late Edition", Nov. 7th, 1993). I have to give him credit for being a good liberal democrat. He wants to tax everything.

Kerry has voted to hold the makers of guns responsible for actions a criminal might take with a gun (Vote No. 24, March 2, 2004). Heaven forbid we actually punish the person who committed the crime. I am certain there are no crimes committed in America without guns (note the heavy sarcasm). Again, liberals cannot stand the idea of personal responsibility.

Kerry also voted to punish citizens whose guns were stolen and used in crimes (Vote No. 118, May 14, 1999). As noted, personal responsibility is not a liberal strength.

Kerry voted with his mentor Ted Kennedy to ban ALL centerfire rifle ammunition (Amendment 2619 to S. 1805).

Kerry voted to ban gun shows, period (S. 254).

The Second Amendment guarantees the right of the people to keep and bear arms. Its purpose was to keep some power in the hands of the people. John Kerry is a classic socialist, who believes the government should control every facet of our lives. As long as private citizens can own firearms, true socialism can never be achieved. So it only makes sense that Kerry wants to curtail Second Amendment rights as much as humanly possible. Every measure Kerry labeled as "gun control" exists only as a stepping stone towards the eradication of gun ownership in America. The same patterns were followed in Great Britain and Australia. Both countries saw a massive increase in crime as a result. It is fairly easy to rob or murder someone who is defenseless. It is also quite easy to enslave them.

John Kerry has been called the most liberal senator in Congress. He has constantly voted for tax increases, and constantly voted against the right to keep and bear arms. He is a socialist, pure and simple.

I think it only fitting that Mr. Byard has been confronted about Kerry's stance on gun control. Anyone wanting to keep America free should do so. There is much there to be concerned with.

A voter who wishes to avoid the U.S. becoming a socialist state is well-advised to vote against John Kerry.

Sincerely,

Kyle Miller
Ft. Worth, Texas

PS--Anybody wanting to jump this guy's case can do so at editor@canadianrecord.com.