By Chuck Baldwin

December 17, 2002

A once-popular adage said, "God, guns and guts made America free." In today's politically correct culture, however, that rich legacy seems completely out of place.

God (at least the God of the Bible) has been expelled from America's schools and from America's culture. "Merry Christmas" has been replaced with "Happy Holidays." Major corporations and government entities are openly hostile to virtually any form of Christian expression. Furthermore, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled the phrase "under God" in our Pledge of Allegiance to be unconstitutional.

With God officially expunged from America's public life, can guns be far behind? Well, the same Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals appears ready to rid our country of them, also.

In another landmark ruling, the Ninth Circuit Court upheld California's ban on so-called assault rifles by saying that the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee an individual's right to keep and bear arms, that gun possession is the exclusive right of government.

The Ninth Circuit Court's ruling went so far as to identify armed citizens as "an 'unregulated' mob of armed individuals." That sounds very similar to the words of Old King George of England, doesn't it?

Granted, this ruling comes from one of the nation's most liberal courts. However, don't think that this ruling is not significant or that it will not help shape national policy. It is and it will.

The issue in question is George Herbert Walker Bush's decision to outlaw certain semi-automatic rifles. They are called "assault weapons," but everyone who knows anything about firearms knows that assault weapons are weapons capable of automatic, machine-gun fire. The weapons in question are not capable of such fire. Therefore, the term "assault weapons" is used as media hype to garner support for Bush's gun ban.

Here is the point: the assault weapons ban signed by Bush the Elder is scheduled to expire during the next Congress unless Bush the Younger decides to extend it. This is why the timing of the Ninth Court's decision is so important, which brings us to the third member of our triumphant trilogy: guts. Will G.W. Bush have the guts to not extend the so-called assault weapons ban?

Bush has enjoyed popular support from gun owners nationwide. Major gun rights groups such as the National Rifle Association have enthusiastically endorsed him. Virtually every political pundit admits it was the gun control issue that swung the election to Bush.

Therefore, will President Bush have the guts to do what is right and rid America of the unconstitutional so-called assault weapons ban? Perhaps the greater question is whether pro-gun, pro-freedom citizens will have the guts to send Bush to the showers when he extends the ban, which he is certain to do?

Without guts, guns become museum pieces, and God becomes a nostalgic memory. In other words, lose one and you lose all three.

© Chuck Baldwin

NOTE:
These commentaries are published Tuesdays and Fridays and may not be reprinted or republished without permission. Editors or publishers interested in running these editorials, or Talk Show Hosts interested in scheduling an interview may contact chuck@chuckbaldwinlive.com.

To learn more about my radio talk show please visit my web site at www.chuckbaldwinlive.com. When responding, please include your name, city and state.

Chuck Baldwin's Bio

When honest people who hold strong opinions come together, it is natural that they state their opinions, and that those opinions occasionally clash. The articles that you see on this website represent the opinion of the writers, and are not the official opinion of this party. To see the official party position on any question, the reader is referred to the Party Platform.

Permission to reprint/republish granted, as long as you include the name of our site, the author,and our URL. www.cptexas.org. All CP Texas reports, and all editorials are property of The Constitution Party of Texas © 2002 (unless otherwise noted).