E-mail From the Desk of Neal Lang Hi, Pete, I was forwarded your e-mail on the above subject by Pete Mancus. As I was not an original recipient, I hope you don't consider my response impertinent. I read with interest (and sadness) your July 27th letter satirically belittling the National Rifle Association for celebrating arguably the "most important" political coup on behalf of the "individual right to keep and bear arms" in the last 8 years. I hope you don't find my corrective reply to be a flame, as I do not intend it to be taken as such. I respect you and your efforts on behalf of "the cause" too much. This current epistle, while I believe errant, evidences the "passions" and "wit" that make all your correspondence a "joy" for those "true believers" who clearly see the "truth and the light". However, the underlying concept that the NRA is "counter-productive" (and thereby, by implication, undeserving of our support) is wrong. I'll tell you why. First, your position (along with others) seems to suggest that the battle to restore our "unalienable rights" can be won without compromise. This position suggests that our Federal government and its Constitution were founded on "principles" that could never be compromised. Obviously, Dave, history tells a different story. After all, our founders, after engaging in a desperate struggle with the most powerful empire on earth over "principles" eloquently expressed in the "Declaration of Independence" instituted a government by ratifying a Constitution that codifies a "compromise" allowing slavery. A Nation born on the idea that "all men our created equal" allowed a government based on the "constitutional principle" that certain "man" count only a as "3/5th persons" and "untaxed" Native Americans don't count at all. Compared to the founders' "constitutional compromise" on "slavery", the NRA's giving ground on "Brady" in order to demand an "Insta-Check" and a "ban" on the government retaining records of purchasers is really quite minor. Interestingly, by including these provisions in "Brady", we have today a situation whereby America's chief lawman, General Ashcroft, can insist that records illegally retained by the FBI for 180 (or more) days, must be destroyed with 24 hours under the "rule of law". I see this as a "glass half-full", Dave, not "half-empty". If the NRA did not have a place at the table to get demand this compromise, we would today be "truly" experiencing "totally unacceptable delays" in firearms purchases, along with a "permanent registry" of firearms buyers. To think that "Brady" would not have passed, despite NRA opposition, without these important compromises is quite delusional, IMMHO. The assault on Attorney General Ashcroft by "Constitutional zealots" is also quite delusional as well, IMMHO. To say that one believes in the "infallibility" of the U.S. Constitution and therefore I condemn the Nation's highest law enforcement officer for saying that he will serve his constitutional role by enforcing the law, is really quite illogical. If you understand the Constitution, you will see that it did nothing more the "institute a government". The form of government instituted was a "republic", a where everyone, "the People" as well as the "magistrates" must obey the law. Our constitution established three distinct branches, each with different authority and responsibility. Article. I. Section. 1. - "All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives." Article. II. Section. 3. - "(H)e (the President) shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed..." Article III. Section. 1. - "The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish." Article III. Section. 2. - "(T)he supreme Court shall have appellate Jur isdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make." The Executive branch, of which General Ashcroft is a member, must "faithfully execute" the laws that are passed by the Legislative Branch and adjudicated by Judicial branch. When one of President Clinton's "White House Counsels" gleefully exclaimed, "Stroke of the pen, force of law, NEAT!" - we, the believers of Constitutional law, were justifiably horrified. Why than are we so quick to object to the Attorney General when he states the obvious. He MUST uphold the law. He cannot on his own usurp the authority of either the Congress or the Courts. In this he is living his oath of office and serving as an example of the kind of "true Original Intent" that has not been seen in Washington in at least 12 years, if not longer. The fact that he bravely committed his Department to the "true" meaning of the 2nd Amendment as an "individual right" should be the cause of great celebrations throughout our country by those of us who believe that "the People" in fact means individuals. Instead we "parse" his words and de-ride him for keeping his oath of office by "faithfully executing" the Federal code he inherited. Shooting organizations should be today renaming "Practical Shooting Matches" after this courageous American and hero of the 2nd Amendment. Dave, the undermining of our rights begins when governmental officials forget we have a government of laws. Our founders thought that Congress, not the Attorney General should make the laws of our country. General Ashcroft agrees. Historically, the Courts determine the Constitutionality our laws, not the Attorney General. General Ashcroft agrees. I think you should celebrate this victory, not commiserate when a public official recognizes it. I am glade you still retain your "life membership" in the NRA. However, as a member, I am not sure you can see how this GREAT organization fits in the scheme of the defense of our "unalienable rights" in the reality of 21st America. Personally, I believe neither the NRA, the Constitution, POTUS, the Attorney General, Congress, nor the Supreme Court have any bearing on the actual existence of any my "unalienable rights". I sleep peacefully every night in the knowledge that while my government may have the "power" to kill me, it does not have the "authority" to "separate me from these rights". In fact, I, myself, cannot even "give away" these "unalienable rights" if I wanted to - else they would not be "unalienable". The struggle to insure these rights "politically" in the "good old" U.S. of A. must be fought on at least three fronts. These fronts are: 1. The Judicial - overturning existing "bad laws" in the Courts. This requires the nomination of good judges that understand the meaning of republic and the simple plan English of the U.S. Constitution. 2. The Legislative - passing new laws that correct existing "bad laws" and promote expansion of our 2nd Amendment rights to the States and local governments. This would be similar to the Civil Rights legislation of the 1960. This requires electing good Representatives that understand the Constitutional limits imposed on Congress. 3. The Promotional - to insure the appropriate "public relations" climate to insure items 1. and 2. This involves also election the "right" public officials to nominate the "right" kind of Justices and to pass the "right" kind of legislation. I submit, Dave, that the NRA is carrying the battle on these three most effectively. After all, being rated the "Most Influential" lobby in Washington indicates to me that the NRA is nothing if it is not effective. To fault the NRA in the absence of a more effective means of defending our rights is quite easy. If you analyze the "political" battlefield were meaning and effect of the 2nd Amendment as it stands today is being determined, you will find that: 1. Congress, as a whole, does not see the 2nd Amendment as do you or I, or the GOA, JPFO, COA, or the NRA, for that matter. For this reason the NRA legislative strategy since 1968 has been a "rear guard" action. Through "political compromise" they attempted (and for the most part succeeded) to blunt the more onerous Federal and State laws invading our 2nd Amendment rights. 2. The Courts, in general, and the U.S. Supreme Court, in particular, do not see the 2nd Amendment as do you or I, or the GOA, JPFO, COA, or the NRA, for that matter. Through lifetime, "good Behaviour" tenure, most judges are "immune" to "politics". However, before their confirmations, the NRA can and does have some influence in the selection, nomination and confirmation of these Judges. Additionally, in very well prepared and persuasive "Amicus Briefs", the NRA helps promote an "unalienable, individual" 2nd Amendment Right in the courts. In fact, a fair reading of their Amicus Curiae in Emerson would indicate that NRA position on Lautenberg parallels mine (and maybe yours?) - (it can be read at: http://www.saf.org/NRAbrief.htm ) - despite how you have painted it in your letter. 3. The public at large ("the People" of the Constitution) generally does not see the 2nd Amendment the same as you or I, or the GOA, JPFO, COA, or the NRA, for that matter. This is our "PR gap". I think the NRA has been most effective on this front in the "battle", as well. While accepting their inevitable defeat in Congressional on the "Assault Weapons Ban", in 1994 the NRA came back with a "vengeance" that helped account for one of the most historic political "turnarounds" in U.S. history, giving control of Congress to the more "2nd Amendment friendly" Republicans. This caused our "true" enemies to institute those IRS audits about which you write in revenge for NRA part in their worse 20th Century political loss. Do I wish we lived in a utopia where all gun owners truly understood their rights and voted? You bet. But the sad truth is, Dave, many gun owners haven't a clue, and many of those that do, don't bother to vote. This is the "real world" in which the NRA is attempting to "hold the line". Do they make mistakes? Of course they do. But on balance, IMMHO, without NRA we would be today looking at British-like total bans on all firearms. If you are fair, I think you will agree. While we need to help this organization to "stay on the mark", we also must recognize their tremendous contribution. As such we must be careful not to destroy this truly effective and necessary organization, as we attempt to promote the "true" meaning of "unalienable rights". I fear, my friend, that sometimes passionate words, even amongst friends and "true believers", can also be damaging and counter-productive. One reason, Dave, I enjoy so much your "in your face" correspondence directed at the real "forces of evil" is the passion you display in "fighting the good fight". I love the way you verbally "hold them by their nose while you kick their ass". However, that said, I also think when addressing the "choir", some check on passion in the direction of presenting the "all the facts" might be the "order of the day". While "tearing down" is sometimes necessary in order to "build-up", care must be used when instructing on "enemy recognition". A fair reading of this latest epistle of yours has the NRA as the "enemy". IMMHO, Dave, they are not. If enough of NRA members that truly respect you take you at your word, serious damage will be done to the NRA and also to our "right to keep and bear arms". If that happens, the opportunity to re-take our "rights" on the three fronts of the Legislative; the Judiciary and the Public Opinion will be lost leaving only one "Civil War" as the only available option. I don't think I need to remind you, my friend, that the last "Civil War", killed more Americans that all the conflicts we were involved in - combined. Remember, Dave, when it comes to "2nd Amendment rights", we will, in fact, "all hang separately, if we can't hang together". Keep the Faith, Neal Neal J. Lang (Signed) E-mail: movwater@bellsouth.net