Trick or Treat (Fred Thompson on the 2nd Amendment)

The Shooting Wire ^ | October 31, 2007 | Jim Shepherd

[2ndDivisionVet]

Last week, Sturm, Ruger & Company (NYSE: RGR) stock took a licking in the marketplace after Ruger officials admitted their revitalization plan wasn't quite on the rails the way they had envisioned. Yesterday, Smith & Wesson Holding Company (SWHC) received a similar spanking after earnings came in below analysts' expectations of 12 cents a share. Notice there were earnings, they just weren't the earnings the market analysts expected. Rather than 12 cents, earnings were a nickel less. In exchange, Smith & Wesson Holding Company took a big tumble, losing nearly 40% (39.67) in heavy volume with more than 14 point seven million shares changing hands.

The fall began at the opening bell, with the first trade at $13.75, quite a change from Monday's close at $20.09. Smith & Wesson officials say the cut in expectations were due to lower than expected demand for rifles and shotguns. Since the acquisition of Thompson/Center Arms last year, Smith & Wesson has been more dependent on consumer markets, with the company's progress over the past year having already doubled the stock price.

With yesterday's news, however, analysts say a slowdown in hunting and consumers postponing sales will continue to hurt the stock value. Market followers say the "adjustment" to Smith & Wesson's near runaway performance over the past year was inevitable, and long-term the company's health is not in question.

Meanwhile, presidential hopeful Fred Thompson is making his bones with the firearms community. He has issued a statement regarding his position on the United Nations and their campaign to regulate "small arms" globally. We don't have a favorite in the Republican primary candidates, but it would seem former Senator Thompson from Tennessee has taken a page from the playbook of another plain-spoken Tennessean Senator, Senator Davy Crockett. Rather than paraphrase, we'll let you read Thompson's comments for yourself. FYI, we'll run the comments from other candidates when (if) they ever make a definitive statement on firearms, the Second Amendment and litmus-test issues with shooters.

That having been said, Senator Thompson:

"Last year, the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights declared that international human rights law requires all nations to adopt strict gun control laws. These "minimum" provisions are much more restrictive than any of those on the books anywhere in the U.S. and would almost certainly violate the Second Amendment of our Constitution.

Besides concluding that all nations are obligated under international human rights law to control the small arms and light weapons to which its civilian population has access, the UN report remarkably denied the existence of any human right to self-defense, evidently overlooking the work of Hugo Grotius, the 17th century scholar credited as the founder of international law, who wrote, "It is to be observed that [the] Right of Self-Defence, arises directly and immediately from the Care of our own Preservation, which Nature recommends to every one. . . ," and that this right is so primary, that it cannot be denied on the basis that it is not "expressly set forth."

There is another disturbing aspect to this call for international global gun control. Throughout modern history, the forced disarmament of people by its government has often been accompanied or followed by that government's commission of often massive human rights abuses. In fact, no genocide in the 20th century occurred when the victim population still possessed small arms, legally or illegally, with which to defend themselves.

So now the UN wants to disarm civilians? Where was the UN when the massacres in Rwanda occurred? What did the UN do to protect the victims of ethnic massacres in Bosnia? Disarming civilians under the guise of international human rights law will only lead to more such genocides by ensuring that civilians can never defend themselves! It would be funny if it weren't so perverse.

Thankfully, the Framers of our Constitution recognized this potential peril to our liberty, and enshrined in our Second Amendment the more basic right of self-defense. The U.N. can say what it likes about other countries' citizens' possession of small arms being a violation of human rights law, but so long as the United States is a sovereign nation governed by its Constitution, its words will have no effect here. And I am glad for it."

As always, we'll keep you posted. -- Jim Shepherd

[Durus]

I confess to being bigoted against islamic terrorists.

[Celtman]

As was mentioned in the article, the other candidates have not issued statements about the UN on this issue.

      Incorrect.  See my Post #16, above.

[from occupied ga]

I exercise that right every time I go down to my farm and put holes in things.

So then you would agree that Brits who go to the range and fire their guns are exercising their rights just because they're firing their guns?

As far as background checks and all that I have no problem with it, too many wackos today and we have the means to track them

You may not have a problem with it, and it obviously does not affect you, but you are not exercising a right you are exercising a PRIVILEGE granted to you by the government. It's your thinking it'd ok for the government to be tracking wackos that chills me. By hillary's and Rootie's definition you and I are wackos. You even more than me because you bough more guns. What if the government decides that in addition to felons that people over The age of 90 have no business purchasing firearms - after all they probably couldn't see to shoot straight anyway right? Then 85 and then 80. Joe Biden got an extension to misdemeanor offenses for the Brady check, The ratchet only goes one way.

I have purchased 25 guns in the last decade and have yet to have an issue, I walk in and walk out, gun, bullets

Good for you - you've even purchased more than I have; however, just because it doesn't affect you now doesn't meant that they don't want to "close that loophole" That lets you purchase anything in the future.

As far a New Orleans, yes, and look at the backlash...

What backlash? I heard some real horror stories on the internet, but the msm glossed it over, and to the best of my knowledge the people whose guns were stolen by the cops still haven't gotten them back. There were no consequences to any government bureaucrat armed or otherwise for doing this.

People will take a little but not a lot.

Sort of right, but people will take an awful lot if you stick it to them in small increments. I'm sure you're familiar with the story of how to boil a frog

Nationalism drove the Nazis and others,

And the ra ra kill those terrorists sis boom bah isn't nationalism?

You post pictures and statements about Nazi Germany and our country so the equivocation is there

Only the end result of ever increasingly intrusive government requlation, not the current state. Nazi Germany was not anabberation. It is the end result of statism going to its logical conclusion. All of the Democrat candidates and the main three stooges on the republican side are ardent statists.

Gun owners are being demonized in the MSM at least a third of the news and so-called entertainment I've seen in the last couple of weeks has been hitting the anti-gun message from the breathless stating of the phrase "assault rife" by the little reporterette girl on the local news the the plot of some so called network dramas.

[ejonesie22]

Worrying about things that have not happened yet to the point of screaming Nazi is foolish, and brands anyone who thinks that the same. It dilutes the message and our ability to have a say as to how far things go, for instance the sane idea of background checks vs, “closing that loop hole” craziness. There is a difference between vigilance and paranoia.

As for the “Rah rah terrorist” crap, it is not nationalism, it’s patriotism, look it up...

[Rick.Donaldson]

First off, Bush has not signed any gun ban bills. Which ones are you saying he has?

Also, your remarks about “pro war armchair heroes on this forum” kind of smacks of an insult. Is that what you’re doing? Because I might sit in my CHAIR now, but I didn’t for nearly 27 years. I was there, defending your right to say stupid things.

Yes, indeed there is a threat to our Liberties right here, right now, and it comes from Left Wing communist sympathizers, and radical kooks on BOTH sides of the aisle, including the Right.

People like you are radicals who think that every thing that happens in the government is some kind of freakin’ conspiracy. Last time I looked it up, paranoia was still considered a mental disease.

So, honestly, you had really nothing at ALL to say in your previous remarks other than to attack pretty much everyone at random here.

Apparently though, I see that 1) You’re Anti-War, 2) You’re Right wing or Libertarian (or you’re a complete leftist with the idea you can come into the forums and make rude comments just to hear yourself say something) or 3) you’re just a kook or troll.

Which are you? Occupied Georgia, Indeed...

[GBA]

I’m not all that excited about any of the candidates, but I am getting closer to putting a Fred ‘08 sticker on my truck.

[kevkrom]

These people will do far more harm and cost far more money and freedom than any number of terrorists hiding in holes in Afganistan.

Keeping a healthy distrust of the government is one thing, but it is, in my opinion, wrong to focus so much on them that you blind yourself to the fact that there is an enemy out there who is seeking weapons of mass destruction that will not hesitate to use those weapons against us on our own soil.

[from occupied ga]

Worrying about things that have not happened

Worring about things that have already happened is a bit late. I notice that you didn't see fit to address my point about Brits.

[from occupied ga]

First off, Bush has not signed any gun ban bills

First off, Bush said that he will sign any assault weapons bill that crosses his desk. Don't deliberatly misquote someone to make your case better.

From this point on your post is merely an insult - GFY

[ejonesie22]

I don’t give a crap about the Brits, except as allies, that's why I did not see fit. The only time I do is when something they are doing is proposed over here like National Health Care.

If they start to propose British type laws here in regards to guns, then I’ll listen. If it gets anywhere then I'll fight. Right now it is apples and oranges, they have no 2nd amendment...

There are other issues to deal with without trying to pull in imaginary ones.

[from occupied ga]

Keeping a healthy distrust of the government is one thing, but it is, in my opinion, wrong to focus so much on them that you blind yourself to the fact that there is an enemy out there who is seeking weapons of mass destruction that will not hesitate to use those weapons against us on our own soil.

Likewise worring about a hypothetical threat when more restrictive laws are getting passed every day isn't so good either. Since this is a 2nd amendment thread, I'm guessing that you have noticed the increased media drumbeat against firearms - part of the organized support for the Biden anti-gun bill - no sunset this time.

[from occupied ga]

You just don’t get it and probably never will - have a great day

[Rick.Donaldson]

What I get is that you’re wandering around the forums, making unhelpful remarks, insulting people and crying about globalists.

Seriously, why are you here again?

Look I spent time looking for those so-called “Concentration Camps” in America, back tracking the alleged “Presidential Executive orders” that take away your rights, and many, MANY years looking into some of the “Illuminati” conspiracies.

Honestly, there aren’t any. The conspiracies are in your head.

If you’ve nothing helpful to say — that is to say something with honest data, real facts, then keep your ridiculous remarks to yourself about other people.

[Rick.Donaldson]

First off, Bush said that he will sign any assault weapons bill that crosses his desk. Don't deliberatly misquote someone to make your case better.

SHOW me the exact quote in what speech and when he said it. I didn't MISQUOTE you at all, the stuff I put in quotes was EXACTLY what YOU said. Go back and read your own writing. If you're going to jump into a discussing and start making unfounded accusations, at least have the guts to back up your crap with factual evidence. WHERE did Bush say what you're saying he said he would do? Prove it, put up or shut up.

From this point on your post is merely an insult - GFY

Pot callin' the Kettle Black, eh? What the hell do you think YOUR remarks were? Insulting.

[Rick.Donaldson]

Your abysmally ignorant and inflammatory post notwithstanding you need to get history book - one with short words so you can understand it and see just how many people were killed BY THEIR OWN GOVERNMENTS in the 20th century vs how many were killed by terrorists. I'll give you a hint. A conservative estimate is 80,000,000 were killed by their own governments. So unless you can somehow come up with a convincing argument that human nature is different in the USA than in the rest of the world you're the one who is full of sh!t.

Hey, you know what? I don't see you providing ONE PIECE of Evidence to support your idiotic supposition that Bush is a "globalist". What you've been doing is insulting people, and calling them names. So don't go jumping on someone calling them full of anything. You are the one that has issues. Not ejonesie. I think you need to take a little chill pill and go back to reading some factual data instead of going to "infowars" all the time. You're brainwashed. As for your pictures of Auschwitz, are you TRYING to imply that there are lines of people here in the US headed for gas chambers? If so, you're going to have to show us some pictures of that too.

[Rick.Donaldson]

Godwin’s law — haha good one, I can’t tell you the number of times someone has called me one, let alone made these comparisons in the midst of a “conspiracy breakdown” such as he’s having today.

[ejonesie22]

It’s all apples and oranges...

[Rick.Donaldson]

I have never ONCE ASKED the government to purchase, own or carry a weapon. Not ONCE. I do have a CCW PERMIT, because there are LOCAL laws in our state in various areas (not all) against carrying a concealed weapon. I have the permit because if I travel through areas that have LOCAL LAWS (NOT FEDERAL LAWS) then I don't want to be hassled. Never have been. Never have been carrying it openly either. So we DO have right to keep and bear arms.

If you LISTEN carefully, which is very obvious you're not doing, you will see a select group of people trying to take gun rights, NOT the entire government, but the LEFT side of government, NOT the right. Basically you're trying to say (and why don't you just say it) that ALL government is trying to destroy us?

Oh sorry, never mind.... I see you DID say it.All governments would like to be the fourth Reich. You think that president Hillary or president Rudy would look at us and say by gosh we're taxing them too much and we've put too many restrictions on them? ha ha.

So, you're an anarchist then. I get it now.

But every time it reaches further and get's smacked back less. Where do you think all of the gun control regulations we have today came from that is government reaching and NOT getting smacked back

From LIBERALS and DEMOCRATS. Not Republicans.

[trisham]

bump

[Rick.Donaldson]

Apples and Oranges is as to Nazi Germany and the USA.

Basically.

What this ANARCHIST is trying to say, and that’s precisely what he is, is that all governments are bad, and we should get rid of them. These same people used to come to our site and whine and piss and moan about Clinton, then later Bush, and before that it was Reagan and the former Bush.

You can’t please them, unless everyone in America picks up their guns and goes into Congress and destroys the existing government — BUT not one of them will lead that charge.

Every single cowardly one of the sits behind a computer and an ALIAS, and make veiled threats, outlandish accusations, calls the government “Nazis” and will call you names when they get the chance, especially when losing an argument. They follow that Jones idiot and infowars, and sit and talk to themselves in private forums that others can’t access (cuz, you know the government reads everything, so be afraid!) and they whip themselves into a paranoid frenzy.

Disgusting. I suppose though, we can’t expect everyone to as informed as they could be when all they are reading is anarchist propaganda and ignoring honest and true facts.