By Gerard Valentino

(This commentary has also been published at CNSNews.com)

Video and anecdotal evidence of law enforcement confiscating legally owned firearms during the Katrina disaster caused widespread outrage among civil libertarians. Yet, criminals who refused to turn in their guns continued to rob, rape, and pillage at will.

The same law enforcement officers that disarmed the citizenry then failed to adequately protect them. Never before had the American public been faced with such a clear cut example of how disarming the law-abiding leaves the criminal element free to attack without fear.

While many believe confiscating guns makes law enforcement and citizens safer during times of strife Katrina showed us exactly the opposite is true. The results echoed what pro-gun advocates have said always happens when law-abiding citizens are denied the most effective means of self-defense.

Law enforcement's inability to access many areas of New Orleans further aggravated the situation since many of the roving criminals knew they did not have to fear being arrested. Not only were the police unable to protect the citizen's and their property in some cases inmates were released because the prisons lacked adequate facilities to protect them during the hurricane.

For many of the poor unable to flee Katrina's wrath their only means of defense during the ensuing lawlessness was their personal firearm.

As more and more citizens had their guns confiscated they were left to fend for themselves in the face of chaos. A sad commentary on how society chooses to punish the law-abiding for the sins of criminals.

Click on the "Read More" link below to read Representative Hood's bill.

Gun Rights supporters in Hamilton County and Cuyahoga County, we need your help tonight. Republican Committees in these two Ohio counties will be endorsing for the May primary this Thursday. Grassroot efforts have already helped Senator Grendell obtain endorsements from Clermont, Knox and Geauga County Republican Parties and we must keep this momentum going.

It is critical for any supporters who live and vote in these two counties to immediately contact the county chairman and also their specific precinct committee member tonight. Gun owners need to tell the committee members that big money and big names don't matter to them. A strong support of firearms rights and the Ohio constitution is what is important. This is why the county party committee members must choose to endorse gun rights supporter Senator Tim Grendell for Attorney General and NOT Betty "I will never be the candidate of the NRA" Montgomery.

If you live in another Ohio county, please check with the Republican Party to see when endorsements are being made for the primary. Let them know that gun owners will not accept Betty Montgomery as Attorney General.

You can Volunteer or Donate to Tim Grendell at http://www.TimGrendell.com

Related Articles:
Anti-gun Montgomery to quit governor’s race; campaign for Atty Gen

Grendell for Attorney General

Betty Montgomery: "I will never be the candidate of the NRA."

Click on the "Read More..." link below for list of who to contact in these two Counties.

By Gerard Valentino

(This commentary has also been published at CNSNews.com!

Much like most members of the establishment media don’t know anyone that voted for President Bush they also don’t know anyone that admits to owning a gun. For many the only exposure they have to guns, and gun owners, is when they are covering a murder or working to sensationalize the rare case when a child is accidentally killed by gunfire.

The establishment media has therefore tried to downplay the role of the pro-gun movement by attempting to create the impression that gun owners are camouflage wearing militia members on the fringe of society. Their attempt has failed because soccer moms, real estate agents, lawyers, and teachers own guns. Even the sweet little old lady standing behind you in line at the grocery store is often carrying a gun as well.

To their own detriment, many politicians buy into the establishment media’s rhetoric on guns. These politicians see the gun issue as secondary to other so-called important issues like the economy or education. They do so because of a lack of understanding about how strongly gun owners feel about keeping their guns and lessening restrictive gun laws.

Groups that represent more so-called main stream issues like taxes or health care can’t muster the votes equal to the NRA because their issue is diluted by other competing interests. Yet gun owners remain by far the most devoted voting block in American politics. Such a devotion to the gun issue creates for the NRA, and other pro-gun organizations, a lobbying power out of all proportion to the size of their membership.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.

February 3, 2006
Atlanta Journal Constitution

By Dave Workman

Professional doomsayers are preaching paranoia in Georgia because lawmakers are considering a so-called "stand your ground" law that expands and protects an individual's right of self-defense.

Predictably, opponents are conducting a campaign of hysteria. In their latest tirade against such legislation, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence warns: "The Shoot First legislation is an invitation to reckless use of guns in the streets of our cities and towns."

To paraphrase a famous movie line: "Show me the bodies."

Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.