NRA's Wayne LaPierre visits Ohio; Urges gun owners to remain vigilant

The Ashland Times-Gazette is reporting that National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre told a crowd at Ashland University last week that historic victories for gun rights occurred in 2008, but the fight for firearm freedoms must continue to preserve the Second Amendment.

Speaking at the Major Issues Lecture Series at the John M. Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs, LaPierre told listeners that despite the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to strike down a handgun ban in Washington D.C., which affirmed the individual right to keep and bear arms, there is a battle for firearms ownership in America. He said an "elite ruling class" of anti-gun politicians has "declared war on our individual rights" by trying to restrict Americans' ability to keep and bear arms.

From the story:

"Seventy-five years ago in his first inauguration as president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt said 'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,' " he said. "Today, I would argue almost the exact reverse is true. The greatest thing we have to fear in many ways is not enough Americans are afraid, because not enough realize what grave dangers are out there to our freedoms."

The Supreme Court's decision on the D.C. handgun ban was monumental, but firearms owners cannot become complacent with their liberties, LaPierre said. He said the ruling prompted the NRA to seek changes to laws that conflicted with the decision.

"Together, if we stand up for what we believe in, we'll never lose these freedoms that make our country the envy of the entire world and make the USA the greatest nation in all of mankind," LaPierre said.

The story goes on to say that LaPierre presented video testimony from residents of New Orleans who had firearms confiscated by local authorities during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. People in the video shared stories saying they were rendered defenseless against looters and other criminals after their firearms were taken.

After Katrina, the NRA successfully lobbied for federal legislation barring authorities from confiscating firearms from lawful citizens during emergencies, LaPierre said. His announcement of the law's passage received applause from those in attendance.

American gun rights also are under fire from international groups like the United Nations, LaPierre said, adding that the organization has led efforts to ban guns in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, South Africa and other countries.

LaPierre showed a taped debate from the United Nations in which Rebecca Peters, director of the International Action Network on Small Arms, called for gun restrictions in the United States. Meanwhile, during the debate, law-enforcement personnel and residents said prohibition of firearms contributed to increases in crime.

In the clip, Peters, who led the charge to tighten Australian gun regulations during the 1990s, said hunters in the United States should be relegated to single-shot rifles only. She also said she believes "American citizens should be like any other citizens in the world" and disarm.

LaPierre disagreed. He said Americans should refuse to give up their "God-given right" to own and use firearms and other countries should share those freedoms. The NRA executive vice president said the Constitution is explicit in its support of gun ownership.

"The Second Amendment says what it means and means exactly what it says," LaPierre said.

After urging firearms owners to stay vigilant while pressures mount domestically and internationally for them to disarm, Lapierre concluded his speech with a video tribute to former NRA President Charlton Heston, who passed away earlier this year.