And so it Begins.....Again

By Gerard Valentino

Karen Smith is one of America's heroes for gun rights, and I bet nobody
remembers her, or what she did. Gun owners and gun rights advocates
aren't going to get off that easy. I'm not going to disclose her story
in this article as a way of making each and every reader more cognizant
of the information available through a little research on the Internet,
or at the local library. In this case, simply watching the news and having a good memory will
easily give it away.

Karen Smith's place in the lexicon of the gun rights world was thrust
upon her, she had no choice in that matter. Yet, when it came down to
making the right decision, at the right time, she proved what gun rights
advocates have claimed for years -- that law abiding citizens will do
the right thing.

Even though it was her first experience with a gun, Karen Smith is the
reason groups like The National Rifle Association and Buckeye Firearms
Associations exist.
It is also the reason that politicians who defend the Second Amendment
should be rewarded for showing how deeply they care about honoring
freedom and the safety of all Americans. They do so despite the flak
from false-dogooders willing to blame a gun for all of society's ill,
and open hostility from the establishment media.

Click on 'Read More' for the entire commentary.

Conversely, liberal Republicans like Ohio Governor Bob Taft, who have
done everything possible to keep viable gun laws from becoming a reality
are a true threat to gun rights. He poisoned Ohio's original concealed
carry bill with provisions specifically created to make law-abiding
citizens into felons, and then vetoed the reform bill that would protect
gun owners.

Other notable anti-gun Republicans, Senator John McCain and Rudolph
Giuliani now are poised to stand in the way of freedom, and a
fundamental tenet of the Bill of Rights, if they win the presidency in
2008. Based on their past history with gun legislation, if either had
their way Karen Smith wouldn't be a hero, she would be a corpse.
In Many states like Ohio, in 2006 gun owners had a lot to be thankful
for -- Bob Taft's term as governor is finally ending, we elected a
decidedly pro-gun governor and legislature, plus a bill ending anti-gun
local ordinances became law when Bob Taft's ridiculous veto was overturned.
That isn't true everywhere, however, citizens of San Francisco are still
disarmed by draconian anti-gun laws, and citizens of Washington D.C.,
who are in desperate need of protection, are still not allowed to own
handguns.

Of a more serious note to most Americans, Nancy Pelosi will become the
next Speaker of the House. Her choice to consistently vote and support
anti-gun legislation means the golden era for gun rights proponents may
be over. Pelosi's record, no doubt, leaves the likes of Sarah Brady, and
her one woman anti-gun organization, licking her chops.
It is without a doubt the political break that Brady has been waiting
for to re-energize the small minority of Americans that want to blame
guns, instead of the shooter, for crimes committed with firearms. The
days of enjoying the political tranquility on the gun issue are clearly
over, and pro-gun activists better get that through their heads - in a
hurry.

Ohio is a perfect example where a recent legislative victory could mean
nothing if a Democrat majority in Congress decides to take another bite
of the poisoned anti-gun apple. Another federal assault ban would undo
the hard work of Senate President Bill Harris and Speaker of the Ohio
House Jon Husted, among others too numerous to name, to override Taft's
veto of statewide gun law preemption legislation.
That one law, rendered invalid an assault weapon ban in Columbus, bans
on inexpensive guns in Toledo, which deny poor Ohioans a means of
self-defense, and magazine capacity limits in Cincinnati and by some
count over 80 other local anti-gun laws.

If Sarah Brady and her new found champion Nancy Pelosi have their way,
new federal laws will undo all the pro-gun victories over the last 10
years.
Don't think for a moment the Democrats have lost their will to disarm
Americans. They have, in fact, taken their victory in the 2006 mid-term
as a mandate against many of the policies furthered by the Republican
majority, and gun-control is on that list.
However, if ever there was an argument against everything the anti-gun
Democrats will try to do to take away our gun rights it is Karen Smith,
and her heroism under duress. Whenever anyone asks why guns should be
legal for law abiding citizens, just tell them to look up Karen's story.

Gerard Valentino is the Buckeye Firearms Association Central Ohio
Chair.