, sponsored by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md) would help to protect persons like Mr. Himmeil by given a recourse in court if they are wronged by anti-gun and perhaps politically motivated prosecutors. Rep. Bartlett’s Bill H.R. 27, which currently has 57 co-sponsors, is bottled up in the Crime Sub-Committee, chaired by Rep. Bill McCollum (R Sl). While the Sub-Committee has held hearings on several anti-gun proposals, it has been reluctant to move forward any substantially pro gun legislation. Every year, many honest citizens find themselves in the clutches of anti-gun criminal justice system. For example, Bernard Goetz, who successfully defended himself against several youths who approached him with sharpened screwdrivers, was acquitted of all assault charges. Nevertheless, Goetz spent eight months in prison for violating a New York City handgun ordinance. H.R. 27 operates on the principle that that a citizen cannot be imprisoned for the legitimate exercise of a constitutionally protected right. It would serve as a safeguard anti-gun prosecutors and ill informed juries, as in the Goetz case. ( Citizen’s Defense Act gaining support, 1997) To me, outlawing guns is ridiculous. It is my view that everyone should be allowed to own a gun, except, in reasonable cases, those violent criminals who have proved that they are not worthy of such. I am speaking about the everyday citizen. Criminals by definition are not impacted by anti-gun laws. Whether or not they legal has no meaning to the person who would bang you over the head with a bat, or shoot you just as soon as look at you, for the ring on your finger.The large, well-funded American Civil Liberties group has taken its show on the road. Contenting that freedom is an international issue that is under assault all around the world, this group has taken on a active role in lobbying the UN and supporting foreign sister organizations. You can imagine the reaction of U.S. editorialists....
