This will seem like a strange way to open a piece of commentary, but the gun owners who voted for Barack Obama believing he respected Second Amendment rights remind me of the bumbling Inspector Clouseau. Specifically, I think of the scene from "The Return of the Pink Panther" in which Clouseau was getting a real dressing down from his superior, Chief Inspector Dreyfus. The issue was that Clouseau had naively stood by talking to a "blind" organ grinder outside a bank while the institution was being robbed. After Dreyfus pointed out that the organ grinder was the lookout for the thieves and Clouseau said that such a thing was impossible because the beggar was blind, Dreyfus asked how Clouseau knew this. Clouseau replied, "He told me so."
Quite frankly, this wasn't nearly as stupid as believing that a member of Chicago's socialist New Party, who was weaned in a black power church, was a gun caesar and not a gun seizer. And now Obama is in fact striking a blow against the Second Amendment. He isn't doing anything obvious such as advocating a ban on semi-automatic rifles, however (not yet); rather, in typical Saul Alinsky "Rules for Radicals" style, he is attacking where his adversaries least expect.
So what is the latest change you can believe in? Gordon Hutchinson reports at a blog called "The Shootist" that Obama has just disallowed the Department of Defense (DOD) from selling spent brass shell casings to manufacturers of ammunition for the civilian market. This means that these companies will now have to by new brass and produce their own shell casings, a much more expensive — and wasteful — proposition.
Obviously, this will raise the cost of ammo and, some say, reduce the supply. Not only that, this is just the first of two steps (that I'm aware of) designed to remove ammo from the hands of Americans. And a gun without ammo is like a president without virtue: Totally useless for its intended purpose. But before I discuss the second step (I'll keep you in suspense), I'll present a letter on the policy change from the DOD. It was sent to Georgia Arms, the fifth largest producer of centerfire pistol and rifle ammo in the country, and was printed at The Shootist. Here it is:
March 12, 2009
Larry
Haynie
Georgia
Arms
PO Box
238
Villa Rica, GA 30180
Re: Event 7084-6200:
Dear Larry Haynie,
Effective immediately DOD Surplus, LLC, will be implementing new requirements for mutilation of fired shell casings. The new DRMS requirement calls for DOD Surplus personnel to witness the mutilation of the property and sign the Certificate of Destruction. Mutilation of the property can be done at the DRMO, if permitted by the Government, or it may be mutilated at a site chosen by the buyer. Mutilation means that the property will be destroyed to the extent prevents its reuse or reconstruction. DOD Surplus personnel will determine when property has been sufficiently mutilated to meet the requirements of the Government.
If you do not agree with the new conditions of your spot sale, please sign the appropriate box provided below stating that you do not agree to the new terms and would like to cancel your purchase effective immediately. If you do agree to the new terms please sign in the appropriate box provided below to acknowledge your understanding and agreement with the new requirements relating to your purchase. Fax the signed document back to (480) 367-1450, emailed responses are not acceptable.
Please respond to this request no later than close of business Monday, March 16th, 2009.
Sincerely,
Government Liquidation
This DOD directive will also have dire economic consequences. Writes Hutchinson, "He [Larry Haynie] also told me with the cancellation of his
contract to purchase this brass, and the ending of his ability to
purchase any more expended military ammunition, he will have to
severely curtail his operation—laying off approximately half his
60-person work force."
To make matters worse, this valuable taxpayer-purchased brass will have to be shredded and sold for lower prices as scrap metal and will probably end up in China. Great thing to do in a listing economy, huh? But I'm sure the Reds in China "much appreciate."
Now let's get to step two. The government is also talking about requiring ammunition manufacturers to "code" ammo. This means that a code would have to be stamped on each bullet so that it could be traced back to whoever bought it if it was recovered at a crime scene (this will really help with criminals who steal ammo). This would also raise ammo's cost a bit, but that's not what is so sinister about the proposal. It also includes a provision stating that uncoded ammo — meaning, everything people own currently — would have to be disposed of by 2011.
Now, let me spell this out. The coding measure will force people to get rid of their old ammo. And with the new DOD shell-casing directive, Obama has ensured that higher prices and possibly lower supply will make it harder to buy new ammo. In other words, he's robbing people of their stockpiles while ensuring that they won't be able to replenish them.
Oh, are you wondering why some people may stockpile ammo? It's very simple: It's like insurance. If there is a disaster causing social breakdown, such as the L.A. riots, Hurricane Katrina or something worse, it will be too late to run to the store and pick up 500 rounds. The shelves will be empty. And then you'll be left defenseless against rampaging gangs, who, mind you, don't worry much about running afoul of gun laws.
But, then again, let not your heart be troubled. I'm sure Obama and his security force will be there to protect you when the time comes.
© 2009 Selwyn Duke — All Rights Reserved
Unfortunately, Mr. Duke, most of the numb-brained, hapless, helpless automatons among us are incapable of realizing the dire ramifications of these acts. There was a time, not so long ago, when Mr. Obama, his minions, and controllers would have been seen for what they are...traitors. Yet, today, treason is executed under the guise of virtue, instead of prosecuted under the guidance of our Constitution.
Your warnings are well-crafted, but they will not be heeded. Our once-great nation has collectively fallen under the spell of the democracy mongers. We no longer responsibly embrace the protection and productivity afforded by the originally established Constitutional Republic.
I appreciate your sarcasm, but my heart is terribly troubled. It is sad to be a witness to the fall of our civilization.
Posted by: T. Bruce | March 18, 2009 at 12:25 PM
I completely agree Bruce,
A few weeks back my school (Uni of Central arkansas) ran an opinion peice regarding the sale of "assault" rifles, Ya know, the ones used to assault people. The piece opined that we should ban assault rifles because they are not needed in a modern society and they hurt the economy because people only buy them beacuse they can. Families were hurt, the article continued, because irresponsible fathers were, get this, selling their possessions to line up at gun shows like kids at a candy store. Needless to say my response letter to our school paper was never printed but that is not what is most troubling to me.
Disturbed by the opinion itself I began asking all my academic peers
Posted by: Shaun | March 18, 2009 at 12:57 PM
I completely agree Bruce,
A few weeks back my school (Uni of Central arkansas) ran an opinion peice regarding the sale of "assault" rifles, Ya know, the ones used to assault people. The piece opined that we should ban assault rifles because they are not needed in a modern society and they hurt the economy because people only buy them because they can. Families were hurt, the article continued, because irresponsible fathers were, get this, selling their possessions to line up at gun shows like kids at a candy store. Needless to say my response letter to our school paper was never printed but that is not what is most troubling to me.
Disturbed by the opinion itself I began asking all my academic peers whether they believed assault rifles should be banned and what the purpose of the 2nd amendment was. I was disappointed on both questions. Even the most "conservative" kids thought AR's were pointless because the 2nd amendment was for self defense!!! So, I began expounding on the question by asking why would the country's founders, baring in mind we just overthrew a tyrannical govt, ask for the right to bare arms. To my dismay, everyone I asked rationalized their answer with either "that was a different time" or "maybe we should all own nuclear bombs then". Nobody believed that our firearms were used to safeguard against government encroachment on our freedoms and values. Nobody saw it as a preventative measure. How this youthful body will ever do anything except play into the hands of progressives I dont know. But I do agree with you Bruce, it is sad to witness the fall of our civilization.
Shaun
UCA
Posted by: Shaun | March 18, 2009 at 01:12 PM
Sorry about the mess up above. I tried to edit it but the system locked me out.
Shaun
Posted by: Shaun | March 18, 2009 at 01:13 PM
The liberals can have my guns...bullets first.
Posted by: John | March 18, 2009 at 02:42 PM
News flash 2025
Chancellor Barrack Obama today mandated a new law, banning all knives and metal kitchen utensils. The law was dubbed by, Viceroy Chancellor Michelle Obama, “Granny’s Law,” due to the increasing amount of knife point robberies on older women.
In an interview with the recently robbed Matilda Gray (65), she said: “If I still had my .45 Long Colt, the little (expletive deleted), would not have been so brave.” She went on, “I feel helpless…I am weak and tired.”
Crime Czar, Lord Rod Blagojevich, “I see a day when violence will no longer be a word we need in our vocabulary.” He also explained, “Since the recent distribution of government nutrition bars, we no longer need knives for food preparation nor spoons nor forks.” Today we are all more safe and more equal.”
Metal rights lobbyists fear the complete seizure of all metal from society.
1
Posted by: Walt | March 18, 2009 at 05:09 PM
2025? Really? Do you think it will take that long?
Nice satire there, Waltradamus.
Posted by: T. Bruce | March 18, 2009 at 07:51 PM
America, America, God shed His grace on thee.
Obama has got to go. Behind that smiley face and Colgate smile is a sinister Marxist of Machiavellian means.
Posted by: Philip France | March 21, 2009 at 05:36 PM