TO:
Charlton Heston, President
National Rifle Association
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, VA 22030
877-375-4202, 800-392-8683
March 8, 2001
RE: My Second Amendment Rights
Dear Mr. Heston:
I am writing to demand that you resign your post as President of the National Rifle Association. Like most actors, you talk a good game, but like many politicians, you refuse to follow through. You are not doing your job.
You have asserted that I have a right to self-defense, that I have this right whoever the aggressor against me is, and that I have the right to use "any means necessary." How lovely of you. I am pleased to hear you admit it.
If that is the way you feel, then why, Mr. Heston, aren't you working to secure my Second Amendment rights? As you well know, Amendment II says nothing about "guns" or "rifles", but rather, about "arms". Guns are ridiculously obsolete in our modern world. With religious fundamentalists seizing power in places like Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States -- Afghanistan is rumored to have access to nuclear bomb components, and the United States and Pakistan certainly do -- how am I to protect myself and my family with a pitiful little Barrett .50 caliber M82A1? It may fire armor-piercing and incendiary ammunition, Sir, but it is no deterrent against an adversary with nukes, and certainly offers me no real protection.
I am also outraged that you are not working, right now, to see that the overly-restrictive treaties America has signed with other nations which prevent me from legally possessing chemical and biological weapons are overturned. This is a personal sovereignty issue. I never waived my right to keep any of these Arms.
And please, do not insult my intelligence with talk that my government has these weapons, and can deter or retaliate against aggressors on my behalf. What claptrap! That is no different than saying my First Amendment freedoms are protected when my government speaks for me.
As you have so wisely pointed out, Mr. Heston, my right to armed self-protection is supreme, and of more urgent importance than my right to freedom of speech or of religion. If I won't trust the government to do my talking or worshipping for me, what makes you think I would trust them to stand guard for me? I wouldn't! It has often been said, "If you want something done right, do it yourself." Well, I want this thing done right!
So, I issue an ultimatum to you today. Either put up, or shut up. Either get busy securing my right to bear Arms, ALL ARMS, or step down from your post, and allow that hallowed seat to be filled by someone who won't cave to the liberals. Either do your duty, or resign and let a leader who loves Amendment II as much as I do assume the Office of President of the NRA.
