Obama Gunning for the Second Amendment

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.

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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. HYPERLINK "mailto:SelwynDuke@optonline.net" Contact Selwyn Duke