Holt Act another attempt to control guns

It was Christmas morning. I was 12 years old. Like any boy, I was excited about my Christmas gifts; however, I did not expect anything special. The gifts I got, I always liked…

Then I saw it. It was long — about 3 feet — and skinny.

No way. No! Way!

It was a Ruger .22 caliber.

I ripped off the wrapping paper, barely able to believe my eyes. I forget the next few minutes, but the home video shows a little boy yelling, screaming, squealing with excitement.

All I remember was that first moment — opening the gift and seeing the gun. It was pure bliss.

Fast forward to today. Under proposed legislation by Rep. Bobby Rush, 12-year-old Darin would be a criminal. That’s right, I’d be a felon. And so would my parents.

The bill, Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009, would require every gun owner in the U.S. to get a gun license, and be part of a national database.

Now hold on, you might be saying. I’m certain that the law would allow parents to give guns to children who don’t have a license.

Nope.

Under the Blair Holt Act you would be a felon just for giving a gun to another person who does not hold a gun license. In other words, forget that 9mm birthday gift to your 15-year-old son; or that 30.06 for your teenage daughter.

You’ve gotta wait until Uncle Sam says they’re good and ready.

If you don’t…

You: “So… why are you guys here.”

Bob: “I robbed two banks.”

Chuck: “I hit my wife.

Bubba: “I stabbed my neighbor… What’d you do?”

You: “Um… I gave a gift to my son.”

Bubba: “Must’ve been a bad gift, man. Real bad.”

You: “Well, um… it was BB gun.”

Bubba: “You thug.”

It sounds silly, but, Congress is deadly serious. The first version of this bill has already passed a House committee. And don’t think for a moment that Ms. Pelosi won’t try to push this through.

Now, lets compare Rep. Rush’s Act, with that of another law — from China: “Whoever, in violation of firearm-control regulations, secretly keeps firearms or ammunition and refuses to relinquish them shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than two years of criminal detention.”

Kinda cozy, isn’t it?

Compare Rush’s Act to the words of James Madison, author of a great deal of the U.S. Constitution. Madison stated that “Americans (have) the right and advantage of being armed — unlike citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.”

Now, gun control advocates will whisper soothing tones. “Don’t worry,” they’ll say. “We’re not trying to take away your right to have guns. We’re just trying to keep guns away from the criminals.”

Uh huh… So, this is the last gun restriction law that will ever be passed? No more restriction from here on out?

Right. There is an agenda — not to impose a military dictatorship on the United States — but to use this law as a catalyst toward tougher gun standards. In the end, our guns laws will reflect that of Europe and other “Western” nations.

Here are a few. In Germany, a person applying for a gun license must be over 18 years old. In Canada and Australia, handguns are banned. In Italy, gun licenses must be renewed each year, and no person may own more than three guns. In North Korea and China — no individual guns at all.

Folks, I’m not a machine-gun-totin’ type of guy. I’m not in the NRA and the only gun that I own is still that little Ruger .22.

But I do believe in the United States Constitution. We must not fall prey to the idea that we can apply a “living” standard to the Constitution, making it evolve to fit our personal feelings.

If James Madison — author of much of the constitution — stated that individuals have a right to bear arms, then we, the people, have that right. End of story.

Call your Congressmen today, and tell them to oppose the Blair Holt Act; an act that whispers peace, while slowly stealing freedom.

Darin Markwardt is a resident of Wasilla.