Johnston County Firearm Ordinance Working Group Meeting on Feb. 8

Dear Friends,

A battle has been brewing for the last couple of months on regulating the discharge of firearms in Johnston County utilizing zoning regulations.  The first couple of attempts at imposing the earliest (and most restrictively draconian) versions aroused substantial public interest - particularly among supporters of our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.  As a result, the Good Neighbor Firearms Ordinance Work Group was formed to involve interested citizens in coming up with an ordinance that would satisfy both sides in this contentious issue. The following announcement of the next meeting is posted on the Johnston County web site.

The Good Neighbor Firearms Ordinance Work Group will be meeting on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of discussing a proposed Johnston County firearms ordinance.  The meeting will be held in the Emergency Operations Center of the Johnston County Courthouse Law Enforcement Building located at 120 South Third Street, Smithfield, North Carolina.  Anyone attending this meeting should use the Courthouse Law Enforcement Building entrance located on Third Street. 

Please note that a final draft of the proposed firearms ordinance will be considered by the Johnston County Board of Commissioners during a public hearing to be scheduled and advertised at a later date.

I hope you will take a look at the most recent draft ordinance, and join me at the upcoming meeting to voice our interest and concerns about this issue.

Sincerely yours,

Tom Goffe

Your Help Needed: Texas Teen Challenges Federal Gun Law

Dear Friends,
For those who haven't heard, in Texas a Federal lawsuit has been filed seeking to strike down the law that requires a prospective handgun purchaser must be 21 years of age or older. The goal of the suit is to establish that the same laws that currently apply to rifle or shotgun purchase and ownership should also apply when it comes to a handgun.

The following is the text of an e-mail that I received from the NRA:

"To strengthen our case, we are in need of the following:

Young people, age 18-20 who would be willing to sign an affidavit that they would like to purchase a handgun, if it were legal.

And,

FFL dealers, who would be willing to sign an affidavit that they would like to sell a handgun to a person 18-20 years old, if it were legal.

In both cases, Texas residency is not required, although it would be a plus.

These folks would not be plaintiffs, but would be supporting witnesses."

"Please contact the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) at ILAlegal@nrahq.org or call (703)267-1661 for more information.

Thank you for your support."

Any help or assistance provided will be greatly appreciated. If you have any relatives or friends in Texas who support the 2nd Amendment, please copy and paste the information above and pass it along. I'll be adding my personal support to this as well. If they win in overturning the Federal law, it could help here in North Carolina as well.

Sincerely yours,
-TomGoffe

A New Day for Liberty in Washington

   Dear Friends,

   Last summer and fall, I exhorted you to work your will at the ballot box on election day.  For many of us who value the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, that was a pretty successful evening.  NRA endorsed candidtes won approximately 85% of the time and together we in the 2nd Congressional District managed to replace a champion of the poor, misguided anti-gun agenda with a woman new to politics who centered her candidacy on restoring liberty.  As Bob Etheridge fades into the sunset, it is a new dawn for the citizens of the 2nd District and for America.  We worked hard to elect a pro-gun candidate and I have no doubt that your efforts put Renee Ellmers in the US House of Representatives.

   Renee Ellmers was sworn in about an hour ago.In a rare example of governmental efficiency, her Congressional website is up and running.  There you can subscribe to her electronic newsletter, send her your comments and ideas and otherwise keep an eye on what she is doing to support and strengthen our liberties.

"Do you like to shoot...? ...get on the subway and go to Maryland."

     Dear Friends,

     "We're acting as judges. If we're going to decide everything on the basis of history -- by the way, what is the scope of the right to keep and bear arms? Machine guns? Torpedoes? Handguns?" he asked. "Are you a sportsman? Do you like to shoot pistols at targets? Well, get on the subway and go to Maryland. There is no problem, I don't think, for anyone who really wants to have a gun."

 

     That was United Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer last weekend in a Fox News interview. You can read the first part of the interview here and the second part here. In the quote above, he was explaining his thinking behind the dissenting opinion he wrote in response to the Heller case that the Supreme Court recently decided. The emphasis I added to the final 3 sentences tell me that Justice Breyer does not seem to inhabit the more practical world in which the rest of us live.

 

     With respect, Mr. Justice, it doesn't work that way and the American people will have none of this twisted thinking.  To begin with, prior to that decision, it was against the law for anyone in Washington, DC to own a handgun in any way.  Even if you liked to shoot pistols at targets, you could not own one if you lived in Washington, DC.  As for owning one to defend your home or family against the predators in DC - forget it. You had little choice but to call the police and hope for the best.

     Secondly, even if you broke the law by owning a handgun in DC, you would be breaking the law again by carrying one in the DC Metro.  Even if you lived in Virginia (where handguns are legal to own) and wanted to use the Metro to go shooting in Maryland (where shooting a gun is still nominally legal) you would be breaking the law by carrying it onto the Metro and be breaking the law again by carrying it in DC.

     Third, he says that "there is no problem, I don't think, for anyone who really wants to have a gun." That is certainly true as long as you do not view breaking a few gun laws as a problem.  Personally, I like avoiding things like that. I love our police, but I religiously stay out of trouble - life is easier that way.

     By way of background, I lived in New York City for five years and later worked in Washington, DC for nearly six years.  I've gotten familiar with this brand of "thinking." When I moved to North Carolina the gun laws were a breath of fresh air by comparison.  That is not to say that we don't have some legal impediments to gun ownership, though.  Obtaining the permission of my local sheriff to purchase a handgun is one. The laws pertaining to the possession of any gun during a "state of emergency" are another that trouble me greatly. There are some aspects of where one can and cannot legally carry a concealed handgun that make little, if any sense.

    So what can we do about this convoluted thinking?  Instead of letting judges like Mr. Breyer determine what is and isn't a "problem" and hoping for the best - why not just cut to the chase and remedy these faults in the law by changing the law?  Many times judges find that they are forced to decide what the law means or how it should be applied when it is not specific enough or if it conflicts with another law.  By introducing and enacting laws that will remove the strange impediments to the Right to Keep and Bear Arms that have cropped up over the years, we can strengthen our liberties.  I hope you will join me in letting our new legislature know where you stand on this important issue.

 

     Sincerely yours,

     Tom Goffe

Election is over - what is next?

     Dear Friends,
     The NC State Board of Elections is set to meet tomorrow in Raleigh and finally certify the results of the November 2 election.  As you may have noticed, the candidate that the NRA endorsed for Congress in the 2nd District as well as the slate of 2nd Amendment supporters vying for election to the NC House and Senate did really well.  Thanks to your votes and hard work, 85% of them won in their respective races.
     Now is the time to start thinking about how we can turn the election results into action to strengthen our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.  This is where your thoughts and opinions are important.  What would you like to see them do?  Is it to end the law that otherwise law-abiding citizens must obtain a permit from their local sheriff in order to purchase a handgun?  What about ending the de facto disarming of citizens by the Governor when she declares a state of emergency?  Maybe you'd like to remove the prohibition that keeps law-abiding students and citizens from concealed carry on university campuses?  Is there something else regarding enjoying the full rights we are supposed to enjoy under the provisions of the 2nd that you'd like to see enacted?
     Please add your comments or send me an e-mail and give me your thoughts.  We have a fantastic opportunity and while the political environment is right we must make the most of it.  I look forward to hearing your ideas.
     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

Come Meet A Real 2nd Amendment Hero This Thursday

     Dear Friends,
     With all of the interest and excitement swirling around this election season, it is easy to overlook other items of interest to 2nd Amendment supporters.  Many of you are no doubt familiar with the name of Bob Barr.  An NRA Board Member, former Georgia Congressman and 2008 Libertarian Presidential candidate, Rep. Barr has been one of the best known faces in the effort to fully enjoy the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.  He is visiting the Raleigh area and will be giving a luncheon talk entitled "The Future of the 2nd Amendment."  This important event will take place on Thursday, October 21 at 12:00 noon at the John Locke Foundation, 200 W Morgan St., Raleigh, NC.  Admission is $10.00 which includes lunch.  Details about the event can be found here.  I'm looking forward to attending and hearing Rep. Barr's unique insights.  I hope that others who think this is an important issue will also attend.
     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

Why Vote? Another Non-Victim, Another Reason

     Dear Friends,
     I was doing some follow-up to a posting about a store owner who saved himself and three others from two armed thugs when I came across this story.  Two armed men confronted a mother and son in Halifax County and tried to rob them on their carport.  What they didn't expect was that the son would run into the house, retrieve a gun and fire back. One suspect was wounded and the other was apprehended along with their getaway driver. Police later recovered a double barreled shotgun and a 12 guage pump believed to have been used in the crime.  One of the robbers was wounded and all three are in custody and being held on bond. Two of the men have criminal records.
    I sure hope that we will continue to enjoy the Right to Keep and Bear Arms that is illustrated in this story and in my last posting.  If we vote for candidates who support the 2nd Amendment, our rights stand a much better chance of remaining intact.
     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

Why Vote? One Store Owner Who Refused to Be a Victim is Alive Today to Tell You Why

     Dear Friends,
     This morning I read in the News & Observer about why our Right to Keep and Bear Arms are so critical. Two armed men attempted to rob a rural gas station near Micro yesterday afternoon. What they didn't count on was that the owner was armed and ready.  In a daring daylight robbery attempt, one suspect entered the store and shot it out with the owner.  Also in the store was the owner's son and two other employees. The would-be robber ran out of the store to a waiting car where his accomplice was waiting with a rifle. The thug in the car also shot at the owner, who retrieved a second handgun. Sheriff's deputies found the first robber in the car - dead. The man with the rifle fled and was later arrested and is now in jail. Neither the store owner or the other 3 law-abiding people in the store were injured.  According to the News & Observer article, "'They robbed the wrong store,' Bizzell said. 'By being armed, the store owner may have saved his own life and those of the others inside.'"
     Had this happened in Chicago or New York City where citizens are essentially prohibited from lawfully owning a handgun, the outcome would have likely been the other way around. Fortunately, we have representatives who defend our rights.  We also can be thankful that the Johnston County Sheriff's Department is on the job as an additional line of defense. This is why it is imperative that we must vote for candidates who support our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. I can think of 4 people who are glad to have them, and 2 criminals who are not.  You can find a list of NRA Endorsed candidates in my Voter's Guides that were posted last week.  Please take a look at the links on the right and exercise your right to vote.
______________________________________
     Tip of the Day:  Senator Richard Burr will be appearing at several rallies today across the 2nd Congressional District. You can see the schedule for this NRA Endorsed Candidate online. I plan on being at the Goldsboro rally at 4:30 and Zebulon later. That one is slated to run from 5:00-8:00 and organizers hope to fill the 5,000 seat stadium.
     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

Why Burr, Why Now?

     Dear Friends,
     On Sept. 14 the NRA Political Victory Fund endorsed Richard Burr's candidacy for a second term in the United States Senate.  Throughout his first term Senator Burr has been a staunch friend of the 2nd Amendment working with great dedication and effectiveness for our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. With everything else going on in our lives, it is sometimes easy to forget how much he has done for us.
   + He earned an "A" rating and endorsement from the NRA Political Victory Fund.
   + He cosponsored and voted for the DC Personal Protection Act. That would repeal their gun ban and registration statute and restore the right of self-defense for law-abiding residents of America's capital.
   + Sen. Burr signed a "friend of the court brief," that contributed to the Supreme Court decision to strike down the gun ban in America's capital and reiterating that the 2nd Amendment is an individual right in the Heller case. {Read the full story on Wikipedia.}
   + Sen. Burr signed another "friend of the court brief" in the McDonald case that led the Supreme Court to decide that the 2nd Amendment guarantees a fundamental right that protects all Americans. {Read the full story on Wikipedia.}
   + Sen. Burr cosponsored legislation to reform the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
   + Sen. Burr cosponsored National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity legislation that would extend federal protection of state Right-to-Carry licenses and permits across America.
   + Sen. Burr cosponsored and voted for the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act which prevents outlandish lawsuits designed to bankrupt the American gun industry.
   + He cosponsored and voted for the Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act which prohibits gun confiscation during states of emergency as happened after Hurricane Katrina.
   + He voted against confirming anti-gun Supreme Court nominees Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan
    
     Why now? The most compelling reason is that the pro-gun wing in the Supreme Court is a one vote majority. If another seat becomes vacant, we can assume the President will nominate yet another opponent of our 2nd Amendment liberties.  We will need Senators like Richard Burr to stand strong in defense of our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.  His record is clear and he got the NRA endorsement the old-fashioned way - he earned it.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
     Tip of the day: more about bumper stickers.  Whether you have this year's Cadillac or a 15 year old Jeep like I do, you might be skittish about putting a bumper sticker on it or are worried about how to get it off (as if anybody would ever want to do that).  One solution is to go to your local office supply store and get a magnetic sheet.  They can be found near the computer printer labels. Put the bumper sticker on that, trim it with a pair of scissors and slap it on your car. If you decide to move it - no problem. Just lift it off and move it.
     Don't forget to go to the Fayetteville Gun Show this weekend.  I'll be joined by other volunteers passing out literature, bumper stickers, buttons, yard signs and talking up our endorsed candidates.
     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

Out & About: This Weekend at the Fayetteville Gun Show

     Dear Friends,
     This weekend we will be at the Fayetteville Gun Show on Saturday and Sunday.  It will be in the Crown Coliseum at the Cumberland County Civic Center.  Show hours are Saturday (9:00-5:00) and Sunday (10:00-5:00).  If you visit the C&E Gun Shows web site you can get a coupon good for a dollar off the regular admission price of $7.00. Better yet, if you join the NRA or renew your annual membership at the show, you can get in free.  Directions to the show are available when you click on this link. We will be passing out campaign literature, bumper stickers, yard signs and talking about the importance of the upcoming election with 2nd Amendment supporters.  It will also give you a chance to join the NRA's Frontlines if you have not done so online. Bring your family and friends to this fun event and be sure to stop by our table.
     Also in the news, there was an attempted robbery at a pizza restaurant in Charlotte.  What the crooks didn't count on was that one of the employees was armed.  Read how this citizen used his rights to save his own life and that of two other employees.  Remember this when gun rights opponents tell you that regular folks don't have any need to rely on a gun for personal defense.
     New today is something I'll call the Tip of the Day. With this I hope to share some of the interesting ideas, trivia and things I've learned as the campaign to support our Right to Keep and Bear Arms progresses.
____________________________________
     Today's tip is about bumper stickers.  Did you know that a bumper sticker that costs a campaign pennies is worth up to $250.00 to them in terms of advertising impact? In other words, when you put one of their bumper stickers on your car you have just saved them $250.00 that they would have had to spend on TV, radio or newspaper advertising to achieve the same visibility to voters. For campaigns on a shoestring this is a great use of scarce donation dollars.

     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

RKBA Saves New York Family

Dear Friends,
That sounds like an unusual headline.  Having lived in the Empire State for 5 years (the infamous South Bronx, to be specific) I can attest to how rare it is.  New York City has the most restrictive and draconian gun laws in America and the rest of the state is not far behind.  To go with the loss of freedom for the law-abiding taxpayers is nearly unlimited freedom for criminals to visit mayhem upon them.  In this CBS News Story, a Long Island resident was confronted in his home by five men he believed to be members of the notorious MS-13 gang.  He told his wife to call the police and went for his AK-47 style rifle.  When they refused his request to leave, another 20 young men came running around the corner of his house.  Seriously outnumbered, he fired some warning shots into his front yard to disperse the gangsters.  Police arrived and promptly arrested the legally armed homeowner.  According to his attorney, “What he’s initially charged with – a D felony reckless endangerment — requires a depraved indifference to human life, creating a risk that someone’s going to die. Shooting into a lawn doesn’t create a risk of anybody dying.”

This incident highlights exactly why we MUST be politically active in the upcoming election on November 2.  We do not want to wake up one day and find out the hard way that some politicians have made the reasonable use of force to protect our families and our homes a felony. Vigilance is the price of freedom, and voting is the down payment.

Please join me in encouraging your family members, neighbors, co-workers and acquaintances to become knowledgeable about the candidates and to vote on election day.

Sincerely yours,

Tom Goffe
Election Volunteer Coordinator
NC 2nd Congressional District