You want my Guns? Come and get 'em!

A few months ago, California passed a law requiring the owners of certain semi-automatic rifles to register those guns with the state. They were assured this was not a first step toward outlawing the guns. Guess what? The state lied. Shortly after thousands of honest gun owners complied with the new law they were notified that their rifles were now illegal. The state ordered the gun owners to turn in their guns and even offered to pay for the rifles. A few turned them in. Most refuse to comply. Of the more than 15,000 illegal rifles that are estimated to exist in the state, less than 5% have been turned in. 453, to be exact.

The Washington Times reports, "Thousands of California gun owners are refusing to turn in illegal assault rifles, even though the state is offering to pay more to buy the guns than owners originally paid for them."

Overnight, thousands of hard working, law-abiding, God-fearing citizens were made criminals simply due to the type firearm they own. "I'm not going to turn in my gun just because some jerk in government tells me to, and I don't care how much they'll pay me for it," one man is reported to have said. "Let's see them come out and take it away from me." That raises a good point. Will the state of California try? How many policemen are willing to risk their lives trying to take guns from thousands of freedom loving people?

Not only are California residents refusing to turn in their weapons, they are buying guns like there is no tomorrow. The Times reports, "Gun lovers are on a sustained buying binge - apparently spurred by the fact that a spate of new state gun-control laws will become effective Jan. 1." One thing history revisionists conveniently leave out of the story of America's fight for independence is the event that prompted that "shot heard 'round the world." What precipitated the battles at Lexington and Concord? The Revolutionary War began when the Crown sent troops to confiscate the Colonists' weapons. Until then, the debate had been mostly peaceful and diplomatic. Gun confiscation triggered America's War for Independence. Why? There are some things free people cannot and must not surrender. Firearms are on top of that list.

Unlike people in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain, Americans will never surrender their guns! If you want 'em, you'll have to come and get 'em.

(selected editorial)