Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

The president of the VA Gun Owners Coalition (VGOC) is posting an update to the CIFTA treaty: Convention Against Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials. In case you are not aware, CIFTA will essentially be the big one for gun owners. This didn't start with Obama either. Clinton transmitted a CIFTA treaty to the senate in 1998. Obama's version is in response to the war on drugs with Mexico and controlling the supposed countless number of weapons acquired in the US for use by the drug cartels - their words - not mine.

Here's a link to the treaty:

http://www.state.gov/p/wha/rls/49907.htm

Gun Owners of America (GOA) has prepared a background paper with their analysis of CIFTA. If you are a gun owner, reload your own ammo, and think CIFTA is a good idea, please read this. I promise you will change your mind. Here's that link:

http://gunowners.org/fs0901.htm

I haven't been able to find any activity in the senate on this. Remember that treaties do not have to go through the house - only the senate. Franken was seated this week as the 60th democratic senator. This places "them" in control and CIFTA may soon be on the senate's calendar. We need to get ready now to flood our VA senators with calls, e-mails, and faxes stating our position against CIFTA.

Here's the message from VGOC:
----------------------------
In my last email I suggested that President Obama will seek revenge on gun rights by trying to outmaneurver gun owners using three possible strategies:

> He will use the bureaucratic regulatory process, which is how we got the National Park Gun Ban to begin with, or

> He will will hide gun control in larger bills dealing with other issues like health care, or

> He will use international treaties.

In this email, I will focus on the danger from the CIFTA teaty.

Lou Dobbs at CNN recently explained how Obama, under the guise of an international treaty, plans to enact gun control.

Click the link below my name at the bottom of this email to watch Lou Dobbs explain the CIFTA treaty.

This strategy is especially effective for Obama because a treaty does not need the approval of the house. He only needs the approval of the U.S. Senate.

With Republican Senator Lugar leading the charge to pass the nasty CIFTA Treaty, Obama just might succeed.

I said in an earlier email our role in Virginia is to make senators Webb and Warner own all gun control. They need to either filibuster gun control or own it.

Recently, VGOC members sent Filibuster Gun Control Petitions to Senator Webb and he got the message.

Our next step is to bury Senator Warner's desk in filibuster petitions.

Stopping a bad treaty by the power of a one-man senate filibuster continues to be one of our best tools for stopping President Obama’s dangerous gun-control agenda.

Please send VGOC a generous donation to help us keep our doors open during the long summer months as we launch a campaign to start putting Filibuster Gun Control Petitions on Senator Warner's Desk.

We now have Senator Webb's attention and it is time to turn our focus on Senator Warner.

You can donate at http://www.vgoc.org

For Liberty ,
Mike McHugh
President, Virginia Gun Owners Coalition

Click the Lou Dobbs Link

http://narrolibertas.vodspot.tv/watch/2 ... s-on-cifta

This is one that EVERYONE has to get involved in,, This treaty could make our 2nd amendment null and void ,,, If you want to keep your gun rights Do Not sit on your hands ,,, Send it , Call it in ,Fax it whatever you have to do ..this is one of the big ones we have to defeat!!!

I sent my 2 cents... I am going to donate what I can too. Not going to be much tough times and all but I figure anything will help.

VBshooter wrote:This treaty could make our 2nd amendment null and void...

And as such, will be unconstitutional.... So who's going to take the stand and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, both foreign and domestic? It's simply incomprehensible... we should be posting about our recent trips to the range, not this $#!+.... I've already sent the obligatory email (which seems to do nothing) and will make the phone call urging Warner to vote against this.... Ok, back to packing the new bug out bag.....I guess it wouldn't hurt to include some pesos in this one, huh....

CCFan wrote:And as such, will be unconstitutional.... So who's going to take the stand and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, both foreign and domestic?

I am already bound by that oath and I do take it seriously. I'm on the stand and believe me - it's not a very comfortable position. It is indeed quite a tautology when I have raised my right hand and swore "so help me God" to that oath and am now faced with these issues.

I'm glad you're on the same side! It's really just unbelievable that this treaty would even be revisited. I understand about it not being a comfortable position - I think a lot of folks feel that way.... (I wasn't aiming my question anyone - just thinking out loud, mainly...) I guess I'm just praying for the best and preparing for the worst.

CCFan wrote:I'm glad you're on the same side! It's really just unbelievable that this treaty would even be revisited. I understand about it not being a comfortable position - I think a lot of folks feel that way.... (I wasn't aiming my question anyone - just thinking out loud, mainly...) I guess I'm just praying for the best and preparing for the worst.

IMO there is only one side to be on and we should not just prepare for the worst. I say that because it leaves the impression that we will wait until it is too late and be prepared for whatever that brings. I don't want to do that. I want to help get us organized and exhaust all possible alternatives before that happens. Having said that, I agree that we should all pray for the best and plan for the worst. Here's my plan:

1. Identify all these issues and bring them to the attention of the forum.
2. Present a draft letter folks can send to our elected legislators (I still need to do that for this one).
3. Ask everyone to send a letter (mine, theirs, combination, etc) to congressmen, senators, governor, etc as the case may be.
4. Ask their family and friends to do the same.
5. Call, fax, e-mail, visit (we can do that too) legislators to get our message across.
6. Educate people about our Constitution, what it means, and what it stands for.
7. Ask our folks to be on the look out for issues that we need to address. IMO this includes anything that assaults our Constitution - not just 2A issues. This is important. Our legislators continually pass laws that are unconstitutional. Only a matter of time until they get around to the 2nd Amendment. If we wait for that to act it may/will be too late.
8. Target upcoming elections, decide which candidates to support and go to work. Volunteer at the local HQ, make calls, knock on doors, pass out flyers, help get people registered, drive folks to the polls, etc.
9. Participate in TEA party rallies and other marches.
10. Develop an emergency plan: what you need to have on hand, where to go, what to do, who to trust, etc in case TSHTF.
11. Last, but not least - get everybody we can organized and moving in the same direction. Gun owners and those that love/respect our Constitution in VA are many, especially if we include family, friends, and co-workers. If we speak loudly enough with one voice they cannot ignore us.

Ok fellow gun owners, here is a draft letter for our senators regarding the CIFTA Treaty. It's long winded and if you can make it shorter please do so. Feel free to use all, part, or none. Whatever you do, please get ready to send or do so immediately to both Senators. I recommend you send e-mail, fax, and call them - repeatedly. You'll find contact information on their web sites - links are in the upper left hand corner of this page below the VGOF T-shirts. Look under Political Action Contact. I've attached a Word document (at the end of this post) and text below. Please feel free to use your own version, but please post it here so we can all benefit.

-------------------------------------------

The Honorable xxxxxxxxxx
United States Senate
xxxxx Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Fax: xxx-xxx-xxxx


Dear Senator xxxxxxxx:

I urge you to carefully consider your vote on the upcoming Inter-American Convention Against Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms (CIFTA) treaty. Americans have been informed by our government and the media that 90% of firearms used by the Mexican drug cartels originate in the United States. The inference is that these illegal weapons come from gun stores and gun owners here in America. We know that this is simply not the case. The weapons used by the Mexican drug cartels are military grade weapons (fully automatic weapons, rocket launchers, grenades, etc) and cannot be legally purchased at any gun store in the United States or owned by private citizens. Since the Firearms Owners' Protection Act of 19 May 1986, ownership of newly manufactured automatic weapons has been prohibited to civilians. Furthermore, Bureau of Justice Statistics reveal that automatic weapons manufactured prior to 1986 comprise about .001% of the guns owned by American citizens. It is simply ridiculous to believe that weapons used by Mexican drug cartels originate from American gun stores and/or private citizens. Due to the vast sums of money at their disposal, there is little doubt that Mexican drug cartels acquire military grade weapons from illegal arms dealers in foreign countries other than the United States.

Our right to bear arms was granted by the Founders of this great nation and is a heritage passed from generation to generation. On 30 June 2009, a Rasmussen poll reported that 75% of Americans believe the Constitution guarantees us the right to bear arms. The 2nd Amendment is indeed our right to bear arms and it explicitly states that this right shall not be infringed. The CIFTA Treaty will be a major step towards complete federal regulation, control, registration, and ultimately the confiscation of our arms. I urge you to carefully consider your vote and exercise deliberation, honor, and respect for our Constitutional rights.

VOTE NO
on
Inter-American Convention Against Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms (CIFTA)
and please solicit your fellow Senators to do the same.

Sincerely,

Xxxxx xxxxxxx
xxxxxxx, Virginia

I am simply astounded that there seems to be very little interest in the CIFTA treaty. Cap and Trade I understand, but this one

I would say that because it's not out there in the public domain it is less likely to be an item of interest,If it wasn't for forums like these and Gun Rights Groups like the NRA, VSSA, VCDL, etc; many people wouldn't even know about them... THis is stuff that needs to be taken seriuosly, Much like when I posted about Harold Koh at the State department, it seemed to barely get a look,, Trust me that anti gun lawyer will be behind many of these treaty attempts to end you right to bear arms, IMHO if we are apathetic to any of the attempts to ban or restrict arms it will open the door to many more,,Remaining vigilant is essential to us winning these fights with an administration bound and determined to take your guns and gun rights no matter what the Constitution says,.It is a document of inconvenience to them that's all. Obama and his cronies haven't even begun to fight us yet. They're gettting their key people in the places they need to be and I would bet that as soon as the smoke clears from the current agnenda and there is some breathing room , they will come at us with everything they have ,,

VBshooter wrote:I would say that because it's not out there in the public domain it is less likely to be an item of interest,If it wasn't for forums like these and Gun Rights Groups like the NRA, VSSA, VCDL, etc; many people wouldn't even know about them... THis is stuff that needs to be taken seriuosly, Much like when I posted about Harold Koh at the State department, it seemed to barely get a look,,

I agree. And I'm talking about the interest (or lack thereof) from people here on the forum. It seems to me that there are maybe 15 of us that are active on these issues. More of us need to get busy or we may soon need not worry anymore - cuz they'll take our guns!!!!!