Colorado Mass Murder Shows Need for Unencumbered Armed Citizenry

WASHINGTON, D.C. – “The mass murder in Aurora, Colorado shows the need for allowing armed citizens to protect people from mass murderers, gun rights expert John M. Snyder said here today.   “Those who prohibit law-abiding citizens from carrying guns for self-protection ought to be penalized,” he added.

“The recent theater shootings in which a dozen people were murdered and scores injured could have been interrupted or prevented if even a single good armed citizen was in the movies at the time, but short-sighted, narrow-minded management policy prevented this,” Snyder said.

“The movie theater anti-gun policy is idiotic,” he added.   “It did not stop the crazed killer.  It did eliminate the possibility of him being stopped.  The theater management should be ashamed of itself.  Business people and politicians who adhere to similar ways of thinking should get their heads out of the sand and see the world as it really is.

“What we really need are policies that penalize politicians and managers who undermine the right and ability of law-abiding citizens to get, carry and use the guns and ammunition they need to protect the right to life itself from the madmen and criminals who burden our society.”

Snyder recalled that, “The mass murder last year in Oslo, Norway also demonstrated that decent citizens need to be able to acquire and use firearms for the defense of their lives and the lives of their loved ones.”

He said that, “When Anders Brevik murdered 77 civilians, he used an automatic firearm, according to a police reports, even though the civilian acquisition and possession of such arms are prohibited in Norway, which generally has restrictive firearms laws.”

After the reports to police of the killing rampage, it took an hour and a half for law enforcement officials to arrive at the scene.  Brevik apparently continued the killing spree until he ran out of ammunition.

“What all this tells us is that the strict Norwegian gun control laws did not prevent the mass murder,” Snyder said.  “They did make it virtually impossible for a prospective armed Norwegian legally to have the gun which he or she could have used to take down the violent criminal perpetrator anytime during the 90-minute horror.”

Other incidents indicate the same truth about citizens and guns.

On November 11, 2009, Maj. Nidal Malik Hassan allegedly killed 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas and wounded many others before being stopped heroically by local police.  Even though this occurred at a military base, service men and women were prevented from having the guns they could have used to stop Hassan because of a Clinton-era policy preventing American military personnel from being armed at bases in the United States.

On April 16, 2007, Seung-Hui Cho murdered 32 people and then himself at Virginia Polytechnic Institute.  Even though the Commonwealth of Virginia has a law allowing individuals with a state-issued permit to carry a concealed firearm, VA Tech policy prohibits professors and students from carrying guns on campus even if they have such a permit.  The policy did not stop Cho, but it did prevent anyone from being able legally to stop Cho.

In 2010, the Al-Qaeda linked Internet magazine Inspire encouraged lone wolf militant Islamist terrorists to go into restaurants in downtown Washington, D.C. during the lunch hour, and fire away at diners in the hopes of killing a number of people, including federal employees.   Washington, D.C. prohibits even law-abiding citizens from carrying firearms.  The powers-that-be there render law-abiding citizens defenseless in the face of a potential mass-murdering terrorist.

Contrast these incidents with the January 16, 2002 incident at the Appalachian Law School in Grundy, Virginia when two students with guns stopped what could have been a mass murder when they tackled a culprit after he had killed three people.

Consider, too, the October 1, 1997 incident in Pearl, Mississippi, when an assistant principal at a high school went to his car, got his gun and shot the murderer of two students.

Recall the April 24, 1998 time in Edinboro, Pennsylvania when a bystander pointed a shotgun at the murderer of a teacher when he stopped to reload.

Snyder said, “The message is clear.  Gun laws do not stop mass murder.  Citizens armed with guns do.  Guns save lives. 

“As a matter of fact, citizens with guns stop crime two and a half million times a year, according to Professor Gary Kleck, Ph.D. of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University in Tallahassee.”

“The word is getting around,” Snyder said.  “Anti-gun policies do not stop crime.  Decent citizens with guns do.  Public and private policies should reflect this.”

Obama Can Sink on Gun, Money and Religion Issues

WASHINGTON, D.C. – “Obama can lose his reelection bid if opponents target effectively his policies on religion, the economy and the right to keep and bear arms,” gun rights expert John M. Snyder said here today.

Snyder said that, “If sufficient numbers of people for whom these issues are crucial register to vote and vote against Obama in November, he will be defeated.

“The Obama record is abysmal.  Take the economy, for instance.  Despite candidate Obama’s 2008 campaign pledges, his presidency has presided over 40 consecutive months of over eight percent (8%) unemployment.  His administration’s policies of bureaucratic regulation and taxation have so encumbered the business community that it has been unable to develop the job-creating programs the United States so desperately needs.”

Snyder charged that, “On issues of conscience and freedom of religion, Obama has placed his government clearly on the bad side.  His administration has become notorious for action against the rights of conscience.  His mandate that institutions pay to insure employees for abortions and other activities inimical to the conscientious objections of the institutions has raised uproar in Catholic and other religious circles.  In fact, there is a real possibility that this Obama action alone will cause a reaction of massive civil disobedience.

“Also likely to cause massive civil disobedience is the Obama administration’s posture on the individual Second Amendment civil right to keep and bear arms.  The Second Amendment community is incensed with Obama in this regard.  Right now, the public is most aware of the House of Representatives vote to hold Obama’s attorney general in contempt of Congress.  This came after Obama invoked executive privilege in an attempt to protect the attorney general as he refused to release documents relating to the administration’s Fast and Furious gun scandal.”

Snyder noted that, “This is not the only reason the Second Amendment community is ready to throw Obama and company to the dogs.  The attorney general has indicated the Obama administration wants to reinstitute the failed ban on semiautomatic firearms.  Obama’s Supreme Court nominees have shown they do not endorse the citizen’s individual right to acquire guns for personal self-defense.

“Obama favors a proposed United Nations arms trade treaty that could undermine the American right to keep and bear arms.   ATT supporters could demand that American gun owners comply with anti-gun regulations set by an anti-gun international gun control body.  America’s 80-100 million law-abiding gun owners generally are angered deeply by Obama on the gun issue.  Americans now are buying over 10 million firearms a year.”

Snyder said, “It could hardly be clearer.  If citizens exercise their franchise in sufficient numbers, Obama will be deep-sixed for his policies on the economy, on the rights of conscience and freedom of religion, and on the right to keep and bear arms.”

Truth YES – Obama NO

WASHINGTON, D.C.  - “Truth or Obama?  That is the question now before the United States,” gun rights expert John M. Snyder said here today.

“Obama has invoked executive privilege to prevent congressional access to documents associated with the Fast and Furious scandal,” Snyder noted.  “These are materials sought by congressional investigators trying to get to the bottom of the story.

“In the government operation, Federal officials oversaw and encouraged the transfer of thousands of guns in the United States to straw purchasers.  The firearms got into the hands of Mexican drug cartels.  The gangsters then used them to commit heinous crimes, including the murder or at least one American law enforcement officer.”

Snyder said that, “Fast and Furious was a U.S. Department of Justice and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives operation.  In effect, Obama is telling Congress and the American public that, ‘You have no right to the truth,’ with his scurrying behind his executive privilege pronouncement.

“What is President Barack Obama hiding?  Who is he trying to protect?  Is it his Attorney General Eric Holder?  Holder faces a contempt of Congress vote for refusing to hand over documents to the House of Representatives.”

“Obama is bad news,” said Snyder.  “He does not want Congress or the people to know the truth about his administration.  Hopefully, voters will dump him in November.”

Obama Puts Himself at Center of Federal Gun Scandal

WASHINGTON, D.C. – “There’s no doubt about it now,” says gun rights expert John M. Snyder.  “Obama has put himself right in the middle of the Fast and Furious scandal.  His invocation of executive privilege places him at the center of the situation as he seeks reelection in November.”

Snyder said yesterday that, “Obama’s move could be a crucial factor in November.  The Fast and Furious scandal has upset the entire Second Amendment community.  It also has upset citizens who are sick and tired of government incompetence, chicanery, and deception. 

“Obama’s action in trying to protect Attorney General Holder from a congressional contempt citation really is an outrage.  It causes people to wonder what Holder and Obama are trying to cover up and who they’re trying to protect.”

“The whole Fast and Furious matter stinks to high heaven,” said Snyder.  “In that operation, Federal officials got American firearm dealers to sell guns to straw purchasers who transferred them to Mexican drug cartels, allowing thousands of guns to ‘walk’ across the border.  Gangsters used the guns in victimizing many Mexicans and Americans.  This included the murder of at least one Federal law enforcement officer.

“Congressional investigators for some time now have been trying to get to the bottom of the story.  They want documents from the Justice Department and its Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Holder’s been stonewalling Congress and now a contempt citation against him approved by a congressional committee is moving towards a vote of the full House of Representatives.”

Snyder said that, “Obama now leaves no doubt that he is part of the government stonewalling attempt.  Congress has a right to those documents.  The American people have a right to see what’s in them. 

“But the Stonewall Twins are trying to thwart the will of Congress and the American people.  And American voters will have an opportunity to thwart Obama as he seeks reelection this fall.”

Disparate Communities Line Up Against Obama, notes Gun Law Expert

WASHINGTON, D.C. – “Various American interest communities are lining up against Obama as he seeks reelection,” gun rights expert John M. Snyder notes here.

“In addition to the Second Amendment community, large and significant elements of the business, right-to-life, traditional marriage, and religious freedom communities are opposing the policies of the Obama administration,” he explains.

“The Second Amendment community is upset with the accession to the Supreme Court of Associate Justices Sotomayor and Kagan for their opposition to the means necessary for personal and individual self-defense.  Right to keep and bear arms advocates abhor Attorney General Holder’s intent to bring back and enhance the failed ban on semiautomatic firearms.  People generally feel Holder’s handling of the Fast and Furious federal gun scandal is an outrage,” he says.

“The Chamber of Commerce and other sectors of the business community think Obama’s economic policies are unreasonable ,” Snyder adds.

“In the latter part of this month and the beginning of next month, Catholic Church officials expect to be leading a fortnight commemoration of American freedom.   This is to protest Obama’s tyrannical use of government power to force religious entities to pay for practices that contradict their doctrines of conscience,” Snyder says.

Snyder said that, “we may be in for a major political upheaval.  Obama and company have managed to alienate major portions of the public, tens of millions of American citizens.

“It’s time to unite not only against Obama and his White House gang and their anti-culture, but in support of traditional American civilization.”

Gun Law Expert Hits Bloomberg Helicopter Hypocrisy

TITUSVILLE, FL – Gun rights expert John M. Snyder blasted New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg today for his “helicopter hypocrisy.”  He said Bloomy’s lack of respect for local regulations shows he does not have high regard for people, including their right to obtain the guns they need to protect themselves from violent criminals.

Snyder said that, “the helicopter controversy in New York shows that Bloomberg is quite willing to trample on the interests and rights of the people if he thinks he can get away with it.

“The helicopter controversy developed when a New Yorker filmed Bloomberg flying his vehicle from a heliport outside of approved hours and days.  After neighborhood dwellers brought the mayor’s action to public attention, Bloomberg said he would not fly his helicopter outside the approved times.”

Snyder said, “This controversy underscores the belief that Bloomberg and his ilk really do not hold the interests of the people at heart but only pretend to do so in order to curry public favor.

“The same is true of Bloomberg’s national gun control campaign.  He and his Mayors Against Illegal Guns say that want the public to be protected from violent criminals.  However, their calls for more and more gun control, if implemented, would further the disarmament of law-abiding citizens in the face of attacks by violent criminals.”

Snyder has been named the gun dean by Human Events, a conservative weekly newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the dean of gun lobbyists by The Washington Post and The New York Times, and the senior rights activist in Washington by Shotgun News.

You’d Better Register to Vote if You Oppose Obama

By John M. Snyder

The national elections this year are close.

They are just about tied, according to professional polling organizations.

What does this mean for Americans?

For Americans who wish to see Obama defeated in his bid for a second term.

It means you’d better be sure you’re registered to vote.

And that your like-minded friends and relatives are registered to vote.

If you oppose Obama because he opposes the right to life, you’d better register to vote.

Do you oppose Obama because he has the gall, the blasphemous gall, to invoke our Lord Jesus Christ in support of immoral policies?   You’d better register to vote.

If you oppose Obama because he uses state power to force religious institutions to act against a religious conscience, you’d better register to vote.

Franciscan University in Ohio already has been forced to drop student health insurance coverage.  This is in reaction to an administration mandate that such coverage pay for abortion pills.  This Democratic administration is dragging the United States into tyranny.

If you oppose Obama because he nominates anti-gun jurists to the Supreme Court, you’d better register to vote.  More justices like Sotomayor and Kagan on the high court could sink the Second Amendment.

If you oppose Obama because he appoints anti-gun officials to high government positions, you’d better register to vote.  America has had enough of officials like Attorney General Holder.  He still has not come clean on Operation Fast and Furious.  He continues to promote with Obama a ban on semiautomatic firearms.

Obama’s Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, promotes a United Nations gun control treaty which could torpedo our traditional American right to keep and bear arms.

If you oppose Obama because his fiscal policies undermine the American economy, you’d better register to vote.  Obama’s policies have not alleviated the real estate crisis.  Some observers think the real unemployment rate is 20 or 25 percent.

Do you oppose Obama because you think his foreign policies put American security at risk?  You’d better register to vote. 

If you want us to get out of the mess we’re in, you’d better register to vote.

The elections come in less than six months.  You’d better register to vote.

Obama Forcing Americans into Tough Moral Decisions

TITUSVILLE, FL – “Obama administration policies are forcing American citizens to make tough decisions on matters of conscience,” John M. Snyder said today.

Snyder is the gun dean, according to Human Events, a weekly conservative publication in Washington, D.C.

“As the Catholic bishops in the United States have indicated, Obama health insurance policies may place people in the position of having to make a Thomas More decision,” Snyder noted.

He added that, “Obama policies and personnel appointments regarding Second Amendment and other civil rights matters could require that Americans generally make a Thomas Jefferson decision.”

St. Thomas More, a chancellor of England, was martyred in 1535.  Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, penned the American Declaration of Independence in 1776.

“Ironically,” Snyder concluded, “Obama is making 2012 the year of the two Thomases, a year of decision for Americans.”

Keep Your Eye on the Ball in November Elections

 

 TITUSVILLE, FL – “We American voters should keep our eye on the ball in the national elections coming up in November,” gun rights expert John M. Snyder said here today.

“That ball is electoral triumph,” he added.  “It’s the defeat of Obama and his policies and his supporters in the Senate and House of Representatives.

“Whether you’re disgusted with the administration’s economic policies, anti-right to life programs, Fast and Furious scandals, attacks on religious freedom, medical insurance mandates, foreign policies or whatever, United States citizens can and should unite around a torch of relief from what may well be the most reprehensible presidential administration in American history.”

“It’s time to unite in targeting the nefarious government policies pursued by the current Washington gang of elitists,” Snyder stated.

Snyder has been named the gun dean by Human Events, the dean of gun lobbyists by The Washington Post and The New York Times, a champion of the right to self-defense by The Washington Times, and the senior rights activist in Washington by Shotgun News.

Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE) and John M. Snyder conferred recently in Washington, D.C.

Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE) and John M. Snyder conferred recently in Washington, D.C.