SAF, CCRKBA, JPFO: “Bill of Rights Still Includes Second Amendment”
As the nation prepares to celebrate National Bill of Rights Day on Saturday, it is important to remember that all of the rights enshrined in the first ten amendments to the Constitution are equal, and deserve the same zealous protection as all the others, the Second Amendment Foundation, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership said today.
“Despite the efforts of lobbying groups and some politicians,” noted SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb, “the Second Amendment has retained its position as the cornerstone of our Bill of Rights. The individual citizen’s right to keep and bear arms protects all of the other rights, including free speech and press, the right to legal counsel, the presumption of innocence, and to be secure in our persons, homes and papers against unreasonable search and seizure.
Gottlieb, who is also CCRKBA chairman, noted that these two organizations have steadfastly defended other rights, and will continue doing so “because the Bill of Rights is only as strong as its weakest link.” JPFO is a non-profit educational organization that defends human rights.
“Our mission is that of any citizen who values the liberty and freedom our nation symbolizes above all other nations of the world,” he stated. “Our Bill of Rights is the envy of every other citizen of every other country. Our Bill of Rights is the foundation upon which our nation continues to stand as the land of opportunity. It’s why so many want to come here, and why so few ever want to leave.
“Since it was ratified in 1789,” Gottlieb continued, “our Bill of Rights has weathered many a storm, not the least of which has been the almost unceasing effort to erode the protections provided by the Second Amendment. We must defend the Second as vigorously as we have defended all of our other individual rights.
“The Bill of Rights doesn’t give anything to anyone,” he observed. “It doesn’t grant rights, but it does guarantee them. Our Bill of Rights has the much tougher job of protecting our natural and fundamental rights from infringement or abridgment. Those wise old Founders understood this when they delineated our rights within the first ten amendments of the Constitution. Bill of Rights Day serves as a reminder that what we have is worth protecting.”
SAF Announces Merger Of Jews For The Preservation Of Firearms Ownership
The Second Amendment Foundation today announced that Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership (JPFO) has become part of the SAF family, bringing together two stalwart gun rights organizations under one banner.
“We’re both delighted and proud to announce this merger,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “JPFO was founded 25 years ago by the late Aaron Zelman, and it has become a strong voice in defense of the Second Amendment. I’m personally confident that bringing JPFO into the SAF extended family will benefit firearms owners at many levels.”
Zelman passed away in 2010, and for the past four years, the JPFO has worked hard to maintain its position in the gun rights community.
“We see this as a tremendous opportunity,” said Gottlieb. “With SAF’s resources, we expect JPFO to continue its important work and grow to meet new challenges, educating people about the pitfalls of gun control, and the benefits of gun ownership and personal protection.”
Gottlieb said JPFO operations will be transferred from Wisconsin, where it was founded by Zelman in 1989, to the SAF offices at Liberty Park in Bellevue, Wash. JPFO editorial support staff will stay on and help maintain Continue reading
JPFO Joins Second Amendment Foundation
Open Letter Details Merger Between the Two Pro-Gun Organizations
Dear JPFO Members and Supporters,
Even before the passing of founder, Aaron Zelman, there was serious doubt as to whether or not JPFO could survive. For years Aaron struggled heroically with chronic health problems.
The results were rapidly expanding problems in administrative, database and member support and new product operations, along with no systematic fundraising program — to name just a few. Aaron delegated painfully little… But considering it all, what he accomplished goes well beyond the heroic to near miracles.
The regular staff was reduced to a devoted office manager of some 15-years, LaVonne, an equally devoted webmaster, Chris and Aaron’s two Board members, Bruce and Bob serving with him since the mid-1990s. The effort to rebuild JPFO began in earnest, facing the ominous headwinds of a diminished database and largely empty coffers.
After some months, Charles Heller stepped-in to provide Executive Director services; including media contacts.
One bright spot was the wise counsel of the JPFO advisor on spiritual matters, Rabbi Dovid Bendory, known affectionately as the “Gun Rabbi.” Continue reading
Looking for National Gun Rights Organizations? You Have Options.
A while back, a member of the GunLink Forums posted a message asking about pro-gun organizations that might not be quite as well known as others. There are a number of national gun rights organizations which, for various reasons, some gun owners feel contempt for. Whether it is because they feel that these organizations have made too many compromises with anti-gun politicians, don’t get enough done, send too much junk mail, ask for too much money or for other reasons, these gun owners are left with a bad taste in their mouth and a feeling that they don’t have anyone on their side who can get anything done for gun rights.
There is hope, however. There are numerous national organizations fighting for our second amendment rights and many, many smaller regional or local organizations fighting on a grassroots level. No matter what your personal feelings are about a particular organization, there is almost certainly one out there with which you can align yourself. Throwing your hands up in frustration and walking away from the fight is exactly what anti-gunners want you to do and it will allow our rights to be trampled on even more than they already have been.
Take a look at these national gun rights organizations and see what they have to offer: Continue reading
