Constant Vigilance and Concerted Effort Save Second Amendment from Sneak Attack

Recently, the Department of Defense began prohibiting the military’s recycling of expended brass shells for reloading. This policy, though not a direct infraction on the Second Amendment, will have the effect of infringing the rights of individuals to keep and bear arms by restricting the supply of ammunition, thereby forcing prices upward, forcing companies out of business, and forcing employees out onto the streets. Blog posts by author Gordon Hutchinson at The Shootist reported earlier this week.

You can expect this to affect every bullet you purchase in the future–with no reloaded ammunition available, the already strained new manufacturers will be unable to meet demand. They are already turning out everything they can build for the military market. The civilian market is stressed to the point even reloading components have become hard to find.

Constitutionally, he explained:

It is an end-run around Congress. They don’t need to try to ban guns–they don’t need to fight a massive battle to attempt gun registration, or limit “assault” weapon sales.

Nope. All they have to do is limit the amount of ammunition available to the civilian market, and when bullets dry up, guns will be useless.

No doubt, this DOD directive has been inspired by, if not outright commanded by, the new Obama administration. This sneaky tactic is only the first in an anticipated barage against the Second Amendment. As a FreeCapitalist, I advocate for capitalism not as a practical issue, not as an economic issue, but with the most righteous pride as a moral issue. This attempt by the Obama administration is morally reprehensible, not only in its deceptive nature but also by the consequences it will render, whether intended or accidental. Gun rights activists everywhere are calling for a general and massive blitz on members of congress and other officials to help put a stop to this potentially destructive directive.

Fortunately, the response has already been enormous. Hutchinson reported today,

An electronic impulse that may have mirrored a sunspot hit Washington, DC as gun people everywhere called and e-mailed their congressonal delegations.

…

The shooters responded–in droves. E-mails were sent. Letters were written that will probably continue arriving for days, and outrage was expressed.

…

Not only did the gun folks contact their congressmen, they contacted DOD too…even to verify the action had been taken, and Government Liquidators, LLC, the corporation that auctions government surplus, had been told to cease the auctions of whole expended brass.

Something worked.

The response generated a fortunate dodge of the first attack on the Second Amendment. With constant vigilance and concerted effort, we can keep our rights.