Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2003 12:47:48 -0700 From: Jeff Chan To: president@whitehouse.gov Subject: Please do not renew 1994 firearm bans Dear Mr. President, I urge you to reject the 1994 semi-automatic firearm and magazine bans and not renew them. These bans directly prohibit the types of firearms protected by the Second Amendment as recognized in the 1939 Miller Supreme Court Decision, since they have "some reasonable relationship to the preservation or efficiency of a well regulated militia." The bans are therefore unconstitutional. Further discussion of appropriate militia arms and who should own them appears in Justice McReynolds majority opinion in Miller: The signification attributed to the term Militia appears from the debates in the Convention, the history and legislation of Colonies and States, and the writings of approved commentators. These show plainly enough that the Militia comprised all males physically capable of acting in concert for the common defense. "A body of citizens enrolled for military discipline." And further, that ordinarily when called for service these men were expected to appear bearing arms supplied by themselves and of the kind in common use at the time. These semi-automatic firearms are also the most useful for true homeland defense, which can only be done by the people themselves. The American people must retain access to the tools of effective defense against crime, invasion and terrorism. Our government, no matter how large, cannot actually provide individual physical defense for all or even a major portion of the people or territory of the United States. Therefore, the people must remain free to protect themselves, and the firearms banned are precisely the most appropriate and useful ones for that purpose. Americans have a right and responsibility to defend themselves, their community and their nation. Our founders recognized this right and responsibility when they wrote the Bill or Rights. Please remove the unconstitutional 1994 firearms bans, and let the American people have access to the means of an effective defense. Please defend our Constitutional rights as you swore an oath to do. Sincerely, Jeff Chan http://rkba.org/