In 1789, James Madison drafted the first ten amendments to our Constitution. There were actually 12 of them, but only 10 amendments were ratified in 1791. Among them was the second amendment which stated: “A well-regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
 
Every session, someone in Congress proposes weakening the rights of gun owners. Those attempts have failed repeatedly. They have failed because taking away people’s rights is never the answer. However, we must be vigilant because those attempts have not stopped.

The latest attempt is H.R. 45, introduced by Congressman Bobby Rush of Chicago. This bill is an attempt to create a national registry for guns. This registry would not just apply to new gun purchases, but also to firearms that you already own.

I do not believe that the federal government should make a national registry of guns. Those who would use guns for illegal purposes are unlikely to register them. Therefore, a registry would only serve as a way for the government to infringe upon the rights of those who legally own firearms.
 
I believe in the Bill of Rights. Congress should not weaken any of the Amendments to the Constitution. The right to keep and bear arms is as fundamental as the right to free speech.
 
I will fight to make sure that H.R. 45 never sees the light of day. Missourians have a right to keep and bear arms.

# # #