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Show Sumsion's Tally DISARMING AMERICA! There is little public reporting about many official government positions that will have a lasting effect on public policy. Every citizen has a right to know what plans are being devised for the best interest of the public. Public expression ought to be consistent with national goals. An interpreter shouldnt be required to obtain an understanding of material presented by public servants. Uttle known is an official document of the U. S. Department of State that explains efforts for general and complete disarmament of the United States, the disbanding of all national armed forces and the prohibition of their reestablishment in any form whatsoever other than those required to preserve internal order and for contributions to a United Nations Peace Force, die publication states. Not long ago, a few years perhaps, an intense effort was made to pass legislation that would require gun owners to register their guns. All we want is a way to stop crime by requiring gun owners to register their guns, they said. They wanted to control who could own a gun suggesting that criminals, emotionally disturbed and other physically or mentally unfit would not be able to have possession of a so-call- ed As the words off the song would indicate, " Where in the worid but in America, can you sing true freedom's song' citizens of the United States have much to be thankful for. Nations of the world have jealously sought to disrupt the free enterprise system or the competitive enterprise system, as some refer to it. Other peoples have tried for about 200 years to have what Americans have. Nations that would be great who couldn't establish a system that would flourish as did America have tried socialism. Dictators of all sorts have imposed on the populous all sorts of schemes and governments and plans. Underlying America's prosperity are the fundamental principles of freedom to produce, to market, to make a profit, to fail, to choose for oneself a career. Responsibility for the continuation of the system lies in the hands of the individual citizen. As the famous Judge Learned Hand said in substance, "Liberty lies in the hearts of men and needs no court, no constitution, no government to defend it, but when it dies there, no constitution, no court, no government can save it." People since the discovery of the Americas have left other lands to travel to this land to establish a home and a family where they could breath free air and own their own property and do something for themselves they could be proud of. Today young Americans who have been raised in an environment of plenty have been unable to distinguish what the real values of life are and have left their homes in search of something, some spiritual experience, something that wilj clarify for them the meaning of life. Many of these young people tuve become a part of the drug culture, long hair, men who dress like womep and women who dress like men. They have begun living together without regard to socially and legally accepted practices. Materialism and the acceptance of everything measured by scientific methods to prove existence has caused many whose parents have lacked faith to falter and forget God and the fact that He is the source of man's true rights and freedoms. Many of the young people have hunted the world over, so to speak, only to find those who were more fortunate. The thing they sought was the thing they left. As 1972 begins to unfold its opportunities before us, 366 days for each of the great things that were acuseveryone gets equal complished in 1971. Remember the material blessings enjoyed by virtually every American. Only those who didn't thrust their sickle into the harvest failed to reap satisfaction from the bounteous harvest. People who would cause the Congress to exceed its authority and provide for their material needs, while work they can do or are willing to train for is below their dignity, can find little satisfaction living off other workers' sweat. time-remem- ber The new Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz said it well when he said in substance that it is beyond the power of Congress to provide for retirement and security of the people. He remarked that to do such means that someone has to train a nurse, a doctor, build hospitals and the like to take care of the needs of those who will not provide for themselves. And he concluded "only people who work do that!" Truly it is a great time to be alive. More marvelous things are available to mankind today than were dreamed of by any people on earth. It was never a part of God's plan that mankind should not have to face and solve problems and it is a contrary thought to think that we can turn our backs on progress and find happiness or that we will come to a time when there will be no more problems or challenges confronting the nation. What we need to accept is the reality of life, its purposes, its blessings and opportunities and put forth our mightiest efforts to leave behind for our posterity a better place to live than the place we found. Secretary of Agriculture Earl L. Butz said it this way by breaking "When you arise in the morning and "American" into "Amer-I-Can.- " each day thereafter resolve something like this: This day I will do all the good I can in as many ways as I can in as many places as I can for as many people as I can as long as I can. And when you have resolved that, you will have merited the right proudly to wear the title 'Amer-I-Can!- " Yes, where in the world can people be so blessed to have problems when most of the world suffers from associated with NDS hunger and a lack of production. over-producti- on -- gun. Immediately after a public figure is killed, if not the very next day, action to pass gun control legislation is taken. Emotionalism has, in the name of crime prevention, made gun owners appear as public criminals. At the time the Gun Control Act of 1968 became law, many prominent people expressed the view that steps had now been taken to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. In January of that same year (1968) the U. S. Supreme Court handed down a ruling that exempted from registration such illegal weapons as sawed-of- f shotguns. It was argued that to register such a weapon would be because to do so would be in violation of another law. Thus Chicagos City Council, hearing of the decision enacted a city firearms ordinance that corresponded with this decision and exempted recently convicted felons, recent mental patients and others. It is clear that when gun laws are enacted only die honest citizen will lose his rights. Now, in support of this last statement, compare proponents views with some facts. When Senator Edward Kennedy introduced his proposal to halt senseless eruption of crime and violence he said his bill will require the registration of every civilian-owne- d gun. ..require all gun owners to pass stringent qualifying procedures to legally posses a gun ... and ban the domestic output of all handheld firearms that are not designed for sporting uses. Senator Hart (Mich.) said hed vote to appropriate that tonight speaking of estimated $500,000,000 it would cost for the government to purchase all of the hand guns. He said, Possessing a handgun in the house doesnt increase your security, it diminishes it. I dont suppose it bothers Senator Hart to appropriate public money from tax collections for such a questionable cause and I suppose he doesnt have that much money of his own. According to the 1970 National Safety Council, figures reveal that public firearm fatalities in 1970 dropped by an impressive 10 percent from 1969. This reduction in accidents wasnt matched by any other public accident category. It is also noteworthy to mention that the Congressional Record of October 1, 1971 reports that of the arrested killers of policemen, 71 percent has been arrested previously and 57 percent has been convicted mostly Of crimes of violence. This means that it was already illegal for most of them to have guns under federal law and many state or local laws. Between 15 percent and 20 percent of the policemen murdered with handguns were killed with their own handguns which were snatched away from them by their assailants. This, of course, could be the consequence of the dont shoot orders given to policement in some cities. It was also reported that guns traced in connection with Black Panther shootings of police officers were acquired by theft. Now, what is the meaning of all this discussion? Not only is it important to remember that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, but a good defense is essential in most aspects of life. Most crooks require an advantage. So it is with our nation, our community or our home. Once the opposition is gone, we are at the mercy of the attacker. Unless God will come to our aid it is foolishness of the highest degree to think that the nature of humans and nations will not precipitate aggression in the absence of a good defense. In spite of the tone of this material in support of guns for defense, it is even more significant that it is the right of every citizen to so possess a gun for his personal and family defense or for sporting, shooting competition, or whatever, so long as he does not infringe on the rights of other citizens. The rights guaranteed in the U. S. Constitution must be defended and held inviolate. Lets not disarm America nor its citizens. Lets keep America strong! ng gun-contr- ol UTAH BARM BUFEAUHNEWS Published each month by the Utah Farm Bureau Federation at Salt Lake City, Utah. Editorial and Business Office, 629 East Fourth South, Slt Lake cents per year to memCity, Utah, 84102. Subscription price of twenty-fiv- e bers is included in membership fee. Second Class postage paid at Salt Lake City, Utah UTAH FARM BUREAU FEDERATION Elmo W. Homilton, Riverton Joy Child. Cleorfield S. OFFICIALS President Vice President V. Allen Olsen Executive Secretary Neil D. Sumtion Editor DIRECTORS: A. Alton Hoffman, Smithfield; William Holmes, Ogden; Jack Brown, Grantsville; Edward Boyer, Springville, Kenneth Brasher, Huntington; Jerold Johnson, Aurora; Arlond Kawkins, Hurricane; Mrs. Willis Whitbeck, Bennion, Stanley Jackson, Ogden. |