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Oklahoma
State Rep. Mike Shelton's attitude about the rights of private citizens
in an emergency reflects a mentality that might better serve a police
state than one of the United States, the Citizens Committee for
the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) said today.
Shelton, a Democrat, was quoted by KOCO News in
Oklahoma City this week arguing against legislation that would make
it illegal for authorities to confiscate privately-owned firearms
during emergency situations, as happened in New Orleans last year.
The Second Amendment Foundation and National Rifle Association sued
in federal court to stop that gun grab.
Said Shelton: "During states of emergency,
I think police need total control. They don't need to worry who
has guns and who doesn't. If the governor calls for Oklahomans to
relinquish their guns, the public needs to do so."
"Shelton's attitude is outrageous, especially
for someone who holds public office and is supposed to serve the
people, not violate their civil rights," said CCRKBA Chairman
Alan Gottlieb. "In an emergency, the police really shouldn't
worry who has guns or who doesn't, but only because it should be
the least of their concerns. Armed citizens, as has been proven
in many cases, are often times the only semblance of neighborhood
and personal security.
"How dare Shelton suggest that law-abiding
citizens blindly give up their only means of personal defense at
the whim of a governor, or anyone else," he added. "Unfortunately,
Shelton's attitude reflects that of far too many Democrats, whose
party leaders still seem far more interested in locking up people's
guns than they are in locking up criminals.
"Rep. Shelton is not only in favor of disarming
law-abiding citizens, using a natural disaster as an excuse to take
their firearms," Gottlieb noted, "he's also opposed to
legislation that protects citizens who stand their ground against
criminal attack. His philosophy seems to be one of surrender and
submission, leaving me to wonder just whose side he is on."
Copyright © 2006 Citizens Committee for the
Right to Keep and Bear Arms, All Rights Reserved.
Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms www.ccrkba.org
James Madison Building
12500 N.E. Tenth Place
Bellevue, WA 98005
Toll Free: 800-426-4302
Email: InformationRequest@ccrkba.org
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