Senator James Webb:

[John R. Fuller]

All: the following is a letter I submitted to the Editor for the Brenham Banner Press. Enjoy:

Dear Editor:
I am concerned over the lack of gun control in our nations Capitol. There must not be enough laws against firearms ownership much less bearing arms in such a place as the Senate Building. I wonder why Senator James Webb of Virginia feels he needs to maintain and carry a loaded semi auto pistol? I thought that since all of the police and security protection in Washington D.C. no one needed to keep and bear arms. Even the District of Columbia enacted a handgun ownership possession or carrying ban in 1976. I thought that these laws provided a safe place to live and work.

James Webb doesn’t apparently think that Washington D.C. is a safe place to work or live. He said that the President of the U.S. receives secret service protection while the House of Representative Congressmen and Senators do not. He also said that he had a right to defend himself and his family from attack, and even earned a State of Virginia Concealed Handgun License.

The fact is that congressmen and senators are allowed to bring side arms into the senate building and the capitol. However, they must break the Washington D.C. laws concerning possession and carrying of pistols and revolvers if they are to make it to their offices in the Senate building. Another twist to this story is that it James Webb did not know the whereabouts of his loaded pistol. I guess that he must have felt safe the day he allowed one of his aids to carry his loaded pistol in one of his bags. His aid unknowingly tried to bring this weapon into his office and ran afoul of the security checkpoint personnel while doing so.

I will never question any American citizen’s right to keep and bear arms. It is outlined in the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution in the Bill of Rights. Even if that citizen belongs to a political party that does not recognize or support that right through draconian and Unconstitutional Legislation. James Webb is justified in carrying a weapon, but he is displaying a double standard. If I carried a pistol anywhere in Washington D.C., the authorities would charge me with a felony. James Webb’s aid is now charged with a felony. Why is it that his life or his family’s life is more important than every other citizen of this country? This is elitism and is diametrically opposed to the idea of every citizen being of equal value.

There should be security at important places and events. People should prove they are really who they are. American Citizens, however, should never be barred from keeping or baring arms. That one right illustrated in our Constitution is what makes us one of the most independent thinking and living on the face of this Earth. It is very hard to trample the rights life or liberty of citizens that can and will defend themselves and their loved ones.

James Webb is not backing his aid and not taking responsibility for his personal responsibility of securing his pistol when not on his person. He is the one that I am writing about when I lament the lack of gun control. Even though we have limited opportunities to keep and bare arms, we are also responsible for the upkeep and safekeeping of our arms. I am a firm believer in personal gun control. It means that I must hit what I shoot at and to retain control over all of my arms. I keep my powder dry and so should every American. If James Webb is not capable of responsibly keeping and baring arms, then he should not be a Senator. Remember citizens James Webb belongs to the Democratic Political Party. That particular party espouses all types of restrictions on our basic civil rights when it comes to firearms and many 1st Amendment issues.

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He is a maverick, a new kid in the congress block. He has to practice what he preaches.

[Rex B]

Just because Webb was elected as a Dem doesn't make him a bad guy.
Jim Webb ran - and won - as a Democrat because the incumbent was a Republican, and Webb believed he could do a better job.
Webb has a CHL in VA, is a strong proponent of RKBA, and professes to shoot regularly.

I sure hope both he and his aide get a break. Ted Kennedy's man got a break a few years ago.

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What I found interesting during his press conference was that his phraseology was meant to minimize his connection to his aide's arrest and and his connection to the firearm. His eyes were also very telling. For those of you that have taken courses in "Interview and Interrogation" you know what I mean. I think Mr. Webb needs to be complelely honest about the entire incident. I for one would not have a problem incident. It's the deception that I find troubling.

[Rex B]

I have not seen that. Is it online somewhere?

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No handguns or firearms in Federal buildings more so in COngress , seat of legislative branch. No one is exempted unless authorized to do so .