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   Looking toward our nation’s birthday on July 4th, I feel joy but also sadness as we are once more engaged in war. This war is waged against fanatical Islamic terrorists that threaten to destroy us and even other Muslims who disagree with their aims. As the nation that symbolizes freedom and opportunity to all, our country is both desired by many and hated by others.
   After increasing unrest in the 13 colonies, due to unrepresented rule, taxes from far-off Great Britain, and occupation by British troops, things began to come to a head. In 1774 the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to collectively press King George III to relent and give the colonists representation in Parliament and more self-rule. Every delegate was in danger of arrest or even death for attending this meeting. In April 1775 British troops marched on Concord, Mass., where the “shot heard round the world” heralded a real revolt against British rule.
   In May 1776 the Second Continental Congress met and tried for a year to work out differences with Great Britain. Finally, in June 1776 a committee – headed by Thomas Jefferson and with patriots like Benjamin Franklin and John Adams – met to draft the Declaration of Independence. After the draft was presented to the Congress on June 28, 1776, and amendments made, the formal vote was taken late on July 4, 1776. Nine colonies said yes, two no (Pennsylvania and South Carolina), while Delaware was undecided and New York abstained. In American history few decisions were made unanimously.
   A long and bitter war was fought – wherein the rag-tag Continental Army led by George Washington and other good leaders lost many battles, but won the essential ones – before independence was won. Few colonists had military experience and most went to battle carrying their own arms. The “right to bear arms” by citizens became a vital foundation stone on which our rights and freedom stood and endured. A new nation was born that, despite many wrongs and failures, slavery and a civil war, endured and grew great. The United States offers more opportunities and freedom than any other nation and it is due to the great Constitution, balanced form of government resting on three pillars – executive, legislative and judicial – and the abilities of the people.
   It is ironic and illustrative of the United Nations today that the “Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme to Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small and Light Weapons in all its Aspects” meets in New York June 26 – July 7, 2006, during the celebration of our anniversary as a free people.

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    Kofi Annan said in July 2005, “We must not relax our efforts to combat the scourge of illicit small arms and light weapons, which continue to kill, maim, and displace scores of thousands of innocent people every year.” He didn’t mention the fact that dictators, despotic governments, rebel leaders, terrorists, and illegal arms dealers see that weapons kill people.
   On July 9, 2001, our present ambassador to the UN, John R. Bolton, at the UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons, said, “We do not support measures that prohibit civilian possession of small arms. This is outside the mandate for this Conference set forth in UNGA Resolution 54/54V. We agree with the recommendation of the 1999 UN Panel of Governmental Experts that laws and procedures governing the possession of small arms by civilians are properly left to individual states. The United States will not join consensus on a final document that contains measures abrogating the Constitutional right to bear arms.”
   There is a constant attack upon the rights of law abiding Americans to own and possess private arms. This right has been repeatedly affirmed but individuals and groups inside America – not to mention the UN –are trying to remove these rights through pressure on the US Congress and local governments and the UN.   Forcing lawful citizens to register firearms is the crack in the door leading to future criminalizing and confiscating of personal firearms. It happened in England and Australia and is in the process in Canada. Guard against anti-gun proposals coming before the US Congress. We cannot allow the United Nations or any foreign entity to apply international laws that override our Constitution, form of government, or way of life in America. May freedom ring!