The NRA thinks the Right to Bear Arms is more important than safety.

Just weeks before the fatal shooting of eight people at the Omaha Mall on December 6th the National Rifle Association sent out this news release:

"Friday, August 24, 2007

"On Tuesday, August 28 the Omaha City Council will consider a proposed ordinance aimed at reducing crime in the city. Part of the proposal calls for the destruction of any firearm used in a crime. This proposal will destroy the property of law-abiding gun owners who have already been victimized by having their firearm stolen from them.

"Councilman Chuck Sigerson, Jr. is proposing an amendment that would allow a legally-owned firearm that has been stolen and used in a crime to be returned to the rightful owner, as long as it was reported stolen to police.

"Please attend the City Council meeting and protect our Second Amendment and private property rights. Tuesday, August 28, 2:00pm, 1819 Farnam St., Suite LC-1, Omaha, NE 68183.

"If you are unable to attend the meeting, please contact the members of the City Council and respectfully urge them to support Councilman Sigerson's amendment to protect firearms stolen from law-abiding citizens from being destroyed…"

Copyright 2007, National Rifle Association of America, Institute for Legislative Action. This may be reproduced.

If Councilman Sigerson and the NRA have their way, the very rifle that was used in the eight murders could be returned to its owner. What is even more amazing is that President Bush was in Omaha for a fund-raiser just an hour before the shootings. Hopefully the Secret Service will consider getting involved in the investigation to determine what, if anything could have been done to protect the President in this near threatening situation.

On February 7th the NRA posted a story about Utah State Senate Bill 251 which proposed to allow Utah colleges to ban guns in faculty offices and permits students living in the Residence Halls to decide if they want to live with concealed weapons permit holders. Days later an 18-year-old trench coat-clad gunman killed 5 people and wounded 4 at the Trolley Square shopping mall before being fatally shot by police. "He calmly fired a shotgun at his victims and had a handgun," authorities and witnesses said.

As a result of April 20, 1999, when two seniors at Columbine High School killed 12 students and a teacher, as well as wounding 23 others, Colorado inacted Project Exile. That program, advertised on billboards and bus benches, promises hard time for violating gun laws. On December 8, 2003, NRA's Institute for Legislative Action told its readers that 172 Colorado defendants were charged in fiscal 2003 with federal firearms violations. Some of the top sentences during that time period are listed below by last name, year, case number, offense and sentence:

HIGHTOWER 02 CR 040 Drug trafficking; felon in possession 26 yrs., 7 mths.; RAMBO 03 CR 014 Use of firearm during violent crime 25 yrs.; HERRON 03 CR 161 Armed career criminal 19 yrs. 7 mths.; TAYLOR 03 CR 288 Armed career criminal 19 yrs, 7 mths; MARTIN 03 CR 252 Armed career criminal 19 yrs., 7 mths.; LEDFORD 03 CR 429 Armed career criminal 16 yrs., 8 mths.; GREER 02 CR 184 Armed bank robbery 15 yrs., 8 mths.; DOOLEY 02 CR 324 Armed career criminal 15 yrs., 8 mths.; ELEAZER 02 CR 076 Drug trafficking; felon in possession 14 yrs., 7 mths.; PADILLA 03 CR 151 Drug trafficking; felon in possession 13 yrs., 3 mths.; NUNEZ 02 CR 518 Use of firearm during violent crime 12 yrs., 6 mths.; STEVENS 02 CR 148 Drug trafficking; use of firearm 11 yrs., 5 mths.; CHAVEZ 02 CR 571 Armed bank robbery 11 yrs.; GARCIA 02 CR 265 Drug trafficking; use of firearm 10 yrs.; 10 mths.; RAMOS-SANCHEZ 02 CR 105 Drug trafficking; use of firearm 10 yrs., SINGLEVICH 02 CR 477 Drug trafficking; use of firearm 10 yrs.; and last, but not least, PARKS 03 CR 490 Felon in possession 10 yrs.

On January 20, 2004, the same NRA legislative arm urged its readers to call their Representatives to ensure that law-abiding gun owners and dealers could conduct business without inadvertently violating the law. HB 1012 clarified legal language contained in Amendment 22, the gun law passed by Colorado voters in 1999.

NRA get off your soapbox and don't mislead, dupe or lie to the public with your deceptions and half-truths. Stick with what you know best, gun safety, and instruction.

K.