Dons testimony to the state opposing SB347

Annola DeJong 
Judiciary Office Coordinator 
503-986-1512 
annola.dejong@state.or.us



Ms. DeJong works as the judiciary officer for the state of Oregon



Dear Ms. DeJong:

Please see that the following testimony is provided to the Senate Judiciary Committee for the hearing and work session tomorrow in these matters: SB347, 699, 700, 796

Dear Judiciary Committee:

I write in total opposition to SB347, 699, 700, 758, and 796; what have become known as this Legislature's Gun Control bills.

There is no compromise form or change of these bills that can meet constitutional muster other than their total rejection. They are in violation of our constitutional rights here in Oregon by operation of our Bill of Rights under Article I, Section 27. It is my belief if you all continue in these actions you will be making yourselves personal targets of those who reject slavery, love freedom and liberty, and have reserved unto themselves the power to insure they will stay free from the tyranny of governments, including our own. From my understanding of history today you have the choice to build your own personal Concord Bridge. If you do you will become the "Red Coats." Only this time the coats you wear will be stained with the blood of patriots you dishonor and reject. If it is to be, then so be it and may God have mercy on you.

As I reflect on these words, three American flags hang on my wall from those who served in time of war. Each was a Veteran of WWII and other places. One has a posthumous purple heart. If you proceed in any direction other than to kill these bills, you will spitting on the graves of these Americans and all others who have served at their peril as surely as if you were personally standing on those graves engaged in that act.

To let these bills get to this point you collectively have shown a lack of integrity as oath givers and a willingness to consider compromise of those fundamental rights guaranteeing our freedoms. I can think of nothing more degrading to you collectively, or personally.

More sincerely than you can begin to possibly understand

Don W. Leach

84058 N. Pacific Highway

Creswell, Oregon 97426

Ruby Ridge, Waco, I see the similarities

Reflecting on Dorner

What will happen if and when this nation has to face not a whack job, but millions of constitutionalists who at their core believe the Bill of Rights and the 2nd Amendment that flows from that sacred document have been attacked. Those who will and do believe the 2nd Amendment is anchored in religious freedom, free speech, and the right to protect themselves from the tyranny of government and lawless elements. Those who are prepared to defend themselves, their neighbors from the lawless intrusions of government trying to limit their constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

I speculated as I watched a little "news" yesterday. The massive enforcement turn out, the probable death of that Dorner nut job. The fire. I could not think my way through the musings. So many people for 1 wacko who had no meaningful support.

Friends at Ruby Ridge called me with firsthand accounts not seen through the eyes of the media, calls from people wanting to know what their legal rights were. Government at Ruby Ridge were outnumbered more than 10 to 1 by people calling themselves patriots. Guns ready for the defense of the Weavers, trunks full of both guns and ammunition.

I speculate. If there are those who also speculate on possible outcomes of a people united in the defense of their nation, and have some thoughts they can share, I am sure I could learn from the discussion.

Biden promises a shotgun will save your life

 The news is ablaze with the story of Joe Biden at the Facebook town hall meeting and his comments on shotguns vs. AR-15s. The right wing has a few different spins on what was said and what it means. The left has little to say in defense. The Key points made are:
 Biden says use a double barrel shotgun. It is better for home defense.
 Biden says an AR is harder to aim and harder to use. (comment aimed mostly at women)
 Although it is illegal to discharge a firearm in city limits he says to shoot two rounds in the air.

Here is why I think that shows that Biden knows very little about home defense, rifles, pistols, and least of all, Shotguns.

 If you use a shotgun  in a home invasion, you are limiting your mobility and ability inside your home. The idea that it is the best thing to grab does not make the most sense.
 If the invader truly is a bad guy, blasting off two rounds from a shotgun (not at the attacker) is only going to let the attacker know your exact location. Your disarmed location.
 "… You don't need an AR-15 — it's harder to aim, it's harder to use, and in fact you don't need 30 rounds to protect yourself. Buy a shotgun! Buy a shotgun!".... WELL.... Not every attacker or home invader is outside your house when you find them. Speaking of THEM, it is not always one person you have to defend against. Remember Ruby Ridge? If you have half a dozen people attacking your home, or 20, or more...  Which do you feel would be harder to aim, harder to use at 50 yards? 100 yards?  My double barrel shotgun is not the first choice in my mind to defend against someone shooting at me from the trees at the end of the field. 
 I have a test for you (it gives you yet another excuse to go shooting. Like you need one?) Take a double barrel shotgun with number 6 shot, and an AR-15 out to your range. Set up a couple targets at 100 yards. Shoot at one with the shotgun and one with the AR-15 (or AR-10, I don't discriminate). See which is more effective at 100 yards.
 Sorry Joe Biden, but we do not all have secret service at our house to come running to the aid of our wives with assault rifles when they hear gunshots.

2nd Amendment, Bill Of Rights, Constitution, Where are we headed?

  As I sit on FaceBook and read the uneducated comments and backlash from the right to the left, from the left to the right, I do not engage. If I want to talk politics I will do so with someone slightly  educated on the subject whether they agree with me or not.
  In our concealed handgun classes we preach (teach) "Read, Study, Learn". Do that. We have all been told history is doomed to repeat itself. And, history has proved that.
  Read, study, learn.
  There was a reason for the second amendment. There are those who say it is outdated. Those are wrong.
 Why was it worded the way that it was?
 Why did our founding fathers think it was necessary to protect these rights?
 Can it happen to us again?
Read the constitution. What led to the Declaration of Independence? Why did some of our forefathers refuse to roll over to the tyranny of our government?

There are several versions of the text of the Second Amendment, each with slight capitalization and punctuation differences, found in the official documents surrounding the adoption of the Bill of Rights.^[5] One version was passed by the Congress,^[6] while another is found in the copies distributed to the States^[7] and then ratified by them.

As passed by the Congress:

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

As ratified by the States and authenticated by Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State:

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.^[8]

I have seen nothing in recent history that negates the need for our protection and freedom.

Reloading vs. buying ammo during Obama rule.

 Like everybody, I am not having the easiest time finding ammo for the AR-15 (.223), or for the .308

 I ordered a Dillon 650 multistage reloader, but it will not come for 8-12 weeks. Even then, reloading only saves money if you do not overspend on your supplies. I have been shopping for ammunition like crazy. Having a hard time finding it. And going crazy.

 Most of the .223 ammunition I have found is between .75 cents and $1 a round. On bulk ammo .com a thousand rounds was going for $905. At small gun stores I found boxes of twenty  for $15.95. At the gun show a box of 500 was going for $435 (and it was selling like crazy). People are showing up to the gun shows with handcarts hoping to find almost anything. (I saw people buying Wolf ammo for $10 a box). This is in the Willamette Valley in western Oregon.

  And then there is me. I am just as hungry for ammo as everyone else but I'll be damned if I am going to pay to the gougers just because they think they can profit from the needy. Don't get me wrong. I believe in supply and demand, but the ammunition manufacturers have not seemed to raise their prices to the dealers. Over the last four weeks I have only been able to get my hands on about 1700 rounds, but I have only paid .30-.40 cents a round.

  DILIGENCE and PERSEVERANCE.

  I have been calling box stores and gun stores and checking online. This is a pain in the ass for some, but it pays off. Today I got 100 rounds for 27.78

  Two days ago 160 rounds for 64.00

  The most I have paid for ammo in the last month and a half is $90 for 200 rounds at the NEW Tannerite store in Eugene.

  Places to check:

Wal-Mart

Bi-Mart

Big 5

Check the manufacturer websites.

  Anybody want to trade ammo for your concealed handgun class?

What other good ideas do you have?

Where is a good place to get ammo?