By Jon E. Dougherty
© 2000 WorldNetDaily.com
In response to last month's anti-gun Million
Mom March held on Mother's Day in Washington, D.C., an Emmett, Idaho,
man has proposed a similar "march" of sorts for Father's Day in
support of gun rights.
Jeff Head, one of the organizers of the 50
Million Round March, is rallying pro-gun fathers and their families to
"march" to shooting ranges around the country on Father's Day
and fire-off 50 million rounds of ammunition "as a statement in
support of the right to keep and bear arms for all law abiding
citizens."
"The efforts to infringe upon our Second Amendment rights to self
defense have been escalating in the recent months," Head said in a
statement about why he became involved in organizing the 50 Million Round
March. "A veritable chorus from political pundits and the mainstream
media are trying to convince us that it would be 'best for the children'
to further restrict firearm use and sales by honest, law-abiding
citizens."
However, says Head, what is best is to allow law-abiding Americans the
right to choose their own method of self-defense and family protection --
including the "uninfringed" benefit of the Constitution's 2nd
Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
"Historically it is clear that it would be 'best for the children'
for the people to remain armed. Responsible firearm ownership and use are
one of the great hallmarks for American liberty and our unprecedented
peace and prosperity as a people," Head noted.
Organizers said the event, which officially started Tuesday, had
already garnered the support of many websites, gun shops, firing ranges
and media outlets.
"Honest Americans will continue to be at a disadvantage to armed
criminals until the current 20,000 gun laws are repealed," said
Libertarian presidential candidate Harry Browne. "None of these laws
stops violent crime; all of them intrude into our privacy and our ability
to defend ourselves. Thus, I wish the 50 Million Round March well."
"They're going to try to fire-off 50 million rounds of ammunition
at training ranges across America on Sunday and I'll bet they do it,"
said Alan Korwin, author of several books on gun law and publisher of Bloomfield
Press. "The mainstream media has been silent about it but men
everywhere seem to be looking forward to it. It's simple and elegant -- a
wholesome family outing in support of the Bill of Rights."
The National Rifle Association, in its weekend online NRA
Live, provided a detailed report of the Father's Day event, including
an interview with Head.
"I think gun owners are waking up and realizing that they can't
compromise anymore," said Ginny Simone, host of NRA Live's weekend
report, commenting on the event.
"At this point in American history, the 50 Million Round March is
the right idea at the right time," added Aaron Zelman, executive
director of the Jews for the Preservation of
Firearms Ownership. "This effort is a very sound but simple idea
to send a direct message to all of those who despise liberty. May any such
individuals hear the volleys at the firing ranges and quake in their
jackboots."
The event is also supported by the Second
Amendment Sisters, a pro-firearms women's group that held a
counter-march to the Million Mom March in Washington last month.
"We are pleased to support the idea of fathers and their children
coming together to enjoy a family holiday by participating in a shared
interest and what, for many, is an honored tradition that has been passed
through the generations," said the Second Amendment Sisters in a
statement released this week.
During the event, shooters from around the country "will safely
discharge over 50 million rounds from personal firearms in the space of
two hours without harm or injury to those taking part at any official
shooting range around the country," said Head. "This in itself
will send a powerful message regarding firearm safety and responsible use
by law-abiding citizens."
Range monitors will be present at ranges to ensure firearm safety, he
added.
Group organizers said follow-up events -- which Head would like to see
annually -- are being planned for Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, New
Year's Day and Presidents' Day, along with a yearly Father's Day event. No
mention was made of Mother's Day.
In addition to target shooting, each event would include a
letter-writing campaign directed at congressional representatives and
senators, as well as state governors and the U.S. president, informing
them of the shooter's participation in the event and their
"insistence that infringements on this constitutional right
cease."
"As a memento of the event, the participants will include either
one of their used targets with their letters or two spent cartridges in a
mailer box with their letters," said a statement.
Officials said they did not want shooters to send in silhouette targets
-- targets with outlines in the shape of a person -- or live ammunition,
only spent cartridges and simple paper targets with
"bull's-eye-type" centers or images. Organizers also ask that
participants do not send threatening letters or images such as actual
photographs of lawmakers or officials with bullet holes in them.
Organizers have already designed
a sample target participants can download and use.
Head emphasized that the focus of the event is simply to let officials
and lawmakers know that a healthy number of Americans care about and
appreciate gun rights, and to remind lawmakers that gun ownership and use
is a "right constitutionally guaranteed."
"The 50 Million Round March does not advocate making any direct or
physical threat to any elected representative or their person. The 50
Million Round March does advocate writing letters to our representatives
regarding the seriousness of the Second Amendment. We do not discourage
people including (if they so desire) tasteful and commemorative mementos
with those letters," said a May 31 policy statement.