Charlton Heston always stood up for what he knew was right, whether it was fighting in World War II, integrating the Screen Actors Guild with Ronald Reagan or fighting to protect Americans’ God given right to keep and bear arms.

As a member of the NRA Board, I worked with Mr. Heston to protect Americans’ Second Amendment rights and I cannot say enough good things about him.  He was a true leader that understood the importance of the Second Amendment.

As Mr. Heston knew, the Second Amendment protects our right to keep and bear arms, it does not provide it to us, just as the First Amendment does not give us our right to free speech.

And yet, there are those who want to take this right away from us.  More than half a million people are still deprived of their Second Amendment rights by the D.C. Gun Ban.  There is legislation that has been introduced in this Congress to reinstate the failed and unconstitutional Assault Weapon Ban.  Without more people like Mr. Heston, who understand the importance of our Second Amendment rights, we will not be able to defeat the divisive forces that would take freedom away.

We must continue to remain vigilant and oppose these threats to our God given right to keep and bear arms.  If we do not protect this right, how will we be able to protect ourselves against those who would infringe upon our other rights?

I will continue to do everything in my power to protect Americans and Alaskans’ Second Amendment rights and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

And I ask my colleagues to support this resolution and help to honor and remember Charlton Heston, a great man who always stood up for what he knew was right, whether it was Civil Rights or our  right to keep and bear arms.  My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends for their loss.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 at 1:03 pm and is filed under Politics, Civil Rights .