RKBA

What is it?

RKBA is an acronym for 'Right to Keep and Bear Arms' which is itself the essence of provisions in both the United States Constitution and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Constitution.

United States Constitution Amendment 2: "A well-regulated militia being necessary for the security of a Free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

Pennsylvania Constitution Article 1 Section 21: "The right of Citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned."

Decision rendered in Murdock V. Pennsylvania 319 US 105 (1942):   "A state may not impose a charge for the enjoyment of a right granted by the federal constitution . . .  The power to impose a license tax on the exercise of these freedoms is indeed as potent as the power of censorship which this Court has repeatedly struck down . . . a person cannot be compelled 'to purchase, through a license fee or a license tax, the priviledge freely granted by the Constitution.'"

So what?

This is a nation founded on the principle of individual rights which are to be protected by the power of law. That law is defined by the Constitution and any law which contradicts the Constitution is not valid.

In Pennsylvania there is a law which requires a citizen to undergo a criminal background investigation, be photographed, endure a waiting period, and pay money to the sheriff in order to obtain government permission to carry a concealed handgun. Is this law in conflict with the Pennsylvania Constitution's "shall not be questioned" provision? Many would say it is.

In America there is a federal law saying a citizen must pay money and undergo a backgound check before he can purchase a firearm from a federally licensed firearm dealer. Is this law valid considering the words "shall not be infringed" in the 2nd Amendment? Many would say it is an obviously un-Constitutional law.

If we are not a nation of laws then we must be a nation of lawlessness. No laws can be made that run counter to the Constitution and yet in the two examples above a citizen who does not follow the law will be set upon by men with guns (police, federal agents) and be dragged off to jail.

How does Guthsville fit in?

The Club believes in and supports all the provisions of the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Unlike many organizations (e.g. ACLU, the Morning Call newpaper, network TV) we do not pick and choose which of the first ten Amendments to the Constitution (Bill of Rights) we like or dislike. We support all of them.

Having said that we must acknowledge that we are first and foremost a gun club which means we have a particular interest in, you guessed it, RKBA.

We have a legislative committee whose members keep a sharp eye on the lawmakers in Harrisburg and Washington D.C., they pay close attention to what goes on in our own backyard of the Lehigh Valley, and they bring matters of importance related to the ongoing fight to restore the 2nd Amendment to the attention of the club's members.

How to help

Members of this club have been very active in the battle to restore the civil rights of all Americans. They have served in leadership roles in a number of noteable activities over the years including: Many people who say they support the 2nd Amendment think that by sending their annual dues to the NRA they are doing their part in the fight.  They are wrong.

The most effective way to make a difference is to get involved locally as many of our members have done.  Gather a small group of like-minded people and write letters-to-the-editor (LTE's).  Reach out to others who have had their pro-2nd Amendment LTE's published.

Visit your local gun clubs during their monthly meetings and ask for the contact information of several of their members who also want to get involved.  This will form the nucleus of a communication network you can use to "spread the word".  Your only limitation is your own imagination.





"A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government."

--George Washington