Want to learn more about our constitutional rights under the second amendment? I’m excited to host David Keene on my Sidewire GAYLEFORCE chat show:
Gayle Trotter, Right in DC
Welcome all to GayleForce! I am delighted to be joined by David Keene, a trusted adviser to presidents, a longtime champion of personal liberty and one of conservatism’s most respected voices who serves as the opinion editor of The Washington Times. Mr. Keene is an author, columnist and fixture on national television. Mr. Keene has championed conservative causes for more than five decades while offering advice to Republican presidents and countless candidates. Mr. Keene additionally served as chairman of the American Conservative Union and president of the National Rifle Association. Welcome to the Sidewire GayleForce chat show, Mr. Keene!
David Keene, The Washington Times
Thanks for having me. This is a new way to communicate for me, so bear with me.
Gayle Trotter
We are talking today about your new book, SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED: The New Assaults on Your Second Amendment. You can order the book here. You have been called “one of the country’s most astute political observers.” How did you sharpen your political vision?
David Keene
That’s right. The book focuses on domestic and international threats to the Second Amendment rights of the American people.
Gayle Trotter
Why do guns matter?
David Keene
Guns have always been important to Americans. The right to self defense underlies the Second Amendment, but guns symbolize more. It’s why Charlton Heston use to say, “It’s not about guns, it’s abouy freedom.
Gayle Trotter
Do you believe polls, studies and data are used to confuse the public about guns and violence?
David Keene
Yes. You can get almost any answer depending on how you ask the question or how you pick your sample.
Gayle Trotter
Why does the left want to take away our guns?
David Keene
They symbolize self-reliance and the concept of individual responsibility. Gun control, as they call it, became a ideological issue on the left as part of the culture wars that began in the mid sixties.
Gayle Trotter
Who are the major players in our national and controversial second amendment debate?
David Keene
The so-called “progressive” left and the media. Mrs. Clinton, following the President’s failed attempt to restrict firearms rights has doubled down and now sees Britain and Australia as models.
Gayle Trotter
Hillary Rodham Clinton said to the nation at the Democratic convention in July: “I’m not here to repeal the Second Amendment. I’m not here to take away your guns.” Do you believe her? Should voters believe her?
David Keene
Why would anyone believe her about anything. Actually, she is parsing words. She doesn’t want to “repeal” or “abolish” the 2nd Amendment, but to reinterpret it out of existence. The effect would be the same!
Gayle Trotter
What will a post-Scalia (R.I.P.) Supreme Court do about landmark cases including D.C. v. Heller and McDonald?
David Keene
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg says she hopes to be there when Heller and McDonald are reversed. They were 5/4 decisions and with one more liberal justice this would be possible, but Heller can be rendered meaningless without reversal
Gayle Trotter
On the international stage, has the United Nations taken any recent action on gun regulations? Is there a new effort under way? How could this effect Americans’ most fundamental civil rights under the second amendment.
David Keene
The Arms Trade Treaty was passed and signed by Sec Kerry on behalf of the US, but negotiated with active assistance of Mrs Clinton as emails we include in our book show. It hasn’t been ratified, but signing has legal implications.
Gayle Trotter
That leads me to this other question for Mr. Keene: Is the news media doing its job (obviously no) and what would the country look like if it had over the last 15 years or so?
David Keene
The media has, on gun control issues, been in the tank for years. This year, of course, given the hostility to Trump (a different question) the media is no longer denying bias, but arguing a moral obligation to be biased
Gayle Trotter
One of your chapters is about Secretary Clinton’s Benghazi emails. Why do you write about this in a book about the second amendment?
David Keene
Actually we discuss emails that have come out during the Benghazi investigation focusing on her involvement in spurring on the effort to pass the Arms Treaty
Gayle Trotter
And why would she focus on passing this treaty?
David Keene
She has long been interested in firearms restrictions and was actively urging non-profits or what the UN cal NGOs here and abroad to push for the treaty. The treaty has been seen by gun controllers as a way of getting restrictions ,
Gayle Trotter
What can Americans do to preserve their rights under the second amendment?
David Keene
The treaty began as an attempt to limit military arms trade, but quickly morphed into a ay of controlling private ownership and trade in sporting arms and the like .. targeting the US
Gayle Trotter
Do you believe, as I do, that gun control measures advocated by Hillary Rodham Clinton and her big money donors (here’s looking at you, Hollywood, glorifier of violence and guns) disproportionately harm women?
David Keene
The first thing is to keep Mrs. Clinton out of the White House to preserve Heller. Second, is to elect 2nd A friendly legislators and let elected officials know how much we care about these rights. Even if the 2nd A is gutted by a liberal court, the restrictionists are handcuffed if Congress and the states refuse to restrict gun ownership
Gayle Trotter
Will reducing the number of privately owned guns in America reduce violence? What can be done to reduce violence in our communities?
David Keene
NO. murder rates in the US have been cut in half as the number of guns in private hands have skyrocketed in recent decades. Answer: prosecute gun crime (Chicago doesn’t) and rebuild the mental health system
Gayle Trotter
Mr. Keene, my last question to you: what do you hope to achieve with the release of your book?
David Keene
We want to let gun owners know what’s at stake and what they can do to protect their rights while at the same time giving facts that dispel anti-gun myths that influence those who are interested, but just don’t know the facts.
Gayle Trotter
Thank you, Mr. Keene, for joining me on GayleForce today, and for all you do to keep Americans aware about the threats of potential loss of their civil rights under the second amendment. I hope you enjoyed the new way to communicate!
David Keene
I did. Just wish my tendency to go on and on wasn’t curtailed by the character limit! Thanks for having me and I hope those who tuned in will do me (and maybe themselves) a favor by buying “Shall Not Be Infringed”
Gayle Trotter
And here is the link again. Please buy and share! Also, consider posting a positive review on Amazon! Thank you all for joining us. See you next time on GayleForce!
