Constitution Party of Washington Changes Platform Plank Title from "Gun Control" to "Gun Rights"
Dateline: Kent, Washington--The Constitution Party of Washington voted to change the title of its "Gun Control" platform plank to "Gun Rights" at its 2009 State Convention held in Kent, Washington on 18 April 2009. The membership of the party determined that the words "Gun Control" could be taken to mean that the party is in favor of controlling firearms. "Gun Rights" is more in keeping with the tenor of its plank that supports the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, as follows,
- The Second Amendment strictly limits any interference with gun ownership by saying: "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."
- The right to bear arms is inherent in the right of self defense, defense of the family, and defense against tyranny, conferred on the individual and the community by our Creator to safeguard life, liberty, and property, as well as to help preserve the independence of the nation.
- The right to keep and bear arms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the Constitution; it may not properly be infringed upon or denied.
- The Constitution Party upholds the right of the citizen to keep and bear arms. We oppose attempts to prohibit ownership of guns by law-abiding citizens, and stand against all laws which would require the registration of guns or ammunition.
- We emphasize that when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have them. In such circumstances, the peaceful citizen's protection against the criminal would be seriously jeopardized.
- We call for the repeal of all federal firearms legislation, beginning with Federal Firearms Act of 1968.
- We call for the rescinding of all executive orders, the prohibition of any future executive orders, and the prohibition of treaty ratification which would in any way limit the right to keep and bear arms.
The Constitution Party of Washington supports the original intent of the Second Amendment as a way of insuring the independence and liberty of a free state, and views any attempts to curtail the right to keep and bear arms as a violation of that amendment.