Arkansas
Governor, Mike Huckabee's Letter to New York Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer
The
following is a copy of the text from a letter written by Arkansas Governor Mike
Huckabee to New York Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer, regarding the Smith and
Wesson quid pro quo -- compliance with Clinton's gun mandates in order to win
federal and state law enforcement purchase contracts.
Dear General Spitzer:
I
have received your letter inviting me to join in your effort to encourage
various state and local governments to award law enforcement gun contracts only
to gun manufacturers agreeing to a "Code of Conduct" which dictates
various business practices, safety features, marketing strategies, etc., for
both gun manufacturers and gun dealers at the wholesale and retail level.
I must respectfully decline your invitation.
First
let me say, if I believed the safety of my constituents were truly the issue, I
would be much more considerate of your request. But we are not living in a
country flooded with "unsafe" guns. It is their illegal use that
endangers us -- that must be addressed through vigorous criminal prosecution.
Providing
for guns safety locks is one thing and, in truth, only a small part of your
"Code of Conduct." However, dictating how many guns a purchaser is
allowed to take home on one day, banning sales at gun shows and prohibiting a
minor from even entering a gun store without a parent or guardian are parts of a
political agenda, not a push for "gun safety." Coupling the safety
issue with a strict regulation of business practices is merely a maneuver to
advance a decidedly political agenda under the guise of "public
safety."
I
am a strong proponent and defender of Americans' Second Amendment right to keep
and bear arms. I also make every effort to be a responsible manager of my
constituents' tax dollars. I ask the director of the Arkansas State Police to
make purchasing and requisition decisions based on quality, service and price. I
will not ask him to award a lucrative government contract in order to further a
political agenda geared at controlling and ultimately destroying the firearms
industry. I want Arkansas State Troopers to protect our citizens and themselves
using the best guns available, not guns from the most "politically
correct" manufacturer.
In
1999, I signed into law an act prohibiting Arkansas' local governments from
suing firearms manufacturers seeking compensation for injuries and deaths
resulting from the illegal use of these companies' products. To hold the gun
industry accountable for crime is like holding our nation's farmers liable for
the healthcare costs associated with obesity.
The desire of some to blame the gun manufacturers for crime rather than
prosecute criminals seems to me a sadly misguided attempt at protecting our
citizens. It is also a rather thinly veiled attempt to vilify and control those
who engage in a business which is eminently legal and necessary, yet not
particularly smiled upon by the current administration in Washington. I thank
God previous administrations understood and appreciated not only the sanctity of
the Second Amendment, but its necessity as well.
Gun
manufacturers make the Second Amendment a viable right rather than some
theoretical proposition. I will not abuse my authority as Governor to pursue
their demise or dictate their business practices through coercion.
So
the answer is a definite "no," I will not seek the capitulation of
firearm manufacturers through the use of asinine lawsuits or the doling out of
taxpayer-funded government contracts. I regret that you feel either of these
tactics to be worthwhile endeavors.
Sincerely
yours,
Mike
Huckabee
