In Killeen, Texas, George Hennard murdered 23 people at a local Luby's Cafeteria. He rammed his pickup truck through the window and began systematically shooting people. He continued shooting people for about ten minutes, reloading five times and even throwing away one gun which jammed during his murderous rampage. Federal Congressional Representative. Dr. Suzanna Gratia, a patron who survived, but who had to watch while he killed both of her parents, had a gun. But because of Texas law at the time, she had left it in her car and was not able to get to it. Hennard was totally focused on what he was doing and if she had been able to get to her gun, she could have easily shot and killed him without danger to others before he could murder any more of his victims.

Handgun Control, Inc., the Violence Policy Center, and the major news media say they don't want to ban all guns, just the bad ones that criminals use. What's wrong with that?

What's wrong is that it's a lie.

At first, anti-self-defense organizations (such as HCI and VPC) said they wanted to get rid of cheap handguns-so-called "Saturday night specials"-claiming that these inexpensive personal defense weapons were the "firearms of choice" for criminals. Then they included ALL handguns, claiming that these were the "firearms of choice" for criminals (ignoring the fact that handguns are the overwhelming choice of peaceful citizens for self-defense) Then they added military-looking semi-auto rifles, claiming these were the "firearms of choice" for criminals. Then they added any rifle with certain "military" features, like pistol grips and folding stocks and the ability to take a high-capacity magazine. Now they've added "sniper rifles"-which would include any hunting caliber rifle with a scope-and claim that these pose a new and terrible threat to society. Along the way they've included "armor piercing bullets", which includes the cartridge of almost any hunting rifle, depending upon the particular armor you choose.

In the words of the gun-banners themselves:

"We are now supporting the President's bill which provides stringent restrictions on rifles and shotguns. We shall also get behind the bill which provides for national registration and licensing. I personally believe handguns should be outlawed."
J. Elliot Corbett, Sect'y, National Council for a Responsible firearms Policy, in a letter, June 17, 1968

"The final problem is to make the possession of all handguns and all handgun ammunition--[except for law enforcement]--totally illegal."
Nelson T. "Pete" Shields, executive director of National Council to Control Handguns (now Handgun Control, Inc.) quoted in the July 26, 1976 edition of The New Yorker Magazine.

"The only reason for guns in civilian hands is for sporting purposes."
Sarah Brady, Jackson, Keeping the Battle Alive, Tampa Tribune, Oct. 21, 1993.

We Are NOT "Gun Banners"--and never have been... Handgun Control, Inc., has never advocated banning firearms used for legitimate purposes such as hunting and recreation."
[Note there is no mention of self defense or militia use, which are the primary reasons for the Second Amendment--GT]
"Gun Measures We Don't Support", Handgun Control Inc. publication (March 16, 1999).

"Americans are ready to hate somebody, and it's going to be the gun industry."
Josh Sugarmann of the Violence Policy Center, May 16, 1994 issue of Newsweek Magazine.

"The word 'hate' is a very carefully chosen word. There's got to be a real sense of revulsion and disgust. People are looking for someone to blame, someone who's the cause of their problems, and it should be the gun industry. These guys are the living embodiment of the slogan, 'Guns don't kill people-people kill people'. They're complete mercenaries."
Josh Sugarmann of the Violence Policy Center, June 13, 1994 issue of The New American Magazine,

".banning the private sale and possession of handguns; banning the private sale and possession of military-style assault weapons; [etc.]"
Violence Policy Center recommendations in their pamphlet The Second Amendment: No Right to Keep and Bear Arms. [Take note of the very title of the pamphlet--GT]

"Our goal is to not allow anybody to buy a handgun. In the meantime, we
think there ought to be strict licensing and regulation."
Michael K. Beard, president of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, quoted in the Washington Times, Dec. 9, 1993.

"As you probably know by now, Time's editors, in the April 13 issue, took a strong position in support of an outright ban on handguns for private use."
Time Magazine, Letter to the NRA, April 24, 1981.

"There is no reason for anyone in this country, for anyone except a police officer or a military person, to buy, to own, to have, to use, a handgun. The only way to control handgun use in this country is to prohibit the guns. And the only way to do that is to change the Constitution."
Michael Gartner, former NBC News President, USA Today, January 16, 1992.