Anti-Gun Advocates In Senate Seek Rules Changes

– Action would clear the way for semi-auto bans, guns show bans, gun licensing, and ammunition bans

Monday, January 3, 2011

Make no mistake about it:  Procedure is power.

The reason we are not stuck with bans on semi-autos, gun shows and ammunition is because the U.S. Senate is structured so that whatever party is in the minority still retains procedural power to protect the rights of the citizenry against the “tyranny of the majority.”

But on January 5, 2011, at the beginning of the new Congress, Senate Democrats are hatching a plan to decimate long-standing Senate rules in order to remove those protections.

The linchpin of the plan would be a ruling by Senate President Joe Biden that the Senate is not a “continuing body” and therefore has NO rules — other than whatever 53 Democrats and Independents might unilaterally adopt.

At the core of their efforts will be an attempt to abolish the “hold letter” — at least as it currently exists.  Pro-gun senators have used “hold letters” in the past to kill proposed gun show bans, semi-auto bans, ammunition bans, gun licensing requirements, registration lists — any number of anti-freedom initiatives.

Basically, a hold letter allows a single Senator to slow down movement on unconstitutional legislation, so that it can’t be rammed through before the American people can voice their concerns.-[source]