Please honor us with your vote on July 18, 2006 for Georgia Senate District 37

July 12, 2006

By Andy Rice (View author info)
Copyright Andy Rice

I am running for Georgia Senate District 37. My entire adult life has been devoted to protecting the Rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

As a 19 year old, I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, when I joined the United States Marine Corps. During my service, I proudly wore the badges of Rifle and Pistol Expert. Now, as a retired Lieutenant Colonel, with 21 years honorable service, I still fight all enemies of the Constitution, no matter where they are found. All too often they are found in courtrooms and in elected positions.

I have been an active member of the National Rifle Association for all of my adult life. In the early 1990's, I upgraded my membership to the status of Endowment Life Member. I am also a member of Gun Owners of America. I was recently elected to the position of Jr. Vice Commander of my American Legion Post. In that position, one of my duties will include membership on the Americanism Committee, which attempts to educate Americans and immigrants on the Constitution, as well as the rights and duties of a citizen. Another program sponsored by that committee is the Junior Shooting Program, which I wholeheartedly support.

As a Boy Scout and Cub Scout Leader for the past 8 years, I have been a proponent of youth shooting programs. My own children are active shooters, who have won some local shooting competitions. My oldest son, Drew, is currently working on the Rifle Shooting and Shotgun Shooting Merit Badges. Our family frequently goes target shooting together.

As a gun owner, I hold a Curios and Relics license. I will never support legislation, which would serve to restrict the right to own any type of firearm, and I will actively oppose such legislation. I believe every citizen has an absolute right to defend his life, family, and property, and would have co-sponsored SB 396 during the 2006 session, had I been in office. I believe no American should have to pass any "test" or "license exam" in order to exercise his Constitutional right to bear arms, and would sponsor legislation to improve the concealed carry laws in favor of a law abiding gun owner.

I support removing all barriers to the lawful exercise of our 2nd Amendment Rights. I support legislation to allow concealed carry, by law-abiding citizens, in the places that are currently prohibited, such as restaurants. I will also work to clarify ambiguous language in the current concealed carry laws, such as a clear definition of "public gathering," which currently is left to the discretion of police officers, prosecutors, and judges.

Some legislators work behind the scenes to defeat or impede gun-friendly legislation, but they eventually vote for the legislation when they must publicly vote yea or nay. These politicians sometimes slip through the crack and get the support of gun owners, who only look at the vote count. It is time to look at the person behind the position. I am a tried and true gun rights supporter. My opponent is a lawyer, who is backed by the Chamber of Commerce and the legal community, two natural enemies of gun owners in Georgia.

My wife, Taffy Rice, is running against Earl Ehrhart for House District 36. In the 2006 session, Earl blocked several important bills, which would have helped gun owners. These bills died in committee, due to Earl's actions. The NRA gave Earl an A+ rating in 2004. Unfortunately, Earl has not lived up to that rating. Specifically, he attempted to block SB 396, until concerned citizens deluged him with post cards demanding he allow the bill to leave the Rules Committee, which he chairs. Ultimately, he voted for it, but not before he attempted to derail it.

Other bills, blocked by Earl:

HB 1001 would have allowed law abiding citizens to carry loaded guns in a car, without a concealed carry permit; HB 998 would have allowed a law abiding citizen to have a gun in a car in a parking lot; and HB 1439 would have kept police from confiscating your guns during an emergency, like happened in New Orleans with Hurricane Katrina last year. Earl blocked all of these, and finally, another bill would have allowed a concealed carry permit holder to carry a gun in a restaurant.

It's time to elect a Representative and a Senator FOR THE PEOPLE. Please honor us with your vote on July 18, 2006.

www.ElectRice.org www.RiceGang.com