Jews For The Preservation of Firearms Ownership, Inc.
P.O. Box 270143
Hartford, WI 53027
Phone (800) 869-1884
Fax (425) 451-3959
Editor's Note: The following interview appeared in Guns &Ammo, April 1996, pp. 10-13. We reprint it so you will know that we wantto let the wider community know how clearly JPFO's philosophy differs fromthat of the National Rifle Association. In this interview, Aaron Zelmananswers a prospective new member's basic questions about JPFO. We havereprinted the text as it appeared in Guns & Ammo, adhering only toour usage of always enclosing in quotations the term "gun control",which we do to show that "gun control" is a nonsense term.
Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership
An Interview with Aaron Zelman, Founder and Executive Director ofthis Aggressive Civil-Rights Organization.
G&A Staff Report
G&A: Why a Jewish pro-firearms-ownership organization?
Zelman: JPFO was founded in 1989 to stop anti-Semites from accusingall Jews of being "anti-gun" on account of a few misguided, high-profile"anti-gun"Jews. JPFO also wanted to show to show that JewishLaw mandates self-defense, and that "gun control" subverts JewishLaw; and finally to lead them any silent Jewish firearm-owners to speakup.
G&A: Many Jews seem to support "gun control". Is thisso? Why?
Zelman: No one should back "gun control". But some Jews'victim mind set makes them do things - e.g., back "gun control"- that promote victimhood. These Jews' victim mind set dates from 135 CommonEra (CE),when Rome smashed a Jewish Army seeking to regain Israel's freedom.Until Israel's re-birth in 1948, Jews were persecuted so often that manyaccepted this as normal. Such Jews forgot our law requires self-defense.The victim mind set violates Jewish Law.
Jews who back "gun control" do not know that the Talmud-Judaism's Law Code - mandates self-defense. In Tractates B'rachos (Blessings),pp. 58a and 62b, and Sanhedrin (Law Courts), p. 72a, it is written: "Andthe Torah says, 'If someone comes to kill you, arise quickly and kill him.'"(The Torah is the Five Books of Moses from the Bible).
This repetition in separate contexts shows that self-defense is everyJew's personal duty. For Jews, life is so precious that the only thingsa Jew may not do to save his own life are commit murder, worship idols,and engage in forbidden forms of sex.
G&A: What is JPFO's agenda?
Zelman: JPFO wants to destroy the idea that "gun control"is a good policy. "Gun control's" down-side is genocide, nothassles for firearm-owners. "Gun control" has clearedthe way for seven major genocides since 1915, in which governments gonebad murdered 56,000,000 persons, including millions of children. JPFO'snew book, LETHAL LAWS, presents hard proof. Thus, JPFO wants: every law-abidingperson to own firearms; no limits on firearm-ownership by the law-abiding;a ban on taxes aimed at firearms and firearm-owners; nation-wide concealedcarry by the law-abiding, without permits; nation-wide firearms safetycourses in public schools; and harsh penalties for those who abuse firearmsto commit crimes.
G&A: What does JPFO do? What gains have you made?
Zelman: JPFO's ideas are revolutionizing this debate. JPFO's researchshows that: the U.S. Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA '68) likely was basedon the Nazi Weapons Law, 18 March 1938 (Guns & Ammo, May 1993); a military-typerifle is your best life preserver, because it enables you and others tostop a government "gone bad" from committing genocide (Guns &Ammo, March1994); the U.S. government almost committed genocide about 50years ago; a group of Americans used firearms to restore the Rule of Lawjust under 50 years ago (Guns & Ammo, October 1995).
To spotlight the Nazi roots of GCA '68, JPFO members put up billboards-- inCalifornia, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island -- which used the Nazidictator's likeness. JPFO's research has figured in legislative hearings(Guns & Ammo,June 1994). JPFO put full-page ads in The Washington Times,and in Hawaiian papers.
G&A: How do "gun control" backers react to JPFO research?
Zelman: They go silent: that's how we want them to stay; and we'dlike more gutsy gun-owners using our research to see that this reactioncontinues.
G&A: Can we destroy "gun control"? How?
Zelman: Yes! JPFO views "gun control" as a cancer, whichmust be destroyed, not just contained. We expect a major drive to treat"gun deaths" as a "public health" problem, to be curedby a total firearms ban. JPFO's response: this cure is certainlyfar worse than the disease. Our Second Amendment civil right toown firearms is not about hunting, or mainlyabout defense against criminals,but is aimed at an abusive government,especially one that wants to commitgenocide. The 56 million murdered by governments "gone bad" -thanks to "gun control" - dwarfs the number killed by criminalor negligent abusers of firearms. "Gun control" leadsto massive over-kill.
G&A: How is JPFO organized and financed?
Zelman: JPFO is an all-volunteer group; only our executive directorgets a modest salary. Jewish and Gentile "Field Representatives"spread JPFO educational materials, arrange radio and TV publicity and;monitor events in their locales. JPFO depends on members' $20 yearly dues.We sell educational books, bumper stickers, special reports, tee-shirts,etc., and have accepted only trivial sums from like-minded groups or firms.JPFO is a tax-exempt civil rights and educational organization, under IRSCode Section 501(c)(3) -- as are synagogues, churches, or a local UnitedWay -- so membership dues and contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
G&A: Does JPFO welcome non-Jewish members? Are there many?
Zelman: Most JPFO members know that many righteous Gentiles riskedtheir lives to help Jews during the Nazi genocide (1933-45). So, we warmlywelcome righteous Gentiles. After all, destroying "gun control"requires teamwork. We estimate that 25 percent of our members aren't Jewish.We don't ask or discriminate.
G&A: Is JPFO connected with militias?
Zelman: JPFO has no ties to any militia. JPFO members could be militiamembers; we have no way to know. A few militias are run by known Jew-haters.Most militia members are mainstream folks deeply committed to saving civilrights from government encroachment.
G&A: How is JPFO different from other pro-gun groups?
Zelman: JPFO's members and officers want to destroy "gun control",not just to "fight it". We think that most officers of most otherpro-gun groups have careers "fighting 'gun control' ". They accept"gun control", quibble over details and hope to retire on a pensionbefore "gun control" ends with the disarming of Americans. JPFO'sofficers, on the other hand, want to destroy "gun control" andmove on.
G&A: What is your biggest disappointment?
Zelman: The way in which some pro gun groups ignore our research,instead of using it to destroy "gun control". Some sufferfrom NIH (not invented here) disease: They'd rather accept more "guncontrol" than use our ideas. Others seem to reject JPFO researchbecause it has been done by Jews.
G&A: What are the benefits of JPFO membership?
Zelman: Our members count on us to find new ways - e.g., our exposingthe Nazi roots of GCA '68 - aggressively to defend their civil right tobe armed (See "Gun Control"; Gateway to Tyranny, published byJPFO); to broaden support for firearms-ownership by showing police in Americahave no duty to protect the average person (See JPFO Special Report, Dial911 and Die!, July1992) and that "gun control" clears the wayfor genocide (See LETHAL LAWS, published by JPFO).
We fearlessly strive to educate Jewish "gun control" advocates,who cannot smear us as "anti-Semites"; to expose falsehoods -e.g.,that "gun control" explains Japan's low crime rate (SeeChapter 5 of LETHAL LAWS) - used to further "gun control". Weoffer clear thinking, not worn-out rhetoric.
JPFO membership is an insurance policy for smart firearm-owners.Compromise with "gun control" steadily tightens the noose aroundthe throats of law-abiding firearm-owners'. When "gun control"is seen to lead, step-by-step, to a total ban on firearms, JPFO will beseen to have the new ideas needed to cure the "gun control" cancer.
G&A: Can you tell us about Gran'pa Jack?
Zelman: Sure. Gran'pa Jack leads JPFO's effort to show kids thatfirearms ownership is good. Gran'pa Jack stars in our comic book, "guncontrol" Kills Kids (What the gun controllers don't tellyou). Gran'pa Jack debunks "gun control", shows kids thatfirearms are life-savers, and asks them to be sure their parents own afirearm and can use it. Every American kid should read our comic book,and learn that "gun control" pushers are killing our kids.Gran'pa Jack is going to shake-up America's school systems. A sample copyis just $3.00 (postage paid). Those who really want to destroy "guncontrol" will rush to use this powerful tool.
G&A: Does JPFO lobby for less restrictive "gun control"laws?
Zelman: No. Lobbying is how we lose the next slice of our civil rightto be armed. Lunches with law-makers waste money. JPFO wants to focus America's60 million firearm-owners on destroying "gun control". No oneshould waste energy repeating plain truths: e.g., that the Second Amendmentclearly records our civil right to be armed.
G&A: How can you say that, "gun control" does not savelives?
Zelman: It's simple. The Nazis murdered 13,000,000 persons -- 6,000,000Jews and 7,000,000 Gentiles -- in 13 years (1933-45). European Union criminalswould need 350 years - with a U.S.-style murder rate (8.5-9.5/100,000)- to commit 13,000,000 murders. Yet, less than 50 years later, anotherEuropean genocide unfolds in ex-Yugoslavia. Because genocides are huge,"gun control" costs millions of lives in the long run.
G&A: Can you tell our readers why more guns don't equal moremurders?
Zelman: Sure. U.S. Treasury Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms(BATF) data show that between 1974 and 1993, the number of handguns doubledto 77 million (Press Release FY95-3, 11/94). Yet, from 1974 through 1993the murder rate was 8.5-9.5/100,000. If more guns equal more murders, themurder rate should have doubled. It did not, because the tiny percentageof Americans who are potential murderers already has enough firearms.
G&A: Is GCA '68 really rooted in a Nazi law? Why did you compareSarah Brady's tactics (Chair, Handgun Control, Inc.) with those of theNazi Dictator?
Zelman: We have published hard evidence that GCA '68 likely was basedonthe Nazi Weapons Law of March 18, 1938. GCA '68 mainly was framed bySenator Thomas J. Dodd (D-CT). He managed America's prosecutors at theNurnberg trialsof Nazi war criminals. A published letter from mid-July1968 shows that Dodd asked the Library of Congress to translate his owncopy of the Nazi Weapons Law.
Like the Nazi dictator, Sarah Brady uses wrong-doing by a tiny minority(criminals)to condemn a decent majority. She also wants to impose vile policies gradually,just as the Nazis began with anti-Semitic laws and finally murdered millions.
G&A: JPFO has criticized Anti-Defamation League (ADL) supportfor "gun control". Why?
Zelman: The ADL's strategy is lethally flawed. Watching "hategroups" is fine. But ADL support for "gun control" meansthat a hate group that gained power, despite ADL vigilance, could commitgenocide. The ADL ignores JPFO's evidence - sent to Abraham Foxman, ADLNational Director - that "gun control" clears the way for genocide.
Our "ADL LIES" bumper stickers aim to end ADL support for"gun control". Everyone should use these bold bumper stickersto de-rail the ADL's "gun control" agenda.
G&A: Why have "gun control" supporters prospered?
Zelman: They say that "inconvenience" is a small priceto pay for saving lives through "gun control"; and they demand"small"concessions - bans on a segment of firearms or accessories- after which theyclaim to be content. Then they find a new target: military-stylefirearms, large-capacity magazines, low-cost firearms, efficient ammunition,etc. Appeasing "gun control" backers is impossible. In many cases,"gun control" advocates love folks who chant the SecondAmendment as if it were some mantra, a magic formula, instead of usinghard facts to show that"gun control" is lunacy and lethallydangerous.
G&A: Many "gun control" advocates say an individualcannot withstand a government's firepower. Do you agree?
Zelman: No. In April 1943, Jews in Warsaw's Ghetto attacked Naziswho planned to send them to the Treblinka murder camp. After five weeksof bitter combat, the Nazis burned the Ghetto, which they had hoped toloot. "Gun control" backers desecrate the memory of these gutsyJews.
In 1946, Americans used firearms to overthrow a brutal county government,headed by a sheriff who had kept himself in office by vote fraud. The citizens'calls for state or Federal help were ignored. Rather than accept more beatingsand vote fraud, August 1-2, 1946, the citizens Athens, Tennessee, used firearms to restore the Rule of Law. Yet, the New York Times, Time, andNewsweek, all savaged the citizens.
America is vast: 1/4 billion people and three million square miles.Law-and-order forces are 1.5 percent of the population. Tanks, artillery,and aircraft are not very useful in cities. In 1992, Los Angeles' lootersforced the police to flee. The law-abiding used firearms in self-defense.The Army moved in only after tired looters went home.
G&A: How can JPFO be reached?
Zelman: Our address is:
JPFO, Inc.
P.O. Box 270143
Hartford, WI 53027
Phone (800) 869-1884
Fax (425) 451-3959
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