Tea Party hosts head of Gun Owners of California

If you are politically conservative, like most of what the Tea Party stands for and a strong defender of the Second Amendment of the Constitution (the right to bear arms), you would have been in good company at the Yosemite Gateway Restaurant Jan. 24.

Speaking at an Oakhurst/Coarsegold Area Tea Party meeting, Sam Paredes, executive director of Gun Owners of California said his organization is recruiting Tea Party members to run for the state assembly and senate seats to regain some balance in California from the radical left.

"We know the battle is in the political trenches and victory will never be assured until the last anti-gun legislator is defeated."

Paredes and his organization, founded by 22-year California Senator H.L. Richardson (Ret.), feels there are "swing" elections in both state assembly and senate races this year. He said Gun Owners of California is recruiting Tea Party members in those districts and feels their efforts could add an additional eight to 11 Republicans to the Assembly and Senate.

"There are 62 Tea Party members currently in congress that fight hard for what they believe in," Paredes said. "We have to stick together, communicate amongst each other and continue to grow."

Protecting Second Amendment rights

Paredes, speaking before more than 100 attendees, said the primary goal of his lobbying organization is to protect and conserve citizens Second Amendment rights.

"We believe the Second Amendment to the constitution is under severe attack and must be vigorously defended," Paredes said.

He said the Constitution and Bill of Rights are priceless documents that are as valid today as when they were first drafted.

He has spoken before 83 Tea Party, Republican and Second Amendment events throughout California over the past two years.

"The overriding theme that all of these groups have in common is that they want to do something to take their state and country back," Paredes said. "These folks are motivated to do whatever it takes to elect conservatives and defeat not just radical liberals, but all liberals."

"To the radical left, everything is about control so they can exert their power over the populace," Paredes said. "They know deep down inside that they can never fully reach that goal as long as the citizens of this country and this state own guns."

He said the vast majority of Californians live in urban area such as Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and the Bay Area.

"All those areas have virtual bans on the insurance of Concealed Carry Weapons (CCW) permits," said Paredes. "Sacramento and El Dorado Counties alone issue more permits than all of the urban communities combined."

Pero impressed with Paredes

John Pero, who along with his wife Janae, serve as the Oakhurst-Coarsegold Tea Party Coordinators, arranged for Paredes to speak in Oakhurst. Jon Pero said he was impressed with Paredes' depth of knowledge of Second Amendment issues and how to fight and win in the political arena.

"Instead of just presenting gloom and doom, Sam had a very positive message," Pero said. "One key thing I came away with, was how small political victories can radically alter the political landscape. If we target the districts that will be close races this fall in California, and win over half of them, it will translate into significant more conservatives in the assembly in Sacramento and a way to stop Governor Brown and the Democrats from passing more anti business, anti second amendment, anti growth and anti family values legislation in California."

Pero said he liked how Paredes described the type of candidates that are needed in California and across the nation.

"Not the 'I'll reach across the aisle types' that just want to compromise, but the Tea Party type candidates who have passion in their bones who will aggressively fight against the liberal machine in Sacramento and in Washington, and who will not compromise their values."

It was the first time Maria Carpenter, a volunteer at Helping Hands Pregnancy & Parenting Center in Oakhurst, attended a Tea Party meeting.

"I wanted to know who is out there running for office and to learn more about them ... especially the ones being supported by the Tea Party," Carpenter said. "This is such an important election year."

She said she wants to know who is supportive of the intentions of the founding fathers who were clear that we all have inalienable rights that were given to us by our creator including freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the pursuit of happiness and what candidates support the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

"The fact that the Second Amendment was going to be discussed peeked my interest," Carpenter said.

Carpenter said she was glad she attended the meeting and liked what Paredes had to say.

"It was an excellent meeting that met my expectations and I was impressed with the organization and leadership skills of John and Janae Pero," Carpenter said. "I like being part of a grass roots effort and I hope to help out. The only time people cry out is when they are being oppressed ... and the time is now. I hope to bring a couple friends with me to the next meeting."

More than 700 members in Mountain Area Tea Party

The Oakhurst-Coarsegold Tea Party has grown from about 550 members a year ago to currently more than 700. There are 12 chapters between Mariposa and Bakersfield.

John Pero said what draws people to the Tea Party is their agreement with the party's three core values -- Constitutional limited government, free markets and fiscal responsibility.

"The Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights says the people have the right to own and carry firearms and it may not be violated, yet the government at federal, state and local levels have put unconstitutional restrictions against this right," said Pero after the meeting.

Pero said that Constitutionally limited government means just that -- limited to only what the Constitution says.

"Over the past 150 years politicians have imposed more and more regulations on businesses and individuals and stripped us of our God given and Constitutional rights. They have increasingly raised our taxes to pay for things that are unconstitutional."

Pero feels liberals and progressives say the Constitution is a living document.

"That is complete nonsense," said Pero. "The Constitution does not deal with technology, it deals with human nature. Human nature does not change. If the constitution is a 'living document.' then so is everyone's mortgage. It is a contract. It means what it says, and says what it means. When public officials take office, they swear to uphold the Constitution -- the "contract" with the United States."

Pero said it is the expansion of the government that Tea Party members are so upset with.

"They are tired of the government continually
spending more and more of our tax dollars on entitlement programs or allowing agencies like the EPA which are not subject to voters from the public, to implement regulations which cripple businesses or put the rights of a rat or frog above those of human beings," Pero said. "These types of decisions were to be left to the States and local jurisdictions, not the federal government. More and more people today are fed up with the over reach and bureaucracies of the federal, state and local governments."

Paredes feels the largest impact the Tea Party has had on national politics is the organization has shined the light on everything Congress and the president have done that is unconstitutional and have caused many to take action and speak up.

"Even the mainstream news presents the views of the Democrats, the Republican and the Tea Party, although reluctantly at times," Paredes said. "The media can not avoid it because even Republican leaders admit they are siding with the Tea Party on various issues."

Information, instructions and forms were available at the meeting for obtaining a Concealed Carry Weapons permit through the Madera County Sheriff's Department. The informational packet may be picked-up at the department's Mountain Division office in Oakhurst (559) 642-3201 or downloaded from the department's website by going to madera-county.com.

Details: gunownersca.com.

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Tea Party hosts head of Gun Owners of California