By Tim Inwood
From where the Bush administration’s Justice Department began, I find myself shaking my head in disbelief at where we are now.
In 2001, Senator John Ashcroft was appointed Attorney General. Shortly thereafter John Ashcroft put forward a statement concerning the fact the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was in fact an individual right. To most of us this is common sense, but you have to remember this was actually a huge step forward, as this had not been done before by the Justice Department and it rocked some segments of the Washington D.C. establishment. Attorney General Ashcroft was immediately denounced by the Brady Campaign, as well as other anti-gun organizations, for this bold step forward. It was a great day in America in my view.
Shortly after that, we were attacked on September 11th and the World changed. Ashcroft issued some rulings most unpopular with liberals and I suppose he grew weary of being constantly denounced in the leftist press. He tendered his resignation and returned to private life. I was sorry to see him leave the post, but well understood the headaches of working for government and the desire to get out of the crossfire.
Sadly, when Ashcroft stepped down from the post, he was replaced by Alberto Gonzales, a man who had served as Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court and an old friend of the President. But he was a mediocre Attorney General and he was not a fan of the Second Amendment or American gun owners. I thought the Bush Justice department had hit bottom with his selection. Unfortunately I was wrong.
