Three Madison Award Winners
The Second Amendment Foundation is proud to announce that three people will be receiving Madison Awards this quarter. Madison Awards are given in the spirit of James Madison, Fourth U.S. President and author of the Second Amendment.
Robert Lucas, Mike Royko and Jeremi McCarroll are recognized for presenting pro-gun contributions in either articles or speeches. Their voices provide a crucial counterweight in an otherwise anti-gun media.
Our first recipient, Robert Lucas, wrote the article entitled, "Hunting Rhinos", for the May 1, 1995 National Review. His story dealt with the "Black Rhino" ammo scam.
Mr. Lucas characterized the media as both gullible and ignorant for falling for the claims of "an unknown chemist" turned manufacturer without checking into his claims. The chemist’s bullets could allegedly pierce body armor or explode a human body with one shot.
Despite these outrageous claims, Lucas wrote, "But the facts were not allowed to get in the way of a good story. AP and UPI, the three major networks, hundreds of daily newspapers, and the other dependable allies of the anti-gun movement bit like rising trout." He also reported on how Rep. Charles Schumer and Sen. Patrick Moynihan, "raced to get before the cameras to propose legislation banning the infernal contraptions."
Lucas continued that, "Mr. Schumer’s legislation, construed by the BATF under the supervision of the Clinton White House, could have resulted in banning most of the ammunition currently produced for hunting." Fortunately, this anti bullet craze was slowed when, "Someone in the media had done the unthinkable: inquired into the facts," stated Lucas.
He concluded that since the ABC Nightline episode, "mention of Black Rhino has become as scarce as -- well, as scarce as black rhinos."
Our second recipient is syndicated columnist Mike Royko from the Chicago Tribune for his article entitled, "Feelings About Guns Not Concealed Long." His column on the concealed carry movement around the nation and in Illinois appeared in the Brownville Herald on May 3rd.
Mr. Royko created a balanced article by asking people, "If you could legally carry a concealed handgun, would you?" He was surprised by some of the responses to this question.
One woman who had always been afraid of guns and was for strict gun control stated in the article that, "But would I carry one if it were legal? Absolutely. I’m sure that with proper instruction, I could learn to use it." She went on to describe how she was followed home one night from the bus and was nervous about a possible assault.
Another woman stated that, "A friend I work with has carried one for a couple of years, ever since she was attacked. The police have no way of knowing, and if she ever had to use it to defend herself, I doubt if anyone would blame her." This woman said she would join her friend and start carrying a firearm if it were made legal.
Several people in the article, including a tavern owner, objected to the idea. However, the people who wanted to have a concealed carry law presented much stronger arguments.
Mike Royko concluded that the Illinois carry law would not succeed because, "Gov. Edgar would have to sign any new gun law." And Royko doubted that the governor would sign the legislation.
Our third recipient is fourteen year old Jeremi McCarroll who researched, wrote and presented a speech entitled "The Second Amendment. Original Intent-Current Abuses-Suggested Remedies." The speech attracted over 300 listeners in Boise, Idaho and prompted a SAF member to nominate him.
Jeremi McCarroll starts out by detailing the story of Polly Przybyl, who was stalked by an abusive husband. When he tried to break in to her mother’s home, Polly dialed 911 and the assailant fled. Unfortunately, the police took her legally owned firearms under a policy of removing guns from the home of any domestic disturbance. The husband returned again, this time stabbing his now unarmed wife and shooting her mother with a rifle.
McCarroll then spoke on how some look at the Second Amendment as a collective right but he stated that, "But I submit to you that this was not the intention of the Founding Fathers when they wrote this amendment." He continued by quoting William Blackstone on how the "right to self defense is the first law of nature" and James Madison, author of the Second Amendment.
He then told of how Alysha Jackson, who was also threatened by an abusive husband, used a gun to protect herself when he broke into her home. McCarroll concluded that, "Polly Przybyl died, because her right to protect herself was ignored. Alysha Jackson lived, because her right was respected."