It is true that never did so many owe so much to so few.

Some of our friends in politics have paid the price too. One Senator in particular who stood tall and voted with the facts over the hysteria and then paid a personal price that very few of you could comprehend [trust me, you do not know what he and his family have had to endure] is Senator Mike Gibbons.

You should once again take the time to call and thank Senator Gibbons for standing against the hype and hysteria and voting to allow honest Missourians to defend themselves. He has earned your respect and gratitude.

We should take a few moments to congratulate ourselves for the long and hard fought victories we have accomplished so far. The passage of LTC. The override of the Governor's veto. The survival of the Newman and Miller show. 112 of 114 counties issuing permits.  PLUS... as Tim Oliver reminded me not long ago... ten years from now... HUNDREDS of Missourians will be alive and healthy because we finally passed LTC. Do NOT forget that.

But... we are NOT done... the struggle will continue.

NATIONAL RESULTS

The FIRST Administration in many decades to announce a policy that the Second Amendment IS AN INDIVIDUAL RIGHT just got reelected to four more years. You do NOT have to be a fan of President Bush. Just understand that if it had been President Kerry... things could be VERY different.

But... as in the past, we must ALWAYS remain vigilant to EVERY action at the federal level. And we will.

The AWB has sunseted. The sunset will provide one more tool to demonstrate that those who push the gun-ban, anti-gun-owner movements are devoid of facts and their policies bankrupt.

TIME IS ON OUR SIDE

At the state level, we now have LTC. We KNOW that time IS ON OUR SIDE. That as each month passes... as each year passes... the "controversy" surrounding this law will slowly evaporate as the people of this state discover that LTC is NOT a problem.

As each month goes by and each year goes by the vitriolic garbage that was repeated over and over by the antis about the dire consequences of this law will be PROVEN to be false. If we are smart, we will grow our influence with the law makers and "news" agencies and law enforcement AND our communities while demonstrating that once again, the anti's are "misinformed".

Our credibility will increase. If you follow our advice and remain polite with all you encounter [especially law-enforcement] we WILL be able to rebuild the close ties that used to exist between the gun owning community and law enforcement [that is one of the other long term goals of this movement]. The passage of LTC has put that possibility into OUR hands. Our success or failure at this point will be determined by US and our behavior.

A DEBT WE STILL MUST PAY

Our LTC law is up and running. But we cannot forget the cost to achieve this. One of the costs is the Legal Defense Fund. We still need your contributions,  so please give freely.

WHAT ABOUT THIS COMING YEAR?

As I have said, it has been a long fought struggle and journey... BUT the journey is NOT over. We are not standing at the end, but simply taking a breath at one of the waypoints along this journey.

What will the future hold? We are right where we need to be... at the right point in time... with the right tools at hand. If we keep playing this smart and with a little luck and a smile or two from God, the future indeed can be ours. The path is before us, we need only the courage, strength and wisdom to take the next step.

As always... there is a strategy in play. There are plans being made and remade. These plans and strategies are long term... because this fight is long term.

So... take a breath... reflect on how far we have come... reflect in all that we have accomplished... and prepare for the struggle to come.

After all, the price of liberty IS eternal vigilance.

Greg Jeffery,
Legislative Chairman, Gateway Civil Liberties Alliance
Legislative Coordinator, Missourians for Personal Safety
Designated Part-time Spokesman, Western Missouri Shooters Alliance