The following is taken from the March, '92 issue of Survival Guide.  It is
a comparison of Nazi propaganda techniques and those used by the anti-gun
groups.  The author has finally put on paper what I've been saying for
years, and he's done a fine job of it.  HCI and their ilk have learned very
well from Hitler's Mein Kampf.  All text in the article is included, with
the exception of captions from the three illustrations.

The author of the article is president of the Keystone Second Amendment
Association, a pro-firearms ownership organization based in Pennsylvania.
(P.O. Box 361, Curwensville, PA  16833)

Transcribed to disk by Doug Burnham, NRA Life, CRPA Life and staunch pro-
gun activist.  Any errors in transcription are solely mine.
===========================================================================

                      National Socialist/Socialist::
                      ==============================

                       Anti-Gun-Ownership Propaganda

                A comparison of Nazi propaganda techniques
               and those used by the powerful anti-firearms-
              ownership movement in America and disseminated
                        by our national media. . .

                               by Doan Boal

  You have heard that the anti-gun movement is duplicating the tactics that
Hitler used to disarm Germany prior to World War II, but is this true?

  Handgun Control, Inc, (HCI) is waging a major propaganda war against the
United States, with the help of the socialist media elite, and some
powerful politicians.  Their lies were once totally disregarded by most
people, but today, the majority of the people seem to believe the anti-
gunners.  Why is this?

  In 1925 Adolf Hitler wrote Mein Kampf, and gave the world an opportunity
to see into his mind.  Hitler wrote about the Nazi movement from its
infancy, and gave us insights as to his intentions.  In 1939, Mein Kampf
was translated into English and distributed in America.  But few people
took the time to read Mein Kampf.  After all, the predictions being made
about Hitler's intentions were crazy, and few people could comprehend them,
much less believe them.

  Today we must deal with people, even fellow gun owners, who do not
believe that the present gun control attempts are leading to total gun
confiscation and a police state.  They, like the "unbelievers" in 1939,
will not take the time to research this movement.  If they did, they would
see that these warnings are indeed accurate and timely.

  Mein Kampf contains two chapters on propaganda (War Propaganda, and
Propaganda and Organization), and Hitler laid out an extensive propaganda
plan in his book, a plan that would change the history of the world.  From
reading these two chapters, we can learn that Hitler was an expert on
psychology, psychological warfare, and brainwashing.  Hitler probably knew
more about the human mind and behavior -- and how to control both -- than
almost anyone else of his time.

  I do not think that we need to argue his knowledge or success in this
area.  History quite clearly shows us the powerful effect that Hitler had
on people and what he motivated them to do.

  And today, in America, Hitler's technique are being used again, to
destroy the United States and personal liberties.

  The anti-gun movement's main propaganda themes seem to be that (1) guns
and gun owners are the root of all evil, and (2) that they (the socialist
anti-gunners) are our only hope against the spreading plague of crime.  In
Mein Kampf, Hitler's main propaganda themes seem to be that (1) Jews and
Jewry are the root of all evil, and (2) that Hitler was Germany's best hope
against the spreading communist revolution.

  To understand the movements, we must understand what propaganda is.
Simply put, propaganda can be outright lies, distorted facts, and/or truth,
combined to change a person's thoughts on a subject.

  According to Hitler, "The task of propaganda lies not in a scientific
training of the individual, but rather in directing the masses towards
certain facts, events, necessities, etc., the purpose being to move their
importance into the masses' field of vision."  (page 231)

  We can see this in HCI's propaganda, as they also stick to a few main
points and repeat them over and over.  How many times do they draw out
attention to the Hinkley shooting, the Purdy shooting, or the AK47 rifle?
Rather than use many different crimes as examples of their propaganda, they
concentrate on a handful of well known crimes.

  Hitler believed that propaganda had to be very simple, so the average
person, with a very short attention span, could understand it.  He stayed
away from complicated ideas and stuck to a few basic and easy to understand
ideas.

  Hitler said, "The more modest then, its scientific ballast is, and the
more it exclusively considers the feelings of the masses, the more striking
will be its success. . .  This is just the art of propaganda that it,
understanding the great masses' world of ideas and feelings, finds, by a
correct psychological form, the way to the attentions, and further to the
heart, of the great masses."  (pages 232-233)

  Basically, Hitler says, KEEP IT SIMPLE!

  He goes on to say, "The great mass of people is not composed of diplomats
or even teachers of political law, nor even of purely reasonable
individuals who are able to pass judgement, but of human beings who are as
undecided as they are inclined towards doubts and uncertainty."  (pages
236-7)
  This is quite true, as very few people have taken the time to learn how
the political system and legislative process works, not to mention the U.S.
Constitution, and what it means.  These people are "ripe for the harvest"
of a propaganda expert.

  Hitler also said, "The people, in an overwhelming majority, are so
feminine in their nature and attitude that their activities and thoughts
are motivated less by sober consideration than by feeling and sentiment."
(page 237)

  Look again at the gun control battle.  Are people taking the time to
study the issue individually before making a decision?  No, rather they see
images on TV of dead bodies, body bags, pools of blood, and a gun lying
next to a corpse.  They see victims in pain and they see next of kin crying
over lost loved ones.  They allow their emotions to take over, and base
their opinions on these emotions, rather than "sober consideration."
Television has become the most effective brainwashing tool to turn gun
control into an emotional issue.  We are all human, and none of us enjoys
seeing weeping relatives or crime victims lying in the street.  Those among
us who are strong see these images and decide to prepare to resist an
attack to ourselves and our families.  Those among us who are weak, succumb
to the brainwashing techniques and think that guns are evil.

  Why is HCI, a relatively small organization (in comparison to the large
number of citizens who own firearms), so successful in their repeated
attacks against us?

  Hitler answers this:  "When propaganda has filled a whole people with an
idea, the organization, with the help of a handful of people, can draw the
consequences.  Propaganda and organization -- that means followers and
members -- have thus a definite mutual relationship.  The better propaganda
has been working, the smaller may be the organization, and the greater the
number of members and vice versa:  the worse propaganda is, the greater
must and will be the organization and the smaller the host of followers of
a movement remains, the greater must be the number of members, if it still
wants to count on success at all."  (page 851)

Chipping Away -- From Hitler's words, and HCI's example, we can see that
they will continue to chip away at our firearms freedoms.  As long as the
vast majority of gun owners and freedom loving Americans remain sitting on
the sidelines, we can expect things to get even worse.  It is insane to
think that HCI will back down, or be satisfied with only the Brady Bill,
they have only just begun their attack, and we have much more to come.

  We can consider the leaders of the anti-gun movement (and their media
elitist friends) to be experts in the art of propaganda.  They most
definitely know what they are doing, and they are very successful.

  Hitler said, ". . . for this (propaganda) is also only a weapon, though a
frightful one, in the hands of an expert."  (page 230)

  Frightful indeed!  We can see the propaganda masters taking our freedom
and our fellow citizens (the "masses") are practically begging them to do
it.
  HCI  is known for sticking to a handful of basic lies or statements,
which they repeat constantly.  The result is that the average person
(Hitler calls them "the masses," while Lenin called them "useful idiots")
has these ideas hammered into him/her, until eventually they agree with
HCI, and are won over to HCI's side.

  According to Hitler, "Now the purpose of propaganda is not continually to
produce interesting changes for a few blase little masters, but to
convince; that means, to convince the masses.  The masses, however, with
their inertia, always need a certain time before they are ready even to
notice a thing, and they will lend their memories only to the thousandfold
repetition of the most simple ideas."  (page 239)

  Do you not see HCI using the same lies thousands of times, per Hitler's
instructions?  We are referred to as "the lunatic fringe," "gun nuts," and
"bullies."  The scary sounding terms they use repeatedly, such as "assault
weapon," "cop killer bullet," or "Saturday Night Special" hammered into our
heads as a brainwashing tool.  Add to this the slogans "Has the NRA gone
off the deep end?"  "How many more have to die?"  "If we can save just one
life . . ."  "We're working to keep guns out of the wrong hands" etc., and
you have a very effective propaganda campaign in use.  We are merely
hearing slight variations of the main propaganda theme, that guns and gun
owners are the root of all evil.  They make sure that they stick to their
main theme, as this is absolutely critical to the success of their
movement.

  Hitler said, "All advertising, whether it lies in the field of business
or of politics, will carry success by continuity and regular uniformity of
application."  (page 240)

  Hitler goes on to say, "The great masses' receptive ability is only very
limited, their understanding small, but their forgetfulness is great.  As a
consequence of these facts, all effective propaganda has to limit itself
only to a very few points and to use slogans until even the last man is
able to imagine what is intended by such a word.  As soon as one sacrifices
this basic principle and tries to become versatile, the effect will fritter
away, as the masses are neither able to digest the material offered nor to
retain it.  Thus the result is weakened and finally eliminated."  (page
234)

  This is true, as most people rely solely on the mass media for their
news, and never take the time to see if the news reports are actually true.
We tend to have very short memories as well.  Can you remember what you
were doing nine days ago, what the lead story was on the news three days
ago, or just one or two campaign promises that George Bush has not broken?

  In the beginning of the anti-gun movement, most people did not believe
the anti-gun lies.  They knew that all the scheming and dreaming would not
eliminate crime, but rather that it would strip them of their liberties.
By utilizing effective propaganda techniques, HCI has managed to change
quite a few minds.  This is especially evident when we look at the Brady
Bill votes in the U.S. House of Representatives.  A few years ago, when the
House voted on the Brady Bill, it was defeated by 24 votes.  This time it
won by 53 votes.  Why the drastic change?  Simple, by not giving up on
their never ending propaganda campaign, they brainwashed more people into
joining their side, including many who used to be pro-gun (at least seven
of those "Representatives" that voted anti-gun had received NRA PAC money
for their prior support).

  Hitler said, "Here, too, the enemy's war propaganda (he is referring to
World War I) set a typical example.  It was limited to a few points of
view, calculated exclusively for the masses, and it was carried out with
untiring persistency.  Basic ideas and forms of execution which had once
been recognized as being right were employed throughout the entire war, and
never did one make even the slightest change.  At the beginning it was
apparently crazy in the impudence of its assertions, later it became
disagreeable, and finally it was believed."  (page 240)

Spreading The Idea -- Hitler goes on to say, "In every great revolutionary
movement propaganda will first have to spread the idea of the movement.
That means, it will untiringly try to make clear to the others the new
train of thought, to draw them over to its own ground, or at least to make
them doubtful of their own previous conviction."  (page 852)

  HCI has managed to change society's view of gun ownership.  Guns used to
be considered normal, healthy and in many instances, necessary.  Today,
more and more people believe that guns are evil, and somehow responsible
for crime.  This change of though did not just "happen," it was brought
about by clever propaganda use.

  Make no mistake about it, HCI and the gun grabbing elitists want nothing
short of taking all of our guns.  The Brady Bill is just their first step.
Sound crazy?  Sure, and that is why it is working!  But don't take my word
for it, let's see what the anti-gunners have said about their devious plan,
in their own words:

  "This is the first step" -- U.S. Representative Edward Feighan, referring
to the Brady Bill (which he introduced) at recent House hearings.

  "We're going to have to take one step at a time, and the first step is
necessarily -- given the political realities -- going to be very modest...
So we'll have to start working again to strengthen that law, and then again
to strengthen the next law, and maybe again and again.  Right now though,
we'd be satisfied not with half a loaf but with a slice.  Our ultimate goal
-- total control of handguns in the United States -- is going to take
time... The first problem is to slow down the increasing number of handguns
being produced and sold in this country.  The second problem is to get
handguns registered.  And the final problem is to make possession of all
handguns and all handgun ammunition -- except for military, policemen,
licensed security guards, licensed sporting clubs, and licensed gun
collectors -- totally illegal." -- Pet Shields, Chairman Emeritus, Handgun
Control, Inc.  (interview appearing in The New Yorker, July 26, 1976)

  "This is not all we will have in future Congresses, but this is a crack
in the door.  There are too many handguns in the hands of citizens.  The
right to keep and bear arms has nothing to do with the Brady Bill." -- U.S.
Representative Craig Washington, at the mark-up hearing on the Brady Bill,
April 10, 1991.
  "Handguns should be outlawed.  Our organization will probably take this
stand in time but we are not anxious to rouse the opposition before we get
the other legislation passed." -- Elliot Corbett, Secretary, National
Council For A Responsible Firearms Policy (interview appeared in the
Washington Evening Star on September 19, 1969).

  "It is our aim to ban the manufacture and sale of handguns to private
individuals. . .the coalition's emphasis is to keep handguns out of private
possession -- where they do the most harm."  Recruiting flyer currently
distributed by The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, formerly called The
National Coalition to Ban Handguns.

  "Yes, I'm for an outright ban (on handguns)." -- Pete Shields, Chairman
emeritus, Handgun Control, Inc., during a 60 Minutes interview.

  "We are at the point in time and terror where nothing short of a strong
uniform policy of domestic disarmament will alleviate the danger which is
crystal clear and perilously present.  Let us take the guns away from the
people.  Exemptions should be limited to the military, the police, and
those licensed for good and sufficient reasons.  And I would look forward
to the day when it would not be necessary for the policeman to carry a
sidearm." -- Patrick V. Murphy, former New York City Police Commissioner,
and now a member of Handgun Control's National Committee, during testimony
to the National Association of Citizens Crime Commissions.

  "My experience as a street cop suggests that most merchants should not
have guns.  But I feel even stronger about the average person having
them...most homeowners...simply have no need to own guns." -- Joseph
McNamara, HCI spokesman, and former Chief of Police of San Jose,
California.

  "I don't want to go for confiscation, but that is where we are going." --
Daryl Gates, Police Chief of Los Angeles, California.

  "There may be other things that will happen later... It may not be the
end... the bottom line is what we are seeking now is the Brady Bill." --
U.S. Representative Charles Schumer, interviewed on CNN Crossfire.

  "The Brady Bill is the minimum step Congress should take...we need much
stricter gun control, and eventually should bar the ownership of handguns,
except in a few cases." -- U.S. Representative William Clay, quoted in the
St. Louis Post Dispatch on May 6, 1991.

  "It's only the first step, it's not going to be enough...we've got to go
beyond that, and I hope we'll do it this session of Congress." -- U.S.
Representative Edward Feighan during an interview on ABC News Nightline.

  These people are quite clear as to their true intentions, that is, to
totally disarm the American citizenry.  Make no mistake about it, they are
winning, and we are losing.

  If you are not already involved in fighting to preserve our right to
possess firearms, I strongly urge you to get involved.  Join one or more of
the national pro-gun organizations.  But do not stop there.  If you expect
to win this war, you must be willing to stand up and get involved.  The
national progun groups simply are unable to hold the tide anymore.  We must
supplement their work with grass roots work at the local level.

  Join a local pro-gun grass roots group, and if there aren't any in your
area, start one of your own.  Meet with politicians when they are in your
area.  Write letters, make phone calls, and vote.  Organize people and
educate the "masses."

  While we may have truth on our side, the people are not listening to the
truth.  The believe the lies and will not take the time to find out that
they are indeed lies.  This will only get worse.  We do not have the odds
in our favor, as the anti-gun forces are well entrenched and powerfully
armed.  But we must resist or we will most certainly lose.  Make no doubt
about that.  Get involved immediately!

                                    -§-

------------------------------------------------
(This file was found elsewhere on the Internet and uploaded to the
Patriot FTP site by S.P.I.R.A.L., the Society for the Protection of
Individual Rights and Liberties. E-mail alex@spiral.org)