The following open letter, written by U.S. Marine Joshua Boston and headlined “No ma’am.,” was posted in the CNN iReport on Dec. 27 with the included note from the producer and photo. It has struck a nerve with many and is being circulated around social media venues like Twitter and Facebook.
CNN PRODUCER NOTE: joshdb50 was a Marine and was deployed to Afghanistan between the years of 2004 through 2005. Although he is no longer in the military he acknowledges that he owns gun. He says he does not believe the government needs to know what guns he owns because he believes registration would lead to confiscation. He says the laws that are in place for gun control are plenty, and adding more laws will remove a means of defense for people. ‘I own the guns I own because I acknowledge mankind’s shortcomings instead of pretending like they don’t exist. There are evil men in this world and there just may be a time when I need to do the unthinkable to protect me or my family,’ he said.
- Jareen, CNN iReport producer
Senator Dianne Feinstein,
I will not register my weapons should this bill be passed, as I do not believe it is the government’s right to know what I own. Nor do I think it prudent to tell you what I own so that it may be taken from me by a group of people who enjoy armed protection yet decry me having the same a crime. You ma’am have overstepped a line that is not your domain. I am a Marine Corps Veteran of 8 years, and I will not have some woman who proclaims the evil of an inanimate object, yet carries one, tell me I may not have one.
I am not your subject. I am the man who keeps you free. I am not your servant. I am the person whom you serve. I am not your peasant. I am the flesh and blood of America.
I am the man who fought for my country. I am the man who learned. I am an American. You will not tell me that I must register my semi-automatic AR-15 because of the actions of some evil man.
I will not be disarmed to suit the fear that has been established by the media and your misinformation campaign against the American public.
We, the people, deserve better than you.
Respectfully Submitted,
Joshua Boston
Cpl, United States Marine Corps
2004-2012
RELATED: Marine describes death threats for writing ‘No ma’am’ letter
A summary of the gun legislation proposed by Feinstein can be found in the following article: Senator Feinstein publishes proposed gun ban legislation
Breitbart’s Warner Todd Huston reached out to the retired Corporal and asked him what motivated him to write the open letter . The following is an excerpt from the published interview:
Warner Todd Huston: What drove you to post this reply to Senator Feinstein?
Joshua Boston: I’ve been seeing this nonsense about gun control in the news since forever. Senator Feinstein regularly touts the effectiveness of the first Assault Weapons Ban while pointing out the “loopholes.” So she proposes this new ban legislation. Given the tragedy that happened recently it has considerably more traction with folks, most who rely in some major way on emotions and what they’re being told by the media about these “Weapons of Mass Destruction.” My Windham Weaponry SRC sits in my home loaded and ready to be used should the need ever arise. It does not make me a criminal.
I’m sick of being told by people in Washington D.C. what is okay for me to own for my own personal defense while they enjoy the safety of many armed guards with better firearms than I have access to. It’s hypocritical.
WTH: In your opinion, what do you think the Second Amendment is for?
JB: Looking at the founder’s times and what they had just gone through, it was something they put in there for us should we ever find ourselves in their shoes and have to reassert, because of whatever manifestation of tyranny, our inherent right to freedom and liberty.
The entire interview is here.
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Joshua Boston is a great American. He walked the ‘wall’ for this country, and yes, he, and us, deserve better. I know, because I walked the ‘wall.’
Sam Page
My e-mail address says enough
Dave,
Since we can’t see your email address, it says nothing at all, brother.
Maybe you might clarify?? I trust your E Mail address isn’t STALIN@ACP. kill ???
Amen, Cpl. Boston. Thank you and all our military for your service to protect us and the freedoms we enjoy. We have so many people surrounding us, trying to destroy our great Nation and what it stands for. We must not allow it to happen. God bless you and all those like you willing to take a stand for right.
Dear Joshua,
Thank you, You’ve certainly expressed my feelings. Diane Feinstein has long been a voice of those who share the radical agenda of the LEFT, who use a ‘knee jerk’ emotional reaction to tragedy, and never miss an opportunity to use that tragedy to further their ‘enslavement agenda.” Her religion and god are LIBERALISM, although I have another couple of words for it. I’ve written her several times and have always gotten a form letter reply telling me how she knows better than I what is in our best interest, very condescendingly in tone. She is a “nanny,” and believes she knows better than the rest of us just what is best for us. Yes, she is a hypocrite and should definitely retire GOD BLESS you, Josha, you are a PATRIOT. GOD BLESS a FREE AMERICA!!!
I write both Feinstein and Boxer regularly as they’re my senators. Feinstein is really quite cordial — when you agree with her. It was about six years ago I wrote about something she did and said I agreed with her and received a very nice letter from her (staff). Every other time I’ve contacted her office, I received the form letter letting me know that I just didn’t understand why her thinking was better than mine.
It would be nice if you could share that letter. Let people read it so they can understand stupid better. lol
we can’t understand stupid and my grandson (12 years old) says “grandma, stupid just can’t be fixed” smart kid.
ONE QUESTION. WHY DO YOU ALLOW THESE, FEINSTEIN, BOXER, WATERS, WAXMAN, TO REPRESENT YOU?
There is a LOT OF STUPID in Cali..
They (Feinsteins, Boxers, Racists Piss Waters etc) don’t! Wolves love to eat their own vomit, swine love to wallow their bane, do not eat the camel dung coming from the Soddy’s Aerabs or the missing (most wanted criminal) citizen of Kenya!
Some of us are outnumbered and our votes just don’t matter. Neither do our letters. We contact our congress critters and get letters back thanking us for our support. We wrote to tell them we did NOT support what they were doing. Just goes to show how much they care and that it doesn’t matter what we are saying to them.
@Ware: 1. – “camel dung” 2. – “Soddy’s Aerabs” 3. – ” the missing (most wanted criminal) citizen of Kenya!”
1. Ware steps up to the plate with racially charged remarks.
2. Ware bears down demonstrating a less than literate command of the English language.
3. Ware swings for the bleachers and whiffs with a genuine Birtherism.
Tough luck big guy, maybe next time up. Here’s some tips for a rational, adult, conversation:
1. Embrace diversity and multiculturalism – being of different colour does not make one your enemy.
2. The English language can be beautiful – try to become proficient in its use.
3. I suspect the onslaught of Fox, Breitbart, Beck, Limbaugh and Alex Jones can really mess with a person’s head, but this is a safe place – you can take the tinfoil hat off.
For some odd reason the message got garbled…. so I repeat:
___________________________________________________________________
@Ware: 1. – “camel dung” 2. – “Soddy’s Aerabs” 3. – ” the missing (most wanted criminal) citizen of Kenya!”
1 – Ware steps up to the plate with racially charged remarks = Strike One!
2 – Ware bears down demonstrating a less than literate command of the English language = Strike Two!
3 – Ware swings for the bleachers and whiffs with a genuine Birtherism = Strike Three! And your out!
Tough luck big guy, maybe next time up. Here’s some tips for a rational, adult, conversation:
1 – Embrace diversity and multiculturalism – being of different colour does not make one your enemy.
2 – The English language can be beautiful – try to become proficient in its use.
3 – I suspect the onslaught of Fox, Breitbart, Beck, Limbaugh and Alex Jones can really mess with a person’s head, but this is a safe place – you can take the tinfoil hat off.
the communist democrats were put in office by the freeloaders of our society , the ones who refuse to get off there asses and do for themselves, they want the govt to take care of them and the feinstines,waters,obamas,boxers,waxmans know the way to a freeloaders vote is through his hand, as long as the stupid people of America think they are getting free stuff the stupid communist democrats will continue to get elected and our God given rights and liberties are taken in exchange for the free stuff the stupid people receive………………….. FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS
1- randog pare lays down his first card … its the race card
2-randog lays down his second card ……another race card
here it come folks !!!
3-randog lays down his third card ….amazing !!! he has another race card
sorry little fella, trip race cards dont cut it, your a LOSER…just like your communist race card carring racist leader obama
Dark_Archer – I just pointed out the ugly reality of Ware’s diatribe.
848484, Look at the districts these people come from in Cali. Feinstein and Boxer both hail from the San Francisco district. Need I say more? People in SF are not representative of the people of the United States of America.
No pare, you just did what all you communist ”social democrats” do, you played the race card because its all you have its what you do , it dont matter what side of the border you live on, a COMMUNIST is a COMMUNIST and a stinkin red COMMIE from canada sucks just as bad as a stinkin red commie from the USA…..maybe even more, because not only do we have to listen to your commie shit, but you dont even live in OUR country and still think your voice commands listening to …..screw you you commie POS
No, Dark_Archer – I responded to the hateful bigoted words Ware was spewing. Nothing more nothing less. If one does not confront such, when you see it – then you are giving it tacit approval. Not a “commie” either, LOL. Canada has a capitalist economy and I support it. The only sectors I agree with “socializing” are essential services like health and education etc.
comrade pare not only are you a communist but your a cowardly one at that …you either dont have the brains or the balls to admit you are …but it dont matter, those of us with eyes, ears, brains and balls know who you are …ya COMMIE POS
Diane Feinstein should have been gone a long time ago. She is another corrupt politician. She should have been gone ever since she headed up committees and for years threw contracts time and again to her husband’s companies. She has made special deals for herself and her husband many times i.e. the prime Trinity Alps property of Northern Calif. near Coffee Creek where a large forest land was taken over by the government; however, a really nice section in the heart of the property right on the lake was “bought” by special accommodation to the Feinstein family.
ray – so now you question someone’s standing because you don’t like the city they are from? LOL
Please do not feed the trolls
Ray Paré: Since you obviously don’t live in this country, I would suggest that you respectfully bow out. There are reasons that people ate commenting the way they are. And, to reply to your thoughts on socializing certain “essential” sectors of society: I lived a mile or so from the Canadian border in the Western U.S. and I heard nothing but complaints from the “Canucks” (no offense intended) about their healthcare system. They said that it looks good on the surface, BUT…when you really needed a life-saving service, you waited, sometimes for months. And, many people died waiting for certain services. Oh, and my ex-mother in law is canadian (so we had a translator…inside family joke), who naturalized as a U.S. citizen because she didn’t want to go back to Canada, seeing how things were going in that country 30 or so years ago. She still has family in Canada, and I used to get a lot of info from her side of the family, so I have a good idea of what I’m writing here.
Right with you man.Glad some body has the balls to stand up and speak out to these IDIOTS! thank you for your service
the two most important things in this world are salvation and freedom both were paid for with precious blood first the blood of Christ,then the blood of many precious brothers and sisters! the day we give up our weapons—bought legally
with back ground checks etc.I have a concealed carry permit to protect myself I’m physically handicapped my family or truly anyone in need. If we had a constitutionally run government we would’nt need such garbage! the day they take our guns they will take our freedom! thanks again for all you’ve done and continue to do Simper FI
Three cheers for this Vet.
He’s right, the government is supposed to serve US. How did we allow ourselves to be subjects to them?
I agree that they have no business knowing what I have in my home to defend myself. They will also be unable to remove them from me. This is supposed to be a free country. An ability fought and died for by many like this Vet. Why should their lives have been in vain to let the Government play daddy over us.
Nope. I don’t care what law they think they can pass if it is against the Constitution, I will FAIL to acknowledge it. If it makes me, a normal working woman into a criminal simply for what I own…. Then I suppose I will be a criminal then.
We voted them in. Many by not voting at all.
Cindy, obomma is in the white house with 27 % of the elegible voters support..
there are more people that did NOT vote , than voted..
we get what we vote for , or an other way to view this , we get what 1 out of 4 elegible voters voted for..
@Patric – it would be wonderful if more people voted in every election – however it is inaccurate to portray this as a reflection on Obama. The voter turnout was slightly lower than 2004 & 08, but it was also higher than each of the presidential elections between 1976 – 2000.
Not voting is many peoples way of saying THEY HAVE WITHDRAWN THEIR CONSENT to be GOVERNED BY PSYCHOS.
This election voter turnout fell well within the norm for average voter turnout in most US elections. Higher than some and lower than some.
Not voting simply says… I don’t care who wins it doesn’t matter to me. It’s not worth my time to get off my lazy butt and vote to save what was once a great nation….
By not voting you have nothing to complain about. Since you’ve allowwed Obama to be re-elected to continue to destroy this country… you need to hide and keep your mouth shut.
All due respect for your opinion, why are you so sure it’s because enough people didn’t vote? I think the deluge of reports on voting corruption in 2012 speaks for itself.
The American people do not elect the president. The electoral college does. Do we get to vote for them? No! Do we even know who they are? No! Do we know how they actually voted? No! Who selects them? Are they bound by some law to vote as the electorate dictates? How can they call a race before it’s even over? Who made the decision to put aside paper ballots in favor of electronic voting that can be manipulated? Why can’t the military get their votes counted? Why do we the people not have any say at all in who the nominees are? Only the 2 recognized parties can do that. Why is the Independent candidate dismissed as soon as he/she announces? Please…………….. if you have answers to these questions tell me. Oh, and one more question. If the current resident of the white house has nothing to hide, why is he paying so much money to keep his past hidden? No other president in history has had to do that. More importantly, why can’t we the people get the representation that our taxes pay for? Is it because not enough people vote?
yes, Yes, YES! You tell her, Joshua! There should be many, many more persons who speak like you do, maybe then the socialist idiots in Washington will start to fear US, instead of us living in fear of their passing these laws which are designed make us subjects/slaves to the very people who we elected and are SUPPOSED to represent us. These jack-asses need to know that WE ARE SERIOUS about our desire to keep our country FREE. They need to believe that we INTEND to do it!
I too was in ’62 to ’65. I agree 100% with Joshua, The ones who really care about all things in life seem to be the ones to step up and offer to give up something ( more freedoms)! There is a limit as to just how much should be given up!!!! I for one think it’s time for the ones who don’t care about anyone but themselves to bear the brunt!! ENOUGH!
Well, said Joshua.
i have done the walk to..circa viet nam…he says it all and i agree with him completely
We are already half way to situation which is now in England (of course, Canada is almost there. In late sixties you did not hear about any shooting in Toronto. Since prohibition of the hand guns, there is no day without shooting over there). Gun laws of 1968 are word by word based on the Nazi laws signed by Hitler in 1938. That is what “we the People” allowed our elected politicians to do .Dictatorial government does not care about well being of the citizens any more. Read the Constitution what you are allowed to do, but be careful, you will be branded as terrorist, enemy of state, as you would be in any communist country. Over there is not very smart to say publicly what is in the Constitution, unless you do not care being prosecuted and rot in some place, forgotten by outside world.
The ONLY reason for the gun control is the control by the Government of the own population. With usurping more and more power (Nazi Germany, all former communist countries and any dictatorship) there is the danger for such governments, that population of the country will start to defend themselves and have means to overthrow such Government. Criminals are in minority and never any danger to the government. Gun control is the goal of any dictatorship to which EVERY government is turning with the time. Obama’s administration is a good example of that. Gun control through history produces one result: Genocide.
AMEN! and may I add that Feinstein is one of the “THREE STOOGES” from the Democrat state of California, the other two stooges are Pelosi and Boxer… That state is doomed, one of the highest property taxes, one of the highest taxes on everything you buy, one of the highest annual DMV tag renewals on autos and the list goes on… $16 BILLION in debt (I believe the highest of all states) with the highest paid police force, CHP with average annual pay of $120,000 a year, the highest paid Correctional Officers, $95,000 annual pay and both of these groups can retire with 90% of the highest paid year after 20yrs. This state has well over 500 agency’s with many offices across the state all earning high salaries with full benefit’s, early retirement with befits after 20 yrs. This state created over 200 new agencies in just the last 20 yrs, and also the top of the pay scale is those holding office like Moon-Bean, Boxer, Feinstein, and all the rest of the elected clowns holding office. Oh and don’t start feeling sorry for the poor teachers just yet when the average in calif. make over $70,000 a year and the average worker in a private company (IF he or she still has a job) makes around $27-$33,000 a year.
It is amazing how we got her slant before the story.I think I can make a objective decision without you trying to sway me. I am sure your article will show your views.Sorry I do not need you to lead me.
I agree with the Cpl, the liberals have always wanted to suppress speech, they think down the road when they disarm the population we will be easier to control if we can’t fight back, that’s why the framers put the 2nd amendment into the bill, to protect us from our own Government.
He’s not a hero defending himself and loved ones from unwarrented aggression.
He’s a paid mercenary exterminating former Arab friends for defending their homes from invading, Zionist bulldozers that the US set up, enabed and empowered to do so.
fuck you and your arab friends….you like their muslim asses so much you go fight for em you fucking loser…the only good muslim is a dead muslim
cousineau, Two towers down. 3000+ INNOCENT dead! You call that unwarrented. Go back to France or Quebec.
Sam, I agree with you wholeheartedly.
Yes you a 100% right!
No truer words could ever be spoken, and the best part was that we deserve better than Ms Feinstein. We deserve much better than her, Obama, Pelosi, Reid and many other idiots that are suppose to be serving us.
No crazier words you mean – he seemed ready to pop a gasket.
TO R. PARE: I was born at a lucky time. I was missed WW2, korea, Veitnam, and ALL the others, but if you even BARELY think Josh has crazy thoughts, and is ready to pop…then I am ABSOLUTELY crazy. Wake up and take a look at the REAL world around you. Honest citizens, loyal citizens, LEGAL citizens, FREE citizens are being stomped on by THIS administration, buried alive in debt by ob’s czars, illegal appointees, ob’s GIVING of billions of dollars of tax payer’s monies to muslim and terrorist countries, then BORROWING that money back WITH INTEREST, GIVING to Arabia 20 of the most expensive airplanes, anduntold millions to China, (they, and every country we give money to openly declare their hatred of America, but ob WILL NOT stand behind Isreal, the ONE a d ONLY country WE can depend on) MOST of the countries we GIVE money to…have the RICHEST men alive. Quit GIVING and stupidly SPENDING on the UN, and funding that “single world ldictatorship” advocate and we would come out of the red real quick. He AND I, are going to keep our guns.
Go home Randy, your drunk.
I’ll go ahead and fix my your to you’re before Randy the grammer Nazi gets me.
@ Petter Randy is right,,and you are a Pantywaist.
He’s not a hero defending himself and loved ones from unwarrented aggression.
He’s a paid mercenary exterminating former Arab friends for defending their homes from invading, Zionist bulldozers that
the US set up, enabed and empowered to do so.
He was very likely brought up on food stamps and welfare just like the anal lusting Nazi’s that pushed six million innocent Jews into gas chambers who also paid taxes (like our food stamps and welfare) used to breed them.
The Jews in Nazi Germany litterally paid taxes used to pay for breeding their own executioners.
How long before the same thing happens to us stupid Americans?
Randy
You are seriously in need of a plexiglass bellybutton. With your head so far up your ( ! ) you definitely need a porthole to see the light of day! You are talking so much $#|¥ that people can see the crap between your teeth. One thing is inescapable though….truth exposes lies.
if youy want a free america you have to stand up for our gun rights, stand up and be counted
I don’t know how wize it is for people to own guns who will invade and kill former friends for money.
People that are only defending their homes from invading Zionists buldozers that the US set up.
fuck you ya muzzy lovin commie POS …THE ONLY GOOD MUZZY IS A DEAD MUZZY
“muzzy” — Dark_Archer – please step in to the modern world and let go of all that bigoted baggage… I mean seriously, what’s next wearing white hood and forming lynch mobs? — smh
comrade pare the commie squeeks again ….i dont know about the white hoods but lynching communist and terrorist is a great idea
God bless this man for writing such a note, and God bless all of our men and women in uniform.
What a beautiful young man. Praise be to our Lord for creating someone with his courage.
@ Carolyn I could not have said it better! God bless you, Joshua Boston and America too!
Nore shall I depart with any of my weapons. That is unless Obama and the AG decides to give me some like the Drug Cartel or the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt
Talk to Holder,tell him you have friends in Mexico
You do realize, speaking of arming drug cartels. the Mexican drug cartels get the arms from the border states, where they are bought like sandwiches, at gun shops and gun shows. The drug cartels are armed with American bought assault weapons…and that is a fact.
Do me a favor, please. Define “assault weapon”.
That is not a FACT that guns in Mexico come from the USA – that is mostly myth. There are of course, some guns from the USA in Mexico, but far from ALL. MOST of the guns in Mexico come from their southern neighbors – get a clue and get educated before spewing more liberal vomit please!
judy you poor slobbering obot, the drug cartels are armed with American bought guns given them by the obama administration through operation Fast and Furious …its ignorant uninformed ”voters” like you that elected the communist democrats like feinstein and obama….and that is a FACT
Actually that myth, Dark_Archer – has been exposed. We now know the truth about that ATF office’s operations and local prosecutors – NOTHING at all like Issa & Co. tried to claim…. smh
WRONG AGAIN COMRADE PARE …… run along you royal subject you , your Queenie is calling, leave this to us free men who are subjects of no living being, our second Amendment rights are God given and no man or king can take them away…..you know the truth …… YOU COULDN’T HANDEL THE TRUTH ….LOSER,
Dark_Archer – I am a free citizen, perhaps you think the monarchy still rules? It does not it is only a cultural tradition. As for your Constitutional rights – they are not “god given” they were granted by those who drafted the legislation, acting on behalf of the people. God appears nowhere in the Constitution.
I can handle all sorts of truth, can you?
comrade pare your a commie ,you can call yourself anything you want but your still a Godless commie POS
My ”right” to self preservation is God given and it dont mater whats written in OUR constitution you have no input here, your a slave to your rulers …now run along and be a good little subject
Yes, they are getting guns on the sly from out of these state…but you didn’t mention, or recognize, the fact that they ARE…
getting more guns (other than that “fast and furious deal the ob administration pulled) from the eastern and northeastern states (just TWO of those are supplying more than all four of the border states combined). You are evidently one of those people who, every time they open their mouth, they put their foot in it.
Thank you for your service and thank you for not backing down.
JOSHUA BOSTON,
NO ONE COULD HAVE SAID THIS ANY BETTER.
We need more people like you to speak up. I salute you. and thank you for helping to keep AMERICA FREE.
GOD BLESS YOU AND ALL OUR VERERANS AND TROOPS May you have a safe an Healthy new year.
GOD BLESS AMERICA <3 <3
Senators. Feinstein, Boxer, Reid, Baldwin and other left liberal, anti-gun zealots are going to push, force all their anti-gun propaganda all they can, to achieve their goals of banning all guns and to null and void the 2nd Amendment. Obama and Biden and Mayors Bloomberg and Emanuel are supporting all the left liberal, anti-gun zealots Unconstitutional bans, laws and destruction of the 2nd Amendment too…… Call them all, write them all and let them know that you also, will not tolerate or not accept their Anti-American, Traitorism behavior..
I do not Trust a Government that doesn’t Trust me.
I only Fear a Government that doesn’t Fear me.
We are a Republic because the true definition of Democracy is Two Wolves and One Sheep deciding what’s for Dinner.
God Bless America, may she rise from the ashes of the Tyrants that currently control her.