“Guns only have two enemies; rust and politicians”

“Guns (only) have two enemies: rust and politicians” is a popular saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as T-shirts, posters and bumper stickers. The pro-gun (pro-Second Amendment) saying has been cited in print since at least 2000 and is of unknown authorship.
 
 
Google Groups: rec.motorcycles.harley
OT - GUN
Karl Fengler (HOG FVR)
10/13/00
You may have seen this or something like it… you may like it or hate it, ...but it’s worth reading.

Subject: Guns
(...)
n.. Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Politicians.
 
Google News Archive
23 October 2002, The Ledger (Lakeland, FL), Letter to the Editor, Pg. A14, col. 3:
Firearms only have two enemies: rust and politicians.
   
The Second Amendment is about the private, personal ownership of home land-defense firearms, not duck hunting.
TERRY FLYNN
Lakeland
 
Google News Archive
24 December 2002, The Ledger (Lakeland, FL), Letters to the Editor, pg. A10, col. 5:
Firearms only have two enemies: rust and politicians. The Second Amendment isn’t about duck hunting.
TERRY FLYNN
Lakeland
   
Google Books
Giggles, Gags, and Quips:
Special Picks
By Thomas F. Shubnell
Published by author
2008
Pg. 156:
Guns only have two enemies; rust and politicians.
 
Google Books
Politically Un-Correct:
America’s Crisis and Some Ways We Can Save Our Country
By Robert Alan
Bloomington, IN: iUniverse
2012
Pg. 95:
Guns have only two enemies; rust and politicians.
 
Twitter
fubaglady
‏@fubaglady
Between Rust and Politicians, Rust is the lesser of 2 evils… pic.twitter.com/jAQ9BXRm
6:13 PM - 17 Dec 2012