EDITORIAL
I heard this bit of wisdom once: “I’d rather explain to a judge why I was carrying a gun than tell St. Peter why I didn’t.” I firmly believe in the 2nd Amendment and by law every citizen has the right to keep and bear arms and to defend his/her family. I believe it means more than just “. . . the right to keep and bear arms.” Personally, I believe it says that I’m a free man and I have the right to remain free using whatever means of protection I have, especially firearms. I believe I have the right to protect myself from my enemies as well as my government (our ancestors did this in the Revolutionary War). I don’t have to tell you what would have happened if England had made our ancestors turn in their rifles and shotguns back in the 1700’s. You would now be required to bow and kiss the Queen wherever she wanted you to kiss.
That’s a little harsh and maybe a bit raw but it got your attention. England collected (took from their citizens) firearms in the UK, Canada, and Australia. Look up the statistics and see what happened. Crime jumped over 300% because all the crooks knew that the people had no means of protection other than baseball bats, shovels, garden hoes, or kitchen knives. Let’s face it; it’s like a card game a 357 magnum or a sawed off shotgun will beat a pair of baseball bats every time. They will even win over Karate and I don’t care how many boards you can break with your bare feet, hands, or teeth.
This is reprinted from the September 2002 issue of the California Rifle and Pistol Association newsletter THE FIRING LINE #873.
“In 1997, England’s response to the 1996 acts of a crazed gunman in Dunblane, Scotland was to ban handguns. Rather than place the blame squarely on the shoulders of a murderous madman and a police force that refused to investigate numerous complaints against him, gun-ban extremists fanned the flames of anti-gun hysteria that swept the country, and all law-abiding gun owners were held accountable. Of course, banning handguns did nothing to reduce crime. The INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY, along with its online outlet, the independent.co.uk, reported that England (along with Wales) now has the ignoble distinction of experiencing more crime per capita than 17 other developed countries analyzed by the UN interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute.”
“England and Wales ranked first in “very serious” offenses, and second in “contact crime” – which includes robbery, sexual assault, and assault with force. “Contact crime” was experienced by 3.6% of those surveyed in England and Wales, compared to 1.9% in the U.S. This latest report reinforces the growing concern over rising crime – especially firearm-related crime – in England. Crime involving firearms increased 8% last year, while handgun use in crime rose 9%. The 1997 ban appears to have had no effect on criminals accessing firearms, as most criminologist could have explained, and the number of handgun-related crimes was higher last year than it has been since 1993. The SUNDAY MIRROR reported that some Members of Parliament (MP) are calling for the ban to be revisited. Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik wrote England’s home Secretary, David Blunkett, stating, “The Government should be bold enough to admit that the law has not worked and review the ban.”
“Anyone who wants to get hold of a firearm to commit a crime can buy a gun illegally.” Unfortunately for England’s subjects who may be interested in obtaining a handgun for protection against the skyrocketing increase in crime, the MIRROR reported that sources close to Blunkett are certain reviewing the ban is “extremely unlikely.”
For what it’s worth, here’s my opinion and thoughts:
By law every citizen in the United States has the right to keep and bear arms.
Every person has the right to defend themselves and their family with whatever means they have available including firearms.
Guns save lives and guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens reduce crime.
A person is less likely to be robbed if the robber thinks the victim ‘might’ have a gun.
Think about this for a moment. You really wouldn’t have to carry a gun if a law was passed that said everyone can carry one. Criminals wouldn’t know who they could rob safely. They certainly don’t want to be shot themselves; they just want to intimidate you, not be intimidated themselves.
Here are my thoughts:
Let’s ban all gun laws.
Make it mandatory that every school teach gun safety. (Don’t they teach driving safety and how to have safe sex? Why not teach them safe gun handling?)
Make Rifle/Pistol teams as much a part of our schools’ curriculum as baseball, football, volleyball, soccer, and basketball. Even handicapped students could participate in this sport.
Open up target ranges throughout the city and have companies sponsor shooting teams like bowling teams. Remember, one day you may get too old to participate in these other sports but you’ll never be too old to be on a shooting team.
I’ve heard that Irag is honoring our 2nd amendment in their country. Unlike the Clintons, the Finestines, the Gores, and the Kennedy’s that are trying to take our guns away (which is against our 2nd amendment) Irag is issuing their citizens guns to defend themselves. Hmmm and they aren’t even considered to be a FREE country.
Ok Waynedalers; agree or disagree? What are your thoughts? Send your cards and letters to Ray McCune, c/o THE WAYNEDALE NEWS, 2700 Lower Huntington Road, Waynedale, IN 46809.
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