I went to a gun show this weekend, one that happens several times a year and that I’d been to many times before. The crowd is usually decent, but not so crowded as to be elbow-to-elbow at every turn. Not so this show. Not only were there about 40% more people, but there was a line to get in door that took about ten minutes to move through.
Apparently, Obama’s REAL economic stimulus plan is to have every able-bodied American run out and pump what little money they have left into buying guns and ammo.
That sounds good to me!
My stance on gun ownership at a base level is simple. A criminal turns to crime because they are lazy. A little bit of time, and as little effort as possible, and they yield high rewards. If the criminal thinks that their target might actively resist, they chose another target. An armed target is a bad target to a lazy criminal, and in most cases, they prefer someone that will not resist.
And a law stating you are not allowed to have guns only removes them from the law abiding citizens’ hands. Criminals, by the very definition, break laws. If they plan on breaking laws already, whats one more? Gun laws don’t work to stop crime.
Even if all guns disappeared today, new ones can be made with far less effort that you’d expect, given the proper tools. I have enough basic tools and knowledge that I could probably make a rudimentary gun in my shop.
And if a person has even minor machinist’s skills, or even a 3D printer (yes, you can now PRINT working gun parts!), they can make a decent gun on their own. Legally, as far as I can tell, and even if illegal, who would know until after the fact?
So in my mind, guns are here to stay, even if they become illegal. And the day they do outlaw guns, I fear that those that anyone that plans on taking shelter behind the protection of an officer of the law will become just another statistic proving gun laws are ineffective.
What can you do? Let you elected officials know your thoughts. Believe it or not, they work FOR us, and should be doing what we want.
The good folks over at Ruger have developed a webpagethat allows you to contact all of your elected officials for your address, from Fededral down to your state Reps.Here is the letter that is sent on your behalf:
Dear (Recipient),
I am a law-abiding citizen and responsible gun owner.
I am saddened by the tragic events in Newtown, Connecticut, but I believe that efforts to impose new restrictions on me and other lawful and responsible owners like me are misguided. Did you know that violent crime with firearms has declined since the Federal “assault weapons ban” expired in 2004?
Your focus should be on strengthening mental health care and improving the quality of data supporting NICs checks (National Instant Criminal Background Check System). Do NOT pass more gun laws; instead, work to enforce the more than 20,000 gun laws already on the books.
I am your constituent and I vote. Please represent me.
Sincerely,
(Your Contact Information)
Here is the transcript of my transmission:
Thank you!
Your message for “Gun Owner Call to Action” was sent on 01/16/2013 18:32 PM to the following recipients: President Barack Obama (D), Vice President Joseph Biden (D), Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-FL), Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL), Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll (R-FL), Sen. Joe Negron (R-FL), Rep. Gayle Harrell (R-FL), Atty. General Pam Bondi (R-FL)
Thank you for taking action on this important issue.
It is as simple as filling out your mailing address and clicking submit. If you are thinking it will put you on their radar, if it really comes to it, you probably already are on a list somewhere, they’ll find you anyway (yes, I’m a bit paranoid….).
You can find it here:
http://www.ruger.com/micros/advocacy/takeAction.html
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So having said all of this, let me add that if they DO take our guns and/or ammo away from us, they still leave us with a single bullet. In most dire situations, that last bullet is left for yourself, only I ask you to use it on them instead. That bullet is one with some of the most stopping power in the word, your vote. Use your vote to express your beliefs and show them that we WILL fight back with any means possible.
If they step on our Second Amendment rights, step on their livelihood, and vote them out of office.
I’ll close with this, everyone should own a gun, and have proper training. I believe that anyone that doesn’t rely upon them self for protection is foolish. Cops are said to be “minutes away from a crime…when seconds count“. That’s not a shot at law enforcement, its a fact. The chances that a police officer is close enough to stop a crime at your location is slim. Why leave your safety in anyone else’s hands other than your own?
As always,
Peace,
db
PS- I didn’t buy any guns at the show, but I did go shooting afterwards with my wife, a friend and my 9 year old daughter – who got her first gun handling and safety lesson, and shot for the very first time.
While you are here, watch this on building your own lower…