Perspective: Gun control stymied by greed
The first official document produced by a group of rebellious British colonists living in North America, The Declaration of Independence, dated July 4, 1776, says that the right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness has been given to all human beings by their Creator.
When I heard yet of another school mass killing in a Florida High School, my eyes watered up because I always remember the day when so many little children, mostly five and six-year-olds, along with six brave teachers were brutally murdered in Sandy Hook, Conn.
Makes me wonder, as a father, what has happened to the precious God-given rights of these little ones to life itself? For that matter, all people? Is the so-called right to hold and bear arms promoted so loudly by the gun manufacturing industry so much more important than the right to live?
I grew up on a farm with a .22 caliber single shot rifle and an old 16 gauge shotgun available to me when I was 9-10 years young. Growing up in 1950’s rural America life was so different from today. With these firearms, we hunted during the season mostly for rabbits, squirrels, rarely a deer, quail and turtle doves.
I remember dad’s shotgun would kick so hard, it would almost knock me down. To me, hunting was the same as going fishing. It was fun and my Mom would say it helped put meat on the table.
Today, I realize our democracy is for sale by certain greedy politicians, who are sometimes given millions of dollars by special interest lobbyists to promote their agendas. These agendas rarely help the American people, in general. Their purpose is usually based on corporate greed and special favors.
After all mass killings you hear some politicians say, “Oh how sad, but now is not the time to talk about gun control” They like to say “We send our thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families.”
Nice thoughts, but this country is in great need for common sense gun laws now!
On Sunday afternoon, Feb 25, on St. Charles Street in Jasper, I had the honor to meet and listen to some very intelligent and action-oriented individuals associated with a group called ONE-DC. They have suggested common sense gun control laws of which I strongly recommend our politicians pay attention to these community leaders. By talking with and listening to this group, it has given me great hope that their expressions of love and concern for our children, our families, our communities and our nation will produce a better and safer society for all of America in the future.
With their leadership showing the way, I sincerely pray that these devastating mass shootings will never happen again and we will become a nation united in love.
I recently saw an article that exclaimed, “Guns don’t kill people; People with guns kill people; taking away assault rifles will make it harder for people to kill people.”
Dan Barrett
Jasper
Typical response from the left. “JUST DO SOMETHING!!”. To hell with our 2nd amendment, right? This amendment was put into place to protect ourselves from a tyrannical government. Not to go out and shoot some turtle doves.
Have you ever operated an AR15? My guess is no. It is simply a semi-automatic rifle that shoots a .223 round. That’s it. You can fire a semi automatic pistol just as fast as an AR15… Are you wanting to ban all semi automatic weapons, or just AR-15’s? When we ban AR15’s, and there are mass shootings with pistols, like what we saw at Virginia Tech, are you going to say “At least he didn’t have an AR15! Now let’s get rid of those damn pistols!” Thank the Lord we have the NRA that fights for our rights. And last I checked, not one NRA member committed a mass shooting. In fact, we had some that stopped some mass shootings…. Heck, WITH AR-15’s!
If you want to talk about a better background check system, in which all states get on the same page, fine. If you want to talk about mental health issues and getting them on a background check, fine. But don’t do the knee jerk reaction and sacrifice your, and my, 2nd amendment right just for your false sense of safety.
Go run your idea by Chicago, which has STRICT gun control and has asinine murder rates. No one seems to care about that. And if you want to talk about these bought and paid for politicians, let’s talk about Planned Parenthood, who gets hundreds of millions of tax payer dollars to kill the babies we so desperately want to protect.
So how about instead of the “Let’s do SOMETHING!” crap, you offer up some solutions to debate.
Excellent comment Bob.
Very well said. These people want to blame the object not the people behind it. Guess they need to ban cars for drunk drivers .
It all started back when the liberal democrat snowflakes decided to eject God from our schools, communities, etc. Why even Barrack Hussein’s last convention your liberal democrats ban God from the convention. The democrats have successfully turned young Americans into mindless brainless zombies and diminished American pride FACT. Before trying to remove the splinter from someone else eye remove the plank from your eye first.
George Mason of Virginia:
“When the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British Parliament was advised by an artful man, who was governor of Pennsylvania, to disarm the people; that it was the best and most effectual way to enslave them; but that they should not do it openly, but weaken them, and let them sink gradually.” I ask, who are the militia? They consist of the whole people, except a few public officers.” Virginia’s U.S. Constitution ratification convention, 1788
People can pass all the gun laws they want and criminals will laugh at them and tnank them for rendering their targets defenseless ! Criminals are not going to obey the laws !! When will people realize this ??
Dan,
Very well put. And very well measured. Take heart in knowing that your position (and mine) is getting more and more traction with the American public. High school kids are acting like adults, while congressmen are behaving like children.
Pay no attention to the wing nuts. They’re due for a rabies shot. (Have you noticed their addiction to exclamation points?)