Silver Supporter
- Messages
- 6,072
- Reactions
- 15,023
4J School Board in Eugene has been contemplating prohibiting concealed carry on 4J property per recent new laws. It is too easy to manipulate and stifle public testimony at board meetings (see below), so the most effective means of getting our point across is email. Here are the email addresses for the 4J School Board members. Please email them with your civil, non-inflammatory comments:
Judy Newman, 2021-22 Chair
Email: [email protected]
Maya Rabasa, 2021-22 Vice Chair
Email: [email protected]
Keerti Hasija Kauffman
Email: [email protected]
Alicia Hays
Email: [email protected]
Michelle Hsu
Email: [email protected]
Gordon Lafer
Email: [email protected]
Laural O'Rourke
Email: [email protected]
My letter to the 4J school board:
I worry daily about the safety of my children and those of others in an increasingly violent society where school shootings are no longer rare. I am a CHL holder. I carry a concealed firearm at various times and in various situations. I do not make the world or my specific location in it a more dangerous place by doing so. On the contrary, I am equipped to defend myself and others in dangerous situations. When violence occurs on a school campus, who is it that puts an end to it? Who do we call to resolve the situation? We call law enforcement, a person with a firearm, and that usually ends the violence quickly. Indeed, when an active shooter simply sees that there is an opposing armed person present they usually either commit suicide or run away. This was the case in the Clackamas Mall shootings, the Texas church massacre, and many others. As soon as armed opposition appears the violence ceases.
So what is wrong with calling the professional, trained officers of law enforcement to end the situation? Relying on law enforcement that is usually 5 to 15 minutes away allows a gunman that much time to wreak havoc. The shootings at Sandy Hook occurred in a period of roughly 5 minutes. What if a person with a concealed carry firearm had been present before the first shot was fired? How many precious 5 year olds would be alive today?
Concerns about licensed concealed carry are greatly exaggerated. Most people who hold concealed handgun licenses train and practice much more than the average law enforcement officer. Most officers don't practice beyond the annual qualifications shooting, which may be firing 50 rounds at a range on a single day each year. Personally, I have been proficient with firearms my whole life, and I practice at least monthly. Negligent discharges, such as a dropped weapon, are almost non-existent with modern firearms, which are designed with built in safeguards against such events.
People with concealed handgun licenses are not criminals. One must have a clear record in order to obtain the license. Background checks, formal training classes, fingerprinting, and continued safe behavior are requirements to obtain and keep a concealed handgun license. The population of concealed handgun license holders is statistically more law abiding than even law enforcement officers. They are not trigger happy wannabe heroes, or fringe criminal types. They are law abiding, honest, caring citizens who simply don't want to have to wait for the police to show up if they or other innocent people are attacked and in mortal danger.
Gun free zones, such as you are contemplating creating, are magnets for deranged criminals who want to do as much damage as possible in a limited time frame. They know that they will have at least 5 to 10 minutes to wreak havoc unopposed in a gun free zone before law enforcement shows up, and that everyone else in the vicinity will be unarmed. Please don't subject our children to more gun free zones.
Judy Newman, 2021-22 Chair
Email: [email protected]
Maya Rabasa, 2021-22 Vice Chair
Email: [email protected]
Keerti Hasija Kauffman
Email: [email protected]
Alicia Hays
Email: [email protected]
Michelle Hsu
Email: [email protected]
Gordon Lafer
Email: [email protected]
Laural O'Rourke
Email: [email protected]
My letter to the 4J school board:
I worry daily about the safety of my children and those of others in an increasingly violent society where school shootings are no longer rare. I am a CHL holder. I carry a concealed firearm at various times and in various situations. I do not make the world or my specific location in it a more dangerous place by doing so. On the contrary, I am equipped to defend myself and others in dangerous situations. When violence occurs on a school campus, who is it that puts an end to it? Who do we call to resolve the situation? We call law enforcement, a person with a firearm, and that usually ends the violence quickly. Indeed, when an active shooter simply sees that there is an opposing armed person present they usually either commit suicide or run away. This was the case in the Clackamas Mall shootings, the Texas church massacre, and many others. As soon as armed opposition appears the violence ceases.
So what is wrong with calling the professional, trained officers of law enforcement to end the situation? Relying on law enforcement that is usually 5 to 15 minutes away allows a gunman that much time to wreak havoc. The shootings at Sandy Hook occurred in a period of roughly 5 minutes. What if a person with a concealed carry firearm had been present before the first shot was fired? How many precious 5 year olds would be alive today?
Concerns about licensed concealed carry are greatly exaggerated. Most people who hold concealed handgun licenses train and practice much more than the average law enforcement officer. Most officers don't practice beyond the annual qualifications shooting, which may be firing 50 rounds at a range on a single day each year. Personally, I have been proficient with firearms my whole life, and I practice at least monthly. Negligent discharges, such as a dropped weapon, are almost non-existent with modern firearms, which are designed with built in safeguards against such events.
People with concealed handgun licenses are not criminals. One must have a clear record in order to obtain the license. Background checks, formal training classes, fingerprinting, and continued safe behavior are requirements to obtain and keep a concealed handgun license. The population of concealed handgun license holders is statistically more law abiding than even law enforcement officers. They are not trigger happy wannabe heroes, or fringe criminal types. They are law abiding, honest, caring citizens who simply don't want to have to wait for the police to show up if they or other innocent people are attacked and in mortal danger.
Gun free zones, such as you are contemplating creating, are magnets for deranged criminals who want to do as much damage as possible in a limited time frame. They know that they will have at least 5 to 10 minutes to wreak havoc unopposed in a gun free zone before law enforcement shows up, and that everyone else in the vicinity will be unarmed. Please don't subject our children to more gun free zones.