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I found this on another site and thought it would be right to post it here also. Dig deep into your sole and ask yourself, what would you do?
Once again, in the wake of the most recent slaughter of innocents - this time in San Bernadino, California - there are those in high office, the media, and wherever other anti-gun individuals reside that are calling for "tougher gun laws."
As if "tough gun laws" don't already exist. As if people intent on harming others pay attention to "tough gun laws." As if yet another "tough gun law" would do anything to stop the carnage.
I've been around firearms all my life and there are many ways I could approach this, but I'll deal with it from the perspective I've come to consider the most important - that of being a father and grandfather.
I'll explain.
I was raised with the old-fashioned notion that these titles carry several very specific responsibilities. One of them is that I am my family's first line of defense in any tough situation.
Unfortunately, in these times, I believe that that notion has been pushed too far into the background and, in many cases, been forgotten altogether. Many are now more than willing to hope and pray that, when something bad happens, someone - any one - will come along to make everything right again.
Yes, we have police officers. The problem for me is that none of them live with me and, given the fact that I and my family aren't their only concern, they will most likely not be nearby when I need them most. Yes, we can call "911" at any hour of the day or night. The problem is that such a call will likely be made to report the hell we're now experiencing or, much worse, the hell that we've just been through.
Added to the above, I also believe that, when you're staring down the bad guys, the three most useless things to you are: (1) Things you need but don't have (a means of self-defense) ; (2) Laws you've followed but they haven't ("Gun Free Zones"); and (3) Help that's minutes away when seconds are all you have.
As I approach my 70th birthday, I've become all too aware of the fact that, in dealing with an assailant, an Islamic nut case, or an intruder far younger and stronger than I, the chances of my subduing him (or them) are not as good as they once might have been. Too, I'm not willing to bet either my or my family's well being on the benevolent nature of the thug(s) we may be facing.
All of the above lead me to the conclusion that certain steps are therefore appropriate in order to protect myself and my family from harm should the need to do so present itself. For that one reason, among many others, I believe that I have the inalienable right to possess and - when needed - use a firearm.
I know that there are many who disagree. I know that many such individuals are willing to forego a firearm and place their trust in the institutions that have been set up to come to our aid when needed. The problem, as noted, is time. They may not have any.
There are "goblins" everywhere in our society who can look just as normal as you or I. You read about them every day. These individuals have no inhibitions as regards harming others in order to satisfy whatever "need" they might have at any given moment. They have no regard for the law or for any of the boundaries that good people abide by. They simply ignore them and, should you be their target, they will lose no sleep over the fact that you had to be hurt or killed to satisfy their desires.
Because of several personal experiences, I long ago made a personal choice and a moral decision to provide myself with the means - and training - to act should I or any member of my family be threatened while I am present.
I leave it to the "goblins" to figure out what that means.
I did not do this out of the perceived need to take the law into my own hands nor to perform any macho posturing. I did it to ensure that some measure of protection would be available to me and mine should it be needed.
And for these reasons, I believe that, when it comes to protecting ourselves or those we love, the only "tough gun law" to be obeyed comes from a much higher source than any current crop of lawmakers.
It's that simple.
Once again, in the wake of the most recent slaughter of innocents - this time in San Bernadino, California - there are those in high office, the media, and wherever other anti-gun individuals reside that are calling for "tougher gun laws."
As if "tough gun laws" don't already exist. As if people intent on harming others pay attention to "tough gun laws." As if yet another "tough gun law" would do anything to stop the carnage.
I've been around firearms all my life and there are many ways I could approach this, but I'll deal with it from the perspective I've come to consider the most important - that of being a father and grandfather.
I'll explain.
I was raised with the old-fashioned notion that these titles carry several very specific responsibilities. One of them is that I am my family's first line of defense in any tough situation.
Unfortunately, in these times, I believe that that notion has been pushed too far into the background and, in many cases, been forgotten altogether. Many are now more than willing to hope and pray that, when something bad happens, someone - any one - will come along to make everything right again.
Yes, we have police officers. The problem for me is that none of them live with me and, given the fact that I and my family aren't their only concern, they will most likely not be nearby when I need them most. Yes, we can call "911" at any hour of the day or night. The problem is that such a call will likely be made to report the hell we're now experiencing or, much worse, the hell that we've just been through.
Added to the above, I also believe that, when you're staring down the bad guys, the three most useless things to you are: (1) Things you need but don't have (a means of self-defense) ; (2) Laws you've followed but they haven't ("Gun Free Zones"); and (3) Help that's minutes away when seconds are all you have.
As I approach my 70th birthday, I've become all too aware of the fact that, in dealing with an assailant, an Islamic nut case, or an intruder far younger and stronger than I, the chances of my subduing him (or them) are not as good as they once might have been. Too, I'm not willing to bet either my or my family's well being on the benevolent nature of the thug(s) we may be facing.
All of the above lead me to the conclusion that certain steps are therefore appropriate in order to protect myself and my family from harm should the need to do so present itself. For that one reason, among many others, I believe that I have the inalienable right to possess and - when needed - use a firearm.
I know that there are many who disagree. I know that many such individuals are willing to forego a firearm and place their trust in the institutions that have been set up to come to our aid when needed. The problem, as noted, is time. They may not have any.
There are "goblins" everywhere in our society who can look just as normal as you or I. You read about them every day. These individuals have no inhibitions as regards harming others in order to satisfy whatever "need" they might have at any given moment. They have no regard for the law or for any of the boundaries that good people abide by. They simply ignore them and, should you be their target, they will lose no sleep over the fact that you had to be hurt or killed to satisfy their desires.
Because of several personal experiences, I long ago made a personal choice and a moral decision to provide myself with the means - and training - to act should I or any member of my family be threatened while I am present.
I leave it to the "goblins" to figure out what that means.
I did not do this out of the perceived need to take the law into my own hands nor to perform any macho posturing. I did it to ensure that some measure of protection would be available to me and mine should it be needed.
And for these reasons, I believe that, when it comes to protecting ourselves or those we love, the only "tough gun law" to be obeyed comes from a much higher source than any current crop of lawmakers.
It's that simple.
