Posted on 08/03/2006 7:03:58 AM PDT by steve-b
WASHINGTON - We're going through one of those phases where people are reading the news and talking about buying guns.
As someone who's blogged for years under the pseudonym "Armed Liberal," you'd think that I'd clearly approve. And part of me does, in no small measure because it reflects a shift in the consensus away from "helpless citizen" toward "citizen with the intent to be more self-reliant."
And, to be honest, I see this issue largely as one of attitude. I've said in the past that the largest impact of gun ownership is symbolic, like a Sikh's knives. Owning a gun — and the attitudes that come with it — symbolize the notion that, first and foremost, we are adults who have the freedom to be entrusted with dangerous tools.
But gun ownership is not entirely symbolic, and there's the rub.
While I believe that everyone should have the right to own a gun (with the obvious exceptions of the criminal and the insane), that doesn't mean everyone should choose to own a gun.
That's because while I believe in rights, I also believe in responsibilities — and I don't think they can be separated. You want rights? Great. You have to take a good helping of responsibilities to go with them.
So let me take a moment and talk to the people who are reading the news and thinking of heading to the gun store.
First, go sleep on it. Owning a gun is an immense responsibility (one that too many people take far too lightly). If you own a gun, you are responsible for it 24/7/365; are you really prepared for that?
A gun is not a magic talisman that will make your problems go away by possessing it or brandishing it. While I'll acknowledge that many confrontations do end when the bad guy sees a gun, I'll suggest that assuming that will apply in your case is cargo-cult thinking at its worst.
So simply owning a gun doesn't by itself make you a whole lot safer; famed firearms instructor Jeff Cooper said that "owning a gun doesn't make you armed any more than owning a piano makes you a musician."
So you have to adopt a set of behaviors and habits.
Some are about the security of the gun — keeping it from being stolen, or from letting children have access to it. Buy a gun safe. Use it religiously. I had one firearm stolen from me 20 years ago, and it still weighs on me today.
Some of it is about self-knowledge. There's a little bit of crazy in all of us. Is yours fully under control? Are you sure? Would your friends all agree? What if the answer to that question isn't an immediate and obvious "Huh? Of course it is"?
And if you aren't 100 percent sure that five of your closest friends would answer the same way, think hard before you head to the gun store. Self-restraint is not a habit our modern life cultivates, but it is one that is simply mandatory for people who possess dangerous tools.
Some of it is about committing to some basic level of competence in order to make the gun a useful tool. There are classes you can and should take almost anywhere. They range from the big-time schools, like Gunsite (www.gunsite.com), Insight (www.insightstraining.com) and Thunder Ranch (www.thunderranchinc.com). To local instructors like Mike Dalton (www.isishootists.com/training.htm) in Los Angeles, NRA classes or other private classes at ranges throughout the area you live.
While it may seem cumbersome to think about all this, the demands really aren't that high. The gun is dangerous and valuable, so secure it. It can make bad attitudes and bad behavior deadly — make sure yours are well under control.
And finally, remember that owning a gun isn't nearly the same thing as being able to use one safely and effectively, so learn how to use it. If you can't comfortably go that far, please don't buy a gun. It's that simple.
If you can comfortably go that far, welcome to the community.
Personally, I need to get to the range this weekend....
Personally I think he's talking sense... maybe it's the broken clock thing.
Also... for those of you who are firearms owners, if I could shove a little gunporn into this thread, my wife's gun (a similar one pictured below) has proven a ton of fun and outrageously inexpensive both to buy and to shoot. There are versions legal in 50 states and I couldn't recommend them any more highly.
For your viewing pleasure, the Romanian WASR10.
Well, if it's wrong then, I donn't want to be right...8>)
Armed libs no surprise here. I shoot with a few of my Rat neighbors a few times a year
"The events of April 19 began at approximately 5:55 a.m., when the HRT Commander deployed two CEVs, or Combat Engineering Vehicles (M-60 tanks with booms attached) to the compound. The action ended a few minutes after 12:00 p.m., when the compound erupted in flames."
This happened when I was, say 15, but I remember it so well - I think I have emotion scars. The teachers rolled in the TV on a cart, disrupting my Geometry class...
I was upset at that but then I was majorly disturbed by what I saw on TV.
Great comment.
A very good article. I have wanted to get a gun for years. But being disorganized, I have not because I did not want someone to get hurt - grandkids. I am still thinking about it though.
If they don't value personal responsibility as an important foundation of society, or you don't believe that society is capable of exercising it, then private gun ownership is going to be something they consider a threat to that society.
However, a free and democratic society cannot succeed without a strong foundation of personal responsibility by it's citizens.
I was in Hawaii, TDY off a ship because of a broken foot. I saw this on the QD televsion and was totally shocked. I was even more shocked and dismay later when nobody was fired and tried for this criminal act.
Yes, but, the Second Amendment itself, clearly addresses the issues of freedom and the protection of same by the RIGHT to bear arms by the citizenry AND to form a militia, if need be...
"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."
What is abundantly clear, and clear to the oppressive socialist left, is that the people HAVE THE RIGHT to bear arms for protection of their freedoms. That is my point and why the Sec. Amendment is ALWAYS under attack BY THE LEFT.
I've taken a number of firearms classes, including range safety, tactical training, ccw class, and several weapon specific classes for shotgun, pistol, and revolver.
I value what I've learned in the classroom more than what I learned on the range. The tactical class was taught by local Sheriff's deputies, they stressed mindset, the will to fight, the will to keep fighting, situational awareness, etc.
The CCW class spent an inordinate amount of time going over the legalities of when to shoot, who to shoot, and the consequences.
Valuable lessons all.
To answer that question, I submit this:
A monument in Arlington, Massachusetts reads:
Near this spot, Samuel Whittemore, then 80 years old, killed three British soldiers, April 19, 1775. He was shot, bayoneted, beaten and left for dead, but recovered and lived to be 98 years of age.
The story is that British soldiers returning from the Battles of Lexington and Concord were spotted by Samuel Whittemore(1694-1786?) in Menotomy (modern Arlington). He loaded his musket, and took aim at the approaching soldiers from behind a nearby stone wall. He fired, killing one of the British troops. He then drew his dueling pistols and killed another soldier with his pistols. Having no time left to reload before the soldiers advanced to him, he drew a sword and advanced toward the British, attacking them with his sword. He was shot, bayoneted, and beaten by the infuriated troop of British soldiers.
Villagers came to remove his body after the British left. They were amazed to find him still alive. They removed him from the field, and he lived to recover from his wounds. He lived until he was 91 years of age, and was regarded by the locals as a hero of the revolution.
Yeah. And join the NRA so that we keep this right.
Yes. End of story. If someone needs an explanation, just have them read the 2nd Amendment. That's really all that's necessary.
Using your car analogy, the state does certify you to drive, requires cars to have serial numbers, requires cars to be registered, etc.
"As is the idea that the state should limit you to certain types of guns."
The citizens of the state, acting through their elected representatives, may place reasonable restrictions on any of our rights -- we do it for speech in the first amendment, for example.
Not much different than Rosie O'Donnell believing solely in the second amendment rights of her bodyguards.
"Using your car analogy, the state does certify you to drive, requires cars to have serial numbers, requires cars to be registered, etc."
This analogy has been debunked many many times. There is no parallel between firearms and cars. Firearm ownership is protected constitutionally protected. Car ownership is not.
Was this supposed to be directed at post #13?
MEGA DITTOS TO THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!
A good article full of good common sense. Thankfully, most legal gun owners and those that concealed carry have this level of responsibility.
I only wish people took their right to vote as responsibly and used forethought and understanding of the issues before going to vote.
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