Posted on 02/18/2009 1:45:36 AM PST by marktwain
I bet when you turned 18 you were excited to finally be able to legally buy a lottery ticket, tobacco products, and maybe even some pornography, but I bet you overlooked a critical freedom that became available when you crossed that milestone. In most states of the union, at age 18 you are able to purchase a long gun, which includes shotguns and many types of rifles, as long as you are an American citizen, are not a criminal, and have no record of unstable mental health. At 21, you are able to purchase a handgun in most states. That's good to know, but why would anyone need to think about buying one? Aren't guns outdated tools that are only useful in movies filled with zombies?
There are many arguments as to why or why not the second amendment should be heeded. One is hunting, and yes, there are still people who mostly survive off of what they shoot today. I think their rights should be secure as long as they hunt within the law, but I have to admit that is a small percentage of the population. Opponents argue that guns cause crime, which I again have to admit that guns make crimes much easier to commit. They argue that the police have guns and it's their job to stop the "bad guys." Now we come to the crucial juncture. We have institutionalized personal protection and outsourced it to others who are not our person. In the process we have surrendered our right to defend ourselves and instead have to pray for the help of those who are tasked by law to help us.
But what if no one comes? We have seen in episodes like Hurricane Katrina, you can't depend on the government to save you (doesn't matter who is in the White House). Now the majority democrats and liberals in the federal government will actively seek to limit your gun ownership rights even further. When this happens, you will be even more dependent on others to save you when chaos breaks out or as I like to say, "when the fecal matter hits the propeller."
Buying a gun is not a complicated matter. At a certified dealer, you select a firearm that matches your needs. Like anything, you should shop around and find the real price. You may expect to fill out a mountain of paperwork to secure ownership in this country, but in fact it is only one or two sheets of paper with questions certifying that you are eligible to own a firearm. The dealer will then call in to the Department of Justice to verify that you check out, and the whole process takes about half an hour, give or take. It is always important to handle guns safely and before purchasing firearm, one should research gun safety tips or consult a professional. Gun ownership is a hefty responsibility. Any crimes committed with your firearm will be traced back to you, and any fatal mistakes you make while handling a gun will live with you forever. It is illegal to conceal your weapon in public without a concealed carry license, which can be acquired through a certification class.
Shooting guns can be a lot of fun, and there are many places that cater to gun enthusiasts. Often there will be gun clubs or local ranges in your area, where you can practice against targets. These places are good areas to interact with other gun owners and pick up tips and tricks to improve your accuracy and gun handling.
Thomas Jefferson wrote specifically in the Declaration of Independence that "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." Without guns, the revolutionaries would not have been able to break away from the tyranny of English monarchy. And so, it is a sacred right of Americans to also bear arms in the event our government is perverted by evil men, so that we as a people may restore a republic of "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."
Guns are an insurance policy for survival when the law no longer applies. Whether it's in the back alley with a gangster or the collapse of civilization, the ones who are prepared will be the ones who have a better chance to survive.
Mark Easley is a freshman computer engineering major. He can be contacted at measley@nd.edu
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necesarily those of The Observer.
Wayne LaPierre couldn’t have said it better.
You can count on them to come to your home and take your guns for no good reason.
No, actually the Second Amendment couldn’t have said it better...
“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.”
In Massachusetts, you can apply for a gun license, and can be turned down by your local police chief. If you want a conceal carry permit, you must write a letter to the Chief of Police and explain why. Here is the letter I wrote when I applied for my gun license:
*************************************************************
To the Chief of Police:
I wish to apply for a Class A Firearm License. While it is true that I have no current overriding need to carry a concealed firearm, I want to explain why I would like to be considered for this permit.
I currently do not own a gun, and my primary interest in becoming a firearm owner stems mostly from my initial desire to own and use historical items such as the M-1 Garand and Colt .45. My entry into the ranks of gun-owners has been drawn out and protracted due to other overriding interests and issues in my life that have taken priority, and it has been several years since I decided that I wanted to own a gun.
In that time, I have seen the events of 9/11, the rise of anti-Americanism in the Middle East, and recently, events in Russia, where the school was taken over by extremists with the resulting loss of innocent life. I understand that this is America and that things are different here, our society is different and these things are less likely to happen in our country.
But I (and many others) thought the same thing about an event like 9/11. And if we begin to see events like we are seeing more frequently in other parts of the world such as the murders at the school in Russia, I want to be able to protect myself and my family, should the situation arise.
I plan on purchasing a handgun, and I also plan to take courses on handgun safety and personal protection. Additionally, to improve my capability with the weapon, I am going to investigate the possibilities for engaging in competitive shooting at the gun club I join.
I would be grateful if you would grant me the legal privilege to carry a firearm, should the situation arise.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
*************************************************************
Note that it seems written with hat in hand. It was. They have absolute power to deny you your second amendment rights.
When I was in FL, I'd tell new neighbors moving in from out of state (and even some 18 year olds at their 18th birthday), "Welcome to the militia." They would give me this weird look. And I'd show them The Florida State Constitution, specifically this passage.
The militia isn't something you join. It's something you are automatically a part of by being an able bodied citizen. It seems nobody gets that any more.
LLS
As soon as my tax refund hits the bank, I’ll be doing my part to stimulate the economy.
“Those who beat their swords into plowshares end up plowing the fields of those who don’t.” - Ben Franklin (unconfirmed attribution)
Cops are not constitutionally obligated to protect someone.
Tell the SOB he’ll be without a job if he decides otherwise.
There is no law officer in the country that could grant you the right to bear arms. You have that right when you’re born an American citizen to parents legally in this country (bugger off Liberals reading this). No policeman, no mayor, no sheriff, not even the President has the right themselves to say you cannot bear arms in defense of yourself and your loved ones.
The whole process takes about a half an hour? I bought a pistol from a FFL dealer last weekend at a gun show. The whole process took less than 10 minutes. I identified the gun I wanted, the dealer handed me one piece of paperwork to fill out while he started the other one, then as I was finishing the second form, he was on the phone to NICS. We finished about the same time. I wrote him a check, he handed me the gun. We shook hands. Less than 10 minutes.
Like your tagline, and indeed I feel you are probably right - the end is nigh.
And, as for your post -
“Never Forget, even for an instant, that the one and only reason anybody has for taking your gun away is to make you weaker than he is, so he can do something to you that you wouldn’t allow him to do if you were equipped to prevent it. This goes for burglars, muggers, and rapists, and even more so for policemen, bureaucrats, and politicians.”
Now, here is what you should have written:
"To the Chief of Police:
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.
I have enclosed my application for a concealed carry permit along with the requisite fee and three personal references. I look forward to receiving my license shortly."
I wish it were so. But this is where we are in this state. People tell me to move. If I were single, I would. But my wife doesn’t feel the same way I do about this kind of thing.
I hope, if the time comes...and I hope it doesn’t and we have the choice of living here and having restricted rights, or living someplace in this country (or out of it) where there IS freedom of speech and the right to keep and bear arms, I hope I can convince her.
Oh, I had another "long gun", just not a firearm, from my 9th birthday on. I could use it without supervision once I'd shown myself responsible with it. (Heh, I only shot ONE of my cousins with it, and that was a ricochet. The same cousin who had shot himself in the foot with grandpa's pump .22) )
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necesarily those of The Observer
I'd imagine so. Considering this "newspaper" serves Notre Dame and St. Mary's Universities :)
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