Posted on 02/12/2003 9:26:32 AM PST by pabianice
Below are excerpts of a letter written to me from a Naval Reservist.
Dear Jim,
My situation is that I'm a physician in the Naval Reserve. The navy provides medical support to the marines and when I was mobilized for Operation Desert Storm I served with the marines in Saudi Arabia. We carried side arms whenever we went off base, which was once or twice a week. The navy gave me one trip to the range to practice before being shipped out. Given the scope of the mobilization, I do not blame the navy for that, but I feel very lucky that I never had to use the pistol in earnest.
My reserve center has notified me to be prepared for mobilization. The area that I feel needs most work to bring up to par is my skill in using a hand gun. I wanted to purchase a 9 mm Beretta because that is the standard service pistol and discovered that it is impossible to do so in Massachusetts. I contacted Speaker Finneran's office and an aide referred me to the Senate Committee on Public Safety. Aides in both offices assured me that it was not the intent of any of their legislation to prevent a reservist from getting necessary training. They referred me to Attorney General Reilly's office. I spoke with someone who identified herself as "Lisa". I do not know if she is an AAG. However, she said she would look into it and get back to me the next day. I have not yet heard from her.
As an officer, the navy expects me to know what to do to prepare myself for my job when I am mobilized. When I think about the likely places for the marines to be deployed -- Pakistan, Afghanistan -- I know I need to become more proficient with a handgun. What I don't understand is why my own state is preventing me.
Sincerely,
Frank Greco, MD
Currently legislators have been made aware of Mr. Greco’s situation and most have responded by questioning why our nation would issue a side arm that our Attorney General would define as unsafe. We’ve been asking the same question for quite a while now, but perhaps these legislators will get better answers than we did. They might also want to have their checkbooks handy if they expect answers from the AG.
Thomas Reilley
Lord High Attorney General of Massachusetts
In the Service of HRH, King George III
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108-1698
Tel: (617) 727-2200
Fax: (413) 784-1244
No gun control under George III until the revolution actually began. Taxes were lower under George III then George of Mount Vernon. I say bring back the Hanoverians down with Democracy.
It's not getting a permit that's his problem. It's that he can not buy/own a Beretta 9mm in Massachusetts. Thus he can not practice to become proficient with the side arm that will be issued to him by the U.S. Government when he is activated.
For those of you who are not familiar with the Massachusetts gun laws:
Well, they have a point, Doc.
The intent of their legislation is to prevent any citizen from getting neccessary training - much less owning any weapon which could conceivably threaten their power and perks.
Too bad, buddy. You can feel free to go and defend us 7,000 miles away, but you won't be allowed to defend yourself anywhere around here!
What an amazing title for our Democratic Republic.
Obviously all reservists need to move to another State and the Defense Department needs to begin closing all military bases in MA.
E-Mail Rummy's Office. Someone there is more likely to do something than anyone else is. If you have not yet been mobilized, I don't see how this could be considered going around your chain of command, especially since it is a political matter that is beyond the authority of anyone lower on the chain of command.
Of course, if you refuse to be the "perfect victim," then they paint you as some sort of neanderthal who should be vilified upon the altar of Political Correctness. (Nevermind your Constitutional Right to Keep and Bear Arms, dear Citizen. We know what's best for you!)
Related reading on the subject: The Harm in Being Harmless.
-Jay
Because the AG of Mass. is an idiot and would classify a toy gun as 'unsafe.'
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