Leave My Freedom Alone

09-28-00

Apparently you are under the mistaken impression that the police department is duty-bound to protect you. This couldn't be further from the truth. The police are under no obligation to protect anyone; their job is to uphold the law and arrest those who break it. Their job is difficult given the propensity of our government bureaucrats to dump convicted felons back on the street after serving a fraction of their sentence. The police do their best to run herd on society's misfits, but they are overwhelmed. That is why we, the public, must have the ability to defend ourselves and our families. The intent of the NRA is not to arm every household. Their intent is to keep that option open to those that choose it, without interference from a government that distrusts its populace. That same government would like us to believe that they will protect us when criminals and the government are the only two factions with the means to defend themselves. Those of us caught in the middle will have no place to hide from the hundreds of thousands of parolees placed back in the community much too soon by the same government that promised to protect us. " Good afternoon, Mr. Jones. We're here from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and we are to collect your firearms. Oh, by the way....it is our duty to inform you that the following individuals have been released into the community and are, in fact, living on your street....one sex offender, one kidnapper/rapist, one murderer. If they give you trouble, give us a call at 1-800-SENDHELP....we will send agents at the earliest possible convenience to make a full report. Have a nice day." No thanks, boys and girls. I am perfectly comfortable with my ability to defend myself and my family in the absence of police officers, and I will gladly step aside when they show up, if they ever do. But when things go bad you can't count on the police to be there in a few seconds. In that few seconds, your wallet, your car, all those things you worked so hard for, and possibly your life, may be gone. My wallet and everything in it can be replaced. My life cannot. America is about freedom of choice. For those that choose not to own firearms for whatever reason, I say that's fine. But too many detractors have the same mentality...."I don't like them, so I don't want anyone to have them". Depriving me of the freedom to make a choice is dangerous, indeed, and I resent having that choice taken from me by someone that lives in an exclusive gated community with 'round-the-clock security. If I haven't done anything wrong, and that has been confirmed by the FBI when I purchased my firearms (which it was...it's called "instant check"), then leave me alone. Don't attempt to punish me for what you are afraid I may do down the road. It would be the same as not selling you a car because later you may intentionally or unintentionally hurt someone with it. I would really like for you to have it, but I just don't trust you to be responsible with it.

There are those that feel as though "sensible gun restrictions" are the smart thing to do. Really? Then why don't we even attempt to enforce the gun laws we already have? If a convicted felon, newly released (or escaped) walks into a gun shop and attempts to make a purchase, why are they not arrested and sent back to jail? The government and the police department know where he is, and that he is breaking a federal law RIGHT THIS MINUTE....yet, all they do is deny the sale based on his criminal convictions. THE POLICE ARE ON THE PHONE, AND THEY KNOW WHERE THIS PERSON IS, AND THEY KNOW HE IS KNOWINGLY BREAKING A FEDERAL LAW!!!!! Why is he not arrested on the spot? Don't talk to me about "sensible new gun legislation". The gun legislation we already have doesn't work, and it only applies to those of us that haven't done anything wrong

I hope my gun never hurts anyone. I will do my level best to see that it does not. The same goes for my car. I don't want to hurt anybody. But, I also don't want to BE hurt, maimed, or killed by the latest parolee or escapee that feels as though I possess something he deserves more than I do, and is willing to do me grievous bodily harm in order to obtain it. In today's society, it is not the safest thing to walk down the street at night unarmed and oblivious to your surroundings. For those that choose to take that chance, fine. Go for it. I hope it turns out well for you. I hope you have a nice walk or run. I choose to go forth with the means to protect myself by both lethal and non-lethal means. I pray nightly that I will never have to use any of it. However, I also practice regularly so that I will be ready for that day I pray never comes. Those are the CHOICES I have made, because I am free to do so. Let's keep it that way.

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