texas_teacher
Well-Known
A 2nd Amendment blog I thought some people would be interested in following...
Jefferson's Militia
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2009
The Difference Between Criminals and The Law-Abiding Citizen
In old time western movies the difference between the good guy and the bad guy wasn't that one of them had a gun strapped to their hip, everyone did. The difference was simple and aesthetically that the bad guy had a black Stetson donning his head.
Times would be much easier if they were like the movies. All too often we hear on the news and in personal accounts about the difficulties in the middle east identifying the friendlies or those that are there to do harm because the use common citizens and people that blend in.
What about here on American soil? We hear rumors of people that look suspicious, people that don't fit in, or people that fit the profile, but in actuality people of all races, religions, and backgrounds commit acts of violence and hate.
What can be done? Short of violating everyone's privacy and performing brainscans on the American populus the government does what it can as a governing entity. Does the government hinder us as American citizens from protecting ourselves? Some say yes.
The rights of American citizens are inalienable rights betrothed to every citizen until there comes such a day where that citizen infringes upon another citizen's right to LIFE, LIBERTY, and the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.
The second amendment reads that it is "the right of the people to keep and bear arms" and that it "shall not be infringed". Our rights are in fact being infringed. Are you able to carry a firearm of your choosing to the grocery store with you just in case the for instance arises where you find yourself being mugged? Not if you haven't filled out stacks of paperwork and proven your proficiency, etc. Even then not without paying a licensing fee.
So after all this you are able to carry a concealed handgun to protect yourself if that God forbidden instance arises. You look around yourself at the people walking around the grocery store. Lots of jackets, lots of loose fitting shirts, and no black Stetsons. What are you to do? Who is legally carrying in a supermarket? Who didn't fill out their paperwork and has a Glock tucked in their waistband? (IE Plaxico Burress)
Do gun laws deter criminals from carrying when and where they're not allowed or does it simply give the prosecuting government a bigger felony stick to shake at an individual when shit hits the fan? Why must we wait until this happens?
In a never-ending debate in some states attempting to acquire the right to open carry it will undoubtedly arise that someone will make the argument that police officers and other law officials will not be able to distinguish between the law abiding citizens and the perpetrators.
How can they tell the difference now? I ask you if a person who is legally allowed to carry his or her weapon concealed stood in front of you and a person that was carrying illegally stood in front of you dressed in the same clothes would you be able to tell? Is there no black Stetson?
Thomas Jefferson in his Commonplace Book wrote :
"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms. . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. . . Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man."
I ask our country who are we benefiting? The assaulted or the assaulters?
Jefferson's Militia
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2009
The Difference Between Criminals and The Law-Abiding Citizen
In old time western movies the difference between the good guy and the bad guy wasn't that one of them had a gun strapped to their hip, everyone did. The difference was simple and aesthetically that the bad guy had a black Stetson donning his head.
Times would be much easier if they were like the movies. All too often we hear on the news and in personal accounts about the difficulties in the middle east identifying the friendlies or those that are there to do harm because the use common citizens and people that blend in.
What about here on American soil? We hear rumors of people that look suspicious, people that don't fit in, or people that fit the profile, but in actuality people of all races, religions, and backgrounds commit acts of violence and hate.
What can be done? Short of violating everyone's privacy and performing brainscans on the American populus the government does what it can as a governing entity. Does the government hinder us as American citizens from protecting ourselves? Some say yes.
The rights of American citizens are inalienable rights betrothed to every citizen until there comes such a day where that citizen infringes upon another citizen's right to LIFE, LIBERTY, and the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.
The second amendment reads that it is "the right of the people to keep and bear arms" and that it "shall not be infringed". Our rights are in fact being infringed. Are you able to carry a firearm of your choosing to the grocery store with you just in case the for instance arises where you find yourself being mugged? Not if you haven't filled out stacks of paperwork and proven your proficiency, etc. Even then not without paying a licensing fee.
So after all this you are able to carry a concealed handgun to protect yourself if that God forbidden instance arises. You look around yourself at the people walking around the grocery store. Lots of jackets, lots of loose fitting shirts, and no black Stetsons. What are you to do? Who is legally carrying in a supermarket? Who didn't fill out their paperwork and has a Glock tucked in their waistband? (IE Plaxico Burress)
Do gun laws deter criminals from carrying when and where they're not allowed or does it simply give the prosecuting government a bigger felony stick to shake at an individual when shit hits the fan? Why must we wait until this happens?
In a never-ending debate in some states attempting to acquire the right to open carry it will undoubtedly arise that someone will make the argument that police officers and other law officials will not be able to distinguish between the law abiding citizens and the perpetrators.
How can they tell the difference now? I ask you if a person who is legally allowed to carry his or her weapon concealed stood in front of you and a person that was carrying illegally stood in front of you dressed in the same clothes would you be able to tell? Is there no black Stetson?
Thomas Jefferson in his Commonplace Book wrote :
"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms. . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. . . Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man."
I ask our country who are we benefiting? The assaulted or the assaulters?
