I’ve heard alot about the lovely ’60’s “ideals” of peace and love, but this is just frightening. People with nothing better to do with their time take the coward’s way out and attack the issue of “gun violence,” pinning the blame on those of us who choose to own firearms.
Why the “coward’s way out?” Because the real cause of gun violence in this country has nothing to do with the fact that law-abiding citizens own guns, it has to do with deeper issues. Our violent crime-rate stems from many factors, most of which I’d expect the liberals to sympathize with. Poverty, drug abuse, racial inequality, the widening gap between rich and poor…I thought these were the real meat of the liberal agenda. So why not attack the root-causes? Because that takes real time and effort, and that’s just too hard for most of these people. It’s alot easier to shreik, “Guns cause violence!” They get to carry a sign, yell alot, and all their friends get to see them on TV. It also helps if you someone willing to lapse into hysterics, shouting, “Won’t someone think about the children?!?”
I guess it’s just not as glamorous to do volunteer work anymore.
The plain fact is, most of these…um, misguided individuals don’t realize one very important fact: Minnesota conceal-carry laws make them safer, both as individuals and as a community. And it has nothing to do with any of them carrying firearms. The plain fact that some folks out there do is enough of a deterrent to criminals to reduce violent crime drastically.
Chuck here is probably doing the most dangerous thing he could by wearing that silly shirt. Joe Criminal doesn’t know if I’m carrying or not, so he’ll think twice about attacking me. It’s a net effect for everyone around me as well. On the other hand, Chuck’s shirt advertises that he certainly doesn’t, essentially giving the all-clear to would-be assailants.
Think I’m exaggerating? Nope. Ohio recently passed a law allowing concealed carry, and robbery and assault rates have already dropped measurably in a few months. Check the crime stats for any state that has passed “shall issue” legislations, and you’ll see the same effect there.
In a similar mindset to Chuck and his friends, several Ohio businesses quickly posted signs barring legally-permitted citizens from carrying on the premises. The result? Several of these businesses have been subject to armed robberies, most of which had never had any trouble before. In one incidence, Kroger (whose policies on this seem to vary widely from location to location) decided to remove the signs in their Ohio stores only after a 70-year-old woman was assaulted and beaten in their parking lot, and the case got publicity.
Chuck and his friends have a site for their organization (notice that the Million Mom March has a represenative in one of the group shots. Coincidence?). The front page has a byline with Voltaire (a French guy, like John Kerry) encouraging people to think for themselves. Thank goodness I’m able to do just that. Chuck, if you’re out there tonight, I hope you’re safe, but if you should run into trouble, I hope that one of the people you most despise is there to put his life on the line to protect you.