Gun Control and Concealed Carry

Let’s start at the beginning, with the 2^nd Amendment.

“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.”

So what is all the argument about? It boils down to two interpretations of what the founding fathers meant. So as we begin this journey we must realize that both sides of the argument use the amendment’s wording to support their arguments.

To people who support gun rights this statement protects the right of the individual to keep and bear firearms, period.

To those who support gun control this statement was meant solely for the purpose of forming militias in defense of the country or state.

Stipulations of the Amendment protect the right of the individual to keep and bear arms. This was a personal liberty that would deter oppressive government or invading forces. The American people wanted to ensure that never again would they fall under unjust rule such as the British Parliament had imposed on colonists.

We made adjustments to what a citizen could own with the National Firearms Act in the 1930’s. Mainly aimed at weapons favored by gangsters, it sought to regulate the sale and movement of machine guns and other short barreled weapons. It also addressed the use of silencers and destructive devices, such as bombs or grenades.

The Gun Control Act of 1968 further revised not only what a citizen could own, but it also laid out the rules for citizens that would be barred from owning firearms due to criminal history or mental illness. The Federal Firearms Licensing System was adopted to further control the flow of firearms and to provide a paper trail as firearms were bought and sold.

The adjustments made in the 30’s and again in 1968 were all met with resistance. It is still argued today that the Gun Control Act of 1968 was and continues to be unnecessary.

So, where does that leave us? We’ve outlawed fully automatic weapons, silencers, grenades, and bombs. We have to purchase our firearms through a licensed dealer and pass a background check. We are now allowed concealed carry with Illinois finally joining the rest of the nation. In most states it requires a training certificate for concealed carry, but that seems to be a reasonable requirement.

For those in favor of stricter gun control, please pay attention; the above statements apply only to law abiding citizens. The criminals do not care, nor do they abide by these rules. 

This leads us to concealed carry.

The reality in America is that our love of guns and the right to own them has led to more than 100 million guns within our borders. This a best estimate; it could be many more. Include the black market and that number could land anywhere. We now find ourselves in an era of budget cuts across the nation. Many of these cuts were made within law enforcement, thinning the number of officers on duty and forcing them to cover more and more territory. Despite the best efforts of our officers, response times have increased. Worse yet, many times they find themselves outnumbered and outgunned. A recent article stated that response time in Detroit could be as much as an hour.

This is today’s justification of the 2^nd amendment. Because the 2nd amendment has allowed gun ownership for centuries, we now need its protection to defend ourselves, Law abiding citizens cannot afford to give up this right and leave ourselves helpless to those who would commit crimes against us. We have to protect ourselves from those who would do us harm. In many areas of the country “we the people” have no choice but to protect ourselves. Not all crime happens at home, thus concealed carry. A criminal is less likely to risk a robbery if he or she doesn’t know how many citizens are carrying. Do we need military style assault weapons? The honest answer is, we might. 

Shouldn’t the law abiding people of this country be as well armed as those who would harm us? The only reasonable adjustment to current gun laws would be to make the owner of a gun responsible for its use. If it’s used to commit a crime, you are an accessory. If it is stolen or sold, it is your responsibility to report it as such.  

Having carried a gun while working at a gun store, there are a couple of things that should be pointed out. Carrying a loaded weapon is a huge responsibility. Proper training is a must for anyone carrying a gun in public. Pulling and/or shooting that weapon should always be a last resort.

The second point is to plant a seed for those of you who choose to carry a weapon. Assume the worst case scenario; you are down to your last resort. Are you truly capable of shooting another person? If you cannot answer with a confident yes, leave the gun at home. Hesitation could get you killed and put others in harm’s way.

Let me finish with this. To those of you who think your weapons can protect you if our government becomes too oppressive, I wish you the best. If you want to take on an M1 or a Blackhawk with your M4, make sure your affairs and funeral arrangements are in order. To those of you who choose to own and carry firearms to help protect your family, neighborhood, or country, Thank you!