Posted on 01/12/2011 6:32:25 AM PST by Kaslin
When Jared Loughner opened fire in Tucson on January 8, six people were killed and fourteen injured. No matter where you were sitting, as the 24-hour news carried the details of the story, the world seemed almost to stop spinning. The raw evil of what Loughner had done was simply too great for decent, law abiding citizens to comprehend.
Sadly, it didn’t take long for various talking heads on the left to see the shooting as just another crisis that could be used to further their agenda: tightening gun control, besmearing the Tea Party, and destroying Sarah Palin. For instance, within 48 hours of the shooting, Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) promised to introduce stricter gun control legislation as soon as her staff could draw it up, the Washington Post’s Courtland Milloy affixed blame to the Tea Party, and uber-leftist Paul Krugman disgraced himself as one of the shrillest voices placing the blame on Palin.
Lost in these attempts to gain political points by placing blame on someone other than the shooter is the clearest lesson of the Tucson shooting: that we must take responsibility for our own lives — and be prepared to defend those lives with weapons we carry for protection.
Far from serving as fodder for the anti-gunners (save as they pervert the story to make it fit their template), the shooting in Tucson reminds us that when the criminal mind acts on its inclinations, its would-be victims must be prepared to take the necessary steps to stop the perpetrator in his tracks. Clearly, this is best achieved by lawfully carrying a handgun on our persons: a handgun with which we are familiar, and which we are willing to use to defend our own lives and the lives of other innocents.
If anyone thinks I go too far in positing a handgun as the best means of self-defense, consider Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s explanation for why that court famously overturned handgun bans in Washington, D.C., and Chicago: “We held that individual self defense is ‘the central component’ of the Second Amendment right [to keep and bear arms]. …[And] we found that this right applies to handguns because they are ‘the most preferred firearm in the nation to ‘keep’ and use for protection of one’s home and family.’”
Alito’s words rang in my head as I was eating lunch in a restaurant with my family on the afternoon of January 8, watching the television on the wall as news of the shooting poured in. My youngest daughter, who knows I legally carry a concealed pistol everyday, looked at me and asked: “Dad, would you have stopped him?” I explained to her that while I couldn’t say for sure I would have stopped him, I certainly would have been prepared to stop him and would have had absolutely no qualms about shooting a criminal who threatened the lives of my family and/or myself.
Such is life. As long as we are on this earth, criminals will be seeking the opportunity to carry out their evil schemes. And if we respond to their schemes as Representative McCarthy wants to, by passing more and more gun control laws, we’ll inevitably be disappointed to find that criminals will ignore the new laws just as easily as they ignored the old ones. In the end, such an approach will only hamper the ability of law abiding citizens to get their hands on the weapons “most preferred” for self defense, effectively transforming more and more innocents into sitting ducks for the next Loughner whenever and wherever he decides to kill in cold blood.
Our lives are our own responsibilities. We cannot entrust their protection to agents of the state, whether those agents are legislators, police officers, or federal agents.
If we want to be safe, we need to arm ourselves as a means of making preparation for safety. Perhaps this is the most valuable lesson the Tucson shooting can teach us.
Luckily, the big guy didn't take it away from you.
My friend asked what we would do if we had to off them. No need for an answer.. I would have been digging three holes alone. Bo has a conscience and a big mouth.
Fella, I'm certainly glad you don't call me friend. Because, frankly, I think there a little somethin' off about you.
I agree 100%. A Granny with a handgun in her purse or a man with a derringer in his pocket could have interrupted his shooting spree. The main thing is to have it with you, not in the car or on the nightstand.
I’ve also had a ccw for many years, in multiple states. I used to only carry it in my vehicles, but now have taken to carrying one almost everywhere (no financial institutions, schools, or government centers due to their posted restrictions). Also just watched the remake of “True Grit”. Was slammed at the display of lawlessness, the frontier (taming the lawlessness via Frontier justice), and the “civilized” world that pushed for control of the lawlessness (”I got a good lawyer that will help you!”). It seems we be sliding back now, as the lawlessness sometimes needs frontier justice to keep it in check and prevent it from backflowing into the “Civilized” society...
>>a CC permit and a reason for the CCW is to protect yourself and the lives of your loved ones.<<
Arizona is Constitution Carry state. No permission permit required. No groveling on your knees for your rights.
Excellent view in your post. In one of my classes under Mas Ayoob, a weapon was referred to as a piece of safety equipment, such as a fire extinguisher. I really like your analogy to wearing a seat belt. Bravo!!!!
However, I am a firm believer that RETALIATORY force has gotten short shrift in part because of the "turn the other cheek" philosophy. If someone is going to shoot you in the head, there is no other cheek to turn. Further, once the perp has done away with you, he may very well go on and kill others.
Fight back. Even against simple property crimes. They want your wallet? Give it to them, then draw your pistol and kill them. They want your car? Give it to them, along with a pair of 180gr hollow points to their head as they attempt to drive off.
If you don't fight back, you create a safe environment for career criminals. You acclimate an already bovine public into thinking property crimes "are not worth fighting" over. Now when it comes time to fight back against a seriously deranged murderer, you have become so used to the "don't fight back" mentality that you run and hide like mice. Further, insane nut cases might see the general public as easy pickings for exactly this kind of murder spree because of the pacified attitude of the sheep-like masses.
This event should have played out that this creep died in a hail of return fire from the hands of his intended victims. Yes, even from the Representative herself had she any warning at all this this nut-ball was raising a gun to her.
This event is enough of a tragedy in and of itself. We will only compound this tragedy if we don't learn this harsh lesson and if we allow those opportunists in government to further restrict our Rights.
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I am an old man now and don't run well. I can't man handle people like I used to even though I'm still 6’ 4”.
I don't look to protect anybody but me and those with me. If someone starts shooting I will not try to run away, I will shoot as quickly as possible. I practice every other weekend. I will not likely miss.
I do not look forward to killing or even wounding anybody but if someone starts shooting while my wife is near they must have a death wish.
I don't always carry, if I think there is any possibility that I will need it I carry. I live in a very small town and going to McDonald's is not likely to be a problem but when I travel in the car I have a gun. If I go into the city (Louisville, KY) I strap it on.
I will do my best to not end up like that poor 9 year old girl or the honest but dead judge. The shooter may get me but likely he won't get anybody after me, with my last breath if I have to I will take him out.
I know that is strong talk, perhaps humorous to some but I do mean it.
You are the delusional one.
>>.to buy a handgun in AZ you still need to pass the fed NICS check.<<
Private sales do not require the need to pass the fed NICS check. That’s what they don’t like. Citizens with uncontrolled liberty.
Thaks for posting that video link. I hadn’t see it before. Dr. Hupp is a sub host on KLBJ in the morning and afternoon talk shows. I really like her.
The problem is when our Legislators want to deny that choice for others.
I live in CA where obtaining a Conceal Carry Permit is nearly impossible unless you are a Politician or retired Police Officer.
Be glad you have the choice to carry, I have none and am at the mercy of Lawbreakers who could care less what our “leaders” think is good for us Serfs.
“I do not need a gun. I’ll just take theirs. “
Glad to know you can outrun a bullet.
“The delusion that one takes out some deranged shooter in a public setting is just that... A delusion.”
Unfortunately for you reality doesn’t say that. Plenty of people have taken out a bad guy. Sorry to know you are a puss that wouldn’t try much less think to do so.
“Should such delusion manifest it is assured that those you “saved” will all sue your ass for the emotional trauma and distress to their persons you caused.”
Name one time that has ever happened. Go ahead, loudmouth, we’ll wait.
I had my daughter(11yr old) with me.
We heard a crash on the aisle over and two men arguing. As we rounded the corner both had armed themselves with knives and were facing off.
My FIRST instinct was get my daughter behind me as I reached for the Colt. My second was to announce my intention to shoot the first one of the two men that advanced on the other. This was loud enough for both of them to turn and look at my hand on the pistol(still holstered). The one closest took one step towards me and the weapon was out in a heartbeat.
After that BOTH were very compliant with dropping knives, getting prone on the floor with arms stretched out, and the smell of urine where they both had lost control, waiting for the police to arrive.
Daughter was shook up for a while because of it, and requested a lot more range time between us.
Lesson: You never know.
Stores aren’t permitted to make judgement calls on whether to sell you a gun or not. Pass the Fed NICS test and it’s yours.
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