Posted on 08/14/2010 6:50:39 AM PDT by marktwain
Two nights ago, my daughter’s boyfriend asked me “Why do you carry a gun?” I told him I had the right to protect my family. Wrong answer. My “right” wasn’t in question. Nor should it be. My unconditional right to bear arms is enshrined in the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Says so right there: “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Infringe as in “to limit or undermine.” So the Rhode Island concealed carry process, which asks me roughly the same question as my first born’s squeeze (and a bunch more queries besides), violates my constitutional rights. But it’s still an excellent question. The correct response: “I have an obligation to protect my family.”
To which many gun rights groups would add “and myself.” Same thing. The survival of my favored genetic legacy (both blood and adopted) is my prime directive. I can’t protect my family’s interests if I’m dead.
So I do what it takes to make sure I can do what it takes to make sure my loved ones live, and live well. My home-defense handgun is a means to that end: a tool to help me protect my family.
While the vast majority of Americans understand, appreciate and support the idea of owning a firearm for self-defense, there are those who would infringe upon my right to bear arms by limiting it (as much as possible) to home defense. As is the case here in Rhode Island.
Further afield, the Supreme Court’s recent McDonald decision recently struck down Chicago’s handgun ban. But it singularly and spectacularly failed to address Windy City residents’ right to bear arms wherever they choose. In fact, the Court’s affirmation of “reasonable” restrictions more of less upheld Chicago’s—and thus Illinois’ and Rhode Island’s—proscriptive concealed carry laws.
Simply put, post-McDonald, if a Chicago resident holding a legally registered firearm puts so much as one foot outside their door, even onto his porch, they can be arrested, fined and jailed. Here in the Ocean State, I face the same penalties if I take one step off my land whilst armed.
Where’s the sense in that?
Does the right to maintain effective self-defense begin and end on your doorstep or your property’s perimeter? Common sense suggests that the right to bear arms is a hundred times more important out there. Beyond your “castle” walls. Where the real monsters live.
Every day, gun violence strikes someone down in this country. Most of the time, it’s gang-related. Illegal drugs account for the next largest chunk of the poisoned pie. Avoid gangs and illegal drugs and you reduce the threat to your safety a thousand-fold. Yes but . . .
Check out Women dies saving granddaughter at signonsandiego.com:
Sharrel Blankenbaker, 63, sacrificed her life last week when she stood up to an armed kidnapper who was pulling Cassidy into his truck at an Amarillo, Texas, gas station . . .
They stopped at a Love’s truckstop and store for drinks and a bathroom break. It was when they were walking back to their car that an overweight man in a cowboy hat and boots jumped out of his pickup and latched onto Cassidy’s wrist.
“He pointed a gun at me and told me, ‘Get in my truck.’ My grandma wouldn’t let him,” Cassidy said.
Her grandmother got in between them, yelling at the man to get away.
“He shot her, and I had gotten my arm loose from him. And I started running away, but he chased me,” Cassidy said.
Her brother, who had already carried his younger cousin to safety, came back for Cassidy. They ducked behind the counter of the gas station.
Then another man came in, frantically looking for his daughter.
The kidnapper had her. He had forced her into his pickup as she was walking along the road with a friend.
After relaying a description of the truck to 911, Potter County sheriff’s deputies pulled over Gary Don Carner, 58, who died in an exchange of gunfire. His 11-year-old captive was able to flee from the pickup and jump into a ditch.
Earlier that night, Carner had failed in attempts to kidnap two women.
This tragedy is statistically irrelevant. You can round down the chances of a random perp kidnapping your/my child at a gas station to zero. If you want to take an effective step to keep your children alive, teach them to buckle their seat belts whenever they get in a car.
Also, who’s to say that Granny could have used a handgun successfully? She may have shot her granddaughter by mistake. Or someone else’s kid. Hell, they all could have died in a gunfight. Not to mention the fact that her granddaughter might have shot herself accidentally before the family members even hit the road.
The average concealed carry handgun owner understands these risks. Some, like myself, train to minimize them. But we’ve decided to carry a gun on our person because we want the power to defend ourselves and the ones we love against out worst nightmare. As is our right.
At the moment, I’m restricted to home carry. Later today, I’m going to write a letter to the Providence Police explaining why I want a license to carry a concealed weapon. I still don’t know what to write. The truth: I want to protect my family against the unthinkable. How do you explain that without sounding like a nut?
The “worst case scenario” justification should be enough to guarantee the exercise of my constitutional right. But will it?
I guess they just don’t figger yankees can be trusted with firearms.
I agree with those who say the 2nd Amendment was both to protect citizens from government and, as noted, to foster the ability to assemble competent militias. That it is also necessary for self-defense was never debated or written down back then, because it was so obvious. What more inalienable right can there be than the right to self-defense?
Now .. 40 some years later, I am not even given the opportunity to choose the option to protect myself and family or not.
A dog learns not to chase cars by getting hit, and no one thinks the dog is bad or worse for getting hit, rather now considered a better dog.
I don't have a dog's chance.
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.
Clearly the right is to protect oneself form an unjust tyranical government. Our founding fathers wanted the citizens to be able to overthrow a corrput government.
What tine is it?
As G. Gordon Liddy has stated for years, “I don’t own a gun.
But Mrs. Liddy has a helluv’a collection.” ;-)
Self defence is a natural right.
It supercedes the 2nd Amendment & The Declaration of Independence. Even though it is ALSO enshrined in the DoI. (The right to LIFE, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness)
Sheesh. Defence = defense.
Better to have and not need than to need and not have. Two pounds on my belt isn’t that hard to handle.
Good luck in RI, though.
I once was lectured by a Providence cop on how the .22 LR was much more dangerous than a .38, and with that level of intelligence, you can be sure no logical argument will rate any attention at all.
An "Illinois proscriptive carry law" does not exist.
Thanks...
What a sad state of affairs this is. Its really harder on someone like me, as I sneak up on my 60th year on this planet. I was taught by dad how to use and take care of firearms at a young age. I owned a 16 guage bolt action shotgun when I was 8, but not allowed to hunt with friends until I was 14. most folks would never had asked the question that is the premise of this post, it was just understood. We had the right to defend ourselves...period!
It was understood that no one had to stand by and be a victim, take a butt whipping, or anything of the sort. In High School I had a gun rack in the back window of my truck in the high school parking lot. WHY??? Saved a trip home to grab a weapon when you wanted to get in a few hours of dove hunting after school. When you had a fight at school with someone it lasted until your hands hurt (less than 30 seconds), and it never crossed your mind to go to your truck and grab your shotgun. Now kids get in trouble if they have a steak knife in their lunch bag to cut up your meal. I know times have changed, (dammit) but guns were more available in 1960 than now, so what has changed?
Bet it has more to do with violence on tv, drugs, gangs, or any number of things that you can think of.
Thank God my life started with a dad who took the time to teach me right from wrong and spent time with me doing things that men do. Now according to a few hollywood stars and the progressives Men just are not necessary. Let Uncle Sam do the job huh? Well I call BS on that. Men do your jobs, your kids are a blessing from God. Raise them to understand what their proper role is in life. Teach them to be free.... As for the experts...they can go to heck.
Freeper thoughts on this article? http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7153017.html
"Defence" is fine - if you're British.
There's no such thing as a "Constitutional Right." The Constitution only described rights granted by God.
Whether to carry or not is a personal choice according to the second amendment and doesn’t really require justification as far as I’m concerned.
I was involved in an incendent many years ago that I was glad a friend of mine had iron handy. I was visiting an old friend who was kind of like the big brother I never had. We were sitting in my car chatting in his driveway sort of late at night and a crazed and jealous ex-boyfriend of mine showed up. I was trying to get him to leave because I didn’t want him bothering me anymore and he was so angry he wasn’t listening. He picked me up and started brutalizing me right there in the driveway.
While this was going on I heard the screen door shut behind me, and the thought flashed through my mind that my friend was taking off on me. This ex of mine was a body builder dude, real big and pretty intimidating so I really couldn’t blame him since he wasn’t a big guy at all.
All of a sudden the ex stopped cold with his eyes as big as saucers and dropped me. Then he started running down the street with my friend chasing behind him with a shot gun.
Then my friend’s mom came out chasing after them screaming for him not to get into trouble, but stopped when she saw me on the ground all battered and bruised.
God only knows what the ex would have done to me if it hadn’t been for my friend with the great equalizer.
I’m Texan. (Doh! I’m in deep sh*t) LOL
“All of a sudden the ex stopped cold with his eyes as big as saucers and dropped me. Then he started running down the street with my friend chasing behind him with a shot gun.”
Great story. My guess is that this incident was never reported to the police. Am I correct?
I guess since .22 LR is much cheaper, you can make up power with volume.
My weapon of choice is a .45 ACP. I never want to be in a situation where I'm forced to shoot someone; however, if I am in such a situation, I only want to shoot them once.
You should have asked him why he wasn’t carrying a .22 pistol then.
See, I’m just that kind of *ssh*le. I’ll call BS on someone in a heartbeat. Yeah, it’s gotten me in deeper sh*t before than if I’d just kept my mouth shut. I’m just not wired that way. LOL.
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