Posted on 03/08/2012 5:42:51 AM PST by marktwain
You recently editorialized in response to an article focusing on rising gun sales in America (Gun shops find warm welcome in Natick: Feb. 29 Metrowest Daily News.)I would like to take this opportunity to respond to Rick Holmes (“Guns and paranoia,” March 5):.
My first reaction to your opinion was a sense of embarrassment for you as a journalist. I simply cannot imagine a “journalist” who could be more ignorant of real reasons American citizens might choose to exercise their Constitutionally-protected right to keep and bear arms. The most glaring example of this shortcoming on your part would be the Fast and Furious scandal.
Are you aware, sir, that the Department of “Justice” was engaged in an illegal operation that resulted in the deaths of two American citizens directly and who knows how many more Mexican citizens? Are you aware of the stonewalling by DOJ officials including AG Holder concerning this operation that continues today? Did you know that ATF and DOJ encouraged what you call “assault rifles” to be provided to Mexican drug cartels, and when these weapons showed up at crime scenes in the U.S. there was indeed a conspiracy to hide the truth from American citizens?
As to your labelling of American citizens as “paranoids” for choosing to exercise their precious freedoms, this type of slander doesn’t surprise me at all. You don’t hold the same opinions as most gun owners politically so I fully expect someone like you to use your position as journalist to smear them as “deranged” somehow.
But when, exactly, did this become commonplace behavior for the media? I have to imagine that at some point in this country “journalists” such as yourself actually served as watchdog for the citizen, keeping them informed of any developments in government that might prove dangerous to their Life, Liberty or Property. You obviously believe, as a journalist, that any distrust of your Dear Leader and the Politburo is sign of a mental disorder.
As to your charge of Paranoid:
Is it paranoia, sir, when someone who holds our Constitution more dear than you, decides that they would like the opportunity to exercise their Right to defend Life, Liberty and Property from the criminal element? Or from a government that has demonstrated their willingness to operate outside the Constitution and the limited power granted that government therein? If such sentiment is truly the result of mental affliction as you claim, I feel pity for the suffering I can only imagine befell men like Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson and General Washington. If only they had a liberal journalist around to keep them looking on the bright side.
You recently editorialized in response to an article focusing on rising gun sales in America (Gun shops find warm welcome in Natick: Feb. 29 Metrowest Daily News.)I would like to take this opportunity to respond to Rick Holmes (“Guns and paranoia,” March 5):.
My first reaction to your opinion was a sense of embarrassment for you as a journalist. I simply cannot imagine a “journalist” who could be more ignorant of real reasons American citizens might choose to exercise their Constitutionally-protected right to keep and bear arms. The most glaring example of this shortcoming on your part would be the Fast and Furious scandal.
Are you aware, sir, that the Department of “Justice” was engaged in an illegal operation that resulted in the deaths of two American citizens directly and who knows how many more Mexican citizens? Are you aware of the stonewalling by DOJ officials including AG Holder concerning this operation that continues today? Did you know that ATF and DOJ encouraged what you call “assault rifles” to be provided to Mexican drug cartels, and when these weapons showed up at crime scenes in the U.S. there was indeed a conspiracy to hide the truth from American citizens?
As to your labelling of American citizens as “paranoids” for choosing to exercise their precious freedoms, this type of slander doesn’t surprise me at all. You don’t hold the same opinions as most gun owners politically so I fully expect someone like you to use your position as journalist to smear them as “deranged” somehow.
But when, exactly, did this become commonplace behavior for the media? I have to imagine that at some point in this country “journalists” such as yourself actually served as watchdog for the citizen, keeping them informed of any developments in government that might prove dangerous to their Life, Liberty or Property. You obviously believe, as a journalist, that any distrust of your Dear Leader and the Politburo is sign of a mental disorder.
As to your charge of Paranoid:
Is it paranoia, sir, when someone who holds our Constitution more dear than you, decides that they would like the opportunity to exercise their Right to defend Life, Liberty and Property from the criminal element? Or from a government that has demonstrated their willingness to operate outside the Constitution and the limited power granted that government therein? If such sentiment is truly the result of mental affliction as you claim, I feel pity for the suffering I can only imagine befell men like Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson and General Washington. If only they had a liberal journalist around to keep them looking on the bright side.
What you derisively call paranoia, many call vigilance. You bemoan what you call a lack of trust in our “country”....do not confuse your country with your government, Sir. More than a few “paranoid gun owners” have bled and died in far off places for their country, not their government. How about a little more trust for the citizen on your part? It is the lowly citizen after all, that purchases your newspapers, provides you medical care, teaches your children and makes up your community.
As for your generous offer of not wanting to infringe on our “hobbies” which you so graciously expanded to include sport-shooting, hear this: Our rights are not hobbies. They may be enjoyed as such, but where the rubber meets the road they are serious things, and we are serious about them. I gather that if you were in charge and your hobby argument were carried over to the First Amendment, you would allow your subjects to engage in idle chit-chat, sing-along songs, maybe some poetry, but nothing scary like speaking out against government.
To answer your arrogant quip of elderly women joining a militia if Obama is re-elected:
If you have no use for the militia or for the armed citizen, you are more ignorant than I thought. It is comfortable, elitist liberals like yourself that owe so much to your armed fellow countrymen. It is we, the “militia,” who keep you free. We who keep our government fearful of encroaching on our livelihoods, our freedoms, our property and our wealth. We who dissuade foreign governments and their armies from invading our shores (ie; Japan WWII) and we do it with no help from you.
I am proud to be part of this militia you hold in such low regard.To wit:
“I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials.”
— George Mason, in Debates in Virginia Convention on Ratification of the Constitution, Elliot, Vol. 3, June 16, 1788.
Also:
“Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man against his own bosom? Congress shall have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birth-right of an American ... The unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the People.”
— Tench Coxe, 1788.
In closing let me sum up the Second Amendment this way: Private firearms tip the balance of power in favor of the citizen over his government, and provide protection from those inclined to do us harm.
If that disturbs you so that you must resort to name calling in your newspaper, perhaps it is you that should seek a mental health evaluation.
JAY HIGGINS
GFA ArmsTec
Natick
Standing Ovation!
People who own fire extinguishers aren’t called paranoid... one wonders why gun owners are.
At this point, if we’re not paranoid, we don’t know what’s going on...IMO, of course.
Exactly!
Bravo! Bravo!
This is a God given right. Not a man or government given right.
excellent
Yes, well written and now Jay Higgins, the author, moves to the top of the HSAs most watched list.
The saying we have met the enemy and it is us needs be changed to we have met the enemy and it is the government.
People who own fire extinguishers aren’t called paranoid... one wonders why gun owners are.
Or first aide kits, or a couple day supply of food & water, or chains in their cars or…
How does being prepared equate with paranoia?
I guess we’re all supposed to be as dependent on the government as much as possible – like slaves to a master.
Nicely done!
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